That's Just The Way The World Works

Trouble At Work

              The apartment felt colder this morning, the sun just peaking itself up above New York... I wasn't surprised I woke up this early, I usually leave to help Aunt May with breakfast but... With MJ in my arms, I didn't want to leave so soon. She was wearing my white t-shirt and laid on her side as I hugged her from behind. I rubbed my thumb gently on her shoulder, and I started to get the feeling she was up too. "MJ?" I whispered.

             "Shh. I'm sleeping."

              I laugh lightly, "No you're not."

             "That's your opinion."

              I smile, taking my arm off her to get up, but MJ grabs my wrist.

             "Where are you going?"

             "I'm going to help at the shelter."

             "Want me to come?"

             "I might have to leave early..."

             "Yeah yeah, ok. I'm coming." She says, letting go of my wrist and getting up.

             "I thought you were sleeping." I tease.

              She rolls her eyes playfully and walks towards the door, "See you."

             I watch her leave and then I head to my closet, grabbing some warm clothes to throw on. I then grab my suit and stuff it into my backpack. I put on my winter coat and put my backpack on, going out the door and MJ waiting for me in her own warm clothes and winter coat. We walk outside and get to the homeless shelter. We helped in the kitchen before helping pass out hot chocolates and water. I make small talk with the familiar faces as they talk about how unsafe the world's become. They ask me about college and answer generically before exiting the conversation and heading back to the kitchen where MJ was talking to Aunt May. I go but am stopped by my phone vibrating... I pull it out and see a text from Otto:

Otto: The new supplies came in! If you could come in early today to set them up that'd be great!

             I looked back up at MJ who was looking at me with a curious expression. I walk over to her, "My boss needs me."

            "Already?" MJ asks, with a slight pout. It was cute...

            "Yeah..."

            "You don't have to, he asked you to come in later."

            "... I should go help him out."

             MJ thinks for a moment and I get nervous as to what she's going to say, but she just says: "Ok, see you later."

             I give her a sympathetic smile before leaving out the door, finding an alley I can change in. It would take too long any other way. As I walked on the damp sidewalk, snow fell gently down from the sky. It was very cloudy and cold with a freezing breeze weaving through the buildings. As I changed into my Spidey suit, I was freezing. I breathe in a shaky breath, "Shit..." I exhale out  into my hands to warm them, then slide the rest of the suit on and put my mask on. I put on my winter coat for now. I wasn't planning on getting into any fights this early in the morning... I start swinging to Otto's lab, wishing I had just bought thermers like the years past... Building in warmth would be easier, but the lab would have to be empty if I wanted to work on my suit.

             I arrive at Otto's lab and change back into my street clothes. When walking in, I was only slightly out of breath. We greeted each other before I helped in unpacking and organizing the new materials. After a while, Otto had told me he'd be right back. I asked why he was leaving and he said he had to meet with someone in regards to the building and his lab. He left and waited till I heard the door shut to go to my bag and pull out my suit. I went into a side room and shut the door. This room was more cluttered than Otto's office, it had boxes and scrap metal all over with a clear dry erase board shoved into a corner and kept there with other boxes and scraps. I put my suit on the metal table and pull the clear dry erase board out from the corner, causing many things to fall and hit the ground. I set it in the center of the room and started to draw an outline of the inner workers under the fabric. Maybe I should make a new suit entirely for winter... I had three different ones as of now: a black stealth one, a black and red one, and the classic red and blue. I almost threw out my old sweatsuit but May insisted that she'd keep it for memory. I'm sure it's somewhere in her apartment.

             I then get a spark for a design, kinda like the classic but with a white spider logo, could be cool... I'd have to work that out later, for now I make the plans for a built in heater. I hear the door open and quickly shove the suit into my bag and exit the room, "welcome back." I say, but Otto looked a bit down.

             "Did you separate the samples?" He said, into a sigh.

             "Oh-yes-I'm almost done."

             He sighs once more, "After that you can go home for the day... I'm thinking we should take a break until after Christmas."

            "... are you sure?"

            "... No, but the funding for this space is a little scattered right now and I'm not sure I can pay you much."

            "Oh... that's ok, do you need some help?"

            "No... It's a business problem. My old partner's not really pleased I'm making my own business..."

             I remember the picture of him and Norman Osborn I saw in his office... "You and Norman Osborn used to work together?"

             Otto laughs lightly, "Work together? We created Oscorp!"

             My eyes widened, "You created Oscorp!?!"

             "Yes... Not that I got any credit..."

             "Right..." I look down and go to the samples table and start separating them. When I finished I said goodbye and headed out, changing back into my spider suit and putting on my coat over it. I should go check around the city for trouble... I should also start thinking of what to get MJ for Christmas...