Orphic | Spider-Man

SIX

THERE SHE IS. Peter thought. He had just taken a picture with a nice elderly couple, and then noticed Octavia marching up to him.
      But there was something wrong. He noticed how fast she was moving to come over to him. It was like she knew he was Peter Parker underneath the mask and that she was coming over to expose him. He had tried to change his voice slightly so she didn't expect anything, but what if she heard him? What if she had figured it out? He never told her because like Aunt May, he wanted to keep her safe. 
      "Thanks again, son," said the elder man before they fully walked away. 
      Peter turned to him and waved, "Oh! Of course, sir--" 
      "Spider-Man," Octavia nearly spat his name. 
      Peter turned her way again, and as she approached him, he chuckled, "J. Jonah Jameson?" 
      Octavia stopped abruptly in front of him. "Ha. Ha. Nice one. Before I explain why I'm over here, I thought you'd like to know that I find Jameson quite vexatious." 
      Peter froze, his mind racing. Had Octavia used that word before? She loved using big words he didn't understand. 
      "Uh. . .what does that mean?" 
      Octavia placed her hands on her hips. "It means annoying." 
      "Ah," Peter nodded. "Well, I shall add it to my vocabulary." 
      "You should, because you know what else I find annoying?" 
      "What's that?" Peter asked, placing his hands on his hips. This was great. It was like she was talking to Peter Parker without the Spider-Man suit, but the fact she didn't know made the banter better. 
      "That you're here, succumbing to the wealthy side of New York instead of keeping an eye on the neighborhoods that suffered before you came out of thin air." 

      This was not going as great as he thought it would. He was going to be suave, maybe a little cocky to get the banter going, but Octavia flipped the switch on him. He didn't mean for his appearance at the banquet to come off as the way she had put it. 
      Peter began to stutter behind the mask, but Octavia continued. 
      "You being the special guest tonight is so out of character for you." she said. "You're a symbol to those who are unable to take care of themselves, those who are unable to protect themselves, and when the state of New York can't hold a threat, it's you who defeats it. You're an idol to the middlemen of New York, to the little kids who look up to you. What do you think they'll see in you after tonight? Spider-Man loved by the rich--you'll eat it up, be the caged specimen they have on display for everyone to gawk at when there's people who really need you." 
      Peter stared at Octavia in silence. He wished she could see his expression. The way she looked at him--at Spider-Man. This wasn't right. This wasn't what he wanted. 
      "See ya, S-Spider-Man," she slightly slurred. 
      Octavia turned around, and as she did, Peter reached out for her. 
      "Octavia--" 
      At the same moment, Octavia tripped over a layer of her dress. That same moment, his senses heightened, and before she could really fall, he shot a web at her bare back and pulled. Octavia didn't even yelp as it all happened too fast. When Peter pulled the web back, Octavia slid across the floor standing up and being pulled into Peter's arms. 
      She stared up at him, eyes wide and brows furrowed in surprise. They both froze like that for a moment before Octavia parted her lips. 
      "Did. . .did you just web my back?" she asked. 
      "Uh. . ." Peter nervously chuckled. "I-I did--but you were going to trip." 
      He watched as Octavia's eyes bounce from side to side in thought. He wondered what she was thinking, but as she opened her mouth, she closed it right after. 
      "Thanks, Spider-Man," she said awkwardly. 
      "O-Of course," he then caught the whiskey on her breath. "Have you been drinking, Miss Octavius?" 
      Octavia pulled out his arms, which she should've done sooner since she saw many pairs of eyes on her and Spider-Man. She straightened her dress and made sure her necklace and dress and back didn't have spiderweb fluid on them. 
      "That depends. Am I going to hear a lecture about underage drinking?" she then froze and shook her head. "Wait, how do you know my name?" 
      "First off, no, I won't lecture you. I trust that you're a responsible girl." Peter smirked behind his mask. "Also, this banquet is being put on primarily by Oscorp. I'm very fond of what Oscorp has done in the name of science for New York. Thought I'd research the man in charge to thank him, and on the website there's a snippet on how Otto Octavius lives with his daughter Octavia in Manhattan." How come he could lie so much better and make it flow easier as Spider-Man? He had this in mind, but he didn't stutter or fear as much when speaking to see if people would catch his lie. 
      "And, I don't mean to spit back," Peter added, "but for someone who seems to be very passionate about helping the middlemen--which I admire, really--how come you're here?" 
      Octavia hiccupped, "What?" 
      "Well," Peter started. "The daughter of a CEO of a very successful multibillionaire company lecturing me on how I shouldn't be at things like this, when in fact, the daughter of a CEO of a very successful multibillionaire company is at a banquet primarily hosted by her father's said company. I think the expression 'the pot calling the kettle black' works well for this conversation." Peter shrugged at the end.