Agamotto (A Marvel FanFic)

2 - Peter

"So, in the long run, Peter, do you think that you would have had Dr. Strange cast the spell?"

Peter stared vacantly at the right front leg of Dr. Thorne's desk.

"Peter?"

He looked up. "I'm sorry, what?"

Dr. Thorne didn't miss a beat, "In the long run, would you have had Dr. Strange cast the spell that made everyone forget that you are Spider man?"

"Yes, of course."

"Even now? Now that MJ and Ned are off at--"

"Yes!"

Dr. Thorne sat back in their chair. "I apologize."

"No, no, I'm sorry," Peter also flopped back on the couch. "I shouldn't have yelled like that."

"It's natural, Peter."

"It's just been so hard, you know? They didn't even remember me, and I'm reminded of my them every time I pass the doughnut shop where she worked, or see his grandmother at the market."

Dr. Thorne nodded. "We're out of time for today, Peter. But I can get you in the day after tomorrow if you need."

Peter sat up and rubbed his eyes, "No thank you, Dr. Thorne. I'll just be back next week, besides, I'm already late, I don't think I can swing an extra long lunch any more this week."

"Okay, Peter. And seriously," said Dr. Thorne as they opened the door, "call me if you need to, okay?"

Peter nodded.

***

Peter walked down the sidewalk, music playing on his headphones. The cool spring air still felt fresh and new on his face. He felt it, a sort of tingle, the Peter-tingle, as May had called it. Something was moving quickly up behind him, a jogger or a bike, maybe. He moved to the side, but nothing shot past him. He turned around, just in time to see the final spark fade on the sidewalk.

"That was weird," he mentioned to himself before continuing down the street to the Goodman Building.

"Parker!" was the first thing he heard when exiting the elevator. It was J. Jonah Jameson, JJ, as he was known in the office, a Spidy-hater with a furious temper. "Could I see you in here for a moment?"

Peter sighed and stopped at his desk to drop his bag before going to JJ's office.

"Where were you, Peter? I hope it was out, getting more intel on Spider-Man."

"Uh, yeah, yes."

"So, what did you find?"

"He always vanishes in the NoLita district, so maybe he lives around there?"

JJ gave him a look. "You're a terrible liar, Peter."

Peter cringed. "So, I may have met a friend for lunch, and we lost track of--"

JJ was still giving him that look.

"I was meeting with a psychiatrist," Peter said flatly. Clearly, it was not the answer that JJ was expecting.

"Alright, but please apply for medical leave to do it, and you'll have to work it out with HR, and my door is always open, Peter."

Peter nodded, thanked him, and sidled out. Yeah, like I'd talk to the guy who calls me a coward every night on TV.

***

At the end of that day, Peter got up from his desk, rode the elevator down, and began his walk home.

"Hey, Peter!" his landlord called to him from the desk. "Your rent was due yesterday!"

"Right," Peter responded, waiting for the elevator. "Come up in ten minutes, I'll have the check for you."

There was a small mirror in the elevator, and Peter could've sworn he saw someone behind him for the half a second he looked up from his phone. There wasn't anyone there, of course. He got out, unlocked his apartment, and locked the door as soon as possible so that the camera at the end of the hall wouldn't catch the self-sewn suit hanging in the kitchen.

"Peter Parker?"

It was him, it was Dr. Strange, sitting in his apartment.

"Oh my God."

"I was hoping we could talk, Mr. Parker."