(AG)Spiderman x Reader | Whole Again

Chapter 3: Bittersweet

"No way...Spider-Man?!" You said agape, a smile forming on your face. "Yeah, hi. Hope you didn't mind me yanking you up like 5 stories high," he said coyly. "Are you kidding?! You just saved my life! Who knows how far that robber would have gone to get my money," you replied, adjusting your bag on your back.

"Well, you definitely lnow how to protect yourself. I saw how you handled them before the sprint, nice work," he said holding out a fist. In awe, you hesitantly fist bumped him, internally screaming and being blown out of your mind. It would be an understatement to say you were a huge fan of Spider-Man.

You had posters of him everywhere in your room. You had a spiderman plushie (that you definitely don't sleep with at night) and an action figure. You currently had a spiderman key chain dangling off your bag right now. "Anyways, speaking of nice work, I noticed that you recently took a picture of me sitting on a statue," he stated, placing his hand on his hip, and leaving the other to dangle at his side.

"I did! Such an incredible moment! After not seeing you for 12 months, New York can witness their friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man once again!" you celebrated. "Right. The thing is...I'm not coming back," he confirmed, crossing his arms. Your heart sunk, and your expression morphed from excitement to confusion. "I don't understand."

Spider-Man let out a heavy sigh. "Although, I loved my brief span of helping the city, being Spider-Man impeded on my personal life. I was always late to things, always stressed. I let down the people around me, and eventually...I got people killed," he briefly explained. His voice got quieter near the end, and you could tell whoever he lost, must have been his breaking point.

"The last year where I could just be me, was the first time I felt truly me since I became Spider-Man. I only ever put on the suit nowadays if I feel like sitting on high rooftops...or statues, and I don't want to be recognised." Your shoulders slumped as he finished. You always saw him as this perfect, happy figure. A beacon of hope. However, while he remained a beacon of hope to everyone else, there was no beacon of hope for him.

"I get it. I'm sorry for assuming you were coming back. I hope you're okay?" you replied, attempting to console him. "I'm good don't worry about it. Sorry to disappoint you," he said, looking up at you. "No no I totally get it. I mean you've done a lot of good here but it's not fair for you to continue if it negatively affects your personal life."

He nodded in agreement, letting out a light, amused chuckle. "How about I walk you home? You know just in case. Consider it my last hurrah," he offered. "That would be great," you replied, "I mean I don't exactly see how else I'm gonna get off this roof top," you continued, slightly mumbling. Another chuckle emanated from his chest. "Alright, hold on tight," he said walking up to you.

He wrapped one arm around your waist and pulled you in. Quickly, you felt heat rushing to your face, and you awkwardly wrapped your arms around his neck. "Don't worry, I got you," he said just before jumping off the building. Another scream threatened it's way out of your throat, so you tightly closed your eyes and hid your face in his shoulder.

He shot a web at a building on the opposite side of the street, allowing the both of you to swing away, and land on the street. He let go of the web and unravelled you. "Hey that wasn't so bad right?" He said, making sure you were okay. "I guess. I don't know how you do that repeatedly without throwing up," you replied, trying to calm your heart down, you couldn't tell if it was beating so fast because you were just swung off a building, or because you were so close to Spider-Man just now.

"You get used to it," he replied, you could hear the smile in his voice. He asked for which way your house was and the both of you started walking to in that direction. "I'm Y/n, by the way," you smiled introducing yourself and both of you talked for the whole journey there. As you approached the street your house is on, you were slightly saddened knowing this would be the last time you saw him. It was fun nonetheless.

"Did you say you've been fired from NINE jobs?!" he exclaimed. "I prefer the term, liberated," you replied flashing him a sheepish grin at him. "Sounds like you're in denial. You know there's this river in Egypt-" before he continued his heavily overused pun you finished it for him in a mocking tone.

"Not today Spider-Man. I know all your tricks and bad puns."

"Wow, you must be obsessed with me then, huh?" He asked stopping to turn to you then crossing his arms. "Wh-... I-... That's not-"

"Relax! I'm just kidding," he said mocking you right back. You were glad to know he still had his sense of humour. You let out a sigh as you walked up the stairs leading to the door way of your house. "Well uh...this is my stop," you mumbled, letting your hand drop onto the door handle.

You heard an exhale out of Spider-Man's mask. You couldn't tell if it was a relieved sigh or a sad one. "I guess this is where we part," he replied. You quietly agreed. "Thanks," he said in a low voice, almost whispering. "Hm? What for?" you asked him, repositioning your body from facing the doorway sideways to facing him.

"For giving me another chance to be Spidey, and reminding me how much good I've done. As much as I've enjoyed my time without him, it's always nice to know I've helped someone, so thank you," he said solemnly. His little speech touched a very deep part of your soul. You wanted to run up to him and hug him, but you knew it would be awkward and probably unwanted. Simply talking to your hero was enough, as much as it disappointed you.

"Regardless of whether you wear the suit or not, you're helping people anyway," you confirmed, a bittersweet smile spreading across your face. He looked down as he nodded his head, kicking a small rock on the pavement. "Well, I'd love to say I'll see you swinging around but, I know this is probably the last time I'll ever see you," you mumbled, holding back tears and trying to keep your voice steady.

What...why were you holding back tears? You don't even really know Spider-Man. Were you that occupied by him? What he said earlier must have been right then. You are obsessed with him.

"Have good night, Y/n," he said smiling at you. You couldn't see it, but you could hear it in his voice. "And you, Spider-Man." You took one last glance at him before turning in to face your doorway and walking inside.

"One more thing," he said disrupting the depressing state you were in and giving rise to awkwardness. "Sorry to ruin the moment but I just thought I'd ask. If you've been fired from 9 jobs, where do you work now?" he asked you.

"Oh, I work at this news station called the Daily Bugle," you answered, turning back to face him. "Ah, I see. I used to-... have a friend that worked there. He took pictures of me for the papers."

"Oh I think I saw one of them!" you exclaimed. "Peter Parker?" He confirmed your answer with a chuckle, but then told you that Peter wasn't working there anymore. "Oh, that's too bad. I would've loved to work with the photographer of the amazing Spider-Man! But I guess it makes sense that he quit once you disappeared."

He sighed in agreement. "Anyways, sorry for holding you up, just thought I'd ask. Stay safe!" he called
out before finally swinging away through the city buildings. You let out a heavy breath before turning into your doorway and letting yourself into your house.

As he swung through the city, Spider-Man was thinking to himself.

What a sweet person Y/n is. I wish I could do more for them, but if this past year has taught me anything, it's that I need to live for myself first.
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Hm...9 jobs?? Sheesh. And now they're working at the Bugle. Hope Jameson doesn't eat them alive.
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Wait a sec...those pictures... if Y/n works at the Bugle...my face will be all over the papers! Damnit! People will think I've resurfaced! And they'll think I've abandoned them.... Well I have but not for the reasons they'll think. I have to go there tomorrow before Jameson gets those photos...