(AG)Spiderman x Reader | Whole Again

Chapter 4: The Picture

It was bright and early. About 9:30 am. You were walking through the loud and busy streets on your way to The Daily Bugle. You went through the spinning doors, past the receptionist and towards the elevator. As you pressed the button for the 46th floor, you noticed someone running towards you.

"WAIT! PLEASE! HOLD THE DOOR!" they cried. Quickly you put your foot between the closing elevator doors so that they would have time to get in. He was able to slow down a bit before making it into the elevator. "Thanks," he coughed out, trying to catch his breath.

The poor guy looked exhausted and dishevelled. How long was he running for? His hands were on his knees as he was bent down trying to catch his breath. "Of course," you replied, pressing the elevator button again. "Oh, crap! I'm sorry I didn't ask what floor you're going to," you said, apologising.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I was actually looking for you," he replied. A confused expression washed over your face. "For me?" you repeated. He nodded his head. "My name is Peter Parker, I'm a friend of Spider-Man's," he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

"Really?! That's amazing! I've seen your pictures before! Pretty impressive considering he's always swinging around or fighting crime." He thanked you before saying, "and speaking of taking photos of Spider-Man, he told me that you got a picture of him yesterday sitting on top of a statue."

You nodded your head in confirmation then asked him why he brought it up. "Well, I'm sure he told you that, even though he was wearing the suit, he doesn't plan on returning as Spider-Man, at all. So he asked me to ask you if it would be okay if you deleted it?"

Your jaw dropped, and a string of no, no, no!'s fell out of your mouth. "I already submitted the picture to Mr. Jameson yesterday! They'll be in the papers by now!" Peter's eyes widened as he cried, "What?!?!"

The elevator bell rang and the doors opened. The two of you almost sprinted out of the box and towards Mr. Jameson's office. Peter abruptly stopped behind you, prompting you to halt as well. "Peter?" you called out. He was looking into a basket of newspapers. You walked up to him to see what he was looking at.

"Oh no..." The front cover on everyone's newspapers was a picture of Spider-Man lounging around on a statue and eating a burrito. The title read, "The Menace Returns!" and just under the title, there was a subheading that read, "Proof that Spider-Man has ABANDONED his city!"

A puff came out through Peter's nose. "I'm too late. Damnit," he whispered to himself. "I'm sorry Peter, I should have asked, I wasn't thinking. I was just so excited-" he interrupted you and told you that it was okay, and that there was nothing anyone could do anymore. Somehow that wasn't making you feel any better.

"Parker!" Mr. Jameson yelled, stomping through the top floor. "Who do you think you are showing your face around here?!" he whined, shaking his fist in the air. "Sorry sir, I just-"

"Can it! Since Spider-Man has reappeared, I'm rehiring you," he declared. "Wh-," Peter stuttered, "I'm not here to-" he could barely get a word out before Mr. Jameson interrupted him again. "I DON'T WANT ANY EXCUSES! We've already wasted 17 seconds just standing here. GET TO WORK!" he demanded. He stomped so heavily back towards his office he could have left dents in the floor.

As you watched him enter his office and slam the door, you turned your haze to Peter to find him completely starstruck. He was completely frozen in place and his jaw seemed to hang loose. "Unbelievable, I cannot escape this guy," he muttered. "So, you aren't working here again?" you asked sadly. "I mean, it's Mr. Jameson. I wouldn't be trying to get on his bad side if I were you," you concluded, trying to convince him to take his job back.

It sounded bad, but you really wanted a chance to see Spider-Man again, and one of the only ways you knew how, was through Peter Parker. "I mean I don't see the point, Spider-Man's not coming back," he argued, letting out a defeated breath of air. As he said those words, an idea popped into your head.

It was a stupid idea, definitely a long shot in the dark, but there was no harm in trying. "Why do you say that?" you questioned, playing dumb. Peter looked at you confused. "What do you mean? He told me he wasn't coming back." Peter repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, that's not what he told me..." you replied, looking away from him. Peter's eyes widened, still confused. Then as he realised what was happening, he had to pull the strength from every fibre of his very being, to suppress the laugh threatening to erupt from his chest. "What, Spider-Man talked to you? What exactly did he tell you?" He asked you, playing along, and crossing his arms.

"Well, he told me that he in fact was coming back. I talked with him last night, as we do, we just chill together you know," you explained, casually lying in his face. Peter, very attentively, nodded and agreed, signifying he was following along with what you both knew was bullshit. "Then he mentioned that he was planning to come back as New York's friendly neighbourhood superhero once again."

Peter clicked his tongue when he finished his story. "That son of a bitch. All this time I was thinking I was his only accomplice," he replied. "Yeah, I wouldn't sweat it, I mean I knew nothing about you until this morning so. Guess ol' Spidey kept both of us in the dark," you said shrugging. Peter nodded and agreed once more. "Well then, if he is coming back. We'll probably see him swinging around then right?"

Your entire body froze. "Uh- Well I don't think he'll be back in business straight away-" Peter stopped you there and continued for you. "Nonsense! I know the guy, he's very punctual. I'm sure he's brimming with excitement and can't wait to return. Come on let's go to the roof," he insisted, grabbing your arm and guiding the both of you to the roof.

The two of you waited until sunset on the rooftop. Unfortunately, Spider-Man was nowwhere to be found. To no one's surprise of course. "Hm. Looks like he's a no-show..." Peter said shrugging, knowing full well why Spider-Man never came. "Huh, that's too bad. But like I said I wasn't expecting him to-" you stopped yourself when you caught a glimpse of a red and blue figure in the corner of your eye.

"No way!" you cheered standing up from where you sat and running to the ledge. "Woah, Y/n, what are you doing?!" he called out running after you. "Look! See I told you! I totally knew he was gonna be here," you bragged, again lying through your teeth. Peter's expression only grew more and more confused as he saw Spider-Man swinging through the buildings. But Spider-Man was right there, standing next to Y/n.

How could there be two Spider-Men?