𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤 || 𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐨 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

CHAPTER 31 - breath

a/n - please vote, buckle up :)

3 MONTHS LATER

i walk to the roof door at the top of the wilshire building, shaking the door handle. i let go, seeing it was locked. i walk back to the edge, laying down on the ledge and pulling my mask off. i take out my phone, swiping through instagram. i go to olivia's instagram, tapping on her following list. my heart dropping as i realize she's unfollowed me.

i go to my spider-woman account, seeing she's unfollowed me there too. i frown slightly, debating whether or not i should unfollow too. was it weird to follow her even if she doesn't follow back? i sigh, unfollowing her on both accounts.

1 MONTH LATER

"attention units, we've got reports of a mugging. report came in from hamilton heights." i take the last bite of my burger, scrunching up the wrapper and throwing it down in the nearest bin and jumping off.

i web to another guy, punching him and making him stumble backwards. i web him stomach, jumping over him and flipping, pulling the web to make him go flying over me, hitting the ground with a groan. i glance at the 2 teenagers, who were on the ground, watching everything happen. "god dammit!" i yell, feeling 2 sharp knifes slicing my stomach and my shoulder. "i swear i'm never learning from my mistakes!" i yell to myself, turning quickly around to them.

i jog over to them, and they quickly stand up. "i'm just realizing the irony in saying this but... don't hit people," i say, pointing at them. they let out a laugh, and i stretch my back. "you guys alright? need a walk home?" i ask. "i think we're good from here, thanks spider-woman," the boy says. 

"attention units, break in situation at FEAST shelter. witness reported location at chinatown."

my heart starts pounding, and i turn around, jumping and webbing to a street lamp, forgetting about the pain in my body from the adrenaline. swinging as fast as i can get there, dropping in front of the building that was on fire. i use my arm to push the doors open, not slowing down my speed. i look around, seeing bunk beds flipped over, blood on floors, windows smashed.  "MAY?! MAY, WHERE ARE YOU?!" i dodge through empty bunk beds, making my way upstairs, skipping 4 steps at a time.

i run into may's office, seeing her lay on the floor. "MAY!" i yell, falling beside her. her hand pushes herself up slowly, coughing loudly. she stands up, and i follow her up. "may, may, i'm here," i say, wrapping my arms around her. she hugs back, body shaking. "are you okay? i came here as fast as i could." "uh huh, uh huh," she says, distressed with heavy panting. we let go, and may stumbles. my hand goes to her back, holding her up. "it's okay... you're okay, right?" i ask, looking at her as her hand goes to her forehead. "uh huh," she replies again, giving me a smile. "i'm so sorry may, i should've come sooner, i just had some dickheads mugging 2 teenagers on their way home," i say, shaking my head and holding my waist. "no... no, don't say that," she says, shaking her head at me. "you did the right thing. they could've been killed, you did the right thing." "i should've came to you." may shakes her head, breathing still heavy.

her hand goes to my shoulder, slightly shaking it. "this isn't my responsibility may... they should've taken an uber, who goes out at eleven o'clock as a 15 year old-" "no- no, no, y/n. you listen to me. you have a gift. you have power," she stares into my eyes, her bloody hands on my chest, "and with great power... there must also come great responsibility, hm?" she hums. i stare at her, nodding. "yeah i know," i mumble. "let's get... out of here..." she manages to whisper, nodding towards the entrance. "okay, okay, let's go." 

we start to walk out, but she slows down, touching my back. i turn around. "let me just... catch my breath." she stares at her bloody hands, looking at me before falling to the ground. i follow her, my hand going to the back of her head. i take off my mask, staring at her. "what happened? are you okay?" i ask, cupping her cheeks. "yeah..." she breaths out. "yeah, you're okay. what happened?" i ask, furrowing my eyebrows. she gives me a smile. "just have to... catch my breath," she whispers. "okay, well catch your breath, i'm right here," i assure, nodding, "we're gonna take our time, and catch our breath and... we'll take you to a doctor, okay?" i say, brushing my hand through her messy hair as i hear multiple police cars. 

i move back, looking at her stomach. i press my hand to it, taking it off. i stare at my bloody hands, looking at may. "are you okay?" she asks. i look up, seeing multiple cops outside the flaming building. "somebody help! we need an ambulance, please! somebody!" i look back at may. "what... happened?" she whispers, tears falling from my eyes. "nothing's happening. you're okay, you're okay," i say, moving my thumb back and forth on her cheek, nodding. she nods back, staring still at me. "just need to... catch my breath..." she repeats. i nod, "i'm right here, i'm right here," i say, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "we're okay... it's just me and you."

may stares blankly beside me. i stare at her, freezing. "...may?" i examine her face, furrowing my eyebrows. "may?" i repeat. "will you look at me, may? please? may?" i shake her head softly. "may?" and again. "what're you doing, may? please, will you just wake up and talk to me, please?" i look up, seeing happy's car now outside the building. he stares at me, 3 lasers pointed at him. he looks at the cops, putting his hands up. "OUT OF THE VEHICLE! MOVE, MOVE!" they aim the guns at him, yelling.

he gets pulled out of the car, getting slammed onto the hood of it, hands behind his back. i turn back to may, rubbing her cheek again. "it's just me and you..." i whisper. "Y/N! RUN!" i press my lips to her forehead, "i'm so sorry... i'm so sorry, i'm so, so, so, sorry..." i whisper, looking at her again. "RUN!" happy yells. gunshots firing, i jerk back as one shoots me in the shoulder. i slowly stand up after picking up my mask, watching them push happy away. 

olivia's pov

i look up at the tv, watching the news that seemed to fill the break in between my show. "spider-woman seen at FEAST shelter in chinatown- 1 confirmed death so far..." i turn out the rest, mouth open as footage of y/n was shown, crouched beside may, with her mask off.

iris runs into the living room, and i look up at her. "you- you saw the news, right?" she asks, walking over to me. "yeah, yeah, i saw it." i say, picking up my phone. i go to messages, texting y/n.

y/n's pov

"tragedy... what else can i call it? what more need be said, the damage, the destruction, you saw it with your own eyes, when will people wake up and realize that everywhere that spider-woman goes, chaos and calamity pursue? everything spider-woman touches... comes to ruin. and we... the innocents,  are left to pick up the pieces." i stare up at the large billboard, holding my mask as rain drops and slides down my face. "j. jonah jameson reporting. goodnight, and god help us all."

2 DAYS LATER

this was it. this is where everything goes wrong. everyone knows who i am, aunt may's gone, there's nothing i can do about it. all the attention i didn't want... i got.

i sit at the top of wilshire, having not checked my phone ever since the incident. i hold back the tears, looking at the mask in my hand. my stomach rumbles a little as i haven't eaten in two days, not being home either. 

i shake my head, letting out a deep sigh and closing my eyes.