Electric Web (A Peter Parker Fanfiction)

Searching (Part 10)

Swearing, Descriptions of inner turmoil, Descriptions of getting kidnapped, Mentions of Astoria having a sad past but it's incredibly vague. Each chapter will have it's own warnings!! I am not an ER nurse, so I did my best, but I'm not an expert. I am but a girl with google. If I missed anything, let me know!

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Peter's P.O.V

After a solid 40 minutes of wall-crawling and snooping, I managed to get my hands on the employee file for that scientist who had disappeared, 'Elias Harding'. I'm more than thrilled to have his last name, and just slightly more information on him, even though this file is suspiciously redacted, just like the rest of them. Where am I going to get my hands on the originals?

Either way, I'm incredibly excited to tell Stori about what I found, and, honestly more excited to hear about all the information she managed to gather from people. It's fascinating, watching her speak to people. 

She doesn't like to talk about herself, at least not in detail. So, when someone asks her a question about herself, she answers vaguely, and asks them a question in return before they're able to process how little information she gave them. Her questions are always expertly selected, it seems. Entirely depending on the person she's talking to. 

With Aunt May, she'll say something thoughtful, and kind, and get her talking about cooking, and her favorite memories of Uncle Ben. With MJ, she asks about her work at the bugle, or about what her favorite topic to write about is. She picks it up with strangers, too. And, there's just something about her that makes people tell her everything, no matter how little information they get back. 

Most people don't seem to notice, unless it's MJ, used to being a reporter and having people void questions. Or, unless it's me, desperately wanting to know more about the woman I'm so fascinated by. I don't push, though, and the less I push, the more she seems to let slip. Her favorite movie, a memory of her mom, a place she would visit as a kid. Bits and pieces floating away before she realizes, and always caught before too much is shared. 

Anyways, I'm excited to hear about what she got people to divulge. If I could find her, that is. 

Almost 10 minutes pass of looking above the crowd, wandering by the desert table, waiting to see if she'll come out of the restroom, and sending text messages that are going unread. I scan over the crowd of people one more time, my phone open in my hand with the 5 unread messages I had sent her glowing back up at me. 

I manage to spot Aunt May and Mr. Li, talking in a large group, and with the same two women we met when we walked in. I head straight for them, greeting them with bright smiles, and Aunt May with a hug as I glance once more at the group, coming up empty when I don't see those familiar big brown eyes sparkling back at me. 

Where is she?

"Have any of you seen Astoria?" I glance between them, worry creeping it's way up my throat as I glance between the people around me. "I lost track of her awhile ago."

"No, not since you two got here," Aunt May shakes her head, followed by murmurs and agreements from the rest of the group that recognizes her name. I look at Martin, who shakes his head, giving me a small shrug as he sips from his drink. 

"Astoria," A woman I don't recognize speaks up, the name trailing off her tongue as if she's trying to remember. "She's the one with the dark hair and the red dress, right?"

"Yes!" I snap my fingers, pointing at her enthusiastically. Ah, thank god. "The nurse? Real pretty eyes?" Why did I say that? What is wrong with me. It's fine, I'm supposed to be her boyfriend right now, it's just...Acting. That's all.