To Be A Hero | Peter Parker

04: "you really are a boy genius, aren't you?"

Song chapter:  my strange addiction by Billie Eillish

"Look out!"

I was pulled from my thoughts, and my phone, when I was suddenly jerked to the right, off of the street, and landed on my back on the sidewalk. There was a loud ringing in my ears from the sudden rush of blood to my head, and I ripped out my earbuds while I tried to shake off the whiplash I was feeling.

What just happened?

I tried to remember where I was going. Oh yeah, MJ's apartment. She offered to "doll me up" (Her words, not mine) before the party tonight. I obliged, not having anything else to do and wanting to be as far away from my mother as possible. I had all of my overnight necessities, including my suit in my backpack, although the cookies I brought were probably crushed now.

Someone's hand kept my head from slamming against the concrete. I felt another hand on my lower back with an arm wrapped around my waist. My eyes were still closed because I was too afraid to open them. The last time I saw blood didn't go so well, and I didn't know what to expect. I heard muffled screaming, it sounded like my name, but a voice didn't register. I realized now that my heart rate was through the roof and I could feel a thin layer of sweat start to develop on my forehead. 

Panic attack.

I refrained from opening my eyes still, thinking it would just make it worse. Tears slipped out of my closed eyes, an involuntary response. I always cried when I started panicking. It was embarrassing and irrational but I couldn't stop myself. My hands started shaking once they came up to cradle my face. The voice calling my name was getting louder, until it stopped and I felt myself being lifted up. And up. And up.

"Gwen!"

I opened my eyes but did not expect to see the New York City skyline in front of me. The car horns and the bustle of people on the street were nothing but whispers below me now, and it was the most peaceful moment I had since we moved here. The sun was setting and the sky was orange, signaling the end of a day and the beginning of a long night.

"You - you okay?" 

I'd know that stuttering anywhere.

I turned around slowly and looked at my savior, and it was exactly who I expected it would be. He just stood there, looking as exasperated as he possibly could with his face covered. His arms were stretched out on either side of my body to catch me in case I fell. 

The suit looked amazing up close, something only Tony Stark could make, no doubt. The red and blue complimented each other perfectly and his lenses widened as if his eyes did too. The small spider symbol on the front of his suit had a simple design. I had to wonder if the suit was all one piece, because there's no way it would look that tight in multiple pieces. The tightness actually made me wonder how he even got it on at all. He tilted his head at my lack of response, and his eyes shrunk. He must've been squinting at me. 

"Yeah, I'm okay... I think." I raised one eyebrow and waited for him to respond, because I needed to hear him talk again. I wouldn't voice my suspicions until I was 100% sure, but he was the right height and build. I rubbed my arms and pretended to be shaken up.

"Are - are you cold? Well, I don't have a jacket but I - I can take you someplace warm." He walked closer to me and held his arms out to me, assuming I would want to go with him. His spider - lenses widened again.