Saving Grace

Fifty One

Peter sits across from May at the Thai restaurant, picking at his food. With Ned finding out about Spider-Man, just being Spider-Man on a day-to-day basis, and his reconnection with Grace — which is a good thing, but also presents the question of how does he talk to her without sounding like an idiot — he's got a lot on his mind.

May notices. "What's the matter?" she asks. "I thought you loved larb. It's too larby? Not larby enough? How many times do I have to say 'larb' before you talk to me?" She laughs a little. "You know I larb you."

Peter sighs. "I'm just stressed. I got the internship, and I'm tired. It's a lot of work."

"The Stark internship," May says. "I have to tell you, not a fan of that Tony Stark. You're distracted all the time... He's got you in your head."

Peter shrugs. "He's not so bad." May takes another bite of food, probably not wanting to reply to that. The topic, naturally, brings him back to Grace. Peter looks up from his food, deciding that he should tell her — not ask for advice, just... let her know. "I, uh... Grace and I are talking again, though."

To his surprise, May frowns. "When were you not talking? Did you guys get in a fight or something?" When he got home from Berlin, May asked him about the whole trip, and he told her that he and Grace had kinda become good friends — which wasn't exactly a lie.

Peter shakes his head at her question. "No, we just... we were both just busy, I guess. But she texted me today, and I'm pretty sure we're gonna... keep talking." A smile starts to grow on his face at the thought, his nervousness being overshadowed for a moment.

May smiles a knowing smile. "Do you larb her?"

Peter blushes deeply. "W-Well, I-I-"

But the TV behind May is playing the news, and the new anchor's report distracts him. "The beloved Queens' institution, Delmar's Sandwiches, was destroyed in an explosion-" May turns to see what Peter's looking at "-earlier tonight after an ATM robbery was thwarted by Queens' own colorful local crime-stopper, Spider-Man. As he attempted to foil their heist, a powerful blast was set off, slicing through the bodega across the street. Miraculously, no one was harmed."

When he first said Spider-Man, a picture of him — which may or may not be Peter — stepping out of a porta-potty pulling toilet paper off his foot popped up. But, then, it switched to security footage of the fight from the bank.

May looks back at Peter. "If you spot something like that happening, you turn, and you run the other way."

Peter swallows, nodding. "Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course."

May shakes her head in disbelief. "Six blocks away from us."

Peter sighs, remembering something else he needs to tell her. "I, uh, I need a new backpack, by the way..."

May cups her ear, pretending that she didn't hear him correctly. "What?"

"I need a new backpack," Peter repeats.

"That's five."

Thankfully, a waiter walks over and sets a plate in front of May. He doesn't even glance at Peter. "Sticky rice pudding."

May is surprised. "Oh, we didn't order that."

"It's on the house." He winks at her.

May smiles as he walks away. "Oh! Thanks." She looks at Peter. "That's nice of him."

Peter smiles a little, amused. "I think he larbs you."

May's mouth opens and she shakes her head. "Oh, no, I don't think so."