Something Immortal

Unforgettable

        You decided that today was the day that you were going to tell Peter that you knew his secret. After seeing in the newspaper over and over again the good deeds that he did, you wanted to let him know just how you felt about him. Slowly, you were falling for him again, and it made you happier with each passing day.

It wasn't a sudden realization as it had been a long time ago, but rather it dawned on you like a sunrise, slowly lighting up your heart. It happened while you went to visit him at his PI office a few days earlier. The two of you had been chatting and he had excitedly announced to you that he had gotten some business. After a bit longer, he'd pulled out his guitar and the two of you had sung off-key to his radio as he strummed along. Of course, both of you could sing well, but it was funnier to sing badly on purpose. When you saw the light in his eyes, that's when you knew that you were starting to love him again.

"You make a good canary, Doll," he chuckled. "When I saw you up on that stage, every single man had their lamps on you and it made me feel very evil. A dame like you sure attracts lots of crumbs, sadly enough. But a looker like you deserves better. A lot better. You deserve a man that has some dough, who is dizzy with you even after years."

At this, you laughed. "But what if I don't want a rich man, Pete? What if I want a guy who thinks he's just some average Joe but is actually quite extraordinary? What if it's not the money I want, but the personality? Heck, half the rich men in town are eggs or grifters, Pete. I'm not going to deal with that."

Right then, you had wanted to tell him so badly that you still wanted him, but you were sure that he had figured out that you had lost your feelings. He'd stopped talking about memories that he had of the both of you, and he'd started to put himself down. At least, that's the message you were getting. You hoped it was just the pressure of trying to find another job, but you also figured that it was something much more than that. Something was going on, perhaps in his superhero career, that was causing him to feel extra down.

Today, you and your mother had made some cake, so you decided that inviting him over for that would be a good way for you to start the conversation. You'd tried to call, but he hadn't answered. This made you think that he and May must've had to end their phone payments to make due.

"Hey Pete," you greeted him when he opened the front door. "What to come over for some all the way? It's pretty nobby right now."

He gave a small smile. "Sure, Doll. Just let me tell May where I'm going."

You heard him walk into the back and start talking to May. After a few more moments, he came back out. The both of you walked to your house.

"So, I left you a few dil-ya-bles. Why aren't ya answering, Pete?" you asked him.

"Had to cut off," he grunted, shrugging. "I've got the few cases I'm hired to do and that's it. Can't even earn more than a five spot a day."

"Well, that's all wet. What's happening with other businesses? Aren't they hiring?"

"No. Everyone's struggling, Doll. I'm not the only one." He started to mutter something about the government being incompetent.

You couldn't wait any longer. He had to know.

"Pete, you do have a second job and you deserve to be paid for it."

He looked at you in surprise. "What do you mean, Doll?"

You took a deep breath. "I know that you're the man..Spider-Man. It explains why you're always joed and how you always have the low down on all the crime in the city...You're actually the one killing business for yourself."

Peter began to look panicked. "Doll, this isn't good. You can't know. If you know, you become a target. I can't let that happen. I can't let you become a weakness."

"Pete, I'm not gonna go around saying that I know who you are. And, if things get rough, I can always hide out at the speakeasy with Buddy," you assured him. "Now shake a leg. That cake isn't going to wait."

Of course, Peter didn't seem completely convinced that you were going to be fine. He kept on expressing his worries as the two of you continued to walk. You continued to give explanations to why you were going to be fine, though nothing seemed to assure him completely.

As you got to your door, you paused again. "Listen...Pete...I know that you might think that I seemed...spooked, when you told me that you loved me."

He shrugged. "I don't blame you, since you can't completely remember."

"But I still love you," you continued. "It doesn't matter to me that you're beat. It doesn't matter to me that you're the last person my father would want me to be with. I don't even care that you're a cement mixer."

This made Peter laugh. "That's very nice of you, Doll."

"I want you. All of you. Everything that's perfect about you and everything that's wrong with you. It's exactly what I want."

He suddenly pulled you in and gave you a kiss. You quickly kissed him back. It was something that was very long overdue. Two people that loved each other and kept on dancing around each other for years finally realizing that, yes, they were supposed to be together.

"You sure give a good honey cooler," he laughed.

"You too," you sighed. "Pete, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. Well, earlier as in years ago."

"I have the same thing to apologize for, Doll." He hugged you. "You mean the world to me, and I promise that I will never let you disappear like that again."

You grinned. "And I'm just glad that you're a pretty unforgettable person, Peter Parker."