• Perfect Strangers •

Chapter Nine

Peters PoV

Holding the championship trophy, I stand in the middle of the group, Michelle stood to my left side whilst Flash stands to my right, Mr Harrington takes the photo with a bright, proud smile plastered on his face "You guys..." he smiles as he looks at the photo I look to Ned who's smiling "Wow a whole school trip not gone wrong with your attraction to danger." Michelle hums as she leans down next to me I scoff "I can have normal days" I retaliate back, hearing her hum she taps her jaw "And your not going to go out swinging about Washington tonight? Your actually going to celebrate with us?" She asks, staring at her I clear my throat "Come on... swinging is like.. a daily thing you gotta do. It's like walking a dog..." I smile sheepishly, hearing her laugh as Ned approaches us I gesture to him "swinging is an absolute daily necessity, right?" I ask, watching him nod he looks at Mj dead in the eye with a serious face "He gets all anxious and jittery if he doesn't get his daily swing in. It's honestly terrifying." He says seriously before laughing, I roll my eyes as we walk towards the coach "you guys don't understand." I mumble.

Pulling my mask on I stand at the edge of the hotel rooftop, the wall surrounding the pool area overlooking the brightest part of Washington "You sure you don't want to come celebrate with us? I know I hate human contact but 'it's going to be fun' said Ned." Looking over my shoulder at Michelle I scowl "How did you get into the penthouse?" I ask, watching her hold up the key card I laugh "Sly." I hum, sitting on the edge of the wall I pull my mask up "yeah, I don't really want to deal with Flash's need to be feel superior. Plus I like swinging around Washington, makes Queens look like garbage." I explain, watching her shrug she sits next to me "It's not as if you have to protect Washington thought. At some point swinging around all night must get lonely and tiresome." She responds, looking down at the city I hum "yeah I guess. I mean I always have Karen to talk to, she's got a good sense of humour for an AI." I laugh, flinching when Michelle punches me in the shoulder "Wow what a bummer it would be if I was offered a ticket out of this celebration to swing around Washington DC." She says in a unenthusiastic and sarcastic tone, laughing I lean forward "you don't want to go to the celebration?" I ask, hearing her scoff I smile "I thought you didn't like human contact" I smile, watching her roll her eyes she shoves me "there are some exceptions." She says "I'm flatte-.." I begin as she laughs she stands on the edge "Don't get cocky Parker, I like the rush of swinging around." She says, smiling I pull my mask down before jumping up to my feet and offering my hand out to which she takes before wrapping her arms around my neck, I wrap mine around her waist "you like the rush?" I ask, inching towards the very edge of the building I tilt my head "Like this rush." I smile before pushing myself backwards off of the building, her arms tighten around my neck.

Raising my right arm midair, I shoot a web to another building before swinging through the city, hearing her laughs echo through the space between the buildings and into my ears I smile "This rush! This feeling! The best bit about being Spider-Man!" I shout into her ear as we swing past civilians who are in awe at my appearance in Washington "Aside from saving people of course!" I add in, hearing her laugh again I exhale, the feeling of the moderately warm air hitting my skin, making it seem as if it was cold due to the pressure. The sounds of cars passing and people talking, beeping and distant sounds of people busking down along the streets. Everything you hear when your in queens, is brought to life more here.

Karen is usually enough for me. But she's right,'sometimes it gets lonely and tiresome talking to someone you know cannot be personified. Which is what made this whole thing better. It was incredible enough that I was swinging through Washington with Michelle Goddamn Jones - having her laughing and enjoying what I do on a daily basis just topped it all off.

Landing on top of a roof with her, i step back, exhaling as my chest heaves. Looking up at her, I laugh at her hair which is crazy "You look like you've seen some intense stuff." I joke, hearing her laugh as she presses her hair down I breath "You look like a nerd." She retaliates, her trademark nickname for me "I am a nerd." I hum, looking at the time I inhale "Damn, we've been swinging for like two hours." I chuckle, watching her look at her own watch I look to the hotel building opposite the building her stood on "This was way better then that celebration" she scoffs as she hangs on to me I swing up to the penthouse apartment of the hotel "It always is." I smile.

Pulling on a random sweater as I exit the bedroom, Ned walks into the penthouse and looks to Mj who's sat on the couch eating a packet of crisps "You didn't come to the celebration!" He whines as he walks over to Mj she raises her hands and laughs "Dammit you guys went swinging again didn't you. Your like... swing-junkies!" He says as he points to us both I laugh "it's exhilarating. You can't blame her for the rush." I shrug as I walk into the kitchen he sits next to Mj "It's insane" she adds in, causing Ned to snarl as he slouches into the couch I drop a bag of crisps in his lap before slouching next to him "I'll need lots of compensation for this. Like, when I wanna go to the movies or like on a trip somewhere. You can't bail on me and use the excuse 'cause I'm spider-man', deal?" Ned asks as he turns to me I shake his hand "Deal. For a whole month." I say with a smile, He fist pumps the air before going onto his phone to browse new movies coming to the cinemas, I laugh quietly to myself.