Photos of "Unrequited" Passion

Chapter Three: Discovery!

Being in a hospital has never been one of my favorite places to be, but it happens more than you'd think. In this rare instance, I had to stay in the hospital for a week or so. Aunt May visits often because she's retired, but each time she comes in she talks about how she's worried about the life that I'm living and how it's too dangerous. She's not wrong at all, but she doesn't even know the worst. Today, Wednesday, I got a letter from work in the form of a get well card. People from around the office signed it and gave me their best wishes, all that sappy stuff. A few names were missing, but a notable one is Triple J's himself. I looked on every side of the card, but no J made an appearance, especially three J's. Not sure why, but the lack of those J's upset me a bit. He's nothing more than my boss, so i don't need to think about it much, right? If he was more than my boss, maybe, maybe he would have written something on the card. Or maybe even his own card. Having not seen him as regularly as I'm used to, maybe I just miss this loud and abrasive personality that makes work interesting. Yea, that's why i miss him.

They say that if you speak of the devil, he comes. WELL. It just so happens that triple J decided to make a small visit to my hospital room. A nurse brings him in while I sit there reading one of the books May brought me.

"Boss? What are you of all people doing here?"

"I figured I could drop by and see how my VIP is doing."

With that, I remembered that he missed work on Monday, the day I was supposed to give him more Spidey pictures of a special variety. Remembering this made me feel a bit weird, maybe even a little scared? This man was known for getting aggressive when he doesn't get what he wants.

"Well uh.. I never knew big man Jameson himself had an ounce of care in his body."

(Aunt May) "He cared enough to come visit, so be kind to him! He still is your boss after all."

"Oh nonsense, Parker's just doing some usual workplace banter (laughter). But if you could, can I get a moment alone with him?"

"Go right ahead sweetheart, I've seen him for long enough. I'll be going now, make sure to take care of yourself."

She kissed my forehead and made her way out, closing the door behind her, and leaving me alone with the mustachioed supervisor. I knew right away he wanted her to leave so we could talk about the pictures, so I braced myself accordingly.

"Look i'm really sorry i can't get those pictures to you, i don't have many extra and they're all at my house, please just give me some more ti---"

Jameson held his hand up, motioning for me to stop. He moved a chair next to the hospital bed. I stared, waiting for a response from him about the photos.

"You know, for all the time you've been working at the bugle, I've always been after the menace, but over time I've grown to appreciate him more and in turn you, peter--- I UH mean Parker. And because of that I can finally accept my feelings about you and that wall crawling menace that you are."

I looked at him in shock.

"How do you know???"

"I think deep down I always knew, but recently I've started putting the dots together. The bruises, the stab injury, the uh.... Well anyway. It was all too coincidental. It couldn't be true, I knew there was this deep burning passion for you AND that spidery menace you are. I never knew that same passion could be taken from hate, and be turned into something else. A feeling I didn't expect blossomed, a feeling that I didn't expect."

No words left me, my employer, a man who i've feared for ten years now, and the man i've sold lewd pictures to, knows my secret identity. My feelings are a roller coaster, feeling so many things at once i didn't know what to do or say. Yet, I began to say things anyway.

"Why are you telling me all this? You could reveal me to the whole world and finally do what you've always dreamed of, getting back at Spider-man for all he's done to the city."

"I could, I could.... But I think.... I've grown to respect Spider-man and what he does, not to mention that glorious ass...."

My face turned beet red.

"oH yea still trying to get used to that, hhh... "

"Well I uh. What does this mean for the future? Are things not gonna be awkward between us? I mean, I kinda gave you those pictures, you paid me, and you didn't know they were really of me... (Panicked) I-I think we should stop this---"

"Are you sure? I don't want this to sound weird or anything but.. Did you not like taking those pictures?"

I froze, I did everything in my power to avoid this question myself. I never wanted to think about it, but i'm certain there's a level of enjoyment here. Was I an exhibitionist? It can't be avoided, every time i think about it i have to suppress certain feelings so that i don't just get... yea.

"It's not that i don't enjoy it, I just... I don't know how to feel about all this. Are you really okay with getting pictures like that, knowing that it's me under the mask?"

"I'm only okay with it if you are."

"I'm totally okay with it, i think. All this time I've just been trying to not think about it much, trying to hide the fact from myself that I might... Have uh.... Certain feelings towards you and all of this. At first I was weirded out but after I took the pictures i... I haven't thought of you the same since."

Just before he could respond, a nurse walked in to check if I needed anything, I politely said no and she walked out. JJJ saw this as a good time to leave, saying his goodbyes.

"I'm glad we could talk Parker, i'll see you at work whenever you're better. Try to not be such a menace once you're out, don't want you hurting your back again."