Chapter Text
I faked being ill and went home, well, I didn’t really fake it. I just couldn’t tell the office I had been flung at a wall multiple times and I’m probably concussed. I was sitting in my room, formulating a plan, the safest route. I can’t let Nat get hurt, no matter what, but I can’t let this gang continue. So I had to find a way to keep Nat safe and catch the gang. Easy enough, right?
Wrong, completely wrong. Maybe I’m too concussed but every plan I thought through ended up horribly. Before I could even stop myself, I fell asleep, nightmares and flashbacks flooding my mind…
-
I did it!! I’d defeated Green Goblin, after all this time, I finally did it!! Green Goblin had almost blown up the church but I took him down. Luckily Laura Lee isn’t here, I didn’t see her with everyone else, so she must just be at home sick or something- at least that’s what I thought until I saw Mrs Lee’s panicked and teary face. She rushes over to me and I can feel the anxiety filling my body.
“My daughter!! She went to the back to grab supplies for the children- did you save my daughter-?!”
My blood ran cold, I didn’t even think to check the backroom… How could I be so stupid?! I don’t reply, I immediately swing back into the building. My ears are ringing and my body aches but I ignore it all, I rush through what remains of the church and into the backroom. A rush of anxiety and guilt immediately shocks my body as I see her…
Laura Lee is sitting leant against a wall, she's severely burnt and blood runs down from her mouth. She’s buried in heavy debris and she’s barely conscious. I push my body forward and pull all the rubble and rocks off of her. She was smiling, she’s dying and she’s still smiling.
“It’s okay Lottie…”
I look at her, the eyes of my suit widening. What…?
“It’s going to be okay…”
Her voice is so weak, her eyes are drifting closed. No no no.
“You’re not alone Lottie. It’s going to- Its…”
She can’t finish her sentence before I get all of the heavy debris off of her. No no no. I cradle her body. Wake up Laura Lee, please wake up. I’m so sorry, please just open your eyes. Please Laura Lee, I can’t do this without you…
-
I suddenly sat up, breathing heavily as my body was covered in sweat. I sighed as I calmed down, I had fallen asleep around 5 and by the looks of outside, It was around 2am. Maybe earlier, maybe later. But it didn’t matter, I could get in some patrol now I had my… soothing nap. I could also keep thinking about the plan while on patrol.
Tonight was nothing special, a few muggings, a few shop robberies. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary. I don’t know what Nat did earlier but my god, I felt so much better. I’m in a lot less pain then I’d usually be in, thank the lord for the hands of Natalie Scatorccio. In a none kinky way- of course-
I got back from patrol decently early and tried to get some more sleep in, though I mainly ended up formulating a plan for tomorrow night. It needed to be perfect or so much more could go wrong… and I can’t afford anymore sleepless nights.
-
Thursdays. I hated Thursdays, why? Because that’s the day my loving parents actually decide they want to be parents. I go downstairs and they’re already at the dinner table having breakfast. I awkwardly sit with them and eat my “parentally approved” breakfast, which is a bowl of some shitty cereal cause they think I should “watch my figure”. What absolute bullshit, I’m literally half spider and even though I can’t actually tell them that, They know I’m on a football team anyways.
“So, Charlotte”
My dad speaks up, here we go.
“The school tells me you’ve been falling asleep in class a lot.”
“I know I’m-”
“I don't want to hear your apologies. Just don’t let it happen again, fall asleep elsewhere for all I care. Just don’t have your school calling me 24/7, I was in the middle of an important meeting.”
I glance at my mum, she’s in her own world. She always is. I just mumble an apology and continue to eat. I’m used to both of their neglect, his words don’t hurt me as much as they did when I was younger. Sure, they still sting, but I can hide that. I don’t want him to see what he’s saying actually has an effect on me.
I eventually finish my bland cereal and go to school. I tend to zone out more on Thursdays, thoughts overwhelmed by my parents visit. None of it really matters anyways, my main focus is finding Nat and telling her the plan for tonight. It’s as perfect as I could get it. She goes in with her phone on call with me, in her pocket obviously, and she just asks subtle questions about his own supplier- saying she’s interested in helping out- which obviously isn’t true. Hopefully, he gives her some info and she can leave. I can follow the lead, bust the gang, get them all arrested, everyones a winner!! Except them, obviously.
I ask Nat to meet me in the janitor's closet at lunch and luckily she does. I explain the plan to her and she looks excited, I can’t tell if it’s the secrecy and possible adrenalin rush or just feeling useful. Though, I doubt she’d admit to either of them. She’s gave me the motel number and the time she’s planning on going, even the dealer's “stage name”. How stupid.
Later that night, I had to suffer a long and awkward dinner with my parents (my dad jabbling comments at me or Spider-woman) before I excused myself as I was tired after a long school day, to which they called me dramatic but I left anyway. Once I knew they were asleep themselves, I snuck out in my suit.
I stood on top of the building next to the motel and waited for Nat to ring me. Once she did, I immediately muted myself and started to record the call. I eventually saw her knocking on the door from a distance and entering the room. I don’t know how she does it, I’d rather die than meet some druggie in a motel in the middle of the night, special abilities or not. I heard the two talking over the phone, what Nat wanted, money exchange, etc etc. She was so casual about it, I guess she has been doing this a while.
Then Nat started to ask the questions. My spidey senses grew stronger as the man became agitated by how persistent Nat was. From Nat’s voice, she showed no fear. I didn’t want to run in and risk my only shot at getting this information but- my blood went cold as I heard struggling and breaking over the phone. My body felt the same way it did exactly on that day… I didn’t hesitate, I pulled my mask down and swung over to the motel room, kicking the door down.
I expected the worst, I expected to see Nat being thrown about by this massive thug. I expected her to be dead. But, to my relief, she wasn’t. I was slightly shocked by what I was seeing, Nat had the guy against the wall with a pocket knife close to his throat. Her teeth were gritted as she breathed heavily, obviously still high from the adrenalin rush and anger.
“You’re workin with Spider-woman now?!”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Nat pressed the knife closer to his throat. I webbed the man to the wall, getting ready to try and calm down an angry Nat.
“Nat… It’s alright, put the knife down-”
She hesitated but sighed as she lowered the knife, still keeping it clutched in her hand. I knew Nat was tough but jeez, nobody could’ve prepared me for this. I’m going to ignore all the little lesbian alarms ringing in my head and actually focus on the task at hand.
“Alright, I want you to tell us who supplies for you”
The man looked panicked, frantically looking around.
“You don't get it-!! I can’t just tell you-!!”
I go to reason with him but have no time as Nat rolls her eyes and presses the knife onto his throat. Did the room suddenly get hotter-??
“Listen here, we don’t have all night. Just tell us who supplies you with your shitty drugs.”
“If I tell you, we’re both dead.”
“Oh fuck off with your typical mafia family bullshit, don’t think because Spider-woman is here I won’t hesitate to slit your throat.”
The man looked over at me and I just shrugged and looked the other way. I hated resorting to stuff like this, It felt wrong- but from what I heard on the call, he was the one who initiated the attack soooo-
“Fine fine… I’ll tell you”
He kept it vague, shockingly enough. He gave us one measly name and that was it. All the information he gave was somewhat useless and I was still recording it all so I wouldn’t forget anything important. Then he said something that did actually worry me.
“But they’re everywhere… You don’t understand, you’re both already dead. Especially since they know your name.”
The guy looked at Nat, my heart beat fast, I knew I shouldn’t have dragged Nat into this. What am i gonna do if- …Is Nat giggling?!
“I’M NOT FUCKING KIDDING!!”
The man yelled at Nat, to which she giggled more.
“No no- i get it, i get it-”
I blankly stared at her, to which she looked back, still giggling her heart away. Somehow, it calmed my anxiety watching her be so carefree about this. And Nat’s tough, If someone did come after her, I’d be able to save her and she has the self defence skills. We called the police and left the guy there, still screaming at us as we left. Nat was somehow still giggling.
“You’re insane”
I laughed as I walked her home, she sadly refused to swing but I 1000% wanted to walk her home. Though I would’ve loved to see her face while we swung around the dimly lit city…
“Tell me something I don’t know”
We laughed together and talked as I walked her home, to the trailer park. I still had those anxious thoughts at the back of my head, screaming at me to protect Nat and how it’ll be my fault if she died but for once, I ignore them. I don’t feel lonely for the first time in ages. We arrive back at her trailer and we can hear the TV blaring, Nat’s face drops a bit as she hears this. She tries to change her expression quickly, not wanting me to notice, but I definitely notice.
“Well, this was super fun, Spider-lady”
I raise an eyebrow at the nickname.
“Spider-woman.”
“Spider-lady’s more fun to say, and now that I’m officially your partner in stopping crime, I’m allowed to give you a special nickname the world will never know”
I roll my eyes and laugh a little.
“Sure, whatever”
Nat stares at me for a minute, she wants to do something, I can see it. But before she can, the door behind her opens. I quickly swung to the side, I didn’t think she’d want to explain to her parents why Spider-woman had walked her home… I suspect she’d snuck out anyway. A tall man comes out the doorway and grabs Nat harshly by the arm, yelling at her as he drags her inside. Nat’s confidence is starting to make a bit more sense… But I’m not going to make assumptions. It’s not my place, if she wants to talk, I’ll always listen. It’s the least I can do for the position I've put her in.
I swing home, sneaking inside and getting changed into my pjs. I lay down and the anxiety I had been pushing down because of Nat’s presence had festered and was now filling my entire body. I tried to sleep but every single dream was a nightmare. Nat in Laura Lee’s place. Her bleached hair covered in dirt and her own blood, her mouth oozing her own blood. Except she didn’t tell me it was going to be okay, she told me she hated me. It was my fault. I killed her. I was alone.
I was always going to be alone.