Chapter Text
Being alone wasn’t new to you. You spent almost every day alone unless you were at work. Even then, you didn’t consider your coworkers anything more than just people you worked with.
In the end, you were truly alone. It didn’t bother you you were at peace with it. Until you weren’t anymore.
The holidays were soul-crushing. Seeing families and avoiding Christmas movie reruns on television was impossible. No matter how much you tried to avoid it, it only made it worse.
It was Christmas Eve, only an hour till midnight. You sat on the edge of the roof of your building. Looking down at the bustling city, your scarf and jacket clung tight to your cold skin.
You had lost all feeling in your cheeks and nose an hour ago.
The view from where you sat was beautiful, nothing would ever make you tired of it. You hadn’t even noticed that it began snowing. The white flurries landed on your lap and you smiled.
You tugged at the beanie on your head, hoping it covered all of your hair. The last thing you needed was for your hair to get wet from the snow and make you sick. Missing work wasn’t an option if you wanted to continue living in New York City, even if your apartment was awful and your landlord was a dick.
White smoke emerged from your lips as you rubbed your hands together in a horrible attempt to warm yourself up.
“You’re going to catch a cold if you stay up here.” A voice called out from behind you.
Jumping slightly at the voice, your turned your head. A man in red and blue spandex stood on the other side of the roof. Slowly he walked over.
You knew who it was, Spiderman. He was all over television, newspapers, and even social media. While seeing him was shocking what surprised you more was that even on Christmas Eve, he was working. Almost everyone had someone to go home to, why was Spiderman not with them.
“The cold doesn't bother me, I should say the same thing. That spandex doesn't look insulated.” You point out. He looks down and holds his hands out. “Honestly can't feel a thing,” Spiderman walks over.
He stops before reaching you, what shocks you is that he throws himself down sitting off on the side. Just in arms reach.
“Now why are you up here? It’s suspicious of you.” He points out how dangerously close you were to potentially fall off.
It didn’t register to you at first.
“Oh. It’s not what it looks like. I come up here pretty often.” You panicked as you waved your hands. If you could see underneath his mask, you were sure he raised an eyebrow, not believing you.
“You probably shouldn’t, you'll ruin someone's Christmas. Imagine that?” He motioned for you to fall with his hands and mimicked the sound of your body hitting the pavement.
“I already told you that I wasn’t. Now drop that before I do out of spite.” You glared at him.
Spiderman crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. Even though you couldn't see, you could still guess that he did. Wasn’t hard to, especially with how he teased you.
“Why are you up here bothering me? I was having the time of my life before you ruined it.” You scooted back just enough to bring your knees up to your chest.
The cold was beginning to get unbearable and maybe curling up would conserve more body heat.
“Should be saying the same for you.” He tilted his head towards you.
“I have no one to be with and the view is better here than from my apartment downstairs.” You didn’t bother looking back at him.
“You live here?” He sounded shocked. You weren’t sure why it mattered. “How else would I have gotten up here?” You shook your head.
“You could’ve broken into the building,” He pointed out. You stared at him in disbelief.
“Then I’d be a criminal, the worst kind. Trespassers.” You faked a gasp.
“We’d have to bring the big guns in, the Avengers.” Spiderman nodded his head.
“We wouldn’t want that.” You stated and he repeated after you.
“So Spiderman, I answered your question so answer mine. Why are you up here?” Not bothering to look over at you, you waited for your answer.
“Well, I am the Spiderman, a crime-fighting spider man.” You knew he was lying, there was no outside to even commit crimes on Christmas.
“I’ll take over your job. I’m sure I can do a mighty fine job while you celebrate your Christmas.” You flexed your no existent muscles. He gasped as if they were the most impressive muscles he had ever seen.
You dropped your arm back down to your side.
“Same as you.” He paused before continuing. “I have no one to go to,” He mumbled the last part and you almost didn’t catch it.
“Good thing you picked this rooftop then, now you won't spend your Christmas Eve alone.“ You smiled softly. He appreciated that more than you could ever know.
“What a coincidence,” He smiled back, completely forgetting about the mask.
“What are you doing?” He asked as he watched you unravel the scarf from around your neck. “You seem cold and I know that spandex is not keeping you warm.” You leaned overwrapping the scarf around him.
Leaving it loosely around his neck before sitting back down on your bottom.
“Think of it as a gift from me, Merry Christmas.” You smiled. He didn’t do anything as he tightly wrapped the scarf. Even going as far as covering his mask.
“Thank you,” He ran his hands against the black fabric and you smiled up at him.
“I think it’s time for me to go inside.” You said softly. Pulling your hoodie off of your head. He followed after you, now standing.
You pulled the beanie off your head. Reaching over on the tips of your feet. The beanie pulled onto his head thanks to you. His hands snaked around your waist as he held you still long enough to get it on.
“Merry Christmas, Spiderman.”
He was stuck. Frozen as he watched you walk across the roof back towards the door that led down the stairs. He wanted to say something, anything back to you but the words were lodged in his throat.
With your hand hovering over the doorknob for just a second, hoping that you would at least hear him acknowledge you one last time.
But he didn't, you pulled the door open and walked down. The second you swung it open, he reached out as if he was in reach to stop you.
You walked down the stairs, stopping at your floor. Practically rushing inside. You couldn’t believe that you had spoken to Spiderman, it felt unreal.
For as long as you could remember you didn’t think he was real. Sure there were videos and pictures to prove that he existed but it was different to see him for yourself.
Opening your apartment door, you peeled off your layers throwing them onto the chair.
Your apartment was a studio, all you could afford in Manhattan. Having run away from your family alone at seventeen was already heavy. With nothing but the savings you earned from a minimum wage job in your hometown, it was this or the streets.
It wasn’t all that bad besides the leaking kitchen faucet, the mildew on the bathroom walls that you couldn’t scrub off, and the creaking floor.
Anything was better than the place you used to call home. You threw yourself onto your bed, pulling the bedsheets up to your neck.
You drifted asleep staring at the half-dead Christmas tree you had bought. The man selling it had discounted it for you because no one else had wanted it.
Even though it was small and the branches were practically bare, you still loved it nonetheless. Maybe more than you should’ve because it only cost you five dollars instead of thirty.
The new morning came around quickly, you stretched before pulling your sheets back and getting up. Walking over to the kitchen, you grabbed an apple off the counter.
You rubbed it against your shirt to clean it before biting into it. Walking over to the bathroom still eating the apple to get ready for the day.
Though, you didn’t have work today because it was Christmas, you still wanted to go out.
It had snowed last night and you were excited to see the fresh snow.
After you were dressed you threw your coat out and left.
The streets were empty which was no surprise, everyone was still opening gifts and celebrating the morning.
You trudged your feet through the snow as you tried to think of positive things. Even if the negative thoughts were consuming you.
Before you had realized your feet guided you to Central Park. You snuggled your face into your coat and shoved your hands into your pockets.
The effects of the cold were starting to catch up after all you did give your hat and scarf to Spiderman. You’d just buy another one with your next paycheck, no big deal.
A snowball smacked the back of your head, you froze in place. Wanted to turn around and see who had thrown it but you were afraid to see.
“I’m so sorry,”
Turning around to see who had thrown it, a blonde woman with bangs rushed up. “It's fine,” You smiled at her.
“The name’s Mj,” She held her hand out for you to shake. You took her hand shaking it and introducing yourself. “I was aiming for my friend, Ned.” She pointed towards him. He waved awkwardly and you smiled.
“I’m sure you have to get going but it was nice meeting you.” Mj waved.
“Merry Christmas,” You yelled before walking off. It was entirely too cold so you began walking back. By now there were a few more faces in the streets. People were loading the streets with bags that were just wrapping paper.
Instead of going back into your apartment, you decided to go back up to the roof. Even if you were cold, the view was worth it. You walked up the stairs and shoved the roof door open with your body weight.
You groaned as you stumbled forward. To your surprise, there was someone already there.
Spiderman stood there with a box in his hands. He was wearing the beanie and scarf that you had given him last night.
“Oh, sorry.” You went to go back down.
“Wait,” His voice squeaked and he winced at the sound of his voice. You turned around.
“I have a gift for you.” He held the box forward towards you.
Walking over you smiled as you took kt from his hands. “You didn’t have to,” You said lowly.
“I wanted to, think of it as a token of my appreciation.” He shrugged his shoulders.
You carefully opened the box. Tissue paper covered the contents so you pushed them aside. On the bottom of the box, there was a matching set of gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
Smiling you balanced the box on one hand as you wrapped the scarf around your neck. Spiderman reached into the box, grabbing the beanie. He placed it onto your head, careful to not mess up your hair too badly.
“Thank you, Spiderman.” You smiled up at him.
“Stop it, I’m blushing.” He teased.
“Have you stopped any crime yet today?” You nudged him as you looked off into the city. Hugging the box close to your chest, afraid to drop it and lose the gloves.
“Yup, I punched some old man that was J-walking.” You knew he was joking so you decided to play along with him.
“Wow, the cities are definitely crime-ridden now.” You said sarcastically. “I know, might have to retire. Seem’s like my work here is done.” He walked to the edge of the building. Before you could process it, he walked off the edge of the building.
Your stomach sank and you immediately rushed forward to check.
Instead of seeing him on the ground, he was standing on the side of the building, staring up at you.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” You shouted.
“I'm sticky, did you forget?” He lifted his foot off the building, balancing on his left one. Even though you knew he was more than capable you still worried.
Spiderman had fought Thanos and you worried about him falling off the side of a building.
He held out his hand for you. “Are you crazy?” You told him. You weren’t sure if he playfully rolled his eyes at you because the mask covered his face but you were sure he did.
He crawled down so now he stood on the fire escape rather than the side of the building. Still holding his hand up for you.
“What about my gloves?” You still had the box close to your chest.
“Leave the box there, I’m sure no one’s going to come up here,” Spiderman said. You nodded your head, putting down the box on the roof.
Stepping up on the edge, you looked down at him. You weren’t sure about this.
“I’ll catch you,” His hands were held out.
“Can’t you come to get me?” You chuckled nervously.
He shook his head. “Now what’s the fun in that?” He yelled up.
You gulped as you rubbed your hands across your pants before you took a step off the ledge.
Spiderman caught you just like he told you.
“We’re never doing that again.” Your voice was shaky.
“I’ll have that noted.” He wrapped his arm around your waist. Before you could say anything he took off, sending his web-shooting to another building.
You screamed, wrapping your arms around his neck.
Swinging through the city was something you didn't have for today’s itinerary. You clung to him tight in fear of falling. “I got you,” He yelled.
Just as he said that he let go of you, thankfully your tight grip around him saved you from falling. “Are you crazy?” You screamed.
“I’m joking,” You could feel the vibrations from his chest as he laughed.
“It’s not a funny joke,” You told him. Spiderman landed on the Empire State Building.
“It was a little funny,” He shrugged his shoulders. “I think I’m going to pass out.” Your legs wobbled as you stood back up.
He held you up by your shoulders as you regained your footing.
“Now, that we’re never doing that again.” You panted.
“The views are worth it,” He guided you over towards the railing. You looked over, amazed at how you could see everything from up here.
It was like nothing you had ever seen before. “Never gets old,” He smiled as he watched your wide glossy eyes fill with excitement.
“It’s so beautiful,” You gushed.
There was nothing like sharing his greatest gifts with others. Especially you, he had quickly grown fond of you in such a short time.
After he promised he was done with caring for others because it only brought more harm and pain to everyone around.
Plus no one remembered who Peter Parker was anymore so he didn’t have to actively unfriend anyone.
The Empire State building was closed for the day being that it was Christmas so the both of you camped up there. He had even swung down to find something to eat. But since everything was closed he only
managed to score a hot dog from a street vendor.
You had no complaints, the cold hotdog was amazing on an empty stomach.
It was getting pretty late which meant it was time for him to take you back home. He would go off and fight crime, which is exactly what he said.
“Thank you for today and the gifts.” The box was still where you left it this morning. The only difference was that it was soggy but the glove’s were still inside and that's all that mattered.
“It was my pleasure, madam.” He bowed and you shook your head.
“Stay safe, Spiderman.” You said before he took off.
Just like the previous night, you entered your apartment. Throwing your layers somewhere in your apartment. Tomorrow you would deal with the consequences of being lazy but right now you wanted to warm up.
Before you could get up and turn off the light, you had already fallen fast asleep.
The sun shining into your apartment is what woke you up the next morning. You rolled over checking the time on the clock, it was eight o’clock. That was the time you were supposed to be at work.
Jumping up you and rushing out of bed, the covers followed behind you but you were in too much of a rush to care. Your alarm had completely failed you.
Throwing together an outfit fast and finishing up in the bathroom, you grabbed everything you needed before heading out.
You rushed down the stairs not paying attention, you bumped into someone, nearly knocking you down but they grabbed you before you could hit the ground.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” You fumbled with your words.
Bending down you grabbed your keys that had fallen and readjusted your scarf.
“No worries, have I seen you before?” He asked.
You looked up at him. You slowly shook your head, he was in the same building as you and you hadn’t seen him.
“I don’t think so, do you live here?” You furrowed your eyebrows. He nodded his and point up, you took it as he meant upstairs.
“It’s weird, I thought I knew everyone that lived here.” You shook your head.
“My name is Peter Parker,” He held his hand out. You shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Peter. Glad to have another friendly face around here.” You had already forgotten you were late to work.
“You care to catch some coffee?” He asked you. Your eyes widened once you remembered.
“I’m actually late to work, I hope to see you later.” You yelled back as you ran out of the building and down the street.