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“We’re late, we’re late” repeated Spider-Man as he and Jackpot leapt over rooftops and cut through the crisp chill of October evening eon route to a restaurant, and a rendezvous with two people that neither of the two imagined would be happy to be held up.
“This ain’t Wonderland Tiger” Jackpot replied as the two touched down beside a tall dumpster in a nearby alleyway.
Spider-Man yanked off his mask to reveal the features of Peter Parker, as Jackpot removed her shades to reveal the kindly and exotically charmed face of one Mary Jane Watson.
The two scrambled for a pair of duffle bags stored inside of the dumpster, with just as much speed, they quickly unzipped the bags to reveal their contents...civilian clothing for the pair of them.
“Why did Anna and I agree to this? They’re gonna figure it out” Peter said aloud as he and Mary Jane hastily slipped out of their costumes.
“Stick to the plan Tiger, it’s all something we can look back on and laugh about when they’re thanking us for their babies” Mary Jane replied.
“Why doesn’t Paul know already? He’s your guy in the chair” Peter argued.
“He’s not chronically online Peter, besides none of this would have worked out if he were. We had a narrow escape when we changed back at Ravencroft. He had to go and make the Korma, missed the whole show”
“This is a really narrow alleyway, hardly one at all, you sure nobody’s taking a glance in our direction?”
“Your Spider-Sense would alert you wouldn’t it?” Mary Jane asked.
“Maybe it already is, maybe I want us to be caught” Peter said smugly, giving MJ a demented grin, MJ nudged his shoulder and pushed his face away from hers.
“We still pressed for time?” MJ asked.
“Shay sent me six texts” Peter replied.
“Guess we’re not that lucky” MJ remarked.
“Get a move on Tigres” said Peter.
The two stashed what was left of their costumes into the bags and dashed through the streets, crossing even before the traffic turned green. They made their way over to the restaurant and stopped just short of the entrance.
They glanced through the window to find Paul and Shay at their seats, making small talk between one another while studying their menus.
“Looks like they’re two steps ahead of us Pete” said MJ.
“Yeah, do they really need us to be there after all?” Peter asked.
MJ reached out and squeezed his hand. Peter tensed up.
“We sure you want to try again?”
“I’m unshackled Pete, have been since the kids...vanished, what I had with Paul was always Rabin’s magic, it took a while to fade, but...well, that’s what life’s about isn’t it? It all just fades away, and all that’s left is regret, and shame, the longing...strip it all away and...”
“...All that’s left is us” said Peter.
Mary Jane leaned over and kissed Peter on the lips.
“I thought we were still on a cheek-to-cheek basis?”
“Battlefield promotion Tiger” said MJ.
Peter wrapped his arm around MJs’
“We’d best not keep them waiting” Peter said
“Stick to the plan Pete...we’re to get them acquainted, then let ‘em down easy where we’re concerned, it’s going to take time, it won’t be easy to strip this all away....but this is about responsibility.”
“What makes this easier Red, is that by the end, all that’s left of it is us” Peter assured her
Arm in arm, they walked inside.