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Ever since May’s passing and Stephen’s spell had been enacted, Peter had a number of odd jobs and semi-stable employment the past few years.
Some were more sustainable than others.
A few had been interrupted or terminated due to his Spider-Man duties having gotten in the way.
And one of his recurring sources of income ironically actually benefited from his alter-ego’s presence in the city. Which led to his current surprise assignment he’d not been expecting when he’d gotten called this morning.
“And don’t go thinking this is me giving you special treatment or anything, you got that! The only reason I’m sending you is because Ms. Brant’s upstate covering another story, Robbie’s off sick, and you said you have an in with the guy before so he’ll likely open up more.” Jonah said as he led Peter to the elevator, walking past a number of desks all filled with employees and foot traffic that parted ways as Jonah walked through them with Peter at his side, still clutching his satchel.
“Right, of course, Mr. Jameson. And thank you again, really I appreciate this a lot-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, if I wanted to stand around and hear a bunch of brown nosing I’d eat lunch with Hoffman, just get there at one o’clock sharp.” Jonah said as he pressed the elevator button before turning back to Peter.
“And don’t lose that pass and the special exception form I managed to get, I had to call in a favor and if you lose it, tough luck. And don’t forget to stick to the questions outline I gave you, it has everything you’ll need to ask.”
Peter nodded in response as the elevator arrived.
“Remember, one o’clock.” Jonah said as Peter stepped into the elevator.
“And don’t forget the-”
“Photos, I won’t forget, sir.” Peter said motioning with his satchel as the elevator doors began to close.
“Thank you, again Mr. Jameson.” Peter snuck in one last time, seeing the older man’s face twist once again just before the doors shut and he began to descend.
Rikers Island Penitentiary
“So you’re doing reporting assignments now?” Matt asked from across the table in the visitation room, sporting only two facial bruises this time and an already mostly healed split lip.
That was an improvement from Peter’s last visit at least.
“Oh, no, no.” Peter denied with a laugh.
They were going to move to a private visitation area when the actual interview started, but were catching up first.
“Mr. Jameson’s preferred reporters were otherwise preoccupied or on sick leave, and he knew I’d mentioned before we knew each other, and you were an acquaintance, so..” Peter trailed off as Matt’s lip curved up into a smirk.
“Acquaintance, huh? Ouch.” Matt remarked. “And here I thought we were friends.”
“We are!” Peter hastily added, leaning in slightly and glancing around despite their voices not resounding out too much in the room, which had a collection of other prisoners and their friends and family all talking at the same time anyway.
“But I couldn’t exactly go in depth on it, secret identity and all…I can’t go around talking about our jogging.”
“Our Jogging?” Matt repeated back, tilting his head slightly in Peter’s direction.
“You know…our night time jogging.” Peter replied, almost going in for a wink before stopping himself.
“...Peter you know we’re not being bugged or recorded right now, you could just say we hang out in our free time…or we used to, when I had free time.” Matt added dryly.
“I..I know, but...I guess I’m still a bit paranoid sometimes.” Peter said as he leaned back.
Reaching over the table he grabbed one of the granola bars he’d bought from the vending machine and took a bite, again wishing he could have brought in some outside food for Matt but the restrictions and regulations prevented it.
He was lucky Mr. Jameson had gotten him a special exemption allowing him to bring his phone in, and even that had restrictions on what he could do during his time in the visitation area and when they were doing their interview.
Matt had been there for him, both before and after the world had forgotten who he was. Meeting up with his former lawyer after Liberty Island was one thing, but after a rather arduous rooftop meeting and impromptu team up, he wound up meeting him again.
Only this time as Daredevil.
Peter still remembered the feeling of utter excitement when he realized his lawyer was Daredevil!
He totally didn’t fanboy out…Regardless of what Matt would say to the contrary, the man could and would turn anything he felt like in conversation into a cross examination at a moment’s notice.
Though it also helped their relationship that Matt believed him…
He’d believed Peter’s story without too much push back, though it did require a night full of explanations and takeout food.
In the end, Matt had even asked Peter if he’d wanted to stay with him for a while. And he’d been tempted, so very tempted to accept his offer, but had been too stuck in the solo hero mentality and mindset of keeping people safe, even if they were Daredevil, to accept.
But it had meant he’d gained an ally, and over time someone who filled the spot of another sibling in his life.
While Jean was now his little sister, Matt had become his older brother.
It was nice.
Comforting that even though he’d lost so much, slowly he was gaining new people to fill the void in his life, while never fully replacing those he’d lost, their roles in his life were being inhabited by new figures.
“So how’s Jean doing?” Matt asked after taking a sip from his can of sparkling water.
“Urgh.” Peter let out a groan which they both knew was partially exaggerated.
“I swear she’s trying to gaslight me, man.”
“Oh?”
Peter leaned forward again, tapping his phone on the table as he did. “She keeps changing my ringtone.”
Matt was silent for a few seconds before replying.
“....What?”
“Look I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but she keeps doing it. She says she’s not, but who else could it be….I think she’s getting E.V to help her, but neither of them are owning up to it. Surely there has to be something in E.V’s code I overlooked if she’s keeping secrets from me.” Peter whispered the last part, shaking his head in confusion.
“Ok, so forgive me for sounding confused, but what’s the big deal?” Matt asked casually.
Peter let out a sigh, running a hand down his face before answering. “Ok, two weeks ago I helped evacuate a burning building, right and and trying to help the firefighters out at the same time. All in all we managed to get everyone out and put the fire out without it spreading to any other buildings.”
“Nice work.”
“Thanks, but anyway I’m talking to some of the firefighters afterwards and there’s some people who want to thank me for what I did, and suddenly I get a phone call.”
(Flashback)
“Thanks again, Spidey.” the firefighter to Peter’s right said as he shook his hand.
“Hey it’s no problem, you guys did most of the heavy lifting, I’m just here to help out.” Peter said as another firefighter patted him on the back.
“Spider-Man, thank you for saving me and my sister.” a teenage girl said as she approached with her little sister at her side.
“Can we get a picture with you, Spider-Man? Please?” the little girl asked, causing Peter to lean down and nod.
“Of course, that’d be really cool.” Peter said as he stood up and was about to ask one of the firefighters if they’d be ok with helping them take the pic.
When his phone started ringing.
With a ringtone he’d definitely not set on it ever.
And one that could be considered one of the worst to play right in front of a still smoking building and around a group of firefighters and rescued civilians, the lenses in Peter’s mask went wide as the sound of Johnny Cash’s vocals came from his phone.
“I fell into a burnin’ ring of fire, I fell down down down, and the flames went higher-”
His brain managed to unfreeze after a few seconds of shock as he quickly reached for the hidden pocket on the back of his suit, hastily missing a few times as he tried to pull his phone out.
“I am so sorry-I didn’t-I have no idea why this is playing!” Peter said frantically as he pulled his phone out and quickly answered it, trying to avoid the awkwardness hanging over him as he walked a little bit away from the assembled crowd to get a bit of privacy behind a fire truck.
“Hi, I’m a little busy right now!....Did you do something to my phone?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Jean’s voice said on the other end of the line, thankfully not on speaker so only Peter could hear her.
“....Ok, well what-”
“We’re out of Cap’n Crunch.” Jean said, cutting him off.
“Well you could just order some, I might be awhile.”
“I’m not going to waste money on a delivery fee, you can just grab some on your way back.”
Peter found it amusing at times when Jean talked about wasting money or how much things cost…especially since all ‘their’ money was technically his money. But he wasn’t going to bring it up as he gave in and just nodded despite knowing she couldn’t see him.
“Ok, fine I’ll grab some on the way.”
“Thanks, and make sure it’s ‘Oops! All Berri-”
“Oops! All Berries, yeah I got it.” Peter said, knowing her preference.
“And some milk, we’re out of that too.”
“What? We had half a bottle left when I left earlier, what happened to it.”
“Well I wasn’t going to finish the last of the other box of Cap’n Crunch dry, Peter.” Jean said in a tone that suggested it was obvious.
“Plus we’re out of coffee, the last of the milk went there too.”
“You have got to lay off the caffeine.” Peter remarked. “Seriously it’s not good for you-”
“-for my body in large amounts, and overconsumption can give me anxiety and wreck my sleep pattern.” Jean said robotically, repeating what he’d told her before.
He could practically feel the eyeroll through the phone.
“...Maybe I don’t want to sleep tonight…”
Her statement held a fatigue and weight they both knew well.
“...Jean-” Peter began but before he could continue, Jean’s voice once again cut him off.
“I’ll see you when you get home.” was all Jean said before ending the call, leaving Peter standing there with his mouth open ready to offer her a comforting word that didn’t leave his throat.
Sighing, he slowly tucked his phone back into the pocket compartment and waited a moment before straightening his back and perking himself up.
He had a photo to take.
(Flashback End)
“Ok, that does sound embarrassing.” Matt acquiesced. “And you’re sure it’s her.”
“Makes more sense than my phone glitching out, or downloading random ringtones due to me traversing around the city and hooking up to people’s networks as I swing around.”
“...Is that what she suggested was the cause?”
“Yes! But again I know she’s behind it.” Peter replied with certainty before he shook his head and reached into his satchel.
“Well back to business, would you like me to read you the questions now before we go to the private area, to prepare or would you rather-” Peter began to ask as he was going to retrieve the written questions he’d been given by Jonah.
But his hand froze mid reach as the telltale sound of his phone’s ringtone played out.
A ringtone he again knew for a fact he’d never put on his phone.
He didn’t even like Green Day!
The fact they only covered this song and didn’t write it did little to change his opinion, especially this particular song.
“Breaking rocks in the hot sun! I fought the law and the law won, I fought the law and the law one!”
Peter didn’t need extrasensory sixth senses or Matt’s array of sensory input to pick up on the effect the specific ringtone had on the other prisoners in the room. Peter’s hand instantly shot out as he snapped out of the shock induced daze and quickly tried to answer the phone.
“Yeah, that's going to help me make more friends here…” Matt uttered.
Peter was looking around sending apologetic looks and mouthed ‘Sorry’ to the various prisoners who all had zeroed in on their table, as had some of their friends and family members who all didn’t look happy.
Answering the call finally, he tucked his phone closer to his face as he spoke in a hushed whisper.
“You’re about five seconds away from getting me jumped by angry prisoners and their visitors!”
“No idea what you’re talking about, Petey.”
“Yes you do! And don’t call me Petey.”
“The stress is clearly getting to you, you should relax. Is Matt there? Tell him I said hi.”
“Hi Jean.” Matt said back without needing Peter’s go between.
“Is there a reason you called, cause I’m about to do the interview.” Peter asked as he saw a guard looking at him and his phone. “Aaaaand I don’t want the guards thinking I’m up to something, so can we keep it short.”
“Well since this interview will bring in a bit of a pay bump, I was thinking we could splurge on dinner.”
“You did huh? You thought that.” Peter replied suppressing the urge to let out a huff as he closed his eyes, shaking his head. “So did you also have anything specific in mind, I’m buying but hey, why not decide for us both.”
“Hm, I have a few ideas, but call me back when you’re done, I should have it narrowed down by then.”
“Ok, good, cool I can call you back…I think you calling me again might cause a-” Peter stopped before he could say the word ‘riot’ unsure of how well that would go down especially if one of the guards heard, he was already on thin ice with the phone as it was.
“I’ll just call you back, talk to you later.”
“Ok, bye Petey.”
She ended the call before he could launch a retort, causing him to slide his head down and bump his forehead atop his satchel.
“Need a minute?” Matt asked.
“We might as well get this show on the road.” Peter said as he stood up, taking his satchel with him as he turned to Matt.
“So, do you want me to read over the questions first, or no?”
“Surprise me.” Matt said as they walked towards the two guards who were waiting for them.
Peter hoped Jean wouldn’t call and say she changed her mind.