Actually Properly Real (Peter/Jess)

[Peter Parker]

Setting: Avengers Tower, outside Tony's office
Date: Summer 2014
Time: Noon

Having a Summer Internship with Tony Stark was a godsend, mostly because Mr. Stark wasn't your conventional boss. You were never up to the same thing twice, and never even really expected to finish what you started. Peter supposed that was because whatever he didn't finish, Mr. Stark couldn't help but pick up and manipulate until it was completed or completely destroyed. So when Stark let him know he was meeting an associate today, Peter was a bit interested to find out what that actually meant.

Of course, the meeting place was Avengers Tower, which Peter thought strange, but the boss had claimed he was busy and wouldn't have the time to leave the tower for one of the offices in Manhattan. Fine by Peter, he'd been dying for the opportunity to go inside. And while, he'd hoped that opportunity was more as Spider-Man than as Peter Parker, an in was an in.

Maybe they'd ask him to be group photographer? At least he'd be paid more.

So, Peter stood around in the waiting area outside Tony's office, waiting for, well, whoever was supposed to be here. Peter was doing his very best not to geek out at all the photos and stuff of various superheroes. No Spider-Man on the walls though, just Avengers. He was going to have to change that!

[Jessica Drew]

Jess knew that she could have taken the elevator, like a nice, normal person. The problem was, she loved flying. There was just something about seeing the city up high... Jess couldn't get enough of it.

Not to mention it meant she avoided some of the obnoxious sounds of traffic and having to deal with passersby and their reaction to her pheromones.

Bloody, annoying things.

Gliding to a landing, Jess ambled down the walkway Tony normally used to desuit before heading inside.

She had only been inside a moment when she noticed the kid. Late teens, and presumably intelligent or with something amazing to offer if Stark had allowed him into the tower.

Of course, Stark probably hadn't expected Jess to drop by in full regalia when he asked her to drop by, but really, it was his fault for not specifying and for using such tempting words as 'drop'.

"Don't get too excited over the photos, doll. I swear Tony photoshops his to look more impressive," she said, by way of introduction.

Mostly because breezing right by to get changed and coming back out wasn't going to fool anybody. Here's to hoping the kid could keep his mouth shut. Unlike Tony, Jessica did not want to shout her identity to the stars.

Although she could always just leave her full costume on until she had a better gauge for who this kid was... and why he was here.

[Peter Parker]

Peter's spider senses should have let him know someone was coming up from behind, but, they didn't. So, he'd gotten the introduction cold, and nearly jumped. Instead, he turned and faced the voice, it was a familiar one at any rate.

Spider-Woman, his older, much hotter counter-part, as Peter had once noted not long ago. Smiling a bit, he nodded and said, "I've worked for him long enough to know that Mr. Stark is a bit of an embellisher."

He paused a bit before speaking up again, "You're Spider-Woman, right? I'm Peter Parker, the guy that takes all those photos of Spider-Man." Though, Peter supposed that his one claim to fame was taking a bunch of 'selfies' while he was swinging around.

If he'd known this was supposed to be a superhero meeting, he would've shown up in the right suit. Well, there was still time for that later. Right now, he needed to find out what they were here for.

"Um, did Mr. Stark tell you why he asked us to show up? No offense, because it's so cool to meet you, but, I doubt it's a blind date."

[Jessica Drew]

A 'bit' of an embellisher, indeed. Only a few moments into the conversation, and this kid already was getting her to smile.

Well, on the upside, either her pheromones weren't working today or they weren't driving this 'Peter' away. The universe does occasionally provide small favors after all.

You're Spider Woman, right?

"That's what the public likes to call me," she shrugged a little. "New town, new name, it works for me."

Peter's description of himself earned a raised eyebrow. There had to be more to Peter than just the ability to snap photos for Tony to want to work with him. Then again, not everyone was like Tony, desirous of shouting their accomplishments. Perhaps Peter was simply a master of understatement.

"Tarzan spider boy?" she grinned instead, "Met him once in passing. I suppose that's one way to save for college."

Or whatever.

"Um, did Mr. Stark tell you why he asked us to show up? No offense, because it's so cool to meet you, but, I doubt it's a blind date."

She stilled. Tony had given her one of his trademark rapid fire reasons for her to show up (wherein he spoke so fast Jess could not quite keep up with everything he was saying, even if she had understood all the technical terms).

"Actually, knowing Tony, I wouldn't be surprised if that was one of his plans. He would definitely get a kick out of that."

If it was, she was going to have a strong conversation with Tony that may or may not feature his suit.

Sighing, Jess decided to bite the bullet on one front though, and removed her mask before holding out her hand to the teen.

"Jessica Drew."

[Peter Parker]

She was pretty fantastic, Peter decided. He'd obviously seen some of her work, and met her back when he was first starting to get the hang of being Spider-Man, but not a whole lot in between that. Peter chuckled a bit when she said for all she knew Tony had set them up on a blind date. Actually, that did sound like his boss. If Peter were a lesser man, he'd file for some kind of inappropriate office behavior.

And then, the superheroine did something a little less suspected. She unmasked and introduced herself. Peter almost reacted as if he'd been unmasked himself.

Slowly, he reached up and shook her hand, "Peter Parker, but um. I think you know me by another name."

He looked around the room a bit, deciding it was safe, "I think I know why Mister Stark might've brought us both here."

Peter unbuttoned the collar of his polo shirt and pulled it down a bit, the spider emblem on his costume. He'd taken to wearing the outfit under his regular clothes for a quick change lately, it worked well enough. Peter slowly smiled to Jessica and said, "It's nice to see you again, even if you just called me Tarzan again." Peter chuckled a bit, it was a bit of an endearing nickname anyhow.

"So, that might've been the fastest 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' in the history of superheroes. Can you believe I didn't have a girlfriend until I was seventeen?" There it was, the unnecessary babbling when nervous or in a fight, classic Spider-Man.

[Jessica Drew]

The boy seemed utterly surprised that Jessica had decided to introduce herself properly, which was rather adorable in a way.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Peter Parker, but um I think you know me by another name," Jess teased lightly.

She had not exactly been expecting him to own up to being 'Spider Man' though. Oh, a part of her wondered. It wasn't like she hadn't spent as much time as she could with Ben near the end, after all... running into someone here at Avengers Tower that looked like a younger version of her now deceased boyfriend tended to send up alarm bells.

"It's nice to see you again, even if you just called me Tarzan again."

"I had wondered," Jess said quietly. "And it struck me as rather insulting for me to try slipping out and changing without you noticing anything. Tony doesn't hire idiots, and he certainly doesn't invite them over for mysterious visits."

"So, that might've been the fastest 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' in the history of superheroes. Can you believe I didn't have a girlfriend until I was seventeen?"

But it wasn't really that fast. Not for her, anyway. Jess had known Ben extraordinarily well. How much different could his counterpart be?

"You didn't have to return the favor," Jess pointed out, still amiable but more subdued. "Although I admit, it makes me agree with your idea of a blind date even more."

For just a moment, her face darkened. Losing Ben had been agonizing. Wolverine had been there for her, whenever she particularly desired to try and get drunk, and Tony had been more than capable of distracting her, but....

Damn it all, if she had not loved Ben Reilly.

"I only date within Team Red, you see," she joked, pulling herself out of her memories.

[Peter Parker]

"You didn't have to return the favor," Jess pointed out, still amiable but more subdued. "Although I admit, it makes me agree with your idea of a blind date even more."

Yeah. Definitely inappropriate office behavior. Tony Stark shouldn't have been setting Peter up on blind dates, even though Peter was currently single, and hadn't been on a date since he started college, his internship, and taking pictures of himself for the Bugle.

Though, this was Spider-Woman. And, honestly, she was funny, and obviously very, very attractive. So, you win this time Stark. No resignations or lawsuits today.

"He must think it's pretty funny, like the spider match made in heaven," Peter snickered, "Actually it is kind of funny." Maybe this wouldn't be so terrible! Peter could use a date, and Jessica was just a bit amazing.

"I only date within Team Red, you see."

Peter suddenly beamed, not a lot of people knew about the unofficial group of heroes, "Well, lucky for you, you got the one that's cuddly and not a gun totting lunatic." After all, finding Daredevil's warm side was like looking for hay in a needle stack, and having a conversation with Deadpool was a migraine before his mouth even started moving. There were others that qualified for the group, Iron Man (who was taken), the Black Widow (only by hair color, and Peter was pretty sure Jessica didn't go for, Russians...), and maybe a few others as well.

"You've got New York's most eligible Spider-bachelor at your service!" He offered a full on bow, trying to go for laughs already.

[Jessica Drew]

If Peter had not been quite so tied to Ben, Jessica would have found this hilarious. Stark was no doubt going to be more than pleased with himself over this little idea, and if it were later in the day, she would have been surprised JARVIS hadn't jumped in offering them drinks 'while they wait'.

As it was, Jess let herself smile. Peter's enthusiasm was catching.

"You've got New York's most eligible Spider-bachelor at your service!"

Ach, how was she going to get out of this. Or at least... explain her reluctance. Ben had been buried for some time, and Jess hadn't precisely been perfectly celibate in the interim... but there was a difference between a distraction and an actual bonafide date.

"The gun toting lunatic can be attractive when he wants to be," she pointed out dryly.

Seriously, how the hell does one go about saying 'I'm not sure how well a relationship with you could work, you see I'm still in love with your now dead clone'.

Bailing on that for now, Jess went with a different tactic. Curiousity.

"How old is New York's most eligible Spider-bachelor?"

[Peter Parker]

"The gun toting lunatic can be attractive when he wants to be," she pointed out dryly.

Peter blinked, "Are we talking about the same guy who talks to an imaginary audience?" While Peter had never seen Deadpool unmasked, he'd seen the rest of him running around in his boxers. Yeah, that had happened. He'd been sure Daredevil was going to kill him that day.

Regardless, it appeared that the impromptu blind date was being put int jeopardy now. Miss Drew obviously was having a hold up in her head, and it was about Peter's age.

"How old is New York's most eligible Spider-bachelor?"

Peter's mind quickly jumped to make him sound as old as he could be without flat out lying to her. He smiled and said, "I'll be twenty next month." Seemed fair, he was of legal age, she couldn't be too much older than he was by the looks of it, and they were getting on pretty well.

Was it a long shot? Maybe, but it seemed worth it to Spider-Man.

[Jessica Drew]

"Twenty?"

That seemed like a bit of a stretch.

"Thanks for trying to make me feel like less of a cradle robber, but seriously. I'm just curious."

He was either fibbing or a lot shorter than she would have guessed.

Deciding to give the kid some slack, Jess added, "It isn't your age that I am worried about, Tarzan. It's who you remind me of, which I am trying very much to ignore for the sake of getting to know you better rather than threatening to beat an apology out of Tony."

[Peter Parker]

Peter rubbed the back of his head, "Alright, you caught me. I'm going to Nineteen in a month." He was only Eighteen, and he'd added a year, but Jessica didn't seem to mind his age. Actually, it seemed a lot more complicated than that.

So, he listened to her, it was only fair to.

When she finished telling him, Peter tilted his head, he didn't really know anyone that was much like him.

"I remind you of someone?" Peter asked, he was curious, really, "Just how many Spider-Men do you know?" He was hiding his knowledge of the Scarlet Spider, that had been a whole big mess.

[Jessica Drew]

All things considered, exaggerating one measly year was something Jess could forgive as easily as blinking.

Before she could try to move the conversation onward though, Peter asked who he reminded her of which seemed a fair enough question. Even if it was a painful one to answer.

"His name was Ben Reilly."

Jess looked away from Peter then, staring steadfastly towards the window for several moments.

Then, "How do you like racing?"

[Peter Parker]

Peter blinked. She knew Ben? Did she know that Ben was a clone of him?

Give the look in her eyes, maybe it was best not to ask her, it seemed like she and his clone had been quite close. Yeah, let her tell him about that when or if she wanted to. That was certainly a can of worms to be opened.

"I'm sorry," Peter put his hands in his pockets while she was having a moment.

Then she looked back and asked if he liked to race. Peter smirked at that.

"Johnny Storm still owes me a hundred bucks from when I beat him around Greenwich Village."

[Jessica Drew]

Focusing on her breathing and on the angle of the sun rather than on her embarrasment or the sense of loss or anything else, Jess barely heard Peter's apology.

"You did nothing wrong," she murmured simply.

Then, a moment later, came the change of topic which, Jess felt, was sorely needed.

"Johnny Storm still owes me a hundred bucks from when I beat him around Greenwich Village."

"Is that so?" She didn't have to try and be impressed, beating the Torch wasn't a feat everyone could pull off.

But then, Jess wasn't everyone.

"Was that on foot or with your web vine things, spider monkey?"

[Peter Parker]

Peter grinned a bit and said, "Well, it was a bit of both." Between running on the ground, web swinging and being able to walk/run on walls, Peter had beaten Johnny Storm in a race.

He looked out the window and said, "It sounds like you're challenging me Jessica, you sure you want to find out who the faster Spider is?"

He let the nicknames slide, Peter might've even liked them a bit.