We Could Be Heroes (Jess/Ben)

[Jessica Drew]

She had told him Tuesday, zero five hundred hours, but Jess liked to arrive early. At least, when it was a meeting that she was interested in.

There weren't too many people at the Statue this early in the morning. A few cameras were running and there were always a few security guards, just in case someone decided to play terrorist or commit suicide from such a well known monument.

Jess wasn't quite in the mood to share her time with Ben though.

Landing on the very top of the statue, Jess tucked in her wings before crawling down to the first landing.

Zero four thirty and all was well.

[Ben Reilly]

Said Spider was just arriving by ferry now. He spent it close to the bathroom so that he could sneak in during the trip, change, and then stow his bag. He wasn't a glider or anything, so making it out to an island was more of a challenge for Ben than it would be most others.

First ferry of the day was luckily very quiet.

And, he could spot someone in bright red and yellow. Ben smiled a bit, looks like the date was on.

Slipping out the window, the Scarlet Spider took the short route via webline right to the landing, crawling up and meeting his date.

"I should've hitched a ride with you, y'know they weren't even offering snacks at this hour? What's the point?" Ben paused, "Then again, people would've stared, we would've made an interesting looking weather balloon."

[Jessica Drew]

One of the advantages of arriving so early was that Jess got to watch Ben work his way up to join her. The 'web' trick wasn't something that had gotten old for her yet.

Although Jess was rather amused that it was the male spider super heroes that had webbing, while she didn't. It poked a nice gaping hole in the flagging remnants of her psyche that still wondered about her humanity.

But she was. Human, that is, not a spider as she had believed for so very long.

"My ability to hold your weight aside," because Jess knew that she certainly could, "you wouldn't be very aerodynamic, I'm afraid. And while I'm sure you'd look good wet, I wouldn't wish time in that water on anyone."

New York was not known for its cleanliness, after all.

"I'm glad you made it."

[Ben Reilly]

Ben got a real kick out of Jessica's wit. He smirked before saying, "You saying I'm fat? Because if I am, you should tell me, this suit is skin tight." He looked himself over before pulling his mask over his nose. He figured on a date, it wasn't very fair to hide his expression.

"And anyway, I'd bet you're stronger than you look. Or stronger than you'd like to have people believe anyway." He shrugged, "Or maybe that was just my subconscious suggestion that you and I take a dip, who knows? Then again, maybe you're right, not the cleanest water to go swimming in."

He stopped himself short of inviting her to share his bathtub, which had been the next line in his head.

Instead, he just smiled when she expressed joy in being here.

"You're glad I didn't stand you up? Last time I checked, I was the one who scored the hot date."

[Jessica Drew]

One of the best things about Ben was how very easily he could make her laugh and forget everything.

"Not fat, I'm pretty sure muscle ways more though, see...."

She cleared her throat a moment later, realizing she had just eyed him over, reacting to his comment about the suit being skin tight. A) It definitely was and B) he definitely looked very good in it.

"I won't deny that I'm strong, just that my strength has anything to do with my ability to glide." Jessica quirked a smile, then told him cheerfully, "I can forgive you for wanting to see me soaked, but soaked in that water is a definite no go."

There was just a hint of a threat there, but mostly she was just joking around.

Her own mask had been off before Ben even joined her (all the better to see you with my dear), but Jess almost missed having it on when he complimented her. Blushing was most definitely not something Jess was familiar with doing.

Well, neither was proper dating.

"You seemed a little hesitant about the possible criminal activity before," she mumbled in excuse.

[Ben Reilly]

"No, that water'll give the Hulk the sniffles. I don't even want to think what it'll do to either of us."

Ben thanked the inventor of water purification, he'd honor his memory with a google search later. Obviously learning the man's name was the first step in actually honoring someone. Hell, Ben didn't even know if the guy was dead or not, that was just a guess.

While his brain bounced around thinking silly things, he hadn't noticed that Jessica was checking him out.

He looked out around the small island they stood on, the city ahead of them. It was nice out, it always put Ben in a good mood when he wasn't freezing his butt off. Looking back after his compliment, he noticed Jessica had a little blush going. He didn't tease her, but the smirk was there while she tried to make an excuse.

"Yeah, maybe, but I don't see how I could pass up a date with someone dressed like you are. I mean, damn, I thought Sue Richards was the hottest woman in New York, and then you came around." He was laying it on now, somewhere between teasing and still complimenting.

[Jessica Drew]

If anything, Jess turned redder. Quickly looking away, Jess turned her attention towards the horizon.

There was something absolutely beautiful about watching the sunrise from up here. Something magical. She wasn't sure why she had wanted to share that magic with Ben, but then... Jess really did like him. How easy it was just to be herself (whoever that was) around him. To relax and have fun and just enjoy. She had only had a brief taste of it before, but apparently, that had been enough.

"It's not a compliment if you're not sincere, O'Hara. And I'm not flying you back no matter how attractive you claim me to be."

[Ben Reilly]

"It's not a compliment if you're not sincere, O'Hara. And I'm not flying you back no matter how attractive you claim me to be."

Ben offered mock offense, "Me? Beg for a free flight? Who do you think I am?" He pounded his chest with his fist, "Besides, all my regular clothes are hidden on the ferry. I have to go back for them eventually." He did, however, shoot a web at Jessica and pull her to him, "I'm not after a free flight. I came for the date. So, let's watch the sun come up, yeah?" He wrapped an arm around her waist before looking toward the rising light and the orange sky, this was always the best part.

He even reached up and took off the rest of his mask.

[Jessica Drew]

Jessica did not squeak. She was far too mature for that.

But Ben was uncommonly good at making her feel all young and human-y.

"Not after a ride, it would just be a perk. Duly noted."

Smiling quietly, Jess leaned into Ben as they watched the sky.

[Ben Reilly]

Ben chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, that's a good way of putting it!"

Snickering as she leaned in closer to enjoy the sunrise, Ben looked at Jessica instead.

He really liked that smile, it was genuine, he hated when someone was putting on a show.

Had he mentioned he found her attractive yet?

[Jessica Drew]

The sunrise was gorgeous as ever, and the morning at least looked to be only partly cloudy. Jessica let the silence stretch between them for a while, simply because it was comfortable, and somehow Ben's presence was becoming part of the magic and she didn't want the moment to end, really.

"So tell me," Jess teased quietly, "are you going to web me up for the police to find for breaking in, or do you like the view too?"

[Ben Reilly]

Ben snorted, trying hard not to laugh at Jess's question, then, finally he came up with an answer that he figured she would think was as funny as he did, "If I web you up Jessica, I'm not bringing you to the police." He smirked and than gave her an over-exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows.

Yeah, he quite liked Jessica, as she'd said the other night. Things were moving quick, but then again, his everything moved quick.

[Jessica Drew]

Jess had been aiming for a light hearted conversation, and Ben most definitely did not disappoint.

Snickering, she recovered quickly.

"You're pretty kinky for a four year old. I'll have to watch my step with you if I don't want to get too tangled up."

'If', that is. As matters stood now, Ben was far too much fun to be around.

[Ben Reilly]

Well, that wasn't the kind of teasing he was expecting from her, not that Ben was complaining, he loved someone he could cut loose with.

Hot, and with a sense of humor. Hard to beat that.

The Scarlet Spider got a good laugh out of that, "Well, when you go through puberty faster than most people lose their baby teeth, you have to compensate somehow."

Ben tightened his grip just a little bit. He was really enjoying her company, hopefully this date was leading to a repeat performance.

[Jessica Drew]

Ben was claiming his rapid aging as an excuse, and Jess quietly resolved not to think too hard about what her slow aging might account for in turn.

"Oh, is that how you compensate? Here I was thinking it had something to do with your love of playing vigilante."