Spider-Man: Duty and Loss Chapter 111: Underneath the Surface

Peter was getting a few looks from passersby after his short little outburst, but Peter didn't care as he waited for Crystal to respond. It wasn't usual that he got angry with Crystal, but this was one of those times.

He knew she like to joke around, probably learned it from him, if he was being honest about it. But that wasn't the point, seeing the gaping hole in what he knew was Felicia's apartment sent a shiver of Terror down Peter's spine.

He wanted to know what happened, he wanted some answers and he wanted them now! *Sigh* It was unusual for Peter to hear Crystal sigh, a rare occurrence as it were. Her voice turned gentle as she spoke to him, as if talking to a child… like she always used to… this might have got him a bit riled up at any other time, but right then and there…he could hear the care behind her voice.

"Relax Peter. You know I would never keep something from you if it endangered the ones close to you…" The soft words seemed to register in his mind as Peters anger started to simmer down. 'She was right…as she always was.' "This was meant to be a small surprise a little rib at you after getting back to New York. Felicia instantly knew this when you asked if she was ok and went along with it because…." She paused for a second letting another sigh slip out.

"…You need to loosen up Peter, you've been too stressed out over the last few months, and you can't always be high strung and worried about others. Sometimes…well most of the time, it's justified, but at times like this you grow quick to anger and lose your senses and intelligence."

Peter cooled down even further as he slowly took a peek over his shoulder. He was still getting a few stares from those around after his loud shout, a small amount of embarrassment bubbled up as they gave him funny looks.

The embarrassment turned to shame as he started to calmly walk away from the area, or he tried his best to. Crystals words continued to ring in his ear as he made off. "You know for a fact Felicia is fine, you talked to her just yesterday. Being over protective is not healthy for you, or for those close to you…. Can you at least see the small amount of humor when you realize that I took a photo of your gobsmacked face the instant you laid eyes on the apartment and will soon be sending said photo to Miss hardy?"

Peter almost tripped over his feet as he tried to keep a straight face, the sudden movement did nothing to stop the weird looks he was getting from those around, if anything it just made them worse. Peter said nothing back to Crystal as he started to think over her words.

'Was he too, over protective? Did his mind jump to anger at the slight thought of someone close to him being injured? What was wrong with that?'

His hand gripped slightly as he made his way off the block into a small café to sit down and think. He continued to grip his firsts until they turned white, thoughts a mess with worry and denial, but in the end his shoulders slumped in resignation. Who was he kidding, just the other week he was trying to discourage himself from flying half way across the state to help captain America.

Now at the slightest hint of trouble with Felicia and he was ready to kill someone. Did he fear something irreversible might happen…like with…May? Peter took a shuddering breath as he forced that one image out of his mind, the same one that came to visit him each and every night.

Living like this wasn't reasonable, it wasn't healthy. Crystal could see that…maybe even Felicia. She had played along with the ruse, even if unknowingly or did she also suspect that he had some unresolved issues that could become dangerous? That thought alone was sobering.

Could this lead to a mistake that caused what he so feared? *Urgh* Peter let out a small groan as he slammed his head onto the coffee table. As Peter began to wallow in his depressing thoughts a small clink of a glass landing in front of him caused his head to rise.

Blinking his eyes in surprise, Peter locked eyes with the blonde standing before him. With freckles framing her face, beautiful short hair and a bit of a toothy grin, one of the baristars of the café stood in front of him with a million watt smile.

"Need a pick me up? You were looking a bit down in the dumps." Peter was momentarily lost for words at her chipper voice, but his mind was quick to remind him that he should thank her. "Umm, Thanks." The words came out a bit more awkward than he thought they should have, but the girl just brushed them off.

Still giving him that million watt smile she looked over her shoulder to make sure there were no more customers to serve at the moment, before turning back. "No problem, I couldn't just let you wallow in whatever hole you were trying to dig yourself into. Even from the counter it looked pretty horrible. Whatever's bothering you, I'm sure you'll pick yourself up and deal with it no problem."

She stopped for a second her eyes flashing with determination just before she noticed someone at the counter once more. "That's what I do whenever I'm feeling down, I don't let it deter me, I picked myself up and get on with life. Sometimes the answers we're looking for are just around the corner, or with enough time you'll just…figure it out. My grandma always told me that and so did my Mother. So whatever it is…"

Fully turning back to Peter who was stunned into silence, she put her thumb up and projected the most energetic aura Peter had seen in weeks…nah months. "You'll be just fine!" Turning from Peter the baristar quickly got back to her job, flashing a brilliant smile to every customer that she served. Peter's eyes seemed to follow her unconsciously as she moved about, completely lost in thought.

After a short while his hand slowly picked up the coffee cup in front of him and he took a sip. The taste of a hot drink seemed to wash his worries away and he felt the world brighten around him. 'Why am I getting so worried about this? I'll deal with this as it comes…I have so many people that can help and support me.'

As that thought ran through his mind Crystal's voice sounded out in his ear, finally breaking the silence she had held. "Peter I think it's about time you call Felicia." A small smile tugged at his lips as he once more pulled out his mobile and dialed Felicia's number.

*Ring Ring* As it rang out he took another sip of the coffee, loving its taste. As he did so his eyes couldn't help but travel to the girl that had brightened his day. A small name tag hung from her left breast that his eyes instantly locked on. *Ring Ring*

His eyes couldn't help but get a bit teary as he read the name. *Click* The smile on his face got wider as he finally heard the click on the other side of the line. "Hello?" "Hey Felicia it's me. I'm back in town." Peter heard the excited squeal from the other end, but didn't take his eyes off the name tag for a few more seconds.

The name stood out resonating with a face from his memories. Someone he hadn't seen in a long time, someone he would never forget, someone he would never see again.

The name tag read. 'Gwen'

Chapter end