Chapter 1: End of an era part 1
If Peter Parker can describe his day so far he would have to say boring…
Mind numbing boring, like there's nothing remotely interesting going on at all. It was almost as if every criminal in the city today had decided to actually take a break and avoid going to jail for once in their violent and misguided lives
"Why does crime have to be slow today of all days? Why can't it be slow on Christmas or maybe Halloween?" Peter sighed as he swung dozens of stories high in the air on thin web lines that were stronger than steel clad in his typical red and blue spider suit that was made of his new still experimental unstable molecules suit "You know days where I actually want to have fun or relax?"
Peter was becoming so bored from the lack of anything that he was actually planning to stop by his wife's job. It's not that he wouldn't visit anyways but well considering his wife is the ambassador to the Amazons of Themyscira she tended to busy most days. Peter had it easy in comparison he thinks since his responsibilities are keep New York safe, resist the urge to beat Jameson into the ground for his smear campaigns against the wall crawler, and his duties that come with being a member of the Justice League
His wife Diana on the other hand not only had to worry about New York along with him, but also how things on Themyscira are going and it's relations with other nations in the world, her own duties to the Justice League, and making sure that no rouge Greek gods are trying to bring about the Apocalypse… again
'Can't imagine what it's like to deal with gods on a regular basis' Peter thought with a whistle 'Hell I can barely handle regular humans half the time'
Peter may be married to Diana but that doesn't mean he deals with half the enemies she does on a regular basis, it's more like he deals with them more often than he used to
After several more minutes of swinging through New York Peter saw the Themyscria embassy up ahead. He made a few mental calculations on how much farther he had to go and the amount of web fluid he had left before he shot two web lines and used them to slingshot himself towards the compound before landing before the guards in what he likes to call a 'Superhero landing'
The guards he saw weren't very impressed as Peter stood up and waited for their reactions. Several seconds passed before he narrowed his lenses in disbelief
"What not even a clap of approval?" Peter folded his arms and quirked his head to the side
"Your dramatic landings lost their luster after the tenth time…a year ago" one of the guards said in a bored tone
"Really?" Peter asked with surprise before his shoulders slumped "But dramatic landings are the only thing I have going for me today!"
"Why are you here Spider-man?" another one of the guards asked with some annoyance
"Uh I was hoping to say hi to my wife, is she in?" Peter asked nervously
"She is…but she's in a meeting with someone" one of the other guards said with a shrug
"Another nation or something?" Peter asked with curiosity
The guard shook her head "No, with Batman"
Peter went rigid at hearing the man's name. Years ago, before the creation of the Justice League Peter and Bruce were actually good friends, well as good as they could be with their nearly polar opposite personalities. But has the years went by the men sort of drifted apart, it also didn't help the two men both had rather strong feelings for Diana. Oh, and the incident where Ra's al Ghul stole Bruce's plans on how to take down the League may have driven an even further wedge between the two.
Now while Peter is aware that Diana loves him immensely, there's always that small part of him in the back part of his mind that reminds him that Diana chose him in the end because she and everyone else, himself included thought Bruce died at the hands of Darkseid over a year ago.
Peter banished the thoughts that were beginning to plague his mind and looked towards the amazon guard "Can I see her?"
The guard eyed him for a moment before she and the rest parted and allowed him to enter.
"Shall I contact the princess and let her know you're here Spider-man?" one of the guards asked
"No…I'm hoping to surprise her" Peter said with a shrug as he made his way up to the main building and entered it nervously
Peter couldn't help but feel nervous as he made his way down the hall of the embassy towards Diana's office. While he is aware that Diana would never be unfaithful to him, his ever present if hidden inferiority complexes and low self-esteem as a result of a bullied childhood often made Peter nervous to have his wife around men who are richer, more powerful than him in every aspect, and usually tend to be better than him.
After a few moments Peter came to a stop outside of Diana's office and took several deep breaths and prepared himself for every possible scenario he might face when he opens this door.
'Get a grip Peter there's nothing wrong with your wife talking to a man that she's had feelings for longer than you…why did I have to think that!' Peter mentally groaned before he steeled his resolve and pushed the door open to see…
His wife sitting in a chair reading some sort of report while Bruce dressed in his typical Batman get up standing by the window with his arms crossed and the ever-present scowl on his face. Diana looked up at the intrusion and smile at him in a way that made Peter feel like he could take on a Carnage Empowered Doomsday and Toxin empowered Superboy Prime under a blue Sun with two broken arms and one of his eyes ripped out and win!
"Peter, what are you doing here? I thought you had work…" Diana said with a mixture of amusement and confusion
"I did but I clocked out early" Peter said as he rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he's had since childhood "Wanted to come by and see you actually"
Diana smiled at him again "Well I'm about finished up here, maybe afterwards we can grab a bite to eat?"
"Uh yeah sounds great" Peter nodded while refusing to look in Bruce's direction
While the man has been back for a little over four months, Peter has still yet to talk to him outside of meetings he had to attend as a member of the Justice League, one of the founding members in fact.
The tension in the air was thick as the three remained there in silence until a knock on the door frame drew everyone's attention to the amazon standing there nervously "Uh Spider-man?"
"Yes?" Peter asked relieved that someone broke the slowly suffocating tension in the room, least he thinks it was
"There's reports of a new Sinister Six attacking Times Square, Spider-woman has already engaged them" the amazon said a little nervously as all three Leagues watched her closely
"Whose she facing off against?" Peter asked as he turned to fully face the young woman
The amazon looked down at the tablet she had that held the information on the newest incarnation of the Sinister Six "Uh the Spot, Electro, Mysterio, Sandman, Shocker, and Hobgoblin sir"
Peter quirked a brow under his mask at hearing who the members were "Hmm odd line up but I ain't complaining"
Peter than looked back towards his wife with a sheepish smile under his mask "Uh maybe lunch after I deal with the latest troublesome six?"
"Do you need help?" Diana asked with a pointed gaze
"Nah the only real trouble will likely be Sandman and Electro and even than it shouldn't be too much. Plus, this Hobgoblin sounds like the new guy I've ran into recently and he's not really all that tough compared to the past ones. As for Mysterio and the Spot… I got a few new jokes to tear what very little self-esteem they have left, same with Shocker"
"If you're sure" Diana said, while she has faith that Peter can handle himself she can't help the sudden sense of foreboding she's getting
"Positive, sides Spider-woman likely will have already dealt with them by the time I get there anyway" Peter said with a nod before looking towards Batman "Anything else I should be aware of before I leave?"
Batman stared at him for a moment before shaking his head "No… I was hoping to talk with Diana about something"
Peter watched the man for a full tense minute before looking towards Diana "I'll be back soon"
Diana smiled at Peter "Go get'm Tiger"
"Yes ma'am" Peter gave her a salute before he launched himself out the open window by Batman and swung off towards Times Square, ignoring the suddenly uneasiness he was getting, and it wasn't from leaving Bruce alone with his wife
…
Diana watched her husband go with a fond smile before it fell as she returned her attention towards Bruce. She made a hand gesture for the young amazon to leave while she leaned back in her chair and pulled off her glasses
"Now what is it you want?" Diana sked the man as she watched him, she was less than pleased to find out he snuck into her office earlier and was about to tell him to leave when Peter entered
Bruce was quite for a moment before speaking "…So Peter"
"Bruce if that's what your here to talk about than leave" Diana pointed towards the door
Diana saw his jaw clench before he resumed "I just want to hear why? Why him?"
Diana stared at Bruce for a long time before she sighed "Because Bruce, he was there for me when I needed someone more often than you, Clark, my sisters and even own mother were. And even than we've always been close. He may have also rose a few points in my book after I killed Maxwell and he was the only one to stand by my side when you and Clark and the rest of the world turned your backs on me"
"You killed him Diana" Bruce said in hard tone
"Yes to save you and Superman and what do I get in return? Scorn and distrust and not just towards me but all the Amazons! Do you think killing him was easy for me? I spent weeks afterwards being haunted by that moment half the time showing Superman killing you instead and instead of receiving comfort from the people I thought loved me you cast me out!" Diana said in anger
Even though it was years ago Diana is still bitter over the fact that people she came to trust would so quickly turn their backs on her. While some have come to apologize to her about the incident it left her feeling hollow to their attempts to make amends
"Peter willingly stood by my side through it all, even when his name was dragged through the dirt like mine was and not once did he complain. Even when I told him to leave me alone he still stood by his decision to support and comfort me even when he had his own demons to deal with…" Diana said as memories of the 'Grim Hunt' came to her mind
The two stared at each other in silence for a long time until Diana sighed "Bruce…I love you, I never stopped loving you…but I've grown to love Peter more. I'm sorry but whatever we could have had…it's gone. You had your chance, multiple ones in fact and every time I took a step forward to a future with you, you took several back…"
Bruce's shoulders seemed to slump ever so slightly that they may not as well before he spoke again in an emotionless tone "I'll see you on the Watchtower for the meeting later"
"Fine…" Diana said as she rubbed her head in aggravation as the dark knight slipped away. Her gaze traveled towards the small picture frame she had on her desk that showed her and Peter at Cony Island both covered in cotton candy and large smiles on their faces.
Diana smiled at the memory as she held it up to look at it closer before she heard a knock at her door. She placed her glasses back on and cleared her throat
"Come in!"
Diana was greeted to the sight of Donna to her mild surprise "Donna, what are you doing here?"
"I uh need advice on something" the young woman said with a sheepish expression
Diana had to resist the urge to sigh again as she gestured for her sister to continue, while idlily wondering if she should have gone with Peter after all. Had she had the ability to see into the future she wouldn't have hesitated to follow him…
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