[For just a little while, in his loneliness and bitterness at a world that threw him a thousand hurdles, he'd forgotten that this was what it was all about. This is why he's Spider-Man.]
[The gesture comes easily. He kneels, places a hand on the boy's shoulder, looks him in the eye, smiles gently. It's a gesture that's an echo of a man Peter still sees as far, far greater than himself.]
You're welcome, kid.
["How did you do that?"]
I eat my Wheaties. [He says it enigmatically.]
Listen, I don't know who this Prince Verim is, but he's going to have a little extra help protecting people from now on. [He wiggles his thumb back and forth between himself and his new friend.] If this ever happens again, yell. Loud.
I can't promise we'll be close enough to hear, but I can promise that if I am - [He briefly looks to the girl, makes a guess that he feels is right in his gut] - if we are close by, we'll come running like our butts are on fire.
[The boy nods frantically and hugs the puppy to himself. Peter briefly scritches the puppy's head.]
You and your little buddy are hereby deputized. Let us know if you see anybody being mean, even if it's to someone else, okay?
["I will, sir," says the boy, beaming. He looks to Peter's companion. "Ma'am." Then he runs off, occasionally looking behind, delighted to have found a spot of warmth in an often cold world.]
Literally kicking kids and puppies, unbe-freakin-lievable.
[The First Circle has arrived. Fortunately the bystanders sound like they're giving a fair account of what's happened. Peter nods his head at Rhea to follow.]
Come on. Hup hup. I'm starving and I need to make it up to you for having my back back there. You hungry? I have a little money from taking on a quick courier job.
[Some kind of important document. (He hadn't asked questions.) His webswinging had made it a quick trip and now he had just enough for a cheap meal for two.]
no subject
[The gesture comes easily. He kneels, places a hand on the boy's shoulder, looks him in the eye, smiles gently. It's a gesture that's an echo of a man Peter still sees as far, far greater than himself.]
You're welcome, kid.
["How did you do that?"]
I eat my Wheaties. [He says it enigmatically.]
Listen, I don't know who this Prince Verim is, but he's going to have a little extra help protecting people from now on. [He wiggles his thumb back and forth between himself and his new friend.] If this ever happens again, yell. Loud.
I can't promise we'll be close enough to hear, but I can promise that if I am - [He briefly looks to the girl, makes a guess that he feels is right in his gut] - if we are close by, we'll come running like our butts are on fire.
[The boy nods frantically and hugs the puppy to himself. Peter briefly scritches the puppy's head.]
You and your little buddy are hereby deputized. Let us know if you see anybody being mean, even if it's to someone else, okay?
["I will, sir," says the boy, beaming. He looks to Peter's companion. "Ma'am." Then he runs off, occasionally looking behind, delighted to have found a spot of warmth in an often cold world.]
Literally kicking kids and puppies, unbe-freakin-lievable.
[The First Circle has arrived. Fortunately the bystanders sound like they're giving a fair account of what's happened. Peter nods his head at Rhea to follow.]
Come on. Hup hup. I'm starving and I need to make it up to you for having my back back there. You hungry? I have a little money from taking on a quick courier job.
[Some kind of important document. (He hadn't asked questions.) His webswinging had made it a quick trip and now he had just enough for a cheap meal for two.]