The party was dying down as the night wore on, the buzz of being close to a superstar wearing thin, and now people clustered into groups according to their own interests, only mingling for food and drink, the music taking over. Someone had had the poor idea of filling the CD player with Spider-Man songs, so they were all suffering through his cartoon's theme song, no one annoyed enough to take the initiative of swapping playlists.
Mary Jane decided not to wait for the bad DJing to pass. She went to the bathroom, just thankful there wasn't a line, dragging a bottle of champagne behind her. A little bit of mid-gaming while she checked her phone, maybe fix her hair, make-up, then she'd make an entrance all over again. Take two at livening up the party.
However, she was shocked to see Gwen sitting on the toilet, head back, looking like she'd just found out she had cancer or something.
"Hey? Gwendolyn? You okay?"
Gwen replied hoarsely. "Peter masturbated. Came into a jar or something. He
masturbated."
Damn, she really is a prude.
"I'm, uh, sure he didn't mean it?"
Gwen sniffled.
"Care for some red?" MJ asked, holding out the bottle to Gwen. "Where'd I put the glasses...?"
Gwen took the bottle from her and turned it upside-down, her mouth latched to the bottleneck. Mary Jane watched, in growing disbelief, as the wine level lowered, and lowered, and lowered... she'd missed out, not inviting Gwen to any of her parties. The woman could keg-stand with the best of them.
Finished, Gwen tossed the bottle into the bathtub. Then let out a belch. MJ found herself suddenly liking the blonde. Anyone who could make a bottle of wine disappear that fast was either a magician or her friend.
"Okay, I think maybe you've had one too many."
One bottle too many, that is.
"How about we get you to bed and out of those uncomfortable shoes?"
"Okay," Gwen agreed mildly, offering her hands for Mary Jane to pull her to her feet.
With her hands on Gwen's shoulders now, Mary Jane guided her toward the stairs.
That dress she was in looked just as good from the back, MJ was happy to note.
***
"Lily, that's a, uh, nice dress you're wearing," Peter said with forced calm, leading Lily away from the bathroom as quickly as he could. "Very cute."
"Well, I wanted to wear something special for your big day. Almost a birthday present in itself, isn't it? But yeah, Harry's gift is from both of us. The cleavage doesn't count."
Peter's smile froze. She seemed so calm, so much like herself, that he almost couldn't believe what he'd done with her on the Sentinel. Maybe it was another dream, a hallucination... he didn't think he was that crazy. It wasn't like he believed he was the avatar of some Spider-God or anything like that.
"Say, where's Harry? It's not a party without Harry!"
"It's not much of a party with him, either," Lily sniffed. "And don't worry. I know it was just a test."
"A test?" Peter asked, as Lily flounced off.
"Taking away my costume," she answered, and people were coming, party-goers mingling like guards circulating through Fort Knox. If one of them overheard...
Peter hurried to catch up, worried that she would talk loud enough for someone else to hear her. If he stayed close enough, hopefully she would keep her voice down.
The guests passed by, Peter sneaking a look to make sure they'd left.
"Don't worry, I've got some ideas for my own costume," Lily said. "Seeing how tight yours is, I think mine should have some sex appealโ"
Fuck, she was crazy. She might as well have been going out with
Norman
Osborn as Harry, she was so crazy. Peter needed to think of something to dissuade her, get her away from him.
"Really, I think it was just adrenaline," Peter said. "You, putting on the costume for the first time..."
"You, seeing me in the costume for the first time..."
Peter was looking around worriedly as he trailed Lily into a more secluded part of the compound. On the one hand, this was what he'd wantedโfor no one to be able to eavesdrop on them. On the other hand, he didn't think being alone with Lily would be good for his marriage.
"I just know you really care about Harry," Peter said. "Just like I care about Gwen."
"Of course. This thing we have is just physical."
"Exactly."
"That's what makes it so much fun."
Peter's teeth clamped together. "Maybe we shouldn't be seen together," he suggested, "If we're going to be working together as the Green Goblin and Spider-Man..."
"Good point," Lily said. "But wait... if Spider-Man and the Green Goblin are enemies, then shouldn't
we
be friends? To throw people off the scent?"
"I don't think so..."
"Oh. I get it. You don't want your wife to find out. About the Green Goblin, I mean."
"Yes," Peter said. "That's it exactly."
"So from now on, we should only meet in private."
"Yes. I agree."
"Alright. You go around, mingle some, I'll go into the hall closet. You sneak away as soon as you can and come see me. We can talk all about how the Green Goblin and Spider-Man should team-up." She winked at him. "And maybe get some more training done while we're at it."
"I can't," Peter said quickly. "You really wore me out, I can't get it up at allโ"