Lily's feet pattered against the pavement, while people and buildings around her became a blur. Her heart thundered in her chest, constricting and burning with every step as she ran towards the disaster after getting out of a taxi. The Brooklyn Bridge was filled with cars and a large fire was spreading after what seems to be some type of semi-truck accident.

Most people, they avoid dangerous situations. They stop and stare, watch whatever disaster is unfolding because it's human nature. It's unbelievable and people need to watch to believe it's happening. But, most people don't go into the danger zone if they're not already there. Most people don't have a death wish. Lily doesn't have a death wish but she has a dream and that dream includes her running around New York and chasing the masked hero by the name of Spider-Man. And where is Spider-Man normally? Around these dangerous, life-threatening situations. So, she goes into them, when she can.

A crowd is gathered as Lily approaches and it's a lot. The mixed voices and sirens, distant yelling, and noises all fade into one clustered sound. It's all being amplified. Everything clouds together and now it's not just the running that has her heart racing, but the creeping anxiety.

It's not something that happens all too often, but it happens. Sometimes, this will just be too much. Sounds, people, movement. It doesn't really matter and there's no direct cause that Lily can even pinpoint. Sensory overload, for her, just happens and maybe today it's because she's racing towards another disaster. The idea of running towards something like that is already a bit uneasy, allowing the anxiety to have a perfect little crack to seep right through. But, she does not have time for that. So, she doesn't slow down, she keeps going.

She tells herself that if she can focus, it'll go away. So, Lily grabs her camera from around her neck, gripping the hand hold tight. She reaches the barricades where police are making sure people stay put. And that's when she really sees the bridge. It looks like something's split it nearly in half and it's only being held together by webs. There are cars still slowly falling into the water but people are running from the bridge, others are being held up by different webs. It seems Spider-Man has been there for a little while already, webbing people up and keeping them safe. It reminds her of the Staten Island ferry just five years prior.

Lily was just a Sophomore when it had happened but she remembers seeing it all over the news. Something strange had torn through the ferry, splitting it in two. Spider-Man had tried to pull the ferry back together and keep it together with webbing but it didn't work so well and Iron Man saved the day. No one was hurt, luckily but it was something that stayed with Lily. Her brother was on the ferry and he could have died but he didn't because Spider-Man and Iron Man showed up. Now she's here, watching a bridge being held together by Spider-Man, trying to find out who he is to out him to the world. The universe is funny that way.

Lily holds her camera to her eye and that's when she sees him. The red and black-suited superhero swings around the bridge saving a little kid before he falls into the water. Her job isn't to catch Spider-Man catching children and saving them from certain death but she doesn't care. She takes the pictures anyway because how cool is that? It's Spider-Man saving a kid. So, Lily keeps her camera on him the entire time, taking pictures and waiting for him to finish.

There's just a fascination with watching him swing around at speeds that cannot be human. Well, obviously. But, how? That's something that's been eating at Lily since Spider-Man started showing up. What makes him a superhero? How does he stick to buildings? What are his webs exactly? How does he land perfectly fine despite the velocity of his swings? Humans have a closed circulatory system so he shouldn't be able to just survive swinging like that. But, he does, just like a spider. So, something's mutated but how? Why? She has a hundred questions and none of them have been answered and by the looks of it, she'll never get them answered. Instead, she'll just be taking pictures and hoping she gets the shot she needs to unmask him.

But, Lily doesn't get lucky today, not that she ever thinks she'll get lucky in this, because just as the kid is safe, Spider-Man takes off. It seems like everyone is safe and there are now plenty of first responders on scene so he leaves. And Lily quickly follows in the direction, quickly apologizing to anyone she bumps into while she tries to keep up with him, something she knows to be completely useless but she is not a quitter.

The entire time of trying to keep up with Spider-Man, Lily just thinks about how nice it would be to fly or have super speed or literally anything but this. Her feet burn with every step and she swears her heart is going to explode any second. It's just exhausting having to, uselessly, keep up with someone who's swinging above her and who's doing it faster than she can run, especially in a busy and crowded city. But she follows him anyway until she loses sight of him.

Lily's head hangs as she sighs, disappointed but not surprised. Her hand grips her camera, looking at it before she looks back to the sky. She rolls her neck, bones cracking with every movement. Her shoulders roll and there's no sign of that hero so what's left to do? Nothing. This happens every time if she even manages to get to Spider-Man before he leaves. It's a bit tiring but what else is she supposed to do?

"Lily?" The sound of a familiar voice pulls Lily from her thoughts while a smile splits her face.

"Harry? What're you doing here?" She asks while the tall boy approaches her.

He shrugs. "My dad a thing, had to show up. You know, you would think he would want me focusing on classes but here we are." Harry rambles once he closes the distance between him and Lily. "And what are you doing here?" Harry slings an arm around her shoulder while the two start walking.

"Spider-Man." Lily rolls her eyes, the annoyance in her voice evident.

"I take it he's still a man of mystery?" Harry gives her a cheeky smile before turning his attention in front of them.

"Yep." Lily pops the 'p'. "Where are we going?"

"I've got a car waiting, of course." Harry states as if Lily should have known better which maybe she should have, Harry never uses public transport or really walks anywhere. "You'd have better luck if you'd just figure out who he was."

Lily glares up at him, his green eyes catching the sun just right. "Gee, I hadn't thought of that, Harry. Where would I be without your expert opinion?" Lily quips.

Harry shakes his head, the cheeky grin not budging. "If you know, why don't you do some researching, then?"

"Because there's what? Eight million people living in New York? Does it sound practical to try to research him?"

"Does it sound practical to chase a superhero around the city?" Harry retorts, getting another glare from Lily. "Alright, but you know he's here, you know he's been in Queens so that narrows it down."

Lily pauses, keeping up with his long strides. He has a point. Spider-Man showed up in Queens, so he is probably from Queens which narrows down the list of suspects unless Spider-Man went to Queens as a cover-up. So, maybe Harry could be onto something.

"He's done like one appearance at FEAST."

Harry pauses, looking to Lily with a raised brow. So, she has done some research into the spider. "Yeah, because he's probably local, Lily." Harry chuckles. "Just, go with me for a second." Harry sighs. "How old do you think he is? You're chasing him so surely you have some vague idea at the very least."

"Uh, probably mid to late twenties based on athleticism if that even really counts? He is a superhero. Captain America was like over a hundred years old."

"But we'll go with that because you said you've had friends who heard him talk. They all said he sounded your age which would mean you're right because that was in high school. So, now going from that, he'd be our age now, right?"

"Right," Lily nods. "And that means college ages which would also explain why he isn't normally in Queens unless it's during breaks. He's at college." Lily adds on. "And normally around ESU."

"See, you're getting it. You already have your suspect list narrowed down to a few thousand instead of eight million."

Lily gives him a shy but thankful smile. "I still think it'll be a lot of work to figure out which student is Spider-Man."

"If anyone can figure out who Spider-Man is, it's you." Harry looks down at her, eyes soft and the cocky smile has turned into something sweet like honey. "Then you can just stalk the poor kid until you catch him either masking up or unmasking himself. JJ will be off your back and you can hang out with me more." The sweet smile turns large and cocky once more making Lily roll her eyes.

"Mhm, that's what I'll do with my free time."

"Speaking of, having a party Friday, you coming?"

"So long as Spider-Man doesn't pull me away."

"Yes! I will hunt him down myself if he pulls you away again." Harry says pulling her closer to him.

"Shut up." Lily groans, bumping into him as they reach his waiting car.

The scent of coffee hits Peter like a bus as he walks into his favorite coffee shop right off-campus. It's one of the few that's open past nine and they make the best coffee, if anyone were to ask Peter anyway. Plus, their coffee can actually keep Peter awake unlike most places. But, his normal routine of getting his coffee and sitting down to try and study or finish up an essay is interrupted.

The shop is almost empty but then there's the pretty girl with hickory colored hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She has an elbow on the table, chin on her hand as she stares at the screen in front of her. Her eyes are drooping and she looks about as exhausted and drained as Peter does. There's something about the difference in her appearance compared to earlier that seems to tug at Peter's heartstrings. She was so bright earlier but now, she's just dimmed.

Peter walks to up to the counter and orders his usual coffee, caramel macchiato with four extra shots of espresso. The baristas always give him a bit of a strange look, wondering how he can even taste the caramel but also if he ever sleeps. Then again, what college student does sleep like a normal human being?

The barista hands Peter his coffee and he says a quick thanks before turning around and questioning where he's going to sit. He could sit by Lily. She looks tired and he sure as hell is so maybe they could keep each other awake. But, maybe she wants to be left alone and Peter doesn't want to disturb her. The last thing he wants is to make anyone uncomfortable. But, she also seemed really nice. So, why not?

"H-hey." Peter greets once he approaches Lily's table, both hands holding his cup of coffee.

Lily looks up to him but her brows are furrowed and her eyes scan his face as if questioning what he was doing beside her. She knew she heard someone say something but it sounded distant and clogged, similar to if someone is trying to have a conversation underwater. Not really coherent or loud, just distant and groggy.

"Sorry, what?" Her voice is louder than Peter expected and it's a little scratchy.

"Uh..I, I just said hey." Peter gives her a sheepish smile.

"Oh! Hey." Lily gives him a sweet smile with the louder than conversational level tone.

Peter's heart lifts a little with her seemingly happy change but she still looks completely exhausted so he feels the need to ask, "Are you okay?"

"Sorry," Her cheeks show a vibrant shade of red as she turns her hearing aid back on. "Sometimes, I shut it off, ya know? When I'm studying or getting work done. Being able to drown out some noise helps me focus." She rambles and bites her lips as she finishes. "So, yeah, I'm okay...internship, ya know?"

Lily takes in Peter's appearance, messy hair as usual but there's a little faint bruise she hadn't noticed earlier, right on his jawbone. There are bags under his eyes and his clothes aren't completely straight. The collared shirt under the grey sweater is crooked and only part of one end of the bottom of the shirt sticks out under the sweater. His bag is slugged over just one shoulder and he's holding onto his coffee like it's his lifeline to keep him awake. Even his skin is a strange pale color, a little paler than Lily thinks is normal.

"Are you?" She asks.

Peter nods and he holds the sheepish smile. "Internship."

It's a bald-faced lie. While Peter still hates lying, after all of these years of lying to pretty everyone, he's gotten quite good at it. And while he doesn't really want to lie to Lily, he doesn't have any other reason for him to be out at a coffee shop this late when he has classes in the morning. Internship is a lot better than vigilante.

There's a soft laugh they both share and a warmth spreads throughout Peter's chest. "Can...I sit?" Peter asks, gesturing to the open chair in front of her.

"Sure," Lily closes her laptop and moves a few things out of the way.

Lily always liked this coffee shop. It's far enough away from her home that no one really comes to bug her but it's in a well-lit and high trafficked area so she's not too uneasy about being here late at night. Plus, Harry's within walking distance so Lily always has him she can go to. This place also actually has pretty good coffee, not something that tastes overly processed like Starbucks or bottom tier coffee like Mcdonald's but coffee that actually tastes good.

"What's your internship?" Lily asks as Peter takes a seat. "I...I just mean if it keeps you up at a coffee shop at eleven at night, it must be tasking." Lily rambles, not wanting to intrude on Peter's business if he doesn't want to share his work.

"Oh...uh, yeah." Peter stutters, he hasn't gotten this far in the lie in a few years.

Does he still say Tony Stark? It really hasn't been brought up in ages, if that's the excuse he should still use when people ask questions. But the longer Peter's taking to figure this out, the more Lily is just staring at him, waiting for a response and now he just feels dumb. Maybe he could just pretend he didn't hear her. No, that would not work, he already started to answer. Okay, now he has to say something. Anything. Anything at all.

"UM," Peter shakes his head while Lily's brows knit together. "Tony Stark." He blurts it out finally and he's swearing it should not have been that difficult. He really could have just said Stark Industries. Why must he name drop and sound like a total nerd? It takes everything in Peter not to facepalm right there until he hears her voice turn high-pitched.

"Really?" Lily's eyes widen as she leans forward. "Wait. So you know....like, Iron Man?"

Someone Lily just met, knows Iron Man? That has got to be the wildest thing she's ever heard and there are millions of thoughts racing through her mind like F1 drivers. If he knows Iron Man, maybe he knows Hawkeye? How cool would that be? THE Hawkeye? Clint Barton? But if he knows Iron Man, maybe he knows Spider-Man? Maybe Lily can get lucky and Peter will hate Spider-Man and can help her unmask him. Okay, now she's getting a bit ahead of herself and that's kind of a shitty thought anyway. So, she sticks with Hawkeye.

Peter nods. "Yeah." His voice is a bit flat but holds the smallest touch of questioning.

"So...do you know the other Avengers?" Lily asks with so much excitement it brings a genuine smile to Peter's face. Her leg bounces beneath her as a smile splits her face. "I mean, do you know Hawkeye? Clint Barton?" Lily's eyes hold so much hope and Peter would normally just...lie and say no. If it were anyone else but Lily has much hope, he can't just crush her.

"Well, uh," Peter shrugs and he tries to find words between stutters but Lily doesn't seem to mind. "I, uh, I mean...I...yeah, I've...met him. A few times." Peter swallows thickly, taking another drink of his coffee.

"That's so cool!" Lily nearly squeals. "Is he cool? What's he like? I mean, if you can tell me....or if you want to. It's okay if you don't want to. I'm sure you get asked all the time about the Avengers so maybe you don't want to talk about it which is totally fine. This is fine. It's okay, never mind. I'm rambling. I'm sorry." Lily immediately becomes taken over with embarrassment.

Everyone loves the other Avengers and she gets it. They are cool and everything, Thor is a God for crying out loud. That's pretty awesome but...they're not Clint to her. Someone who seems pretty ordinary, mostly, and is the best archer to exist. And he's deaf. And he saved her life once. Clint's always the biggest hero to her, not Iron Man or Captain America or Spider-Man.

"Sorry, uh, it's just...ya know? He's cool." Lily makes a very weak gesture towards her right ear where a hearing aid sits.

Peter remembers the first time he met Tony, the Stark Expo. Well, he didn't really meet Tony but Tony saved him and told him "nice work, kid" so, it kind of counts. He was little then but he remembers never shutting up about it. May has a video of Peter relaying the whole story to Ben and how his face lit up the entire time. That's what she looks like. Same excitement and she hasn't even met Clint. It's just talking about him.

"Yeah, yeah, no I get it." Peter says in a rush. "He's really cool." Peter beams. "He drinks a lot of coffee though and he adopted a one-eyed dog. His name is Lucky." There's a chuckle that escapes his lips and Lily is completely captivated, hanging out to every word like a tightrope.

"Mood." Lily states, laughing softly and taking a sip of her own coffee. "That's so cool he adopted a dog. Bet that dog has the best life."

"Yeah, he does." Peter lets out a chuckle and he figures this could be a good way to get out that conversation before he starts saying too much and it becomes suspicious. "So, uh, what's your internship?" Peter asks.

"I intern at the Daily Bulge under J. Jonah Jameson." Lily says softly. "Definitely nothing like yours." She lets out a quiet laugh.

Peter's heart drops with the name of both the newspaper and the reporter. JJ has been out to unmask Spider-Man for over three years now. He's always publishing stories about how Spider-Man is what's wrong with New York. He's a vigilante who does more harm than good. The takedown of bad guys and villains should be done by those equipped, like US forces and police, not some scrawny kid in a blue and red spandex suit. But, Peter, in this coffee shop with Lily, is Peter Parker. He's not Spider-Man here, so he doesn't say a word about it.

"What's it like? I mean," Peter starts. "What do you do? D-do you enjoy it?"

A sad smile comes over her face. "I mean, yeah, I-I guess?" Lily's words come out as a question while her whole demeanor switches like a light. "Usually, he's a good reporter. I have a lot to learn from him and he has connections, ya know? But," She chews on her bottom lip. "Sometimes, it kind of sucks and he's a bit..." She pauses, not really wanting to speak ill of her boss but she feels there's a sense of confidence between her and Peter in this coffee shop. "Vengeful? Spiteful? Kind of insane?"

"Why, uh, why do you say that?" Peter asks and he feels bad. No one should feel like their work or internship sucks or that their boss is any of the things Lily just listed. It should be something someone enjoys, especially with most internships not even being paid internships. If you're going to do something for free, you might as well enjoy it.

"I'm always running around everywhere, day and night. I never get enough sleep because of it. I fell behind in a few classes when I started interning and I have never fallen behind before. I lost most of my friends because I'm at his beck and call, ya know, people kind of get tired of you always bailing on them last minute." Lily says quietly, looking down to her half-empty coffee cup.

But, Peter understands. Always running around night and day, losing sleep, falling behind, losing friends. He's lucky that he still has Ned and MJ but he did lose them before and he's lost a handful of others because he can't always commit to showing up. That said, there have definitely been times where he's seen both Ned and MJ disappointed because he can't make a birthday event or a movie night. It's not exactly easy sometimes but he has extenuating circumstances, like the greater good, that's what he tells himself. So, what's JJ got Lily doing that's making her lose friends and sleep?

"I-if you don't wanna talk about it...it's okay...but what's he always have you doing?" Peter asks, his hands wrapped loosely around his to-go cup.

Lily sighs and takes a small sip of her coffee. "I have to follow Spider-Man around, try and catch him unmasking himself or doing something incriminating to make New York hate him." A tinge of guilt cascades over her with her words, she's never really said that out loud before and it goes against everything she believes in.

Peter's eyes widen and his jaw falls open a little. One thought comes to his mind in big, red, flashing letters like an exit sign: Well, shit.

This is not good. He can't befriend someone who's trying to ruin his entire life. That's just cruel. Why would she want to do this to someone? Who wants to do this? JJ is just an asshole but Lily seems so nice. Peter doesn't know her but he still, for some reason, expected more of her. And now what's he to do? Get up and walk away? Just out of nowhere. That also seems a little rude and maybe he shouldn't care but he also doesn't really want to hurt her feelings because she doesn't know Peter Parker is Spider-Man. It is a dilemma and it's a dilemma Peter is taking too long to try and sort through because Lily is just staring at him.

"You're a fan of his, aren't you?" Lily asks as if walking on thin ice.

"Uh...." Peter stutters. "Kind of, yeah. He's pretty cool, why would you want to do that?"

Lily shrugs. "I don't." The reply is short and simple. "Don't hate him or want to do this."

"Then why would you?" Peter asks, his voice growing a little pushy.

"My brother said something once and I don't know. It was something about how like....if it brings you any form of excitement, maybe it's worth pursuing and this does. And..." Lily pauses, trying to avoid the guilt flooding her veins. "I feel like I have to make something of myself, I guess?" Lily scrunches her face. "Six older brothers, one if a teacher, one is a zookeeper, one is a lawyer, one is in medical school, one is in school to be a physical therapist. I don't know, they've all made these huge strides to be these awesome people, feel like I have to do the same and JJ has connections. He swore he'd hook me up if I get this picture. Get the picture and I'm set for everything I wanna do." There's another pause and Peter just waits. "If I make it....I could help my family, too and I don't know, it'd be nice."

Peter can understand that. He's an only child but he knows what it's like to be surrounded by people who've made themselves into something so incredibly amazing. It's hard not to compare yourself to them and that's what she's doing. It's hard to deal with it and deal with the pressure. But Lily is going to destroy his life if she does that and Peter can't let that happen. So, he can't just walk out and he can't just let this go because what if she catches him? Maybe, if he can be friends with her, maybe he can convince her that this would go south? That this could destroy someone's life. He knows firsthand it will.

"Um..." Peter's brows are furrowed.

"I don't know." Lily cuts him off with a sigh. "Everyone thinks I wouldn't turn in the picture if I got it cause it goes against everything I really believe in, so maybe I won't."

"Uh, yeah." Peter nods. "Is compromising your morals worth it?"

Lily pauses because no. No, it's not but she's going it anyway. The problem Lily has always had is that she just listens to everyone else. She was never the leader type. She wouldn't just follow along either, she has a mind of her own, but she's always fit into this tight little box with a bow. And maybe this is something for her to show she isn't just this little box, she's more than that. Maybe she can prove everyone wrong. That's not a good enough reason though, spite. Spite makes people angry and bitter and that's not Lily.

"That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?" Lily lets out a dry chuckle. "I don't know." She shakes her head. "But, hey, uh," Lily checks her watch. "I do, um, like talking to you despite you being a fan of Spider-Man who is currently my nemesis," Lily laughs a little bringing a smile to Peter's face. "But I gotta head out, um, Harry's having a party on Friday, you should come."

"I-I don't know." Peter shakes his head, this whole conversation is a lot to take in and he's unsure if he should really try this friendship even if it is in his best interest.

"It'll be fun and we can talk some more about anything that's not this." Lily laughs and that's enough for Peter to agree.

"Okay, yeah, uh I'll come."

"Cool." Lily gets up, grabbing her laptop and backpack.

"Do you want me to walk you back to campus?" Peter offers before she can take even one step. "It's just, dark and stuff."

"Oh, uh, I don't live on campus." Lily shakes her head. "Queens isn't that far so I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" Peter asks,

"Yeah, thank you though." Lily's cheeks tint. "I'll see you around, Peter Parker."