The Cologne
Gwen closed her eyes, biting down a smile when she saw the look on John’s face. She barely held herself together as he stumbled, her shoulders trembling.
But after the lectures ended, it was Gwen’s turn to be distraught.
Many readers, who now received their physical copies, were taking to the internet to vent. Seeing them, many new readers came in, adding to the sea of tears.
Gwen was one of those new readers, even if she had gotten her physical copy earlier than most. She read Look Back for the first time right now, sitting at the usual diner with John. They had become regulars at this point, and the owner, a sweet elderly man with sunglasses, just allowed them to hang about after they ate.
“This is cruel.” Gwen barely held back her tears, but the double spread at the end just made her cry harder.
However, she couldn’t help but smile that this had also happened. Still, the writer was a monster to play with people’s emotions like this.
‘When I get my hands on him, I swear…’
John, the architect behind this, handed Gwen his handkerchief. He knew she would feel more emotional, but he hadn’t expected the double page would get her crying like this. Given how calm she had been in front of him.
Well, the ending itself was a bitter pill to swallow for a hero as kind and self-sacrificial as her. It must’ve reinforced her fears of failing to save someone, a person that could’ve had a happy future awaiting them.
More than sadness, there was a creeping fear taking over her heart. What if she wasn’t fast enough one day? What if something went wrong and she failed?
“My mascara is ruined.” She dapped her eyes with the handkerchief.
“You don’t wear mascara.” John blinked.
“Shut it…” Her voice was as small as a squirrel. The subtle scent from the handkerchief entered her nose.
It took her back to the night she was surrounded by Doc Ock and others. She had used her webs to crash the piles of cars at the villain party and tried to track Kraven. But all she found was a puddle of blood and a sharp scent of another person along with their shoe prints.
Gwen held the handkerchief to her nose and glanced at John. He was looking at her, waiting till she calmed down.
Did it look like she was blowing her nose? No, beyond that.
“John, do you use any cologne?” She asked.
“I like to stay natural.” John wasn’t trying to be funny. His nose had been getting more sensitive, so he had stopped the cologne and even had to get a more muted body wash and shampoo.
“No way.” Gwen’s eyes narrowed.
But instead of speaking further, John just turned towards her with a smile.
“You can check it if you don’t believe me.” He gave her a playful shrug.
At this point, she had to go through with it. Getting flustered here would only give him more room to tease her. So, Gwen leaned in, her nose pressed against the cream-coloured shirt.
‘It’s just fabric softener and a hint of roses.’ She closed her eyes, nodding to herself for a moment.
“Found something?” He asked.
“Don’t rush me.” This didn’t tell her anything. That’s when her eyes went to his neck, which looked a bit thicker today, and the bare collarbones.
She scooted over and placed her hand on his thigh as her body pressed onto him. When her nose reached his neck, she was leaning on him.
The scent of roses was stronger here, but with a spice she could taste on her tongue. She would’ve stayed like that a bit longer, but her reflection in the window made her question her decisions.
‘What am I even doing?’ She slid away quietly.
Her ears burned when the diner owner gave her that teasing smile, like he was looking at his own granddaughter.
“So, what’s the verdict?” John had also joined in on the teasing as his elbow landed on the table, his smiling face resting against his palm.
Gwen looked at him with a crooked brow. For a moment, she felt an urge to say something mean, but it died as soon as it had appeared.
“You… shouldn’t wear cologne.” She said, crossing her arms. “If you are going to, make sure it is light.”
“Like your perfume?” He asked, closing the manga.
“If you want to…” Gwen tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stood up before clearing her throat. “Let’s go, I need some fresh air.”
Walking under the warm gaze of the old owner, her steps quickened through the door. The moment she reached outside, a big sigh left her lips. That wasn’t her brightest idea. It was one thing to have a hunch, but to follow it like this?
‘If I had asked this of anyone else, they might’ve thought I was beyond creepy. Thank god he just went with the flow.’ As she was going through a small crisis behind the calm face, John stood beside her.
“You grew a bit again? That stretching is seriously something else.” She said, giving a dry chuckle.
“Indeed, it is. You should make time for it.” He smiled.
Gwen looked at him again. She had been noticing things since morning. The slightly grown hair. His hands seemed bigger too.
But the main thing was that when she looked in the direction of faint gunfire in the distance, she caught him looking as well.
“John…” She finally asked the question that had been on her mind for a while, “…are you hiding something?”
“Hmm?” He tilted his head before nodding. “Isn’t everybody?”
“Ok, Socrates.” Gwen shook her head with a smile. “Well, see you tomorrow.”
“See you.” John waved as Gwen speed-walked away, most likely going towards the distant gunfire while putting the manga in her bag.
But there was another thing that troubled him.
‘I hope she didn’t figure out that I am John Doe.’ He rubbed the side of his neck, the same place her breath had landed when they were inside.
However, he didn’t get to mull over this feeling as a purple system panel appeared before him.
[Your story has greatly altered the life of Tony Stark. +5000 EP]
“This is new…” John looked at the notification with muted shock and a pinch of acceptance.
What else could he say other than, You're welcome?
‘More EP is always welcome after all.’
***
While John and Gwen were still in the middle of their lectures. Tony’s epic three-box donut run, right inside the giant donut above Randy’s Donuts, was crashed by a man with an eye patch.
After a sleepless night and three cups of black coffee, Tony kept eating his donuts as they sat inside the store.
“You have something for me?” Tony lowered his sunglasses, his suit whirring.
“I just sat down, need a bit of time to collect my thoughts.” Nick Fury studied him from the other side of the table.
“Come on, it’s not like this is a date.” Tony paused for a moment. “It isn’t, right?”
“Do you want it to be?” Fury smirked.
“Hell no.” Tony recoiled, but his focus went to the sound of the muted steps heading their way. Fury’s eye also went that way, making him turn.
Standing there, in a skin-tight combat suit with some gauntlets on her arm, was Natalie Rushman. Well, that was the name he knew.
“Tony, meet Agent Romanoff,” Fury said as she sat down beside him, no shame or guilt over what she had done.
“We’ve met before. She gives unexpectedly enthusiastic eye contact.” Tony placed his glasses on the table, looking at Romanoff, who had a soft, understanding smile tugging at her lips. “That should be a felony.”
“We can discuss that next time; I came here expecting a high-tech crossword puzzle.” Fury looked at Tony’s exposed neck, his eye narrowing. “But it seems I am due for an eye check-up.”
“I can hook you up with a 50% discount.” He took a bite of another donut, enjoying the sugar rush.
“I already get that.” Fury leaned in. “So, what changed?”
...
I hope y'all do not hate chapters where I add to the Marvel setting between projects and reader reactions. This is an important part of the plot, but do tell me what you feel about these types of chapters and the bullshit John gets to outside of writing.