Chapter Text
"Alright, let's do this one more time." Paige sat in front of her TV angrily waving her hand at the news. "My name is Paige Bueckers. I was bitten by a radioactive spider, and for 8 years, I have been the one and only Spider-woman. I saved a bunch of people, fell in love, saved the city, then I saved the city again and again and again. I had my arm broken, a bunch of ribs, and couple more bones, oh, and my got shattered along the way, but no bigggie. They named a cereal after me, a street, an ice cream flavor and I have my own fucking cartoon. Tell me why they are still talking about this!"
She was of course referring to the current photo of Paige, or Spider-woman, dancing with a group of kids and failing completely to catch the rhythm. "I mean, I catch a bus full of kids, but this gets more attention. I was having a bad day! Do you even know how hard it is to hear in this sweaty mask." She flopped down onto the couch with a groan.
"I don't know P, this is pretty bad." Drew was laughing, eyes glued to the TV.
Paige threw a pillow at him. "Oh Shut it. Don't you have a test to study for or something?"
He grinned and went to say something but Paige interrupted, "Nope. My house my rules, you are done with TV time for the night."
"Come on P, please, it's 10 in the morning on a Saturday" Drew gave her puppy dog eyes and Paige was about to give in when Breaking News came across the screen.
Supervillain known as The Rhino is destroying Downtown Jay Jonah Jonas's voice came over the screen. "They call this creature a villain, yet he is currently demanding a fight with the menace known as Spider-woman, who is nowhere to be seen! Maybe the two psychopaths will defeat each other and liberate this city from tyranny."
Paige was throwing herself out the window before JJ could finish his sentence. She vaguely heard Drew shout something after her. Her parents had divorced when she was 9, BS (before spider). Back then, Paige thought that was the worst thing that would ever happen to her, how naive of her. Her mom moved way, remarried, had more kids. Paige rarely saw them, but she loved her little siblings with all her heart. Her dad remarried too, he had Drew. Paige doesn't think that she could have made it out high school without her dad and stepmom.
Then they died, and Drew was her responsibility now.
~~~ She ducked before she even realizing what was coming at her. She registered the manhole cover and caught it in a web, using her momentum, Paige sent it swinging right back at the sender.
"Come on pointy, what's with all the ruckus?" She settled on a lamppost, eyes surveying the scene. Nobody looked hurt, but there were still some people lingering around, some frozen in fear, and some stupid enough to try and take photos.
'Shit' Paige thought, 'I still need more photos for next week's rent'
~~~~~~~~~ Now a car was flying at her. Paige thought fast, her hands stuck to the vehicle, she momentarily thought to throw it back aswell. Then she saw a sticker on it with five little people holding hands, and Paige nearly broke her back setting it down gently on the ground.
"Out of all these cabs you choose to throw the one family vehicle this block?" Paige swung down and snared his arm long enough to land a solid hit, "Come on man, show some curtesy"
"COURTESY" He screamed at her tore away the webs, "I will squish you like the bug you are"
Paige laughed and slammed back into him she knew that all she had to do was outlast him. Paige managed to trip him right as he charged at her and send him slamming into a news paper stand. That massive horn went right through it, he bellowed and threw it off. Paige was about to laugh when..
~~~~
The stand was barreling towards a young woman with a camera. She tried to run away but tripped and fell right onto her face. Paige sent the stand back at the Rhino, and took his momentary distraction to sweep up the woman and set her on a roof.
"Yikes, that looks bad" The woman's nose was all bloody, and Paige now recognized her as DiJonai, another freelance photographer that works with the bugle.
The woman groaned, "I have to shoot a game tonight, and my camera.." She looked down at the broken piece of machinery and groaned. Paige winced remembering how many of her own cameras she had destroyed.
"I should go." Paige pointed to the mess on Jess's face, "You should get that checked out."
Paige swung away as fast as she could and back into the fray with the drugged up dude in a Rhino suit. Finally, he collapsed from exhaustion and Paige left him wrapped up for police chief Fudd.
As quickly as she could Paige crawled up the wall and into the window of the small apartment she shared with her brother. He was watching cartoons on the couch, right where she left him.
"Have a productive day?" Paige tore off the mask, which had begun to smell questionably, "Did you even get off the couch?"
He rolled his eyes, "Yah" Drew held up the bowl of popcorn in his lap, "I made food" Paige shot a web and snatched the bowl from him, taking a massive handful. He complained but she just flipped him off and took the bowl into her room.
Room was a generous term. She gave Drew the real bedroom, Paige stayed in a glorified closet. Her clothes were webbed to the ceiling and her twin sized murphy bed doubled as a desk when up. Paige dropped the bowl onto her desk, scattering a few papers in the process. She pulled the suit off her body and pulled on a ratty t-shirt and old basketball shorts before flopping onto the ground, too tired to pull down the bed.
Paige began to drift off, then her phone buzzed. She tried to ignore it, but it buzzed again.
"Ugh" she pulled out her phone, the screen had cracked during the fight. It was almost funny how you could see the bright red mark on her hip where the phone had gotten caught between her body and the Rhino's fist.
Another ding, all three notifications from DiJonai.
Hey Paige, a friend of mine hired me to shoot the New York Liberty game tonight, but I got caught up in the fight with Rhino today and shattered my nose and camera. I know you always need a gig, could you cover for me?
Wait, that came out wrong, I meant that you are a hard worker and also super dedicated, and probably the only one at the Bugle who would help.
Could you pretty please do me one little favor?
Paige groaned again, the fight had taken more out of her then she let on. But then she heard Drew move around outside, probably looking through the pantry, looking for food and finding scraps. Paige remembered Club basketball registration opened in a few weeks.
Yah, I'll do it. Text me the details.
She set her alarm for an hour before the game and then collapsed on the bed. Paige didn't research the game, she held on to the naive idea that it would be easier to be back by the game if she didn't know.
It was a mistake.
The signs started appearing the moment she arrived at the venue. Paige made her way to the press area, she saw lots of Liberty jerseys. Then, she saw a bright blue and green jersey, with a 35 on the back and the name Fudd painted across the back. She stopped walking.
~~~~~~~~~
Paige let the person behind her bump into her, she felt too heavy to move, like her feet were glued to the floor. Now she looked around for real, and all she saw was her. On t-shirts, Dallas jerseys, UConn merch, everything was her.
'Okay, I have to move now' She moved her feet, but she was in a daze. Paige vaguely remembered flashing her pass and taking her seat and setting up her camera. 'Taking photos of a basketball game has to be easier then taking photos mid-fight. Right?'
The players began to trickle out of the locker room. Paige got a photo of Stewie and San leading the team out of the tunnel, then one of JJ mid-layup and MJ releasing a three.
All of a sudden, Dallas jogged onto the court, and Paige was a goner. Azzi Fudd easily tapped in the layup, then jogged to the corner and drained her first three. She smiled and said something to her teammates, Paiges entire world froze for a moment. Just like that, she was 15 seeing the most perfect basketball player for the first time. Her memories of Azzi came back. She cleared her throat and tried to focus, but her eyes kept drifting back to the brunette in a Wings jersey.
Then, the game started, Paige kept reminding herself she was here to photograph the Liberty, but her eyes scanned the court, she saw the passes seconds before they were made. Paige was getting impeccable shots, her old memories of how to read people came back to her all to once. But her camera kept finding its way to Azzi.
The way she smiled every time she sunk a three, her eyebrows scrunched together on defense, and she still chewed the inside of her lip when she missed. Then it happened, as the third courter was coming to an end, it was a one score game and the ball was tipped out of bounds. Azzi dove at it, dove at Paige, and for the life of her, Paige couldn't move.
~~~~
Her body moved without permission, and Paige was reminded exactly why this was the first time she was seeing Azzi in 5 years. She caught her by the waist and braced the impact. When they touched Paige went stiff, she should have look away, she should hope that Azzi wouldn't recognize her.
But, when Azzi's gaze swept over her, the polite thanks froze on her lips. Brown eyes met blue, and Paige knew that Azzi felt it too.
"Paige"
She didn't know if she imagined it, because the next second the whistle blew and Azzi was back on the court. But she looked back, just a quick glance over her shoulder told Paige that she hadn't imagined it. Because all of the camera's flashed when Azzi looked back, but she was only looking at Paige.
The Liberty won, and Paige managed to limp her way through it, snapping a few photos that would pass. She was walking through the tunnels, just looking around, imaging herself her. With a pang in her chest she remembered how close she once was.
"Paige!" The call came from down the hall, and the blonde turned. Azzi jogged towards her, at first Paige thought Azzi was gonna carry her momentum right into her, then wrap her in a hug that would fix all of her problems. But he brunette stopped short, some unknown force or misbegotten memory made her hesitate.
They were starring at each other, "Hi Az. You played great tonight" Paige's voice was softer than normal.
"I almost didn't think that it was you" Azzi was looking at Paige with pleading eyes, but Paige didn't know what to give her; if she knew, there is nothing on this earth Paige would not give to Azzi Fudd.
Paige could feel the eyes on Azzi, she could feel the questions.
Why was Azzi Fudd in this hallway, and not in post game media?
Who was she with?
Why do they both look like kicked puppies?
She gently guided Azzi around a corner and out of sight. "Could we...do you want to, um, get brunch sometime? Like while you're in town? If you want of course, no pressure or anything" Paige felt herself beginning to word vomit and quickly shut up.
Azzi smiled, "You finally learned how to stop the word vomit." Paige glared at her, but then Azzi donned a shy smile, "Yah, I would love to get brunch with you. Actually, um the team was gonna go out to celebrate the win, if you know, wanna tag along"
The long list of all of her responsibilities briefly flashed through Paige's head. But then she looked at Azzi's hopeful eyes, and caved completely, "Yah, I'd love to pop bye." The younger woman's eyes lit up, "Great, umm, 3505 E Pizza St. Tell them your with me, I'll get your name on your the list."
Paige nodded, "I'll see you then Az" The basketball player nodded and then turned, she looked over her shoulder, as if confirming Paige hadn't disappeared. Paige stayed put long after Azzi had left.
"Hey Drew, you home?" Paige tossed her keys on the counter.
His muffled reply came from his room, so Paige knocked before going in. She must have looked as crazy as she felt, because his face scrunched up in confusion, "What happened to you?"
She sat down on the corner of his bed, "I saw Azzi" Drew straightened, he was just a kid when Azzi left for college, but he saw the toll that took on Paige. Still, he waited for her to continue, "I'm going to see her again tonight. She invited me to go out with the team."
"Is that a good thing?" He was trying to read Paige's expression. The girl flopped down and let out a groan, "I don't know" She suddenly sat straight up, "I have to get ready, you have to help me get ready" Paige jumped up and ran to her room, she had only a handful of clothes that would work for a club setting. Despite her age, she never went out, something about having no friends her own age, and no free time. But Azzi was different, so Paige pulled out her black slacks, the ones normally reserved for funerals, and paired it with a cream colored button down. She tied her hair back into a low slick back bun, and grabbed her jewelry box.
Paige walked out in front of her brother, she spun in front of him and tugged on her sleeves. "How do I look?" He hummed in thoughtful consideration, "You look boogie. I couldn't even tell that your pantry is stocked solely with Spider-woman branded products."
"Hey don't trash the free shit I get. We would starve without those brand deals" Paige glared half-heartedly.
Drew threw his arms up in surrender, "Chill, I meant that as a good thing" She huffed and checked her reflection in the reflection of the microwave.
"Go get your girl sis" She tried to glare at her little brother, but smiled as she jogged over to the window. "You gotta use the door P"
Paige pulled on her mask, "It's 5 miles away and I need money to buy her a drink, maybe multiple" She dove out the window and crossed town in record time, a bit of Paige was concerned that she would see something, go help, and fuck up her nice clothes.
She may have briefly stopped a mugging, but really she had tunnel vision. Paige walked the last block, tucking her mask into a pocket. In the crowd she disappeared, she quietly slipped into the night club.
Then, she caught sight of Azzi. Her face glowed in the dim and flashing lights, the small black dress she wore hugged her body perfectly. Their eyes met, and suddenly Paige wasn't invisible anymore, because the most beautiful woman in the room was smiling at her.
...
"I did not forget the password, you were the last one who logged in!"
Paige immediately started denying, "No way Az. You are the responsible one"
They had fallen back into old habits almost immediately. Paige ordered a dirty Shirley temple and Azzi had flamed her for it. The awkwardness between them faded with alcohol and arguing.
The blonde was pretending not to notice the warmth of Azzi pressed against her, because they were practically on top of each other despite there being plenty of room at the table.
"I'm not being responsible right now" Azzi starred at Paige as she spoke
Paige stuttered, "What do you mean?"
Azzi chuckled, she was drunk, "Being here with you, right now. This is irresponsible"
"Yah, it is" her eyes burned into Azzi, maybe Paige wasn't as sober as she thought. Her voice lowered, "Do you regret it?"
The brunette audibly inhaled, her eyes lingered on her lips for a moment before snapping back up to her eyes, "No, I don't."
Her words hung in the space between them, neither woman spoke for a moment and in the chaos of the room, silent stillness encompassed them. Unanswered questions were caught in Azzi's throat, why Paige had left Basketball, given up on her dream, given up on them; and Paige sat with the fear that she would ask.
Paige lifted her glass to her lips, but her dry throat screamed and Paige descended into a coughing fit. Her face burned, she refused to look at Azzi. But the other woman's gentle laugh couldn't be ignored.
"Is your dirty Shirley too dirty for you?" Azzi leaned onto Paige's shoulder so she could taunt directly into her ear. She was so close Paige could feel the warmth of her breath and a shiver ran down her spine.
She turned her head sharply, so their noses touched and they were inches apart. Paige intended to say something cute, 'What do you know about dirty' or 'Maybe I like it dirty'.
"Azzi" Paige's voice was strangled, it took every muscle in her body to resist closing the space between them, and her strain was evident in her voice.
Azzi's eyes fluttered and she gasped, but didn't move. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, then she licked her lips; all while Paige tracked her movement. Azzi kept glancing from her eyes to her lips. Both women were in an internal conflict, both wanting it, neither ready for the consequences.
Finally, Azzi let out a sigh and began to move away, and all of a sudden the all thought of consequences left Paige's mind. So she moved, more sure then she has been all night, and for the first time in half a decade, they kissed. Paige's hands found their way to her waist, pulling Azzi even closer; and Azzi cupped Paige's face, as if she worried that the blonde would pull away.
Being a super hero in New York, Paige has felt with her fair share of addicts. People who had sworn to her that they had it under control, that this thing didnt consume their entire lives, that they weren't going to relapse. Now she understood them, Azzi was her drug. She never realized the impact this woman has had on her life, even in her absence. Paige didn't see how she could go another day without her, her lips, her voice, her laugh.
They broke apart when oxygen became a necessity that could no longer be ignored. Paige looked at Azzi for any signs of hesitation, finding none she leaned back in. She chose to place soft kissed on her lips, then across her face and neck. Azzi's breath came in short gasps.
"Paige" her voice was encouragement for the blonde, "Paige" she was slightly firmer this time, and her hand lifted Paige's head up so they were eye to eye. "My hotel is three blocks away. Walk me home?" Even breathless Azzi managed to seem innocent, but Paige knew the dark look in her eyes; and she readily agreed.
After Azzi quickly waved goodbye to the few teammates that were still out, they left, Azzi clinging to the taller woman's arm. Paige started thinking aloud, "You know, for a team after party I dont remember seeing very many of your teammates?"
"Well your pretty drunk P" Azzi lead them down the street, "Besides, I wanted you all to myself this time, they are all nosy as hell"
Paige tried not to let her heart flutter at the way Azzi said this time, "Whatever Princess" She kissed Azzi's forehead.
For the rest of the night Paige wasn't the masked hero who kept the city safe, and Azzi wasn't the number one overall pick reigning rookie of the year. They were just Paige and Azzi, two people who used to know each other better than anyone else.
...
Paige woke up to a soft touch down her stomach. Her eyes fluttered open, Azzi was tracing her scars. She had an intense look on her face and hadn't even noticed that Paige was awake. When she reached the nasty bruise on her hip from the fight with Rhino Paige flinched, and Azzi's eyes snapped up to hers.
"These are new" she spoke with the experience of someone who had once memorized every inch of the blonde's body, "Except this one" she pointed to the bullet wound on Paige's shoulder, one of her first injuries after putting on the mask. "I remember this one"
Azzi looked at her, really looked at her in a way nobody has looked at Paige in a long time. "Do you need help Paige? If someone is doing this to you I can help you.."
Paige interrupted, "I'm okay Az, I promise. I'm just not as young as I used to be" her attempt to lighten the mode failed, but Azzi nodded.
Then the younger woman got out of bed. Paige was about to complain about the lack of warmth, but the way she glowed as the morning light from the window made her speechless. Azzi bent down and grabbed Paige's pants that had been discarded on the floor the night before.
"Whatcha up to Az?" The woman in question looked at Paige's cracked phone with a disappointed expression. She tossed it at her.
"Unlock it, imma put my number in." Paige listened, but gave her a curious gaze. Azzi just shrugged, "If you keep aging this fast, you will need help one of these days." Her voice was deeply sarcastic, the way she always got when she knew Paige was hiding something.
"I'll keep you updated" She handed the phone to Azzi and their hands briefly touched sending shiver down Paige's spine, as if they hadn't just spent the entire night touching. Azzi finished with her phone and tossed it back on the ground. Paige threw up her hands, "Hey, your gonna break it!" Azzi glared, "P, that thing is already toast."
She walked back over to the bed, and Paige was really trying to keep her leering to a minimum, but was failing. Azzi noticed and a coy smile slipped onto her face. She sat down on Paige's lap and kissed her softly through a smile. Paige's hands were beginning to slide up Azzi's sides when the sound of a phone ringing tore through the budding tension in the room.
Both of them got up and crawled over to their phones, Paige's on the floor where Azzi had left it, and Azzi's plugged in on the nightstand. The blonde had no idea when or how Azzi had managed to plug in her phone in between orgasms last night.
Drew was calling her, she glanced apologetically at Azzi then answered.
"Hey Drew, everything okay?"
He was quiet for a moment before he responded, Your gonna hate me for this
"What's wrong" Her tone caught Azzi's attention, the brunette looked up at her with a look of concern.
A group of armed men are currently robbing the MET. Approximately 78 workers and guests remain in the building. They won't negotiate with the police, they need you.
Paige looked at Azzi, who was sitting on the bed, head tilted in concern. For a brief moment of insanity she considered hanging up, pretending she was just a normal person again.
Paige? Can you help Drew's voice shook her from her delusions.
"I'm on my way. Let me know if anything changes" Paige watched as Azzi's face crumbled with her words. She hung up the phone, "I'm sorry Az, Drew needs my help" Of course Azzi smiled and nodded, "No need to apologize, he's your brother."
Paige had already pulled on her pants and began to button up her shirt. Still, she crossed the room to Azzi and gave her one last, lingering kiss. "I had fun last night, I've missed you Az, and I'm serious about the updates, you are gonna regret giving me your number."
Azzi rolled her eyes, "I expect nothing less P. Now go save the world" Paige smiled and took the time to look at Azzi, not sure when she would be able to see her again. Then Paige left, put her emotions away, and put on the mask.
———————————
Azzi epilogue
After Paige left Azzi laid back down. She wasn't sleepy, actually last night's sleep had been some of the best rest she has had in a long time. Mentally, however, she was exhausted. Paige was the biggest question in her life, she has spent a very long time getting over her; and in one night, all of her progress was destroyed.
When she finished wallowing in shame, she turned on the TV and picked up her phone. She initially turned on the TV for background noise to tune out the noise in her head, but a breaking news report caught her attention. There were a lot of police surrounding the MET, like a lot a lot of cops. The reporter was saying something about hostages, but the camera sharply pulled to the side, it caught a masked woman slingshot to a wall, stick there, pry open a window, and slip inside; she did this in less than thirty seconds.
Azzi remembered her, the hero had saved her life many years ago, and Azzi had been curious ever since. Spider-woman, the reporter started talking about her, and Azzi's phone was forgotten in her hand. They speculated how her unique skills could be of help in this situation, and how she may be more useful than the actual police. The brunette chuckled, she remembered hearing all about Spider-woman from her dad, he does not share the same beliefs. She remembered many of his tyrades about how she made his job harder and was way too unpredictable.
Speaking of Police Captain Fudd, Azzi remembered that they had a brunch planned in about an hour. She checked her phone, and sure enough there was a message from him waiting.
Pops: Sorry kiddo, I'm going to have to bush back brunch, something came up at work. Could we get lunch or dinner?
Azzi: Yah, of course. Let me know when you get off work, be safe
Now that her phone was open, Azzi had no excuse to avoid her team group chat. She had some idea as to what she would discover by opening it, and sighed in anticipation.
Jess: i might be crazy, but Azzi getting pretty cozy with some random blonde
Rik: Yah
Rik: They are three drinks in and have been talking for an hour
AC: What!?!?!
AC: My little baby Az?
Azzi smirked, normally it was her who stayed behind, tonight AC had opted to stay at the hotel with a Maddy, Odyssey and Li. All of whom were probably asleep.
Za: OMG there kissing
Aussie: Their*
Jess: Do we break them up before they start fucking in the corner?
AC: Hello?
AC: What happened
AC: Major fomo over here
Za: Azzi just left.
Za: with mystery blonde
AC: ur fucking with me
Aussie: She's telling the truth
Aussie: The princess has some explaining to do
Rik: Okay, I'm gonna head out
Jess: Wait imma catch up
JJ: Za and I r gonna stay
Azzi wanted to stop reading here , but she still had all of the messages from the morning to go through.
Maddy: Wtf happened last night
Za: Idk
JJ: Azzi? Wanna fill us in
Za: paging the Princess
Azzi chuckled at her choice of words, when she got this text she was being 'Paiged'
Rik: Y'all two are vile
Aussie: Yah, Az is all grown up she can make her own decisions
AC: She absolutely is not
AC: she needs to explain herself
Rik: Sry Lan, that's not what I meant.
Rik: Virgin Mary needs to do some talking
Jess: When's the last time Az has slept in this long
Za: did you see how hard she was smiling last night
Za: our girl was straight cheesing
Li: Aww
Aussie: She did seem happy with her
There were more texts, but they all had the same meaning so Azzi just sped through them.
Princess: You all suck
JJ: OMG she's alive
Princess: Did you just spend all night staring at me
Princess: Y'all are nosy creeps
Her vague hope that her teammates would laugh it off disappeared the moment Alysha started typing.
AC: AZZI JAZYLN FUDD WHO WERE YOU WITH LAST NIGHT
AC: TELL MEEEEEEEE
Rik: And by tell me, she means tell us
Aussie: They will stop if you just tell them
Princess: Her name is Paige, and she's an old friend I ran into at the game
Jess: You invited her out didn't you, oh you charmer
JJ: That's why she finally agreed to go out
Li: Aww
Princess: I'm muting this gc
Jess: Nooo
AC: You can't a avoid us on the pj
Azzi smiled and finally put down her phone. She turned her attention back to the TV, the situation seemed to have been absolved. They were showing footage of the police leading men covered in webs into police cars. Her father then appeared on screen, Azzi turned up the volume.
"I understand that Spider-woman may have good intentions, but that does not mean she can have free rein to interfere with any high pressure police operation on a whim. As heroic she appears to be now, she is dangerous and uncontrolled. While no one got hurt this time, there have been too many instances where a crazy man decides they are going to go after this vigilante by blowing up a building. And Spider-woman couldn't stop them before, how can she stop them if they decide to do it again."
He kept talking but Azzi wasn't listening. A peice had fit together in her mind. As he talked the screen split to an old photo of the attack he was referencing. Now Azzi remembered the headline, the hundreds of people that died in an explosion. Azzi knew Paige's parents had died when their old apartment building collapsed, now she realized that the building destroyed by a villain in an attack on Spider-woman was the same one Paige grew up in.
Her father blamed Spider-woman for what happened, while it seemed the rest of New York loved her. Maybe Azzi needs to find out the truth about Spider-woman.
Then, her phone buzzed, and a silly smile came over her face.
Unknown: I'am really sorry ran out this morning. I promise I will make it up to you next time
Unknown: I did manage to stop the apartment from burning down tho, so at least I didn't leave for nothing. And dont worry Drew is grounded for enternity.
Azzi: Don't be too hard on him. He did get me a next time after all..
Paige: That he did ;)