“What makes you say that? I have been sleeping just fine!” Of course, that was a lie but why would he outwardly confess to being so sleep deprived from having nightmares almost every day due to Titan
“Do
you have a spot where you normally stargaze?” Peter asks looking over
at the other. “You know, Tony Stark and I are good friends… I’m sure
he’ll have something for you to look at the stars and the Space Station
with. Not to mention Mr. Stark is out of town and Pepper is with him. So
I mean I could take you there and it’s not too far from here… you could
be home in time to sleep and wake up and go to your interview?”
Peter shook his head “honestly I don’t know much about Venom
yet to tell you if he’s a threat around here or not. Aside from the bank
robbing and all I don’t really have anything on him. I’m just being
cautious.” He shrugs. “But, you might be right he might not come over
here and bother anyone.”
“I used to go an hour or two outside the city,” Carlos said. “There’s a field near some woods that I like to go to.” But Spidey’s offer both surprised and bothered Carlos. “Um… thanks for the offer, but… it’s probably not a good idea for me to be anywhere near Stark’s stuff.”
Not that Carlos didn’t want to – it would be a dream come true to be able to see some of Tony Stark’s gear and use some of it. But he had a very good reason for declining.
Peter was a bit surprised that he denied the offer, anyone would have jumped at the opportunity to check out Tony Stark’s home and play with whatever cool inventions they could lay their hands on. “Well, alright then… if you change your mind just let me know… Tony won’t mind and it’s not like he’d care anyway.” Peter nods. “So if you’re afraid of getting caught or something you don’t have to worry.”
He lifts up the mask to reveal his lips, offering a gentle smile to the other. “So, I’m guessing you’re a huge science nerd as well? You said you’ve got an interview tomorrow? That’s neat I hope you get the job.”
Carlos smiled slightly – nervously – and he shrugged a bit. “Yeah, well… he’d probably mind,” he said softly.
Carlos was surprised when Spidey lifted his mask just a bit and almost missed the question. “Uh – well, um, yeah. I do. Thanks a lot, Spidey.” Carlos shrugged again, looking down at the gravel on the roof. “It’s… not exactly the sort of thing I would like to work at, but… yeah, I need it. I need to pool some money so I can get out of here, you know?”
“I don’t blame you for wanting to get out of here… New York isn’t exactly the safest place. I do try my best to keep it as safe as possible. But, you know can’t have a superhero without a villain.”
“Anyway, what is it you’ll be doing?” He asks directing his attention toward the cars below, Peter watched as each vehicle passed by, scanning the streets for anything unusual. “You know if you ever need help getting into a good job I could talk Mr Stark into helping? He’d probably do it if I asked.”
“It’s… retail,” Carlos admitted. He looked down at the street as well, frowning slightly. “You, uh… probably shouldn’t be talking to Stark about people you just met. No offense, Spidey, but you barely know me.
He wondered a bit if Spider-man should even be out; he already said he was a teenager who wasn’t sleeping, and if something happened he could get seriously hurt. He talked really familiarly of Tony Stark. Did he just like to throw his name around, or was Stark like his dad or something? Obviously not, but was there a mentor thing going on?
“I met a man named Joe Black today. …I’m not sure I’m ready to meet him again.”
Carlos wondered if that statement begged a response. Maybe the man was just speaking out loud.
“Well… some people are just strange, I guess,” he said, barely sparing a glance to the other person. “Having a weird feeling might mean that things aren’t right.” Like right now. Carlos had a weird feeling that he’d seen this man somewhere before, but he couldn’t place it.
He had said it when the waitress had asked ‘what’s eatin’ ya, hon?’ She had shrugged it off but the man next to him at the counter had responded. Tony glanced sideways through his shades, not answering for a moment.
“Something definitely wasn’t right with him,” Tony finally replied. He wasn’t about to spill all of the tumultuous feelings that had come with speaking to that man. He didn’t want to acknowledge them to begin with.
Carlos hummed and nodded. He reached for some cream and sugar to treat his coffee – his first actual coffee in a while and he was going to milk it for all it was worth (heh, nice. Good joke, Carlos – internal self high-five.)
“Probably best to stay away from him, then,” Carlos suggested as he sweetened his coffee with more sugar than what any other person would deem necessary. “It’s my experience that one should listen to those feelings.” He wasn’t exaggerating.
“I met a man named Joe Black today. …I’m not sure I’m ready to meet him again.”
Carlos wondered if that statement begged a response. Maybe the man was just speaking out loud.
“Well… some people are just strange, I guess,” he said, barely sparing a glance to the other person. “Having a weird feeling might mean that things aren’t right.” Like right now. Carlos had a weird feeling that he’d seen this man somewhere before, but he couldn’t place it.
The Perfect Scientist 