Before Peter could respond, Jameson slammed down the phone. The receiver hit its cradle with a dull thud.
He turned back to the television on the wall. The news footage had switched to a closer aerial view.
The Black Dragon filled much more of the screen now. Its outstretched wings spanned nearly half its width, while black fluid churned across its scales, stark against the clouds.
And directly in front of the Black Dragon, Jameson could just make out a handsome blond man holding a hammer. He narrowed his eyes. It was Thor, one of the Avengers.
Meanwhile, in Peter's living room, Peter slowly lowered the dead phone from his ear.
He glanced at the creaking window Thor had damaged, looked down at the phone in his hand, then turned to Russell.
His expression held the weary resignation of someone who had been squeezed dry too many times to protest.
"Mr. Jameson from the Daily Bugle wants me to photograph that Black Dragon you mentioned. Maybe Thor, too... He said I'd get a raise if I got the shots."
Russell was also watching Thor clash with the Black Dragon in the distance. He answered casually,
"If you're getting a raise, what are you waiting for? Thor's already fighting it. Get your pictures and sell them for a good price."
Peter poked his head out the window and looked north. Golden lightning was beginning to flare along the skyline, tangled with a dark storm. His mouth twitched.
"All right." Peter sighed, grabbed an old coat from the rack, and took two steps toward the door. Then he stopped and looked back at Russell.
"I'm not going to get dragged into the fight while I'm taking pictures, am I?"
Russell tilted his head. "Hard to say."
Peter shrugged. "Looks like life as