Unmasked At Last
Note: This is the chapter where I first deviate from the source material only at the end though. After all the Gwen drama secret identity stuff from ASM# 87-102 it could almost be termed a betrayal for Stan not to have made the choice you will see. If it had happened Gwen might have survived happily… or break them apart. (still sparing her life) This and the remaining chapters will have many twist and turns many familiar some not enjoy.
Having left the airport Peter wandered the streets of New York in defeat.
"I still can,t believe it, but it's true it's really true—Gwen is gone! She's left me. I-iv lost her forever. And once again I only have Spider-Man to blame."
"Everything that's ever happened to me—all my life was because of my secret identity… because of Spider-Man. But I wasn't born with spider powers; I wasn't born with a costume I don't have to stay this way. Nothing's stopping me from giving it all up."
"Sometimes I almost hate to look back to remember how this all was when it all started I never dreamed of what I was getting myself into."
And so Peter reflected on how he received his powers and the tragic story of how he started his superhero career. This time unlike all of the other's however he wasn't overwhelmed with guilt at the thought of quitting.
"Iv been walking for hours this morning thinking—and I'm more undecided then ever." Peter thought "There's the Bugle building. Did my subconscious make me walk here or is it just a coincidence? Nuts either way who cares. I've more on my mind then selling a few crummy photos to Jameson and there's nothing in that rag that could interest me now."
He passed by a newsstand the front page of the day's Bugle saying Beetle At Large without noticing.
"Peter Parker I haven't seen you in ages."
Peter turned around and saw Jameson's secretary and first crush Betty Brant.
"Hi Betty."
"Is anything wrong? Have you given up taking photos? Even Mr. Jameson was wondering where you've been keeping yourself."
"What's the matter he misses his favorite whipping boy? Iv just been busy that's all. If he gets to lonely without me, he can always go to the cemetery and chuckle over the tombstones. See you around lady."
And he walked away as Betty entered the Bugle building sadly.
"Why did I snap at Betty like that?" Peter thought "Betty Brant was the first girl I ever loved—or I thought I did. It was only a few years ago that we broke up—again because I was Spider-Man. Because of my secret—it's better this way—for the both of us."
He headed towards an alley.
"But I mustn't think of Betty cause she reminds me of Gwen—and that's to much to bear. And yet everything I think of reminds me of something else. I remember how I tried to forget Betty by going into action just as iv done lately because of Gwen. I need some cash what can I lose if I give Jameson another visit."
He changed into costume and captured photos of himself stopping a mugging and a few other crimes. It was less then an hour he arrived at the Bugle apologized to Betty and found himself in Jameson's office.
"Well what do you think of them?"
"I can only pay you full price for them. The pictures are crummy kid you know that. But lucky for you I'm kindhearted so I'll take them of your hands."
Peter took Jameson's check and stepped outside.
"Don't bother thanking me." Jameson said "I cant help being generous."
"It's half of what there worth." Peter thought "But it's better than nothing and he knows it."
Peter took the route to Forest Hills, Queens.
"With everything that's happened lately I haven't even had the chance to see Aunt May. No I've been to busy playing web spinner, I haven't had time for anyone who really matters." Images of Peter's friends… and more went through his mind. "There I go again thinking of the past of the friends who mean the most to me. But it always goes back to the one person… to the only person. No matter what I try no matter what I do I can't get Gwen out of my mind—or my heart. I'm so uptight I can hardly remember crossing the bridge but anyway I'm almost at Aunt May's"
Since he was in no immediate danger Peter's spider sense didn't go off and he remained oblivious as the Beetle flew overhead. The Beetle a D-list villain who Spider-Man Iron Man and the Human Torch occasionally encountered attempted to rob a candy store in the neighborhood. Since it was not an obvious target like a bank jewelry store laboratory or the federal reserve he thought no one would suspect him. But this was not the Beetle's day… if he ever had one and the cops arrived not that they could stop him as he flew away with whatever modest sum he could scrounge.
Meanwhile Peter had arrived at his Aunt's house and knocked on the door. His Aunt May and MJ's Aunt Anna were in but they were quite frightened because of several break ins the Beetle had perpetrated over the past two days. Peter checked the newspaper and saw the pattern of the Beetle's targets they were so predicable a child could figure the next few places he'd hit so tired from his recent encounters with Iceman, Prowler and his rush to the airport Peter felt it fine to take a nap.
While he was asleep however he had nightmares of losing Gwen again something happening to her; London NYC he couldn't tell but it was so vivid. He woke up to hear Anna tell him that his aunt was abducted by the Beetle. The news was on for him to hear.
"Defying the police in a local grocery store the Beetle is holding a hostage identified as a Mrs. May Parker a widow who lives at…"
Peter didn't hear him finish how could he be so foolish as to ignore the Beetle. He ran out the door ignoring Anna and quickly found a place to change costume. He swung towards the grocery store dodging gunfire from the police who still believed he might be responsible for the death of Captain Stacy.
The cops were so busy firing at Spider-Man that they didn't notice the Beetle fly out the broken window of the grocery store with Aunt May in tow. Once the Beetle was at a reasonable distance from the cops he dropped May who Spider-Man caught in a net of webbing. Spider-Man and the Beetle exchanged a few quick blows before Spider-Man web yanked him down through the skylight of a rooftop and the two fell into an indoor swimming pool. The Beetle's armor made it almost impossible for him to swim and it was a simple matter for Spider-Man to web him up and paste him to a wall.
With the Beetle taken care of Peter changed to his civilian attire and found his aunt the two embraced.
"Peter dear I hope you didn't worry you."
Worry me? Oh Aunt May when will you ever think of yourself! Come on I'll take you home now."
The two made the short walk to May's house.
"Even though iv always felt guilty about the death of Uncle Ben" Peter thought "perhaps in some small way Spider-Man has paid part of the never ending debt!"
The next morning Spider-Man was web swinging looking for an opportunity to take some more photos.
"It's no use! No matter where I go or what I do no matter how hard I try not to think I can't get Gwen out of my mind. If only I could have seen her before she went to London… but even if I did what good would it have done? She'll always blame Spider-Man for the death of her father."
He settled on the wall of a skyscraper and searched for any activity.
"But what am I gonna do? I see her face wherever I look. Every pleasant sound reminds me of her voice. I can almost feel her in the air I breathe."
"I've got to put an end to it somehow before I go mad. And there's only one way I have to go to London have to find her. There must be some way for me to explain."
He crawled onto the rooftop and changed clothes.
"Luckily I have no classes this week. But what am I gonna do for money? I haven't shot anything newsworthy and I can't ask my poor aunt for a loan."
A few hops later he was on ground level next to the Bugle building.
"My only hope is to get an advance from Jameson. But who am I kidding? That's like no chance at all."
He made it up the elevator and near Jameson's office.
"All these years—years of fighting risking my life, trying to help people, and for what?'
"Peter hold it son!" Robby said
Peter turned and faced the editor.
'Haven't seen much of you since Captain Stacy died."
"I I've been pretty shook up about it Mr. Robertson."
"Yes—we all were."
"How's his daughter taking it?"
Peter looked down gloomily.
"She left for England to stay with her relatives."
"It' the best thing Peter! A change of scene do her good—help her to forget. And you can always visit her."
"Don't bet on it." He said facing his friend again
"Plane fares cost money and I wouldn't want to impose on anyone."
"So that's what's bugging you. Maybe the Bugle can be charitable for a change."
"You mean get that money from Jameson? Some chance."
"Not as a gift I'm still city editor here! I'll send you to England to bring back some pics just go to our cashier and ask for a travel voucher! She can okay it with me."
Peter's mood brightened now full of enthusiasm.
"You mean it?"
"Sure kid just bring back some shots."
Peter started to run out giddy just as Jameson exited his office.
"Isn't that Peter Parker?" Jameson asked "hat's he looking so happy about?"
"Oh I just gave him a new assignment, JJ."
"Lazy good for nothing punk! He only works when he feels like it."
"That so? Wish I knew how he does it."
"Next to Spider-Man I hate loud mouthed students the most. I even hate them when they're quiet.
But lest Jolly Jonah's philosophy prove too persuasive, we'll quickly change our scene to Parker as he ran into his aunt's apartment.
"Peter-" Anna said
"Hi Mrs. Watson I came to see Aunt May! Iv got some news for her."
Peter stopped running as he reached the living room and saw May on the couch and Mary Jane in a hippie costume.
"Aunt May wait till I tell—Oh! Mary Jane I didn't know you were here."
"Why fight it man it's fate! Your subconscious couldn't stay away from me." MJ said
"Peter iv been helping Mary Jane with her costumes for the new show she's…" aunt May said before being interrupted
"Yeah sure that' great! Aunt May I'm going to London to find Gwen!"
"I didn't know she was lost." MJ said smiling
"I didn't want you to worry if you called and I wasn't home. I'll be back in a few day's. lot's of luck with your show MJ." As he started to walk out
"Oh you noticed I'm still here how groovy."
"He sure has eyes for that dynamite blond Mrs. P."
"To think my own nephew actually in love…"
"It doesn't take any special talent."
At about noon Harry dropped Peter off at the airport.
"How are you going to find her?" Harry asked "London's a pretty big city."
"I'll find her somehow."
"Well keep it all together and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Thanks for the lift I'll be back pretty soon."
"Don't hurry I'll have the refrigerator all to myself."
A half hour later Peter was in the plane as it took of.
"Well I did it!" Peter thought "I'm finally on my way to Gwen. If only I wasn't so nervous about seeing her. I've no idea what I'll say to her—how I'll pull it off. But I'll think of something! Iv just got to. And there was that promise I made to her dad. I love her captain Stacy but what will ever happen if she learns that I'm Spider-Man the one she blames for your death."
His thoughts were interrupted by a little kid in the row behind him.
"Mister how come you don't take of your seat belt? Everybody else did. Do you like wearing it?"
"Thanks for reminding me pal." "I hardly noticed we were in the air" he thought
A well dressed man leaned over from the boy's row.
"I hope my son isn't disturbing you. It's his first flight and he's rather thrilled about it."
"That's okay sir he was just being helpful."
"My daddy's a gov'mint man! Are you a gov'mint man?"
"Afraid not."
"My daddy's an American Degalate—"
"Say that's terrific but I think you mean American Delegate."
"That's enough of that son. You mustn't disturb the other passengers."
They settled down and Peter looked out the window.
"Wonder what the other passengers would think if they knew I was wearing a Spider-Man shirt underneath my clothes."
A few hours later the plane landed roughly and there was an announcement.
"Everybody stay in your seats!"
"Something must've happened but what?"
The passengers panicked the pilot and a stewardess appeared.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" the stewardess said "we have a special announcement to make. No one may leave the plane we are all being held as hostages!"
"Hostages but by whom?"
"We've been informed that a bomb has been placed under the landing ramp! If the terrorist demands aren't met it will be blown up remotely! Please keep your seats you must not panic!"
Of course everyone panicked.
"The terrorist have promised no one will be injured."
"With a bomb on the plane how can you be sure?" one of the passengers asked
"What do they want? What are they after?" another passenger asked
"We don't know yet."
Everyone was so distracted that they didn't notice as Peter put on his mask. He then punched through the window and slid out crawling along the underside of the plane. The terrorist spotted him but before there car could get that close Spider-Man landed a mighty kick that sent the ramp safely away from the plane seconds before it detonated. The police started to arrive and the terrorist tried to make a getaway.
"Stop them!" one of the police said "They've seized the American Delegate and his son."
Spider-Man found a good angle on the plane to leap from and started swinging after them.
"No wonder they call them terrorist anyone who'd threaten to bomb a plane full of innocent people with bombing and kidnap a man and his son."
The terrorist noticed there pursuer of course and fired there machine guns at him but he was moving to fast for them to get a bead. He overtook the vehicle and landed on the roof.
"The way you fella's waste ammo you must get it wholesale."
"Dog you will interfere with us no longer!" as he leaned out the window and tried to spray Spider-Man with bullets.
Spider-Man merely kicked the weapon out of his hand and he fell out.
"This isn't my idea of an ideal vacation either."
His spider-sense went off and he noticed one of the terrorist open up the sunroof. Spider-Man trusted his sense and did the only thing he could to avoid an unpleasant encounter with lead he hurled himself backwards landing on the ground as the terrorist got away.
"He's falling I got him." The terrorist said
"Just keep thinking that" Spider-Man thought "Because my Spider-Tracer is on you again."
Spider-Man got up as several police showed up.
"This is the chap who pursued the car inspector." One of them said.
"Inspector Hargraves here" another said "I saw what you did my man and was most impressed. But why on Earth do you choose to wear that ridiculous costume?"
"I hate to be unnoticed in a crowd." Spider-Man replied
"A pity those beggars got away but we'll find them! They hope to force us to free some of there fellows whom we already imprisoned. But they'll find us rather more determined than they expect. However I'd like to know a bit more about you my lsd."
Spider-Man became unnecessarily defensive; he was in a hurry.
"Look—there's no law against wearing a costume is there?"
"Now now don't get belligerent boy! The yard keeps a file on Spider-Man you know. Though I must admit it's not as complete as I'd wish. But I'll review it again."
"Okay then you do that."
And Spider-Man ran up a wall away.
"Why did I lose my temper" Spider-Man thought "he was a good guy just doing his job."
"Sir" one of the constables said to the inspector "I studied the Spider-Man's file quite recently. I remember noting that he's a fugitive wanted by the New York Constabulary."
"No need for alarm, Brooks he's a stranger alone in our city. It will be simple to keep him under surveillance. And that is precisely what we'll do."
A few hours later Peter was still swinging across the city trying to home in on the signal from his spider tracer.
"Iv got to find them fast." he thought "Because every minute that goes by is a minute without Gwendy."
Spider-Man had just taken a short break when his spider-sense briefly went off. He looked for the terrorist vehicle but the feeling faded fast and they were nowhere to be seen. He thought it was a false alarm and started swinging oblivious to the fact that for one brief moment he was less then a hundred feet from the object of his affection.
Gwen had been staring out the window at her Uncle Arthur's home. Her aunt and uncle had been very kind she had remembered them fondly from the four trips she and her father had taken before to visit them. Her uncle had been a little mysterious at times but she got along great with her cousin Jill who had just turned 18. She had been in London for less than a week but she already felt at home… still she just couldn't get her mind of Peter. He had lacked the guts to tell her to stay and she hadn't seen him at the airport. Did he still love her or did his frequent disappearances have something to do with MJ's frequent advances. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Spider-Man swing nearby.
"A figure swinging past my window! It looks like it is… but it isn't possible he can't be here! Not here!"
She turned and her aunt and uncle approached her.
"First he killed my father" she thought "and now he's travelled across the ocean after me."
"Gwen!" Arthur exclaimed as she fainted
"What is that she's muttering under her breath." Her aunt asked as Arthur moved her over to the couch
"Spider-Man isn't that the one she blamed for her father's death?"
"She must have imagined she saw him."
After an additional fifteen minutes of swinging Spider-Man's spider-sense went of again and he found his target. He overshot them on a bridge and placed his camera.
"Look! It's the masked infidel known as Spider-Man." The driver said "He has seen us and will attack again."
"Look out that bus!" the passenger said
The car swerved missing the bus. The car stopped and the driver stepped out reaching for his pistol. Spider-Man swing punched him.
"Sorry one chance is all you get." He said
Spider-Man then jumped of the roof and started to rip off the sunroof at an angle that prevented one of the remaining terrorist machine gun fire from making contact. He grabbed him as the others tried to exit the vehicle but Spider-Man was to fast he merely slammed the one he was holding's body into the other two.
As he jumped off the car only one terrorist in the pile remained conscious. Spider-Man glanced at the interior of the car and saw that the hostages were not in the car. He quickly grabbed the one that was still awake by the shirt collar as the police showed up.
"Okay mister you're the only one awake so talk if you want to stay that way!"
"The police know our terms if the prisoners are not released the Americans will die at seven! Nothing can save them! There guilt is sealed by time itself! If they die the guilt is yours"
Spider-Man shook him violently.
"No! No! Not this time! Not this time!"
"Spider-Man" the inspector said "get ahold of yourself! Release him I say!"
Spider-Man let the lunatic go and faced the police.
"Was he telling the truth?"
"I'm afraid so. Also I'm afraid we cannot meet there terms. As you folks from across the pond put it we don't negotiate with terrorist."
"But there fanatics!" Spider-Man said as the constables started to shove the terrorist into there vehicles. "They'll stop at nothing! What if they've set off explosives timed to go off at seven."
"Then we must hope Knowles can be found before then."
"If we can get them to talk."
Spider-Man leaped into the air grabbed his camera and started swinging across the bridge.
"I'm not waiting. I have less then two hours to save two lives."
Spider-Man searched all over the city unable to find them until 6:58 when he remembered the terrorist comment on time itself. "Of course!" he thought "there in Big Ben"
Spider-Man was only a few feet away from the clock at the time and launched himself with all his might. Firing a web line to freeze the arm of the clock he then made his way inside and quickly freed the delegate and his son who were tied to the bell. He grabbed both of them and descended to ground level.
"Spider-Man iv heard of you—read about you—but" the delegate said
"Save it mister! Were not clear yet."
The police quickly arrived and Spider-Man dropped the two off. About ten minutes later the bomb squad arrived and said that the explosive had been successfully defused.
As Spider-Man left to find a spot to change into his regular clothes the inspector approached the delegate.
"Good show Mr. Knowles! The blighters are all in prison now. Had they not attempted this shoddy scheme, there fellows might have been pardoned! But now-"
"But now inspector were just glad to be alive."
"He's going away." the little boy said as he waved
"And there bless him is the one who saved us."
"I say old man—why do they hate and fear him so in the states?"
"I wish I knew inspector. Perhaps to many of us are prophets without honor in our own lands."
Spider-Man had just found a spot to change and was descending.
"For once everything worked out swell. The hostages are safe, I have my pictures and nothing can keep me from Gwen."
He reached the spot and started to change.
"Her uncle's name is Arthur so I'll go through every Stacy in the phone book until."
He had just left the alley and saw a newsstand. The newspaper had somehow already managed to make an evening edition on him. Spider-Man Foils Terrorist Plot was the headline.
"Oh no! the one thing I didn't think of! Now that all England knows that Spider-Man is here how can Peter Parker visit Gwen? She'd be certain to suspect!"
He tried his best to ignore the stand as he walked angry at the cruel twist of fate.
"She'd put two and two together in a minute. Wherever Peter Parker goes Spider-Man appears."
"Do I chance it? He wondered his rage briefly fading before surging back "Once again even if I win I lose! But this time I'm losing Gwen! Why does this happen to me?" he said as several passerby saw him collapsing to the ground in despair "Why? Why?"
And then he remembered the night with the Prowler. It could destroy his whole world but if there was any chance that the universe could allow him and Gwen together there was only one solution he could think of. He ran off to find them.
Inside the home of Arthur Stacy Gwen had recovered conciousness about an hour later and was in pretty good shape considering. She was really worried but not manically so.
Arthur was browsing through the news channels when he caught a news report on Spider-Man's activities that day.
"Gwendolyn! Come here my dear quickly look at this."
Gwen turned and stared at the television.
"You weren't dreaming! You didn't imagine it. Spider-Man is in London. You must have really seen him. But according to the newscast he seems a decent sort. I'd venture to say the chaps a bloomin hero!"
Arthur looked at her Gwen watched the footage of him saving the captives from Big Ben and they hugged.
"Perhaps you were to quick to condemn him child. After all you were under a great strain—what with poor George's death… you may have done him an injustice."
"I remember now even father used to say Spider-Man wasn't really bad. If only Peter were here. I hoped and prayed he'd love me enough to come after me. But I guess I was wrong about many things."
Twenty minutes later there was a knock on the door Arthur opened it.
"You must be Mr. Parker come in I think Gwen would be very happy to see you."
Peter thanked him briefly and entered. Arthur thought it a bit odd that he arrived on the same day as Spider-Man (his background was explored a little in Distinguished Gentlemen From New York) he passed Jill who was on her way out and didn't seem impressed with her cousins boyfriend then he opened the bedroom Gwen had been using. She had been going through her things she turned and saw Peter no words were spoken as the two hugged and kissed briefly in joy.
"What took you so long?" Gwen asked more happy then humorous
"Harry didn't have plane tickets on hand who knew."
Then he grew a bit more solemn and Gwen was curious but slightly disturbed.
"When I got here I was really conflicted I didn't know how you'd react and I nearly went back… but I can't live without you and if we are to… move forward" he didn't mention marriage but both knew it had been on there minds for a while "I can't keep anything from you. Gwen" he said revealing his costume underneath his shirt "I'm Spider-Man"
Peter waited for her response Gwen now sat on her bed she was about to ask him to prove it or simply tell him off for pulling that stunt again but she let herself calm down a bit.
"It does make sense with the Bullit incident and when Spider-Man showed up outside my apartment before I left but I saw you and Spider-Man not ten feet away from one another…"
She didn't resist as Peter checked quick to make sure none of the Stacy's were eavesdropping and moved a bit closer.
"I had confessed earlier because I temporarily lost my powers and I thought if I was going to have to quit I might as well start being honest with you and my friends. You were so distressed I decided to take it back the Spider-Man you saw was a retired supervillain Hoby Brown he owed me a favor so I had him dress up as me so I had an alibi. When you decided to leave I thought it was my last chance so I was going to reveal my identity again but with the rumors of your father's death Hoby thought I had played him and tried to "protect you" which is why I couldn't make it to the airport in time."
Gwen was somewhat resigned and more angry then he ever saw her after the first two months after they met.
"So this whole thing… us… almost two years it's been all a lie?"
"I had to keep everyone safe. As it is only one of my enemies knows who I am and he has caused plenty of trouble believe me."
"What happened with my father?" she gave him "the look" (if you don't know the Look watch The Spectacular Spider-Man show)
"I loved your father but was always careful with him I always had the feeling that he might know who I was or be on the verge of finding out. It turned out that I was right. As you know he was nearby while I was fighting Doctor Octopus… one of his tentacles hit a chimney and your father moved a child out of harm's way but he fell under the rubble. He died a hero."
Peter paused to let that sink in but Gwen didn't say a word.
"I took care of Octavius of course and then I went to try to help him. As he lay there dying confirmed what I had already suspected he referred to me as Peter and made me make a promise."
"What promise?" Gwen asked
"To look after you because he wouldn't be there anymore."
Peter slanted against the wall a bit torn up inside.
"It's going to kill me but maybe it's for the best if I go back you'll only be safer if we're separated by an ocean. I just thought that you deserved to know."
Gwen spoke up not quite as pleasant as usual but without most of her previous anger.
"Peter you saw firsthand the attack earlier today. Most supervillains may be in America but that doesn't mean that anywhere is really safe."
"Does that mean you'll…"
"I don't know just give me a chance to process this."
There was about thirty seconds of uncomfortable silence before she spoke again.
"How did you get your powers anyway? Are you a mutant?"
"I don't think so. (although the possibility of him being an artificial mutant that is inheriting his powers from Richard's experiments on himself is something that it looks like the Amazing Spider-Man films seem to be exploring.) it all started in high school when I was bitten by a spider."
They talked for a good twenty minutes as he explained how the origin of his powers, how he became Spider-Man, the death of his uncle, and Norman's identity as the Green Goblin and the risk it posed. As he finished there was another uncomfortable silence and he asked her where they were. She said she didn't know and Peter made a polite exit.
Gwen thought for five minutes but there was only one thing that inevitably came to mind. One choice that love opened. She packed her meager things and met up with her relatives in the living room.
"I don't know what you two talked about" Arthur said "but I believe it was quite a discussion." He gestured towards her suitcase.
"Is he really that important to you?" her aunt asked
"Yes he's the one." She said smiling
'Then go on don't let us stop you." Arthur said
"You haven't been here a week and your leaving already?" Jill said disappointed but not angry at the loss of her cousin
She hugged all three of them and thanked them greatly for taking her in then they entered the garage and into Arthur's car. Arthur knew all the routes and they made good time on the trip to the airport but… still they were to late. Gwen just had time to check the departure times and watch the plane to New York take off.
"Peter!" she exclaimed
Her aunt asked around about the next flight to New York and they discovered that as a result of the increased security measures as a result of the incident that day. There would be no more flights to North America and Europe till the next morning.
Inside the cabin of the plane Peter was oblivious to what had just happened.
"It's for the best" he thought "I told her who I truly am and if she can't love me this way then she never truly did at all. I'm just going to have to forget her. Maybe it's best this way.
There will be several more chapters I promise you.
