There was no doubt in his mind that Stupéfier had no idea what she was doing. Join the Avengers? Really now? Just like that? He had to admit: that girl could jump. And when she left him alone on the Brooklyn Bridge, not only did he know he'd track her down (thanks to his best friend, the spider-tracer) but he also knew that she actually stood a chance.

Stupéfier was going international now. The Avengers would be curious, at least. Who wouldn't be curious of a hot new French babe with crazy powers? (Ha, Mary Jane would kill him if she knew he thought like that).

Spider-Man started swinging himself over to Stark Tower--the Avengers normally hung out with Iron Man and his fancy, rich little not-so-secret hideaway. Captain America, Thor, and Stark would be there, most likely. They deserved a heads up about the new girl who had her eyes set on their team.

It was getting dark, and Spider-Man didn't want to make his entrance into Stark Tower seem more like a break-in. He had enough bad press as it were, lately. On a webline he soared into the city. He loved the city at night.

But, of course, the law had other plans. He saw three police cars speed down the street, their lights flashing and sirens blaring. He changed his direction and headed towards the Empire State Building, excited for a little action. Though he never felt excited. He felt scared--you never know what lunatic was around the corner and ready to kill you.

For a moment, he really though Stupéfier had something to do with it. For some reason, he just knew that girl would be getting herself into some sort of mess. He was happy to see he had been wrong, and that it was not her. He was not happy to see it was Mysterio. What was he doing? It seemed that he was just standing on a street corner...there had to be something he was up to.

Spider-Man quickened his pace, then flipped off his webline and landed hard on the ground. "I never did ask you, Mysterio...is it hard to get that bowl off your head?"

Mysterio had become accustomed to remarks about his costume. He wore a green jumpsuit, a long purple cape, and fishbowl-like helmet. Mysterio just laughed.

"What are you up to?" Spider-Man asked him, standing a good distance away on the street corner.

Mysterio snarled, "Wouldn't you like to know!"

"...I would, actually. Which is why I asked..."

Mysterio spun himself around to face Spider-Man, then threw small little pellets to the ground. Smoke erupted from them, and Spider-Man found himself lost in cheap stage effects, as the Master of Illusion went in for his attack. Spider-Man wondered if Mysterio--or any of the bad guys, for that matter--knew he had a spider-sense. Because when Mysterio went in with his foot aimed at Spider-Man's head, all it took was that dull little buzz at the base of his neck to dodge out of the way. Then, his spider-sense guiding him, he reached out and grabbed Mysterio's wrist as he was about to deliver a blow to Spider-Man's face. Spider-Man twisted his arm around and kicked Mysterio out of the cloud of artificial smoke, and then he followed.

Mysterio stood and brushed himself off. "I have to go, Spider-Man, but we are not through."

Spider-Man wanted to laugh. "Oh, you're done? So it's okay, you can just leave? Is your helmet on too tight or something?"

Mysterio smiled under his helmet. "We'll meet again, Spider-Man."

Spider-Man nodded. "Yep. Your helmet's on too tight." And he jumped towards, him, his hands ready to pull him down. But Mysterio threw down more smoke pellets, and he vanished from sight. Spider-Man was far from impressed. He'd seen Mysterio's tricks one too many times to awed like a little kid at a magic show. At a very bad magic show.

"Man, I hate that guy," Spider-Man said. "What the heck was he doing, just standing on a street corner? Getting some fresh air?" He shook his head and jumped, taking off on a webline and heading into the night sky. "He's up to something, all right. It won't be long till I find out, too, knowing him."

Spider-Man pondered on this all on his way to Stark Tower. Mysterio was one of his bad guys, not Captain America, Thor, or any of those guys, true. But that didn't mean they couldn't share some insight on that, too. Spider-Man had never seen anyone do that before. Mysterio was literally just standing on a street corner. Just standing there, as if it were no big deal. Wanted, international supervillains don't do stuff like that! Not the last time Spider-Man had checked, anyway. But who knew? Supervillainy could be starting up some new trends.

Stupéfier had found Max Dillon strangely attractive. And, for some odd reason, she fell for him instantly. He seemed to be such a gentleman, as the two stuck to the shadows as he pointed out famous landmarks. They had to stay off the main street for "reasons I'm sure you understand, Stupey." Stupéfier knew that superhumans didn't just go waltzing about in the street. And he had a pet name for her, which made her giggle.

"I was supposed to meet up with this guy," Max continued. "I want to introduce you to him. His name is Quentin, but he goes by Mysterio. I think that name is worse than mine."

"I am guessing, by the sound of his name, his is a superhero, eh?"

Max laughed.

"So, a friend of yours?"

"More like an ally. For now."

Stupéfier nodded. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pointed. "See that? That's the Empire State Building."

Stupéfier wasn't stupid. She knew the Empire State Building. But she nodded and appreciated his effort to show her around. Suddenly she watched Max go still, and his eyes were fixed on something. It was like he was lost in himself, and he seemed so cold. Stupéfier didn't like that side of him, as his eyes narrowed. She looked around, trying to see what he was staring at. Oh, look! It was Spider-Man.

"I owe you big time, bug-man!" Max shouted out. Stupéfier watched his hands spark with electricity, as he jumped and fired a ball of pure power towards the web-swinger.

"Max! What the bloody hell are you doing?" Stupéfier managed to scream out. She leaped high into the air, her black dress flowing, and grabbed Max, tackling him to the ground. She felt the heat from his generating still. She fixed her foot-ball shaped mask on her face, as it had fallen down slightly. She had been meaning to get it fitted.

"Spider-Man!" Stupéfier cried out. Was he okay? She hadn't even seen him get hit. Maybe he managed to dodge it.

Max rolled over and got up. "Stupey! Are you nuts? I had him!"

"Why would you do that?" she asked. "You attacked him!"

"What, jealous I got to him first?"

Stupéfier was so confused. Maybe the two had a fight or something, and that was why they were not friends. Spider-Man seemed like a likable person, and Max...

Max pulled on her wrist and started running. She held up her dress as not to trip, though it was short enough. "Where are we going?"

"I don't feel like fightin' him! I got bigger plans!"

"Plans for what?"

"Stupey, I wanna introduce you to five friends of mine..."

"Friends?"

Max gave an evil smile. Something told her to turn the other way, but his charm pulled her in closer. She nodded, and allowed Max to lead her on.