Nine

Peter didn't know what failed him more, his own ability to realize that something is going horribly wrong, or the fact his spider sense seemed to be taking a nap? One moment he was going along just fine like everything was normal during his patrol and then he heard someone screaming for someone to help them. Peter went to the alley to try to help whoever it was but when he got there he didn't see anyone and the next thing he knew someone whacked him over the back with some kind of large, heavy, and blunt object. It didn't really hurt because the person swinging it was just a regular human without enough physical strength to actually hurt but the action caught him off guard so he wasn't expecting another blow when he turned to look at his first attacker who he hadn't even sensed coming. The second one he was alerted to and he was able to catch the bat the man was trying to hit him with. But he couldn't help but remain confused the entire time because he didn't know what was going on. One moment he was trying to save someone and then he had a gang of guys trying to beat the crap out of him.

So many questions were running through his head. Who were these guys? What did they want? Who called for help? Had they been trying to mug someone? Did he interrupt and now they just decided to start on him instead? What was the point? Where was the person then who called for help? Were they safe? Hurt? Dead? Unconscious? Unable to talk?

All these questions were running through Peter's head while he tried to push off the ten guys trying to pummel him into the ground to the best of their abilities. He shoved three back webbing them to the ground while others attacked him. Two broke off to cut the webbing with knives they pulled from their pockets. Peter questioned that as well since it seemed planned, it seemed coordinated. Suddenly, it didn't feel like much of an accident that he had ended up in this alley. Within moments his thoughts were confirmed when he felt a much more powerful blow to his back tossing him across the alley like he was a rag doll. Peter crashed into several dumpsters knocking them aside causing them to skid while he just landed on the others denting them. He shook his head as he sat up to look at his new attacker whose attack had hurt.

"We have to stop running into each other like this." The Green Goblin hissed. "Aw well, I see you've met my friends. Wonderful guys, don't you think?"

"They make a lasting first impression." Peter remarked. "Especially with the bats."

"They try!" The Goblin yelled. "But I have a task for you, Spider-Man. If you would be so kind as to help me out, I would appreciate your time."

"No thanks," Peter shook his head. "I'll pass."

"Aw, but perhaps you should let me explain first." The Goblin hissed. Peter could almost hear a smile from under that man's mask. A sick and twisted smile. "Meet Jenny, she was on her way home from work when she stopped to help us out."

The Goblin pointed to a woman tied up dangling from the top of the roof. She looked absolutely terrified, her face contorted as though she may be screaming, but she was unable because her mouth had been covered by some sort of gray material. Peter flinched moving to try to help her but the Goblin who was hovering on his glider slide between him and the woman making Peter's jaw twitch in irritation.

"Uh uh, that would be against the rules." The Goblin was shaking his head disapprovingly. "The game hasn't started yet. See, you against my guys for Jenny. Whoever wins decides her fate. So, tell me Spider-Man, do you think you can spare the time now? Or will you forfeit the game to these guys or – better yet – will you forfeit Jenny to these guys?"

"Let her go!" Peter yelled. "This isn't a game, you sick psychopath! This is a woman's life!"

"Psychopath?" Goblin sounded offended. "Consider this psychopath's feelings hurt. Yes, and this woman's fate rests in your hands. So, what will it be, Spider-Man?"

Peter shot a web trying to propel himself up towards the woman but he was knocked down by the Goblin sliding his glider into his torso. Peter crashed into the side of the building opposite the one holding the woman dangling from the roof sliding down to the ground in a heap. Before he could react the guys descended upon him with their weapons trying to keep him down for as long as possible. Peter did his best kicking most of them back before one of them pulled out something he didn't quite recognize. The man jabbed whatever it was into Peter's side. Peter could feel some kind of buzzing on his side but he wasn't sure what it was supposed to be doing until he looked down and discovered it was a electric rod. The man was trying to electrocute him. Peter grabbed the front of the man's shirt shoving him back until he landed hard on the ground. He heard an awful smack into the ground which Peter knew couldn't be good for the guy's tailbone.

On the bright side at least he knew the suit was still composed of latex despite it being covered in an alien goo. Another guy ran forward with a knife trying to stab him in the torso. But Peter flipped his legs up until he was stuck to the wall letting the man with the knife crash into the wall. Peter helped him by pulling his head away from the wall and then slamming it back into the wall once more in case the first time didn't stick. He webbed the other wall pulling himself across the alley before he started crawling the side leaving the men beneath him since they couldn't crawl on wall. Peter only made it halfway before his senses went crazy and he flipped himself to his right getting out of the way in time because the Goblin crashed into the side of the building with his glider. When he pulled away from the wall to try again Peter saw there were huge blades sticking out of the front the Goblin was doing his best to run him through with. As the Goblin tried to make another pass to stab him with those very large blades Peter covered his eyes with a quick shot of webbing. The Goblin continued on with his plan to ram him anyway crashing into the wall. But Peter let himself slide down a little ways on the wall to prevent himself from getting killed. One of the guys below hurled a heavy metal object the size of a softball at him which hit him directly in the stomach.

Peter saw they were planning to do it again so he webbed them for the moment. He knew it probably wouldn't hold them for very long but he just needed a second to get to the woman. Then he sensed the Goblin coming so he moved to the side trying to get out of the wall but one of the guys below broke free throwing something else at Peter. He faltered for a moment in his attempt to get away from the Goblin's attack but it was a moment too long. The Goblin's blades grazed his side cutting him across his ribs. And despite the pain Peter felt he couldn't help but get a little mad since the last time he had fought this guy he ended up with a gash across his ribs. He had just healed there, the guy couldn't cut him somewhere else?

Peter heard the glider run directly into the wall beside him so he turned towards the glider. He picked his feet up pushing on the side of the glider with everything he had until he heard the metal on the glider creaking. He could feel the guys below pummeling him with different objects making him wonder when they would run out of things to throw at him. He kept pushing on the glider until the metal had no choice but to give in and break away. It left the big metal blades in the wall of the building which Peter felt relief at because it was one less thing he had to worry about right now. The Goblin spun out for a moment before he slide his feet across the floor of the glider regaining his control over it once more keeping it from crashing into anything. He corrected the flight so he could stare directly at Peter who was busying trying to keep the ten guys the Goblin had been kind enough to bring with him down. As Peter shot a web towards the guys to pin them to the ground the Goblin swooped in between them grabbing the web.

The Goblin pulled the web along with him as he raced off into the city. Peter couldn't tell where they were going all he knew was his web-shooter was jammed because of the sudden tugging on it. The webbing had gotten caught up together on its way out of the web-shooter. The webbing was caught and it was made difficult in his attempt to undo it when he was being slammed off every hard surface in New York. Peter didn't know how long he was taken on the ride to hell all he knew was that he just kept wishing it would be over one way or another. Either the Goblin decided he had enough fun tugging Spider-Man through the city or he managed to get the webbing unstuck from his web-shooter. Either way he was fine with it as long as it stopped. Everything was moving so quickly it seemed like one giant blur as New York passed him by so quickly and painfully. Then it all came to a crashing halt, literally. Peter felt himself tugged around a corner before the speed and tugging disappeared and he could feel himself flying through the air until he crashed into a hard surface and then into another hard surface. The last hard surface caused water to be splashed around soaking him through.

Peter felt like one giant bruise. The world was still spinning in a way that was not correct when he looked up to see the ten men closing in on him again. Apparently, the Goblin had been kind enough to drop him back in the alley they had started in. Peter almost groaned vaguely seeing the Goblin hovering above all of them with his arms crossed almost like he was waiting to see what would happen next. Peter took a deep breath pushing his stomach back into its correct position pushing up with both of his hands as the world began to feel somewhat normal again. He rose to his shaky feet doing his best to hold himself together because he felt like at any moment he could tip one way or the other without warning because he was pretty sure even if he fell over it would still feel like he was standing.

"Feeling alright there, Spider-Man?" The Goblin asked. "Why not just give up? You tried! You tried very hard, but this is a fight you can't win."

Six men closed in around Peter grabbing him quickly but it was hard for Peter to fight back since he didn't know which six of the 12 he saw were the right ones. They held him tightly as the other lined up to hit beat the crap out of him in any way they could with whatever they could. Peter took a deep breath gathering his wits, pulling himself together, he ignored the pain, instead he focused himself, and he concentrated. He had a job to do, someone needed him. He couldn't give up or give in. There was something else besides him at stake here. Someone's life was also hanging in the balance.

"I won't." Peter said firmly. "I won't."

Peter looked up at the Goblin enough to see surprise in the man's stance especially when Peter flexed both of his arms pulling guys on either side of him. He shoved three on his right to the ground out of his way into some trash cans. He heard their shouts of pain before he shoved the other three away as well. They crashed into each other instead. They fell all over one another as the other four moved to hit Peter again. He went to web them but his left web-shooter wasn't working properly. Instead it sputtered making a coughing noise before the light in it went out. Peter let out a small uh-oh as he realized he was one web-shooter down in a fight against 11 guys. Instead of panicking he webbed two of the four guys feet to the ground keeping them right where they are before he webbed another of them pulling the guy to him. Peter grabbed the guy tossing him into the three guys who had been tripping over each other when Peter pushed them away from him.

"Why won't you give up?" The Goblin asked. "Wouldn't it be easier? It definitely wouldn't hurt as much this way."

"It's not who I am." Peter answered.

"Good to know." The Goblin muttered.

The comment puzzled Peter but he didn't have much time to think about it since he was busy trying to fight off a bunch of goons. One of whom attacked him with a bat again this time swinging for his ankle. He almost managed to land a blow but Peter quickly jumped out of the way. He jumped over the guy kicking the one behind him who was picking up another large weapon to bludgeon him with. Peter took the guy he jumped over using both of his hands to throw the guy into another. Peter knocked down every single one of the goons webbing them to the ground keeping them right where they were. He didn't need them getting up trying to hit him with something again or trying to throw something at him again. Once they were down for the count Peter turned to look up at the Goblin.

"If you want to see what I'm made of," Peter shouted. "Why not just come down here and figure it out for yourself? Or are you a coward?"

"Maybe you should try looking at the world from up here sometime." The Goblin insisted. "It's much easier to see the whole picture when you're looking down on it. Besides, it's easier to step on annoying bugs like yourself."

"Spiders still aren't bugs." Peter shook his head. "And I haven't seen you do much squishing when it comes to me considering I'm still here and you've been more concerned with trying to hurt other people or having other people hurt me."

"It isn't over yet, Bug." The Goblin taunted. "There is still much more to come."

The Goblin descended suddenly his feet moving back and forth across the surface of the glider until two long rods each a little over a foot long popped out. The Goblin caught both of them easily in his hands as he came down towards Peter. As he went the two rods began glowing a bright blue which Peter figured it meant they were electrified which was a concern but what was worse was the front of the glider lit up in the same fashion. Peter frowned making a mental note to ask Gwen what the plan for this glider was if they could find someone to actually pilot the thing. The whole glider itself was one gigantic weapon. Whose crazy idea was this to build something so dangerous? And why weren't the blueprints to the glider locked up more carefully since this thing is so dangerous? The whole thing seemed like a bad idea and just asking for trouble from the get go.

Peter bent over backwards letting the glider fly over him and almost into the wall behind him but the Goblin made a quick correction catching himself. The glider did a flip over itself crashing into Peter driving him into the ground hard. Peter could feel the electricity running across the front of the glider, it was burning hot now melting into the black of his suit, and he knew if the suit was destroyed he'd be electrocuted most likely to death. He doubted the suit would be able to repair itself fast enough to protect him. The problem was that both of his arms were pinned down by his sides keeping him from being able to break himself free. Peter tried wiggling himself free but he couldn't push the glider back far enough. He felt the last shred of his suit in the front of his torso melt out of the way. Peter felt the electricity running through his body and he knew he couldn't last very long with this amount of voltage running through his system. He groped along the underside of the glider looking for a panel he had seen when he had first looked underneath the glider. His fingers stuck to it so he could pull the panel cover out of the way. He jammed his fist inside looking for any sort of wires and he yanked as hard as he could feeling the wires pull free. The sharp searing electricity stopped along with the entire glider.

Now it was just a giant paper weight or a Peter weight depending on how you looked at it. The Goblin seemed confused as he slide his feet along the glider's top trying to get it to reactivate. Instead if just seemed to get angrier. Peter's head was spinning but it didn't matter he needed to break free, there was still a woman's life hanging in the balance. He wiggled and shoved against the glider which was easier to move since it was just the weight of the glider now and not the weight and the engine as well. Peter shoved the glider out of the way along with the Goblin who came after him with the electrified rods with rubber handles.

Peter could hear the crackle of the electricity though the air. It hissed as the Goblin held the rods up in the air in a rather menacingly fashion. The blue light coming from the rods was eery in the pitch black alley. He moved back slightly feeling his balance swaying but he caught himself before he tilted too far to one side and fell on his face. Peter shook his head clearing the fog beginning in his mind, he was tired, his limbs felt heavy, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep going in a fight before he got himself killed. He felt sluggish almost as though his entire body weighed a thousand pounds. Unlike the Goblin who had barely been doing anything this entire time since he had been basically just watching the fight from his glider. He was still fresh and ready to go since he hadn't been fighting ten guys with an eleventh knocking him back into play for the other ten guys. Peter felt energy coursing through him that he didn't think he had. He was pressing sure he was already running on his reserves and approaching empty but suddenly he didn't feel as heavy as he did before. The weary tiredness he had felt running through his bones was leaving. He felt stronger, his mind clearer. Almost as if he had drunk an energy drink. He glanced at the black on his suit wondering if it was the suit doing it again.

The Goblin closed in on Peter. He took a deep breath preparing himself as the Goblin took the first swing trying to whack him over the head with the rods. Peter moved out of the way but the Goblin swung the other rod towards his stomach whacking him in the side. The cut on his stomach was shocked and throbbed because of the sudden contact but Peter also felt two of his ribs crack because of the force from the blow. Peter gasped faltering giving the Goblin an opening to hit him again this time in the stomach. Peter felt all of the air in his lungs come out of his body in a rush. And for a horrible moment Peter couldn't breath, there was air all around him but he couldn't seem to draw any of it into his lungs. Instead he just hung around him mocking him and taunting him. Peter finally managed to breath in as the Goblin swung the rods at him again. One hit him in the back of his knee causing him to drop to the ground. The Goblin raised his other rod to hit Peter over the head but Peter caught the Goblin's arms before he could hit him. Peter pushed back on the Goblin driving him into the wall with as much force as he could muster. The Goblin jabbed the rod into his side again, the side with gash on it where there was bare flesh. The rod electrocuted him, the electricity came coursing through his body, and Peter grabbed at the Goblin. He shoved the Goblin's head back into the brick of the wall causing the him to loosen his hold on the rod against Peter's side. Peter breathed a sigh of relief taking the Goblin's hand to smash it against the bricks as well. The rod fell noisily to the ground beside both of them. The Goblin pulled back his hand landing a swift hard blow to Peter's stomach with his fist.

"Omph," Peter gasped.

The Goblin punched his stomach again trying to force Peter to move back and let him go. Peter pulled the Goblin back from the wall before shoving him into the brick once more. The Goblin seemed dazed by that but it didn't stop him from kicking at Peter's ankles knocking one of his feet out from underneath him. He used his other foot to kick him away before turning to grab the other rod his hand glowing a brilliant blue but Peter was faster. Peter flicked his wrist to snatch the rod away from the ground pulling it back as hard as he could to let it slam into the wall behind him. The rod broke into several pieces after hitting the wall and then the ground with one final hiss before it died completely. The Goblin took the remaining rod in his hand and hurled it Peter knocking him back after it hit him squarely in the face. Before the rod hit the ground the Goblin's hand lit up the same brilliant blue color it hand before causing the rod to fly right back into his hand.

Of course, Peter thought dryly, an electromagnet. He would have to have an electromagnet. Peter pulled himself together again webbing the Goblin's feet pulling them out from underneath him. The Goblin hit the cold unforgiving ground with a loud thunk. Peter moved quickly jumping up to bring his fist down on the Goblin's face as hard as he possibly could. But before he could hit him the Goblin brought his feet up to kick him away. Peter skidded across the alley into the bottom of a nearby dumpster. Everything inside the dumpster crashed all over each other making a loud noise. The Goblin rose up to his feet.

"Why don't you just give up?" The Goblin asked. "It would save yourself a lot of trouble. I mean, really, what's the point of all of this? You're putting yourself in all of this danger, putting yourself on the line, and breaking yourself all for people you don't know! People who probably don't deserve it and people you'll see again! Why?"

"It's who I am." Peter answered.

"You're a fool." The Goblin said haughtily. "A damned fool, because one day you'll fall, and you'll lose. That's your fate, to die for people who probably won't think twice about you after your gone."

"I'm not here for a thank you." Peter shook his head. "I can help people, whether they care or not."

"A selfless and humbly damned fool too." The Goblin said cheerily. "My favorite kind."

The Goblin attacked but Peter was ready this time as he webbed a trashcan nearby propelling it across the alley into the Goblin's head. The Goblin fell over hitting the ground again. This time Peter didn't bother to try and attack him instead he webbed him to the ground hoping that would hold him. Peter pulled himself to the top of the building where the woman was still hanging over the alley still looking rather terrified but relieved to see Spider-Man instead of the Goblin. He carefully pulled her free from the confines and took her to the street where he told her to head home. Peter returned the to alley to grab the Goblin but by the time he got back he was already gone. The webbing looked melted through. The other guys were still struggling to break themselves free but they were having very little luck. Peter could see the glider was still sitting in the corner of the alley but the Goblin seemed to have found some other way to disappear into the thin air. Peter called the police while he searched through the alley looking for the Goblin but all he found was a note left for him.

If you think the game ends here, you're wrong Spider-Man.

Don't worry, I'll see you soon.

Peter sighed frustrated this guy had gotten away from him again without a trace to follow. It was not something he wanted to keep happening. This man was psychotic and in need of a shrink or even a hug may help the situation but this was getting out of hand. Peter kept watch on the other ten guys in the alley sticking to the wall just above all of them waiting for the police to arrive. Once the police showed up to arrest the ten guys Peter left them to their job so he could go. He gently touched his side where his ribs had been broken and he could feel they still weren't sitting properly but they were beginning to heal. He needed to get a move on right now before they ended up set wrong when they healed. Peter took off in the direction of Gwen's apartment where he knew he would be able to find first aid medical attention and a girlfriend to help him out with putting the bandages on.

However, what he wasn't expecting when he arrived at Gwen's apartment he found the whole place was completely dark. There wasn't an light coming out from the apartment. Peter landed on the fire escape of Gwen's apartment knocking gently on the window so he wouldn't frighten her if she was asleep or something. But there was no answer after a few minutes so he peered in through the window looking through the darkness at her bed but it was empty. Peter tugged on the window but it was locked. He sighed softly knowing Gwen locks her window whenever she leaves her apartment for the most part unless she's expecting him to come over or she wants him to come in while she's still at work. There are days when she forgets to lock it since she's used to having it unlocked for him to come in but there were other days when she locked her window because she wasn't going to be home that night. Which could mean any sort of things because sometimes it means she's planning on working late or she's watching her brothers because her mother is working on a huge case and can't leave work. Other times it means she's out with Mary Jane and there's no telling what time they'll get home.

Peter let his head fall against the window in a huff before he jumped off of the fire escape to go home to his own apartment. His window on the other hand always remained unlocked just in case. He figured no one was going to crawl up four windows without a fire escape to use in order to get into his apartment. He pulled the window open letting himself inside which is when he first noticed something was different. His bedroom was different, it had been cleaned. The last time he had been in his bedroom clothes were strewn across the floor and dirty bowls had been on his night table. Peter shook his head in confusion closing his eyes and opening them again to make sure it was still clean. Peter dropped his backpack on the ground wondering who it could possibly be out in his apartment because he could smell something cooking in the kitchen and the light was on in the living room. Since he doubted it was some random person who had broken in he narrowed it down to either Gwen or his aunt both of whom had a key as well as a compulsive need to clean while they're here. Peter poked his head out into the living room before he walked out just in case it was his aunt because he would need to change and leave if it was. He looked around the living room but it looked the same to him, cleaner but the same as it always did. Then Gwen came strolling out of the kitchen looking as though she belonged there. Peter marveled at that for a moment how she just made herself at home like she lived there. He was glad she felt so comfortable in his apartment. Gwen noticed him standing in the doorway and a smile spread across her face.

"Hey, welcome home." She said happily. Then she noticed how weary he looked and the state of his suit and his body. Immediately she turned worried moving to his side instantly. "What happened? Are you alright? You're bleeding. Sit down."

Peter followed her lead as they walked over to the small couch he had. Peter sat down on the couch with Gwen making sure he didn't bleed all over it. She left the living room racing into the bedroom to the closet where she pushed the clothes to the side whacking the right wall to reveal the hidden panel. She punched into the code and the back panel of the closet slide open. Gwen bent over grabbing the first aid kit she had assembled for him from the floor. She brought it back into the living room seating it in front of Peter.

"Tell me what happened." Gwen said softly. She helped him remove the top of his suit, pushing it down so she could see the wound on the side of his ribs which was now turning a dark shade of purple.

"I ran into the Goblin again." Peter said softly. "He brought guys with him this time, ten of them, and he kidnapped a woman to use as bait. The guys are in jail now, they were arrested by the police, and the woman is safe but the Goblin escaped. Again."

"Stop beating yourself up." Gwen lifted his arm out of the way.

"I'm not beating myself up." Peter insisted. "I'm fine."

"Liar," Gwen shook her head. "You're upset with yourself because he got away. I know you, Bugboy. You're beating yourself up for his getting away and I'm telling you to stop it. It's not your fault."

"How do you know?" Peter asked confused. "You weren't there."

"I know you." Gwen said softly. "I know you well enough to know that you did everything you possibly could to stop him because that's who you are. He got away and there was nothing you could do. I know that because I know you, I didn't need to be there to know."

"Using that brain of yours instead?" Peter pointed out.

"You should try it sometime. It can be quite the rush." Gwen teased. She carefully examined the wound on the side of his ribs but she frowned. "Did you break your ribs?"

"Unfortunately," Peter mumbled. "They heal yet?"

"No," Gwen shook her head. "They're still repositioning themselves. You definitely broke a few dozen blood vessels on this side though where your ribs were hit. This gash isn't that deep, it's a relatively clean cut, and very smooth. Must have been an extremely sharp blade... Sorry."

"It's fine," Peter shrugged. "It was and sharp is probably better than dull since it's cuts cleaner. Much easier for it to heal."

Gwen carefully cleaned the cut out before she covered it with a anti-bacterial agent along with nice clean bandage making sure none of it was exposed. Afterward she helped Peter pull the rest of his suit off. Once it was gone he felt exhaustion over take him. Gwen left the suit on the floor despite the fact she had just cleaned the room and went into his bedroom pulling out some clean clothes for him. Peter pulled on the sweats and the t-shirt she brought him before dropping back down onto the couch tiredly.

"Are you alright?" Gwen asked softly. "You seem... off."

"I – just – I don't know what I am." Peter said confused. "This guy terrifies me."

"What do you mean?" Gwen asked carefully. No one he had fought before terrified him. "What about him is terrifying?"

"He's just... willing to do anything." Peter explained. "He would've let those crazy guys do whatever to that woman just because he could. He attacked random people when he first showed up like it was some kind of test. He kept asking me questions this time around like he wanted to know what made me tick, why I wouldn't give up on trying to save someone I didn't even know. What kind of person could do? Why is he doing all of this? What's his big plan? What does he want?"

Gwen didn't say anything instead she dropped down beside him on the couch. She curled up beside him wrapping her arms around him running her fingers through his hair. Peter dropped his head against her chest feeling her chin come to rest on the top of his head. With every single stroke of her fingers through his hair he felt a little better but a like he was going to fall asleep at any moment as well. He hadn't realized how tired he had been or how disappointed he had been when he hadn't found Gwen at her apartment earlier. He supposed this was something he had grown accustomed to since he had become Spider-Man, getting into a huge fight, and turning to Gwen for comfort. Not being able to find her earlier wasn't something he had been prepared for so it side swiped him.

"He wants to know you." Gwen said breaking the silence.

"What?" Peter sounded confused. "What are you talking about?"

"He wants to understand what makes you tick." Gwen swallowed thickly. "He wants to see what you can do. They're tests to see how you'll fair against different challenges. Good thing you do so well on tests."

"Why?" Peter sat up. "Why not just kill me and get it over with?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Gwen pointed out. "If he's truly psychotic, he's going to drag it out, because if he didn't he would be bored. Sometimes, it isn't about the ending, it's about how you get there. It seems like he's sizing you up to figure out the best way to attack you, he's looking for the right opening. You're a pretty hard person to kill, Bugboy. You've fought a giant lizard, been sliced across the chest, able to get away, and still turned up to fight him the next day. You were thrown through walls, off of buildings, lost your best defense, were shot, arrested, but you kept going. You fought Electro, who electrocuted you, beat you down, and seemed nearly impossible to stop. They weren't able to find a chink in your armor, maybe the Goblin's just looking for one."

Peter was silent thinking about what she was saying because it made a lot of sense. He wished it didn't, he wished he could deny it, but something about it just fit. This guy seemed to be planning his attacks. They didn't seem random. He wanted to see how Peter would take him on placed in certain situations. Frankly, Peter found the whole thing creepy. This guy was examining him trying to figure out what made him tick and how he thought just because he wanted to take him down in the most perfect fashion he could come up with.

"The suit fixed itself." Gwen pointed out absentmindedly.

"There's something weird about that suit." Peter shook his head. "The goo seems like it's still alive in there and like it can affect me."

"Affect you how?" Gwen raised an eyebrow. "In a good way or in a bad way?"

"I don't know. It doesn't seem good or bad at the moment." Peter shrugged. "I mean, it just seems to heighten my own emotions or my physical attributes. Like tonight, for example, when I started getting tired I think it helped me by making me feel more awake. When I just took it off it was like all that exhaustion came crashing into me. When I'm angry or upset it turns into rage or when I'm happy it turns into elation. Everything is suddenly 20 times more than what it used to be. It's the strangest thing."

"Weird goo." Gwen agreed. "It can affect you but it only seems to elevate what you're already feeling or your personality."

"Seems like it," Peter agreed.

"You sound like you haven't decided on whether or not that's a good thing or a bad thing." Gwen commented. "You seem unsure."

"It's been helpful so far, but I don't know." Peter shrugged. "There's always a chance for something to go wrong."

"True," Gwen shrugged. "But there's also a chance that nothing will go wrong either. And for now it seems to be heading in that direction so let's worry about something else and just put it in the back of our minds for right now since there is no immediate threat from it. We have other things that are more important right now."

"Where do we even start?" Peter asked. He shook his head.

"Maybe we should start by trying to figure out who the Goblin actually is." Gwen suggested. "Maybe it might help. It always seems to help them once they figure out who you are. Attacking at school and then at your house. We might end up with the upper hand."

"Maybe we can figure out what his reasoning is in coming after me." Peter muttered. "After all everyone else has had a reason behind their attacks. The Goblin must have something bigger up his sleeve because if he succeeds what's his goal? He can't possibly just want to get rid of me."

"Peter," Gwen began cautious. "Didn't Connors warn you to watch out for Oscorp? He said they would come after you. The glider blueprints were stolen by someone at Oscorp, they think it's an inside job, and whoever stole them had to have the brains to use them. They had to know where to get them, how to get access, get out without being noticed, and to take the right ones. It makes sense."

"I didn't think of that." Peter said slowly. "But why would Oscorp be looking for a thief if they're doing this for the company?"

"Keeping up appearances?" Gwen suggested. "After all the bad publicity Oscorp has had in the last year trying to capture or kill New York's hero may not help them anymore. They have to look good in the process and if it doesn't work they can't have anything blow back on them. It would kill whatever trust people have left in them and their doors would close. Something about this whole mess just fits."

"If this guy is connected to Oscorp," Peter began shaking his head. "Then he has to be somehow connected to my parents, either their death, or the formula, or the people who had started all of this in the first place."

"I think it's all interconnected." Gwen said suddenly.

"That's a pretty big leap." Peter pointed out. "But then again nothing in our lives has been random or just some kind of coincidence. If you're right then it's just one giant problem we have to solve now. If the Goblin is from Oscorp which we have an inkling he could be all things considered, acting under orders from someone working there, he's connected to my parents, and everything we've been struggling to understand might finally start to make sense. So, that we may actually end up with more answers than questions."

They were both silent for a moment. Peter stared across the room into space almost looking completely lost. Gwen gently ran her fingers through his hair again trying to get his attention but he paid her no mind choosing instead to continue staring off into space. She changed tactics running her hands over his shoulders kneading them gently but she could feel the tension there. The muscles were tense and corded. They felt like rocks under her hands as she tried to ease him but his jaw tighten and he looked like he wasn't breathing for a moment.

"Are you alright?" Gwen asked carefully. "I thought you wanted answers. Peter? Bugboy?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "I do want answers. But – I don't know – I guess up until now it seemed like something that may never happen. I felt like I would always be looking for them and now I'm almost there. We're getting closer to the truth, to the reason why my parents had to run out after my father's office was broken into one night, and why they had to leave me with my aunt and uncle. We're getting closer and... and..."

"It's alright," Gwen smiled warmly. "It's okay to be scared of the truth. The truth hurts and ignorance is bliss. As long as you don't really know for sure why they left you with your aunt and uncle you can imagine whatever you want. But once you know what happened you can't take it back, it's out there, and in your head forever. It's going to be fine."

"Whatever happened may have gotten my parents killed." Peter said sadly. "It can't exactly be good."

"It's going to be fine." Gwen ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. "You're parents lost their lives because they probably disagreed with their murderer. Your father was a good man and don't bother asking me how I know that because I know you. And I know everything you've told me about your uncle, he was a good man, and he died for the right reasons. I'm sure your father did the same. He was hiding the formula because he knew what would happen in the wrong hands, you saw that. He left you with your aunt and uncle to protect you. All we're missing is the protecting you from what or from who. It seems to be ingrained in the Parker men."

Peter halfheartedly chuckled letting his head fall back against the couch. Gwen hugged her boyfriend tightly feeling some of the tension in his frame begin to melt away.

"Thanks for the reminder." Peter mumbled into her shoulder. "I needed it."

She pulled away from him with a grin beginning to play on her lips. "Aw, well that's why I'm here. To make sure your ego doesn't get too big and to make sure you keeping thinking straight in situations when you can't."

"The brains of the operation then." Peter smirked.

"And don't you forget it." Gwen teased brushing her lips against his. "Easy, Bugboy."

Peter just chuckled softly as he leaned in kissing her making her laugh as well. They stayed locked in each others arms for a few minutes before they pulled away. Peter rested his forehead against hers with his eyes closed. Gwen was leaning against his body when she heard and felt his stomach rumble making its demands known to everyone in the room. Gwen raised her eyebrows as she looked up at him questioningly almost as though he had forgotten to tell her something when he got home. Peter opened his mouth to say something to Gwen but she shook him off pushing up from the small couch to head into the kitchen. Peter made himself comfortable on the couch while he heard Gwen moving around the kitchen. He could hear silverware, plates, and other assorted pans making noise in the kitchen. He heard the fridge open as well as the microwave before Gwen returned to the living room with a plate and a glass in her hands. She sat back down on the couch handing Peter both the glass and the plate which he took with a small. He leaned over kissing her on the cheek with a small smile.

"Thank you," Peter smiled.

"You're welcome," Gwen smiled. "Now eat, before your stomach thinks you've died, or starts a mutiny on you." Peter started munching on his food. "Have you heard from Harry yet?"

"Yes, he sent me a message earlier." Peter smiled softly. "He's wondering how much trouble he's in."

"What are you talking about?" Gwen nudged him.

"I think he knows Mary Jane's pissed at him and he was asking me what the level of pissed he should be expecting when he finally talks to her." Peter explained. "He asked me how mad she was and whether or not I thought she would forgive him. He wanted to buy her jewelry or something for her motorcycle to see if that would help his case."

"I don't think so." Gwen frowned.

"Mary Jane is not exactly a materialistic person. If he bought her something it might make her even more mad." Peter shook his head. "His best bet is to go tell her the truth whatever that may be and beg for her forgiveness."

"He respond to that?" Gwen asked with a raised eyebrow. "If Mary Jane won't go to him: What makes you think Harry will go to her?"

"I don't." Peter shook his head. "I think they'll avoid each other until they stumble across the other somewhere by accident because neither of them want to admit they have feelings for the other or that they might need the other. Because if you ask either of them, they don't need anyone."

"They're nuts," Gwen interjected.

"No argument here." Peter shrugged.

Peter continued stuffing the food Gwen made him into his face. She just shook her head before she left the room heading into the kitchen to fix herself a plate for her own dinner. While they ate they dropped the heavy stuff settling instead for just small conversation instead. Once they were done eating Peter took the plates into the kitchen just setting them in the sink because he didn't feel like cleaning them right now. Then he took his suit and the first aid kit so he could return them to their places in the back of his closet locked away from prying eyes. Gwen followed him into the bedroom looking into his closet at the half finished suit hanging there and raised her eyebrows at Peter questioningly.

"Are you going to finish that suit?" Gwen asked. "Or are you just going to keep wearing the black one."

"Eventually," Peter answered. "I don't know. I'm getting used to the black one but I do have to admit I miss the red and blue."

"Me too," Gwen nodded. "But the black one is interesting. And everyone has gone crazy over the sudden and complete change in your suit. After all its all the Daily Bugle can talk about, the pictures you gave them are all over the paper."

Gwen left the bedroom heading into the living room where her bag was sitting on the floor. She pulled a few of the latest issues of the Bugle from her bag showing them to Peter who took them. His pictures of Spider-Man littered the front page of every single one with him in the black suit. The articles question why he would suddenly decide to change his costume since it hadn't been destroyed recently. It also wonders what they should expect with this new suit color change. They want to know whether or not the new suit will come with a new personality. Does it mean Spider-Man is turning on New York? Does it reveal a darker character beneath the mask? Peter shook his head wanting to know why black automatically meant something terrible was afoot, like suddenly he was just going to turn on the city, and burn it to the ground because he was wearing a black suit. Apparently, that must mean he's evil and planning to do horrible evil things to people around him. Peter shook his head before he handed her back the papers. Peter dropped down on the couch and immediately winced in pain.

"Don't jostle your ribs!" Gwen moved over towards him. She began mumbling to herself. "Maybe I should wrap your ribs."

Gwen lifted the t-shirt so she could look at his wounds once more. The bruises on the side were beginning to change colors but they hadn't healed yet. The gash on the side was still covered but it wasn't covering the entire bruise that had been formed there. She left the room once more heading into his bedroom to retrieve a wrap from the first aid kit. Once she returned to the room she made Peter hold the t-shirt up so she could concentrate on wrapping up his ribs to keep them in one place. She made sure the wrap wouldn't come undone once she had finished wrapping it around his torso over and over. Peter waited patiently breathing in and out evenly so he could get used to the restrictive material around his chest.

"Too tight?" Gwen asked once she was done.

"It's fine." Peter shrugged. "Almost comfortable, in a way, I suppose. Thank you."

"Come on," Gwen tugged on his arm.

"Where?" Peter asked curiously.

"To bed." Gwen smiled when Peter made a face at her. "Come on, you look exhausted. And you need your sleep, it will help you heal faster. So, hop to it."

"I'm not tired." Cue the yawn. "Still not tired."

"Uh huh," Gwen nodded. "No, not tired at all because people always yawn when they aren't tired. It's a common habit."

Gwen helped pulled him out of his seat before she practically dragged him into the bedroom. He complained the entire time that he wasn't tired and that he didn't want to go to sleep yet but she paid him no mind. Instead she just pulled back the covers on the bed pushing him onto the mattress as well as pulling the blankets over him. Then she climbed into the bed with him. Peter plopped his head onto the pillow pouting slightly trying to goad her into responding to him. Gwen just rolled her eyes turning on a lamp beside the bed and pulling a book from the table. She always had a book on his table beside the bed in case she ended up waiting for him later than she thought she might she had something to read in case she got bored. It changed every so often once she finished the book then she would replace it with a new one to read.

"Don't go to sleep, I can't make you." Gwen shrugged. "Be tired and dead in the morning for all I care."

Peter pursed his lips looking over at his girlfriend. Gwen moved the book out of the way motioning for Peter to move closer. He placed his head on her lap feeling her run her fingers over his forehead and then through his hair. Gwen shifted her book off to the side so it wouldn't hit Peter but so she could read just fine as well. She never stopped stroking his hair gently while she read the book. She knew if he was given enough time just laying there he would eventually succumb to sleep because she knew he had to be tired and the only reason he didn't want to go to bed was because they hadn't seen each other all day and yesterday they had been cut short by an emergency. She understood where he was coming from but she also knew that he needed some sleep because his body to replenish its strength after his fight and give it time to help heal his wounds. So, no matter how much she wanted to spend time with her boyfriend his health came first because it would be nice to still have him around. Being tired could be hazardous to him in more ways than one.

Peter for his part knew she was right about needing to get some sleep but he didn't want to sleep right now. He wanted to spend time with his girlfriend when he's actually awake. But she was right as usual, he needed some sleep, and he could feel himself beginning to fall asleep. His eyelids were getting heavier and with every stroke on his hair he could feel himself getting more and more tired as she went. His eyes took longer to open every time they closed and he was starting to forget why he wanted to even try to keep them open as he got tireder. Her touch was soothing and the pain he could feel in his ribs was subsiding to the back corners of his mind. It was driving the thought of pain to the far corners of his mind so he could sleep peacefully. Right now, he actually felt comfortable despite his wounds. His side was bothering him but it wasn't so bad that he couldn't deal with it. Peter moved a little closer to Gwen as he started falling asleep. His eyes slipped closed and he didn't open them again, he could hear Gwen flip through another page, and her stroking stopped. Peter's eyes almost opened so he could ask her why she stopped, it had been so soothing, and so peaceful. After all the hateful punches he had to endure tonight this was a nice change of pace for him. After a short moment before Peter opened his eyes he felt her soft lips on his forehead kissing him gently.

"Goodnight Bugboy." Gwen whispered. "Get some rest."

Then the whole world just went dark and he crashed falling into a very tired and deep sleep.

"Remember when we used to come here as kids?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Peter nodded. "This is where Bernerd taught us how to skip stones. Of course we almost killed a few ducks in the process."

"I think we gave one a black eye once." Harry chuckled.

After Peter had fallen asleep last night he was woken up this morning by his phone ringing. For a moment he thought it was going to be Jameson demanding pictures from the fight last night but he was wrong. Instead it was Harry asking him if he'd like to meet up with him today so they could catch up. Peter had been so thrown off by the phone call he sat up too quickly in bed jostling his still injured side and waking his girlfriend who heard him groan in pain. Harry on the other hand didn't understand Peter's sudden outburst asking him repeatedly if he was okay while Peter struggled for an answer until Gwen took the phone out of his hand to explain he stubbed his toe on a piece of furniture. Harry was thrown off by Gwen's sudden appearance on the phone so he babbled on for a moment trying to think of something to say to her which gave Peter a chance to then regain his wits. Now here he was sitting a park overlooking the water a place they used to come to a lot when they were kids.

Peter eyed his friend carefully. Harry was dressed nicely like he always chooses to dress but there was something different about him now. He had a little bit more weight to his shoulders almost like there was something crushing him to death. He tried to hide it behind his fancy glasses and a nice polished smile but he couldn't fool him. There was something off about his friend today and they had been at this park now for half an hour but Harry had yet to reveal his reasoning behind dragging Peter here. Harry pulled his jacket off stepping over towards the water to pick up a nice flat rock before he carefully flicked his wrist watching as the stone skipped across the water twice before it plunked into the water sinking to the bottom. Harry turned to Peter shaking his head.

"Rusty," he mumbled. "Haven't skipped rocks across the water since the last time we were here."

"Right," Peter nodded. He sighed softly. "So, are you going to tell me why we had to meet up today or am I just supposed to guess?"

"Peter," Harry said warningly. "I wanted to talk. Are you alright?"

"I'm confused." Peter said suddenly. "What happened while you were gone? Because you look and sound like my friend Harry Osborn but there's something wrong. I can see it."

"My father's dying." Harry said suddenly. "He's dying. He dumped his company in my lap! A company I've never wanted! I thought I had more time to get used to the idea. I thought I had time to just be a teenager but he ripped it away without a care in the world! This man who never cared about being my father shipped me off to military school when I was 14, then he dragged me back her earlier this year because he was sick, and he never bothered to tell me how sick. Not until I get a phone call from him telling me that I needed to come get him now because he had taken a turn for the worse. He tells me he's out of the country on a business trip and really he's in Boston! Boston! He didn't even care enough to tell me until I had to come get him and then he tells me he's handing over the company because he can't handle it anymore but before he dies he can show me the ropes. I didn't even have time to call Mary Jane because I was ushered onto the plane so quickly.

"And now to top it all off he wants to act like a father now. He wants to get to know me, now. He wants me to get to know him, now." Harry shakes his head. "But all I can think is why now? Why not the last 19 years of my life?! He wants to know me now because he's dying and he thinks... what?! I'm so angry with him but now I finally have what I want, my father is actually talking to me. He talks to me everyday, really talks. What am I supposed to feel in this situation? What am I supposed to do?"

"He's your dad," Peter shrugged. "It doesn't matter. If I had five more minutes to spend with my uncle or father I'd take it no matter what the reasoning because we won't get a second chance."

"I know, but it's just been bothering me." Harry shook his head. "After all this time he finally decided to be a father. I guess, I'm just angry he waited so long. And I have to run a huge million dollar company but I have no idea what I'm doing and this job never ends. There are always things to do or approve and people talking that I can't for the life of me understand."

"You're asking me for help." Peter realized. "What do you need?"

"I have to go to this stupid opening or ceremony or something or other this upcoming weekend and I was wondering if you could come along and tel me what everyone is saying." Harry explained. "Please, I really need some help and I can't lose this company because my father will kill. I may not like it but it's his life and I can't destroy his legacy, no matter how mad I might be at him I can't destroy what took him a lifetime to build, and I want to do it right. So, please help me! You can even bring Gwen!"

"Alright, alright," Peter nodded. "I'll go and I'll see if I can get her to come with me."

"And..." Harry began. "Have you talked to MJ lately?"

"Oh no," Peter shook his head. "I will give you advice. I will stand behind you and whisper the answers to you like I did when you were dating the snobby, genius girl when we were 13. I will be your brains but I will not help you with Mary Jane. That is where I draw the line. She's pissed at you and I'm not pissing her off when I think she has every right to be. You didn't call her at all! And you can't stand there and tell me you never had a chance while you were gone. What? They don't have phones in Boston? What do they use? Town criers? Cans and string? Carrier pigeons?"

"Are you done?" Harry asked.

"Nah, I still have a few more." Peter smiled. "Smoke signals? Morse code? Gossiper?"

"Okay, that's enough." Harry said abruptly. "I get it, you won't help me out with MJ."

"I already helped you out." Peter pointed out. "I told you exactly what you had to do in order to fix things with her but there's nothing more I can do. I gave you your chance. Take it or leave it. But if you plan on taking it then do it soon because the longer you wait the worse it will get."

"She won't forgive me." Harry shook his head.

"You'll never know until you try." Peter insisted.

"Uh huh," Harry nodded. "Coming from the guy who tells everything to his girlfriend. I haven't seen the two of you fight once, never mind break up or have a huge miscommunication or problem with one another."

"We did break up once." Peter spoke solemnly. "I did something stupid but she forgave me."

"MJ and Gwen are two totally different people." Harry pointed out. "Something tells me that Gwen is a lot more forgiving than MJ is. MJ seems more like the type of person to hold a grudge. She's the type of person to hold a grudge until she dies."

"She'll forgive you." Peter repeated. "Just go talk to her. If she shoots you down at least you know. And if she kills you, you won't have to worry anymore about it because you'll be dead and your problems will have been solved. So, stop freaking out about it and go talk to her before you give me a headache or drive me completely crazy because you won't stop talking about it."

"Sorry," Harry said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to talk about it so much."

"It's fine." Peter shrugged. "But if we keep going in circles like this I may start to lose my mind. Just talk to her and save everyone the trouble."

Harry nodded with a small chuckle to Peter realizing he had been going in a circle. He asked Peter for advice on what to do when it came to Mary Jane in order to fix things with her, he got an answer from his friend, and yet he continued to ask what to do. Peter knew the last thing Harry wanted to do was go to Mary Jane on his knees begging for her forgiveness. It wasn't easy for him to put his heart on his sleeve because he's been shot down so many times before that he can't take it anymore. He needs to protect himself, keep his heart from getting destroyed completely. There was the thing Harry had in common with Mary Jane again. It wasn't the answer Harry really wanted. An answer he wanted would be something simple like getting her something to beg for her forgiveness instead, he would let the jewelry do all the talking for him instead. The answer and only solution Harry has to his problem is something he doesn't want to do because it's hard for him. The poor guy can't even trust his father right now who is finally starting to show an interest in his son. After 19 years of getting shot down or pushed to the side for anything else Peter really couldn't blame his friend for being hesitant but he couldn't understand why that was stopping him.

Peter didn't understand why anyone would ever want to hold themselves back from something that could be great just because they're afraid. He's been afraid before in his life but it's never stopped him from taking a leap of faith. He was terrified when he tried talking to Gwen, but he when she showed she actually seemed to like him he had to try to ask her out, and he babbled, stumbling his way through it but he tried. When he tested his web-shooters jumping off of the building was terrifying but he did it anyway. There was always something that could hold someone back from doing something incredible, there will always be something terrifying standing in the way, but it shouldn't stop anyone from trying. Because if they don't try they could miss out on something great, something wonderful, and even something right. There is always a chance what is terrifying someone in the first place holding them back from trying could happen and sometimes it's what people dwell on. They tend to forget in some ways it could turn out for the better and they could be better off for it. What's the point of living if you never take a risk? Would Harry honestly be better off if he never took a risk when it came to having a relationship with someone else? Was it just easier to be alone?

Peter refused to believe that idea but again, it's all he's ever known. His family are big on relationships and finding their other half. All of whom have also been successful in this endeavor, as well as creating loving, and warm homes. Something neither Harry nor Mary Jane know anything of.

"I'll go talk to her today." Harry said softly. He sounded very unsure. "Maybe I should bring someone with me. I should get a witness just in case she doesn't forgive and just decides to kill me instead."

"Good plan," Peter smiled. "But I'm not going with you either. Good luck with all that."

Peter and Harry ended up staying at the park for a little while longer skipping more stones along the pond playing a game they had played when they were younger. They kept trying to outdo one another when it came to how many skips they could get out of each throw. Peter won almost every time but he knew it wasn't fair because if he really wanted to he could get the stone to skip all the way across the pond with a small flick of his wrist. The hard part was to get it to look like he was really trying to focus on getting it to skip a few times across the pond. Harry on the other hand kept wondering when Peter had gotten so much more physically apt since when they were younger he had trouble keeping himself from tripping over his own feet. Peter did his best to at least make it seem like he was a little bit more incompetent afterward. Peter kept wondering if there was more behind this meeting with his friend than Harry was letting on but he never mentioned anything else throughout the entire time they hung out together. If there was another reason behind Harry asking him to come there to meet him that day he never bothered to mention it to Peter. Peter knew his friend was strange but this was a little much for him.

Harry was Harry and there wasn't much anyone could do to change that.

A.N. For the person who mostly recently reviewed on this story, since I cannot send you a message apologizing for my lack of updates since you are just a guest user I'll have to do it here after the post of my newest chapter. I know I haven't updated this story in the most timely of manners and I do apologize for that. My muse is an incredibly fickle thing that tends to do what it wants. Unfortunately, that means my stories sometime take the hits for it and the readers by extension. So, I do hope you will continue to stick by me as I try my best to get this story finished one way or another. If anything should change I will let you know, until then, in the words of Emma Swan "Be patient."

For anyone who watches Once Upon a Time will understand the reference and even if you don't I do have something in common with the main character Emma Swan on that show. I don't like to give up. So, know when I say that I will keep trying to get this story finished I mean it. That it will happen even if it takes some time.

So, once again, to everyone who has read this story I thank you very much, I hope that you have enjoyed it as much as I enjoy writing it. And all I ask is that you drop me a review letting me know what you have thought about my story. All types of reviews are welcome, but please I ask you, DO NOT BE RUDE.

Thanks for reading!

-Amac