Shout Outs: Thanks to ISBtheepic for reviewing the story.

Chapter 14: Flash's Grudge

Since Peter had encountered Flash, he suddenly got disturbed by his appearance and the fact that Peter had found out that the Flash was actually the 'Other Spider Man' still bothered him. He was going to get himself killed if Flash kept on being 'Spider Man' and on top of that, Peter was still wondering why he was so damn worried about Flash when he loathes his guts to no end.

And add that to the fact where Michelle had been quiet about Flash's bullying until she finally snapped. It was still satisfying to Peter about that punch and needless to say, Peter would've done it if Michelle hadn't budged in. But again, Peter found himself back to Flash's appearance. As soon as Peter approached Flash, Peter nearly stopped himself.

But either way, as Spider Man, Peter has to save everyone even if that person happens to be a jerk.

All in all, Peter supposed that his gift is a blessing and a curse.

"So, what's got you thinking?" Ned asked, nudging Peter.

"Wondering why I have to save people even though they don't deserve it."

"Well that took a plunge in the conversation."

Peter shrugged. "You asked for it."

"Hey guys," Michelle announced cheerfully as slid towards an empty spot that was beside Peter.

The two boy stared at her.

"Well someone's in a cheerful mood," Peter pointed out.

"I am now," Michelle said. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Er, nothing," Peter responded.

"But," Michelle continued as though she didn't hear Peter's answer. "If you really want to capture Smythe and to figure out what he's planning, I know where you can get the answers," she grinned mischievously.

Peter gaped at her as though she had grown a second head. Was she feeling alright?

"You're seriously not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?" Peter asked with a disbelieved look.

"Look; so far, you're still stuck on what Smythe is actually planning, right? And all the information you're getting is confidential, meaning that everything is being kept hidden. If you really want to know to ahead of Smythe, then start actually planning out your moves."

"Yeah but the last time I infiltrated NYPD, I got shot. And Iron Man wasn't happy about the break out—"

"Wait, Iron Man knew about the break in?" Ned asked. "I thought he didn't."

"Oh, Tony didn't but I had a hunch that he did but he wasn't letting it on," Peter replied as he absent-mindedly rubbed his shoulder—the one that got injured from the bullet.

"Trust me, Pete. You'll be in and out before you know it and I know an easier way to get in the NYPD."

"Please don't say the sewers," Peter groaned.

Michelle grinned, a Cheshire grin. "How'd you know? It's the sewers alright."

Peter grimaced from the idea of going through the sewers again. If that creature hadn't come and ruined the school and if it hadn't gone through the sewers, maybe just maybe Peter wouldn't mind going down the sewers.

"As a bonus, you wouldn't have to rely on Tony all the time. You would be one step ahead of the game," Michelle pointed it out.

Peter sighed. She does have a point, in all honesty. So far, Peter does keep on relying on Tony for information which he desperately seeks and usually, whatever Tony gives him is sometimes not enough. Maybe breaking into NYPD (again) might have its advantages.

"But don't I need to physically hack into their files?" Peter asked.

"True but I'm sure that it won't be trouble and besides, now that I know who you really are, this wouldn't be a problem anymore. Besides, didn't you do it already? You said it yourself."

Peter bit his lip as the idea went through his head. Of course, everything would seem so simple but nothing's ever easy whenever Spider Man comes into the scene. It never is. But the only troubling situation for Peter is that he was sure there would be more security than the last time.

Peter, as Spider Man, had almost immediately went to visit Tony after he received his text message. Apparently, they had found some new information, regarding with the green goo and the blood sample Peter had given them. It was about time, Peter thought as he made his way towards the room where they'd usually meet.

"You know, if you could just come into the room like a normal person would, I think there wouldn't be much of a problem here," Tony replied as he knew that Spider Man came in even though Tony didn't looked up from the computer screen.

Peter grinned. "Coming in as Spider Man is way cooler. And besides, you said it yourself. I need to know my environment so I can make a quick getaway if the situation is troubling."

Tony flashed a smile.

"Right then," Tony resumed. "The other day, you chased down the mutated creature and the day when you had broken into OsCorp, you had given me two samples—the green goo and the creature's blood. Well, at long last, we finally received the information after separating the molecules and then, then, then, then, we got the results. Er, Happy, would you?"

"Of course," Happy proceeded to switch the pictures so that the said given images showed up on the screen. It was there where Peter goggled at the monitor with fascination but there was a hint of small confusion etched on his face. Something about it doesn't really make sense.

"Wait…what are those two? The two on the right?" Peter quizzed at the two evidence of DNA.

"Ah, that is actually a one single DNA that got separated into two," Tony stated.

Peter gaped at the image. "How?"

"You see, that's the thing what we're still trying to discover. We don't know the answer but all we know is that something is making the creature—from the human side—to merge with the cross species DNA."

"Wait, that thing is a human?" Peter replied, stunned.

"Careful who you're calling a human, Peter. You were once too," Tony pointed it out. "But yes, that 'thing'—creature is still a human. How or why, we don't know but we believe that the virus—which is now spreading across the city—got in contact with the unfortunate human and therefore, once infected, it began its merging process. If we could separate the original component of the molecule and from the humanoid creature's molecules, we may be able to learn more but of course this kind of process takes time and time is something we don't have. Every minute we do is another waste of second—another minute to have the citizens be infected by this spreading disease."

Peter sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Just when I thought it couldn't be any more complicated."

Tony gave a weak smile. Of course, Peter still hadn't told Tony about Flash's mishap and he doubts Tony knows about it other than the fact about that new Spider Man. But who's to say that Tony didn't started doing some investigations on this matter?

"So now that we know more of this person…what about the green goo I found?" Peter asked.

Another image of the smelly goo appeared on the screen. Peter made a disgusted look as he remembered when he was in contact. Or at least, he was nearly in contact.

"This substance is similar to an acid type and I highly suggest you don't be in contact with it. It comes from the humanoid creatures who had created this…matter. Unsettling, I know but just think of this disturbingly green goo as someone who's incredibly sick." Tony replied as he used his hands

"Then that's a whole lotta mucus," Peter replied as he cringed. "Man, this is disgusting. Must we know about this?"

"Well, you have to if you want to know what you're up against," Tony smirked. "Feeling sick, are we?"

Peter glowered slightly as he grumbled but the previous conversation from Michelle was brought back into his mind. Tony was right. If he wanted to know what exactly he was up against, then its best to stay in the game. Be one step ahead for a change.

"Do you think we're ever going to stop Smythe?" Peter asked quietly.

Tony blinked with surprise. Normally, Peter wasn't the one to doubt himself, Spider Man or not.

"Of course we are. If not us, then who will?"

Captain George Stacy frowned as he stared at the pictures from the crime scene. It seemed a little unnerving but yet again, he was dealing with out of the ordinary so he has to get used to it. As he stared at the pictures, there was something about it that didn't really quite make sense which made him frown. The reports stated that in the crime scene, there was only one figure but what made it unclear is that, this picture showed two. It was a little hard to see at first but Stacy had a knack of seeing things that aren't really there which really helps in these kind of situation.

"What are you staring at, daddy?"

The voice from his baby girl snapped him back to reality as he shook his head, stuffing the photos away.

"Nothing. Just some crime scene pictures, that's all. Nothing to worry about," George replied.

Gwen frowned. "You know I can help, right? And you know I want to help. Why can't you let me do that?"

"It's too dangerous, hun."

Gwen scoffed. "Yeah right which is why you're able to have me roaming around the Police station."

"You're under protection."

"Tell me about it," Gwen muttered as she glanced from behind, seeing her guard standing in front of the door. "Really dad. I don't need protection. We have Spider Man, remember?"

Captain Stacy tightened his jaw. "Yes but I hardly doubt that we could put our faith in him. Lately, he's becoming a mess."

Gwen frowned. "What…?" she then made a thinking look until a thought came to her. That wasn't the Spider Man she knew. Even though she hadn't actually saw and met the real one, she knew that Spider Man wouldn't suddenly mess up after months of fighting crime so that can't be him. It wasn't until then where she remembered, reading the Daily Bugle's paper about the second Spider Man.

"I think you meant the other Spider Man because the original one wouldn't just 'suddenly mess up'. He had been fighting crime over a few months now. Why would he just suddenly mess up? I think you meant the second Spider Man—he's the new one around."

"Just when we are getting used to the original, we had to get another one," a gruff voice replied.

Gwen scowled a little. She would recognize that voice from anywhere.

"Ah, Officer Watson," Gwen nodded with acknowledgment. "Why do you hate Spider Man so much?"

"Because of him, we got more things to deal with. Crazy maniac bad guys with super powers and the other crazy people without powers," Watson answered. "You know like Smythe."

That immediately gained George's attention. "Smythe? What does he have to do with this?"

"Everything. Who else got big bucks to make mayhem all over the city? Remember that scene, a few days ago with the hanging Spider Man? That's gotten Smythe all over it."

"What? How?" Gwen asked.

"If Spider Man was a so called detective, he would've been able to spot this but he didn't. If he did, then he would've been able to do something about it," Watson threw the pictures so that slid a little on the table.

George stopped them with his hand and there it was. There was OsCorp logo on the side of the machine during that night. Something bad Smythe be pissed real bad and in doing so, he created a troubling scene.

"So therefore, it's Spider Man's fault."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "You're just sour that he's better than you but you just won't admit it, Officer Watson."

"Gwen, can you put these papers in the Filing Room under 'recent activities?'" her dad asked as he handed the folder that contained many papers.

"Sure dad," she replied, taking the folder.

Gwen headed her way towards the door so she can exited before following down the path to where it will lead her to the Filing Room. It didn't took long as the room wasn't far so she opened the door once she reached it and began to look for the cabinet in order to store the folder in its appropriate spot.

But as she was looking for it, she was unaware of the door, beginning to be opened and when it fully did, Gwen jumped with startle, letting out a small gasp.

"Easy," the newcomer spoke.

Gwen relaxed a little when she saw who it was and their eyes locked at each other for a brief moment until she spoke.

"What are you doing here?" Gwen asked.

"Is that the nice response I get for saving you back in OsCorp?" Spider Man questioned as he casually leaned against the door once he closed it.

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Uh, excuse me but I thought you said that you saved me," she scoffed. "As if I need saving. How'd you get in here with all the police around?"

"I have my ways. I'm Spider Man, remember?"

"Yes—the one who checks out Cheerleaders at the local high school," Gwen drawled. "Some hero you are," she mumbled.

"I get the feeling that you don't like me that much," he spoke as he feigned a hurtful look.

"Maybe if you weren't such an arrogant prick then I would've liked you…" she paused. "Just a little."

Spider Man placed his hand over his chest as though he got hurt. "Ouch, now I've got a heart burn," he cracked, throwing her a grin.

"Oh for Pete's sake…"

Spider Man smirked as he found the irony in Gwen's sentence—after all, few people call him Pete for short. He then began to walk towards the cabinets that were full of the folders though that made Gwen stare at him with suspicious.

"What are you doing?"

"What I'm doing is classified so I can't tell you."

Gwen narrowed her eyes but what Spider Man didn't expect was the fact that she took out an object from her pocket, holding it in her hands and that made Spider Man glance to the side, being a bit surprised.

"Sorry but you're trespassing here and I cannot allow you to look through the files," Gwen replied as she held the gun in her hand.

Spider Man chuckled a little. "And what are you going to do about it? Shoot me? Come on, I dare you to," he tapped at the Spider insignia that was in the middle of his suit. "X marks the spot."

Gwen inhaled a sharp breath as there was a small moment of hesitation. Spider Man gave a dark chuckle.

"You're not so tough. You only pretend. Do me a favor? Stay in school."

Gwen lowered her hands and she stared at the floor but the minute she looked up, Spider Man was gone.

Flash glared at the mask that seemed to be staring at him. So far, the real Spider Man did nothing other than humiliate him and that shot him down in confidence. Flash looked up to Spider Man—thought he was a hero. But after he actually met him, Flash had different opinions.

Then, there was a matter with Parker. He acted so strange whenever Flash had mentioned about Spider Man and the way he held his shoulder, it was as though Parker had somehow injured it. Flash recalled that Spider Man also got injured on the same spot which made Flash come to the conclusion.

Peter Parker really was Spider Man.

And hell, if Parker is Spider Man then Flash can be one too. And no one-even Spider Man-would be able to stop him.

Author's Note: Ah damn…things are being more complicated for Peter :3 but wowza, Gwen can fight…well, somewhat but don't worry, she'll be able to fight—I'm not going to make her be helpless. And I've always wanted to include George Stacy! What happens next? Find out! Toodles!