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Chapter Twenty-Nine "Jessica Drew - Spider Woman"

Avengers Mansion, abode to one of the city's top superhero teams, was serving as a second training ground for Spider-Man. After his bout with Spider Woman in the middle of the city, where she kicked his butt mercilessly despite trying to resist Mandrill's mind control, Shang-Chi, the master of Kung Fu, volunteered to train his friend. Without his spider sense, Spider-Man was not nearly as formidable in hand-to-hand combat, and considering the number of baddies that wanted to mount his head on a wall, Peter was quick to accept the gesture.

Several weeks had passed since the start of his training. While Shang-Chi praised his progress, Peter felt it wasn't enough. In his spare time, he chose to spar in Avengers Mansion, believing a real time opponent could better 'show' how far he truly was progressing over someone who held back for the sake of instruction. Iron Fist seemed like a valid candidate, but he was usually out with the Defenders, helping Doctor Strange with certain matters.

Wolverine may have appeared to a logical choice, considering he literally had decades of combat experience, but Peter shook his head inwardly, refusing to train with a lunatic who stabbed him during a practice session once. No, there was only one person he wanted to train with, and that was the woman who kicked his butt in the first place, Jessica Drew. At first when Peter came to her with his plea, the former SHIELD agent seemed almost too eager to 'help'.

On one hand, every member of the Avengers has had one moment where they wanted to punch the babbling idiot, some more than others, but Jessica's intentions were pure, albeit personal. Spider-Man saved her from Mandrill's grasp, not once but twice. She owed him, and while Parker was annoying at times, he had grown to be an invaluable friend. Jessica felt her cheeks grow hot. Admittedly, Peter was cute, too, especially shirtless and unmasked. Not that she'd tell him, at least not anytime soon.

Grabbing his forearm, he woman slid underneath the man and hurled his body overhead, slamming him viciously into the mat. As Peter pitifully rubbed the aches out of his shoulder, Jessica smiled evilly. On the other hand, there was a tiny bit of payback due for the countless wisecracks.

"Much better, but you still tend to telegraph your punches," Jessica said sweetly, unaware a taunting tone filled her voice slightly. Taking Peter's hand in her own, she pulled him to his feet, attempting to ignore how sweaty his chiseled form had become. "Defensively, you're sound. You just don't know how to counter and attack yet."

"Shang-Chi says the same thing. He thinks I'll be more of a defensive fighter than an offensive one," Peter moaned. shrugging his shoulders before stepping back into a defensive stance. "Things were so much easier when I had my spidey sense. It was almost like cheating, only instinctively and I couldn't help it."

"Which is exactly why you're never invited to poker nights." Jessica, following his example, retook her stance and immediately followed with a spin kick. "Try not to worry. It's not a bad thing. You won't live long with a lousy defense. You were probably relying on your spider sense too much. At least now you can develop some form of technique." Peter swayed his mid-region back, narrowly avoiding the woman's attack. Jessica hopped into the air and threw her knee forward. "Something you've always lacked, by the way."

"So that's why Luke and Danny always glared at me during card games..." Throwing his palms over Jessica's knee, Peter managed to stop her momentum and push her leg to the side. "Relying on it too much? No way! That spider sense saved me from getting shot more times than I can count. Otherwise, you'd be training with Swiss Cheese right now." Planting her free foot, Jessica shifted her weight, quickly countering with a sweeping kick, but Peter flipped over the attempt, throwing a quick jab afterward. "Speaking of which, I need to finish my Spider Armor project. I forgot how much bullets hurt."

"You're already improvising. That's something you've always done well." Jessica deflected his blow and spun her body, following with a backhand then a roundhouse. "Use that and you'll be a top-notch fighter in no time."

Peter ducked underneath the first attack and managed to use his forearms to block the second, but the force behind the blow knocked him off balance and into a stagger. "So you think I should improvise to help improve my offense?"

Seeing an opening, the raven-haired beauty lunged forward. "If it helps, then by all means!"

Peter smiled devilishly. "You have a great butt. I never knew it was so curvy."

"Wha-?!"

Jessica's face turned beet red at the comment. Unfortunately, due to her frazzled state of mind, she failed to follow through with her intended attack. Sliding his hand under her arm, Peter used Jessica's own momentum and flipped her over his shoulder, flat onto her back. Remaining in that position for several moments, Spider Woman, unable to remove the crimson blush that filled her cheeks, stared at Spider-Man with irritation in her emerald irises.

"That's cheating," she frowned, extending her hand out. Peter accepted the gesture, partially expecting the woman to retaliate in some fashion, and Jessica did just that, playfully smacking his butt with her hand. "But it worked. Nice thinking."

Before Peter could respond, or gather his thoughts, Jessica made her way past him and through the exit door. Brushing her raven locks behind her ear, the woman stopped in her tracks and whistled, snapping Parker out of his daydream.

"You have a nice butt, too." She winked, exiting upon placing a deep flush on the man's face.

It seemed she'd have to start fighting dirty from now on. Jessica giggled, welcoming that opportunity.