Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Marvel Comics are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holders.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Small Town Spider-Man – Episode Thirty-Five: New Year's Accusations
By
Celgress
Osborn Mansion late December, afternoon
"I don't want you bothering us anymore." Mary Jane said using every ounce of courage she could muster.
"My aren't we brave." Lily Osborn said pouring herself a glass of expensive imported liquor. Leaning against the desk in her home office Lily held her drink up to the light inspecting it closely. "The only reason I had you admitted was because its' a slow day. I needed something, distracting."
"Please Mrs. Osborn I beg you…."
"Don't beg it isn't becoming of a young lady, especially one who possesses such extraordinary gifts." Lily snapped then downed her drink making Mary Jane wait until she finished. "Delicious," Lily said licking her lips. "Did your boyfriend put you up to this? I suspect he's rather upset with me after our altercation at the mall."
"Peter doesn't know," Mary Jane said. "I couldn't tell him."
"Afraid I'd hurt him?" Lily said putting the glass down on her desk.
"Or he'd hurt you," Mary Jane said. "Can't we put whatever this has become behind us, if not for our own shake than that of our families?"
"Are you proposing a truce?" Lily said her expression unreadable.
"Yes," Mary Jane said simply.
"Give me one good reason why I should seriously consider your proposal?"
"Because our families…."
"Not good enough," Lily almost shouted. "I'll be straightforward here. What do I get in return for allowing the murderers of my husband to escape justice?"
"What do you want?" Mary Jane said softly taken aback by the older woman's vehemence.
"I want your blood." Lily said her eyes narrowing. "However I'll suffice with a promise?"
"What sort of promise?" Mary Jane asked warily.
"A small thing, nothing really," Lily smirked. "Swear on your dear, sweet mother's life you'll leave Peter Parker."
"I-I can't do that." Mary Jane said wide eyed. "I love him."
"Exactly," Lily said her smirk growing wider. "Break his heart as you and he broke mine. Tell him you never want to see him again."
"I'd rather die." Mary Jane said defiantly.
"Suit yourself." Lily shrugged. "If you truly desire peace between us you know my price. Now leave my home before I have you thrown out girl!"
Mary Jane departed without another word. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt more dejected than ever. She'd hoped Mrs. Osborn would be reasonable, no such luck. She couldn't do what Mrs. Osborn wanted, could she? No, she valued her relationship with Peter too greatly. Someday she'd be his wife. She had no doubt. She couldn't give up their future together no matter the cost.
Brock Orchards
"Good one lil' bro," Eddie said admiring Peter's aim. The two close friends were doing target practice taking down rows of tin cans with their web lines, Eddie taking advantage of his organic webbing while I relied on my mechanical web shooters, in an old tool shed that once belonged to Eddie's grandfather.
"So how is life in the Avenger Initiative?" I said.
"Training under Cap, Iron Man, Thor and the others is a blast." Eddie said jovially. "It is the experience of a lifetime. Soon as you graduate high school you should join up. I've already pretty much convinced Gwen to. She's currently redesigning her outfit in preparation, something about making it more 'aesthetically pleasing' whatever that means. Bring Mary Jane along with you Pete. The Avengers are always searching for new talent. The more the merrier Iron Man always says." Eddie knocked over a can with his webbing.
"Thanks, but I don't think MJ would be interested." I said doing the same.
"Why not," Eddie said scoring another hit.
"MJ has pretty much retired from the hero racket." I answered scoring a pair of hits in quick succession.
Eddie whistled. "You're speed has certainly improved, shame about MJ. Why'd she quit?"
"Because Lily Osborn kidnapped her," I said bitterly. "Things haven't been the same since."
"Poor Harry, first his old man goes bonkers becomes the biggest looney tune the valley has ever seen. Then his mother flips her lid following in papa's footsteps." Eddie shook his head.
"More like poor me," I laughed bitterly, knocking over more targets.
"What do you mean?" Eddie asked doing likewise.
"Harry doesn't know the whole truth about his mother. I couldn't tell him Eddie." I said picking off the second to last can.
"Even after she donned that crazy grey goblin getup, Pete you…." Eddie turned to face me after taking care of the sole surviving can.
"I know Eddie. I should have told Harry the truth, no matter how ugly. I just couldn't okay. Harry had only just emerged from his 'I hate all things Spidey phase' when Lily got herself clobbered by the newest goblin in town. I allowed Harry to think Hobgoblin hypnotized his mother. That she wasn't in control of her actions." I said avoiding eye contact with Eddie.
"You should have told Harry the truth. What you're doing while well intentioned is the wrong course of action. Secrets have a way of coming back to haunt you lil' bro." Eddie said. "I can quote numerous Avenger cases files where that saying proved true, often with unspeakable consequences."
I sighed. "Can we change the subject?"
"Sure, tell me why Kaine is living in your house? Plus what's the story with Roderick Kingsley's murder? Was the guy really offed in broad daylight by someone wearing a Santa Suit?"
"Both are very long stories." I said with another sigh.
"Good thing we're both on vacation." Eddie winked. "We've got all the time in the world."
"Let's head inside, okay?" I said shivering. "Its' freezing out here."
"Fine by me," Eddie said blowing breath into his clasped hands. "I've had enough target practice for one day anyway." Joking we headed inside.
Le Rouge Café New Year's Eve, night
Le Rouge Café, or the Red Café, is the most exclusive and expensive restaurant in Cider Falls. On special occasions such as tonight the management host dances in the upstairs ballroom, which boasts an expansive circular skylight. In truth ringing in the New Year here was a bit outside my price range. However Aunt May had treated me and Reilly saying we should take our girlfriends some place nice for the holiday. The four of us were decked out in formalwear; rented tuxedos and gowns. Aunt May didn't accompany us instead she elected to remain at home with Keith watching the ball drop on TV. Keith still wasn't entirely comfortable around large crowds and preferred to avoid them whenever possible.
The people in attendance were a who's who of local high society; Walter Wilson Fisk, J. Johan Jameson, Lily Osborn all had their contingents. Near the stage Chief Stacey stood with a group of uniformed police he nodded at me a gesture I returned. Gwen and Eddie weren't in attendance either. They had instead decided to celebrate the New Year at Gwen's house where they could be 'alone'. I reflected it would be the first New Year's Eve we didn't spent together no doubt a sign of things to come, in some ways growing up sucks.
Harry and Liz Allen waved when they spotted my group. Without Harry or Liz noticing Lily shot me a soul freezing glare. However by the time our groups physically met Lily became all smiles and sunshine. An onlooker would never suspect how much she hated mine and MJ's guts. Lily's a good actress I grudgingly admitted. My warning sense buzzed insistently. Weird, was Lily more dangerous than she appeared?
"Hey Peter, Reilly, Mary Jane fancy meeting you here," Harry said boisterously as he exchanged pats on the back with myself and Reilly while Liz and MJ hugged. "Aren't you going to introduce your date Reilly?"
"You must be Reilly's girlfriend Kitty, right?" Liz said. "He can't stop talking about you."
"Guilty as charged." Kitty Pride said blushing.
"Kitty these are our friends Harry Osborn and Liz Allen." Reilly said Lily cleared her throat loudly, "ah yes and um Harry's mother Lily Osborn."
"Charmed to make your acquaintance Ms.?" Lily said shaking Kitty's hand.
"Pride, Kitty pride", Kitty said.
"Pride that's certainly an unusual name, though an oddly familiar one," Lily mused tilting her head. "Hmmm, where have I heard it before? Tell me Kitty is your family from around here?"
"No, I'm from out of town." Kitty answered. I could tell she was unsure how exactly to respond. In this area the truth about her 'family' simply wouldn't do.
"Kitty's family lives in Ohio." I said stepping in verbally before the situation escalated.
"I see," Lily said. I could tell by her expression she didn't quite buy my story. "Excuse me I see a few old friends I want to catch up with. I'll leave you young people to your own devices. Oh and Mary Jane consider what we discussed. I feel it is the best solution possible, given the circumstances." MJ didn't say a thing her completion turning pale as she watched Lily disappear into the crowd.
"What was that about?" I whispered in MJ's ear the minute we were alone sometime later.
"Nothing, she's just rattling my cage." MJ whispered back.
"I don't want her harassing you. You've suffered enough already. I'm going to have a talk with Chief Stacey." I said firmly.
"Peter promise you won't."
"Why she's clearly breaking the agreement."
"I'm a big girl Peter I can handle myself."
"But MJ…"
"Promise me."
"I, promise," I finally relented though against my better judgement.
"Hold me Peter." MJ said putting her head on my chest as the slow dance commenced. I held her close our bodies gently swaying with the music. I worried Lily wanted to hurt MJ again. I couldn't bare it if Lily went after MJ a second time. I silently vowed I'd protect MJ from Lily's designs no matter what.
Out of nowhere my spider sense went haywire. Feeling MJ's body tense in my arms, I could tell she was having a similar reaction. What was going on? Breaking away from MJ I was shocked to see Ned Leeds and his wife Betty behind us. WTH, why would one of them set off our internal warning alarms so intensely? It made absolutely no sense.
"Here is the young photography genius my husband's been raving about." Betty said smiling. "Ned is a huge fan of your work Peter. He's been lobbying JJ to often you a summer internship at the Bugle."
"I-I'm flattered." I said struggling to regain my composure.
"Peter this is wonderful news." MJ said brightening. "Thank you so much Mr. and Mrs. Leeds."
"You're far too modest Peter, and you're most welcome Mary Jane." Ned said. "Believe me modesty is not a virtue in our industry."
"Says one of the most modesty men in the news business," Betty laughed poking Ned in his ribs. "Don't listen to him Peter you're fine the way you are."
"I don't know what to say." I said honestly. "Thank you Mr. Leeds."
"Don't mention it Peter, your work speaks for itself." Ned said shaking my hand. "If you change your mind contact me. Do you still have my card?"
"I sure do." I said. We then exchanged goodbyes with the Ned and Betty.
MJ and I look at each other she shrugged. We were at a loss. Fifteen minutes later the MC got on the stage he announced over the house mic that midnight was fast approaching. Everyone counted along with the MC. The room filled with the sound of ruckus applause and noise makers when the clock struck midnight. Balloons, streamers and confetti fell from the ceiling. I gently pulled MJ close. Our lips locked. We exchanged a long, passionate kiss. The moment couldn't be more perfect. Time stood still. I was lost in a world of pure bliss.
At first the high pitched whirring sound didn't completely register. As time wore on the noise increased in volume until I could no longer ignore it. Parting from MJ I glanced around the cavernous room. I spotted Betty Leeds by herself. She was talking with Jameson. I wonder where Ned had gone. Dammit where was that noise coming from? The whirring grew even louder until it dominated the room.
The Hobgoblin smashed through the skylight on his glider laughing like a maniac. Hobgoblin flew around the room in a wide circle below panicked partygoers scattered. This was terrible. Why hadn't I packed my gear? Hobgoblin swooped down towards the stage grabbing the house mic he knocked the startled MC aside.
"Happy New Year people of Cider Falls," Hobgoblin cackled. "I am the Hobgoblin. I'm here to party." Hobgoblin pulled a fat file folder from the satchel draped over his left shoulder. "Chief Stacey accept my bounty." Hobgoblin tossed the folder at Chief Stacey who caught it with great difficulty. "The files in your hand contain irrefutable proof Walter Wilson Fisk has not only been illegally dumping industrial chemical waste in Simpson Swamp for over six years now. He's also responsible for the street drugs that have recently despoiled the valley."
"How dare you slander my good name you costume party reject!" Fisk bellowed the police holding him back.
"Please Fisk stop playing the innocent wounded party we both know the truth." Hobgoblin admonished waving his right index finger at Fisk. "Chief Stacey my gift basket also includes incriminating evidence that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt Lily Osborn while masquerading as Menace murdered Philip Jason Macendale the hired gun of the late Roderick Kingsley."
"You lying monster!" Lily screeched.
"Mrs. Osborn you and Mr. Fisk are the liars here not me, bye now." Hobgoblin said waving he ascended through the hole from whence he came, his laughter slowly fading away.
"Mother is it true?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Of course not," Lily scoffed.
"Mr. Fisk, Mrs. Osborn you'd better come with me." Chief Stacey said. "We need to have a chat."
"You can't be serious." Lily snorted.
"Don't be ridicules." Fisk grunted.
"Either you two accompany me downtown or I formally arrest you tomorrow, your call." Chief Stacey said. Lily and Fisk muttered angrily otherwise there were no further protests.
The police cleared everyone out of the building. Outside the crowd was in shock. No one could believe what had happened. Secretly I was relieved if Lily and Fisk were put away on such serious charges two of my biggest foes would be out of my hair permanently. More importantly the threat to MJ would be removed. Once I saw how distraught Harry had become I couldn't take any joy in the latest development. Harry was beside himself.
"Don't worry Harry I'm sure your mother will be proven innocent." Liz said.
"The allegations can't be true, they can't." Harry said seemingly not hearing Liz's comforting words. "My mom would never hurt anyone."
"Our town is going straight to hell in a hand basket." Jameson ranted. "And its' all that miscreant Spider-Man's fault, since he and his freakish friends came along our lives have been turned upside down."
Soon people were agreeing with Jameson's flawed logic. Before I knew it the parking lot became an impromptu lynch Spidey rally. All they needed were torches and picket forks. Now I know how Frankenstein's Monster felt. My special night with MJ had degenerated into a yet another fiasco. I shuddered fearing what further troubles the New Year would bring. If current events were any indication it would be a bumpy ride.
To Be Continued