Even with Paul swinging through the city and pounding his fist against criminals, Paul still manages to grab a drink with his friends every once in a while. He was at a bar right now with Thomas and Ray and the three of them were having drinks.
"Woo." Thomas said as he placed his empty glass down. "Keep it coming. Did you two ever think this would be possible?"
"What?" Ray said.
"The three of us drinking together like we were lifelong friends." Thomas said. "There was a time when the two of us couldn't stand you, Paul. Remember?"
"Yeah. I remember. Don't tell me you're already hammered." Paul said.
"I think so. That creepy alien thing is still under control, isn't it?" Ray said.
"I hope so." Paul said. "Ray, have you heard anything yet about Balancer and Librium?"
"Nope. Not after your last encounter with him." Ray said. Paul's really concerned about Mr. Lang, but until Balancer shows himself, there's nothing he can do. "I get that he's trying to get rid of the competition to take over the city, but why attack City Hall?"
"I'm not really sure. All I do know is that he has to be stopped before more damage is done to the city." Paul said.
"Enough talk like that. We're suppose to be having fun times." Thomas said as he drank some more. Ray and Paul couldn't help, but laugh with how Thomas is.
"Well, this has been nice and everything, but I should really get going." Paul said. "It's getting late and Jean's probably waiting for me back at my apartment."
"That's still going on?" Thomas questioned. "How long does a rebound usually last?"
"Not this again." Paul said. He's heard people say that the relationship he has with Jean is just a rebound and he's getting annoyed with it.
"Don't listen to him. He's getting drunk." Ray said as he was trying to sound neutral about this. Paul could see right through his act.
"Okay. We both know you have something you like to say about this. So just say it." Paul said.
"Look, Paul, we're not against you and Jean together." Ray said. "You two are happy and we'll leave it at that. However, we just need to know if what you two have is real. You bounced into a new relationship pretty quickly. Look, all that matters is that you're happy and Jean is happy. You two are happy together, right?"
"Yeah." Paul said. He thought so, but when he actually thought about it, he wasn't so sure.
…
Paul's Apartment
Paul headed straight back to his apartment. He went inside and saw Jean was there waiting for him.
"There you are. I was wondering when you be back." Jean said.
"You didn't have to wait up for me." Paul said.
"I know." Jean said as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I was just hoping we could spend some of the night together." Jean appeared to be happy, but Paul needed to be sure.
"Jean, I need to ask you something. Are you happy with our relationship?" Paul asked.
"Why would you ask that?" Jean said.
"People keep saying that what we have is really just a rebound thing." Paul said. "I really do care about you, but we did jump right into a relationship. It wasn't that long after what happened between me and Monica. I just need to know if you're fine with all this."
"Paul, all I ever wanted was to be with you." Jean said. "If people think this is just a rebound, fine. I don't really care about that. As long as I'm with you, that's all that matters. If people think this is just a rebound, let's prove them wrong. If this really is a rebound, well it's just going to take one of us to find a reason to end this and at the moment, I don't really see one. Do you?"
"I guess not if you're really fine with all this." Paul said.
"I say we stop worrying about that kind of stuff and just let things take a natural course." Jean said. "Now just come here." Jean pulled him in and kissed him. Paul seemed fine with how things were between them as well. However, their moment was ruined when Paul's phone went off. He looked at it and saw it was Monica.
"Monica? What could this be about?" Paul said as he answered the phone and had it on speaker. "Hey, Monica. What's going on?"
"Paul, I just got word on Librium making another attack." Monica said.
"What?! Where?! On who?!" Paul said.
"They broke into the penthouse where a Stanford Sellen lives." Monica said.
"Who is that?" Paul asked.
"I did a little check. He's an employee at….Silvio Industries. He works for White Streak." Monica said. "They must be after something White Streak holds this time."
"I'm on it. Just give me the name of the building." Paul said as he hurried to change into his costume. "Thomas is probably hammered and Lindsay is probably busy. I'll have to go solo on this one." As Paul got ready to go, Jean found one thing she doesn't appear to be happy about. Everyone seems to be helping Paul and she can't do much of anything.
"Paul….be careful." Jean said.
"I will." Paul said.
…
The Penthouse
Paul swung his way over to the building Monica told him about. Paul could see there were Librium members guarding the entrance to the building.
"It's just like Monica said." Paul said. "I better make my way up and not get spotted. Let's see what this guy has that they could be after." Paul started climbing the wall of the building and started to make his way to the penthouse. Paul climbed up until he reached the top and could see inside while trying not to be seen. He could see Librium members through the whole place and could see into an office where this Stanford was with two other Librium members.
"Hurry up!"
"Okay. Just don't hurt me." Stanford said as he seemed really scared.
"It looks bad in there." Paul said. One Librium member was about to spot him, but Paul ducked out of the way. "If they spot me, they could kill him. I need to sneak in and take them out before they have the chance." Paul moved carefully around the building and was trying to find a way to get inside. "There! Good old trusted air vents." Paul spotted a ventilation shaft he can slip in through. Paul managed to get it open and crawled inside.
"Let's hurry this up. That spider could show at any moment." A member of Librium complained. However, he just got jinxed as he felt himself being pulled up and stuck to the wall.
"People should watch what they say." Paul said. "It tends to come back and bites them." Paul made his way through the penthouse and was doing his best not get seen. "Nice place here. I hope I don't mess it up too badly." Paul moved quickly and quietly through the place and was taking them out one at a time.
"How much longer?" A member of Librium said as Stanford continued to work on his computer.
"I'm done." Stanford said. "It's all uploading right now. You have what you need. Now will you please let me go? Let me live." The two guarding him just might, but one of them spotted one of their men being pulled up to the ceiling.
"What was that? Stay here." One of them said as he stepped out to investigate. He aimed his rifle and kept an eye open for anything, but he suddenly felt himself being pulled up.
"What the hell?!" The other one hurried out of the office and went to investigate. He looked up and saw his friend was webbed to the ceiling. He knew what this was as he reached for walkie-talkie. "Spider-Man is in the penthouse! Repeat! Spider-Man is in the penthouse!" Paul came right down on him by surprised and knocked him out.
"Thanks for the welcome." Paul said and hurried in the office and saw Stanford hiding under the desk. "Hey, it's okay." He said as he hurried over and helped him out.
"You are aware they just called for backup?" Stanford said.
"I know. So let's make this fast." Paul said. "What were they doing here? What are they after?"
"They… They wanted me to upload some information they wanted to their own computer in an unknown location." Stanford said.
"What information?" Paul asked.
"They wanted the financial records to Silvio Industries." Stanford said. "They would know of everything Mr. Silvio owns and bought. His banking history, what bank he uses, all of it."
"Why would they want that?" Paul said.
"I don't know. I did overhear them say that their boss's big plan is coming." Stanford said.
"Big plan?" Paul questioned, but there was no time for more. Paul heard the elevator open up and heard the door was bust down as more members of Librium busted in. "I'll take care of them. You wait for an opening and make a run for it." Paul hurried out of the office and faced them.
"There he is. Shoot him!" Some members of Librium shot at Paul, but Paul moved fast and took cover.
"I'll get him." One member of Librium went over to where Paul hid behind, but he saw he was already gone. "Where did he go?"
"Over here!" Paul dropped down behind him and knocked him across the face. Paul used his webs on the couch and tossed it over to the Librium members and knocked some of them down. Paul jumped into the crowd and kicked another one down. "Do any of you guys have any real fighting abilities to you?"
"Someone just kill him!" A member of Librium called. The rest of them charged in, but Paul kept moving around and knocked each one of them out. While Paul was fighting them, Stanford made a break for the door and tried to hurry out. He made it to the door, but he bumped into someone.
"What?" He looked up and was faced with another member of Librium, but this was much bigger than the rest. He grabbed a hold of Stanford and tossed him back into the room. Paul finished taking down the last member of Librium, but he saw Stanford tossed back inside.
"Now what?" Paul said as he saw the big guy stepped in. "And I thought Goldberg and Brutal liked packing on the pounds. The big guy turned to Paul and charged right at him. Paul acted fast as he jumped over Paul and used his webs to tie up the guy's legs and caused him to trip. Paul hurried over to Stanford. "Are you okay?"
"I think he broke my arm when he threw me." Stanford said as he held his left arm. The big guy was able to break the webs and went at him again. "Behind you!"
"I got this." Paul said as he jumped backwards and spun around for a kick to the head. He got on the big guy and started beating him around, but the big guy grabbed Paul and tossed him against the wall. He charged right at Paul and smashed him against the wall. "Oh man. Balancer has really expanded his reach." Paul dropped to the floor and the big guy was ready to crush him. Luckily, Paul recovered fast enough as he rolled out of the way as he slammed his fists against the floor. Paul looked around and had an idea. "Stanly, how long do you think it would take to reach the bottom of the building?"
"The bottom of the building?" Stanford questioned.
"Forget it. No time." Paul said as the big guy was about to charge at him again. "I'm guessing the bigger they are, the dumber they are." Paul jumped up and the big guy actually ended up smashing through the window and was plummeting down to the street. The street was getting closer and closer to him, but he suddenly stopped with his mask falling off. The mask hit the ground and shattered, but the big guy was being stuck to the building by Paul's webs. "I guess that answers my question. Long enough to stick someone to the wall."
"Hey. What's going on over there?" That little incident drew a crowd.
"Sorry, folks. Nothing to see here. Just a couple guys sticking to a building." Paul said. Paul crawled over to the guy and saw he was the same as Balancer's other victims. "This guy was brainwashed as well. Probably doesn't even know what he's doing. What's Balancer thinking this time? He's planning something." Balancer has something planned, but until Paul knows more, there isn't really anything he can do.
…..
Paul's Apartment
Jean continued to wait for Paul to come back. She even changed into just one of his shirts. She took a sniff of it and felt comfort. It felt like to her Paul was right with her. She just sat and stared out a window and waited for him to come back. She was relieved when she saw him swing back over and climbed in through the window.
"There you are. I was getting worried." Jean said.
"Sorry." Paul said as he took off his mask. "Everything is okay now. Is that my shirt?"
"Yeah." Jean said with her a little embarrassed. "Sorry. I hope you don't mind."
"Not really." Paul said as he took off his costume and was down to just his boxers. Paul dropped right on his bed. "Man, I'm beat. The bastards out there don't know how to take it easy. They just keep coming." Jean look at Paul and felt helpless that she couldn't do anything to really help Paul like the others. However, she did think there was one thing she could do for him. She felt it was a little degrading for her, but she loves Paul, she sees he's tired, and wants to do whatever she can to help. Jean walked over and placed herself on top of him as she straddled him. "What are you doing?"
"You've been working hard, haven't you?" Jean said.
"Yeah, but what are you…" Paul didn't finish that as Jean leaned down and kissed him.
"Just let me take care of your tired body." Jean said as she removed the shirt and sat on him in just panties. "Just sit back and relax." She moved her hands over Paul's hard muscles and was doing her best to massage them.
"This feels nice, but you really don't have to do this." Paul said.
"Be quiet and let me do this." Jean said. Jean leaned down and kissed Paul again and Paul just leaned into it. Jean moved her way down as she went down his face, down his neck, and down his chest. Jean kept going and she wasn't stopping. Once she reached his underwear, she took her hands and lowered it and went there. This is actually the best Paul has felt in a while. As Jean stayed down there, she slid her hands back up his body.
"Jean…. I… I…" Paul couldn't really finish what he was saying. All he did was let it all out. Jean sat back up as she swallowed and removed the last bit of clothing they both have.
"Just relax, Paul." Jean said as she straddled him again. She slid her hands against his strong arms and placed them in his hands. Jean pressed herself against Paul's waist. Paul went with it and couldn't help himself anymore as he pushed against her. He got his hands free and placed them against her hips. Paul couldn't hold himself back from her anymore. Paul sat up and placed his arms around her and she got hers around him.
"Sorry. I can't sit still anymore." Paul said and kissed her. Paul and Jean stayed like that as they continued to thrust against each other and they just couldn't hold it anymore. Jean was the first to release. Paul kept going a little until he went himself. Paul fell back with him catching his breath. "That's one nice way to relax."
"I'm always here for you." Jean said as she gave him another kiss and rested on top of him. Jean is there to help Paul relax. She wishes she could do more for him, but she's happy just being there for him.