Peter and Tasha had returned to Westchester following the mutant rescue; to call it that. He'd been very quiet since the Mephisto encounter.
There was a knock at his door. Another. Still he said nothing. Then it opened. It was Tasha. Peter barely noticed she was there.
He just sat on his bed's edge lost in thought. Tasha entered and sat beside him. She had gone ahead to scout in the tunnels during the rescue. She had only heard of his fall after the fact; but from Wanda directly.
"Shield wants a report." It didn't do anything to bring him out of it. "Hey Pete." She took his hand. "I'm here for you. You know that right?" Only then did he nod.
He then looked at her. There was something deep in his eyes that she'd never seen in frankly anyone before. "Peter." "I saw him." "Who?" "Mephisto." "Oh my god. Is that why you fell?" He nodded. He then stood and walked over to a window. She remained seated on the bed but her eyes followed after him. It was a lovely morning beyond in the mansion gardens.
He sighed deeply. "He said he made me. Everything from my parents' murder to becoming Spider-Man was all because of him. All in addition to Teresa."
Tasha was at a loss for words. "I'm so sorry Peter." He then faced her. "He said he's gonna be a... big enemy for the future." "Why?" "Because he enjoys it."
He returned to the bed and sat beside her again. "I don't know what to do Tasha. I just don't."
She could only shake her head. She took his hand. "I don't either; but we'll do it together." He nodded a little. Then smiled. They hugged. As for the shield report. It could wait.
There was another knock. "Come in." Xavier did. "Professor." "Peter. I've heard only some details about what happened during the mission..." "please read my mind." Xavier hesitated for a moment and then nodded slowly. He gasped a little and grimaced. "Professor." It was over soon though. "My god Peter. I don't know what to say..." Tasha looked at Peter. "Can I see it too?"
Peter nodded slowly. Xavier then sent the memory to Tasha. She too gasped and grimaced from the horror of it. The agents hugged tightly again in the presence of Xavier.
"I will make every resource available to fight this threat Peter. You have my word." "Thanks Professor." Xavier then took his leave.
Xxx
Peter stayed in his room the rest of the day. Night came. It was late. There was a soft knock. "Peter; it's me." Tasha. "Come in." She did. She wore only a robe. She stopped at the bedside. She then disrobed to be naked. The night lights highlighted her well.
She reached out a hand to him. He slowly took it and pulled her into the bed with him. She helped him undress and soon they kissed and were in each other's arms. Their passion slowly intensified but not too much. Just enough to seek intimacy here while seeking to keep their humanity despite what had transpired.
It was all far from over. But for now it would wait. Peter remembered something Picard once said on Star Trek: If they were to be damned they'd be damned for who they really were.
Maybe Mephisto made me and did all of those terrible things. Point is it didn't matter. I still choose to be Spider-Man. And that was the one thing that even Mephisto couldn't take away: the right of choice. Even his devil deals worked similarly. He could deceive and manipulate but never make anyone choose against their will. The pact was null/void if done that way. Peter knew that much for a fact.
Just as much as him and Tasha chose to be together now; in each other's arms for the first time. It had gone very differently than planned. But then that was Peter Parker's life in a nutshell. It didn't matter. They were together; he was still Spider-Man. Because he chose to be.
Mephisto could pretend to take credit; but only Peter could make the choice. He would always remember that for the likely many future encounters to come.
And he would never give up on freeing Teresa either. Never.
