Peter awoke early the next morning. Tasha faced him in bed on her side. The sex had been great. The conveyed emotion had lacked no power. For now at least his heart was at peace. And thanks to the professor Tasha had come to understand directly the potency of the memory shared. That had helped her to understand better what was happening. Hell I'm still trying to understand it.

He didn't want to leave her alone in bed but he did. He moved her arm from him and sat on the end. He then reached for his phone to check the news.

The headline shocked him. Captain America no more! the daily bugle headline read... now he was nomad. What the hell? Apparently cap had become disillusioned with American politics. All of it. Everything else he did would remain the same; but the role that had made him an icon was now gone.

I'm glad Spider-Man isn't rooted to things like that. Peter wasn't a big fan of politics anyway. He considered himself an independent liberal. That was about it. Beyond that it was just a simple faith in God science and pursuing justice as Spider-Man. Meat and potatoes as uncle Ben used to call it.

Honestly Peter believed science did more for humanity than politics ever did or will. But as he'd seen so many times with his rogues gallery many of the best scientists had let their egos get in the way. Osborn Octavius and others. He believed in people like Tony Stark Reed Richards Shuri Beast and Bruce Banner to make the world better. Not politicians.

And he was in their league of potential; and knew it. He didn't need college. It needed him. But he'd rather be practical with his gift like his tradesman uncle had been. How can my knowledge be applied for the benefit of mankind? Industry was the way. Not the classroom; but practical application. That's where the science did the most good.

And people needed it now. With shield he could do it all and more. He'd need to focus on all those things; despite his sister being enthralled to the devil. He had to live his life; and would. He stood showered and dressed.

He let Tasha sleep in perhaps their now shared room and went to the kitchen. There he found iceman eating breakfast at the kitchen table/counter. It was just them for now. "Hey Pete." "Hey." Peter grabbed some cereal and milk and joined Bobby at the table, across from him.

"Great work with that rescue." "Thanks." Only a few knew the Mephisto truth behind things. It was still a lot to take in. Peter was still processing it. He would be for a long time; for as long as Teresa was a slave.

But the world still needed him and Spider-Man. That's where his focus had to be.

"You're uncharacteristically non witty this morning." Peter gave a forced smile. "Yeah. Sorry. Just got a lot on my mind."

Kitty Pryde then joined them. "Oh hey guys. Didn't see you in here." "Hey kitty," said Bobby. She made a pb and j and joined them next. "Am I interrupting anything?" "No not at all," said Bobby. "Right Pete?" "Yeah, right."

Kitty noticed it too. Peter's preoccupied state. As Bobby had. But they let it be. They were generally aware that he had done a string of dangerous things already. They were no strangers to that.

Beast then entered. "Ah Peter. I was hoping to find you." "Is something wrong?" "Oh no. I just wanted to say I made some improvements on the marvel ai system." Peter frowned on that. "The iron spider armor." "Oh yeah. That's right. Sorry. I forgot." "It's okay. If you wanna meet me in the lab..." "no hank, I'm okay doing that now. Let's go." "Okay."

Bobby and kitty said nothing else as Spider-Man left them but they could definitely tell that Peter was not himself.

Xxx

"See?" Said beast a few minutes later in the lab. Peter looked over the mods. "Yeah. Solid work."

Peter then exhaled then sat atop a work stool. Beast removed his glasses and sat on another stool beside him. "I... was told by the professor what happened. He felt it wise..." "no it's okay. I get it. You're the science guy here. You gotta be ready for things." "Yes." Beast paused. "But given how and what went down... science likely won't be of much use..." Peter had come to that same conclusion.

"This isn't like the other villains. And I don't just mean the power levels. It's his motive... there's no logic to it. He's just..." "evil?" "Yeah." Beast nodded. "Some people are just that Peter." Peter gave him a surprised frown. Beast smiled, showing his fangs in the process. "Didn't expect such an answer from a scientist? A humanist?" "Frankly no."

Beast nodded. "Mm. Well, that's not the cynicism that it sounded like Peter. It's the truth. Some people in the world are evil by choice and will never change. It's in their nature to be that way." "I guess I was raised differently." "Perhaps; but you're hardly new at super-heroics. This truth is empirically valid. A being like Mephisto most of all."

"What do I do hank?" "I don't know son. I really don't." He then put a furry hand over Peter's. "But you're not alone." Peter smiled. Tasha had said similar. He nodded.

Peter got another news alert. Tony Stark was running for mayor of New York... Peter showed beast the headline. "Oh my stars and garters..." Peter scoffed. "That should be interesting. Did you hear about Rogers?" "I did. I'm sure he has his reasons. Perhaps it's time for different thinking." Peter nodded.

Tasha entered. "Hey Pete." "Hey." They shared a smile. Beast could see it plain. Word would travel fast now... "are you ready to do that shield report now?"

Peter sighed and stood. "Yeah. Let's do it. Thanks hank." "Anytime. Nat." "Hank."