"... How did this happen Logan?"
"I'm telling you, we haven't the slightest idea. We didn't detect anything unusual and it would be impossible for anyone to create counter measures to outwit that many mutants."
"And yet you outwitted them..."
Just another ordinary day in the life of Peter Parker: stopping robberies, eating a cold breakfast and lunch, making fun of the bad luck he had for couples, getting tips that reached Jameson and Betty's ears, having a chat about random stuff with Felicia, and getting stopped by Logan and Laura.
Yeah, just another normal day.
"Hphm, that doesn't matter. Now the important thing is to find out who it was and so far, all the clues point to someone in your colorful gallery of thugs," Laura told him without really paying attention to him.
"Otto Octavius."
Spider-Man was silent at the name spoken by Wolverine. He'd had some time without hearing from Octavius and hoped it would stay that way for at least a little longer.
On the other hand, he understood the gravity that this situation could come to represent to the citizens of Krakoa; the Hellfire Gala had happened recently so if some came to believe that the infiltration occurred during the gala, then he didn't even want to think about the scenario.
"There's something you haven't told me Logan, what exactly were they robbed of?".
Laura turned to Logan, they exchanged a look and both nodded.
"If the clues are correct, then Octavius analyzed the medicine we exported from Krakoa. When did he do it? We have no idea but Frost assumes it happened after the gala."
"And we're turning to you because if I remember correctly, the last time that octopus picked a fight with someone other than you it nearly fried the entire world," Laura commented recalling "The World's End," the name given to Octopus' attack globally. "And honestly, we don't want that shit to happen again."
Spidey's eyes narrowed for a moment, just for one, as if a hint of doubt had attacked him. Logan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that, did he even have the thought of refusing what was being asked of him?
'Webbs...?'
"I... I'll... keep my eyes open and be aware of what I hear. I've dealt with Octavius for years so I know anything could happen."
Before they could say anything, Spider-Man raised his hand and shot a web at the continuing building walking away with his usual iconic swing.
"Hey, is he going to be okay?".
"... Yeah. Come on, he's Web- I mean, he's Spider-Man after all, nothing knocks that guy down."
... ... ...
... ... ...
None of the Wolverines could know it but from the moment they had arrived in New York through the gate at Washington Square Park, they were being watched by a curious type of drone.
An Octo-bot.
"So they've already made contact with Peter, huh? Perfect. Then it's time to move on to the next part."
Otto's mechanical tentacles began to manipulate the compita while the aforementioned one stayed in the shadows, as if he didn't want to be seen even by himself.
Soon, the screen showed something very... curious.
[Send message to Peter Parker?]
... ... ...
... ... ...
'Man, them coming and talking to me so casually after not inviting you to the gala feels... weird. But at least I know they don't hate me like I was starting to think.'
At this point Peter knew foolishly to deny to himself that he was frustrated, but not because Logan came and talked to him so casually, he had nothing on him.
He was frustrated with himself.
"Quick, I told you to empty that bag!".
Down the alley he was passing he could hear and see a couple being mugged by the typical thief he stopped every day, so he wouldn't even bother to flinch at him.
'Or at least not much'.
He quickly moved behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and the moment he turned around, threw three web balls: 2 into his hands and one into his mouth.
"And that's the way to do it, quick before you can open that filthy mouth of yours. Hey, you two oka-?".
"Yeah, yeah, we're fine," the woman said without hiding her contempt as she interrupted Spider-Man. "Masked menace."
She left angrily but at a slow pace, obviously waiting for her boyfriend who lagged a bit behind.
"S-sorry Spidey, she's just still in shock. Thank t-thank you very much...".
Uncomfortable, the boy also retreated from the place.
"Uh... yeah... sure...".
Another hard blow.
Of course, I'd forgotten about it for a moment. Thanks to Wilson Fisk, now former mayor of New York, the public's opinion of the first arachnid vigilante was more polarized than ever.
Nor did that Jameson idea of a new costume that would record his battles help much; it had only served as fuel to the fire.
"... Hehe, now I understand why I wasn't invited to the Hellfire Gala," he said with a defeated tone.
Peter was aware that not everyone had to like him, he wasn't even doing this for money, admiration or respect from other heroes or citizens. He was doing it because it was his responsibility.
And despite having such powerful courage with him and a will that had never let him down, Peter was still a human with emotions, emotions that can obviously feel hurt and much more so at a time like this when a certain thought kept invading his mind.
'Nothing has changed, it's like... everything is still the same as when I started'.
It was frustrating to be stuck in this vicious cycle. Falling off the deep end, being single, dealing with situations on a global scale, getting back together with MJ, having a good time with his neighborhood, falling off the deep end, continuing to fall, and then going back to the beginning.
He hated this cycle.
He would never stop helping people, but how could he keep doing it if he didn't learn from everything that happened to him, if he didn't learn to be spectacular, amazing?
'Huh, Spider Sense?'
After all, he was called 'the Amazing Spider-Man,' but could he still call himself that at this point?
"So many questions and so few answers. Now another therapy with Mysterio doesn't sound so bad... Ok, I'll never think such a thing again, it's horrible."
[You want answers? Excellent, I have some for you] —spoke a robotic voice but one I would recognize anywhere.
'So this is what activated my Spider Sense.'
It was an unarmed Octo-bot.
"Octavius..."
[I bet you're wondering, why did you screw up your redemption?' 'Why did you illegally analyze Krakoa's medicine?' Well Spider, if you want answers you know well where to find me, after all you ended up with what was in there, with something that could have catapulted you into the biggest of the leagues]
"... The former headquarters of Parker Industries."