A canon-compliant drabble on The Amazing Spider-Man #72.
There was a ruckus in the Stacy apartment, and Gwen ran to the strange sound. "Dad! Dad! What was that noise? It sounded like part of a building caving in!" Gwen explained, running for her father.
"Dad?! Where are you? Why don't you answer?" The blonde questioned frantically.
Gwen entered her father's room to a horrifying sight, her father lying still on the floor, and a masked menace glaring at her, holding a tablet. "Oh, no! No!" Gwen expressed, raising her arm to shield herself from him.
The yellow and red-clad figure sprang into action, fleeing out the window. "You're in luck, gorgeous! I already got what I want... So I'm cutting out! And no need to sprain your tonsils... Except for a headache, he'll be good as new!"
And with that, he was gone. With the coast clear, Gwen ran to her father and was nothing short of relieved when he woke up, slowly sitting up, holding his head. "Dad... Who was he? What did he do?" Gwen questioned.
"I thought... The tablet would be safe... here with me! I didn't count on being attacked... By someone as powerful as the Shocker! Get the phone, dear! Call the police!" George urged.
Gwen ran to the phone, holding it up to her ear. "Dad, didn't the Shocker once battle Spider-Man to a standstill? If he's at large again... How can anyone hope to stop him?" The blonde inquired desperately, before dialing the number.
It was raining, and Gwen held an umbrella over her head, walking through the streets of New York, mulling over the experience with the Shocker.
"Gwen! Gwen! Wait up!" Peter expressed, chasing after Gwen "S'matter? I'm not good enough to talk to anymore?" He inquired.
Gwen only just noticed him, casting a glance towards him. "Oh, Peter! I... I'm sorry! I'm afraid I was so busy thinking about what happened to my dad- That I didn't hear you!"
"Your dad? What did happen, Gwendy?" Peter asked more seriously.
"He's all right, now... But he might have been killed! I've never seen anyone as menacing as the Shocker!" Gwen explained, turning from Peter and resuming her normal pace.
"No? How about...Spider-Man?"
"Spider-Man is...different! For all his power...his mystery...he's somehow fascinating!" Gwen expressed.
"Hey! Perhaps I should be jealous!" Peter smirked.
Peter and Gwen headed into a diner.
"Let's grab a soda together, lady!" Peter invited.
"Sure, Pete... I..." Gwen stopped in the doorway, spotting a familiar face dressed in his finest threads. "Look! It's Flash Thompson! Welcome home, soldier!" Gwen beamed, running for Flash.
"Gwen! I'd hoped you'd be coming by, doll! Man! Are you a sight for these gal-hungry eyes!" Flash expressed enthusiastically. Gwen and Flash beamed at each other affectionately, clasping each other's shoulders on one side and each other's hands on the other.
"But how come you didn't write me more often, baby?" Flash teased.
"I thought Mary Jane was taking care of that department!" Gwen replied. "And I've been seeing a lot of Peter!"
"Have things been that bad on the homefront?" The blond smirked.
"Hey, John Wayne... Just one darn minute!" Peter fumed. "Last time I saw you, I thought the army had changed you! I coulda sworn you were almost turning human! But if you think those stripes give you the right to..."
"Bug off, sonny boy! When I need a civilian, I'll ask for one!" Flash barked.
"Look, Thompson! If you're trying to put me down in front of my girl-"
Gwen put herself between the two strapping lads, shoving them apart, her brows knitted together in anger. "Peter! Stop! What's gotten into you? Flash was only kidding... The way he used to!" Gwen reminded him angrily.
"Maybe I'm the one who was wrong about you, Parker! Maybe you're the same old square I always thought you were!" Flash rebutted.
"Okay... okay! Maybe I was too upright! But no one likes to see some other guy making a play for his girl!" Peter relented, pointing his finger aggressively at Flash, and Gwen sighed, placing both her hands on her hips, exasperated.
Flash shoved his hands in his pockets casually. "Face it, friend! Any Joe who doesn't make a play for that chick is ready for embalming! Anyway, I'm cutting out now! Thanks for the warm welcome!"
And with that, Flash left, and Peter finally looked remorseful. "Gwen...I-I'm sorry!"
"You should be, Peter! For a boy who's always missing when there's trouble... It's strange how hostile you can be to a man who's been in combat!" Gwen retorted hotly, leaving with either her umbrella or Flash, the author can't tell.
