AN: Confession time: I HATE Karen the A.I.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the concept of Spidey having an AI that it annoyed me to death (Though partially that), but it was because it further overlaps Ironman and Spiderman's character. Artificial Intelligence is Tony's thing! Imagine everyone in the Avengers suddenly got an AI like Captain America, Widow, and Hawkeye! You would be annoyed right? Because their gimmick overlaps and they don't freaking need it!

You can have a mentor-mentee relationship without making Spidey an Iron-Man Jr. Yeah, I'm looking at you, MCU.

However, I am willing to take a step back and set aside my bias for this story through the question "Would Peter Parker make an A.I. if it helps him fight crime and his double life" and the answer is YES, ABSOLUTELY. Peter is a genius that whenever he comes up with a problem in spider-manning, he creates a gadget that lets him adapt. So yes, I can see him making an AI to manage his double life. Especially when we're living in an era where AI like Siri and Alexa is accomodating our daily life.

HOWEVER, it would absolutely not be as sophisticated as JARVIS because Peter's specialty isn't in AI programming. Maybe over time it will grow personality as Peter makes updates on it but it wouldn't do something like recommending web-shooters or strategies.

The personality of the AI would also not be anything close to MCU that makes Karen into this motherly-sounded figure that further emphasize Spiderman is being babied and wouldn't actually push Spidey to kiss Liz when she's being emotionally vulnerable after almost, you know, dying. (Like WTF did you code in it, Stark?!)

And the name KAREN?! Well, I'll forgive the writers for that since the derogatory meaning wasn't that popular during its writing, probably, but you know what would have been a better name for Peter's AI? A name that actually references Spiderman's AI from another universe. The one that appears at the end of Spiderverse and actually has a buddy-cop dynamic you could get behind with? That would have been 1000000x better.

Oh, and he'll definitely feed his AI memes. Any respecting millenial/zillenial/gen z genius would absolutely do that.


Chapter 12

I'm late. I'm late. I'm very, very late .

If you want to know how late I am, I was forced to use the Spidey-Express to get to school on time. However, I don't know whether being Spider-Man is a blessing or a curse in disguise. Otherwise, I can't explain why leaving as Spider-Man to avoid being late to school would end up with me later than usual.

In the span of half an hour, I gave a lift to a man with a broken leg to the nearest hospital, getting a kid's demon cat out from being stuck in the sewer, and webbing up a rude person for pushing down an elderly Asian couple because that's just rude.

Who knew the morning would be filled with so many problems.

Which is why when I heard my name, I had more or less resigned myself to the call. Then I looked down to find a familiar face that made me smile. Swinging down, I landed with a skip of my step. Extremely happy and glad to see her well. "Heyya Miss, you have no idea how glad I am to see you on your feet."

The lady who had been shot before in this very street chuckled, "Of course, nobody knows how to bounce back and get work done better than a black woman."

"Then what brings you here? I'm pretty sure it wasn't to search for me."

"Yeah… about that Spidey… do you happen to see that man that was with you before, Clark?"

"Clark the Homeless Guy? What about him? He's usually across the street, selling his pictures."

"It's been days since I last saw him and… I'm worried, Spidey. Ever since the incident, I always find the time to bring breakfast for him every day but the guys just… vanished without a word."

"Have you reported to the police?"

She scoffed, which is fair, "Only as a second-to-last resort, and when I did they shooed me out without letting me file a missing person report. The audacity of them is just— URGH!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. Do you remember anything before Clark disappeared? Anything strange or out of the ordinary?"

"No, if anything, he was happier. He mentioned something about a fresh start with his own two feet, but that's about what I remember."

My phone buzzed and I made a quick peek, finding it was a message from Ned. Asking me where I am. The time telling me I'm 5 minutes away from being late, so I had to cut the discussion short, "Alright, I'll see what I can do and track him down. Hopefully, it's nothing and he found a new place to settle down."

"I hope so too. Oh, and thank you Spider-Man for saving my kid back then."

"All in the day's work, ma'am." I saluted her before running off to a jump and went back swinging through New York before making a haste through the city. I barely cared risking exposure as I touched down at school, and ran while changing to my daily clothes. Pulling out my sneakers from my backpack, and then having to jump one foot at a time as I struggled to keep moving forward while wearing my shoes on the way.

I was one hallway away from my class, and decided to screw it and made a large leap no normal human could have managed even if they were Olympic-class. It didn't matter that I had jumped over the janitor in the midst of cleaning a thrown slushy, just that I got there on time or else I'm doomed.

I landed right by the door, but my feet slipped on the wet floor and almost went past it. But pushing through, I shot a web at the doorknob and pulled myself hard enough that I burst into the Engineering lab. Before the Spider-Bite, being the last one in class would mean a minute wasting skittering by the door, not looking forward to the synchronized swivel of their heads at the latest addition to the class. Now, not only do I care less, none were surprised to find me late.

I dashed right to my lab partner's table, "Did I make it?"

"No," he hissed, but then he looked at the absent table of the teacher, "But since Mr. Shrinder isn't here, so... semantically you did?"

"Good, I'll take what I can get." I settled, if I wasn't sitting on a stool, I would have slumped back in relief.

Ever since that fateful day in the bathroom, Ned Leeds has become one of the few good friends of mine. Not only does he have great taste in movies, knows his trivia better than most, and has an awesome collection of Lego sets (and those things aren't cheap). We often hang out to watch shows, play games, and share comics we can geek out together, or even nerding out about the newest news in the science community.

Ned had confessed he wanted to try being my friend but was too scared getting the attention of the Star quarterback of the school since I was his primary target back in the day. Not that I could blame him, everyone made a point to ignore me back then that I had to stand in the school bus since no one wanted me to sit next to them. Heck, even the bus driver still loves to mess with me by making me miss the bus sometimes that I had to chase it… like he did today.

God, just thinking about it had me quell the nasty urge to simply web him to the wheels of his bus for the rest of the day.

Though speaking of Flash, he has become… not so much of a jerk? I mean, he can still say callous things, but it was less out of malice and more like he hadn't practiced being a decent person. He stopped searching people to bully, and spent his time and effort if not at football, then at his new "Official" Spider-Man Fan Site. Proudly claiming as Spidey's #1 fan, making me shudder. The sheer irony of that sentence is enough to make me hurl.

Ned somehow read my mind because it was during that particular musing did he nudge me and showed a distinctive homepage that made my eyebrow twitch. "Have you checked out Flash's website?"

"You mean the Spider-Man Fansite? Don't remind me."

Ned snorted, "More like a conspiracy site. I think what originally started theories of Spider-Man's origin snowballed into a den of weird stories. Especially after the Harlem Monsters. Flash told everyone that there was this one guy who swore, up and down, he witnessed a giant croc stealing computers."

"Seriously?" I barked out a laugh, "Does he think we're in Gotham?"

"I know right? But that's not what I want to show you. Here…" Ned offered me half of his earphones then started playing a youtube video link of Flash in his room, with a guitar on hand. Already I felt my stomach sinking, it didn't take my spider-sense to know I wouldn't like what I was going to see.

" What's up, Spiderdoers ?"

Spiderdoers?! Seriously? You would think Flash could come up with a better fandom name that doesn't rhyme with evildoers.

" Thanks for tuning in again to my awesome channel, where you get the latest news of everything related to our Friendly Neighborhood Spidey. So today's video is special, highly because it's to commemorate Spidey's 6 months on the street, saving one people at a time, and he deserves something special, don't you agree?"

As I heard Flash's voice from my left ear, I couldn't help but feel touched by his words. Six months, has it been that long? I couldn't quite tell by the sheer exhaustion I had to go through every night. But to have someone, even Eugene of all people, to appreciate the thankless job I did was giving that warmth soothing feeling you have in your chest when you feel vindicated.

But then I glanced back on his guitar, and that warm feeling was quickly ripped away.

" Which is why I dedicate this original song to you, Spidey. Please spread this video in the hope he might see this."

No...

Flash took a deep breath, strummed his guitar, and belted out confidently his infamously out-of-tune voice.

Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can

Spins a web any size, catches thieves just like flies

Oh, no…

Spiderman, Spiderman, friendly neighborhood, Spiderman

Wealth and fame, he ignores, action is his reward

Every word was cringe-worthy and every second of his scratchy voice took an ounce of my will not to hide my face in utter shame. Ned had the nerve to nod his head in beat. Well, at least few people would watch something like— Holy moly! 1.4 million views?! How?!

"Yeah, dude, it went viral," Ned said when he saw my expression, "Flash isn't actually a sensational singer, but you can't deny it's a catchy song. There's even a singing and dancing challenge going on based on this. Right now, Becky the Parrot has like 2 million views for singing the song, isn't that insane?!"

Look out, here comes the Spiderman!

I slammed my head down on the desk and wished the world would swallow me whole.

. . .

"Ned, I have a favor to ask you."

My overweight friend closed his locker, and waited right after the deafening after-school bell ended before saying, "Go on."

"So, I heard that when it comes to programming, you have the best score in all of Midtown."

"I guess… I'm no science genius like you or Stacy, but computers and programs are my jam."

My hand fiddled with one another, "So, let's say, I asked you to help me frame a program like err, oh, I don't know, a personalized A.I., you can do that right?"

"Yeah, it's not exactly hard once you know what you're doing, just tedious. But what for? I mean, you can get A.I. through apps these days."

"Let's assume I need a more sophisticated Artificial Intelligence than even the likes of Siri or Alexa."

Ned thought about it a bit more before shrugging, "Sure, sounds fun. We're no Tony Stark, but I'm sure we can do better than commercialized A.I."

I didn't hear the rest of what he said after the word "Sure", and was busy grinning like a loon at him, "Ned, thank you, thank you, thank you so much, I can totally kiss you right now."

"You're welcome. Oh, by the way, did you get the chance to quit the N&B Club, yet?"

At the reminder, I slumped. "No..." I admitted. "Robby is only giving me more work after I gave him a short recording and a few shots of the Stark Expo incident." A coincidental shot I took exactly when hell broke loose thanks to my dumb Parker Luck.. It didn't help that Michele was ruthless in questioning every detail that happened there for her piece without clueing her on my arachnid-friend. "He's so impressed with the shot, not only did the company buy it, he's pushing me for a paid-internship where his dad works. Says it could give me more field experience and extra money if I wanted the spot."

"Only you would lament in landing a job, Peter."

I shrugged, "Who reads newspapers these days anyway? Besides, Do you know what the worst part is?"

"That we're broke kids who can't say no?"

"Exactly."

"Sorry about that, do you want to hang out and play some Kingdom Hearts with me?"

"Hmm, tempting. But I've got a date today, so no, can't do."

"Man, you're so lucky to have a girlfriend."

I grinned without answering before leaving school for a prior engagement.

. . .

"Thank you for always visiting me, Peter. I appreciate accompanying an old woman like me."

"Nonsense, you're still the peak of age Missus Em."

"Oh, none of that now. You're here often enough that you're practically family."

"Yeah, Pete." Harry sidely commented, "Us, Osborn, has a history of stealing people we like to our side. It's too late to back down now, we've already signed your adoption paper."

"Oh no… I've been kidnapped into fame and riches… whatever shall I do?" I lamentedly moaned with half-baked acting that would have MJ shaking her head.

Mrs. Osborn chuckled at our antics, which always seemed to brighten her pale complexion. "Still, I'm glad to see you so healthy. When I heard what happened to the Expo, I was worried I might see you wearing a patient gown instead of me."

"As you can see, I'm as right as rain, Missus Em. Also, I heard from my Aunt that you might be discharging soon. Congratulations."

"You make it sound like I'm making full recovery, Peter but the sentiment is much appreciated. My husband just happened to make a good case with the doctor to put me in home care and I'll admit, it beats being in a hospital like this."

"I think it helps that Mr. Osborn has been giving Healthcare Grants for almost every hospital in New York." It was honestly generous for him to do so, especially when May said it was heaven-sent when she knows personally how little nurses make and the limited staff and equipment to provide adequate patient care.

Harry's mom clicked her tongue. "Oh, that stubborn man… just because he's smarter and has more money than everybody, he thinks he can bat any disease with a stick."

"Yeah," Harry scoffed, "The old man finally makes himself useful for once."

"Now, Harry. How many times do I have to tell you?" Mrs. Emily gave scolding eyes at her son before gleaming micheavously, "Your father loves us but he's emotionally constipated, have a little understanding."

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

Mrs. Osborn just shook her head, saying something about "stubborn men."

He then pulled open an outdated newspaper, even though I knew Harry wasn't much of a reader. He just wanted to have this conversation over. I scanned the first page and I gaped in shock at the cover before snatching it off from my best friend's hand.

"What is this shit?!" Boldly printed at the headline Mask Menace and Robots Wreck Stark Expo? and while Spider-Man himself wasn't in the picture, there's no other masked person it could have implied.

"Language, Peter!"

"Sorry, Missus Em. But… but I can't help it, this is just so… wrong." My hand trembled as I kept from ripping the part while my eyes gleaned through the article that talks how a known masked vigilante was witnessed to be destroying property alongside the Hammer drones that were attacking the civilians and I wanted to rip the paper apart.

"This is garbage! A travesty! The pinnacle of insult to journalism! As part of the N&B Club, I take personal offense."

"Peter, you're a photographer."

"I take personal offense on behalf of my journalism friends."

" Well…" He took the newspaper out of my hand, "If this twists your pants so much, obviously you've never read all the other Spider-Man's articles before."

"I… don't really follow Spider-Man much…" because that feels a bit like googling myself, which is a weird and awkward thing to do.

"Boys," Missum em glared at us in mock offence, "Are you both seriously going to talk about weird people in costume after coming all the way to see me?"

"How else are we going to annoy you, mom?"

"You brat—" Her smile froze before a coughing fit hit her. Harry was already on his legs, about to call the nurse before she gestured to him to stay. "Don't overreact, Harry. This is nothing."

"You know I can't do that, I worry about you too much."

Mrs. Osborn's smile became much softer and sad as she cupped his cheek, "My son… how am I so lucky to have you?"

Harry's lips tightened as he held his mother's hand and kissed it softly with a pained expression. I looked away, feeling like I was intruding on a private moment. It was times like these that made it hard for me to stay, to witness these tender moments that reminded us how little they may have before Death comes knocking on her door.

. . .

It had been one of those slow days where there wasn't much crime. For New Yorkers, that would mean peace and safety, and all-around happy people. But not for Spider-Man. Because for him, these types of days are one of the most dangerous ones. One slip up and the consequences could be disastrous. The only days where he had to face one of his fiercest nemesis.

Boredom.

You might be laughing now, but it's these moments where I had to battle my own head as those little demonic whispers to you: " Come on, nothing's happening, take a break, it's just one day."

Yeah, no. I did that once and a bomb went off. Not gonna happen.

But damn it, it is tempting to just skip patrol, kicking back, and chill for once. However, as long as the wicked do not rest, there'll be only constant vigilance!

"Give me your money!"

That didn't take long.

The cook from the vendor, Carlos, turned from his grilled salamis, saw the hooded man with the knife, and laughed. He laughed like his belly was hurting him and had to hold on to his workstation.

The robber jerked in surprise at the reaction but tried shoving the knife closer. "You think this is funny? You think I won't hurt you?" He seethed.

Carlos only laughed even harder to the point he had to wipe tears. He took a moment catching his breath before he faced him and jerked his thumb toward the sky, " Amigo , look up."

Confused as he was, the robber did, and he caught my masked self, chilling out on the flat white umbrella, unfinished Spanish homework on my lap, and pencil twirling between my fingers.

"Yo!" I greeted him with a mock salute.

"...oh shit."

"Yeah, you messed up big time, amigo, " I tried to sound sorry, but couldn't.

"Any chance you might let this off one time, Spidey?"

"Hmm… let me think…" I pretended to consider his request, giving him the chance to turn and walk away. But before he even took the first step, I shot webs on his legs and pulled the knife out of his hand. Then proceed to web his mouth shut before he could even make the first cry. "Yeah, I think not."

Carlos laughed again like he was watching one of the best entertainment he got. "Thanks again, Spidey."

"Anytime for the best sandwich maker in Queens. Oh yeah, what was the Spanish word for 'umbrella' again?"

" Paraguas ." He answered easily, not at all perturbed as the webbed man struggling to pull off my gooey substance on his mouth in front of his vendor. "You must be failing your Spanish if you can't answer a question that simple."

I sighed, mockingly sounding forlorn, "Save the man his sandwich and he jabbed me of my language, ay caramba !"

"I bet you don't even know what that means." He offered me his finished sandwich. I took it, and have no shame in voicing my ravenous bite.

"Putting that aside, shouldn't you try changing location. I don't know about you, but this place is creepy at this time of night." And I meant it, while some would often cross the street, they usually only do that when they're trying a shortcut, lost, or getting some of Carlos' sandwiches which everyone knows are heaven-sent.

"I never had a problem in the five years I've been here, not until recently."

I eyed the burglar, who is now putting effort into pulling his feet off his shoes. Smart move. He was about to break into a run, but I timed my shot just right as I webbed his feet again. The momentum of his run had him trip, face meeting pavement with a harsh slapping sound that I couldn't help winced.

"No offense, but it'd seem like your luck finally ran out if this is the third attempted burglary on you, Carlos."

"On the contrary, it'd seem my luck is still going strong. Only this time I have my very own araña guardiana."

I tried putting the words in my head, but the translation was lost when my phone buzzed with another alert from the police radio. "Sorry, Carlos. Looks like trouble's calling."

"Be safe and good luck, Spider-Man."

I whizzed past the evening night, following the sound of the police siren, "Lyla, tap into the police radio and spill the tea."

[ You got it, Spidey ] said a robotic woman's voice through my earphone that sounds a lot like the voice actor for Plankton's supercomputer.

What? Don't judge me. I was feeling nostalgic.

It's been a long time coming, having my own crime-fighting Artificial Intelligence. I kept castrating in finding a way where I avoid pulling my phone out in hazardous situations and saved the phone company their insurance money. It helps that it's encrypted and I can make Lyla learn to tend to my needs. Specifically, adjusting my schedule between crime-fighting and schoolwork as well as an errand reminder. So she works more like a personal assistant than anything else. That way, I wouldn't have to forget the eggs again.

[ Reports are saying there is a giant lizard monster who stole electronics from Spade Hardware on Broadway and is currently heading toward Williamsburg Bridge.]

"Huh, either the officer at the scene was high, or they got some realistic costume."

[Would you like to follow up this case?]

"Might as well since I'm in the area."

By the time I arrived at the bridge, a mass hysteria erupted as I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a weird crossover species of a human reptile that is currently roaring next to a holed roof car, scaring the civilians away to the point they abandon their cars. On the backseat of the car was a handful of electronics clearly too good to be second-hand. So unless I miss the news that lizards can buy goods from the store, I'm guessing they were relinquished without proper checkout.

" Holy cannoli , the Croc-Burglar is real?!" My eyes boggled behind the lenses, witnessing the human-size lizard that has no problem throwing cars at people and hissing at them like a bad imitation of an angry alley cat.

Fear shot through my spine, and I hate myself for it. Spider-Man was made to take out bad guys; the slippery thieves, the violent mugger, drunkard bullies. You know… the easy stuff. I didn't sign up for bombs, drones, and giant mutant monsters. I'm not even sure how I got by half the time.

I took a deep breath and crushed the fear into tiny bits. You're Spider-Man, don't start chickening out and muck things up. Not now.

I landed on the hood of the car, putting enough distance for me to capture his entire frame. "Well, I'm certainly having a green month. First the Hulk, now this? Is there a mutant-con that I haven't been invited to?"

Its eyes locked on mine and started screaming in that high lizardy pitch it has. Jumping up, it tried to claw my flesh out. The Lizard was fast but not as fast as me.

I flipped over it, avoiding the swipe, and landed perfectly behind for me to hold its tail around my arm.

"You're cranky, are you not invited too? Is that why you're angry?" I pulled his tail and with my strength managed to throw the monster to the car next to me, his butt jamming to the crashed window.

I tried to find hilarity at the sight of a lizard monster trying to pull himself out from the tight fit of the car, just so I'd freak out less from fighting the thing.

"I feel the same. Hey, why don't we just blow this joint and find a bar where we could settle our differences instead." That's what adults do in bars, right? "Do bars serve reptiles? I'm confident there's no 'No Lizard Rule' as far as I'm aware."

The lizard monster hissed and finally had his butt pulled off the car and promptly swiped its tail in an attempt to smack me. I ducked down and shot a web at its eyes, blinding the big guy. His hands went to his face, as predicted, and I shot another web to trap its hands, then lastly to its legs, completely immobilizing the monster.

"What do you know? You're not so tough after all. I've fought smaller guys that's way harder to trap."

My mouth had gone cocky that if it weren't for my Spidey-Sense, I wouldn't have caught the moment the human-lizard used his untrapped tail to slip through the broken window of the car and easily throw the whole vehicle at me.

I dodged, but by that time, it used its sharp class to rip my web to shred and came at me with ferocious speed before tackling me down. The force of it knocked the wind out, and never did I feel there was a tackle worse than Flash's during his bullying days.

It put me within its grip, and I struggled to push away. His strength was rivalling, if not, far greater than my own Spider-Strength. And it's doing its best grinding me.

"I… might be in trouble."

The lizard roared to my face, giving me its best earth-shattering cry and worse sewer-breath I've ever had the displeasure of smelling. "Gross! I'm flattered, but I like a man who at least knows his personal…" I lifted my legs, stuck to its torso. "... hygiene !" I grunted the last word, using all my strength to push the thing away and had it forcefully let go.

I flipped backward and wasted no time shooting another strand of web. But the Lizard wasn't just fast, it was smart. Grabbing the strand before it hits its face. The human-lizard then pulled the strands, pulling me with it, and I was lassoed around before crushing the automobile with my back.

I groaned, taking a second to catch my breath and shook the stars off my head. The terrified scream got my feet back up in a second. My eyes widened as I witnessed the lizard carrying a car with a woman and possibly his son in the car, about to throw it off the bridge.

The monster briefly met my gaze, and I could have sworn it smirked before throwing the occupied car past the rails without the slight hesitation or remorse.

"NO!"

I jumped with a leap that would shock even me, and I already had my web shot out as I jumped over the bridge, the web line went past the broken window and hit the backs of the father and son pair, pulling them up so I could meet them halfway.

"Hold on!" I yelled. Thankfully, the father was already hanging on to me but I practically had to hug the kid, afraid he might break away. I flipped my back before shooting another web line at the bridge. Our fall stopped short even as the kid cried harder when he looked at the fierce wave of the river down below.

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down. I got you. Both of you. Listen, I'm gonna climb both of us up and we'll be right as rain in no time, understand?."

The boy and the father nodded with glassy eyes.

"Awesome! Okay, sorry if it's a bad time but what's your name, kid?"

"His name is Ben," said the father, probably because the boy was still in shock.

"Cool. That's cool. I know someone named Ben. He's the coolest and bravest person I know. And that's what I need you to do, I need you to be brave while I hand you to your dad, can you do that?"

Ben nodded grimly and it was time like these that I wished I could pull half my mask off so I could smile encouragingly at him.

The father suddenly gasped and screamed my name, pointing something above me. Part of me didn't want to turn, not wanting to believe how worse the situation could be. But I did, and I saw the lizard had its thin tongue slithered out, claws ready to cut the web.

Great , a sadist reptile. Why can't it run off with the goods and leave me alone?

"Alright, change of plans."

I loosened my hold of the web. Briefly freefalling before shooting another webline under the bridge. I swung with additional weight in hand. Though it was doable, the fact that I have two lives clinging to me is honestly horrifying. The fear of letting them fall is ten times stressful.

My reflex made me move before the growing fear and worry could stop me. We swung hard to the other side of the bridge, the momentum threw us into the air until we're higher than the bridge's base. Backflipping, the two passengers cried as they left their gut behind. Then midway through the flip, I shot an extra-large webnet sticking between the bridge's cables. After making the full flip, I twisted to the side, then grabbed the kid, who's clinging to my front, then to the father on my back, throwing them to the web-site in relative safety.

"Thank you for flying with Air Spidey, I hope you avoid the future near-death experience."

Once they were safe, I shot two white strands on the bridge, propelling me forward like a human missile, my leg shot out to kick the lizard's unsuspecting back hard with a shout of, " VIBE CHECK !"

We both were suspended in the air, but I didn't let the moment put a damper on my plan. Strands after strands of webbing shoot out from my Shooter without a sign of ending. The Lizard trashed and turned, claws shredding the web and me, I winced as large red lines on my torso, sides, legs, and hands. At some point, it even punched my gut, kicked my spleen, and bit my arm.

"Ow, bad Lizzy! Bad! No biting!"

But between the two of us, I have a better advantage in maneuverability in the air and was just as relentless in my assault. Crawling all over its body, shooting webs after webs, making sure to recover the ones the giant mean lizard destroyed. Sometimes I would leap and give it a fast punch or kick of my own. But most importantly, I kept my webs constant until its maw was closed tight, legs and tail nicely trapped, and its whole body wrapped nicely like a cocoon.

I shot one last line above until it stuck to the bridge, and the Lizard and Spider were both hanging above the river. One more victorious than the other.

"There! Now you just go hang here, cool your head, and think about what you've done!"

I felt the lizard thrashed beneath the white wrapping but there was no room for it to use its strength.

The tension in my muscle released, knowing my webs would keep it secure. I climbed up my web but every pull of my body only made me wince, my breathing was ragged, and I was half hoping the dizziness wasn't caused by the blood loss. I wasn't sure I wanted to see where I'm bleeding like a woman on period. But I persisted, until I reached the bridge, grunting like a man on its last sprint before reaching the finish line.

The sight I met on the bridge was a small crowd of people circling me. They stood without coming closer and said nothing. Not wanting to be drowned by the silence, I raised a weak victory sign and said breathlessly, "And that's… how you kick ass in Spidey Town."

The tense air broke by the sound of one clap, then another, and another. Until it turned into full-blown applause. There were cries of joy and a few whistles that it was beginning to aggravate my senses. Faced with all the positive responses, my first thought was; " Whaaaaaaaaaaat ?"

The crowd parted when a couple of EMTs came up to me, giving me a quick glance before telling the others; "Nothing life-threatening but he's gonna need stitches." Another came up beside and touched me, instinctively I backed away. The paramedic woman had her hands held up in surrender, "Easy, Spidey, you're safe but you're hurt. Let us help you, we want to help you."

It was weird having my mind recognizing them as a safe person who knows what they're doing, yet a large part of me still can't have anyone closing on me, feeling like bolting if they did.

"Hey, Spidey, I'm coming to touch you so I can help take care of you in the ambulance, is that okay?"

Wordlessly, I nodded. My usual quips stuck in my throat as she held the crook of my arm and led me to the ambulance. The coiled muscle began to sag, the still drumming heart slowed, and my eyes closed when I hadn't dared before. They tended over my wounds, gave me all the help they deemed I needed and decided to leave myself to the professional. The Lizard managed to leave harsh bruises on my back and deep gashes on my side and arms.

Once they've done their job, I leaped to the edge of the bridge. Much to their indignation. The fine paramedics practically nag me not to pull my stitches or they'll chase me throughout New York. I couldn't tell if it was in jest, but I laughed anyway.

I looked around at the crowd, mostly the injured ones, who stuck around. Waving and thanking me in gratitude warmed my heart.

"Thank you for the… err… warm welcome, but this Spidey gotta fly!" I pressed to shoot out my webs, ready to swing home.

Pssshhhh!

Everyone said nothing, did nothing, waiting for the moment I swung into the night. But there was only awkward silence as I had my hand outstretched while nothing happened.

Ignoring the crowd's eyes, I pulled off my gloves, took out the vial in my web shooter, and switched it out with my backup web fluid.

I looked back to the crowds, and again, I saluted, "Thanks, and see ya!" A long white strand shot out, and this time, I was finally gone.

One of the perks of the mask; no one ever knows when you're dying from embarrassment.

. . .

The next day, the cafeteria was abuzz with the same topic; Bridge Fight: Spider-Man vs the Lizard . The crowd went wild as they shared blurry videos and photos of the fight. I can understand their enthusiasm for what can be comparable to a monster fight, but to hear them talking about over and over again in front of the subject without their knowledge as they showed getting beat up performance in repeat.

Let's just say, I didn't have the stomach to eat lunch.

"Hey." Gwen's soothing voice snapped me from almost nodding off on my salad.

"Hey, yourself."

She noticed the healing bruise on my cheek and looked properly horrified while cupping it. "Glad to see you alive," she said, knowing better than to ask if I was alright.

"Well, considering what I was up against, you could say I was lucky to be alive."

"Don't say that, you were a badass on that bridge."

"Really?" I perked up from her words, and Gwen smiled indulgently before giving me a quick peck on the lips. I didn't know what I did to deserve that, but it certainly made my day significantly better.

"So… Peter… I was wondering…"

"Uh-ho, that can't be good, but do go on."

"Jerk," she punched my arm before her smirk fell, "It's..." Her eyes shifted before leaning in to whisper, "Have you told Harry about, you know, our bug friend?"

"Gwen… shame on you," I tried sounding scandalous, "He's an arachnid, not a bug, I thought better of you."

She punched me even while trying to hide her snort, "I'm serious. He's your best friend, hiding things from him for this long can't be good for either of you. God knows how much patience I had when you blew off our dates."

"I know, I'm sorry, I did always make it up to you."

"Yeah, you do."

I huffed, not looking forward to talking to my best friend, "Alright, I'll find a way to talk to Harry, somehow."

"Talk to me about what?" Harry sat next to me.

"I… err… we… were just talking about…" I looked up to Gwen, but she only shook her head with the same clueless expression so no help from her here. "That is… I mean…"

" PeterPeterPeterPeter!" I was saved from making a sorry-excuse of an excuse when Ned came barrelling down through the cafeteria and came sliding across my table, "You won't believe what Flash posted on his site just—am I interrupting something?"

There were no words said, just as a small exchange of a smile between us. "Not much, so what's got you excited, Ned?"

"Oh, oh, yeah, check this out." He showed me the site in question through his phone. A post with a video that he promptly played. Clip of the news that was dated… 15 minutes ago? That's fast, but what got Ned so excited—

"This just in, a giant bipedal lizard was seen creating chaos in Central Park. Witnesses state the monster came out of nowhere and started attacking random people. We also received confirmation that last night's rampage of the same Lizard on the Williamsburg Bridge is still in police custody. Making this the second Lizard attack."

Oh, that's why.