There hadn't been a fire on 5th Avenue; Peter just needed to get out of the apartment. There were still plenty of other people to be saved in the city and he had been neglecting his "duties" the past few days to be with MJ. The thoughts waved through his mind as he swung up and around the city. Would he always have to leave MJ, put her second to being Spiderman? He didn't have the answers. Was that what I really fear? The choices I'll have to make? To be Spiderman or not. Would the city really miss me if I never showed up again? Could I NOT react when I saw someone or something in danger? Peter's mind whorled around those thoughts all day. In the months since the Goblin, the cops were starting to appreciate him, a little, and the fireman loved him. But the city still had people who were suspicious of his motives.
Peter spent the entire day out as his alter ego. Never once considered going home. People cheered as they saw him out and about. But there were also people who booed and threw things at him. It was good to be out as Spiderman. He felt in control. He felt as if his life was stable and he didn't have to think about anything except where he could swing to next. Peter passed by one of the high-rise buildings in the financial district. The build was made of all glass, and as he swung slowly by he noticed people rushing to the windows. All of them were female. They waved and blew kisses at him, from young to old, they all looked giddy with excitement. Peter raised his hand in greeting and continued on, many of the women following his progress around the building.
Inside the building the conversation among the women went something like this.
"Oh my God! It's him! You guys, it's him!!" the young, attractive blond woman shouted to her cubicle mates. "Honey, I've got to go! Love ya!!" The woman shouted to her newlywed husband on the other end of the phone, slamming the phone down and rushing to the window to watch Spiderman.
"He is so incredible!" sighed a dark-haired, slightly overweight secretary, her hands pressed against the glass.
"Yeah, short. But it bet ya he's got room to spare in other departments!" another older woman announced as she nudged her friend in silent acknowledgement, laughing at her audacity.
"Whoever is his girl has got to be one lucky lady." They all sighed in union as Spiderman waved and flew out of their line of sight.
"One lucky lady." Sighed quietly one lonely red-haired woman as she stayed by the glass and watched, while the other returned to their desks.
"Mary Jane, c'mon I need your help with collating these reports. I have to have them to the board members by 1:00 o'clock." MJ turned away from the glass, took a deep breath to control her whirling emotions, and walked towards Janice. MJ had gotten a call from a temporary office help agency that she had registered with. She was hopeful that this might turn into something permanent and she could quit the Moondance diner. It was a hell of a lot better pay and better surroundings. MJ walked down the hall to the windowless copy room that she was going to occupy for, no doubt, the rest of the day. "Bummer." MJ whispered to herself as she sat at the desk stacked high with papers.
The elongating shadows of twilight always fascinated Peter, especially from high above the city. He watched from the Chrysler Building as the commuters left the city, to returning to their families in suburbia. All that was left in the city after 5p.m. were the true city folk. Peter looked across the Hudson River into Queens. He should go see Aunt May, maybe she can help him sort out his feelings. But how can she help, she doesn't even know that I'm Spiderman. Peter chuckled at his dilemma. There was only one person he could talk to. But she was part of the problem. How could he tell her how he felt without making it seem like it was her fault. The final rays of the sun went out and Peter decided he needed to go home.
Peter leap up from his sitting position and was just about to swing out, when he saw it.
A glider, different from the Goblin's, but similar in design. The color was different too, black and chrome. His spider-senses were on high alert as the being raced in his direction. Peter knew there was going to be fight, but where could he take it without endangering the city. No time for that, the phantom was right on top of Spiderman. The glider flew overheard, turned and came back around the Chrysler building. Spiderman tensed with anticipation of a fight, but the phantom stopped a few feet in front of Spiderman.
Spiderman took in the phantom's "attire." It was nothing like he'd ever seen before. It was frighteningly familiar to the Green Goblin, but unique. The phantom hopped of the floating glider and stood before Spiderman.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the famous, or should I say infamous, Spiderman. I was hoping you'd be out and about tonight." The phantom slapped his hands together, rubbing them back and forth in anticipation.
"Who are you?" Spiderman asked, fear creeping up his spine. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but the phantom was disguising it. Peter's heart pounded with adrenaline. He stared at the phantom before him, waiting for him to make a move.
"Who am I? No, the real question is who are you? The self-proclaimed hero of New York City!"
"I'm just trying to help people. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"Why am I here? What do I want?"
"Is there an echo around here? Or is that your problem, you can't answer a question straight? Question Deficit Syndrome."
The phantom snarled and started to prowl around Spiderman, who turned in time with the phantom to keep him in sight.
"I just wanted to see you. See what you've become."
"I'm sorry I have a girlfriend. I don't have any more room for anyone else."
"I know. I've met her." The phantom purred at Spiderman, satisfied when he saw Spiderman tense. "Very pretty. VERY, very pretty."
"You stay away from her." Spiderman growled, pointing his finger in the phantom's face.
"Protective. Don't have a lot of experience hiding your emotions I see. That's good. It'll make it all the more fun watching you suffer."
"You go near her or anyone else in this city, I'll…" Spiderman couldn't finish his sentence, because he didn't really know what he would do if someone hurt MJ again.
"You'll what? Fall into the river and almost drowned like last time. You're pathetic! Your little girlfriend had to save you! But not before I got a goood look at her. Yummy!"
"It was you last night! Well, when you sucker punch a guy, I guess you could get one over on him. I 'm here now, come on take your best shot, Dog Man!"
"When I'm finished with you, I'm going to find that little girlfriend of yours. And we're going to have fun. Maybe I'll give her something you can't."
"Yeah, fleas!" Spiderman shouted as he lunged, his fist connecting with the phantom's jaw.
The two enemies circled around like two rabid wolves, getting closer and closer. Peter was angry, furious. This thing was threatening him and MJ. To hell with the city, obviously this phantom wolf had a personal score to settle. Well, Peter was more than happy to oblige him if he wanted to fight.
The phantom wolf reached back and withdraw the two long Japanese swords from the sheaths at his back. He whirled them around with obvious skill and crouched in a fight stance facing Spiderman.
"Swords. How very 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' of you!" Spiderman taunted at the wolf phantom as they stared at one another.
"You'll be crouching when I'm finished with you!" The wolf phantom lunged and parried at Spiderman, who deftly avoided his attacks. Spiderman was just too fast. He could sense the phantom's every move before he made it. The tensing of each muscle in anticipation of a thrust made it easy for Peter. Plus, Peter could jumps on the sides of walls, where the phantom couldn't. Spiderman started to make a game out of it, which further enraged the phantom.
"Aww, who's not controlling their emotions now?" Spiderman teased as he shot out a right hook, then a left, connecting each time with the phantom's armor. Spiderman continued his attack, his angry quickly taking control of his body. The punched over and over, until the phantom flew backwards against the wall. The wolf phantom quickly recovered and ran to where his glider hovered. Spiderman gave chase, but stopped when he saw the phantom turn to face him, holding a small box in his hand.
"Stop! RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE! This detonator is wired to my heartrate. So if I die, this whole city, including your pretty girlfriend, will go up in flames. Back off!"
Spiderman lowered his fists, it was probably a lie, but he couldn't risk it being true. He watched as the phantom jumped on the glider.
"We'll meet again, Spiderman!!!!" The wolf phantom cackled as he sped off. Peter considered following him, but what good would it do. He decided to stay where he was. Even though the phantom hadn't cut him with his swords, he had still beaten him pretty good. Peter shot a strand of webbing and started to swing home.
Harry stumbled into his room, blood seeping out of his mouth. Damn you Peter, damn you. He had barely made it out of that alive. Peter could kill, Harry knew that now. Time to see if those idiots in the police department could follow a trail of breadcrumbs that would lead right to Peter Parker's doorstep. Also time to remind MJ that Peter was a killer.