"Kingpin?" Asked Peter, who still hasn't recovered fully from the shock of Kurt's story. It was 6:30 am, and Rogue, Peter, and Kurt would be leaving for school in less then an hour. Rogue was sitting on Kurt on his bed silently. Peter was on the wall.

"That's what he said," answered Kurt who was sitting with cris-crossed and still trying to wake up completely. "I'm not sure if we should believe him. I mean, can you imagine? Every crime in the city connected to one man?"

"Sounds just like a 'Law and Order' series finale, don't it?" asked Peter with a smile.

"Something like that," laughed Kurt.

"But I don't think Shocker would have lied," said Peter suddenly becoming serious. "And even if he did, what can we loose?"

"Our lives?" Kurt was the only thing Kurt came up with.

"Not if he was lying," Peter struck back.

"Good point," admitted Kurt.

"And you guys are serious about finding him?" And is if one cue, Rogue comes in to put her 2 cents in. Kurt and Peter rolled their eyes at Rogue's question. There beginning to get used to it. "This is way beyond anything you guys have pulled before, and you two have pulled a lot of crap in the past. And it's not like Cyclops will be right behind you guys to blast anyone that can sneak up on you. This can be dangerous."

"This is dangerous," corrected Peter, showing no signs of fear. "But this is something we have to do. We can't tell any of the instructors."

"Why not?" This routine is beginning to get boring. It's like a year-long story that just won't end! "Why can't you tell the professor? You know he won't just ignore you. You know that he would take care of this in an instant. You guys are making him look like he's some evil headmaster in a boarding school!"

"I know all that," Peter said somewhat quietly losing his patients.

"You know something Pete, Rogue is right," admitted Kurt. Peter shut his eyes and tried to wave off the irritation. They just don't get it, do they? "Why can't we tell this to the prof? Not only will he lead the X-Men in rescuing this girl, but it could save our lives."

Peter stood silent for a time. He really took what Rogue and Kurt said into thought, however it would be hard for them to change his mind about this situation. "I'll think about it," Peter said only to make his friends feel better.

"Peter, this isn't a matter of thinking," both Peter and Rogue were losing their patients. Kurt was ready to take cover if or when they begin lashing out at each other. "It's a no brainer! The professor can-"

"Rogue!" Peter decided to hell with all of his secrecy and hidden agenda and decided to just tell them "If...if this man...this so called 'Kingpin' actually is behind every crime in this city," Peter stalled. "Then I already have personal issues with him," And just like that, Rogue and Kurt understood. Now it all makes sense. Now they know why Peter doesn't want to consult the older X-Men to his plans. But this has nothing to do with the fact that this is still very dangerous. "And it's something I want to take care of myself. Not the professor. Not Storm. Not Wolverine. Not Cyclops. No one."

Now it was Kurt and Rogue's turn to fall silent. Peter took a deep breathe and tried to rid himself of all the anger and frustration. They had to be at school very soon. There was only time for one more question. "So how are you going to find him?" And Kurt was the one who asked it.

"To quote one of our instructors," began Peter as he jumped off the wall and grabbed his backpack. "'The old fashioned way...looking.'"

llllllllll

After school

So far, Peter Parker as had a very eventful day. Trying his hardest to stay awake in school failed, so he got sent to the chancellor's office. That was fun. Not to mention the energy he wasted avoiding Gwen. He couldn't even imagine what it's going to be like when he finally confronts her. He knows it has to happen sooner or later, but what will he say? Gwen has to have figured it out by now. Kurt's been telling Peter that she has been staring at him all day as if she was trying to see right through him. Just the thought of confronting her made his heart race.

Anyway, he can't be bothered with that now. Peter had to go work. The young artificial mutant entered the school library and sat down at a computer. Kurt wisely pointed out that it would be a stupid idea to look for this Kingpin on the mansion's computer, since Peter wants to keep it a secret so badly. Peter turned on the computer and typed in his school user name and password. Peter suddenly stopped. How is he supposed to find an underground crime king in the first place.

Spiral Inc. Shocker got his weapons from Spiral Inc. They had to be connected. Peter searched using doesn't of search engines at a time for Spiral Inc., and surely enough, it lead him to dozens of pages. Peter decided to go with the official one.

About

Research

Products

Future

Contacts

Sponsors

Employees only

Peter clicked on contacts first, but it only led him to a bunch of phone numbers and email addressed. It had to be sponsors. Peter clicked on the link that read 'sponsors', and was brought to a web page with 45 different company names. Peter couldn't believe this is happening.

Sony, Yamaha, Oscorp, Nigmatech, Valiant, Fisk Corp, Wayne Enterprises...there are just too many possibilities! Peter sat for a second and tried to think of something. He recognized some of these companies. A few of them were on the news because of scandals or something that placed their companies in jeopardy.

Peter placed his fingers on his head. This is going to take a long time. And without further a due, he began.

Minutes seemed to pass as milliseconds. Peter was on almost every news site imaginable digging the dirt on almost all of the companies listed on Spiral Inc.'s website. Every half hour or so, he would get a warning from the liberian about hogging the computer, but Peter continued to ignore her. He had found so many things.

"Nigmatech faces lawsuit for causing 3 different people cancer..."

"Oscorp keeping their doors closed. Rumored that they are conducting tests for a new weapon..."

"Business man and Philanthropist Wilson Fisk ridiculously accused of conspiracy last Tuesday, accuser's mysteriously withdraw their lawsuit"

"Founder of Wayne Enterprises found not guilty of the murder of Vesper Fairchild, who was Wayne's ex-girlfriend..."

It's been three hours and Peter was ready to collapse. He checked everything from tabloids to stock market. And came up with close to nothing. However, there is something very interesting Peter has dug up. Peter checked the records of a couple of the companies, and came to realize that one specific company had an interesting quality. It seems that a lot of people from the corporation have died through sudden heart attack, stroke, mugging, car accident, or suicide. The death rate was abnormal. Peter decided the only way to see if he was right is to dig a little deeper...deeper than any computer can do. Peter grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the name of the suspicions corporation.

Fisk Corp.

"Peter!" said a female voice from behind. He didn't look. He didn't move. He just sat there as his heart leapt from his chest, and his eyes popping out of his head. He turned around to see the beautiful blonde. "Gwen!" Peter said trying to act surprised. "Hi..." He quickly closed all of the windows on the library computer. "What are you doing here? School ended an hour ago."

"An hour?" asked Gwen in disbelief. "Try three hours!" Peter looked at his cell phone...he has been sitting in this library for 3 hours. "What are you doing? Homework?"

"I...umm..." Peter had to leave quickly. He wasn't quite ready to face Gwen yet. Ever since she saw his bleeding arm, he's been desperately trying to avoid her. Perhaps...she's forgotten? Even if she did, Peter still had to get out of there. "Yeah...homework," the young mutant finally answered. Gwen didn't seem so convinced. "God it's so late. I have to go. I'll see yo-"

"Peter, stop this," Gwen finally said as she pulled up a chair and sat right in front of Peter. "I really need to talk to you." Peter tried to say that he didn't have time, but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. "There's something you should know. After that night...when you met up with me at the coffee shop. When I was walking home...Ryan's friends came up to me." Peter's hear began to race. "They tried to hurt me but...someone stopped them. A man in a costume." Peter's face began to turn red. "This man...was stabbed in his arm...very close to where you were bleeding yesterday..."

Gwen didn't continue. She didn't have to. Peter could see what she was thinking just by looking in her beautiful blue eyes. Peter didn't have to say anything. His stare and silence answered her questions...although she seemed to kind of be in denial. "Gwen," Peter finally spoke. For some reason, he wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her about Spider-Man. He wanted to tell her about mutants. Everything... "I...I," She knew...but she wanted him to say it. She wanted to hear him tell her who he really is. "I...really have to go."

Gwen put on a frown off disappointment. "Of course you do," she said in a monotone. "Go. I won't keep you any longer...Spider-Man."

Peter closed his eyes very tightly...as if Gwen's words physically hurt him. Peter stood up, but didn't leave just yet. He continued to gaze in her eyes, hoping that somehow that could make her feel better. That sad look never left...but Peter did.

llllllllll

9:34 pm

"Peter?" asked Kurt sounding aggravated. "Are you listening?" Peter didn't look at Kurt. Or Rogue. Or Amanda. He just continued lay on the confortable leather couch and stare at the mansion's tall ceiling. He just couldn't stop thinking about Gwen...not in the romantic way. Although it seems to be inevitable, he truly doesn't know for sure if she knows about Spider-Man or not...and the thought of it is eating Peter alive. "Peter!"

"What?" Peter finally snapped out of it. Before Kurt continued, Peter noticed the aggravated faces of Rogue and Amanda. "What?" he asked again.

"Pete, you can't infiltrate the Fisk. Corp building," Kurt finally continued. "You're arm is still wrecked. Besides, even if you were healed, security should be very tight...especially if Fisk actually is this 'Kingpin' guy."

"Kurt, you know I have to do this," answered Peter with a serious face.

"But tonight?" asked Kurt. "Look at you're arm! Look at it!" Peter did as Kurt told him. He almost cringed at the sight of his scarred bicep. "You can't even look at it without being grossed out!"

"Peter, think about this," began Amanda deciding it was her turn to put her two since in. Kurt and Peter both just then noticed the mixture of anger and annoyance in Rogue's face. "We know we can't stop you from growing. But just...not tonight. You're arm will never heal if you don't rest."

"You guys don't understand," began Peter again. "Even if I did decide to skip Fisk. Corp tower, I still have to meet up with Colossus tonight, remember?" Kurt and Amanda both mentally slapped themselves for forgetting. Rogue continued to stare. "I have to go out tonight. You know if I don't show up Colossus will decide not to trust me."

"So get someone else to go." Everyone was shocked to hear that those words came from Rogue's mouth. Her expression changed as well...it now looked like a mild annoyance. "You got Kurt to question what's-his-name, can't you send him to meet tall, dark, and metal?"

"That would kind of be a dangerous move," replied Peter as he scratched his head. "We never actually talked about the rest of the X-Men. To tell you the truth, I don't really know this guy, so I'm not sure if he would be crazy about all...or any X-Men helping. If he did, I'm sure he would have gone to the Professor."

"He does have a point," regarded Amanda, and both Kurt and rogue seemed to agree.

"So what do you suggest we do?" asked Rogue getting up from her comfortable leather chair and began to pace the room. "Are you going to swing there? Mess up you're arm even more? Stall any further Batman-like activity?"

Peter sat up from his laying position on the couch and put his hand on his chin. He gazed around the room thinking. Suddenly, he had an idea. "Kurt!" Peter almost yelled as he quickly turned to his blue friend, who was sitting on the same chair as Amanda. "Could you get me there?"

"Actually, no," replied Kurt regretfully. "Not without passing out when we get there. You said it was on Staten Island? I can barley get Amanda and myself to Manhattan and back with losing little or all energy."

"Shit," whispered Peter. "Well, there's got to be someone in this mansion who can get me there right?"

"Peter are you insane?" Rogue said asked immediately. "You really want to bring another student into this little adventure of yours?"

"Well, Rogue it looks like I don't have a choice, do I?" asked Peter slightly agitated. "One way or another, I'm meeting Colossus. Whether Jean flies me there, or I take the bus, I'm going to be there."

Rogue stood silent and stared at Peter's determined face. His passion and determination to help a man who he barley even knows...it even made her smile a little. "Alright," she finally said. "So do you have some one mind."

"...I do..." said Kurt with his fingers on his head, almost as if he was embarrassed to say it. He took a deep breathe. "Peter...I know someone in the institute who can get you to Staten Island...but..." Kurt was stalling. Amanda, Rogue, and Peter couldn't take the anticipation. "...but...you're not gonna like it..."

llllllllll

"You're out of your fucking minds!" Bobby Drake. It HAD to be Bobby Drake. But Kurt was right though...no one else under the age of 17 would be able to do it without ratting to the professor. "You genius' have any fucking clue how far Staten Island his from here? It could take around an hour and a half."

"Bobby, trust me," began Peter who already had a headache. "I wouldn't have come to you unless I was absolutely positive no one else can do it. Unfortunately, you're my only hope."

"Christ," Bobby laughed. "This shit is crazy. You actually trust this metallic 'Arnold'?

"He's good people," Peter answered Bobby's question. "Trust me. You don't have to talk to him, you don't have to meet him. Just take me there and stay out of sight. Can you do it?"

"Of course I can do it, Spider-balls," replied Bobby in a very cocky manner. "The question is, do I want to do it? You gotta admit, dude. You can probably trust one of Magneto's little bitches. But I'm not too convinced."

Peter just realized this was going to be harder then he thought. Kurt was right...Peter didn't really like the choice of the rude and crude Iceman to help him, but as he stated earlier, he had no choice. But one more thing is for certain...Peter had to do something for him. It was clear Iceman won't help Peter unless he makes it worth while...and Peter knew just what to do. "Okay, Bobby," began Peter. "I'll make you a deal. If you do this for me...I'll...sneak you into...a topless club."

Bobby's attention suddenly focused completely on Peter with his eyes widened. "Topless bar?" he asked. "You mean a strip club? With tits and everything?" Peter knew he was going to regret this...but he nodded anyway. Suddenly, Bobby shot up from his bed and stood at attention. "Ready for duty, General Spider-guy!"

This is going to be one hell of a night.


Along the path where the stream is talking, I breathe the mist and continue stalking. The ice... it whispers in a language of it's own. As a sigh escaped my lips, I feel the light, cold breeze that would steal away the breath and leave me on my own. Somehow I ended up here in between one who is trapped within sin...and has no sign of escape. A man I have never met. Trust does not come out of thin air.

(A/N: I'm getting faster. Ain't you proud? REVIEW!)