Sorry for delays. Christmas and anxiety and bla bla bla. This chapter's a shorty since I wanted to get it out of the way so Peter's undercover segment gets its own focus.

This'll be another Mary Jane chapter, but the good news for those who aren't too fond of those are that this'll be my last one for her for a while. The next few chapters will focus primarily on Noir, Gwen and Cindy along with (hopefully) some actual superhero action stuff for Gwen. She needs more fight scenes considering her power spot.

Anyway, on the job voting front working the theater with MJ has a 1 vote lead over being an assistant PI or being a photographer. I'll leave it up for a chapter or two then I'll take it down and write the job Noir will get.


ADHOCpi: Does anyone else wonder why Spider-Man's even a hero/vigilante?

Reply from VaxHax: Why does anyone decide to put on a costume and go beat up people? Pretty sure it's just a sex thing.

Reply from ADHOCpi: But seriously tho just look at his history. Dude tried to turn himself in the worlds first lizard school shooter, died and then came back with another version's memories. According to the Black Cat Interviews and Spider-Womans own comments he remembered who he was a few months in but he still kept being a hero. Why?

Reply from rightbehindyou: Who knows? Im just glad he didn't decide to go full supervillain.

Reply from PunisherWasRight: Hell why isn't he a supervillain? The guy's entire backstory reeks of it. Bullied nerd who tried to get back at everyone and got killed for it. You'd think he'd hate Spider-Woman not make out with her.

Reply from Skrullsdidnothingwrong: Who the eff knows? Unless he goes to sit down for an interview we can just keep guessing.

Reply from RorschachCompromise: Hell you could say this about any of the 'anti-heroes'. Former mercs, soldiers and agents who decide to run around playing dress up is just weird to me. Guess it makes sense that Spider-Woman and Hawkeye are so normal - being heiresses means they weren't as fucked up.


So...she slept with Felicia again.

...

Fuck.

Mary Jane groaned and stared up at the ceiling, right arm covering her eyes. She shouldn't be here. She should be back home binging on ice cream as a giant fuck you to Prima Donna telling her she needed smaller thighs and trying to pretend she didn't hate herself half the time. It was how she spent most of her days when she wasn't 'out on the town' with Crimson.

Now she was here, in Felicia's bed with cats sprawled all across room and the woman herself nonchalantly sitting next to her. Mary Jane shifted her am and peeked at the bed's other occupant. Felicia sat leisurely, covered by the fancy negligee she'd just slipped into. Black silk because of course it was. Only the best for Felicia Hardy, popstar vigilante police consultant.

She could blame the wine they drank or the fact that she was pent up, but that was all bullshit. As much as Mary Jane hated to admit it she...trusted Felicia. She didn't love her - and most days she couldn't even say she liked her - but the help she gave her last year was hard to forget. Her, Peter, Gayle and Norah were the only reason she hadn't gone insane those first few days.

On the bright side Crimson was 'sleeping' now. She didn't needs it voice in her head.

Mary Jane grabbed one of the discarded shirts and put it on lethargically. She didn't have anything to hide; she just didn't like those cats staring at her. Apart from Murderface she always found them creepy, "Leaving already?" Felicia asked, turning slightly to look back at her. Mary Jane didn't reply and the silver-blonde shrugged and got a packet of cigarettes from the nearby drawer.

The smell of nicotine filled the air and Mary Jane scrunched her nose. She'd smelled worse, but compared to the perfume it felt like a harsh slap to the face, "...Thought you wouldn't take that stuff," she said after putting on her shorts. Felicia raised a brow at her, "You're a singer, you know what that stuff does to you."

"I hardly smoke like a chimney the way Spider does. An occasional reward is fine. The last time I indulged was over a year ago when Spider and I...talked."

"You could just say you fucked him. No need to be coy around me; I'm not Gwen." Gwen probably didn't know the two of them slept together and Mary Jane was gonna keep it that way. Last thing Peter needed was more paranoid looks, "Still not a good idea to take that, though. Ever heard of lung cancer?"

Felicia laughed, soft and lyrical. Mary Jane felt envious at how automatic it was for her, "Yes. Between the thieving, fighting and everything else I get involved in I'm sure it'll be lung cancer that finally does me in." And then, just to prove a point, she inhaled and blew out a thick plume of rich smoke, "By the time I'm old enough to get it I'd consider it long overdue."

"That's what my uncle Lou thought too whenever Aunt Joanna told him to quit the habit. You can guess what happened to him."

"To be frank, Jane, I don't expect to live long enough for that to be an issue," Felicia said, "I don't have any illusions of starting a family, living to old age or any of that suburban fantasy. Long, far off risks aren't really a factor for me."

"That's grim..."

"I think you mean realistic. Let's face it, Jane, the lives we lead aren't exactly risk-free. Powers or no eventually our luck runs out and I've got no illusions otherwise. Bullseye was proof of that."

"...Didn't he come back to life?"

"As some kind of twisted revenant even more insane than he was previously, you mean? That's not much better than death." Mary Jane hummed. She had a point there, "Still, you'd best not dwell on it. You could die today or you could die in 50 years. I say live in the present."

"That's a pretty long winded way to say why you smoke cigs."

"You were the one who asked." Felicia smirked and offered her the packet, "Want one?"

"Tried it before. Wasn't my thing." Crimson wasn't a fan of the stuff either. One of the few things they agreed on, "Besides I think I'm pushing my luck already with all that wine I drank." She still remembered the taste of it on her tongue. Felicia didn't skimp on her alcohol, that's for sure, "And I really should be going. Don't wanna overstay my welcome..."

"Nonsense. I rarely have visitors." She gestured to the room. The apartment was smaller than the giant penthouse she had a year ago. Nothing like apartment she, Gwen and Peter shared, but it was definitely less fancy than before. View wasn't as good either, "I think they're getting lonely here since I'm away so often." Those creepy freaking cats were still staring at her.

"If only people knew Felicia Hardy, vigilante popstar, was really just a crazy cat lady."

"And Spider-Woman is the drummer of a low tier band while Scarlet Spider is the mediocre singer of said band. The reality often disappoints, hm?" Mary Jane glared while Felicia just smiled coyly, "Speaking of bands, I'll be doing a concert in a week's time and I'm missing an opening act. Would the Mary Janes be interested?"

"Really don't need a pity gig." Actually they did, but hell if she'd let her know that. She tried to advertise the band ever since they started playing again but the Spider-Woman hype had officially died down. The best they could do nowadays was a night gig at some old family restaurant trying to stay hip. Half of them even offered to pay!

"No pity. Despite our disagreements I'm not ashamed to admit your music is...acceptable." Mary Jane rolled her eyes, "So what do you say?"

"Depends. We gonna get attacked by ninjas again?" Ninjas that Felicia deliberately lured there, mind you. She could be a bitch at the best of times.

"Doubtful. I haven't joined in Spider's new crusade."

"Yeah...why didn't you?"

"Because his war isn't mine. I joined him to get revenge on Murdock, and I didn't even get that." The last words were said in a bitter whisper, "I will admit that helping him against the Carnage Killer and those madmen with the pumpkin masks didn't align with that, but they were an active threat. A bunch of corrupt old men and women are none of my concern."

"So much for the Defenders, I guess."

"Partnerships are much easier than groups. You would know, wouldn't you?"

...She knew. Sighing, Mary Jane swung her legs over the edge and sat next to Felicia. The older woman didn't resist when she grabbed the cigarette from her hand and took a slow inhale, "...Nope, doesn't help." She exhaled a smoky breath. She idly noted there was some of Felicia's lipstick at the tip, "Never going to get why you and Tiger are into this."

"It's an acquired taste, I suppose. It gets better with time." Felicia took it back and inhaled. Somehow she made it look graceful, "And you're changing the subject." She offered her the cigarette again.

Mary Jane took it back and reluctantly inhaled, "Don't really know what to say." She coughed slightly and tried again, "I teamed up with the guy that murdered your dad. Or was possessed by the demon who murdered your dad. Depends on what you think." She handed it back, "How'd you even find out about it? Cindy told you?"

"An explanation wouldn't be amiss. I'll admit I'm curious on what started this partnership. And yes, she did. Admittedly she just let it slip due to her frustration. I expect the only reason she did so is because she knows I won't tell Spider and Stacy."

"That's a relief, I guess." Mary Jane pursed her lips and gave it back, "As for this 'partnership'...wasn't like I went looking for him. Ran into him when he was getting the crap kicked out of him by a couple of Russians. And you think 'he deserves it' and sure I can see that but he was trying to save a kid they kidnapped so I figured helping him out wasn't the worse thing I could do."

"And after?"

"Same target. Went after the guy who sold his daughter to that monster Arcade and apparently he was doing the same thing. After that he got a list of people connected to other people that the world could do without."

"I had a hunch that you were responsible for that string of serial killings." Mary Jane winced. Hearing it from someone else felt like a punch in the face, "I'm surprised Stacy hasn't stopped you before now, though she's always been biased to her friends. And those she sleeps with." Mary Jane took the offered cigarette and inhaled spitefully, "How is Spider, by the by?"

"Turned into a 7 year old and went undercover in some kind of cult."

Felicia didn't look surprised at all, "Of course he has." She stared at the cigarette, "Acquired a taste for it yet?"

"Not really." She coughed out smoke and handed it back to her, "...I admit, I thought you'd be more upset about it."

"You're not my pet, Jane. I can't control who you spend your time with. I'm not like Spider-Woman." Mary Jane's eyes narrowed at the implication, "That's not to say I'm happy about it, of course, but I've made my share of compromises." And then she smiled. Not good, "That said I do have an alternative."

"This should be good..."

"Partner up with me instead."

Mary Jane just stared blankly, waiting for the punchline. It didn't come, "...Sorry, I must've misheard that. What?"

"I'll be your partner instead," she repeated casually, "I doubt you have any attachment to that diable and it's not as if I don't have experience in vigilante work."

"This isn't exactly beating up muggers and leaving them for the police..."

"You're a killer." The way she said it, blunt and without a hint of judgement, made her feel conflicted, "But so what? Spider's a killer and so is Baumgartner. Different shades but in the end the result is the same. I fought alongside Castle, Moon Knight and that psychopath Bullseye. I'm sure I can do the same for the oh so great Scarlet Spider."

"Why are you doing this? Just because you hate Murdock?"

"Maybe I secretly care about you." Felicia smirked and offered her the cigarette again. Mary Jane took it numbly, "It couldn't have been easy living with that thing for a year. Stacy would judge you while Murdock would gleefully push you farther and farther. I like to think I'm a better option."

"I..."

Her phone rang. Mary Jane scanned through the message and her mouth went dry, the cigarette falling from between her fingers, "What's wrong?" Felicia asked.

"Lana got attacked. She's at the hospital now, critical condition." She licked her suddenly dry lips. She wasn't the younger girl's best friend or anything but she liked her well enough, "Gwen and Cindy are going over there. I should...probably go too."

"I'll join you then. Suppose I should visit my old teammate."

They swung over to the hospital with nothing but the wind for company. Even now, a year later, Mary Jane was impressed at how easily the former cat burglar kept up with her. Murdock had super senses and ninja training. Felicia was self taught and just as confident. She wished she could be like that.

Mary Jane landed on a nearby alleyway and ran a hand through her long, red hair. Most hospitals nowadays were built to handle Initiative Heroes. Problem was they weren't Initiative Heroes, "I like the hair," Felicia hummed behind her, "It's a good look on you."

"Just make sure not to touch. Crimson gets testy." Mary Jane grinned back weakly and made her way inside. The receptionist went bug eyed when she saw the two of them in full costume behind her but still managed to direct her to Lana's room.

The patients and some of the staff stared at them as they walked the halls. Most of them were probably used to superheroes dropping in (charity visits were at an all time high now) but they weren't the type to make visits. Hell, as far as the world knew Scarlet Spider was just another vigilante. Police could arrest her even without the serial killer thing.

The inside of the room was packed. Lana's friends, a woman who she assumed was her mom. Gwen and Cindy were outside, both of them still in full costume. Even through the costume she could tell Gwen was pissed, her suit thrumming and vibrating, while Cindy paced and muttered with narrowed eyes. They looked like they wanted to murder someone.

Gwen eventually noticed her arrival and calmed down, "Ma- Scarlet. Glad you're here." She looked past her to Felicia, "Didn't expect to see you, Black Cat."

"I wanted to check in on my old teammate. How is she?"

"Not good," Cindy muttered, "That crazy bastard Bullseye attacked the F.E.A.S.T shelter and hit her with that old knife Peter had. Whatever's in that thing the stab in he gut won't heal. Any time they try to stitch it the thread melts and she just bleeds more and more." She shut her eyes tightly, "They can't even give her a blood transfusion cause she doesn't have blood! All we can do is try to stop the bleeding."

"Hellfire then." Felicia scowled lightly, "If I'm remembering correctly wounds of that kind won't heal, not without the intervention of that 'chi' nonsense."

"I know that! But we don't have any chi here!" Cindy snapped, "The only one I know who even has a guess of what that stuff is is Pete and he's off playing James Bond kiddie edition!"

"Could we find Iron Fist and any of those other ninjas he hangs around with?" Mary Jane asked.

"We don't have time for that. Lana's bleeding out in there and I'm not sure how much longer we can stall it." Gwen brought a hand through her face and breathed in deeply, "Cindy called up some of her old S.H.I.E.L.D contacts. No dice. Wherever the ninja fanclub is we can't get to them."

And then it hit her: she knew someone else who could help. Mary Jane's right hand drifted towards the 'pocket' and the phone contained within. Felicia and Cindy seemed to realize what she was thinking and both stared at her, the former in curiosity and the latter with a pleading desperation. Gwen just looked at the three of them in confusion. She didn't know.

Taking a deep breath, the masked redhead pulled out her phone and hit the number on her contact list. He answered after the second ring, "Oh? I expected you to wait at least a few days before contacting me again-"

"Saint Mercy's hospital. Come here quick, and don't bother changing out of your costume."

"This is a rather abrupt invitation. I'm sad to say that I must refuse. I'm rather busy at the-"

"Lana just got attacked by your old pal Bullseye and she's got a gut stab that won't heal. Whatever the hell you're doing with Spider-Man can wait when his sister's not dying." No response, "Get over here. Now."

"...I'm assuming this means the cat's out of the bag?"

"Guess so."

She cut the call and resisted the urge to smash her phone into the nearby wall. Cindy's face slackened in slight relief while Felicia raised a brow. Gwen just looked at her, "...Who was that?" She already had her suspicions. That Bullseye guy didn't have many 'old pals' who could use the magic glowy stuff.

"You'll see soon enough." She pocketed the phone, "Are you sure it's safe for us to be here...?" Mary Jane gestured to some of the milling nurses and patients. All of them kept their distance, but she saw a few of the nurses sneaking photos from their phones.

"Probably safest if we stay here, honestly." Cindy looked inside the room, "Those ninja psychos'll think twice attacking this place now that a couple of Avengers are around. I'm more worried about Felicia. You sure this guy won't attack you too?"

"Doubtful. I'm guessing Striker was attacked and left like this because that psychopath wanted to send a message to Spider. Considering the two of us weren't particularly close I doubt I'll be a prime target."

"You better watch your back anyway. I don't wanna see another friend at the hospital."

"I didn't realize you cared so much about me." Felicia smirked cockily, though Mary Jane could see the appreciation she tried to hide. She looked to Gwen. "I'm surprised Spider isn't here. What was that Spinerette said about him playing the spy?"

"He's-"

"Best we not divulge too much information, Spider-Woman." Mary Jane turned to the new voice and grimaced when she saw the Devil of Hell's Kitchen in all his glory walking down the hallway. Even with the hallway full of Costumes he stuck out like a sore thumb. She wouldn't have been surprised if he gave a couple of people heart attacks, "Wouldn't want his work to go to waste, would we?"

The eyes of Gwen's masks widened, "What are you..." She looked between him and Mary Jane. Mary Jane didn't - couldn't - look her in the eye, "How does she-"

"I believe we'll have time for 20 questions later. Right now Ms. Baumgartner is the priority." He tilted his head slightly towards the room, "Hmm...odd. Her heartbeat is irregular. Another change caused by her second exposure, I assume."

"Can you help her or not?" Cindy asked snappily.

"Perhaps." Without any more fanfare he slipped past them and strode into the room like he owned the place. Two of Lana's friends and her mom immediately moved to block him before Cindy followed and explained. Mary Jane turned around and stared at the wall, pointedly refusing to acknowledge Gwen staring at her back. Cat really was out of the bag now.

"Scarlet." Gwen said. Mary Jane didn't look at her, "Scarlet, you have to-" Gwen grabbed her shoulder. She shrugged her off and moved to slip past when Gwen locked her wrist in a vice grip, "God damn it, look at me!"

Mary Jane slowly turned to face her and it took everything she had not to wrench her arm out of her grip. Even through the mask she could see the surprise and hurt on Gwen's face.

"...Why do you have his number?" Gwen asked, so soft that she almost didn't hear it despite how close they were.

"Long story."

"Don't give me that. You owe me more."

"I-"

The door slid open and Murdock stepped out with Cindy in tow. If the other Spider saw the awkward situation she didn't comment on it, "I've done as much as I can." Murdock said.

"So she's alright now?" Cindy asked.

"Yes and no. I've stopped the bleeding and she's currently stable, but the wound itself won't heal. I'm afraid healing of that nature is beyond me."

"I assumed that it was one of the few things you were good for," Felicia said, arms crossed and giving him an unimpressed look.

"Perhaps if Ms. Baumgartner hadn't been so altered. Chi was never intended for use with the Gifted in mind, and Ms. Baumgartner is even more changed than her peers. Even Spider-Woman has blood, as tainted by radiation as it is." The barb made Gwen's grip loose enough for Mary Jane to slip her arm out. Gwen didn't notice, "It's doubtful anyone but Ms. Durand would be able to help her. She's the only one with prior experience dealing so intimately with the Gifted."

"What about Iron Fist?" Cindy asked.

"I'm afraid he has even less experience than me in healing the Gifted. And regardless he's preoccupied with another task that requires his full attention. I myself had to leave Mr. Parker to his circumstances due to Scarlet Spider's plea."

The sudden reminder of Peter's non-presence made the eyes of Gwen's mask twitch, "How...How is he?"

Murdock smiled, "He was captured and they're currently beating him to a pulp." Gwen's mask started moving and she saw the outline of a mouth forming, "I would've rescued him, of course, but Scarlet Spider insisted that I come here and so I left him to his fate. By the time I was leaving they were just about to take one of his eyes-"

Gwen lashed out to hit him square in the jaw. It would've hit if Mary Jane hadn't grabbed her wrist, the fist just an inch away from making contact. Murdock hadn't moved at all, "He's just messing with you." She tried to ignore the way her hand ached from the force of the grab. Just another reminder that Gwen was stronger than her, "I doubt he'd come here if he really was in danger."

"Fine, you caught me." The smug bastard put his hands up lightly, "He's still continuing with his own task. I left Moon Knight to babysit him."

"Just can't stop being an asshole for even a second, can you?" Mary Jane snarled.

"We find our fun where we can." He hummed, "Speaking of. Spider-Woman, I understand you wish to discuss the relationship between Scarlet Spider and I? If so then I think it's best we go somewhere more private."

The three of them made they way to the roof while Cindy and Felicia stayed behind to make sure no one was following them. Gwen pushed the door open so hard Mary Jane was surprised it didn't fall off its hinges, "There's no one else around, at least far as I can 'see'," Murdock said, "Regardless I think it's best if we make this brief. I do have my own work to get back to-"

"How do you two know each other?"

"That's a funny story-"

"Shut. Up." The mask peeled back to show Gwen's full glare. Her eyes were black and twisted while her grit teeth were unnaturally sharp. She didn't even realize she'd shown her face, "Don't talk to me or I swear to God I'll chuck you off this roof and toss what's left of you into the deepest, darkest hole I can find, damn whatever deal Peter made."

"Gwen-"

"Why?" She turned to her now and Mary Jane shrunk back, "Just...why? It's bad enough that Peter got himself involved with this...piece of shit, but now you too?! Why?! Did everyone forget what he did last year?! He's a murderer! The people he's killed could fill entire graveyards! And now he's just running around laughing it up with two of the people I care about the most?! What the fuck!"

Graveyards...didn't the same apply to her? How many innocent people did Crimson and that bastard Kasady kill?

"Just let me-"

"Tell me this is the first time you've met him. Tell me that he just slipped his number on your phone or something or- or that he forced you into something. Just tell me that."

"I..." Mary Jane peeled back her own mask and looked down at the ground, "I've been going out at night doing...you know." Killing people, "I found him getting the hell kicked out of him by a couple of Russian gangsters."

"Hey now, I think I handled myself well enough," Murdock said in mock offense.

"Believe it or not this guy was trying to save a kid. And after that..." Mary Jane gave her the same explanation Felicia got earlier. Gwen kept quiet and listened. She didn't need to say anything - the judgement in her eyes was enough. Gwen thought she was getting to her, that maybe she could be a hero instead of just being another killer. She was hurt, betrayed...disappointed.

Mary Jane hated it.

"MJ-"

"Don't look at me like that." The distortion in her voice surprised even her, "What hell did you want me to do? Leave that kid to get kidnapped by those bastards? Let that piece of human garbage get away with selling his daughter for drug money? You may not like it, Gwen, but these 'people' can't just be punched and put into a jail cell. Isn't that why you let Peter off?"

"That's..."

"Working with Murdock was a mistake-"

"Ouch."

"-But what else was I supposed to do? He was the only one who had information. You know the last guy we went after? He was selling a 9 year old girl to a cop and bragging about how she hadn't even had her period yet! Do how know how...disgusting that was? Every person on that damn list is someone the world can do better without and I don't feel guilty for it!"

The last words, screamed without a hint of restraint, felt both comforting and damning. At the end of the day that was what she was, wasn't she? A killer who went after people worse than herself because it made it easier not to feel sick when she looked at her reflection. She'd say she felt guilty, that she only kept going because of the deal with Crimson nothing else, but that wasn't the whole truth.

At the end of the day she felt good when she killed those monsters. Saving their victims before they could die, knowing that they couldn't do it again or get away with what they did, it was the same way Gwen felt when she stopped the next villain in a costume and got cheered on by the people she saved. It was twisted and wrong and Mary Jane didn't care.

'You've finally stopped lying to yourself. Good.'

"MJ..." Gwen looked like she wanted to say something but the words couldn't come.

"I'm sorry. I know you wanted me to be a hero like you, but I just...I can't. Tiger can't live in a world where monsters get away with what they've done and neither can I. If you hate me for that then there's nothing I can say that'll change your mind."

"I could never hate you." Despite everything the declaration sounded firm, "I just...there has to be a better way than going out at night and partnering up with him, of all people." She turned to glare at Murdock. In all the rush Mary Jane had almost forgotten he was there, "You and Peter both kill people, I can live with that, just...let's try to find another way." She offered her a hand.

"I don't think I can, Gwen..."

She put the mask back on and swung away. Gwen mercifully didn't follow after her and soon enough Mary Jane found herself sitting on top of a skyscraper. She took off the mask and tossed it beside her before she hugged her knees close and pressed her face against her legs. She'd finally admitted it. All those months saying Crimson was responsible, that she wouldn't do this if she wasn't forced, gone. It was both of them.

'That went well.'

'...How long have you been awake?'

'I never truly sleep. You know that.' It jutted out of her shoulder and twisted till they were face to face, "Doesn't it feel good to be honest with yourself?' The boytoy accepts what he is and so should you."

"Not sure if good's how I'd describe it..." If it were any other situation she would've laughed. This was probably the least hostile conversation they'd had ever since they were stuck together, "Well, I just told my best friend that I'm a serial killer and I didn't even pretend to feel bad about it."

'I'm proud of you.'

"Ah, shut up..." She let her knees fall and looked up at the night sky. Barely any stars as always. It was hard to admit, but it did feel good. Like a weight was finally taken off her shoulders, "I dunno what I'm going to do now."

"You still have that list."

"Yeah...but we need to establish ground rules." Crimson growled and she batted its head in annoyance, "Just because I've stopped lying to myself doesn't mean that everything was on me. For starters, all that horror movie slasher shit? None of that. If we're going to do this then we're going to do it clean. No stabbing a guy and watching him bleed out."

"What if he really deserves it?"

"I'll be the judge of that. And no more breaking the rules either. One chance for them to go to jail and that's that."

"You remember that you were the one who broke that rule for the little girl's progenitor?"

"Doesn't stop you from trying to break my rules every other time." God, what the hell even was this? Was she seriously trying to bargain with the mad science (not) parasite on how to humanely murder people? "...You know how fucked up this is, right? If people ever found out what we were doing..."

"Oh please. Half of this toilet bowl of a city loves the boytoy and his other lackeys and they've killed far more than us. If you're really worried just find some other meat in a costume and tie him up for the police. I'm sure that will make them forgive whatever else you do."

"How sad is it that I can't even say you're wrong?" She smiled wryly and leaned back, resting her head on the building's slanted wall, "...I can't stay in the apartment now. Can't look Gwen in the face, not yet."

"You could stay with the one who has plenty of cats. They could even be good snacks-"

"I am not eating a cat. The raw meat's bad enough."

"You eat cows and pigs but draw the line at cats and humans? I'll never understand you humans. Always so picky and needy."

"And that's why I'm the one making the rules." She pinched the bridge of her nose, "No, I'll just...I'll crash with Norah for a few days or something. Then maybe if I'm lucky when I talk to Gwen again she'll still consider me a friend."

Crimson said nothing and just shrunk back into her shoulder, leaving her to her own thoughts. The realization of her acceptance still left her torn. She was a monster who went after worse monsters and she was...well, not happy, but she could live with it. It was better than how she'd felt all year.


Strelok: So I heard that Bullseye and a bunch of homicidal bums were the ones who attacked the F.E.A.S.T center.

Reply from Copycattraditore: Guess he and Spider-Man really did have a falling out.

Reply from tosufferistowin: TBF what did yall expect? When you ally with psychotic murderers you really can't be surprised when they end up being psychotic murderers.

Reply from OneLessDay: Update on the Striker situation. Mom's a nurse at the hospital and she said that a bunch of heroes came to visit her. Spider-Woman, Spinerette, Scarlet Spider, Black Cat and even Daredevil!

Reply from Copycattraditore: Isn't telling you that against hospital rules or something?

Reply from tosufferistowin: Who cares? Spill the deets!

Reply from OneLessDay: She said she couldn't get too close but Scarlet Spider and Spider-Woman were definitely arguing about something. Spider-Woman almost punched Daredevil in the face before Scarlet Spider stopped her and then they went off to the roof. Couldn't follow cause Spinerette and Black Cat blocked everyone.

Reply from tosufferistowin: I did hear a rumor that Spider-Man was cheating on Spider-Woman with Scarlet Spider, that might be why they argued.

Reply from Strelok: Then why'd she try to punch Daredevil in the face? I seriously doubt it has anything to do with S-M. Looks like Spider-Woman doesn't like Daredevil for some reason. Wonder why?


Mary Jane's fully accepted being an anti-hero...probably not a good thing. Oh well, at least this means future appearances will have her far less angsty and self-loathing so maybe we can get more of that confident, somewhat cocky Mary Jane from Volume 1 before she got infected. Hopefully this strikes a good enough balancing point for those who got tired of her constant woe is me narration.

And like I said above the next chapter will focus solely on Noir's spywork so hopefully we can get more a flow going here. Also means more violence since Hand ninjas are disposable fodder.

Questions:

1. I asked before what segments you'd like to see more of but how about the opposite: what segments do you guys wanna see less of? Judging by reviews I'm guessing MJ segments but I'm still not sure.

2. On a scale of 1-10, how important are fight and action segments to you guys? I'm not much a fan of them myself but given that this is a Superhero story I understand that it could be a main draw for at least some readers.

Review Answers:

Titan616 - Considering how this chapter started I don't think diplomacy completely failed :P As for Felicia, she was pretty chill about the partnership. For the most she has a more live and let live attitude compared to Gwen, as she herself points out.

G. Ward - Mary is Mary McPherran, better known as Titania. In canon she's an enemy of She-Hulk but here I made her MJ's contemporary to fit the theme.