Woof, not much response in the last chapter. Can't tell if it's cause we're near Christmas, people really don't like Mary Jane chapters or both. Either way hopefully this one gets more responses now that we've returned to Noir.

Anyway, I checked out the new Harley Quinn cartoon and it's giving me some ideas for some more worldbuilding chapters with the Initiative and normalization of heroes and villains. Having Gwen or Peter or Mary Jane trying to deal with villains who wanna be their nemesis or Peter clashing with certain Initiative groups who consider him a criminal could be fun to write.


They'd settled into a routine now. A shared bath, breakfast in the morning, training of some kind for the next few hours, lunch, meditation then dinner. There was no deviation, no change from the rules. The food was always the same: tasteless meat in the mornings, bread and bland soup at lunch and more of the meat come dinnertime. Always the same portions, always the same seats with their 'overseers' watching over them.

The training wasn't much better. Learning to hit or how to take a hit. They alternated every day. Hitting wooden dummies with swords or their fists and the next day letting the person next to them wail on them till they gave up. The ones who lasted the longest got a pat on the head, the ones who gave up first didn't get food for the rest of the day. Not wanting to starve to death was a hell of a motivation.

Peter looked down at his bruised knuckles. He was lucky - powers meant he just had a few purple spots he could ignore. Some of the unluckier ones looked like they desperately needed to go to the hospital.

He scanned the room quickly. It'd been a little over a week since he was taken here and seeing the Hand's 'family bonding' first hand just made it clearer and clearer that the Beast wasn't the only monster. Bakuto and that woman, whatever it was they did it made these kids pliable. All of them wanted to please their new 'family' and those that resisted...they disappeared in the night and no one asked.

"Reilly, are you okay?" Peter looked up and smiled forcefully when he saw Hobie. Kid was sweet and he fell into the family talk quicker than most. That's what useless parents got you, he guessed.

"Y-Yeah, I'm okay." He didn't say anything about how swollen the other boy's right eye was. He really needed to get them out of her, "I'm just...Hobie, are you happy here?"

"Yep! Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well...your eye-"

"It's nothing," he interrupted forcefully, "Just...I'm happy here. Mr. Bakuto treats us like family and Ms. Blossom is really nice!" Ms. Blossom again. Cherry Blossom, real name unknown cause he was sure no one would actually call their kid that. She was the only reason (aside from fear of being killed) these kids hadn't left the first chance they had.

"If you say so..."

"What about you? Aren't you happy here?" There was something insistent in the way he asked.

"Of course I'm-"

'It'll be best if you indicate dissatisfaction,' Moon Knight suddenly chimed in, 'It is the best way we can ensure progress.'

"I'm really missing my family." Moon Knight better have the right idea... "M-My dad was really bad to me but my sister and mom always tried to help! I really wanna see them again..."

"O-Oh..." Hobie looked down and walk away. He'd tell one of the 'overseers' that he was having second thoughts and then the next night he'd be taken to where the rest of the 'rebellious' kids were. Shaking his head, he lied back down on the bed and put the covers over his entire body. He'd managed to hide the makeshift shiv on him for now. He got the feeling he'd be using it soon.

And just as it always did the lights went out. Peter waited for at least an hour before stuffing his pillows under the covers and disappearing into smoke. There were cameras in the room, but they had to turn sometime. He waited till it shifted to the right side then let himself fall quietly to the floor and rush under the camera's line of sight. Every security system had a blind spot.

He pressed himself against the wall underneath the camera and appeared again. One of the goons would come in to check in a couple of minutes and he'd have to slip by. He wasn't sure if even opening the door by himself would trigger some kind of alarm, but he wasn't going to test it.

He disappeared again when he heard footsteps. The goon walked in for his daily route and Peter slipped past him before the door closed. It'd be another couple of hours before the next check so he had to make this quick. He made his way to the nearby storage room (the door was always ajar, so it was easy to get in) and hid behind one of the boxes before reappearing again. All this running and hiding was getting on his nerves.

"Moon Knight, you there?"

"Update."

"This is gonna be the last time I can go out. Better be something good."

"Yes. The tracers you've placed around the area have given us a clearer picture of the building. Go to the hallway on your right and then follow my directions."

"Where are you leading me?"

"If I'm right then we can find the information on where the rest of the conversion centers are. After this the Angeltouched and the Chaste can handle the rest."

"Like they 'handled' this war before we got involved? No thanks. I'll be there too." He disappeared again and ran down the length of the hall, making sure to reappear only when he was under a camera's blind spot. 7 days. 7 days of playing the hapless child all for this. He was going to burn this place to the ground when he was done and he'd make sure Bakuto and that siren he had wouldn't live through the night.

Peter stopped at the designated door and twisted the knob. Locked, as expected, "Really wish I took some of those Dyne particles when I had the chance..." According to Moon Knight he'd need a harness and a way to use both those and the counter particles. The alternative was being stuck at an inch tall and that was the last thing he or Gwen needed right now.

"Can't pick the lock here. Gonna trip an alarm if I just kick the door down."

"You will not need to. You will let yourself be captured afterwards so there is no need to be subtle now."

"...You better explain that part."

"Bakuto leaves frequently in order to gather more 'recruits'. If they find someone - even a child - gathering information then he will be forced to return. That is when we can kill him."

"Still not selling me on this plan. You got any idea what they'll do when they catch me?"

"It is very likely they will torture you and attempt to know who sent you. You will not die, at least not until they get the information they require." The completely neutral way he said it just ticked him off even more, "You simply need to last until Bakuto arrives. After that we will extract you. I suggest putting up a fight when they capture you. It will make them more curious of your origins."

"You know, sometimes I ask myself why I hate you all. Then I remember." He sighed and extracted the shiv, "You better not leave me here or I swear I'll dig myself up out of the grave again and make sure you don't come back."

"Noted. Now, the information."

Peter bit back another curse and slipped the shiv between the door and the wall. A few shimmies and a tug later and the door swung open with a loud creak, "They probably heard that..." He ran inside and started scouring the cabinets, "Right, I have a list of names here."

"Read them out."

"Safehouse 1's in Grand Central avenue at the Jefferson building. Safehouse 2 at Central Park close to Belvediere castle. Safehouse 3..." He read them as fast he could. There were at least two dozen safehouses with even more in the next pages. How many kids did they take every night, he wondered. How many did they break till there was nothing left but puppets for them to throw away?

How many of them could they save before it was too late?

He finished up the last safehouse by the time he heard footsteps, "The Chaste will use the information wisely. When they capture you do not use your powers. If they assume you to be a young Chaste agent then they will underestimate you."

"Hating this plan the more I hear about it."

Two goons kicked the door down and started shouting at him. Get down on his knees and don't struggle, all that usual stuff. A few more goons came from behind them with batons and syringes. All this just for a kid. The Hand really took quantity over quality to the extreme.

The closest goon grabbed his arm and Peter struck. He stabbed the shiv clean through his neck. Blood spurted out, covering his face and the white outfit in blood, "What-" The next thug got the shiv through the eye and fell on his back. Peter stabbed him two more times for good measure then slunk back, holding onto the bloodied metal like his life depended on it.

"He's feral. Take him down!"

He ducked the first swing of the nightstick and stabbed the attacker in the gut again and again. His spider-sense blared and he forced himself to stay still so they could hit him in the back of the head. Peter screamed and fell on his side as the rest of the goons continued to wail on him. He was gonna get one of those sticks and shove it down Moon Knight's throat when he got out of here.

Eventually the beatings stopped and one of the goons with syringes came closer. Peter made a show of struggling and then falling limp when the needle pierced skin. Tranquilizer, same kind they dosed the kids with a week ago. He kept his eyes shut as they carried him down to the basement. Same place they put the 'unruly' kids who didn't follow the Hand's line of bullshit.

They shoved him into a straightjacket before dumping him into a cell. Peter waited a few minutes then opened his eyes, growling and struggling against the restraints like the kid they thought he was.

The place was the opposite of the rooms. Dark and dank with metal bars to keep him trapped. He stalked closer to the rusted metal and kicked it experimentally. Could probably break it down if he had enough time, "D-Don't do that!" He turned to the new (female) voice and growled again when he saw the cell next to him filled to the brim with all the 'rebels'.

They looked horrible. Pale, clammy skin, dark bags under their eyes and obvious signs of malnourishment, their faces were bruised and cut and covered in dried blood. This was the stick - beating and breaking them down till even the the thought of being a puppet felt like salvation.

"...Are you all okay?"

"You shouldn't do that." She repeated. Peter recognized her; she was one of the first ones to try and leave. She looked barely a year past 12, "They...if we move around and make noise they come down and beat us. They stay happy if we're quiet."

"I bet..." He looked past her to the other occupants of the cell. None of them spoke, all too scared. They were tucked into their own corners and trying to shrink in on themselves. Apparently he was special enough to get his own personal cell. And straightjacket, "...I'll get you all out of here."

She tried to laugh. It sounded more like a cry, "How?! You're just a kid! All of us are! We can't get out..." She was crying in full now. He wanted to tell her - tell all of them - that it'd be alright. But then, the voice at the back of his head whispered, what's waiting for them when they get out? A life on the streets or being put back into the abusive holes they crawled out of? Was it really that much better than this?

His cynical musings were cut off when the door leading out suddenly opened and the siren stepped inside flanked by two goons. The kids in the cell whimpered and shrunk back but she paid them no mind - all her attention was on him, "Well now, isn't this this interesting..." Her smile was wide and ugly. Peter sneered and spat blood on her immaculate dress, "So rude. Just what I'd expect from one of their little soldiers."

"I'm going to kill you."

"So brave, so dumb." She tapped a remote on her hand. His spider-sense blared just before a surge of electricity ran through him and he was forced to the floor, "I'd hoped you'd be more cooperative, but the way they brainwash their pawns is so uncouth. Still, you're the youngest 'soldier' I've seen here. You should still be in training, little boy. The Chaste were foolish to send you alone."

Her two goons dragged him out to another room. Peter grunted as he was tossed haphazardly into the nearby chair and strapped down with belts by his legs and neck, "I won't talk..." He coughed out blood (another thing he'd pay Spector back for) looked up at her defiantly. The room reeked of blood and vomit and looked straight out of one of Cindy's horror movies. Off to the side he saw well-kept, bloodsoaked tools that clearly saw a lot of use.

"All of you blind followers always think you're so brave." She nodded to the goon at her side and he smacked Peter hard on his right cheek. His coughing worsened and blood leaked down the side of his mouth, "Do you think we'll go easy on you because you're a child? Oh no. We're going to get everything we need from you. The only choice you have is how easy you'll make it for yourself."

"I'm not scared of you..." Where the hell was Bakuto? An update from Moon Knight would've helped.

"Oh no, I don't need you to be scared. I just need you to understand." She nodded and the next punch went straight to his gut. Even with his powers it took everything he had not to vomit out what meager food he had, "I'm going to ask you some questions and you'll answer them. I suggest you be honest."

"..."

"The Chaste sent you here alone. Why?"

"..."

This time it was a knife cutting through his forehead. Peter grit his teeth to keep from screaming and ignored the warm blood that trickled down his face, "Resilient, aren't you?" She smirked and bent down in front of him, just mockingly out of reach, "Did you come here to rescue the children? Steal the files and hope that the rest of your 'army' could gather more recruits from us?"

He spat in her face. Just for a second her face knotted in rage before settling back into eerie calm. The siren stood back up to her full height and wiped the blood from her face, "You know this would be much easier for us both if you just cooperated. Do you think I enjoy this? Oh no. Torture's so crude, so base. I much prefer a dialogue. Blood is distasteful."

Peter was about to snarl something back when her face changed. Gwen stood in front of him now, mouth raised in that goofy smile of hers. It didn't belong there, "Come on now, let's not drag this out." She cupped his right cheek and he almost leaned into it on instinct. He felt something tugging at the back of his mind, whispering, urging, begging him to trust her, telling him that it'd be all okay once he gave in.

"I..."

"Just tell me what I want and this can all end." God, she even just like her too. What was Gwen doing now? Ever since he got turned into a damned kid the entire week had been an absolute pit.

"Your heart rate is erratic. Bakuto is near, do not give in." Moon Knight said neutrally.

"I hate you..." he muttered, loud enough for both Moon Knight and Not-Gwen to hear.

Her face warped into a large, ugly sneer and Peter would've given anything to just tear off the restraints then and there. It didn't look like it belonged, "I'm almost impressed." Another cut, this time at his side. He still didn't scream, "I wonder who I look like to you. A mother, maybe? Did the Chaste take you in after you lost your mommy and daddy?"

"Are you done yet?" He looked up at her and smiled widely, showing off bloodstained teeth.

"No. I have other ways."

One of the goons left while the other kept beating him. Eventually the hits stopped hurting and all he felt was a burning numbness where pain should've been. The last hit would've toppled him over if he wasn't strapped to the chair. Right now all he could do was thank small mercies that none of his friends could see this. Cindy and Mary would've understood but Lana and Gwen definitely wouldn't.

The goon came back...and he wasn't alone, "Wh-What's going on?" Hobie looked around frantically, eyes wide and panicked. Peter struggled harder against the restraints till a knife was pressed against his neck, "R-Reilly? Why-"

"You've been disobedient, Hobie." The Siren stood behind the scared kid and put his hands on his shoulders, "When we asked you earlier what our little spy here talked to you about you said that he just wasn't feeling well and he'd be alright the next day."

"I-I didn't-"

"Why did you lie to us? We were supposed to be a family, and family doesn't lie to another."

Hobie was shoved to the ground and she stepped on his neck hard enough to cut off oxygen. Peter growled almost tore out the when she smirked down at him, "That's more of a reaction than I've seen since we started. I guess children can't help but bond to one another." She twisted her foot, "Now, tell us what your goal is here or you'll have to say goodbye to your friend."

"Quite a scene, isn't it? Decided to go for something classic since you guys seemed bored with fighting and puzzles. The hero saves the innocent civilian - in this case our darling volunteer Maddie. An old employee was put into my debt and he decided that the little peach would be just the perfect thing to pay it back. Poor thing has no idea what's happening."

"Spider-Man, Bakuto is-"

"Ooh, and Spider-Man faces his first loss! And you know what that means!"

"Let him go..."

He couldn't hear her taunts anymore. All he could hear now was the sound of his heart ringing in his ears and an all too familiar voice, "You failed the last one you tried to save." The Spider-God's voice whispered, so close he almost saw it next to him, "You will fail this one too. Even if you break out of the restraints she can break his neck before you can stop her and you will have failed. Again."

"...What do you want?"

She smirked and spoke, thinking he'd finally caved. He couldn't even hear her, "Something is coming, little man, and I need you strong. Give yourself to me."

"I already have..."

"More. You use my gifts for yourself, not for me. When the time comes you will do so." He couldn't see anything but its grinning face just inches from his, "Do we have a deal?"

"You already know my answer..."

"Of course I do."

Everything came back. The Siren's smug smirk, the knife against his neck and Hobie's desperate gasps of breath. She was about to say something else when Peter looked her in the eyes, "Defiant again? You know what will-"

Her face - Gwen's face - suddenly slackened and she looked down at her chest. Jutting out of the pure white attire was a shadow limb in the facsimile of a spider's leg. The appendage ran across the length of the distance between them till it stopped at Peter's back. Blood began to pool out of the wound and she opened her mouth to scream when three more appendages stabbed her straight in the chest.

She was raised in the air briefly before she was tossed hard into the opposite wall with a deafening crack.

That seemed to finally jolt the goons out of their stupor. The one holding the knife to his neck almost sliced his neck clean open when one of the 'arms' stabbed him clean through his jaw. The last one called out for help and managed out a single yell when the remaining limbs pinned him to the wall and stabbed him again and again and again till the entire side was covered in blood.

"Spider-Man, what's wrong? Your patron is-"

Peter broke through the restraints just when the rest of the goons rushed in. Growling, he rushed towards them - ignoring the fact that his arms were still restrained by the straitjacket - and tackled the closest one to the ground. Two shadowy limbs stabbed the side of his neck then jolted up till his skull.

Two more rushed towards him and the remaining pair shot through their gut. The last goon stepped back - scared - and Peter jumped. He wrapped his legs around his neck and headbutted him over and over again. The goon stumbled back and managed to keep himself upright by holding onto the doorframe, "Spider-Man, you must calm yourself. Bakuto is-"

Peter leaned down and bit hard. The goon screamed and he tasted blood and something else in his mouth. The large man finally fell and Peter jumped to the floor, spitting out the contents in his mouth with a growl. There were more of them coming and he had to get the rest of the kids out of here.

"R-Reilly..."

Peter looked back and found Hobie looking at him in utter fear. It was enough to give him pause. He looked down at the puddles of blood and stared at his reflection. Covered in blood and cuts, but it paled in comparison to the blood red, shadowy mask of Anansi that flickered in and out of existence. He felt the same as he did a year ago, when the Lizard tried to tear its way out of him.

No, he was in control now.

He walked slowly to where Hobie was and knelt in front of him. To his credit the kid didn't shrink back, but his eyes were on the flickering limbs that jutted out of his back, "We need to get you and everyone else out of here." There were more of them coming. He didn't have much time, "Grab one of the knives and cut my restraints." Didn't want to risk stabbing himself with these new arms of his.

"Wh...What are you...?"

"Right now I'm your way out of here. Now grab the knife."

It was shaky, but eventually Hobie cut through his restraints. Peter stumbled on the nearby wall and the limbs disappeared, "Guess those are on a timer..." He grabbed one of the dropped scalpels and took a deep, raspy breath. First he had to get the kids and then he had to kill that bastard Bakuto. Had to make sure this wasn't all just a waste of time.

"R-Reilly-"

"My name is Peter." He pushed himself off the wall used some chi to heal the deeper wounds. First thing he'd do once he got out of here was go into a coma.

He was almost to the door when he heard soft, gasping breaths. Peter looked back and sneered when he saw the Siren crawling towards the dropped tools. Trying to find something to kill them with or something to cure her wounds? Didn't matter. Peter trudged towards her and stepped on the syringe she tried to grab, "Not this time..." He kicked the syringe away and knocked her to her back.

"You're not...one of the Chaste..." Blood dribbled out of her - Gwen's - mouth and he almost looked away, "Don't...Don't leave me here..." She raised a bloodsoaked hand and cupped his right cheek. Again he felt the tug on his mind, the urge to trust her despite everything she'd done, "Help me...we can-"

The scalpel went through her neck. Her eyes widened and she gasped, her expression one of utter betrayal. Peter's expression didn't change and he stared until she choked out her last breath and Gwen's face finally disappeared, "...Let's go." He ignored Hobie's look of fear and made his way to the cells. A part of him felt guilty despite his best efforts. It wasn't Gwen, he knew that, but...

"Wh-Where are we going?"

"We're gonna save the ones they took and then we'll get you out of here. I'll come back for the rest once I'm sure you're all safe."

"Safe? Y-You mean outside? But-"

Peter turned and grabbed his shoulders firmly, "Listen to me. I know where you came from was horrible, and I know it seems like this place is your way out, but they're just using you. They'll turn you into their puppets and break you till there's nothing left. Whatever's out there is better than here. Do you understand?" Hobie nodded hesitantly, "Good. Now, we're going to get you out of here and then me and my friends are going to make sure they can't do this anymore."

"Wh-Where will we go after...?"

"I'll...I'll talk to someone else. I'll make her do something." Page had resources. She had to be able to do something, "For now just stay behind me and keep quiet."

It took some coaxing but eventually he managed to convince the kids trapped in the cell that he was there to help them. Peter sighed in frustration and looked across both hallways, strewn with the bodies of anyone who tried to stop him. Hobie hadn't said anything when he saw him fighting and he did his best to ignore how odd it was to fight at almost half his old height.

"Moon Knight, you there?"

"Yes. You are finally coherent?"

"Don't even start. You were the one who thought getting caught and tortured was a good idea." Next time he'd be the meat they dangled, "Look, I need to get these kids out of here."

"Bakuto-"

"Can wait. I'm not putting them in any more risk. Make sure there's somebody to pick them up because they're damn sure in no condition to walk."

"...Noted. We will have vehicles outside waiting for you."

"Finally."

He ran through the all too familiar hallways, taking down any thugs he caught in his way. For the sake of everyone else he did his best not to kill them. They'd been through enough and he didn't need to make it worse. None of them said a word and when Peter finally managed to lead them outside he heard them cry in relief. Just a week and the thought of being outside was enough to drive them to tears.

The two black vans stuck out. Peter led them as gently as he could and nodded to the Chaste drivers. They could handle it from there, "Wh-What about the rest?" A boy who couldn't have been older than 10 asked, "There's...one of my friends is there. We can't leave him."

"I'll handle it. Just-"

Spider-sense. Peter's tilted his head and shut the door just before the shuriken whizzed past and embedded into the metal. Screams came form inside and turned around, eyes narrowed, to look at the attacker.

"Well now, isn't this interesting?" Bakuto smiled cockily and strode forward. That wouldn't have been anything to worry about if it wasn't for the two dozen kids that flanked both sides of him. Peter slammed his fist on the door and the vans peeled out. Bakuto just kept smiling, "Wow, I'm impressed. You managed to 'save' a little over a dozen of them. And how many are left here, do you think?"

"I killed your puppeteer."

"Oh, her? Yes, that's regrettable but we can find more like her. You haven't accomplished much, Spider-Man." He laughed, "Oh yes, I know who you are now. When I heard from Lilith that you interrupted her ritual I didn't think you would turn out like this. Feeling a bit lacking, are we?"

"Get closer. I wanna make sure I hear it when I snap your neck."

"Oh no, I think I'll stay right here. But I think the rest of your friends would like to play. You see, my 'puppeteer', as you call her, was very good at her job. Each and every single one of these children are willing to die the second I say so."

"Don't listen to him. This isn't a family and you're more than just his puppets." None of them said anything, "You can all leave right now. He can't control you."

"Amusing. Kids, go fetch."

They charged him all at once. Their moves were clumsy and untrained so he dodged them easily. He webbed them to the ground in clusters, making sure not to hurt them. They hadn't been broken completely just yet, "Using only your webs? How merciful of you. Where was that compassion when you fought the rest of my men? Or is it okay because you didn't see what they went through."

Peter didn't respond and just webbed the last kid down. Now it was just the two of them. Bakuto opened his mouth for another scathing remark and Peter charged, right hand lashing out in a quick strike. The (much) older man side-stepped with practiced ease and grabbed the outstretched limb. Peter twisted, elbowed him in the side and scrambled back. The size difference was all too noticeable now.

"Something wrong, Spider-Man?"

Bakuto struck this time. Peter slid past the blow aimed at his neck and kicked at the back of Bakuto's legs. The suited Finger fell to one knee and Peter stabbed the scalpel to one side before grabbing his neck and twisting.

The cocky bastard reached a hand back for his face, fingers almost gouging clean through his eye before the snap echoed through the desolate lot. Peter panted and made sure to twist the head backwards before letting his body drop, "God damn it..." He wiped his mouth and began to walk away. Could probably call Moon Knight for a lift. The Chaste could handle the-

Spider-sense.

Peter looked back and watched with grim awareness as Bakuto picked himself up off the ground and twisted his head back forward, "Hmm, as good a field test as any." He pulled the scalpel off his side and the blood vanished from the wound, "I mean I had my doubts, but I guess seeing is believing, hm?"

"What the hell...?"

"I struck a little extra deal with Lilith. In exchange for a few favors owed and some portion of any future followers given to her she gave me this little gift." He cricked his neck and made an exaggerated breath, "I'd say it came in useful tonight."

"Doesn't matter how many times you get up. I'll just kill you again."

"And I'll just keep coming back. Speaking of..." The kids began to tear through the webbing and stand up again, "We can do this all night, but you? It looks like you're really flagging there. You sure you wanna keep this up."

Peter lowered himself into a fighting stance. A pair of brainwashed teens charged towards him only to get intercepted by a black and red figure, "...Mary?" he whispered. Mary stood in front of him in a crouch.

"Well now, isn't this interesting?" Bakuto sneered, "I expected Spider-Woman to come, not you."

The rest of the brainwashed teens attacked all at once. Mary charged through and incapacitated them easily then moved to Bakuto. His arms raised to block the sudden punch and the blow crushed through the meager defense. Even from where he stood he heard the impact of the fist meeting flesh. Bakuto stumbled back and Mary grabbed him by his leg before tossing him into the far wall hard enough to dent it then pinned him down under a ton of webbing.

Very white webbing.

"...Huh."

She suddenly grabbed Peter and swung away, stopping only when they were back at their (closer than he thought) apartment. Peter stumbled away from her and sat on the nearby chair. Now that the adrenaline had finally worn off he realized how exhausted he was, "Are you alright?" Gwen peeled the mask back and looked down at him worriedly. Peter waved her off and ignored the taste of blood on his tongue.

"...What are you doing here?"

"Murderdock called me, said you needed help. Apparently him and ninja chick are busy with something that just came up. Didn't trust him exactly but I didn't want to risk you."

"Of course they are..." He sighed. Should've known he couldn't count on them, "Why the disguise?"

"Cindy said Spider-Woman shouldn't be seen with you. Even if you're 7 years old now." She rolled her eyes and sat next to him. She either ignored or didn't notice the stench of blood on him, "You look like hell, Peter..."

"Worse than it looks." That was the truth, at least. He felt more exhausted than anything else, "Could you...grab one of my smokes? Should be on the bottom drawer."

"I thought we agreed-"

"Don't argue with me, Gwen."

She looked like she really wanted to. Instead she pursed her lips and made to grab the packet while Peter took one of the bottles of whiskey from the low cabinet. The taste of the bitter liquid on his tongue calmed him immensely even despite Gwen's look of disapproval, "Thanks..." He lit it quickly and took a deep inhale. \

"...Feel better?"

"Immensely." He took another drag and swig, "Surprised you're so calm about this."

"Believe me I wanna drag you to the bathroom so you can get that blood off but I'm trusting you here." She huffed and set next to him again, arms crossed, "Besides, I don't wanna push too much and get a repeat of what happened with MJ."

"Mary? What's wrong with her?"

"Apparently she's been working with Murderdock and going on nightly killing sprees."

"...Perfect." He finished off the whiskey (really needed to get more) and dabbed the cigarette on a nearby ashtray, "Don't suppose you'll wanna explain that?"

"Later. Right now you really need a shower." She jerked her thumb to the bathroom, "Clean yourself up and I'll get the medkit. Really don't wanna explain to anyone why I have a bloodsoaked 7 year old here."

"Yeah..." He stopped when he got to the doorway, "...It's good to see you again, Gwen."

"You too." She smiled, and everything felt normal again.

He shut the door behind him and stood on the chair so he could see his reflection in the mirror. Gwen was right - he looked like hell. He opened the faucet and ran his bloodstained hands under the cold water, watching as the crimson liquid went down the sink. A bunch of kids saved, even more brainwashed and apparently Bakuto was unkillable now. At this point he expected Murakami to burst in here with an entire army behind him.

Peter washed his face, relishing the feeling of water against flesh, and stared blankly at the mirror. Cuts were still there, but the chi did most of the healing already. His skin was pale and clammy from blood loss, his eyes looked even more sunken than usual and...

And the mask of Anansi was draped over him.

"Remember our deal, little man. Remember that you belong to me."


...So, I caved and put in Spider Trigger. Wasn't as epic as it would've been compared to if he got it from Arcade - especially considering Noir's current de-aged status - but now it's there for future use. I'll try to limit it as something rare so he'll still mostly rely on his current powers and new traversal abilities. It's for special occasions.

The ending underwent some changes. Originally Punisher was supposed to pick up Peter and they would've had a drive by gun chase with the Hand. I took it out since it left Peter abandoning the kids to save himself, which felt really out of character. I can just add it again when Peter goes back to normal so we won't have to see a 7 year old getting into an Uncharted shootout.

Questions:

1. Are there any character you wanna see as part of MJ's supporting cast? So far every protagonist has their own group but so far MJ's allies (Matt, Felicia and Norah) are people she shares with the other four. Might be good to give her her own specific allies.

2. Right now I'm kinda torn on the next chapter either being a Noir and Gwen or a Noir and Cindy teamup. The former will have them do an investigation out of the public eye (they're still 'broken up') to find info on Roxxon while the latter has the two investigating Scorpion's ties to the Maggia and Hand. Which sounds more appealing?

Review Answers:

Paul Garros - Hmm, any thoughts on the story and characters so far? As for Frog-Man...awkward I get, but creepy?