So I checked up on the votes and Devil's breath is leading by 4 over Spider Island. I'm somewhat surprised since it seemed like people were looking forward to the latter judging by the reviews.

Just to clarify, they obviously have different feels. Spider Island is more like a JRPG with a bunch of teenagers and young adults fighting a godlike entity. Spider Island is more downbeat and focuses on trying to save the city as the virus spreads and threatens to spill worldwide.

I'll keep the vote up a bit more. Maybe it'll change.


Lana never really got the chance to be a kid. Growing up in the kitchen with a mom who had a career on the streets meant she didn't have the time or money to do the things other people her age did. No shopping cause they had to make clothes last; no birthday parties cause damn if they were going to spend that much money for cakes and streamers; no consoles cause the last time she begged for one her mom had to suck off guys in back alleys all night...

She remembered back in middle school. Her classmates were so excited for summer. Going on camping trips, leaving the country, visiting family...things she never got to do. Any time someone asked she'd just clam up or say some kind of lie. In truth she either stayed at home or wandered around aimlessly. When she got older she started going through the alleyways, hanging around small time dealers and sneaking into fight clubs to bet and get some pocket change.

She never hated her mom for it. At least, not after she grew up. Growing up the way she did she'd gotten to know some of her mom's old 'work friends' and she could count a single one that actually kept a kid after - and the state the kid was in made her look like a princess. Even now she didn't know why her mom kept her. Any time Lana asked she'd get mad, say that it was a stupid thing for a kid to ask their parent. For a while - when she was at her dumbest and angstiest - she wondered if it was because her mom wanted an in with William.

She knew better now. The both of them hated that prick.

Shaking her head, Lana ignored the heavy thoughts plaguing her and focused on the fire slowly cooking the marshmallow on a stick she held. It was Friday and their entire group had left for the campgrounds Sue recommended. It was a nice place. Not a lot of people and Sue managed to reserve them cozy spot close to a dock and lake. Apparently Sue went here with her family years ago. Before they got too busy being the big celebs.

Once her marshmallow was sufficiently brown and cooled she took a big bite and hummed happily at taste. Next to her Aracely stared wide-eyed at her own marshmallow and probably would've burned it if MVP hadn't nudged her right shoulder, "Hey, don't let it get burned." She nodded eagerly and swallowed it whole immediately. She started coughing immediately, singed tongue hanging out with tears in her eyes.

Lana sighed and handed her a bottle of water that she downed just as quickly as the marshmallow, "For a psychic you tend to rush into things a lot." So far she hadn't read their minds again. Or if she did then she didn't say it out loud. Lana didn't really care. She didn't have a lot to hide nowadays and she doubted Aracely would do anything with her thoughts. Not like there was anything interesting in there.

The rest of her friends sat around in a small circle around the campfire. She had to admit, it was kind of odd seeing them so out of their elements. Sue's designer blouses and skirts were replaced by a sky blue (of course) shirt and a pair of jean shorts and boots that almost made her look normal. Anya had ditched her normal, stuffy uniform and the spandex costume in favor of cargo pants, sneakers and a tanktop that left her tattooed arms exposed. They weren't expecting a fight out here but after what happened with that Jack-o-Lantern prick last year she wasn't taking any chances.

To Aracely's right MVP laughed at something Gabriel said as he made a smore. His shirt rode up slightly to expose his abs and Lana wasn't ashamed to admit she looked just a bit. Just cause she wasn't interested in dating didn't mean she was dead. Gabe laughed under his breath too, playing with the hem of his hoodie. Even now she still tried to keep himself layered. Reminder her of Pete.

Lana wiped her hands on her own tanktop and handed Aracely one of her marshmallows, "Here, don't want you to burn yourself." The younger girl nodded gratefully and dug into large, brown puff, ignoring the way they spilled on her shirt and shorts. Lana tried to ignore how much she felt like a babysitter at that moment.

"Surprised there's no one else here," Lana said, looking straight at Sue, "Please don't tell me you reserved the whole campground or something."

"O-Of course not!" Sue shook her head, "There's not a lot of camping this time. Most people are getting ready for Halloween so there really isn't much traffic." She smiled, "Still, it's not a bad thing. Means we don't have to share."

"God, this brings back memories." Anya hummed, "Back when I was training with the Spider Society they had me go on these weekend trips in forests and deserts. Wanted to make sure I wasn't 'dependent on the comforts of technology'." She snorted, "Funny considering they brought us there with a chopper every freaking time."

Lana scoffed, "Last time I went camping was when we had to run from Murdock's fucking ninjas." And they had a flaming skull biker with them. She still remembered that blue fire.

"That's right, you skipped the Initiative survival training," MVP said, "Guess being a vet has its perks."

Sure. Some of her 'classmates' weren't fans, though. Didn't get why she deserved to get fast tracked. So what if she helped save the city twice and was there fighting a demon in Times Square? She was just a newbie like the rest of them.

They weren't so cocky and jeering when they hit the sparring matches and obstacle courses.

"I've never been camping," Aracely said, "At least, I don't think so?"

"Still no luck getting your memories back?" Gabe asked sympathetically.

"No." She shook her head, though she was smiling, "I don't mind. I don't think it's as fun as what we're doing now."

"It'll come back eventually. There's no rush," Lana said lightly. All she had to do was make sure that whoever tried to get her was eating their teeth once they came out again. If Darkboy and Lightbitch were right they definitely deserved it.

"So I was meaning to ask," Anya started, "What happened with the whole Terrigen Mist thing? You figure out where it came from?"

"Yeah, but I'll tell ya later. We'll be dealing with a couple of witches next week." Lana grinned. Terrigen Mist itself was still a legal gray area but making deals with a known gang member with a history of killing cops was enough of a scandal all on its own. Mommy and daddy wouldn't be very happy when they found out, "Hey, I'm gonna go get some more firewood."

"I'll come with," MVP said. She didn't miss the reason why.

There were a bunch of pre-cut logs and an axe nearby. 'For the authentic camping experience', or so the way too chipper guide told them. People were really into pretending they were lumberjacks living in the elements.

"I should-"

"I'll do it," Lana cut him off. Before he could say anything else she set the wood upright on a nearby stump and split it in half. They didn't need a lot but she figured leaving some extra logs around wouldn't hurt. Not everyone wanted to play woodsman.

"I can-"

"I'm fine, dude. Chill." She rolled her eyes and set another log, ignoring the light throbbing in her gut. Ever since they met up there was always someone keeping an eye on. Mostly it was Anya or Sue, but Gabe and MVP did it too. The only one who left her alone was Aracely, "I got stabbed in the gut, big fucking deal. I've had worse." She split another leg. How anyone could find it fun was beyond her.

"You can't blame us for being worried." MVP sighed and sat nearby. He knew she wasn't going to stop now, "We thought we were going to lose you, Lana. If it wasn't for Scarlet Spider and Daredevil you would've bled out."

"Yeah, don't remind me." That was twice now she owed the Kingpin. First Jack and now Bullseye. Two psychopaths and it had to be Matt fucking Murdock coming to her rescue both times.

"I think I should." He sighed, "You got hit with some kind of magic knife that kept you from healing and you're acting like it's no big deal." There was a long, uncomfortable silence, broken only by the sounds of chopping wood, until he said, "...You need to trust us."

"I do trust you-"

"Not enough to not send us away," he interrupted, "Look, I get it. Your last 'team' wasn't exactly the most friendly and the only one you trusted was Spider-Man. But the whole lone wolf thing? It's not going to work forever."

"I sent you out to protect people." She cut split the last log and embedded the axe on the stump, "It's nothing dramatic, alright? Just leave it."

Her sighed again and stood, gathering the chopped logs in those beefy arms of his, "All I'm saying is you shouldn't be surprised we're worried about you. We're your friends. We're not gonna judge you or think that you screwed up because you got hurt but that doesn't mean we're not gonna worry even though you seem to think getting laid up in the hospital and nearly dying is no big deal."

Lana didn't - couldn't - say anything. She just followed MVP back in the short walk in total silence and sat back around the campfire again. Her gut thrummed again and she bit her tongue to keep from crying out softly in pain. Teresa warned her. The wound was healed but the scars would stick. The pain would go away eventually too, but until then she had to deal.

Eventually Anya had the bright idea to go for a swim so of course they all decided to join in. Lana tugged off her shirt and jumped into the cold water, "Fuck, it's colder than I thought!" She swung to the bank, hair clinging all over her face, and nearly fell over again when Aracely jumped in behind her without even taking off her flip-flops.

Across from them, Anya laughed and tugged away the tie keeping her ponytail up, "Well, at least we know you can swim!" She grinned at the younger girl. Not too far off she saw (a very shirtless) MVP breaking the surface while Sue, who elected to keep her shirt on, was trying to coax Gabe into the water. Jeez, he was the only guy she knew who'd take a hot blonde inviting him for a swim and think it wasn't a good idea.

"Christ, Sue, just pull him in!" Lana yelled.

Surprisingly enough, she actually did. Gabriel screamed, arms flailing, and fell headfirst into the water. He broke surface, the hood finally falling off, and now they were all in. Aracely suddenly came up from behind and hugged her back, forcing Lana to give her an impromptu piggyback ride, "Hey, leggo!" Aracely just laughed and hugged her tighter. Anya was no help, the fucking traitor.

They swam around for around half an hour before they decided it was enough. Sue got out first, shirt dripping wet and heavy, and grabbed two small bags. She waited till they were all out and drying themselves before she raised the bags with a bright grin, "Sparklers!" she said happily, "We can light them up together."

"Yeah and start a forest fire." Lana laughed.

"I brought a tarp too so it'll be safe. Trust me, I did this before." Probably with her family. Explained why she wanted to do it again, "Come on, please?"

"I'm game. It sounds like fun," Gabe said.

"Course you'd do what you girlfriend wants," Anya teased.

"We're not-"

"Let's save it for later," MVP said. He set down the (surprisingly large) tarp while Sue handed each of them a sparkler.

Lana knelt down and watched the bright sparks. It was completely dark now, the sun long gone with nothing more than the sparklers and a few lamps near their tents for light. Next to her Aracely waved her own sparklers, eyes wide and mouth parted while she giggled. Lana couldn't stop her own smile at that. Hard to believe she was that girl who was barely clinging to life in that storage container all those weeks ago.

Her attention went to everyone else in the group. Sue was helping Gabe with his sparkler while Anya decided to follow Aracely's lead and go double, deftly flipping the fireworks in her hands effortlessly. And finally there was MVP who was boring like her and made do with a single stick that he kept close to the tarp. She thought Captain America Jr. would've been the one to go full on 4th of July.

This was...nice. After William forced Lily to stop seeing her it was just her and her mom. Poey and his friends were there, but they didn't really care about her. Just another outcast in a group full of them. Even Kamala was gone, left for Jersey while Chat was so busy with work that she practically never saw her anymore. She couldn't even hang out with Gayle nowadays either.

"...I'm sorry," Lana mumbled. It was loud enough for all of them to hear. They all looked at her, faces locked in various degrees of worry that just made her feel worse, "I'm...really sorry for making you all worry."

"Lana, it's alright." Sue smiled comfortingly. It just made her feel worse.

"No, it's not." She sighed and looked back down at her sparkler again, "You guys are worried about me and I keep blowing you off. It's just..." God, she hated this shit, "A year ago the group I was with treated me like a kid. The fucking tagalong that was only there cause I knew Pete. And it's not just them. My mom, those Initiative drill instructors...everyone gives me a shit cause they think I'm too young to do anything right."

Even Pete did it. She understood it the same way she did when her mom got overprotective, but it still pissed her off. She'd proven herself again and again.

"So you think just other people got on your case we will too?" Anya exhaled deeply and scratched the top of her head, "I mean maybe you haven't noticed but not all of us here are exactly picture perfect either. Except for MVP."

"Hey!" said picture perfect guy protested.

"She's telling the truth." Gabe laughed under his breath, "We...aren't exactly the most orthodox group." Lana snorted. Yeah, understatement right there. Captain America Jr., a fast tracked former vigilante, an actual vigilante, a teenage hacker, an amnesiac psychic and America's Sweetheart. All they needed was the mascot and they could get a Webflicks series, "What Anya's saying is that yes we worry about you but that doesn't mean we're going to look down on you. You can trust us."

Trust. There was that word again.

"Thanks for this," she said eventually. The words came easier now, "I just...I'm still kind of getting used to the whole team up thing. I really only worked with Pete last year so it's still...hard to get used to the idea of someone being there to watch my back."

"We're friends, Lana. Gabriel and I can't help in a fight but we'll be here if you need a shoulder to lean on," Sue said with a smile.

"Yeah, I know." Great, now she felt guilty again. That smile should be a crime, "I promise I'll...try to be less of a lone wolf. It takes a while to get used to having an actual partner."

"What am I, chopped liver?" Anya asked in mock offense.

"Hey for that first month I thought Teresa sent you to spy on me! Gimme a break."

They all continued till the sparklers finally ran out. The others returned back to their tents, leaving just her and a strangely quiet Aracely. She hadn't said much since they got out of the water. She would've thought she'd say something while she was pouring her heart out, "Hey, you okay...?" She got a bad feeling whenever the other girl wasn't just blurting out whatever came to mind.

"I..." She shook her head, "Why are you so nice to me?"'

"This again?" Lana sighed and sat next to her.

"Yes." She nodded, "I tried not to read your mind, but it's hard. When you were talking earlier your mind was screaming, trying to get all of your emotions out." Aracely tucked her knees to her chest and turned her head to look at her, "You do not trust easily. You are used to being abandoned so you convince yourself it doesn't hurt if people hurt you. It's happened many times."

"Hm." Lana followed Aracely's lead and hugged her knees to her chest, "What about it?"

"Why would you trust me then?" Aracely asked. Lana didn't reply, "You trusted Spider-Man because he saved your life, but what about me? What makes me different from the dozens of innocents that you've saved?"

"Most of em weren't in crates and they weren't gonna get deported back to Mexico with nothing but the clothes on their back," she said bluntly. Most people had someone to turn back to - friends, family, doctors, somebody. Aracely didn't have anyone.

"Is that the only reason?"

"Why are you so pushy about this?" Lana asked back.

"I feel...odd. I have dreams sometimes. I'm in a field and there is this man I do not know. He talks in a language I can't understand. I try to talk to him and the words I'm saying don't make sense to me either. And then he turns into a coyote and rips open my throat." The way she said that last bit, so casual and carefree, made Lana wince, "And before I wake up I hear a woman's voice. She says that the Champion will be my guide and savior."

"...You sure you didn't just watch the wrong movie or something?"

"No. I only watch comedies." She paused, "When we left the hospital a woman tried to take me. I controlled her into almost killing herself. If I could do that then-"

"Alright, I'm gonna stop you right there." Lana put a hand up, "You're not mind controlling me to being nice to you, alright? I hung out with Moon Knight for almost a year, I know what someone brainwashed looks like. Actually, you know what? Go ahead. Order me to do something right now."

"But-"

"Just do it."

"Uh...pick your nose."

There was a moment of quiet until, with a surprised gasp, Lana's right hand slowly and shakily raised up towards her nostrils. Aracely's eyes widened in turn and she covered her mouth with both hands just in time for Lana to smirk and flick her in the forehead, "Tch, gotcha."

"Lana!" Aracely cried.

"See? Nothing. Now quit being so fucking weird!" She stood and pulled up Aracely after her, "We're friends, Aracely. Sure you're a weirdo who reads my mind but I've had worse. Till you start howling at the moon or start tattooing a bullseye on your forehead I think we're good."

"...Okay, Lana. Thank you."

Sleep came easy this time. No nightmares and even the throbbing in her gut had settled into a dull pain she could ignore. She knew the break couldn't last. Next week she'd have to deal with those two bitches high on mist, she had to work with Cin to investigate who tried to kidnap Aracely and, if her hunch was right, the Hand would go after her again. Whatever, she needed an excuse to blow something up anyway.

She was jolted out of bed by a scream. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she scrambled out of the tent and felt her heart almost stop when she saw a tent that looked like it exploded from the inside.

That was Sue's tent.

The others were coming too but she was faster. She rushed to the tent's remains only to fall on her back when she smacked into what felt like a brick wall head-on, "Agh! What the fuck..." Ignoring the slight throbbing of her nose she stood back up and raised a hand in front of her. Her palm made contact with...something. Felt like solid wall but there was definitely nothing there.

"Lana, what's-"

Anya's question was cut off by another scream. The scattered remains of the tent were pulled back and Sue stumbled out shakily. She looked...wrong. Grotesque. Chunks of her body were just missing. The upper right half of her face was gone, replaced by nothing but thin air that she saw right through. The rest of her body was equally fucked. Arms with holes in them, her left leg gone just like her face but somehow she was still walking perfectly fine. She looked like a half formed body model.

And then their eyes met and Sue screamed again.

"Don't look at me!"

"The invisible wall pushed them all back. Lana tried to hold on but the pressure became too much and she fell on her back. The rest of her friends didn't fare much better. Aracely was knocked over a stump while Anya had to jump up to a tree to escape the expanding forcefield. Gabe was thrown into the lake while MVP stopped right at the edge of the docks, barely clinging to the edge.

"Sue!" Lana screamed, "Sue, listen to me!" She didn't hear her. Too panicked, Lana guessed. She tried again, "Sue, just...stop! You're hurting us!"

That was enough to get her attention. Sue looked up, tears in her remaining eye, and Lana felt the wall weaken. Clenching her fists, she punched through the shaky barrier and rushed to where her friend lay on the ground.

Lana hugged her. Sue struggled, punching at her chest weakly before it all became too much and she collapsed in her arms with a loud sob. She heard a faint pop behind her and knew the barrier was gone completely, "It's okay, Sue. I'm here." She rubbed a hand down her back in a circular motion - the same way her mom always behind. Behind her the rest of their friends slowly drew closer. Wet, bruised and dirty, but fine.

Sue pulled back and, with an eerie slowness, the patches and holes returned till she looked normal again.

Sue looked past her and flinched, "I'm...I'm so sor-"

"You don't have to apologize." Gabe knelt next to her and held her hand in a gentle grip, "What...What happened? What was..."

"Looks like Sue's got powers," Anya muttered, "Invisibility and some kind of barrier. Maybe psychokinesis?"

"How? Did something happen?" MVP asked.

Lana answered first, "That mist." They all looked at her, "Sue was visiting when those two witches did their thing. She must've breathed some in." Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! She knew they should've been more careful!

"I'm not sure that's it." Gabe nodded at the destroyed test, "Look, there's no coccoon. It doesn't look like any kind of Terrigenesis I've ever seen."

"Well what else could it be?" Lana asked. He didn't reply, "Damn it. Guess I've got another reason to talk to those two bitches next week."


berryxowo: So people keep going on and on about how Spider-Man kills SO many people but, like, does he? Most times when I see him on the news it's cause of some criminals he strung up.

reply from Eylstar: Yeah. Like, most people he killed were ninjas and Matt Murdock himself said that they were pretty much zombies so do they even count?

reply from Babey Bear: If anything he doesn't really do enough. He says he's a socialist but we never see him sticking it to the big name CEO's like Donald Roxxon or Danny Rand. Where's the activism, Spidey?!

reply from LordDynasty: ...Holy shit this thread is fucked.


Felicia's apartment felt different than the one Mary Jane shared with Gwen and Peter. Larger and fancier but also less...homey, if that was the right word. It looked like something straight out of a catalog with no personal touches outside of the cats that hung around everywhere. Even the bathroom was perfectly organized with all the makeup and toiletries in a neat row and looking barely used.

It was artificial. Gwen's place was messy but also familiar and comfortable. The bookcase they stuffed with anything from pictures to game consoles (and not books), the fridge that was stuffed with whatever food they felt like having that week and even their two closets that was just as filled with each other's clothes as it was their own. Neither of them really needed it considering their 'partners' but it helped keep them grounded. Human.

True to her word Felicia allowed her to move in. Mary Jane assured her it was temporary and she'd find a way to pay rent but the popstar just laughed and said not to feel bad. After all, it's not like this was paid legitimately, she said. Mary Jane didn't judge. Cat burglar versus vigilante serial killer. Hard to throw stones in glass cities.

There was a guest room, but most of the time she shared Felicia's bed. It was nothing serious. Felicia needed to unwind like anybody else and it was more convenient than finding some guy or gal at a bar for a sloppy one night stand and awkward morning. Mary Jane couldn't complain either. As many issues as she had with the cat burglar her experience wasn't one of them.

That and she was pretty sure most people weren't comfortable getting gawked at by cats so it was a win-win all around.

Mary Jane didn't know what they were. Not lovers, that was abundantly clear. Friends? Maybe. Mary Jane still remembered the mic cord incident but that felt like a lifetime ago now. They'd both deny the label if asked. Felicia would call them rivals, but that wasn't right either. She was an established popstar and her band was still struggling to get gigs. Rivalries weren't so one-sided.

The darkly humorous part of her mind wondered if Felicia counted as her sugar mommy.

Mary Jane woke up from her afternoon nap with her phone buzzing. Crimson shifted into a shirt and a loose pair of pants while she blindly groped for the mobile on the nightstand. She was in Felicia's bed again with the owner nowhere in sight, "Mmmph." She shook off the last of her fatigue and tapped the screen, "Hello...?"

"Ms. Watson." Matt Murdock. Just perfect, "Did I catch you at a bad time?"'

"No. What's up?"

"You've kept the tracker of Mr. Bianchie, correct?"

"Yeah, and you told me to keep a lid on it." Something about how they needed to wait for a 'more opportune moment' to take advantage of it. Crimson agreed. All for the Greater Murder, it said. Little prick.

"Hmm, well I've heard some rumors on the grapevine that Mr. Bianchiis making a deal right now. You remember that little boy we saved during our first team-up?"

"Hard to forget..."

"Yes, well, it appears our target and his ilk dabble in Gifted trading." Mary Jane's grip on the phone tightened, "If my information is correct then we will meet both Mr. Bianchiand his buyer. It should prove fruitful."

"Fine. Just gimme some time to get ready. Where we meeting?" She knew better than to think he'd sit this one out. In the short time she'd known him it was clear Matt Murdock was a vindictive bastard. And there was nothing he loved more than finding people to drag down with him.

"Hm, close to the club would work. It's on the way. I look forward to see you, Ms. Watson."

He cut the call. Mary Jane looked down at the screen before stuffing the phone into her 'pocket', 'You ready, Crimson?'

'Always.'

She'd halfway shifted into her costume when she ran into Felicia outside. She was relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine in her right hand. The clock said it was a quarter past six, "Just in time for happy hour." She smiled wryly, a gesture Felicia returned, "I'm heading out."

"I can see that." She set the glass down on the table, "Back on another crusade?"

"It's the favor for Cindy." She'd fully shifted into her costume now, mask and all. She should've left right there but of course she had to keep going, "I'm working with Daredevil."

The popstar's eyes narrowed by the smallest margin and she pursed her lips, "I see." She stared straight ahead at the window MJ always jumped out of. Thankfully it was high enough to avoid any paparazzi or drones, "You know my offer still stands."

"It's not like we're friends or anything." Again she could've just walked away. The window was right there within reach. Instead she sat at the arm of the couch, "You know why I have to do this."

"Your crusade for justice." Despite the mocking way she said it Mary Jane caught the hint of fondness in the words, "It's funny. Everything I knew about you the last thing I'd expect for you to be is a Superhero."

"That's cause I'm not." She shifted her right hand into a blade briefly and grinned, "And hey, I still wanna be famous. But I wanna do it as Mary Jane. Don't you feel the same, Black Cat?"

"Mmm, maybe. Nowadays it's hard to separate Felicia Hardy from Black Cat after that diable exposed my identity." She stood up languidly and walked past her back to the room, "Wait for me. I'll come with you."

"Uh...you sure that's a good idea?" Mary Jane called after her.

She didn't answer. It didn't take long before Felicia stepped out, fully dressed and geared up. It still annoyed her how well she wore that damn suit, "Well? Let's go."

"Your funeral."

She grabbed Felicia and jumped out the window. Felicia was competent enough on her own but at the height her apartment was her arm would snap clean off if she tried to swing straight from there even with that advanced suit of hers.

Mary Jane waited till they were at a decent enough height before she shot a web with her free hand. She let go of Felicia at her arc and the cat burglar immediately attached her whip to a nearby building ledge and used it to swing next to her. It always impressed. Felicia - hell, even Murdock - swung through the air like it was normal and they didn't have powers. One mistake and they'd be a smear in the pavement and they didn't care at all.

Murdock was where he said he'd be. He stuck out on the night roof in that blood red suit of his. Mary Jane landed with Felicia right behind her and the blind vigilante smiled wryly, "Well now, this is unexpected. A pleasure to see you again, Ms. Hardy. Finally come to finish the job?" There was something hopeful in those last words.

"Nothing so crude. After all, I did make a deal with your owner." Felicia smiled at that. A nasty, open toothed grin that looked seriously out of place on her, "I'm here for Scarlet Spider's sake."

"Don't trust me, do you?" He laughed, "A wise decision. Come then, let's follow her lead."

"Yeah...gimme the tracker, Crimson."

'Just make sure they bleed.'

The building wasn't too far off; maybe ten minutes if they swung over. Mary Jane followed Crimson's directions while Daredevil and Black Cat flanked her left and right side. She felt...odd. This was the first time she was really going out ever since that talk with Gwen and Peter - ever since she started accepting herself. It felt...well, not good, but she didn't feel weighed down by hating herself. It was progress.

"Says he's in there." She crouched at the edge of a low building and pointed at the sewer grate, "Sewers?"

"Not surprising. While unlikely to be found a building above ground is still much more vulnerable than the sewer lines. After all, no one checks in the filth," Murdock said. Mary Jane rolled her eyes. He was just waiting to say that, "It'll be cramped down there. Tight quarters. Will you be fine, Black Cat?"

"Do not worry about me, diable."

She pulled the manhole back and immediately recoiled at the stench. Sadly plugging her nose wasn't one of her powers. Breathing through her mouth, she looked back at her impromptu teammates. Felicia was just as repulsed while Murdock showed no signs that it bothered him whatsoever, "Hmm, that's disgusting. I feel sick," he said casually.

"Sure don't look like it."

Mary Jane dropped straight down and ignored the slap of something at her feet, "Ugh..." She shook off the sewer water clinging to her boot and waited for the others to follow her down. The stench was almost unbearable now. She tried not to think how messed up it was that blood didn't even register as odd when this still did.

"Where is this man?" Felicia groused.

"Not too far. Just follow my lead, okay?"

"On your go, Scarlet," Murdock said.

She'd played enough games to Gayle to know all about sewer levels and they sucked here as much as they did in fiction. Everywhere smelled like rotten eggs and she swore she stepped in something unmentionable at least half a dozen times. Why couldn't they go to use abandoned warehouses or apartment buildings like normal people? So inconvenient...

'Can you do something about this?'

'No, that's not one of my abilities. I could cover your nose but that'll make it difficult to breath. Just deal with it.'

'Perfect..."

"Just who is it that we're after?" Felicia suddenly asked.

"You came without knowing?" Murdock asked. Felicia ignored him, "A man who trades in flesh styling himself as a businessman. Sadly there are far too many of his kind in this city."

"You speak from experience, I presume?" she shot back nastily.

"Undoubtedly. I've likely condemned hundreds of children alone to be some deviant's plaything." Mary Jane's mouth twitched. It wasn't a surprise. He was the Kingpin for almost a decade and an empire like that didn't come cheap. And yet, it was oddly relieving to have him here - to know that despite everything she did there was someone next to her infinitely worse.

Felicia's lips curled in distaste and she looked away without another word. Mary Jane ignored the awkward silence that hung in the air and stopped when they reached a brick wall, "...They're on the other side." She let Crimson seep through the cracks. Bianchiwasn't the one on the other end but he was in the room.

Which meant she could do this.

Mary Jane punched through the wall, grabbed the goon's head on the other end and snapped his neck in one fluid motion. The rest of the guards all looked at her, mouth agape in shock before she tossed the body at the closest pair of guards.

That was when all hell broke loose. They focused fire on her just like she intended. Mary Jane ignored the hail of bullets and grabbed the next gunman, slamming him against the wall facefirst before tossing him to the table filled with money at the center of the makeshift room. He was still alive, if only breathing through a straw for the next couple of months. She wasn't going to kill everyone.

'Killjoy.'

'Cindy wants people to interrogate.'

'Does that mean we can kill everyone next time?'

'No.'

Daredevil and Black Cat used her distraction to take out the rest of the goon squad. Despite the situation she was in she couldn't help but notice how differently they fought. Felicia was graceful, all flips and high kicks with a whip she used like it was another limb. Murdock was more brutal. Professional, but with a sadistic streak. He aimed for limbs and necks with those sticks of his and every hit was met with a sickening crack. She was surprised he wasn't laughing while he beat them.

Mary Jane wondered how she looked to them.

The thrum of the tracker told her Bianchi was running. Coward didn't even stay for the fight.

"Black Cat, stay here and help the hostages! Daredevil and I'll go after our guy!" She didn't wait for her to say an affirmative before she was out the door, weaving through the tunnels with Daredevil next to her. Bianchi's white suit stuck out in the sewers, "Heh...too easy." She rounded the corner and shot a line of blood red webbing straight at him. The sharpened tip stabbed him at his right achilles tendon and she pulled.

He fell facefirst into a pile of sewer water. Daredevil kicked him to his back and pressed the tip of the escrima stick to his throat, "Where are the rest of the people you took?" He snarled. Mary Jane stopped behind him. His sudden shift was a surprise. No deranged smiles and cocky smirks, just an all-too familiar anger, "I won't ask again. Talk before I crush your throat."

"T-They're with my boss!" he choked out. Daredevil lightened the pressure just a bit, "H-His name's Giovanni Bianchi! He's buyin' from some fancy punk callin' himself Scorpion-"

And then his face cut open in a torrent of blood. Daredevil barely managed to pull his head back to avoid the bloody claws seemingly attached to nothing that almost cut open his neck, "Heh, almost didn't hear you." Mary Jane looked around frantically as the blood disappeared from the claws and left nothing but thin air, "Be careful, Scarlet. It seems our new friend here can turn invisible."

"What the hell?!"

"I doubt he's a demon. Get ready. On your right."

Mary Jane raised her arm to block the next swipe aimed at her face. The guy wasn't strong enough to break through her guard but whatever was in those claws was enough to cut through the layer of symbiote over her skin. Mary Jane kicked him away and stepped back with a hiss. It'd been a while since she bled.

"An assassin come to slit our throats. How quaint." Daredevil did that demented smile again.

The next attack came from behind them. Daredevil blocked the double swing and Mary Jane acted quickly, shooting two lines of webbing where his torso must have been. The barbed tips made contact and she heard a distorted voice scream in pain before the figure flickered into visibility. A full body suit, a tattered cloak and a mask permanently set in a scowl. He looked like something out of a horror movie, or that Ghost creeper Peter took out back at the hospital.

He cut through the webbing and disappeared again. Mary Jane lowered herself into a fighting stance but nothing came, "Where-"

"It appears he's made his escape." Daredevil hummed, "I can only guess he didn't expect someone of your capabilities here tonight. He was expecting police or the low powered vigilante."

"Who was that?"

"My guess? I've heard of an individual calling himself the Prowler. An assassin for hire who'll take any target. I believe Ms. Moon fought with him before." He cracked his neck, "I suppose he was put here as insurance. No doubt Mr. Bianchi would've told us more details such as his exact buyer before he was silenced. A shame."

She was about to saw something back when she noticed the gash through his chestplate and the unmistakable scent of blood underneath, "You're bleeding."

"Oh? So I am." He hummed again, "Oh well, nothing some stitches won't fix. Come, let's return to Black Cat before she loses her patience."

Felicia freed the victims by the time they got back. She counted at least half a dozen kids, each of them with some obvious mutation - blue skin, wide, glassy eyes, even a tongue that was just a foot too long. Odd, but nothing to get excited about. What the hell would someone want with kids like these?

Mary Jane knelt in front of them and pulled her mask off. The face was different - she wasn't a brunette, for one - but seeing a face under the mask calmed them down immensely, "Black Cat, could you-"

"I'll stay and hand them over to the police. I am a special consultant, after all," she said, "What will you do?"

"I'm going with Murdock. We need to figure out where we're going next." Felicia frowned. Mary Jane sighed, "Just trust me, okay? I'll be back soon."

"Don't keep me waiting."

Murdock's apartment - if you could even call it that - was even bigger than Felicia's. Mary Jane paused at the window and stared the cameras on the walls, "Don't worry, those are for show." Murdock pulled off his mask and set it on the table, "Do you really think I could go out on my nightly excursions if they were really tracking me? They play on a loop and don't even have sound. The only one who's aware of our activities is Karen, and that'll be the case for a long, long time."

"Right..." She stepped inside and took off her mask. If he was lying she'd kill him.

'The wound is more serious than he treats it. If you wish to keep him alive you may want to help him.'

'Seriously, who are you and what did you do to Crimson?'

'He is our meal ticket. It would be a waste to let him die just yet.'

"Right..." She sighed, "Hey, take that stupid outfit off."

Murdock raised a brow, "Ms. Watson, I'm flattered but-"

"Don't be smartass. We gotta make sure you don't bleed out so take it off." She sat on the seat across from him and watched as he unbuckled the armor pieces and let them fall to the floor with a dull thud. He was definitely fit, and if it were anyone else she probably would've appreciated the view, but everything combined with the blood and sewer gunk made it one of the unsexiest things she'd seen all week.

"Well?"

"That's a pretty deep cut." She frowned. The gash came all the way from his left shoulder down to his chest. Be lucky if it wasn't infected too considering the literal crap they were swimming in, "Thought you had that chi thing?"

"We have our limits. I've been pushing mine these past few days and have burnt out, to use the proper term." He clicked tongue, "Of course it's nothing some needle and thread won't fix."

"You plan to stitch yourself up?"

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"How about no?" Ugh, why her? "Please tell me you at least have some disinfectant spray."

Five minutes later and the wound was as clean as could be. Now for the next part. Mary Jane put a hand on his shoulder and focused. Crimson was used for killing, but it had its other uses. A clump of red flesh jumped from her palm and seeped into the cut, crossing the two halves of torn flesh together in a makeshift suturing. Wasn't the neatest, but it'd get the job done and it was less of a hassle than stitching him up.

"A handy trick."

"Crimson doesn't like to use it a lot. You can imagine why." She pulled back and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She hadn't been awake for long and she was already exhausted again, "So, we should go down the next part of the list."

"I agree, but perhaps you might take a shower first? I didn't wish to be rude before but you smell rather repulsive."

"Look who's talking." She scoffed, "Fine, I gotta wash this crap off of me anyway." With a final, exhausted sigh she slunk into the bathroom and let herself relax under the hot shower. She got the feeling it was gonna be a long night.


Lana's funtime got ruined and Mary Jane is now experiencing her own life in a love triangle. So what do you guys think: the sexy popstar thief Black Cat or the dangerous yet oddly alluring Daredevil? Or we can go for the third option and have her date Frog-Man.

Question:

1. Since people seemed to want more lighthearted stuff do you guys want the next chapter to be more fluffy romance stuff (either for Cindy or Peter/Gwen) or do we keep going with plot?

2. Is MJ still sympathetic now that she's embraced being a serial killer vigilante? She doesn't kill as much as she does before but most of her guilt when she does kill is notably absent now.

Review Answers:

Brave2000 - Collossus? Uh, not sure. As for Deadpool, he never actually showed up before.

KasugaRomio - Coming to an end? Doubt it. I haven't even dealt with one antagonist, let alone five.

Dr. Sugarcakes - Don't you mean soft cupcake?

Hardlight - Really? Commoners always seems to win in these stories.

Ranchod das chanchad - Does that mean you liked the Original Noir over the fake one?

As for Gwen being a Mary Sue...half in half? It seems to mostly apply power wise since she's the strongest of the protagonists. Outside of that her luck can be supremely shitty like her morals being taunted and disregarded by everyone, being forced to kill, her dad getting crippled, having her best friend die in her arms AGAIN. She's just as miserable as the rest of the cast despite, or even because of, her powers.

Also, no power ups for Gwen. Too strong already and she'd never give up her relationship with Peter.

MJ at this point has basically accepted that she's a serial killer, so I dunno if she's still sympathetic. Cindy also went from being juvenile to hyper mature and now she's basically a mom. Pretty big jump.

And yeah, Lana and Noir's relationship was one of my favorites in Looking Glass :) Hopefully you write future long reviews. They always brighten up my day and make it feel worth it to write.