Sorry for the wait. Felt a bit lazy and I'm currently finding it difficult to write. Hopefully this chapter is still enjoyable, especially since I took note of some comments from previous reviews on what to do next.
I also checked the votes and, as of current writing, the votes are 25 for Devil's Breath and 18 for Spider-Island. I'll admit I'm surprised. I expected Spider-Island to be the majority vote given previous reviews but right now it seems like DB's the surefire win. Is it cause it's the plot of the PS4 game?
Anyway, we'll deal with that later. Time for the chapter.
Wavemaniwave: Anyone else see the new Director's Cut edition of the Spider-Woman movie?
Reply from Happy Industries: Holy shit yes! Those added scenes gave so much more context to the previous story! And that post credits scene mmph!
Reply from Snapperbob: I dunno I actually don't like it. I think introducing Spider-Man so soon is a bad idea, especially since it seems like the romance with Hawkeye they were setting up is just gonna be tossed away now that he's here.
Reply from Hilversumborn: Agreed. The chemistry between Spider-Woman and Hawkeye was insane in the movie and now it's just gonna turn into this love triangle in the next movie.
Reply from Happy Industries: Whatever else you think it was a hell of an entrance. I mean the entire movie was all about this usual Superhero stuff with funny heroes and this big epic duel at the end. But then you get the post credits with those dead goons in the hospital then that mob boss begging before Spider-Man shoots him in the face.
Reply from Wavemaniwave: I really like how after that Spider-Man set the human trafficking victims free. Really feels like they get that he's not just a guy who runs around killing criminals - he actually helps people.
Reply from MrCynical 64 - I just hope he doesn't make the next movie too dark. One thing I loved about the movie is that it's not afraid to have fun so having this guy with a gun and trenchcoat could really fuck up the tone.
For the first time in years, Donald Roxxon felt truly content.
The handsome man looked over the edge of the balcony towards the night of the city below. His right hand held a glass of cognac - the Henri IV. It cost a pretty penny - something to the tune of 2 million dollars - but he was never one for skimping.
Besides, tonight was a special occasion.
He smiled and took a graceful sip of the brandy. He had just finished another dinner with the lovely Spider-Woman and she'd practically thrown herself at him after. She played coy, of course, played hard to get, tried to make it a challenge for him, but he saw the look of want in her eyes. A far cry from the dismissive condescension she once gave him a year prior.
He didn't blame her for that, of course. Now that he'd tasted power - real power - he completely understood. Of course she would dismiss someone beneath her. Had he been in her place he would've done the same. To think, just a year prior he was willing to lower himself to sleep with someone who was nothing more than a pretty face. No amount of looks or 'charisma' could compare to the achievements of the Gifted.
Donald made a note to thank Kingsley later. As much as he personally disliked the man he was the one who pushed him to revive his father's old experiments. And oh, how they bore fruit. So many people came to power without earning it. All those gifts and they could think of nothing but living their lives day to day. He was different. If they weren't going to use their gifts it was fair they gave it to someone who did.
Another sip of cognac before he finally heard the telltale sound of Spider-Woman's swing. He smiled again as she landed next to him on the stone railing by the tips of her feet. More than anything that was what drew him to her. Everything she did from the way she moved to the grace with which she dealt with criminals exuded power. She was Spider-Woman, she was special in a way no one else could be.
And soon she would be his.
"Someone's up late," she said casually. She flipped - again, another show of power above the mundane - and stood next to him, copying his lean. Her costume peeled back to expose the dress she wore from their dinner. Even her face was different. A darker shade of blonde than her usual with a face that spoke of experience despite her at times juvenile demeanor. Her green eyes bore into him with a hint of fondness.
Her true face. It was an accident that he'd seen it. One of those criminals got lucky and managed to pull her mask back during one of their previous patrols and he saw her in full before she pulled the mask back. He'd assured her that he could trust her and, after some reluctance, she ultimately agreed. After all, if that thug Spider-Man knew who she was then of course she could trust him as well.
She'd even told him her name: Claire Robinson. It was an...odd idea, to put a name to the figure beside him. To him she would always be Spider-Woman.
"You promised you would come. It would've been rude of me to break my promise to a lady." He picked up the extra glass that sat on the railing it and offered it to her. She accepted the glass gratefully and took a graceful sip of her own, "You told me you wished to converse. What is it that you need?"
"The bounty on Spider-Man. That is to say, your bounty on Spider-Man." His eyes widened and, before he could say anything, she continued, "Don't bother denying it. I've done my research."
"Hmm..." He swirled the cognac. True he was surprised but her tone wasn't that of condemnation, "What of it?"
"I want you to cancel it." He raised a brow, "Not for the reason you think." She set the glass down and looked ahead, her expression unreadable, "...Last time when we talked I never asked. What do you see when you look at the city, Donald?"
"I see...a city. What else could it be?" he asked back neutrally.
"A nesting ground full of idiots and sheep." The resentment in her tone was a surprise, though not an unpleasant one, "I told you before that continued to be a hero because I wanted to prove I was better than them, but that's not the only reason. Have you ever felt so jealous of someone that you would do anything to be them? To have what they have, no matter the cost?"
"I can't say I have."
"They do. Every single time they look at me I can see it in their eyes - they want to be me. They resent me for having gifts while they have to live their normal, everyday lives just waiting for that cookie at the end of the day. But that's only if I keep up the hero act. Keep them safe."
"How does this relate to the bounty?"
"You want Spider-Man dead? I get it. I mean I'd prefer if he was in jail but I've had to make that compromise before. Remember the Carnage killer?" Indeed he did. One man gained so much power and all he could think off was to use it for needless killing. A moronic waste, "But your bounty hunters, if you can even call him that, are sloppy. You know how bad it looks for me when one of 'my' villains takes an entire studio hostage and Spider-Man has to be the one to save the day?"
"You speak from such a spiteful position but you wish to keep them protected. Why?"
"Like I said: to prove I'm better than them." She laughed under her breath, "Sure, I don't feel bad when these idiots get got - always more civilians where they came from - but once they're dead that's it. Done. Why do you think I never went after Jameson? The city already hated me so I could've snapped his neck or put him in a coma, no fuss. Not like I could make my rep any worse."
"Why didn't you, then?" This was...intriguing. The bitterness, the sheer honesty of her hate, felt like something only he deserved to see. No one else.
"Because then it'd be over." She grinned, "I knew it'd take a while - two years - but eventually I'd get him back. And I did. Look at me now. I'm part of the Avengers and he's just a disgraced blowhard who spends his days ranting at a radio, trying to get some of that clout he had before. And you know what? It feels great. Better than any kind of beating I could've given him."
"I can understand that feeling." He hummed, "Prior to my stint at heroics my line of work encouraged a competitive streak. At times it felt like the people around me did what they did not for the promotion but rather to simply win in any way they could." Some of them did resort to outright assassination, but for many the satisfaction of having gotten one over their competition was enough; and, in many ways, far more satisfying.
"So that's why I want the bounty gone. You want Spider-Man out? We can deal with it ourselves without a bunch of amateurs in costumes screwing everything up."
"We?" He raised a brow. Another intriguing choice of words.
"Yeah." She took another quick drink of her brandy, "When I broke up with that piece of shit I thought it was over. But then Cap tells me I need to keep an eye on him. He's useful, she says." She clicked her tongue and sneered, "And yeah, I can see that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. That guy gets so damn snippy cause he knows that I gotta follow what Cap says or else."
"Even still wouldn't a better mercenary suffice?"
"And what would that do? He goes down as a hero who fought bravely against a supervillain for hire and I get shit on cause I broke up with him. People always pretend an asshole did nothing bad once he's dead, like somehow that's crossing the line."
"I can sympathize. My father was...not a pleasant man, but after his passing the employees under his charge would step over each other to pay him compliments." For most it was a PR move, but others genuinely seemed to believe that one's passing exonerated their sins. Pathetic.
"Yeah, but what if it was a hero instead?" There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "I still got that asshole's number and Cap said we'd keep him out only if he didn't...'act out'." She scoffed, "Long as he's beating up criminals no one really looks twice, but if he attacks an actual hero? Well, that's different. Cap won't say anything if I'm just coming to a fellow hero's defense."
"Why not do this before on your own?"
"Cause Cap knows that I hate him. She'll be suspicious if I just beat him up and say he attacked me. But you? She has no reason not to trust you. If you say he attacked you there's no way she'd think there was foul play. He goes to jail like a criminal and I don't have to worry another nutjob with his face plastered all over his car's gonna hold another building hostage to draw him out."
"I see. I'll admit, your plan is...intriguing, and indeed cancelling the bounty would be simple." All it'd take was a simple phone call for that money to be transferred out and the price rescinded, "But are you certain of this?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I think it'll do me some good, him ending up in prison. Like putting a bad memory to rest, ya know?"
"I understand."
It wasn't long afterwards that they ended up in bed together. It was...sublime. Her power her, her grace, all of it belonged to him. She moved with the elegance of a dancer in everything she did and it was enough for him to forget every other partner that shared his bed. To think he ever thought someone as mundane as Cecilia Carmichael was worthy of being with him.
She was still asleep when he picked up his phone and cancelled the bounty. Spider-Woman was right. Crude mercenaries could finish the job eventually but all it would do was ensure he was remembered as a hero by those sheep. With her plan he would be treated as the criminal he deserved while those worthy of actual power earned the envious glances of the jealous public.
He'd just finished his phone call when she wrapped her arms around him, hands trailing down from his to his abdomen, "Hey there," she whispered against his ear, "Didn't think you'd be up yet."
"Duty calls." The hands of the clock stopped at '6:30'. Earlier than he would've liked, but it was a small price to pay for the benefits he received in exchange, "Apologies, but I must cut this short. I must 'recharge', so to speak." Perhaps one day he could tell her exactly where he received his powers from. It was clear by her own words that, despite the mask she put on for the public's benefit, her opinion of the sheep was no better than his.
"Good idea. Hmm..." She sat up, the blanket sliding from her chest to rest at her waist, "Since you're recharging how about we do the plan today? I can call Spider-Man over to somewhere nice and abandoned and we can deal with him."
"How will this go?"
"Easy enough. I'll text you the address and you meet him there. Try to get him to attack you first, but if he doesn't take the bait...well, there's a reason why the place is abandoned. I'll come in, 'see' him attacking you and then we both take him down. He'll be in Ryker's before lunch. Speaking of, I know a really good place we can go to so we can celebrate. My treat this time."
"Far be it for me to make the lady pay for me." He held her right hand and kissed her knuckle. Oh, how she smiled at that, "You have done enough for this city. Paying for our meals is the least I could do."
"Charmer." She giggled, "Alright, come on. Go do what you gotta do. I'll set things up."
"Till then, Spider-Woman."
He dressed and left soon after, completely missing the look of sheer disgust that passed her features now that she was alone, 'Fucking asshole.' Her ugly scowl was out in full now as she stood and shifted back to her costume. She'd buy Webster an entire chocolate factory for what she did last night - separating and shifting to look like her while they did the nasty.
The only downside was that Gwen had to wait in the bathroom while Roxxon sexed up her doppleganger, but it was definitely better than the alternative. As soon as the smug prick went to sleep Webster rejoined her (not before making sure to expunge herself, of course) and Gwen crawled into his bed. Sleeping naked next to him and playing the part of the blushing girlfriend still made her gag, though.
Least it was gonna be over soon.
'You got it, Webs?'
'Yes. The tracker's been placed.' She internally jumped for joy at that. Getting the bounty rescinded was risky enough; it would've been even harder to time it just right for when he went back to check on his victims. Cindy was the one who came up with the plan to kill two birds with one stone. Get Roxxon to go after Peter and he'd probably decide he needed a boost, cause despite everything he was just a bully who ran to daddy's money to get what he wanted.
And as much as she wasn't a fan of putting Peter in danger - especially considering his current state - she had to agree. Peter did too when they suggested the plan to him. At least she was...relatively sure Roxxon wouldn't go for the killshot now that she planted the idea in his head to put Peter in jail 'where he belonged'.
'Good girl. You're getting a shop full of Reese's bars for that.'
'I aim to please. Remember, I prefer the one with the dark chocolate.'
Elsewhere in the city, Donald leaned back in the seat of his limousine and let his mind wander in content. Spider-Woman was his. Even now a part of him couldn't believe it, but a greater part knew it was inevitable. Of course she'd be drawn to him. Spider-Man must've appealed in the primal part of her that craved something dangerous and forbidden but eventually the attraction would have faded. Of course she would've been drawn to him eventually.
The facility was out of the ways - easily outside of New York, at least. It was a bother to return to it every day but that was another price he was willing to pay. The hour long drive continued till eventually he was met with the all too familiar sight of the dull gray buildings, "You may return. I will find my own way back." He stepped out of the car and adjusted his tie.
The scientists came to meet him as soon as he stepped off the elevator. Progress reports, updates on the new test subjects they caught; the usual drivel. He only half listened to them and did his usual routine of attempted augmentation. As far as he cared the day to day of the operation didn't matter. All he cared for were results, if the 'Gifted' they took could be used to his own abilities. It took dozens of attempts to get even rudimentary powers and he had no plans on stopping.
He stopped over the observation deck and looked down at the latest trial. Six more test subjects - 1 adult female, three adult males and two girls who appeared maybe 10 or 11, "We're testing a new variant of the Terrigenesis Mist," the scientist to his right blathered on, "Preliminary testing indicates that it will increase the strength of their abilities albeit with some...side effects."
"Meaning?"
"Forcing the transformation will have physical and mental strain. Worry not, sir, we'll make sure to iron that out by the time you can find use of it."
Donald grunted and watched the experiment unfold. It was all the same. Panic, banging at the walls and windows to try and futilely escape. One would think they would catch on eventually. He watched impassively as their bodies twisted and transformed, their voices coming out in hoarse screams, "Cut the audio feed," he said. He personally found the sound distasteful and bothersome.
"As you say, sir," the scientist did just that, "Now, I believe the next experiment should prove fruitful. We shall be testing the pain tolerance of Subject Sigma..."
He followed the sniveling scientist and didn't notice the strip of black biomass that jumped from his back and hid in one of the nearby cracks in the wall.
Mary Jane stepped out of the hot shower with a small sigh. Ever since she and Crimson got bolted together she tried to take pleasure in the little things. Cold drinks, well-cooked food, hot showers...anything that could take her mind off of the absolute hellfest her life was. Even now, after she'd finally reached a true compromise with herself, the little things still helped her relax.
The fact that she was in the former Kingpin's apartment/penthouse/jail cell kinda cut into that, though.
She let out another breath and grabbed the blood red (of course) bathrobe hanging on the wall. A part of her felt odd traipsing around Matt Murdock's place with just that on, but she reminded herself it didn't matter. The guy was blind and he used freaky bat powers to see. She could've been dressed in six layers of clothes and it wouldn't have made a difference on what she looked like to him.
She wiped off the mist in the mirror and looked at her reflection. She looked different now. More relaxed, 'Of course you would be.' Crimson jutted out of her shoulder with that damn grin on its face, "You've finally stopped lying to yourself. The truth will set you free."
"And yet you're still a giant pain in the ass." She smiled wryly.
"It doesn't stop us from working together better. Maybe in time you'll get used to following my lead instead."
"In your dreams, you little shit. I'm the driver here, and don't you forget it."
"You say that now but I'm sure you'll change your tune eventually. It's okay, I'll wait. We have decades to go."
She ignored the implications of her possible immortality and traipsed back out to the apartment proper. The place was huge, bigger than even Felicia's place and felt even emptier. Even the little touches of personalization Felicia had were missing, replaced instead by furniture and decorations that looked so artificial she would've assumed a robot picked them.
The man himself stood at the only corner that even looked slightly lived in. Murdock leaned across a small table and traced his fingers over the surface a long sheet of paper. From what he told her he really was blind, at least enough that computer screens were a no-go, so he had to do with paper and ink. Apparently he was good enough to read everything like braille. She didn't really get it, but she wasn't going to complain.
"Got something?" she asked, bare feet padding softly as she walked towards him. The apartment was quiet. No music, no creaks, nothing. Felt kinda creep, really. He didn't make any indication he heard her aside from a slight nudge of the head, "...Hey, I'm talking to you."
"Hm? Oh, apologies, I was filing away the information for future use." He set the paper aside and looked up at her proper. He looked...different without all the armor on him. Vulnerable. His eyes, usually hidden by shades or his mask, showed a fatigue she wasn't expecting and he still didn't put on a shirt, exposing his bandaged chest to the open air, "Hm...it appears you're doing better, at least." He tilted his head to the side slightly and she saw the tattoo branded on his neck.
"...Nice ink."
"Isn't it? It wasn't exactly my choice but I've been told it contrasts well with my usual attire." Yeah, all fancy suits and expensive shades. Looked like a 1 percent Hipster, "But you didn't come here to talk about 'my ink', you want to see the next branch of this poisonous tree."
'God, yes! It's been so long!'
'We literally just went out an hour ago!'
'And that was time we could've spent doing something productive.'
"...Sure, who's our next hit?" She really needed to stop arguing with it.
"This man." He slid over a photo to the other side of the table and she looked down. The guy in the picture was older, probably 50's to 60's considering the white hair and goatee, with tan, wrinkly skin and a suit that looked like it was straight out of the 70's, "Vincent Ambrose, a relic from the Maggia that so far has refused to die off. He's a cockroach who knows exactly who to kill, who to bribe and who to avoid."
"What's he into?"
He slid her another picture and she couldn't stop herself from growling when she saw the blurry image of kids in dresses surrounding an older man, "One of the more prolific child prostitution rings in New York. From what I could gather his clients are of the more...expensive variety." Another picture, this one of a man in a suit, "Of course, pictures like these hardly matter when they know the right people to bribe and to make witnesses...disappear.'
'I can feel how angry you are. This Matthew spoils us so.'
"Where is he?" somehow she managed to sound calm and not at all like she was about to have a psychotic break.
"That's the trickier part. Ambrose didn't survive this long by being a very public figure. He has a paranoia that would put Peter to shame." He laughed at that. She almost did, "Karen is rather insistent on her hands off approach so we will have to do this on our own. We'll start with him." Another picture. This time the picture was of a younger man in a cop uniform, "Nathaniel Stevens. One of the Maggia's turned officers."
"Hm..." Despite everything she did she hadn't actually gone after any police officers. Sure, crime was crime, but Tiger warned her that the cops get antsy when one of their own got caught up in the vigilante sprees. Made them all feel like targets, "...Don't think it's a good idea to kill him." At least not without making sure there were no tracks that led back to them. A cut to the throat and stealing his wallet would make it look like a robbery gone wrong, at least.
"Agreed. This one we can leave to his brothers in arms." He waved a small folder with a smile, "I did my own research alongside some assistance from Ms. Winters. We'll get our information from him then oh so casually drop these in Ms. Moon's desk. She'll ensure the right people get it and I imagine that he'll spend the rest of his life in prison. Assuming the Maggia doesn't hire someone to silence him, of course."
"Or the rest of the prisoners don't get him. Last I checked cops weren't popular behind bars."
"Yes. I heard they're even less popular than lawyers in that regard." She actually did crack a small smile at that, if only because the thought of Murdock in prison was oddly cathartic after all the shit he did to her best friends, "Oh, is that a smile I see?"
"How would you know? I thought you were blind?"
"I'm well-versed in catching the changes in muscles. I can't 'see' your smile but I can make an educated guess." He hummed, "Now, I think I should get back to work. As deplorable as Ambrose is he's only the tip of the iceberg."
"Anything I can do?"
"You're welcome to help, of course, but I have my doubts on how much you're able to glean. No offense."
"Offense taken."
As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Contrary to what movies taught her you couldn't just turn to the middle of the book. Most of the data was filled with so much useless bullshit and jargon that she gave up a couple of hours in. She almost left then and there before, out of nowhere, Murdock said she was free to crash on the couch and she decided swinging back to Felicia's to get grilled wasn't exactly on her top 10 list right now.
She laid down on the (velvet) sofa and sighed, lazily reaching for the wine on a nearby table and pouring it on the fancy glass. She didn't know whether to laugh or cringe at how she looked like now. Here she was, slouching on a penthouse loveseat in nothing more than a bathrobe and drinking wine like she was the mistress in some kind of lifetime movie. Just a year ago she would've given anything to get into digs like this, though she would've preferred buying it on her own with the riches from her latest platinum disc.
Mary Jane looked up from the wine to penthouse's only other occupant. He was still poring over the files, his face knotted in concentration with none of the usual smugness he radiated. For a second she almost forgot he was the former Kingpin turned vigilante.
"...Surprised you can read through all that." Her voice was soft but she knew he'd hear it.
"I did go through Law school, Ms. Watson." Ms. Watson. Ugh, made her feel old all of a sudden, "I graduated Summa cum laude from my university as well, so busywork such as this is par for the course for me."
"Please. You probably got your demon buddy to do that for you." She snorted.
"My 'demon buddy' was hardly interested in the finer intricacies of law. He cared more about breaking it." His mouth quirked up in a slight smile. Surprisingly, it didn't look at all smug or cocky like she expected, "I expect that at least one teacher felt inordinately proud of the blind man leaving with honors. People are always so quick to try and leech from others. Of course, those same instructors are likely now calling for my disbarment. Such is life."
"How the hell are you still practicing law?" She'd thought being possessed by a demon would cut his license off.
"As far as the world is concerned I was wholly a helpless victim to the Beast's machinations." He sighed slightly, "It isn't my preferred outcome - especially given that this sets a precedent for opportunists to blame their future crimes on some malevolent entity - but the choice was out of my hands. Right now Karen has me doing pro-bono cases. A so-called redemption story for the Kingpin's former lawyer."
"All this while you're doing the vigilante gig on the side."
"We all have our hobbies." He set the paper down and cracked his neck with a soft breath.
"Hm..." She took another sip of the wine before setting the glass on the table, "...What was with you earlier?"
"You'll have to be more specific, Ms. Watson-"
"It's Mary Jane." She breathed out in frustration, "Call me Mary Jane. Ms. Watson just sounds weird coming out of your mouth." Mary Jane was simple enough. MJ was for friends and Watson just reminded her of her useless sperm donor for a 'father'.
"Very well then, Mary Jane. Now, what exactly did you mean?"
"Your little personality shift back there." She leaned back on the seat and crossed her right leg over the left, "When you were asking that Bianchi guy where the rest of the people were. You got...growly." She pointedly ignored how much it reminded her of Peter.
"Oh, that? It's something that happens sometimes." He shrugged without a care, "You know how it is. I was an angry young man and the Beast's possession suppressed those traits. While my personality has been shifted permanently despite my newfound freedom sometimes the aggrieved child comes to the forefront. It doesn't usually last long."
"So...you're a schizo?"
His next laugh was loud, echoing all throughout the penthouse, "That's...one way to put it, I suppose." He set the papers to the side, "Truth be told I have no idea how I would describe my mental state. One doesn't simply live with a demon in your head for a decade without a few mental scars. I imagine you understand that feeling, don't you?"
"You have no idea..."
'Hey, that's totally different!'
'How so?'
'I only knew you for a year, not ten!'
'...Nice. Stay classy, Crimson.'
Mary Jane put her phone on the table then laid down on the couch and closed her eyes. Crashing over at the Kingpin's penthouse wasn't something she normally did but she was tired and it wasn't like she was in any danger. If the guy tried anything she'd pay him back. Hard. She just hoped Gwen didn't find out about this. As much she loved her she could get overbearing when she thought her friends were in danger.
She was woken up by the chirp of her ringtone, "Mmm..." She fell onto her side and grabbed clumsily for the phone sitting next to a thermal cup. According to the time it was 30 minutes past 8 in the morning, "Huh...?" A message from the Kingsley agency. Another shoot they wanted her for, "...Hey, Crimson, where's Murdock?"
'He left earlier. I don't know where he went. He did leave that thing for you.'
She opened up the cup and breathed a sigh of relief at the smell of caffeine, "Should probably thank him next time..." She finished it in one gulp and shifted back to her costume. The building wasn't too far away, maybe ten minutes if she swung all the way.
Almost 5 hours later and the shoot was finally done. Mary Jane sat in the designated break spot and drank the offered soda greedily. She had to admit there was something about the whole modeling thing even if she wasn't a fan of the prima donna models and the even worse camera men. It definitely beat getting yelled at by soccer moms and kids trying to sneak into r-18 films.
She set the glass down and looked at one of the few other redheads in the room. Mary sat in her own little corner reading a magazine, completely ignoring the shuffles of everyone around her. After all their last meeting at Central Park she'd followed Mary Jane's warning and hadn't talked to her since. Mary Jane told herself it was for the best but now she wondered if she wasn't just running away.
...No, she definitely was running away. She had to apologize.
Taking a deep breath, Mary Jane steeled herself and walked towards the other Mary. She was still looking down at her magazine and didn't realize she was there till she stood in front of her.
"H-Hey, Mary!" Mary Jane cringed. God, she sounded like an idiot. Mary looked up and her eyes widened when she saw who exactly it was that greeted her, "H-H-How's it going?" God, stop stuttering! She talked with the Kingpin last night, why was chatting with Mary so weird?
"N-Nothing much." Hearing the other girl stutter made her feel a bit better. Least she wasn't the only one who felt odd, "D-Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?"
"What? No, no! I just, um..." She scratched the back of her head ignoring Crimson's taunting laughter, "I just...wanted to talk to you. Alone."
"Um, but you told me-"
"I-I know, and that's what this is about. Just...follow me."
Mary nodded after a moment of reluctance and they went out of the building (shoot was over anyway) through the back entrance. Mary was quiet the entire time and looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Mary Jane gulped nervously and turned to face her once they were alone.
"I-"
"I'm really sorry." Mary Jane clapped her hands together in a begging gesture, much to the other redhead's surprise, "The last time we talked...I was in a really bad place and I took it out on you. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that."
"N-No, I was being pushy too. And I was freaking out when I realized who you were." The Scarlet Spider. A 'hero', "Uh...so, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have been like that, especially since you saved me twice."
"D-Don't worry about it. I just..." God, she really needed to work on the whole apology thing, "Like I said it was mostly my fault and I was in a bad place. I've been doing some...soul searching, I guess you could call it." Right, she'd accepted that she was a serial killer and that she was (mostly) fine with that. Whoever said being yourself was always healthy and positive was speaking a load of shit.
"So...you're a superhero now?" she asked with a slight smile.
"Not exactly." Mary's brows furrowed worriedly, "Ah, but I'm not a supervillain either! It's...It's complicated." Said every headbook status ever, "I mean I'm no Spider-Woman but I'm not like Jack-o-Lantern either. It's...somewhere in between."
"So...like Spider-Man?"
"I guess...?" Yes, she really was just admitting to someone she killed people at night. For her next trick she'd unmask on live TV, "You...aren't going to tell anyone, right?" Bit late to ask, but hey.
"You did save me twice so I don't see any reason too." Mary put both hands behind her back and tapped her right foot on the dirt, "Uh...so, you didn't actually get your powers from the Mist, right? I was too surprised to think about it before but you were fighting with Spider-Woman a year ago before the Mist ever showed up."
"Yeah, it's...something different." She shook her head, "I can't tell you the exact details, sorry. Trust me, it's for both your safety and mine."
"I understand." She nodded.
Mary Jane smiled, the heavy feeling in her chest finally receding, before her phone rang again. It was Cindy, "Hold on, I gotta take this. Hit me, Spinny." She listened to the older woman's quick instructions. Gwen tracked that Roxxon guy's mad science lab and it was time to raid the place. Already she felt Crimson humming in the back of her mind. Scientists who kidnapped innocent people and experimented on them for some corrupt CEO. Perfect.
Mary Jane didn't even notice her mouth quirking up in a nasty smile till she saw the look of surprise on Mary's face.
"...I gotta go."
"You called her 'Spinny'...did you mean Spinerette?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. They're gonna hit up some place and since Lana - uh, Striker - is still on her camping trip. Guess she figured they needed a little extra muscle."
"So, you know other heroes too..." There was that unreadable look again. As quick as it came it was gone and Mary smiled brightly, "Uh, good luck! Call me when you're back so we can hang out, okay?"
"Y-Yeah, cool! I definitely will!"
She shifted back into her costume and swung out the alley, completely missing the way Mary's hands shook and how her lips quivered in barely restrained envy.
This was it.
Donald lowered himself gently to the edge of the roof and looked down at the abandoned car lot. Spider-Woman had called him an hour prior and they put the plan in motion. Spider-Man was to be lured here at this spot so they could finally put an end to this dark stain in their lives. Finally, he would make that thug pay for keeping Spider-Woman from where she belonged.
Spider-Man was already there. He looked down and sneered at his shabby attire. His jacket, despite the material, was crude in appearance an the mask he wore looked like something a ghoul would wear rather than a hero. Even the bike he leaned against was crudely stitched together.
Time to end this.
Donald floated down right in front of him, "Spider-Man." He looked up, arms still crossed, and didn't say a word. Anyone else who saw this scene would've laughed. Here Donald stood, wreathed in gold and hair blonde, while the thug in his black attire looked for all the world like the criminal Donald knew he was. It couldn't have looked more appropriate if he wished it.
"Donald Roxxon," he said finally, voice distorted by whatever technology he had in that ghoulish mask, "Come here to kill me yourself?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean did you finally get tired of seeing your hired goons fail?" Donald's eyebrow twitch. How did... "The last time was when that clown Boomerang tried to hold that TV station hostage, right?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Save the cover story, I already got the info from one of your assassins-for-hire. You really should keep a better lid on it."
"I see." His cocky smile shifted into a sneer. Well, it didn't matter, "So you know. Why haven't you done anything about it?"
"I had actual threats to worry about more than some overgrown kid still hiding behind his daddy's money." Oh, how that thug sounded so nonchalant about that. Donald wanted to wrap his hands around his neck and squeeze, "Was actually wondering if I should've told the press..."
That caused Donald to laugh, "The press? And who would believe criminal trash like you?" Oh, how amusing. Did he truly believe the sheep would believe him despite his reputation? It was pathetic, "No matter what you say they would never trust someone like you over someone like me."
"I wasn't talking about the bounty. I was talking about your little pet project." He paused, letting the words hanging in the air for a moment before continuing, "I know what you've been doing. Kidnapping people and butchering them so you can get powers, so you can pretend that you're more than a manchild in a suit playing the CEO." He paused again, "You're not denying it."
"Why bother?" Donald sneered once more, "So what, you plan to go to the newspapers and accuse me? On what evidence? Assuming you weren't arrested on the spot there's no chance for the vindication you're seeking. Yes, I did it, and you'll be the last to know of it. Spider-Woman has betrayed you, fool. You'll be sent to the deepest, darkest hole in Ryker's where you can scream your accusations till your throat goes hoarse."
"You sure about that?"
That voice...Donald turned to the source and stepped back in surprise when she saw Spider-Woman crouched gracefully atop a street light. This...This must've been part of the plan, "Spider-Woman, thank God you've come. This thug just-"
"Can it, Gaston. I'm sick of playing pretend." She snarled. The utter hate in her voice made him freeze, "Honestly, though, i can't believe you fell for that. Then again I'm surprised you can see anything past that gigantic ego of yours."
"I...I don't understand..."
"Maybe this'll clue you in, bud." Spider-Man tossed a phone and it slid across the gravel to Donald's feet. He looked down at the screen and his blood turned to ice at the video playing on the screen, "Spider-Woman's been recording ever since you got here and we got a friend of ours to hack it to the jumbo screens. That bounty, those people you took...the entire city knows."
"This can't be..." No, this was all wrong. This was supposed to be Spider-Man's fall. Spider-Woman was supposed to be his.
"It totally can be, asshole." Spider-Woman flipped and landed in front of Spider-Man, "Oh, and before you start going on and on about how you'll kill everyone if we don't let you go? We've already got that covered. All of those 'scientists' that worked for you, all the people who did your kidnapping...you're all going to jail. The people you've victimized are going to get justice."
This...This couldn't be...he had to
Donald screamed and, with no other plan, flew straight towards Spider-Man with his hands outstretched. This was his fault. He turned Spider-Woman against, he forced his hand into hiring those mercenaries just to get rid of him. He would kill him!
Spider-Woman flipped and kicked him straight across his jaw. Donald stumbled back and Spider-Woman shot two lines of webbing to his chest then tossed him bodily against a nearby parked car.
"Stay back, Peter. Let me handle this!" Spider-Woman screamed.
"You'd protect him...after everything he's done?!" Donald forced himself to stand and seethed. Spider-Woman crouched down in a combat position, "Don't you see what he is?! He's nothing more than a thug! He should've stayed in the ground where he belon-"
She webbed his mouth shut, "God, do you ever shut up? Just give up already. It's over."
Donald charged towards her. He didn't want to hurt her, but it was obvious she was confused and unwilling to see reason. She shot two more lines of webbing at him and he willed himself to become intangible. The ability strained him and didn't last for long but it was enough for his current needs, "You made me do this!" He grabbed her by the neck and raised her up, "I didn't want to-"
She grabbed both his thumbs and twisted. Donald screamed before Spider-Woman flipped back and kicked him upside the jaw. He tasted blood.
He barely managed to regain his bearings before two shots rang out and his right shoulder flared in pain, "You...!" He turned and glared at Spider-Woman with a look of utter hate. Even now he got in his way, "I'll kill you...!"
Spider-Woman swung to the side and attempted to kick him once more. Donald phased through the attack and made himself solid once more before he tackled the thug to the ground, "Haha...you'll finally-"
Face slacking, Donald looked down at his right side and saw a knife embedded in the flesh, "Should've paid more attention." Spider-Man gripped the knife tightly and pulled it out with a painful twist.
Spider-Man kicked him away and stood once more. Donald stumbled back, hands grasping at the wound as the searing pain worsened. What in the... "Hey, don't forget about me!" He looked up just in time for Spider-Woman to punch him straight across his face. He attempted to make himself intangible again only for the pain to flare up.
"Th-This wasn't supposed to be how..."
She kicked him hard in the chest and he slammed painfully against the side of a building. Before he could do anything else she pinned him to the wall in a thick coat of webbing that left nothing but his head and the small of his legs exposed.
Gwen looked down hatefully at the soon to be former CEO before webbing his mouth for good measure, "Guess he's done." Peter crouched down beside him and gripped his shoulder hard, "He's gonna live, right?" She still had her doubts on him having that knife again. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, but the idea of wounds that couldn't be healed creeped the hell out of her.
"Should be fine once I take care of that wound." He stood back up, "You sure he'll be behind bars?"
"Trust me, companies like this live for cutting people off. Now that he just made a confession I'm expecting some rebranding to happen." She ignored Roxxon's glare and resisted the urge to give him the middle finger, "Hey, you should probably get out of here for now. We'll meet up back home."
"You sure."
"Yeah, I'll explain to the cops when they get here."
And explain she did. Not that she had to do much considering that candid confession (thank you, Norah), and she imagined that those scientists and victims would be very chatty once Cindy and MJ got them out there.
She couldn't stop smiling all the way back to their apartment. It was finally over. She didn't have to pretend to be into that pathetic asshole or that she hated Peter. Sure, she expected backlash from her 'fans' considering how the break-up was fake, but she'd just tune it out. Compared to being accused of murder she could take a few resentful words from desperate fanboys (and fangirls).
"Honey, I'm home!" she said loudly once she was through the window. Peter smiled slightly and she pulled him into a kiss. After being forced to act like arm candy and pretending to be some kind of egotistical maniac this felt just right, "God, I missed this..." She put her hand into the crook of his neck and hummed.
"Not like we were acting different when we're alone."
"I know, but...ah, just shut up and let me have this."
He pulled them to the couch and they both made up for lost time. Nothing too graphic, apparently there was a bruise from when Roxxon slammed him to the ground, but the relief from this charade coming to an end made it feel better than normal. People saved, a CEO and his stooges behind bars and once they got to the rest of the people Roxxon was dealing with they could finally close the book on this damn thing.
So of course Peter's phone rang.
Gwen (reluctantly) pulled back while Peter answered the video call. It was Murdock, to no one's surprise, "What do you want, Matt?"
"Did I interrupt something? You sound irritated. Ah, no time for our usual back and forth. Something's come up."
"I'm listening."
"I'm sure you're aware that Gao's been funding your old friends the Lanterns to use as disposable bodies." Gwen scowled. Yeah, like those assholes weren't bad enough, "Well, it seems as if she might be expanding. We've just gotten word that Murakami's been arrested and sent to Ryker's."
"What? Why?"
"My theory? Recruitment. The Hand's influence might have been reduced due to Alexandra's death but they still have some strings they can pull. Assuming I'm correct I imagine they'll try to gather prospective soldiers from the most dangerous inmates then find a way to smuggle us out. I suppose we should be flattered that they're desperate enough to reach this point."
"What are we doing about it then?"
Then Murdock smiled. Not good, "We're going to get ourselves arrested."
"...Are you-"
"You've gotta be kidding me?!" Gwen shouted, speaking up for the first time, "Are you insane? No, that's a stupid question, of course you are. You want Peter, who still hasn't gotten his powers back, to put himself in prison, where every prisoner will probably have personalized shivs with his name on it?!" Not to mention the fact that he'd probably get shrunk down to like three inches if he was lucky.
"Ms. Stacy, you're there as well? My apologies for not greeting you." He hummed, "As for this plan, do know that we aren't actually going to go to the police station with our hands held up. Moon Knight has contacts, as does Spinerette, and they can help smuggle us inside. We will be given masks, new identities, and Daisy Johnson will ensure we're kept an eye on while inside."
"If it's so simple why don't you just do it? Least if you're gone we know no one will care."
"As much faith as you seem to have for my abilities I doubt I'll be able to accomplish it on my own. That's why we're entering as a group, Peter included. Even in his weakened state his sixth-sense should prove invaluable."
"Better idea: why not just, I dunno, use these contacts to visit from the other side of the bars?"
"Murakami's under strict lock and key, Ms. Stacy, and if we go in asking to see him then Gao and her cronies will catch on. In the best case scenario we aim to find out what Murakami's exact goal is and perhaps ensure that his prison sentence becomes far more real than he imagined it to be."
"...What do you think, Peter?" Gwen bit her lip. As much as she didn't like this plan it was ultimately his choice. He didn't like her seducing Roxxon but he still supported her.
"We'll have to see. The Hand's tenacious enough on its own; I don't wanna know what they'll be like if they get any freaks on their side." He looked back at Matt, "Let's start planning."
Background Character J: Everyone else saw that video, right?
Reply from ChiefMemeChef: Hard to miss. Always knew that Roxxon guy was fucked up but hiring supervills and experimenting on people? Hope he enjoys prison.
Reply from Matt Z: So I guess that Spider-Man and Spider-Woman didn't actually break up? From what I'm hearing that was all a fakeout cause Roxxon had a mad crush on Spider-Woman.
Reply from EPFrog: You never know. Maybe they're still not together and the only think they faked was had hostile the break-up?
Reply from Maxime M: Keep dreaming fanboy. Those two are probably bumping spiders right now.
Reply from BirdCage: Well I for one am disappointed. I actually improved my opinion on Spider-Woman when I thought she finally abandoned that abusive asshole, but now she's come crawling back to him. Teaching girls that they should go back to their abusers, so healthy.
Reply from [Dylan]: Lol what? Since when was Spider-Man abusive?
Reply from That Guy: He's not, or at least we've never seen any proof he is. It's just these social justice warriors projecting to get more likes.
Reply from Maxime M: Also really stupid. Like, Spider-Woman is stronger than him. Way stronger. We've seen her flipping train cars while Spider-Man can barely push a 4-wheeler.
Reply from BirdCage: Abuse comes in many forms, not that I expect any of you to understand.
And so ends the epic love story between Spider-Woman and Donald Roxxon. Readers made it very clear for multiple chapters now that they wanted him gone so gone he is. Least one sub-plot from the last volume's finally been fixed.
Anyway, we're now set up for a possible prison arc. Or not. Gwen does suggest other methods like just visiting in prison or maybe even sneaking inside without being taken in as a prisoner.
Speaking of arcs, a part of me is wondering if I should just do both Devil's Breath and Spider-Island or bite the bullet and cut the latter off despite my initial plans for Spider-Queen to be the big bad guy fought JRPG style.
Questions:
1. So what do you guys think, prison arc yay or nay? If we do get a prison arc I can show off just how the Raft works and maybe put in some cameos of previous villains the cast dealt with. Also, hallway fights, cause people like those. Noir not having his powers back yet (he'll get it back soon, promise) also allows for some tension.
2. So what do you guys think of Matt and MJ now that they shared some actual conversation? It's different from how she talks with Felicia but there is some understanding there.
Review Answers:
Roxasdualwielder - I assume by 'main characters' you're referring to Gwen and Peter? Either way hopefully stopping Roxxon cuts into the awkward tangle plot a bit.
Ranchod das Chanchad - Thanks :) As for Lana's dad? Not so far. He's a scumbag but, so far, he isn't a criminal so he gets away with what he's done. It sucks, but sometimes people can dodge karma. Same way Jameson insulted and abused Gwen for years but his only 'penalty' is being forced out to be a radio host instead of being sued for years of libel.
Glad you liked Mary Jane. As for Felicia vs Matt, this chapter does show him and Mary Jane bonding a bit and talking to each other amicably. With regards to her being Scarlet Spider, she's definitely about on par with Noir or Moon Knight. She does kill people but not nearly as much as Punisher or V1 Bullseye.
That Geeky Guy - Fluff for Cindy? Scott or Silver?
rc48177 - Don't they fit considering Mary Jane's her own character? She's a serial killer vigilante attached to a murder blob. She has no chance for a relationship with a normal person.
Titan616 - Power awakenings always suck in this verse :P As for Mary Jane, her newfound confidence is good but it isn't helping Mary (her friend) any...
henchman213 - Devil's Breath is winning the votes.
Lol noob - Nope, he's not the baddie - for Gwen's side it's Hobgoblin. As for why they couldn't capture him, the heroes have literally the one psychic (Aracely) and Lana points out her mind reading is unreliable. They couldn't just jail/kill him since that doesn't stop the bounty and that risks the scientists liquidating the site and killing all the people they kidnapped.
Either way he's gone now.
Ch4aos4ever - I'd argue she is still a serial killer. While her targets are very deserving she fits the M.O and mindset of a serial killer more compared to Noir. Not that it's a bad thing; in a world like this someone like Mary Jane can still be a net positive.
