Sorry this took a while again. Really got into CRPGs lately and a bunch of family members got hit with covid so I was worried about that too. Hopefully this was worth the wait. I tried to put equal attention on MJ and Noir but the latter ended up getting more focus.
Also, I got like three people who asked if the Bullseye chapter was based on the new Suicide Squad. Nope. I wasn't interested in it and didn't watch it due to bad reviews for the first one. I did watch it after posting the chapter at people's urging but I still have no clue what people say it seems the chapter is close to.
Chapter after this will be Sleeping Beauties due to votes and reviews. Too bad for Watchdogs.
Mary Jane had done a lot of stupid things ever since she got into the hero/vigilante/horror movie villain thing. Most times she could blame Crimson, but sometimes - rarely, maybe, just once in a blue moon when the stars aligned just right - she chould blame herself. After all this was a partnership, as weird and painful as it was, so it was a give and take. Not equal, but still.
It was a long way of saying she'd been a dumbass sometimes and this was one of those times.
'I can't believe you're doing this,' Crimson groused. Mary Jane just grunted, 'We literally attacked these guys just yesterday and now you're going to their base. What next, do you plan to run to jail with your face unmasked and hands cuffed?'
'Would you chill? Gwen won't let anything happen to us.'
'I'm not so confident. Maybe if you sleep with her she'll be more willing to look the other way.'
'Jesus, would you fuck off?'
'Isn't that what you want to do to her?'
'Jesus Christ, Crimson! I swear to God!' Mary Jane pinched the bridge of her nose. Their partnership was better nowadays - sometimes they even got along - but in times like this they always went back to sniping and insults.
They were sitting on the edge of a rooftop close to the Initiative building. Gwen told them to meet up close by and then she'd get them an inside look into New York's prime hero team. You know, besides the Avengers...and the Defenders...and the other solo vigilantes running around doing stuff. Honestly she didn't really think about them a lot. She kinda always figured they were like the cops with fancier costumes and social media accounts.
Probably helped that she never really ran into them. Her 'field trips' were almost always at night and when she did go out during the day she never stayed in one place for too long. She did see their patrols sometimes, but she steered clear and so did they. People saw her hanging out with Spider-Woman but she was still a vigilante. Just like with Tiger they didn't wanna risk if she'd be just as friendly to them as she would to one of New York's premier superheroes.
Speaking of...
The telltale thwips came from behind and Mary Jane tilted her head back to see Gwen land behind her with a fancy roll, "...Eh, 7 out of 10."
"Ouch, that hurts!" She put a hand on her chest and gasped in faux shock. Mary Jane rolled her eyes as Gwen hopped up to the low wall next to her, "So...you nervous?"
"No, why would I be? I mean it's not like I attacked Captain America Jr. and his team literally yesterday. Why would I be nervous?" She wanted it to sound light and sarcastic, instead it came out as biting. Gwen winced slightly and Mary Jane frowned, "Sorry, it's not your fault. I should've just stayed to explain."
'And let them confine us? You're not that stupid.'
'Thanks for the vote of confidence.'
"I mean I can't really say anything, can I? Peter doesn't exactly have a good relationship with them either...and I spent a couple of years running from the cops."
"But unlike me, you didn't actually deserve it." She still thought it was insane that Gwen didn't decide to hang her mask and tell the city to go fuck itself. Its what she would've done, "And...okay, look, I trust you, but are you sure I'm not gonna get arrested the second we step through those doors? Cause I read up on it and the Avengers and the Initiative are technically separate, right? Like you guys work for the UN but these guys are American."
"Yeah. It's this whole political thing, but I pulled some strings. Trust me, we'll be fine as long as you keep your...'partner' in check."
'I don't like how she said that word. I think she's mocking me.'
"Alright, let's go."
They went through the front door. Which made sense, but anyone else must've figured she had the brassest balls for doing that after the stunet she pulled. Mary Jane ran a hand through the ends of her hair nervously and did her best to not look twitchy. This was...wrong in a way she couldn't really describe. Just a couple of years ago she would've...well, she wouldn't have been excited to see the inside of something like the Initiative, but Gale would've been and she'd tag along like the cool big sister she was. Now she just felt like she was being led to the gallows.
The place was...something. She'd seen some pictures from the brochures Gayle had but it didn't the place much justice. The walls were a sleek silver and covered in numerous holograms showing multiple programs. Aside from that the (bulletproof, if she read the brochure right) glass led to a clear view of the outside while the the employees walked around the place like they practiced a routine.
Some of those same employees stopped like a record scratch when they saw them. Mary Jane looked away and just kept on following Gwen. It wasn't a surprise. Of course a big-time Avenger coming in with a Wanted criminal would get stares. Thankfully they didn't stop them - not that they could, she heard Crimson snort - and she just kept following Gwen to the inside.
'We never should've come here.'
'Are you seriously okay with working for that Gyrich guy? What if he's like S.H.I.E.L.D?'
'Then we'll kill him and continue as we were.'
'Oh yeah, kill a government agent and be totally cool! Why didn't I think of that?'
"Scarlet, you there?"
"Huh?" Mary Jane looked to Gwen and nearly jumped back when she saw the guy standing next to her. It wasn't that he was creepy or anything but he was definitely not there when she looked last.
"Uh?" she said very intelligently.
"This is Dale. He's our...uh, is tour guide demeaning?" Gwen turned to him.
"Not at all! It's a real honor to get to help you two." He shook Gwen's hand and offered the same to Mary Jane. She looked down at the offered hand before shaking off her paranoia and returning the gesture. God, she was getting too paranoid, "I actually volunteered. When the boss heard that Spider-Woman wanted to introduce a friend to the Initiative I was really excited. Not everyday you get to meet someone with an Avenger's recommendation."
"Yeah...sorry if I disappointed you."
Dale gave her a confused look, "Why would you think that?"
"Well...I did attack you guys like a day ago?"
"Oh, that? Water under the bridge. I mean maybe I'm not supposed to say that but Xorn's team said they didn't want to press any sort of charges and that the other Initative members shouldn't do anything either." Mary Jane winced. That made her feel worse than if they just hated her, "Either way it's not something to worry about today. All I'm here to do is take you two on a tour of the facilities."
"Okay then. Lead the way."
Mary Jane kept back a short distance as the Dale guy gave her the big tour, "These are our training grounds," he said while they went through a hallway. Mary Jane looked outside through the glass walls (fancy) and saw what looked like an obstacle course outside. There were already people there. A guy with a big gauntlet attached to his right hand was training a group of people ranging from people in their 20's to a guy who looked like he was pushing 50.
'Ugh, look at them. It's pathetic.'
'Why? They're trying to be heroes, that's good for them.'
'But is that what you want?'
Mary Jane didn't reply and looked to Dale, "Can I ask a few questions?"
"Of course. That's why I'm here." God, why was that smile so creepy? Guy seemed nice and all but she swore it screamed 'we always find out'.
"Yeah, um, how does this training thing work? Like can anyone just come in here and say they wanna be a member? It can't be that easy."
"Of course not. There are requirements, of course. Same way you can't just join the military." Mary Jane nodded while Gwen looked between them eagerly. Must've thought she was really tempted if she was asking this, "There are some general things. Citizenship, age, medical history, basically anything most organizations require. Big one is that people with active warrants and criminal records can't join unless it's under special circumstances. Wouldn't want any supervillains jumping in to avoid jailtime, right?"
"Yeah..." Not like she wasn't totally using Gwen's connects to skip that or anything, "So does everyone here go on to be superheroes?"
"Oh, I wish! But no, at least not in the way you think." They started walking again, "As cool as it is not everyone's powerset or skills are good for the same fields. Imagine your power is that you can infinitely hold your breath or that you have can see radiation in the air. Really cool, but not exactly good for fighting criminals. So we try to find a different place for them. Sea diving and salvage jobs are good. Maybe even firefighting since smoke inhalation wouldn't be an issue. Of course they have to pass the firefighter requirements, but that's another story."
"And what about someone like me?"
"For you? Hero track, no doubt. Off the record I've seen some of your work-" Mary Jane almost seized up "-and I'm definitely impressed. You were there helping stop those criminals who attacked that hospital."
"Uh...yeah, totally." She forced a smile even though he couldn't see it.
"Mhm. I'm not gonna ask - again, above my head - but I get the feeling that you and Spider-Woman are related. Your powers look pretty similar and there are some news stories about you stopping criminals and rescuing people. You'll still have go through training, of course, but I'm sure you'll do great! Couple that with Spider-Woman's recommendation and I'm sure you'll be a full-fledged Initative hero in no time."
"About that...it means I have to expose my identity, right?" she asked the question slowly. Gwen told her it was necessary - and she felt bad since she was still keeping her own face hidden - but she considered it a small price to pay to escape from Gyrich.
"Of course. All Initiative members have to expose their identities. You can still wear a mask when working - most of our members do, actually - but the face behind the mask shouldn't be an unknown. It helps accountability and to make sure that the members aren't hiding something."
"Hm..."
"Could you excuse us for a second, Dale? Scarlet and I need to talk," Gwen suddenly cut in.
"Oh, of course. Just call me back when you're ready."
They waited for bit till he was out of sight. Mary Jane sighed and leaned against the wall while Gwen stood in front of her. A quick look around showed no cameras but that might not have meant anything, "You okay?" Gwen asked.
"Not really." She shook her head, "You told me before about the whole unmasking thing but hearing it again it's just...I dunno. I'm not sure if I'm ready for G- sis and mom to be ready for that." She looked down at the spotless floor. Her masked reflection stared back at her.
"Well...there's always the other option," Gwen whispered. Mary Jane hummed. She and Gwen could change their faces. Put on a different face and name. Easy, right? Not exactly. Say she did change herself to a pretty brunette by the name of Jackson Lily or whatever, all it'd take was a single search for that to collapse. She'd need papers, records, a history. Things people like the Initiative could find easily.
"We already know that won't work." Mary Jane sighed.
"I know, but..."
"...Let's just continue the tour."
The rest of the tour went on with barely a word from either her or Gwen. Before she knew it nearly an hour had passed and they were getting introduced to the...head? Bossman? Grand pubah, she'd call him that.
Gwen knocked on the door, "Professor Xavier?"
"Yes, come in, Spider-Woman." A calm voice said. Mary Jane followed behind Gwen warily and looked around the office. The place felt less sleek than everyhing that came before, though that wasn't a bad thing. The wooden desk, cream colored wallpaper and the scent of mahogany in the air calmed her down far better than those holograms and smiling employees ever could.
The bald man sitting at the desk caught her eye. Pushing middle age by the looks of him but his eyes were warm and the smile on his face helped calm her nerves. He was dressed in a crisp black suit and his hands were steepled together atop the desk, "Good morning, Spider-Woman and...pardon me, how would you like me to refer to you?"
'I don't like him.'
"Uh...Scarlet." She almost said Spider after but something kept her from continuing. If Gwen noticed then she didn't say anything, "Uh, you're...?"
"Ah, yes. Professor Charlies Xavier, it's a pleasure to meet you." And then he rolled his wheelchair from behind the desk till he was close enough to shake her hand. The masks of her eyes widened slightly. It wasn't supposed to be a shock, she'd seen people in wheelchairs before, but after seeing all the people with powers it just felt odd somehow.
"Nice to meet you too." She shook his hand with a small, awkward smile then looked to Gwen, "Hey, Spider-Woman...could I do this by myself?"
The eyes of her mask blinked, "Huh?"
"I must agree, Spider-Woman." Professor Xavier nodded, "In times like this it's best if I approach prospective Initiative members alone. I find that honesty comes easier in those circumstances."
"...Okay." It was clear that she really didn't want to go. Gwen walked to the door slowly, probably hoping she'd change her mind. She almost did. In the end she bit her tongue and kept quiet till the door closed and there was only the two of them left.
"Have a seat."
He gesutred to the chair in front of the desk then rolled back to his previous spot. Mary Jane sat down and crossed her right leg over the right nervously, "So, uh..." She looked around nervously. Why did she feel like she got called to the principal's office? "You...run the Initiatitive?"
"The entire organization? No. Think of me as more of an overseer for the New York branch." He smiled slightly, "In truth it's a very hands-off position. My main purview is interviewing prospective members and ensuring that the place continues to run smoothly. Captain America was quite clear that she wanted the Initiative to be humane. She's had experiences with poor examples in her travels."
"Yeah..." She sunk slightly into her seat, "So, uh...you gonna ask me some questions?"
"Just the one I think is important: do you honestly want to join the Initiative." Mary Jane froze, "I've interviewed dozens of candidates, many of them with different motivations. Some truly wanted to be heroes, others simply looked for a paycheck or fame. My job wasn't to judge their motivations, only if they were capable. Someone determined to be a hero could give up halfway while one who craved attention might refuse to give in."
"How do you figure that out?"
"I have always had a good read on people." He laughed under his breath, "I've seen reluctance like yours in only one other person. There was a man who wished to join the Initiative because he believed it would help him reconnect with his estranged daughter. It was clear that he had no desire to actually become a member of our organization and we made other arrangements."
"Please don't tell me this ends with him being taken to the farm."
Prof Xavier blinked, "Um...no, not unless you mean that I encouraged him to find another way to reconnect. I check in on them occasionally and they're attempting it despite the slow process." He pressed his hands together, "In you I feel the same reluctance. Spider-Woman was clearly eager for you to join, but I'm asking you. What do you wish to do?"
"I...I don't know."
'I do.'
"Look, I can't tell you everything, but I'm not exactly in a good place right now, Prof. I can use the Initiative to get out, but..."
"In your time here were you given any reasons to doubt the Initative's intent?"
"No! Actually, it's the opposite. Everything here looks great." She brought a hand through her face, "You know...it would've been so much easier if this place was like some kind of super fucked bootcamp where people with powers are treated like shit. Then I'd be totally justified in taking one look at this place and going 'nope, I'm out!'. But instead this place is..."
Exactly what Gwen said. Shit, she wouldn't have blamed them if they called the cops or dogpiled as soon as she stepped through the front door, Spider-Woman. Except they didn't do any of that. They were willing to give her a second chance. Gwen was right, this was place where people could become heroes, if they wanted.
...But it wasn't what she wanted.
"This predicament you were hoping to 'get out' of, is the Initative a truly better alternative?"
"I don't know!" She leaned forward and covered her face with both hands. She really did feel like she was in the principal's office now, "I just...the things I've been doing now, can I keep doing it forever? Where will I be in ten years? Or twenty?" Assuming she lived that long... "Spider-Woman's an Avenger! She can keep that up and then when she retires she can live off the royalties. And where will I be? Just another...vigilante?"
"I understand worrying about the future. As a young man I worried about the trajectory of my path. Even as early as just a few years ago I wouldn't have considered running a branch of the Initiative and yet here I am."
"So what, just 'follow my heart'?"
"Nothing so cliche." He laughed again, "You've seen what the Initiative is, and the fact that you came here hoping to have doubts, perhaps, indicates your intent." Mary Jane didn't reply, "As I said, the purpose of this talk was for me to understand the candidate better. I do believe that if you choose to join that you'll find success in this path, but if that's not what you want then you know which choice you must make."
"...Yeah."
Professor Xavier smiled and nodded, "Then I hope you make the correct one. It was a pleasure meeting you, Scarlet Spider."
"Hm...thanks, Prof."
She walked to the door, each step heavier than the last. This was really how it would end, wasn't it? She would look her best friend in the eye and tell her that she didn't want to be a hero even when it was offered on a silver platter. Instead she'd rather be some kind of government assassin because at the end of the day she felt some kind of fucked up satisfaction taking out people the world could do without.
Gwen was right outside, "Oh! Hey, Scarlet!" She was leaning against the wall trying and failing to look casual, "How'd it go? Did Professor Xavier say when we should come back for the follow-up?"
"...We need to talk. Somewhere private."
They went back outside into another deserted roof. Gwen didn't say a word but Mary Jane felt eyes staring into the back of her head. A part of Gwen already knew how this would end but she was still hoping that somehow she was wrong and this wouldn't end with her best friend graduating from serial killer to assassin.
"MJ, before you say anything-"
"I'm taking Gyrich's deal."
Gwen didn't say anything. She was quiet, just staring at her with that unreadable mask. Mary Jane wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence but Gwen turned around and walked to the edge of the roof before she could.
'You made the right choice.'
'Shut up...'
Mary Jane physically pulled her mask off and took a deep breath, "Gwen, listen to me-"
"So that's it, huh?" Gwen interrupted. The voice was a harsh whisper that sounded alien coming from her, "This is your way out, a way for you to not have to spend your life killing people in dirty alleys or because some guy in a suit tells you to, and you just..." She stopped. The guilt weighed even heavier in her gut, "Just...tell me why. Why would you decide to do this?"
"...Being a hero, that's what you do, Gwen. Remember what I told you at the hospital?" Gwen flinched, "That hasn't changed. I'm not like you, Gwen. I can't think that people can be 'fixed or that I can just drop them in jail then get a pat on the back. The people I went after I did because that didn't work, and now they're not hurting anyone else. If I do this then-"
"Bullshit!" Mary Jane stepped back at the sudden yell, "You think that Gyrich guy's just gonna make it so clean? Or that if you decide that you wanna stop he'll just let you? You take his deal and you know what happens."
"Then I'll deal with it. I made my choice, Gwen."
She looked like she wanted to say something more before both their phones rang. Neither of them moved to answer it till Gwen's partner brought it out, "Gwen, it's Peter. I don't think you should ignore this."
They both answered the call and, for just a second, they forgot about their own problems. He was going off to fight that Bullseye guy and needed them to get ready just in case. She and Gwen looked at one another then swung to where they were told to go. They could scream at each other later.
SnowEspeon: Lol the majornator made a waifu tier list video for the female heroes. Link
reply from Aymerick Z.: Oh Lord...
reply from johnbazy: Seriously? Isn't that super degrading?
reply from CchocoBberycake: Who cares? It's fun.
reply from SnowEspeon: Okay that list is bullshit. Spider-Woman and Hawkeye being S-tier? Great. Spinerette being B? The shit?
reply from Attacker Atax: Wait why the heck is Hawkeye even S rank? She's got no powers and she's got a super tacky costume.
reply from wildrook: She's rich, she's shot, she's super funny (just look at her interviews) and she managed to get into the Avengers without having any super serums, tech or powers. She's fucking badass dude.
reply from Papa Nomura: Ah who cares about the Avengers? The other heroes are way more interesting. majornator has good taste being Sister Grimm on A rank :)
reply from Number12twelve: I'm personally a fan of Squirell Girl and Blink. Sure they aren't Avengers but they're really good heroes.
reply from fallingbed: Wonder if someone will make a husbando list in the future...
reply from Alistairjackson: Not a lot of guy heroes for some reason :/ Apparently powers really hate the Y chromose.
He was freezing.
Peter shifted deeper into his blankets and kept his eyes shut tight. It'd been days since he got out of that demented park. He passed in and out of consciousness and the hours that passed were difficult to gauge. Not that it made much of a difference. Night or day he was still stuck here.
The place they were taken to was one of Rand's. As much as Gwen and Cindy wanted them in a proper hospital he and Matt technically still had warrants out for their heads. Better they keep a low profile even if it meant relying on the so-called Night Nurse. The name wasn't indicative. She - one Claire Temple from what he overheard - was a doctor in her own right with over ten years of experience in the field. Apparently Night Nurse just rolled off the tongue better.
He peeked up through the covers to the shaded window. Sunlight streamed in through the blinds and the room's basic decorations made it look more homely and less clnical than most other hospitals. Not that it mattered considering he didn't do much walking around. His injuries were healing slower than normal and he still had cuts and bruises that remained even after his multiple trips into unconsciousness.
Spider-God didn't visit him in his dreams this time but he had a good feeling on the reason why. He'd overtaxed himself during the fight and it was a small miracle that all he had were a few bruises, scars and the chill in his skin. They'd pass eventually, he just needed to give it enough time.
Peter looked back up at the tan colored ceiling and let out a soft breath. It wasn't like he was lonely or anything. Even if the place was supposed to be secret Rand told all of his friends where he was. Every time he woke up there was already someone close to his bedside. Gwen, Mary, Cindy, Lana...apparently Lana didn't need any actual patching up. Bullseye was true to his word that she wasn't physically hurt at all.
Bullseye...
His face twitched and he grit his teeth, hands gripping at his sheets tightly. He was dead, this time for sure. Through one of his more lucid moments he heard that they got his body - or what was left of it... - and put it in a secure location to burn later. This time there wouldn't be any burials or anything left for the Hand to bring him back. Even the Hand couldn't bring someone back from nothing.
And even if they could, Page had his soul under lock and key. Part of their deal. No coming back this time.
He didn't know how he should feel. He did it. He promised he'd kill Bullseye and he did it. He won.
So why did it taste so damn bitter?
Peter shut his eyes again and took in a deep breath. The chill in his skin wasn't doing anything to help his mood and he threw away the blankets in his frustration, "Ugh..." He sat up and slowly pulled the shirt over his head, leaving him in nothing but the loose cotton pants. No amount of padding would help and at this point he'd take being freezing over being freezing and sweaty.
"Someone's getting a little stir crazy."
Peter sighed and looked across to his roommate. Matt and him were sharing the same room, mostly for convenience's sake. He'd heard Gwen and Lana complain about it before Temple said they didn't exactly have luxuries in this kind of place. This was somewhere people went to when they couldn't go anywhere else.
"I guess..." Peter muttered, "How are your hands?"
Matt raised the bandaged limbs with a wry smile, "Ms. Temple was 'kind' enough to give me painkillers despite my attempts refusal so the pain is...tolerable. Not that that's saying much considering the world is a haze right now. My senses are addled due to the drugs so you'll forgive me if I find it difficult to stand right now.
"No one's forcing you to do anything, Matt." He grabbed the bedframe and pushed himself up. A groan nearly passed through his lips before he forced it back down. The wounds were more sore than actually painful at this point...except for one. He pressed a hand against his right side and winced when he felt the scar with his fingertips. The last wound Bullseye gave him.
He could heal it. Chi was useful for a lot of things and curing scars was one the lower end of the scale. Despite that every single time he was tempted to something held him back. Letting out another frustrated sigh, he let go of the bed's railing and grabbed the juice at the nearby tray. The lukewarm fluid helped slightly with the chill. He grabbed another glass and offered it to Matt.
"There's no need, Peter. The IV already-"
"Just drink. Voice sounds like I'm being hit with sandpaper."
Matt complied and neither said a word till the glass was emptied. Matt was right, he was feeling stir crazy. Stuck in this room his thoughts kept coming back to the surface. Thoughts about Bullseye that he really didn't want to dwell on.
The door opened with a soft click and Gwen stepped through. Her lips curled down in a worried frown when they locked eyes, "You're supposed to be getting bedrest, Peter." She wasn't wearing her costume and the swathes of skin exposed by her shorts and off the shoulder shirt made him stare just a bit longer than he would have liked. He really needed to focus. Even if he wanted to be distracted it wasn't the best considering who he was sharing a room with.
"Yes, mom." He rolled his eyes playfully and sat back down on the bed after putting his shirt back on while Gwen took the nearby chair. As expected she completely ignored Matt and made sure she didn't even so much as glance in his direction. Lana was the same and Cindy, while she didn't actively ignore him, just talked to Peter. The only one who seemed to show any kind of sympathy was Mary. None of the other members of their ragtag group could come visit. Apparently the Fingers packed up and left house so they were looking for any sort of lead they could follow.
"This isn't a joke. Your wounds-"
"-Are fine. Takes more than a chill to put me down." He did his best to give her a comforting smile but her frown remained, "There's a reason why I'm not bandaged up like Matt and Doctor Temple can't do anything about a magical chill."
"Mm-hm." Her lips pursed slightly. It was clear she didn't like him mentioning the room's other occupant who, surprisingly, wasn't interrupting or making any comments.
"...Hey, what's wrong? You seem like you're in a bad mood and it's not just about me."
"It's nothing. We can talk about it when you get out of here." For just a second her eyes flicked over in Matt's direction before she stubbornly held his gaze again, "And hey, you shouldn't be worrying about me. You're the one who should be in bed."
"Yeah, yeah..." It was times like these that Gwen's overprotectiveness came back in full force. She'd lightened up a lot these past couple of months, so much so that she limited it to just a few token complaints whenever he did something really risky, but it never really went away. And right now he doubted she'd lighten up any time soon. He was halfway expecting to be grounded again as soon as he got out.
"I talked to the doctor. She said that there's not much else she can do for you." Gwen chewed her lower lip for a moment then held his left hand. He might've just imagined it but he swore his skin warmed at the touch, "All your bloodwork and other tests came up normal and your wounds are healing fast. The only thing she's really stumped with is that chill."
"Of course she would be. It's magic." He laughed under his breath and desperately wished for a smoke, "It'll pass. Always knew the Spider-God's gifts had a price. A little chill's worth it to be still breathing."
"Just tell me if there's anything I can do."
"You being here's enough..." Even just seeing her face was enough to drive Bullseye from his mind.
"Peter..."
Whatever she was about to say was interrupted by the door opening again. Mary stepped through the door and stopped when her and Gwen's eyes met, "...Hey." She stuffed her hands into the pocket of her dark jeans. The black shirt and blood red jacket made her stick out in the room's drab colors.
"What's up?" Peter looked between her and Gwen.
"...Perhaps it's wrong for me to interject, but it appears there's some tension in the air," Matt said.
Gwen opened her mouth, apparently forgetting to ignore him altogether, but Mary cut her off quickly, "It's personal. And not something we need to drag either of you two into." Her voice left no room for argument, "Besides, I came here to visit you two, not start drama."
"Appreciate it, Mary."
"Indeed." Matt hummed.
Gwen pursed her lips and watched as Mary Jane pulled out a packet of cigarettes-
"I love you."
"Keep it in your pants, Tiger." She tossed him the smokes and a lighter on top, "Doc said no smoking inside, though. You wanna light up you gotta go to the roof."
"Sure." He gave Mary Jane a small smile then turned back to Gwen, "You don't mind, do you?"
"Yeah, whatever. At this point I've gotten used to the smell."
"Oh yeah, this is for you." Mary pulled out a stack of folders from her jacket and set them at the table near Matt's bed, "Passed by your place like you asked and someone dumped these on your table. New cases, I think?"
Matt laughed under his breath, "Of course, Karen's already making plans for me to continue working. No rest for the wicked, I suppose."
"Seriously? She should really-"
"Why were you at his place?" Gwen cut in. Mary's eyes widened by just the smallest amount, "Didn't realize you two were friends."
"It's not like that," she said quickly, "Look, you know we've been...working together. I went to his place before when we were following up on leads."
"Leads on who to kill?" Gwen asked. Her voice was surprisingly low and held none of the tentative idealism she had before when discussing their previous vigilante sprees,
"..." Mary Jane looked away, hair covering her face and masking her expression.
"Gwen..." Peter touched her shoulder with his free hand.
"What? Am I wrong? Am I supposed to just pretend this is okay even though she decided she'd rather spend her life killing people than doing anything else?" Gwen's glare was chilling the veins that crept up her neck to her jaw made it clear she was past the point of stopping, "Because it's not enough that she decides to be a killer but when push comes to shove she'd rather choose to be someone's pet assassin than trying to find a way out."
"Alright, that's enough!" Mary stamped her foot and the floor cracked from the impact, "I'm sorry we can't all be heroes like you, Gwen! I'm sorry that maybe I think I can help people better this way instead of just copying the oh so great Spider-Woman who wants me to be her clone!" Mary's snarl alost sounded inhuman. Unlike Gwen the red, pulsating veins ran up to her cheeks and right eye was bathed in crimson.
"Don't you dare turn this around on me! You were the one who decided to be a government hitman!" The suit thrummed in response to Gwen's anger.
This was going nowhere. Peter forced himself to stand and stood in-between the arguing pair, ignoring the fact that he was stepping in-between a pair of people who could kill him with a swat. They were better than that, "Let's calm down. Screaming at each other isn't gonna help." He looked between them and held up both hands. He was never used to playing the peacekeeper. That was mostly Gwen's job.
"She was the one who started it." Mary let out a frustrated sigh and the veins receded, "...I didn't come here to fight, Gwen, but I'm not gonna back out just cause you don't like it. If you can't accept it then there's nothing I can do for you."
"But is this really what you want? You really think you can trust Gyrich?"
"I don't know, but isn't this better than what I was doing before? You know people who kill. Why is it okay for Peter or Hawkeye or Captain fucking America to kill people but when I do it I'm crossing the line?"
"Because..." Gwen looked away and grit her teeth, hands shaking.
"Are you worried that Crimson is still controlling me? Is that it? You know it isn't! I already told you that I made my own choices. It was the same then and it's the same now. No amount of blaming it will change that."
"I know! I know, okay?! But what, MJ? Is this really it? You're gonna give up of ever actually stopping or finding a way out? Because you fucking know Gyrich isn't going to let you go or quit now that he has you. What happens in ten years? Or twenty? What if you want to stop and Gyrich or whoever the fuck else you're working for decides they'd rather keep you. What then?"
"Then...I'll have to deal with it, but you have to respect that. I made my choice, Gwen, and if that's not good enough for you then...I don't what to tell you."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Gwen refused to look Mary in the face and Mary turned around to keep anyone from seeing her expression. He didn't know what to do? Comfort Gwen? Ask Mary for explanation? He had no idea what the hell was going on, though he could hazard a guess. It was just days ago when the two of them were making plans to hang out and practice that new song. How could it change so much?
He didn't get to do anything before the clicking of heels reached his ears and Karen Page stepped into the room.
"...Am I interrupting something?" She raised a thin brow and kept her face neutral.
It was Gwen who answered first, "No, just got a bit heated. Here for your pet?" The words were surprisingly nasty and Karen blinked before, with a ghost of a smile on her lips, she replied.
"No. I'm here for yours."
His spider-sense rang and he grabbed Gwen's wrist before she could step past him, "Don't." Page was human and kind, or at least that was what Matt and Moon Knight claimed. Ruth wasn't. Even if she'd likely just shrug off whatever Gwen did he didn't want to risk it, "You came here to talk to me? Fine, let's talk."
"Would you prefer privacy?"
"Anything you can say to me you can say to them." He squeezed Gwen's wrist again.
"It was for your benefit, not mine." Her smile faded and the sat down on a chair like a queen on her throne, "I assume you haven't forgotten the terms for our arrangement? Your cooperation with Matthew in exchange for your friend's soul being saved from damnation." The reminder of Bullseye felt like a punch in the face, "His soul was out of my hands when I made the bargain but now that he's passed the pact remains."
"...What are you getting at?"
"I merely wish to know if you still agree to abide by the terms of our original deal." She pressed her hands together in one smooth movement, almost like a prayer, "Given the pain he's caused you I wouldn't fault you for deciding his soul isn't worth saving from damnation after all."
"Karen, is this really the time for this?" Matt tried to stand but his wobbly legs made him lose balance. Mary quickly grabbed him before he could fall and helped him stand up, "We barely finished Mr. Crest a few days ago. This isn't..." He tried to walk towards her before a wracking fit of coughs forced him to stop. Mary set him back down on the bed while he pressed his bandaged hands against his mouth. There was blood.
"Hey, hey! Be careful!" Mary sighed.
"...Stay down, Matt. Deal's off either way if you die," Peter said numbly. It was difficult to talk. He had to force every single word out of his mouth as he met Page's impassive gaze. He had to keep talking, if only to keep his thoughts from creeping back in, "Why in the hell did you come here to ask that? Is this the part where you tell me you never could've saved Bullseye's soul anyway so I should ask for another 'prize'?"
"Of course not. Your friend's soul is under my care, so to speak. It's been damaged due to his improper resurrection, but it's most definitely his. My purpose is to make certain of the terms of our deal. Despite how you view me, Mr. Parker, I'm not without sympathy nor do I wish to 'win' this bargain like a scrabbling devil. If you wish for his soul's salvation then you need only say yes and I'll say no more."
"And if I say no...?"
Matt's brows raised while Gwen bit her lower lip. It wasn't a secret that she hated Bullseye almost as much as she did Matt but she respected his choice to deal with Page for a chance to save him. A part of him expected her to try and say something, wanted her to make the choice for him. Instead she kept quiet and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
All his thoughts of Bullseye came rushing back in choking wave. The friend who always had his back, the bastard who put Lana in the hospital, the guy who sacrificed his life for him, the monster who made Lana watch the people she loved almost die...it was all a chaotic and contradictory mess that made him want to scream. It would've been so easy to just blame Gao and her cronies for everything but he'd seen Bullseye disobey firsthand. How much of him was truly left from when he came back to those bloody, painful final moments?
Did he deserve to be saved after everything? All the people he killed and tried to hurt and he'd...what, end up in some kind of blissful oblivion? Even back when he was still (less) insane he had enough in him to admit he probably deserved the inferno.
"What is the point is this, Ruth? Surely you aren't just doing this for the sake of fairness," Matt said, "More to the point what else do you think you can even offer him aside from Mr. Crest's salvation?"
"Many things. A guaranteed escape from hellfire for himself comes to mind." Matt's brows furrowed but he didn't say anything, "He asked me before to give Dr. Connors a degree of closure and I agreed to that as well. You're well aware of my abilities, Mr. Parker. If you wish to continue our previous arrangement then I'll leave
"You're forgetting something. Without a deal there's nothing stopping me from just killing Matt."
The smile came back, "I think we both know that risk has long since passed, Peter." Hearing his name come from her mouth - so assured and full of comfort - made him feel like he was shoved off a cliff.
"You seem sure about that..." Mary hummed.
"He's had the chance to leave Matthew to death multiple times and he's always refused. Even just days prior when Ms. Baumgartner was all too willing to abandon him. But not you. Will you lie and tell me that even in such a moment you were thinking of our deal?"
"..."
"I sympathize with you, Peter, that's why I want you to be certain of your choice. So I'll ask again: are you certain of the terms and don't want any changes?"
"If...If I say I do, what happens to Bullseye's soul?"
"He returns to where he belongs." In Hell, "Perhaps this won't mean anything to you but there's a reason he was sent there in the first place. While he was a friend to you he'd indirectly destroyed the lives of innocents without a hint of remorse. That more than anything was what damned him. If he'd truly understood the weight of his sins he could have redeemed himself and earned his own salvation. Instead he'd brushed it off as a necessary consequence and accepted where he would end."
"That's enough, Ruth. I doubt what Peter needs right now is a condemnation of his old friend," Matt cut in.
"Yeah." Gwen squeezed his shoulder again, "Look, I wasn't the biggest fan of the guy, but is this really the time for this shit? Peter's still recovering, you can't expect him to make such a big decision by just barging in here."
"I understand both your points, but it's still ultimately his decision." She looked him in the eyes, "Your answer, Peter?"
"I..." He grit his teeth and, with shaking hands, turned and picked up the packet and lighter lying on top of the bed, "I need to think...need some air." He stepped past all of them without waiting for Karen or Ruth or whoever the hell she was right now to reply. The place was small enough that it didn't even take him a minute to walk up the stairs into the open roof and the hot afternoon sun.
The sunlight didn't do much to stop the chill. Peter kept walking till he reached the end of the roof and the waist high wall. His hands gripped the shabby bricks and he looked down at the bustling streets below. Rand's place was actually in a pretty decent part of Manhattan, far away from the cramped hidey holes in decrepit neighborhoods that he was used to. Guess all that money paid off.
His hands fumbled for a single coffin nail and he pulled it out through trembling fingers. It should've been an easy choice. If he just kept quiet said he didn't want to talk about it Page wouldn't have pushed. Instead he had to make a scene and walk out like this was some kind of drama.
It took a few attempts for him to successfully light the white stick without dropping it. He put the cigarette in his mouth and took a deep inhale. The chill in his skin didn't abate for even a second and he let out a frustrated plume of smoke. He wanted to scream again, to punch the wall like an angry toddler that didn't get what he wanted. He didn't. It wouldn't solve anything.
He'd finished the coffin nail and stamped it underfoot when he heard soft footsteps behind him, "No need to bother trying to be subtle, Gwen," he said without turning around. The footsteps stopped and he smiled wryly. There were a lot of tells to someone's identity and he'd figured out just about all of the ones for his friends. Gwen was loud in more ways than one and her attempts to be quiet never passed his senses. The only one who did was Cindy.
Gwen walked beside him and leaned across the low wall without a word. Neither of them said anything for a minute before she took a deep breath and spoke up, "Murdock talked with Page, said that you need some time to think it over. She agreed and said she'd come back in a few days."
"Hm..." He looked down and pursed his lips, "Gwen...I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me. Please."
"Of course."
"You know what Osborn did. he ruined people's lives because he deluded himself into thinking that killing you would somehow make things right. You cured all the other Lizards, but he's still cost people their lives. Connors was just one of them. When he gave the formula to Cindy's counterpart she killed dozens - maybe hundreds - of people trying to 'perfect' it."
"Yeah, I know..."
"You saved him before because he was your friend. Despite everything he did you forgave him. Would you still do the same?"
"I...I think so, but I'm not sure if it's the same."
"Isn't it? He hurt innocent people to get to you. To kill you. And despite all that you decided to give him another chance." The side of his mouth twitched, "Would you have done the same if he hurt the people you loved? What if he went after Captain Stacy or Ben or May or your mom? Would you have just turned the other cheek?"
"I don't know." She closed her eyes and let out a slow breath, "I can't tell you what I'd do or what you should do, Peter. He was your friend, and as much as I didn't exactly love the guy I can't take that away from you."
"Yeah..." He held her hand against and relished in the warmth of the contact. A part of him always wondered what the Spider-God thought of their relationship, if it even cared at all. Theresa hammered into his head what their roles were. He was supposed to be the sacrifice, the bait that'd hook Gwen into suicidal heroism. The Spider-God brought him back out of spite. Then he said their kids would be his.
Fuck, this wasn't the time for thinking about that.
"I need to get out of here."
"Huh?" Gwen stiffened slightly, "But you're still-"
"I don't mean go out for a night on the town. I just...I need out of this place. Being in that room with just Matt is making me stew and..." And no matter what he'd keep coming back to Bullseye, "Just...let's go home, please. Doctor said she can't really do anything anymore and this chill's more annoying than anything."
Gwen bit her lip before she eventually nodded, "Alright, but we'll take it easy, okay? No crime fighting or Hand hunting or whatever."
"Agreed."
They said their goodbyes to Doctor Temple and walked back. No cars, no webswinging, just walking through the afternoon crowds. Not that he could really do anything but keep his head down. Even if most people wouldn't recognize him at a glance - benefit of being a brown haired caucasian in a city full of them - he didn't want to risk it with Gwen so near.
Coming home was odd after all this time. The past few days in safehouses and, until just a few days ago, a tent made the warmth of the apartment feel almost alien, "Peter?" Gwen's hand on his shoulder jolted him out of his frozen state. He turned to look at her, "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"
"N-No. Just nice to be home."
Her lips quirked up in a soft, sweet smile and he kissed her. The warmth from the contact made him sigh and lean deeper against her. Being with her made it easy to forget, even for just a moment. No Bullseye, no Matt, no heaven or hell or Hand or any other insanity. Just the two of them.
The kiss lasted for only a few seconds before they pulled back, "We need to take it easy, Peter." She put a gentle hand on his chest, fingers brushing against the fabric of the shirt and the bandages underneath.
"Yeah..." He nodded and let her lead him to the couch.
They spent the next few hours trying to distract themselves. No news, no social media, nothing to remind them of anything that happened in the past few days. He didn't even pay attention to what they were watching. All he cared about was being close to Gwen.
Night came and he didn't bother arguing when she invited him to bed. Anything to keep away the chill and the memories.
Unfortunately sleep wasn't the peace he wanted. Images of Bullseye flashed through his mind. The friend who he went out drinking with, the bastard who stabbed him in the gut, the one who sacrificed his life for his, the one who almost killed Lana and God only knew how many other people. Everything was fucked. Love, hate, friend, enemy...it was all blurring together and he didn't know how to fix it.
Peter woke up in a cold sweat. His breaths came out in ragged pants and he had to focus to stay stable, "Damn it..." He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stumbled to a shaky stand. His wounds were almost gone now but he felt even worse than before. His vision swam, his hands shook and every step felt like he was weighed down by anchors.
"Come on, Petey. Where's all this grief coming from?"
Peter nearly crashed out the door. He heard Gwen wake behind him but he didn't look back.
"You really thinkin' of sending me back to that firepit? There's gratitude for ya! Ya threaten to kill Boomgal and suddenly people forget all you did for them."
"Shut up..." He wasn't actually there, he knew that, but it didn't help. Hearing voices wasn't the best sign for sanity and this wasn't the first time it'd happened. He stopped at the table and gripped the edges in a vice grip. He needed to do something, find something to keep himself occupied. A fight or maybe some scumbag trying to blow his head off. Anything to keep him going.
"Trying to shut me out? That's right, go ahead! It's what you always do! Second you get something you can't just shoot suddenly it's this big angst fit!"
He couldn't stay here. Needed to...to find a distraction. Something else to focus on.
"Peter, what's-"
"Wh-Where's my mask?" He slipped past her back to the room and shoved the cabinet open. Not there, "Gwen, where is it?"
"Your mask? What the hell are you-"
"I...I need to..." What the hell was this? He'd stared down death more times than he could count and he'd only cracked once. This wasn't that. It was just like when Matt took Bullseye the first time. Not fear, it was something indescribable. Grief trying to crush its way through the surface while he did everything he could to keep it down. He wasn't going to break. Not again.
"Peter, I think you need to-"
She put a hand on his shoulder and he nearly shoved her off. Instead he shrugged off the comforting gesture and stepped past her again. She stepped back at the flinching contact, eyes wide and hurt. Peter mumbled an apology and continued to look for his mask...or anything to keep his face covered. Just needed to get out of here. Somewhere that wasn't quiet and he couldn't stop to think.
He finally managed to find a spare mask. It was halfway raised to his face before Gwen snatched it from his hands, "What the hell are you doing?!" He winced at her angry shout. Gwen was rarely ever truly angry. Worried? That was another thing. He always found it hard to know what to do when he was on the end of her worries.
It was even worse now. He understood why she was angry at him but he couldn't stop. Staying here meant hearing Bullseye's voice again and losing that fight to keep it all under control.
"I can't...stay here..." His hands gripped her shoulders the next breaths were even more strangled than before. Any trace of anger disappeared and her expression softened in pity. He closed his eyes and looked down, still panting, "Need to...to do something...keep my mind off of..."
"Peter...I think you're having a panic attack." She raised her arms slowly and cupped his cheeks with both hands, "Peter...look at me." She nudged his head up and he opened his eyes again. There was no anger left, just a quiet determination, "We need to get through this, okay? You can't just run looking for a fight or...or something to try and pretend that nothing's wrong."
"I don't know what to do, Gwen..." His voice came out in a whisper, "Bullseye died as my friend last year and now he's the bastard who almost killed me, Lana and god only knows how many other innocent people. A part of me still wants to grieve, to care about the friend I lost, but another part of me thinks that he doesn't deserve it. Maybe he was never really brainwashed like I thought - hoped - he'd be."
"I can't tell you how to feel, Peter. He was your friend and you knew him better than anyone. But..." She chewed her lower lip then continued softly, "There's nothing saying you can't mourn the friend you lost instead of the one you had to fight." She took a deep breath, the fingers at the sides of his jaw curling, "It's what I did. I mourned the Peter I lost years ago and put him to rest."
"I..."
"If you need to hit somebody then hit me. I can take it." She smiled slightly, "Trust me, I know what it's like to just be angry and sad. I wrecked my room so many times 4 years ago."
"But..."
"Peter, it's okay. Just let it out."
He screamed and cried, letting the tears come out like a bursting dam. Gwen just stood there and let him even when he grabbed at her or headbutted her shoulder in frustration. He was sure it must've looked hilarious, just him throwing a tantrum while ineffecutally swiping at her. And through it all Gwen didn't say a word and just let him go through it.
All the suppressed grief was out now and he couldn't clamp down on it anymore. When Bullseye first came back he was so relieved...until the literal knife to the gut. Even after his talk with Page he tried his best to not dwell on it. Just rush into the next problem and put it out of your mind, like always. Even on those last days when they hunted him down he always tried to focus on the problems and never what came after.
He still didn't know. Did Bullseye still deserve to be saved after everything? Was the bastard he killed the same one as the friend he'd spent all those months with? Page told him before that it was the same soul but what did that really mean? Even after everything he'd been through he still didn't know how it worked for himself; and he probably never would. He had Peter Parker's soul and he was in Hell himself. It was probably just the Spider-God's whims that he didn't remember it. Still, calling himself the same Peter as the one Gwen buried would've been a lie. Was Bullseye the same?
He didn't know how much time passed before his frustrated screams and tears finally stopped. All he knew was that he suddenly felt exhausted and hilegs could barely hold himself up. Before he knew it they were on the bed again his his head resting against her chest and his eyes half closed.
Gwen held him closer and whispered, "I'm sorry it went down like this, Peter."
"Me too." He closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of her light perfume, "I'll...talk to Page in a few days, have her answer some questions. Maybe it'll help me come to a decision." He stayed quiet for a few moments before asking, "What really happened between you and Mary?"
Her entire body stiffened and she sighed, "A disagreement. I...we shouldn't talk about this right now. I know you want to help me, but you still need to deal with your own thing. Trust me, I can deal."
"Sounded serious."
"Yeah...I dunno, maybe she's right. She's an adult, she can do what she wants with her life." Her hold on him tightened, "Hey, Pete...don't leave me."
"Where'd that come from...?"
She didn't answer. Peter closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep with Gwen's soft humming in his ears. This time he didn't have nightmares.
Woof. Again, sorry for the update taking so long. Noir's segment was okay but Mary Jane's was difficult to write. Originally the Initiative actually would've appeared almost as cynical as Mary Jane assumed it to be. Rather than members being abused, however, it was more that the majority are filled with wannabe heroes and attention seekers with the employees just tired of the constant influx of super wannabes.
A friend commented that it made no sense given the timeline and heroes not having been around long enough for people to get tired of them. So instead she's shown a place more akin to Xavier's school but for adults and yet she still chooses Gyrich, showing her in a far more morally ambiguous light rather than justified in her choice. Think it turned out better.
Speaking of, this allows Mary Jane to have more of her own supporting cast to bounce off of since she'll be part of a team. Current members of Gyrich's team include:
Mary Jane Watson/Scarlet
Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat
Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Clint Barton/Hawkeye I/Ronin
Daisy Johnson/Quake
Feels like this team would work as a Weapon X/Thunderbolts type group. Mary Jane's primary interactions will be with Shadowcat since she at least knows her.
Questions:
1. Do you guys think Gwen is too lax? A friend criticized me that Gwen went from being very overprotective to way too calm besides giving a token complaint whenever Peter does something stupid like the undercover cult and prison arcs. Should I dial it back up again?
2. Is Gwen wrong to be mad at MJ for her choice or is she justified considering Mary Jane is basically signing up to be a government assassin, which is far above her usual vigilante antics?
3. Since people keep saying it, would you guys actually be fine if I just skip over fight scenes? Like if the Bullseye finale last chapter just cut to the end with Bullseye dying and Noir and Matt messed up. Would that actually be fine for most readers?
Review Answers:
Saint Danielle - Lana's probably a no-go due to being an Initiative member and attending school.
raymond49090rc - Are magical girls really that much more interesting than the various demons, ghosts, vampires and other supernatural crap Noir tangles with? The main joke I can see is the genre blend not making ense.
Krolikson - ...Simple and optional? Cause I remember loader bot running with his arms and batting away missles while we got chased by a crazy dude in a car.
x1923 - You didn't mind that Jack had basically no backstory besides Chaotic Evil? Also, I doubt we'll see more Lester since...well, he's dead.
Cyclopz - I think Jack should stay retired. Bringing him back kinda cripples his pyrrhic victory where he screwed over Peter at the cost of his body.
