Kitty arrived first with stuff for the movie night – just snacks, soda, cups, and the like. About an hour later, MJ, Ned, and Betty arrived. As expected, they crowded around Craig, surprised to see him and checking to see if he was okay. He assured them that his jaw okay and that he was no longer dealing with a concussion, all because of The Iron Fist.

"But how are you guys?" Craig asked with concern in his voice. "I heard about what happened at Midtown."

"Yeah, we're good," Betty assured as she took a seat on the sofa. "All thanks to Kitty, Scott, and Peter." She then looked at me. "I have to say, though, seeing you act like that… it was pretty scary. Awesome, but scary."

"Yeah," I murmured as I looked down and bashfully kicked. "…I tend to get like that when people I really care about is in danger. And, when Em told me how she got that busted lip…" I trailed off. I then brought my head up when I felt a pair of arms around me and a warm body pressed against my back. I didn't bother looking over my shoulder – I knew it was Michelle.

"You know, I was scared, too," Michelle said into my ear. "But… I was also touched to see that you cared about me that much, even though I was still mad at you."

"There isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep you guys safe." I turned my head just enough to see MJ in my peripheral. "Especially you, Em."

"D'AAAAAW!" Kitty said from the kitchen. "You two are so cute!"

"Nah, we're adorable," MJ commented, only being semi-sarcastic as she squeezed her arms tighter around me.

"I really wish I was there," Craig chimed in. "Any day I can slide on The Friends of Humanity is a day I like to take full advantage of." He then smiled slightly as he looked at the rest of us. "…Thanks guys."

Betty furrowed up her eyebrows. "For what?"

"For still rocking with Kitty, Scott, and I." Craig frowned. "Whenever people find out that we're mutants, we usually don't get the most positive of responses."

"It's stupid," Ned said as he plopped down next to Betty and put an arm around her shoulder. "A person gets their abilities from science experiments, and no one gets alarmed until they actually show they're bad guys or something catastrophic happens. But the moment someone gets a power from a gene, all of a sudden, they should be public enemy number one?"

At that, Craig brought his hands up. "Thank you, Ned. Like, freaking… Thank you!"

"We really appreciate your friendship," Kitty said as she came over with a bowl of popcorn and Doritos. "But, anyway, we got to decide on a movie."

It took us some time to decide on a movie. We all had different ideas on which movie we could watch. However, a decision was made when Craig suggested Gone In 60 Seconds.

"…I don't think I ever saw that movie," I said.

Craig looked at me with a look of both surprise and indignation. "…Excuse me?" he whispered out, sounding offended.

"I haven't seen it either," MJ stated as if it wasn't a big deal. Apparently it was a big deal since Craig was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I never saw it," Betty chimed in.

"Yeah, I don't think I ever – " Ned began.

"Okay, we're watching, Gone In 60 Seconds," Craig said with finality. As he looked for the movie on the TV's YouTube app, he grumbled about uncultured swine, causing me to chuckle.

I decided to sit down on the couch. I then looked at MJ and patted the seat next to me twice. She rolled her eyes at me, but still walked over and joined me on the couch. I was about to lean over and lay my head on her shoulder, but she moved first, leaning over and placing her head on my shoulder. I was a bit surprised, but pleasantly so. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and placed a kiss on her temple.

"You're such a sap," MJ deadpanned as she snuggled in closer to me.

"I'm your sap," I replied.

"And don't you forget it."

I chuckled as the movie started.

The next day, I was at the laundromat when I received a text from Craig

"I'll pick you up," the message from Craig said. Then another message came from him. It was made up of a time, date, and two pictures – one of a traffic signal with its green light lit up and another one of a midnight blue first generation Scion xB. I typed up my reply.

"See you, then."

Tuesday rolled around. I had my quick change suit ready. I sewed myself another mask – this one completely black (except for the lenses, of course) with no web pattern. The rest of the suit was made up of a black leather side button jacket that was collared, a pair of black jeans, and a pair of Air Force Ones. The jacket itself hung down to the middle of my thighs, hiding the utility belt I wore underneath. I also had on a pair of black gloves. Between the gloves and my sleeves, my web shooters were well hidden. As I waited for Craig, I went over my homework, making sure I had everything correct. Eventually, my phone vibrated. I picked up and checked the message, seeing it was from Craig.

"I'm downstairs," the message read.

"I'm coming." I wrote back.

I stood up and checked my outfit. I then picked my mask up, opened my jacket, and stuffed the mask into the large inner pocket I sewed in the inside of it. I then grabbed my keys and phone before I made my way out.

After I took the stairs down, I exited the front of the building. A midnight blue Scion xB was waiting for me, with Craig outside, leaning back on the outside while on his phone. He looked up at me as I approached and smiled as he put his phone away. He looked me up and down and smirked.

"Okay, I see the drip!" he complimented.

"I figured I could change it up a bit," I replied with a smile.

At that, he nodded. "Ready to roll?"

"Yeah, let's go."

He walked around the car before he opened the door and stepped into the driver seat. I stepped into the passenger seat and put my seatbelt on. After he did the same thing and started the car, Craig took a few moments to adjust the rearview mirror and turn on the headlights before he drove off.

While on the road, we were quiet for the first few minutes, save for the music playing from the car's system. Craig then glanced at me. "We still got to get prepared for the Valentine's Day dance, don't we?" he inquired.

"Yeah, we do," I confirmed. I shook my head. "With everything going on lately, it almost slipped my mind completely."

"The last week has been rather hectic for you." He smiled. "Though, you ended up with your girl back, so, happy endings, am I right?"

"Happy ending for that chapter, I'd say." I chuckled. "I'm happy to have her back. I was stupid for thinking I could live my life without her."

"I'm happy you did it sooner than later, with them going to MIT and all."

"Yeah." I paused for a moment. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure how I'll handle that when she moves. But we'll figure it out. It's only about a five hour drive from New York to Boston anyway. Well, Cambridge really, but close enough."

"Y'all got it," Craig encouraged. "If the relationship between you two can survive your superhero life and The Spell, then, in my opinion, you might as well get the ring."

I blushed slightly as I looked away. "I don't think we're there yet," I said, surprised that I didn't stutter. "…But I'd be lying if I said that's not what I'm hoping for."

"I better be at your wedding, then."

We continued to drive until we arrived in Harlem. We pulled into a parking lot before Craig turned the car off and turned off the lights.

"Who are we looking for?" I asked.

"A one Joel Spurlock," Craig replied. "He's a mortician, and the main go-to guy for funeral arrangements in Harlem. He's also the number one guy to make bodies disappear. So, a lot of gangs in Harlem employ his services." He nodded towards the building across the street. I looked across at the building. It took me a few moments to realize what I was looking at – a mortuary. "He normally wouldn't be here at this time, but he's expecting a body tonight, so he'll be stopping by soon."

I looked at him. "How do you know this?"

Craig smirked. "I paid someone to call one in."

I chuckled. "Aren't you devious?"

"Sometimes, you gotta play dirty for the greater good."

So, we waited in silence, watching for any cars that passed by. About thirty minutes passed until a black Lincoln Continental pulled into the parking lot of the mortuary. After it parked in a spot and the lights went off, a man stepped out of the car, dressed in a black suit.

"Is that him?" I asked.

"Mmmmm, black guy with medium length hair, black suit… should be him," Craig replied. He pulled out his keys and put the car key in the ignition. We both watched as who we believed to be Joel look around before he pulled out his keys from his pocket and unlocked the front door of his mortuary and entered. A few moments after that, Craig started the car, but kept the lights off. "Let's go make our appointment, shall we?" I nodded before I opened my jacket and pulled out my mask. I then pulled it over my face. "Nice mask. You made it yourself?"

"I did," I confirmed. "Aunt May taught me how to sew." I sighed.

"Really wish I got to know the woman beyond the two times we rubbed shoulders," Craig replied as he put his own hood up and pulled down the mask over his face. "Her name's on Dolly Parton status in these streets." I looked at him and smiled underneath my mask.

We finally pulled out the parking lot. With his lights out, Craig carefully drove across the street. He then drove to the back of the mortuary, taking care to back into the rear lot so the hatch was facing the back door. After putting the car in park, he turned off the car and hopped out of the vehicle. I followed suit, closing up my jacket. As I moved to Craig's side, he brought his arm up, about to knock the door. He then paused before he looked at me.

"Codenames from here on out," he whispered. I nodded. Frictor banged on the back door four times. A few minutes later, the door opened.

"You're here a little early," Joel began before he looked up at us. His mouth went ajar as he looked back in forth between us.

"Let us in, Joel," Frictor demanded in a stern tone. "I don't want to have to get violent, but I need answers. Let us in and don't try anything funny." Joel swallowed, then nodded as he stepped aside. Frictor and I walked in. As soon we entered, Joel closed the door behind us. "Spidey, web the door shut for me." Without hesitation, I turned shot a web over the door way, just missing Joel as he got out of the way.

Joel glared at Frictor. "You brought Spider-Man with you?!" he demanded.

"No, I'm his lawyer," I deadpanned. "You may have heard of my firm – The Law Office of No, Crap, and Sherlock."

"And he gets paid by the minute," Frictor added with his own dose of sarcasm as he walked up to one of the embalming tables. He turned around and leaned back against it. "So let's make this quick. It was your tip that led Spider-Man and I to that warehouse. It was your tip that led us straight into a trap by Scorpion. And it was because of your tip I got sidelined for about a week. So, start spilling."

"What I told you is what I told you," Joel said evasively. "Everything else that happened beyond that has nothing to do with me."

At that, Frictor scoffed. He looked at me and beckoned towards Joel. "Do you believe this cat?"

"Not even a little bit," I replied.

"Neither do I." Frictor looked back at Joel, who adjusted his tie smugly. "As a matter of fact, I think that night has a lot to do with you. Now, I believe we had ourselves an understanding. Said understanding involves me looking the other way while you conduct your side business of unlicensed disposal in exchange for you giving me information I need to do my thing as a vigilante. Nowhere in our agreement involves getting me killed."

"Mr. Spurlock," I said, speaking up. "The two of us have had a long week or so and patience has been extremely tested. Now, you know I work mostly in Queens, but every now and again, I've been known to shift territories."

"And what that does that have to do with me?" Joel asked with a scoff.

"It's simple," Frictor cut in. "We're going to leave here eventually. But if we leave without answers, Spider-Man and I are going to get our people. And then we're going to come back and make your life as uncomfortable as possible. We'll go after you and your customers until that revenue dries up. And we'll make sure that the next thing you're burying is a seed in a prison garden. So I'm going to ask you one last time. Why'd you flip?" Joel averted his gaze, not saying a word. Frictor shrugged his shoulders as he stood up from the embalming table. "Aight, Spidey, let's bounce. Looks like we're going to make a new home in Harlem."

"Wait!" Joel spoke up. Frictor leaned back against the table and beckoned for him to continue. "You're not the only person I inform for. One doesn't stay in business as long as I do without throwing law enforcement a bone every now and again."

At that, Frictor scoffed. "So I'm a bone now?"

"A pretty big bone, especially since you linked up with Spider-Boy over here."

"Joel, you know what I'm capable of," I warned in a grim tone. "And considering you got my friend here hurt very badly, I suggest you leave the smart aleck comments to us."

Joel took in an indignant breath. "Anyway, you two, along with Shadowcat, have gotten a lot of attention from them boys in the government since you guys won't submit The Accords. And since you guys don't have Luke Cage's protection, they decided to make you Hammer's number one target. So they came looking for every snitch and informant they could find that's on the police payroll. They found me and threaten me with everything. So, I told them about the stash house you were going to hit. They got to it first and cleaned everything out. Nothing personal, but I wasn't about to do time for you!"

"So the government came looking for you to get to us," I said. "Why us all of a sudden?"

"Morale and money," Joel answered. "When Tony Stark died, Stark Industries backed off its support for The Accords. Without arguably the most influential company in the world backing them up, the U.S. Government, and other governments around the world, needed someone to be face of the Pro-Accords movement. Making things worse for them is that a lot of the heroes who showed up to fight Thanos weren't even registered." He looked at Frictor. "Isn't that right?" Frictor said nothing, but glared back at Joel. Joel continued. "So, they had to turn to Hammer Industries. They had to turn to Hammer."

"Way to scrape the bottom of the barrel," Frictor deadpanned.

"They had no choice, boy. They've been lookin' left and right for any influential billionaire they could find, but most of them said no. Bill Gates didn't want any parts of it. Richard Branson and Elon Musk said no. Tim Cook was a no as well. Hell, they even tried to get Oprah, Jay-Z, and Tyler Perry, and they all said no. The only person they had left was Hammer. And he agreed to it, as long as his sentence was vacated, he got his position as head of Hammer Industries back, and got paid a very hefty sum to make his own little Arachnid Hero."

"Scorpion," I said.

"Scorpion is just the beginning." The two of us looked at Joel. "Hammer is pushing hard to take down you, Spider-Man, and every other Vigilante in New York. But he's starting with Spider-Man because he's one of the main pillars of New York – Queens' own Captain America. And if he succeeds, he'll be going after the others – Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Punisher… he'll work his way down from there. And then there'll be more freaks like Scorpion on the hunt."

"I won't let that happen," I declared.

"WE won't let that happen," Frictor corrected. He then looked at Joel. He stood up from the table and walked up to Joel. He didn't stop until there was about an inch between their noses. Joel held a neutral face, but visibly gulped. "Next time you got to inform on me, you better let me know. We're trying to handle Scorpion, and if it means putting you behind bars to do so, I will. So don't give me a reason to do so. By the way, you're still my informant." After that, he turned away from him and walked towards the front door. "Let's bounce, Spidey."

I followed him out as we made our way to the front door.

"What about my back door?!" Joel called out.

"The web will dissolve!" I called back. "…Eventually!"