Peter emerged from the dark alley quickly; glancing around to make sure he wasn't spotted. Gwen hadn't stayed at her apartment or answered her phone in three days. Between cleaning up the city and trying to track her down Peter was exhausted.
Captain Stacy was giving a press conference in front of the police station to update the city on the rising crime and riots; he was hoping Gwen was there in support of her father.
He had to talk to her - to apologize for saying the stupidest thing he had ever said to date. It won't be you. Those four words haunted his very existence. He would let this city burn to the ground for Gwen; she had to know that.
He had to believe it.
Peter jogged down the street where the crowd was dispersing and Mr Stacy stood shaking hands with people in suits. Their eyes locked as Peter approached.
"Mr. Parker! What do I owe the pleasure?"
Peter shook his offered hand; forcing a smile. "Great speech, Mr. Stacy. You're going to do great things in this city."
George Stacy smiled at the thought. "You know what, Parker. You'd make a great cop."
Peter stopped scanning his surroundings; no sign of Gwen. "Ah, science is more my thing, Captain." He assured; his shoulders falling in defeat. "You haven't seen Gwen, have you?"
"Gwendy? She said your buildings being sprayed for pests this week. She's been staying with us - left early this morning for class though. Is everything alright with you two?"
Peter's spider-sense began to tingle; vibrating into his very core. "Captain,"
Everything happened in slow motion after that; the bullet flying through the air; Peter grabbing Captain Stacy and pulling him out of harms way just in time. George grasped Peter's arm - staring with wide eyes at his agility. "Peter… what in the…"
"Dad?"
Peter turned quickly - an inhuman sound escaping his throat as Gwen stood behind them with wide eyes; clutching her stomach. The bullet meant for her father had struck her somewhere in the abdomen - her cream colored coat streaked with blood.
Peter went to her; catching her quickly as her legs gave out and she crumpled to the street. Somewhere behind them her father screamed as officers dragged him into the safety of the building. "That's my daughter! Gwen!"
"Peter… your shirt…" Gwen whispered; clutching his blood stained shirt as she fell unconscious in his arms. A moment later he took to the sky - pulling them quickly over the busy New York street as people stopped and stared; yelling and pointing to Spider-Man without his suit. Peter didn't care - the only thing that mattered was getting Gwen to the hospital as quickly as possible and if that meant exposing his identity again so be it.
X
Minutes later Peter burst through the double doors of the hospital causing several by standers and nurses to gasp; glaring at the intrusion. "Please, help her!" He yelled desperately as everyone came alive- rolling a gurney to him as he laid Gwen's lifeless body down gently. "Please… help her…" He whispered again as the nurses wheeled her away quickly leaving him alone and covered in her blood. The grief that formed in his chest began to change to a rage he'd never quite felt before - ten times worse than when he nearly beat Green Goblin to death a few months ago.
This time there were no other Spider-Men to save him or the person who had shot Gwen.
Peter turned and left the hospital as quickly as he'd came - throwing a string of webbing into the sky as he swung back towards the police station - landing on a nearby rooftop silently. The shooter - a slim older man with a rugged appearance stood with his back to him; sniper rifle over one shoulder as he lit a cigarette and held his cellphone with the other.
"Some kid pulled Stacy out of the way and the bullet hit a girl approaching from behind. They got Stacy inside before I could reload."
The shooter held the cellphone away from his ear as his employer yelled into the phone; dropping it to the ground as Peter kicked him in the center of his back; sending him to his knees.
"Fuck!" The shooter turned his head to see his attacker - eyes going wide as he stared into the murderous brown hues of the boy who had saved the police captain. "My fights not with you! My job was to get rid of George Stacy - that's it! The girl just got caught in the cross hairs!"
Peter put his foot in the shooters back - pushing him closer to the brick of the roof top before he pulled the pistol from his belt - aiming it at his head.
"Oh fuck, please - please don't kill me. Not with my own gun!"
"Who sent you?"
"What?!"
"Who sent you to kill George Stacy."
Peter's words were emotionless; causing the man to tremble. His foot was heavy on his back.
"I… I ain't no snitch." He muttered, glancing at the discarded cellphone. If this kid didn't kill him Kingpin surely would. Peter pulled the slide back on the gun; causing the man before him to lay his face on the rough brick roof top. "No, no… please…"
"Say the name."
The shooter began to sob as the click of the hammer deafened him. "Kingpin." He stated, barley a whisper as Peter registered this information. He grabbed the phone with a string of web; placing it to his ear quickly.
"Wilson Fisk. I'm coming for you and when I get there I will kill you."
Another minute passed before he kicked the shooter in the back of the head knocking him out cold. He tossed the gun and the phone away and began to run - diving off the side of the building and throwing a rope of web into the air.
X
He didn't stop until he fell through a vent of Ryker's prison; landing gracefully a few feet away from the larger than life Kingpin - who sat with a smug grin on his face at one of the cafeteria tables surrounded by thugs and murders.
"What? No theatrics or costumes? How… disappointing." Kingpin said with a laugh - standing and shoving the table towards Peter who jumped over it easily; glaring.
"So you are the spider-boy. The same one I broke at our last encounter? What makes you think this time will be any different?"
Peter's hands turned to fists at his sides; knuckles white as he stared down the man responsible for Gwen being shot. As far as he knew she could be dead by now. The only thing he cared about in this whole world - gone. He began to shake as the rage built inside of him.
"Ah, fueled by revenge. The way I see it - it's your fault she's dead. That bullet was meant for Stacy - you're the one who pulled him out of the way and doomed the little bitch."
Peter struck Kingpin suddenly - causing his head to snap back as his fist connected with his large chin; causing the prisoner to groan. He spit blood as he returned his attention to Peter. "Cheap shots are for pussies, boy." He growled - causing the other prisoners to move to the side of the lunch room as Fisk stood to his full height - towering over Peter.
Peter was unfazed; glaring at the beast before him as he threw another punch that snapped Wilson's head back again. "If that's all you've got - this won't take long." Kingpin lunged for Peter who dodged him easily; slamming his fist down on his broad back - causing the massive man to fall to his knees. He punched the floor with a grunt and stood only to have Peter's fist connect with the side or his face and then his gut; causing a groan to escape him.
The other prisoners could only watch in utter silence as the young boy, three times smaller than Kingpin beat the mob boss to his knees again - kicking him hard in the face.
Wilson fell to his stomach; cussing under his breath as Peter knelt beside his head, pulling him up by the back of his torn shirt. "If… you're going to kill me… get it over with." He groaned; blood oozing from his mouth.
"I said I was going to kill you, and I will - but not today. Today I did something much worse - I beat you - so all your goons could see you have no real power."
Peter let Fisk's head fall back to the concrete with a sickening thud. "Tell everyone you know what you saw here today. Anyone comes for someone I care about - I will kill you. As for you," He kicked Fisk hard in the side causing the large man to roll over with a grunt. "The day I lose Gwen is the day I lose myself and I will come back to finish what I started. So you better start praying hard to whatever God will listen that she'll be ok."
Peter flung a web back to the ceiling vent and disappeared as quickly as he'd came; leaving a broken and bloody Kingpin in his wake.
X
"They removed the bullet but she hasn't woke up yet. They said she's lost a lot of blood and her blood sugar levels were extremely low when she came in - like she hadn't ate in a few days."
Peter dropped his head to his knees; running his fingers through his hair. She hadn't been eating because of him - because he told her he wouldn't pick her over protecting this fucking city. A city that didn't give two shits about Spider-Man.
"Son," Captain Stacy muttered - resting his hand on Peter's shoulder as he stood. "Let's go get some air. Helen will call if anything changes. Boys - keep an eye on your mother." He added - walking towards the elevator with Peter in tow. Once they were alone in the confined space George turned to Peter; who looked like a broken man.
"The doctor said if Gwen hadn't gotten to the hospital as quickly as she did she'd be dead. You saved her, Peter. You did as much as you could. Exposed yourself to save my daughter and I will forever be indebted to you for that."
Peter looked up at George slowly; realizing that he knew he was Spider-Man.
"I killed her. I saved you and killed her."
The elevator dinged and George stepped out into the hall. "She's not gone yet, son."
X
Peter sat with his head bowed by Gwen's bed. It had been two weeks since she'd been shot. Since his world had fell apart. Nothing had changed - she was no worse or better than after the surgery to remove the bullet from her spleen. She laid peacefully beside him - the steady beep of her machine lulling him.
"I can make all of this go away."
Peter lifted his head quickly - surprised to see a large red being standing on the opposite side of Gwen's bed. Peter stood quickly and glared at him; ready to fight. "Get the fuck away from her." He growled, low in his throat. The devilish intruder put his hands up and stepped away from Gwen's bedside.
"Not without a price, of course. You can't get something for nothing but I assure you she will live - fully."
"Who are you and what are you talking about?"
The intruder made his way around the gurney slowly - touching a long red finger to the white sheets on Gwen's bed. "Don't touch her." Peter demanded - putting himself between Gwen and the creature. "What do you want?" He asked between gritted teeth.
"I will restore her - back to the beautiful girl she was before metal and power took her away."
"Fine. Take me in her place. I give up my life for hers."
The demon Mephisto smirked; considering. "That is truly a preferred trade but unfortunately I do not seek your life for hers. What I want is her love for you."
"Her love?" Peter looked down at Gwen. It wasn't his to give and after their last encounter he didn't even know if she had any love to give anymore. "The love she has for you will burn cities and destroy universes. It burns deeper than any pit of hell I've ever seen. A love like that comes around once in a millennia and it pleases the one I hate most so taking it will in turn hurt my enemy. That is fair trade for me."
Peter continued to look at Gwen. "She can't forget me. I can't… go through that again."
"I do not ask for her memories. She will know you but she will no longer love you."
Mephisto manifested beside Peter suddenly with his red hand stretched out in way of bargain. "I'm afraid Miss Stacy's time is up, Mr. Parker. I'll need an answer." The machine began to beep louder, Gwen's stats dropping quickly. Nurses began to flood the room - pushing Peter and Mephisto, who was invisible to the staff to the side as they worked on the frail girl before them.
Peter grabbed the demons hand quickly - glaring at him. "Save her." He demanded and suddenly the room was flooded with a bright unnatural light.
X
A/N: Please review to let me know if you like the way my story is going! I hope this part doesn't disappoint as I've wanted to write it for a while now. I hope I didn't rush through it. A lot more to come for Peter and Gwen! Please review! (Also this part comes from The Amazing Spider-Man comics with my own twist on it. A reminder that I own nothing related.)