Updating this fic is the ONLY reason I keep track of what day of the week it is. Hope you're all ready for this! Got a very fun chapter for today and I'm excited for the build up as we get closer to the end of this fic. I'm not ready for it to end either, but happy with how it does :) Love all of you and your support as always❤ 💛💚💙💜
Have fun, stay safe, and good luck to all those seeing FFH soon!
Chapter 33: Rated R for Retaliation
When Peter wakes up, he honestly debates staying in his extra warm bed. If he hadn't promised Ned and MJ that he would go to school, despite how sore he was after training, he would've just ignored his alarm. Plus it's a Friday, so he doesn't really have an excuse. Luckily, May surprised him with an electric heating blanket when he got home the previous night from training. It helped his cold, sore muscles recover even faster. He explained to May how he doesn't thermoregulate as well as he used to prior to the spider bite, but that was just one of the handful of drawbacks that are overshadowed by all the amazing things he can do.
As soon as he wakes up, he smells the pancakes being made. Regretfully, Peter stumbles out of bed half awake and slowly makes his way out of his room. He isn't sure if he should be concerned that May is using flammable batter or a flaming hot pan. Neither mix well with his danger prone aunt.
"How's my little spider in a blanket?" May greets as Peter waddles into the kitchen with his heating blanket wrapped tightly around him.
"I'm not little," Peter argues, his voice muffled behind the fabric. He plops onto the couch, blearily watching May flip the half burnt pancakes onto plates.
"You get it? Like pigs in a blanket, but you were bit by a spider and you're actually in a blanket," May explains with a wide smile.
"Thank you for making me painfully aware of your joke." Peter might be coming off as grumpy, but it's not his fault he isn't a morning person. Unlike his aunt. Still, he can't deny that he loves seeing her so happy.
"You better laugh at my hilarious jokes if you want to keep that blanket," May suggests as she places their breakfast on the table. Peter sits up straighter at the mild threat.
"Ha! May, you're so funny!" he laughs obnoxiously before bounding over to the table. May shakes her head, her smile never wavering.
"You better watch your sass, young man." As they eat, they chat about whatever comes to mind until it's time for May to leave for work and Peter to catch the subway to school.
"Love you, May!" Peter calls behind him as he starts walking out of the apartment.
"Hold on!" May calls back. When she catches up to him, she pulls him into a tight hug and squeezes his head "Love you, too. Stay safe, alright? We don't know when that creep is going to show up again. He already attacked the school once." Peter can tell that May is internally panicking after what happened with Mysterio the last time.
"I promise I'll be safe, okay?" Peter reassures into her shoulder. Finally, May lets go of him and sends him on his way.
During his short subway ride to Midtown, Peter's phone buzzes in his pocket. He expects to see an excited text from Ned or an impatient text from MJ, not a casual message from Tony.
Mr. Iron Man
Tony: How you holding up, kid?
Peter: hey Mr Stark! im doing good
Peter: dont really want to go to school but ned and MJ are making me
Peter: not that i'd have the guts to skip out anyways
Peter: sorry! didnt mean to spam you
Tony: Don't worry about it. Just checking in. You and your gang still coming after school for training?
Peter: yeah i think so
Peter: are you sure we arent invading your privacy?
Tony: Nah, no problem. Besides, I have beautiful fuck all to do today
Peter: MR STARK! LANGUAGE!
Tony: English
Peter: …
Peter: you and May have the worst jokes
Tony: Mine are better than your Vines.
Peter: thats literally blasphemous and i feel insulted
Peter: this isnt helping the fact that youre still eighth on my list
Tony: I'm offended.
Peter: dont you have something bette to do than texting a teenager? Like helping run you company?
Tony: Bold of you to assume that I would ever actually choose to do my work.
Tony: Now go to school so they can fix your grammar.
Peter: it was just a typo!
Tony: Later, kid. Make good life choices.
Peter: bye Mr Stark!
Their conversation ends just in time for Peter to pocket his phone and step off the subway. His headphones stay in for the rest of the walk to school, until he spots Ned and MJ when he gets to school. As usual, they're hanging around Ned's locker as he shoves in his books and MJ impatiently waits with her arms crossed.
"How's it going, Parker?" MJ greets as Peter approaches. She's only mildly interested, briefly glancing to him before looking back at Ned.
"Not super sore, May got me a heating blanket." Peter shrugs his shoulders and opens his locker to pull out a textbook for his first class.
"Do we get to go back to the Avengers Tower after school again?!" Ned whispers excitedly. To him, the whole superhero best friend and Team Spidey training with Iron Man is a dream come true.
"Yeah, but it's not Avengers Tower anymore, remember?" Peter reminds in a hushed, vaguely irritated voice. MJ snickers in amusement.
"We all know that as soon as the world starts to fall apart, the Avengers will stop whining and assemble all over again," she says matter-of-factly. Peter has noticed that, even when she's in the middle of it, she never plays into the superhero drama. Ned, on the other hand…
"Are you sure? I dunno, Captain America and Iron Man had a pretty rough falling out. Didn't you see that airport on the news afterwards?! They trashed it! And isn't Captain America's team, like, outlaws now? They wouldn't even be able to show their faces without getting arrested, let alone fight!" Ned continues his long-winded explanation as the group makes their way to their respective first periods.
"You really think Cap's gonna let himself get arrested if the world is falling apart?" Peter asks, unconvinced. "And you do realize that you can call Mr. Stark by his name, right?"
"Says the one still calling him 'Mr. Stark' and not 'Tony,'" MJ cuts in to play devil's advocate.
"It's respectful!" Peter quickly defends in a higher pitched tone. He internally berates himself for sounding like he's still going through puberty.
"Dude, you're just afraid to call him Tony," Ned agrees regretfully. Peter turns his gaze on his best friend.
"Am not! Why is this what we're talking about?!"
"Anyways," MJ ignores the two boys, "do you want to hear the research I got done on your villain or not?" Ned and Peter immediately shut their mouths and give MJ their full attention. "Turns out there aren't many people who fit into the 'fired, roboticist, chemist, fighter, magician' category. Shocking, I know. I still managed to find an article about this guy who worked in the special effects industry. Amazing what you can find on the internet these days. It didn't say anything about so-called magic, but his speciality was apparently laser lighting, pyrotechnics, and theatrical fog."
"Sounds a lot like illusions…" Ned mutters nervously. Peter slowly nods in agreement.
"He was also a stunt double," MJ continues, "which would explain his hand-to-hand combat skills. He wasn't fired, but he quit his job in special effects to become an actor. When he was told he wouldn't make it as one, he threw a tantrum and left. Classy, huh?" She sounds casual as she relays the information, but she can see the wheels turning in Peter's head.
"What's his name?" Peter asks. Maybe if he knows Mysterio's name, he can use it to his advantage.
"Quentin Beck," MJ supplies. "He's been out of the business for a few months. The only reason he got an article written about him is because he worked for a major Hollywood studio."
"Wait, so," Ned narrows his eyes in confusion as he speaks, "this guy just quits his job and decides 'hey, my job didn't work out guess I'll just become a supervillain instead?'" he clarifies. MJ gives a noncommittal shrug of her shoulders.
"Most people in Hollywood tend to be self-entitled dicks," is all she offers in response. Peter knows better than to argue with her.
"Okay, we might know who he is. Now what do we do?" Ned asks, and he has a good point. A name is nice to have, but how much does that increase Peter's chance of beating Mysterio? Either way, he'll take any advantage he can get.
"We use it against him, and we beat him. Thanks for the information, MJ." He does his best to provide the confidence for the team. He knows they're all going to need it. MJ waves off Peter's thanks as if it's no big deal. They stop outside Peter's classroom and wait outside the door for the few remaining minutes.
"I mean, you can always push him down and hope his helmet cracks like Humpty Dumpty," Ned suggests, trying to lighten the mood.
"That might work if his helmet weren't plexiglass and he were an egg," Peter counters with a smile.
"He wasn't an egg," MJ cuts in, earning her two skeptical looks.
"Of course he's an egg," Peter says hesitantly. "It's all about him falling and cracking and being put back together."
"The nursery rhyme never explicitly said that Humpty Dumpty was an egg. That's just what we all assume," MJ confidently states. Peter narrows his eyes and recites the whole nursery rhyme in his head. Ned must have been doing the same thing, because both of their eyes widen at the same time.
"No freaking way…" Ned mumbles.
"He's not an egg," Peter realizes, the epiphany catching him off guard.
"It's not just that one. The 'Jack and Jill' nursery rhyme was about how King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were beheaded during the French Revolution. That's why 'Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after.' They lost their heads." Peter and Ned stare at her with wide eyes and baffled expressions.
"I'm never looking at nursery rhymes the same way again," Ned admits with a gulp. On that happy note, the bell rings and the group is forced to go their separate ways for first period.
The morning classes go by smoothly, with nothing of consequence occuring by the time lunch rolls around. Peter, Ned, and MJ spend their lunch together in the cafeteria as usual.
"I'm just saying that Hulk can get bigger and stronger the angrier he gets! Imagine him getting so angry that he's, like, the size of the Empire State Building! He could already take down that flying-alien-worm-thing when he wasn't super big!" Ned explains passionately. Peter looks between his friends currently engaged in the debate.
"If only you were this invested with Decathlon topics," MJ points out. "Besides, Thor is a literal god," she contradicts.
"That won't matter if Hulk's strength surpasses Thor's and he punches him in the face," Ned immediately counters with a confident grin.
"Thor can heal faster than the Hulk. Plus, last time I checked, the Hulk can't summon thunder and lightning." MJ smirks smugly, making a good point with her argument. Peter can't believe that they're still arguing.
"Well, Hulk doesn't need some magic hammer to-"
"Mjölnir," MJ instantly corrects. Of course, she has a straight face which only frustrates Ned more.
"Peter," Ned whines, "you've met them! Which one's stronger?" Peter internally groans. He doesn't want to be pulled into another one of their debates.
"Y'know, I don't think that'd be fair since-"
"Since you haven't actually met Thor or the Hulk?" a annoying, pompous voice challenges. Peter slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Why did it have to be Flash? he wonders briefly.
"You better watch yourself unless you want a repeat of last time," MJ starts to threaten, but Peter cuts in before it escalates.
"You're right," Peter agrees with a knowing smile. Both Ned and MJ stare at Peter in disbelief. "I don't know Thor, but I do know Dr. Banner." Peter watches as Flash's smirk morphs into a frown of confusion.
"Oh yeah? Like you supposedly know Tony Stark?" Flash asks sarcastically, his voice loud enough to be making more of a scene in the cafeteria.
"Yep," Peter pops the "p." He has realized that the best way to get on Flash's nerves is to give as little information as possible. Peter figured that out last semester when he floundered to try to defend himself. It only gave Flash more fuel to add to the fire.
"Sure, Parker. In your dreams. I bet I'd impress Bruce Banner more in real life than you could in your dreams," Flash challenges while crossing his arms. Peter does his best to hold back a laugh.
"You think you'd be able to impress Dr. Banner? You wouldn't be able to see a hole in a ladder." Peter smiles sweetly, contrary to his words, and enjoys Flash's shocked face. That's until Peter's Spidey Sense spreads a mild tingling sensation over his shoulders. Danger? Before Flash can even think of a clever retort, the hushed whispers that were once directed towards them turn into panicked mutterings. Everyone is staring at their phones with mixed looks of horror and fascination. "Ned," Peter prompts. Flash has completely lost interest in bullying and instead goes to look at his friend's phone.
"I don't know, I don't know," Ned says as he frantically searches on his phone for any information.
"There's a livestream on Twitter," MJ states as she turns her phone sideways so the three of them can see. "It's Times Square." The video is blurry and unstable, as most handheld livestreams are, but Peter can still see all the malfunctioning screens in Times Square.
The commercials and advertisements glitch in a spectacle of colors and fade out with flying sparks. As soon as the ads disappear from every single Jumbotron, they're all replaced with the same image: Mysterio. Peter's Spidey Sense amplifies. Even though the sound of yelling and stampeding crowds can be heard in the background, Mysterio's voice still rings loud and clear.
"Hello, New York, and welcome to the show of the century," Mysterio announces in a menacing tone. It's then that both Peter and Ned's phones go off. Peter quickly whips his out to look at the screen, already knowing what it'll to be.
New York Police Department
11:43 am- Ongoing- Times Square, Manhattan, W 46 thSt, NY 10036, Cybersecurity Breach. Suspect armed and dangerous. No shots fired.
Public Safety
New York County
"Holy crap, he hacked into Times Square!" Ned exclaims over the other students' shouts that echo throughout the cafeteria. Peter's inner geek caught between being in awe and horror. MJ stares at Ned and shows her shock for the first time, but Peter's already up out of his seat.
"It's fine," Flash nervously declares. "Spider-Man can beat this dick. He's a real hero." MJ narrows her eyes at his sudden comment.
"Weren't you saying last week how much of failure Spider-Man is?" she questions.
"Yeah, but I didn't actually mean it. I just did it to get under Parker's skin," Flash admits with a shrug before following the group of students heading out of the cafeteria. Peter's Spidey Sense is going crazy and everyone around him panicking doesn't help.
"I'm gonna get out while the teachers are dealing with the crowd," he tells them as he hastily swings his backpack over his shoulder. "You guys head to the computer room, I'm gonna need your help during this." MJ promptly stands at his words and calmly gathers her stuff to go. Ned, on the other hand, scrambles to get to his feet.
"But, but I have bad memories in there!" Ned tries to argue as he follows Peter and MJ running out of the cafeteria, in the complete opposite direction as the rest of the students.
"Just come up with a better excuse than porn if you get caught and you'll be fine!" Peter reassures absentmindedly. When Ned and MJ run around a corner towards the computer lab, Peter runs straight out the double doors of the school.
Peter sprints across the street, discreetly pulling out his suit as he does so. When he makes it to the familiar alley, he immediately webs his backpack to the adjacent brick wall and pulls on his suit.
"Hello, Peter. Is something wrong? According to your schedule, you should be eating lunch," Karen greets as Peter slingshots himself out of the alley and into the air. He starts swinging as fast as he can toward Times Square, just hoping that bystanders are smart enough to run away from Mysterio.
"Mysterio! Bad guy! He's taking over Times Square!" Peter frantic explains through rapid breaths.
"That's less than ideal," Karen recognizes. "Police are on their way, but it seems as though you'll be arriving first. I've mapped the optimal route. At your current speed, ETA is three minutes." At least Peter can always count on her help.
"Peter!" Ned's voice suddenly yells into Peter's ear.
"We're here. What do you need us to do?" MJ prompts, straight down to business.
"I need everything you can possibly get on that guy Quentin Beck. Everything. Ned, would you be able to, like, reverse hack Times Square? Kick Mysterio out and take back control," Peter directs as he swings over the East River by way of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.
"Of course I can, I'm your Guy in the Chair for a reason," Ned declares confidently.
"On it," MJ also affirms while typing. Peter starts to hear sirens in the distance as he swings closer to Times Square. He'll be getting there first, so he has to make sure everyone is okay until the police get there to help control the crowd.
When Times Square comes into view, all the Jumbotrons are short circuiting and glitching out with bright orange sparks flying. People are getting out of their cars to stare at the screens while others run away from the menacing scene. Peter lands on the asphalt in a wide stance, staring up at all the flashing screens which make his head throb. Karen automatically lowers the amount of light able to filter through the lenses.
"Thanks, Karen." Peter maintains his defensive stance. "Deploy Droney and have him scan for the real Mysterio in all this mess, please. Guess we're gonna find out if the upgrade works!" Per his request, Droney is detached from the suit's emblem and flies away to survey the area.
"My pleas-" Karen's voice is drowned out by a sudden booming voice.
"The so-called hero swings in to save the day again," Mysterio's voice reverberates throughout Times Square, coming from every possible direction. "Except you weren't fast enough last time. Reveal your true self to the audience!" he commands. Stay calm, Peter. Be confident. You can do this.
"If you want me to collab with you so much, you might not want to insult me," Peter tries to reason with a lighthearted voice.
"Peter," Ned's voice comes through the suit, "getting into Times Square system should be pretty straight forward, everything's connected." Peter swings up and sticks to the side of one of the massive screens with one hand. "Mysterio probably swapped out the modular LED panels and just changed the entire display." He keeps an eye on Droney's footage as Ned continues. "I'll go as fast as I can," Ned informs after his ramblings.
"There's nowhere you can run, Spider-Man. Not from what you've done. The people know the kind of person you really are. Can't be a superhero without a following, hm?" Mysterio's omnipresent voice challenges.
"Who's running? I hate to break it to you, Fish-For-Brains, but people prefer a more optimistic, witty hero," Peter counters effortly. Droney's display still hasn't come up with anything conclusive on Mysterio's location. Guess I have to do this the old fashioned way, Peter thinks as he shoots a web to a higher screen across from him.
"I'm sure they much prefer a hero who can actually save people," Mysterio responds in retaliation. When Peter lands at his higher vantage point, he scans the area below just to make sure people aren't sticking around. For the most part, the huge crowds are dispersing away from the immediate area.
"Looks like your audience isn't very enthralled," Peter points out just as the police arrive on scene with their blaring sirens. "And the cavalry's here!"
"Mysterio has been located," Karen's voice informs. Finally, Droney spots a heat signature on the ninth story of a building, behind the biggest LED sign in Times Square. Great.
"Got it!" Ned shouts triumphantly. "Jumbotrons should be going down…now!" On cue all the screens flicker before featuring their previous advertisements.
"Awesome work, man!" Peter praises. All of a sudden, every single one of the screens turns bright green and a shrill beep resonates throughout the immediate area. "Uh, Ned? Why'd all the screens go green?!"
"I, I don't know!" Ned's panicked voice answers. "Nothing's showing up on my screen!" Peter can hear both his friend's frantic typing in the background.
"If Ned isn't picking up the problem, it's probably an illusion. Be careful. Stay sharp," MJ's practical voice cuts in. As Peter is about to respond, the screens in his view start to ripple from the center outwards like water. Then, a Mysterio begins to emerge from each and every LED screen. Including Peter's.
"Woah!" he shouts in surprise, leaping away from the newly appearing version of Mysterio.
"What's happening?!" Ned questions.
"Holy shit! It's like that scene from The Ring!" Peter exclaims, partly with shock, partly with fascination. He shoots a web to a nearby building and lands on an unoccupied car. He had gotten used to all the Mysterio clone illusions, but watching them crawl out of the screens brings the creepiness to a whole new level.
Each version grips the outside of the screens with their gloved hands to pry themselves out of the seemingly liquid surface as if they're being sucked in. Peter is surrounded by the overwhelming amount of Mysterios, some of which have already made their way out while others are only half way through.
"Mysterio must've set up hologram projectors everywhere."
"That's…commitment. I guess," MJ grumbles. Peter takes a deep breath. All I have to do is get past these clowns to get to where Droney says the real Mysterio is hiding out. Easy, right? He shoots a web from each wrist and slingshots himself up into the air.
Now the real fight begins.
And so, the beginning of the end has come (;-_-)/ Thank you for reading
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