May 30th - 2019

Gwen woke up and stretched in her husband's arms, before sighing heavily. She looked over her shoulder and found him still asleep. He was exhausted after last night. She wondered where people could find such powerful weapons to cause the level of damage they usually did whenever Spider-Man had to get involved.

She turned her head to her side of the bed and looked at the digital clock set on the counter next to her side of the bed.

09:32 AM

Time to start our day.

Gwen turned on her husband's embrace and now faced him. "Hey, handsome…" She gently placed her finger on his lower lip. "It's time to wake up." She buried her face under his chin.

Peter yawned. "... hmm?"

She hugged him tightly. "You have your finals today, remember?"

He opened his eyes, slightly. "Gwen…?"

"Of course, it's me." She teased, "Were you expecting someone else? Something I should know?"

He was now fully awake. "No… it's not that. It's just that… I don't remember getting into bed."

"Really? You've got home after fighting those guys. You weren't talking much, that's for sure."

"I have this… blank space in my head. It's weird."

"What's the last thing you remember, Pete?"

"Toomes… he messed me up and then…" He cleared his throat. "I only have flashes of what happened next. Something about Max. Honestly, it seems like a bus ran right over me."

"Maybe you should do a check-up? You might have gotten a concussion or something."

"I'm fine. It's okay." He added, "I'm thinking of something else."

"Like what?"

"Just how lucky I am to have you here… with me." Peter slipped his hand under the sheets and set it against her buttocks.

Gwen smirked. "I do love you too." They captured each other's lips. Eventually, they parted to gather fresh air. She added, "I'm getting kinda worried about you, Peter."

"Why do you say that?"

"The injuries, these blackouts… mood swings. Sometimes I feel like a… different Peter has taken over, you know? That has never happened before… until you got this new suit."

Peter sighed heavily. She couldn't ever drop the subject no matter how many times he tried to reassure her. "Gwen, I've already told you this before, I'm totally fine. Nothing is going on with the suit."

"You fought those guys yesterday but you don't remember how things ended. You were fine when you arrived, even if you barely talked to me."

"It's nothing… I was just tired."

She sighed and looked straight into his eyes. She began gently, "Did you ever stop to wonder that maybe… somehow, the suit is affecting your judgment?"

Peter cupped her cheek. "Trust me, honey."

Gwen nodded. "I trust you with my life, I'm just not sure that you're right on this."

"The suit is certainly helping me."

She carefully argued back, "How come? You snapped at Eddie and I do understand your reasons, but you know that not everyone likes Spider-Man as they should, it's not his fault. You ignored everything I had to say when Harry called you for the first time, you just jumped out of our balcony and left to fight him."

"It's not like that. I… don't have time for this right now, Gwen." He moved away from her in the bed and set his feet on the ground. "I need to go."

Gwen sat on the bed and watched Peter wear normal clothes. "I'm just concerned… because I love you, and I'm your wife. You're my responsibility as well."

He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself. You should stop worrying about me, of all people. I'm not like you all."

Gwen was taken back. She was slightly shocked at his reaction. "That suit… it's poison and you know it. Look at what's doing to you." She stood on her feet.

He turned on his shoulder and stared at his wife. She didn't move back and remained still with arms crossed under her breasts. "I didn't ask for your opinion. You don't know a thing about the suit. You're not what I am, and you don't know what I know, so I'm damn sure I know what's better for me."

He slid his shirt down his arms,

Gwen opened her mouth to protest but later hesitated. "Okay, Peter… I hope you do well today in the finals, and I'm not going to bother you anymore. You do what you've got to do." She took a towel from the wardrobe in front of him and headed and headed for the shower.

Alone in the room, Peter opened the drawers and spotted the black suit. He took it in his hand and closed the wardrobe.

"You made things happen, Fiers," Norman spoke from his wheelchair. He faced the window in his bedroom.

Fiers stood behind Norman. "I'm a man of my world."

"So am I. Peter will be yours, and then you can do whatever you want with him."

"I thought you wanted to keep him for a while."

"The Parkers have given me enough trouble. We get rid of this disease, and then he's yours."

"The symbiote will do its trick. I was surprised when you decided to keep the project on ice."

"It wasn't doing as well as expected. Peter made it work now… it was a perfect match with his DNA. It has absorbed his best traits."

"I see. You will still need a couple of hours before the suit fully heals you, but it will certainly work now."

"That's good to hear… this has been years in the making. Thanks to you, I did get to see it through." Norman glanced at his left hand and noticed that the disease was already doing its damage on his body. "I won't be able to keep being cloned at this rate."

"It's all on Harry now. He will pull it through. He will have help as well."

At Central Park, Peter approached one of the pull-up bars and then took his shirt off, before tossing it on the ground. He revealed his toned abdomen and chest. He then placed the wireless earphones on each ear. He held onto the bar and began pulling himself up nonstop.

The music played in his ears.

Like I say, oh my, feels just like I don't try, looks so good I might die, all I know is everybody loves me...

His skin fought hard against the sunny day as he got sweaty.

Head down, swaying to my own sound, flashes in my face now, all I know is everybody loves me.

Peter inhaled heavily as he proceeded with his eventually noticed from the corner of his sight a group of women in roller coasters moving in the walkway next to the area. They locked their sights on him, but he remained focused on his workup and nothing else.

Peter later stopped and stood on his feet. He stretched his shoulders and then checked on his phone. He tried to call for Harry, but the latter never answered his calls.

He sighed. "I bet you have changed your mind… Harry. So much for second chances."

Around noon, Gwen helped her mother arrange the table to have lunch together. They were now waiting for her youngest brothers to arrive from school. Howard would be coming back from college as well.

Near the oven, Helen couldn't help but notice that something was wrong with her daughter. Her enthusiasm wasn't present at all, and that got Helen concerned.

She placed the plates on each side of the table and questioned, "Is everything alright, honey?"

Gwen shook her head in response. "... not really, mom."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

She let out a reassuring smile. "I don't want to bother you."

Helen ceased her activities and tilted her head to the side in suspicion. "I don't want to see you down. Talk to me."

Gwen exhaled sharply. She moved slightly off the table and crossed her arms. "Peter and I had a minor disagreement today - Well, I think it's minor, and that's something we didn't have for a very long time, you know, argue like today." She added, "I know that it's part of the routine, but it was different today."

Helen nodded. "Doesn't seem to have been a minor argument."

Gwen sighed again. "He's been acting differently lately. His patience has… changed as well. He always has been super sweet with me, but when I bring this up he gets really upset at me, even if I just want to understand and take care of him."

Helen frowned. "He does seem pretty busy with the Bugle and his finals, I think. Of course, that's no reason to treat you as if you weren't his wife. Maybe he's having trouble realizing that these things are getting the better of him, and he's affecting his family."

"It's… probably something like that." Gwen rested her hands on the chair set against the table. "Was dad like that sometimes too?"

"Well, your father had his share of crappy days as well, I won't lie. But he always tried to keep the work issues away from home." She continued, "Maybe it's something else that is affecting Pete, maybe it's not related to you at all."

"You are probably right, mom."

"You two should go on a date… forget about everything and just focus on having a good time." She smirked, playfully. "Have a proper dinner, maybe some candles. Watch a movie, and maybe later just get some under the sheets action, you know?"

Gwen chuckled. "Right, I'll keep you updated. You are right."

Ren hurried inside the dining room with a little green ball in his mouth. Ren stopped near Gwen's foot and patted her shoe, asking for attention.

She smiled. "Look who's here." She stood on her knee and caressed Ren's soft fur. She took the ball from his mouth and threw it back to the living room.

Ren instantly hurried after the object, leaving them alone again.

The main door from the apartment was opened by her brothers as they all stepped inside. Gwen smiled and reached for them, hugging each brother firmly while feeling much better once again.

Empire State University

Peter tried to maintain his focus on the paper set on the surface of his table, but what Gwen had said hours ago just couldn't get out of his head. He was having second thoughts at such a point. He also felt guilty for shutting Gwen down back at their apartment. She had her reasons to be concerned.

He sighed heavily in his seat and went forward with the exam. He had to do well to get his biochemistry degree. He could have gotten it much earlier, but he decided to leave for England to be with his girlfriend and support her. Spider-Man was also back.

About two hours later, Peter got off his chair and carried the papers along with him, before placing them on the desk of the teacher. He received a nod in return and eventually left the building.

Peter walked among the horde of the civilians at the sidewalk, wondering if his wife had a point about the suit. He took his phone from his phone and opened his contacts list, setting his finger over Gwen's contact. The photo showed them hugging on the handrail of a pier during winter. It was taken by someone that was passing by and was kind enough to help them take the picture.

I'm such an idiot…

He was about to call her, but a flying figure hovered around the opposite building across the street and later headed in his direction. The people around him stopped in their tracks once they spotted the figure in the distance.

Harry…

An orange and circular device slipped from under Harry's glove. He tossed it from his position in the sky and towards Peter's direction. The latter pushed two people near him away so that they wouldn't get caught in the explosion.

Peter closed his arms in front of his face for protection as the bomb finally landed on the ground around him. The explosion overwhelmed his figure. Peter couldn't be seen through the thick and black smoke that covered the area.

Everyone began to run away.

Harry descended the glider near Peter's position. His thoughts were mixed with anger, hatred, and guilt. He couldn't figure out who he was anymore. He was lost. The goblin had taken over.

Spider-Man finally emerged through the smoke. He stood on his knees and wore nothing but the black spandex that had protected him, to a certain extent, from the bomb's explosion. There were chunks of the suit missing, it healed steadily.

He looked up in Harry's direction.

Harry smiled. "Last time I wanted to be normal, this time… I know I'm a freak."

Spider-Man rose from the ground and closed his fists. "What's going on, Harry? What happened?"

He cackled lightly. His throat hurt. "It's how things should be… and I don't blame you, Peter." He turned his glider around and ascended towards the buildings, well aware that Peter would follow him without a heartbeat.

Spider-Man jumped and swung his way after Harry. He had to stop him mid-hair so that he doesn't cause any more damage in the city.

Spider-Man shouted from behind, "Why are you doing this, Harry?!"

Harry moved his feet on the glider and activated the three sharp blades in the front. "I don't have a choice!" He quickly turned the glider in Spider-Man's direction.

Fiers… something must have happened.

Taking advantage of his faster reflexes, Spider-Man shot a webline to the building in his side and pulled the cable closer to him, moving off the glider's direction and avoiding the blades. He landed against the wall only to spot Harry about to bury his fist in his direction.

Spider-Man spun upwards in the wall and watched Harry land the blow through the wall. He said, "Let me help you!"

"You don't understand!" Harry inserted a bomb inside the wall. He thrust his glider backward and away from the wall.

Spider-Man jumped out of the wall just as the explosion took place where they once were. He landed in the glider and in front of Harry. He kept his balance in check and punched Harry in the chill, only to later bring his right knee against his former friend's stomach.

Harry recomposed himself and blocked the second incoming punch towards his cheek with his left arm, leaving Peter exposed for a moment. Harry took advantage of the opening and grabbed Spider-Man's by the neck.

Spider-Man constantly kicked the armor in the chest, hoping to free himself from Harry's grip. It was getting harder to breathe.

A transparent and greenish blade emerged from the glider and was thrown right into Harry's free hand. He held the blade and quickly stabbed Spider-Man in his shoulder. The latter grunted in pain as his flesh was cut open.

Spider-Man howled and punched Harry in the face. Harry spat some blood into Spider-Man's lenses and pressed the blade deeper.

"... stop, Harry!"

Spider-Man grabbed the hand that held the blade and moved it deeper on his shoulder. He now regained solid ground as he once again managed to stand on the glider with his feet. He twisted Harry's pulse and finally fully freed himself. He leaped out of the glider and dove back into the air with a shoulder that bled nonstop. The blade was still attached to his shoulder.

Harry shouted in pain. He held his twisted hand close and watched Spider-Man fall with a hand pressed against his wounded shoulder. He moved his pulse back to its place and headed towards the vigilante.

Spider-Man managed to fire a webline with his good hand at the nearest building and succeeded at lowering the speed of his descent, before colliding his back against another window and crashing inside an apartment.

He gasped in pain and on his back as he removed the short blade from his shoulder and tossed it away. His vision began fading out.

I have to kill him…

"What…?" He sat straight up and placed his hand on his head. He wondered how he came to such a thought. "I don't want that…"

Another bomb came through the window and landed next to his hip, beeping it quickly. It finally exploded, covering most of the apartment by the flames.

Harry hovered the glider close to the opening in the building. He slowly flew further inside. He spotted Spider-Man laid on his back, the suit had many gaps across Peter's body.

Harry got off the glider and crouched next to Spider-Man. He carried a knife with an empty vial in its tip. He buried the knife in his enemy's chest as the knife began pulling the blood out of his body and filling the vial. The transfusion was later complete.

Harry stood up and moved the knife back to the space in his right leg, keeping it safe. He took his blade from the ground near them and approached Spider-Man once again. "I have to end this, Peter." He smiled as a single tear slid off his right eye.

"I'll tell Gwen about today."

Spider-Man raised his head off the ground and evaded the blade as he spun to the side. The blade pierced right through the ground. He got back on his feet and saw Harry dive towards him and catch him in his arms as they both crashed through the wall and into the air outside.

They exchanged punches mid-air.

Harry landed his knee against Spider-Man's stomach and had them move away from each other in the air. Spider-Man shot a webline at Harry's chest and pulled them back together once again as he punched Osborn in the chin.

Together, they both crashed on top of an empty taxi. Spider-Man gasped and dragged himself off the vehicle and into the ground.

Harry eventually did the same and landed in front of the car. He dragged himself over the asphalt and away from Spider-Man who had just now managed to stay on his knees.

Harry looked at his hand and landed the tip of his finger against the screen in the armor's glove. He called for his glider and then turned to his side only to receive another punch from Spider-Man as he fell back to the ground.

Spider-Man strangled Harry and began punching him over and over again, delivering the anger he was holding back. "You are not… going to… threat my family anymore!"

Sirens of police cars began appearing near them. The cops were getting close. They were eventually cornered.

"Spider-Man, stop!"

He looked over his shoulder and checked his surroundings. A couple of officers had their guns aimed at the pair in the middle of the street.

We can finish this. Spider-Man thought.

Harry's face was quite bloodied. "... do it, Peter." He whispered, "... please."

"Do it..." Harry whispered. "Please..."

Spider-Man stared back at Harry. His arm was raised and his fist was ready for the final blow. He could end it now.

Come on home, Peter. You're my hero... and I love you.

He looked around once he heard Ben's voice in his head.

"Ben…? Where…?" He shook his head and looked at Harry once again. He felt a strong headache and quickly brought his hands to his head. Every fiber of his body somehow now fought against him.

Something within him truly wanted Harry dead.

He gasped. He felt as if many voices in his head fought for power over him. "I can't… I won't…!" He landed his fist on the ground beside Harry's face and exhaled deeply as they locked eyes on each other.

Spider-Man eventually stood on his feet once again and swung away from the site.

Empire State University - Gwen's office

Gwen found it difficult to focus on the tasks ahead. Her laptop's screen waited for some input from her. She was deep in her thoughts. She sighed heavily. She wanted to go out and find her husband so that they could sort things out. She felt frustrated, helpless. She wondered how he felt at the moment.

It had been some time since they last talked to each other.

Gwen decided to break the silence and reached for her phone to write a text to her husband.

GS: Hey, Pete. I'll be arriving late tonight, so you don't need to wait for me. Aunt May will bring Ren home later once they are back from their walk, so you might be able to spend some time with her, maybe you could order some pizza? I hope you did well today… I love you.

New York - St. Patrick's Cathedral

Spider-Man let go of the webline and landed on top of the gargoyle set high above the tower of the church. He limped his way inside the church, before spotting the large bell in front of him. The area was under complete silence, nothing could be heard aside from him grunting in pain.

He felt guilty, for dumping the ones that cared about him and for wanting to kill his former best friend, beating him into a bloody pulp. He glanced at both of his bloodied and slightly swollen hands. He felt the suit tighten itself in his body and realized what he was about to do.

Spider-Man howled angrily and closed his hands. He moved them to his mask and began stretching the symbiote out of his face. He was having a hard time pulling it off.

The spandex covered by the symbiote and his skin was now one thing. His arms trembled as he forced the suit open. He already felt exhausted. The symbiote finally stretched open as a high-pitched shriek emerged from the suit.

Spider-Man accidentally let go of the mask once heard the shriek. He recomposed himself and grabbed the spandex once again, allowing his right eye to finally catch some fresh air. He again lost his grip and punched the bell in a moment of frustration.

The sound managed to let out another shriek from the suit. It was weakened, but it refused to let go of its host. It tightened itself around his skin.

Spider-Man tried to punch the bell once again, but the suit made him miss the bell and punch the air as he stumbled into the ground. He quickly got up and smashed his head against the bell.

The part of the symbiote in his face chest burst open and finally gave him room to breathe. Some bits of the symbiote fell to the ground. He took advantage of the opportunity to rip open the symbiote in his left arm and later toss it aside.

Peter now moved both hands to his chest and stretched the suit open, revealing his chest and abdomen. It was like someone was ripping his skin off his body. The pain was monumental. He struggled to not pass out in any second. He was still severely damaged from his last battle.

The symbiote began to recompose itself in his body. Peter knelt in the ground and allowed the symbiote to fill the gaps of clear skin in his body. He gazed at the ground, ashamed of losing the battle against the symbiote. His body betrayed his will.

He eventually caught something in the corner of his sight. It was the golden locket from his wedding, the one with a picture of him and Gwen from their wedding. It was open, he could see the tiny photo of him hugging her from behind.

They both looked so couldn't give up on their future together.

Peter smashed his right fist against the floor and stood on his feet once again. He quickly punched the bell with each hand. He howled furiously and violently pulled the spandex in his chest to the sides, ripping it apart.

Peter later moved his hands behind his head and slightly down his back. He held the symbiote there in his hands and stretched it out again. He then crouched and hammered his hands and the symbiote under them against the ground, forcite the parasite to crawl away from him until he was finally free.

Now clad on his boxers, Peter laid his back on the cold floor and held the locket close to his chest. His wounds were much more evident now. His shoulder wound was still open and bleeding steadily. His body looked extremely injured, filled with dark stains. He sighed heavily.

Peter needed to get out of there soon.

May turned the lights on and stepped inside the apartment that Peter and Gwen shared. Ren rushed inside and searched for them. She closed the door and locked it again with the spare key the couple had given to her.

She later spotted the tiny puddles of what seemed to be blood. There was a trail that led straight into the hallway at the other end of the apartment. She carefully placed her bag over the kitchen counter and slowly followed the trail.

In her way, a pile of clothes could be found in the ground. The shirt was marked as "janitor" on its back. She shook her head and kept following the trail. It ended in front of the door that led inside Peter and Gwen's bedroom.

May slowly opened the door and turned the light on again. She immediately brought her hand to cover her mouth. "Oh my god…"

Peter was laid over the bed. There were many bloodied bandages badly set in his chest and shoulders. He must have done all of them by himself. There were cuts in his cheeks. His body was filled with countless dark stains.

She could also spot the Spider-Man suit hanging in the open wardrobe. He must have tried to take it.

May took a step further into the room and later retried a med skit she found in the bathroom. She returned and sat next to Peter. She carefully turned him around so that he could lie on his back. She had to redo all of the bandages.

Peter slowly opened his eyes. He could barely distinguish anything. "Gwen…?"

May pressed her hand gently against his forehead. He was having a fever. "It's May, Peter." She cleaned his chest with the white towel she had brought from the bathroom. It quickly got stained with blood.

Ren jumped onto the bed and watched the whole thing unfold.

May always had suspected that her nephew could be the person under that mask since he arrived from his last encounter with Connors. She now didn't know how to feel about it. She felt like he could have told her.

The fear of losing such an important person in her life had her worried.

"Stay with me." She grabbed a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide from inside the medkit.

He whispered, "I'm… so… sorry."

May sighed. "This will hurt a bit, okay?"

He nodded, slowly.

May lowered the bottle close to the shoulder with the deep wound and poured the liquid over it. Peter rose his chest off the bed in pain and later laid on his back once again. He tried his best to not scream in pain.

A tear left May's right eye. "... it will be okay, one last time." She repeated the process and received another painful yell from her nephew.

Ren hurried off the bed once the sound of the door being open was heard.

Gwen had arrived in the apartment. She was alarmed since she could hear the yells from the corridor outside the apartment. "Peter…?!" She made her way towards the bedroom. She found May sitting next to Peter in their bed. She realized how dire the situation was.

May was trying to keep him in one piece. Gwen's eyes widened at the sight. "May… oh, god."

May looked over her shoulder. "Gwen, I need you to keep him still… or else I can't close this wound." She held a small black line and needle with her free hand.

A lot was going on in Gwen's head and there was little time to react.

Gwen cleared her throat. "O-Okay…" She sat on the other side of the bed and moved his head over her lap, keeping him in her grip.

She caressed his hair. "I'm here, Peter. Please try to get some sleep."

He frowned in pain. "don't… go."

"We won't ever leave you." Gwen sighed heavily and looked up to May. "Do you-"

May stared at his wound. "Just now."

"He wanted to protect you."

"... he should have told me." May finished the last stitches. "I never had seen him like this before."

"It's not easy for me either." Gwen caressed his soft hair. "I just… try to get used to it."

"How long do you know?"

"Since when he came to have dinner with my family."

"I… I see."

"I'm sorry, May. I…"

"It's okay, Gwen. None of this is your fault." May cut the line with a scissor. She then wiped the wet blood off her hands with the clean part of the bloodied towel.

"Thank you." Gwen kissed the top of Peter's head. "I saw the news, something about Spider-Man and flying… goblin-like figure? It must have been Harry."

"Osborn?" May was shocked.

"Yes. Something happened between them again. I don't know."

May shocked her head lightly. "He just needs to rest now." She rose from the bed, still glancing at Peter. He was fastly asleep and covered with new bandages spread across his chest and shoulder.

Gwen covered Peter with the sheets as Ren crawled its way towards the space between his right arm and his ribcage. May went to the bathroom to wash her hands, they were shaking. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Gwen approached the door of the bathroom. "I'm really glad for what you did. If you weren't here he could've..."

May finished washing her hands. It was hard to remove the last bits of his blood. She wanted to get it off quickly. She spoke, "He's going to be alright. He's a fighter… always has been."

May used another towel to dry her hands. She later approached Gwen and they exchanged a hug.

Gwen spoke, "Thanks for being here with us. You should sleep here tonight, it's late."

May nodded. "I can do that, yes."

"I'll sleep on the couch, you can sleep next to him."

"No… that's your place."

Gwen tilted her head to the side. "But I really don't mind-"

"I will be taking the couch instead. It will be fine." May continued, "I might go take a walk too."

"Are you sure?"

"Gwen, he needs you." She added, "I'll be okay."

"... okay." Gwen nodded. "I'll get you some clothes and pillows too."

May nodded back and left for the living room.

Gwen closed the door slightly and approached her husband. She sat down next to him and placed a kiss on his forehead. "We'll get through this, okay? I love you."

A/N: This chapter was quite a challenge yet very fun to write. Regarding Venom, he won't be showing up now, I'm not sure if he ever will. The story is already very crowded so I'm now focusing on the S6.

The scene regarding Aunt May finding Peter injured was based on Amazing Spider-Man #37-38, written by J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by John Romita Jr.

07/02/22 - There were some significant changes to the chapter. Mostly scenes with Harry, Fiers, and Norman. Some scenes were trimmed for better reading. Dialogues were improved. Fixed mistakes.