A/N : This came out rather quickly, didn't it? The reason for that is that I decided to split it in two chapters, for a more smooth transition. This was the first half. Well, at least it didn't take too long. As for the story itself, this is the prelude to the other half of this whole end run. We get to see a few glimpses of what could be a new character, and make no assumptions, there's no inspiration taken from that movie which shall not be named. The Civil War conflict is mostly a background for what the Parkers have to endure through the main storyline, and we get to see Peter trying to believe in something he's not sold in it. This will all play out in the next chapter, and it won't take too much for that to come out.
Thanks for sticking up with me, and I will be back shortly.
Have a good one!
PS : As asked by a reader before, I personally see Ezekiel as Eddie Redmayne. Figured this one should be said here.
May 6th - 2031
The warm water poured down on Peter in the shower. He had placed his hands on the wall and leaned forward, the pouring water was a very soothing sound for him, the tiled bathroom made it almost like an echo chamber.
I thought you of a hero...
He enjoyed being alone in the bathroom. He could be by himself for a while. He didn't shun company, or Gwen's closeness, but sometimes he really wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
He remembered an old song.
Peter mumbled quietly, "Hello darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again..."
He was feeling physically better, the bandages had been removed but he still had stitches all over his body. He also didn't show his mental state to anyone sans Gwen, she was the only one he could feel really safe sharing his burdens with. He had to deal with many things he hadn't expected to face in life. Turning against many friends and associates wasn't a thing he ever expected to happen, but it did.
He now wished he had more time together with them.
Peter turned the shower valve to close and the water stopped. He left the shower and walked over to the towel rack and grabbed his towel to dry his body. Once satisfied he returned the towel back to the rack and grabbed his clothes from the corner and got dressed, he couldn't really do that in the bedroom as little Olive was there.
Once he was finished dressed he exited the bathroom. There they were, Gwen sat in the armchair near their desk, reading something in her phone while Olive lied down in the bed and rested with her head on a pillow, watching the TV set in the opposite wall facing the bed.
Gwen looked up and smiled at Peter and he smiled back, her genuine and loving smile made him feel a lot better.
He walked past her and gently brushed his hand over her shoulder and hair, before making his way to the bed to lie down and rest for awhile besides Olive.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"I guess. Better now." He didn't lie, he felt better seeing his paramour. "I'm just not in the mood for that performance meeting."
"Enlight the civilian here, please." Gwen teased. She tried her best to make him cheerful again.
Peter chuckled. "They will want my personal report about what happened... and judge how I acted and whatnot." He explained.
"I see, I guess you won't be able to pick up the kids from school then."
Peter nodded, apologetically. "My bad. I wanted to, but..." He checked the clock in the bedstand. "In matter of fact, I should be going."
"Already...?" Gwen frowned.
"I'll have to head outside, yeah." Peter said. He leaned down and kissed the top of Olive's head and her soft dark hair.
"Okay," Gwen answered, not enthusiastic about his departure. "I think I'll call MJ now."
Peter rose to his feet. "Tell her the blue tint still hasn't fully left the boy's hair."
"I already let her aware of that. One night... just one, silly Gwendy." She sighed, before standing up and exchanging a quick farewell kiss with her husband. "Olive, do you want to go downstairs and talk with MJ too?"
The girl sat up and nodded, "Okay."
Peter stepped away to make room for the girl.
Gwen held out her hand and the girl first sat up in the bed and helped her step down into the ground. "Try to not take too long.'
"No promises." Peter smiled, briefly. Gwen playfully shook her head in disapproval and left the room, finally giving him the space he needed as he approached the wardrobe, opening it and seeing a single intact suit left next to his other casual attires.
He sighed heavily. He would have to deal with Ross again. He moved his hand inside the wardrobe. "Let's hope I don't start another war."
"Gwendy." MJ greeted happy through the vid-call.
"Hey, red." Gwen smiled. "How are you?"
"Bored." She assured, "But I'm hanging in there." MJ sighed.
Gwen raised a suspicious eyebrow. After so many years of solid friendship, a simple video call wouldn't help fool her. "What's going on, MJ?" She asked, seriously.
"Well, I guess it's fair I tell you..." She shuggred. "Basically, Flash and I got into an argument."
Gwen shuggred her shoulders. "Well, Peter and I have one at least once every month."
MJ tilted her head to the side, surprised. "Really? I can barely picture you guys arguing with each other."
She raised a confused eyebrow, "Why? We are just like most couple out there."
MJ argued back, "Definitely not like most."
Gwen rolled her eyes - her reaction quickly followed by a kind smile, moving her eyes off screen for a moment. "Sure, there are some details exclusive to us, but you get what I mean. Sometimes I can freak out over absolutely nothing, sometimes he does. We have our ups and downs." She paused. "A couple that doesn't argue has no interest, and with no interest you both don't grown up as one. That's my take."
She looked up to the screen and found MJ grinning madly at her. She wiped away her own smile. "Why are you drooling?"
"You're always so cute when talking about Peter." She answered.
Gwen blushed slightly and cleared her throat, trying to hide the chemical engineering she was going through. "Yeah, sure. So, didn't you want to talk about you guys...?"
"Oh yes, back on track..."
"Thank you."
MJ exhaled deeply. "As I mentioned, I was talking him out of temporarily moving to NYC to join Peter in this whole vigilante control thing, you know?"
Gwen was now curious. "Why's that?"
"His main point was that... Peter is living in some lair filled with poisonous snakes, people who would backstab him without in a heartbeat if it given the chance. He even talked about wearing that black suit he found years ago again, you know?"
"I thought it was starting to affect him, so he wanted it out...?"
"That was one of the reasons, yes." MJ clarified. "I get that they're good friends - I really do, the last thing I want is for Peter to suffer, but Flash isn't capable of dealing with the stuff your husband does, he would be only endangering himself and possibly compromising Peter."
"That's understandable, MJ. I... I will talk to Peter, ask him about... well, just about everything; I'm not even sure he can mention anything to me, but yeah."
"Just make sure Peter is okay, alright? We're all concerned over here. Your problematic niece is dying to see you all."
Gwen nodded. "Trust me, I always do. And you make peace, promise? My orders. Also, tell her I will make her the best cake she ever ate when we meet."
MJ smiled sincerely. "Aye, aye, hot smokin' general babe. Thank you for everything. And don't you let go of him."
"I'm not planning to," Gwen smiled.
She asked, "So, where's the little girl?"
"Olive? She's right here," Gwen replied. She turned around to face the girl in the bed besides her, "Olive, do you want to say hello to my friend, Mary?"
The girl tapped the small laptop's keyboard and paused the game. She left it on the table and crawled over to Gwen and took her hand.
"Hey there, sweetie," MJ said friendly. Gwen gently moved a lock of her dark hair away from her right eye. "How are you, my brave little Olive?"
Olive stood next to Gwen and was quiet for a moment and shrugged resigned, "No explosions and fighting. It's weird." She looked frail, "I'm glad I'm safe." She leaned on Gwen's side and wrapped around her abdomen.
Gwen put her arm over the girl's shoulder and held her gently.
MJ said considerate, "Gwendy and Pete will take care for you."
"They are very nice," Olive said and mustered a smile from Gwen's hug.
"I hope I'll see you soon, Olive."
"Really?" She asked surprised.
"Of course," MJ assured. "I have to meet such a brave little girl in person."
Olive beamed encouraged by MJ's kind words.
Stark Tower - Holographic Conference Room
"So you admit you willingly attacked an entire unit responsible for the whole operation?" The image of Colonel Ross asked unimpressed. By his side stood one high profile digitalized military officer high.
Tony Stark himself had his arms crossed besides the masked hero.
"I didn't attack them." Spider-Man countered.
"No? You put four good men in the hospital. What do you call that?"
"They would interfere and that could result in many casualties. I did what I thought was right, and I succeeded. Daredevil is a good person." He answered, coldly. He knew they were looking for the simplest reason to court martial him.
"I knew it. A traitor friend of another traitor." Ross' company stated harshly. "What did you expect?"
Spider-Man immediately looked at him once he heard those words. He sighed in disbelief. "I believe I am here to save lives, not take them. Even Nick Fury, a man who once shared the same power you do now - if not more... does."
Ross interjected incredously, "Don't talk about him as if you knew him. He was a friend of mine."
"Then you know he would do anything to keep all of us together, instead of fighting each other." He paused briefly, "The heroes you want to arrest do not deserve-"
"Heroes? Really? Look at the man, he even talks like one of them." The man affirmed, irritated. His uniform had Jones written on his identification box.
Spider-Man finally snapped. "Yes, I talk like they do! I got wounded fighting with these men and women! I assisted the city countless times alongside them! We... our families even used to meet time to time..."
Ross questioned calmly, "So, you do admit of having contact with some of them?"
He silenced, before answering reluctantly, "Yes."
"You should be locked in a cell, for all I know, you could be feeding information to the enemy." Ross protested.
Tony finally broke the silence, "If we solely acted based on what if, many of us wouldn't be here." He stared the colonel. "I stand besides Spider-Man, as should all of you."
Ross gritted his teeth. He gazed at Stark. "There's a difference between making some random assumptions and sneaking up behind our back to expose us to our enemy." He focused on Spider-Man once again. "You're lucky you have good connections, boy."
Peter exhaled deeply, frustrated. "While we bicker around... Steve is out there without no proper guidance, he could end this all, you know how much he means to this country."
"Ha, surely know what's important to this country." Jones said, sarcastically.
Spider-Man asked instantly, "Have you been out there in the streets hearing what the people are saying, sir?
"I was commander an entire naval fleet once, do you realize how much of a weight that is?"
He provoked, "Well then, you might not have been very good at it then since you're here."
"What?!" Jones closed his fists despite not being physically present in the room.
"Enough!" Ross signaled for him to calm down. "Stark, control your men. File me reports as soon as you can. This meeting is over." Their two holo figures disappeared.
Stark sighed deeply and smiled reassuringly at Spider-Man. "Well, that went better than expected." He walked past him and opened the door that led inside the fancy living room in the Tower.
Peter took off his mask and tagged along. "Tell me about it." He strolled towards the balcony of the second floor they were in and stopped to gaze the stars through the large wall made of glass that started down from the first level. He placed his mask over the guardrail.
Tony filled two glasses with whiskey at the bar and carried them as he approached Peter and handed him the drink. "Ross can be a pain in the ass, but as hard as it can be to admit... he knows what he's doing."
Peter leaned in the balcony and took a sip, still eyeing the horizon. "Does he..?"
Stark frowned, confused. "What are you trying to say, Peter?"
He explained, "They seem pretty keen on fighting fire with more fire. I don't know about you, but that's the last thing I would result to when dealing with our people.
"So do I, but you have to be ready for anything. They're just scared of the many outcomes we could be dealing with." Tony took a sip and proceeded, "Trust me, I like this whole... situation just as much as you like the Patriots."
Peter let out a tired sigh. "Yeah, Giants first." He brought the glass close to his lips once again and drank its content, shaking his head lightly afterwards. "I heard about Germany. Steve didn't listen, I suppose."
"Actually, that's why I am back here again." Tony looked over his shoulder and at his friend. "I could use your help in tracking the man, and taking him in if it comes to that. I'm underpowered with the Avengers split."
"Who can you count with?"
Tony answered, "Vision, Rodes, Natasha and Black Panther. That last one is a long story. I can tell you about it when we're on our way there."
Peter smiled lightly. "You're assuming my wife is actually going to let her husband fly to Germany when he was supposed to be with the kids the entire day."
"Bring them along, I could get them to stay at the most expensive hotel there."
Peter chuckled. "Yeah, Stark, I get it. You're rich." Tony smiled. He took a final sip, "Well, it is what I signed for after all, to serve the good people, right?"
He nodded, before walking away. "That's what I am trying to do. Be right back."
"One more thing, Tony." Peter called before he temporarily disappeared in the colossal building. Stark stopped on his tracks and turned on his back. "Do you remember the... symbiote?"
He nodded again. "Of course, you wore it, then Thompson did before retiring, unfortunately. He was a good addition, rather... stubborn, but good."
"Yeah, well... I saw what looked to be someone wearing that thing my father created after taking Daredevil in. It walked alonside the officers as if it... worked with them. What am I missing here...?
Tony tilted his head to the side, surprised. "You're saying there's a guy out there in possession of the suit?" Peter nodded. "I had moved it to a containment facility built in my name, where I stash every relic we might find as Avengers. Last time I checked it was there for years by now."
"Can you check it out again for me? I need to be sure this is the same symbiote I might be dealing with. If there's another one on the loose again..." Peter recalled the day when the psychopath know as Cletus Kassady attacked the Bugle. "And why this one is working with the good guys."
"I will. You can count on me." Tony continued, "I wasn't aware of this, the last thing I want is a symbiote in the streets. Also, before I forget, Veronica is now integrated into your bracelet's software. That ought to assist you better."
"Thanks. Keep me updated." He asked, "And Stark, are you I can be useful there?"
He smiled, "Rogers won't be expecting a spider out of its natural habit, and I'm counting on that... he is not."
Ravencroft Asylum
"Ah... Ha ha... He... ho..."
He'd been locked away in Ravencroft, captured by the one man he considered his equal. Cletus Kassady had been found guilty for acts of terrorism and several accounts of murder, although they viewed his state of mind as completely deranged.
"Do you remember what we discussed in our session yesterday? We talked about your parents and in particular your abusive father. Can you please tell me again about what your relationship was with him?" Dr. Falery said as he had an odd interest in domestic violence.
Cletus sat in a white, cushioned cell with his arms pressed tightly against his body inside of the straight jacket. It was like a big warm hug — from yourself. That roused a giggle. Over the years of being thrown in this very room, escaping and repeating the process, after a few broken bones due to Spider-Man, but not anymore.
"My...father. Hm? Well, I loved daddy. Every Christmas he'd give me a hug and tell me how proud he was of me. Precious memories, especially one Christmas in particular," He said as he leaned in closer, his elbows slid across the table. "You see...my folks, they had little money to spend on holiday gifts. So my mother bought me a set of toy soldiers with whatever money that they had left for the entire month. Well...daddy...daddy found out. He grabbed my toy soldiers and forced them down my mother's throat. He made me watch...made me see. Oh yes, I loved daddy."
He laughed weakly. His feet tapped as he waited for his moral antithesis to show up. He'd been told he'd have a visitor this evening, and who other than The Amazing Spider-Man would visit Ravencroft Asylum in the middle of the night. He cackled loudly at that. Oh, no. There was no doubt in his mind that the bright guardian was coming to chat. He couldn't wait.
The lightening outside his cell and in the narrow straight corridor began to fail. He raised an eyebrow. Can't be Spider-Man...
Then everything was dark. The only thing he could hear was his own breathing and heart pumping. Footsteps began to steadily grow louder, until it finally stopped.
He stared at the large wall of reinforced glass in front of him. It was impossible to actually see anything. That quickly changed once a bright large pair of curvy white lenses unfolded through the dark, aimed directly at him.
"You..." Cletus stood up, eyes fixated at the glass. "You still have it...?" The figure didn't answer. He slowly walked closer to it. "I told no one, I assure you. But I had to escape... I felt... stronger, and Spider-Man-"
The lenses suddenly frowned and part of the glass was broken by something pointy, causing a loud thud coming from Cletus's mid section. He never took his paralyzed eyes off the visitor's, bringing his bloodied right hand up and against the glass - right in front of the white chest spider. "I... feel the..."
"Venom..." Cletus cracked one last final smile before it retrieved its now reconfigured hand back as he collapsed into the ground.
After observing the last glimpses of life coming from the prisoner, he turned on his shoulder and examined all the cells that contained the worst the world had to offer as the symbiote slowly became larger - evidenced by the bigger eyes and emblem that reached the spider in the back.
A loud emergency alarm triggered in the facility while the red spinning lights in the walls were activated, meaning all cell were unlocked in every sector dedicated to house countless inmates.
While seeing the prisoners slowly step out of their cells, wondering what was going on, his right hand slowly turned into a shape of an axe before he began to walk forward.
"No, sweetie. You're rushing this one." Peter spoke on his phone after exposing his lips by slightly pulling the mask up. He sat in the edge of some rooftop, gazing the city he chose to protect over the course of many years.
"What should I do then? This is impossible, dad!"
"It's not. I don't want to give you the result now. Listen, read the whole thing first, do a sketch if needed, assign letters for the values and then find or work out formulas. You can do this, Liz." He tried his best to motivate her.
"I did that already."
"Did you form a sketch?"
"Well..." Peter smiled. "I didn't, it's a waste of time, dad!"
"Ha! I know my daughter. Try it. You're rushing the question out and that's your mistake, honey."
She sighed loud enough for Peter to hear it. He found it incredibly cute. "Fine then. I will do it. Thanks, dad."
"You're welcome. How's Olive and your brothers?"
"We were eating ice-cream, she's taking a shower now. The boys were in the ceiling not too long ago." She answered.
"That seems about right." Peter checked his surroundings, the waves of cold air brushing against his suit. "How's mommy?"
"Working on her laptop."
He chuckled. "Accurate enough." The black bracelet around his wrist began to transmit a blue blinking light. He continued, "Well then, tell mom I love her, I should be going now. Got something to do."
"How many bad people did you arrest?"
Peter chuckled again. "Lots of. They didn't even see me coming."
"Sweet! Then bye, dad. Love you."
"Bye, baby girl." The calling was eventually over. He touched the bracelet with his left thumb. "Tell me you got me a new joke, Veronica." He stood up and stretched his arms.
"I'm afraid not, Mr Spider-Man. Although I did find interesting the fact that a Black Window usually kills its mating spider after the process is complete."
Spider-Man deadpanned. "Very funny." He affirmed, "Let's talk business."
It informed, "There seems to be a breakout going on inside Ravencroft. A single cell has been liberated. You're requested there to contain the situation."
"Do I have any support?" He inquired.
"Colonel Ross was confident in your skills. You're authorized to engage through any way necessary." Veronica explained.
"No backup... may as well dig my grave." Spider-Man took a few steps closer to the edge. He exhaled deeply. "Maximum effort." He fell down and disappeared from sight.
"Back off the window!" The anxious guard yelled at his workmates inside the security room next to the security checkpoint inside the Asylum. He placed a chair against the only door that led outside to hold the countless and raging prisoners trying to break in and overwhelm the staff formed of a least dozen personals.
"What do we do...?!" Another guard heavily protected by his gear asked as she took shelter behind a desk they spun over for cover.
Someone punched the window in front of the panel, creating a small rupture in it.
"We are going to die, won't we...?" The nurse questioned herself, her gaze lost in the ground while she sat against the cold wall with her knees close to her chest.
"We wait here until the response unity makes it through." The first guard tried to easy the situation. He began as he turned back to the front side of the room, "They're probably waitin-"
He realized the group outside had been fully silenced in matter of seconds. His savior's identity was acknowledged once he saw the window covered by inmates pressed against the material by an intense amount of webbing that kept them trapped.
A rythm composed by soft whispering could be heard right in the other side of the door.
"Ho... holly," The guard paused. "You... you're-"
The reinforced door was gently removed by the rescuer and effortessly placed against the wall. The masked figure stepped inside as he raised his chest proudly and closed both hands. "Yes... I'm Batman."
He deadpanned, confused. "What... wait, nevermind." He shook his head.
"Watcha' you guys still doin' in here." Spider-Man gently took one of the nurses by her hand and helped her stand back on her feet once again. He tapped her shoulder gently.
"Before we could evacuate this sector they trapped us inside. It's been what - two hours? We have been waiting for someone to assist us ever since." He informed, checking his firearm.
"Well, I am the assistance, for now, until I probably die considering the math I just did." The man cocked his head at him. "Anyways, I cleared a whole path for you guys. The inmates are all either forced inside their cells or hanging upside down from the ceiling. If they offer any candies, don't take it."
He chuckled, amused. "Roger that, webhead. We will be on our way then."
"I noticed the gates to sector D are closed." Spider-Man looked at the camera feeds in the main panel, seeing havoc he still had to contain. "Is there a way past them without actually having to open those gates? You know, to avoid the disease from spreading more."
He nodded. "Understood." He turned around and pushed the book shelve down and later to the right, exposing a ventilation shaft. "There's not much to do with our backup systems offline, but this shall do it. Lean the way you are, won't be much of a trouble."
"That shall do it, then." Spider-Man stretched his arms. "Gotta finish that stealth run, eh - uh?" He waited for a good reaction from everyone but they all stared at him confused. He sighed, disappointed. "Whatever, I will crawl my way towards the generators. You are responsible for escorting these people out, don't let them out of your sigh, there's a med-kit in second checkpoint in case you need. Anything else, yell and I will hear. Take it easy. Understood?"
"Aye, aye, Spider-Man."
About an hour later...
After locking most of the pavilions on his way, Spider-Man found himself entering one of the very few corridors left that sheltered basically the worst people one could think of. Thankfully, the cells here were still closed and kept him from dealing with more trouble.
The loud banging noises against the reinforced glass were certainly unnerving for him, though. It was somewhere he did not like at all, a sense of fear gripping him at the sinister familiarity of the place. Still he pressed onward, noting the carnage inside.
Upon closer inspection he realised what several shapes were on the ground – piles of bodies wearing a green set of pants and shirts. The default outfit for any inmate. Suddenly a great sense of panic gripped him, he had to find the controls.
He wasn't exactly sure if they're alive and breathing, and he wouldn't have time to find out once he saw a dark silhouette at the far end of the cellblock calmly walking foward and away from his position.
"Hey...!" Spider-Man called. It immediately stopped, standing still with Spider-Man facing its back. He saw the white spider in the back of the unknown person's back, and the blood dripping from the knuckles and into the floor.
It finally turned on its back to meet Spider-Man face to face.
The hero took a step forward, "I know very well what you're wearing, and I'm taking it off, then you will tell me who you are and what you're doing here."
The rough, distorted and foreboding voice stated back, "It doesn't belong to you, and it never will - ever again."
Spider-Man ceased once he saw its hands instantly turn into a shape of an axe after the last step he took forward. "Did you... kill these people?" He questioned, but the answer never came. "Look... whatever you did, whatever happened, we can find a way."
"If you really think this somehow will turn out a happy ending... you haven't been paying attention." It looked at the cell in the right side, seeing the occupant repeatedly slamming his shoulder against the glass, before staring at Spider-Man once again. "You try to follow me... I will kill you... and everyone near you."
Peter was taken back by the response. It looked like he himself was against a very defined mindset. "There's no need for that. You can choose your path here, no one has to get hurt. I'm more than willing to help you.
"...I choose violence."Spider-Man immediately took a defensive instance as it quickly swung its right hand over a disjunction box in the wall in the side.
The block's lightning turned red and an emergency noise took place above him. Spider-Man moved his glance between back and forth at the many cell doors that were slid open on his left and right.
"Oh, it's already Christmas!" One of the prisoners yelled, excited. Peter noticed they all seemed to ignore the individual who just set them all free after examining him. They couldn't be more happier about the opportunity given to them.
Spider-Man kept spinning around on his own position with fists closed and raised as he was cornered in the middle of the room by at least thirty prisoners thirst for payback since many of them were there due to Spider-Man's personal involvement.
Their liberator was suddenly nowhere to be seen, leaving the hero alone with a horde to deal with.
"Do you remember me, freak?!" Someone jumped over Spider-Man's back and tried to choke him.
He countered, "I don't know! Did we date in highschool?!" He tried to push as many prisoners as he could away as they all jumped over to reach him.
"Always with the funny!" Another inmate replied ironically.
Spider-Man was lifted from the ground. He felt as if he they're pushing each arm and leg off his body. He tried to resist by throwing blind punches and kicks at random directions, eventually hitting someone as evidenced by the shouting and grunting, but it wasn't enough.
He was slowly being overwhelmed.
"We need him as hostage, do you want to get out of here or not?!"
"Who cares about him, let's just go!"
Spider-Man saw Hammerhead appear in front of him after finding his way through the crowd. "Now you're done!" Hammerhead grabbed his left arm after he tried to fight back.
Crack.
He violently turned Spider-Man's left wrist to the side, gaining a painful yell from the hero.
It was dark and there was heat all around him. He couldn't see it, but he was on something cross-shaped; lying on his back, not hung from it. His legs were tied together at the ankle and his arms spread out, tied at the wrists by a black type webbing.
His eyes kept looking at every direction, trying understand what was going on. Red flashes briefly illuminated his face inside the dark location he found himself into.
Peter screamed, but only inside his head. It didn't matter since no one would come to help him, anyway. He struggled even though he knew the binding would not give way. He was trapped and there was no way to escape.
"Gwen !" He yelled. This time it might have been out loud, but he wasn't sure.
I will kill you, and everyone near you.
He somehow managed to calm him panicked breathing, thinking he heard something other than his own terrorized moaning.
"Who's there?!" Peter demanded into the perfect blackness, his voice shaking. The black chains that kept him still pushing his legs and arms harder with each second that went by, thin traces from it slipped from his hands and towards his chest.
He was sure he heard something. Footsteps, maybe. There was someone in the room with him. If he was even in a room. He didn't know. He couldn't tell. Why was it so damn dark?
"Show yourself!" He screamed, vocal chords straining.
Peter tried to move his head, but it was restrained like his arms and legs. Sweat stung his eyes and might have mixed with tears as it rolled down his face toward his ears.
Above him, a perfect network of webbing could be now seen, and in the middle of it, the symbiote stared him with vicious eyes, its body shape now being much larger and stronger.
I choose violence.
It began to slowly open its mouth and sharp long teeth took place once where there was nothing. Peter closed his eyes once he saw it jumping down towards him followed by a ferocious scream.
Feeling an unusual source heat kissing part of his face, Peter slightly opened his eyes, enough to realize he was home, and lying semi-naked under a single thin sheet while his curled left arm slipped under the two pillows that supported his neck and beyond.
He questioned weakly, "Am I dead yet...?"
"Not for lack of trying." A delicate and tired feminine voice answered from the other side of the room.
Peter tried to turn himself to the side but his right arm screamed in pain the moment he stirred in the bed. He grunted in return, before very carefully resuming his task of lying on his back.
"Careful with that arm."
He rubbed his eyes with his good hand and took a look at Gwen. She was standing in front of their window, the curtains half open. She wore a camisole and a boxer she usually steals from him.
"Did I wake you when I got home?"
Gwen sighed. "Is that... what you're concerned about?" She asked without making eye contact.
Peter paused, observing her troubled expression. "What do you want me to say, Gwen? That I was doing my job?"
"Did your job became a suicide wish?" She argued back.
"I had to stop them, you know that."
"Without any help? Don't you ever stop to think about the many outcomes your decisions can have?"
"Everytime." Peter slowly sat in the bed, finding his injured arm now bandaged. "There was no backup unfortunately, yes. I was there by myself. This is just how things are now. There's nothing I could without pissing people off."
Gwen wiped a trace of tear wanting to slid down her left cheek. "This is the second time this week. I can't... do it, I just can't. You come all broken, barely breathing. You have no idea the stress I go through."
"I... never wanted this, Gwen. Innocent lives where lost there, I had to put and end to it." He stood up, moaning in pain all the way through. He walked around the bed and stopped centimeters from Gwen's shoulders. "You deserve better, and I know I can't fully give you what you want."
"Stop it. Don't be ridiculous." She slightly turned her head to his side. "I made my peace with who you are the year we started dating, that's besides the point, but how many injuries are you going to have suffer to understand this isn't working? Do they really want you at their side?"
He frowned. "What are you talking about?"
She gritted her teeth. "I have to prepare breakfast." She tried to walk past him but her husband wrapped his good arm around her exposed belly.
"Hey, don't shut me down. What are you trying to say, honey?"
Gwen cleared her throat while gazing the void. "Did you know Flash wants to come here, wear that damn suit again and be at your side to protect you?" She finally met his brown orbs. "This whole thing is burning you alive, Peter. What's next? You will defeat world by yourself?"
Peter silenced. "I can... I can handle this. I promise I will be more careful, but... there's a war coming, Gwen. I don't know when, and who will be fighting it, but it's coming. That worries me the most. I just don't know how I am going to live with myself I don't stay to truth to what I believe."
"And what do you believe?"
He moved his good hand to cup his cheek, and then tried his injured one.
"Don't." Gwen ordered once she saw the effort he was putting into his right hand at the point it trembled involuntary. He ignored her words and caressed each side of her face. She sighed in annoyance.
He smiled at her reaction. "This, this is what I believe, and that's why I need to know what's better to what we have, and I need to be part of the world outside this family. I don't want anyone else from here involved, not you, and not Flash."
She asked gently, "Why do you do this to yourself?"
He leaned in and kissed her forehead, before whispering, "Because this is who I am." She exhaled deeply as she closed her eyes. "One more thing..."
"What is it...?"
"Um... I'm going to Germany tomorrow. Tony needs me to bring Steve home."
Gwen immediately leaned her head back to stare him deadly in the eye. "Out of the question," She continued, "You're not going anywhere. That's not up to debate, not with that arm of yours. Don't even insist."
"Gwen, listen -'
She cut him off, "No."
Peter tried again, "Gwendolyn, I have to... I have to." She shook her head and grunted, frustrated. "I saw it. I saw the symbiote again. It was only a few meters from me this time."
"What?" Gwen tilted her head to the side, shocked.
"Someone was wearing it. I have to find out who, and how he got it. I think Tony isn't telling me everything he knows, I need to be careful now. And being with him is the only way to discover that." He finished, "I also don't want to fight Steve, I want to fight no one. That's the last option. Matt... it was unfortunate. I'm just trying to make things better."
"How... how many days are you going to be away?" She felt him now gripping her waist.
"Maybe one, or two. It will be brief, trust me."
Gwen exhaled deeply. "What have we gotten ourselves into..." Peter moved his arms around her and brought her closer to his embrace as she rested the side of her head over his shoulder.
"I know, baby. Don't think I enjoy any second of this. I really don't." He kissed the top of her golden hair.
She moaned tiredly against his shoulder. There wasn't anything else she could say to win him over. Those new responsibilities are to big to simply ignore them, he had a point. "The kids will miss you, and so will I." She continued gently, "I don't like sleeping alone without my cuddling partner, you know?"
He tightened his grip around her. How he wished he hadn't to leave. "I will miss all of you, and it will be an empty night without the woman caught by my web... again."
She giggled, his shoulder muffling her reaction. "I need to tell you something before anything, honey."
"We're having a baby again?"
Gwen chocked in her breath and leaned her head back again to make eye contact. She smirked, surprised. "What are you on, Mr Parker?"
"Just saying." Peter smiled back. "You have that look."
"Uh - huh," Gwen rolled her eyes, playfully. "Well, it's not that, but something even better."
"What is it?"
She grinned, "You need to clean your stinking suit, I ain't putting that close to my clothes or the children's."
"Rude."
Harry hummed contently as he prepared his meal, which he hadn't been able to do in a while.
It had been a long time since he had been able to cook; ever since he took the position of general store manager, he hardly ever got the chance to cook since other people did it for him and he brought the meals home.
Luckily, he would get a break from those tonight. Sparkles flew as he set out the ingredients for the meal he was making. He had decided on stir fry, since it always seemed to de-stress him the most.
He started with the pineapple. For whatever reason, he had always thought that pineapple tasted good in stir fry, so he had made sure there was one in the fridge for him to use that night.
He took advantage of the tiny free time he had while cooking and decided to turn on the TV that place over the kitchens' counter, changing the channels until it stopped in a new's one.
The sparkles turned slightly creepy as Harry went back to finely mincing the pineapple with a bit more force than necessary.
"Welcome to New York radio, our top story today – The Ravencroft Director, Miles Warren has officially resigned after the results of the investigation that began in June regarding his poor adminstration of the facility as evidenced in the motim two days ago."
Harry began to cut up some chicken breast as the pineapple cooked. The chicken was diced into nice, little bite-sized pieces and thrown into the pan with the pineapple without a moment of hesitation. He also decided to add broccoli on a whim. The broccoli was sliced into fine, little strips that would be able to cook very quickly
"Our field reporter Emily Stewis interviewed Security Chief, Steven Gamble, how it was to live inside the facility for so many hours during the incident, and how Spider-Man saved his life and his staff's."
Harry cleaned his hands with a towel and turned over his shoulder to look at the TV. The camera focused in the Security Chief who, at the moment, was already outside Ravencroft and sat in the ambulance's back entrance.
"It was hell, that would be the words I can use to describe my experience, we got cornered by the inmates but we held our place inside one of the security checkpoint's rooms. Of all people to appear, I didn't expect Spider-Man to come by and rescue us. Whether people like him or not, he kept his cool and led all of us to safety, if I could choose someone to answer to, that person would be him. I owe my life to him, forever."
Harry smiled, proud of Peter's action and how people talked about him. It was the very least he deserved.
While his meal finished cooking, Harry walked over to the same TV counter, sat in a stool, and opened his laptop to check for any new email he might have received in the meantime.
There was one. And it was a response from a woman he finally made contact with once again.
NotFeliciaTheCat OurSpace : So, I see you've found one of my placeholder emails. I'm not going to ask why and how, I am avoiding trouble these days. It's very good to listen from you again, Harry. After everything that happened, I didn't expect to hear from you ever again. I'm sorry I lied to you when I worked at Oscorp, yes - I was undercover after a time, but only because Fisk had my father under his gun, I couldn't risk it. He even... changed me to an extent, it's not something I can tell you here. But don't doubt my intentions towards you back then, I was worried about your condition, and I still am. I hope you can forgive me. To make things up to you, I am still decrypting this data I found in the city's security archives (I am curious), and I noticed there's something in the video that once belonged to Oscorp. Figured it might interest you. Tell me if you want the rest.
Take care, Felicia Hardy.
Harry opened the linked file. It was a video, camera footage. He played it and immediately got unsettled once he saw someone wearing the same black suit Peter once did , violently attacking the infamous Rocket group that caused the explosion of half an avenue. The original stream available to the public ended abruptly before this footage could be seen. He kept replaying the vid.
A high pitch scream, and a creature jumping at the terrified recorder were the last glimpses of image available until it finally ended.
That wasn't released to the public, and the authorities never mentioned a fifth involvement in the accident. They intentionally swept it under the rug. As it turns out, the explosion of one of the inhumans involved was caused by an outsider, not the group itself.
He needed the entire footage before showing a special friend of his, he had to.
"Aiden, you need to start tying up your bed, man." Peter said friendly. He was sat over the Aiden's messy bed while he hugged his father from behind. "It would spare us your poor parents some good minutes."
David interjected from high above, "I do mine,"
Peter looked up to the ceiling and found his other son there with the gravity pulling his hair down. "See? Be like Dave."
"But I don't have the time to." He finally argued back, climbing into his father's shoulders.
"Really?" Peter grinned, standing up while holding each leg to support him. "What could a boy of your age possibly be doing to lack the time to do his bed?"
"I go to school...?" He kept trying to stay still by balancing himself.
Peter chuckled at his excuse, "You don't always stay at school, though."
"Aiden has a girlfriend." David teased.
"I do not!" He blushed.
Peter laughed, surprised. He slightly leaned his torso foward, making Aiden fall into his safe arms followed by giggles. "You already got a girlfriend, buddy?"
David continued his rampage, "He does!"
"Liar!" Aiden wanted to jump at his identical brother. He continued, "I don't have a girlfriend... kissing is nasty."
Peter chuckled lightly. "Point taken. But you are friends with a girl then?" David chuckled from above.
Aiden sighed. "Well, yes. She's a friend..."
"What's her name?" Peter slowly spun his son around on his arms as he quickly wrapped his own arms around his father's, keeping himself close against them while bursting into fits of giggles.
"Emilia!"
"Make sure to treat Emilia well then, remember - girls aren't physically strong as you boys are, they're delicate and sometimes sensitive, so you two always be a gentleman." He carefully threw his son over the bed, causing him to laugh even harder as he landed safely. "Deal?"
"Deal!" Aiden replied while calming himself down.
Peter looked up to Dave and raised both his arms at him. He intentionally fell from the ceiling to be precisely caught by his father. "Yes, daddy."
"Also, I will be traveling for a few days, not much, daddy's work. So you guys help mum take care of the apartment, your sister and Olive, okay?"
They nodded. Aiden spoke, "Will you text us?"
"Of course. I will talk to you guys every day." Aiden smiled, thankfully.
Dave questioned, "Dad, isn't... Olive, our sister too?"
Peter hadn't the time to stop and think about it due to the past days, maybe Gwen did, but they never talked about it. The possibility of adoption, if legally possible and if the girl wanted, was open and he knew Gwen was considering it. He certainly would like raising her as one of his own.
He began, "Well... if you think that way, of course she can be. Love is love, regardless of what genetically ties us together and what doesn't."
"I understand." Dave smiled.
"Good boy," He gently messed his hair before lowering him back to firm ground. A notification sound coming from the TV caught their attention. Peter read the message the videogame console installed in their bedroom said. "It looks like mommy and the girls are inviting you to play Lego friggin' Star Wars."
He grabbed the controller and replied to them.
ParkerTwins : u suck mommy, poor choice of a game! - Sent.
Peter snickered while typing and after sending the message alongside his twin boys.
His wife's response didn't take too long to be heard from the first floor,"Hey...!"
Wood crackled in the fireplace as Gwen leaned back against Peter's chest, his arms wrapped around her and his hands resting on her stomach. He had moved the coffee table out of the way and sat down on the soft carpet in front of the couch. Gwen had just settled down between his legs after tucking the twins in. They had been dead on his feet from the excitement of the day but refused to go to sleep. It had taken a lot of sweet-talking to get them upstairs, but as soon as they touched the pillow, they're out like a light.
The girls were much easier to deal with.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments that was only broken when Gwen started to laugh
"I was just thinking about all the poor girls once our boys hit puberty. I mean, you can already tell they're really taking after you in the looks department. So once they realize the effect they can have on girls, there will be a lot of broken hearts," Gwen said, still chuckling.
Peter snorted. "If they turn out anything like me, they'll be so oblivious it's not even funny anymore."
Gwen turned slightly so she could look at him. "Are you trying to tell me that you had no idea what one of those smoldering gazes of yours could do to a girl? Yeah, right."
He rolled his eyes. "I had a lot of other things in mind. Even if I was a teenage boy."
She looked at him, still skeptical. "But you must have had at least a hunch. Come on, Peter. You couldn't have been that blind."
"I only had eyes for you, basically."
Gwen laughed out loud. "That was kinda smooth, almost."
"I'm getting better," Peter smiled. He continued, "When we have that teenage Elizabeth one day … should I get that first mask and jacket from locker inside May's basement?"
She chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "You'd be one of those fathers, huh?"
"Sure. Gotta watch out for my girl. Besides, she wouldn't be allowed to date until she's thirty, anyway."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "You realize that we met when I was 17, right?"
He nuzzled her neck and was rewarded with a soft sigh. "I wasn't a father back then, I think..."
Gwen looked up to him with cold eyes. "I'm going throw you of the window - without your webshooters." She stated firmly.
"Woah, hold on. That escalated quickly." Peter chuckled uncontrollably. "I was just joking, I'm still in character. You know you're my first everything."
Gwen grunted. She continued their previous topic, "Liz is taking after me, you won't need that outfit. She'd probably be too busy with other things to pay attention to boys."
He chuckled. "If she'd take after you in the looks department, I would definitely need it. Because the boys would be drawn to her like moths to a flame, believe me."
She rolled her eyes. "You're kinda biased, Peter." Gwen countered, resting her head on his shoulder again, her lips trailing over his jaw with small kisses.
"Just telling you how it was for me … how it still is, really..." He answered.
"If I'm supposed to be the flame in that scenario, you better watch out or might get burned." She teased.
"Yeah, wouldn't want that to happen. Though I gotta say … I really don't mind things getting hot from time to time." Peter said and managed to keep a straight face.
Gwen on the other hand couldn't help but laugh at his words. "Dork. You're lucky you're flying tomorrow. Any other day of the year and I wouldn't let you live that sentence down."
Peter turned his head, his lips brushing hers as he spoke. "I know, Gwendy." Believe me, I know." He mumbled before claiming her mouth in a kiss that effectively stopped her from saying anything else on the matter.
An opening intentionally appeared over the symbiote's left wrist, exposing the scarred and slightly burned porcelain skin. Sat in a seat inside a dark and cold room, he looked down at his exposed healing flesh. The lenses not once focusing anywhere else.
He closed the same hand once his other brought a loaded with a transparent liquid syringe that came from the small rounded metallic table besides him closer to the skin.
Initially, the desire to just throw the injection aside was a tempting one, but he eventually went through and pressed it down his flesh. The symbiote itself stirred against his body, emitting a high pitch noise from within while the liquid filled his system.
In response, the left and white curvy lense slowly gave space to his once covered blue eye. His head looled back after a grunt. "Warren..."
Someone answered from the darkness around him. "Yes, Spider-Slayer?"
"It wasn't there..."
"Unfortunate, even I didn't have full access to the entire asylum." He continued, suspicious, "I heard that, unlike the rest, Spider-Man survived. At least Cletus is no more."
The man inside the symbiote sighed relivied as the goo covered his wrist once again. He stood in absolute silence.
"I'm sure you're perfectly capable of dealing with him. Or aren't you stronger enough after all these years?"
He closed his left hand. "I was done..."
"I see." Footsteps around the symbiote could be heard. "I hope you're holding yourself together with that thing."
"I am."
"Good. Don't forget who you are..." The symbiote looked down at the picture of a dark haired smiling woman sat in a cozy couch over the same table he got the injection from. "... and why you're here.
Look... whatever you did, whatever happened, we can find a way. Spider-Man talked inside his head.
Now I know what makes you... special.
"And before you start another killing rampage," Warren threw a file over the table, covering the picture. "You better start clearing your own previous mess. Someone else is doing it for you, but not in the way you would want."
The symbiote narrowed its eyes, anger filling his veins. "Doctor... don't overstay your welcome here. It would be smart of you to remember that before challenging me ever again." He shot a black webbing from his hand at the file and brought it to his hands.
Warren silenced, briefly. "Just get it done. And fast. It's not the right time, not yet."
Now alone to his thoughts, the person wearing the symbiote placed the folder back to the table and sat straight once again, his exposed eye narrowed at the task in hand. He saw the skin of his arm now appearing mostly healed, as painful as the process was, it looked better.
You can choose your path here, no one has to get hurt. I'm more than willing to help you.
It didn't take long for his eye to be covered by the goo. He sighed deeply, before making contact with the picture once again. He eventually harshly slammed the table away, disappearing in the room.
You know who you are... they do not.
May 8th - 2031
New York's International Airport
"So, I guess this is it." Peter and Gwen stopped not far away from the line for his flight. They held each other's hands.
She turned to look at him, wearing a blue beanie over her head. "Tony really couldn't get you a private plane for this one?"
He quickly checked his watch and smiled at her. "I didn't want it, there was no need to. Besides, he left a day ago, I could have gone with him and I chose to stay." He held his backpack on his free hand.
"I just hate seeing you go so far away, and alone." She confessed.
"I'm not really alone, am I? If you mean I won't have my wife complaining about things I am yet do, then you have a point." Peter teased.
Gwen blew a lock of her hair off her eyes in response. "Smartass." She continued, "You always seem-" She was cut short when Peter closed the gap between them and cupped her face as he leaned in, kissing her deeply with the other arm he used to pull her closer.
She moaned quietly for his ears only as their kissing deepened. Eventually Gwen. reluctantly pulled away for a breath of air and smiled against his lips.
Peter said lovingly, "I will miss you, you know?"
"Apparently." She teased while her hands reached out and carefully and subtly touched his arm. "And I will miss you to, I wish I could come along."
"So do I," Peter nodded. "I suppose I don't have to tell you how beautiful you look. Half the people here are still watching you." He slid his arms around her waist as she rested hers on his shoulders.
"Only because I have a handsome company."
He smiled. "Maybe. Honey, don't forget to spend these days I'm away at the Stark Tower. Everything is already arranged."
Gwen sighed. "I know we talked about this, but I still prefer no to..."
"Please, I... I just want to make sure you guys will be safe. There's nothing I can remotely do if.. anything happens. It's out of my control."
She could see the affliction through his tone. "I know. And we will, don't worry about it."
"Love you," Peter gave her one last peck in the lips. "I should be going." He said reluctantly.
"I will be waiting for you," She caressed his jawline, and eventually unwrapped her slim arms from her husband. He stroked her hand and gave her a reassuring smile before finally walking away.
Gwen watched him from behind as she hugged herself, the distance between increasing by every step he took forward.
Be safe out there, bugboy.
Germany - Leipzig
"We're human beings, each and everyone one of us. This must no go wrong. This injustice, must end!"
Peter Parker watched the news through the TV set in the counter that faced his bed inside his room in the hotel he and Tony were staying until Rogers was stopped. He wore the last intact Spider-Man suit minus the mask since he held it with both hands, sat in the far end of the bed.
He sighed heavily at the screen. That was a speech the current new channels were streaming after some vigilante resistance group back in the US let it out to the main public.
"An increase in the number of attacks against security facilities highlights the danger opposed by uncontrolled metahumans citizens."
That blocked Peter out of the world for a moment as he reflected the current state the vigilante community unfortunately found itself forced to live. They were lost, unguided and confused.
Steve could help change that given the opportunity. At least he hoped so.
How did this happen...
He inhaled deeply, before hiding his face in his hands.
I'll kill you.
He was having trouble thinking about anything else than the encounter at Ravencroft and his dream. It was coming back to his life, again. And now he had no say in the outcome.
"It sucks, doesn't it?"
Peter uncovered his face and looked at the bedroom's door, "What?"
Tony gazed the TV. "Our friends, fighting each other." He silenced. "How does one hold up? How do you... hold up?"
"Lots of coffee." Peter joked.
"Right," Tony nodded. "Are you ready?"
He eyed his mask once again, taking a minute before answering, "Ready as I will ever be. You?"
"I'm lying if I told how this day will end does not worry me." Peter nodded, sympathetically. "We located Steve, he will make a run for the Avengers' jet inside the airport. You will be the element of surprise if it comes to it, wait for my signal. Come on." Stark walked outside the room.
"Understood, tin-man." Peter silenced briefly. "Let's bring our people home." He turned the TV, moved his mask down his face and followed Tony through the entrance, the door was closed by a biocable shot from outside the room.
"Hey, Gwen. How are you?" Harry asked by the phone as he grabbed the his jacket from the wardrobe and began to wear it without letting go of the phone.
"I'm good, Harry. What about you?" Gwen asked back, gently.
"Not much, to be honest with you." He replied, closing the wardrobe and walking over to his desk.
"What's happening?"
"This why I called you. Peter isn't answering his phone, and I need to show him something I found." Harry pulled the hard drive from his laptop and stashed it inside his jacket.
She explained, "Oh, yes - Peter took a flight to Germany hours ago."
Harry stopped on his tracks, surprised. "Why?"
"Stop Steve Rogers, I'm not sure how long he will be there, hopefully it will be briefly." Gwen continued, "But what do you mean by found something?"
"I don't think I should tell you through the phone." He stepped inside the living room and began searching for his keys. "Can I meet you at you guy's apartment?"
"We're in the Stark Tower now, Peter wanted us here while he's out. I will talk to Jarvis, his butler, shouldn't be a problem."
Harry found his keys under a cushion over the couch and next to his store ID that read 'Ben Reilly'. He strolled towards the main door. "See you soon, then." He ended the call and moved the key inside the lock.
As he opened the door, Harry was greeted by the same individual he saw in the footage he wanted Gwen to see. His body froze at the terrifying sight of what could once be associated to Spider-Man, but a slightly taller and stronger one.
"You..."
Harry dropped his phone as he quickly took a turn backwards once the symbiote raised its currently blade shaped hand in the air and fastly tried to cut him in half, the heavy attack landed in the ground as Harry stumbled down while going back inside.
Harry fastly supported himself by the couch and immediately stood up once again, but the furniture didn't last much longer after the intruder violently threw it to the side to make a straight path to him. The sofa abruptly clashed against the wall.
There wasn't any room left, Harry quickly noticed that once he got cornered inside the kitchen. He now faced whoever was wearing the suit, anything he could possibly do to delay the imminent inevitable was out of his reach
His breathing was fast and rough.
"Somethings aren't meant to be seen. You, of all people... should already know that, Harry Osborn." It raised its open left hand at Harry's direction and a black small spike was shot at his shoulder.
Harry let out a painful yell and fell on his knees and panted heavily. He moved his own hand to reach for the spike but it was deep buried inside his flesh. He saw the feet covered by some purple tinted goo in the ground in front of him.
He looked up and meet the unnerving white big eyes, "Who... who are you?"
It once again turned its left hand into a blade. "...Venom."
Venom furiously raised it above him and then down at the Osborn. A loud thud came shortly after the direct physical contact, and then... silence.