Everyone trailed Norman outside as he was dragged through the doors. The reporters immediately ignored Mt. lady and focused directly on him as he came into sight, asking him more questions than he had time to answer. Though Mt. Lady tried to snatch back their attention, the introduction of Norman's presence was just too good to pass up. The security continued to push through the crowd to the police car on the other side of the steps, but their movement was slow as not to harm the reporters in their way.

Mt. lady sighed, giving up as she knew there was no stopping the controversy vampires now. Instead her focus pulled to Peter and Kendo stepping through the doors with faces of relief. A smile across her face, Mt. lady approached the young heroes and pulled them both into a hug, "It's so good to see you two again!"

"It's good to see you too!" Peter exclaimed, quickly hugging her back before she let go.

"I take it the trial went well?" She asked, "By the looks on your adorable faces, at least?"

"It was a close call, but Norman was found guilty!"

"Eee!" The feminine hero squealed, giving them a quick hug once again, "I always had faith it would work out!"

As the three conversed, Peter suddenly glanced at Norman as he was shoved into the back of the police van. He'd be lying if he said there wasn't any guilt for how Norman ended up turning out. Had he not poked around in Oscorp, perhaps Emily would still be alive and well. If he only knew then what he knew now, but that just wouldn't be possible. He knows that he would always make the same choice if given a do over, even if he knew the consequences. A lot of lives were saved by Spider-Man, and that was a trade difficult to make.

The van door was closed shut, and the police climbed into the front to start the engine. For just a moment, Peter wanted to rush over and say something to Norman before they left. Of course, fear stopped his feet from leaving their place on the pavement. He didn't want to make things worse like every other time he meddled in someone's personal emotional affairs. Yet, he had a habit of manipulating them without realizing it, whether it be gaining their trust or hatred. Either way, it always seemed to end in pain.

"I'm going with the truck," Kamui stated, suddenly appearing behind them, "Have to make sure they get Norman to their destination. You two should get home safe and get a good night sleep."

Kendo had no problem agreeing with him, though Peter took an extra second to confirm. Kamui knew it was because he was worried, so he gave him a reassuring look and marched over to the van, climbing atop the roof of it.

Just a moment later, another set of security came through the front doors, carrying the Infinity Gauntlet in a glass container. The reporters tried to approach them to ask questions, but their cold glares immediately pushed them away. Peter watched the Gauntlet be carried to a second police van, placed in the back and locked tight. The fact that they brought it at all was an incredible risk. Much like Norman's transportation, moving it across town warranted unwanted intervention.

That's when the dilemma hit.

One van carried Norman Osborn, with Kamui along to protect him. The other held the Infinity Gauntlet with the space stone, one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. No one truly understood its power, but he did, and he knew it had to be protected.

"Mt. Lady …" Peter awkwardly grabbed her attention, fidgeting with his hands, "That Gauntlet …it needs to be protected. Can you maybe go with it to ensure nothing happens?"

She chuckled, running her fingers through his hair, "Sweetie, don't get so anxious. Of course, I'll protect it, I trust you," With a wink and a wave, she approached the van and climbed into the passenger seat without so much as asking, though the driver didn't seem to mind. There was a surge of relief when Peter could see both trucks protected. Yet, this didn't quench his worry.

"Peter?" Kendo put a hand on his shoulder, "We did it. We won, so why do you look so gloomy?"

He didn't answer, because he didn't know what to say.

The trucks started to drive away, going in opposite directions of one another. His anxiety climbed up a mountain as they grew farther from his sight, his heart beating faster than it should. He knew they were protected by very capable heroes, they that didn't stop him from worrying.

And it didn't stop her, either.

On the roof, just across the street, a figure stood on the roof. He recognized her helmet from a previous night in the city. Her white armor with golden highlights were a dead giveaway for what was about to happen. Lumina leaped across the rooftops as the van started to turn the street, and she wasn't alone. Two figures he couldn't make out followed behind her, trailing in perfect sync.

He tore from Kendo's presence and was ready to follow them, when the sound of an engine stopped him. The black van he spotted earlier started up and turned around, following the van carrying Osborn. His suspicions about it were right; Tombstone wanted Norman dead. Even with Mt. Lady and Kamui protecting them, there was still a chance something would happen despite their efforts.

"Peter?" Kendo approached him, "You're worrying me, what's wrong?"

When the situation finally hit him, his heart sank.

"Crap," Peter jumped into the air and climbed the nearest building across the street, running in the direction of Lumina and the gauntlet. He needed to have faith that Kamui could protect Osborn from Tombstones men, knowing Lumina was the bigger threat. Kendo screamed for Peter to stop, but he didn't listen as he ripped off his cloths to reveal his suit underneath. Now suited up, he started swinging from his webs for extra speed and chased after the van. He could now see Lumina and two others running across the rooftops, this was his only chance to make a move.

Throwing himself into his swing, he leapt into the air and let himself descend onto them. Just as he went to grab them, his hands passed straight through their bodies, turning into green mist that evaporated into the air.

Not just any green mist, but the kind he recognized.

"Mysterio," he muttered, suddenly hearing an explosion in the distance, "Damn it!" He leapt toward the street, swinging off his web and traversing through the air. He was tricked! Stalled just long enough so they could make a move on the Gauntlet! They knew he would try and stop them, they planned for his involvement! As he grew closer, he saw the van had crashed and caught fire, the driver trying to crawl away. Meanwhile, Mt. Lady was unconscious, held up by the metal arm of Doctor Octopus.

Of all people, why did it have to be him?

Landing at the scene, he was almost immediately met with a metal tentacle to the face, just barely dodging it due to his spider-sense and placing himself on the nearest wall. Otto remained where he was, holding the wounded hero aloft as she could barely retain consciousness.

"Otto …" Spider-Man couldn't believe he was seeing him, "I don't want to hurt you."

"I know, that's why you won't stop us."

"Put her down, Otto! Gently! No stupid 'villains take it literally' bullcrap!"

Bowing from where he stood, Otto complied and carefully Put Mt. Lady down on the sidewalk, a safe distance away from the flaming van. Spider-Man leapt down and approached her body, overseeing her Injuries for anything serious. There were a few gashes, bruises and maybe some broken bones, but otherwise she was ok.

"I had to knock her out before she grew, didn't want her trying to stop us."

"Us?" He asked, knowing that he wasn't alone, "Lumina and Quinten here too? It was his trick back there right?"

As if on cue, both Lumina and Mysterio came floating down behind them, both fully dressed in their costumes. Mysterio's was mostly green with purple boots and gloves, a large snow globe-like helmet on his head. With their arrival, Spider-Man was not surrounded in a triangle shape.
"Good to know you recognize my handy work," Quinten said, "We'll be taking that Gauntlet now, kid. No exceptions."

"I've already got Tombstone to deal with later! I don't wanna deal with you too!"

"Tombstone?" Lumina asked, "What's Tombstone done?"

"What do you care?!" Spider-Man exclaimed with rage in his voice, "You're the one who brought him here! Why do you care what he does?!"

She clenched her fist, her eyes glowing in the dark of the night, "I told you before that I am not a bad person, Peter. I'm doing what I believe to be right."

"This is right?!" He asked loudly, "Blowing up vans?! Harming officers and heroes trying to do what's actually right?!"

"The ends will justify the means, trust me," She said, putting a hand to her chest, "We may be on opposite sides, but that doesn't mean one of us has to be the bad guy."

"Yeah? Then tell Tombstone to stop targeting Norman Osborn? He's trying to kill him; did you know that?!"

Lumina was taken aback, the information clearly new to her. Spider-Man could see the surprise in his eyes, the idea of it shocking her. He should have expected this kind of reaction, knowing his interactions with her in the past. Angry as he was, he didn't mean to throw his anger around. He knew that if anything, she truly believed she was doing the right thing.

"He's …trying to kill him?" Lumina asked slowly.

"Didn't Tombstone go with the others?" Mysterio asked.

"No …no he remained neutral and went off on his own. Yet …I thought he was in our corner regardless. But …" She sighed, "Grab the Gauntlet, we need to go."

"Lumina," Otto interjected, "This isn't your fault."

"No, Peter's right. I brought him here, his actions are my burden."

Spider-Man stood quickly and cocked his head, "What are you talking about? What others?"

"Exclusive information, Peter," Otto said, raising his tentacles, "Sorry."
Ott's metal arms shot for him quickly, forcing Spider-Man to jump up in the air. Once aloft, another arm came his way and smacked him into the wall, dragging him down and pinning him to the concrete. The arm lifted him up and slammed him down again, repeating just a few more times before he ensured that he was down.

"Maybe this will be a good lesson for you," Otto threatened, "If you try and stop us again, you may not make it through the night."
Lumina, hearing Otto's threat, did a doubletake to register it. The slight growl in his voice worried her, but she didn't think too much of it as it likely resulted from the heat of the moment. Still, it wasn't so much what he said, it was the fact that he said it. Threatening to kill wasn't something she had seen from him yet, despite how much time they have spent together.

"Otto," Lumina commanded, "Time to go."

Regaining his composure, Otto stretched one of his metal arms toward the truck and opened the steel doors like nothing. Inside, the Gauntlet's glass case had been shattered on impact, but the weapon itself remained intact. Using two metal arms, Otto gently picked it up and retracted it away from the broken vehicle.
"…No, stop…" Spider-Man attempted to get up, but his injuries stung down to his bones and weighed him down against the concrete. His fingers twitched in the rubble and debris, trying to find the strength to push himself onto his feet, but every attempt only made him weaker after being pummeled by Otto's attacks, "O-Otto!" He exclaimed, only able to make it to his knees, "Don't do this!" he coughed, "I'm begging you! That much power can't be abused."

"She isn't going to abuse it," He stated, "It couldn't be in safer hands."

With a swift motion, his metal arm came crashing down against Spider-Man's body and slammed him back against the ground, knocking him out completely. His head rocked back and forth until the momentum drained from his body and forced him still.

His metal arms carried the Gauntlet to Lumina, gently dropping it in her hands before retracting to Otto's back, "It's yours, once again, Lumina."

Lumina examined the Gauntlet carefully, making sure it was real and not another trick. She almost expected Mirko to come crashing in again and take it away, telling her it was all a trap and beating her across the street. No, this time it was real, and finally in her hands instead of Osborn's.
Carefully, she placed the Gauntlet over her left hand and felt the metal against her fingers. It was large on her hand, clearly meant for a being much larger than her. It was a concern for another time, however, as they had more pressing matters to deal with.

"Time to go," She said, putting a hand on the space stone and focusing on its power. A large portal opened behind them, their warehouse just on the other side.

"You're making my tricks look like a bunny from a hat," Mysterio joked, "On we go."

Mysterio was the first to pass through the portal, his cape dangling as it dragged through. Otto was next, passing by with a quick comforting glance. Lumina, however, returned it with one of concern, despite how he was unable to see it. When he vanished, Lumina was left alone to examine the Gauntlet once again, its power intimidating her even with just the one stone attached.

"…L-Lumina …" Spider-Man struggled to regain consciousness, unable to move from his face down position against the concrete, "P-please …I'm begging you. Don't do this …"

Silent, she turned to face the portal.

"What do you w-want with the stones?!" He coughed out.

She stood there, unmoving with his words in her head. The gauntlet rested against her chest as she used two hands to carry it. It was a question so many had asked her, and she never gave them a straight answer, not even those she trusted to work with. If she believed anyone would truly understand, perhaps she would finally tell them, and stop hiding behind a mask.

For now, she remained trapped in the light of her own making.

She was gone a moment later, not so much as looking back at him when the portal vanished.

…

Though they were a distance driven away, Kamui couldn't help but hear the large explosion as he stood atop the truck holding Norman. The disturbance didn't stop the officers from driving onward to their destination, likely chalking it up to another hero/ villain battle. Kamui would have done the same, had his gut instinct not kicked in.

Easily, he could have left to check it out, but it was then he took notice of the black car following them. It was the same vehicle Peter pointed out to be suspicious earlier before the end of the trial. The car increased its speed until it was nearly hood to rear.
Out of the passenger seat, a man in a ski-mask pulled out a large assault rifle, pointing it directly at the truck.

"Incoming!" Kamui shouted as he created a large wooden shield and placed it before the truck. It guarded against most of the bullets as they fired rapidly from the criminal's gun, "Dammit, guess the kid was right," Kamui struggled to regenerate the shield of bullet holes. They tried to drive around the shield and attack from the side, having to cease fire while moving. In this opening, Kamui picked up his large shield and slammed it into the hood of the car. The vehicle flipped over and landed upside down, skidding across the ground with sparks flying.

It wasn't over, however. As it crashed, several more vehicles wearing the same insignia drove out of the alleyway's and turned onto the street, attempting to surround the armored truck.

"It's an ambush!" He shouted to the driver, "Keep moving, I'll take care of them!"

Kamui stretched his fingers and rolled his shoulders back before leaping off the car and into the air. His feet landed on the hood of the nearest car and rooted to the metal. Before they could shoot at him, he struck his hand through the windshield and knocked the driver and his passengers out, then grabbed the wheel to prevent them from swerving. Now in control of the car, he turned it to the left and let it crash into one of the other cars, forcing them both to a stop.

Kamui leapt from it and stretched a thick branch to the next car, tugging himself over and landing on the hood like before. This time he stretched the wood from his hands and wrapped them around the wheels of the vehicle, causing them to skid against the street and leave a trail of tire marks before they popped entirely.

He was ready to leap onto the next car, but a pair of headlights caught him like a deer. Coming from the open street, another black car came rushing at full speed, with no signs of slowing down. With only a second left to react, Kamui jumped to the side and avoided the crash as they came crumbling into the side of the building, immediately catching fire.

"Come on!" Kamui shouted, getting to his feet and rushing for the now burning hunks of metal. He ripped the doors off each of the vehicles and pulled the survivors out, dragging them as far from the fire as possible. Just in time, they finally exploded from the leakage of oil, and the flames erupted into the air. Even at the distance he was, he could feel the heat coming from the wreckage.

He grabbed a walkie talkie from his hip, and pressed the call button, "Hey, is the transport truck safe?!"

Static came in before the voice, "Yeah, Kamui, we're safe. The rest of them seem to have backed off after the explosion."

"Good, keep moving until you reach the prison, I gotta handle cleanup."

He groaned after hanging up, looking back at the street and seeing just how much cleanup he had.

"Tombstone …" Kamui muttered, remembering the name Peter had mentioned, "Just who is this guy?"

…

An hour had gone by since the incident. There was a win, and there was a loss. Norman was safe; his assassination prevented. The Gauntlet, however, couldn't be protected even with the effort of two heroes, both left on the ground, and only one was found when the ambulance arrived.

Spider-Man had since been removed.

It took him time to regain consciousness, his vision blurry from the concussion. As he came to, so did his memory of what happened with Lumina, Mysterio and Doc Ock. He could still feel bruises in his body, and likely some broken bones as well. Had it not been for his accelerated healing, he likely would still be unconscious and battered.

Strangely, it wasn't concrete that he felt beneath his body anymore, nor did he feel the coldness of the nightly air. Instead, he felt a soft bed and a pillow under his head, a lamp was lit on a dresser next to him. He was able to make out more details as his vision cleared up, though a ringing still sounded in his ear. The room's walls were shades of light unsaturated green, with sky blue across the ceiling. It wasn't too large, but big enough for a dresser, desk, closet and a bed next to a window. On the floor, he spotted the top piece of his costume along with his mask, folded neatly. Across his body were bandages to stop any bleeding, a medical kit sitting on the edge of the bed.

Along with her.

Seeing him stirring, Kendo didn't even bother to look at him, feeling a mixture of anger, concern and relief, too much to begin eye contact with, "You really are a serious dumbass, aren't you?" She asked rhetorically, "You threw yourself into danger without so much as an explanation."

He wanted to sit up but found his body to be too sore for such an action. When he spoke, his voice was weak and rough, "Kendo, I-"

"You said you weren't doing this anymore!" She shouted, finally making eye contact after settling on anger, "You promised me that you stopped this! Then you just jump right into the fire!" She started crying, overwhelming adrenaline getting to her, "How long have you been back at it as Spider-Man?! Right after the police station?! The school attack?! Don't lie to me again!"

He couldn't maintain eye contact for too long, the guilt heavier than he could hold. When he tried to speak, the words left his mind before his mouth, and left him blank on the battlefield. She wanted an answer, and though he had one, he knew it would only make her angrier.

"I couldn't just do nothing," His voice was weak, having to speak slowly in order to sound clear, "The Gauntlet was being pursued by villains."

"Mt. Lady could have handled it."

"She was knocked out when I got there, and I still couldn't stop them from taking it."

"I know, it's on the news. Be lucky no one else saw you, or even found you before I did."

He shifted his shoulders, pushing himself up on the pillow, "Thank you for helping me."

"Don't," She scolded, her voice cold, but dipped in concern, "You're lucky that I don't turn you into the police for what you just pulled. All you did was prove that attorney right about you, that you'd willingly break the law!"

"To protect-"

"I know!" She silenced him, a moment of silence creating tension between them, "To protect everyone …I know."

It was Peter's turn to start crying now, his tears stinging the wounds on his face. The last thing he wanted to happen today was this. There was no mask to hide his shame, no glasses to cover his imperfections. His guilt and mistakes were out in the open to be judged by his friend, by Kendo. A girl he trusted with his feelings, his vulnerability, and the danger of his life. Now, she would judge him for all his sins, and he would bathe in that guilt, feeling as though he was burning from the fire of his shame.

"…You aren't going to stop, are you?" Kendo asked, choking on her tears.

"…No," He sobbed, "N-No I'm not. I c-can't," Peter sniffled, trying to speak through the hiccups of his remorse, "The stones …they're h-here because of me. All o-of this is because o-of me. I have all the-these powers, I can't ever squan-squander them. If I do, then m-my Uncle Ben died … for nothing!"

She didn't say anything for the longest time, simply looking at him with a hand just barely gracing her face. She knew, she always knew that no matter what she did, he would always continue being Spider-Man. As angry as it made her, she understood where he was coming from and what motivated him to put on the mask. With a sigh, she finally gave up trying to convince him to see things the way she did. Guilting him, or even forcing him wouldn't do any good. He was dead set on being Spider-Man with or without her support. Peter wasn't doing this because he wanted to prove himself, it was because his heart told him it was right.

"Is this your room?" He asked, glancing around at the walls and windows.

"…Yeah. I had to bring you to my house. Don't worry, my parents aren't home yet, but we don't have long before you need to go."

The tension grew, and she knew she had to say something.

"Funny how you wouldn't let me fight at the school attack, yet your throw yourself into danger again and again."

He laughed, feeling pain in his ribs, "Well, that's a super hero in a nutshell. We're basically super powered hypocrites."

She laughed in return, trying her best to suppress it, "Is that what we are?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

In a moment of emotional takeover, Kendo gently reached over and hugged peter tightly, carful not to hurt him. Her tears dripped off her chin and onto the pillow, staining it and the fluff within. He wanted to hug her back, but he simply didn't have the strength to do so. Peter just sat there and let her show affection to him. As much as they disagreed, she cared about him just as he cared about her.

And they both knew it would get them hurt.

"…I won't stop you," She finally said, "I know that I can't. I'm just going to ask you to be careful."

"…Lumina has the Gauntlet now," Peter said, causing Kendo to let him go and listen carefully.

"How much trouble are we in?"

"… I… I don't know."

…

Detective Naomasa carefully jotted notes onto a piece of paper, sitting quietly alone in his office. In front of him were case files spread across the desk, with photo's and collected data of the many new supervillains to pop up in the last few weeks. Among them, however, was a file unrelated, yet the others wouldn't be complete without it. This was the file he noted the most in his search.

The file of a young hero.

A knock came to the front door, startling the detective. Regardless, he caught his composure and addressed his visitor, "Come in."

In through the door came All Might, reduced to his weaker and less threatening form. He looked tired, likely from the hero work he had done that day. The attack at USJ reduced his time limit, so he had to fit more acts of heroism into a small window. No wonder he had bags under his eyes.

"Naomasa," All Might greeted, "You sounded so urgent on the phone," he sat down in the chair across from him, almost feeling like he was about to be interrogated by his close friend, "What was so important that you wanted to meet in person?"

Naomasa didn't respond with words, instead he grabbed the file folder on top of the rest and handed it to him. All Might opened the folder, not quite sure what he was expecting to find inside. What he did, however, was enough to shock him with confusion as he flipped through the papers and photo's, "Hey …what's all this for?"

"After the events of today's trial, I was asked to create a case around him."

"But …why?!"

"Though Norman Osborn was found guilty, his lawyer did bring up some interesting points that needed looking into. When we had, we found several plot holes that only Rei's evidence could fill. That's why I called you here."

All Might placed the folder down, crossing his arms with one hand on his chin, "What do you need from me?"

"I need you to tell me everything you know about Peter Parker."