No. 12—What Could Go Wrong?
"Mayday, mayday!" | Cave-In | Rusty Nail
A/N: Definitely not where the prompt was supposed to go, but I was stuck and also couldn't resist. Also also, I have read exactly zero comics with Mayday Parker, so be ye warned if you're a fan of her stuff. I am unaware of how she actually acts in the comics-verses.
Also also also, this is my first posted Spider-Man fanfic even though my username is Spider-Man'sUnfriendlyNeighbor and I have over fifty posted fanfics. Not sure what that says about me.
"I thought the Green Goblin died a long time ago." Mayday Parker said, her legs swinging off the edge of the Chrysler building. She bit into the hotdog Peter had bought for her.
Peter leaned against the side of the building. His side was still tight, even though it had been a few weeks since he got back. Mary Jane hadn't been wild about him getting into the swing of things again so soon, but he had been going crazy without his web-slinging. "He did."
"So how…?" Mayday asked.
Peter sighed. "I told you, it's some sort of multiverse."
"But I don't get how the universes are at different times in the multiverse," Mayday said. "It doesn't make sense."
Peter shrugged. "There was also magic involved," he pointed out.
May crossed her arms. He knew she stubbornly refused to believe in magic. Some things, she claimed, were just a step too far.
Peter polished off his own hotdog and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm just glad I'm back." Seeing his younger alternate selves had made him realize how lucky he was. He wouldn't go back to the days of loneliness, turmoil, and relationship drama for anything.
May hugged him, one hand still holding the hotdog and smearing ketchup on his back. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, sweetie."
Time slowed around him. Something was coming. Something big. He pulled his mask down and flipped to the top of the Chrysler Building. Mayday flipped next to him and shoved the rest of the hotdog into her mouth.
A small bomb exploded where they had just been sitting. Peter blinked. Had he and his daughter stumbled into another universe by mistake? The Goblin flew around, laughing. Except he was all yellow and his laugh was not an Osborne laugh.
"Dad!" May grabbed his arm. "Look! Is he from that other universe?"
"Ah, both Spider creatures in one spot," the yellow Goblin said. "How fortunate."
"Fortunate for us, maybe," Mayday shot. She glanced at Peter. She had been working on her quips to bring them from "boring" to "pesky". That one was doing pretty well, but that wasn't his biggest concern.
He pulled her mask down over her nose and mouth. "First priority, Spider-Girl." He had thought he'd become a bit more chill about it, but Peter One's disaster had spooked him. A nose and mouth might not be recognizable, but better to be safe than sorry.
"Oh, yeah," Mayday said. "Sorry."
"You know, I think the first Goblin's costume was more flattering," Peter said. "Yellow's not really your color."
"Call me the Hobgoblin," the yellow Goblin said. He pulled out another bomb. "Catch!"
Peter and Mayday both flipped off the Chrysler Building and flung out webs. Mayday headed left while Peter headed right.
Hobgoblin chased after her, laughing. "Sayonara, sweetheart!" He tossed a bomb at her and zoomed away, laughing.
"No! Gobby!" Peter called.
The bomb exploded, cutting May's web. She spiraled down, limp.
Peter swung himself forward faster than he thought he could go. He dove for her, shooting out a web. The web snagged on her feet. He pulled her towards him, shooting another web up above him.
She fell into his arms just as he landed on an empty roof. He fell to his knees with her in his lap and ripped her mask off. She was limp, unconscious, unmoving. He slid his hand under her head and stroked her brown hair. "Mayday. Mayday!"
Horrible flashbacks flooded him. A sidewalk long ago, Uncle Ben dying in his arms struggling to say his name. Peter blinked back the tears that sprang to his eyes. She had his spider strength, surely a little bomb couldn't harm her. "Mayday!"
May blinked her eyes, then smiled. "Hey, Daddy."
"May," Peter gasped.
May winced, putting her hand up to her head. She sat up. "Guess I got stunned for a minute. Good thing you were there to catch me, huh?"
"Yeah," Peter said, struggling to steady the shaking in his voice due to her near miss. "Good thing indeed." He pulled her in for a tight hug.
"Oh. Okay, Dad. Thanks." Mayday patted him on the back. "What happened to the Hobgoblin?"
"Oh!" Peter drew back. "I'd better go after him. You go home and have your mother check you for a concussion."
"But—" May started.
"No buts, young lady. And no swinging home. Head injuries are no joke," Peter said.
"Yes, sir." May's shoulders slumped, but she didn't argue. Good. Maybe she was learning that Peter's rules were for her own good. No reason she had to go it alone and make dumb mistakes like Peter had. Not when she had a support system and was still just a teenager.
"I love you," Peter said.
"I love you too, Dad."