Peter's cell phone rang and woke him up from his sleep. He groaned and opened one eye. It was too bright so he blindly shot his webbing towards the sound. As the object he latched onto flew towards him, he felt it suddenly pulled away, followed by a metallic thud on the floor. Peter opened his eyes marginally, seeing a screwdriver roll away.
"Idiot."
Peter's eyes widened as he realized he was not alone. Andrew was still in the chair he fell asleep in, except he was leaning forward and quickly checking through his own phone. His hair was in disarray.
Andrew smiled as he glanced up at Peter and shook his head. He pointed at the screwdriver. "You were going to get yourself stabbed with that thing. Lucky I was here to stop it," he laughed, clearly amused.
Peter's phone stopped ringing.
"Dammit, she is going to be so pissed at me." Andrew grimaced as his own phone seemed to receive several text messages consecutively.
The phone began to ring again. Peter was momentarily confused; not quite sure why he was sleeping in the skylight, or why there was daylight outside already.
Andrew looked up at Peter expectantly and then back to the ringing phone. He sighed dramatically and got out of the chair. He tossed the phone up to Peter while still texting on his own phone with the other hand.
"Hello?" Peter answered the phone sleepily.
"Pete, it's me." Harry said in a hoarse voice.
That woke him up a little bit. "Hey Harry, wh-what time is it?"
"Almost nine," Andrew loudly whispered from below.
Peter stared curiously as Andrew shot a small bit of webbing into his hand and began rolling it into a ball.
"Late? Early? I don't know, I've been up all night I need to see you," Harry said.
"Are you alri- ugh!" Peter crinkled his nose at the ball of webbing that was now hanging from his arm.
"Peter?" Harry questioned.
Andrew attempted to stifle his laughter. "That's for not waking me up," he said.
"Yeah, yeah sorry, Har," Peter tried getting the webbing off, but it was much more sticky than the stuff he created. "You alright? You sound kind of... off."
"Not really. I'm dying." Peter froze at his words. Even Andrew stopped laughing. "But, I think you can help save my life."
"Where are you?" Peter kept his voice steady.
"Oscorp. You need to see something. Get here soon, Pete." Harry hung up.
Peter dropped down from the skylight, staring at his phone in shock. This had to be some kind of sick joke, because there was no way Harry was actually dying. Though, the odds of this being a joke were slim to none. Harry was never one for pranks.
"Everything alright?" Andrew asked, clearly uncomfortable. Peter knew that he had to have heard what was said on the phone, and was trying to be polite by feigning ignorance. His hearing wasn't exactly super human, but his primary senses were above average perception, and he was willing to bet that Andrew's senses were the same, if not better than his own.
Peter shook his head. "No, uh... I need to get to Oscorp. My friend needs my help," Peter said as he quickly put away anything he wouldn't want his aunt seeing.
"Alright. Well, let me know if you need anything," Andrew said.
Peter paused. "Thanks. I will." He rubbed his arm absently and looked down as he remembered the glob of webbing stuck to it.
"Here," Andrew said as he easily pulled the webbing off of his arm as if it were a stray piece of hair. "My webbing is a lot more adhesive than yours, and my fingertips are more compatible with it than yours are."
"Yeah, I noticed," Peter rubbed his arm where the webbing had pulled out some of his arm hair. "Look, I have to go. Um, if you need to hang out here for a while, that's fine. Get ahold of me later if you want to talk or hang out or whatever."
"I'm heading out, actually. My sister is pretty worried about me," Andrew said. His phone alerted him of another text.
"Good luck with that," Peter said as Andrew rushed out of the garage.
Peter tried not to cringe when he saw Andrew web slinging himself home, in broad daylight, in nothing but a hoodie to hide himself.
He was going to have to have a talk with him about being less conspicuous.
Felicia Hardy walked Peter up to one of Harry's private offices. Peter thought he may have seen her one of the times he had been to Oscorp, but apparently now she was Harry's new assistant. She looked as young and out of place as Harry. That's probably why they got along so well.
Harry thanked Felicia and turned towards Peter, missing the flirty smile she threw at him.
Harry seemed distracted. He barely said a couple words to Peter before he started a video on the flat screen and took a seat.
Peter was confused when both of their fathers popped up on the video. They were talking about genetically engineered super spiders, and Peter's stomach dropped. Did Harry know about him? No, that was impossible.
As he listened to the video, he kept glancing at Harry through his peripheral vision. There was something wrong with his friend. His face and hands were covered in a cold sweat, and his hands, they kept trembling.
Harry cut the video, leaving Peter speechless. He had no idea that his father had worked with Harry's. The fact that his own father had been working with 'genetically engineered super spiders' seemed beyond implausible.
"They never even made it to human trials. That's fourteen years of research and nothing to show for it," Harry said as he jumped up from his chair.
But that wasn't true. Andrew had told him that he had volunteered to be the first human trial. Maybe there were more files, some that not even Harry could access.
"Except maybe this," Harry tossed a newspaper article onto the table. "Spider-Man."
Harry looked at the photo of Spider-Man as if it could solve all his problems.
"What about him?" Peter tried to ask nonchalantly. It was the first time he had spoken since they had been alone.
"He was bitten by one of those things and it worked!" Harry pointed to the screen, his voice rising. "I don't know how, and I don't know why, but he can do everything else a spider can. Including self heal. I need to find him. I need his blood."
How had Harry come to this conclusion? What had made him so desperate?
"You need... Spider-Man's blood," Peter said skeptically.
"It will save my life."
Peter sighed. "It may not, Har. It might not be that simple. You saw what happened to Curt Connors, right?" He needed Harry to understand the gravity of what he was asking. Peter had helped Connors, and it ended up turning him into a giant lizard monster.
"Connors was weak. This is me, Peter," Harry practically ground his teeth.
He was right in that respect. Harry was the most stubborn person Peter knew. He usually got whatever it was he wanted, and if he wanted Spider-Man's blood to work, Harry would do whatever it took to make that happen.
"I don't think you can just set up a van... and have him donate. I mean, I'm sure he's sensitive-"
"Sensitive... sensitive," Harry scoffed.
Peter continued, "a-about having people shoving needles and... and-"
"Alright. Okay. Well then maybe you could just sensitively tell me where he is and I will go ask him myself," Harry's voice shook.
"What?" Peter asked, dumbfounded.
"You took his picture, so you know him."
"Harry, I took a picture from a long way away. I used a long lens. I don't know him."
Harry paused for a moment. Peter hoped that maybe Harry was starting to see this idea as a lost cause.
"I put together what you said at the river," Harry said.
"What I-"
"About how he gives people hope," Harry said, "Come on."
Peter couldn't do this. Why didn't Harry understand? Why couldn't he ever just accept "No" for an answer? He wanted to help him, but this was not the way.
"Come on, just say yes," Harry pleaded with him.
This was it for Peter. He couldn't say "Yes" to something like this, but he couldn't say "No" either, not when he was so desperate. He had to have time to think. Without answering his friend, Peter got up to leave.
"Don't turn your back on me!" Harry growled. His tone softened. "I don't want to end up like my father, Peter. Please."
It was hard to look him in the eyes, knowing that he was going to have to say "No" sooner or later. Even as Harry begged him again and wrapped an arm around him in a hug, Peter knew he couldn't give him what he wanted. It would only hurt him.
"I'm going to try and find Spider-Man," Peter said.
He turned and left the office.
What the hell was he going to do? He had briefly thought about just telling Harry who he was. Maybe it would make this whole situation less complicated. Then again, maybe Harry would demand that Peter give him his blood right then and there.
There was only one other person that would understand the situation.
Peter stopped in an empty hallway, making sure he was alone, and pulled out his phone. Maybe Andrew knew more information about his own blood since he had actually been in the labs with the scientists. He cursed and put his phone away when there was no answer.
He made his way back to the elevators, deciding to head home. It was still pretty early in the day, maybe he could catch a couple more hours of sleep before he decided what to do.
As the glass elevator descended, he noticed several security guards running down an aisle. When he saw what, or rather who they were running towards, Peter quickly stopped the elevator and hopped out.
"Ms. Stacy, you must come with me," Peter heard a man command just before he turned the corner. There stood a man in a black suit and a security guard. The other two that were running over here would be here any second.
"There must be some kind of mistake," Gwen said innocently. Her eyes widened, but Peter could see relief on her face when she saw him round the corner.
"Come on, let's go." The security guard motioned down the hallway. The other two had just shown up. Gwen stood her ground.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Peter walked up to the small group.
"Sir, we need you to stand back," the second guard ordered.
The third guard grabbed Gwen by the arm. "Let's go. Now."
Peter's hand shot forward, grabbing the man's arm in an instant.
"Do not touch her," he said in a low voice, fighting the urge the break his arm.
"What's going on here?"
Everyone turned. The man in the black suit swore under his breath, which Peter assumed only he could hear. The security guard who had grabbed Gwen's arm let go, which Peter soon followed after giving him one last warning squeeze.
Harry was standing, both hands in his pockets, looking much more put together than a few minutes ago. Felicia stood on Harry's right. She had a curious look on her face. Harry's was more amused.
"We've been ordered to bring Gwen Stacy in for questioning," the man in the black suit said. Peter saw Harry's eyes flicker to him, then to Gwen, and back to him again after hearing Gwen's name. "Mr. Parker here tried to stop us," the man added.
Peter scrunched up his face in confusion. How did he know his name?
"What is she being questioned for?" Harry asked.
Peter could practically hear the man next to him grinding his teeth in frustration. "She is being questioned due to her browsing history today. I am unable to disclose the content at this time."
Peter rolled his eyes. Whatever they wanted with Gwen, it seemed to have to do with a lot more than just 'browsing history.'
"Sir, Menken spoke with us directly about this," the first guard said.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the man. "Well, be that as it may, I actually asked Ms. Stacy to look into some things for me earlier today. Felicia was busy with," Harry paused for a moment before turning towards the man in the black suit with a smirk, "something I am unable to disclose with you at this time."
The man in the black suit looked torn. "Sir-"
"So," Harry interrupted him, "whatever it is you need to talk to her about, you can talk to me about. Just not today, or tomorrow." He turned to Felicia. "Maybe you can pencil them in for sometime next month?"
"Of course, Mr. Osborn," Felicia smiled.
"You're all dismissed," Harry looked pointedly at the guards.
The man waited for the guards to leave before he took several steps towards Harry. "You don't understand the seriousness of the situation."
"Tell Menken to speak with me before he orders one of you tools to harass one of my employees again." Harry stepped around him. "Felicia, why don't you take the rest of the day off. Pete, Gwen, come on, I'll walk you out."
Peter held in his laughter as the man stared incredulously at them. Harry started towards the front entrance, so Peter put a comforting hand on Gwen's back and led her forward as he followed Harry.
"What was that about?" Peter whispered to Gwen.
"Later," she whispered back. Her shoulders were tense.
Once they were out of the building and on the front sidewalk, Gwen relaxed. Peter pulled his hand away from her.
"Thanks for that, Harry," Peter said, gesturing towards the front doors.
"Anytime, Pete," Harry half smiled. "That's what friends are for."
Peter scuffed the front of his shoe against the sidewalk and nodded, trying not to feel guilty about their meeting earlier.
Harry took his sunglasses out from his suit jacket pocket and put them. He faced Gwen. "So, this is the famous Gwen Stacy that Peter hasn't been able to stop talking about."
Peter felt his face go red. "Har-"
"I'm Harry Osborn." He held his hand out to shake Gwen's hand.
Gwen smiled and took his hand. "I know. Peter's mentioned you. It's nice to finally meet you." She let go of his hand. "And thanks for covering for me earlier."
Harry chuckled. "Do I even want to know what you were searching?"
"Oh um, I was just-" Gwen looked nervously at Peter for a second. He gave her a curious look, and suddenly Peter could practically see a light bulb above her head, "-I was curious about the incident in the city the other day that involved the guy who can control electricity. I was there when it happened, and he was saying something about Oscorp. When I started searching for something about him in the database, I was instantly locked out of my account."
Harry drew his eyebrows together, narrowing his eyes. "What did he say about Oscorp?"
"Something about wanting revenge for what Oscorp did to him. Other than that, he only made some snarky comment about it being his birthday..." Gwen paused, "…Oh! I met an employee here who was talking about his birthday. But that would be too big of a coincidence..." She bit her lip and rubbed her chin in thought.
"Well, what was his name?" Harry asked, looking between Peter and Gwen.
"Max. Max Dillon."
Peter's eyes widened. The guy had said his name was Max.
"Huh," Harry commented. "I'll see if I can sort this out. Peter, let me know as soon as you can about what we discussed. Gwen, it was nice to meet you," he said.
Peter nodded. "I will, Har."
As soon as Harry was gone, Peter turned to Gwen.
"What's going on? I never heard any comment about Oscorp from that electric guy."
"I met Max Dillon in an elevator at Oscorp the other day. I don't know how, but that guy that you fought the other night was him. I tried getting more information about him when I got locked out. I figured if I mentioned it to Harry, he would be able to find out what happened."
"Right. Okay," Peter said. He was pretty sure Harry had other things on his mind right now. Like getting ahold of Spider-Man's blood, for example.
"Max is a huge fan of Spider-Man by the way. He loves him." Gwen nudged his shoulder.
"I was getting more of a 'I want to kill you with my electricity' vibe from him."
"Well, that's kind of how it is to love you," Gwen's eyebrows rose.
"That's-" Peter felt his cell phone vibrate. "Hold on." He checked the I.D. and saw that Andrew was calling him back. He really needed to talk to Andrew about what Harry had asked him, but he also wanted to stay and talk with Gwen some more. He wanted to tell her about Harry, but right now wasn't the time.
"It's fine, Peter. I need to go anyway." Gwen squeezed his arm.
"Bye, Gwen," he said as she started in the other direction. This was the second time he's been able to talk to her in months and it only lasted a couple minutes. He sighed and answered his phone.
"Andrew, hey."
"What's up? Something wrong?" Andrew's voice seemed worried.
Yes. "Kind of," Peter said slowly. He hid behind a huge dumpster, putting his clothes into his bag so he was able to swing home.
"Care to elaborate?"
"My friend, the one I met at Oscorp, well he actually owns Oscorp, but that's-" Peter ran a hand through his hair, "His name is Harry. He's sick. Um, dying actually, and he thinks that I can help him."
"Wow that- that sucks. I'm sorry about your friend but, why does he think that you can help him?" Andrew asked.
"Not me, Spider-Man," Peter hissed into the phone.
Andrew paused. "You told him?"
"No, I- I work at The Bugle as a photographer and I take pictures of Spider-Man and I sell them to make money. Harry saw my name credited on the picture."
"You take pictures of yourself and sell them?" Peter could tell Andrew was trying not to laugh.
"Yes," Peter groaned, "but that's not the point! He thinks my blood, Spider-Man's blood, can cure him. He thinks that it can help him self-heal. You are the only other person that might understand the position I'm in. I don't want my friend to get hurt. What do you think?"
Peter waited, but Andrew didn't answer. Instead he was having a quiet argument with someone else on his end of the line.
"...hello?"
"Yeah, Peter, sorry. Just trying to- VIOLET HOLD ON- go into another room," Andrew huffed. Nearly another minute of quiet arguing again. "I heard what you said, Peter-" A door slammed. "-and my sister didn't hear anything, all good."
Peter was already about halfway home. "Right, so..." he trailed off.
"You can't just give him your blood. Are your blood types even the same? Anyways, we would have no idea how it would even turn out. He could die or turn into... something. It's too dangerous."
"Right!" Peter agreed. "That's what I thought, but I don't know what I'm going to do. I want to help him, but this isn't the way."
"What if you tested it first? Ran some trials. Just tell your friend to give you a couple months to work with-" Andrew said in a quiet voice.
Peter laughed flatly. "Harry is not a patient person."
"Well, if he wants this done the right way, he's going to have to be."
Andrew was right. If Peter could convince Harry to just give him some time, he was sure he could find a way for this to work. He couldn't let his friend die.
"I told him I would talk to Spider-Man for him. I'm thinking... in a couple days, I'm just going to show up in my suit and talk to him. I'll persuade him to let me test it first. Me, though, not Spider-Man, I mean-"
"You'll tell Harry, as Spider-Man, that Peter will test it?" Andrew questioned.
Peter quietly landed in the back alley behind his house and began putting his clothes on over his suit. "Mm...yeah," Peter said. It sounded like a good plan.
"What if he recognizes your voice? Aren't you guys like best friends?"
Peter paused for a moment before putting on his shoes. "Crap, you're right. What do you suggest then?"
"What if you go to Harry and say you talked to Spider-Man, and I'll show up in the suit. It would cover your identity and that way we would both be there to explain to him that our way is the better way," Andrew said.
"That... actually sounds like a better plan," Peter admitted. He opened his front door, and called out to his aunt, who did not respond. "How about I shoot you a text in a couple of days?" Peter opened up his bedroom door and froze. Aunt May was sitting on his bed, staring at his wall. His wall of information about his parents, Gwen, him.
"Awesome," Andrew said through the phone.
Aunt May was staring at Peter with both confusion and a slight hint of betrayal.
"Uh, Andrew, I'm going to have to let you go," Peter said, hanging up the phone.