Posted: 5/20/11.

Dual Identity Chapter 14: Third Revelation

Summary: The Story According to Peter Again

After Spidey and I swapped negotiations through Mary Jane, our shared life settled into a surprisingly comfortable routine. I bought a diary to communicate with him. I couldn't hear Spidey's thoughts - I'm not THAT crazy. So we wrote letters to each other every night and morning.

I didn't expect to, but I felt so much better. My life would never be the same as it was... never be normal... but at least I could act like myself again without fearing for my sanity. I did my thing, Spidey did his. It worked out. Although, it was a little nerve-wracking thinking about the risks he puts our body through, especially now that he's learned web-slinging.

He still does the costumed crime-fighting. I don't really approve of vigilantism, but it does lower the crime rate, and it keeps him happy (and hence less likely to cause even more problems for me). Though I did set a curfew for him. We needed to get SOME sleep between our dual lives and my afternoons just weren't enough.

I quit Debra's Investigation Team. They were a little upset, though they didn't ask many questions. I just told them that I was too busy for it (an excuse which had the benefit of actually being true).

I began treating Spidey like a real person. I know technically he's just a part of my subconscious, but things work out so much better - for both of us - when we act like he's another guy who's just renting my body. What can I say? Mary Jane was right from the start. My "problem" was still there, but it was under control.

Although, I still didn't tell Gwen. We didn't get back together. Mary Jane didn't approve.

With Peter:

"You're both my friends, and it's no fun being friends with people who are fighting!"

"We're not 'fighting.' We're just not together."

"But you should BE together! Just tell her about you-know-what and your relationship will go back to normal."

"In what universe is you-know-what considered normal?"

Later, with Gwen:

"I can't stand watching two lovebirds act stupid like this! And his problem's already solved, so who cares what it was?"

"I know he has a reason... but I want a boyfriend I can share everything with, you know?"

"Have you ever watched a soap opera, where the main characters are obviously meant for each other but just won't admit it 'cause of their stupid personal drama? Have you ever wanted to just slap sense into them? THAT'S WHAT I'M FEELING RIGHT NOW!"

I wasn't ashamed of my condition anymore, but I still didn't want Gwen to know. I wasn't sure she would get back together with me if she knew what I was. I wasn't even sure I wanted her to get back together with me. I could accept a non-normal life now, but I wanted her to have what I couldn't.

I told myself it was fine this way. After all, I accepted Spidey. I figured I could accept anything life threw at me, right?

"It didn't matter."

...That's what I told myself.

With all of this going on in my new life, I had actually forgotten the Hobgoblin was still loose. But he hadn't forgotten about Spider-Man... He wanted revenge.

Hobgoblin wanted to draw Spider-Man out in the open. To that end, he took a hostage. In order to get the most attention, the hostage he chose was the police captain's daughter.

...Gwen.

Of course, Hobgoblin had no way of knowing Gwen's connection to his enemy Spider-Man; it was just a horrible coincidence. I wanted to keep Gwen away from Spider-Man's chaos, but she was dragged in anyway.

Hobgoblin hid Gwen in some secret location and publicly demanded that Spider-Man face him at Oscorp again. Of course, Hobgoblin also had no way of knowing Spidey slept in the daytime; hacking a news station broadcast wasn't enough for the message to reach him.

Not surprisingly, the police didn't want to wait for Spider-Man. The Hobgoblin kept his costume and several grenades, but without his glider the police were able to stop him. I wasn't there. I didn't want to get involved. I was too busy looking for Gwen.

Mary Jane and I went out searching together. It was a miracle that we found her, but we did. Tied up and suspended below the Queensboro Bridge. Hobgoblin left a small explosive attached halfway down the rope. It wasn't enough to hurt Gwen, but more than enough to cut the line.

The Hobgoblin remotely activated it when the police defeated him; just minutes after Mary Jane and I found her. She fell... I jumped after her...

"Nothing else matters."

It was the first time I switched with Spidey by my own will.

Instinctively knowing what was happening, Spidey caught Gwen, materialized the gloves of his suit, and shot a web-line at the bridge. They climbed up to safety.

...And that's how Gwen learned my secret.

I was "sleeping," so I didn't hear about it until after we switched back, but Mary Jane, Gwen, and Spidey had a long talk after they got back on solid ground. Gwen was mad, and I don't blame her. She felt that the fact my secret was this big meant she deserved to know even more. Still, she understood why I was too nervous to explain it to her. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a big deal on its own without knowing your alter is a vigilante.

So Gwen wasn't mad at me. But... well... She and Spidey don't get along. At all. Again, I don't blame her. I've read enough of Spidey's letters to know tact isn't his strong point. Whatever started their argument, I'm sure it was his fault. And Gwen does not roll over for rude behavior. Those two are just too stubborn to mix well.

It's funny. When I first heard heard how much Gwen doesn't like Spidey, I thought, "Wow, we feel the exact same way."

Don't tell Spidey I said that.