Publisher's Note: "ALSO, you have a question for completing the last arc. You may use it to ask me anything. It doesn't even have to be about the plot, (in fact I recommend that it isn't!), but rather 'do X or Y' exist in this universe or since you've mentioned Y, which version is the biggest inspiration or did you go all original?, other small details. If it's a good enough question and it makes sense to be, it might even become in universe knowledge for Peter!" These are Cosgroves own words, unfortunately you can't ask now since the questions have already been asked by the large majority of players in Cosgrove's thread, but anyways I put this up since what was stated above is going to appear in the start of this chapter since it still relates to the story, not the plot, so enjoy.

[CARNAGE] ARC

Chapter 10:

Costume Woes

The X-gene?

There could be said that there is a sub school of individuals with a variable mutagenic gene which has been categorized with the 'X' Variable, yes. However, there has been no proof of its existence barring a few 'mad ramblings' about the possibilities in the sixties which were dropped as 'unfounded' and many of the people who supported its existence have since recanted of it, Professor Charles Xavier being the foremost as he has since isolated himself to a philanthropic lifestyle and has been quoted with saying

"The sixties were a different time. We were all young and riding high off the stories of Captain America. But there's no such thing as a gene that makes you superhuman. it's a fantasy just as big as Captain America having been anything other than propaganda for the Allies. Now, were you here to actually interview me or were you here just to waste my time?"

Furthermore, the spokesperson of the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division merely raised an eyebrow when asked and responded, "I personally have no comment on the subject nor does my department but, off the record, I did find it hard to believe that there is such a thing as a 'gene that gives people superpowers' if there was, don't you think it'd be in the news?

Things have been… weird lately. You're a newspaper-worthy, it seems. Kinda. Well, your alter ego 'Spider-man is.' He's been the talk of the town ever since the failure of the Black cat's heist.

You've mostly been laying low and living as normally as possible. You've gone to school and stuck around your house. You received a call from Felix's father on your next tutoring session to inform you that Felix was currently having health problems and that he would unfortunately be unable to host any tutoring sessions, but that Felix would call you as soon as he was well again.

At least you spent yesterday hanging out with Harry. That's been the one upside, considering that Gwen has not looked at you or spoken to you or answered your calls… at all, really. You let out a sigh an resume reading your textbook on mechanical engineering.

And then there's the matter of the money from the reward. Two grand. You should get some of it to Uncle Ben or Aunt May, but how? How do you just give people large amounts of money without them asking questions about how you got it?

You snap the book shut and toss it onto your desk.

You pick up the nearby newspaper, a reprinting since it sold so well on its first run, or the Daily Bugle article on Spider-man. There, on the front page, is Spider-man saluting the photographer. From here you can see how amateurish it is, honestly. The article is by Eddie Brock and its surprisingly supportive. They offer words like 'suspicious' sure but there's also a nice little bit that offers support of you for having caught the Black Cat… as it blasts the police for being so incompetent as to let her get away.

Nothing on you and the Black Cat's…. meeting, so guess Jameson and Eddie might have a more favorable opinion of you. For the moment, at least. Still, that probably doesn't help things between you and Gwen any. You set down the newspaper and pick up the phone, calling her number. It rings twice before it goes to voice mail.

…Yup, still not talking.

You hang up and, looking at the paper, decide to call Eddie. There three rigns before the phone picks up. "Hello, Eddie Brock speaking, who is this?" His voice is a bit tense and impatient.

"It's Peter, Eddie."

Any tenseness on the line fades as he lets out a sigh of relief. "Ah, good to hear from you, Pete. Though can it wait? I'm in the middle of an investigation and I need to be focused. Are you busy tomorrow night? I can call you and talk to you then, buddy. Later!"

There's someone else's voice on the other end as Eddie hangs up. You rest your head against the desk you're sitting at before letting out a sigh as you open up your wallet and take a card out from the back and look at it.

It's the card the Black Cat gave you. You shouldn't trust her, not even once, but… She's still your best help for sneaking into Oscorp. Well, if she actually will help you. But there's no way in hell you're calling that number from your house, there's a good chance she'll track you to your house and family.

You put the card back and grab your jacket. And if you're going to be Spider-man again, you'll need a better costume, one that's more durable. And, right now, you have some money to work with.

You head downstairs, planning to go to the library and pause. Aunt May's home, so you might as well say goodbye to her. She's been less busy since yesterday, it seems. You enter the kitchen to see aunt May making a cup of tea. "Hey, Aunt May!"

She looks over and smiles. "Ah, Peter, wonderful! I can ask you now. Are you busy tomorrow night?"

You shake your head. You haven't made any plans so if it isn't any problems, you should be able to help if she needs it. "Not sure. What's up, Aunt May?"

She smiles taking her tea and sitting down. "Well, Anna was asking for my help a lot lately because her Niece, Mary Jane, is going to be staying with her. Ben gave us a hand moving furniture and getting the bedding. You remember her, don't you, Peter?"

…Mary Jane Watson?

You give Aunt May a weak smile as she smiles up at you hopefully.

You freeze in place as memories assault you, eyes haunted.

Mary Jane Watson.

Before Flash Thompson, there was Mary Jane Watson. In fact, you would take years of Flash over her again, anytime. Your childhood was a nightmare when she visited Anna Watson and stayed there with her family. And then, finally, she moved away.

The nightmare was over. IT WAS OVER.

"Peter?"

You give your Aunt a shaky grin.

"…S-sure, Aunt May. I… I-I have to go. Library."

And you immediately head out the door. As you walk out of your house, you eye the house next to yours warily before shaking your head. Never again will the spaghetti incident happen again. Never again.

…After all, you've got superpowers now. Nothing to be afraid of. Nothing at all.

As you make your way to the library. When you get there You go to one of the computers that allow you to look up books and search for something on costuming. You spend time on it and, eventually, find some different subjects on the matter.

At your current skill level, you can have something that's easy to move in- like spandex-like materials. Or you can have a multiple piece outfit that's more durable. Or you can just worry about making the costume look good.

You spend time on the library trying to find ways to make good durable costumes, but you also spend some time looking up how to try to make it nice. Before you know it, it's early afternoon and you've got a notebook filled with different ideas to use.

You spend more time researching electronics, especially the mechanics behind tracers and technology that can help you spy on people- namely Norman Osborn. After a while, you look outside and realize its getting late.

You'd best go. You stop by a small shop and pick up a prepaid phone with cash before heading out to the fabrics store.

When you get there you look around for fabrics.

You look it over, but you liked the Red and Blue. It made you look friendlier. Black, well Black might get you associated with Black Cat, and you really want to avoid that for now. Besides, Gwen helped you make the red and blue, anyway.

You grab various materials and after being checked out by a very unenthused clerk, head out of the store. You should have everything you need.

The evening light casts everything in a red hue as you go.

You decide to take a more scenic walk home. It's longer and out of the way, but in this light, there's no doubt that its beautiful to look at. You continue walking, taking a road through a nearby park, and head towards your house.

However, you see a man sitting on a park bench, several bags next to him. He's resting his chin upon his hand. He sticks out like a sore thumb- its hard not to notice him!

You approach him, not getting too good of a look at him, but he's got lots of traveling bags on the bench with him. Seems like he's looking at a map.

"Excuse me, sir?"

His head snaps up and he stares at you. His stare's unnerving, like he sees through you and everything you've done, his gaunt face only adding to the effect. He's got dark red hair and seems to be wearing a priest's outfit.

"Yes?"

His voice is recognizably tinged with a southern drawl, but he seems to be trying to suppress it. You clear your throat and look at him and his bags.

"Do you need any help?"

The man blinks and then an empty smile crosses his face. This man doesn't send off your spidier-sense, but he's unnerving as hell.

"Ask and the lord shall provide, eh?"

He shakes his head lightly. "Yes, I need to know where to find Our Lady of Saints Church. Do you know how I can get there?"

You think about it before nodding. Yeah, you've seen that place before From here… You relay the instructions as the man rises and look down on you. "Thank you, my son. I must be going now."

He grabs all the bags, showing extraordinary strength for a man so thin, and begins to head off. Before long, its just you, alone, in the park.

You decide to head home. It doesn't take too long and before you know it, you've got your fabrics stuffed away and you're sitting down to eat with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Your uncle smiles at you.

"Feels like its been forever since we've done this, huh?"

You nod and smile, enjoying the company. The meal passes and your uncle sits down and watches TV. You sit and decide to check out the news, but it doesn't seem like anything interesting is happening.

You begin working on the costume. You lock the basement door after taking down the sewing machine and some clothes that have holes in them. Laying out the materials, red, blue, and miscellaneous bits for the mask, you start taking patterns and tracing them on the materials.

This might take a while to complete overall…

You decide to work on one of the most important parts- the mask. You bought some lenses to go in them, wearing welding goggles isn't a great plan after all, and decide to begin work on the mask.

You spend time trying to work on the mask- tracing out patterns, cutting them out, and then sewing. However… you didn't do it right you didn't mess up your lenses, but there's no way to wear that as a mask. You put it in a trash bag in the secret compartment before putting everything else away and mending the clothes you brought down.

You then make sure everything's put away before heading upstairs to your room. You flop on the bed and try to study but…

You let out a sigh.

Gwen's avoidance of you is really bothering you. Was it because her father looked bad after the whole thing with the Black Cat? Maybe because of that person who's stalking her? Or, hell, maybe its because of the whole 'Black Cat kissing you thing' right after you confessed to her.

Oh god, what if she had been there following you? What if she saw? But your Spider-sense didn't trigger. Can it even trigger for stuff like that?

Eventually, you just worry yourself to the point of exhaustion and decide to go to sleep.

End

To Be Continued...

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