Author's Note: If you are paying attention, I am slowly making the story of Harry and his descent to drugs. A mixture of comics and the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon series, oh, Daredevil and Black Cat will appear in Chapter 5, so nothing on major importance. As for Peter and Carlie's interaction, I see it more of a platonic way and Gwen acts unusually (wink wink). Oh I will introduce Miles, but not in this Gang War saga, maybe (spoilers) on Chapter 8. As for Mary Jane, you'll see more of her on this chapter. Oh, this chapter will be my interpretation on Mr. Rose, and this time, I will change the identity, as in the original comic, Mr. Rose, he is Kingpin's son. You'll have to wait until chapter 6 for his full identity. Without further a do, here is Chapter 4.
Chapter 4
Several weeks later
The streets of New York were ominously quiet, no news from Daredevil, the Black Cat, or even these goons who work for the 'Big Man of Crime'
That suits fine for Peter
Just your average joe, crime-fighting scenario
Only this time with lesser known criminals
Peter felt a bit in a rush, as exams were arriving fastly in cold January, so he had to web them fast, and head back to his apartment for a few hours sleep.
ESU
"You have exactly 1 hour to finish your exam, so best of luck" Professor Connors said, and then the door opens with a bit of force, alarming the students and the professor.
"Ah, Mister Parker, late as usual" Professor Connors chuckles
Peter flushes in embarrassment as he takes the exam paper from the professor.
Peter tries to find a seat to sit, as all the seats were taken, he found an empty seat, close to Carlie, and he sees her getting frustrated
He sat beside her, with a full smile, and began to write furiously on the exam paper unbeknownst of a whisper from her "Good luck Peter, you'd need that"
Peter aced the answers on the exam, except the last page, as the question deems very complex for him to answer, as he was picking up the tray of food from the cafeteria
"How was the exam Peter?" Carlie asks, huffing in frustration
"I did well on the exam, except the last page, I really got confused on the question though" Peter made an oh sound
His tingle can sense pretty much everything, but the blow on the head from Carlie was very unexpected
"Ow, what did I do?" Peter said, rubbing his hair
"I still don't understand how would you ace this exam, yet you barely show up in class, ok, I am exaggerated a bit, you always come late" Carlie said, doing the cute way of being frustrated
"I cannot help it Carlie, I am that genius" Peter quips
"Uhhh boys" Carlie sighs
"Don't worry Carlie, you are not the only one" Michele said, picking up a tray
"I did well" Gwen made the matter-of-fact voice
"I didn't" The sad tone of Harry said
Peter turned to glance over his friend, and he frowned on his friend's stature
"Are you ok Harry?" Peter manages to ask
"Oh what? I am fine" Harry said, gritting his teeth, and skipping through his friends
"Ok, I am just zoned out, I know he and Mary Jane aren't together, and his obvious crush onto you Michele didn't make it well, but this time, what is going on?" Peter said
"I...I don't know Peter, I really don't know" Carlie said.
Peter had to put the bottom on this, but now, he is focusing on completing the advanced Biology class, he will worry about his friend later.
Ravencroft Prison
The cell door opens, and Adrian looks up to see an officer yelling him to get a move on.
This time, the guard tells him to wait on the wall, as he was inspecting him, and bringing his civilian clothes to Adrian
"Today is your day Toomes, you got a lucky man who bailed you out" The guard said
"Yeah, my lucky day" Adrian said in whisper sarcastically, enough for the guard to hear
"What's that Toomes?" The guard almost roars
"Nothing, sir" Adrian did his best on making an innocent face
He knows that the guard is not buying it, so he goes along with it.
The guard wasn't kidding, there was a figure, standing on a limo, that figure isn't just your average joe, instead he is beefy, with a large, portruding hairline, something like a hammerhead
He was wearing the 1940s tuxedo, and he is smoking a cigar.
"Thank you for your service Milton, I will take it from here" The big man said in a hoarse way
Adrian hears a scoff from the guard, as the guard unclasps the chain on his hands
"You better let your 'man' behave, or else I will personally put him on a solitary" Milton said
Adrian smirks, he didn't do anything at all, just poking fun with the prisoner guard, that's all
The beefy man chuckles as the smoke almost choked Adrian, and manages to cup his face like a mafia boss does with his minion.
"Don't worry Milton, I will make sure he will behave, isn't it Adrian?" The man almost made a glare
"I am as innocent as a bird" Adrian said, lifting his hand in a peaceful manner
The guard scoffs again, and leaves the men, heading back to the prison
"Now come Adrian, we have a long way ahead of us, so let's dicsuss business" The beefy man said
Adrian nods, and sat inside the huge limo, with it, the driver began to head for their destination
Handing over a cigar "You smoke?" the beefy man asks
"I don't smoke" Adrian refuses a bit harshly
"That's a shame, such a man with such stupor" The beefy man chuckles
"Same as going for your frame, may I ask, who are you and where are we heading?" Adrian asks
"Patience my impulsive friend, as who I am, that's not important, the boss on the other hand, has taken a liking on you. Remember your friend, Mister Gargan?" The beefy man side-eyes, while pouring the drink
"Oh that weazeball, he says that he knows people who could bail 'us' out" Adrian answers disdainfully.
"Bingo, I am the 'people' well just a right-handman, the boss has heard your involvement, the giant crystals with some alien-techie" The beefy man said in an almost non-believing tone.
Adrian turns to glare over the gleeful man, and spoke
"That techie, is from the alienworld where if I am mistaken, from the Battle of New York of 2012" Adrian said
"Also, I demand to bring Phineas along, and Hermann too" Adrian said abruptly
"Oh Phineas is serving, long if I dare say, as Hermann, he isn't being seen since your tangle with Spider-Man" The beefy said
It was this time Adrian to yell over the beefy man
"What the fuck?! why me? It was Phineas who designs the weapon, and Hermann who perfected the gauntlett, I am just passing the time for people like IRS not knowing" Adrian fumes
"Relax Adrian, I can bring your 'friends' I am just testing you" The beefy man answers
"Also, if you ever talk to me like that, last I mistaken, you were serving 12 years for forgery, and 10 years on manslaughter, and 5 years for stealing and slandering Stark tech, I was the one who bailed you out, and I will not hesitate to bring you back" The beefy man said in a deadly voice
"As for the destination, there's going to be a meeting, the boss will meet with other crime lords, so that's it" the beefy man said.
"Giddy" Adrian said in a whisper. He still mad that all of this is just a game, if it was about his knowledge on who Spider-Man is? he will not give what they want, besides he will have a fun on his own with Spider-Man, that he promises.
The other day
The night patrol got very interesting for Peter, this time.
As he was patrolling the city, with his new Spider tracker, his tracer beams, and it was signalling on an abandoned construction building, 'interesting'
He sets to follow the signal, and it says couple blocks from his original location.
Peter shot a web, and web sling in an acrobatic way, and landed on a rooftop, facing the abandoned construction site, He sees limo cars arriving, and with it, some crimelords.
'Hmm, some must be a meeting then, it's a good thing I will crash the party, but I need some context, with that, I will sneak into the vents' Peter monologues.
He spots the entrance of the air conducter, he managed to smash it through his web.
He crawls onto the long air vent, until he spots the muffled voice, that's where he knows the meeting should be around there
"You think the boss will start a war Vince?" A thick Italian-American man said
"I don't know Loui, but I do know that Don Silvio isn't taking the like with this somebody called The Rose" Vince scoffs
'hmm, This Rose again' Peter thought
"Let's just hope nothing bad to happen" Loui said, patrolling the area.
Not that long, a series of footsteps heading toward the other room, and Peter had to crawl again, to find an another vent.
He stopped short, and scours over who was there, there came a tall, silver-haired man, wearing a very expensive suit, he was holding a cane, showing a very powerful mob boss look on his face.
He was escorted by two men, one who's huge in frame, and the latter, short.
The silver-haired man spoke
"Gentlemen, I thank you for showing up" the old man said
"Don Manfredi" the guys bowed before their boss
"Rise, I take it that my message to Lincoln and Mr. Rose has delivered?" Don Manfredi asked
"Yes Don Manfredi, they haven't showed up though" Loui answers
"Don't worry, their petty pleas will not work for them, nor the Maggia" Don Manfredi said
The name clicked on Peter's list, the Maggias, this 'Lincoln', This 'Mr. Rose' and now 'The Big Man of crime'
"Did someone call my name?" The soft, yet deadly voice said
Peter turns to glance over a tall, albino-looking man, sporting a tuxedo like Don Manfredi. He also shows a serious demeanor, and with it, came a long two guys, the one with large, portruding head, and... Toomes?
Peter's eyes widen in his lenses, Toomes is out? how?
"Gentlemen, please, I didn't want you all to wait for my arrival" Lincoln said politely
"Cut your courtesies Lincoln" Don Manfredi spat
"Don Manfredi" Lincoln bowed to the old man
"I apologize for my strong entrance, as I don't know what you are talking about" Lincoln said
Peter turns to see the old man, throwing what looked like a cloth, a very familiar blood-red cloth
"This rings a bell?" Don Manfredi spat
Peter watches the towering man, grabbing the cloth, examining it for a minute and then spoke
"I have no memory recollection on this 'cloth' Don Manfredi, as for alleged accusation, I am afraid I might have you all charged for assault" Lincoln said
With his word, the sound of gun clicking caught Peter's attention
"Loui, Vinnie, drop your weapon" Don Manfredi said
"Man Mountain Marko, you too" Don Manfredi said, as the huge man, complies
"Look Lincoln..." Don Manfredi starts
"I prefer to be called Tombstone" Tombstone interrupts
"Whatever, I cannot watch seeing you kids, tampering with business with Maggia, and your petty playthrough, if you cease your actions over Fisk, all of this mess would be stopped" Don Manfredi spoke
"You dare speak with the boss like that!" The beefy man growls, but was stopped by the quiet, smirking man
The beefy man looked very familiar, someone Peter have seen before. Oh yeah, the Osborn mansion raid.
"Hammerhead, Don Manfredi means business, as for this childish war, I have no part in this, which is why I propose an alliance" Tombstone said
A laugh echoed through the hall, and it was from Vinnie
"You, make an alliance with the boss? and the pigs will fly" Vinnie said, before getting his head blown off, thus sparking the ambush already
"Hahahahahahaa" A laugh resounded, blowing the room, blowing the vent, causing Peter to fall down on the floor
"Ladies and Gentleman, I am happy for hearing your proposals, your petty alliances, as you all should bow down to me" The cackling man on a mask said, wearing a thick hoodie
His voice though, sounds awfully familiar
"Fuck this, it is treason, kill them, kill them all!" Don Manfredi orders
Peter had seconds to act, before anyone are seriously hurt, they are criminals all right, but they do not deserve to die, not on his watch
Peter managed to web some goons, and used his web to act as a whiplash on the cackling, masked man, to buy some time
That was when he met face to face with Adrian
"YOU!" he heard Adrian yells.
"No time Toomes, if you want a second chance, help bringing these people back to safety" Peter said
"Why should I listen to you, I'd rather having these people killed" Adrian spat
"THINK OF YOUR DAUGHTER TOOMES!" Peter yells, not bothering to look over the surprised man
Before Peter manages to web the remaining goons on the floor, He was dragged by Toomes, and was thrown on the other side of the abandoned building, getting subdued
"If you mention her one more time, Peter, I will personally kill you" Adrian spat
Peter's eyes widen in disbelief, 'what is happening to Adrian? yeah sure he was having a vendetta, but this man feels hallow, empty.
Peter manages to web Adrian, and subdue him also
"Sorry Toomes, I will handle you later, for now, I must put you and the rest, to safety.
His spider-sense tingles, and with an instant, he evaded the razor sharp bombs
"You are good, I hand it to you" The cackling man said
Peter turned to see the man's costume, revealed, and his nightmare became true
There he was, the 'Goblin', the one Peter dreaded
"But you cannot evade this" The Goblin said, delivering fast blow of punches
Peter evaded some, but felt a blow on his chest. One of the Goblin's gauntlet had a knife, slashing his suit clean
"Come out come out and play Spider" The Goblin sings
Peter has no time to deliver powerful punch, this Goblin is much more agile than the last one, and more powerful, considering he is from his universe.
"I wish I can say the same Gobby, but I have other things to do, so talk to you later" Peter quips.
He webs the ceiling block, and manages to drop it on the goblin's frame.
"I will personally handle you later, I promise" Peter said, but his spider-sense continued to ring in his ears, he notices a stale hand, releasing a pumpkin bomb, blowing the crumbling building, leading into a fire.
Peter had seconds to react, and with it, he webs the unconcious Toomes, but this old Don Manfredi and Tombstone were already gone.
Peter curses under his mask, he grabs Toomes, and swung to the ground, where the sirens of police had already arrived.
"Listen Toomes, I will not put you in jail, instead, I have a plan" Peter said. He found a note, and began to scribble it, putting on the man's webbed phase.
He watches as the police grab Toomes, hoping for his plan to work.
His phone beeped, he looked at it, and it was from Mary Jane?
He will look at it as soon as he returns to his apartment.
Chelsea Apartment
It was a crazy night, so many things to uncover, with that, he begins to connect the dots.
He begins with Fisk as in the center, and branches the line through several crime families, starting with the Maggias, and lesser known crime families
One of the lines, connects with a question mark, which Peter assumes that it is the Mr. Rose
Another line that branch from 'Mr. Rose' is Bullseye, as it turns out, Bullseye's ninjas are on another crime branch, confusing, yeah, it made Peter having migraine.
another line, seperating the web line, no pun intended, is the BMOC (Big man of Crime), Peter dubbed.
What doesn't make sense, is how they are connected?
Before Peter continues further his phone beeps, waking him from his trance
He sees the phone, and it was 3 messages from Mary Jane. He clicked to read the message
Hey Tiger, I am in New York City, I was having a good day off from modeling, spending quality time with Aunt Anna
He read the remaining two
We need to talk, I want to tell you something, which is why I am in New York
the last one felt ominous
Call me ok.
Peter did not hesitate, he begins to type to Mary Jane.
Hey Mary Jane, yeah sure, let's meet, at my apartment?
He hit send, and within two seconds, it was read, and the three dots begin
Heyyyy. Yeah sure, where is your apartment?
Peter would've chuckle at her spontaneous reaction, but it could be something, so he typed
It is Chelsea apartment, block 62, room 15
He hit send, lets his phone upside down. His room is messy and filled with scraps of formulas of webbing, and the board of crimelords, he doesn't need her to know that, the last thing to need is Strange to crawl back, and give him a lesson, so he began to clean his apartment room
She arrived, and beeped through the telecom, where Peter clicked the button, waiting for her to climb through the stairs.
"Whoa nelly, you didn't tell me that you have stairs tiger" Mary Jane huffing
"It is an old apartment Mary Jane" Peter chuckles
"Still" She said, letting out a breath.
Peter continues to chuckle, helping her to sit on a chesterfield, oh he manages to steal that from his old apartment.
"Your room is... cozy" Mary Jane said, trying to be nice
"If you count cockroaches, and termites, yeah it is 'cozy'" Peter quips, smiling to see her laughing.
"Only if you manage to clean it a bit" Mary Jane said
"Are you telling me that I do not clean?" Peter turns, making a false tone of accusation
"Well if you put it that way" Mary Jane smirks
"Wiseass" Peter whispers
"Nerd" he heard Mary Jane retorting
"I could go this whole day, but this is not what you are here right? tea?" Peter went straight to the point
"Oh yes please, extra sugar, and yes Tiger. I have something to discuss" Mary Jane said.
Peter nods, and switches the oven on, for the kettle to scream.
He, then sits, waiting for her beautiful face to speak
"Uhm, I am not that good on long conversation, so I will get into the point, it is about Harry" Mary Jane siad
"What about him?" Peter asks, curious even more that his new found friend.
"Look, me and Harry are not dating, Not even close about that. I said yes to him because he was being desperate about it" Mary Jane said.
"Ok" Peter nods.
"It is just, it got escalated even further when I found out that he is taking drugs" Mary Jane blurted out
"Drugs?" Peter asks.
She turns left and right, and then ushers close, almost like a whisper
"Promise me not to keep it a secret. I haven't told Carlie about it" Mary Jane begs
Peter made a nod, and then spoke
"I am surprised that you give me a trust. I am trustworthy, but we don't know each other" Peter said
"Me neither Peter, it is just, I see you trustworthy enough that you'd never rat out. I know I am going strong, and you just met the guy, but I want you to keep an eye out on him. I caught those" Mary Jane said, bringing the tabs that has drawings in it
"Whoa, are those?" Peter was about to answer
"LSD, yes, it is isn't the first time that I see him doing that, I didn't want to push it further, but I caught him laughing maniacally" Mary Jane said
"I am not sure Red, I mean, he seems ok to me" Peter said
"Of course, why wouldn't you believe me, I am sorry for wasting your time" Mary Jane was about to stand up
Peter grabbed her hand, signalling her to sit, and within a flash of seconds, there was something between them, but it went quick
"I will do it, I will keep an eye on Harry, but you have to tell Carlie, she also notices his behaviour" Peter said
"What?" Mary Jane began to panic
"Don't worry Mary Jane, Carlie seems to have the same suspicion over Harry. I was thinking maybe with the public coverage of the gala, and the pressure of work got a hold in him, but to think his girlfriend..." Peter was about to finish
"Accomplice" Mary Jane interruped
"Oh ok, 'accomplice' split up with him, I wouldn't imagine him going on a cranky mood." Peter said
They were silent for a second, and then the kettle screamed, making Peter to stand up
He gave her the tea that she wanted, while him drinking a coffee.
"That's some good tea there" She manages to say
"That was from Aunt May" Peter tried not to choke
"Oh... I am so sorry" Mary Jane replies sincerely
"Thank you" Peter said
"Want me to hold your hand? I mean, to make you feel that you are not alone" Mary Jane said
Peter eyes the beautiful girl for a second, she acts the same way MJ is acting, it ached him even further
He made a nod, making her holding his hand with such affection.
There is something, a spark that is growing between them, and he knows that she is feeling the same, but it cannot be soon, he cannot risk telling her his secret, she doesn't look like she could handle it
He cannot move on that quick, his heart still belongs to MJ, he has to tell her his secret again, he has to referesh her memory back, he needs her. He also needs Ned too, He likes Harry and Mary Jane, but they are nothing like MJ and Ned.
Who knows what will happen between him and Mary Jane, only time will tell, and the way she held his hand, is enough.
She left, and gave him a hug, whispering 'thank you' and Peter made a small pat on her slender shoulders that he will look over Harry.
With that, he continues to check on the crimelord board, and begins to assess a plan in the middle of the night.
Phew that's a wrap, Chapter 5. Gang War. Oh I am not pairing Peter X Mary Jane very quick. She will know his identity, sooner than you think. Peter is still in-love emotionally over MJ, this drama between him and Harry, I really like Harry as a character, you will see more of him in coming chapters, until then, keep on swinging.