Jasmine raised her tail in a flick, narrowing her eyes as she got up, and walked to Peter, meowing, gesturing with her paw, to her mind.
"Look, Jasmine, we're really in financial trouble, and I will be fine doing this...If you're worried, we will have Jean check over things to make sure one of those boxing places is fair. And besides, I can be disguised somehow...maybe Gwen has an idea about that.", with a serious look as he sat next to Jasmine.
Jasmine looked down for a moment before giving a low meow as Peter sighed, "Yeah... I know... you don't want me getting hurt or anything like that... I really appreciate that.". He gave her a small smile as he leaned forward to kiss the top of her head.
Jasmine purred warmly, looking up at Peter, and nuzzled-headbutted his chin. Indeed, later that day, after finishing homework, he texted Gwen and Jean about his decision to help his family in a group message.
After listening and talking about many good points that the trio had, Jean went investigating while Gwen worked on his disguise, and Peter told his aunt and uncle that he'd be looking for a job, a good one to help out, but not saying that it's gonna be boxing, knowing what they'd say as they don't know his secret.
"Cage fighting?", Jean raised an eyebrow as she was talking to one of the folks that helped 'run' the fights. "Yep, the crowds love them, like taking things to the levels that the WWE wouldn't tackled.", the guy chuckled. "Basically got a huge prize fight for anyone that wants to enter...".
"So, I can tell.", Jean said as she was looking at one of the flyers. "Surviving in the cage with... Bonesaw? What kind of fighter name is that?".
The guy replied, "Oh, he's a heavyweight, but you wouldn't believe it until you saw him, literally. He can move faster than you think. And he can be loud like a chainsaw when you get him fired up, and people say that he has strengthened his bones up from drinking cups of crazy stuff, like raw eggs and all, though I don't believe it. I think he is up on steroids somehow.".
"And that's all allowed?", Jean asked as the guy looked at her funny, "Darling, do you really think we're actually licensed or have to follow any large, organized sports league rules? This stuff is mostly an underground off the books sort of events that are mostly financed by the crazed crowds that'll pay top dollar to watch this carnage.".
Jean gave a hum, "That's actually a good point, especially when it's New York City...", and the guy chuckled, "Indeed. So, you putting your guy in or not, then?", unknowing that Jean is reading his mind about Bonesaw, comparing him to Peter, and seeing how those cage matches happen.
"Well... I would like to know this... is there any sort of loopholes or something with this whole grand prize against Bonesaw?", Jean asked as the guy chuckled while she quickly read his mind. Yes... yes, there was. "Say, like if my friend knocked him out in less than a minute.". The guy paled for a moment, considering she just said what he was thinking.
"Um... well, yeah... it's survival in the cage... as if your guy would be able to pull that off and knock out Bonesaw...", the guy gathered his senses back, chuckling.
Jean smiled softly, "Well, it's New York City, and miracles happen. After all, it's the place where everybody looks for their goals and dreams to come true, in small or big ways.".
The guy blinked before humming, "We call that luck, darling. So, from the sound of it, you're putting your man in, eh?", and Jean nodded, "Yes, and his stage name shall be the Bronx Spider. No up changing his name, or I won't sign him in, deal?".
Jean wanted the name of Spider-Man to be private and personal in a way for her and the others, that is, until Peter wanted something to do with the name one day, since she has a feeling for it.
"Alright then...", the man said. "Best of luck to your friend there...". Jean read his mind again and could see that he was thinking that whomever he was thinking what Peter looked like and was getting beaten to a pulp by Bonesaw. Oh, how wrong he will be, Jean thought to herself as she smiled, quickly signing Peter up, though he would have to make the final agreements the night of the fight before she headed out, getting her phone and sending a text to Peter.
'Got u a good boxing match. See u soon to explain more. Will happen tomorrow night. Probably need to make an excuse to Uncle Ben, I know u, but better make it good, otherwise he would see it as lying.', Jean texted.
Peter got the text and read it and sighed. "Thanks, Jean...", he said to himself in his room as he glanced over to Jasmine. "7,500 dollars as the grand prize, Jasmine... certainly enough to give Uncle Ben and Aunt May some breathing space with the finances for the time being...".
Jasmine purred, putting a paw on his arm, and Peter chuckled softly, "Yeah, it's going to be an interesting night tomorrow...Well, Jean will be over tonight to explain more about the match, and then I have to figure out a way to get there...Uncle Ben could drive me close to the location, but it would be sometime for him to wait or pick me up without waiting on the curb...It has to be something believable...".
A nuzzle by Jasmine on his shoulder, Peter hummed, "Well, will have to see where the place is, thanks to Jean...maybe there's a mini mall nearby or something that is 24/7 or at least open for some of the evening before shutting down for the night...Uncle Ben would believe that I am hanging out with Jean and Gwen at the mini mall or whatever, right?".
Jasmine mewed, tugging at his shirt, and Peter nodded, "Yeah, Gwen is coming along with the disguise for the match too...Hope it isn't too bright or something. Definitely a spider symbol on it if she had an idea for it.".
Jasmine gave another meow, one that Peter could actually guess right. "Yes, don't worry, Jasmine... I'll wear a mask too. Be like a luchador or something, that usually works in wrestling.", he chuckled as he scratched her head.
Jasmine purred in approval, not wanting to see Peter get sued if seen with his real face or something, and that would lead to a lot of questions from Uncle Ben and Aunt May.
And so, the pair relaxed, reading books or catching up on homework which isn't much, for the rest of the day, and then evening came, with Jean and Gwen being given permission to come into Peter's room via window, with Gwen hiding the disguise costume in a bag.
"Okay, let's see it.", Peter chuckled, and Gwen smiled, "Uh-uh, you forget something?", and Peter smiled, closing his eyes, waiting for Gwen to fully unfold the costume into full reveal.
"Okay, can I open my eyes now?", Peter chuckled as Gwen smirked. "Well, I don't know, part of me actually wants to wait just a bit longer until like a few minutes before the fight...", she teased.
"Come on, Gwen, tell me that this isn't something that's going to make me look foolish in front of those crazy fans...", Peter groaned lightly with a pout.
Jean chuckled, "It doesn't look so bad, Peter. Right, Jasmine?", and Jasmine purred warmly, and Gwen laughed softly, "Alright, alright, open your eyes, Pete.".
Peter opened his eyes and was quite stunned by what he was looking at. Gwen seemed to have gone all out with the costume as it was mostly red with everything above black, except for the large red eyeholes and a black spider on the chest.
"Gwen...", Peter muttered as Gwen smiled, "You like it?". Peter grinned, "Like it? Gwen, I love it! It's absolutely perfect for a boxing match. Bronx Spider, indeed. Bold yet gritty, dark yet surprisingly not too bright.".
"Certainly will give you an intimidation factor for sure tomorrow night. That Bonesaw certainly will be surprised.", Jean chuckled.
"Took me some time to do it but I think this thing is pretty well put together so you won't need to worry much about it quickly falling apart.", Gwen explained. "Where on Earth did you learn to do all this?", Jasmine asked, which Jean translated.
Gwen chuckled, "Wasn't easy. Dad kept Grandma's sewing machine for me for control with my fingers, and I gratefully still remember Grandma's lessons, along with some from Youtube to help out in some hard corners and all. And turns out that there are scraps of Kevlar, along with graffiti bottles I managed to scour up for the colors, and of course, the spider symbol was a bit hard to figure out as I thought about having it on the back or hands, but when I saw it on the front, I knew it was perfect.".
"Kevlar?", Peter asked in surprise, and Gwen chuckled, "Only thin, yet manageable scraps. The rest of it is breathable spandex. The Kevlar is protecting obvious spots like your neck, chest, knees, and of course, your big man.", with a smirk.
"Jeez, Gwen... you really went above and beyond with this...", Peter said as Gwen smiled. "Well, I wanted to make sure you're alright... though I will admit, I'm not so sure about the Kevlar if that's not going to be allowed in the fight.", she admitted.
"Won't be a problem... I won't even let him hit me.", Peter smirked. Jean replied, "Good, but the stakes are higher than you think. You have to knock Bonesaw out in less than a minute otherwise the full prize is half cut down, and it's a cage match.".
Peter widened his eyes, whistled, "Whoa...Okay, I will have to count the minute when the cage comes down on the bars and all. A couple of moves to mess him up, and then hit him from the chin, with an uppercut or something else if he's fired up, maybe kick him into one of the corners of the cage hard, but not too hard to officially injure him for life.".
Jasmine mewed, and Gwen nodded, "Yeah, that would work. Now, come on, go and get into this, to make sure you can fit and all!", gesturing with a grin to the bathroom.
"Okay then...", Peter sighed as he grabbed the suit and headed in. "You sure about these folks, Jean... they're not exactly the most reputable, I'm sure.", Gwen asked as Jean shook her head.
"Honestly, I'm not sure... we certainly need to be there for him just in case those folks try to rip us off.", Jean said.
Jasmine mewed, saying, "You two better keep an eye on him. I will stay with Uncle Ben to keep him company, and to help him not worry as much about Peter while waiting. Peter suggested an alibi of being at one of the mini malls with you guys, or something.".
Jean nodded, "Yeah, with the noise and everything, pets are definitely not allowed. Don't worry, I will send a recording somehow with my mind to you, alright?".
"Sure, just save it when you get back to me.", Jasmine smiled as the door opened once more with Peter walking out. "How do I look?", he asked. Obviously, the hood wasn't on yet, but everything else... it was surprisingly snug but still enough for him to breath and move.
Gwen whistled, "Oh, la-la, you look so wicked awesome! So hunky yet not too hunky!", with a flirty smirk, and Jean chuckled, "Snug yet very nice to move...Very nice, indeed.", with a sensual look.
Jasmine purred, nodding, and Jean interpreted, "She says that you're going to be one of those mysterious, attractive people, and with the mask on, you're like the Phantom of the Opera, even better.".
"I ain't going to sing.", Peter teased as he got the mask and put it on. "Okay, so can you be able to see out of that?", Gwen asked. "I don't feel the most confident with my work on that part.".
Peter's voice replied, "I see pretty good. I assume that you can't see my eyes and face?", with a little hum. "Nope, you're pretty much good there... no one can see a thing.", Jean told him as he nodded.
"That's good... can breathe, can see... I think I'm all good.", Peter said. "Well, let's at least test things out a bit for a few minutes to be sure.", Gwen suggested.
Jasmine mewed, and Jean nodded, "Right. Can't be here. They'll hear noises if you mock-fight with Gwen here. Let's go for a spin outside. Swinging and all.".
"So... um... you going to carry us then?", Peter rubbed the back of his neck as Gwen thought about it for a moment and nodded.
"Yep, just a quick flight out.", Gwen smiled as she grabbed Peter and Jean by the wrists and had Jasmine latch onto her neck.
With Jean telepathically opening and closing the window, Gwen flew steadily fast and high to the inner city, and as she got close to a tower, "Alright, go, Pete.", and Peter nodded, letting go, and gave a laugh as he naturally whipped out a web, and swung from the tower.
Gwen was then able to carry Jean bride style, with Jasmine purring, meowing, holding on Gwen's shoulder as they followed Peter's swings and all, and Jean chuckled, "Looks like your worries are out on this part, Gwen.".
"What, about him not able to move well in the suit?", Gwen asked as Jean shook her head, "No, the other thing... that worry you had the night he changed.".
"Oh... right...", Gwen glanced away as she remembered her worries from before. Jasmine meowed, licking Gwen on the cheek, and Jean nodded, "Yeah, our Peter is going to be our wonderful Spiderman to us, but to the others, he will be the Bronx Spider, well, at least until he wants to do something else with the name of Spiderman one day...After all, he's not an adult yet, but he sure is built like a man already.".
Gwen chuckled, "And reacts like a man too, thanks to us.", with a wink, and Jasmine purred lightly, and Jean smiled, "True that he's blushing less like a boy...Our Peter's growing up.", with a proud hum as they watched and followed Peter around some of the city.
Indeed, the suit held up pretty great beyond Peter's expectations, and so, it was a successful test, and the quartet headed home respectively to their homes, glad that tomorrow is Thursday, getting close to the weekend.
After a normal day of avoiding guys and girls for Jean and Peter respectively at school, with Gwen chatting their ears away during lunch break, it was finally time.
Peter finished an early dinner, smiling at Uncle Ben, "So, you can drop me off at the mini mall, Uncle Ben?", and Ben exhaled, "I expect you to finish up shopping and hanging out with your friends at a reasonable time before I ground you for missing my pick-up time. You're very lucky that I am planning to go to the city for checking up on some missed mail from our po box at the post office.".
Jasmine meowed from her bowl of dinner, and Peter replied, "I wish I could take you to the mini mall, Princess, but I heard that Flash Thompson works there, and I don't want you to cause trouble, so you can stay with Uncle Ben, okay?".
Ben and May knew about the near fiasco that Flash Thompson caused to scare Princess out of her fur, and they laughed when they heard that Princess gave revenge in her own way, glad that Flash Thompson didn't know that it was her or sued Peter for the minor damage to his car.
"Come on, we better get a move on now before you're missed." Ben said before the trio headed out. It didn't take too long before Ben pulled up to the curb nearby where Peter asked to be let out. It was just enough of a good distance for him to hopefully not be caught by his uncle.
"Thanks again, Uncle Ben.", Peter said as he was about to get out before Ben grabbed his arm. "Just a moment, Peter... I wanted to talk to you for a minute.", he told him.
"Can it be quick? The girls are waiting on me, and I don't want to make them upset or anything.", Peter gave a light joke as the older Parker man gave a small smile in response.
Jasmine purred as she rested on the console, and Ben chuckled, "Breathe, and I'm sure your lovely friends will understand. Now, I have to say something. You are quite going through a big time of your life, and you have to be responsible since you are getting close to turning 16, and you may think being 16 is great and all, but it's not all fun and games, Peter.".
Peter blinked, "Uncle Ben, I ain't going to buy a brand-new car as that's beyond stupid, and...I don't want us to be in financial trouble all the time...".