Peter Parker

As soon as the portal closed, I turned away. I walked forward slowly and took in my surroundings. I was on top of a roof. It must've been Hammer's building. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. I saw Shadowcat fighting off two masked men. I saw Frenzy locked in a stalemate with a rather large man that was as tall as her – each one was trying to overpower the other. Up in the air, Kaine… I think it was Kaine… he was swinging around, wearing a black suit as he was taking on those who were flying in the air, using wings… that looked organic. On the ground, Scorpion – our Scorpion – was on the ground, using a scoped rifle to take shots at the winged men in the air, providing support for Kaine. Next to her was Frictor, using his powers to both slow down the bullets being shot his and Scorpion's way and reduce the friction of the ground around them to zero to keep the gunmen at bay.

With each step I took, I let my senses take over gradually. After about my fifth step, I took in a breath before I ran forward.

I moved towards Shadowcat. I waited until I was close enough before I shot out two strands of webbing. Once they hit the back of the masked men Shadowcat was engaged with, I yanked the strands. They went flying towards me. Effortlessly, I caught them both with each hand. I threw one against an A/C unit and webbed him against it. I was about to do the same to the other until I felt my Spider Sense go off and heard the sound of footsteps. I turned around to see a group of men running towards. Without a second thought, I flung the person in my hand towards the group. I turned away, barely seeing the men being bowled over before I walked up to Shadowcat.

"P-… Spider-Man?" she said in surprise. I nodded in response. "…Are you back to normal?"

"As of some minutes ago," I answered. I looked up at the sky to check on Kaine before I looked back at Shadowcat. "It was an ambush. Kraven talked about it on air, and now he is on his way here, with Anton and Calypso. What do you need me to do?"

"Right now, I can use a tag team partner." As she said this, she looked past me. I turned around and saw the group of men approaching us. Shadowcat moved up to my side. "They're a lot tougher than the normal henchmen we take on. Judging by the Flying Monkeys up there, I have a feeling they may be enhanced." I didn't respond verbally. I merely nodded. From the corner of my eye, I saw Shadowcat move into her fighting stance. I moved into a fighting stance of my own. I went with the Taekwondo stance Carmilla taught me. "Is this the first time it's just me and you fighting side by side?"

"I think it is. Let's make it a memory."

The men rushed towards us. One of them decided to target me and send an over hand right. Quickly, I caught his arm, turned around, and flipped him onto his back. Quickly, I raised my leg and dropped my heel on his stomach. I didn't even bat an eye when I heard the sound of the air being forced out of his lungs. I took a step back and webbed him down to the ground. I quickly turned, just in time to see Shadowcat dispatch one of the men with a punt to the head that would have made Randy Orton proud. I smiled underneath my mask. That smile faded when I saw someone run up behind her. She must've heard that masked men's footsteps. He ended up running straight through her. He skidded to a stop and turned around, only to get kicked right into my grasp. Quickly, I caught him and fell backward. I wrapped my legs around his body and started choking him with a Kata ha jime (or a Tazmission, to those who are wrestling fans like me). I didn't stop choking him until he went limp. I quickly let go of him after that and tossed him off of me. After I stood up, I listened for his heartbeat and breathing before I webbed him down.

I felt a tingle up my spine. I looked around before I looked up. I then casually stepped to the right, dodging the winged person and leaving them crashing to the ground. I took in the wings of the downed foe. They were indeed organic, looking like bat wings.

"I see Kaine's fitting right in," I muttered to myself.

I felt something strike me from behind and break. I was given pause before I slowly turned around and stared at a masked man holding the remains of a baton. Without saying a word, quickly brought my head forward, sending the forehead of my metal mask into his nose. I almost cringed at the cracking sound. As he staggered backward, holding his face, I stepped forward, planted my left foot, and sent a low roundhouse kick into the outside of his left knee and with my right foot. After he hobbled, I switched feet and sent the sole of my left foot into his right shin. The man dropped to one knee. In the heat of the moment, I reached down, grabbed the top of his ski mask and pulled it off, unmasking the man and…

"What in the BNA…?"

I backed away. Looking back at me was some creature that looked like the classic Wolfman. His face was covered with dark grey fur. His eyes were a pale yellow, and I could see the fangs showing from underneath his upper lip. I was actually taken aback. The man growled at me before he stood up and rushed at me. Before I could react, Shadowcat ran in front of me. I barely saw her twirl her sai in her hands before she moved forward. Quickly, she hit different parts of the man's body with the butts of her sai before she turned around and walked towards me. The man collapsed behind her. I tilted my head.

"How did you…?" I began before I trailed. "What did you…?"

"Pressure points," she replied.

I nodded slowly. My Spider Sense then went off. I looked off to my right before another one of Kraven's men ran into me suddenly. He kept charging until I was slammed back first into an A/C unit. I was a bit disoriented, still shocked by the attack. The masked man started to wail on me. This went on for a good five seconds. Once I got back to my senses, I grabbed an incoming fist with my left hand. I then wrapped my right hand around his neck.

"That's some strength you have there!" I grunted out as I stepped forward. "Want to feel mine?!"

I quickly turned and slammed him into the very spot I was occupying, making the larger indentation even bigger. Remembering my training, I worked the man's midsection with several body blows. I flipped backwards, putting distance between me and him. I was about to move in until I heard footsteps behind me. I turned halfway to my right and grabbed the incomer by their neck. Quickly, I turned and threw him against the man I used as a punching bag. At this point, two kunai sailed from behind me and embedded itself in the floor in front of them. As soon as I saw the blinking lights, I immediately jumped backward. Seconds later, the kunai exploded. I didn't bother waiting for the smoke to clear before I turned away.

"Well, I came quietly," I commented.

"But we're not going quietly into this good night," Shadowcat added as she walked up to my side. I looked around. The action died down. The last thing I saw was Frenzy choking out the large man she was stalemated with before. All of the men were taken down. The rest of the X-Men and Kaine started to gather around me. It was then that I got a good look at Kaine's suit. It was black with dark grey patterns on it that reminded me of cobwebs. This mask – which didn't have any visible lenses, making it seem like he had no eyes – allowed his brown hair to flow and hang down from his scalp freely. Tied around his neck and underneath his right arm was a tattered red cape of sorts that partially covered a blue and red V-like symbol on his chest. Along each of his forearms and calves were a row curved blades. The suit was form fitting, doing nothing to hide how muscular he was.

"I take it you're back to normal," Kaine commented.

I nodded. "Yeah, I am." I looked around the place, seeing the many bodies that littered the roof. "Look like you guys had quite the party."

"Yup!" Frictor spoke up. "We got them packed up real nice!"

"It's not over yet," Shadowcat warned. "Kraven is already on his way here, according to Spidey. And he has Calypso and Anton with him."

"Wait, what?!" Frictor interjected. "I thought that guy is in SHIELD custody!"

"He's probably considered a government agent since he's working under Kraven," Scorpion grumbled. "So getting him out was only a matter of time. Seriously, fuck Ross!"

"We'll worry about that later," Shadowcat said. "Let's see if we can get out of here before –"

"It's too late," I said. "They're already here."

I heard the sounds before everyone else, except for Kaine, probably – the sounds of the helicopters. Once the others heard it, they turned their heads towards that direction. The two helicopters made their appearance known, both with spotlights that lit up the roof. One of them belonged to The Daily Bugle, because of course Jonah would want to cover this. Once again, the irony of me working for the very publication that tried to smear the reputation of me and the rest of the X-Men was made apparent. There was another helicopter. This one was dark green. It looked like it used to be used for military operations. Both arrived on the scene. As The Daily Bugle chopper remained several feet above us, the green chopper descended until it was hovering just a few feet above the roof and about ten feet from us.

The side door of the green helicopter slid open, revealing Kraven, Calypso, and who I assumed was Anton. Kraven was wearing a bastardized version of my quick change uniform. Over the top half of his head was a mask with white lenses. Calypso was wearing a version of Kraven's lion uniform. Instead of a vest, she had on a top that left her stomach exposed. Still, she had the furry collar and the green eyes on her top. And then there was Anton. He had on a red suit with black gloves and boots. Over the top have of his face was a black bandana mask that covered the top half of his face. On the front of his suit was a large black spider symbol and that angered me a lot more than it should.

"So, I see you're out of hiding anymore," Kraven commented. "Good. I was getting bored."

"I get to finally see you face to face," I replied. "How does it feel running about being a cheap knockoff of me?"

At that, Kraven scoffed. "I'm only the hero that this city deserves. And I kept it safe. I'm owed a bit of gratitude."

"You know, I have to give you credit," Frenzy deadpanned. "You're really committed to riding that wave of audacity. 'Hey, Spider-Man, you should be happy I created and…'" She trailed off for a moment. "You know what? It's just a lot easier to tell you to go fuck yourself, SOOOOO, go fuck yourself!" I nodded in agreement. Frenzy was right. The only reason Kraven was able to take my identity because he trapped me and stripped away my powers.

"You could have easily avoided this if you all registered. But you continue spit in the face of those who worked hard to craft the legislations to protect people from those who believe they're above the law."

"It seems like you feel a certain way about us," Kaine spoke up. "Why don't you all just come down here so we can talk about this? I promise we won't hurt you."

"I ain't promising shit!" Frenzy growled out.

"In due time, we will 'talk'," Kraven said. "But, I believe I owe Anton here a hunt."

It was at this point that Anton jumped out of the helicopter. My Spider Sense was going off as he landed. Anton smirked smugly at us. I narrowed my eyes. He had something up his sleeve.

"Shadowcat," I uttered.

"I know," she said. "Spider-Man, you and Kaine are with me. The rest of you, get out of here. We got what we needed.

"Wait, hold up," Frictor protested. "Are you sure about this?"

"We have a plan, and we need to stick to it, regardless of what happens to the three of us. Just go."

I heard Frictor sigh. Then I heard footsteps as he, Frenzu, and Scorpion walked away. What did she mean by the plan? I didn't know. I was kind of out of the loop. But as I saw Kaine bring his spider appendages out, I decided to just ask Shadowcat about that plan later. I briefly took my eyes off of Anton and watched the helicopter Kraven and Calypso were on fly away into the night.

"So I get to take out three X-Men in one go," Anton said in Spanish. I looked forward at him as the lenses of my mask narrowed. "I'm going to enjoy this."

"The only thing you're going to enjoy is a one way trip to Presbyterian," I retorted, speaking in Spanish as well. "Why don't you run along now before you find out how expensive American Healthcare is?"

"You're cute, Webhead." Anton cracked his neck. Once again, my Spider Sense spiked – and it spiked hard. "Back in my home country, I was a hero. The people who revered and those stupid enough to oppose knew me by one name – La Tarántula. I struck like a spider – fast, hard, and without mercy. I did that so well that –"

"Oh, MY GOD, either get to the point or shut the FUCK up!" Kaine growled out in irritation, causing Anton to glare at us.

"Seriously, what is it about you supervillain types and monologues?" Kitty deadpanned. "This ain't theatre."

"Au contraire, la gatita," Anton retorted, putting back on that smug smirk. "Isn't a big reveal theatre in and of itself?"

Shadowcat took in a breath. "Now, my Spanish may not be the best, but did you just call me –?"

Before Shadowcat could complete that sentence, Anton started to groan out loud as he doubled over. With a buzzing in my head that might as well have been as loud as a fire alarm in an apartment building, I took a step back as I watched him. And then I saw four giant appendages shoot out from his back. The appendages were… spider-like?

"Oh… Oh no," I groaned out. Kaine immediately tried to rush in. Unfortunately, while Anton was transforming, he knocked Kaine away with one of his appendages. I watched Kaine as he was sent back first into an A/C unit. Immediately, I ran up to him along with Shadowcat. "Kaine!"

"Are you okay?" Shadowcat asked.

"I'll live," he groaned out. I turned my gaze towards Anton. My stomach churned as he continued to transform, his body warping and changing until he turned into a tarantula that looked to be about as large as a school bus. As Kaine pulled away from the A/C unit, leaving a huge indentation in his wake, I took in a breath.

"Well, you wanted back in the superhero game," Shadowcat deadpanned. "Still wish you weren't on the sidelines?"

"If going taking down Kraven means going through Anton, Calypso, and whoever else he has for us, then so be it," I grunted. "Besides, this job doesn't come with PTO." As the tarantula roared out at us, I let loose my Spider Pincers. Shadowcat palmed two sai. Kaine flexed his own spider appendages.

This was going to be a long night.