A/N: Now, I'm sure a few of you are wondering, "Isn't this a Spider-Man story? I haven't seen any Spider-Man even once yet!" This chapter's specifically made to give you a small taste, but the real stuff is coming! For now, on with the story!

Issue Four: In The Loop

After Peter whipped up a chemical cocktail that dissolved the webbing, taking a sample to study later, both he and Sirius agreed that he needed to train. At the very least, if he knew what he was capable of, he wouldn't accidentally rip off jacket sleeves… or arms. With that goal, Peter took Sirius to an abandoned junction connected to the subway tunnel. It was filled with junk and trinkets, both had some level of organization. There was junk that was junk, then there was junk that Peter had taken apart and scrapped, and the third section had junk Peter had stuck together from the second pile. "What is all this stuff?"

"Oh, just… things I've been working on," Peter said as Sirius picked up a goalie's glove with a potato smasher attached, and strapped to a car battery. "Don't worry, most of it… doesn't work." Sirius yelped as a small shock came from the glove causing him to drop it and fix Peter with a skeptical look. "…Some of it doesn't w-work."

"So, you're fine with me… busting this place up?" Sirius said as he took off his hoodie so he was in his undershirt and jeans.

"Well, not all of it," Peter said, "But we need somewhere… for you to get used to your powers… and why not the Danger Room? Not much in here is worth saving…"

"Sorry, the Danger Room?"

Sirius gave Peter a critical look which he wilted under. "I named it… when I was ten, okay? A-anyway, you said you sensed… Flash was about to push you, and… reacted, right? It sounds like you might have… developed a sixth sense for danger and threats… that affect your general area."

Sirius nodded, not that he completely understood, but it sounded right. "Yeah, okay. How do we train that?"

"Well, first," Peter held out an oily rag, "Put this over your eyes." As Sirius wrinkled his nose, Pete mimicked Sirius' own shrug. "I don't keep clean cloths… never needed them."

Sirius took the rag and covered his eyes, gagging at the smell. "Shit, Pete! This reeks! So what? You gonna swing a bat at me, and I narrowly dodge out of the way?"

"A-actually," Peter rolled a modified tennis ball launcher rigged to another car battery to sit some distance from Sirius. Panting from the exertion, he turned on the machine and said, "I think… we need to… think faster."

"Faster, what does-!" Sirius felt the tingle go up his spine, his brain screaming to go left! He leaned just as his brain screamed move move move, with unspoken directions in every move. The vibrations were taxing enough that he stopped talking and just dodged in rapid succession. The barrage didn't stop for two minutes, but Sirius waited a minute more before he was sure his sixth sense had stopped rattling his skull. Removing the blindfold, he saw about 100 ratty tennis balls scattered around the Danger Room. "Did I… dodge all of that?"

"Yeah," Peter said, clearly impressed. "You did. Not a single one h-hit. Let's move on."

Back at his train car lab, Peter did something to the sample of Sirius' wrist fluid that involved a microscope and a jury-rigged laser pointer that had him laughing triumphantly. "Sirius! This is amazing! This fluid is an organic protein… produced within your body! I'd have to inspect your wrist to be sure… but I'd wager the mutation going throughout your body led to… the growth of spinnerets in your arms! When it touches oxygen, it becomes like a non newtonian f-fluid. Both stretchy and flexible, but solid and strong when pressure's applied! L-like a hybrid… of iron and silk! A spider's w-webbing can hold many creatures several times their body weight… and at your size-"

Peter finally looked up and fell silent. In the limited space of the terminal, Sirius was swinging from line to line, flipping midair to fire a new strand to keep swinging. Finally, he swung up, letting go of the string, and, with the grace of an Olympic gymnast, twirled and rolled through the air until his face was about to crash into the ground. At the last minute, he thwipped upward to the ceiling, the web line tightening up immediately to prevent his collision. Pulling himself up by the strand, like a spider hanging from the ceiling, he looked a surprised Peter in his (upside-down) face. "Lemme guess. The webs should be able to hold my weight, right?"

"And then some," Peter spoke breathlessly as he walked around Sirius somewhere between curiosity and shock. "Sirius… this is… you realize this utterly spits in the face of… several known laws of science. You, a 190-pound person, suspended by a thin strand of silk produced in your body?"

"First of all, weird you can guess my new weight exactly by looking at me. Also," Sirius smirked, "you realize that's the longest sentence you said without a stutter?"

Peter blinked at that before turning red and stepping back. "I-er-I mean-I hadn't-this isn't-!"

"Geez, Pete. That's a good thing." Looking at Peter's crimson face - still upside down, of course - Sirius thought back to his best friend in Seattle, and what he said when he himself was being teased: You need to get laid, man. Looking at how nervous Peter got around peers and friends, Sirius decided a joke like that might set the poor kid on fire from embarrassment. Deciding to change the topic for his smart friend's sanity, Sirius asked with a smirk, "So, what's the deal with that 'Danger Room,' anyway? What's with all those wonderful toys in there?"

"Those are, er," Peter adjusted his glasses as he looked away. "Well, t-they're just… ideas I have. I like to… tinker a bit, that's all."

"Really?" Sirius began to press the topic, but both his and Peter's phones buzzed. "Huh," Sirius murmured as he pulled his phone out. "I didn't think we'd get coverage down here."

"At first, it wasn't possible," Peter supplied. "I had to rig a server that takes parts of signals from nearby routers to do that."

"Seriously?" Seeing his bespectacled friend giggle, Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I fell in my own trap, shut up. But really, that sounds… crazy difficult."

"The hard part was finding the parts," Peter admitted. "A lot of people… really treat technology poorly." Checking the message, Peter blinked. "Oh, it's a video message from Harry. Wonder what's up?"

"Can you play it?" Sirius asked… before looking back at a flat-faced Peter showing him his flip phone. "Eh he he… Phone's too old to play videos, huh? How haven't I noticed that?"

"I don't try to bring attention to it," Peter sighed. "No matter how many times Harry tries to buy me a new one. Do you mind…?"

"Say no more. Catch!" Sirius dropped his phone into Peter's hands. "It's not top of the line, but it's of this century. Should be fine."

Still hanging from the ceiling, Sirius watched the message play over Peter's shoulder. On the screen was Harry Osborn, looking insanely happy. "DUDES! GUYS! How the hell are ya!"

His shout strained the device's speakers and nearly made Peter drop the phone to cover his ears. "Ow…" Sirius grounded out. "What the hell's with that volume?"

"No clue," Peter groaned, rubbing a temple to fend off a headache. "I don't think I've even heard Harry get that loud before…"

"I have the best news ever!" Harry's message continued with an excited look in his expression that was slightly un-Harry-like. "Johnny Storm is throwing a party at the Baxter Building tonight! Everybody who's anybody's gonna be there! I just… happened to hear about it, don't ask questions!"

"A party?" Sirius hummed.

"The Baxter Building!?" Peter gaped. "The hub of the country's most impressive think tank!? To get in there would be-!"

"Hush," Sirius interrupted. "The message is still going."

"-could be our chance to climb the social ladder!" Harry cheered. "We go, take photos that show we were there, and Boom! We'll be the coolest in school by the end of the weekend! See you there! Woooo!" Harry's last cheer marked the end of the message.

Sirius frowned as the video ended. "Did Harry seem… off to you?"

Peter didn't answer at first, still caught up in talking about everything the Baxter Building was about. Sirius had to jump down and tap his shoulder to get his attention. "H-huh!? I… wasn't paying attention… Sorry." Peter blushed sheepishly.

"I gathered." Teasingly, Sirius rolled his eyes. "Did you notice Harry in the video?"

"He did seem… excited." Peter scratched his chin in thought, handing Sirius his phone back. "I've never seen him… so excited before. Maybe… something's wrong? We should go." Now it was Sirius' turn to give him a flat look. "N-not because of where the party is, but to check on him and all!"

Sirius sighed, running a hand through his coal-black hair. "I can't. We're having a movie night with the Stacys, and bailing last minute for a party-"

"Then don't tell them," Peter said bluntly. "Johnny Storm's parties are known for… three things: Alcohol, marijuana, and college kids. Gwen… doesn't like Johnny - long story… before you moved here - so if we did go, she wouldn't follow us."

"Meaning…?"

Peter adjusted his glasses as he sat back in his seat. He steeped his fingers as the light reflecting off his glasses obscured his eyes. "Meaning Gwen could cover for you at movie night. If you can convince her, we can go to the party and keep an eye on Harry and you'll never have to say anything to your mother about it. If we work fast, we can grab him and leave, leaving you with enough time to make it to the end of your movie night. Everything works out."

Sirius blinked, caught between how creepy Peter's Gendo pose was, and how methodical his idea was. "How… long did you think of that?"

Peter shifted and looked up to Sirius, his small and unassuming demeanor returning, and his eyes becoming visible again. "I-I only just thought of it. I guess… if you don't want to go, I can head there myself. For Harry, not the B-baxter Building!"

Sirius didn't like the idea of Peter, the scrawniest kid he knew, going to a party filled with older kids without himself or Gwen to watch out for him. However, he wasn't about to ask Gwen to lie for him and bail on movie night with his mother and the Stacys… "Er, what about Uncle Ben? He said you had to paint… something? Don't want to leave him waiting..."

"He's been asking me… to paint that side of the house… for a month, and even when we're… both available, we just talk… and drink sodas," Peter shrugged. "He asks me a… bunch of questions, and then we… fake paint when Aunt May checks on us. He'll be there… tomorrow, but that party - and Harry - are happening tonight."

"Well, if you're sure…" After a quiet moment of thought, Sirius turned back to Peter. "Yeah, I can't drop a family activity so suddenly. Your uncle and aunt might be cool, but I'd be dead. New powers or not. If you're going to this party, I need you to be careful."

"Hey," Slightly offended, Peter looked at Sirius. "I can… curb my love of science… for one night-"

"No no, not just that. Listen," Sirius held the shorter teen by the shoulders and looked him square in the eye. "My mom's an M.E. I know the horror stories of people that don't think and don't listen. This is a party with, in your words, drugs and alcohol. Do not get distracted by anything. Grab Harry and leave. Stop for nothing. Alright?"

Peter swallowed thickly at how solemn Sirius' tone was, but nodded. "O-Okay. I promise. 'Get Harry and run.'"

Sirius smiled at the agreement, although… that sixth sense from before was dully ringing in the back of his head. 'Why… do I still have a bad feeling? There's no danger here… right?'

"There you are!" Gwen opened Sirius' apartment door before he could unlock it. "What took you so long?"

"Oh, well…" Sirius racked his brain for the lie he told this morning. "That… thing me and Pete were doing ran long."

"He means that essay assignment!" Olivia called from the kitchen, drawing confusion from Gwen.

"Essay?" Gwen looked from the direction of the kitchen back to a slightly sweating Sirius.

'I'll tell you later!' Sirius mouthed back to her, hoping she wouldn't blow it.

Gwen gave him a judgmental look that all but said 'You bet your ass you will!' before moving aside for him to enter. "Yeah… guess he wanted to get a head-start on it," she said loud enough for it to carry to the kitchen.

As Sirius mouthed 'Thanks,' Gwen shot back a 'You owe me,' before she walked deeper into the apartment. After taking off his shoes, Sirius followed after her. "Me and Gwen are gonna talk in my room!" Sirius called out from the door. "We'll be out when the movie starts!"

"Okay, but you better keep that door cracked!" Olivia called back.

"Okay!" Sirius did not crack the door, closing it very carefully to keep either adult from hearing it click. Turning back, he saw Gwen sitting in his desk chair, fingers tapping away at the armrest. "So, thanks for… that, back there-"

"No, it's fine," Gwen said with a heavy amount of sarcasm. "I love lying or covering for my friends in front of my Dad! It's totally cool!"

Cautiously, Sirius sat on his bed, looking at his guest as one would a very irritated pet. "I'm… sensing some hostility here. Did I… do something wrong?"

Gwen gave Sirius an annoyed look, before sighing and looking away. "No… wasn't you. I… had a tiring day." The blonde deflated in front of her male peer, taking off her glasses and massaging her face.

Sirius knew an exhausted woman when he saw one; massaging your face after an emotionally draining experience was his mother's default hello after a long day. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"God, I don't even know if I should," Gwen groaned before she looked at Sirius, glasses in her lap instead of on her face. "Remember that guy my Dad was talking about the last week of summer?"

"'That guy?'"

"The one that hit Jerry's Store on Kirby Street."

Those words in that order brought an image of an old headline to Sirius' mind. Below the headline, a man of uncertain age, running from the cops with a jacket stuffed with taquitos. It was an image so absurd, he barely caught himself from laughing. "No effing way! The Bodega Bandit!? That moron taking food from every corner market from Harlem to Manhattan? You didn't!"

"Yep," Gwen sighed, clearly annoyed. "Held up the place I was at. He was robbing the place… threatening the cashier with a bulldog."

Sirius nearly fell off his bed as he held in his giggles. He didn't want to let them loose because A) Mom would notice the door's closed, and B) Gwen was already giving him a 'knock it off' look. "H-he was… holding the place up… at bulldog-point!? *snort!* M-my sides!"

"Stop it!" Gwen snapped. "Even if all he steals is food, he's still a criminal!"

"O-okay, okay!" Gaining control of his laughter again, Sirius looked up from lying on the bed at his guest. "S-so… what happened?"

"Well," Gwen began, "He walked in and began stuffing roller dogs and nachos into his jacket pockets. His… dog licked at the floor stains I hope were nacho cheese and salsa."

Sirius bit down on his lip as Gwen shot him another look. "A-and?"

"He… noticed me and… tried to flirt with me - will you stop laughing!?" Gwen growled as Sirius failed to control his laughter fully.

"Sorry, sorry!" Sirius sat up, still chuckling as he wiped a tear from his eye. "You're right. It wasn't cool. It's just… a bonkers visual." Putting on a less amused smile, Sirius asked, "So, what did you do?"

"I kicked him in the dick," Gwen answered plainly.

"…"

"…"

This time both of them broke down laughing, Gwen nearly sliding out of the chair as she snorted in between her own giggles, glasses falling on the carpet. "Shit, Gwen! D-did he take that as a no?"

"P-pretty sure!" Trying to calm herself from the lapse of control, Gwen added, "He was limping out of the store before the cops could arrive, cursing up a storm while holding his crotch."

"Ha!" Sirius shook his head at the visual. "Didn't know who he was messing with!"

"Damn straight," Gwen smirked as she flipped her hair in something of a power move. "So, what have you been up to all day?"

"Hm? Me?"

"Yes, you, Dog Star." Gwen scrutinized Sirius critically. It was a look Sirius recognize… but it was usually worn by Captain Stacy: the Interrogation Stare. Despite not wearing her glasses, Gwen's eyes seemed to see through Sirius. "I'd like to know how big a lie I just backed you up on. Were you even with Pete today? Am I covering up something bigger than that? You're too open to be a drug dealer… maybe a secret girlfriend?"

"A wha!"

Sirius blinked at the sudden turn, reflexively blushing even as Gwen's facade broke, and she burst out laughing. "Sorry~ But you deserved it from earlier!"

"I was not with a secret girlfriend!" Sirius cursed to himself as his voice broke slightly at his exclamation. "I was with Pete!"

"Oh!" Gwen's smile turned devious. "So, not a secret girlfriend?"

Sirius flushed even more at Gwen's implications. "N-not like that!"

"I m-mean!" Gwen wheezed thru peals of renewed laughter. "I-if you are, it's fine! But… your fa-ha-ha-ce! *snort!*"

"Me and Pete were… working on something! That's all!" Sirius lowered his voice at the end of his sentence. This was supposed to be a quiet moment; how had it turned into a roast fest? 'Right,' he thought. 'It started at 'Bodega Bandit,' and went downhill from there...'

Still glowing from her giggle fit, Gwen raised an eyebrow with a skeptical expression. "Your very early essay project?"

"No, something else…" An idea forming in his mind, Sirius got up with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, okay," Gwen raised her hand in placation. "And what were you doing all after-" Gwen's voice died in her throat as the teen backflipped and stuck to the ceiling. "...noon?" she squeaked out.

"Ah… surprise?" Sirius gave his patented shrug… taking his hands off the ceiling so only his feet were keeping him hanging.

Gwen blinked rapidly, her breathing slowly turning into hyperventilating. "What-wha-wha-"

His sixth sense kicking in ('There's gotta be a catchier name for it…'), Sirius quietly flipped down, landed in front of Gwen, and firmly clamped his hand over her mouth just as it opened. "I know how cliche this sounds, but please don't scream." Gwen and Sirius locked eyes as her panic somewhat receded until her breath didn't come out in frenzied bursts against his hand. Removing his hand, the teen stepped back to give her space to breathe. "So, you good?"

Gwen paused, looking away for a moment, before nodding. Swallowing, the blonde looked at her friend nervously. "S… Sirius? You… what the hell was that?"

"My… powers." Sirius scratched the back of his head bashfully. "I… probably should have found a better way to show them off. But it worked so well the last time..."

"Yeah…" Gwen said faintly, clearly lost in thought. "Well… wait." Focusing back on the slightly nervous boy, Gwen's eyes narrowed. "You're, like, really Sirius, right? This isn't some Species crap where you invaded Earth just to f-"

"What! No!" Sirius shook his head vigorously. "It's really me! Ask me anything!"

"Oh no!" Gwen said, standing up and inching closer to the door. She blinked, clearly noticing her glasses were still on the floor, but standing firm and ready to bolt from the room. "Nice try! If you did know Sirius, anything I ask is what you'd expect! Tell me something about me!"

Sirius sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. 'I really should have expected this. Okay, something about Gwen… something about – Oh!' "Wait!" Sirius waved both arms for her undivided attention. "OK, so, back in middle school, you tried to start a band with Mary Jane Watson and Liz Allan, but then Mary Jane wanted to be an actress, and Liz… well, she got popular and never looked back. Pete tried to convince you to make a band with us, but he can't play anything, I only play the triangle, and Harry hates the violin. Actually, I think most people hate the violin, so I don't blame him."

Gwen blinked at the short story Sirius just dropped on her and shook her head. "Okay, that's definitely you. Only Sirius Moore could spout 30 words in ten seconds to save his life." The reality of the situation caught up to her as her eyes widened again. "Oh my god… you have - I mean, what was that?"

"We're not entirely sure," Sirius admitted. "Pete figures that the bite from a few days ago-"

"We?" Gwen questioned before the rest of his sentence caught up to her. "Peter. So, he knows about…" She waved her hand in the teen's general area as she still stood across the room from him. "This?"

"You just gestured to all of me," Sirius pointed out. "Also, why are you still standing over there like I'm radioactive? I'm fine."

"I-I'm sure you're okay!" Gwen defended. "I just… I need a moment, alright?"

"Well, go ahead," Sirius said. "But, ya know, be quick. I mean, every minute that door stays closed, I'm scared your dad gonna bust in here, trying to catch us snogging or something."

"S-shut up!" Gwen yelped, blushing in the same way she had at lunch before looking away and muttering. "Okay… so, there's no way that spider biting you and these new mutations are isolated incidents. Whatever they did to that creature must have transferred to you." She turned around, her expression looking like she had a full understanding of the situation. "Sirius-"

"Yeah?" And then her face fell as she saw her friend sitting in the middle of his own spider web, connected to the corners of his room. As he sat cross-legged, he held out her glasses to her, having somehow gotten them as she had been lost in thought.

"…"

"…"

"…Did that come out of your ass?"

A/N: Have any thoughts? Leave a comment! I thrive on feedback! Until then, this is your amazingly humble author signing out!