Later, after the major first encounter against his newest and greatest foe, The Green Goblin, Captain Stacy rushed Peter to the hospitel to make sure he was okay after the brutal battle. As expected, being in the hospital was a pretty major deal, so all the expected people arrived, his remaining family Aunt May and his closest friends. Even after the day Harry had he still was coming by to be with his friend.
George informed Peter ahead of time what the cover story was going to be, on his way from the Bugle, he was mugged violently by an unknown attacker who escaped and of course wouldn't ever be found. There was going to be an entire police report and everything, it was a major coverup to protect his identity, such a thing done by a respected captain was risky. Still, Stacy knew it was important and happily protected Peter's identity for his sake and his own family's. It sucked putting the kind captain into that position.
Shortly after that, Aunt May arrived and immediately hugged Peter. "Good heavens! I can't believe this happened to you Peter! What kind of hardened monster would ever lay a hand on you like this!"
The Green kind. He thought and then responded. "Some mugger, it seemed like he was 8 feet tall, very strong too and strangely looked like a famous actor." He said trying to keep his lighthearted spirit alive and well. After all, it was as hard to kill as Peter himself.
"My word, I can't believe some punk would do this to you. There isn't a single mean bone in that body of yours." She said lovingly.
Next up MJ arrived right behind May with her Aunt Anna, who stayed more to the side as she wasn't the closest to Peter, but still felt concerned of course.
"Peter, are you okay? What on earth happened? Are you hurt?" She asked and also ran up and hugged him really tightly, almost like with super strength.
"Oh you know, mugger. Wore green." He replied hinting at the truth, which she of course understood what he was referring to, The Green Goblin was making headlines.
She sat next to him and whispered. "I'll tell you to never do this again, but we both know that'll never happen."
"Maybe one day, a guy sitting in an unfortunately hospital bed can dream." He replied with a smile.
Aunt looked at them happily. "I'll get you something to eat dear." She said walking off.
"Even in the hospital you haven't lost your sense of humor." She smiled back.
Peter shrugged. "If I did lose that, something would be seriously wrong or I'd happen to be dead. Okay maybe I shouldn't joke about that." He realized.
"It's okay, you are far too stubborn to ever die. With your tremendous amount of sarcastic comments I think you'll be living forever." She joked right back, giving a touch to his hand.
"You are awesome. And so funny and amazing. And beautiful. And you've got the most wonderful personality ever." Peter said to her.
She blushed. "Why thank you kind sir."
They both laughed and smiled brightly at each other.
Elsewhere in the city, a considerably less happy person was sneaking around the Ozcrop building heading into the office of Donald Menken.
Menken stood up and closed his blinds. "What are you doing here Octavius?"
"It's about Osborn, he's still alive! And now The Hobgoblin, he's in prison. You told me that everything would work out, now there is this Green Goblin running around who went after Kingsley. Whoever he is, we both know he's gotta have a connection to Norman, a hitman to clean up this mess!"
"Kingsley never knew our part in this plot, even if this Green Goblin character got him to talk, he'd know nothing." Menken replied confidently.
Otto looked uncertain. "I don't know, we both know how dangerous Osborn can be and it's clear he's going to new lengths to protect himself. This is out of control! We need to do something right now! There is a high chance he knows my involvement, uncovering what he created!"
"We'll do nothing, for now. Keep your mouth shut and hope Osborn doesn't suspect our involvements. I'll speak to Hobgoblin about protection and hire us security if I must. You are the most valuable resource I have when the takeover commences Otto. Without that brilliant brain of yours, this company could crash and burn on reorganizing. I need you to stay alive and out of Osborn's head." Menken said, looking serious about everything coming out of his mouth.
With a sigh, Otto nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine I'll keep my mouth shut and pretend everything is normal. I suppose I've got some work to do, testing my arms further. They're one of a kind."
"You are as well, doctor. Make sure to remember that and keep your head low." Menken said, as Otto respectfully left. "Idiot, he's going to expose me." He then muttered, calling up someone unknown. "I'm going to need a surveillance team, I don't trust Otto will not crack under the pressure, he's weak." After a pause he continued. "Keep an eye on him and make sure nothing happens. Everything will be ruined without him."
Back over with Peter, MJ was sitting next to him on the bed, which was extraordinarily comforting for him. Soon enough, his two other friends arrived.
"Buddy! Are you alright? Jezz I was worried about you!" Harry said immediately and like everyone else so far rushed to hug him.
"So many hugs today. Is it your turn next Gwen?" Peter joked.
"Think I'll pass for now and besides doesn't it hurt? Getting hugged cause you know, you look not the best." She pointed out rightfully.
Peter shrugged. "Didn't want to say anything."
MJ looked embarrassed. "Sorry, hope I haven't hurt you at all, goof."
"My healing is helping." He whispered to her and smiled.
"How long are you going to be here for? I've had it with Hospitals!" Harry said, clearing his throat and shivered. "This place just gives me the heebie jeebies, right?" He said trying to make his pal laugh, which worked.
"Better look out Harry! A ghost might pop out and say booo!" Peter replied sarcastically back. "Thanks buddy."
"Any time pal, no but seriously, I really hate this place." He confessed.
Peter nodded. "Fair enough. You don't have to stay for too long Harry, after everything that happened, totally get this place isn't a sight for tired eyes.'
"Well, my home has kinda been blown up now by two madmans. And then wrecked some more by that freak Spider-Man. Sleeping might be hard tonight, though dad will probably get us a hotel." He then recalled something. "Oh right, he hoped you'd be getting well soon too. Apparently there was something more important to handle."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Your dad is almost always busy."
"Hey, no he's not!" Harry exclaimed, frustrated.
MJ came between them. "Let's not argue right here and now, let's remember that Peter is hurt right? We're here for him."
The two looked at each other, sighing and nodding.
After this awkward moment happened, a surprise guest arrived. Out of everyone in the entire world, it was Flash. "Uh, hey, I'm not interrupting anything weird am I?"
"Flash? Welp, this is the most tame dream I've had in awhile so far." Peter joked, surprised to see his old bully.
"Come on Parker, I care! At least I'm trying to. This is my attempt at continuing to make amends, I guess." Flash said awkwardly.
Peter accepted. "Well, come on in, don't be a stranger. You're most certainly welcome to say hi and I appreciate you checking up."
"That's very sweet of you Flash." MJ added.
"Uh, thanks, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I heard you got mugged and was honestly pretty shocked."
Harry chuckled. "Fair enough! I mean what kind of a nut job would ever hurt him? I mean like super seriously."
"So, are you going to be alright Parker?" Flash then asked.
"Yeah, I'll be just fine, you should totally see the other guy. I'm kidding, but yes I'll be perfectly fine, the doctors told me I was lucky." He told him.
Flash smiled. "That's great, glad you are doing better. Oh and uh, reluctantly Sally and Kenny said they were worried about you too. And Hobbie."
"That's swell, tell them I said thank you." Peter replied.
"Maybe I'll head out now, this was awkward." Flash said and left.
Peter laid back. "Hey, guys, Harry, Gwen? Could I have some alone time with MJ for a little bit? If that's alrigh-" He got cut off.
"Yep! You've got it pal, doing it in the hospital, hot!"
MJ stared at him annoyed.
And Gwen whacked him upside the head. Together they left and Harry started whistling awkwardly, then gave a dirty look to Gwen.
"I really think they need to have an intervention if things don't get better." MJ said genuinely, not exactly sure if they were working out.
"Unfortunately, I've gotta agree with you MJ." Peter frowned and then looked out the window thinking about the city. "I hate it being down and out like this, hurting a lot. I'm really wanting to get back into the swing of things, literally. Could you check on if anyone comes in? I want to climb on the walls. Give myself a stretch."
She nodded. "You got it. I'll scream if I see someone, kidding."
Peter leaped up onto the wall and crawled around. "Ah, this feels better." Alas, he made a horrible mistake seeing a police car zooming by. "Did you happen to bring my Spidey suit at all?"
"Seriously? You nearly got killed by that Green Goblin and you already want to get back out there to fight crime, again?" She questioned putting her hands on her hips.
"Uh, well, gotta do that Spidey thing." He shrugged.
She sighed. "Fine, I brought it. I figured you couldn't help yourself." Handing it over, Peter immediately started suiting up. "If anyone asks, I'm in the bathroom. Very looong trip, for the love of god don't come in kinda trip." He said and leaped out the window putting on his web shooters swinging off.
Feels nice to be swinging again, after that beat down. Yeah, it's only been a few hours since I last wore the suit, but man web swinging always clears the mind from a bad time. Hopefully whatever the police are up to now isn't a Goblin problem.
Spider-Man approached and leaped on a police car hanging on for a ride, finding them responding to an armed robbery with a bunch of thugs hopping into an escape vehicle, firing at the cops.
"Great, a classic shootout. Thank goodness for no Gobbies!" He webbed onto the hostile car, starting to try pulling it to a complete stop, but failing, having his arms hurting. "Ouch. Why? Of course, idiot, my healing isn't that fast, I need to work harder to take down these common thugs. Really, really happy this isn't super villain shaningins." He said to himself and jumped over onto the car. "Pull over! I think we already know how this is going to go!"
The thugs didn't respond and opened fire.
"Come on! I'd love some banter!" Spider-Man said sadly and punched through the window, pushing over the driver. "Excuse me. I'm going to stop your speeding car now." He expressed slamming his foot down on the brake. After doing such, he managed to web up the goons and left them all for the police swinging up to a rooftop. "That was difficult. Even just slamming down my foot hurts. That Green Goblin, he really gave me some injuries. I'm going to need at least a week to heal."
After leaving he swung back to the hospital quickly.
Elsewhere, Norman Osborn was visiting an important potential new ally. It was on the grounds of ESU and he stepped into the office of one, Miles Warren.
"Good day to you Mr. Osborn, what do I owe this pleasure of a visit?"
It was Norman right now and he cleared his throat. "As I'm sure you have no doubt about, I've had some issues as of late. That Hobgoblin nearly killed me and my son Harry. I need to do whatever it takes to protect us from this threat."
Warren looked puzzled. "Hasn't Kingsley been apprehended by the authorities?" He asked, not understanding.
"Indeed he is, unfortunately, the police didn't discourse there is a second running around. He's still out there and going to strike again. This isn't going to end and The Vulture also has a grip against me." Norman explained.
"What exactly do you want from me then?" Warren asked.
With a smile Osborn had an answer in mind. "Simply put, I need someone who is morally questionable and able to do experiments for me."
Warren tried to play innocent. 'Morally questionable? I wouldn't ever dream of-"
"Stop playing games, I know everything you've done in the past. You are impressive at covering your tracks, but I'm better at finding things." He explained.
"Fine, you know the truth. What kind of experiments do you want, Osborn?" He asked, unsure of his fate now.
Norman began to smile. "I have a friend, one who's given me grander ambitions for my maknasions. Ones that'll require a lot of work and assistance. You could be a powerful ally, with full protection. Nobody will know about that failed human subject, we'll make certain of that. You do enjoy manipulating DNA, replicating it. We believe that'll come in handie." He started to laugh, becoming the Goblin again. "Very handie indeed. I'd say we're going to make beautiful music together Warren! I want you to test my blood, discover all of its secrets. And that'll just be the beginning. You see, I realized there are others whose power is very interesting and I wish to know more. Spider-Man. Rest assured, I'll be retrieving a blood sample. All in due time." He laughed sinisterly.
Back at the hospital, Peter soon returned sneaking back in.
"I'm back, hopefully the coast is clear?"
She nodded. "Yes silly, you know I would've warned you if anyone came in."
Peter smirked. "I know." He pulled off his mask and put away his suit. "Hope I didn't worry you too much, I shouldn't have gone out yet. Some small-time thugs nearly gave me some trouble."
"That's not great, are you hurting?" She asked.
"Na, I'll be fine. I just need to take it easy for a few days. Surely the city won't fall apart over the course of a week right? Oh god, why'd I say that? I'm so screwed now aren't I MJ? Oh I think I might just sleep for a week." He joked.
She smirked at him. "Very funny, oh and you got a get well card from the Daily Bugle, it was even signed by your loudmouth boss."
"Great, very unusual of mister mustachio to be actually nice. What names are there?"
MJ looked at them. "Uh, Eddie Brock, a Mr. Robertson, Betty Brent and oh Mr. Foswell. How is Foswell doing?"
"Pretty alright, I think he's still pretty hurt by Ned Leeds turning out to be The Crime Master still, which is totally understandable. I still am." Peter replied.
"Yeah, everything is still fresh." She replied.
He laid back in bed. "Today was crazy, Green Goblin. I know he'll strike again, something about him was different, my spider-sense went crazier than anything else I've faced before. And you know exactly the danger I've faced. Whoever is behind that mask, it's going to be a major problem. I can just feel it, I'd say smell it too, but that be stepping on that other guy's territory."
"Any idea who that creep is?" MJ questioned.
"None, I feel as if this is a big mystery and The Hobgoblin is the key to cracking this thing wide open. Or maybe Mr. Osborn, but that'd be nuts."
MJ sat back down next to him. "Why do you suspect he knows something?"
"Well, Hobgoblin was so bent on killing him and Mr. Osborn was acting weirder than usual lately. Could be connected." Peter reasoned.
"You're right it could be, I wish we could talk to Foswell about it together, though I guess we've got Gwen's dad to brainstorm with. Still feels weird keeping Gwen and Harry in the dark about everything." She said and looked unsure.
"Fair point, not exactly something I enjoy either. It'll keep them safe, right? That's the plan, I really hope it never comes to it. Telling them." He sighed and then smiled. "I think they're coming back, I heard Harry laughing."
"Well, at least they're in a better mood now." She smiled back at him.
"I love all my friends and most of all you MJ, without you, I feel like I'd lose my mind sometimes." Peter said happily to her and grabbed her hand smiling at MJ.
Thanks for reading as always, I'm interested how everyone felt about the introduction of The Green Goblin and all the new set up coming up for future events involving Osborn, I left a lot of loose ends. Hopefully I'll be able to explain them all and give satisfying conclusions to everything. I've got so many ideas and hopes now again. This was more of an epilogue and setting up a lot, from this point on Norman/Goblin is going to be the overarching villain. Fortunately with a better way of writing this, I won't be solely focused on Osborn, there are a lot more plots I want to do. I want to have a lot of great things, the next two are going to be pretty fun I hope, while giving important set up.
I wonder what crazy things will happen next and I wonder what Warren will be up to here.
This part is written here as we got into the new year, above is April of now 2022. Obviously I've sat on these chapters for a long time now, so plans could change and who knows what'll happen. I hope 2023 will be a better year for my personal life, at least I can say it was a more proactive year for writing. Again, major thanks to all of you sticking around for well now actually 5 years of this being actively written and changing as I've grown up. I started this just turning 18 and now I'm writing this at 23. Wish there was stuff that could've been changed, like oh, setting up Osborn better or do something more original…but I've enjoyed writing for this and from how many of you are still here some of you must be enjoying still, so thank you for sticking around and hope this metaphorical new era starting here brings some good stuff.