Now it was a month since the first battle with Doctor Octopus, since then the city was pretty silent once again. Nothing of note happened for Spidey. For Peter, he had continued to deal with his friends, Harry and Gwen being more antagonistic between each other once more. Annoyingly so, it hurt seeing two people he cared about fighting not able to figure out their issues. Along with bad news, Eddie Brock seemed to not regret at all his choices with getting Chance into trouble, on the brighter side it seemed as if Captain Stacy was going to get that situation figured out.
With more good news, Ava aka White Tiger had surprisingly joined the Avengers now during this time, which was pretty neat and she seemed excited over it from what he had heard from their brief call. Both of them being super heroes meant not much social time for them.
For MJ, she was getting to know Sally better, it seemed like they were slowly actually becoming friends which was quite a surprise. Along with Sally still going to see Liz, MJ even went with her and apparently had a nice time, despite hardly knowing her before. It was super nice to hear, Peter was always pleased hearing about MJ making new friends after everything she went through in her childhood.
Now he was heading out on a date, or two very close friends who have been flirting, implying they've got feelings for each other, going out to a nice little coffee shop. Certainly not a date. Not at all.
"It's nice going out, just us." Peter said awkwardly.
"Most definitely is! Thank goodness for having time apart from Harry and Gwen, they're bickering like an old unhappy marriage couple."
Peter nodded. "It's been rough seeing it, but enough about them. How have you been doing? Do you need any help with classes? Or literally anything?"
She smiled at him. "Class has been fine, thinking of looking into acting next year potentially. All this technical stuff, it really isn't for me. I'm trying hard to find what I'm passionate about, you impress me by basically knowing pretty close to what you want, at least the subject."
"Yeah, it's nice having known about my interests from an early age, I feel pretty lucky about that. I know you'll be able to find something interesting for yourself, you are incredible and have a wonderful personality! You can do anything!" Peter replied.
"Thank you Peter, it always means a lot, your complete support."
"Least I could do for ya MJ. Do you want to order something? I'd be happy to pay for you this time. I've gotten a bit of money, kinda a bonus." He smiled at her brightly, then as Parker luck naturally in trails his phone started to ring. "Oh come on!" He said allowed face palming. "It's the Bugle, can I take it? Mr. Foswell hardly has ever called me on an off day before. Totally your call."
She sighed. "Could be important, take it."
"Okay." He picked up. "Hello? Mr. Foswell? What's up?"
"I've got something important to tell you, I hope you are sitting down. I don't exactly want to outright say it." Foswell began saying.
Peter sighed. "What is it? I'm on a dat-err, not a date. A meet up with my closest friend in the entire world." He said "smoothly" while correcting himself.
"Oh Mary Jane? Give her my regards. And I feel bad I have to tell you this and interrupt that, but it seriously is very important it's abou-" Peter couldn't hear Mr. Foswell as good now having some carnage occurring outside.
"Um, hold that thought. I think I heard an explosion outside and we're in downtown. Ummm, wait I heard more and another. Oh for the love of-" He stopped himself from continuing to speak. "Maybe I'll go take some pictures or get to safety."
"Safety first Peter and for Mary Jane!" He hung up.
Peter turned to MJ. "I've got a feeling I'm going to need to check on what in tarnation is going down over there. Think I turned southern for a moment."
After he made that quip his newest foe revealed themselves, it was The Rhino seemingly, but something seemed different as he charged though the streets.
"Did he get taller?" Peter wondered.
"You should definitely head out and kick its butt." She said looking at the destruction outside of the coffee shop.
"Sometimes I hate being a superhero." He rushed out getting ready to suit up.
After a minute, he was ready and swung quickly after the gigantic Rhino rampaging through the streets causing an untold amount of destruction. How in the name of hack has all of this happened? He's a freakin robot! Is he built from Vibranium? Adamantium? This is completely insane! I say boy, I say he's going down hard!
Spider-Man rushed towards the enemy and turned a corner, having his Spidey-sense exclaim quite loudly finding the new Rhino.
He did nothing to say, just staring at him and pointed. "You, you, did you eat a lot of your vitamins or something? Go through a growth spurt? Good god man! You're bigger than the last guy!"
Rhino was indeed slightly bigger and more intimidating than the other guy. As this one wasn't a robot. This guy was wearing armor, he was literally like a Rhino with the face of a man, a dence looking guy, but a human for sure.
"You! I'll crush you little man! It's pay back!" The new Rhino exclaimed and put his foot down making the earth shake, from Peter's perspective.
"We've met? I'm guessing before the growth spurt?" He joked, while shaking.
"Why, you've sent me to jail so many times!" He exclaimed, cracking his large fists.
Spidey thought about it. "Not ringing any bells, sorry."
"Whatever! It's payback time freak!" He shouted and slammed down his fists into the ground, Spidey leaped out of the way moving to safety.
He tried webbing his face, which didn't work out as he ripped it off. "Ahh, shucks I'm so going to die aren't I?" At least MJ won't be mad at me for missing that da-meet up between friends! And not having to deal with Gwen and Harry yelling at each other. So that's a positive right?
Rhino charged at Spider-Man. Time to run! Now he attempted trying to run on the ground thinking of a plan, until Rhino got to close so he leaped up. Shockingly, Rhino managed to jump up and grabbed Spidey's lag. Ah crap. My spider-sense wasn't ready for being grabbed mid air! After being grabbed, he was thrown through a building, unsurprisingly getting tossed through a building like a toy hurt.
The police arrived and raised their weapons at him. Officer Carter was the first one there in charge. "Alright, ugh, Rhino? Surrender now and make it easier on yourself, or don't. We've got a lot of toys I'd be happy to see used on you scumbag." He said creeply, liking the thought of that.
"How about I keep on rocking this stinking city for my boss!" He countered.
"What boss?" Carter then asked, figuring he wouldn't get an answer, but still wanted to try finding one.
"Real kind doc I met! Had lots of arms!"
Carter rolled his eyes and motioned his officers to open fire, despite most of them shaking in aboulate terror, they complied opening fire. Bullets came colliding into his thick armor, with all the flashing of the large amount of gun fire nobody could truly see if it did any damage. When the sightline cleared, they were screwed. Every bullet was crushed on the ground and Rhino laughed. "That tickled!"
Spider-Man came back, looking a bit worse for wear. "You guys might really wanna run now!" He suggested and they listened, for now. With that, he moved back in to punch Rhino with all his strength which only harmed his own hand. "What on earth are you even made of? Seriously!"
The Rhino shrugged. "I don't know. It was a big word I think."
"No surprise there!" Spidey remarked back and then shot out a webline, using it to fling himself backwards to move away now climbing up a building to get a moment to think of his next move. Fists, no. Legs, no way! Webbing, probably not. We're in the middle of downtown! What am I going to do here? Not like I could bring him out for a nice swim, even then not sure if he could breathe underwater! Real Rhinos can't and that only appears to be making him more durable, nothing else. Maybe I'm on the right track with lack of breathing, only enough to make him unconscious. Think Spidey, where could I find that? Or accomplish that more like with this unstoppable mad man! Before he could keep on thinking, Rhino seemed to have launched a car towards him sitting on the building nearly hitting him. "Now, now! I don't have car insurance! That's just mean! Even if I did, giant Rhino guys probably wouldn't be covered! Maybe it's under a super villain on the loose actually. Do they have to be established or not I wonder?"
"Stop your yapping and come on down here! Fight me! Or are you a big fat chicken!" This joke made himself laugh.
"I'll have you know! I'm most certainly not a chicken! Or fat! If anything, I wish I got to eat my lunch! I'm starving!" Spidery remarked back.
"You know, I'm hungry too! I should've gotten a bite before going out! Do you think we could take a break and eat?" Rhino asked seriously.
Spider-Man stared at him blankly. "Are you serious?"
He nodded.
Naturally, he didn't seriously consider it even if Rhino was being truthful as beating the giant Rhinoceros wrecking the city wasn't going to be negotiated. "How about no? If I'm going to starve, you're going down with me big boy! And besides, you ruined my date! I mean, ah screw it! That's right, my date jerk!"
"Never was a fan of love anyways." Rhino replied.
"You are an ugly mug, so. Makes sense." Spider-Man then remarked back, making his foe turn red. "Aww, did I hurt the poor Rhino's feelings? Maybe you shouldn't be ruining downtown and my day! In fairness I think you super villains must know when I'm having fun and act out!"
The Rhino, clearly unhappy, started throwing cars again.
"Come on! Stop throwing cars!"
He didn't listen, as expected.
Shortly after this standoff, more police arrived, seeming to be setting up a barrier hoping to keep him contained there. Captain Stacy then called.
"Hold that thought pal!" Spidey exclaimed to Rhino and picked up. "Captain Stacy! Boy I'm glad you called!"
"What's going on? That Rhino has caused a significant amount of damage, have you found a way to take him down yet?"
"Got a working theory currently. Cut off his breathing until he goes into unconsciousness. Not perfect, but seriously I almost broke my hand punching this guy! He's not robotic like the other guy, so I can't exactly do what I did last time. Wonder what that other guy is doing anyways? He's still locked up right?" Spidey asked.
"Yeah, I double checked. Could we help with your plan?"
"Sure, get me a way to knock out the giant."
Stacy then paused. "Oh no." He then muttered.
Spider-Man was about to ask, then saw the reason for his reaction. A news helicopter arrived, with another one close behind. It made sense they'd be interested in seeing this battle, even though seriously flying close to a crazy Rhino who threw cars wasn't exactly the best idea.
Elsewhere, in prison said another Rhino was watching the news, finally seeing the footage of the new and improved Rhino, as he claimed.
"What! This is insanity! Copyright infringement!"
"You didn't make a copyright, did you?" A buddy of his asked.
He whacked his head. "Of course! I'm an imbecile! Being locked up I've had so much time to contemplate my life choices, but not about a foolish foney taking my identity! My name is being dragged through the mud by the simptent! When I get out of here and oh I'll be getting out! Rest assured I'll be having my most delicious revenge!"
"You'd break me out too right? Imagine how much we'd be able to do together! And this place is kinda crummy! What do you say?" His friend asked again.
He looked at him. "Why of course!" It wasn't the most convincing way of saying that, but his only friend locked up wasn't exactly the brightest on layers, in conversations. "Now, please change the channel! I can't bear to watch any more of this barbaric sight! I need something more stimulating for my mind!"
"Understood!" He then changed it to a football game.
Back with Spider-Man he continued trying to distract The Rhino hoping to keep him contained while also noticing he was getting more tired and annoyed.
"Why are you doing this anyways? Besides being evil! And revenge! I mean somebody had to hock you up with this right?" He asked not knowing about what Rhino said to Carter already.
"Uhh, Doctor Octopus? Is that his name?"
"Of course, I knew that mad scientist would cause me trouble again." He then realized something taking a quick peak in both his foes ears webbing out an ear pierce.
"Hey! Give it back!" Rhino got upset and tried to grab Spidey, but didn't.
Spider-Man stuck to a wall and talked into it. "Hello? Ahhh, what's up doc? Mr. Squidward? Anyone home?"
"You, again! Get off this channel you impellent fool!"
"Me? Why that's not a nice thing to say, Doctor Octopus!"
Doc Ock sighed. "Aren't you so clever?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, I am. What are you planning on doing with Rhino? Take over the world or something super interesting like that?"
"Perhaps at some point, for now. I'll settle with killing you. And good luck on defeating my perfectly designed destroyer."
"Hmm, perfect isn't the right word I'd say personally. A giant olaf from my guess, I mean he's not as clever as the other Rhino." Spidey remarked.
"Indeed, I was greatly surprised upon seeing that robotic one. You'd never know, but that was stolen from me. A rejected project I never had dreamed of finishing, quite a surprise that it was used. I wish the smarter one was my new partner in this new life path I've gone on, but no matter. My new ally will bring your death. Goodbye Spider-Man we better not meet again!" Doctor Octopus hung up.
"Doc? Uh, whatever." He threw down the ear piercing and got another car thrown at him, Rhino however was running out of cars. "Oh no! Looks like you are running out of cars smartie!"
"How about I bring down the building instead!" Rhino suggested.
"Let's not do that!" Spider-Man countered.
Rhino stared at the helicopters above. "Now that's something I'd be happy to wreak!" He said grabbing a hold of a car and throwing it at the newscopter. Spider-Man webbed the car grabbing hold, stopping its momentum from hitting it, but that was a close call.
Yet, it wasn't done as one news Helicopter stayed behind watching the fight still, a major mistake as Rhino threw another car at that one, this time Spidey wasn't fast enough to stop it from hitting it.
Being hit by a flying car made it become unstable starting to fall out of the air, so Spider-Man leaped into action quickly making a net for it to fall onto, then helping its passengers off quickly. "Book it now!"
Rhino laughed. "Why help them? Should've stayed out of the way of the Rhino!"
"Not there fault a crazy Rhino is causing a rampage and they've gotta report on it! I think, do you think it's in their contract to do ridiculously dangerous things to report on what's happening?" Spidey asked, not actually sure.
"Ah! I've had! I'm outta here!" Rhino said and started to charge again.
Spider-Man, desperate to stop his foe, decided on webbing along for the ride hoping to pull him back, maybe even tip him over. "Looks like I'm going skiing!" Now having a hold he got pulled along getting dragged forwards holding on for dear life as The Rhino started to charge onward heading for the police blockade. "Come on big boy, let's go tippy over now!"
"Not a chance! I'm coming though! Look out for Rhino!" He exclaimed, crashing through some police cars, as the officers ducked for cover as he crashed through and started heading towards where people were again.
"No! You! Don't!" Spider-Man said using all his strength to halt Rhino making him stop and tip over breaking a part of the grab landing in the sawage below. "Oh great, I mean this could work to stop him. It'll also stink, literally!" He came down anyways and continued to fight his foe. "Toro toro! If only I had a red cape, using my body wouldn't work as well!"
"I'm not a bull you idiot! I'm a Rhino!"
"Somebody doesn't get my sarcasm. Anywho, let's tango! You're going down!" Spider-Man webbed open some steam pips. "Is it me or do you think it's getting hotter down here?"
"What! Stop it! You're crazy!"
"No, I'm Spider-Man! And you're the one who's the super villain. You know, kinda not going to let you win with leveling the entire city!" He pointed out, obviously and managed to kick Rhino finally in his face, knocking him back into another steam pipe.
"It's so hot!" Rhino exclaimed, trying to escape.
"That's the idea. You're a hulking giant, not to be confused with the other one, assuming he's real. You've gotta get hot being so big and all this excitement! Maybe you should lay down for a bit?" He suggested.
Rhino tried hitting Spidey, but ironically only made it worse, breaking up more pips all blowing out hot steam at him.
"Woah now is it hot in here or-" Rhino cut off Spider-Man trying to grab a hold of him now and smashing the ground. Until he finally fell right over and passed out. Now it was over Spidey webbed up all the pips making it cool down. "Thank you beautiful steam, about time it took him down. They're going to need a crane to get him out!"
Spider-Man headed back up and his jaw dropped to the ground after he realized backup had finally arrived, after he did all the heavy lifting. The Avengers arrived at last for once, apparently they weren't a hallucination shared by the masses.
The whole team arrived, he thought at least, there was a chance of him being wrong. Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, even familiar faces including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and White Tiger even who joined them really recently. Spidey didn't have a normal reaction to seeing the Earth's Mightiest considering they finally arrived at one of his battles, after it was over.
"Don't worry Spider-Man, we'll take it from here." Iron Man said confidently and dismissively at his actions.
"You'll take it from here? I literally did all the hard work! You've gotta be kidding me right now! This is a joke!" Spider-Man said not happy with Iron Man.
Iron Man seemed unphased. "Listen kid, you've done enough for one day. I mean look at the city, probably not much better if you didn't get involved."
Spider-Man's blood was boiling from that comment, Iron Man being so high and mighty, not understanding anything that happened.
Thankfully, White Tiger brought him aside and looked annoyed with Stark too, from under her mask. "You're looking as if you haven't had the best day. "
"Could say that again." Spidey replied.
"Stark is a complete jerk. Though he'd be a lot, what would the word be?"
"Less of a jerk with his thumb rammed up a bad place perhaps? I thought maybe his ego might've gone down, looks as if that hasn't happened since he started out."
White Tiger chuckled softly. "He's not what I expected."
He nodded in agreement. "Same here. You know, just hearing him brush off all my hard work taking that guy down. Kinda pissed me off and you know, I missed what I now bone headly realized might've been a date."
"With the red head I'm assuming? Unless there is anyone else you are into."
"Bingo, can't believe I didn't figure that out until I started fighting the super villain who had the life dream of being a Rhino." Spidey remarked back sarcastically.
"She seems like a nice girl from everything you've said, I'm sure she'll forgive you."
Peter then remembered about what Foswell wanted to inform him. "And I've gotta call back my co-worker. Apparently he wanted to tell me something very important, it was pretty mysterious. Do Avengers get paid?"
"Yeah, we do. Not a large chunk of money, but enough to keep the bills paid. Stark spends more money building new tech or corporate takeovers."
"Wonderful." He sighed. "I should probably leave. Don't want to get in the way and I've gotta deal with my personal life now. It was nice seeing you Tiger."
"Same here Spidey." She said and waved him off, as he swung away.
Doctor Octopus was watching the events unfold as one of his small robots, an octo bot kept tabs on everything.
"Unacceptable! My Rhino has already been defeated, I can't believe this happened so fast! Spider-Man is more resourceful than I gave credit for. To crush a foe of this caliber I'll need more allies. My next project will hopefully go better, The Sandman. Yes and I've already got a test subject in mind!" He grinned.
Later, Spidey called up MJ first to apologize, of course she was understanding as always. Sometimes he felt she was far too good for him, naturally she would disagree about that feeling. He was heading back to see her, but wanted to call back Mr. Foswell back first, as whatever he was trying to tell him seemed quite important.
"Hello? Peter? Thank goodness you called back. I was getting worried. Perhaps I should say it right before anything else bad occurs. It's about Ned."
"Ned? The Crime Master Ned?" Peter asked, cutting him off.
He sighed. "Yes, unfortunately to say the least. Today authorities discovered Ned Leeds escaped prison, assumed sometime around that Electro incident or maybe even before then. Nobody is sure-"
Upon hearing this news, Peter's eyes widened and he cut off Foswell. "He escaped? For that long? And nobody realized that? How on earth does that even happen!"
"He had connections. It was Kingsley in fact, apparently he was a silent partner and helped his escape kept hidden until now."
"The Hobgoblin! And Ned working together?" He exclaimed, stopping himself from reacting more out loud.
"It's true. I'm so sorry having to tell you about all this. The police are having a manhunt for him. They'll find him." Foswell replied, trying to reassure Peter.
Peter tried to stay calm for the moment. "That's good. Thank Mr. Foswell." He hung up and nearly dropped his phone.
Good grief! The Crime Master is back on the streets and working with The Hobgoblin! Maybe he is the second one, maybe he's working with whoever he is. How is all this connected? The only bad guy who knows my secret identity is on the loose again! For at least two months so far! Why hasn't he striked back? Is he waiting for something? Dead? Planning? Got amnesia? Gone on vacation? Is he going to be waiting for me at home sitting on my couch? Just when I think things can't get more insane in my life. He thought to himself thinking of his next move.
Thank you for reading as always, (These chapters seem to be getting longer!) I loved bringing in the second Rhino as long last. I always planned on having robot Rhino and more classic, wonder what'd happen if the two of them met?
Rhino is always an entertaining villain to write for and I thought it'd be a fun chance to have an Avengers cameo considering the destruction he'd cause. (Along taking inspiration from the end of an Ultimate Spider-Man issue) Of course, Sandman is on the horizon and another villain I was egure to write for, one who serves a larger role, comic fans might guess.
Finally, indeed, The Crime Master is back in play. What's he going to do? And how will knowing Peter's identity come into effect? Surely it'd most likely spell trouble for our hero, even more if Ned Leeds is indeed the other Hobgoblin.
Bonus, I was happy having Peter and White Tiger interact again, it makes me feel happy putting those two as friends for whatever reason.
That above was May of 2022, not exactly in the same headspace anymore. Right now I'm in the process of writing 74! Unfortunately, my motivation is starting to drop off again. I'm glad I wrote while I was egure to write, it just sucks now not having that joy writing for this series again. Is Spidey in jeperiety again? Maybe. So I'd appreciate it, as of writing this, to hear if anyone's still enjoying and wants more. Thanks.