If there was one theme that was consistent with Spider-Man's life, as well as it was with Peter Parker's, it was that no matter how good things look up to be, universe itself will always find a way to completely destroy and make his life a living hell. And now… Now it had outdone itself, as Spider-Man sat perched atop of the Avengers Tower, not caring if he was detected or not by their security system. In the past, that system wouldn't have bothered with him, but now that he was excluded from the Avengers and regarded as nothing short of a super-villain, he wouldn't be surprised if his former allies and comrades were on their way to beat the hell out of him, before throwing him into prison.
Same could be said about the entirety of New York and practically every single friend, family member and everyone whom he knew as both the Spider-Man and Peter Parker. And now, sitting and looking down onto the busy city that now hated his guts, Peter Parker, once the Amazing Spider-Man, now sitting in a torn up and ruined costume, went down the memory lane, remembering how it all went downhill.
It all started when one of his worst enemies, Otto Octavius, aka. Doc Ock, took over his body and left him to die in his own ruined one to die hours later after being beaten to death by him, and after the mad bastard literally went on to take over his life. Despite being dead, somehow Peter persisted as sort of a ghost within his body, being there to see how Octavius perverted what Spider-Man was, taking over his entire life and making it his own, all the while Peter was trapped, unable to do a thing. Octavius crossed every line as a Spider-Man, growing drunk on power, prestige and recognition he could get, while descending into outright villainy throughout his tenure. He called himself "Superior Spider-Man," a claim to which he never lived up to, as after over a year in Peter's body, he twisted and defiled what Spider-Man was, as well as alienated everyone whom Peter was close to.
Aunt May, Mary Jane, Miles Morales, Avengers, Fantastic Four – in over a year Peter Parker and Spider-Man became everyone's most despised person. Even if Otto promised to do better, it wasn't long before his superiority complex, arrogance, lust for power and true nature revealed themselves, and yet… None had recognized that it was not Spider-Man, no. Everyone, all who knew Peter Parker, all believed that it was him, not Otto, and even now they believed that it was him... And that hurt Peter worse than ever, the knowledge that everyone saw that he was not himself, yet decided to leave him and not save or help him. And what added more fuel to his anger was the fact that in the beginning, everyone actually approved of the more aggressive, less morally constricted Spider-Man, even JJ Jameson loved him…
Witnessing his entire life being taken over, by his enemy, and then destroyed and made into Otto's wet dream of an empire with his Parker Industries, Spider-Bots and more, was the worst torture Peter had to endure, but it had gotten even worse. Parker always thought Otto a genius, but if there was one flaw with him, it was his arrogance and tendency to overlook something, and this time it played against him. Norman Osborn, the thrice-cursed Green Goblin, had been building his own Goblin Empire in the shadows, and he used Otto's Spider-Bots to hack into his net. Thanks to that, when it was time to strike, Norman took over New Year in a matter of hours with an army of his Goblins and Octavius with his army of henchmen was completely powerless. Beaten, humiliated, and with the information of Parker Industries being the key element of this new crisis, Otto realized that he had lost, and once discovering Peter's specter in his body, he simply gave up and gave Parker his body back, seemingly going away for good.
And once back in his body, Peter went to do what he has been doing ever since he was 15 years – saving lives and living up to Uncle Ben's words. The world his came back to was hell, but Spider-Man didn't care, and instead leapt straight into battle against Norman and his son Harry, whom he turned into Goblin Prince, and to say it was brutal would be an understatement. He was alone, while Norman and Harry had dozens of enhanced and drugged up minions, and what was worse was the fact that Norman had actually rigged up a bomb, one stolen from Otto, powerful enough to level entire New York and everything a hundred kilometers around it. He and Harry would detonate it, if it looked like it was going downhill for them, taunting and mocking Peter for all his faults and failures, and how his morality couldn't let him go far enough…
…And they were proven wrong, for when backed into a corner, with all of those lives at stake and seeing his entire live destroyed, Peter Parker did one thing he promised never to do – he stopped holding back completely. For the first time in his life, Spider-Man didn't pull punches and after he was done thrashing the Goblin goons, he turned to his once best friend and his father, the two now deranged and completely lost versions of themselves. In the past, Peter would've tried to save them, but after all he witnessed and lost and their ultimatum… He realized it was time to take up the ultimate responsibility.
Two weeks ago.
"Well, well, Pit, looks like you've still got some gas left in that tank of yours! But you know it's all in vane, you'd have better chances convincing everyone that Doc Ock was in your body this entire time!" Harry said in a cackling voice, as he looked at his former friend, circling around him on a glider, with his father near him. "We've got a whole army coming to us, and you are all alone! And even if you win, we'll just let that bomb go off for good! Why don't you call on your friends, those Avengers and Fantastic Four… Oh wait, they'd sooner look you up in a prison then help you!" Harry laughed at him in a maniacal tone.
"Yes, Peter, all your friends have abandoned you, and not a single person realized that it was that worthless sack of failures Otto behind the wheel the whole year… besides me." Norman said with predatory smile, as Spider-Man, dressed still in his torn red and blue suit, looked up at him. "I knew from the start that it wasn't you, Parker! I needed but a glance to see that it was Otto Octavius in your body, but not you! And yet everybody who knew, who loved and respected you… Oh they didn't even care to check properly, and simply decided that you've finally turned evil and left you once Octavius went downhill with his grandiose desire to prove his manhood!"
"And when he failed, what he did? He brought you back, just as I had hoped he would… Because that failure could never do what you could. He was never "Superior," but an inferior imposter when compared to you, and yet all adored him, and after he ruined all, they now blame you for it all, while he left you to clean up his mess." Norman continued. "But why do you need to clean it all up, when my old offer still stands? Do you remember it, Peter, the one offer I made to you 10 years ago?" Norman lowered himself to Peter's level, extending his hand.
"What?! You said that I…" Harry was shocked his father would do this, but Norman's glare and shout shut him up.
"Quiet, you weakling! You… All you have and had I gave you, and yet you squandered it all, time and time again. You are pathetic, a worthless waste of my time and resources, only existing because I allow it." Norman harshly responded, before turning to Peter with a smile. "But you, Peter… Oh, you are what I always wanted to have as a son and heir. Join me, Parker, and together…" And at that moment, faster than the eye could see or react, Spider-Man grabbed Norman by his throat and lifted him off his glider with ease never seen before, shocking both Norman and Harry.
"You are right, Norman. He did leave me to clean up after him… And it's time I did so for good." And then with a primal roar, Spider-Man smashed the original Goblin into the ground, breaking in two his glider and destroying the room, causing them to fall onto the floor below.
Yet before they hit it, he webbed himself closer to Norman and punched him straight into the wall, sending him flying through solid stone and on the other side. Wasting not a breath, Spider-Man shot his web up to the edges of the hole and propelled himself up, getting outside and right before Harry, the second Green Goblin. The younger Osborn grabbed two of his bombs, but without even wasting time, Peter simply webbed the Harry's hands to his bombs, much to the horror and shock of him, as they were armed and ticking. Then, remembering the construction of the glider, Spider-Man found the navigation system and destroyed it with but a single punch, sending his once best friend into an uncontrolled flight, before a powerful explosion shook the air, and ended Harry Osborn for good, with pieces of him flying down.
In the past, Peter would've been mortified and broken by what he had done, but now… Now he didn't have it in him to feel sorry for the man, who had nearly killed him over a dozen of times and endangered his loved once. He gave Harry countless chances, and he wasted them all… And as the result, New York suffered, and now it was time to put an end to this for good, as Peter jumped down into the building and found Norman climbing out the hole, spitting blood out, as Spider-Man watched without even a hint of mercy.
"That… That wasn't very nice…" Norman said with a clear irritation, as he composed himself. "Y-you never… You never struck like that. That's not part of the game…" Norman said with irritation, as Spider-Man simply began to approach him.
"Because I am done playing your games, Norman." Peter simply said to him in a low, nigh-emotionless tone, as he approached him. "No more games, no more chases, no more prison… This ends today, Norman. Once and for all." Norman Osborn finally realized what Peter meant, and for the first time in years, he felt fear.
"You… You think you actually have what it takes to kill me?!" He laughed at him. "You don't have the guts to do what it takes, Parker! And even if you kill me, Harry will just detonate the bomb and…"
"He won't." Spider-Man said to him, as he pointed at the pool of blood and flesh bits between him and Norman, making him freeze in horror. "The game is up, Goblin." And with that he shot his web to Norman, bringing him into his hold and locking his head, with Norman trying to get out.
"W-wait… I-if you do this… Th-they'll n-never forgive you… I-I can prove that it was Otto…" Norman was trying plead for his life, but without wasting any more breathe, Spider-Man snapped the man's neck with a single move, at last ending his longest and deadliest enemy for good.
There was no satisfaction, or the sensation of rush, or anything that may indicate that it was for the good, but no guilt or terror. Peter felt nothing, and yet somehow, he knew he had done what needed to be done, and once he got the detonator from Norman's body and disabled the bomb, he left to save the city, for there was still an entire Goblin Nation to dismantle.
Present day.
It took Peter a whole week of non-stop work just to capture every single Goblin Norman had created, before he devised an antidote for their virus and cured them, and yet by the time he was done, Avengers and FF came in force and with a cure all ready. In the end the city hailed them as heroes once again, but Spider-Man… He was now fully alone, with no friends to speak of, or even family, as everyone he tried to approach didn't want to listen or hear him out.
"Y-you helped that monstrous Spider-Man take entire city hostage!" Aunt May's words rang in Peter's head. "You made weapons, bombs and worst of all, you approved of it all. You are not the man Ben and I raised, Peter! Get out! Get out and never return! You… Spider-Man killed you for me!"
"Y-you left me without a word, Peter! Used me like… like some relief girl, and then you left me without so much as an explanation for some Lilliput!" Bitter words of Mary Jane came next. "And then you turned yourself into some two-bit villain with an army and evil corporation. I-I don't even know you, never knew you, and want nothing to do with you! Leave me alone for good!"
"Dude, you straight up wanted to kill me the last time we met!" Miles came next. "You taught me to always mind my power and be better than Li, but you… You killed folks, made yourself an army and damn near offed me! S-stay the hell away from me and my mom, you freak!"
"You know, you actually had me fooled for a while with your responsibility act, but now… Now I see you are no better than that freak Osborn and loser Hammer." Tony Stark's words followed after. "I've already taken over that evil corporation of yours, Pete. At least I'll make sure it's put to good use, and I suggest you surrender, for good, or else me and others won't be as forgiving as we were all the previous times."
"Never in my life was so wrong in another man, as I was with you, Peter. I once thought you could be the best of us… But you've become everything I feared you could be." Captain America's hard words were next. "And it's time you've faced the consequences for your actions. You murdered people, acted as judge, jury and executioner, and worse, you helped Osborn do what he did, and then murdered both him and his son… I give you 24 hours, either surrender to SHIELD as Spider-Man, or put the costume down and agree to Reed's procedure. If you don't, I'll put you down for good."
"I once thought you were guided by morals, Peter… But I was wrong. After what you did, you leave us no choice but to either lock you up, or to depower you for good." Reed Richards' words came next. "I've already perfected the machine for it, and even after you go through with it, you'll be under our monitor for good. No more science, no more dangerous experiments, nothing that will endanger lives."
Everyone made it clear to Peter, that both he and his alter-ego were no longer going to be tolerated, and that his race was ran, yet no one cared to hear him out, to listen or give him even a chance to say anything. Everyone he knew, loved and cared for... They turned away from him, and the city was with them, judging and seeing him as a monster that he was now viewed, and even the deaths of Norman and Harry were seen as crimes by them, despite what they had done. And this… This was all just like it always were, the universe simply somehow found a way to fuck him up, and today she succeeded in the best way possible, as Peter was left alone, beaten, tired and with nothing.
And Peter… Peter was tired of it all, exhausted and without any will to continue doing it all, literally unable to keep going on. He had spent his entire life trying to live up to Uncle Ben's words, and all it brought him was misery, pain, hatred and loss. At this point, he had finally stopped blaming himself for his death and did previously the unthinkable, and yet Peter… He simply saw no more reason to let it all continue, this endless cycle of crime-fighting, always repeating streak of misfortune, loss and failure. Peter Parker… he was done with it all, for good, and he came here not because he wanted to let himself get captured.
He came up here because he wanted to find the highest point from which he could end his life, as he leaned in forward and allowed the gravity do the rest. His defeated, broken spirit couldn't take it anymore, and so Peter decided to leave this damn world for good, both as a Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Even if he continued to live as he did, he'd just suffer and lose even more, so what was the point? And as he closed the eyes and prepared to embrace death for good, suddenly something smashed into him and pushed him into the rooftop of one of the nearby buildings. Crashing down with groans and pain, Peter tried to look up and see who it was, but his beaten body and broken spirit gave in and he fell into unconsciousness, as his savior looked at him.
Three days later.
When Peter once again opened his eyes, he didn't expect to find himself on a soft bed, tucked in with a blanket and staring at the ceiling of an oddly familiar room, yet one he couldn't figure out where he saw before. After he groggily sat up and rubbed his face, he realized that he was still alive, and with a bit of an effort, he recalled someone actually catching him before he hit the ground. But who and why would…
"Finally, you are awake." Peter's eyes widened in disbelief when heard the voice, slowly turning to see it, and freezing when he saw the owner of it.
At his left, dressed in simple civilian clothes stood none other than Felicia Hardy, the infamous Black Cat, looking at Peter with a look of concern that Parker was so unused to seeing. And yet, even not dressed in her black skintight suit, she looked as gorgeous as the day he last saw her 5 years, and even more so. Mesmerized for a moment at the sight of his former girlfriend/friend/friend-with-benefits, Peter couldn't formulate the words, until she moved closer to him, carefully and gently putting her hand on his forehead.
"The fever's finally gone, so that's good news at last." Felicia said with relief, as she sat near him. "You know, Peter, you always knew how to rouse me up, but this time, you've outdone yourself." She told him with a humorous intent, yet her words came out sounding as concerned, tired and worried.
"C-Cat?" Peter said with a tone of disbelief. "Felicia… H-how… Where..."
"Yes, Spidey, it's me, and you are in my penthouse, here in New York. This was usually our finishing line in many our chases, remember?" Felicia said with a bit of a weak smile, before he faded. "Now, Peter, how are you feeling? Any nausea, weakness, upset stomach?"
"I… No, just… I'm just…" Peter struggled to speak, before Felicia handed him a glass of water, which he downed in one gulp. "Th-thanks… B-but what are you d-doing here, Licia? You said you were done, for good and l-left…" Felicia's heart raced the tiniest bit faster when he used her nickname, before she answered.
"Yeah I did, and then I started to hear you've lost your mind and went full Emperor Palpatine mode. Then I saw the news and checked the Internet, and saw all the stuff you were up to." Felicia told him, with Peter realizing that she was here to show she was done with him too, before she continued. "And yet… I somehow knew something was wrong with it all, that it wasn't you, couldn't be you, Peter. It gnawed at me, and so I finally decided to rush back here and see what the hell had happened to you, and then I found you trying to die… Peter?" At end of her speech, Felicia looked up to see Peter looking at her with disbelief at her.
"Y-you d-didn't believe i-it was m-me?" He asked of her in a hushed, broken and vulnerable tone that Felicia could never have thought to hear Peter use.
"Peter, I… I know that I said I liked the mask more than the man beneath it, and I now know that the mask without the man was nothing I was attracted to." Felicia admitted to him, before smiling to him in a reassuring way, as she put her had to his cheek. "You should know I'm your number 2 fan, Spidey, and I can tell the original from some fraud, and that man… That was a fraud, wearing your face and mask. Now, Peter, tell me, what has happened?" Peter couldn't believe what he heard Felicia say, and hearing her say it… It was akin to battering ram to the gates, as his eyes watered and tears began to fall.
Seeing the man she once, and quite possibly still, loved in such a broken and vulnerable state was unbearable for Felicia, as she was used to her Spider being a beacon of hope, light and a fountain of cheesy jokes. Never, not even in her worst nightmares could Felicia imagine Peter looking so beaten, breaking down before her after he was told someone actually believed him, and her past self would've joked about it. But those 5 years have changed her from the frivolous, risk-loving cat burglar she was, and now… Now she couldn't bear the ache in her heart from the sight of Peter breaking down, so she gently moved and hugged him, whispering to him.
"It's okay, Peter. It will all be alright, Peter." Felicia said to him with care, as Peter cried on her shoulder, letting out all of his grief, sorrow, pain and more flow out. "I'm here for you, Peter. I'm here for you…" She said to him, holding him close and helping him let it all out.
Hours later.
It would be almost an hour after Peter finally calmed down and was able to tell Felicia everything, all that has happened to him and she just sat there, listening to him and not interrupting him for a moment. Peter for his part did not leave out a single detail, from what Doc Ock did to the fact that everyone had turned away from him. Felicia took it all in, listening to it all silently and contemplating his words, until it finally came to his final fight with Norman and Harry, when she finally spoke up.
"You… you killed them." Felicia said, her tone even, not judging or accusing, one that simply stated the fact, with Peter letting out a sigh and speaking up.
"Yes, I did. I… I'd like to say that there was a better way, some way to turn it around, but there wasn't, and even if there was… They'd just be back, like they always were before, over and over again." Peter told Felicia in a completely honest tone. "And then there was that bomb… But yeah, I killed them both, Felicia. It didn't feel good, nor bad, just… Just like it needed to be done." Peter admitted, with Felicia simply laying her hand over his in support.
"I know, Peter, and I am not blaming you for anything. After all they had did, especially Norman, I'm honestly amazed you didn't end them sooner, or how they were allowed to walk free at all." Felicia said. "But what Octavius did to you… God, Peter, I… I can't even imagine how… I'm sorry." Was all that she could've said.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Licia. You couldn't have known and…" Peter said, but Felicia interrupted him.
"No, but when I saw the news and read about it, I knew it wasn't you, Pete! Hell, I… I should've rushed here the moment I saw the news, instead of sitting it all out." Felicia argued, before Peter turned to her with eyes of surprise, and speaking up.
"I… Thanks, Licia, it's… Y-you have no idea how relieved I am to hear it, but I know you had you reasons to not come back." Peter said to her, with Felicia freezing up for a moment. "After all the heists you pulled on Kingpin, Hammerhead, Silvermane and who knows who, you'd have the entire underworld gunning for you. And you were right to sit this one out, because, no offence, but I doubt you could take Ock on and win."
"Oh, you want to bet on it?" Felicia asked with a bit of playful manner, as she leaned it a little closer. "Has my lovable little Spidey lost faith in his Black Cat? I thought you knew me better…" She said with a bit of a playful act, with Pete chuckling to it.
"No, I know better than to bet against you." Peter said with a smile, with Felicia glad to see him smile. "Thank you. I needed that."
"Yeah, I know." Felicia said to him softly, siting with him silently for a bit, before Peter spoke up.
"So, not that I don't enjoy your company, but I think I should be going…" Peter was grateful to Felicia for saving him, but he knew from the past that she wouldn't want him sticking around, so he was ready to leave, before Felicia squeezed his hand, hard. "Um, Felicia?" He turned to look in her eyes, and shivered under her hard heated gaze.
"You are not going anywhere, Peter, and this is non-negotiable. All you going to do is stay here and get better, while those "friends" of ours finally look after that Big Ol' Apple for once in their celebrating life." Felicia said in a final tone without any room for negotiations, before her tone softened. "Peter, you died, and had to watch as the man you once looked up to took over and ruined your life three times over! And then he had the audacity to fuck off the moment he realized his mistakes, while leaving you to pick up the pieces, and don't even get me started on how everyone just… Anyway, you are staying here with me, and no Spider-Man, understood?"
"I…" Peter tried to argue back, but something, and it wasn't his Spider-Sense, told him it was a bad idea, so he let out a tired sigh. "You are not going to take no for an answer, are you?"
"Nope." She simply said.
"And if I tried to leave? You'd tie me up to your bed and spoon feed?" Peter dared to ask, with Felicia replying without missing a beat.
"Tempting, but I'd rather feed you mouth-to-mouth, and I've still got your web-shooters." Felicia's hint was clear as day, with Peter not able to contain his laughter, with Felicia laughing afterwards.
"Oh man… And I'm the one tempting?" Peter asked through his laughter, before he finally calmed down after taking a few deep breaths. "You… You are right, Licia. I'll stay, and… I need time to figure everything out after everything. After all Doc Ock did, and how all think it was I… I think I need a breather." Peter said, as he felt tiredness finally start to take over.
"I'd say you earned far more than a simple breather, after all that has happened to you, Peter." Felicia said, as she gently rubbed his back, as he fell into the bed. "Get some sleep, Peter. Sleep well, Spidey." Felicia said, as Peter fell asleep, and after an hour looking after him, Felicia felt she could leave his room, and with the trained grace, she silently left his room, only to run into someone waiting for her.
"Mommy…" Felicia almost jumped when she heard a cute tired voice, making her turn around and look at the source of it.
Before her stood a small carbon copy of Felicia, bearing the same rare full platinum blonde hair made into a pony tail, yet her eyes were a beautiful hazel color. The little girl wore a white PJs and held a Spider-Man plushy in her hand, while the other rubbed her eyes, looking clearly sleepy. Smiling at her, Felicia knelt picked the girl up.
"You almost gave me a scare, little Kitten." Felicia said to the girl, rubbing her nose to the girl's, making her chuckle. "Now, what are you doing out of bed, Felicity? You were supposed to be long asleep."
"Had a bad dream…" She said in a tired tone, snuggling up to Felicia. "Mommy wasn't there and I was scared…" She said in a tire tone, quickly falling asleep, with Felicia gently rubbing her head.
"Mommy is here, Kitten." Felicia said, gently rocking her daughter and humming a lullaby, with Felicity fast asleep, while Felicia turned to take a quick glance at Peter's room. "Mommy is here, Kitten… And will always be for you. You and your Daddy." She said in the softest of tone, before she left to tuck her daughter into the bed.
Next morning.
Once he finally had enough sleep and felt rest, Peter got up and found a fresh change of clothes waiting for him, curtesy of Felicia, he dressed himself up and left his room, roaming the expansive hallway, before finding his way to and down the stairs. Once he was past the two flights of stairs, he was in the living room, where he, much to his surprise, found a small girl that looked like a small copy of Felicia watching cartoons on the sofa. Before Peter's brain could even properly formulate thoughts, the girl noticed him and walked to him, letting him get a closer look at her, noting her uncanny resemblance to Felicia… and also her hazel eyes.
"Who are you?" Before Peter could think another thought, the girl asked of him, and he answered.
"Um… Hi, I'm Peter. I… I am Felicia's friend." He said perhaps one of the most awkward things, with the girl blinking at him, before smiling.
"Hi, Peter! I'm Felicity!" She quickly said, smiling to him, with Peter feeling rather awkward. "You were asleep for really long. Mommy said you were very sick, but she said you were getting better. I hope you are better."
"I am, thanks for asking… Um, so… Is Felicia your Mom?" Peter mentally face-palmed himself for that, as it was obvious from the first look, with the girl nodding.
"Yes. And you are Peter Parker, Mommy's and Spidey's best friend!" Felicity said with quite a bit of an excitement, with Peter stunned by her words, before he looked at her T-shirt, noticing the print in form of his classical Spider-Man look.
"Um, yeah, though I've been… away from them for a long while." Peter said awkwardly, with the girl falling silent for a bit.
"Did you have a fight?" She asked innocently.
"Well, not with your Mommy, we… Well, she had to move to a different city and I couldn't remain in contact and as for Spider-Man… It's not easy to explain." Peter tried to explain it as best as he could. "He and I… We both had a bad time recently?"
"Is it because of that Fake Spider?" Peter blinked her with a question, before the two turned their head to the TV.
"The city is finally recovering from the recent attack by Green Goblin and his army, and while the people of New York are grateful to their saviors, the Avenger Teams and the Fantastic Four, many still ask the question: Where is Spider-Man, and when he will answer for his crimes? As you know, the "Superior Spider-Man" had failed to prevent this disaster, while his Spider-Bots have been used to illegally spy and report on people, and that is not to mention other possible activities. There is also the fact of Spider-Man fielding a private armed force with highly sophisticated weaponry and technologies, which practically took over the city, while he exercised vigilante justice upon both criminals and his detractors." The news reporter said. "It has been 3 days since his last appearance, and while we have no reports on his whereabouts, Captain America had this to say."
"The SHIELD and the Avengers are currently looking for him, and when we find him, he will answer for all of his transgressions." Peter could barely contain his sneer at Steve's words. "In the meantime, I am glad to report that we've confirmed that the last of the victims of Green Goblin's infection have been cured and free to go home."
"And on the related note: Parker Industries has been fully absorbed with all of her patents and assets into the Start Industries, after the SHIELD had finished its investigation. While the company itself has been successfully transitioned over to Stark Industries, its founder, Peter Parker, has mysteriously vanished. We have tried to reach out to his closest relative, Aunt Maybelle Parker, but she had only this to say."
"I want nothing to do with that… that person. He is not the boy I raised, not after he armed and supplied that monster to do his evil deeds." Peter's heart felt stung from those words. "Wherever he is, I hope he is asking God's forgiveness, for I'll give none to him."
"Meanwhile, Tony Stark, had this to say about Mr. Parker."
"I knew the kid, always knew he was smart, maybe even a genius, but nothing like yours truly, yet I did think he had better head on his shoulder than this. Whatever the reasons he had for helping out my former fallen Spider-Menace, I'm sure he now regrets his actions very much." Stark's words almost provoked Peter into anger. "But at least his work won't be lost, even if he has decided to disappear. Me and my brightest minds have already found a few ways to make the best use for all of Parker's raw designs and…" At that moment, Felicity moved and turned off the TV with quite a fierce look on her eyes.
"Stupid Iron Man, stupid Captain America!" She said with an indignant voice, surprising Peter. "Stupid Avengers and stupid city! That is not Spider-Man, that is a Fake Spider. Can't they see it?!" She asked in childish way, with Peter stunned by her words.
"How… How do you know that he is a fake?" Peter asked of her, with Felicity turning to him.
"Because he is bad, and he doesn't tell jokes, and he wears a wrong costume. Spider-Man wears red and blue, not red and black, and Fake has black eyes, and real one has white." Felicity said with pride in her deduction, with Peter smiling to her. "And Spider-Man doesn't kill, never. He is the best hero, and he always helps people whenever they need him." To those words, while Peter did appreciate someone actually believing him, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"Yes, he always did do that, not like that cheap knock-off." Felicia finally made herself known, exiting the kitchen, drawing Peter's attention. "Go wash your face, Kitten and get your breakfast. Mommy needs to talk to my friend her for a little bit."
"'Kay!" Felicity immediately left the two without a care in the world, leaving a bit of pregnant silence in the wake of her absence, broken by Felicia, who let out a sigh.
"I… I know you have questions, Peter, and… And you deserve to know." Felicia began with a hard sigh. "Felicity, she… She is the reason why I left back then, needed to get out from this life and… She… She is your daughter, Peter." Even though Peter had already gathered it up, he still couldn't help but feel shocked and surprised, yet managed to hold it in himself.
"Felicia… Why didn't you tell me?" Peter asked of her, with Felicia closing her eyes, remembering those days, before answering.
"I didn't want to tie you up through her, and I knew you and Miss Jackpot were going to finally tie the knot. I know I loved riling you up and pulling your tail, so to speak, but… You deserved better than me, especially after what I said about how I liked Spider-Man over Peter Parker." Felicia admitted. "And after she was born, I… I made a mess of things, I know, and I knew that even if I was on the other side of the America, there were those who would come for me and her, and I needed to keep her safe. And then… Someone appeared and offered me a deal, the kind of deal you don't turn away."
"Who was it?" Peter asked, already feeling the urge to pummel that man to dust rise up.
"The one-eyed boogie man himself, Nick Fury. Offered me to clean up my record, full pardon and everything if I worked for him, and so I did, for a year and a half." Felicia said, as she sat on the sofa, with Peter sitting near her. "I… I saw Felicity only 5 times during that tenure, but after that, I was finally free and with her, but there was a condition – I was to stay away from you, Peter. Didn't tell me why, didn't explain, simply made it clear I was to stay as far away as possible. For some reason, he made it clear you were in his line of interests."
"Funny how he never showed it, then." Peter commented, before turning to Felicia. "What… What did he make you do?"
"I'm the world's best thief, Spidey, and he is the head of world's biggest security agency." Felicia simply told him. "He had me sneaking into places, stealing information, planting it and bugs and all other stuff, what I was good at. Hydra, AIM, terrorists – the big shots, mostly. There were a few close calls, but you know me – a cat has nine lives." She told him with a wry smile.
"And what about Felicity? Does she…"
"She doesn't, and… Peter, I know it is low of me to do this to you right now, but… Please, don't tell her, at least not now, not when…" Felicia tried to explain, but Peter understood her.
"I get it, Licia, and you are right. My life is a mess right now." Peter said, with Felicia chuckling to him.
"When has it ever been otherwise?" She asked playfully, with Peter chuckling to it. "Look, I am not demanding or asking anything of you, Peter. Take your time, figure things out for yourself, but please, do not give Felicity any false hopes. She… She is…"
"I know, Felicia, and I will." Peter told her, understanding where she was coming from, with Felicia glad he did. "So, I take it Spider-Man is her favorite hero?" Felicia smiled at that.
"Well, I did say I was your number two fan, and I've got no hope toppling the giant that she is." Felicia said with a chuckle. "She's got every type of plushy toy of you, every costume and every cartoon, and her favorite pass time is watching videos of you on YouTube. And she is really smart, guessed that you weren't you before I did."
"Yeah, she's definitely gotten that from you. You were the sharper one of the two of us." Peter commented, with Felicia chuckling, before Peter sniffed the air. "By the way, when did you learn to cook? 'Cause it smells delicious."
"I've picked up a few new tricks, for my kitten deserved nothing but the best." Felicia said, before she and Peter rose up. "Come on, I'd wager you've not had a decent meal in years."
"And you would be right." Peter commented, as they went to kitchen, a smile on both of their faces.
Evening.
For the first time in what felt like ages, Peter Parker could honestly say that he felt happy, relaxed and actually good, having spent the entire day with the ball of energy that was Felicity. It still felt surreal to him, the fact that he had a daughter, and with Black Cat no less, and yet when he looked and talked to her, it was all real and… And Peter quickly found himself growing not just fond, but attached to the little kitten as Felicia called her. He kept his word to her, about not giving her false hopes, knowing his life was in the worst shape ever, but he at least could bond a little with her, and Felicia didn't mind it, even encouraging it.
They spent the day watching TV, playing games, ordering pizza and just lazing around and Parker had to admit this was the best day he had in a very long time. No fighting villains, chasing criminals and saving New York, just… Being a normal person, this was better than anything. Still, a small itch in the back of his head urged him to ask something when Felicity was tucked into bed by her mother, Peter decided to ask Felicia, as they finished cleaning the dishes.
"Say Felicia, there's something I've been meaning to ask." Peter began, with Felicia looking to him with interest. "I've noticed you've got a lot of new and expensive stuff, yet you said you went straight, so…"
"Well, as straight as I could, but there a few bonuses when doing work of SHIELD. Like being able to liberate more than a few bad guys of their fat purses and bank accounts." Felicia said with her usual smile. "But that's mostly to keep my skills in check. After I left, I went on to invest my money, and you remember how you said my "bad luck" could actually make me millions on the Wall Street?"
"Yeah, but that was more a joke… Wait, you mean it actually worked?" Peter asked with Felicia chuckling.
"Yup. Turns out that true thieves are all in stock exchange market, and I've learned how to thrive there too. Nice cash, but absolutely no thrill… Nothing like what we used to have." Felicia said with a warm smile.
"Yeah, you always knew how to keep me on my toes." Peter admitted, before another question popped in his head. "Speaking off, where did you put my suit? No, not that I want to go out or anything, I'm just curious, that's all." Peter immediately said, the moment Felicia's gaze hardened on him, yet softened when he explained himself.
"You mean those rags you were in? Seriously, how long were you wearing it? I nearly threw up when I undressed you out of them." Felicia noted with a clear distaste.
"Had a very busy two weeks, what with a whole gaggle of Goblins running around and no other superheroes around, or SHIELD for that matter." Peter noted, with Felicia leading him to a wall, touching the hidden ID scanner and opening the false panel. "Oh, hidden weapons rooms. Nice."
"Glad you approve." Felicia said, as they stepped into her workplace and warehouse, containing all of her equipment, with Peter looking at it all with interest. "Welcome to my real lair."
"Pretty impressive stuff, all top notch, the kind that I've only seen back in Horizon Labs." Peter said, as he turned to Felicia. "A few bonuses, eh?" Felicia simply shook her shoulders, before she went to the wardrobe, opening it and showing Peter what remained of his suit, with him looking quite dejected at it.
"If you want, I know someone who can repair it." Felicia spoke up with a quiet tone, with Peter shaking his head. "You sure? I know that this your original suit, the one you…"
"Yeah, I'm sure, Licia. I… I don't think I could wear it again, not after all that has happened." Peter said, as he moved to touch the suit, but then noticed that it was the only Spider-Man suit there. "Wait… Is that…" Peter was slightly taken aback when he saw it.
"The black suit, yeah." Felicia confirmed. "Not the Symbiote, mind you, but you know how I loved the look, so I decided to try my hand at designing. Turned out a bit different, but I thought you'd appreciate a bit of function over aesthetics, and liked the updated look, so…"
"Yeah, I can see it. Layered carbon fiber segmented armor, shock and kinetic absorption mesh, polarized lenses, anti-radar coating…" Peter looked at the suit with his technical expertise, while Felicia was amazed he could see it all so well. "And tri-weave carbon titanium plating in the torso and reinforced armor in chest, yet all is light. This is work of art, Felicia."
"On the surface, maybe, but I never did get around to work out the internals and… I wanted to send it as a present or something to you." Felicia said with a bit of sadness in her tone. "I… Peter I'm sorry I didn't call or say anything, I…"
"No, Felicia, it's alright and I understand. You did what was right, and with the way my life was, I wouldn't have done right by either you or Felicity." Peter admitted his thoughts to Felicia, who looked at him with surprise.
"You are underselling yourself, Peter." She told him, as she reached up and took his hand. "You know, I spent these 5 years asking myself one question, and now, after today, I've got the answer on it, and I'm surprised how much of a relief it is for me."
"Really, what's the question that is?" Peter asked of her, and she said.
"Could you be a good father to Felicity." Felicia told him. "And the answer: nope, you would be an amazing father." Felicia said, as the two were now slowly closing distance, soon both arms embracing one another and pulling each other closer… until they heard the doorbell.
"Ugh, saved by the bell." Felicia said with irate tone. "It's probably my mom, I've got to get it."
"You and your mom are talking once again?" Peter was surprised, knowing of how rocky the relations between Felicia and her mother Lydia were.
"Well, turns out becoming a mother made me realize what a pain in the neck I was for her, plus I needed someone to sit with Felicity when she was little." Felicia said, almost running out of the warehouse. "Don't forget to close the door afterwards." She shouted afterwards, with Peter shaking his head at it, yet continuing to look around, noticing something on the workbench.
"Huh, those must be the web-shooters to the new suit." Peter examined them, looking far more compact than his first version ones. "Looks like Felicia modified my second version… Or had someone do it…" And at that moment Peter stepped forth to it, and then automated monitors activated, showing multiple hidden cameras around, and when he looked at it, he was shocked.
In the living room, a full gang of bandits, armed to the teeth made their way inside, with Hammerhead leading them, and followed by Tombstone, holding Felicia by her throat. Peter's body seized in that moment, as adrenalin rushed through his veins and he was about to rush out to beat them, but then he noticed Felicia giving him a signal not to. They had made a whole system of signs on how to act back in the day, and now she was trying to stop him from making a mistake, protecting him, even as she struggled for air.
Peter was infinitely grateful to her, but right now, he couldn't help but deny her silent plea, as his focus and power returned to him, stronger than it had been in years. Those gangsters were here, not just for her, but also for Felicity, his gut told him, and that he could not abide, as he knew that Tombstone and Hammerhead didn't play nice with anyone. And if they were here, then Kingpin and Silvermane were involved… They were here for revenge, but will find something else, as Peter turned to the closet, where his old suit beckoned to him, at first, but then his gaze moved to the one next to it.
Without a moment's hesitation, Peter made his choice…
"Did ya' really think you'd be able to come back without us ever learning of it, toots?" Hammerhead asked of Black Cat as she struggled for air, with Tombstone chocking her with one hand. "Set her down, Tombs. She ain't worth spit if she's all out of her lives." And with that, Tombstone threw Felicia into back of a sofa, nearly making her topple over it, as she was surrounded by armed bandits.
"Wh-what do you want?" Felicia asked, while coughing.
"Funny ya' should ask. Personally, I'd not mind me some of that pussy of yours…" Tombstone said with a leering gaze at her. "But turns out our bosses want to have a word with ya. So much so they've decided to put aside their differences. A real special occasion, I tell ya."
"A-and if I don't want to…" And at that moment Hammerhead slapped Cat with a back of his hand, before grabbing her by the collar.
"Nobody's asking ya', toots! You are lucky you are still breathin', especially after you stole from both of our bosses. Now I'd just put a bullet through that pretty little head of yours, but turns out you are now a rich lady, as is your momma, whom we've taken." Hammerhead told her, with Felicia looking at him with shock. "You three, go and find her brat and bring it here! But don't hurt her!" At that moment Black Cat pushed Hammerhead off of her with her legs, jumped at the three goons, kicking them to the ground, before Tombstone grabbed her by the back of her head and slammed her into the floor.
"Feisty, ain't ya? Won't be once bosses are through and you…" And at that moment the lights in the penthouse went out. "What the? Did ya forget to pay for your bills or somethin'?" At that moment the gangsters turned on their flashlights on the rifles.
"Spread out! She ain't alone in here!" Hammerhead said, as Tombstone raised the bruised Black Cat, bleeding from her nose and several cuts on her face. "Who you've got here, Cat? Or is it your tyke, taking after her…" At that moment a shout of terror reached all, before it was silenced.
"Da fuck was…" The next few seconds, three more goons were disappeared, their shouts last indication, with Tombstone letting go of the Cat. "She must've called some back up. Is that Daredevil or that Moon Freak or something…"
And then in the utter darkness someone, or something began to take out the rest of goons, as sounds of pain, suffering, broken bones and struggle were heard, as the lights went out for all of them. The two hardened criminals were no strangers to heroes playing by the shadows, but somehow, this… This felt different, like they've just changed places with their prey. Like they turned from predators into food, as if they were now trapped in a web… Within a minute all 15 goons were taken out, and once Hammerhead got his phone and activated his flashlight, he saw them all, plastered on the ground, beaten… and webbed to the ceiling and walls. The look of terror and realization finally came to them, as the two whispered at the same time.
"Spider…" And in that moment the lights turned back on, and both of them turned around and finally saw their assailant.
Clad in all black and with white symbol on it, he cut a completely different picture from what he appeared to the super-powered gangsters, invoking images of terrors of the past. They remembered what happened the last time Spider-Man donned black, and even if he went rogue or something like that for the rest of the world recently, the criminals of New York knew and remembered the first time he donned the black. It was when Spider-Man stopped making jokes, being a sporting hero and just pretending to be a goofball, and it was time when he made every villain fear him.
And now, even when he was supposedly at his lowest point, when SHIELD, Avengers and New York itself wanted a piece of him, they felt not invigoration and courage, but fear. For Spider-Man was back in the black, standing right between them and Black Cat, and by all appearances, he was no longer holding back, as he took pose to fight.
"I'm going to say this once: run." Spider-Man said in a low, threatening voice, before leaping at the two gangsters, determined to show them the sheer error of coming here.
Honestly, I didn't think I'd actually get to this, but here I am. Hi everyone, it's me Ronin, or Alex. Now, as you may know, I disappeared (Again), from the site for nigh 3 months, and the reason for it is simple: I got a new job as a teacher, and I was getting settled into it, and preparing for it. Now I didn't plan to come back to writing again for a long while, but in the beginning of October, I grew seriously ill. Like, every day I had new symptoms, losing hearing in one ear, tonsillitis and worse for 3 WEEKS straight. And in those 3 weeks I've been cooped up home, going crazy, and sole thing that kept me from wailing was renewing my connection with Spider-Man, and oh boy, did he INSPIRE ME, especially after I bought his 2018 Remastered Game and watched the playthrough of new game.
So, I couldn't resist, and here is my story of Spidey, and as you can see, it takes place roughly right after Superior Spider-Man run, one that I personally enjoyed as breath of fresh air, yet felt was… inconsequential for Peter, and here I decided to explore a bit of a thought of my own. So as you can see, Peter's life is at a lowest point, with everyone turning their back on him, none believing him and he is ready to die. I will admit I borrowed the idea about Black Cat and Felicity from Symbiosis (great fic, read it!), but I intend to take it in a bit of different direction.
So, about Spidey's new suit, it is a mix of his Black Suit and Anti-Ock Suit, but without glowing parts and a logo closer to that of the new Black Suit Insomniac gave us, the second version of it. I am also debating whether give Peter his real Black Suit back or not, but I welcome your feedback on it, as well as romance (to keep it as solo romance or not…) Also, expect Peter to be more willing to hurt villains, even kill them if push comes to shove, because he is done playing nice with them. He is still at the core the same guy, but after all he has been through… I think it's fair he is done playing nice. And now he has lost everyone who cared for him, even Aunt May (Will be elaborated more later), and seeing the sole two people who care for him threatened, he is ready to rip and tear.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and will leave a review, follow and favor it, and feel free to post your feedback, questions, suggestions and other such things. Your contributions help make this story better!
Oh, and before I end this. I've noticed that something is going on with Fanfiction's notifications, so if I'm late or unable to answer your questions it is because I didn't notice them. I do have an app, which actually works and shows all new updates well.
Next time: Kingpin and Silvermane vs. True Spider-Man
See ya!
