QUEENS, THE PARKER HOUSEHOLD

On this typical early afternoon, where many teenagers would choose to sleep in, Peter was in regular clothing and was hard at work in the basement, which he had turned into a small lab. While he told his aunt that he used it for school projects and as a quiet place to study and do homework, it was here that Peter built gadgets, created the chemical fluid that hardened into webs, pretty much everything he needed to help him in his mission to protect the city.

The top of Peter's desk was littered with numerous things, primarily papers containing designs for future gadgets or upgrades for existing ones. But four things really stood out. The first was a functioning laptop, albeit with a broken screen. The second and third were Peter's web-shooters, two steel bracelets, each with springs with a button on the end and a nozzle on top. And the third was a black video camcorder which he used to make videos that showed 'Spider-Man in action.' Admittedly, the sound system was a little faulty and thus did not pick up voices correctly, namely those who showed appreciation to Peter when he saved their lives. However, this didn't seem to bother Jonah, as all he cared about was the footage, all so he could doctor it somewhat for his anti-Spider-Man campaign and, despite the amount of money paid to him, caused Peter all that much grief.

As for Peter, he was at his workbench wearing a pair of goggles and gloves as he performed the delicate part of his latest experiment. Namely, he used a baster to suck the newly made web fluid out of a Bunsen glass underneath a burner and into small, square-shaped cartridges for his web shooters. Each was about the size of a Flip Top Wick lighter. However, as he sucked out the last of the fluid, Peter grabbed a small, tube-designed capsule and proceeded to squeeze the liquid into that. Once the capsule was full, Peter placed the baster next to the Bunsen glass and turned off the burner, which left him free to screw the lid on the capsule. "Okay, now for the moment of truth," Peter thought to himself calmly as he turned his attention to the true purpose of using the 'web-capsule.'

It was that of a small, black object attached to a black strap. It was once a regular wristwatch when Peter bought it at an electronics store in Queens, but once he brought it home, he took out most of his inner gears and left a small space inside, as well as installed a small barrel on top along with what appeared to be a thin black string with a red button at the end. The watch was now transformed into the prototype of a newer, more compact web shooter, and Peter chose this day in particular to test it.

As Peter began to screw the capsule into the 'web-watch,' he seemed more focused on this project than on any other gadget he had previously worked on. Mainly because he was trying to drown out the memories of going to the airport and seeing Harry, his best friend and someone whom he thought of as a brother, get on a plane to Europe to seek treatment for his disease. Though Peter knew this was the best course of action to save his dear friend's life, it didn't mean he would miss him. Once the tube was secure within the web watch, Peter briefly looked forward and what he saw caused his eyes to narrow with disdain.

It was a picture of J. Jonah Jameson on a torn-off magazine cover, taped to a bucket, and had a pair of devil horns drawn on the head by Peter via a black marker. And it was this picture that was going to serve as a target for Peter, as he was going to test the web watch to see if the inner circuitry he stalled was assembled just right for it to fire a web line properly.

And this picture of the man tarnishing Spider-Man's name reminded Peter of a conversation he and Harry had earlier…

LEE HOSPITAL, THE NIGHT BEFORE

…Peter and Harry were still in the seats and looked on in sympathy for MJ, who stood more embarrassed of her mother bragging to May about how beautiful she looked in the pink dress and how she could be a fashion model someday. And though MJ tried her best to hide her true feelings with a smile in front of May, the proud punk girl silently cringed on hearing her mother's planned future for her.

Out of the two friends, Peter made his compassion for MJ known. "Man, nothing against Mrs. Watson, but it's no wonder MJ is so edgy all the time."

Suddenly, Harry's eyes lid up because what Peter just said reminded him of something else he wanted to talk to him about before he headed overseas. "Speaking of edges, you know what would take mine off?"

This question caught Peter's attention to turn to his friend with a concerned look on his face. "Whoa, are you saying you need painkillers?"

"No!" Harry replied defensively but then paused for a moment and looked to the left when he remembered that while the meds did help with the pain that his illness caused him from time to time, they also helped him in what he referred to as 'relieving stress.' "Well, maybe later," he admitted, then shifted his attention back to Peter and gave him a stern look. "But what I'm revering is you needing to ditch the Bugle and that butthole, Jameson!"

Peter rolled his eyes when he heard this answer. "Ugh, Harry," Peter said with a groan. "Yes, Jameson is a jerk, but the money pays and-."

Harry immediately held up his hand to cut Peter off mid-sentence. "No amount of money is worth working for a blowhard creep whose hate boner for a superhero is so strong that he's willing to fabricate the truth. I know I'm not alone about this because there are a few patients here who have either been saved by him or had loved ones that Spider-Man has saved. And the icing on the crap cake is he's using YOU, the most brilliant and kindhearted person I know, in part of his crusade, despite your best efforts to show that the Web-Head's a hero." Harry's expression and tone soon shifted to being gentler as he continued. "Besides Pete, you're a genius! Someone smart enough to be the next Einstein! So, if you're working at the Bugle just for money, let me help. Let me talk to Dad, and I'm sure he can find something for you."

"No Way." Peter said to his friend, sounding just as stern but also somewhat defensively. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I don't want you or your dad to worry about me. Right now, you guys need to focus all your resources on getting better."

Before Harry could interject, his nurse soon walked in with his iPhone, which was ringing and had his father's picture on the screen, indicating that he was calling to check on his son. "Sorry to interrupt, guys," said the nurse, causing the two friends to turn and look at her. "But Harry, it looks like your dad's calling you."

Harry briefly closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of annoyance through his nose, for he knew that his father was probably calling from his office at Oscorp instead of being here on this special night. Though deep down inside, the young man knew that Norman was indeed a very important man, and his business always needed him; it still wouldn't have hurt him to schedule a day off on days when his son needed him the most, be it tonight or any other days when he was younger. But regardless, Harry gave the nurse a nod. "Thanks, Pam," he told the nurse with a small smile as he took the phone, then briefly turned to Peter with a narrow brow. "But Pete, this conversation is nowhere near over! Okay?"

Not wanting to upset his friend, Peter closed his eyes and gave Harry a small nod of acknowledgment. As he watched the young man look away to talk to his father, Peter couldn't help but hate himself for telling Harry no, as he knew he was only trying to help. But as he said, all the money in the Osborn fortune was needed to treat Harry's illness. Still, it didn't make him hate himself for making Harry feel unwanted…

PRESENT DAY

…and such self-loathing still existed within Peter in the confines of his own home, and he used this time of testing new tech to get his mind off of seemingly disappointing his best friend before sending him off to Europe, but with minimal success. "I sure hope Harry forgives me for turning him down like that," he thought. "But yeah, he's got more important things to be concerned with, and he doesn't need my problems with Jameson to make things worse." At one point, Peter smiled briefly as he looked over his shoulder and at his camera. "Besides, after I'm done testing the new web-shooter, my next project is to modify the sound system to the camera. So that next time I record my next Spidey outing, it can record people thanking me perfectly and clearly. That way, Jameson will have no choice but to acknowledge that New York's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a hero, and he won't make all my hard work blow up in my face." Now in a much better mood, Peter went back to testing his new web watch and pressed the button that was supposed to fire a web line.

The result was that webbing did appear, but not as a thin line. But instead as an explosion comparable to that of an erupting geyser. The webbing covered the entire workbench and the entire front of Peter's body. Needless to say, this caused Peter's pleasant mood to vanish, and he let out an irritated grunt as he used both hands to pull his web-covered goggles off his face, revealing his narrowed hazel eyes. "Just like that."

ELSEWHERE IN QUEENS

It was business as usual at the JD National Bank as money came in and came out. All because of people either coming into deposit money into their accounts or leaving after making a withdrawal. It was also the focus of a bulky, as well as shady, man dressed in a long overcoat and fedora hat with his face hidden behind his collar. His long sleeves hid the two massive-sized silver gauntlets, both of which were designed and built by him, and he had planned on using them not just this day. Before he walked in, the coated man seemed anxious, for he was planning to use the gauntlets on his hands to rob the bank, and while they performed well enough in the initial testing, he still wasn't sure how they would do in the field.

Nonetheless, he knew he could not back out now and thus breathed in through his nose and out of his mouth to calm his nerves and refocus on his plan. "All right, Herman," he thought to himself as he tried to get 'his head in the game.' "It's time to go to work!" With that proclamation, the coated man named Herman proceeded to walk to the front door of the make and make a withdrawal in the most extreme way possible.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys, I know that the chapter is a little short, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still here. Just got back from a trip to Dragon*Con and I feel refreshed and mentally energized to keep on writing. So stay tuned.