Chapter 4-3

One Hour Later

It was Sunday. David knew this because his dates with Black Cat were always on Saturday. He remembered that his mother was inviting Dr. Hamilton over for dinner. When David looked at the wound on his left forearm, he smiled.

Just as planned.

There was a knock on the door. "I got it," David shouted as he opened it.

Why hell-

It was Eddie Brock and Anne Weying.

What are they doing here? I have no use for them, why are they here?

"Eddie," he said, turning on his charm, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming over, man?" He waved to Anne. "You brought your exquisite girl with you I see."

"Your mother invited us," he said, "She said that she hadn't seen us in a long time."

But it was YOU who invited Anne.

"Come on in," David said, "Mother is roasting chicken."

Her cooking can't be compared to her father's. He should've been on Master Chef.

The observant Eddie spotted something. "Your arm's bleeding."

David nearly lost his composure but kept it wound up tightly. He remembered that Eddie dreamt of becoming a reporter when he grew up and reporters are observant. He underestimated his 'friend's' ability to notice things. He thought of an excuse at the top of his head as he was prepared for something like this to happen. "I was riding my bike to the store to get vegetable oil when I fell over and scraped my arm on the sidewalk."

Why couldn't he have made that observation later when EVERYBODY was present? It doesn't matter, they aren't factors in my plan.

"You should clean your wound," Eddie said in worry.

"I put isopropyl alcohol on it so it should be fine." Another lie. "Come in, we're just waiting for one more guest."

"I know," Eddie said, "Felicia."

What...the...f-

"What are you talking about?"

"Your mother invited Felicia along."

"How did Mom know about Felicia?"

"At the fundraiser, your mother saw you talking to Felicia. She asked me about her and I told her that you like her."

And then it all fell on him like a pile of bricks.

I'm a psychopath and only Mom and I know that. When Eddie told her about Felicia, she must've invited her along cause she wanted to see how I acted around her. She wants to see how I act around a crush.

David looks at his mother. He subtly nods to himself.

Well, at least I'll be provided with eye candy in addition to rotisserie chicken. Thank you, Mother, you do know what's best for your psycho son.

David welcomed Eddie and Anne into his house. They helped Misa set up the table and they set up several tables before there was a knock on the door.

That's either Felicia or Dr. Hamilton, fifty-fifty.

Before David could react, his spider-sense went off.

David froze, his breath stolen from him, and the fork between his fingers slipping. His eyes go blank and stares off into space.

Don't say it, don't say it, not yet...hold it in, Davey.

The world is shaking for David Dante, a smile threatening to break out across his face. His world shook like an earthquake and he was inwardly snickering at his victory. The laughter welling up inside of him was threatening to go off like a volcano. He chuckled and snickered as he felt the inside of his mind erupt.

I knew it, I knew it, I KNEW IT!

The world froze for David.

I knew all along that Barton Hamilton was the Green Goblin. Hamilton, you've been completely defeated. When you were asking me questions during our second encounter, I knew they were questions in the form of psychiatry so the first clue I got on your identity was you were a psychiatrist. Another useful hint was that you said that I kill criminals to satisfy my homicidal urges and this was the biggest hint you ever gave me. The only people who know about my homicidal urges were my mother, myself, and you, Hamilton. You gave yourself away the minute you mentioned my homicidal urges. You forgot that I desire to be a forensic profiler when I grow up and I've had years of experience from being profiled so I know how to profile people. The Green Goblin is not only a psychiatrist but from the conversation he had, he has a sense of right and wrong and believes that one should sacrifice himself for the sake of the greater good. Hamilton fit that to a T and my spider-sense has confirmed that I am correct. I've won!

Hamilton shook Misa's hand as he stepped in. He looked at David, his back was turned towards him. His eyes drew to his left forearm, where he saw a familiar knife wound. His eyes widened and his breath was stolen from him before he remembered that Misa was still in front of him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said, "Traffic can test your patience."

"We're waiting for just one guest,' Misa said, "Could you help us finish setting up."

In slow motion, his eyes are drawn to David.

In slow motion, David turns and holds up his left forearm to make sure the wound is as visible as the sun toward Hamilton.

My spider-sense told me everything, Barton Hamilton. Not only does it warn me of danger, but it paints me a perfect picture. Even before Mom opened the door, my spider-sense gave me a full shot of your physical appearance. A suit with a green tie, ironically, but one thing that stood out was your right eye. You are using makeup to cover up the fact that you have a black eye and even my spider-sense sensed it because I'm on high alert for you. During our third confrontation less than an hour ago, my goal was to punch you so hard that you wouldn't be leaving without a black eye and I succeeded. At the science building, I punched you in the right eye and intentionally allowed you to cut my left arm and made sure that my wound was obvious when you showed up at my doorstep. I wanted to see if you had the same mark and I wanted to see if your mask would slowly be pulled off once you saw the same wound Spider-Man has on David Dante.

Hamilton stares wide-eyed at David's wound. His eyes lit up and he stared into David's eyes. He couldn't hold his mask in place and he smiled maniacally for a brief second but to him, it was in slow-motion.

David smiled back as he saw the smile on Hamilton's face and he couldn't suppress the urge anymore.

Even for the slightest second, both Hero and Villain were grinning maniacally at each other with smiles that only killers could achieve. If they were Death Note characters, David's hair would turn red while Hamilton's hair would turn green.

I had to show him my wound to see if Hamilton would smile like the monster he was. It all went to plan, and if he tried anything, I still have my trump card: I have my spider-sense.

David walked up to Hamilton and with a straight face, shook his hand firmly.

Hello...Green Goblin.

The silence between the two killers went on for about thirty seconds before a voice snapped them out.

"Am I late to the party?"

David's eyes snapped towards Felicia Hardy standing in his doorway. "Holy crap," he whispered, "Felicia."

"Come in," Misa said, "Dinner's ready."

"Thank you," she said politely.

She's also putting on a facade. I can tell, from one person leading a triple life to another person leading a double life.

"Hello," David said, turning his charm back on, "We're happy you're here to join us for dinner."

"A girl's gotta eat sometime," she said. She turned to Misa, "Your son says that you're a good cook."

Did I tell her that Mom was a good cook or is she just sucking up?

"We've just finished setting up," Misa said, "Grab a plate and sit down."

David turned to Misa and whispered as everyone gathered around the table. "You sure invited a lot of people."

"I understand that you don't like people surrounding you most of the time," she said, "But Dr. Hamilton said that he wanted to personally evaluate your psyche around other people."

"What?" David asked in confusion. "You mean, this dinner was Dr. Hamilton's idea?"

She nodded.

And then it all made sense.

I have underestimated him.

The family and friends sat at the table and ate their dinner.

David and Felicia sat together, Eddie with Anne, and Misa sitting with Hamilton.

Hamilton, you're one smart cookie. The dinner was part of your plan. Once you left a mark on my forearm to see if I was Spider-Man, you would then go to Step Two of your plan by showing up to dinner. Your goal was not to see if I was Spider-Man but how I reacted around certain people and which one I am close to. You're trying to get personal with me.

They ate their food in awkward silence, none of the six people bothering to talk. This gave David a perfect opportunity to observe his enemy as he observed the people around David.

Until Eddie spoke.

"How is Mr. Hamilton related to you?"

Lie.

"My uncle," David answered with a smile.

Misa nodded, going along with his lie. Hamilton nodded as well with a subtle grin.

"How long have you known David?" Hamilton asked Eddie. "You must be close enough to get an invite from his mother."

"Since eighth grade," Eddie answered, "He was the only one who didn't make fun of me in school."

"He sure has the type of personality," he said. He drank some water. "What about you, Felicia?"

Now you're just making it obvious. You lack the training that I have.

"He's just a kid in my class," she said.

"Don't be like that, Felicia," Eddie playfully bumped her shoulder, "David is totally in love with you."

Eddie, halt die klappe!

"Really?" Hamilton turned to David, "Are you in love with Felicia?"

"We're just friends," he said quickly, "That's it, nothing else."

"You're getting defensive," Eddie mocked.

Of course, I'm getting defensive; I'm having dinner with the Green Goblin!

Hamilton studied Eddie as he knew him from somewhere. He knew Eddie was connected to Spider-Man by taking pictures of him for the Daily Bugle but he also wonders if Eddie knows what David's secret is. When he studied Anne, he studied without putting any effort into it, believing that she was not worth the trouble.

Then he turned to Felicia and he studied her the hardest.

He's looking at Felicia. Eyes off, Goblin, Felicia is MY girl. My girl to kiss, my girl to fuck, my girl to do whatever I want. Well, I haven't done anything so far but I will so hands and eyes off.

Hamilton looked away before he looked at his watch. He set his utensils down before getting out of his seat. "I'm sorry to have cut this dinner short but I must get going."

"Why?" David asked.

"I just…" He hesitated to answer. "Wanted to have one last meal before I take a plane out of the country."

"Where are you going?" Misa asked.

Yes, let's hear your excuse, Dr. Green Goblin.

"Oxford has invited me to teach psychology in London for two weeks and my plane leaves today," he answered.

"Psychology?" Eddie picked up, "Your uncle's a psychologist?"

"Yes," David answered. "Wait up," he rushes before he can let Eddie ask any further questions. He caught up with the psychiatrist. "I'll walk you out."

"Thanks, David." He waved goodbye to Misa before he scurried off with David.

The two superhumans headed over to Hamilton's car but they both paused. They looked at each other, staring into the other's soulless eyes.

I can see through you, Hamilton. I can see the disguise you were wearing in the house. I can sense a psychopath because I am a psychopath. I'm a better psychopath though.

"I'm going to be leaving for two weeks," Hamilton said, "I just want you to know that I still think we're making progress with you. I mean, it's been a while since you felt something close to emotion but I see it as hope. I'm sorry to have to leave for two weeks."

"It's okay," David shrugged, "You have a class to teach in Oxford."

And a glider to clean.

Hamilton put a hand on David's shoulder affectionately. "Remember, I'm always going to be there for you. Together, we'll turn you human. You'll get to experience the emotions of a sane person, you'll know the love of a mother and have the heart that your father always wanted you to have."

My father's heart was blown up, almost.

"I'll see you later, kid."

In Hell.

"Goodbye, Dr. Hamilton, good luck with your seminar. Bring me back something shiny."

A pumpkin bomb.

Hamilton drove off in his car and David waved mockingly.

Barton Hamilton, the Green Goblin. You're using this teaching as an alibi so no one will suspect you when you attack my allies. You're going to try and attack me emotionally. The joke's on you, I have no emotions. I don't know Anne so kill her if you want. Eddie, he's fun to hang around and eases my boredom. Felicia is pretty, and she could help me blend in as David Dante. Mom...she is off-limits. I'm a hollow shell of a human but Mom, I like her.

Night had fallen. David had been doing his research since his friends left and he devised a plan. He already anticipated what Goblin was going to do next and he was ready to challenge him head-on. He was going to make sure his mother was protected at all times, which is why necessary actions had to be taken.

Just as Misa was finished with the dishes, David dropped two pills of sleeping medicine into her drink without her knowledge. He waited patiently for about twenty minutes before the pills took effect. She fell to the ground but David caught her.

Step One: Put Mom To Sleep.

Everything went according to plan. When Misa woke up, she was outside, lying on her back, and her son was draping a warm blanket over her. She stirred as she sat up and her eyes widened when she saw her house lit up with flames that lit up the neighborhood.

"What happened?" she gasped.

David kneels to her side, "I don't know," he says, "I suddenly blacked out and when I came to, the house was on fire. I pulled you and called the fire department."

This was necessary to protect you and even if I was human, I wouldn't feel remorse.

"How did our house burn down?" she asked, "What did we do? And why did I fall asleep?"

A firefighter truck pulled up to the driveway where Misa and David were. They did their jobs in putting out the flames. Once the house was put out, the chief approached the mother and son.

"I'm sorry to tell you this but this looks like the work of the Devil's Arsonists," he said.

I know who they are and Mom does as well.

"The Devil's Arsonists target a mother and son couple in the suburbs," he answered, "They burn them alive in their sleep after drugging them. They'll usually hide in a closet for hours or even days before they drug the mother and child and burn them alive in their sleep. You two got lucky."

Misa gasped and clutched her heart area.

Fear, that's what my mother is feeling. I'm holding my chest the same way but it's not from fear; I don't feel fear normally. This nagging feeling is poking and prodding at me from the inside to do something about Mom and the only way to get rid of it is to obey its command.

"I saved you, Mom," David said, assuming that the nagging feeling in his chest wanted him to ease his mother's fear, "I wasn't going to let anything happen to you, not after Dad died."

And it is true. Do I love Mom? In my way. Will I miss her? In my way. Do I want her to get hurt? No.

She looked at her son and she hugged him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, "You are becoming human," she whispered in his ear.

I don't know if I would use the word 'human' but if you insist.

"Where are we going to live now?" he asked, switching back to his 'normal' persona to avoid suspicion by his mother. "We could move into the city, get an apartment. I could still attend Midtown and I could get a job, we could make it work."

"I appreciate your contribution, Davey," she kissed his forehead, "We'll figure something out."

"I knew all along," Hamilton laughed hysterically, "David Dante is Spider-Man." He folded in laughter and he suppressed his laughter by biting down on his thumb. He licks his blood away and attempts to calm himself only to fail.

"It appears your plan was successful," the voice in the mirror said, "You spread the gas over the science hall as a way of attracting Spider-Man. You were going to let crime take its course but you were being pushed into a corner. You were getting impatient."

"It was my idea to have dinner with David and to have his friends invited," Hamilton spoke to the mirror, "I wanted to see what emotional connections, if any, that he developed around these people. I left a mark on him at the science hall so my suspicions would be confirmed at dinner. I had to time everything perfectly because we share the same enhanced healing factor and I had less than two hours to act."

"But now that you know David Dante is Spider-Man, what's your next plan of attack?"

Hamilton put his other thumb to his mouth and bit down. He thought hard in his head and dipped his hand in a bowl of gummy bears and downed it. "Spider-Man, you have the advantage of lacking empathy for certain people, but you still have people to lose. Your father was killed by a criminal and your sense of justice, even if it is the desire to kill violent criminals, commands you to save innocent people. There's no doubt the more you're connected to someone, the more it'll hit close to home."

Everything went according to plan; I burnt down the house to save Mom and framed the Devil's Arsonists, right after I snuck out to kill the duo. If Goblin had the balls to attack her, she'd be in an apartment building in Manhattan and he wouldn't have any knowledge of her current residence. As for the Goblin's next attack, I'll have to think like him. He has a personal connection with me and he'll most likely use my friends as leverage to defeat me.

David imagined himself on top of a building in his Spider-Man suit. Across from him stood the Green Goblin. He imagined himself taking off his mask and Goblin doing the same. He sneered at his imaginary enemy and glared.

Green Goblin, you've targeted Eddie Brock already so you could do the same. Felicia, on the other hand, is more complex because while I do like the idea of being around Felicia, we share no emotional connections. Anne, I don't know her so she isn't a target.

"Green Goblin," David hissed under his breath, "I'm going to find you. I will hunt you down like a dog and when I catch you, I. Will. Bury you!"

"David, I will destroy you," Hamilton declares to himself. "I will destroy every single particle of you. You darted to challenge me with a show of power and I will show you what happens when you challenge me. No one is allowed to have such power aside from me and you will pay the price. I will take you apart piece by piece and I will show you who is truly the most powerful being on the planet. I will squash you like the spider you are and leave you forgotten. No one will remember you, not even your own mother. You should've walked away but even if you did, I still would've targeted you. I will fucking kill you, David. I'll kill you, I'll fucking destroy you, I'll make it so that you are nothing. You're not even a background event. People will forget that Spider-Man existed and Green Goblin will be all but powerful. I'll kill, I'll kill you, I'll fucking you. But before I do that, I'll destroy everything you've even remotely loved, no matter how fucking small your love may be. I'll kill your mother, your girlfriend, your best friend, and then, it'll be your turn. You won't ever feel like you're in power again. This is your fucking punishment for thinking you're better than me.

"You should've fucking run away when you had the chance, Davey, but your arrogance will cost you. And I'm excited to do whatever I want to you. First, I'll make you feel unsafe and then, after that, I'll make it so you feel like you have no control over your life. Power. Fucking power, that is all I fucking want."

"No," Jack argues, "that's not what you want. You're a good person, Barton, I know it. Please, just walk away while you still can."

"No," Hamilton snaps, "I will never walk away. Fuck you and fuck everyone else."

"Is this what you want to be remembered as? A monster, a killer? A mass murderer? Do you want people to remember you as a villain rather than someone who wanted to help? What happened to you, Barton? What happened to my sweet brother? The one who wanted to help people? What is wrong with you? Seriously, what happened to you?" Jack turns to the mirror in the corner. "What have you done to my brother?"

"I've done nothing," the mirror denies, "I'm just speaking whatever Barton is feeling on the inside."

"So am I. and I'm warning you to stay away from me."

"Ooh, I'm so scared I think I pissed myself."

"Fuck you."

"Fuck both of you," Barton snaps once more, "none of you will determine my path. I will be whoever the fuck I want to be. So shut the fuck up, both of you."

Nighttime

Spidey smiles behind his mask and takes a deep breath.

I've learned a few things from stalking and hunting Black Cat and I have no intention of letting this be squandered. I took on Black Cat for the sole purpose of gaining XP points and I'm not going to waste a single bit. Black Cat is nothing compared to Green Goblin but she was still a challenge. Now, it's time to take my practice and turn it into experience.