Leaving the X-Jet I feel a tug and turn to see Kitty pulling my sleeve. She's wearing the X-Men black and gold, having long abandoned her shadowcat hood. "If you still want to talk, come to the cafeteria after you get changed. I'll be waiting." before I can get a word out she phases through me and through the wall to the lockers.

I blink a few times before a smile works its way onto my face. Maybe I can finally fix things between us..

Back in my normal clothes, I take a seat across from Katherine in the school cafeteria. I can't help but be reminded of those peaceful days before everything went to hell.

Hopefully after this conversation I can be one step closer to how it was back then. I nervously sip on my milk as I wait for Katherine to get her thoughts together.

"I miss this don't you Peter? I wish Gwen and MJ were here." she doesn't look at me, she instead looks wistfully at her tray.

I reply "Me too." and I mean it.

The silence across the table makes it hard to speak. Katherine takes a deep breath and then looks at me before looking down at the table. "I haven't been fair to you. I can't blame you for the things that I did, I'm responsible for my own actions, saying everything was all your fault wasn't fair or cool." I blink a couple of times in surprise, that's the last thing I expected to hear. "but, that doesn't mean I can't hold you accountable for your own actions." She raises her head to make eye contact, "I know that from your perspective you think that you were doing things for my sake but I can't accept that. I don't believe it. If I'm going to take responsibility for my actions then you have to do the same right?"

I want to argue, I did do my best for her sake, but I bite my tongue. "I will then."

"Good, Peter I want us to be friends again. Kitty can forgive Peter. but I don't think Shadowcat and the Spider are ever going to make up."

That's confusing, "What does that mean?"

She shakes her head, "I'm not really sure, to be honest I'm kinda just winging it." I see the Katherine grin I've grown to miss. "I just feel like whenever you put on that costume you seem like a different person, a person that isn't my friend. Can't we just be normal friends?"

I still don't get it, but I nod and pretend like I do. This is better than the silent treatment I've been getting the last few weeks. "I can do that"

The rest of the day passes by uneventfully, I still don't have any idea what Katherine wants from me, but that's a problem for another day.

I lean back into the bed and close my eyes, I think I can call today a win.

When I close my eyes it's like stepping back in time, I'm back in the penthouse I'm sitting on the couch while Katherine lays next to me reading on her phone. I reach for the remote and flip on the screen, "-and that's the weather! Thanks Janna. Now for today's main story, Katherine Pryde will betray you but I never will."

It takes my brain a second to comprehend, "what the hell?" I turn to Kitty, to see if it's my hearing, and flinch back as she lunges at me with bloodshot eyes and a malicious grin. My chest goes cold and her hand grips my heart.

"You can't trust me Peter!"

I jump up in bed,covered in sweat and breathing heavily. What the hell was that?

"~"

I shake my head, "just a random nightmare, all this stuff with Katherine must be getting to my head." I push myself out of bed and pull on a shirt. I just need some air.

Opening the window, with my abilities it's easy to climb up onto the roof, the moon is bright it's a beautiful clear night. I let out a sigh and feel the tension from that nightmare leave my body, "just a bad dream"

"~~"

I turn my head, towards the courtyard, the large lake is frosted over and I see Bobby standing in the center of it. I can't help but roll my eyes, is this what he considers training? I get up to go back inside when my eyes lock onto a second figure, coming from the dorms towards the lake. Kitty? She stops at the edge of the lake pulling on ice skates and then skates her way to Bobby.

I watch unsure why my stomach is so full of dread at the sight.

Bobby notices her and skates toward her, I watch in silence as they make several laps together holding hands.

"~~~"

I grab my head and close my eyes, unsure why the sight make me so uncomfortable, Kitty and I were just friends, are just friends; there's no reason to feel jealous, I have no right to.

However when I look up and see her in his arms tilting her face towards his. I decide I've seen enough. I can't get into my room fast enough.

When I wake up the next morning and Scott says he wants me on a solo recon mission in New York. I don't hesitate to accept.

"Peter the mutant that you're looking for works at the coffee shop near here. He's a known supporter but can be jumpy. Approach him calmly and see if he's heard anything about the brotherhood."

"Yeah I heard it the first time Scott." before he replied I turn off the earpiece and thank the stars that Jean couldn't make it today, last thing I need is either of them in my head. I walk through the streets of new york with my hood up, the streets are busy which is common even this early on a weekday, despite my short fame as the Spider, it doesn't appear that anyone is taking special notice to me. Good.

I turn to the bookstore that our contact is known to work at and see it isn't even open for another hour. "Great job Scott." well seeing as I'll have to spend another hour and a half waiting, might as well use the small expense fund given by the xmen. There's a coffee shop around here that I used to walk past often.

I take a seat and relax as I open up the warm bagel, it smells great I bring it in and take a bite, leagues above anything I've been able to get at Xaviers cafeteria, my eyes close in bliss. "Looks good, mind if I have a bite?" I chew and swallow eyes still closed, but the joy from the bagel is completely drained. There's only been one person able to consistently sneak up on me since the spider bite. I look up to see red hair and a saccharine smile, as Mary Jane Watson casually takes a sip from my hot chocolate. "Cocoa? I always figured you for a coffee guy."

I glance around, making sure that no one else in here is paying attention to us. "What are you doing here?"

A crimson eyebrow raises in response, "Well I came here to get a bagel, but seeing as you're here. You owe me at least three favors and I'd like to cash in before you disappear again."

Three really? It doesn't really matter though, I remember how she tried to help out when things got bad at the school, who knows when I'll stop owing her. I nod, "Sure I guess, what do you need?"

She looks surprised at my answer but quickly tries to hide it under her usual facade, "Answers tiger. For one, where's Katherine? You didn't ditch her did you?" Her face makes her opinion about that clear.

A dark chuckle escapes my lips, "No, she's safe. We found some people that were willing to protect us. Things between the two of us are a little difficult at the moment."

MJ breathes out a quiet sigh, and thankfully chooses not to ask any more about that. "Good." she fixes me with a quick glare, "We've been worried about the two of you, Gwen and I that is. Even if she won't admit it. Real dick move of you not to call. But anyway I guess you had your reasons. So you wanna tell me the whole story now?"

"What do you mean 'the whole story' ?"

She rolls her eyes as she take a bite from my bagel. "The jumping, and swinging, and going through walls, and being chased by a rhino man, a geriatric vulture, and not to mention living sand?"

My identity is already public, there's already a hit out on me, and I'm wanted by the law. At this point I don't have anything to lose, and I'm still looking to kill some time. "Do you remember that Oscorp trip?..."

"..."

Over an hour later, MJ and I are still sitting in the small corner booth, there are now three empty cups and at least five different empty bagel bags between us. Mary Jane is looking at me in open shock. "Jesus Tiger. So you, actually... met The Human Torch?" I can't stop my eyebrow from twitching. I'm about to respond to that when Mary Jane bursts out laughing, "Sorry, Peter but you should have seen the look on your face. But seriously, wow. To think that the two of you were getting into so much trouble under our noses."

It's strange how telling someone about the last few weeks, feels like I'm telling them my whole life story. But still, if I had known that just talking about all this would have felt so good, maybe I would have tried to call. Still, "aren't you angry?"

"Ha!" the outburst catches me by surprise, "Oh I'm pissed alright, in fact I think I'm gonna have to add some interest on those favors you owe, how does oh, 50 sound?" I shrug, seems fair enough. "Not that your planning on sticking around to pay them back anyway right?... I thought so. Well then I better get another one in while your in town. You need to talk to Stacy."

I cringe a little bit. Truthfully I do regret the part that I had in influencing Gwen's life, when I took that first job for Kingpin. When I think about it that may be the first time Katherine was really upset with me. Not sure she ever really got over it, it was just overwritten with my other screw ups. "I don't think I'll have time, maybe you sho-"

"Not a chance tiger. We both know I can't make you, but you know this is something you have to do." I sigh, I really should. At this point Gwen and MJ might be the only friends I have. "That being said I should probably get going." I look up as she stands and gathers her bag, "School started about half an hour ago, and I really shouldn't be missing too much."

She steps out of the booth and looks at me expectantly as I do the same, "I'll see you around then. And I'll try to call" however my progress is blocked by Mary Jane looking at me disapprovingly.

"Hug?" hug? Who said anything about a hug, I don-. I'm being hugged. And I try and remember the last time this happened, was it Aunt may? That morning before I left for the school play? I'm brought out of my thoughts as Mary Jane releases me, turns around and calls over her shoulder, "And you better call."

I walk away from the cafe with a smile I haven't worn for over a month. I check the time, the store should be open by now, I should probably go in and see if he knows anything.

Finding the guy is as easy as it sounded, unfortunately it was pretty apparent that he doesn't know anything of value. As far as the mission this was a complete waste of time.

I pull the communicator out of my pocket to tell Scott but pause, once I tell him I'll be called back, I slide the communicator back into my pocket. It can wait.

I get a pizza and spend the day relaxing at my old spot in the junkyard, mine and Kitty's spot. The couch is still there and the smell of rust is almost nostalgic at this point. It's weird the things you miss about home. It's even weirder how I never thought of this city as home until now. Xaviers actually isn't that far from here, but it's not as if I've been allowed out much.

I check the time, school should be out. Time to go.

Having never actually been to Gwen's place, I wait for her after school, standing by the fountain that I used to wait for Katherine at. It's a cold evening, so no one looks twice at another student waiting for a friend with their hood up and a scarf on. I spy Gwen's blonde hair leaving the main doors, a little after the main crowd. She seems a little distracted but notices me as I walk up to her. "Can I help you?" I hesitate, last chance to avoid this altogether. I pull the scarf down and Gwen's eyes widen. "Peter?" she takes a half step back, her eyes harden, "or am I talking to the Spider?"

I pull the scarf back up, if anyone would recognize me it'd be here. "I just want to explain." I nervously look around seeing if any students are close enough to overhear us. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"

She hesitates and I can see the word no forming on her mouth before the bites her lip and looks back at the school. "The physics lab, club was cancelled today so it should be empty."

I nod and follow her inside. My eyes linger on the hallways still under construction. Damage caused by Rhinos tear through the school. Or more accurately by my presence here.

I step into the lab and as Gwen said it's just the two of us. I pull off the scarf and pull my hood back. Gwen's stare is piercing, "Tell me about the attack on the police station."

Straight to the point, "I was there to steal a file from captain Stacy's desk drawer."

"Why?"

I take a seat on a lab table. "It was a test I think. Fisk wanted to see if I could be used."

"Wilson Fisk?" I nod. "Did you kill him?"

I shift a little uncomfortably. "No, but I tried to."

"Katherine then?"

Again I awkwardly fidget, telling my own secrets is one thing, "All she ever did is save my life. And now I'm pretty sure she hates me for it. Or not, I can't really tell."

Gwen actually looks confused at that. I'm beginning to suspect that she had these questions pre planned. She gets back on track. "How many people did you kill?"

I have to actually think about this one, "I definitely killed one guy. There were a couple of people that might have died but I'm not sure." The icy glare she gives me makes me want to defend myself. "The ones I don't remember were muggers, I hit them and didn't pay attention to where or how hard. The man I did kill, absolutely deserved it."

She looks like she's about to question that, but when our eyes meet she shakes her head, "I believe you. One more question, why? Why did you do what you did? Why did any of this have to happen?"

A difficult question, it takes me more than a minute to think of an answer, I try to think back to my motives when this all started. When I look back up I see Gwen waiting patiently, I can't tell exactly what she's thinking but it doesn't matter at this point anyway. "When I got these abilities, I was angry and I felt like the world had screwed me over. I just wanted to fix that, pull myself out of my situation. Get money, move away from my foster parents, stop getting bullied."

I was aimless and angry. Stupid. "but then I made a friend, and despite all reasoning I somehow made two more." I fix Gwen with a melancholic smile, "I wanted to protect the life that I had. Unfortunately I had messed up when I was still trying to get even. All of my actions since then have been trying to make up for that mistake, and in doing that I've only made even more mistakes."

Gwen nods slowly, "I thought it was something like that." she takes a deep breath and looks at me resolutely, "I'm sorry Peter." what? "I could have helped with Flash but I wasn't bold enough, I should have seen what you were going through and done something. I should have known that you and Katherine were up to something. I should have done something, anything. I don't blame you for any of this, I think anyone would have done the same in your position. You did the best you could."

I'm stunned into silence. This... is not what I was expecting. Not even close.

"But I can help now. Peter, you and Kitty don't need to shoulder everything alone anymore. Let me help, and as much as I can't stand her Mary Jane will help you too."

I'm shocked and confused, "but what about the stuff with your dad?"

"I wish you would have told me after that, but I understand why you didn't." her face goes to a thoughtful expression, "I forgive you but he won't, normally I'd want you to turn yourself in but not while those monstrous guys are after you. That reminds me, where are you and Kitty staying are the two of you alright?"

She's really not angry, not even a little bit. A chuckle escapes me, and it's only a few seconds before it turns into a full on laugh. "To think, that this was the conversation. I'm sorry Gwen I should have told you a long time ago."

I wipe the tears out of my eyes as she smiles back at me, "You should have, but I forgive you. We are friends after all."

I leave the school in almost a stupor, walking down the street. I had expected accusations and anger, I went there so that I could know that she wants nothing to do with me. Whole hearted acceptance? I want even close to ready for. I can't help but think maybe things with Kitty aren't so messed up. The situations are vastly different but maybe I should try and talk to her again-

~Don't need her…~

I grip my head, it doesn't hurt but the sensation is one of lightheadedness. I look around for the source of the voice, but a sinking part of me recognizes it, I remember it from my dream last night before I woke up to see Bobby and-

~Enemy…~

A normal person might think they're going crazy, but this isn't the first time I've had someone in my head, I need to talk to professor Xavier.

I look up after settling my thoughts and see that I'm just about to run into someone, I quickly step to the side, but my danger sense alerts me to a hand reaching towards my shoulder. Annoyed I grab the offending hand and turn towards the figure before I feel my heart drop into my stomach.

Blond, tall, and thankfully alone the man gives me an excited smirk, "Been a while kid, wanna go through this whole song and dance again or-" I dont let him finish, I immediately throw his hand away and leap into the air, the crowd gasps and spreads as I use the web shooters underneath my sweatshirt sleeves to sling upwards. I hear the crowd below gasp again along with my enemies signature cry "Flame On!"

I just had to run into the Human Torch! I quickly jerk to the left dodging a lance of fire. No helmet and no suit, could this get any worse? I aim for a lower building hoping to dodge another fire blast and my shooter sputters, I'm empty. "Oh come on!" I'm knocked of balance by a wave of heat and just barely manage to cover my head as I go skidding across the roof below me.

I hear the gravel on the roof crunch as the human torch lands next to me. "Had enough? Believe it or not I think it'd be best for both of us to stop here. Bad for my rep to be beating up some kid ya know? But if you'd rather put that new suit of yours through its paces. Hell, I've got time."

New suit? I unclench my eyes to look up at Johnny Storm, he's standing about five feet away, nonchalantly waiting for me. I push myself into a crouched position and push off the burned scraps of cloth that used to be my pants. Underneath is a smooth black material, that I absolutely did not put on.

~Together, strong….~

Oh great that's back. Looking at my arms I see the same material, and can only assume it goes all the way over my head, ignoring my uninhibited vision and breathing. I do a double take on the white squares on the back of my hands, and for a second it's like I can feel the potential in them, they shoot webs? How?

~Partners … unbeatable…..~

That is.. is it better or worse that my surprise suit is talking to me rather than some psychic… worse. "So is that a no?" Jhonny asks as he steps forward casually wreathing himself in flames.

~alone, strong, together, unbeatable~

Sure thing buddy.

End chapter