The Department of Defense auditorium was full. Generals, colonels and representatives of the military high command took their seats, facing the presentation ahead with serious, even rigid expressions. Norman stood at the front of the room, a seemingly friendly smile on his lips as he gave his staged presentation.
Behind him, a projector displayed detailed graphs, videos of falsified tests and a series of technical reports that, at first glance, seemed unquestionable. This, combined with his confident voice and firm tone, left almost no room for doubt.
"The breakthrough we are presenting guarantees a fighting force that... well, I'd say it's almost invincible compared to an ordinary soldier." He clicked a remote control, showing an animation of an adult man's anatomy, his body suffering from the effects of the serum in his bloodstream. Increased muscle mass and almost immediate body changes in exchange for nutrients and proteins.
One of the generals raised his hand, interrupting. "Osborn, this seems to be very good, even great. More than we initially expected. But previous reports indicated problems with stability and control. How did you manage to solve it in such a short time?"
Norman smiled amiably, putting his arms behind his back.
"Our team worked tirelessly to achieve this result, being driven to high doses of caffeine and closely monitored by myself. I increased the number of people in the lab, people I chose myself. I can guarantee that these problems have been completely eliminated. I've brought some data to prove it."
He reached out to take a USB stick from his briefcase, but before he could insert it into the computer, a violent explosion shook the building. The side wall of the auditorium shattered in a shower of concrete and glass. The impact knocked over tables, chairs and people, creating instant chaos.
Norman fell to the floor, rolling to one side. His fake glasses flew away, and he leaned on one of the overturned tables, his expression showing fear and confusion.
"We're under attack!" One of the colonels shouted, trying to organize those present.
Before anyone could react, a second explosion occurred, this time from the ceiling. Pieces of metal and beams fell across the room, while the deafening sound echoed through the corridors. In the midst of the chaos, Norman slipped silently out of the room, hiding in a side corridor.
There, away from the watchful eyes, he focused his gaze on the glider that was silently approaching him, and quickly grabbed the suit he had put there the day before. He climbed into the glider shortly afterwards, adjusting the systems and activating the boosters, returning to the room from before.
The room was filled with smoke and screams. Some soldiers were trying to evacuate the officers, while others were searching for the invisible enemy. Norman's glider emerged from an opening in the wall, entering the auditorium with a roaring sound. He climbed into the glider, laughing as he flew through the destroyed space.
With rapid movements, he threw grenades to disorientate those present. Strong explosions shook the entire building, and then he used the chaos to access the equipment and projects stored in the facility. Raising his arm, he called out for more smart equipment, and in less than two minutes, he had already uploaded the data he needed and stolen experimental devices from a nearby bench.
The rest he merely destroyed with his bombs and his glider's missiles.
"Hold it right there! Hands behind your head and-"
"I surrender!" He said loudly, raising both hands high before the soldier could finish his speech. However, as he did so, he threw two small orange balls towards the soldier.
These balls soon picked up speed, and retractable blades formed on their sides. The soldier could only stare wide-eyed before having half his skull sliced in half by one of these balls.
Norman turned slightly towards the man. Laughing, he turned with the glider and advanced through the building in chaos, shooting anyone he saw in his path.
Two days had passed since then, and he was currently sitting in a dark leather armchair, his eyes closed as he held a glass of drink in his hands. His head was partially bandaged, one arm resting on a sling, his face showing fatigue;
In front of him, a well-known local journalist, Rebecca Hanson, was preparing to start the live broadcast. She adjusted her glasses and cast a sympathetic glance at Norman, who smiled slightly, just enough to appear humble.
The media was a good weapon when you knew how to use it.
"We're live in 3... 2... 1." Warned the cameraman.
Rebecca began with a serious tone. "Good evening, New York. Today we have a special guest, Norman Osborn, CEO of Oscorp, who was one of the victims of the devastating attack at the Department of Defense a few days ago. Mr. Osborn, first of all, how are you recovering?"
Norman leaned forward slightly. "Physically, I'm getting better. The doctors say I'll need a few weeks to fully recover." He paused, sighing heavily. "It's hard to put into words. Seeing so many lives lost, such important projects stolen... I feel so... small. I wish I could have done more, even if my company was also a victim."
Rebecca nodded, showing empathy. "Many people are wondering, Mr. Osborn, how Oscorp intends to deal with the losses? Especially with the stolen projects, which could be used in dangerous ways."
Norman looked up. "Rebecca, Oscorp has always put security first. These projects were highly controlled, with layers of security that require advanced technical knowledge to activate. Even so, my priority is to ensure that they are recovered. I have already offered all of Oscorp's available resources to help the authorities. We're talking experts, tracking technology and even donations to repair the damage caused by the attack."
Rebecca leaned forward slightly, curious. "Donations? Can you tell us more about that?"
Norman nodded, adjusting his position in the chair. "Despite the financial losses we've suffered, I believe it's our duty to help the city and the country at this time of crisis. That's why we've transferred part of our funds to support the reconstruction of military installations and the strengthening of security. This, of course, was approved by an extraordinary Oscorp board."
What Norman didn't mention, and what nobody knew, was how these funds had been "replenished". A few days earlier, he had used a loophole in the financial system to transfer funds from previously terminated contracts with the Department of Defense directly into Oscorp's accounts.
The contracts, officially already paid for and archived, were small but numerous. Using data obtained during the attack, administrative and bank files, Norman managed to redirect the amounts to look like legitimate payments for contracted services. To any audit, everything looked flawless.
He also manipulated a network of smaller companies, set up as fronts by Oscorp, to siphon off more funds. Using these companies, he simulated purchases of equipment that would never be delivered, but which appeared on the balance sheets as legitimate purchases. In this way, funds flowed into Oscorp without arousing suspicion.
"This attack was an affront to technological evolution and experimental science, and I refuse to let it bring us down. Oscorp will do its part to ensure that something like this never happens again."
Rebecca smiled back, satisfied with the answer. "That's inspiring to hear, Mr. Osborn."
"I'm just doing what any good person would do."
When the interview was over, Norman relaxed slightly in his chair. He nodded to the interviewers and let them leave quietly. Alone, he raised the glass of drink to his mouth and took a generous sip.
How easy it was to fool those simple-minded beings.
Peter was sitting on top of a building near Midtown High, his legs dangling in the air as he watched the movement below. The sun was already setting, and he was texting Aunt May that he would stop by the library before heading home.
Although he seemed focused on his phone, he was paying attention to the movement below.
There they were, Harper, with an angry expression and clenched fists, walking straight towards Danny, who looked uneasy but tried to maintain a confident posture, genuinely confused nonetheless. Peter knew exactly what was about to happen, and he only regretted not having grabbed a hot dog from the trailer on the street corner earlier.
Harper grabbed Danny tightly, blocking his path on a deserted sidewalk that led to an alley. Peter tilted his head slightly to the side, listening very carefully to what they were saying.
"You bastard! Did you think I wouldn't know?! Huh?! How long have you been fucking my girlfriend?!" He asked, pushing Danny into the corner, causing the boy to stagger back a few steps, just as confused as before.
Danny raised his hands defensively. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything, man!"
"Liar!" Harper snarled, throwing the first punch straight at Danny's face. The impact echoed in the empty alley, and Danny staggered backwards, holding his nose. Danny tried to say something, but could only grunt as Harper punched him in the stomach.
Peter smiled slightly as he adjusted the image on the recording on his phone. The image wasn't the best, at least not compared to his last camera, but it was clear enough.
Now... Danny could be a coward, he knew that. But, as it turned out, even cowards could react at times. In one swift movement, he struck back, hitting Harper on the chin with a well-placed cross.
Peter merely raised both eyebrows, slightly surprised, but the feeling quickly passed. Danny was trapped, it was literally fight or be beaten.
The impact made Harper take a step backwards, but it didn't stop him. With a cry of rage, he lunged forward again, landing a punch to Danny's stomach, followed by another to his face.
Peter rested his arms on his legs as he continued the recording, watching as if it were a carefully conducted experiment. He felt no sympathy for either of them, and there was something deeply satisfying about seeing the fruits of his actions take shape.
Damn, he wanted that hot dog.
Danny tried to defend himself as best he could, but Harper was bigger and stronger, and with each punch, he felt his strength ebbing away. He grabbed Danny by the shirt, lifting him up before throwing him against the wall with enough force to make the boy fall to his knees.
"I thought we were friends! Since when are you fucking her behind my back?!" Harper shouted, her face contorted with hatred as he threw another punch that knocked Danny completely off his feet.
Danny was on the ground now, coughing and trying to protect himself, but Harper continued, kicking him in the abdomen and ribs.
Peter almost laughed to himself. "Another perfect day at Midtown High." He muttered to himself, remembering moments when he had been in Danny's shoes. He only doubted that Harper's kicks hurt more than Kong's.
He stood up slowly, finishing his recording the moment Harper stopped kicking Danny. He had enough material.
Harper finally stopped, panting, looking down at Danny, who was groaning in pain on the floor. He wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand before turning and walking out of the alley without looking back.
Danny remained there, motionless, catching his breath. Peter watched him for a few more moments before turning away, shooting a web to another building. There was nothing more to see.
The next morning at school started unusually for most of the students. Peter ran his eyes around, appearing confused but aware of what was happening. Groups gathered in the corridors, whispering about recent events. Peter sat in a discreet corner near the library, watching everything from afar, his eyes fixed on Flash and Mary Jane, who were having a heated argument in the middle of the main corridor.
"Are you serious?" Flash exclaimed, his loud voice attracting curious looks. "I trust you, and this is how you pay me? Exchange messages with Harper behind my back?"
Mary Jane recoiled, clearly embarrassed, but more by all the fuss than by the accusations. "Flash, I don't even know what the fuck you're talking about! You asshole! Are you going to make up rumors now to hide everything they've said about me?!"
Flash let out a bitter laugh. "I saw the conversations, MJ! He sent me everything! Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"You've more than proved yourself to be one if you're making up accusations! I saw the conversations too, Flash Thompson! I really appreciate the way you defended me from those idiots you call friends!"
Flash clucked his tongue in annoyance. "I had nothing to defend! You always pretend to be the perfect girl, but in the end you're just a doll who needs applause to exist. No wonder you kept saying you were going to be a model, or a fucking actress!"
The words cut deep. Peter saw and heard her heart beating faster, her eyes getting wetter and wetter and how hard she tried not to cry.
"... You're ridiculous." She just turned her back and walked away quickly, the sound of giggles and whispers mixing with her racing heartbeat.
People really could be quite cruel... Peter thought as he heard the giggles of some. But, well, maybe he wasn't in a position to speak, since he was the one to blame for all this... even if it was for a good reason.
Flash remained still, just watching her walk away for a while. The people around dispersed, going to their respective rooms.
Peter stood up and put his hands in his pockets, walking calmly down the corridor. "Congratulations, Flash." He said, catching the eye of the boy, who didn't say anything, just stared at him with a purely annoyed look.
"And the idiot of the year award goes to..." He was interrupted when Flash grabbed him by his jacket and raised his fist. "Go on, hit me, let's see what your coach will think of that."
He challenged, and Flash stopped his fist, his angry eyes staring steadily into Peter's cold ones. "I don't have time for you, you fucking idiot." He said, finally releasing him. He stared at the boy for a few more moments until he turned and walked away.
Peter didn't need to be a genius to know exactly where he was going.
A few hours had passed since then.
Harper was sitting in one of the stands, phone in hand, watching the empty field in front of him. Peter was on the other side of the field, leaning against the wall under a shadow, watching calmly. The field was practically deserted, and Harper had no view of him.
The sound of rapid footsteps caught his attention. He looked up and saw Flash approaching with an expression entirely of anger. Something that left him slightly confused.
"Say, why did you call me here?" He asked with a certain disinterest, standing up slowly.
Flash stopped a few meters from him, his fists clenched. "Did you think it would be funny to text Mary Jane behind my back? Was it fun to fuck each other behind my back?!"
Harper frowned, even more confused, and getting slightly annoyed. "What? What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb!" Flash shouted, taking a step forward. "I saw the messages. I saw what you said to her!"
Harper muttered loudly. "I don't fucking know what you're talking about! Don't come accusing me of anything because-" Flash didn't wait for another word. He lunged forward with a straight punch, aiming for Harper's face.
Harper managed to dodge at the last second, but Flash was in fighting position. He followed up with a swift kick, which Harper blocked with his arms, taking a few steps back.
"You're fucking crazy!" Harper shouted, now assuming a defensive posture. Flash responded by throwing a cross that grazed Harper's shoulder.
Harper wasn't a trained fighter like Flash, but he had strength and quick reflexes. He countered with a punch straight to Flash's stomach, causing the boy to stagger backwards slightly. But Flash was resilient. He took advantage of Harper's temporary imbalance and threw a sequence of quick punches, two of which hit Harper's face, leaving a cut on his lip.
Harper staggered back a few steps, until he recovered and took a wide step forward. As he did so, Flash stepped diagonally and landed a high kick to the side of Harper's head, sending the boy rolling down until he hit the grass hard.
He coughed a few times, grunting in pain. His confusion gone, he stood up angrily, grabbing Flash and pushing him hard against the stands' railings. Flash let out a grunt, but took advantage of the proximity to land an elbow on Harper's chin, causing him to stumble backwards.
Harper tried to attack again, but Flash used a low kick to knock him off balance. Harper fell to his knees, and Flash used the opportunity to throw one last punch, straight to Harper's jaw, knocking him out for good.
Harper fell to the ground, groaning in pain, while Flash walked away, breathing heavily. "You should have stayed the fuck down. I let you hang out with us because I thought you were a nice guy, but I should have realized that you were pathetic!"
He said, spitting on the ground next to Harper before turning and walking off the field.
Peter finished recording and lowered his phone slightly. That was much more satisfying than he had thought it would be, he admitted. He raised his phone again, focusing his gaze now on the new person approaching.
Harper stood up with some difficulty. He gasped slightly, sitting down on the grass, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand after the fight. He was breathing hard, his muscles tense.
What the fuck?
Fuck!
Before he could catch his breath, quick footsteps echoed across the empty field. He raised his head, his eyes narrowing when he saw Gwen approaching. He snorted in annoyance at the stern look on her face, and resisted the urge to spit at her feet.
"You've got a lot of nerve calling me here." Gwen began, her voice laced with disappointment.
Harper grumbled loudly again, standing up suddenly and rolling her eyes in clear irritation. "But what's the matter with you people today?" He said, turning to her shortly afterwards. "I didn't call you here, but now that you've come..."
"I don't understand! What's wrong with you and your lying friends?!" Gwen retorted, her voice raised. She took her phone out of her pocket, showing a message she had received minutes before from his contact. "I need to talk to you. Meet me in the field. It's important."
Harper frowned. He hadn't sent it, but honestly, he didn't have the energy to talk about that shit.
"Do you really want to talk about lies, Gwen?" Harper replied, turning to her with a sudden movement. "Why don't we start with yours? I've seen the photos. You and Danny, together. What about that?!"
Gwen stopped momentarily, shocked by the words. "Photos? What photos? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb!" Harper shouted, taking a few steps forward. He pulled out his phone, showing the images in which Gwen and Danny seemed incredibly close, including the photo in which Gwen seemed to be caressing Danny's chest. "See? And you still have the nerve to come here and play the victim!"
Gwen was dumbfounded, holding up the phone he was showing her. "This... this isn't what it looks like! Danny and I were arguing! He tried to leave, and I held him back! Who sent you this?"
"What difference does it make?" Harper retorted, his eyes fixed on hers. "You know very well what it looks like. You're laughing at me behind my back, aren't you? Just like in the group, talking about how easy I am to fool, right?"
She frowned, anger beginning to bubble up. "In the group? Oh, you really want to talk about the group? Then let's talk about what YOU said there!" She pulled out her own phone and opened the screenshots of the degrading messages that included his name. "Here, Harper. Take a good look at what you said about me!"
He gripped her phone tightly, his eyes scrolling through the messages. Horrible comments about how she "got favors" from teachers, mockery about her personality and even insinuations about her personal life. Harper's eyes widened, but he quickly shook his head.
He hadn't liked those comments, yes... but he hadn't defended her either, and at times, he had even agreed with some things.
"That doesn't make sense..." He muttered, surprised when she suddenly pulled out her phone.
"Oh, it doesn't?! So you didn't write that? You didn't say those disgusting things about me? Harper, are you really trying to play the victim?"
Harper felt her blood boil. "And YOU?!" he exploded, completely ignoring her words. "I trusted you, Gwen! I thought you were different! And now this? You with Danny?! I guess those things they said about you were right!"
Gwen gasped, looking at him with a shocked and offended look. "How dare you, you son of a bitch! You just want a reason to justify how terrible you are! An asshole bully who's no good at anything but belittling others!"
"Shut up!" Harper shouted, the vein in his neck popping.
"Why?! Why does it hurt to hear the truth?! I can't believe I once liked you!" Gwen retorted, refusing to back down.
In anger, Harper lunged forward, shoving Gwen hard. She stumbled, almost falling, but managed to balance herself. She looked at him in disbelief, but didn't have time to react before Harper, still consumed with rage, slapped her hard across the face.
The sound of the impact reverberated in the empty field. Gwen staggered, holding her face, her eyes wide with shock and tears starting to flow.
Never, in her entire life... not even her parents had hit her when she was a child.
Harper took a step back, as if realizing what he'd just done, but he still couldn't back down completely. "Don't look at me like you're the victim now, bitch... you deserved it." He said, his voice firm and laden with scorn.
Gwen didn't reply. She looked at him one last time, the disappointment and contempt clear in her eyes. Without saying anything, she turned and began to walk away quickly, holding her bruised face.
Harper remained where he was, an irritated sigh leaving his lips.
In the distance, Peter almost celebrated in happiness. He didn't even have to do much, Harper seemed motivated to sink even deeper.
With that, he merely turned and walked away.
He sent the messages, all of them, about everything except Danny and Kong. Flash and Harper were exposed.
The impact of the anonymous messages sent was immediate. The whole school was seized with outrage when it discovered the screenshots of Harper and his friends' secret group chats, which mocked other students and made cruel and degrading comments about classmates and teachers. Harper's name was on practically all of the most offensive messages, in addition to the videos and screenshots that Peter had obtained earlier.
In the principal's office, Harper's parents were sitting next to him, their faces red with shame and fury as the principal read the messages aloud. Every word felt like a blow, and Harper's expression alternated between despair and impotent rage.
Not to mention when his parents were forced to apologize to the police captain when his daughter revealed that he had hit her. It was by sheer luck, or pity on George's part, that nothing more serious happened.
The decision was unanimous: Harper was officially expelled. The scholarship he was virtually guaranteed to win in American Football has been revoked, and he has also been kicked off the team.
He would never forget the way his father looked at him with contempt, angry that he had been caught. He would never forget the look on his mother's face, with tears streaming down her cheeks after discovering all his dirty deeds.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Flash's Muay Thai coach was also dealing with the consequences. The messages Peter sent contained enough evidence of Flash bullying colleagues on the mats, disrespecting rules and fighting.
A disgrace to the academy... those were the exact words spoken by the coach. He was expelled and given an indefinite suspension from the school. A light punishment in Peter's view.
But that was fine... he would deal with Flash later.
A few days passed where he monitored Harper. He finally found an opportunity where the boy found himself alone.
Harper was sitting alone in an empty park, his face marked by tiredness and frustration. He had lost everything. His school, his team, his dream of becoming a professional player. He was completely isolated, his reputation destroyed and his parents avoiding even looking at him at home.
It was at that moment that Peter appeared. Wearing a casual jacket and with his hands in his pockets, he approached calmly, stopping in front of Harper. There was no better time for him to throw salt in the wound.
"Hello, Harper." He greeted him, startling the boy who was probably trapped in his own mind.
"Parker..." He raised his head, his eyes looking unfocused, his voice hoarse from crying for days. "What the fuck do you want?"
"I just wanted to congratulate you, Harper." He said with a "kind" smile, taking a seat next to Harper in an extravagant way. "You know, for dealing with the consequences of your own actions."
"... Fuck you, Parker." He said, lacking the energy to really get angry.
"No, I mean it! You've become exactly what I needed you to become." He said with a smile, leaning slightly towards Harper, who in turn raised his head slowly towards him.
"What...?"
"I've always been watching. You're all such idiots... dumber than I imagined." He said through a sigh, getting up soon after. "It was me, Harper."
The boy followed him with his eyes, his expression slowly changing as Peter just smiled.
"It was me who sent those messages. I'm the one who caused the anger between you." He admitted without blinking, looking deep into Harper's eyes.
"... What the fuck are you talking about, Peter?" Harper jolted, standing up slowly, without looking away.
"I made you fight with your friend." He threw the photos he'd taken of the fight between him and Danny onto the floor.
"I made you fight with your girl." The next were photos of him and Gwen, as well as the exact moment he hit her.
"I kicked you out of your dream. I kicked you out of your future career. And I tainted your life."
Harper stood motionless, his jaw tense as shock spread across his face. "You... you did all this?"
Peter smiled, moving a few centimeters closer. "And you know the funniest thing about it?"
Harper didn't answer, his breathing heavy, his fists clenched.
"You're not going to do anything." Peter said, with a cruel smile. "Because you can't do anything."
Harper screamed and lunged at Peter, punching him in the face. Peter merely dodged as he crouched, and took a step back.
"Sloppy." He teased, and Harper shouted as he lunged forward again, attempting another series of punches, at which Peter stepped to the side, ducked and finally pushed him back.
"Slow." And Harper tried a kick, which Peter easily deflected by stepping to the side.
"Sad." He sneered, hitting Harper with a punch in the stomach. The boy gasped loudly and fell to the ground, the air expelled from his lungs. His eyes watered, and his gaze focused on Peter's shoes, which came closer.
"Aww, look at that angry face..." Harper gritted his teeth, no longer able to control the tears that streamed down his face as he stared at Peter's smile. "Gonna cry?"
Harper tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. He felt so powerless... so weak... so small.
Peter stepped back, adjusting his jacket as if nothing had happened. "Have a nice life, Harper. Or what's left of it." With those words, he turned and started walking, leaving Harper alone with his ruin.
That felt so good... Kong and Danny hadn't suffered any punishment yet... not yet, he would deal with them later.
Aaaarh... it felt so good being free.
The sun was beginning to set, Peter cracked the bones in his neck and leaned slightly forward, ignoring all the noise around him. He was sitting alone on a bench in the square, the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over his head as he watched the screen of his cell phone. The small square was opposite the school, which was why it was so noisy.
On the screen of his cell phone, Captain Stacy was standing in front of a billboard with the NYPD crest. Surrounded by microphones and cameras, he was answering questions from a room full of reporters, all talking at the same time.
"Captain Stacy." A journalist in the front row began, raising her microphone. "What prompted the police to issue an arrest warrant for Spider-Man, considering the lives he has saved recently?"
The captain took a deep breath, adjusting the microphone in front of him before answering. "We understand that Spider-Man has played a role in preventing some tragedies, but that doesn't change the fact that he is acting outside the law. He has interfered in police investigations, caused significant destruction and, in some cases, acted with unjustified violence against law enforcement officers." Peter snorted in irritation.
Unjustified? He had an idea who had said that. He grunted, remembering the conversation he'd had with George. He was pretty sure the man wasn't behind it, considering that he himself had warned him about how things would turn out.
Just following orders, right?
Another reporter interrupted. "Captain, there are rumors that Spider-Man was involved in the recent incident involving the destruction of a helicopter and multiple property infractions. Did that also influence the decision?"
Stacy nodded, her face serious. "Yes. Despite the circumstances, the chaos he left behind cannot be ignored. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the city, and that includes holding those who act outside the law accountable, regardless of their intentions."
Another reporter raised his voice in the crowd. "Captain Stacy, do you believe that Spider-Man poses a direct threat to the city?"
The captain hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't think he's a direct threat. But I do believe that his actions can create situations that get out of hand. We've all seen, he's... an individual with special gifts. And that's why we need to find him. To understand his intentions and ensure that he's not a greater danger than he already is."
He snorted, sliding his finger across the screen, switching channels. The broadcast now showed the familiar studio of the Daily Bugle, with J. Jonah Jameson in his usual theatrical posture. He had always found the man a figure, on the few occasions he had seen him.
He was sitting behind a desk full of papers, with a central microphone and the expression of someone who had a great deal of indignation to share with the world.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, another edition of our special: Why Spider-Man Isn't a Hero!" Jameson announced, gesturing dramatically at the camera. "I've received a few questions today about this masked vigilante and his insistence on playing cops and robbers on the streets of New York. And let me tell you: real heroes don't need masks to hide their intentions!"
Peter sighed, but smiled slightly at the man's manner, leaning back in his seat as Jameson continued his diatribe.
"First question!" Jameson shouted, picking up a dummy piece of paper from the table and reading it out like a telegram. "'Jameson, Spider-Man saved my aunt from being run over, isn't he a hero?" He laughed out loud, shaking his head. "Saving a lady makes him a hero? I pulled my grandmother out of the street once and nobody gave me a medal for it! Not a trophy, not a TV interview! And you know why? Because that's the least any decent person would do!"
Jameson slammed his hand on the table for emphasis as the camera dramatically moved closer to his face.
"This guy thinks he can ignore the laws because he can do flips! I can also jump a fence if I have to, but that doesn't make me a hero, it makes me someone on the run from the police!" He pointed at the camera with an accusing finger. "And that's what Spider-Man is! An outlaw! An outlaw in a corny costume!"
Peter couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly.
Corny? Really? Hmpf! I'll take fashion tips from someone whose closet probably has more plaid than a game of checkers.
"'Mr. Jameson, I see a lot of people distrust this vigilante, but considering the lives he's saved, do you really think he doesn't have the potential to become a hero?'" He turned to the camera.
"Please!" Jameson snorted, pushing the papers on the table aside. "This guy's just a cosplay with muscles! I've seen more useful people fixing the broken toaster in my kitchen! Now that's a real hero!"
Jameson leaned closer to the microphone, his eyes fixed on the camera. "Wake up, New York! We don't need a masked acrobat destroying our streets and pretending to be a savior. We need real police officers, firefighters!"
Peter sighed, not that he needed permission, but he didn't like it very much...
He liked Jameson, though, the guy was a character... maybe he would make him like him one day.
He heard footsteps approaching him, and his eyes quickly focused on Gwen.
"Hi, Peter." She began, sounding hesitant, and her voice was low. Peter already knew why she was there, but he feigned surprise. "I... thought I might find you here."
"Gwen." Peter replied, his expression unchanged, but his tone gentle. "Do you need anything?"
She sighed, stopping a few steps away from him. "I... I just wanted to tell you that you were right. You know, about what you said and Harper... I... I just wanted to apologize." She said through a sigh.
"I should have seen it before, but... I didn't do anything. And now..." She looked away, biting her lip. "Now I feel like it's my fault. As if I could have stopped it all."
Peter tilted his head slightly, feigning empathy. "It's okay, Gwen. And I apologize for the way I treated you last time." She shook her head.
"Don't apologize for that, not to me." She said, sitting down next to him.
"Look, you can't blame yourself for this. Hell, even I don't blame you, not anymore, anyway. Harper is... well, he is who he is. You tried to do the right thing, you tried to be a good person, but sometimes people just don't want to change."
"Still, the way he was... what he did, to you especially." She looked up at the sky. "I saw the picture they took, and Peter... that was awful."
He merely held up his hand and shook his head. "I... just forget about it. I'd rather not think about it, especially now that he's being expelled. Little late, in my opinion." She snorted a nasal laugh.
"I keep thinking... what if I'd seen something earlier? I think... that I did, I always knew what he was really like, and I just didn't want to admit it. And I wonder, what if I'd stood up to him sooner?" Gwen insisted, her eyes beginning to water.
"... I don't think it would have changed anything. He wouldn't change, no matter what you did. Now, if I may ask... why did you get involved with Harper?" He asked in genuine curiosity and confusion. "The guy was an asshole, arrogant, rude... I don't see any qualities."
She was silent for a moment, her fingers moving and rubbing against each other in a certain nervousness.
"I think... because he let me breathe." She replied, and Peter merely arched an eyebrow. "I've always been smart, studying has always been easier for me than for others, I guess, I've always had it easy, and it kind of made me grow up with people expecting a lot of 'perfect' Gwen Stacy." She sighed again.
"I couldn't make mistakes. Or stumble. Or get a bad grade without looking like I'd just destroyed the world to my mother. When that happened, she freaked out, made me spend the whole semester in my room studying. One of the reasons I started hanging out with Mary Jane at first, her personality was such a contrast to mine... she seemed so free. And after that came Harper, who seemed good at first. He was sweet... until recently, of course."
He crossed his arms. He didn't think it was exactly a good reason, but at least he understood a little more. Harper didn't seem to be the type who cared about that sort of thing. Maybe just because he didn't expect anything from her, but not exactly in a good way.
Maybe he just saw her as a good mouth to kiss, who knows.
"Look, the world is full of people like him. Who appear to be one way and turn out to be another. It's not your fault. Don't feel bad for him, he wouldn't feel bad for you, and that, I guarantee." He said with a certain contempt in his voice.
She lowered her head, remaining silent for a few moments.
"Well, for your information, it was brave of you to stand up to him. Many people wouldn't have that kind of courage, especially him being that size." He said, and before he could reply, he felt his cell phone vibrate.
Emergency call to all units. Huge man in gray armor causing massive destruction on Lexington Avenue. Reports indicate a metallic suit, highly resistant. Request immediate reinforcements.
Peter's eyes widened slightly as he heard the low audio coming from his cell phone. "What is it?" Gwen asked, but he just ignored her for a moment.
Metallic suit? Maybe it's related to that man with the exoskeleton from a few days ago.
"Ah... it's nothing, it's just that... you probably know that my aunt has a weak body, she needs to take some medicine. She sent me a message asking me to get some now and take it to her." He made up an excuse and stood up quickly. "I'm really sorry, Gwen, I-"
"Relax, Peter." She cut him off gently. "We'll talk another time, no problem."
She said, and he offered a gentle smile. "Thank you. And remember, you did what you could, which was more than other people did. You're much stronger than you realize."
Before she could reply, Peter was already walking away, disappearing into a nearby alley to change.
Chaos dominated Lexington Avenue. Buildings were smashed, cars overturned and people fleeing in all directions. In the center of the destruction, a huge man covered in grey armor with a gleaming metal horn on his forehead was running, each pass making the ground shake, roaring like a wild animal. He turned a truck around with a single movement of his arms, as if it were a toy.
That... it was humanly impossible for a man to reach such proportions. Even the greatest bodybuilders looked like children next to such an aberration.
Peter landed on a nearby lamppost, observing the scene with a mixture of confusion and concern. It... didn't make sense.
But, well, he didn't make sense either.
A military experiment? That or some crazy company decided to play with science.
"Hey, hornblower!" Peter shouted, shooting a web onto the roof of a nearby building and swinging himself closer. "Do you always tidy up the parking lot like that or is it only when you're in a bad mood?"
The man stopped, raising his head to face Peter. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. "Ah, you've arrived. The guy said you'd come." There was something in his eyes, Peter noticed... a strange yellowish glow.
Eyes that glow... wow.
"The guy?" Peter asked, landing on the ground with a flip to soften the impact. "Who exactly is this 'guy'? Does he have a name?"
The giant stepped forward, each heavy movement cracking the asphalt beneath his feet. "He says you're special, Spider. He wants you on our side. You must accept it. Or..." He pointed to a nearby car and, without warning, launched it in Peter's direction.
Peter jumped out at the last second, casting a web to deflect the car to the side. He landed on a nearby fire hydrant, the water gushing out around him. "Wow, do you guys give gifts in your negotiations? That's nice. But you could have at least wrapped it up with a bow."
The giant lunged forward, running in a straight line with surprising speed for someone his size. Peter fired webs, trying to trap his opponent's feet, but the giant simply ripped the material away with brute force, without even slowing down.
The impact came like a runaway train. The huge giant hit the side of a building as Peter jumped out of the way at the last second. Concrete crumbled around the villain, but he quickly turned and faced Spider-Man, as if nothing had happened.
"Quick warning, our arachnid services don't cover damage by angry giants."
The man merely snorted.
"You talk too much." He ran off again. Spider-Man jumped up and shot his webs at the giant's back, he tried to knock him down but it was like trying to knock down a mountain. The man grabbed his webs and pulled him down hard, throwing Spider-Man hard against the ground. So hard that the concrete cracked beneath the body of the young man, who gasped as he felt the air being expelled from his lungs.
"What's your answer, bug?" The man asked. Spider-Man clicked his tongue and gritted his teeth. Without saying anything, he curled up his torso, placed his hands against the concrete just behind his head and propelled himself upwards, landing a kick with both feet on the giant's face, who was thrown backwards by the force of the blow.
"First of all, I'm an arachnid." He said, leaping towards the man and landing a punch to his face, which sent him crashing into the wall. It was difficult to control his blows now, he didn't know when it was too little or too much.
He looked at the man, already getting his answer when he saw that, despite the blood dripping from his opponent's nose and mouth, he didn't seem too affected.
The man then threw a punch that hit him straight on, knocking him into the side of a parked truck. The metal crumpled on impact, the vehicle slid a few centimeters before tipping onto its side, and Spider-Man felt the pain spread through his ribs.
The man gave no rest and advanced again. Spider-Man widened his eyes slightly and jumped up, dodging the blow. The truck was practically crushed.
Above the giant's head, he shot two webs into the ground, one on either side of the man, and propelled himself downwards, landing a kick on the man's head, who was thrown hard against the ground face first. The concrete shattered from the blow.
Spiderman acted quickly and wrapped his body in webs. He leapt into the air again and lifted the giant. He spun around twice in the air and threw him again against the ground.
The asphalt shattered completely, but despite the blow, the man soon tore through the webs with sheer force and stood up, advancing quickly towards Spider-Man.
The vigilante jumped again, but this time the giant was quicker and grabbed him by the leg. He threw Spider-Man to the ground, lifted him up again and repeated the blow, then slammed him into the building next door, destroying part of the wall before he turned and threw the vigilante towards the building on the other side.
Spider-man grunted loudly and spat blood as his body hit the wall, crashing through the concrete with a thud, landing inside an empty office. He crashed into a desk, knocking over papers and monitors before coming to a stop on the floor. For a moment, he lay still, trying to catch his breath, feeling pain spread throughout his body.
He pressed his ribs together, groaning as he felt a sharp stab. Outside, the giant walked towards the building, knocking over pieces of rubble as he approached.
"You're strong, but I can tell you're very young. Heh, you can't even throw a punch properly." He said. "Out of respect for the blows, my name is Rhino."
Spider-Man took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain. He stood up with difficulty, leaning on the wall, blood dripping down his face under his mask. "Rhino... very original. Geez... how come I didn't notice it before? The horn, it should have been obvious."
He adjusted his mask, flexing his fingers before leaping through the gap in the wall, straight towards Rhino. Spider-Man fired webs at the giant's eyes, momentarily blinding him before landing directly on his chest with a double kick. The impact knocked Rhino back a few steps, but didn't knock him down. He reacted with a brutal blow, which the vigilante managed to dodge quickly, but the wind from the punch was enough to cut through the air.
Rhino spun around and hit Spider-Man with a punch that knocked him into a lamppost. He grunted in pain, but used the impact to rebound and shoot out another web, which caught on Rhino's arm.
Rhino, in turn, pulled the vigilante towards him with great force. Spider-Man turned his body while still in the air, successfully dodging a powerful punch from the giant.
He landed a few meters behind Rhino, who was already turning towards him. Spider-Man acted quickly, and as soon as the giant turned around, he hit him with a powerful punch to the face, stronger than any punch he had thrown before.
The giant was thrown backwards, his back crashing into another building. The entire structure shook, and the boy felt the place threaten to collapse.
Suddenly, Rhino emerged from the smoke, charging towards him like a ferocious animal at high speed. Spider-Man shot a web into the air and pulled himself out of the giant's impact area.
Rhino, realizing this, grabbed a parked car and threw it towards the vigilante. Spider-Man, in turn, dodged the car and shot a web into the back of the vehicle. He grunted from the force of it, but managed to throw the car back towards Rhino, who was hit hard and fell to the ground with a loud thud, dragging himself a few meters across the asphalt with what was left of the vehicle.
Rhino roared, trying to get up, but the boy quickly jumped on his chest and started punching and punching the man in the face. Blood began to splatter as he hit him, parts of his armor breaking away as the blows hit him.
Rhino tried to grab him again, but the boy was already out of reach, swinging to gain altitude before coming down with a direct kick to the villain's face, which threw him backwards.
The street was in ruins. Wrecked cars, smashed building facades, and the ground covered in debris.
Rhino, on his knees, grabbed a lamppost and turned quickly, hitting Spider-Man in the side of the torso and throwing him violently to the side, causing him to crash once again into the concrete.
He grunted as his back hit the concrete, and his body bounced, falling to the asphalt soon after.
He gasped, trying to get up. His side hurt, he didn't know if it was a broken rib or just a bad bruise, blood trickling down his body.
Standing up, he wiped some of the blood from his mask. Rhino, on the other side of the street, was also on his feet, breathing heavily but still steady. His metal-covered hands clenched into fists as he walked slowly towards the boy, like a predator who smelled blood.
At one point, Rhino lunged forward like an out-of-control locomotive, the ground shaking beneath his feet. Spider-Man leapt to the side at the last second, avoiding a direct hit. He fired a web at Rhino's face, temporarily blinding him, but the giant ripped the material away with a powerful jerk, without missing a beat.
Rhino spun around, hitting the vigilante with a blow that drove him into the side of a building. The impact tore away chunks of concrete, and the boy fell to the ground in a heap of rubble. He tried to get up, groaning in pain
"You... should have... accepted the offer." Rhino said, gasping slightly as he moved forward slowly.
"You know... if this... super villain thing doesn't work out... maybe you should consider a plan B. Like... a zoo."
Rhino roared, charging again. He fired two webs, attaching himself to opposite poles, and used the tension to launch himself directly at Rhino. The kick hit the villain in the chest, knocking him back a few steps, but didn't knock him out.
Spider-Man landed, spinning in the air to avoid the punch Rhino tried to throw. Rhino hit him again, however, this time with a direct blow that knocked him to the ground.
The vigilante, now on his knees, looked up at him. His senses were on high alert, Rhino's every move seemed slowed down, almost predictable. But... his body couldn't keep up.
Not because he couldn't... but because he didn't know how to simply let himself go.
With a leap, he went straight for Rhino, dodging a massive punch and grabbing the giant's arm. He used all his strength to spin his opponent around, throwing him off balance and into a parked car. The impact was tremendous, but Rhino still tried to get up.
Spider-Man didn't give him a chance. He fired more webs, trapping the villain's legs and arms before pulling hard enough to knock him down again. Rhino roared, tearing at the webs with effort, but the boy was already on top of him, throwing a sequence of punches with all the strength he had left.
Spider-Man lifted him up by the armor on his chest, his hands shaking from the effort, and threw him against a building.
Rhino tried to react, but the boy didn't let him. He advanced towards him and landed a powerful kick in his mouth, followed by two more punches that knocked him to the ground.
Rhino rolled on the ground and tried another punch, a somewhat desperate move from behind. Spider-Man grabbed the giant's fist, his body being pushed back a few centimeters, but he didn't fall. He landed a blow on the giant's arm from above, breaking the armor and narrowly missing breaking his arm as well. With that, he shot another layer of webbing over the giant, pinning him against the asphalt.
Gasping and bloodied, Spider-Man staggered backwards, watching the defeated villain. Rhino still tried to move, but his efforts were futile.
"You... are tough. I'll give you that... but it looks like I'm stronger." Rhino grunted, but didn't respond. He was immobilized, unable to continue.
Spider-Man looked down at his own body, covered in blood and dust, his suit torn in several places, blood dripping down in some abundance. Despite the pain and exhaustion, he felt a small spark of satisfaction. He had won.
As the police sirens began to approach, he looked at the horizon.
What would he say to Aunt May? Well, it was Friday... if he pretended to be ill, he could hide his body under the blanket.
Firing one last web, he launched himself away, hearing the sound of gunfire and feeling bullets passing dangerously close to his body.