A/N: Please read and review?
Shoutouts:
chiripa012: I have plans to bring the Green Goblin back, just not right now. As for Aunt May being killed off, no, but George Stacy dying is another matter, but not now. I'd rather wait till Gwen's in collage or something before deciding to kill him off or not.
On the night of Sunday, September the 10th, in the Parker House, Peter was walking up the stairs to his bedroom, when he saw Teresa's door was open. He walked over to it curiously, peeked inside, and saw Teresa looking nervous in her nightwear, sitting on her bed.
"Teresa, you okay?" he asked, opening the door.
"Oh, Peter. Yeah, I'm just nervous about starting that new school." Teresa explained, as Peter walked over and sat beside her.
"Sis, you'll be okay. Flash told me yesterday Jessie will help you get around and fit in." Peter assured. "Miles and Anya had to when they transferred to Midtown High."
"They...they did?" Teresa asked, looking up at him.
"Yeah. Miles was luckier than Anya since she'd been where he was going through." Peter recalled. "I'm sure Jessie will help you get around."
Teresa smiled at him, before she hugged him, which he returned.
Across the city, in the Prison of Ryker's Island, Flint Marko AKA Sandman, was standing by a guard and a Cop at the main entrance.
"Well, Marko, you've served part of your time, and because of your good behaviour, we're letting you go." the Cop said, uncuffing Flint.
"Thanks. You all know why I stole, just to cure my daughter." Flint said.
"Yeah, we know. Unlike most villains the Web-Warriors have caught, you're one of the few who aren't evil." the Cop said. "Even the former Commissioner admitted you had decent and desperate reasons for stealing."
"Yeah, I'm just glad my daughter's alright." Flint said. "I just hope my ex-wife will let me see her now she's cured."
"Has she ever visited you while you've been in here?" the Cop asked.
"Well... Yeah, but not without Penny." Flint replied. "I don't understand that."
"Well, when you find her, better ask." the Cop suggested. "For your sake, I just hope she'll let you see her."
"Thanks." Flint said.
Another guard came over and put down a backpack and aa suitcase near Flint.
"You're belongings." he said.
"Right." Flint said. "I'm glad to be leaving this place."
"Well, we all hope you never end up back there?" the guard said.
"I promise you, I'll never be back here. My life's gonna go straight from now on." Flint promised.
He put his backpack over his shoulder and picked up his suitcase, before he walked away, knowing his life wouldn't be easy, but he was never going back to crime.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a bunch of water slowly moved across a rooftop like a river, before it came together and merged into Morris Bench AKA Hydro-Man.
"Finally." he said. "Took me six months, but I'm finally back. Oh, Mary Jane is in for a shock when she sees me tomorrow, and since it's the start of the new school year, I know exactly where she'll be."
He turned himself in a gust of water and went down the drain and into the street, before he turned back into Bench. He looked around and took a trench coat and hat from a bench and put them on, before he walked down the street. He soon stopped by a Newspaper stand, seeing copies of the Daily Bugle piled together with other papers, including the Daily Globe, but it was the Bugle's article that got his attention. He picked one up and looked at the cover, showing all four Web-Warriors all together on a wall, looking down at the scene of a crime, that they foiled two days ago.
"So, two more Spiders have shown up since I supposedly died." he thought. "Hmm? Looks like I'll have to be more careful, as they won't stop me this time."
The next morning, on Monday the 11th, at Midtown High, Bench was hiding in an alley, looking at his old school, since he knew that since everyone thought he was dead, he'd never be able to get in without a disguise.
"Just wait for the school bus to arrive." he thought.
He whistled to himself as he waited, when he saw the school bus coming towards him.
"Perfect timing." he thought.
He stared at the school bus as it pulled over, allowing Peter, Gwen, Mary Jane, and other students to get out. Pete and Gwen took each other's hands as they walked through the doors, along with many others - including Flash, Randy, Sally, Gloria and Hobie Brown - while Mary Jane turned and waved her hair. The bus moved away as she did so, allowing Bench to see her, wearing a black shirt, with a picture of Spider-Man's mask on in a heart shape.
"Oh, Red, you'll be mine soon." Bench thought, eyeing her with lust.
Mary Jane turned to walk inside, when Liz came over to her.
"Hey, Liz." she said. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about you and Harry?" Liz asked. "Things going okay despite the breakup?"
"Well, to be honest, he hardly speaks to me much, not that I blame him since I broke his heart." Mary Jane reasoned. "I'm sure he'll come around."
"I hope so, as I feel sorry for him." Liz said, as they entered the school.
"So, something's happened between her and Osborn." Bench thought. "Brilliant. I get her this time, and if those accursed Web-Heads get in my way, I won't make the same mistake this time."
He turned into liquid and went down into the sewer, as the school doors closed behind them.
Inside the school, Peter was walking down the hallway towards his locker, as Miles came up behind him.
"So, new school year." Miles said. "You think Teresa's gonna like her new school?"
"I hope so." Peter said. "I'm just glad Jessie told her she'd help her get around, since it'll all be new to her."
"I'm sure your sister will fit in." Miles said. "She's fitted into the city fair enough, so I'm sure she'll fit into school."
"Same here, Pete." came a familiar voice.
Both boys turned and saw Ganke approaching them.
"Ganke?" Miles said. "What are you doing here?"
"You transferred schools?" Peter assumed.
"Yeah, but not by choice." Ganke explained. "My last school had to close down due to a massive load of drugs being discovered under it. They had to practically destroy the building in case there was contamination."
"Oh, that's harsh." Peter said. "Who was behind it it?"
"So, you asked your parents to transfer you here so we'd be together again?" Miles inquired.
"Yeah." Ganke replied. "I really missed you when you transferred, Miles."
Miles smiled. "I'll help you get around, buddy." he promised.
"Thanks." Ganke said.
"Have you been to the Spider-Cave yet?" Peter asked.
"Yeah. Anya took me over yesterday when I ran into her. Great piece of technology you got in there." Ganke said.
"Thanks. It was a gift from Tony Stark for us after Spider-Island." Peter explained.
"So, besides the team, only your Aunt knows, Peter?" Ganke inquired.
"Yeah." Peter replied. "So, keep it quiet among everyone else?"
"Got it." Ganke said.
"By the way, have you thought of a codename yet?" Miles asked.
"Yeah. How's CAM sound?" Ganke asked. "Stands for Computer Assistant Man."
Peter and Miles turned to each other, before turning back to him.
"Well, I have to admit, it's decent." Peter said. "Better than some others you could've thought off."
"Thanks." Ganke said.
The bell suddenly rang, making them look around.
"We better get to class." Peter said. "We'll tell the girls."
Ganke nodded before he and Miles walked off one way, with Peter going the other.
Meanwhile, Aunt May and Teresa were in a Taxi, which had pulled over outside Mamie Fay Public School, Teresa's new school, as the bus didn't know where to pick her up yet.
"Well, here it is, Teresa." she said.
"Right." Teresa said, getting out. "Well, here begins Teresa Parker's new year, at a new school."
"You know, you didn't have to change your name to Parker?" Aunt May reminded her.
Teresa sighed, for while she was happy to be a Durand, she felt that as a Parker by birth and blood, it was her birthright, not that she didn't keep a picture of her foster parents in her bedroom.
"I know, but you understand my reasons, Aunt May." she said, turning to her. "It's in my blood. You and Peter are all that's left of my family, blood and by adoption."
"I know that, and while I am happy you did, you still didn't have too." Aunt May said. "Have a good day."
"I'll try." Teresa said.
She got out and walked towards the school, when she saw Jessie coming towards her.
"Hey, you ready?" Jessie asked.
"I think so." Teresa said.
Jessie wrapped her arm around Teresa and led her inside, who hoped her first day here would be alright, as the taxi Aunt May was in drove off.
A little later, Capt. Stacy was standing in a different station than where he normally worked, along with at least four other Captains. One was a white man, who had grey hair with a bald patch on top called Chris DiMolina, while another was a white man with black hair, and a moustache called Joshua Stern. The third was an African-American man with whiskers on his face called Russell Ross, while the fourth was a man with blonde hair called Drake Voight.
"I wonder why the Commissioner called us all here?" Capt. Voight wondered, as they walked down a hallway.
"I've been wondering that myself." Capt. Stacy said. "It must be important through."
"Maybe it has something to do with the date." Capt. Stern deduced.
"It's possible." Capt. Ross said. "I mean, we all know the date too well."
"Oh, I know the date. For me, it's more though." Capt. Stacy sighed. "It's the day I met my wife."
"You met your wife during 9/11?" Capt. DiMolina asked, shocked.
"Yeah." Capt. Stacy sighed. "I was among those who responded, and Helen was one of the Doctors helping on the scene. The only good thing I'll ever remember about that day."
"Lucky you." Capt. Stern scoffed, folding his arms.
The five Captains kept on walking, until they stood by an office door three more were at. One was Hispanic looking with brown hair called Jose Cruz, one was white with red hair called Victor Jefferson, and the last was African-American with slightly grey hair called Ricco Hudson.
"He called you guys too?" Capt. Hudson asked.
"Yeah. What's going on?" Capt. Ross asked.
"Don't know." Capt. Cruz shrugged.
They all gasped slightly as the door opened, and Commissioner DeWolff poked his head out.
"Good, you're all here. Come in." he said.
He turned and walked into the office, before the eight Captains entered, with Capt. Stern being the last as he closed the door behind him.
"So, why'd you call us all here, sir?" Capt. DiMolina asked.
"Well, I have to tell you all this together, which is why I called you here." the Commissioner explained.
"And why's that?" Capt. Voight asked.
"Because...I'm retiring." the Commissioner explained.
All eight Captains looked thunderstruck at the news.
"Retiring?" Capt. Stacy questioned. "Why?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while, ever since my daughter died." the Commissioner sighed. "Celia was right in a way, I helped caused this by being her role-model."
"Your daughter chose that life." Capt. DiMolina argued. "It was just bad luck Sin-Eater targeted her instead of someone else. We've all heard how he acts."
"Chris is right, and I've seen him in that crazed state." Capt. Stacy said. "I regret putting him in my unit."
"You've been Commissioner for nearly 10 years, and not once have you regretted it." Capt. Hudson recalled.
"That was before I lost my daughter. Jean wasn't meant to die before me." the Commissioner sighed. "I'm starting to wish I'd left and found another job when she was born."
"Well, who's replacing you as Commissioner?" Capt. Stacy asked.
"Capt. Chris DiMolina." the Commissioner said.
The Captains all looked shocked, especially DiMolina.
"Why me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
"Because you're the most senor out of all of you." the Commissioner replied. "You have at least two years experience over George, who's next in line."
"Right. I won't let you down, Com- I mean, Phil." Capt. DiMolina promised.
"I know you won't. This is yours now, Chris, so your second-in-command replaces you in your precinct." Mr. DeWolff sighed. "As for the rest of you, as my last order, keep the city safe and get back to work."
"Yes, sir." the Captains all said, saluting.
Back at Midtown High, Peter, Gwen, Harry, Mary Jane, Flash, Liz, Sally, Gloria, and Randy were all in Professor Harrington's Science class with other students. Mary Jane sat beside Gwen, while Harry sat beside Peter, while the couple sat between them, who kept glancing at them both discreetly.
"We need to get them to talk." Gwen whispered.
"I know, but not now." Peter whispered. "It's mostly Harry who's been distant."
Gwen nodded as Prof. Harrington kept teaching the class, which was a biology one, before the school bell rang.
"I want you all to read the first two chapters on Human Biology, and hand in a report to me this time next week." he explained.
The class all gathered up their things and began to get up and leave the classroom.
"Parker, Stacy, you two stay behind for a minute?" Prof. Harrington asked.
Peter and Gwen turned to each other, looking confused, before they both approached him as everyone else filed out.
"So, what it is, Professor?" Peter asked, curiously.
"Well, what I have to say comes from Empire State University." the Professor. explained.
Peter and Gwen looked speechless, as they'd been there a few times before, for their trip where Peter got his powers, when Gwen had helped Mrs. Connors cure her husband the night she got her powers, and several times since in costume.
"Empire State University?" Gwen questioned. "What for, Professor.?"
"Well, you see, the thing is, the college allows Dr. Curt Connors to take on high schoolers as interns." the Professor explained.
"You mean, internships?" Peter inquired, speechless.
"Yes." the Professor assured. "And I've recommended you both, since you're the best in the year."
"Well, how come it's never been brought up before?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, well, apparently the collage only allows Seniors to be recommended for the intern positions." Professor Harrington explained. "And due to Professor Warren's disgusting obsession with you Stacy, he might've only recommended Parker to keep you two separated if he'd still been here."
Gwen shuddered, for that still creeped her out.
"I see. If only Seniors are allowed, it makes sense." Gwen said.
"So, when do we start?" Peter asked.
"Well, Dr. Connors would like you to start right after school." Professor Harrington explained.
Peter and Gwen turned to each other happily, before they both turned and left the classroom.
"Should we check it out?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah. We can deal with Harry and MJ tomorrow." Peter said. "We'll just keep an eye on them today."
"Deal." Gwen agreed, linking her arm with his, before they walked down the hallway.
Meanwhile, at Mamie Fay Public School, Teresa was sitting outside with Jessie, having their lunch together.
"So, you enjoying your day so far?" Jessie asked, before she ate part of a sandwich.
"Well, it's okay, I guess." Teresa sighed. "I might be better off tomorrow through, since my best subjects are then."
"Oh, I see." Jessie said. "To each her own."
Teresa smiled as she drank some juice, as she looked around the school yard, which had a set of monkey bars, a few swings, and a tetherball.
"Not much different from my old school." she said.
"I'm sure you'll love it here after a while." Jessie assured.
"I hope so, and I apricate all the support you're giving me." Teresa assured, turning to her.
"Don't mention it." Jessie assured.
They both smiled as they went back to the lunch, as other children turned to them now and again, since Teresa was the new girl.
After school, Peter and Gwen went over to E.S.U via taxi, not wanting to draw suspicion, then stood soon by the front doors. As they'd been here before, it wasn't a surprise by how big the place was, before they began walking around the campus.
"This is so the college I wanna go too when we graduate." Gwen said.
"Me too, Gwen." Peter said. "It'd be great if we both got in."
"I know." Gwen said. "To think, we'll be allowed inside now without permission or in costume, due to what we've done."
"Aren't we doing that now since we're interns?" Peter asked.
"Good point." Gwen agreed, kissing his cheek.
They both walked around the campus, before they approached Dr. Connors lab room and saw Debra Whitman standing by the door.
"Oh, you must be the interns from Midtown?" she assumed.
"Yeah. And if I remember correctly, you're Debra Whitman?" Peter inquired. "I saw you last year when Dr. Stillwell was going on about his inventions."
"How do you know that?" Debra inquired, suspiciously.
"I work at the Daily Bugle to help my Aunt pay the bills." Peter explained.
"Oh... Oh, now I remember. I saw you in the crowd, but didn't get your name." Debra said. "It's Peter Parker, isn't it?"
"Yep." Peter said.
"And I'm Gwen Stacy." Gwen said, holding her hand out.
"Nice to meet you." Debra said, shaking her hand. "Well, I'll take you inside."
She turned and led the couple into the lab, which they both looked around, seeing it was different from the last time Peter was here, during Spider-Island.
"Looks a bit different from the way you told me before." Gwen whispered.
"Might have something to do with the robbery Black Cat did for the Jackal, since that helped cause Spider-Island." Peter whispered. "Dr. Connors must've had to change his work."
Debra kept leading them on, when Dr. Connors came out of his office and turned to them all.
"Here's the interns, Dr. Connors." Debra explained.
"Thanks, Debra." Dr. Connors said, before he looked at Peter and Gwen. "Well, this is a surprise. When Professor Harrington recommended you, Peter, I didn't expect it."
"To be honest, I didn't know E.S.U. accepted interns at all, Dr. Connors." Peter admitted.
"Well, I'm glad to have you here." Dr. Connors said. "You too, Ms. Stacy."
"It's Gwen, Dr. Connors." Gwen assured.
"Have you been feeling alright, due to all the stuff that's happened, like when my former friend Otto had you kidnapped or the whole Jackal mess?" Dr. Connors asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Gwen assured. "Still disgusted by the latter though. Ew. He's literality old enough to be my father."
"Tell us about it." Debra said. "It wasn't just your school that got word. The entire city found out after he was exposed and a lot of people here are equally disgusted."
"I apricate it, Debra." Gwen assured.
"Right. Well, I'll just go and get the equipment." Debra said, before she walked off.
"So, how you feeling Dr. Connors?" Gwen asked. "I mean, regrading your little...lizard problem?"
Dr. Connors gasped as he turned to them both.
"Doc, we've always know about the Lizard." Peter sighed. "We both saw the video of you using the serum you created."
"It's true. We the ones who told your wife, and I helped her make the cure." Gwen explained.
"So, besides my wife and the Web-Warriors, you two know?" Dr. Connors asked.
"Yes." Peter said, which was entirely truthful. "But Doc, we deeply respect you. We'd never ruin your life for a accident."
"Yeah, what you did wasn't your fault, unlike Professor Warren." Gwen assured.
Dr. Connors smiled. "I'm glad you're like the Web-Warriors, who don't see me as a monster for that." he sighed.
"So, what do you want us to do first?" Peter asked.
"Well, if you both can start by going over my notes that I've left in my office?" Dr. Connors asked. "I'm a bit jam-packed these days with...other stuff besides teaching."
Peter and Gwen smiled as they walked off into his office, both knowing he was referring to helping Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Bruce Banner, Hank Pym and Hank McCoy curing the Jackal's victims, as well as Electro.
A little later, Shadow-Spider and Spider-Girl were both sitting on a rooftop together in Times Square with a hot dog each, looking down at the city, before Shadow-Spider his mask up to eat his.
"I wonder how Peter and Gwen are doing at E.S.U.?" he wondered.
"If I know them, being the science geeks they are, probably having a great time." Spider-Girl said. "Good thing they're with Dr. Connors so they can keep an eye on him."
"Yeah. I hope the Lizard doesn't return on their first day." Shadow-Spider hoped, before he eat a piece of his hot dog.
"Me too." Spider-Girl agreed. "Do you think Ganke's set up in the Spider-Cave yet?"
"I'm sure he is." Shadow-Spider assured. "We'll know when he patches into the phones in our masks."
Spider-Girl smiled, making him blush beneath his mask, before they both turned and looked down at the city, when they heard a noise in their built-in headsets.
"Yeah?" Shadow-Spider said, touching his.
"Shadow-Spider, Spider-Girl, CAM here." came Ganke's voice.
"CAM? That's your codename?" Spider-Girl asked.
"Hey, it was the best I could think of." Ganke assured. "Even Spidey admits it. I thought you and Ghost were told?"
Spider-Girl turned to Shadow-Spider, who blushed.
"Oh, I forgot due to how the day's been." he said. "Sorry."
"Okay, CAM, what you got?" Spider-Girl asked.
(Spider-Cave)
Ganke sat at the computer in a chair, the screen showing the pair on the rooftop.
"Nothing so far. Everything seems quiet." Ganke explained.
"Well, let us know if that changes. With the others busy right now, we're all there is." Spider-Girl explained.
"Understood." Ganke said. "I'll keep my eyes open."
Meanwhile, Mary Jane was walking down a street in Brooklyn, while Bench watched from an alley behind her in his normal form.
"All alone." he thought. "Perfect."
He kept watching Mary Jane, when he saw a small group of people coming towards her.
"Damn! Still, I can watch her from here." he thought. "I'll just make my move later."
He hid himself in the alley, before he peeked out and saw Liz and Gloria approaching her.
"Hey, girls!" she called.
Bench frowned as he glared at them.
"Hey, MJ. Had a good day back?" Gloria asked.
"It's been swell." Mary Jane said. "I just thought I'd come here to clear my head, as I've had a bit on my mind lately."
"Oh, what?" Gloria asked.
"Just...personal things." Mary Jane replied, putting her left hand behind her head.
"Right, like how you wanna make amends with Harry?" Liz assumed.
"Partly." Mary Jane admitted. "So, where's Sally?"
"Oh, she's at home, properly working out tactics." Liz said. "She's the new Captain of the Cheerleader squad. Last year's Captain was impressed by her leading us she chose her without letting us vote."
"And do you and the others mind that?" Mary Jane asked.
"Nah. We all think she's good." Liz said. "She did make me her deputy though in case she can't make it."
"Well, I think you've earned it." Mary Jane said.
"Thanks." Liz said. "Hey, we're heading by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You wanna join us?"
"Uh, no thanks." Mary Jane said. "I've got some errands to run, and that includes picking up something at Coney Island."
She turned and walked off, with Liz and Gloria going the other way, as Bench kept watching.
"Coney Island? Prefect." he thought. "I'll be even stronger there if those accursed Web-Warriors show up. Plus, all the extra water will help me out."
He saw Mary Jane turned right down the path as he kept thinking.
"Still, better follow her in case she changes her mind." he thought.
Later, at E.S.U., Peter and Gwen were both walking through the campus grounds together, as they were finished for the day.
"Now that was amazing." Gwen said. "Can't believe what we get to learn from Dr. Connors himself."
"I know, me too." Peter said. "Can't wait for our next one here. I'm sure Miles and Anya can look after the city while we're here on these days."
"Same here." Gwen agreed. "With Ganke, AKA CAM, they should be alright."
"Yeah." Peter agreed.
"Gotta admit, good codename for him so no one would know." Gwen said. "Anyone will think CAM will stand for anything."
"It sure will. You wanna go to Coney Island to celebrate our first day, Ms. Stacy?" Peter teased.
"I'd love too, Mr. Parker." Gwen joked, kissing his cheek. "Lead the way, bugboy."
They both left with their arms linked, as Dr. Connors and Debra watched them both from the lab window.
"Those two really impressed me." Debra admitted.
"I know. The way they are reminds me of me and Martha at their age." Dr. Connors said. "I hope they'll like all the stuff we're doing here."
"Me too." Debra agreed. "They might actually be good enough to join us next year, I hope."
"Me too, Debra. Me too." Dr. Connors sighed.
Meanwhile, Flint was walking down a street near Central Park, looking around, when Shadow-Spider and Spider-Girl both landed on a rooftop nearby and looked down at him.
"Is that Flint Marko; the Sandman?" Spider-Girl whispered.
Shadow-Spider looked down and saw she was right, as Flint walked across the street, as they'd both seen his picture in the Spider-Cave.
"Yeah. He must've been let out." he said.
"Good thing he's not like other villains we know." Spider-Girl said. "He did only steal to help cure his daughter."
"CAM, you know this, right?" Shadow-Spider asked, touching the side of his mask.
"Yeah, I know." Ganke assured. "Defiantly not like most villains out there."
"I wonder why he's here?" Spider-Girl wondered, putting her hand on her chin.
"Maybe he's looking for his daughter?" Shadow-Spider suggested.
"Possible." Spider-Girl admitted.
(Spider-Cave)
Ganke typed on the computer, bringing up security footage of Flint leaving Ryker's Island.
"Guys, from what I've found, he was let out for good behaviour." he explained.
"Well, given the fact he was blackmailed to fighting our friends, I think he earned it." Shadow-Spider said.
(Central Park area)
"Me too. That's one villain who will never go back to crime, at least not willingly." Spider-Girl said. "We better check the next area."
She jumped off the rooftop and began to web-swing away, before Shadow-Spider followed her.
On the ground, Flint kept on walking down a street, before he turned right and approached a subway tunnel.
"I went to old house and nothing since they moved. Since Penny always like rides they might be at Coney Island." he thought, walking down the steps. "Since they know about my powers, Penny might think I'm in amongst the sand. I just hope Emma will let me see her."
He sighed as he approached the ticket booth to get a ticket to Coney Island.
A half-an-hour later, at Coney Island, Mary Jane was walking along Mermaid Avenue, while Bench came over from an alley.
"Oh, I have you now, Red. With all the ocean out there to help, I'll be stronger than ever." he thought.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider both landed on a rooftop and looked around.
"Can't wait for our time here." Ghost-Spider said.
"Me too, Ghost." Spider-Man said. "Just need to find a place to change."
They both turned and saw Mary Jane walking down along the edge of the river, with Bench right behind her.
"Is that...?" Ghost-Spider whispered.
"It can't be... Better call the others in case." Spider-Man said, touching the side of his mask.
On the ground, Mary Jane kept on walking down the street, when she heard a noise.
"Huh?" she muttered.
"Surprise, red." Bench said.
Mary Jane turned around and gasped, backing away.
"Morris Bench? But..." she gasped, backing away.
"I've been looking all over for you." Bench said.
"But how's this possible?" Mary Jane exclaimed. "Spider-Man and I saw you evaporate on that rooftop!"
"Ha. I almost did, red, but I survived." Bench smirked.
Unknown to him, the two Spiders landed on a rooftop right near them both, looking down at them.
"But how? How did you survive?" Mary Jane asked.
"No harm in you knowing, I guess." Bench said. "You see..."
(Flashback)
Hydro-Man jumped to pounce on Spider-Man, who jumped to his left to avoid him, making him hit the roof and evaporate into nothing, with small splashes of water flying all over the rooftop.
"...when I supposedly evaporated on that rooftop..."
A small piece of water had fallen into the nearby vent shaft, and was moving along slowly.
"...a small piece of me managed to land into a vent shaft, keeping me alive, but barely."
The small piece of water moved slowly along the vent, like a snail, towards a shaft.
"I was forced to stay inside a vent, moving very slowly..."
The water falls down the vent shaft and landed in a sink full of water.
"...until I managed to land in a sink full of water, even if it was dirty."
The water started to bubble, before a large part of it came out and moved along the floor.
"I then went searching around for better water supplies, but I couldn't leave the building I was stuck in."
The water stopped and rested in a corner.
"It took me six months to reform myself, which was the longest six months of my life, but then last night, it finally happened."
The sprinklers of the building came on, spreading water all over, including the puddle, making it grow.
"The sprinklers came on, allowing me to grow stronger..."
The large piece of water slowly moved across a rooftop, before it came together and merged into Bench.
"...until I was reborn."
(Flashback ends)
Mary Jane gasped as Bench came slowly towards her.
"And now, I can have you." he said.
Mary Jane shook her head and backed away.
On the rooftop, both Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider turned to each other.
"So, that's how he survived." Ghost-Spider whispered.
"We better stop him." Spider-Man said.
Ghost-Spider nodded, before they both jumped off the rooftop and gilded down towards the scene.
"Bench, didn't you learn anything from last time? I am not interested!" Mary Jane snapped.
"But I heard you and Osborn split up?" Bench said. "Which means you're single again, Red."
Mary Jane gulped as she backed away, before she saw her hero and Ghost-Spider gilding towards him.
"So, you'll be coming with me!" Bench smirked.
"She's not going anywhere with you!" Ghost-Spider yelled.
Bench turned around as she and Spider-Man dived and landed near them.
"You two?" he gasped.
Mary Jane sighed with relief at the sight of her hero and one of his partners.
"We're surprised your back, Bench, after what happened last time?" Spider-Man said.
"Until we overheard you tell Mary Jane here how you managed to survive." Ghost-Spider added, folding her arms. "And we can see you didn't learn your lesson."
Bench frowned and turned into Hydro-Man, before he dived towards them both to pounce on them, but missed as they jumped away, Ghost-Spider landing on a wall, while Spider-Man landed near Mary Jane.
"Mary Jane, get outta here!" he said, turning to her.
Mary Jane nodded before she turned and ran off, before Hydro-Man reformed and turned to her.
"NOO! You won't-" he began.
Ghost-Spider dived down and kicked him, turning him into a puddle of water, before she turned and landed in a three-point stance, as he reformed.
"You're not going after her!" she yelled, shooting a web.
Spider-Man shot one too, which hit each other near Hydro-Man, interweaving them, but he just smirked.
"If you think that's gonna stop me, you're mistaken, web-heads." he smirked.
He turned into a puddle of water and went under the webs, before two jets of water shot out from it, hitting both the Spiders.
"AHH!" Ghost-Spider moaned.
"AHH!" Spider-Man yelled.
They both hit the ground on their backs, as Hydro-Man dashed away after Mary Jane.
"He's gotten even stronger since last time!" Ghost-Spider moaned, as they got up.
"Must be the water nearby, it's making him stronger." Spider-Man realized. "We gotta stop him before he gets to MJ."
They both jumped up and began to web-swing after Hydro-Man.
Nearby, Flint was sitting on a bench, reading a Newspaper, when he heard someone running.
"What the...?" he muttered, getting up.
He turned right and saw Mary Jane came running towards him, whom he recognized from last year.
"That's that..." he began.
He turned slightly as Hydro-Man came up in front of her, turning back into Bench.
"Ah!" she gasped, stopping.
"You going somewhere, red?" Bench asked. "You can't outrun me?"
Mary Jane turned and ran off to her right, with Bench grinning as he moved to follow her, when Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider landed in front of him.
"You two stay out of my way?" Bench snarled. "I will have what's mine!"
"What's mine?" Ghost-Spider questioned. "You're treating her like she's an object instead of a person!"
Bench growled as he turned into Hydro-Man.
"She is mine, and nothing will stop me!" he growled.
"Then you'll have to go through us first, Bench!" Spider-Man snarled, clutching his fist.
"Then you leave me no choice, you web-headed fools!" Hydro-Man roared.
He clapped his hands together, creating a large tornado made of water, which engulfed both Spiders and spun them around, cutting off their air supply.
"I've got to help them!" Flint gasped, turning into Sandman.
Hydro-Man kept it up his water tornado, when a gust of water hit his chest from behind, making him stop.
"AH!" he groaned.
The water tornado vanished, freeing Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider, who both hit the ground on their chests and coughed up.
"Back off, water-hog!" Sandman yelled, coming out behind Hydro-Man.
Hydro-Man turned around to him, shocking him slightly, as the two Spiders looked up, but couldn't see clearly as their vision was blurred.
"Who... Who is that?" Ghost-Spider muttered.
"Can't...tell..." Spider-Man coughed.
"So, the infamous Sandman's out of jail, eh?" he inquired.
"Yeah, I am, and I'm surprised to see you alive." Sandman frowned. "I heard you died trying to kill Spider-Man?"
"Lucky for me, I got my second wind." Hydro-Man smirked. "Surprised you're helping them out though, after last time you were out?"
"I was blackmailed!" Sandman snapped. "I didn't do any of that willingly."
"That makes you weak, not using your powers to get what you want!" Hydro-Man snarled. "I'll have what's mine, no matter what happens!"
He shot water from both his hands, but Sandman shot sand from both of his, getting them locked together, shocking each other.
"What the hell?" Hydro-Man exclaimed, as they both stopped.
"I... I didn't expect that." Sandman admitted.
Hydro-Man growled and shot water from his hands, hitting Sandman's chest and making him melt into sand.
"AHH!" he yelled, before it was done.
"Stay outta my way, all of you!" Hydro-Man yelled.
He turned into a batch of water and escaped, before the two Spiders got up, and Sandman reformed himself into Flint.
"Flint Marko?" they questioned, their vision now clear.
"You're...you're out of jail?" Ghost-Spider questioned.
"Yeah. I've been searching for my family, but haven't had much luck." Flint explained. "Saw you guys in trouble and thought you needed help."
"Well, we appreciate it, Flint." Spider-Man assured. "Bench's obsession with that girl makes him insane."
"She's one of those Venom made him hold hostage last year, isn't she?" Flint inquired. "I recognized her."
"Yeah, she is." Ghost-Spider said. "She doesn't blame you for the way you behaved though."
"That's good to know." Flint sighed.
"We gotta Bench before he gets to her." Spider-Man said. "The way he's acting, he might do the unthinkable."
"Let me help you?" Flint asked. "The way that guy is, I think you need it. Besides, I wanna make amends for what happened last year."
"Marko, what you did was not your fault." Ghost-Spider assured. "We all know how desperate you were for your daughter's heath."
"I know, but I still wanna help. A lot of people haven't been nice to me since I got out." Flint explained.
"Okay." Spider-Man sighed, putting his left hand against his head. "CAM, we've lost him. Find Mary Jane?"
"I'm on it." Ganke said.
Spider-Man lowered his hand as Sandman looked confused.
"A lot's happened since you've been in jail, Flint." Spider-Man explained. "We've got our own tech guy now."
"Oh, I see." Flint said.
(Spider-Cave)
Ganke typed on the computer to track down Mary Jane, before he found her in an alley near Coney Island Beach.
"Guys, I found her; she's in an alley near the beach." he explained.
"Right. Let the others know as we might need help." Spider-Man instructed.
"Understood." Ganke said. "What's this guy's name?"
"Hydro-Man." Spider-Man replied.
(Elsewhere)
Shadow-Spider and Spider-Girl were both sitting on a rooftop, looking down at the city, when they heard their headsets beep.
"Guys, heard to Coney Island Beach. Hydro-Man's after MJ." Ganke explained.
"Hydro-Man?" Shadow-Spider questioned. "I thought he was..."
"Guess he wasn't gone after all." Spider-Girl deduced. "We better get over there and help, due to how slippery he can be from what we've heard."
"Right." Shadow-Spider agreed. "Come on?"
They both slid off the rooftop and began to web-swing off.
A little later, at Coney Island Beach, Mary Jane was now panting for breathe as she leaned against a wall in the alley.
"Man, I can't believe Bench is back." she panted. "I'd hope he was gone for good."
"Oh, but I'm not." came a voice behind her.
Mary Jane turned around and saw Hydro-Man, who turned into Bench and approached her.
"You cannot escape from me this time." he smirked. "And with the beach nearby, I've got a lot of water to power me up."
Mary Jane gulped and backed away slightly, before Bench came at her and pinned her against the right wall.
"Bench, don't?" she begged.
"Oh, but I must." Bench smirked, before he stood just inches from her. "You see, I intend to make you mine, no matter what happens."
Mary Jane gasped to speak, before he forcibly kissed her, which she didn't return, before he pulled apart, then ripped her jacket off, then started to pull her pants down.
"What?! You're gonna rape me?" she gasped.
"Not rape, make love to you, Red." Bench smirked. "And I know you're gonna enjoy this!"
"Well, we don't think so!" came Spider-Man's voice.
Bench turned around and saw both Spiders standing at the end of the alley, as Flint had gone another way.
"You two?!" he scowled.
"That's right, and this time, you're not getting away." Ghost-Spider said, punching her fist.
"When will you two learn to stay out of this?!" Bench growled.
"The moment you learn that Ms. Watson here isn't interested in you, Bench!" Spider-Man retorted, jokingly.
Bench glared at them both, before he turned and grabbed Mary Jane's arm.
"You're coming with me, red, one way or another." he said.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Mary Jane snapped, before she kneed Bench's groin.
"OH!" he yelped.
Mary Jane turned and ran off, and was soon out of sight, as Bench turned to the Spiders.
"Does that answer how much she doesn't want you around?" Spider-Man asked.
"No, it tells me you need to stay away!" Bench growled.
"Then you'll just have to learn the hard way." Ghost-Spider joked.
"No, you will!" Bench growled, turning into Hydro-Man.
"Be prepared, Ghost." Spider-Man whispered.
"Oh, I am, Spidey." Ghost-Spider assured.
They both prepared to shot webs from both their hands, when Hydro-Man shot a large batch of water from both his hands, hitting them both.
"AHH!" they yelled. "OH!"
They both went flying away, before they hit the ground near the sand hard, knocking them both out cold.
"OH!" they moaned.
Hydro-Man smirked and began to move along, when a bust of sand hit his chest.
"What?!" he exclaimed.
He turned around and saw Flint had shown up behind him, now as Sandman.
"Oh, you again?" Bench smirked. "Didn't you learn your lesson last time?"
"No, I didn't!" Sandman argued. "You're mad to see that girl doesn't want you."
"I'll have her no matter what happens!" Hydro-Man roared. "I was just about to make love to her when you and those web-heads showed up!"
"You do know that girl's a minor, pal." Flint said. "Even if she returned your love, it'd still be rape as she's underage."
Hydro-Man growled and jumped into the water, increasing his size, before he rose up as a giant.
"How do you like me now, Sandy!" he roared.
Sandman smirked before he absorbed most of the sand around him, growing so they'd be the same height.
"You're not the only one who can change size!" Sandman said.
"So I see, but it still won't save you!" Hydro-Man spat. "I've got the ocean on my side, while you've only got the sand on the beach."
He punched Sandman's face, knocking him slightly, before Sandman turning his right arm into a blade and sliced Hydro-Man's chest, but he quickly reformed.
"Sneaky move!" Hydro-Man spat. "Let's see how you like this?"
He turned his right hand into a water mace, then tried to slam it into Sandman's chest, but missed as he dodged to his right. Sandman then turned his right hand into the end of a hammer and tried to slam it into Hydro-Man, but missed as he moved his left shoulder with his water power.
"Seems we are a bit evenly matched here." Hydro-Man admitted. "But it won't save you or stop me!"
"I don't give up that easily, you water freak!" Sandman argued.
They both began moving long the sand or water, treading punches and other attacks by turning their arms into weapons, which led them near the Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier. They both then hit each other with their right arms as mallets, hitting each other's and causing their arms to fall apart, but they reformed.
"This is getting us nowhere!" Hydro-Man snarled. "Why don't you just go and be a kid's sandbox or something?"
"Maybe you should be a kiddie pool instead, you fiend!" Sandman argued.
They both growled and tried to punch each other, getting their fists stuck in each other's chests, as they couldn't pull them out.
"Hey, let go of me, you freak!" Hydro-Man snarled.
"Hey, I can't get loose myself, dumbass!" Sandman argued. "If you'd just left that girl alone, we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"More likely if you'd stayed out of this!" Hydro-Man argued.
Hydro-Man growled and tried pulling his arm harder, as Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider both regained conscious, got up and looked at them, before they both fell right into the water and went beneath it.
"Flint!" Spider-Man cried.
He and Ghost-Spider both ran towards the edge of the pier, but saw no sign of either Flint or Hydro-Man.
"No sign of either of them." Ghost-Spider said.
"Bench has probably turned into water, but as Flint's made of sand, he might've been destroyed." Spider-Man gulped.
"He gave his life up to save us and MJ." Ghost-Spider sighed. "He defiantly redeemed himself."
She began to cry under her mask, making her boyfriend wrap his arm around to comfort him, both glad Mary Jane wasn't around to see them.
"We gonna tell everyone what happened?" she asked.
"Yeah. I just hope Flint's ex-wife will believe us." Spider-Man said. "Unlike his daughter, I don't think she's as forgiving from what I've heard."
They both turned and began to walk away sadly, when they heard a noise, making them both turn back around.
"What the?" Ghost-Spider gasped.
They both looked at the water, seeing it bubbling slightly, when a giant thing made of mud showed up, as Sandman and Hydro-Man had merged into one giant creature, for it had part of Sandman's shirt and pants, but was sucking water out like Hydro-Man.
"Oh, my God!" Ghost-Spider gasped, covering her mouth area. "What's... What's happened?"
"I..." Spider-Man began.
"Oh, no!" came Shadow-Spider's voice.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider both turned, as Shadow-Spider and Spider-Girl arrived behind them.
"Uh, guess we're too late." Spider-Girl sighed.
"Sort off." Ghost-Spider said.
"Is that thing..." Shadow-Spider began.
"Yeah. Somehow Marko and Bench have merged together." Spider-Man gulped.
The four Spiders all stared at the Mud-Thing, which growled and roared, making them all back away slightly.
To be continued...
A/N: Teresa's school is the one Annie May Parker attended in Renew your Vows, due to it being the only elementary school I've found in the Marvel world.
Apart from Chris DiMolia who's from the MCU, the other Captains I made up, as I don't know many others. I only made him Commissioner since he's the only known one besides Philip DeWolff.