Reviews:
naruto44namikaze : Thanks, glad you liked it.
Okaze: I am ninety percent snark and sarcasm
JUANMARTIN202000: Venom will be coming much later in the story and I already have a plan for him, along with Peter's pairing.
Chapter 48 -
"Oh boy, this is awkward," Felicia gulped, staring up at him.
"You could say that again," Spiderman replied. "What the hell are you doing in here?" He asked, pocketing the drive away.
"What are you doing in here?" She said in response, her eyes briefly glanced towards the exit.
"I asked you first," He responded, staring at her. She was dressed exactly as she was the last time he had caught her trying to steal something, wearing a full black body suit along with black gloves and boots and a bandanna to cover her face.
"I asked you second,"
"Then answer second," Spiderman replied, unamused. "What are you doing here?"
"Working," She shrugged, sounding apologetic. "Sorry Spider, but I've got to do what I have to do."
"You were trying to steal Oscorp secrets, do you have any idea what could happen if this information gets into the wrong hands?" He growled.
"Only ideas," She replied. "Sorry Spider, but I need those files."
"Why?" He asked. "So you can sell them to the highest bidder?"
"So that I can sleep at night without worrying," She said firmly. He stared at her for a moment before tilting his head, a deep silence rang through the room.
"Family?" He asked, his voice slightly softer.
"Family," She repeated, nodding her head. "They're in danger. For my family, I'll do anything, wouldn't you?"
"I can't let you take this, you know that," He said. "Who is threatening your family? I can help you,"
"You can't," She said, shaking her head. "I can't risk it."
"I've been doing the impossible since before I was even born," He told her.
"Huh," She let out a small chuckle. "How does that work?"
"In a very complicated fashion, I assure you. Please, let me help."
"Are you planning to turn me in?" She asked him, genuinely curious.
"I don't have to," He dropped down and landed on his feet. "If you are being forced into this, I can and will help you. Tell me who is in danger, if they've been taken then I'll get them back to you safe and sound, the police don't need to be involved. Not to arrest you, at least."
"Hmm," She let out a small huff, shaking her head slightly. "You offer this kind of help to all the girls, Spider, or just me?" She asked, crossing her arms and staring at him. He didn't consider himself an expert in emotions, but he couldn't help but feel like she was the tiniest bit sad.
"You want my help or not?" He asked.
"I can't risk it," She said, a slight bit firmer. "I can't risk you, you'd get hurt."
"I can handle myself, you know,"
"Maybe you can, but I can't risk you getting hurt for me. You don't deserve that, you're too nice."
"What do you know about me?" He couldn't help but ask, taking a couple of steps forward.
"More than you think," She said, stepping forward. "I know that you're young, like me. I know that unlike me, you decide to spend your free time putting on some ass-hugging spandex and swinging around the city, saving people and stopping crimes."
"It's...it's not ass-hugging," He said weakly, shifting a bit.
"I've memorised the shape," She told him in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Fair, but it's not spandex."
"Look, I can't risk it, you deserve better than to suffer for me."
"You talk like you know me," He couldn't help but note. "I don't know what you're worried about, but I can handle myself."
"I can't risk it," She repeated, shaking her head. "I can't have you on my conscience, that's not to mention what would happen to your family! To Gwen and Peter!"
"What?!" Harry asked sharply.
"I know it's you, lover-boy," She said, looking a hair's breadth from rolling her eyes.
"You can't possibly -"
"I do, 'Green Eyes'," She cut him off.
"But how?"
"Like I said, I've memorised that ass," She smirked.
"Yeah, but that's not it, is it?" He asked, taking a step forward, staring intently at her. "You figured it out another way, didn't you?"
"Might have. Look Spider, this thing is bigger than you're thinking," She told him. "I have to do this, I have to deliver that drive, if I don't then my whole family is up the creak."
"I can help you,"
"You can't, not for long anyway," She sighed deeply. "Maybe you can go and beat him up, even then that's a small chance, but you won't be able to keep him in prison for long. He's dangerous, Spider." She said, turning around to walk away, only to jump when a large spider leg landed in front of her, she quickly spun back and saw the leg along with three others protruding out from Harry's back.
"So am I," Harry growled. "If he's a danger to you then he's a danger to others. In case you haven't noticed, I am trying to help people here. Let me help you,"
"If you want to help me then give me that drive, please!" She begged, holding out her hand hopefully.
"You know I can't do that, you're trying to steal Oscorp files, my family files!"
"To save my own family!"
"And in doing so then not only will you possibly endanger my family, but also many other families. Do you have any idea what could be on this? Do you know how many thousands of projects Oscorp is working on? We've got military products, drug production, biotech, botany, geology, cancer research and everything else you could possibly think of. Oscorp info in the wrong hands could spell the deaths of many people, including your own family. You're not thinking this through properly, Felicia, if this guy is as dangerous as you say he is, do you really think that he'll be okay with letting you and your family stay alive after he's got this info? You'll be a loose end, Felicia, you and your family."
"And what am I supposed to do then?!" She snapped. "This way, they at least have a fighting chance to survive!"
"Hey, I've saved a few people in case you haven't noticed." He reminded her, retracting his spider legs back. "I am not a naive little schoolboy who doesn't know how the world works. Let me guess, this guy is rich and powerful, works in the shadows and has a few shit tons of money that he uses to bribe the judges and police, right?"
"How did you - "
"Not my first time dealing with rich assholes," He told her. "Like I said, let me help you."
"I can't risk it, Spider, if I do then -"
"I'll be in danger but if you don't then I'll be in danger anyway because sooner or later I'm going to run into this rich douchebag anyway," He cut her off. "Hello, web-swinging, crime-punching superhero over here. Your family is in danger, I know what that's like. I don't want your family dead any more than I want mine, let me help you."
"How...how are you going to help me, Harry?" She said, pulling off her bandana and staring at him from under her hood, her eyes far more teary than Harry was used to. "How are you going to help me? And don't bullshit me when you tell me,"
"How about...how about we start with discussing what you know? And then we'll go from there?" He suggested, walking over to her and taking her hand in his. "Look, you don't trust easy, neither do I, but you know me well enough now that you can at least tell I'm being sincere when I tell you that I want to help you, and even if I have to break every bone in my body, I will give you my best. I will save your family." She stared at him, looking like she was trying to evaluate his very soul.
"Whatever you're thinking, it won't work,"
"Well, the good news is that then you get to say 'I told you so',
"If this goes south then I'm going to give you more than just an 'I told you so'," She said in a very dangerous tone. "Do not make me regret this,"
"I won't," He said sincerely. "Now, what do you say we head back to the party? Huh?"
"I...I'm not in the mood for a party right now," She said apologetically. "I'm sorry, but..."
"That's fine," He waved her off. "Also don't," He said, gesturing to the hand that had been sneaking towards him.
"It was worth a shot," She shrugged, pulling her hand back. "Still, I'll be off, meet me on top of the school, two days from now at eleven PM. I've got to try and sort some stuff out, you can go and party it up, maybe dance with Gwen for a bit."
"What's the deal with that?" Harry couldn't help but ask. "All night you've been pushing Gwen towards me,"
"You like her, don't you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? I - "
"And she likes you too," Felicia cut him off as she put her bandana back on. "I know she does, I figured that after today I'd be long gone and out of your life forever, I thought it was nice that you at least had Gwen to fall back on. You two are good people, you deserve each other."
"Felicia, I...you're a good person too, you know," He said, choosing not to comment on the rest of what she had just said.
"I'm a thief," She pointed out.
"I have a soft spot for thieves,"
"Excuse me, Gwen," Emily said, having left her husband for a second to find Harry who she had not seen in a while. Looking around, she stumbled upon Gwen and Peter who were both currently sitting together in a corner, discussing something. "Have you or Peter seen Harry? I haven't spotted him in a while."
"Oh...well, he had something to do with Felicia, I think," Gwen replied. "I can try and find him if you want,"
"Oh, well that's alright, I think that...ah, speak of the devil," She said as Harry walked up to them. "There you are, where's Felicia? I was hoping to talk more with her,"
"Felicia had to go home," Harry explained. "Something about a family emergency,"
"Oh, is she alright?"
"Hopefully," Harry nodded. "Besides, what exactly did you want to talk to her about?"
"I can't get to know the young woman who has caught my son's eye?" She asked innocently.
"No," Harry said firmly before turning to Gwen and Peter. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"I think a girl was hitting on me," Peter announced proudly.
"She was asking you for directions to the bathroom," Gwen pointed out.
"I'm counting it!"
"You do that," Harry proudly patted him on the shoulder.
"Anyway, I'll be off now," Emily told Harry. "Your father looks like he needs rescuing," She huffed before walking off to Norman who was currently trying valiantly hard to avoid the advances of a woman who was doing her best to press herself against him.
"Kick her ass, Mum!" Harry half-yelled.
"What happened with Felicia?" Gwen asked. "Is she okay?"
"I'll tell you guys later when we're alone," Harry sighed. "It's a bit of a story,"
"I bet," Peter snorted. "Are...are the two of you still together?"
"To be determined, Pete," Harry shrugged.
"Ah, the dreaded 'TBD',"
"Indeed," Harry nodded before turning to Gwen. "We got some time to kill, you want to dance?" He offered, holding out a hand.
"Happily," She smiled at him before standing up and grabbing his hand. "Back in a bit, Pete,"
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Peter called out jokingly.
"Yeah, yeah, go pick up some more girls," Harry called back, leading Gwen to the dance floor, slipping through the other dancing couples so they could find a spot. Once they did so, Harry placed his free hand around Gwen's waist while she placed hers on his bicep.
"Thanks for this, Harry," Gwen said as they started dancing.
"I know you like dancing," Harry replied. "Figured it'd help if one of us had a good night,"
"Oh boy, this thing with Felicia has really upset you, hasn't it?"
"You could say that," Harry nodded. "I've never been the best with my emotions and right now they're about ten different types of fucked. I'll give you the details once we're alone, but long story short...she needs my help and there will be more spider action than normal."
"That bad, huh?" She shook her head with disbelief. "Can't ever catch a break, can you?"
"Not yet, maybe when I'm ninety or something," He snorted.
"Whatever's going on with her, she's not alone, and you're not either," Gwen said firmly. "Peter's with you until the end and you couldn't get rid of me, even if you tried."
"Why would I want to?" Harry laughed. "Seriously, Gwen, I'm glad you're here."
"You couldn't get rid of me," She repeated herself. "I don't know what you must have felt during your last life, but I know that in this life, you have family and we're not letting you go."
"Thanks, Gwen," Harry smiled brightly. "For what it's worth, you can't get rid of me either,"
"Alas, we all suffer in life,"
"Oh, ha-ha," Harry rolled his eyes. "Very funny,"
"If you're sure," She smirked. "I...hey! You stepped on my foot on purpose!"
"If you're sure," Harry returned. Gwen gave him a mock glare but didn't say anything more as the two continued dancing. Harry wouldn't recall when it happened, but as the dance continued and he kept staring at the smiling girl in front of him, he couldn't help but realise that perhaps Felicia was right.