(A/N: I do not own Spiderman. That right belongs to Sony.
So here's how I'm viewing this: This can kind of serve as a 'Final Chapter' while the next chapter gives an Epilogue of sorts.
It kind of feels weird getting to the end but I'm honestly grateful I actually finished a long fic [For me, anyway].
Anyway, enjoy the 'Final' Chapter).
"I can't believe I agreed to this" Spiderman said, shaking his head as he stood over a building, looking out at the city.
"It's not like I would've given you a choice, anyway" Ghost Spider said, appearing next to him, giggling. "It's not like every person here with a tight suit and funny name has to go through the 'Spiderman Approval Agency'"
Spiderman sighed through his mask. "I'm well aware, Firestar made that point clear enough…and just to reiterate your name is Ghost Spider?"
The female spider chuckled even more as she saw Spiderman's incredulous look towards her.
"I mean it makes sense. I'm white, black and those are the colors most associated with ghosts so…" Ghost Spider explained with a shrug.
"Eh….yeah, good for you on that" Spiderman said, not wanting to say that it was lame as hell.
However, given the swipe at his arm, he kind of got the message as he began to rub it.
"Ow…." Spiderman groaned as he rubbed his arm. It became the second thing on his mind though as he felt a little peck on his mask's cheek.
"It's more creative than your name: Spiderman. I can only imagine the hours you went through to get to that name"
As it turned out, Gwen's condition was a simple one: To join Spiderman out on patrols with Black Cat and Firestar. Of course, Peter wasn't really for it….but considering how he so successfully convinced Firestar to not even become Firestar, he wasn't ready for that fight again, especially up against a girl who matched his strength now, more or less.
"Hey, it works for a lot of other guys. Sometimes, simplicity is what works best" Spiderman said, defensively as he pouted and crossed his arms to Ghost Spider's amusement.
"Hey, lay off on the affection there, girl spidey. You may be included in our little 'group' but we have a sort of agreement to not hog him on a night out" Black Cat said, appearing in between them.
"Yeah, it's kind of been our deal after I joined…though I do agree with you about the name thing, Gwen. I kind of take pride in mine" Firestar said, also appearing next to them, smiling smugly at her own chosen name.
"It doesn't even make sense though" Black Cat rebutted with a small grin. "Fire Star? Fire's plain to see, sure but where does 'star' come in there?'
"Hey, I'm a star cheerleader in my school so….it just feels kinda right" Firestar explained with a flush of her cheeks, knowing that sounded silly to say out loud as the three of them chuckled.
"At least mine fits me. My theme is clearly that of a cat and my suit is black so therefore: Black Cat" Black Cat said with a purr and a swipe of her claws in Firestar's general direction.
Firestar scoffed at this. "Please, you're about the whitest girl I ever met, Black Cat. Even your hair is pearl white"
"And proud of it too, senorita" Black Cat said, still grinning smugly at Liz who glared darkly at the older woman.
"Ok, let's not get feisty here" Spiderman said, suddenly appearing in between the two women. No matter how much time had passed, there was always a little bit of tension between the both of them.
"Fine, fine" Firestar said with a roll of her eyes, reluctantly backing off, not letting the sassy cat woman get on her nerves.
It was a few days after Peter and Gwen went up to Felicia's apartment and they were now doing a patrol of the city. Peter quickly found a family willing to buy the house he and his aunt previously stayed in. Just as Peter imagined, it was a family of 4. Husband, wife, son, daughter. They even had a dog from what Peter saw. He hadn't met them yet but from the pictures he saw, they looked nice. He just knew his aunt and uncle would approve of them having the house.
As the young man contemplated this for about the umpteenth time today, Gwen again looked down at the city, not helping but gulp.
"It's kind of surreal watching the city from up harem watching the city from above. It feels exhilarating and terrifying at the exact same time" Gwen said, as she watched people walk down on the streets below her, awfully glad at this moment that she didn't have a fear of heights.
"It's a bit spooky the first couple of times but you eventually get the hang of it. Eventually, it becomes second nature" Spiderman explained to the black and white clothed spider based hero.
"I guess so" Ghost Spider said, backing away from the side of the building before giving herself a nosebleed. "I guess I just need to swing around the city more….thanks for lending me your web shooters by the way"
Spiderman shrugged. "It's easy to double my rations for my web fluid…it just gets harder to explain to the guy who owns the store why I need all the stuff needed to make it"
"Do you think he suspects you?" Ghost Spider asked, getting a bit worried as he said that, knowing if people actually really did find out Peter Parker was Spiderman that they could easily find out she was Ghost Spider…when she eventually gets news coverage, that is. It was hard enough to keep this from her dad, she could only imagine his reaction if he found out.
Spiderman shook his head. "Nah, don't think so. He seems pretty attentive but doesn't really seem to have a clue on why I keep buying this. I keep saying it's some long term experiment I'm doing I'm conducting for the Connors at the ESU"
Speaking of whom, Peter was getting closer to them than he ever was before. He was actually going to go to their house tomorrow for dinner. From what he heard, Billy was very excited at the prospect of having Eddie as a big brother which Peter couldn't help but smile at the thought of. It was good Eddie was finally getting the family he had always deserved. He just wished it hadn't taken almost twenty years for it to happen.
Peter consistently thought about the Connor's standing offer to adopt him and he just felt he wasn't ready, not yet. Maybe someday, he thought when he truly, truly made peace with both deaths of his aunt and uncle. Now he was good with just being a very close friend of the family.
"That's good. As long as he's completely clueless" Ghost Spider said, sighing a bit in relief.
"Which is actually kind of surprising, to be honest. You are pretty bad at hiding secrets that it's a miracle more people haven't found out" Firestar said with a giggle.
"Ha ha, funny" Spiderman said, rolling his eyes, although he had to silently concede that. More people had previously found out than he thought. His aunt, Eddie, Harry, Gwen, the Connors, George Stacy…but that was people that knew him closely and to be fair to himself, some did have help in finding out (Namely the symbiote). Still though, it did make the 'secret identity' thing a little less secret.
"I'm only teasing, Petey" Firestar said, sensing her boyfriend was annoyed. "I actually wouldn't have known it was you if you hadn't told me even with that whole Bugle fiasco"
"I mean…given your stature and voice, it was bound to be a young, white guy….but Peter Parker wouldn't have been my first guess" Black Cat said, also trying to make him feel better.
"Somehow, this doesn't really ease my annoyance, believe it or not" Spiderman said with a pout in his voice.
"Aww" Black Cat cooed, playfully as both her and Firestar crowded him, both kissing him on different cheeks of his mask at the same time (Peter was grateful they couldn't see his face behind it).
"Hey, what happened to 'no hogging'?" Ghost Spider asked a little annoyedly.
"That rule applies more to you than us right now since we've been in a relationship with him longer. You get more benefits as time goes on…if this works out" Black Cat explained to which Firestar nodded in complete agreement to.
Ghost Spider rolled her own eyes, her annoyance not really fading from the older woman's comment. However, it did strike a question she had on her mind though, something she's had on her mind for a while but didn't really have the strength to ask up until now, now that she was more or less a part of their group.
"So…if you don't mind me asking…how exactly does this relationship work?" The blonde girl asked everyone to which they just turned to her with raised eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" Black Cat asked, not really understanding.
"Well, I'm just curious more than anything, it doesn't really matter but…are the three of us just all with Peter or are we all like…with each other?" Ghost Spider asked, doing her best to get that out, flushing with a bit of embarrassment.
There was a stunned silence at her question as not even Black Cat really knew how to answer that.
"Er…well….I mean…" Spiderman said, trying to answer this as best he could. "I don't really mind either which way. I don't want this relationship to only be centered around me if it doesn't have to be so if you guys want to-"
"No! No" Firestar said, rapidly shaking her head. "I…that's fine. I mean I don't really swing that way, no disrespect"
"I mean, I don't either, I was just wondering because…I don't know, the both of you are clearly pretty attractive and are in some poly relationship with Peter so I mean I just didn't know. I didn't want to pry earlier by asking but now that I'm technically in the group, I just figured I'd ask" Ghost Spider said, trying to clarify.
"No, I get it. That's definitely understandable. It's not like I haven't really thought about it once or twice. I mean when we were in our early teens, me and Sally would practice kissing each other and whatnot but I never really went beyond that" Firestar explained, instantly wishing she didn't at the looks she was getting.
"You want to explain something to the rest of the class there, Lizzie?" Black Cat asked, a growing smirk appearing on her face.
"We were thinking about dating so we were just practicing kissing, ok?" Firestar said, snapping.
"It's really not a big deal, I get it" Spiderman said, trying not to visually think about the idea of Liz Allen and Sally Avril making out (But failing desperately as it turned out).
"We can just forget it, alright? I probably shouldn't have brought it up" Ghost Spider said, shoving the topic aside.
However, Black Cat looked to be in thought of it as well as she began to speak.
"I mean I wouldn't be opposed" Black Cat said with a shrug. She smirked as everyone instantly turned to her with wide eyes (She inwardly giggled as she looked at the white eyes of both spiders' costumes staring at her).
"Uhhhhh…." Spiderman said as his brain began to short circuit. "What?"
"I'm just saying I wouldn't be against it if either of you wanted to, you know? We all have needs and such and it's not like it would be my first time on that end of the pendulum, you know?" Black Cat said, nonchalantly saying that, causing even more looks to be thrown her way.
At this rate, Spiderman was more or less paralyzed from his head all the way to his toes as he didn't know what to say at this point.
"I mean that doesn't really surprise me" Firestar said with a roll of her eyes, figuring that wasn't really the most shocking thing she ever heard about her.
"Ah, it was just a fling here and there, mostly when I was in my mid-teens. You never really know what your sexuality is until you've actually done the deed you know?" Black Cat asked, not really making anyone else here more comfortable.
"Maybe we should just change the subject here before Peter gets an aneurysm" Ghost Spider said, severely regretting her question now.
"Look I'm just saying this relationship is open to possibilities. I admit I would've preferred to have Pete all to myself but I figured he needed the extra support given the way I found him those months ago, unconscious" Black Cat explained to the group.
Spiderman flinched at the reminder as that wasn't a memory he held in great regards.
"That's why I suggested to Liz to let Gwen into our little group so we can all be there for Peter as we all know best how. Maybe we all have mixed feelings about it but really, it doesn't matter in the long run. Let's just see how this goes and then we can talk about how we view our relationship towards each other" Black Cat said, gesturing to her, Gwen and Liz.
"Agreed" Ghost Spider and Firestar said instantly, just wanting this conversation to be over with.
"Good" Black Cat said with a nod, glad she got that out of the way (But still smirking from the reactions she received from her little story).
Spiderman finally managed to unravel himself as he sighed and again looked out at the city, just waiting for something to happen.
Again, Ghost Spider looked towards him and although she couldn't see his face, she knew something was on his mind.
"Something else on your mind, Pete?" Ghost Spider asked her boyfriend (She loved being able to call him that now).
At first, Spiderman said nothing for a few moments but ultimately opened his mouth to thing he was thinking about.
"Just thinking about moving more than anything. We found buyers for the house so we're in the middle of closing" Spiderman explained.
"So you're really going through with this, huh? Moving out of your aunt and uncle's home?" Ghost Spider asked, looking more at Spiderman's bright white soles.
Spiderman turned to her and raised his eyebrow at her.
"Are you saying I shouldn't go through with it? I mean Eddie and I found a place and everything" Spiderman explained.
Ghost Spider shook her head rapidly.
"I'm not against it, Peter, no. I'm just wondering if it's something you really want to do. Once you do actually sell….you may not be able to get it back ever" Ghost Spider calmly explained, wondering if Peter actually had thought this all through.
Spiderman again was silent as he looked out at the city once more. As he pondered this, he thought of something he remembered asking his aunt after he got his inheritance.
"You know one of the things I ever did ask my aunt after I received my inheritance from Norman was if she ever thought about moving to a better house, a better neighborhood. Maybe have a maid or someone that at least cooked so she could lay back and let herself be taken care of for once instead of taking care of others like me or Uncle Ben. Of course, like the loving aunt she was, she smiled at me and told me that it was sweet what I was trying to do for her and she knew I was thinking about her while I was thinking about this. She said no, though, she said that no matter how big or nice the house was, the love we had in the house was worth more than any mansion we could've bought for ourselves" Spiderman explained, smiling behind his mask.
The girls listened carefully as they listened, finding this very sweet.
"So because of that, I never really did go crazy. I did manage the bills from there on out but she insisted that she always be the one that take care of the house, the home she and Uncle Ben had made for all of us. No personal maid or cook or whatever. It was just me and her, a family….the only family we had left" The young hero continued to explain as the girls continued to listen.
Ghost Spider's heart couldn't help but flutter a bit as she heard this. That sounded like May. She was a strong, assertive woman but she also cared deeply for tradition and she wasn't surprised in the least she wouldn't trade in her house for a nicer one even if that probably would've made her life a whole lot easier. Caring for her family the best way she knew how was worth much more to her.
"As much as I hate to say it, while it is full of memories for me, it's much better in the hands of people that build their own home full of love the way Ben and May did for me as well as each other. I can't be so selfish as to have it all to myself when it's probably the kind of house people like the ones that are wanting to buy it have been wanting for their entire lives. Given that…I'd be alright if the family wouldn't want to sell it back to me even if I did want it back. Honestly, on the contrary…I'd be thrilled to hear something like that" Spiderman said, ending his little speech, happy to get that off his chest.
Peter honestly didn't know if he came off as stupid or heartless (Although he really hoped he didn't) but that was how he genuinely felt…and moving in with Eddie while letting a family that would no doubt take care of it move into his childhood home was the path he felt he needed to be on. As a result, he honestly didn't care at the end of the day what people thought of it. In his own way…he kind of knew he was doing the right thing for himself.
Once his little speech was over, he turned to the women around him, ready to take whatever it was they had to throw at him whether it be a giggle for him being corny or a lashing for doing this let alone even considering it…but their faces showed neither amusement nor anger. Rather…they all looked sweet. Loving, actually. He raised an eyebrow behind his mask, curious what exactly this meant. However, he had very little time to think about this before what came next.
Before he could even utter out a sentence, Peter was practically pounced at as one at a time, all three of the women took their turns kissing him for a good amount of time (A minute, two, Peter didn't count). He was out of breath as they each took their turns showing them how they felt about what he had just said. Each had their own style and he had to say he liked all of them. Gwen's gentle, loving approach although a tad inexperienced, Liz's slight ferocious approach as she locked her lips onto his mask without giving him much breathing room as well as Felicia's dominance over him while she held an iron grip on him (Being the most experienced of all of them).
When the women finally let him loose, the young man needed more than one minute for breathing room as he took slow, deep breaths through his mask.
"Not that I don't appreciate that but…warn me next time, ok?" Spiderman asked as blood filled his veins once more.
This caused all three of the women present to giggle.
"Sorry, couldn't help it" Firestar said with a plain smirk on her face.
"That was just the sweetest thing I ever heard" Ghost Spider said, explaining their actions.
"Even I like that mushy stuff, believe it or not" Black Cat said, with a shrug. "You're a good nephew and guy"
"The very best" Firestar said, concurring with that fact.
Spiderman was in shock of course but quickly recovered, flattered at their compliments but of course was also thrilled they didn't completely and utterly think what he said was either stupid, selfish or anything like that.
"Wow, uh…thank you…coming from the three of you, that means a lot" Spiderman said, knowing his face underneath was turning as red as his mask.
"Don't mention it, Petey. We may not really know how this whole thing will work…or if it will even work at all…but I think one thing's for sure is that we're all glad to have you in our lives" Firestar replied.
Both Ghost Spider and Black Cat nodded in agreement. Whether or not this relationship would last was irrelevant to them right now. They just knew they were happy to be with the guy before them right now.
Spiderman was at a loss for words right now. He couldn't begin to describe how he felt right now. Despite everything that had happened over the past few weeks, it seemed like he had hit the jackpot (Not that he was trying to imitate MJ here) as he looked at the three of the women before him. He would always miss his aunt and his uncle but he knew with these three by his side as well as Eddie and the Connors by him as well that he was ready for anything.
Funny enough as he thought that, there was some buzzing noise going on in his ear. It was that same earpiece Captain Stacy had given him the night Venom and Harry went loose on New York.
"Spiderman…Spiderman, can you hear me? It's Captain Stacy" The police captain said through the comm.
Spiderman finally snapped out of his thoughts and held two fingers up to his ear. "Yes, yes, Captain Stacy, what is it?"
Everyone perked up at this, especially Gwen at the mention of her dad. If the police captain was calling Spiderman then that was proof enough as it was that something big was going down.
"Listen, sorry to bother you after...well...after you had a pretty rough night a little while ago but there's been a jail break from the Vault. Doc Ock is loose and is trying to rob the same bank Sandman broke into some time ago. We think he may be using this to try to…overthrow a certain someone" Captain Stacy explained over the piece.
Spiderman grimaced at who the captain was talking about there. Tombstone was a crafty one. Even with all the new government surveillance on him, he still managed to maintain his criminal organization. However, that was a fight for another day.
"Alright, we're on our way" Spiderman said as he ended the transmission and looked up at the curious three. "Doc Ock's loose and is robbing the same bank Sandman tried to rob a little while back. We gotta get there quick"
Ghost Spider got a little nervous. "Eh…Doc Ock, eh?"
"Not exactly a couple of convenience store robbers or Tombstone's goons, no. He's one of the big ones" Black Cat said, looking unphased despite not liking this bit of news either.
"We can take him down as long as we help each other. I actually ended up saving these two from Sandman that night and it was my first day on the job" Firestar said, proudly.
"Yeah well, we did wear him down for you" Black Cat said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Sure, whatever you say, kitty" Firestar said, examining her nails as the other woman just gave her a slight glare.
"Gwen, if you don't think you're ready for this-" Spiderman tried to say before being struck down almost immediately.
"No, no, I'm in this. I'm ready. This may be my first ever big baddie but I'm not going to sit this one out" Ghost Spider said as confidently as she could.
Spiderman wished she was to be honest…but he knew there wasn't anything he could do to change her mind. As he thought once before, he saw how well that went with Liz.
"Alright then. Spiderman and his Amazing Friends away!" Spiderman said as he started to run and actually leap off the building, swinging out towards the referenced bank.
Black Cat and Firestar groaned.
"I thought we discussed that" Firestar said with a roll of her eyes.
"'Amazing Friends'? What?" Gwen asked, confused (And not sure she really liked being just his 'amazing friend' either).
"Just one of his stupid little puns. I'll make sure he doesn't use it again" Black Cat said, retracting her claws and jumping off the building as well, shortly followed by Firestar who was becoming more comfortable using her flames for flight.
Ghost Spider took a deep breath, looked across from her (Making sure to not look down) and jumped off the building. She immediately started to use the web shooters Peter gave her. They were very useful, it's just web swinging that took some time to get used to. She was determined to do that though as she made a mental note to practice soon.
She quickly kept up with everyone as they made their way to the bank. There wasn't any use keeping Doc Ock or Eddie waiting for that photo op. Jameson needed material to help bring down the newest fiend of the 'criminal gang' Spiderman formed after all….
(A/N: Well, I guess that's the 'Ending' so to speak. Not the last chapter though as the next serves as a sort of Epilogue. I'm not the best at writing endings so please forgive me if it doesn't live up to expectations. There's a reason I write for Fanfiction/AO3 rather than for TV and Movies.
I'll save the long speech for the next chapter but again wanted to give thanks to everyone for reading. It's been a pleasure writing this and hearing everyone's opinion on it, good or bad.)
