Chapter 35: The Spider’s Web
**Earth-66, 2012**
The next day, Peter was in gymnastics class, lost in thought as he replayed the Phoenix Force's words in his mind. She had called him the "future King in Black." Did that mean he would become like Knull, the god of the symbiotes?
> "You should remove that thought, We both know Knull is incredibly powerful, and only a specific thing can harm or kill him. While we can try to use Predator skill on him to devour him, we can't say what will happen in the future. So, it's best to focus on increasing your strength now."
Raphael said in a calm tone.
Peter sighed internally. 'You're right. There's no point dwelling on it.' He decided to focus on the present and increasing his strength. If primordial entities like the Phoenix were aware of him, he needed to grow stronger quickly.
As he was lost in thought, a basketball hurtled toward his head from behind. Without looking, Peter caught it effortlessly with his right hand.
He turned to see Flash and his gang staring at him with dumbfounded look on thier faces. Flash quickly recovered, noticing that some of the girls were now watching the interaction.
Flash smirked and began taunting Peter. Normally, Peter would have ignored him, but today, Flash had unwittingly offered the perfect opportunity for Peter to release some stress.
Flash hadn't bothered Peter recently due to the events surrounding Spider-Man, but now, with Gwen and several teachers attending a meeting with the headmaster, Flash saw his chance to bully his favorite target.
> "Haa, rest in peace, Flash," Raphael quipped.
'Oi, I'm not planning to kill him,' Peter replied internally but a smirk is forming on his lips.
Peter moved toward Flash, holding the basketball casually in his hand. "Why don't you take it from me, you block-headed, good-for-nothing, pathetic, whining bastard who has no idea what to do with his life?"
The room went silent. Everyone stared at Peter and was shocked at Peter's uncharacteristic outburst.
Flash's face turned red with anger, and he lunged at Peter, but Peter sidestepped effortlessly and threw the basketball at Flash's feet, causing him to trip and fall face-first onto the ground.
The ball bounced back into Peter's hand, and when Flash's gang tried to intervene, Peter dodged their attacks with ease, skillfully using the basketball to knock them out one by one.
The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief and awe. No one had seen Peter act like this before.
But one red-haired girl, Mary Jane Watson, watched Peter intently with her lips curling into a sly smile.
Flash, now sprawled on the ground, looked up at Peter in fear. "Stay away! You know who my father is!"
Peter tossed the basketball close to Flash's face, the impact against the wall behind him reverberating loudly.
Peter leaned down while locking eyes with Flash. "You're pathetic, Flash. You prey on the weak, but when faced with someone stronger, you hide behind your father's name."
Straightening up, Peter turned to leave, pausing only to add, "Don't push the weak too far. Because once they strike back, you won't be able to handle them."
He then walked out of the gym, leaving Flash on his knees and the rest of the class murmuring in astonishment.
From the sidelines, Mary Jane's gaze lingered on Peter as she whispered to herself, "You're becoming more interesting by the day, Parker."
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The day passed without any major incidents, but Peter's confrontation with Flash and his gang remained the hottest topic at school. Everyone had heard the story by now, and opinions varied. Some admired Peter's courage, while others were in shock at his sudden change in demeanor.
Gwen, who had been away during the incident, sighed deeply when she heard the details. Flash had always bullied Peter, and while she was thankful Peter hadn't gone overboard, she couldn't help but feel proud. Peter handled himself well, but the attention it garnered could complicate things.
Over the next few days, Mary Jane Watson made her interest in Peter increasingly obvious. She seemed to have found a new favorite pastime—flirting with him whenever Gwen wasn't around or when she could catch them off guard. She would casually bump into him in the hallways, compliment his newfound confidence, and even invite him to join her for lunch.
One day during lunch, Peter was sitting alone, scrolling through his textbook, when Mary Jane casually slid into the seat across from him. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand with her red hair falling perfectly over her shoulder.
"Hey, Parker," she said with a playful smile.
Peter looked up, "Oh, hey, MJ. What's up?"
She tilted her head with her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Nothing much. Just wondering how it feels to be the school's new hero. You know, standing up to Flash and all."
Peter shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal. Someone had to do it."
Mary Jane smirked. "Well, I think it was kind of... heroic. Brave, even. There's something about a guy who can stand up for himself. It's... attractive."
Peter blinked and before he could respond, Gwen appeared and is now standing right behind Mary Jane with her arms crossed.
"Am I interrupting something?" Gwen asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and warning.
Mary Jane glanced over her shoulder and was completely unfazed. "Not at all. Peter and I were just talking about how impressive he's been lately."
Gwen raised an eyebrow while stepping closer. "Is that so?"
Peter sensing the tension couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "Yeah, MJ was just saying how 'heroic' I've been." He looked at Gwen with a teasing grin. "What do you think, Gwen? Am I heroic?"
Gwen rolled her eyes but leaned down, resting her hands on the table as she glared at Mary Jane. "Heroic? Sure. But I think he's already got enough people admiring him. Don't you, MJ?"
Mary Jane leaned back in her chair and is completely unfazed. "Oh, absolutely. But a little extra admiration never hurt anyone, right, Peter?"
Peter chuckled, "Wow, two beautiful women arguing over me? This is new."
Gwen shot him a sharp look. "Don't push your luck, Parker."
Mary Jane smirked, she is clearly enjoying the exchange. "Relax, Gwen. I'm just having some fun."
Gwen straightened up and placed her hands on her hips. "Fun's over. Peter and I have somewhere to be."
Mary Jane raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll see you later, Parker." She winked at him before walking away and her laughter trailing behind her.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Gwen turned to Peter and narrowed her eyes. "You find this funny, don't you?"
Peter couldn't suppress his grin. "A little. I mean, MJ flirting with me and you swooping in like a jealous girlfriend? It's kind of cute."
Gwen groaned, "She's doing it on purpose, Peter. She knows I'm watching."
Peter laughed, standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Gwen. You know you're the one I care about more. Let her have her fun—it doesn't mean anything."
Gwen crossed her arms and is huffing. "It better not. Otherwise, I might have to teach her a lesson."
Peter smirked and leaned closer. "You're kind of adorable when you're jealous, you know that? It makes me want to eat you."
Gwen swatted his arm but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Go away, Parker."
As they walked away together, Peter couldn't help but chuckle to himself. MJ's flirtation and Gwen's protectiveness were definitely keeping his life interesting.
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A few more days later, Peter asked Gwen to meet him after school, hinting at a surprise. He teleported her to an abandoned factory. It was their secret hideout, a place they'd claimed after their early adventures with Miguel.
"Why are we here?" Gwen asked curiously.
"You'll see," Peter replied with a sly grin.
With a wave of his hand, a hidden mechanism activated, revealing a high-tech sliding door. Gwen's eyes widened in surprise.
As they stepped inside, Gwen couldn't recognize the place. The once-dusty, crumbling factory had been transformed into a state-of-the-art tech lab.
The interior glowed with a sleek, futuristic design. Holographic displays floated mid-air, showcasing maps, data, and crime statistics. The lab was equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Spider-Drone Network, A fleet of small drones equipped with cameras and web-shooting capabilities for surveillance and reconnaissance.
Web Arsenal, A weapons rack filled with custom-designed web cartridges, including electric webs, fire-retardant webs, and even sound-based web traps.
But Peter said it's more like a database for the new webbing combinations as he can generate them all this a thought. She can input what she wants and he can make it happen. This really didn't have much function but Peter had plans on this for the future.
Spider AI Hub, An advanced AI system capable of analyzing crime patterns across New York City and predicting criminal activities. It also feeds all the news channels updates.
Holographic NYC Map, A large holographic display showing real-time data of crime rates, Spider activity, and emergency hotspots across the city.
Training Simulator, A virtual reality setup designed to simulate combat scenarios for practice.
Peter turned to Gwen with a grin. "Surprise!"
Gwen's mouth dropped open. "Peter... This is incredible!"
But Peter wasn't done. "The real surprise is just starting. Look."
He pointed at the main holographic display. It showed a live feed from a press conference being held by the NYPD.
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A Press Conference is being held at NYPD office.
The NYPD press conference was abuzz with reporters, cameras, and a palpable sense of curiosity. Captain George Stacy stood behind the podium, his calm demeanor commanding respect from the gathered audience. Beside him stood Deputy Yuri Watanabe, equally poised as they prepared to address the media about the Spider Couple.
George cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone. "Thank you all for coming today. As many of you know, the Spider Couple—Spider-Man and Spider-Woman—have been controversial figures in our city. Their actions have drawn both praise and criticism over the years. Today, I want to shed some light on their impact."
The reporters immediately leaned forward with pens and recorders ready.
Gwen frowned slightly and was worried about what her father might say. Peter noticing her expression just smiled. "Just watch."
"Let's start with Spider-Woman," George began. "Formerly known as Ghost Spider. Her earlier activities caused significant property damage, and there were questions about her methods. However, as time went on, it became evident that her intentions were always to protect the innocent and ensure justice."
A slideshow behind him displayed footage of Spiderwomen stopping muggings, saving children from burning buildings, and taking down violent criminals.
"She has saved countless lives, often risking her own. The people of New York owe her a debt of gratitude for her bravery and dedication."
The audience murmured in agreement.
Gwen's eyes widened in surprise and Peter chuckled. "Told you it'd be good."
George continued, "Now, Spider-Man. Since his debut, he has not only worked to reduce property damage during his interventions but has also been instrumental in putting dangerous criminals behind bars. His ability to neutralize threats with minimal harm to civilians speaks volumes about his character."
The screen shifted to show Spider-Man's feats—webbing up fleeing robbers, stopping runaway vehicles, and fighting alongside the NYPD during major crises.
Peter leaned closer to Gwen. "See? I'm the responsible one between us." he teased.
Gwen rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile.
Finally, George made the big announcement. "In light of their contributions, the government and the NYPD are considering an official partnership with the Spider Couple, allowing us to work together to make New York a safer place."
The room erupted in questions from reporters, but George calmly fielded each one.
"Captain Stacy, does this mean Spider-Woman and Spider-Man will become official members of the NYPD?"
"No, but we aim to establish a cooperative relationship, ensuring their actions align with the city's safety protocols."
A reporter raised her hand. "Captain Stacy, does this mean the NYPD officially recognizes the Spider Couple as allies?"
George nodded. "That's exactly what this press conference is about. We've seen the positive impact they've had on our city. The NYPD believes it's time to move beyond misunderstandings and work together with the Spider Couple to make New York safer for everyone."
Another reporter asked, "Captain Stacy, how do you plan to establish this partnership? What role would they play?"
George exchanged a glance with Yuri before replying, "The partnership will be based on mutual trust and collaboration. The Spider Couple will have the opportunity to assist us in high-risk operations, provide valuable intelligence, and continue their vigilante work with the support of the NYPD. Of course, there will be guidelines and boundaries to ensure everyone's safety."
A third reporter chimed in, "What about the public perception of vigilantes? Are you concerned about backlash?"
George's expression grew thoughtful. "Public perception is always a concern. But let's focus on the facts: their actions have saved lives. They've proven their commitment to this city time and again. Our goal is to bridge the gap between vigilantes and law enforcement, ensuring that their efforts are channeled in the most effective way possible."
Another question arose. "Have Spider-Man and Spider-Woman been informed of this proposal? Do you expect them to accept?"
George smiled faintly. "I can't speak for them, but I believe their dedication to this city speaks volumes. They've always prioritized the well-being of New Yorkers. I have no doubt they'll consider this opportunity seriously."
He paused, scanning the room, before delivering his closing statement. "This is our message and an open invitation from the NYPD to the Spider Couple: let's work together to make New York a safe place. If you're willing to collaborate, let's meet two days from now at the public event we've organized. There, we'll discuss the partnership in greater detail."
The room erupted in murmurs as cameras flashed. Reporters began drafting headlines as George and Yuri stepped away from the podium.
Yuri whispered to George, "Think they'll show up?"
George glanced at her with a small smile on his face. "If I know them—and I think I do—they'll be there."
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Back at the Hideout
As the feed ended, Gwen turned to Peter, her eyes wide with emotion. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
Peter nodded and grinned. "What do you think of your surprise?"
Gwen didn't answer immediately. Instead, she hugged him tightly.
"I wanted to help people," she whispered. "But my father always treated me like some villian and knowing my father is finally willing to work with us... it's the best thing I could've hoped for."
Peter smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Well, Spider-Woman, looks like we're officially partnering with your father."
Gwen pulled back slightly, a playful smirk on her face. "Don't get cocky, Spider-Man. I'm still the better hero."
They both laughed, the weight of the past few days lifting as they stood together in their new, high-tech hideout—The Spider's Web.
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