Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Hate to see her leave...
[Third Person's PoV]
Nightwing glanced at the memoir he had carved into the rocks, then turned his attention to the glowing meteorite of Vibranium.
Crouching down, he ran his fingers over the slanted opening at the bottom of the meteorite, a gap caused by the kinetic energy pulse unleashed by the King Crab. With a determined breath, he secured his hands underneath it, bent his knees, and prepared to lift.
Spider-Man's voice crackled through the comms. "Remember, lift with your legs. That's where most of the weight is carried." He said as a gym instructor.
Nightwing chuckled despite himself. "Hahaha, dude, you're not helping. Stop making me laugh—I know what I'm doing."
"You just gotta show everyone we don't skip leg day. If you mess this up, it'll reflect badly on me," Spider-Man quipped.
Nightwing paused, withdrawing his hands from the meteorite as he crossed his arms. "How exactly does this reflect badly on you?"
"We're gym bros, duh. If you can't show off those powerhouse thighs, people are gonna think you don't train legs. And if people think you don't train your legs, as your gym bro, everyone will assume I don't either." Spider-Man punctuated his words with the sound of him smacking his palm. "So don't fail this. I can't have my reputation tarnished. If you can't do it in one go, don't bother coming home—you might as well learn to live on that ocean floor."
Nightwing burst out laughing.
"You think I'm joking," Spider-Man continued with a scoff, "but I will not let you embarrass this household."
Amused, Nightwing shook his head, placing one hand on his hip. "Are you going to let me try lifting this thing, or do you have more wisecracks to share?"
"You may proceed," Spider-Man said, his tone dripping with mock arrogance. "But heed my warning." He added, now mimicking the tone of a haughty nobleman.
"Yes, good sir~" Nightwing replied, matching the dramatic tone. "I shall bring honor to our household!"
Still grinning, he crouched back into position, slipping his hands beneath the meteorite. With a grunt, he began to lift, his muscles straining under the combined weight of the Vibranium and the ocean pressure bearing down on him.
"I didn't account for the sea pressure!" Nightwing growled as the meteorite began to rise—slowly, but surely. His body was visibly under immense strain.
"Don't back out now!" Spider-Man cheered enthusiastically. "Show the world the power of those legs!"
"Dude! You're not helping!" Nightwing snapped as his suit, made of unstable molecules, stretched to accommodate his bulging muscles.
"NIGHTWING! NIGHTWING! HE'S OUR MAN! IF HE CAN'T DO IT, NO ONE CAN!" Spider-Man chanted like a cheerleader.
Biting down on his lip, Nightwing fought to suppress both his laughter and the strain threatening to overpower him.
"C'mon, Lizzy, join me!" Spider-Man hollered.
"Oh God," Nightwing muttered, just as he heard Lizzy's distant voice chime in.
"HELL YEAH!" she yelled.
Together, they chanted at the top of their lungs, "NIGHTWING! NIGHTWING! HE'S OUR MAN! IF HE CAN'T DO IT, NO ONE CAN!"
Nightwing let out a groan—part exhaustion, part amusement—as he pushed the meteorite higher.
Ghost-Spider's voice came through the comms, sharp and exasperated. "Dude, what the hell are you doing? Use your Ki! You're straining yourself for no reason."
Nightwing grunted in response, his voice laced with stubborn defiance. "Are you kidding me? My girlfriend's watching! If I use my Ki, it'd feel like a cop-out! My pride won't allow it!"
All the girls aboard rolled their eyes, except for Lizzy, who stifled a giggle. A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes as an idea came to mind. She motioned for Spider-Man and the others to move away from the comms. "Shoo, shoo. I want to give him some… Private encouragement."
Though they stepped back, their enhanced senses still picked up every word she whispered.
"If you can lift it in one go," Lizzy said softly, her voice dropping into a sultry tone, "I'll give you a special reward~."
Nightwing froze mid-effort, his voice faltering. "Special reward?" he muttered.
Lizzy sighed theatrically. "I'll use my mouth…"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Nightwing roared with renewed vigor. Fueled by determination, he heaved the meteorite with an explosive burst of strength, lifting it high above his head.
The motion highlighted every muscle in his suit as he crouched and sprang upward. The seabed cracked beneath him from the sheer force he unleashed.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Nightwing continued to bellow, his face pressed against the meteorite as his legs blurred with speed, creating a propulsion effect. From below, all anyone could see was the massive rock cutting through the ocean at incredible velocity.
As he rose higher, the diminishing sea pressure allowed him to accelerate further, becoming a mere blur as he darted past startled sea creatures. Sunlight pierced the water as he neared the surface.
With one final, mighty roar, Nightwing propelled the meteorite out of the water. It shot through the air like a comet before vanishing into a golden, shimmering portal that materialized above it. The portal closed just as suddenly as it appeared.
Back aboard, Spider-Man and the others stared at Lizzy in stunned disbelief. Her cheeks turned scarlet as their expressions sank in.
"Wow," Felicia finally said, breaking the silence. "You are bold. You have my respect."
"I don't want it, take it back!" Lizzy stammered, burying her face in her hands. "What we do in private isn't any of your business!"
"We never said it was," Felicia replied innocently, though a sly grin tugged at her lips. "You're the one who—well, you know…" She mimed with her tongue, her cheeks bulging in mock demonstration.
Before she could take it further, Spider-Man placed a hand over hers, shaking his head. Felicia smirked but relented.
Lizzy's embarrassment reached its peak, and her hair literally ignited in small, fiery flickers of flames.
The moment was cut short by Nightwing's voice over the comms. He sounded uneasy. "Uh, guys… I don't mean to alarm anyone, but the meteorite just disappeared."
"WHAT?!" they all shouted in unison.
Nightwing hadn't seen the portal as his eyes were still adjusting to the sudden sunlight, and the others had been too distracted by Lizzy to notice.
Before panic could set in, Aria's calm voice cut through. "The Ancient One just sent a message: Stop freaking out. I have received the meteorite. You can come over whenever you want to mine it. Your new suits will be ready in a week."
"Ah," they all muttered, visibly relaxing.
The jet lowered, and Spider-Man extended his hand out of the hatch. Nightwing grabbed it, letting himself be pulled aboard. His gills along his neck sealed shut, and his webbed hands returned to normal. As he stepped onto the jet, seawater pooled on the floor around him. His skin glistened under the lights, and his wet hair clung to his face.
Reaching up, he removed his domino mask and ran his fingers through his damp hair, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Well, that was both fun and disheartening…"
He turned to Lizzy, spreading his arms wide open.
"No," she said firmly. While his suit was dry thanks to its unstable molecule design, his skin and hair were still wet.
Harry simply grinned and ignored her protest, pulling her into a hug.
"Ugh!" Lizzy groaned, but she rolled her eyes, her expression softening into one of fondness.
"Can you dry me off? I need a really warm hug," he said, his tone slightly childlike.
"So what am I? The group's personal drying rack and heater?" she quipped.
"Not the group's. Just mine," Harry replied, holding her tighter.
Lizzy's smile widened as she sighed in mock exasperation. With a gentle wave of heat, she dried him completely.
Felicia rolled her eyes at the display, turning to the others and mimicking her earlier cheeky gestures. Spider-Man intercepted her hand, running his own across her face to stop her. "Alright, Aria, take us back to the base."
"Understood," Aria confirmed, and the jet surged forward, breaking the sound barrier as it sped toward New York.
By the time they arrived, the sun was rising, casting the city in a golden glow. The jet completed its routine landing, parking itself in the base's hangar. As the hatch opened, Peter stepped out, his mask retracted, dragging a webbing filled with Anti-Metal behind him. The others followed, doing the same.
"Aria," Peter called out, "please run a full inspection on the jet to check for any negative effects from the Anti-Metal and have the spider-bots handle any necessary fixes."
"On it," Aria replied.
"Thanks, honey," Peter said, hauling the Anti-Metal to a secure location to ensure it wouldn't interfere with the lab's equipment.
Harry approached him, a hopeful expression on his face. "Would you mind covering patrol for Lizzy and me today?"
"Not at all. After how much you guys covered for Gwen and me, it's time I paid back the favor." Peter gave him a knowing wink. "Enjoy yourselves."
Harry chuckled, playfully punching Peter's shoulder. "Oh, shut it," he said, his cheeks tinged red.
Felicia stretched with a yawn. "I'm heading home. Enhancements and adventures in one day are exhausting."
She leaned in to kiss Peter on the cheek, but he caught her hand, spun her around, and kissed her on the lips. She melted slightly in his arms.
"You know, Petey," she purred, her nails lightly tracing his chin, "If this is how you say goodbye, I might leave more often~." She kissed him again before sauntering off, swaying her hips.
Peter sighed, watching her go. "I hate to see her leave, but I love to watch her go…"
"HA!" she exclaimed, Felicia smirked, glancing over her shoulder. giving her backside a playful slap and winking at him before disappearing out the door.
Gwen scoffed as she carried her bundle of herbs. "I'll be busy planting these," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry. I love watching you go too," Peter teased.
She snorted dismissively but couldn't hide the tiny smile playing on her lips as she shook her head.
Peter turned to MJ, who removed her mask beside him. "This might be the only time I'd ever want you to walk away from me."
MJ playfully punched his arm. "Perv," she said, though the playful skip in her step gave her away.
Peter clasped his hands together in mock prayer, looking skyward. "Oh, heavenly Father… who art in heaven… I thank Thee for bestowing upon us the gift of sight."
MJ let out a chortle, her laughter bubbling up as she shook her head in amusement.
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