Will held Gwen in his arms as she struggled to rush into the fire.
"Let me go! He might still be in there!"
"He's really strong! And capable! I'm sure he managed to survive!"
"Why are you not saving him?! Can you please save him?! I will do anything! Just save him!"
Will had never seen Gwen like this. Gweny has always been smart, cheerful, lively, always having a cute and innocent persona that masked her wittiness.
But right now, she seems to have lost all composure, turning into a desperate girl who refused to accept the reality.
Her eyes were filled with tears that poured nonstop, and her nose and cheeks were flushed red. Combined with her blond hair strands that clung to her teary cheeks, she evoked a strong desire to protect her in anyone who saw her.
But no matter how much he wanted to, Will was powerless to help her with what she really needed.
"Gwen… I already tried," said Will, stuffing a badge into her hand that was still very hot to the touch.
Gwen's movement stopped as she tore her eyes away from the fire.
"No…"
She slowly looked down at the slightly melted metallic shield shaped badge with a star embedded on it, its golden plating now charred black.
"NO! Dad! NOOOOOOOOOO!"
There was no denying that this was indeed Captain Stacy's badge. But this did not stop Gwen from wanting to go into the fire. If anything, it fueled her further.
Will picked her up and carried her inside his car, all the while she kept struggling, her petite frame showing surprising power.
Will turned the windows dark and turned on noise cancelation, blocking her from the outside view.
"I tried, Gwen. I went inside, but there were no survivors."
"It couldn't be him… You—You might have seen it wrong!"
"I went inside his office. He was on the floor…. The badge was pinned to his chest…. His hand was outstretched towards a burnt picture frame."
This really was the scene inside. The peculiar fire had managed to burn through everything, even the flesh. Will knew it won't do any good if he carried the remains out. Rather, it would only traumatize Gwen further.
"It… can't be. Why… Why him…?" Gwen's struggles slowly ceased, turning into uncontrollable sobbing. Her nails dug into her flesh. While hugging her from behind, Will redirected them to his forearms, letting her scratch his flesh as she pleased.
After a while, Helen Stacy arrived and hugged her, and the mother and daughter cried heartbreakingly.
The fire had been almost doused by now and various experts were investigating the scene including the ones sent by SHIELD.
"Is there any news?" Helen asked Will, who had been inquiring about the situation. Though grief-stricken, she was much more composed than Gwen.
Unfortunately, Will didn't have much to tell her.
"It is suspected to be a terrorist attack but no group has claimed responsibility yet. A new kind of bomb was used which burned everything in its path."
"Did he… did he suffer?" Helen asked.
"It all happened in a flash. He didn't suffer."
Helen didn't react much, but it did seem to provide her a little bit of comfort.
Unfortunately, not for Gwen. She started crying harder. "That's worse. Daddy was not afraid of pain and suffering. He would have rather died fighting than like… this!"
Will sighed. He has known the Stacys for a long time and Gwen was one of the few close friends he has. So, this was a blow to him as well.
But to say he didn't expect it would be a lie.
In many storylines, Gwen does lose her father. Captain Stacy is like Uncle Ben for Gwen—the trigger that motivates her to become Spider-Woman.
It's just that he had hoped for it to not happen to this Gwen, the one he had come to adore.
Now, the most dominant emotion inside him was anger. Sooner or later, this blow will be paid back in blood.
(Helen Stacy and Dr. Helen Cho have the same first name, but I can't change it since its canon)
.....
The weather was gloomy. The sound of bagpipes rolled across the cemetery, rising and falling like the echo of grief itself.
Rows of uniformed officers stood at rigid attention, caps pressed to their chests, while the honor guard bore Captain George Stacy's flag-draped coffin, along with the coffins of his men to their final rest.
The winter air carried the faint tang of gunpowder from the earlier salute, mingling with the smoke of incense and fresh earth.
Gwen's shoulders trembled as she stood at the graveside, both of her hands tightly clutching on to the Captain badge that Will had retrieved. But she was not crying. Her eyes stayed on her father's tombstone, her gaze hollow.
Helen Stacy's tears fell silently, her sobbing inaudible, as the Commissioner spoke words of service and sacrifice.
It had been a couple of days since the explosion.
Will has been busy these days, trying to find out more about the matter. Unfortunately, he had little success in that.
He recalled the conversation he had had with Helen.
"I've never seen anything like this before. It seems to be a type of bomb that releases a pulse wave, temporarily destabilizing the nearby oxygen and nitrogen molecules into a state similar to plasma. In short, it burns the air itself within the range of the pulse."
"It was snuck in as a Fire-extinguisher. So no one noticed anything."
Will has tried to investigate further, but everything has led to a dead end so far, revealing no clue.
This left him extremely frustrated, having the means, ability, and anger, but having no target to channel them.
He had also been busy with helping the Stacys, handling the legal and political affairs that follow after a Police Captain's death, taking care of the daily things (arranging for daily meals, cleaning, laundry etc), and taking care of the funeral matters: (floral arrangements, guest lists, security).
Helen really is not in the state to handle all these things.
Gwen is worse.
She hasn't spoken much, neither has she been reacting to his words. She just seems to be going through everything mechanically, in a daze.
In this world, due to Will's intervention, she hasn't lost her mother to cancer like she was supposed to.
Due to this Captain Stacy never got to teach her how to be strong in such a situation and how to deal with such a loss.
Gwen idolizes her dad. If George Stacy could have just told her to be a strong girl and live a life that would make him proud, she would have done just that.
But if Will says the same thing, it would just be useless words of consolation, falling on deaf ears.
"Gwen, you can cry, honey. It's ok to cry. Don't hold it in."
Helen also knew that this situation was not good. Unfortunately, her words had no effect either. She subconsciously turned her eyes to Will, her gaze pleading, as if expecting him to have a solution.
Will shook his head helplessly. He was not good at this kind of emotional stuff. He looked at Gwen for a while, making a decision. He sighed.
"Gwen. Do you remember? You asked if I regret my childhood, if I regret growing up alone. I had brushed you off at the time. I'll tell you the truth now. I think you need to hear it."
For the first time, Gwen reacted to him, her gaze turning briefly to him, before settling back to her father's grave.
"I am a very practical and selfish person, Gwen. I don't really bother with emotions and sentimentality. So, I am not much affected if my father has no time for me, or if I don't have love and care. But, I do regret my mother's passing," he said, looking at the grave, his eyes growing distant.
Gwen finally turned her head to Will, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Will continued, unaware of her gaze. "My mother… She was an incredibly strong woman who loved us all unconditionally. She was in pain… in agonizing pain, but she always looked at us with a smile on her gaunt face, willing to fight for as much time as she could get. Because she knew. We would be incomplete without her.
Norman was too emotionless and ruthless, even to himself and his children. I was growing into another Norman. And Harry was too emotional, in constant need of love and care.
I regret that she never got to see us grow up. I regret she passed away with so many regrets, and I regret I could never return the love she gave me.
Her last words were: I am sorry.
Your father was luckier than my mother. He has watched you grow into a perfect woman. Unlike us Osborns, you are complete. Even in heaven, he already knows that he does not need to worry about you. He did not pass away in regret. And, most important of all, he knows how much you love and respect him.
So, don't make him regret now. Be strong and live the way he would want you to live. Do the things he would do and do the things he could not do. Make up for his regrets. This is the least, but all you can do to honor him."
Will finally looked at Gwen and was surprised to see tears finally pouring out of her eyes, which were full of emotions.
Gwen had not cried ever since they left the blast site that day and her eyes had remained lifeless despite anything he said.
It seems that telling her all this did work, so Will's effort was not in vain.
Behind her, tears were also following out of Helen's eyes, but there was a look of relief on her face, her pain also seemingly eased somewhat .
Gwen threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. "You are right... I have… been really weak and pathetic... He wouldn't want this…" she said, her voice choked by sobs. "It's just that… it is hurting so bad… And I'm so… so angry…"
Will patted her back, his other hand gently ruffling her hair.
"I know. I can't take it away. But I can promise you this: I will hunt down those who caused this. Each and every breath they draw from now on will be paid for."
….
A few months later…
Will entered the lab, where Helen and Gwen were currently working.
Helen usually prefers to work alone, coordinating with other scientists of Osiris via screens. but she seems to have taken a liking to Gwen, taking her as her protege and teaching her.
Gwen had changed her hairstyle, her platinum blonde hair now cut in a messy bob that was swept to one side, giving her a cold, rebellious look.
Currently, she was working seriously, an intense look of concentration on her face.
"Will!" But when she saw him, her eyes lit up, a smile appearing on her face.
"How's it going?" He asked as the girl jumped into his arms.
"Nothing much, I'm still learning, you know."
"Well, the dark circles under your eyes say otherwise. Helen told me about your crazy self torture."
"I'm fine, really. I took the nutrient solutions and also rested my mind through power naps."
Will sighed. "Why do you need to work so hard?"
"No reason. I just find the Spider serum really interesting. I also find it peculiar how Peter survived. And there's so much I can learn from Dr. Helen! There really is no time to waste."
Yep, it turns out that Peter still became Spiderman first.
The spidermen in every world are chosen by Spider-totem, meaning it's kinda fated, so Will was never worried about things like the spider not biting him, or Peter dying from spider bite.
And neither could he prevent it.
The most that could have happened would be that Gwen would have become Spider-Gwen instead of Peter.
But Gwen doesn't seem to need an 'accident' like this to gain powers anymore. Ever since her father's death, she seems to have gone beast mode, with extremely high research efficiency.
It seems that she might be able to make her own Spider-Serum soon.
"Regardless, breaks are important. Go rest, now," said Will, ruffling her hair, but his tone was strict.
"...Okay…." Gwen nodded obediently, unconsciously rubbing her head in his hand. Will has discovered that she seems to find comfort in his strictness after her father's death.
After Gwen left, Helen came over, an odd look on her face. "I still can't get used to her change in demeanor when you're around. She's usually all gloomy and sarcastic but as soon as you enter, she turns into a little girl."
Will shrugged. "I don't know what you are talking about. Gwen is always a perfectly normal, cheerful, and sunny girl. Very obedient too."
Helen pinched his waist, or at least she tried to. All she found was a thin layer of skin over dense muscles.
"Don't play dumb here. You did the same magic on her too! How many are there now? Me, Gwen, Jessica, and of course, that Doctor Jean Grey! She's even older than me!"
"Hey, beautiful young lady who looks younger than me, please don't slander me. I have only helped each and every one of you."
"I don't look youn—! See? There it is again! You really weaponize it!"
"Weaponize what?"
"...Nothing. Just tell me why you're here."
"Can't I just come to see my noona?" Will tilted his head. But looking at her deadpan look, he sighed. "I came to tell you that I'll be out of the country for a while."
"Oh, nice. Where are you headed?"
"Afghanistan."
Helen's expression immediately turned serious.
"I know… that you promised her, but you don't have to do it yourself. Send someone else."
Will sighed.
As it turns out, they still haven't been able to track who perpetrated the New York Inferno Incident, as the media has begun to call it, but there are rumors about the similar bombs being privately sold to criminal organizations.
But whoever the seller is, they are very cautious and deceptive, leaving behind no trail to follow.
"It's not about the revenge. It's just to show Oscorp's new tech to the Military and get a big contract."
But seeing her 'I don't buy your bullshit' look, he shrugged.
"Well, there is this groundbreaking tech for which I've been waiting for a while. And there's a chance its invention might be disrupted due to certain variables. I need to make sure it is invented successfully."
Tony Stark was going to Afghanistan, and the Iron Man plot was going to happen. But there was a problem.
When he had discovered news of Tony's Afghanistan trip, Will had naturally sent out drones and personnel to find out if the plot really was going to happen.
Well, turns out, the plot IS happening, at least the terrorists plan to kidnap Tony like in the movie, even their leader is the same. But… Yinsen is dead.
Yinsen is the brilliant doctor and engineer who saved Tony's life by making the iconic electro-magnetic device on Tony's chest that saved his life, something none of the other terrorists there could have done.
He's also the guy who helped Tony build the arc reactor and Iron Man Mark 1 in a cave.
As he has observed with Kilgrave and X-men's cases, little plot deviations can screw up everything. For all he knows, without Yinsen, Tony Stark might end up dead, which would put a big damper on his plans.
So, he has to go. The development of White Elf Mark III depends on it.
It also helps that this terrorist group has also been found to possess bombs similar to the one that caused the Inferno incident.
....
A.N.: Like it so far? Throw in some Powerstones!
….