Gwen and Harry slept for a couple of hours after their extra curricular activities. After that was out of the way it was time to get up and time to give Spider-Girl her webs as Harry promised. Gwen stirred herself awake first and waited for Harry to do the same.
"So, are you ready to get to work?" Gwen asked. She didn't wait for Harry's answer. "You know we should use the napkin as a starting base."
"Yes," Harry agreed. It took a couple of moments for his head to be on straight when he woke up. "Let's get dressed and we should pick up some supplies from the hardware store."
"Do you think that you can hook me up something here?" Gwen asked Harry. He raised his eyebrow at her in response. The blonde wilted in surprise.
"If I can't hook up something for you, then we'd both be in big trouble," Harry admitted to her. Gwen let out the breath in her body. "Stay there and take a look at the formula. I'll be back in about fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Gwen said. She stole one quick kiss from Harry. He disappeared in a flash.
'No matter how many times he does that, it never will cease to amaze me,' Gwen said. She picked up the napkin and she spread it out. She shook her head and got back to work. 'Okay, it's a good starting point like Harry said. And between the two of us, with our grounding in chemistry we should be able to get something going.'
Gwen waited a few minutes for Harry to return. She looked up and seconds later he returned for her. There was a bag right in his hand."
"I've been looking over the formula and I've got a few suggestions," Gwen said. He sat down beside him. She checked the time. "But first….I better check in with my father."
"Go ahead, I've got some notes to make myself," Harry said.
Gwen walked her way to the next room so she could get the call. She was pretty sure that Harry could hear her conversation but that didn't really matter.
"Hello, Dad?" Gwen asked him over the phone. "Yeah, you still sound like crap, you're right. I didn't come back home because I wanted to check up with Harry. I went over to visit MJ after that and I just crashed at her place. Yeah, eat something, please. And no, coffee isn't a food group."
The conversation lasted for another couple of moments past that. Harry was engrossed in his work but he half heard the conversation.
"I'll be heading out now, Gwen," George told her. Gwen smiled but didn't say anything. "We might see each other tonight. It depends on several things."
"Well, do your best out there to stay safe," Gwen said. "And get something to eat again."
There was a second where they said their goodbyes. Gwen turned and saw an extremely amused Harry waiting for her.
"So, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Harry asked. There was a look on Gwen's face that showed that she didn't mind at all. He was busy putting together web shooters. "Is that what you normally tell your father when you're over at my place in the evening?"
"Well, I normally tell him that I'm over at MJ's or Liz's, and they'll cover for me if he asks," Gwen said. The fact that he never did really wasn't the point. "Plus, you know it's some kind of girlfriend code thing. You know, kind of like the bro-code. Only for females. "
"I wouldn't know," Harry muttered to himself. He made an adjustment.
"I suppose that I could have told him the truth," Gwen said. She shrugged her shoulders. "He does like you. But no father wants to admit that his sixteen year old girl is sexually active. Even if the father does like the boyfriend in question."
"Fair enough," Harry said. Gwen sat herself down behind the lab table. "So, what do you think?"
"I think that you did a pretty good job in filling in the blanks," Gwen said to him. She double checked his work. Most frustratingly, she couldn't find a single flaw in it. "And do you have much of the necessary down here?"
"Yes I do," Harry confirmed for him. He got out the chemicals that were needed. She helped him by getting out the vials. Her eyes lingered on the makeshift web shooters that rested on the table. "I know, but they work in a pinch."
"I wasn't saying anything," Gwen said. "That's why it's called a prototype isn't it?"
"Yes," Harry said. He slowly started to mix up the web chemicals. He hoped that this would work.
A silver device was removed from the bag. He pried it open.
"This should contain the fluid and is hooked in the quick release," Harry said. He demonstrated to Gwen how it worked, first with the empty cartridge. He waited for the web fluid to settle and then he filled up the cartridge.
"And it snaps inside just like that?" Gwen asked. She put the now full web shooter cartridge into the shooter. "And then…"
"Press that button off to the side," Harry pointed to her. He made sure the prototype shooter strapped to Gwen's wrist. "You better be careful not to exert that much pressure. You want to hit the target."
Harry magically drew a target on the wall. Gwen closed her eyes and she pressed the button.
The cartridge exploded when it was supposed to be released. The web fluid splattered onto Gwen's face and covered it completely. If someone walked in right now, they would get the wrong picture with things.
To her credit, Gwen took things in good humor. "I think that we might still have a few bugs that we have to work out."
"Okay, they work better," Gwen said. The good old fashioned tactic of trial and error managed to get things together. There was one sticking point, pardon the pun, for the blonde. "But I have a question about the wrist bands."
"Just a prototype Gwen," Harry reminded her. She folded her arms, telling him that she was well aware of that. She frowned deeply in response. "They're big and clunky yes…"
"I'm not a proto-Goth like MJ you know," Gwen said. She smirked slightly. "Otherwise I would need the collar to go with them. Because these look like really large leather bands. And I doubt that's the look we want. Unless you want to change my codename to Bondage Queen."
"Interesting thought," Harry said to her. "But no."
"I wonder if Mary Jane is into bondage, she does seem like the type," Gwen murmured. It was done more to herself than Harry but it sent his mind into some interesting places.
"Interesting thought," Harry repeated to himself. He cleared his head with a brief shake. "I know that the straps seem large but they're just to support your weight. And so they don't break because of your strength."
"Fine," Gwen said. She was willing to overlook that point if it worked out. There was only one thing left to do. "So, maybe this time I won't look like an extra in a Bukkake."
"Likely not, but you never know," Harry said. "So, I'm ready when you are. One more round of tests. We'll see if these work."
Gwen aimed her webs and prepared to take fire. The results were mostly acceptable. There was one thing for sure and that was that Spider-Girl had her webs. That was a promising start to their plans.
A man sat himself down on a bench at Central Park. The latest copy of the Daily Bugle was in front of him. The Parker home invasion was highlighted. There was also an article about how the crazed serial killer targeted another family. The results were considered to be too brutal to be written about.
The man was Harold Osborn's minder known as Shaw. He read the Daily Bugle. He got his vacation with the rich brat that he was tasked with so he was in a pretty good mood.
There was a man dressed in sweat pants and a hooded sweatshirt who jogged towards him. At first, Shaw didn't even bother to look up at him. There were people who jogged by him every single day in the park.
The man skidded to a stop in front of Shaw. Shaw looked up, his eyebrow raised when he leaned on in towards him.
"May I help you?" Shaw asked him.
The man in the jogging outfit looked around to make sure that no one was listening. "You used to work for SHIELD?"
There was really no point in hiding that because he long since cut his ties to that organization. There was a clash of ideals and let's just leave it at that.
"Is it true or not?" the man asked. Shaw paused and nodded. "Then you must have access to some high level files."
Shaw nodded. He was guilty as charged.
"I have a high level job for you," the man in the jogging outfit said. Shaw's eyes averted towards him. "If you're interested?"
"Let's see what you got," Shaw said. The man reached into his coat and pulled out a picture towards him. "Who is that?"
"Look at the back of the picture," the jogging suit man said. Shaw did. "Does the name seem familiar to you?"
The name "Dennis Carradine" was clear on the picture in elegant handwriting. It was a name that many people might be familiar with given current events in the news. There was only a big manhunt out for him.
Van Dyne Industries was an elegant facility. It was actually one of many although this was the main headquarters. Thus this was the headquarters that they needed to be out. Harry pushed open the front doors and allowed Gwen to walk inside.
Gwen took a couple of steps forward. The blonde whistled impressed beyond her belief. She realized how much of a fan girl she looked like when she spoke. Harry gave her an amused gaze and she fell back into line.
When that was done, Harry made his way to the front desk. The clerk at the front desk looked up to acknowledge her arrival.
"Hello, I'm Harry Parker, this is Gwen Stacy, we're here to Janet Van Dyne."
The security guard took about a minute to check the security register. "Yes, Miss Van Dyne told me to expect both of you. She's waiting for both of you."
The security badges were brought up and given to both Harry and Gwen. The two of them put them on.
"Where can we find her?" Harry asked.
"She's on the ninth floor," the clerk said to him. She looked at Harry in the way that most women did. She cleared her throat. "Is there anything else that you need from me?"
"No, thank you," Harry said. She offered his arm to Gwen. The two of them made their way up towards the elevator. "You have a nice day."
The two of them made their way towards the elevator. A man with sandy hair, dressed in a formal suit joined them. He didn't really make any eye contact.
"Could you please hit number five?"
His arms were full of various blueprints that overflowed in his arms. Harry, who was closest to the elevator button, did as he was asked. The man gave a stiff nod.
Gwen frowned, she wondered if he was part robot. If he wasn't, his brain waves might be a good template for one.
"Nice day, isn't it?"
"I can't complain," Harry said. The casual small talk made was very intriguing.
Gwen could have sworn that she saw this person before. The blonde spent several moments of her life trying to rack her brain.
The man got off on his stop at the fifth floor. He walked out without saying too many words to him. Gwen turned towards Harry. It clicked in her brain where she should have recognized him from.
"So, was that him?" Gwen asked. Harry looked for confirmation. Gwen decided to give it to him. "You know Ant-Man?"
"Well he doesn't really like to be called that," Harry said. Gwen smiled.
"I didn't call it him that to his face," Gwen said. She crossed her arms. "But that's what he's best known for. His studies on ants. You know, Ant Man."
"Yes, I know, Doctor Henry Pym," Harry said. He decided to give Gwen a little bit of backstory to help fill in the blanks. "He worked with Jan's father. She might have had a bit of a crush on him. He hasn't been the same since his wife died."
Gwen frowned. "Was that before or after he became a bit too obsessed with his ants?"
"That was before, it might have been the reason why he threw himself into his studies," Harry said. "The point is he is a bit….off, but he is brilliant."
"Not the type of guy that you'd invite to your dinner parties though?" Gwen asked him. Harry shook his head in response. She smiled. "I thought so."
Gwen had another question.
"So how do you know Janet Van Dyne?" Gwen asked him.
"We share some of the same classes at ESU," Harry said. "And we got to know each other fairly well. And she owes me a favor, but I think that she'd help without owing me one."
Gwen decided not to ask the nature of the favor that Jan owed Harry. She was spared from continuing this conversation any further when the duo made their way to the ninth floor.
"So, where do we….."
"HARRY!"
It turned out that the two of them didn't have that entirely far to go. Jan came bounding out of the lab. She dressed in an elegant three piece business suit with her hair tied back slightly. She bounded over towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"It's so good to see you," she said. Her voice bubbled over. Gwen smiled at her. Jan's attention towards her. "And you must be Gwen Stacy. Harry's told me so much about you, and I've been dying to meet you."
Gwen raised her eyebrow. She turned towards Harry. He had an unapologetic look on his face. "Oh he has, has he?"
"Oh, it's been good, trust me," Jan said. Her expression grew suddenly serious when she looked at Harry. "So how have you been holding up?"
"As well as can be expected given the circumstances," Harry said. Jan nodded. She led them over to the lab area.
"We shouldn't be bothered in here," Jan said. She turned her attention momentarily to Gwen. "If you could strip down please, we'd be good to go."
Gwen shrugged her shoulders and did as she was asked. Jan checked the doors to make sure they were shut.
"No one saw us go up," Jan said. She frowned. "Which is a good thing….not that I don't mind talking to you or being seen with you, it's just….well…let's see if we can get her situated."
No sooner did she finish, Gwen already stripped her clothes off. She wore a blue and red pairs of lacy bra and panties. She walked inside. Jan's eyes lingered on her body for a second.
"Right, let's see what we can do to her," Jan said. She motioned for Gwen to sit down a table. She did as was directed. Jan fished a measuring tape out of the drawer and made the measurements that she needed to design a costume. "Well there are a few options that would work pretty well, you know."
Jan racked her brain. She smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"For you though, I think that high tech swimwear fabric would work the best," Jan said. She made a few more measurements. Her hand rested on Gwen's inner thigh for a moment and she adjusted things. "Need to make sure I'm through. Don't worry, I won't bite."
Jan finished making the measurements. The sketchpad she had it was completed. She went into a zone that was scary and focused. With another motion, she made herself to the table. There were several pieces of paper. Several colored pencils pulled out onto the desk. She started to sketch various designs that she thought might work.
Gwen watched her. This was an intensity that she didn't think was healthy. Jan took her work very seriously. She turned towards Harry. She raised her eyebrow and gave him one of those "what the hell did you get me into?" types of looks. It was extremely intense and Harry smiled when he shook his head.
Jan was in her element now. Gwen was about ready to open her mouth to answer a question. Harry placed two fingers on her lips to cease any attempts to talk.
"It's best not to interfere with her when she's like this," Harry said. She raised her eyebrow in surprise. "Just trust me on that."
Gwen trusted Harry on that. It seemed like he spoke from some kind of experience. Exactly what she couldn't be for sure but the experience he had was there.
Jan finished several sketches. The dark haired woman walked them over towards Harry and Gwen. An intense look flashed through her eyes.
She turned towards a tack board and tacked them up. Gwen looked at them. She might not be the teenage girl who enjoyed high fashion. She did know what she liked.
"Pick one," Jan offered. She felt that it was best to give this girl options.
Gwen looked at all of the sketches. This was trickier than she thought it was. Each of the sketches had their elements that she liked. One in particular stood completely out to her. The blonde's lips curled into a smile.
"I think we've found our match."
Jan corked her eyebrow. She saw what Gwen picked out. She had to admit, she could see why she would be partial to that one.
"Now it's time to get to work."
Gwen chose her to design and Harry and Gwen both were shooed out of Jan's workspace. This was for the best as far as both of them were concerned. They had other places to be and Jan had plenty of work to do.
The two of them stopped to pick up to lunch. It was on the way to their next stop. The couple was off to the Daily Bugle to visit Mary Jane.
'So how are you handling this?' Harry asked to her. He was slowly bringing Gwen onto the mental network. It was like babysteps getting her on but he worked things over.
'A bit weird at first, but it's convenient,' Gwen admitted. She decided to go back to the conversation at hand. 'So, are we going to work on MJ? It shouldn't be too hard.'
'It's the chase, the thrill of the hunt where the true glory lies,' Harry told her. Gwen's wicked grin spread over her face.
'Well, she was trapped the moment that she came across us a while back,' Gwen said. 'You know what I'm talking about.'
'Yes,' Harry confirmed. 'I figured that you might have caught her. And we put on a bit of a show for her.'
'Well that wasn't completely intention,' Gwen admitted to him. 'But you know that it worked out for the best with her. And we can…..'
The two of them stopped at the front of the Bugle office. They could hear a voice yelling about something or another.
'That must be Jameson,' Gwen thought in a casual voice. She was sure that she could hear his voice if she stood right in Jersey and he was on the other side of the country. 'But, we're slowly easing her into things. And we might be able to figure out whether or she is into bondage.'
That was an interesting theory as per usual. It brought Harry's mind to the happy place one expected it to go.
'You seem awfully intent of wanting to get MJ into bed,' Harry thought.
Gwen crossed her arms in response. 'Oh, it's not like you don't.'
'We all have to have our long term projects,' Harry said. Gwen straightened up and laughed. If that wasn't the truth, she didn't know what was. MJ really was the epitome of an extremely long term project for him.
They moved through the bullpen. Obviously Jameson's voice could be more prominent the further they walked inside. It wasn't exactly the epitome of an indoor voice. They spotted the object of their most recent conversation talking. She talked to an extremely attractive brunette dressed in female business attire.
Her desk was right next to the office of the jolly one himself. Harry and Gwen both pitied her.
"Harry, Gwen!" Mary Jane yelled. She detached herself away from the conversation from her. She could feel a stomach pang coming up. It had been a while since she ate. She really regretted her decision to skip breakfast. She saw the bag of Chinese food. "Oh, Harry, food? Oh thank you, I could kiss you for this."
She realized what she said and she looked flushed. Gwen smiled at her in response. "Well don't let me stop you."
That caused Mary Jane's flushing to go as nearly deep as her hair. She shook her head. The brunette looked amused.
"This is Betty Brant, I'm working underneath her this summer," Mary Jane said. She averted her eyes to Gwen for a second. "Betty, this is Gwen Stacy and Harry Evans-Parker."
"YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE PICTURES WHILE YOU HAD THE CHANCE! I'M NOT PAYING YOU TO HAVE YOUR THUMB UP YOUR ASS WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING, BROCK!"
"Yes, I have to deal with that every day," Betty said. There was nothing but a sharp smile on her face. She tried to keep a straight face. It was really hard to do considering the circumstances. "But I suppose that's just worth the paycheck. And I have to be his personal assistant on top of everything else."
"But you're a reporter?" Harry asked. Betty nodded. "And then why….."
"Jameson's too cheap to hire anyone else and no one would be willing to work for his…"
"That's it Brock, if you can't shape up, then get out! You're lucky enough to work for tabloids with your attitude."
Betty sighed for a second. "Well, do I need to draw you a diagram about why people might not want to take the job?"
"No, I think that I've got a live demonstration," Harry said. "Must make you happy to get out of the office when you can."
Betty shrugged things off. "Oh, I get used to it, believe me."
"Guess that you would have to do or go insane," Gwen said.
"The folder couldn't have grown legs and walked out the door, Robbie!" Jameson yelled abruptly.
Betty reached over onto her desk and sighed. Jameson brought the folder out here and promptly dropped it on her desk. She figured that he'd forget about it.
"Five, four, three, two, one," Betty murmured underneath her breath. This was both a countdown of Jameson going off and also a countdown to keep her stress levels from hitting fatal.
"MISS BRANT!" Jameson bellowed.
"Coming," Betty said swiftly. She only had to turn around and stick her head into the office.
She retreated to get him the folder in question. Mary Jane raised her eyebrow.
"I'm surprised that you haven't delved into the food yet," Harry said, smiling at her.
Before Mary Jane could answer, Betty exited the office. An apologetic look crossed her face when she returned.
"Got some other things to dig up that might have grown legs and walked," Betty said. She shook her head in bemusement. "It was nice meeting the two of you. Too bad it was too short lived."
"Yeah too bad," Harry agreed with her. "Maybe another time."
"Yes, maybe, when Jonah finally loses his voice,' Betty muttered. Harry wasn't completely sure that she meant to say that last part out loud.
Mary Jane gave an extremely un-lady like snort in response. "Yeah, that'd be the day, wouldn't it?"
Harry smiled and turned towards her. "So lunch?"
"Yeah, lunch," Mary Jane agreed. She positively beamed at him when she spoke.
A calculating look spread over Gwen's face. It was one of those looks that said to let the games begin. She might have rubbed her hands together, if she didn't look like such an evil and calculating super villain in the process.
The three of them sat down for lunch and chatted lightly. In between periodic Jameson level interruptions.
Harry and Gwen made their way back to Jan's much later in the day. She gave them a call about a half of an hour before they showed up. It was a high priority order, so she was willing to get it done. For a client like Harry, you didn't wait around. Especially given an endorsement from someone like him could mean everything.
Jan didn't do it for the endorsement but it sweetened the pot a little bit.
Gwen currently made her way into the bathroom to try on her new costume.
"So, I hope that she is happy with it," Jan said to Harry. She stood in front of him. He towered over her. He towered over a lot of women but given that she was tiny, he looked like a giant.
"Are you happy with it?" Harry asked to her.
Jan took a half of a step towards him. She stood where her head practically rested on his chest. She had a grin. His hands rested on her to hold her up as well.
"If she's happy with it, then I'm happy about it," Jan admitted. She gave a smirk and shook her head. "You know what they say. The client is always right, especially in circumstances like this."
He smiled when he held her in tight to him. He bent down and whispered into her ear.
"But I know that you have a great deal of professional pride in what you do," Harry whispered to her. Jan looked at him, with a grin. He placed his hand on the side of her face. "And you wouldn't have called us here if you didn't get something done that you weren't completely satisfied with."
Jan grinned. She gave one of those guilty as charged looks. The number of broken pencils that were in her office when she wasn't happy with a design was proof that backed off Harry. When she got going, she got going.
"I can't wait to see the finished product," Jan said. She shifted herself, still resting her head on Harry's shoulder. She wrapped her arm around her face. "And you know, if you ever want me to design you anything…."
"Yeah, that'd be the day," Harry said. She pouted but Harry patted her on the head. "And while I'm sure that you'd do a good job, I can't see myself being the type to go out there ever again."
"Oh, I'm sure that I could find you a design that would make you think twice," Jan said. The tone and inflection in her voice indicated that she saw some kind of challenge.
That challenge would have to wait until later. The door creaked open and Gwen walked outside.
The costume was two separate colors. The high level swimwear fabric stretched over Gwen's ample curves. The red mask started at the top of her body, with eyeholes in it so she could see. High end technology could be implanted into the mask with how it was designed. The top half of her was a red pattern with blue webbing like designs down the front of her. A blue spider etched on her chest, nestled between her breasts. It could be armored easily. She wasn't entirely sure she was bullet proof. She wasn't about to test that out. The button half of the costume was a dark blue. It fit snugly around her ass.
"So, how do I look?" Gwen asked. She struck a pose in her costume.
Harry would have to say that Jan exceeded all expectations. Judging by the look on her face, hers especially.
Jan's eyes looked her up and down. She whistled. Seeing was in fact believing and she saw something spectacular. "Darling, you look amazing."