The next day:
"And then this new Spider came in, kicked butt and just bolted!" Dani cheered, jumping in her seat in the cafeteria, "it was so cool!"
Nancy rolled her eyes, "she was okay, I guess."
"So you guys really saw this Scarlet Spider?" Brad asked, sounding sceptical.
"Yeah, we did! Hey, just ask Bruce and May — they saw her too," Dani pointed to May and me. Both of us remained silent.
"Well?" JJ asked, "is this true, May?"
The girl cleared her throat, "yeah."
"Nice! So we have another Spider! This is so cool!" said Moose, the big guy, "was she cooler than Spider-girl?"
"Hell no!" May snapped, "she's just a rip-off!"
"Well, I wouldn't say that, May," a new voice called out. A woman with platinum blonde hair dressed in a pair of jeans and a green top walked over to our table. She smirked, her face looking similar to Felicia's, "some would say the new Spider is a step up."
I blinked. That's right — Felicity Hardy attended Midtown High, didn't she?
"Hey, girl! It's been too long! Have you heard?" Dani smiled, moving over to give Felicity space to sit down — right opposite me.
"About how the Scarlet Spider saved you guys? Yeah, I heard," Felicity replied in a smug voice, "in fact, I heard that if she hadn't come, May's cousin would have been Swiss cheese."
I raised an eyebrow, "I can handle myself, Felicity."
Felicity looked surprised — shocked, even. May blinked, "you guys know each other?"
I smiled, "something like that," I gave her a knowing look, leaning forward and resting my chin on my hand, "you know, that isn't actually where this story ends."
"What do you mean?" Nancy asked sceptically.
"I mean," I smirked at the girl, "after you guys left, Scarlet came back. And then...she kissed me."
"What?!" May cried out, her eyes immediately landing on Felicity, who was turning red. So May did know who the Scarlet Spider really was.
"Dude! Are you serious?!" Brad cried out.
I nodded, "yeah, I am. I guess she wanted to properly thank me or something, so she just pushed me down and kissed me."
"W-woah," Dani blinked, "was she any good?"
"Dani!" Felicity cried out, blushing harder.
"What? I just want to know!" Dani shrugged.
"Well...was she?" Brad asked. The gathered teenagers all leaned in, looking very curious.
I smiled, "it was..." They leaned in closer. Even May looked curious, "...the worst kiss I've ever gotten."
"What?!" Felicity cried out, slamming her hands on the table, "what do you mean by that?!"
I shrugged, "I mean it was the worst kiss I've ever gotten. It was like kissing a fish — tongue going everywhere and lips being shoved all over the place. It was like her first kiss and...wait..." I shivered, "I think it was her first kiss. Damn. Now I feel bad."
"N-no way!" Felicity cried out. The others turned to her, "it can't have been her first kiss!"
"Why do you think that, Felicity?" Nancy asked, her eyes narrowing curiously.
"Yeah, Felicity, why?" May asked with a smug smile.
"B-because, I mean, she's a superhero, right," Felicity gulped, "they must have, like, a lot of experience."
I snorted, "well, even then, she was still the worst kisser I have ever met."
Felicity was red-faced now, looking like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I chuckled. There — now there was no way she'd ever want to kiss me again.
That night:
I was walking home alone that evening. May had stayed behind for basketball practice. And just then, I was suddenly grabbed and dragged into an alley.
I blinked in surprise as I found myself face to face with the Scarlet Spider once again, "oh...hey. What's up?"
"I'm the worst kisser ever?!" Felicity demanded.
I smirked, "oh? And how would you know that?"
Immediately she realised her mistake and backed away, "I-I, I have my ear to the ground."
"Really," I rolled my eyes, "cute."
"So...why?"
"Why what?"
"Why am I the worst kisser ever?!"
"Wow, this is really bothering you, huh?" I chuckled. God, this was so much fun!
"N-no! I mean...I just want to know why!"
I shrugged, "there's no why...it was just a bad kiss, is all."
She growled. For a moment I thought she was going to hit me. But then she lunged forward, pushed me back, raised her mask and kissed me again. Her hands went around my hair, her chest pressing against mine as she put everything she had into it.
And then she finally pulled away. The skin on my lips was wet and I stared up at her in shock.
She smirked, "yeah, I'm just the worst," she turned around and took off, "catch you later, cutie!"
I watched her jump and leap away and groaned, "great, just great. I knew I shouldn't have pushed her. God, I hope she doesn't try that again." I swear she gets it from her mother. Ugh — I'm going to be sick.
A week later:
"So Tracy Morgan's dating Tony?!" Dani gasped, "didn't he break up with her a month ago?!"
Nancy nodded, "they got back together."
May snorted, "if a guy broke up with me the way Tony did to Morgan, I wouldn't even talk to him!"
"Well, you know what they say — young love," Dani shrugged as she turned to me, "what's wrong, Bruce? Are we boring you?"
I snorted, "sorry, it's just I don't know these people you're talking about. Plus...I've never been one for gossip." Plus I'm so bored!
May rolled her eyes, "yeah? And what—"
"—May!" Felicity suddenly came running up to our table. Her eyes were wide with fear — she looked scared, very scared.
May looked up, "Felicity? What's wrong?"
"I-I need to talk to you, alone," she looked at the rest of us, "please!"
"Ah, okay," May nodded as she got up and followed the blonde out of the cafeteria. I sighed. 'Why did Felicia have to marry Flash of all people? Yuck.' I watched May and Felicity walk outside. The way Felicity looked — scared like that — it bothered me.
Deciding to do something about it, I got up. "Where are you going?" Dani asked.
I smiled, "bathroom, be back in a second," I winked as I slipped away, following May and Felicity as they went behind the building and stood next to a garbage bin, whispering to one another. I used my enhanced hearing to listen in.
"...She hasn't said a word to me, May! I know her! She doesn't just leave like that! Even Diana is worried!"
"Have you tried her cell?"
"Not working."
"Damn it! Fine, I'll help. But...where could she be?"
"I don't know! That's what I've been trying to tell you!"
Okay, this sounded bad. I walked around the corner, "maybe I can help with that."
"B-Bruce?" May turned to me, shocked, "what are you doing here?"
"Fetching daisies," I rolled my eyes and turned to Felicity, "hey, Scarlet — nice to meet you officially."
"I knew it! You did know it was me!" she said, looking surprised and blushing, "then why did you say I was a bad kisser?!"
I raised an eyebrow, "because I don't like it when people I've never met suddenly kiss me," I turned to May, "so you knew too?"
May nodded, "yeah. Felicity figured out my other identity," she rolled her eyes, "and then she decided the best course of action was to blackmail me."
I was taken aback, "what? Why?!"
"Because I wanted to be her partner!" Felicity cheered, "but May didn't want me..."
"But why did you even want to be a Spider in the first place?" I asked.
Felicity smirked, "because it pissed off my mom...who..." But her smile slowly fell, a sudden wave of sadness overtaking her, "she's...damn it, mom, what happened?"
May walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "he can help, Felicity. I know it."
Felicity gulped, "I hope you're right," she turned to me and with worry now filling her eyes, she spoke in a voice filled with fear, "they have my mother."
And just like that, I felt it again. That feeling that had driven me to beat Magneto into the ground with my bare fists. To break his face and keep going until he was finished. That hate, that anger — it was back.
"Who?" My voice went low, a growl seeping into it.
Felicity was startled, "I-I don't know. She was investigating a murder that happened a week ago. The man's wife hired my mom to find out what really happened because the police couldn't find his killer. Last night she...she didn't come home. I thought she was working late, but this morning when I woke up she was still gone. That's why I came to May for help."
I felt my heartbeat rise. Anger — pure, unfiltered anger — begging to be let out. And I honestly didn't want to keep it in.
SKIT!
May and Felicity gasped and moved back as my stingers came out, blood at my knuckles.
"Holy shit!" Felicity gasped in shock, "what the hell are those?!"
I growled, "sorry," and forced them back into my fists.
May looked at me, "d-does that happen a lot?"
I growled, "only when there's someone I want to gut," I was certain of it. These people were going to regret being born. "We need to move. Suit up," I opened my backpack, revealing a red and blue costume inside.
"Isn't that my dad's costume?" May asked, shocked, "why do you have that?"
I grumbled, "he said I could borrow it."
"I-it might be dangerous," Felicity said, "these guys...they might be very dangerous. May has powers. It won't be safe for you, Bruce."
I smirked, "relax, Felicity. The powers are a family thing. I'll be fine. I promise — whoever has your mother," I growled, the anger bleeding into my voice, "they're going to regret it. Now let's move!"
An hour later:
Inside a room with no windows and a single door sat a woman tied to a chair in the center. Blood was dripping from her face onto the floor in steady drops. Her hands and feet were bound with zip ties and her beautiful silvery blonde hair was matted with sweat and blood.
'And here comes another one,' she thought as the thug's fist came flying across her face.
Wham!
It was the sound of flesh on flesh as Felicia's head was thrown backwards from the impact. She sagged back in the chair she was tied to, panting hard as she felt her nose cry out in pain. 'Great, as if it wasn't broken enough already.'
She leaned forward and spat a wad of blood onto the floor. She saw a molar skitter across the concrete — another part of her that was broken. Perfect.
She looked up at the five men looming over her. Two had bloody knuckles, and a third looked angry that she wasn't showing any reaction to his strikes.
Felicia smirked, "you hit like a bitch."
"Fucking whore!" the large man roared as he brought his fist down again.
Wham!
This time the blow rocked her back so hard the chair went flying. She panted, stars circling her vision. Her head spun as she realised they had picked her up and set her facing them again. The big man was shaking his fist in pain. Felicia felt a small satisfaction at that. Bastard.
"I have to admit, you are the strongest woman I have ever met," said a calm, measured voice as a sixth man walked into the room wearing a sleek white suit and a smug grin. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. Felicia knew him — she had been tracking him for over a year.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the White Knight of York," Felicia spat a wad of blood that landed on his clean white shoes, "oops, sorry about that."
The man smiled, "oh please, Ms. Hardy, no need to worry," his hands came to her throat and slowly slid down her neck toward her neckline. The black turtleneck she wore had been torn near the collar.
Felicia felt disgust and horror at his touch. They hadn't crossed that line — just beaten her — but now she felt a particular, cold kind of fear. A trauma she had never fully recovered from.
The man seemed to notice it. He smiled, "oh please, Ms. Hardy, I'm many things, but never a rapist," his hands wrapped around the torn fabric near her collar and pulled, ripping off a large chunk of it and revealing her black bra underneath.
The man used the fabric to wipe the blood off his shoes and tossed it aside, "I have to admit though, you are a very striking woman — especially for your age."
"Heh, I'll say," a seedy-looking man in the corner quipped, causing the rest of the gang to laugh.
"Yes, quite," the blonde man smiled, "tell me, what kind of woman wears her very best lingerie to go investigate the Kingpin? I really am surprised — you're very daring, Ms. Hardy."
Felicia smirked, "the Kingpin? Where? Last I heard, your daddy was in Switzerland with mommy dearest after Daredevil destroyed his empire."
The man's eye twitched before he smiled again, "yes, that's true. My father's empire did crumble and he did run away like a scolded dog. But he's a coward. I'm not."
"Oh yeah, and nothing screams brave like human trafficking," Felicia snorted.
The man shrugged, "you have to start somewhere."
"So tell me, Richard — what are you going to do to me?" Felicia asked.
"Me? Oh, nothing," the man shrugged before turning to the five other men with a smile, "but you see, these men? They are just itching to break you, and unlike me, they don't care what you call them."
Felicia's eyes went wide in fear as she saw the men smiling at her body with naked hunger.
"But," Richard Fisk spoke up, "that won't happen — just tell me what evidence you gathered and I'll let you go...after I secure your evidence, that is. But...if you don't...then after my men have had their fun with you, I'll go after your sweet little girl. Felicity, right? Believe me, she is very much her mother's daughter — just as beautiful. Let's hope she has your sense of fashion as well."
Felicia's fear evaporated the moment the man mentioned her daughter, "stay away from her!"
Richard blinked, "or what?"
"I'll fucking kill you!"
The man threw his head back and laughed, "you? Kill me?! Please! You can't even escape from those ropes! You'll die here if I want you to!"
Slap!
His hand flew like a whip across her face, "tell me, how exactly do you think that's going to happen? You're in my building, on the top floor, surrounded by five of my strongest men — not to mention the twenty armed guards I have on each of the top five floors. How in hell do you plan on getting out?"
"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" came an alarm over the speakers.
Richard Fisk blinked, "what the—" he turned to his men, "don't just stand there! Go see what that's about!"
The large man who had knocked out Felicia's tooth nodded and quickly ran to the door. His hand landed on the knob and was about to turn it when suddenly the door exploded off its hinges, sending the man flying back with it smashing into his face.
Richard's eyes went wide, "what the—"
Thwip!
That sound. That sound sent a spark through Felicia's body. She remembered that sound. She had fought alongside that sound, loved that sound, broken up to the sound of it. She looked up and, like a ghost from the past, a figure in red and blue spandex stood in the doorway with webs shooting from his hands.
'P-Peter?!' Felicia thought in disbelief. But there he was, looking as though he hadn't been gone a day, standing in his old costume with the red and blue practically glowing in the single strip of light in the room. The only difference was that he now wore a metallic helmet over his head instead of a cloth mask.
I pulled the web line, yanking the man in white into my arms. I grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. I looked around — four men, one pinned under the door and one woman.
I couldn't help a gasp escaping my lips, "F-Felicia?" Her eyes went wide. I think it was hope, but I couldn't tell. Immediately my surprise was replaced with horror, and then pure anger.
I turned to the man I had lifted by the throat, "I'm going to assume you're in charge here, yes?" I asked, slowly tightening my grip on his neck.
"K-kill him!" he cried out.
Immediately the other four thugs pulled guns from under their coats and levelled them at me. But I didn't care. Two red and blue blurs moved beside me, leaping into the room and kicking the thugs unconscious.
The girls were in costume — May as Spider-girl and Felicity as the Scarlet Spider. They made short work of the men, kicking away the guns before striking them hard enough to put them down.
"Mom!" Scarlet Spider cried out as she ran to Felicia's side and pulled off her mask, revealing her face.
"F-Felicity?" Felicia asked, her surprise so genuine it almost made me want to laugh. But I didn't — I was far too angry for that.
"Oh my God, mom, what did they do to you?" Felicity asked, tears in her eyes as she took in her mother's battered form.
"I-I'm fine," Felicia managed before her eyes came back to me, looking stunned, "what are you doing here?"
I turned to the man I still held aloft, "apparently, I'm here to deal with this man. Tell me, do you know how it feels to have your neck snapped by someone who can bench a ton? No? Would you like to find out?"
"No!" Felicia cried out, "don't do it!"
I turned to her, "he hurt you, Kitten," my old nickname for her slipping out by accident. I couldn't help it. Seeing her after all this time...and like this...I couldn't help it.
"No, please — he needs to face justice," Felicia said as Felicity and May unbound her and helped her to her feet. She walked towards me, her legs wobbling with the effort. I could sense the pain coming off her in waves. I didn't even want to describe it.
She rested her hand on my shoulder, "please...this isn't you...this isn't who your daughter would want you to be."
I chuckled softly, "I don't..." I looked at her, those pleading eyes looking back, "...fine. I won't kill him," I let him go, dropping him like a sack of potatoes.
He rubbed his throat, panting in terror as he looked up at me, eyes wide with fear. I looked down at him, "Richard Fisk. Your father ran away from this city for good reason. Consider this your only warning. If you even think about coming back here," my stingers came out, ripping through the spandex costume.
I pressed the sharp blades against the man's neck. I could hear Felicia gasp as the tips drew a thin line of blood. I hissed, "I'll gut you and hang your fucking corpse off the Empire State Building. Got it?"
The blonde man nodded frantically, his eyes never leaving my claws.
"Good," I pulled them back into my body before striking him across the face hard enough to knock him cold. I stood up and turned to the women. Felicia looked at me with disbelief. The girls' expressions were unreadable behind their masks.
"We need to go," I told them, "I've called the police — they'll be here any moment."
"Right," Felicity quickly came to her mother's side, "come on, mom, we need to go."
"N-no," Felicia said, finally drawing her eyes away from me and to her daughter, "I need to be here when the police come."
"Mom, they can handle it! We need to get you to a hospital! Now!"
"No," Felicia shook her head, "I've been after this man for weeks. He never left any evidence, until now. I'm the proof of his crimes — I need to be here and testify against him. You three, on the other hand, need to leave. Immediately."
"I'm not leaving you here!" Felicity cried out.
"Felicity, don't argue with me — not now. Please," Felicia said in an almost pleading tone.
"Mom—"
"—She's right," I spoke up, "she's the only chance this man ever has of seeing a jail cell. We need to do this right. Come on — we'll follow from the rooftops. If anything looks off, we can be at your mother's side in seconds."
Felicity looked like she wanted to argue. Then Felicia pulled her into a hug, causing the younger Hardy to stiffen in shock, "I'm so proud of you, little kitty. But right now, I need to do this. So please, go. I can handle myself."
Felicia broke the hug and gently pushed her stunned daughter away. May and I took hold of Felicity and walked out the same way we came in. I glanced back at the older version of the woman I loved, and our eyes met. My heart began to pound.
We watched from afar as Felicia was taken away in an ambulance while Richard Fisk and his men were loaded into armoured police vehicles. Finding him hadn't been difficult — a few minutes searching through police records and the notes Felicia kept at home had given me more than enough for Sexy to work with.
The moment Felicia was admitted to the hospital, Felicity changed out of her costume and ran to her mother's side. May and I watched the two blondes reunite from across the street, looking into their room through the window.
"Tell your dad thanks...for the suit," I told May as we watched the doctor examine Felicia's wounds.
"No problem, it's not like he was using it," May shrugged, "but I didn't think you would go for spandex."
I shrugged, "it was an emergency. Plus it's actually quite snug," I turned to her, "and if you tell anyone I said that, I will deny it."
May chuckled, "sure." She looked at Felicia and her daughter for a moment before speaking to me in a voice barely above a whisper, "Peter...when you had Fisk in your hands...did you mean what you said?"
"About killing him?" I asked. She nodded. "Yes."
May was silent. I knew she was surprised. "I...I didn't think you were capable of that," she said finally.
"I am, and much more," I looked at her, "in my world I loved Felicia. Still do. Seeing someone I care for — even a different version of her — beaten like that...I honestly don't know what I would have done if she hadn't stopped me."
May scratched her head, "I don't know why, but this totally feels like you're cheating on my mom...or something."
I chuckled, "May, technically I'm not your dad. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know. It's just that...it's hard to imagine a version of you not with my mom, you know?" she shrugged.
I shrugged back, "well, that's the multiverse. Heck, there are some worlds where you were born a redhead. Think about that."
May and I spent the rest of the day watching over Felicia and Felicity, just in case Fisk's associates tried anything. Felicia was assigned a private room in the hospital and eventually Felicity had to leave and let her mother rest.
May went to keep Felicity company while I remained near Felicia's room. I think deep down May just wanted me to have some time with the woman I loved, even if that wasn't her mother. Honestly, if I ever raised a kid half as amazing as May, I would be a proud parent indeed.
It was around nine when I noticed Felicia rise from her bed. I figured she was going to the bathroom, but to my surprise she walked to the window and opened it. She looked up and our eyes met. She motioned me over. I complied, swinging down and landing on the wall beside her window.
"Hello, Kitten," I whispered. Her face was covered with bandages and her left hand was in a cast. I sighed, "I'm sorry we couldn't get to you faster."
The older woman before me smiled, "from what Felicity told me, you were all going as fast as you could. In fact I think she mentioned something about you carrying her over your shoulder because she was moving too slowly."
I chuckled, "yeah. She's an amazing gymnast — almost better than you. But she needs to be faster. I'm thinking of asking May to get her a set of web-shooters. If she's going to be a spider, she needs them."
Felicia's eyes lowered, "I did everything I could to keep her away from this life...only for her to run headfirst into it."
I shrugged, "she has too much of her mother in her."
Felicia smiled. She looked up at me, those beautiful green eyes meeting my lenses, "you're not my Spider-man, are you?"
I nodded, "yeah. What gave it away? The claws?"
"Yes, those helped," Felicia smiled, "but also...my Spider-man would never threaten to kill someone. No matter who they were."
"That's because your Peter Parker isn't the kind that believes in revenge. I am," I moved towards the window as Felicia stepped aside, letting me in. I stood next to her and removed my helmet, showing her my face, "I'm Peter Benjamin Parker."
Felicia's eyes went wide, "h-how?"
"Do you know about alternate dimensions?" I asked, setting the helmet aside.
Felicia nodded, "y-yes...I see," her fingers came up to my face, tracing my chin and cheek before running through my hair. I had goosebumps from her touch. I tried my best to hide it, but a small smile came to my lips.
"You're so young," she whispered.
"Where I'm from, you're older," I looked at her, "although, I have to say, after looking at you now I can't wait for my Kitten to grow into herself. Honestly, you're like fine wine — only getting better with age."
Felicia's eyes went wide, her cheeks colouring, "y-you certainly aren't my Peter Parker. He never would have said that, even if he wasn't married."
I chuckled, "yeah, I guess. Honestly though, this version of me is strange. Did you know he has a goatee? Honestly, who is that man trying to be? Tony Stark?"
Felicia chuckled, "well, at least you both have a sense of humour. That's something." Suddenly she winced, holding her cheek in pain.
My hands went up immediately, touching her bandaged face with worry, "are you okay? Should I call a doctor?"
"No, it's fine, it just stings," she replied as I continued to caress her cheek. I couldn't help worrying. Her hands cupped mine as she looked into my eyes, "tell me...in your world...is there a version of me?"
I nodded, "yes."
"I see...and...are you friends?" she asked, with thinly veiled hope.
"No," she looked saddened by that, "she was more than that. She was the love of my life."
Felicia's eyes widened, "w-what?"
I chuckled, "yeah. I heard you and this world's Peter dated?"
Felicia nodded, "yeah...what about you?"
I felt my smile fade, "we...we did date. For a long time we were happy, but...she left."
Felicia's eyes widened, "why?"
I sighed, "her father was in SHIELD custody. She wanted to save him. She knew I couldn't go with her, so...she just left. I wanted to go with her, but...she said she wasn't worth it. She didn't listen. Stubborn fool."
Felicia sighed, "it's like I manage to ruin things in every dimension."
I smiled, "you broke up with Peter in this world too?"
"Yes...things were...complicated," she sighed, "plus it was obvious he still loved MJ. Is there an MJ in your world?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "but I don't see her as anything more than a friend. I can't. I'm still in love with you," I looked at her and she gasped. Immediately I blinked, "ah, wait — that came out wrong!"
Felicia immediately burst into laughter, "yeah, you're definitely Peter Parker," she smiled, motioning towards a chair as we sat down before a small table. "So, tell me about yourself. How long have you been Spider-man?"
I smiled, "well, I was Spider-man for about a year...before...well, I got hurt. Really badly. And after you left, I honestly didn't know if I should keep doing this. It was difficult for me. Still is."
"Hey, you shouldn't give up being a hero just because a girl broke your heart," Felicia scolded, "even if that girl is me."
I smiled, "I know...but I—"
"—No buts. Listen...if I am anything like your Felicia, then she didn't leave you because she was selfish. She did it because she knew that you being Spider-man is much more important than you being with her."
"Is that why you and he broke up? Because you felt you didn't...you didn't deserve him?"
Felicia stiffened before slowly nodding, "yes...that man...he has a special place in my heart. But...he's my hero. It's too bad it never worked out between us."
I looked at her — the way she smiled when she spoke about him, the way she laughed. It hit me like a bullet, "you still love him, don't you?"
She smiled, "yes...I do. But...I also loved my husband, and I love my daughter and son above everyone else, and my wife too. But Peter Parker will always be my greatest mistake...and my greatest love. Well, other than Felicity."
I chuckled, "right...she and May are amazing fighters. They would make one hell of a team."
"That they would," Felicia smirked, "wait, May is technically your daughter, isn't she? That must be strange."
"No stranger than you marrying Flash," I shivered, "honestly, Kitten, what were you thinking?"
Felicia shrugged, "he's a sweet guy — trust me. It takes a little while for him to grow up, but he really matures after school."
I rolled my eyes, "I'll believe it when I see it. Anyway, yeah, it's a little awkward, especially when the one who I'd really want to be the father of kissed me a few days ago," I shivered, "Felicity really does take after you."
"She kissed you?!"
"Yes."
Felicia groaned, "oh dear God. That girl...despite everything, she is still so determined to defy my every wish."
I smirked, "sounds like my Felicia. Her mother and she didn't get along either."
Felicia nodded, "same with me."
We sat close together. I looked at her, "so...what do you think I should do?"
"Me? Personally? I think you should continue kicking ass and taking names," Felicia smiled, "maybe she isn't the woman meant for you — maybe there's someone else out there — but no matter what, Peter, you should never give up being Spider-man. Forget Felicia if you have to...but don't ever lose yourself. Because a broken Peter Parker is the last thing anyone wants to see."
I smiled, "I hope my Felicia feels the same way you do."
She pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, "I'm sure she does." And so we sat, talking through the night.
She told me about her life, her daughter and son. She wasn't close to her boy — he was too much like his father — but she still loved him. She had a wife. I actually chuckled a little at that. She didn't understand why until I told her my Felicia was bisexual too. Another odd similarity.
Around two in the morning I left her, now sleeping peacefully in her bed. I wanted to kiss her. Seeing that beautiful face again...I honestly did. But this wasn't my Felicia Hardy. She wasn't the same person.
So I left — but not before I planted a kiss on her cheek, causing the sleeping woman to smile.
I swung my way back to May's house and snuck into the attic to put away the costume. I had just finished changing when the light clicked on and I saw Peter Parker sitting on the bed beside the night lamp.
"That was awfully clichéd, Peter," I snorted as I put on my jacket.
"Is she safe?" he asked.
"Yeah, she's safe," I told him, "thanks...for the costume. I mean it. I wouldn't have been able to do this without it."
Peter looked at me and grinned, "I love it when I'm right." He got up using his cane and limped to the attic door, "oh, and don't forget to wash the damn thing. Spandex gets ripe very quickly." He limped down the stairs. It looked painful.
"You know, I can build you a proper prosthetic leg," I called out, "one that doesn't make you feel like a cripple."
Peter stopped and looked over his shoulder, "Reed offered that before."
"Why did you turn it down?"
"Because I'm not Spider-man. Not anymore," he said, turning off the lamp.
"Right," I took off the mask and costume, "hey...can I ask you something?" He stopped. "Why did you and Felicia break up?"
Peter looked at me, "I was still in love with MJ. And...it just wasn't right."
I nodded, "yeah...when I get back to my world...I've decided. I'll be Spider-man again. There's no point pretending I won't. But...I'm also going after my Felicia. I'm not giving up on her. And one day, I'm sure I'll find her."
Peter snorted, "you wouldn't be Peter Parker if you didn't go after what you wanted. Goodnight, Peter. Oh, and stop calling May 'kiddo' — only I can do that."
"Technically, I am you," I chuckled.
Peter groaned, "no wonder everyone called me a loud mouth."