The Yacht. 3:00 AM.
The waves were rough, rocking the luxury yacht back and forth. But the storm outside was nothing compared to the storm inside the master cabin.
The sounds of the ocean were drowned out by... other noises.
Finally, silence fell.
Gwen Stacy, the golden-haired Spider-Woman, lay sprawled on the bed, utterly exhausted.
Even with her mutated super-strength, she felt like she had been run over by a truck.
She glanced at the corner of the room. Her black-and-white Spider-suit—the one she had painstakingly sewn herself—was in tatters.
So much for durability, she thought, pulling the covers over her head.
She scooted closer to Vincent, seeking his warmth.
Vincent leaned back against the pillows, catching his breath.
A worthy opponent, he thought. If I didn't have Hydro-Kinesis to boost my stamina and blood flow, she would have crushed me.
He looked at the shredded suit.
Being with a superhero is like wrestling in an octagon. You can't lose focus for a second.
Gwen mumbled something into his chest. "No more. I'm sleeping."
She was dead tired. Swinging around New York for five hours was less exhausting than this.
Vincent smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
Who can refuse a woman in a Spider-suit? Especially when that woman is Gwen Stacy.
He closed his eyes, satisfied.
SHIELD Safehouse. New York.
"Damn it. He took a boat."
Natasha Romanoff was frustrated.
She had bugged Vincent's Long Island estate, but he hadn't shown up all weekend.
Finally, her intel confirmed he had rented a yacht and disappeared into the Atlantic.
"No signal. No surveillance."
It was the perfect blind spot.
Natasha sighed. Her mission was to monitor the Ice Demon and prevent him from turning New York into a war zone again. The cleanup from the Kingpin incident had been a nightmare for SHIELD's PR department.
Knock. Knock.
Natasha opened the door. Nick Fury walked in, his leather trench coat dripping with rain.
"The Ice Demon is off the grid," Natasha reported immediately. "He's on a boat with Gwen Stacy."
"Forget the Ice Demon for a moment," Fury said, his face grim. "New York has a new problem."
"What happened?"
"A giant lizard just attacked the Manhattan Bridge. Casualties are high."
"A Lizard?" Natasha frowned.
"Yes. We suspect illegal genetic modification. Someone is trying to make super-soldiers again."
Fury pulled up a holographic file.
"The Lizard's target was an Oscorp executive. But he went on a rampage. He tossed cars off the bridge like toys. Including a school bus."
Natasha's eyes widened.
"This isn't just a mutant," Fury continued. "This is a failed science experiment. His regeneration factor rivals Wolverine's. Our standard agents can't put him down."
He swiped to another file.
"There's another player. The 'Ghost Spider'—or Spider-Woman. She usually patrols at night, but she was absent during the bridge attack."
Fury looked at Natasha.
"We have a strong suspect for her identity. Gwen Stacy."
Natasha looked at the file. Gwen Stacy. Police Commissioner's daughter. Vincent Hall's girlfriend.
"How sure are you?"
"Oscorp has been working on cross-species genetics for years," Fury explained. "The Spider-Serum was their holy grail. The Parkers died for it. Gwen Stacy interning there fits the timeline. And her absence tonight... while she's on a boat with the Ice Demon... confirms it."
Fury's one eye narrowed.
"So, we have a Power Couple. The Ice Demon and Spider-Woman."
"What's the play?" Natasha asked.
"Spider-Woman is a hero. We recruit her," Fury said decisively. "The Lizard is a monster. He's lost his humanity. He needs to be put down."
"And the Ice Demon?"
"If he's with Spider-Woman, he'll get involved eventually. Let's see if he fights for the city... or just for her."
Fury turned to leave.
"The Lizard is powerful. If we can't stop him, I might have to authorize the Ice Demon to engage. Better a frozen bridge than a dead city."
Natasha watched him go, then looked back at the file on Gwen Stacy.
So the innocent girlfriend is a superhero too.
Natasha smirked. This kid really does have a type.
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