Marvel - The Void

3rd POV:

''Good morning,'' Bell greeted them the next day, acting normal.

''...Good morning,'' Gwen and Peter greeted back, deciding not to open the can of worms.

''You all ready for first lesson?,'' Bell asked them.

''...''

''...''

''...''

''This is awkward,'' Peter eventually confessed, being the first to break the silence between them. Whatever happened between George and Bell was only yesterday after all.

''Tell me about it,'' Gwen murmured.

''Right. We should avoid each other for a bit. Do our own thing and let ... 'that' settle and pass. Oh, before I go. Sorry about yesterday. I don't know what happened,'' Bell told them before departing. He recognized that that was not his best moment.

If nothing else, removing himself from the equation the two of them can make up. Not that there is anything to make up between the two of them. The blame for yesterday lies solely on Bell.

He left so quickly that the two could not stop him. Sure, it was awkward, but that did not mean they had to split or anything.

Peter and Gwen looked at each other worried. They were unsure if they should pursue. Bell always pushed them away when they became too pushy about his issues.

---

Peter eventually found himself standing in front of the laboratory of the school. He offered to give Dr.Connors his number, but he cited that that would be highly inappropriate. They were teacher and student and already bending a few rules, for the two of them to research as they did. So Peter was instructed to always come to the laboratory at the end of the day. 

After all, the trio did not have Connors in biology each day. So it was not like they saw him every day. Aside from Peter after school.

He waited.

And waited.

...

And then waited a little more.

Peter looked at his watch. Five minutes past the agreed upon time. Connors was late every now and then. But only by a little bit. Peter did not mind. Connors was sure to be a busy man. But he never was this late.

Peter eventually decided to chance it and try to enter the lab by himself. Luckily enough the door was open.

Peter looked around. The lab was undisturbed. Nothing misplaced. No Connors to see anywhere, napping or lost in thought or doing anything else.

He looked around a little more. Eventually he stood before the mice, inspecting them. Peter had to admit a part of him hoped the two of them would administer the serum together after it was done. But despite his disappointment he understood that this meant a lot to Connors, so his eagerness was understandable. If nothing else he was sure to be happy. Just as he was.

Their efforts bore fruits.

The three mice, usually missing an arm each, now all had four limbs.

Peter decided to wait inside the lab a little more.

For one hour.

Frankly he was a little in disbelief that he was so long here without any teacher stumbling on him and calling him out.

While regrettable, Peter hoped to explain himself tomorrow or the day after, as there they had him in biology.

So Peter decided to go home and let the lab undisturbed.

---

Gwen trained the day after school to get her powers even more under control. She was once again in the abandoned train yard. This time she was in a massive abandoned hall. She walked straight in, having no need to sneak in as the access to the hall was rather easy, thanks to the doors being open.

She looked at her web shooters, that she designed. Gathering scraps to make the web shooters was more or less easy. It was the web fluid that gave her trouble. Not only did she have to find the right ratio of all the different chemicals, but also synthesize it in secret. Her parents brought her a rudimentary lab kit, when she was much younger to play with and pretend she was a scientist.

That was before she met Bell and Peter.

She actually never got around to making use of it since her time was taken up by her friends, studying or ballet.

Who knew that something so small could come around and play such a massive role later on. It was a pain, as again the equipment was rudimentary, but she made it work, to the detriment of a lighter purse. And an even lighter purse thanks to making that darned costume.

She really needed to find a way to buy a lot of the materials needed for her web fluid.

...

...

Wait, no. Gwen was getting ahead of herself. She merely wanted to train and get control over her powers, so she wouldn't accidentally hurt anyone. She had no interest being a vigilante and breaking the law. Police officers or Avengers were there for troublemakers.

She ignore the voice that whispered in her head, that web shooters were not part of her powers. If she wanted control over her powers, shooting webs would play no matter.

She tried it out slowly at first.

Shooting one web and then swinging from it like a rope.

Then she tried out chaining web swinging. Her new powers gave her no trouble in keeping up with her desires. She was clunky at first, stopping her momentum with the wrong movements, but she learned to be more fluid quiet quickly. Eventually she brought math into her web swinging.

If anything, web swinging felt like the most natural thing in the world. As if it was always her calling.

She practiced a little more.

She practiced so much she ran out of web fluid.

Thankfully she had more in reserve, but they were back home.

---

The two of them would arrive home, greet their parents/ guardians and then take a seat to have dinner, while the TV was running in the back. 

''BREAKING NEWS.

We are interrupting the usual routine to inform citizens of some major development. James if you would be so kind,'' one news reporter requested. It gathered the attention of all who ate at dinner.

''Thank you, Steve. This is James Riverdale, reporting live from Manhattan, 6th Avenue Street. This is a very recent development. As you can see right over there in that apartment, there is a massive hole in it. Furthermore if you can see that debris, it clearly shows that the wall gave in from inside out. In other words some one broke out from the apartment. We also have two confirmed deaths. One Martha and Maria Connors. The husband and father Curt Connors is nowhere to be seen. He is presumed kidnapped at the moment.''

Gwens heart went out to the professor. She did wonder however why the creature would kidnap Connors. Maybe it was a personal vendetta against him. Gwen did not have the impression that Connors had the ability to do any harm to people.

''I need to go to work,'' George quickly wiped his mouth kissed Evelyn and then Gwen he kissed on the head and then departed. He ignored their well wishes not out of malpractice, but routine. They always told him to be safe.

''While we don't have any photos or videos, we asked some of the citizens around here, if they were present during the time the wall gave in and most of them have reported a figure of reptilian nature and green in color, with a tail to boot. Towering in height over most normal humans and moving deceptively quick. If what they are saying is true then it would coincide with the reports we have from some of the investigators. They reported that Maria and Martha Connors had deep gashes and cuts and much of the inside of their apartment really, from something thick in nature. We are talking about the reptilian creature possible possessing claws,'' Riverdale stopped talking for a bit. Long enough that Steve picked up that he had nothing more to report on the situation. Evelyn put her hand on her mouth.

''That is not a pretty picture you paint James. Tell me, you are in the midst of it, do you think the Avengers will be able to take care of it? That reptilian creature, this lizard, if my impression of it is correct,'' Steve asked.

Gwen ignored any other ongoing conversation and clenched her fist. She knew that the only one the public considered available right now was Stark. The rest were either off world or who knows where. But it would take time to come from Malibu to here.

Much could go wrong in that time.

She cursed up a storm when she woke up the next day and found out that Stark challenged the Mandarin. It seems that he would be indisposed. It was only a matter of time until the consequences of challenging a known terrorist reared its head.

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While that was on going on. Bell immediately made his way to Venus after school. The hostile environment functioning as a defense of sorts for what he is about to do. He changed in his costume while teleporting.

Nexus really did not like it, but life carried risks, fortune favors the bold, etc. and all that.

He closed his eyes.

If he was going to do this, he was going to be throughout.

He had enough control that he could evenly spread his energy across their entire solar system. That would finding a source of origin much more difficult. But Nexus thought past that. Energy left residue and he did not want someone to track it back to him so after he was done he would retract his energy. But that methods opened the possibility that his energy would be 'infected' with other energy. That could have consequences. So he would detach his energy and gather it on Mars before shoving it in a pocket dimension. From there he would carefully inspect his energy for any left over energy traces, so that he could make himself aware of other dangers and then discard that energy to every corner of the universe, probably that dead dimension where he detonated a black hole. Just to be extra sure, he would not absorb it even if his energy was free of any residue energy.

He did after all have infinite energy, he had no genuine need to reabsorb his own energy.

Nexus considered that the safest course pf action. Probably. He was self taught and his powers came with no instruction manual, so who knew. If only he was more advanced with his void aspect, then he could hide his energy completely.

Nexus had to be quick. He would not pay much attention to much else, aside from HYDRA, a few seconds and photographic memory and enhanced processing speed as well as mind reading can take of it from there.

Well, here goes nothing.

There were a lot of spots that where HYDRA on earth. As well as a lot of blind spots, blank spots and much else besides. After three seconds, he proceeded to enforce his contingency. He did not feel any one latch onto his energy, so he could theoretically spend more time snooping, but three seconds was all he needed for his purpose. And he would not risk more.

Now it was time to truly hunt HYDRA.

---

''Jesus Christ, write a message or something,'' Sarah jumped up and then grabbed her chest when she saw Nexus came into the living room from a portal. Laura who was doing push ups to keep in shape sheathed her adamantium claws after momentarily getting ready for battle.

Who knew silent portals were so terrifying?

''Perhaps not such a bad idea, if that is your usual reaction,'' Nexus remarked banishing the sword he used to open the portal.

''You found another HYDRA base?,'' Laura asked.

''Yes, a few of them. You ready to go or do you need to change?,'' Nexus asked her.

''Must she really come with you?,'' Sarah jumped into the conversation.

''No. But she wants to. When I came here I thought you two would have resolved that argument,'' Nexus remarked.

''It is not easy watching your child go to war,'' Sarah told him. Laura cast her a side eye.

'And yet you raised her as such to begin with before you changed your mind', Nexus thought to himself.

''...I can't claim to know what you are going through. Laura?,'' Nexus changed the subject.

''I am dressed and ready to report for duty,'' Nexus watched as a shift overcame Lauras features. She looked attentive and focused. Hm, they trained her well, terribly, but well.

''Can you promise to watch over her?,'' Sarah asked him, clearly worried.

''She can watch over herself,'' Nexus told her as a sword appeared in his hand. He cut a portal open and walked though, Laura following after him.

---

The portal closed behind them.

''What are we dealing with?,'' Laura asked.

Nexus crouched on his stomach a little, Laura followed him. He summoned a binocular from his portal after cutting it open with a sword.

''We are in Russia. The precise location is unconsequential. There is a HYDRA base called the 'Red Room'. The objective is to take girls who have the potential to look beautiful and train them as spies and seductresses with the purpose of infiltrating enemy lines to assassinate, gather information, etc, etc. They are administered a rudimentary cheap copy of the super soldier serum and then have their womb removed so they have no chance of falling pregnant,'' Nexus dutifully informed her.

The benefit of having a passive mind reading system and having draped the entire earth in his energy was that he now knew which bases could be written of as targets for the Triskelion and which required personal interference. Mostly for the sake of saving victims. Contrary to what he believed, there were not as many human experiments as he believed.

Surprisingly.

Most of the bases focused on technological advancements. Trying to make weapons, AI that kind of stuff. He was glad he threw a wrench in their plans by denying them the Chitauri weapons. A lot of them were lamenting the loss of technology in their heads.

The few biological research bases, were like Lauras, this one, or a few of the other ones that they would hit up. And of course, one can't forget the inhumanity of their practices.

Nexus handed Laura the binoculars. She inspected the terrain, noting that there were only a few cabins. It seemed like a small village.

''Is our objective to rescue the girls? Or will we destroy everything within?,'' Laura asked.

''Both. Those bases always have someone in the world who is aware of them and has contact, even if superficial, with other bases that they can warn. One of the reason I went back to clean your base was so that, that person suspects nothing. Even now he thinks another HYDRA head has betrayed him and absorbed his resources. Happens surprisingly often,'' Nexus explained to her. 

''Why not kill that person?,'' Laura asked looking around the surroundings for further information. maybe the terrain around the village could reveal something.

''There are many ways of dealing with that informant, the question is what does one want to achieve? For now, it serves my purposes to make them believe they are betraying each other. Where you not trained in espionage? You should know these things,'' Nexus pointed out.

''You have seen my powers. Yes I was trained, but my primary purpose was as a blunt weapon to be pointed at targets. That was what I did the few times I was deployed. My education in espionage is probably lacking to yours or those in that base,'' Laura explained. She put the binoculars down.

''In that case, you probably want this done nice and quietly. How do we stop them from contacting other people?,'' Laura asked.

''Already took care of it. Like I did with yours,'' Nexus informed her.

''Then we are only left with infiltrating the base,'' Laura was beginning to get into her comfort zone. For all the damage HYDRA did to her, she did find whatever solace she could in that hell hole. Killing is what she did best, even if she had to attempt sneaking, she would do it.

''Yup. Here is a philosophical question. Is it stealth because you sneak past everyone or is it stealth, because no one is left alive to tell about you?,'' Nexus joked a little.

''You want to hit them hard and fast, wipe them all out in one go?,'' Laura asked. She was unfamiliar with his MO, so she was slowly starting to get confused about what exactly he wanted.

''Here. This is how I snuck around in your base. It make you invisible, hides you scent and eliminates any direct nose you make. We will get inside, cause a commotion where everyone gathers and then kill them all,'' Nexus instructed her giving her a sword and holding his own.

''I can still see you,'' Laura pointed out, taking the sword and inspecting it a little.

''Yes. Those two swords are linked. We can see each other, but no one else can. Ready?,'' Nexus asked her.

Laura nodded determined.

---

''You came home quickly,'' Sarah remarked, quickly coming to inspect Laura. Laura looked dejected. Sarah could tell even if she was trying to hide it. Otherwise she looked fine. Well, she had her powerful healing factor, so of course she was fine, but Sarah saw no holes in her clothes or dried blood anywhere.

Sarah decided after a while to try and cool her nerves and worries by making food for them for dinner. At least this way they had something to look forward to when returning from a hard day at work.

''You are making food. What kind?,'' Nexus asked her going over to the sink and washing his hands after removing his gloves and jacket. Now his arms were free only a black T-Shirt hiding his torso.

''Something simple. Schnitzel with potato puree and salad. Do you want to talk over food?,'' Sarah asked coming over and watching him pick up a knife and then get to cutting the vegetables.

''I am famished. So yes. Laura, come over here and grab your own knife. Help us prepare food. Here you can cut these vegetables and then the two of us can prepare the meat while Sarah does everything else,'' Nexus instructed her, right before she could take a seat at the table, evidently ready to wait for food. Not that Sarah blamed her, while she was taught to scavenge, she could not cook.

She washed her hands as well and the picked up the knife. Meanwhile Sarah was peeling the potatoes and washing them before putting them in the water to boil.

''No, not like this. You want to hold it like this,'' Nexus instructed again. Laura had come over and attempted to match him, by cutting like him. She had neither the speed or the accuracy to cut like him.

Sarah was watching them, choosing to remain silent.

''Do not try to match me. Go with your own flow. ...No. Too much pressure, you want to hit the sweet spot where food does not escape you, but you are also not applying to much pressure and turning it into mush,'' Nexus instructed while cutting the vegetables, he slowed his pace early on, so that Laura would not feel pressured and take her time.

Eventually Laura presented him with her own cut vegetables.

''Are they good?,'' she asked unsure.

Nexus inspected them a little. Well... they were cut into pieces, even if they were not even for the first time that was good enough. He remembered his first time at making a salad, before the war, when he moved out of his parents house. It looked ugly and tasted horrible too.

''Well done,'' Nexus rubbed the top of her head affectionately. Laura closed her eyes after the initial flinch, before leaning in. Sarah swore Laura looked a little pouty after Nexus removed his hand to put the cut vegetables in the bowl. But then her face went back to her carefully blank expression.

He grabbed the meat and began instructing her how to cut again. This time however he remained passive, leaving all the cutting to her. He merely prepared the eggs, beat them and waited to have meat to put it in the eggs and then in dough before putting it in the pan.

Like a bolt of lightning it hit Sarah.

Oh.

Oh!

That glorious bastard. If she didn't have the impression that he did not much like her, she would kiss him. Sarah watched as Laura relaxed more and more. She had much time to think about why Laura would ever want to go back to being a weapon. She suspected that she derived worth from it and it made sense. Laura was denied the opportunity to have any other skills that did not serve HYDRAs purpose.

She did not know how to go about rectifying it. While she did consider herself her mother, it was clear Laura was conflicted about that. And it was because of that conflict that Sarah feared putting her foot down and use her authority as her mother over her, especially since doing so could evoke painful memories.

It seems that Nexus had no such issues.

And it was doing her daughter good.

Trauma was not erased in one day, but evidently it was doing her daughter good. When they were done, Sarah swore that Laura looked as if she was beaming. 

Or perhaps that is her mothers intuition talking. Lauras expression was still blank.

Before they began eating, Nexus put on a wrist band with a sword chain, before removing his mask. The appearance he used when going with them shopping was used again. He need to eat somehow.

''So, everything went well?,'' Sarah tried to get some information as they began digging into the food.

''If you can call it that?,'' Laura replied.

''So, it did not go well. I am glad that you look relatively unharmed then,'' Sarah sighed in relief.

''No, everything went well. Too well,'' Laura pushed her food a little.

SO WHICH WAS IT? Sarahs eye gave a singly twitch in frustration. She would appreciate if she should be worried or not.

''He did everything by himself practically. We walked in killed everyone and saved the victims,'' Laura reported the most essential information just as she was taught.

Sarahs eye gave another twitch and she looked at Nexus.

''We made ourselves invisible with my swords, walked in, caused a commotion to gather everyone, then I killed everyone by making swords burst from their chest. I offered the girls, aka the victims, several options. In the end the older ones decided to take care of the younger ones, in a form of adopting them as they no longer had the ability to reproduce. HYDRA took that ability from the older victims. The older ones also swore themselves to me as thanks, so they are waiting in one of my other safe houses ready to be put to use while also taking care of their 'children','' Nexus gave a more proper explanation. It also helped that none of the victims believed in HYDRAs cause. Though he had yet to decide if he would make use of them.

Sarah frowned at one detail.

''No longer had the ability to reproduce? What was this HYDRA base trying to do?,'' Sarah inquired. 

It was Laura that gave a short description of what the Red Room was doing and Sarah hissed.

''And those type of people swore themselves to you? Do you plan on making use of them?,'' Sarah asked.

''As of yet, I am undecided. Perhaps I can put them to use somewhere, even if not as spies. I need to talk with them more later on. In my opinion they were to hasty in swearing allegiance to me,'' Nexus told them and rubbed his chin.

''By the way, be ready for the next few days. There are still more HYDRA bases to bust and victims to rescue,'' Nexus warned Laura. She perked up.

''You want me to come with you again. I'm sorry, I was way in over my head, I thought I could help you, but I barely did anything,'' Laura lamented with a frown.

''So? I like your company. I can not deny, I worked for so long alone that I have forgotten how much I misses social interactions,'' Nexus told her a bit of a white lie.

He did think a little bit, about how he could go and break her out of the thought that she had no other worth aside from being a weapon. In the end he decided that he could not use her talent to kill at all. He would make her feel completely worthless and then show her that she had many more qualities that gave her worth aside from her talent to kill. Even something as simple as just being there would make her worth something.

The strategy sounded simply, but as the saying goes: Easier said then done. he had to be mindful of the execution.

''Just ... being there? You like my company? All I did was ask questions and trail after you,'' Laura pointed out.

''Yes. I'm still inviting you. Who knows maybe I will need your talents in the end,'' he would not. He was dangling the possibility of what she desired would prove her worth as a motivation. Meanwhile, while chasing her reward, he would show her that she was looking in the wrong places for her reward.

''I...would like that,'' Laura eventually replied to him feeling her chest warm up.

Sarah really wanted to kiss him, after having her suspicions practically confirmed.

''Excellent. By the way, the food was delicious. That said, one moment,'' Nexus left the table and went through a portal. After 2 minutes of it being open he came back with bags of food.

''Here so that you can restock some of the food in your fridge,'' Nexus told them putting the bags down near the fridge.

''How much did it cost you?,'' Sarah asked, taking a note ready to write.

''The receipt is at the bottom of one of the bag. You are aware you do not need to pay me. There is that favor you owe me,'' Nexus told her.

''That favor is for rescuing us. Everything else requires its own payment. Besides it is the matter of principle. You could have infinite money and I still would pay you back. It...just will take me a while since I have no job,'' Sarah told him.

Nexus hummed and was that a sound of approval she was hearing?

He opened his mouth, but then quickly made a show to check his phone as it made a sound. He was just informed by his puppet clone of something.

Swords brought Nexus jacket from the couch to him, he picked up his helmet and then remove his wristband before putting his jacket on.

''Today was delightful. Thank you for the company, but something came up and I need to go,'' he departed before they could say anything through his portal.

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Connors stumbled thought the sewers. His regenerated arm already gone.

Everything went so terribly wrong.

After Peter went home on Friday, He administered the serum to the mice on early Saturday and on Sunday he saw the three mice hale and healthy. 

It was a success.

A complete success.

How could he have waited to administer the serum to himself under those circumstances? Eventually they needed to advance to human subjects anyway, who better then himself (or Peter if he wanted), the inventor of the serum to take the risk.

And on today he did not go to school. He admitted to have been a little selfish to not go without notifying anyone, but he only had one class on Mondays. He staid home, with two arms and spent time with Martha. And once Maria came home from school, he surprised his daughter by hugging her with both arms. They spent a little time together.

And then everything changed.

Their dead.

Even in his haze, in that transformed state, he was barely aware of what he was doing, his body on autopilot and he a passenger.

Their dead and by his hand.

Connors choked on a sob.

The serum....

?!?

The serum...

The serum?

...

...

...

Of course! The serum. It killed his wife and child, but it could also bring them back. It could also save every one else from their imperfections and their maledictions. Make very one better.

He had to hurry. No time to waste, before their bodies start decomposing.

Connors picked himself up with renewed vigor. He needed to perfect the serum, he starred at his, now again, stump.

And for that he needed materials and he knew just where to gather them. 

He started hurrying, fearing that the police would be there and investigating. As a teacher he had the keys so even a night he could enter the school.

---

It was rather easy, finding Connors after Nexus left the safe house where the Kinneys were located.

He teleported a few times around New York while invisible, using the same method he used on the whole earth again, this time in a much smaller AoE and after a few minutes he found him.

He watched as Connors made his way back to the sewers with his equipment and followed him while reading his mind.

Nexus lamented the death of innocents. Connors would not have done what he did, if there was a system that would support him. He was clearly not evil and only listened to the voice in his head, out of fear and desperation for his family.

He could bust heads all day long, but it was systemic change that introduced the most benefits. It also allowed him not to fight constantly against 'rebels'. He was loathe to admit, but HYDRA was right in one thing. Humanity was loath to depart from their freedom.

And while he would not take their freedom away, just as he did not in his first life, perception mattered more then truth in politics. If he came and just took control, then it did not matter what he said and did, he would appear like a dictator and that would be enough for people to decry him.

It was special circumstances that allowed him to take control just as he described in his first life and even then he had to contend a bit with the fallout of such a government change.

Hm.

While he could do it himself. People needed jobs and something to do. And he did just acquire a few people, adults at that, that swore themselves to him. He could task them with taking care of the papers, under his oversight, unknown to them, of course.

Start the construction of labs and HQ and all that (with his money from Raezen) and then when he was an adult, they could sign ownership over to him. Instead of waiting, he would immediately start ruling his company after he graduated High School. Then he would use his company as a plat form for his political career and after two terms, he would 'graciously' return to his company and the democratic government would, of course, continue his policies in his absence.

This plan would raise eyebrows and questions. It was after all, quiet unusual for all of what he planned to happen. People would investigate him. They would ask hims questions, maybe even attack him.

What were they gonna do? He could shoulder their scrutiny.

Were this his previous life, he would be forced to spend years to scheme and achieve his goal. But his powers did open up a lot of new possibilities and he was ready to shoulder the risk if it meant innocents could have better lives.

With that decided, Nexus now only had to decide what to do with Connors.

The Avengers were indisposed and he was now involved.

Unless...

Nexus watched Connors set up his equipment on the table, before departing needing materials to synthesizer more of the serum.

Oh? Quiet devious, the plan that had already formed in Connors mind. He intended to break into Oscorp once the serum is perfected and load the Ganali Device with the serum. It would shoot the serum in the air, as a form of cloud and then administer the serum airborne to everyone.

Nexus went to the table and began inspecting the folders and equations, when he felt Connors far enough away.

What went wrong. One had two PhD and the other was a super genius. how could they botch up that serum so badly. Perhaps he could find an answer, even if he was technically cheating with his enhanced processing speed and ability to observe the DNA on an intimate level.

Hm.

Mhm.

Nexus waved through some of the folders quickly reading through them.

Oh?

K-Rate Algorithm? Nexus read a little more. Is that what they called the incompatibility of the two DNA strands and the eventual degeneration upon merging the two strands? It was all a matter of chemical processes and reaction at the DNA level. Nexus had to admit they solved the DNA ratio quiet nicely.

So what went wrong?

?!?

They forgot to tune the serum or to find another way to restructure the amygdala centric synapses for docility. Even he, without his powers and education, knew that instincts where vastly between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom, for better or worse.

Introducing a DNA strand from another animal without tweaking or ensuring that instinct would not take over was important. At first everything would be fine, but as time goes on the animals DNA strand would win the battle of chemical processes and introduce more and more of its instincts upon the host, thanks to the chemical unbalance. And thus more and more aggression, which also affected everything else that the serum tried to achieve. That was what cause the transformation.

Aside from this minor weakness, that could easily not be a weakness if someone changed the synapses, the serum was pretty much perfect. How the hell did two geniuses miss out on that simple detail?

Nexus conjured a copy of every folder and then put the original ones back into place exactly as he found them. If nothing else he would ensure that Connors dream would come true, even if he could not be given credit for it as Nexus was not going to reveal what was inside this this serum once he commercialized it for the public.

Too many strings would be attached to the truth now, after the tragedy with the Connors happened.

With his reconnaissance now done, only the question of what he should do with Curt Connors himself remained.

He could stop him right now, but...

The maximum long term advancement would be to open up the can of worms, make it clear to the world that the Avengers and him were not the end, the quicker the public picked up the discourse of what the implications of where the world was heading the better. 

Making it clear to the world that Padoras box was now open, had to be done in a soft manner. Better this way, then for some great tragedy to occur that would sour relations instantly between the enhanced people and not enhanced ones. There would still be problems, there would always be.

Powered people were still humans, and some of them will abuse their powers or make mistakes, thus causing harm.

But at the very least the public would be split, instead of unified against a common enemy. That would stave of the war, until he could come up with a permanent solution.

And he had just the candidates for that purpose.

He would like for his loved ones to not be in danger at all, but he was watching over them and he was aware that Spider-Man or in this case... Spider-Woman was a superhero. Not that he believed in fate, but...

Hm.

He would give Gwen the choice. If she wanted to be a hero, then she could and he would watch over her. If not, then at least she had that extra protection as well as him watching over her as he did with all the others. Though a part of him hoped that she would choose to be a hero. He could not be everywhere at once, not without attracting to much attention and thus challenges. And if her being a hero meant just one more innocent being saved at the end of the day, then it would be a worthwhile investment.

It would also mean her not being complacent. While he learned to not put complacent people in the same box as leeches and willing puppets, it still soured his mood to see them as they contributed to the problem.

But it was her choice. Depending on her choice he would intervene and take care of it or intervene very little. Either way he would ensure no more people died to Connors hand. A small part of him was vindictive, at the stupidity of him not waiting until he administered the serum.

He would eventually synthesize the spider serum from the carcass he took and give Peter the same option, the same choice.

As for the rest of his loved ones? Ben was too much of an idealistic hero, he would be dead by the weeks end. May was too docile. There was no way in hell he was risking Mothers life, so in her case he made the choice for her. George would notify the government and that would open a whole 'nother can of worms. And Evelyn, while her own person, followed too often Georges lead, as she was a semi traditional woman.

Being done here, Nexus teleported away.

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''What would you do, if you had super powers?,'' Gwen asked them a few days later at school when they had lunch. The subject weighed heavily on her mind, to the point she barely slept the last few nights. Everything her father taught her told her she should know the answer, but then the picture of the broken wall as well as the description of The Lizard came to mind.

Things were still a little awkward between the three of them, but they began talking today again.

''Is that what is really important now? Most of the school is pretty sure Connors is my monster with me being Frankenstein,'' Peter murmured, looking around and noticing some of the looks he received.

''Did the police came to you to question you?,'' Bell asked.

''Yes. On Tuesday after school. They found out I was helping him with the serum. I mean of course they did. They are the police and are quiet good at investigating. It is also an open secret that the two of us were working together on something. I told them everything I could. I mean of course I did, I was almost pissing myself, because I thought I would be branded an accomplice and arrested,'' Peter began rambling.

''Peter. Peter, you are rambling. Take a deep breath. I understand you are nervous, but dad said you were never at risk of being branded a criminal or an accomplice. There is enough evidence that suggests that, while yes you did help with the serum. Connors violated proper procedure and moved to human subjects before he should. Breathe,'' Gwen assured him.

''So it is official? They suspect Connors to be The Lizard and the killer of his wife and child?,'' Bell asked.

''Well, not official official, but they found out enough that they are pretty certain of that. Dad investigated everything he could,'' Gwen revealed to them.

''They move faster then usual, when investigating it usually takes them a little longer,'' Peter remarked.

''The mayor is flaming the fire under the polices asses,'' Bell replied already knowing the answer without having investigated. Gwen made a pained expression.

''Well, Bell is not wrong. Besides, the most damning evidence is that the lab was cleaned of all equipment. They suspect that Connors plans to perfect the serum or something,'' Gwen told them.

Peter sighed and leaned back in his chair. He spent the whole night trying to find out what he did wrong.

''Your previous question about what we would do with powers. Why do you ask?,'' Bell asked her, making Peter snap back to the conversation.

''Just curious. I mean the Avengers are completely indisposed...'' Gwen began.

''There is still Banner or the Hulk,'' Peter pointed out. Both Bell and Gwen shot him a look.

''Excellent argument. Can't argue with that,'' Peter conceded. No one actually wanted the Hulk in small skirmishes, or even in big fights for that matter, as he was too much of a flight risk.

''Anyway, before I was interrupted. The Avengers are indisposed so I was wondering what would happen now,'' Gwen told them casually.

''Oh, there is also Stark,'' Peter told her.

''He is in Malibu and it takes a while until he arrives here. Who knows what damage The Lizard can inflict until then. Also have you forgotten his declaration today in the morning? You don't just challenge the most infamous terrorist and walk away with it. Mark my words, there will be consequences to his actions and thus he will be indisposed too,'' Gwen argued. Both boys nodded at that.

''Well... I mean, Uncle Ben said it best. With great power there should also come a great responsibility. I would use my powers to help people,'' Peter told them.

''Unlike Peter, who needs to parrot everything he hears, I can think for myself. But I too would help the innocents,'' Bell gave a small smirk, forgetting himself for a moment. He blew Peter the tongue, when he kicked him under the table. Shortly afterwards Bell returned to his usual blank expression, feeling ashamed.

''But what about the government?,'' Gwen asked, not disagreeing with how they should their powers. Despite the argument on Sunday between her father and Bell, the core element of the discussion stuck with them.

''What about it? Like hell I will give them the chance to improve their approval ratings by riding on my back,'' Bell scoffed. Peter and Gwen rolled their eyes.

''I understand you hate the government, but can you take this seriously for a moment?,'' Gwen asked him.

''Surely, you can't believe we would be better of without a government. We need a government to well ... govern,'' Peter added. And here Bell narrowed his eyes, his eyes darting from Gwen to Peter.

''Hold up. Is that the impression my hatred for the government had given you. (*Both nodded*). Or for fuc... Listen carefully. The idea of a government, I do not hate. Complete freedom is nothing more then complete chaos. People need an institution that brings order and law, as well as the might to enforce the two. When I say I hate the government, what I actually mean is the people, aka politicians, that run it. But since there is basically no distinction between the two, it makes no difference to whom I pin my hatred on. There is no way, you won't address both, no matter what language you words you choose.

If the government would function as it should, then I would love it and trust it. But we do not live in a perfect world. Look into my eyes and tell me with 100% conviction that no politician is corrupt and thus the government is not corrupt,'' Bell carefully explained to them the nuance of his hatred.

Neither of the two did such a thing. Even Gwen was forced to admit to that truth, when he put that in such a way.

''Then would you be a vigilante?,'' Gwen asked.

''Even if the government was perfect, I would still not give up my identity or my superpowers. There is simply too much risk involved. Just look at Raezen, if the government puts your information somewhere digital he can access it. Even if they only have physical folders, someone can bribe someone or break into the room where all the folders are,'' Bell explained.

''You know. I'm starting to see your point. We know the identity of all the Avengers, aside form that sword guy as he is not an Avenger. All of them are pretty high on the food chain it is hard to get access to them. The same can be said for their loved ones, if they have any. So it is not like someone can attack them though their loved ones. They can handle the fallout of their identity being known, but we would not be so lucky. Why couldn't you have lead with that? A far more convincing argument then ' Government bad', even if I understand where the hatred now truly lies with you, but still,'' Peter conceded to Bells side.

''So both of you would be vigilantes on the basis that the risk would be to high for anyone to know your identity? You would not tell anyone? Not the government, absolutely no one?,'' Gwen asked further.

''Well, I suppose it would smooth things over if I tell my loved ones. Far better then letting frustration fester for disappearing in the middle of a social meeting, but only if you absolutely trust them,'' Peter pointed out and Bell nodded.

Gwen slowly nodded. They gave her much to think about. Everything her father found out and told her, suggested that they would see The Lizard again. With the Avengers borderline indisposed...

Unless of course someone else would step up, but... could she really risk her father safety on hopes and dreams?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ding 15x

''You are aware that just ringing the bell once or thrice, will do. I am no longer like I was when I was younger,'' Bell told Peter calmly the moment he opened the door. He looked twitchy.

''I know, I know, sorry. Can you let me in? It is important and I really need your help?,'' Peter requested and Bell immediately side stepped, as a sign of clear invitation into his home. He closed the door behind them and gestured to the living room table. Peter declined any beverage.

''So, what troubles you?,'' Bell asked him.

''Remember our conversation yesterday? I wasn't lying by the way. I would use my powers to do good, but I don't have powers. All I have is my intellect. And ever since I came home yesterday, I have spent all my time wondering what went wrong with the serum. I mean, not that I wasn't already wondering what went wrong, but I mean I made a concentrated effort to find out what went wrong. I mean I AM partially responsible for what happened, so like Uncle Ben said, I have to take responsibility...''

''Peter, you are rambling again. Get to the point,'' Bell requested patiently, forcing him to focus on the his objective he came here to achieve.

''Right, sorry. (*Peter clears his throat*) I found out what we did wrong. In hindsight it is rather embarrassing the mistake we made. We forgot to restructure the amygdala centric synapses for docility in the face of the introduced hyper aggression upon the host from the new DNA strand.

So I thought I will make this right. Bell, with our combined genius we are sure to make the antidote to the serum. Remember what Gwen said, about what her father found out. This is not the end of it. Besides, what if he plans to make more of them. These lizards? We need that antidote. Will you help me?,'' Peter earnestly requested.

The antidote in Bells pocket dimension, he synthesized two days ago, just became obsolete. He could tell Peter he already made one, but not only would that raise questions, but Bell also admitted that he would prefer Peter not to have a guilty conscience.

''You have my help. What do you plan on doing? How will we go about it?,'' Bell asked him. Peter visibly appeared relieved.

''Bell, I can not thank you enough. Ok. I remember almost everything about that serum. The problem is we lack the equipment to make the antidote,'' Peter began slowly, as if he himself was afraid of the suggestion he was about to make.

''Yeeees?,'' Bell asked leadingly.

''But... there is a place where we would have the equipment. Even if Connors cleaned out most of the things, well more like stole, there is still enough stuff for us to work with. The police also left. Well.... I was trying to suggest that we return were everything started,'' Peter told him.

''Look at you all responsible like. Why not request help from an adult or an authority figure instead of breaking into the school?,'' Bella asked him, not caring either way.

''I can't risk them thinking that I am his accomplice after all. And I can't waste time trying to convince them otherwise. I already wasted enough time, we need to hurry, Bell,'' Peter argued a little desperate.

''Why not request Gwens help as well? You know she would not believe you to be an accomplice?,'' Bell asked him, wiping some imaginary dust from the table. Now he was just messing with Peter a little.

''You know how she is. All of us mistrust the corporations, but she trusts the government more then even I, let alone you,'' Peter pointed out.

''Well, in that case. Let us break into the school,'' Bell conceded to his request.

''But how? We can't make it too obvious or cause property damage. Damn it. I should have made that decision yesterday and we could have nabbed the keys from one of the teachers. Now we have to try in after the weekend,'' Peter lamented and buried his face in the table.

''Don't drool on my table. And also, yes, you should have. But fret not, you have a friend that can lockpick,'' Bell told him. Peters head whipped up at that and he starred at him incredulous.

''You can lockpick? Are you good enough at that? Why for that matter?,'' Peter quickly asked him not believing his luck.

Bell shrugged casually. He did not have ADHD, but enhanced processing speed did make things a little boring every now and then. Beside he liked having as many tool in his arsenal as possible as well as keeping them sharp. That was just his style.

''Have you looked at how muck hiring a lockpicking master services cost? Before I opened my music channel, I wanted to help Mother in alleviating as much financial struggle as I could, so I learned to lockpick. With that solved we only need to solve the issue of disguising ourselves,'' Bell explained and redirected his focus back to the topic at hand.

Peter shook his head and then quickly nodded with determination.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Stacy's were having dinner.

''Is there something that troubles you?,'' George asked his daughter, after seeing her push the fork in her food for a while and looking to be with her mind elsewhere. She shrugged.

''Maybe you want to share that with us. We could help you,'' Evelyn offered kindly.

Gwen sighed letting the fork sit on her plate. Then she looked at him.

''Dad, the Avengers are indisposed. Even Stark is now officially indisposed after his brilliant stunt and reaping the consequences. What if The Lizard attacks right now? It tore trough a wall. What if your bullets do nothing to it?,'' Gwens voice sounded a bit raspy. She was worrying the whole week on this issue. Evelyn tensed beside them, having her own fears brought back forth.

''I have a duty,'' George responded after a while.

''Is there no one else? Some super powered person, able to help you?,'' Gwen asked. George sighed.

''No.''

''What if during the fight, some vigilante appears? What if that person is like that sword guy? What will you do?,'' Gwen asked him.

''If they help us, neutralizing the threat, then ... I will be forced to arrest them afterward for vigilantism if they are not government sanctioned,'' George bit out in frustration. Though if his frustration was either directed at them or his circumstances, even he could not tell.

Both Gwen and Evelyn slacked in their seats with disbelief, but before they could say anything his phone rang. He picked it up and Gwen could hear how the speaker was describing a situation at Oscorp Tower and that The Lizard was sighted. As well as the fact that he threw green stuff that began to slowly change police officers into lizard people. So far no dead were reported.

George quickly wiped his mouth with a tissue and made his way to the door. Gwen grasped him by the arm, before he could go through it.

''Wait, daddy. Please don't go. It is a death sentence,'' Georges conviction wavered a little at the desperation in her voice, as well as her and his wife's expression. 

He sighed trying to give them a reassuring look.

''Do you want me to let you in on a little secret? It is true that I have a duty as a police officer, but I have a far greater duty to Evelyn and especially to you. I would gladly give my life if it means you two can be safe. Vigilantes on the surface seem good, but I consider them too much of a flight risk to work with them and a danger to you two. It is much better if I lead by example and force everyone to abide by the laws. That way the risk to you is minimized. Mostly,'' George chuckled a little at her wide eyes. Evelyn was much the same as Gwen.

''Did you really think it was because I was fanatically devoted to the government? I work in it, I am well aware of the corruption around me. All I am doing, my position, my stances on topics, I am doing it for you two. Only for you two,'' George gave Gwen a kiss on the top of her head, then he slowly removed her grip from his arm and gave her a kiss on her knuckles.

''I will come back, princess, Evelyn,'' George kissed Evelyn as well and then he departed.

While Evelyn took a seat on the couch opening the TV to watch the live news with worry, Gwen stumbled to her room at the revelation. All she knew, all she was taught, the foundation she built her life upon, having been ripped from under her, like a carpet.

All kinds of memories from past conversations kept running through her mind. 

She closed her door, locked it and then opened her closet starring at her secret.

---

''Mr. Stacy, one moment please!,'' Bell called out running towards him after George exited his apartment complex. A jaw muscle twitched at the sight of Bell.

''Bell, I really don't have time right now. Whatever it is, it can wait for later,'' George was about to enter his car.

''This the antidote to Connors serum,'' Bell told him at once, getting to the point and stopping George in his tracks. As well as all the other lizard people, Bell added in his mind. He was keeping careful watch, slightly influencing The Lizard not to kill or maim.

The moment of truth has arrived, Bell could feel Gwen, but he did not read her mind.

''Who designed it?,'' George asked turning around and grasping the ampule.

''Peter and I, but he is less athletic then me, so he is lagging behind,'' Bell told him.

''And how did you make it? With what, I mean?,'' George sharply asked.

''I asked you a question,'' George snapped, after Bell remained silent for a bit.

''I was exercising my Miranda Rights. Go and make sure not to die for your beliefs or else Gwen and Evelyn will mourn you,'' Bell dismissed him a little irrationally, still frustrated over his stubbornness after last weeks conversation. Not that he feared this to be their last words to each other as he would watch over him.

George moved his jaw a little. And moved to climb in his police car. He already wasted enough time with Bell and his family in conversation.

''This conversation is not over, but thank you. Gwen is in the apartment if the two of you want to keep her company,'' with that said he closed his door and began driving away.

Bell starred after him until he was out of sight and then made his way over to an alley.

Waiting.

When he felt a figure leap out of the apartment he couldn't help but smile. A feeling of pride in his chest.

So she would not stay complacent after all.

---

''This is James Riverdale, reporting live from the foot of the Oscorp Tower. The Lizard had been sighted. I repeat, The Lizard has been sighted and has been seen breaking into Oscorp towers. The police have already given out the order to evacuate and have barricaded entrance to the Oscorp Tower. The Avengers are currently and officially ind....

Holy ****, as you can see The Lizard has just broken out of Oscorp Tower and is currently climbing up to the top of the Oscorp Tower with what seems to be some kind of device. We do not know, as of yet, what he plans to do with that device.

Again, I repeat The Avengers are all currently indisposed. Stark is presumed dead, Thor is off world and...

Mark, turn around, there is a figure... Is that swinging? It seem that a vigilante has decided to offer their aid in this troubling situation. It seems to be a fem...,'' Maria lowered the volume completely. 

They were currently in a small safe house that was off the records from any files, after the whole assassination attempt on Fury's life by the Winter Soldier.

Fury, Maria, Romanoff as well as Clint who was called into action all watched the small TV. Fury looked terrible beat up, but unfortunately he could not fake his death. Consequently that meant he had to extract all his most trusted people from S.H.I.E.L.D which meant he was now completely blind to what was going on inside. If Rogers were here, he could have investigated more carefully and patiently, as well as fake his death and have eyes on the inside, as Rogers could take a beating and face more risks. compared to most normal humans.

Alas, in his need to be even more informed as well as confirm his suspicions he fucked up. At least he now had his suspicions confirmed with that Winter Soldier stunt.

They watched as the camera man managed to focus long enough on the figure to get a good picture.

It was a female, clearly, clad completely in a body suit with a black and white motif and some pink, as well as what seemed to be green ballet shoes. She had a hoody over her head. They watched as she landed on the hexagon like structure of the tower and began catapulting herself to the top with her ... webs, grappling hooks, ropes?

''Do we know who she is? Anything on her at all?,'' Fury wheezed a little.

''No. Nothing. From what I have seen of she seems to be going for some type of spider themed super hero style. Crawling on walls, swinging through the sky from webs, or grappling hooks or whatever those things on her wrist are,'' Natasha replied. Her face was grave, but despite the situation she could not help but feel a small bit of amusement as there was now another spider themed operator around.

''That hoody seems terribly impractical,'' Clint remarked.

''Maybe, maybe not. We don't know how she got her powers. For all we know someone made a better super soldier serum. It must take a lot of strength and grip strength to move in the air, briefly as we have seen her. I can imagine that hoodie makes her focus her increased senses or maybe narrow it down so she would not get dizzy,'' Fury reasoned, some of the X-Men coming to his mind.

''Sir, I still think we should contact the X-Men. Right now they are the only reliable source of contact we have with any of our agents as well as their availability to help,'' Maria pleaded.

''No. We had an agreement. They practically live next door and yet they did not get themselves involved with the Chitauri invasion. I doubt they will for this one too. They are mostly focused on managing their own threats, like Magneto. So long as they themselves don't step into the light we will ensure the world remains at large unaware of their existence. And frankly I prefer it that way. The world is ready for mutates, but not ready for mutants. Besides, I doubt they have the subtlety to deal with enemy agents in our own ranks,'' Fury explained frustrated, moving a bit to adjust his position.

Even if some of them were telepaths, Fury shuddered in his mind. That was a secret he kept more guarded then anything else.

''Then what will we do, sir?,'' Clint asked and Fury sighed at a loss.

---

The Lizard quickly set up the device at the highest point of the Oscorp Tower on an antenna. Then he was about to insert the serum, before he picked up a sound, he whipped around and batted an AC away that was thrown at him by Ghost Spider. He quickly turned back around using his body and tail as a shield as he inserted the serum and activated the device, the smallest timer available was 5 minutes.

He felt two small dots on his back before he was pulled down, when he landed he whipped around to grab the things and pull the woman towards him. Except she was no where to be seen, the webs abandoned and sticking around.

He quickly turned around climbing the antenna back up, and seeing Ghost Spider almost reach the device he hurried. He managed to reach her in time to pull her away before she could touch the device.

They both fell down and The Lizard slammed her between his body and an AC, cushioning his fall, before picking her up and throwing her further away from the antenna. 

While she landed on her feet, The Lizard would not give her room to breath. He pounced on her immediately.

Ghost Spider did train her powers and learned how to move, but it was now, where she was here in the thick of it where she was mentally kicking herself. She neglected any kind of martial training. For a second she was terrified he would kill her, their brief interaction being enough to inform her that he was matching her strength, perhaps even exceeding it. 

But it was here where that tingle came back. The same kind she felt when she grabbed that rugby without seeing it. She suspected what it was, but had no reliable way to test it out. Not that she was insane or desperate enough to put herself pointlessly at risk.

Her body was almost on autopilot operating on pure instinct, not that she would ever make that mistake again. She planned on rectifying that oversight if she continued to do this.

Every swipe The Lizard threw at her she dodged, even those she did not see. She managed to punch him a few times in the face, but it did nothing. He barely reacted. Webs to the face seemed to be effective however, both for suffocation as well as blinding. He always quickly ripped the web off with his claws, but if it could throw him off enough for her to get to the device that would be good.

It was fast however and it had two hands and one tail, so eventually he did get her. The tail nicked her foot and it felt like a truck hit her, it threw her of her feet and quickly grabbed her wrists, and then squeezed, her web shooters exploding and spewing a bit of the web fluid.

The Lizard hissed victoriously as it used his tail to wrap it around her throat while holding her hands together with one hand and readying his other to spear her with his claws through her abdomen.

Alas, no such thing happened as it was in that moment George came out from behind a metal box and fired the shotgun to The Lizards face, before firing another at the pipe marked with liquid nitrogen.

(Meanwhile somewhere someone slammed his fist into the side of a building, before quickly repairing the cracks not wanting to inconvenience the residents with vandalism. WHERE WAS HIS BACK UP?!?)

The pipe was bouncing around and Ghost Spider managed to rip one of her hands from his grasp. She used one feet to stick his wrist to her sole, the hand he intended to spear her with. With her free hand she grabbed the bouncing pipe and first froze his face a little then the tail until it broke and she was let go while landing on her feet. George waited for an opportunity, not wanting to shoot his only help.

She quickly gave him a kick and The Lizard landed in a small metal ditch. Then she threw the pipe on him, the liquid nitrogen continuing to spew and affect his regeneration a little. Now she looked a little unsure what to do, since her father was in mortal danger. What was she supposed to do, she started to hyperventilate at the worst possible moment.

''You! What are you standing around here for?! Take this, it is the antidote to the serum. Use it! GO!,'' George barked, when he saw her standing around like an idiot.

That is exactly what he meant that vigilantes were flights risks.

She forced herself to move and began climbing up the antenna, moving as fast as she could with desperation as she was practically leaving her father to death. But her movement was a little inhibited with her missing her web shooters as well as some of the damage she received.

The Lizard having heard the conversation moved with renewed vigor. Each time he almost managed to exit the ditch, George fired a shot sending him back down. The combined effort of the nitrogen and a shotgun doing enough damage to outpace his healing factor.

Alas the nitrogen quickly ran out as well as the ammunition in the shotguns chamber. George began reloading, but The Lizard already climbed out and leaped for him, intending to kill him quickly for daring to interfere. 

Something compelled George to fire even if he only put one cartridge in the chamber. The closeness of The Lizards face and the fact he was moving so fast towards him, made the pellets do maximum damage to his eyes, blinding him, stunning him a little and forcing him back. Just enough to for him to stumble over the other end of the pipe and lose his balance. He fell down into the ditch opposite to the one he just crawled out of. The Lizard attempted to grab onto something while falling down and his claws accidentally cut a pipe which also had liquid nitrogen flow though it.

George who had finished reloading completely, his training to reload calmly even in near death experiences coming in clutch, began the process again of shooting him while he was being frozen by nitrogen.

Soon enough however The Lizard managed to crawl out of the ditch again, it was completely enraged and screeched. But even in his rage he picked up the flash of discarded ampule, so he completely abandoned the thought of killing the police officer and moved like the wind to catch the ampule with his tail at the side if the skyscraper. He could always kill the police officer later.

He began climbing the antenna with a desperation, being met halfway by Ghost Spider, he batted her away, suffering from tunnel vision and only the thought to switch the antidote with the serum.

That was a mistake Ghost Spider used her sticky hands and pulled him back down. He kicked her, but she simply tanked the hit to her face. She herself was desperate now.

It was around this time that the device fired off.

The Lizard starred incomprehensibly for a moment for howling in anguish.

''You! I'll murder you and will feast upon your corpse,'' The Lizard promised attacking her with renewed vigor and rage, he used everyone of his strengths. He was so fast and Ghost Spider was in such an disadvantageous position that he simply managed to grab her and slam her several times into the antenna as they fell down, her body being used to destroy several devices hanging off the side of the antenna. Once more he used her body to cushion his fall, this time on the ground instead.

She picked herself up, in spite of her aches and dodge a piercing claw attack, she did even managed to dodge the bite he threw at her with his sharp teeth. She did not manage to dodge the swipe that hit her thigh, not completely. Some blood began pouring from her tight.

(It was fine, Bell will vanish all traces of her blood from the roof top as well as the trail she would leave behind when returning home. He would also vanish the serum when no on would look. He could feel her regeneration already kicking in, though it was weaker then his, The Lizards or Lauras. It broke his heart a little to see her receive such pain. But that was the trade off, of picking up the sword. He would know. She had to understand the dangers involved. Once she did that, he would go about seeing if he could improve what was already there. Mostly her strength and regeneration.)

She was nicked a few more times. But those were scratches. The biggest wound was still her wound on the leg. George reloaded his shotgun again, waiting for a chance to help. They moved to fast and he feared he would hit the wrong target.

It was while she was dodging The Lizards relentless assault that the first particle finally began doing its job. More and more she had breathing room as The Lizard was getting sloppier and sloppier, until eventually stopping. Some humanity and clarity seemed to return to his eyes and he collapsed to his knees shedding tears.

That was not the only thing he was shedding, as he seemed to revert to his human appearance, most of the shedding was happening around the arm where his previous stump was.

The people who were still in the process of turning somewhere also began reverting.

''What have I done,'' Connors despaired to himself. George came over to the two, his shotgun pointed at the ground.

''You alright?,'' George asked, in spite of his grievances with vigilantes, he was thankful and she looked pretty beat up.

''Yeah. After a patch up, I should be good as new. Will you attempt to arrest me?,'' she replied tiredly while leaning against the antenna to catch her breath. Both in relief for her father as well as from the barrage of attacks.

George narrowed his eyes. Now that he was no longer occupied with staying alive he could focus on other things more clearly. Ballet shoes. It was a little hard to tell, what with it being night and with her bleeding, but she looked to have pale skin. That build and height.

And that familiar voice.

A stone settled in his stomach fearing his suspicion to be true.

''What is your name?,'' George asked less sharply and less confrontational.

Ghost Spider being tired from that battle and a little delirious did not notice his change in behavior. She was silent for a while, holding her sides.

''Ghost Spider. With a space between the two words and no hyphen. Both with capital letters,'' she joked a little after trying to settle for a name, having recovered enough to push herself away from the Antenna.

''Look officer... Captain Stacy, if I'm not under arrest then I will just go right over there,'' she made a show of leaning a little forward to read the sign on his chest, and then bolted in the opposite direction she pointed at, before he could say anything. She jumped down the side of the building. Even without her webs she could escape peoples sight, even if not as well as as with her webs.

George paled a little and began arresting Connors and reading him his Miranda Rights when he asked if he really did not kill anyone aside form his family. Connors was in a haze, while the lizard was driving, but confirmation would be nice.

George said no other word to him after that, his thoughts else where.

What should have been a great victory for apprehending someone like Connors, felt like his greatest failing.

But.. surely not. 

No!

It was just a suspicion, until he had proof he would say nothing. He saw where Ghost Spider was hurt, he would pay close attention to these spots when he returns home.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ghost Spider stumbled though a window, her whole body aching and hurting. Her first thought was to go home, but she quickly discarded that thought as she could not patch herself up and would leave blood all over the place. How was she going to answer the question that would follow?

Her period went our of control? Unlikely that that excuse would work, from the simply fact that her mother existed.

So she walked somewhere else. It was a pain to sneak out and about with her injuries, but she did it.

Frankly her body almost instinctually came here. She would find some excuse for not being in her room tomorrow, now she had other problems.

Bell starred at her as she lay on the floor, having returned when he realized where she was going while following her to ensure her safety.

''You want me to patch you up?,'' Bell offered immediately. And Gwen could not help, but bury her face in the wood. She forgot that she had her mask on. But even then she could feel her cheeks heat up, both in embarrassment and affection.

Typical Bell, rolling with the punches and giving aid to those in need. She hummed and nodded.

He picked her up bridal style and carried her to his bed, before laying her in it and picking up the First Aid Kit from under his bed.

''I need to remove you body suit, to have access to your wounds. Can you do that yourself or should I undress you,'' Bell asked her professionally.

''Can't you patch me without doing that?,'' Ghost Spider asked him. He rolled his eyes.

''Gwen, why the fuck would a stranger in need climb through my window, in such a vulnerable state and leave themselves vulnerable to someone they don't trust. Besides, you made news. It is quiet a long way from the Oscorp Tower to here,'' Bell decided to rip the band aid off.

She offered no resistance, her body slack with disbelief at having been so easily figured out, as Bell removed her mask. She had a few blue bruises on her face as well as a split lip.

''You knew? How?,'' she demanded.

''I'm not your father, but I AM observant. You acted too weird after the Oscorp trip and I merely suspected. But the moment you climbed through my window I knew. My observation? You made a mistake with your ballet shoes. Everything else could have been written off as coincidence, but not many people practice ballet. At least you only informed your closed ones that you did ballet as a hobby and did not write it for the world to hear through social media. Don't make that face, the government will search for you, but the won't find you so easily when looking through ballet schools or social media,'' Bell told her patiently.

''You think I made such a big mistake with the ballet shoes? Can I undo the damage?,'' she asked hoarsely, sobering as if she received a cold shower.

''The damage has already been done. Too many people have seen you with them. If anything removing them now would only draw more attention to them. You would need to change your entire costume to justify discarding the shoes without raising eyebrows. Now, can you undress or should I do it?,'' Bell asked her.

''It... is embarrassing,'' she admitted red in the face. She did wear underwear, but still.

''Gwen,'' Bell sighed. She looked at him and he shrugged, clearly indicating that he was leaving the ball in her court.

She swallowed, before with a groan standing up and beginning to undress, after some hesitation. Bell looked away, beginning to pick up the tools from the First Aid Kit and preparing the band aids and disinfectant.

After discarding her suit, she laid back on the bed and Bell immediately got to work, prioritizing the wound on her tight. First he cleaned the dried blood with disinfectant as well as pouring some over the wound after cleaning it with the sterilized band aid. Gwen suppressed a groan of pain, not wanting to risk alerting Melina as it was the middle of the night.

After some time, Bell began expertly wrapping the band aid around her tight. And he moved to the multiple smaller ones.

''Have you noticed that you seem to have a healing factor?,'' Bell asked her suddenly.

''What? You think I have a healing factor? I have noticed nothing of the sort,'' Gwen replied watching him work.

''Perhaps it is the phantom pain or fatigue, but while dressing your wound I noticed it was a little smaller by the time I was done then at the beginning. With any luck, by tomorrow all wounds will be gone and you will have no scars,'' Bell replied and she hummed.

She felt a little self conscious at him being so focused on her wounds and not at all sneaking a glance at her chest or between her legs. Was it because she acted brash, but she did outgrow most of her tomboy phase from when she was younger. She was not the perkiest or bustiest girl at school, but she did have curves and was told by her parents she was pretty, as well as some of the boys at school.

Before she could ask him about that she could hear a door being ripped open on the opposite side of the house and she panicked. Bell quickly put all the equipment under his bed, pulled the blanket over her and leaned over her while grasping her hand in his like a lover and leaned his head, and mouth, closer to hers. her face was heating up.

Melina opened the door silently and peaked in widening her eyes at the scene. She released a silent gasp gathering their attention. The two starred at her and she at them.

''Don't tell George,'' Bell requested calmly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. While he was collected, Gwen was only growing more embarrassed. Melina nodded and slowly closed the door spying all the while on them through the space in the door until it finally closed. 

Gwen sighed, only to jump a little as Melina opened the door again and whispered:'' I'm so happy and proud for you. Night, I won't disturb you anymore.''

She closed the door again and they listened as she made their way back to her room.

Bell removed himself from her and Gwen was a little disappointed in spite of the embarrassment.

''Sorry, about that. Ever since Father died she sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night form nightmares and comes to check up on me. I never closed the door or told her that I am a light sleeper. It brings her comfort. But, hey if anyone asks you can tell them that you had a sleep over at your 'boyfriends' place. I will cover for you,'' Bell explained as he brought the First Aid Kit from under his bed and whispered conspiratorally at her. He got back to work after removing the blanket from her.

Was he doing it intentionally?! Gwen could not tell. Did he know? She was careful not to hint her feelings, fearing that that would destroy their friendship if he rejected her.

''You really do care about all of us, huh?,'' Gwen said instead, removing her arm so that he could dress the wound at the side of her stomach.

''I'm not the best at showing my emotions. Sorry. But yes you all did grow on me,'' Bell revealed continuing to work on her wound on the stomach.

''Like cancer,'' he suddenly added with a smirk. She gave give a small kick with her knee after scoffing.

''Aren't you a charming fellow,'' Gwen joked back.

''I would have gone for being a joker. But I suppose too often the two go hand in hand,'' Bell further joked.

''Sorry, about getting blood on your bed sheets,'' Gwen apologized.

''I have more important things to worry about then blood on my bed sheets.''

Gwen smiled.

''You look a little more carefree. Only took me getting mauled to death by a pre-historic dinosaur to see this side of you,'' Gwen complimented.

His face suddenly went through some emotions she couldn't put her finger on. Before returning to the one he had before she complimented him.

''Thank you. I'm working on it,'' he informed her. And despite nothing physically changing in his tone or demeanor she could tell he was beginning to distance himself from her.

She noticed he was always doing that, especially when others drew attention to it.

Quick distract him and change the subject.

''Do you not find me beautiful? I am almost naked in your bed,'' Gwen blurted out.

Not by putting her foot in her mouth. Of all the subjects she could have picked why did she go with that, Gwen despaired.

But it did seem to do the trick as he was visibly thrown off and stopped his movements for a bit, before resuming them.

''You are a beautiful woman, or well, teenager,'' he assured her getting around to dress her final wounds.

''And yet you did not sneak a little glance at all, in this interaction. (*Fake gasp*) Bell, could it be...,'' Gwen let the sentence hang. Bell smiled a little at her and held some band aid with disinfectant on her spit lip. It felt like a stab in her brain with how sensitive that area was.

Jerk. She narrowed her eyes at him.

''I have too much respect for you, to reduce you to a piece of fuckable meat. Now if we were together, and it is kinky time, that would be another matter. Though even then i would have respect for you. You are a wonderful person and a delight to be around,'' Bell assured her absentmindedly as he wiped her lip a little and then removed the band aid.

She starred at him as he began packing all the tools back into the First Aid Kit. 

There was a little light in the room from the lamp on his table. But light was also coming from outside. She could see him clearly under all that illumination and light pollution.

And his his jet black hair. His red eyes that almost seemed to glow a little. He was still melancholic. Nothing new there. But at the very least he did no longer seem to carry a weight on his shoulders.

Gwen felt dizzy.

''By the way, how did you get your powers?,'' something compelled Bell to make idle small talk. His heart working in overtime to kick his brain down.

''As far as I could find out, I was bitten by a radioactive spider and then gained spider powers. Minus the webs. I had to make web shooters and web fluid for that. You... don't think me a freak,'' Gwen asked a little afraid.

''Gwen, I could never think of you like that. Of any of you. If anything I am glad, you can now protect yourself. By the way, I thought you planned to follow in your fathers footsteps. What finally convinced you to be the big bad vigilante?,'' Bell mocked her a little at the end.

''It was actually a conversation I had with my dad before he left. I think a part of him did not expect to come back and he wanted to give us or maybe even himself closure. He told me he never trusted the government to begin with and confessed what you always preached. That it is corrupt to the bone. Everything he does, every stance and position he takes on issues is with the forethought on how to protect me and mom,'' Gwen revealed to him.

Bell widened his eyes a little at the revelation. Even without mind reading he could read people. Both from experience and observation. George fooled him. It was humbling in a way and his respect increased a lot for him. It made sense, in retrospect, as a police captain he often met with the high and mighty.

''So his actual stance is that a corrupt government is better then no government and he was just using it for his own ends,'' Bells voice sounded approving, Gwen could tell.

The two of them stood in comfortable silence for a bit. Gwen made no effort to hide herself under the blanket and Bell made no effort to sneak a peek.

''Do you want to eat anything? I doubt that battle did not leave you famished. I can throw something delicious for you together,'' bell broke the silence.

''You can cook?,'' Gwen murmured.

''Pretty well too and proud of it,'' Bell boasted a little.

Gwen starred at him. And he attentively waited for her response.

Up until the heat death of the multiverse cluster Gwen would swear that it was because the battle made her delirious. And yet she would remember this day fonder then any other, bar a few.

''I love you,'' It slipped out of her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She did not feel like taking her words back strangely enough. Nor did she remember the fear she had for confessing to him in the first place.

She still felt a little dizzy.

Bells face immediately went through several, for a brief moment he looked physically sick and pained, before his expression softened.

''Gwen, you should find someone better then me,'' Bell told her. A sound was ringing in his ears as if someone was on full on war. Were he more cognizant instead of the war raging in his ears, he would have chosen his words more carefully.

''Are you rejecting me?,'' Gwen asked him, narrowing her eyes. That did not sound like a rejection to her. it sounded like something else. Gwen was starting to get a picture why Bell pulled away sometimes.

Bell wanted to reply yes, but his throat felt thick, the noise in his ears picking up. Were those spots in his periphery? He swallowed and instead replied something else.

''Gwen, any guy would be lucky to have you. I just... you really should find someone better for yourself then me,'' Bell told her.

''Any why, exactly, are you not good enough for me? I confessed, after all, to YOU. You think I can't decide for myself who is worthy of my affection,'' Gwen suddenly had a new set of wind under her sails.

Bell moved his mouth no words came out.

Get him out. GET HIM OUT! He wanted to scratch at his throat.

He did no such thing. He couldn't even look in her eyes or offer any resistance as she pushed him into the chair at his table and sat on his lap. The two of them staid like this for a while, Gwen patiently waiting for Bell to do something.

''Is that why you push us away, despite clearly loving all of us? Why you seem to carry burdens and demons that you should not carry at all? You feel unworthy. What have you done that makes you so unworthy? Tell me,'' Gwen instructed patiently.

He slaughtered innocents, he was a butcher of them. As well as complacent people. Not in this life, but the fact he killed them at all was enough for two life times.

The rest he had no qualms over. They were not humans after all, but mere leeches. Parasites in truth, taking everything and giving nothing in return. The world was better off without them.

''Coward,'' Gwen whispered and cupped his cheek.

He was no coward. Not after everything he went though. He could not muster any defenses.

''Reject me properly. Do it. Tell me, you do not reciprocate my feelings,'' Gwen brashly instructed as she put her forehead on his. Blue eyes starred into red ones. She waited.

He said nothing. The sound increased.

''I love you. Tell me, if you do not love me. Do you love me?,'' Gwen asked him. Her lips mere millimeters away from his. Her breath tickled him. She smelled of cinnamon.

Her Gwen waited the most as she saw his eyes display emotion she did not see till now.

''I ... like you.... a lot,'' he weakly replied, his heart forcing him to look in her eyes for a brief moment, before his brain control back.

It was the truth. She was an appealing woman both in character and appearance. He does feel something for her, more than he feels for all the others.

He felt ashamed as if he committed a great sin. He wanted to go to a dead dimension, and crawl in it and spend the rest of existence there.

Gwen stroked his cheek again.

She did not kiss him in the end.

''I don't know how you got it in your head that you are unworthy of our love or of experiencing happiness. You are foolish, but I suppose that is the brains greatest strength and weakness. Shouldering all manners of struggle and somehow able to find or conjure a weakness where there is none. I will find out what troubles you. I will help you. Since you have not rejected me, it means I am your girlfriend. It is my duty to stand by you and lift you up when you stumble and it is yours to do the same to me. When we have resolved your issues, I hope you can kiss me without any baggage. And laugh like there is no tomorrow,'' Gwen promised.

She did not kiss him in the end. But she did kiss his neck.

Bell starred at the foolish, foolish woman. What could have ever possible compelled her to fall in love with him? He could only destroy. Everything he touched, turned sour.

Besides she would never be able to help him, so she was setting herself up for disappointment. The first step in solving a problem was recognizing there is one. He resolved himself very early on, never to reveal the fact he was reincarnated to anyone. 

And yet...

Gwen stood up and slowly dragged him to the bed, she slowly pushed him down and laid on top of him, whispering him sweet nothings as she drifted off to sleep.

What a wonderful, wonderful woman.

How could he let her life waste away on someone as wretched as him? She was right, he was a coward. He should have lied and rejected her. Smother the infant in the crib so to speak.

His brain was completely silent now. He still felt sick, but there was silence.

He kept his word. He told no one of his reincarnation, his heart acquiesced. But what about someone figuring it out by themselves. He still kept his vow, but such an opportunity was quiet hard to come by. Why not make use of it? It will break her heart to have him resolve his issues by himself, but at the very least he would solve them.

Did he not owe it to her? To this wonderful woman, sacrificing herself for his 'worthless' self. Should he not at least try, instead of dragging her along.

If he truly wished to be miserable he would have never fallen for his hearts whims in the first place.

His heart argued, whispering sweet nectar in his ears like the devil.

Bell swallowed looking down at Gwen. She was already asleep. Her cheek was on his chest and was snoring softly. One hand was hugging him the other interlocking her fingers with his and Bell wondered if she was comfortable at all. Some of her hair was falling across her other cheek.

'Seek out Stan. You kept your vow, he found out by himself. Or break Gwens heart and spare her the heartache,' his heart spoke for a final time before it too going silent like his brain.

Sweet blissful silence.

And Bell suddenly felt more tired then he ever felt in the last 16 years.

Soon, he too feel asleep.

---

When Gwen woke up the next morning she was a little groggy not quiet realizing where she was. She attempted to rub her eyes, but found out she could not. After a few seconds she was sleeping on her side her face buried in Bells chest. After a few more seconds she went beet red in the face, not from the close proximity, but because she remembered what happened yesterday.

Gwen had no clue were her sudden brash confidence from yesterday came from. Maybe it was the delirium, but...

She looked up at him. She meant every word. Who knew that he was so self conscious? 

Bell usually waking up at the slightest disturbance slept like a dead log as Gwen buried her head back in his chest.

(A.N.: 15760 Words. Damn. Practically two chapters worth of content. Cheers.)