HEARTSTRINGS ▹ P. PARKER [ON HOLD]

five.

Gwen used her sonar waves to quickly take her to the top of the monument, finding Spider-Man panting slightly as he stood over the southwest window.

"Hey, Spider-Baby, what are you waiting for?" She asked in her altered voice.

"Siren! What are you doing here?"

"Are you really asking me this right now?" She inquired in disbelief.

"Right, right! There are people stuck in the elevator, and the monument is about to explode!"

She extended her arm to the window and broke it with a sound blast just in time for the D.C. Metro Police to arrive.

"Return to the ground immediately. Stand down!" They demanded.

"Okay, Spidey, let's go save your friends." Peter nodded, not processing her words, and jumped inside the building.

Peter quickly held the elevator with his web-shooters as it started to plummet to the ground. Gwen was about to reach him in order to help him pull it up, but he gave in and fell inside the elevator, joining Mr. Harrington, Ned, and Liz.

He quickly shot another web to the ceiling and secured the elevator by resting his feet on its roof and holding the web by sheer force.

The Siren quickly went after them and used her powers to hold the machinery in place, preventing it from falling even more.

"You guys okay?" She asked.

"Oh my God, it's the Siren!" Ned squealed.

"Hello. I'll pull you guys up. Hold on," she manipulated the waves to lift the elevator slowly. It wouldn't do any good if it broke down and let the four of them descend to their deaths. Peter would probably save himself and try to rescue everyone else, but she didn't want to take any chances.

After the elevator got hoisted up, the Spider-Man's web snapped, causing him to fall down the hole. Gwen gave the rescued group a salute before diving after the troublesome boy.

"I remember Tony telling you to stay away from the Chitauri technology?" She asked him as they both landed safely.

"Please, please, don't tell him!" Peter begged.

"Do you really think he doesn't know it already? You're all over the news, Spider-Baby!"

"Please, don't call me Spider-Baby."

"Then grow up! If you haven't messed up with this tech, none of this would've happened."

"I know! I know, okay?!" He groaned, taking off his mask and brushing his hand through his brown curls. He felt guilt for what just happened and for leaving the team hanging on in the championship. "It's just- I can do so much more! I don't understand why he doesn't give me a chance!"

Gwen sighed tiredly. "He doesn't want you to become like him." Peter frowned, but she continued before he could say anything. "You can't save everyone, Peter. You can't protect the entire world. And he doesn't want you to try it and eventually carry the guilt on your shoulders when you fail to do so. Tony's trying to keep you away from the disappointments that come with this life."