“I can’t believe you’re actually here! I’m such a huge fan. Did Ezekiel set this up? Why the middle of the night? Was it supposed to be a surprise?”
Peter just stared at the young woman clinging to his midsection and tried to figure out what to say. Several things clicked together in his head as Cindy rambled on at him. “Cindy, calm down for a second. No one asked us to come here.”
Cindy looked up at him and jerked back. “What? Then… then who knows I’m here? How did you find me? Does anyone else know?!” Her voice rose to a panicked near shout and her eyes were wide. Her hands trembled as she released her grip on Peter.
Felicia raised an eyebrow as she watched the girl. “Easy pipsqueak,” the cat burglar said with a droll tone. “We found you all on our own. Your secret hideout is still safe with us. And I’m guessing old man Zeke isn’t big on you having friends over.”
Cindy looked between the two of them and her shoulders slumped in relief. “Not… really. Sometimes I get to meet the other patients when they’re around.” She looked down and didn’t say anything for a minute. Then she shook herself and turned to face the blonde. “You’re… Black Cat, right? The news said you were a hero now. You really get to work with Spider-man?”
Felicia smirked. “Oh yes. We have a very close partnership.” Peter shot her a flat look over Cindy’s shoulder as the other girl tried to glare, but her blush ruined the effect. The ex-criminal just laughed at both of them. “But since you already seem to know so much about us, how about you fill us in on you?”
Cindy chewed her lip and looked back and forth. “I guess that if anyone can be trusted, it’s you two.” She flipped the couch back up with one hand and sat on the back, her feet dangling down against the cushions. “Ezekiel has been helping me with my powers. Keeping me safe. He helps lots of teens who develop super abilities.”
The two crime fighters said nothing for a few moments, but Peter was the first to break the silence. “And he does that by keeping you locked up in here? What about the others?”
Cindy’s head shot up in surprise. “What? No, no! I mean, he does keep me safe here, but that’s just me. Web Corp has been researching meta-humans for ages. They have a program discretely to help families with special kids get medical care or anything else they need. Ezekiel lets me stay here to keep me away from people who might want to hurt me.”
That set Peter’s nerves off. The last time Kraven had decided to try to hunt him like a dog through Manhattan came very prominently to mind. “Who’s been after you for so long that hiding like this was all you could do?”
“It’s… there’s so many people who hate you and Spider-girl. Or does she go by Spider-woman now? The TV was never really clear on that…” Peter drummed his fingers against his arm as Cindy trailed off. “Right, later. I got my powers around the same time you did, I guess. I told my parents and at first they just wanted Ezekiel to make sure there was nothing wrong with me. But then more and more psychos started showing up who wanted you two dead. And if they knew there were more people out there who had your powers, we could be in danger too.”
“So you hid your powers,” Peter finished. “I get that, I really do. Trying to keep my family safe… it’s hard when there are people who are so twisted they’ll do anything to see you suffer.”
YOU ARE READING
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Stud
FanficPeter knew his luck was terrible, but a dimensional collapse was bad even for him. But maybe an entirely new world with a new start could be just what he needs to get lucky for once in his life. Or get lucky a lot in general.
