A F T E R G L O W - N W H「3」

E L E V E N

- SECOND TIME AROUND -

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They had a plan, everyone readying themselves for the fight ahead. The antidotes were ready and it was only a matter of time before the bad guys would start flooding in with means to destroy the artifact in their possession.

     With a portal opened to the Statue of Liberty, Peter One had the artifact in hand and was setting his phone up to video call The Daily Bugle.

As he stepped onto the scaffolding of the new construction project surrounding the statue, Liz was staring at her Peter as he was stretching, trying to get a knot out of his back.

She didn't know what was to come after all this, and this could be her last chance at ever seeing him again. So she walked up to him, her presence like a magnet drawing his eyes to her every time without fail.

     "Hi..." He smiled down at her.

"Hi." She chuckled with a nervousness that was unconventional and unable to be pinpointed where exactly it was coming from. "I kind of need to tell you something."

He knew her well, her facial expressions and mannerisms were ever so telling and he was sure he'd figure out her mood just by a few seconds of reading her demeanor. "Yeah, of course—"

"Hey, let's get these antidotes set up before he finishes his little chat with Jameson." Peter Two unintentionally cut him off, not realizing he was talking to Liz as he slipped his mask over his head.

"Okay, just one second." Peter Three replied, turning back to face her as he held his mask in his hands. "What were you saying?"

They didn't have time and quite frankly, she wasn't even sure she knew what she wanted to say. "Oh, um...just wanted to wish you good luck."

He was of course skeptical, completely unconvinced of her words. He looked around as MJ, Ned and Peter Two were all talking at the exit of the portal before leaning down just a little to speak so only she could hear. "I know it's been a long time, but I can still tell when you're lying to me."

She bit the inside of her cheek in annoyance as she let out a huff, the man chuckling as he crossed his arms like he was accusing her of some inconceivable crime.

"Maybe so, but you have a mission to get to." She insisted, ignoring his knowing stare and pushing his back towards the other three.

"We'll talk after." He said pulling his mask down, the woman nodding in agreement and finality.

Him and Peter Two scooped up all the antidotes, the man turning to face Liz once more as he sent her a salute. She smiled halfheartedly in return as he swung off, hoping she wouldn't regret saying nothing.

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The lights in the science lab started to flicker, Liz, Ned and MJ all sharing a look of apprehension knowing that it was more likely than not caused by Max.

Funny how something as mundane as a flickering light led everyone to believe it was caused by some crazed lunatic who fell into a pool of electric eels rather then a simple burned out lightbulb in need of a change.