Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 1

Chapter 20

Upon wrapping up Wesley and the other criminals in nice, neat balls of webbing for the police, Peter eventually met up with Prowler, whose real name he'd learned was Hobie, and the man's girlfriend outside the scene.

"Thank you," Hobie was the first to speak up. "I couldn't have rescued her without you."

"It's no problem," Peter replied. "I'm just glad everyone made it out alive, and that's thanks in no small part to that sweet tech of yours. You know, maybe I really could use a partner after all, just saying..."

Hobie let out a huff.

"Thanks," he replied, glancing towards his girlfriend, "but I think there are other matters that I need to attend to."

"I understand," Peter observed, catching his meaning.

"Besides, I have a feeling once I go to the police, I'll have to turn this suit over anyway."

Peter tilted his head, eyeing Hobie in confusion.

"What do you mean?" he questioned. "I mean, other than some property damage I guess, the only actual person you really endangered is me; well, except for that one guy at the docks, but I'm sure if we talk to him..."

"It's not just that," Hobie clarified. "The way I got this power source was wrong anyway, but more than that, if Wesley and these guys are going to have any real chance of actually seeing significant prison time, I need to go to the police and explain what happened."

"I mean, I can't argue with that I guess," Peter said, "but if you do this, and knowing the person who's involved, you'll be putting a huge target on your back. I just want you to know what you're getting into."

"I know," Hobie said, once again glancing towards his girlfriend. "We both do."

Peter nodded.

"Well, at least let me try and help you out; I have a friend who's a lawyer, so I'm sure he can work something out for you."

"Thanks, I'd certainly appreciate that," Hobie replied. "Man, if there's one thing that I've learned from all this, it's that compromising even a little bit is dangerous. I'm just lucky that, even after all this, I still have this wonderful woman by my side. I'll tell you what, Spidey: there is nothing more valuable in this world than a good woman who will stick by you through the good and the bad, you know?"

Peter glanced off to the side a little bit, a pretty redhead coming to his mind.

"Yeah, I think I do," he said. "Well, I guess I better get going; I'll be in touch later."

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Hobie then watched as Spider-Man fired a web, swinging off. He then turned his full attention to Mindy.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I mean, I'll probably look into more security after this, but I'll be okay."

"I'm so sorry, babe," he said. "This was all my fault; if I had never gone back to him, if I'd just stuck it out like we talked about..."

"What's done is done, Hobie," Mindy replied. "You've acknowledged your mistakes and you're doing everything you can to make up for them. Besides, from what you've told me, it sounds like these guys were never going to give you a choice."

"I just hope that something is actually done about them," Hobie said. "You haven't been in this world like I have, Mind; there are people with connections, and big ones at that."