Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 2

Chapter 12

Flying in through his window, Peter ripped his mask off, his frustration palpable. He discarded it on his bed and sat down beside it, running his hand over his face and hair, letting out a moan of frustration. He then heard a knock at his door.

"Peter, are you in there?"

Though he was a little frustrated that he couldn't seem to get a moment to settle himself, part of him was relieved to hear his girlfriend's voice, so he hurriedly threw on some clothes over his costume before answering the door. She might know his secret identity, but anyone else who could happen to walk past the doorway didn't, so it was still best practice to keep up.

"Hey, M.J; I'm sorry, I saw your calls, but I was just..."

"I know," she assured him as she stepped inside and held up a bag in her right hand. "That's why I picked up a few of our favorite sandwiches, since, you know, I'm sure you're not taking the time to feed yourself."

"You're a lifesaver," Peter replied as he practically snatched the bag from his girlfriend's hand, immediately unpacking it on the counter and digging in. Almost instantly, the taste of lettuce, tomato, cheese, and grilled chicken was hitting just the right spot he needed, and he already was feeling reenergized.

"I'm guessing you've had no luck?" M.J. asked as she came and sat down on the stool at the other side of the counter.

"Nothing," Peter said once he finished swallowing what was already his third bite. "No sign of him operating anywhere, no sightings reported even on social media, nothing."

"I don't get it," M.J. said. "Why make such a big dramatic announcement and then just run and hide for over a week?"

"Knowing the Goblin, probably for two reasons," Peter hypothesized as he swallowed another bite. "First, he's probably drawing this out to put myself and everyone else in this city on edge, but especially me. I was the one he threatened in that video; he wants me to sit with that and let it stir, hoping it will get to me."

"Is it working?" Mary Jane asked. Peter paused, setting the little that remained of his sandwich down.

"Maybe," he admitted. "Yeah, a little more than I care to admit. I just hate knowing that I have no idea what he has planned next, and that's the other thing about this: the fact that he hasn't acted probably also means that whatever he has planned is big, like, REALLY big."

"I'm guessing you still haven't heard from Harry either?" Mary Jane asked. "I tried calling and texting him again earlier today, but he's still not answering me."

"Me neither," Peter replied, "and I don't like it."

"I mean, Norman's a real piece of work," M.J. stated, "but if the non-crazy side of him is still in there at all, wouldn't he make sure that Harry was off limits?"

"That's what scares me the most," Peter said. "That's how it used to be: everything the Goblin did, at least at first, was in the service of Norman. He wanted to eliminate all of the people who made life miserable for him while taking over the underworld, presumably to increase Norman's wealth and therefore his comfort while taking out his enemies, but the Goblin had never gone after Harry before."

"Does that mean..." M.J. started but struggled to finish. "You think that Norman is...?"

"I don't know, but I have to believe that he's still in there," Peter responded.

When his girlfriend didn't respond, he then glanced over towards her, finding her staring down at the table, seemingly frozen.

"M.J?" he questioned, the use of her name seemingly shaking her back to reality. "What is it?"