The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Chapter 43

When I arrived home, a pang of guilt shuddered through me.  I rushed inside and locked myself into my bedroom, quickly noting that Harry was showering in the bathroom.

I stripped my clothes off, searching them frantically for any signs of the Venom Symbiote.  After searching for several minutes with no luck, I shrugged them back on and sat on the edge of my bed.

This was me.  The real me.  I had chosen to do that.  Not the Symbiote.

I sighed, opening my door and heading into the kitchen to grab a small snack.  I selected a bag of potato chips and slumped onto the couch, switching on the television.

The screen flashed to life, revealing a tall blonde lady with bright red lipstick.  She waved her arms about as she spoke, giving the most recent news report.

"...no more signs of her," she was saying.  "Is she gone for good?  Was she really ever there in the first place?"  My eyebrows furrowed, and my eyes slid to the text at the bottom of the screen.

What has happened to Spider-Woman?

I bit down harder on my next potato chip, sending pieces of it flying across the living room.  Of course, people had seen Gwen in her suit before.  They would notice if she disappeared.  And they did.

I would have to find some way to tell the media that they wouldn't be seeing her anymore.  Yeah, we both decided that she'd be better off if she kept the web shooters, but she had lost her powers.

I had some more pictures to sell to J.J. Jameson at the Daily Bugle, but how would I know that?  Why would they believe a story from Peter Parker?  They would want to hear it from Spider-Man himself. 

I shook my head, shoving another potato chip into my mouth.  It crunched, and its savoring salty taste added to another faint taste: remnants of the chips I had already eaten.

I turned off the television and closed my eyes with a sigh.  I heard the shower switch off, and Harry stepped into the room a minute later.

"Hey, Pete," Harry said, his wet hair dripping onto his clean t-shirt.

"Hey Harry," I replied through a yawn.  I swung my legs in front of me, sitting up.  My hand placed another chip into my mouth.

"How was your ride?"  He flashed a bright smile, one I returned.

"A-mazing."

"Sweet."

Harry sat beside me, his eyes drifting down to my bag of chips, as if he was asking for some.  I twisted my wrist so the opening was facing him.  He reached into the bag, pulling out a handful.

"Thanks, man."

"No problem."  We sat there for a minute in silence, munching on the potato chips.

"So..."  Harry attempted to break the silence.  When he said nothing else, I smirked.  He was now holding the bag, and I wanted more chips.

I reached my hand outward, then shot a web at the bag, snatching it from his hands.

"Hey!"  He shouted, bubbling with laughter.

"Stop hogging my chips!"  I told him through chuckles.  I cocked my head, thinking.  "You know what, how about I take you out for a spin?" 

"A spin?"  Harry snorted.  "Spinning webs, you mean?"

"No," I replied, punching him in the shoulder.  He winced, but laughed.  "I mean a 'spin' as a 'motorcycle ride' spin."

"Oh, then I'm in," he said, punching me back.  "'Cuz I wasn't gonna let you carry me through the streets like you do Gwen.  Because that is soooo gay."  We laughed yet again.

"I did carry you once," I wiggled my eyebrows.  "To the cops."

"Pete!  That's just gross!"

"Fine, I'll drag you across the asphalt next time.  Or maybe put you in a giant slingshot."

"How about we ride your motorcycle now, huh?"  I leapt off of the couch with an unspoken "yes," and he followed me outside.

---

Harry and I enjoyed our ride.  We were now back at home, submerged in a deep discussion.

"Do you know who it is?"  Harry asked.

"No.  Not at all," I replied.  "But, I think they know who I am.  This was the first time they appeared, to my knowledge, when I wasn't Spider-Man."

While sitting at a traffic light, I had spotted the dark and mysterious figure again, perched a few buildings down from the Stark Tower.

"Do you think they're a new villain?"

"I have no idea."  I stared at my hands, twisting my fingers together and untangling them so I could twist them together again.

A light rain picked up outside, water trailing down the windows and falling down in big droplets.  The rain was peaceful and reassuring, but it did not fix the situation.

"Just, keep your eyes out, then.  They could be dangerous."