(Symkarian Embassy)
Tick. Tick. Tick.
It's the dead of night, past midnight, and Silver Sable has yet to fall asleep. The ticking clock beside her bed is grating on her nerves. Why she chose an analog clock, she doesn't remember. She is tempted to smash the thing against the wall. But that wouldn't bring her any peace. Not really. Because the clock isn't what's keeping her awake. Her mind is too preoccupied with the day's events. Starting with Spider-Man asking her to join him and his lovers on a group date, to see if there is anything worth exploring regarding a romantic relationship. And if that wasn't odd enough, he also invited Natasha Romanoff. To which the woman said yes as well since she showed up at the restaurant, surprising Silver.
She did not expect her to be there. Why would she? Yes, she knew the spy had feelings for the arachnid-themed hero, but Silver did not expect her to agree to go on a date with the man and his lovers. Mostly because she did not seem like the sort who would agree to explore such an unconventional relationship.
She recalls her conversation with the spy back at the bunker in the desert, and she wonders why Romanoff did what she did. Why did she push, well, nudge really, Silver to pursue this possibility? In almost a poetic fashion, the redheaded Russian told the Symkarian-born mercenary not to let societal norms influence her decision in matters of the heart. Which was why she said yes in the first place.
Of course, it was also at this time that she saw that the former KGB agent had feelings for the hero. But why did Natasha encourage Silver to explore this? To see if someone who doesn't have as much history with the webbed hero as those three women would be able to join that relationship? If that's the case, Silver can't be mad. It was a practical move. One she would and should have made. So then why didn't she?
Spider-Man, Peter, asked her to join him and four other women for a date. A date where they would decide whether or not she and Romanoff could and would join. Compatibility, attraction, and willingness to be open. She and Romanoff were essentially candidates, as demeaning as that sounds. But it didn't feel demeaning. If anything, she felt excited.
She shakes her head and rubs the tiredness in her eyes with her fingers. Excited might be too strong of a word. She was… happy? She is not sure what she felt when she said yes. Shocked by her own decision? Yes. Anxious about participating in an unorthodox relationship? Absolutely. But happy that she was going to be involved? She is not sure. She just knows after saying yes, and completing her work for the day, she went on to prepare for the date.
She spent some time, maybe more than necessary, in choosing the right dress for the evening. She knew she had proper evening wear that one could use on a date, but she went and ordered one from a seamstress she regularly goes to instead. She then spent time in applying the proper amount of makeup, and of course, rehearsing what possible lines of discussions she would bring in case there were moments of silence. She likes to be prepared.
But once there, she found all that preparation meant nothing. The man who invited her and Romanoff was late, and two of his lovers, Sonja and Felicia, were there. And not at all surprised by his tardiness. The moment they sat down, Silver wanted to begin the conversations with the ones she rehearsed, but found herself hesitating.
She didn't realize until that moment that she was to be involved with not only Spider-Man, but the other women as well. Sonja, Felicia, Mary Jane whom she has yet to meet, and potentially Natasha. How this escaped her, she does not know. It was an obvious fact, and yet it did not truly sync in until they were at the table waiting for Peter to arrive. Was she too preoccupied with her feelings for the hero that she simply ignored the fact that he was already in a complicated relationship?
She remembers him saying that the relationship isn't just about him, but the other three as well. She thought she understood what he meant at the time, but in truth she did not. She observed their interactions, and while it was clear both women's emotions towards their shared lover was expected, the feelings they had toward one another was a surprise. She saw the sparkle in their eyes when they looked at each other. A look that was undeniable. They loved each other, not just Peter. Which begged the question, how would she fit into that?
She lets out a sigh, and she turns over to her side. She would be new to the relationship. She can't say she loves Peter yet, but her feelings are strong, and she doesn't know the women he is with all that well; she hasn't even met all of them yet. So her joining that relationship would mean she wouldn't be as… cherished? She supposes that's the best word. There's a possibility that she'll come to love Peter and be loved by him eventually, but in the beginning, she won't be as important as the others.
Hierarchy was a concern Romanoff had brought up. And it was a valid concern. Both she and Romanoff would not only have to see how they would fit in, but also wait until they are truly equals. Not exactly an exciting prospect when it comes to new relationships. And who knows how long it will be until she is on par with the others, or if she even would be. The romance could fade, and where would that leave her?
She lets out another sigh, except this one came more from her throat. Thinking about the future of a relationship she is not even a part of is already giving her a headache.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The clock's rhythm isn't helping; each second is a reminder of hours slipping past while she lies here, caught between exhaustion and a mind that refuses to quiet. And her traitorous mind drifts to another person. Her ex-husband, The Foreigner. A man she never truly loved, merely married due to extenuating circumstances, and divorced not too long after for another set of circumstances. The tragedy is her current relationship with that man is the most stable relationship she has. And said relationship includes sending the occasional assassin after one another. But not out of animosity. It's just how they are with each other. If he dies, she won't miss him, and she doubts he'll miss her.
From an outside perspective, what she has with that man is more than just unhealthy; it is disturbing.
She lets out yet another sigh as she rolls over to look up at the ceiling again. It is, she supposes, their version of correspondence. Other divorced couples exchange passive-aggressive comments at holiday gatherings. They exchange assassination attempts.
There is no hatred in it. That is what outsiders never understand. She does not wish him dead any more than he genuinely wishes her dead. The attempts are probing actions, professional courtesies, a way of saying I am still here, I am still watching, I have not forgotten what you are capable of. It is intimacy built on lethal skill and mutual wariness. Safe, because it requires nothing of her heart.
She knows exactly where she stands with him. The rules are clear. The boundaries are inviolable. There is comfort in that clarity, even if the comfort is cold.
Peter offers something entirely different. But what he proposes is no easier to deal with. If anything, it is far more complicated and could potentially be more dangerous, emotionally speaking. Because she will decide to be truly vulnerable to not just one man, but three or four women.
She has never been with another woman, never even considered it. She barely looked at men for romantic purposes. She has put all her time and energy into her career, for her home. Yet now, here she is, lying awake in the middle of the night, thinking about not just him but also those women.
She thinks about how they acted at dinner. How easy the conversation was between them. How relaxed, open, and just happy they were with each other. If Sable is being honest with herself, she can say she is jealous over what they have. She has no one to talk to. No one to speak with. No one to confide in. No one to trust and be vulnerable to. Because being vulnerable is very dangerous in her line of work. She never allowed herself to be vulnerable in any shape or form. Certainly not emotionally.
But tonight she had experienced something… unexpected. A possibility. A possibility to allow herself to be vulnerable and finally let her walls down. Or at least lower them enough to let someone, or rather several someones, in. But with that possibility came great risks. Risks that she wasn't certain she should take.
She is Silvija Salbinova, the Silver Sable of Symkaria. Leader of the Wild Pack. And though these all mean everything to her, she is starting to realize that they are not everything to her. She wants more.
But isn't it greedy to want more when one has enough? Then again, is what she has enough? She doesn't regret living her life and choosing the path she is on. She knew that once on this path, there would be immense sacrifices. Her people depend on her immensely. So she put their needs before her own needs and desires. Which she was and still is content with doing.
But then something changed when she kissed Spider-Man that day at the Symkarian parade. A kiss that was supposed to simply be a gesture of gratitude since he clearly was not receiving it from his "illustrious" mayor. A kiss that for the life of her she could not forget.
It opened up a possibility she can't remember she ever considered. The possibility of love. Of being in love and being loved. It frightens her if she were being honest. To be open, to trust completely, and to show parts of her that she buried deep. Parts that if she showed, would leave her vulnerable. Physically and emotionally.
She has never once considered lowering her defenses even minutely. But now she has. Now she wants to. To be a part of something that quite frankly, should not work but does. Only if it doesn't work, or rather if she can't meld well with them, then…
But should that hold her back?
Spider-Man was and is willing to risk everything to gain more. Why should she do less?
She rises from her bed and looks at her clock. Sunrise is not for hours. It's become abundantly clear she will not rest tonight. So instead of attempting to do so, she'll do something productive. She'll get started on some assignments she has and perhaps train.
Hopefully, she'll come to a solution to her dilemma. Enough to allow her to rest. Because despite not being able to sleep, she is very tired.
(Pier 57, With Spider-Man and Co)
There is a difference between being physically tired, emotionally tired, and mentally tired. Being physically tired doesn't require much of an explanation. Most hard-working manual laborers understand this. Being emotionally tired is something civil servants can understand intently. Being a firefighter, police officer, or even a postman can show you the worst of people. And mentally tired stems from having the mind so occupied with so much. Scientists, hard working students, and teachers are people who experience this one.
Most people don't really experience each of these forms of exhaustion regularly. But Peter is the exception, of course. Peter experiences each one practically everyday, so he knows each one profoundly.
The hero is on a rooftop, staring down at a scene all too familiar to him. Armed thugs patrolling in pairs around the docs lined with containers that have something they should not have. At least that's what he was told. But as much as the scene requires his attention, he can't muster much desire to care. He does care, but not in his typical fashion where he wants to be here. All he wants is to crawl into bed and just let the day end.
But Peter doesn't allow himself that luxury. Because doing so does nothing but allow him temporary respite.
"You've been awfully quiet." The smooth voice of Elektra beside him snaps him alert.
He looks at her curiously, "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me mute. Missing the melodious sound of my voice?"
"No." She states, keeping her eyes down at the scene below. "But just because you're quiet, doesn't mean you're focused."
"Would it help if we played I Spy?" He jokes.
The blank look she sends his way eloquently tells him she is not amused more than any words could. And before he tries another joke, another voice speaks up.
"That game would show he is being observant." He shifts his eyes to Laura, who had decided to join them on this little mission of theirs. Why? He does not know.
But right now, he is happy she is helping him. "See? She gets it," He says as he points to the young mutant. "I'm being helpful."
"I didn't say that," Laura says, keeping her eyes on the activity below.
"Then what are you saying?" Spider-Man asks, trying to keep his voice light.
Laura doesn't look at him. Her eyes remain fixed on the pier below. "You're not only here because you want to help Elektra. You're here because you're terrified of going back to the Baxter Building and facing your resurrected ex-girlfriend."
He fights back a grimace. Damn if her words don't hit him like a blow from the Hulk or a sword through the chest, and he would know what those feel like. Whatever cheery mood he was faking dies immediately as he looks back down, but his attention isn't on what's going on below. It's back where it's been. He can't deny what Laura said. He is here to help, but he is also here to distract himself from what he learned back at the Baxter Building.
Laura isn't being cruel. That's what makes it worse. There's no malice in her tone, no judgment in her posture. She's simply stating a fact, the same way she might note that the sky is dark or that there are seven guards visible below. To her, emotional truth is no different from tactical observation. Both are facts.
And the fact is, Gwen knows. Gwen found out who he was the same night she died. She found out that the man she loved was also the same man she blamed for her father's death. Peter is terrified to learn what she was thinking in those last moments. Did she hate him? Did she curse him? Did she wish she never had anything to do with him? The possibilities are tormenting him, and he's too scared to go back and find out what they are.
He didn't think he could do it, but somehow, Norman made that night so much worse than Peter believed possible.
"You know," Spider-Man says, his voice carrying a brittle edge he doesn't bother to hide, "you really are Logan's kid. You cut as deep with words as you do with your claws."
"She's worse." Elektra says, her tone dry as desert sand, as she shifts her position to get a better view. "Logan at least understands social niceties. She doesn't seem to grasp any of it."
"I do, for the most part." Laura retorts, eyes fixed below. "But only when it's called for or necessary."
The colorful hero of the three looks at the youngest of them curiously and asks, "And you don't think my current situation calls for you to be nice or considerate?"
"Sympathy won't help you right now. It just gives you permission to feel worse," Laura states, her voice flat and matter-of-fact. "If I said, 'I'm sorry you feel that way,' or 'You must be hurting,' it would just validate the idea that this situation is hopeless. But it isn't. You have the ability to explain yourself. You have the ability to face her. Being nice now just prolongs the inevitable confrontation. That's not helpful. That's a waste of time."
And there she goes again. Cutting straight to the bone with her words. It is very painful to hear, but he can't say she is wrong.
Beside him, Elektra makes a sound that might be amusement. "You are remarkably blunt."
"I find it efficient," Laura replies. "Subtext and social niceties waste time. You both have problems you are avoiding. Pointing this out may not solve those problems, but it prevents you from pretending they do not exist."
Now Elektra looks at the mutant clone curiously. "What problems am I avoiding?"
"Spider-Man was not your first choice, remember?" Laura coolly reminds the former hand assassin. "You went to Daredevil first but discovered he was with a woman. You allowed your personal feelings to influence your decision in who to bring on this mission."
Spider-Man winces as he casts a sidelong glance at Elektra, whose cold steely gaze is directed at the mutant clone. The deadly assassin clearly does not appreciate her own situation being brought up, even if what Laura said is true. Whatever the situation between her and Daredevil is, it's something that she doesn't want to talk about.
"As I've said before," Elektra starts with a cold look, "Who Mathew spends time with is his business."
"You say that as if that is all there is to it." Laura points out, unbothered by the woman's fierce gaze on her person.
Peter holds up both hands, the universal gesture for please stop before someone gets stabbed on this rooftop. "Okay. How about we table the group therapy session and focus on why we're actually here?" He turns to Elektra, grateful for the excuse to redirect. "You said you needed my help. Something about a developing situation. Care to elaborate, or are we just going to stare at some muscley guys with big guns all night?"
Elektra, her jaw tight, ignores his attempt at humor and maintains her fierce glare on Laura for another lingering beat. The sheer, almost clinical dismissiveness in the mutant clone's tone regarding Elektra's complicated, volatile feelings about Matt's current relationship status clearly frustrates the assassin. Finally, with a visible effort, Elektra broke eye contact with the younger woman, letting out a sharp, private breath that bordered on a sigh of deep-seated exasperation, and returned her focus entirely to the dark, bustling activity visible on the pier below.
"It is a weapons trafficking operation," Elektra stated, her eyes lowering back down below. "I told you I've been tracking many of Fisk's and the Hand's operations. I came across one in particular that needed to be immediately dealt with."
They look back down at the illegal operation going on below. In truth, it looks basic for Spider-Man. Sure the men are heavily armed and the area is well guarded, but it's nothing he hasn't dealt with. In fact, this is so common with Fisk that he's pretty sure this is something Elektra has dealt with too. So why did she need him?
Fortunately, Elektra answers his unasked question. "I need you to tell me what they have inside."
Spider-Man tilts his head in confusion. "You want me to sneak inside and take a peak? Aren't you a ninja? Being sneaky is your thing isn't it? Or are you more of a Naruto type? Speaking of which, is it ninja or shinobi?"
She keeps her cool composure even with his babbling as she responds. "I do not need you to sneak in, I need you to use your sense to tell me what to expect."
Spider-Man looks at her, perplexed by her request. "What? I can't do that?"
Elektra looks back at him with a raised brow and goes silent for a few moments, as if she is judging him, before she finally speaks. "You told me that your extra sense is in tune with your surroundings. Beyond warning you of immediate danger, it alerts you of spoiled food or when your alarm is about to ring."
…oh right. He recalls he did say that.
"Okay, yes it does that but-"
"You haven't been training it have you?" Elektra stops him, her tone and expression becoming more annoyed. "You were supposed to be learning how to better utilize it. It is your most vital ability, not only being completely in tune with your surroundings but also working in random with your knowledge, yet you neglect it."
Boy, does she know how to drive a point home.
He looks back at one time teacher and can see judgement in her eyes. He sheepishly scratches his head as he says. "In my defense, a lot has been going on since the island."
He looks back and sees her gaze has not changed.
Fortunately he is saved by the third person there with them. "What are you two talking about?" Laura inquires.
Spider-Man turns his attention to her and explains. "So about a week ago, I went on vacation with my girlfriends and it turned into a whole weird adventure. Elektra and Hercules were there too, and to make a long story short, we all were led there by the spider god, Anansi."
Laura quirks an eyebrow up but does not interrupt him.
"The reason why is because he wanted Elektra to train me in better understanding and utilizing my spider sense because she has something similar." He finishes.
"Though it seems like it was a waste of time." Elektra adds, making Spider-Man grimace again as he looks back at her to see her expression is still the same.
"I'd like to reiterate, a lot has been going on since the island." He sees she doesn't care and is looking at him expectedly.
"How does your spider sense work?" Laura inquires.
Spider-Man thinks about how to explain for a moment before he answers. "It's like having constant anxiety attacks. It buzzes almost always to everything. Like if I'm at a restaurant, it buzzes to the forks, knives, spoons, spoiled food, or even to the waiter who didn't wash his hands."
That last one happens way more often than it should.
"How do you know what is specifically triggering it?" Laura asks.
A fair question that took him some time to figure out. "It works in tandem with what I know." He tells her. "I know what spoiled food is and what it'll do to me if I eat it, how much pointy utensils hurt, what happens when a waiter doesn't properly wash their hands." His nose wrinkles in distaste. "Or even at all."
Seriously, it happens way too often in this city.
"So basically, you are constantly overstimulated." Laura surmises.
He nods. "Pretty much."
Huh. Now that he thinks about it, he wonders if his spider sense plays a role in him being such a neurotic mess. 'Maybe a small part. The rest is is on me.'
"If that's the case, then it would explain why you get so easily distracted." Elektra comments, her voice laced with annoyance, 'subtly' reminding him why she brought him along.
The hero met her expectant gaze for a second. Her patience is at its peak. Without another word, he closes his eyes and focuses, letting that familiar tingle he's come to know expand. Years of using his spider sense to track his foes down, he's learned how to direct it where he wants it to go. However, since his evolution, it is stronger than it was before so it gives him more than it used to. He can actually paint a picture in his head on what he sees going on below. Almost like he is standing in the area beside those criminals and they are just ignoring him.
He can count a total of thirty armed guards in the area, twenty of them patrolling with teams of two. The other ten lurk high up with snipers on the roofs, catwalks, and loading cranes with thermal scopes. He pushes his sense into the warehouse and suddenly he's in the surveillance room. Three armed men watching the monitors intensely, not wavering in their job.
Spider-Man tilts his head curiously. Interesting. These guys don't behave how the typical goons Fisk has on his payroll. Most of the time, they're being casual. He's seen them smoking a cigarette, drinking coffee, or even having conversations. They're not too lax on their job, they don't want to make Fisk mad afterall, but they're not this focused. These guys though? These guys are focused on their job. They're disciplined, trained. Kind of like…
Spider-Man's eyes open in realization. These guys are pros. Mercenaries. Not the typical local thugs Fisk recruits and barely trains to point a gun. And that tells Spider-Man that whatever is inside that warehouse is something big. Big enough that not only Elektra needed his help, which was concerning enough, but Kingpin could not spare any expense in protection detail. He had to hire professionals to watch over.
Closing his eyes again, the hero concentrates his spider sense on the pier. Trying to find where it would tingle the strongest. It took him a minute but eventually it directed him to the containers, which in retrospect should have been obvious. Bad guys love using storage containers. As he focuses more on them, he suddenly knows what the big deal is.
"Elektra." He says with great concern in his voice as he opens his eyes and looks at her. "Why am I detecting so much radiation down there?"
It's not just one spine tingling source but a multitude of them scattered around the docks, inside the shipping containers, like shards of glass that you'd have to step carefully around to avoid getting cut. Except they didn't feel like glass. Each one feels like hot coals when he pushes his spider sense near them. He's been around and knows radiation enough to know what it feels like to his spider sense.
Elektra's cold look almost seems to harden as she answers. "Because Fisk is smuggling Weapons of Mass Destruction."
"What?!" Spider-Man shouts abruptly, though fortunately with New York being the city that never sleeps, it isn't heard across the way. "There's at least twelve of them down there! How did Fisk get his hands on so many?! The man is a crime lord! Not a terrorist!"
Although, he has flirted with the line in the past.
Peter notices a subtle shift in the former assassin's posture. Her shoulders square up slightly and chin juts up a bit. Like what she is about to say is about to make this situation go from bad to worse.
"Are you aware that Mayor Jameson hired Silver Sable to investigate how the Flag Smashers smuggled a WMD into the city during the Symkarian Parade?" Elektra inquires.
He nods. Of course he remembers that day. It started great since he had just got back together with MJ and spent the night with her and Sonja. And as he was trying to put his life as Peter Parker first by having a normal day by going to work, which didn't happen because that whole incident with Grady's "Doorway of Tomorrow" made him think that the world was going to catch on fire. Course he later learned that the whole thing had something to do with Otto, which he is now remembering he really has to look into as soon as possible.
'Great, something else to add on to the pile.'
"There was a WMD?" Laura questions, showing actual concern and bringing him out of his thoughts.
Spider-Man waves off her concern. "Don't worry, it was a dud. Fisk is a bad guy, but he loves this city too much to help anyone blow it up."
That's what he keeps telling himself at least.
Elektra looks like she wants to argue that point but doesn't. Instead she pressed on. "Regardless, the information that Jameson received from Sable was then handed to the federal government. He believed they would use it to finally take the Kingpin down." She gets a hard look. "Only they didn't."
Spider-Man is perplexed to hear this. "Why not?" He asks.
Those hopes are dashed immediately. Elektra's lips thin to a straight line. "Because word had spread through the criminal underworld about what Fisk managed to do." Elektra elaborates. "He demonstrated the ability to acquire and smuggle a WMD through possibly the most secured nation in the world. As a result, the man proved himself valuable to certain people that are on your government's watch list. Which in turn, makes him valuable to some of your government officials."
"Oh my bad feeling is getting worse."
"Several high ranking government figures, including the head of the CIA, decided to use him for all his worth." She reveals with a bitterness in her tone now. "Fisk was approached by these representatives and was tasked to sell several WMDs to specific organizations. In exchange not only does he get immunity but also assistance in his endeavors."
Spider-Man is floored by this. "They're going to help him?! Why?!"
"Money and power." Laura deduces, as if it could not be more obvious. The other two turn to her as she goes on. "It is a common practice in intelligence agencies. They allow people like Fisk to conduct their operations and in return, they take a percentage by confiscating shipments through strategic intervals. Enough to generate headlines, justify budgets and promotions, but never enough to shut down the operations. Not until they reap all the rewards they can."
He's getting a very Scarface vibe from this but is not voicing it. Instead Spider-Man looks at the young mutant curiously. "How do you know this?"
Her fists tighten and her green eyes gain a dangerous glint in them. "Because this is how they fund operations and projects that they don't want to be public. Like Weapon X."
That makes sense, he realizes. He may not care much about politics but no way could a program like Weapon X get funding if it went through the proper channels. Or Project Cosmic as he is just realizing how that science experiment likely got its funds. While it wouldn't be too out of place for someone in charge to authorize the project, they couldn't have gotten the funds without raising too many red flags and drawing attention from organizations like SHIELD or the Avengers. Or from organizations that would use those projects for nefarious purposes like AIM and Hydra.
The hero shakes his head, not wanting to get too deep into the conspiracy of it all and focus on the situation going on right now. "But that doesn't explain why they would give Fisk WMDs to sell." He points out. "There's always a chance they can lose track of one or more. Or worse, one can be triggered here."
"Tracking them will be easy enough." Elektra tells him. "They'll pay close attention to those who want to use them against this country, but the ones who'll target other nations will either be used for political purposes, such as showing goodwill between two countries, or-" she falters. As if what she has to say is something even she is not okay with.
Spider-Man looks at her with concern under his mask. "Or~?" He prompts her to proceed.
She takes a slow breath and says. "Or they allow them to use the bombs."
Peter feels the words crash over him like a cold wave. "What?" He utters in complete disbelief.
"In that instance, the government allows an attack to happen to weaken a country or pit one against another." Elektra elaborates.
His stomach churns with a mix of disbelief and anger. He doesn't want to believe it, but it wasn't that long ago that he just stopped a government project that included human experimentation with Norman Osborn leading it. If they are capable of allowing or encouraging that, then letting Fisk do this wouldn't be too far outside the realm of possibility.
For people in positions of power to be so callous about life to allow, and worse, encourage such atrocities to happen, it makes his blood boil. He thought his usual rogues were bad enough. But apparently, they got nothing on politicians. At least Otto or Vulture don't pretend to have the peoples best interest at heart.
He closes his eyes as he lets out a groan in frustration and tilts his head back. He just wanted to go out and use some thugs to vent by repeatedly punching them in the face. Was that too much to ask?
"Why couldn't this be simple?" He asks the universe. "Beating up crooks and criminals is my best outlet. I've got so much going on that all I wanted was something to take my mind off it all."
Maybe not the best form of therapy but it's worked for him since he was a teen. Mostly.
He glances at Elektra and can see the complete disinterest she has in what he is talking about. "Perhaps if you had more focus, then you wouldn't have so many problems piling on."
Not appreciating the shot, Spider-Man frowns underneath his mask and retorts. "I doubt me having more focus would help."
She doesn't look at him, but her gaze that is focused below is like that of a teacher who is upset with their student not learning the lesson. "I've told you before that you'd be surprised at what having more focus can do for you." Elektra tells him. "If you focus on one problem at a time, you'd likely not have so many at once. Prioritize what needs your attention the most."
"Cause it's that simple." Peter replies, sarcasm lacing his words, his patience wearing thin. "I mean, forget about trying to find a way to make more time for my life outside the mask, that's just par for the course for me. But tack on being a leader to a team that consists of Avengers and X-Men, two groups who not too long ago were at war with each other, that's just gravy. Add navigating a complicated romantic relationship with three women, Mary Jane, Sonja, and Felicia, two of which share a body because hey, that's just life right? Oh, and don't forget that I also got the insane idea of inviting Natasha and Silver to a date tonight to try and expand it to include them. Cause I'm a glutton for punishment."
"But that's not all. Oh no. See, all of that is far too simple for me. You see, the cherry on top is that my dead girlfriend was resurrected by a sentient cosmic entity who thought that bringing her back was a reward. But it failed to realize the trauma of bringing someone back after being dead for so long. And the real kicker, the night she died she also learned about my double life! That's right! She learned that the man she loved was the same man she blamed for her fathers death! So yeah Elektra, you're right! I should learn to prioritize! Cause maybe then I could fix all my problems overnight!"
He finishes his tirade and is left huffing. His chest is heaving, but he feels more relaxed than he was when he got there. It felt good to vent about almost everything that is plaguing him. Sadly those are just the few problems he has to deal with. As he just recalled moments ago, he had a vision that the world got set on fire because of Otto Octavius, back when Peter saw what the world would be like if he was gone for 24 hours. Whatever that mad genius is up to, he ends up burning the whole world down as a result because Peter wasn't there to stop him.
And then, as if one looming disaster isn't enough, there's whatever Red Skull is up to. The lunatic Nazi is out there, with the power of Charles Xavier's mind merged with his own twisted one, doing god knows what. It's a frightening prospect, one that Peter knows he has to deal with quickly.
Then there is the most concerning. Whatever Norman Osborn is upt to. The spandex hero may have driven the mad industrialist underground, but Peter knows that man won't keep his head down for long. He'll be back and up his game. Again. How? He'll just have to wait and see.
He doesn't even want to bring up the fact that he still has to tell his Aunt May all of this. Because he's told people he's barely close to, and even told Jameson of all people, while he's left her in the dark. He grimaces under his mask at that thought. Jameson knows more about what goes on in his life than his Aunt, the woman that raised him. If that isn't a kick to the stomach.
He wants her to be a part of his life. Keeping her at arms length hasn't really protected her as much as he's told himself over the years. She's been in danger plenty of times and she never knew why. More than that, he wants her to know she did not fail in raising him. She is a huge part of why he does what he does every day. She is a pillar of encouragement that has held him up when all he wanted to do is collapse.
Spider-Man glances at Elektra again, only this time he does a double take. Because this time, Elektra isn't showing her usual cold look or even a dismissive one. No. What she is showing is pure confusion. She is looking at the spandexed hero in complete bewilderment. It is the most emotion he's ever seen on the ninja assassin. And while he'd like to make a joke or two, it's honestly freaking him out a little. It's like watching a statue finally move after staring at it for so long.
"Black Widow and Silver Sable." She finally speaks but slowly. As if she cannot believe the words coming out of her own mouth. "You convinced Black Widow and Silver Sable to join your harem."
He frowns. "It's not a harem!" He quickly clarifies.
"You invited them to a date with the intention of expanding a polyamorous relationship to include them, what would you call that?" Laura asks, her tone blank.
"A relationship." He responds. "An admittedly complicated, but consenting, adult relationship."
"Is the adult part possible with you?"
Spider-Man's mask does little to hide the dirty simmering look he sends to the young mutant for the cheap shot. And again, he knows she is not trying to be funny or mean. She is just stating what she thinks is a fact. A mean fact, but a fact in her eyes. He turns back to Elektra, who still has a confounded look on her face. As is she is unable to believe what he is saying about Natasha and Silver.
"How?" She asks him, her voice filled with disbelief. "How in the world did you convince the Black Widow and Silver Sable to consider being a part of your…" She seems to struggle to find the proper word for his situation.
"Relationship." Peter supplies.
Elektra doesn't acknowledge what he says and just continues to stare at him in bewilderment. "Romanoff has gone to great lengths to avoid emotional entanglements that are too complicated and Sable has done much the same. They both are women who do not make decisions lightly without thinking it through. The fact that both even agreed to potentially joining this… thing of yours is…" she trails off, leaving how insane the situation sounds unsaid.
"Insane." Laura has no issue stating it, though.
Another dirty look at the young mutant is ignored before Peter lets out a breath. "How about we get back to bombs being smuggled?"
"You're the one who brought it up." Laura points out.
"And now I'm saying we focus on the bad things happening below." Spider-Man replies. He returns his attention below and assesses the situation.
He should just drop down and beat these guys until they are purple. It's what he does. Maybe not as brutal as Daredevil, and certainly not as violently as the Punisher. Regardless, he's done it hundreds or thousands of times. But this is not like any other of those times. Much as he'd like to go down there and smack these guys around, he can't. If what Elektra says is true, and he has no reason to doubt her, then he'd be pissing the US government off even more than he already has. They gave the green light to Fisk to smuggle and sell weapons to their enemies so that they can arrest them. But there is the risk that one or more can be set off. And again, if what Elektra says is true, then they want at least one to go off to hurt another country.
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
Though it is a difficult situation, at the same time it's not. Something bad is going on, and he has to stop it. No matter what. It's what he does. Because if he doesn't, a lot of people will get hurt. He knows his responsibility with his team leadership role will take a hit, he'll likely be wanted by several federal agencies, and he'll have to deal with the fallout of Kingpin gunning after him for screwing up his deal.
Actually, that last one isn't anything new for him.
"What are you thinking?" Laura's question brings him out of his head.
He sighs before he voices his thoughts. "If I go down there and bust this thing up, it isn't just Fisk I'm tangling with. Him I can handle. But the government? That's a whole other thing. They're already trying to pin the Mt. Rushmore thing on me since me and my team interfered with their super secret project."
"And interfering with an operation like this will definitely put you in their crosshairs." Laura states, as if it's nothing.
"Yup." He nods. His face shifts to one of determination. "But it doesn't matter. I can't let those weapons get loose. And I sure as heck can't let Fisk get comfy with Uncle Sam."
Because at the end of the day, if he has to take a bullet for someone else, he'll do it. Always.
"What if you don't break up the sale?"
Spider-Man whips his head around and looks at Laura in disbelief. "I can't just-"
"What if we let them buy those weapons? But we make sure they can't use them?" Laura clarifies.
Peter's mouth snaps shut. He looks at the young woman, befuddled by her words. He turns to Elektra, who also has a confused look, and the assassin shrugs in response to his unasked question.
They both look at X-23, wondering what her plan is.
(Baxter Building)
Watching the coffee brew is the only form of distraction Felicia can find. She watches each drop with an absent gaze. It's so late in the day that it's already tomorrow. Her eyes are heavy with exhaustion, so much so that every time she blinks she wants to keep them closed. She'd been up all night, and not by doing something she enjoys doing. Instead, she has been doing her due diligence by being a good girlfriend and waiting for one of her lovers to come by so she can be there to support them. If this was any other relationship she had in the past, she'd have been out the window and avoiding the drama.
Real relationships are exhausting.
The past few hours have been a rollercoaster of emotions. The anxiety leading up to the date, how it was going great before it ended badly, and then finally, this. She is standing in the kitchen of the home of the Fantastic Four, or Future Foundation as she's heard them calling themselves now, and is waiting for her shared girlfriend to finish talking to their shared man's revived ex.
Just thinking about that is giving her a migraine.
She thought that the drama that would come from being in this polyamorous relationship would stem from insecurities and jealousy. Mostly from her, and maybe just enough from Mary Jane so that the thief wouldn't feel completely inadequate. She did not think it would come from outside sources, like potential partners or revived exes. But considering who her shared beau is, she should've known not to have realistic expectations. If anything, she should have thought even crazier outside-the-box scenarios. Like maybe one of them being taken over by a villain and fooling them into believing they are them.
'Yeah, like that'll ever happen.' She muses as she takes the coffee pot and pours herself a cup of coffee before taking a swig to give her the boost she needs to stay awake.
Back to the matter at hand. She knows having that Gwen girl back means big changes. What kind of changes? She can't say for sure. But she knows both her romantic partners, so she can surmise what will likely happen.
The easiest one to predict is Peter. That man will do everything and anything he can to make things right with his resurrected ex-girlfriend, while also trying not to ignore Felicia, MJ, and Sonja. So he'll be spending a lot of time here trying to help her with her new powers that come with that Enigma force or whatever that's inside of her, which Hardy is still wrapping her head around. That is, if his ex allows him to be here. She doesn't know the girl, barely even heard any stories other than what MJ told her back on that rooftop. (Back in Chapter 23)
Speaking of the redheaded supermodel, Felicia is admittedly sort of stumped on what her girlfriend will do. Not because she doesn't know her well enough to know, but more because she doesn't understand the relationship between her and Gwen enough. They were romantic rivals, but MJ also looked up to this girl. Felicia is basing that on how the supermodel talked about Gwen. How the girl had looks, brains, a heart of gold or some such. Felicia was able to pick up some signs of jealousy but it is clear that MJ got over that after the blonde girl died. Which is why Felicia can't say exactly what Red will do.
She can surmise that her partner is likely going to be here as much as, if not more, than Peter if she can help it. Be a friend and help the resurrected girl cope and adjust. But beyond that, Felicia can't figure out what else she'll do.
And then there's Sonja. The only thing the thief can think Sonja will do is simply be there like Felicia. Except more because of her and MJ's circumstances.
But that's all stuff that could eventually happen. Right now things are tense, to say the least.
She can easily guess as to what's going on in Spider's head right now and what he's going to do to deal with it. After having found out that Gwen knows who he is, he is feeling a massive amount of horror, guilt, and shame. Horror because his college girlfriend died thinking he had something to do with her dad's death, guilt because he does blame himself for her and her father's death, and shame for not telling her himself when she was alive. All of that combined means he'll do one thing; he'll be venting all those emotions the only way he knows how. By beating up crooks.
Lo and behold, she got a text a few minutes ago that he is doing just that with Elektra Natchios and that Laura girl who is living here as a live-in babysitter. And while a little bothered that he is out and about without her, she knows she needs to be here for their other partner.
Hardy is brought out of her thoughts when said partner walks into the room. But the redhead doesn't walk in with her usual air of confidence and vibrancy, even when in a fabulous dress and jacket. The supermodel instead has an air of depression and melancholy.
The redhead plops down on the couch in the living room area by the kitchen. She hangs her head on the back of the couch, and Hardy takes that as her cue to go and comfort her shared lover. She picks up the second cup she made and strides over to her.
"Hey," she greets her as she hands her a cup of coffee, "Figured you could use a pick-me-up."
MJ gets a small, wobbly but grateful smile as she takes the cup from the thief's hand. "Thanks."
Felicia saunters around until she sits beside her girlfriend. "So this has been a hell of a day." She comments as she takes a sip of her drink, "It started with some problems with our joint business venture, then the mayor coming by and asking us about our boytoy's activities, then a date that started out great until the hard questions were asked that resulted in it ending in disappointment, and now our man's ex is finally awake and revealing she knows what he's been doing since he was fifteen years old."
MJ continues to stare blankly up at the ceiling as the steaming cup of coffee sits in her lap. "Thank you for the coffee and summary of this lousy day, Hardy." She says sarcastically.
"Technically that was only in the last twelve hours," Felicia retorts, her eyes flicking to her watch.
Now the supermodel closes her eyes and lets out a groan. "Does that mean it's past midnight?"
Hardy nods in confirmation. "'Fraid so, Red."
Mary Jane lets out an exhausted sigh before she drinks her coffee. Silence falls between them. Felicia allows it because she knows she has to wait for MJ to tell her what's on her mind.
Good thing she doesn't have to wait long. "We knew this was coming." MJ finally speaks as she stares up at the ceiling. "We knew she'd wake up and she'd be scared, heartbroken, and so many other things. And we also knew that we couldn't do anything to be ready for it."
Hardy nods, "All true."
"We knew that we were going to be in for an emotional roller coaster." She says before she closes her eyes in sympathetic pain. "But what we didn't know was that she learned the truth about Peter the same night she died."
Felicia can only nod here since she can't really sympathize like the redhead can. She knew Spider-Man before Peter Parker, and she preferred it that way for a long time. The real shock for her was the other way around. Finding out Spider-Man was Peter Parker.
'Course she's okay with it now.
Mostly.
"But what we're feeling right now doesn't matter." MJ continues. "Gwen is the real victim here. She's the one that died and has to deal with a world that moved on."
"Mostly true." Hardy states. She leans forward to place her cup on the coffee table before turning her body to MJ. Her head propped up by her hand and legs folded beneath her. "Your feelings still matter, Red. This is a messed up situation for everyone involved."
Mary Jane stares down at her coffee for a moment. "What's worse is that she only has us." She says, "She can't tell any of her old friends or even her family, like her cousin, Jill."
Felicia places her hand on the supermodel's thigh, prompting MJ to look at her. "Red," she starts with a gentle tone. "I say this from the bottom of my heart… You and Spider are a lot."
Bad jokes. A method that does wonders in lightening the mood.
And it does the trick, because even though MJ is giving a flat look, conveying she does not find what Felicia said to be funny, she isn't glaring at the thief. So that's a win.
"You know," MJ starts, her tone dry as her stare. "You'd think with a guy like Peter, we'd copy each other's good habits. Not our bad ones."
Felicia nods slowly. "I can see why you'd think that." She says before she gets a coy smirk. "But me, you, and Sonja aren't as saintly as Spider, now are we?"
There is now a light dusting on the redhead's lovely face that goes with her dull expression, and Felicia takes that as a victory. She sips her coffee as she watches Mary Jane roll her eyes. Next thing she knows, there are some shimmering lights coming from her and then Sonja appears in her ghostly form, standing beside the actress.
"She's not wrong." Sonja states, rather proudly, too. "For the most part, most of my actions from my previous life would not be viewed as virtuous or noble in today's modern world."
"Or your clothes." Mary Jane says, eyeing the warrior up and down.
Sonja frowns slightly. "Puritan."
Felicia snorts in her cup. "Okay, ding. Rounds over. You both got your shots in."
It's kind of funny to Felicia how often the two redheads tend to go at each other. No real animosity, but enough that she or Peter have to be referees or mediators. It's funny because she thought that if there'd be anyone that butted heads in this relationship, it'd be her and Watson. But as it turns out, they don't argue as much since they're not competing for Peter's affection.
As she thinks about it some more, she can see that there might have been similarities between her relationship with Mary Jane that the woman had with that Gwen girl.
The thief sets her cup down again and shifts closer, close enough that her knee brushes Mary Jane's. "Look, Red. I'm not gonna pretend I know what it's like to lose a friend and then have her come back from the dead with a grudge against the man you love. That's a special kind of soap opera, even for us." She tucks a strand of platinum hair behind her ear, choosing her next words with more care than she normally bothers with. "But I do know what it's like to feel responsible for someone who's hurting. And I know you, MJ. You're already in your head, blaming yourself for keeping his secret all those years."
Mary Jane's fingers tighten around the mug. She doesn't deny it, which tells Felicia everything she needs to know.
"She asked me why I never told her," MJ says, her voice thin. "And I gave her the same line he always gives. That it wasn't my secret to tell." She lets out a brittle laugh. "But that's not the whole truth, is it? Part of me liked knowing something she didn't. Part of me used it. Like it gave me an edge."
Huh. The parallel of the supermodel's explanation of her younger days is not lost on the thief. Because Felicia was basically her not too long ago. Felicia had an advantage she used almost constantly with Spider.
The masks. The double life she and he lived to do what they can't do as Felicia and Peter.