Alex washed his hands and left the bathroom. Went back to his office and tried to focus on actual work.
But his mind kept returning to Norman's cold eyes. To the way the man had studied him. Looking for cracks. For tells. For any sign of deception.
Alex had passed the test. For now.
But he would need to be more careful going forward.
...
That evening, Alex got a text from Peter.
"Dude. Something weird is happening. Can you come over?"
Alex's pulse jumped. "What kind of weird?"
"Just come over. Please. I need to show someone and I trust you."
Alex grabbed his bag. Made sure his sample collection kit was inside. "On my way."
The subway ride to Queens felt eternal. Alex's mind raced through possibilities. Had Peter discovered his wall-crawling already? Had something gone wrong with the transformation?
He arrived at Peter's house just after 8 PM. Peter answered the door looking shaken.
"Come in. Quick."
They went up to Peter's room. He closed the door and locked it.
"You're going to think I'm crazy," Peter said.
"Try me."
Peter held up his hand. Pressed his palm against the wall. And stuck to it.
He lifted his feet off the ground. Hung there from just his hand. Completely defying gravity.
"What the hell?" Peter's voice was high with panic. "What is happening to me?"
Alex stared. Part of him had expected this. Known it was coming. But seeing it in person was different.
"How long has this been happening?"
"Since this afternoon. I was in my room and I leaned against the wall and just... stuck to it." Peter dropped back to the floor. "And it's not just walls. I stuck to my desk. To the bathroom door. To everything I touch."
"Can you control it?"
"I don't know! I'm freaking out!" Peter paced the small room. "This started right after that spider bit me yesterday. That has to be connected, right?"
Alex's mind raced. Peter had figured it out. Faster than expected.
"You were bitten?"
"Yeah. During the field trip. Right before Flash killed the spider. I didn't tell anyone because I thought it was just a normal bite. But this isn't normal. This is impossible."
Alex sat down on Peter's bed. Forced himself to look shocked and concerned. "Are you sure you're sticking to things? Maybe it's just static electricity or something."
"Static electricity doesn't let you walk on walls." Peter demonstrated. Put his hand on the wall. Lifted one foot. Then the other. Stood horizontally on the wall like it was the floor.
He looked down at Alex. "I'm on the wall. I'm literally on the wall."
"Okay. That's... that's definitely not normal."
Peter dropped back down. "What do I do? Do I go to a hospital? Tell my aunt? Call Oscorp?"
"No." Alex said it too quickly. Peter looked at him. "I mean, not yet. Let's think about this. If you tell people, you become a lab rat. They'll want to study you. Experiment on you. You'll lose control of your life."
"But I need help. I need to understand what's happening."
"We can figure it out ourselves first." Alex pulled out his phone. "The spider that bit you was genetically modified. I work there. I have access to research. Let me look into what modifications it had. Maybe we can understand what's happening and how to manage it."
Peter looked desperate. "You'd do that?"
"You're my friend. Of course I will."
They talked for another hour. Peter demonstrated his abilities. He could stick to any surface. Could turn the adhesion on and off with concentration. His strength was also obviously enhanced. He bent a metal ruler without trying.
"This is insane," Peter kept saying. "This is actually insane."
Alex took mental notes of everything. Documented the progression. But he also played his role. Supportive friend. Concerned but rational. Someone Peter could trust.
When Alex finally left around 11 PM, Peter looked slightly calmer.
"Thank you," Peter said at the door. "For not thinking I'm crazy. For trying to help."
"We'll figure this out together. I promise."
Alex walked to the subway. Once he was on the train, he pulled out his phone and updated his notes.
Day Two Post-Exposure:
- Wall-crawling ability fully developed
- Subject demonstrates conscious control
- Enhanced strength continuing to increase
- Subject has made connection between spider bite and abilities
- Subject trusts me to help investigate
Alex smiled slightly. Peter coming to him directly was better than he'd hoped. Now he had full access. Could collect samples openly. Could document everything without hiding.
'I can help him understand what's happening,' Alex thought. 'And learn everything I need to know in the process.'
His phone buzzed. Text from Norman Osborn's office number.
"Mr. Carter, please report to my office tomorrow at 9 AM. We have additional questions about the incident. - Nora."
Alex stared at the message. Then he put his phone away and looked out at the dark tunnel passing by.
Norman was still investigating. Still suspicious.
Alex would need to be very, very careful.
Because he was now caught between two dangerous situations. Norman Osborn's paranoia on one side. Peter Parker's transformation on the other.
And Alex was right in the middle of both.
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