[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/XV1PIyT.jpg?2[/img][/center] [color=f26522]"YOU MADE OUT WITH HIM AND SLEPT OVER!?"[/color] Mary Jane exclaims far, far too loud. Like, way too loud. How anyone can think this is the correct and appropriate volume to talk about this. I mean, I know she lives for this kind of stuff, but she's known me long enough to know I am not about having my private life out and about. Screaming about my escapades in the middle of the mall is about the last thing I want. [color=f26522]"Gwendolyne Stacy, you dog. Our punk-geek princess and our super genius are finally together as they should be. Told ya it was gonna happen sooner rather than later."[/color] Shaking my head, I throw my arm around her, MJ's fire red hair engulfing my arm, [color=ec008c]"First, stop being so loud. Second, I don't know if we are 'together' or whatever."[/color] That is unfortunately the truth. When we woke up, I hastily headed out the door after giving Pete another kiss. On my way out I ran into Aunt May, making this whole situation even more ridiculously uncomfortable than it already was going to be. If there was a picture next to the definition of nightmare in the dictionary it would be you leaving your best-friend-now-possibly-boyfriend's room in the morning wearing his clothes and running into his guardian. I am totally not a mess. Nope. Not at all. Gwen Stacy, the girl who toooootally has all her shit together. [color=f26522]"Oh, girl,"[/color] MJ puts her head against mine and looks at me with faux-sympathy, [color=f26522]"you're together. No more fighting it. Just go with it and see where it takes you."[/color] [color=ec008c]"You say that about everything,"[/color] I roll my eyes at her. [color=f26522]"And look where it's gotten me. Lead singer in a band, gonna be the first person in my family to go to college, and dating the son of a billionaire,"[/color] she winks. [color=f26522]"I think it's working pretty well."[/color] [color=ec008c]"I really hate it when you have a good point,"[/color] I toss the top I was looking at towards her, covering her face. [color=ec008c]"We're gonna practice tomorrow, right?"[/color] [color=f26522]"Hell yea, girl!"[/color] she throws her hands into the air. [color=f26522]"The Black Cats got themselves a gig next week too!"[/color] My eyes go wide, [color=ec008c]"What?"[/color] We are not ready for that in the slightest. We play covers...not super well, and have maybe half of an actual original song written. THat's about it. [color=f26522]"Yea, Gwen! Finally got a gig playing at some Brooklyn hipster beer garden. I...did have to lie about our age though. So pretend you're 21."[/color] [color=ec008c]"Oh god, MJ,"[/color] I put my face in my hands. [center]**********[/center] [b]Stacy Residence Later that day[/b] Dad comes out of the bathroom cleanly shaven, showered, and dressed to the nines. Well, dressed to the nines in New York Cop Land is a suit and a tie. Like, a suit you'd get at Macy's. Not that Dad doesn't look all handsome dressed up, but it's not like a tux or anything. Still, he looks tired. We haven't gotten a chance to speak about last night, but I can already tell it's weighing on him. Coming so close to the Punisher, not to mention me in costume keeping a building from falling down, can't be easy. Add on top of that the threat of the Black Tarantula, something I really need to research, and you've got yourself one tired copper. [color=7bcdc8]"So,"[/color] he smirks at me as he catches my gaze, [color=7bcdc8]"I talked to May earlier."[/color] Oh no. [color=ec008c]"Dad, I-"[/color] he puts his hand up to stop me. [color=7bcdc8]"I'm not going to lecture you, but I hope you're being smart."[/color] [color=ec008c]"Smart? What are you trying to-"[/color] my eyes go wide as the realization hits me. [color=ec008c]"Ew, Dad! Stop! No! It's not like that."[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"I'm just sayin',"[/color] he smiles, clearly enjoying my complete and utter embarrassment. [color=7bcdc8]"I don't want to see you throw away your futures."[/color] [color=ec008c]"Dad. Stop. We just kissed okay."[/color] I can feel the heat from the blood rushing to my face. I'm probably as red as a freaking strawberry at this point. If I get any more embarrassed I may run the risk of a popped blood vessel or something. This is not the conversation I wanted to have with my dad, so I scramble to change the subject, [color=ec008c]"Why are you all dressed up?"[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Uh...a work thing,"[/color] he winces as he looks at his watch. [color=7bcdc8]"And I'm already late. How about I tell you about it later?"[/color] I shrug, [color=ec008c]"Sure."[/color] He heads towards the door, and steps outside. Before he closes the door, he pops his head back inside, [color=7bcdc8]"You kissed, huh? Didn't I tell you that you and Pete shoul-"[/color] [color=ec008c]"LEAVE!"[/color] I glare at my father who laughs hysterically at my reaction. [center]**********[/center] [b]Ditko Luxury Apartments[/b] Otto Octavius twirls the wine in his glass before taking a long, slow sip. He savors the deep red, noting hints of cherry, oak, and caramel in its body. A strong vintage, to be sure. The meal in front of him had been fantastic, now nothing more than a ruin of culinary delights. On the other side of the table sits the Black Tarantula, a cipher even to those that know the crime lord. [color=82ca9d]"Having the best chefs in the city prepare a meal at your beck and call is certainly impressive."[/color] Otto smiles before taking another sip of red. [color=82ca9d]"But I have to wonder what the occasion is?"[/color] [color=92278f][b]"Isn't it obvious?"[/b][/color] the Tarantula raises an eyebrow. [color=92278f][b]"The Enforcers are all I needed to take care of Spider-Woman. With your drones and their help, no one will stand in my way to the top of the New York crime world."[/b][/color] At this, a fit of rolling laughter escapes from Doctor Octavius. So much so that he pushes his glasses onto his forehead as he puts his hands over his face. Finally, as the laughing subsides, he sighs and looks into the eyes of his new business partner, [color=82ca9d]"This belief is folly. The Spider-Woman is not some worthless thug that is handed a gun and thinks they're the king of New York. We are talking about a higher form of life, my new friend. She will adapt to what you throw at her. She will beat your Enforcers at some point. That is all but certain. She may even beat you one day. That day will come sooner if you underestimate the adaptive capabilities of superheroes. She is an alpha predator. She may take her bruises here or there, but make no mistake, she is at the top of the food chain."[/color] The Tarantula considers the genius's words before responding, [color=92278f][b]"So is there a way to even the playing field? To make the Enforcers a real match for the Spider?"[/b][/color] [color=82ca9d]"In due time,"[/color] Otto waves his hand as dessert is presented at the table. [color=82ca9d]"All in due time. But tonight there is a police function I believe we should infiltrate. I have it on good authority that the commissioner will be appointing a new division to deal with metahuman activity in New York."[/color] [color=92278f][b]"And?"[/b][/color] [color=82ca9d]"And we should offer our aid,"[/color] Octavius smirks. [color=82ca9d]"My friends I told you about have been working on some weapons to help combat our superhuman scourge. What better testing ground than the streets of New York?"[/color] [color=92278f][b]"And you have an idea on who can sell them on this?"[/b][/color] [color=82ca9d]"Oh I do,"[/color] Octavius takes big bite of dessert and savors it. [center]**********[/center] [b]Parker Residence[/b] Aunt May sits across from Peter and I, beaming like she just won the lottery. Honestly, it should make me uncomfortable, but it doesn't. For all the years I tried to push away the thought of Peter and I dating, for all the times I thought it would ruin our friendship, I have to admit it feels natural sitting here next to him. Even after the awkwardness of this morning, I wanted to come back tonight. Sure, part of that is the fact that I have to find out who the hell Black Tarantula is and who the hell the goon squad he sent is. But I genuinely also want to spend more time with Pete, and to talk about what went down the night before. [color=a187be]"Now I just want to say, I'm not mad about last night."[/color] [color=ec008c][i]Yes, May. The Cheshire-Cat-level smile on your face says enough.[/i][/color] [color=a187be]"But next time please let me know when you'll be coming over."[/color] [color=ec008c]"Sorry, Aunt May,"[/color] I look down at my feet as they shuffle, searching for a believable excuse, [color=ec008c]"but my dad was at work late last night and I just didn't want to be alone. I didn't want to wake you up either."[/color] [color=a187be]"You're so considerate,"[/color] she pats me on the cheek. [color=a187be]"I'll leave you kids be. I'm sure there's a lot to discuss."[/color] The two of us head to his room, and Pete gets to work searching for my new friends. Without turning from the screen, he explains, [color=0054a6]"Black Tarantula is the leader of the Silk Cartel. Origin is in Argentina, but in the last sixty-ish years they've spread out over the continent. They've become the most powerful gang in Latin America."[/color] [color=ec008c]"What does it say about the Tarantula?"[/color] He shakes his head, [color=0054a6]"Nothing. It's a title passed from generation to generation. Made to make it look like the leader of the cartel is immortal. Whoever bears the title is greatly feared. That's about all we have."[/color] He goes back to working the keyboard. After a few moments of silence he asks, [color=0054a6]"So are we gonna talk about it?"[/color] [color=ec008c]"Huh? About what?"[/color] I ask, keeping my eyes on the screen as he searches for the four people who jumped me. [color=0054a6]"Uh, last night?"[/color] Well that was obvious. Of course he wants to talk about last night. [color=ec008c]"Oh yea,"[/color] I respond sheepishly. [color=ec008c]"Last night."[/color] [color=0054a6]"Listen,"[/color] he starts, rubbing the back of his neck, [color=0054a6]"I understand if you don't want it to go any further. You were hurt and stuff last night, and it just happened. If it's that's it-"[/color] [color=ec008c]"No,"[/color] I cut him off, [color=ec008c]"no. I don't want that to be it. Everyone's been telling us for years we should do this, and after last night, I want to see where it goes. It doesn't feel weird. It feels..."[/color] [color=0054a6]"Natural,"[/color] he agrees. [color=0054a6]"Yea, it does."[/color] We share a quick kiss before he goes back to work. [center]**********[/center] [b]NYPD Headquarters[/b] George Stacy shifts uncomfortably in his chair as the press conference gets underway. The stuffy summer air mixes with the air conditioning in the largest conference room in the building. The stuffy air is winning out. God forbid the city council pays to upgrade any of the buildings' HVAC units outside their own. The heat isn't the only thing making George uncomfortable, however. He is here to be promoted. Given his own unit. Sure, he was one of the heads of major crimes now, but this is a whole different story. He'll be able to put his own team together, piece by piece. Only the most trusted will be a part of it. And it will all be for nothing. "Last night," the Commissioner starts, "two of New York's finest were killed in a shootout with the dangerous, mass-murdering vigilante known as the Punisher. During the ensuing chase and search for the vigilante, Spider-Woman got involved. The two individuals proceeded to fight in a condemned apartment complex, leading to the structure's failure and collapse. While Punisher ran, Spider-Woman made sure the structure did not injure any innocent civilians. For that we thank her. But last night shows that New York is beginning to fall into the same spiral of metahuman vigilantism that we see engulfing other cities like Gotham and Metropolis. That...is something we can clearly not allow to continue unchecked. In response, I am giving Captain George Stacy, an exemplary officer, command of the new Metahuman Response Unit of the NYPD. Captain Stacy will being building this elite unit in the morning, and they will bring not only the Punisher to justice, but any other person who wears a mask and takes the law into their own hands." A round of applause rolls through the assembly as George goes to the podium to speak. The Commissioner, meanwhile, heads for his office. He knows Stacy's speech will be fine. But he needs some peace and quiet. Having to call the families slain by one of their own was bad enough. Now having the mayor to breath down his neck to make this task force a reality. [color=662d91]"Tired, commissioner?"[/color] a sultry voice asks as he passes into his office. He's surprised to see a young woman, no older than twenty-five, leaning against his desk. Her tight, black dress clings to an hourglass figure threatening to spill out. Long, black hair flows down to her alabaster shoulders, and her almond-shaped, brown eyes look into the cop's longingly. [color=662d91]"It's been a long few days."[/color] "That it has, Miss...?" [color=662d91]"Hardy,"[/color] she smiles and lights up the room. She offers him her hand, which he takes. When he pulls away, she brushes his forearm playfully. [color=662d91]"Felicia Hardy."[/color] "What can I do for you, Ms. Hardy?" he asks and offers her a seat. She takes it, [color=662d91]"I'm here with an offer. Your task force that you started tonight...how can it really fight someone like Spider-Woman?"[/color] "I'm listening," he motions for her to go on. [color=662d91]"We can offer you weapons,"[/color] she grins smartly. [color=662d91]"Weapons that can actually give your officers a chance to save this city."[/color] "And who are 'we'?" She opens up her clutch and passes him a business card, [color=662d91]"We are Advanced Idea Mechanics. You can call us AIM."[/color]