A week had passed since Tony Stark visited Peter Parker's home. Life had settled back into its usual rhythm.
The quiet hum of normalcy filled the house, at least until Peter's phone buzzed on the desk beside his unfinished holiday homework.
He paused mid-sentence, pen lifted, and reached for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Peter, it is me. Dr. Curtis Connors."
Peter froze for a moment, then let the pen drop. His shoulders sagged with relief at the excuse to stop studying.
He got up, stretched, and then flopped onto his bed to steal a five to ten minute break.
Beside him on the nightstand sat the small tank containing the spider that had once bitten him.
Now alive again, it moved slowly along the glass. Peter picked up the tank carefully, holding it in both hands.
"An invitation for dinner?" he asked, eyebrow raised.
"Yes, Peter. It is important. You have to come."
"Can I bring Gwen along? She's a huge fan of your work."
"Of course. The more the merrier. Come by my place. I will send the address."
The call ended with a soft click. A moment later, the address appeared in a message. Peter lay back against his pillow, exhaling softly as he watched the spider crawl across a leaf inside the enclosure.
He sprinkled in a bit of food and let the spider roam freely within the tank, tapping the lid to make sure it stayed secure.
"I am sure Cindy will be safe," he murmured to himself. "Without the bite, she can live a normal life."
His eyes drifted as memories tugged at him. Cindy Moon. Silk. Their tangled past. Ezekiel, spider-totems, her trauma, her family, and the strange, almost involuntary chemistry they once shared. The awkwardness. The intensity. The uncontrollable moments.
Peter rubbed his face and groaned softly. "Bruhhh... gives me the creeps sometimes."
Somewhere in Forest Hills, a girl sat at her desk doing her homework, her pencil tapping lightly as she lost herself in thought.
The late afternoon light poured through the window, and she glanced outside where her father and brother were laughing and playing together.
A gentle knock came from her bedroom door. Her mother entered with a warm smile, carrying a plate of fresh cookies and a glass of milk. The girl turned, her expression brightening.
"Thank you, Mom," she said in Korean, bowing her head slightly as she accepted the treat.
Her mother left, and Cindy settled back into her chair. She looked down at her notes, flipping between pages of homework and a folded piece of paper she had received from a friend earlier that day. For a moment, she stared at it, unsure whether to smile or sigh.
Her phone suddenly rang. She blinked, reached over, and picked it up.
"Cindy Moon, who is this?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she leaned back in her chair.
"Girl, it is me. Gwen."
Cindy Moon's face lit up the moment she heard Gwen's voice. She straightened in her chair, her smile widening.
"Gwenny! How are you?"
"I am fine,"
Gwen said with a soft laugh through the line. The two girls slipped easily into conversation, chatting about school, teachers, and small frustrations. A few minutes passed before Gwen suddenly shifted her tone.
"Say, Cindy. Guess what?"
"What?"
"Peter is taking me to dinner at Dr. Connors' place."
Cindy's expression softened. She knew how much Gwen admired Dr. Curt Connors. Gwen brought him up at least twice a week. Cindy chuckled to herself.
"That is amazing, Gwen. But I recommend you wear something… exquisite."
"Exquisite?" Gwen asked, confused.
"You know who I am talking about. You and Petey…" Cindy teased, leaning back and twirling a pencil between her fingers.
Gwen went silent. The silence alone confirmed everything.
Cindy laughed, a small tear forming in her eye from how adorable Gwen sounded. She wiped it away quickly.
"I am joking, I am joking. But seriously, when are you two going to make it official? I think the whole school knows by now."
"Say what!"
"Ummm… yes. We can tell. Hell, Peter treats you like a child sometimes."
"That… that is because…"
"Because?" Cindy raised a brow, smirking at Gwen's nervous, stuttering voice.
"It is complicated, Cindy."
"Complicated or not, you better take the step. You know Mary Jane will. Just take him already."
"Pssh, MJ has Harry Osborn."
"Hey! In your eyes, maybe. Do not mistake MJ for a fool. She, Harry, and Peter were childhood friends."
"I know that, just… we did kiss."
Cindy shot straight up in her seat.
"Aigoo! You kissed already! That's my girl!"
She bounced excitedly on her chair, nearly spilling her milk.
"Hey, was it sloppy or just tongue-like? My innocent Gwen is finally growing up boohoo."
She said with fake tear teasingly over the phone.
"Cindy!!!"
"Puhahaha!"
Back at Peter's place, he suddenly sneezed loudly while buttoning his shirt for dinner at Dr. Connors' house.
"Ha-chew! Is someone talking about me?" he muttered, sniffling as he reached for a tissue.
Peter left the house, waving goodbye to May and Ben as he stepped out onto the street. He hopped onto his scooter.
"Yeah, no, I still have time," he muttered, revving the engine softly before heading toward the city.
He quickly pulled into a nearby motorbike store, glancing around for something that fit his style. His eyes scanned rows of machines, until one in particular caught his attention.
"Holy mother of Christ… is that the Ecosse Titanium Series FE Ti XX?" he whispered, nearly dropping his helmet.
The store manager noticed Peter's reaction and walked over, ready to guide him. Then he saw the kid's small frame, his casual clothes, and the youthful look on his face.
"Uh… maybe something smaller would be better," the manager suggested, turning to leave him to more realistic options.
A sales clerk, noticing the exchange, smirked. "Oi, don't bother with this one. He's just a kid."
"Scumbag," Peter muttered under his breath. The clerk rolled her eyes but approached him anyway, ignoring his looks and his clothes.
"I'm impressed," she said, smiling. "I love how you approached this. Are you serious about buying it?"
Peter nodded, excitement sparkling in his eyes. "Absolutely. I want it."
The clerk raised an eyebrow. "Do you want it in brown or black, sir?"
"I'll take the black. It gives off a real alpha male vibe."
"I agree," she said with a laugh.
With the paperwork complete, Peter reached into his pocket and pulled out the card Tony Stark had personally given him after his recent Starkcoin investments.
"Thank you, sir. Be sure to come back to us for your next purchase," she said politely, until Peter casually slid a crisp twenty thousand across the counter.
"Si… sir?" she stammered.
"Consider it your commission, ma'am," Peter replied smoothly, grabbing the helmet.
Mounting the bike, he revved it once, the engine roaring to life. The manager and the clerk watched, dumbfounded. The clerk, at least, walked away with a huge bonus.
Peter waited outside Gwen's apartment. When she stepped out of the building, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Dammit, Peter… don't look at her chest," he muttered to himself.
And of course, he did.
"Dammit! They're huge… Lord, have mercy on my rebirth," he whispered again.
"Lord?" came a small, sarcastic voice.
"Your welcome. I guess?"
Gwen laughed lightly as she approached him. Peter's hair was styled back in a neat flat-top reminiscent of the '90s, and his suit had that classic gentleman vibe. He looked… ridiculously good.
Her eyes widened at the bike parked behind him. "Holy shit! You got a bike?! This must have cost a fortune! Petey?"
"Ehehe… stock market," Peter said, shrugging.
"Of course you go straight to the stock market. Your rebirth and manga are alike," Gwen teased.
"Really?!" Peter asked, eyes twinkling.
Gwen slid onto the seat behind him, wrapping her arms gently around his waist as he kicked the bike into gear.
Together, they sped off toward Dr. Curtis Connors' place, the wind whipping through their hair.
"Petey, can you tell me about Oxford? How did I do?" Gwen asked, her head resting gently on Peter's back.
"You didn't," Peter replied softly.
Gwen closed her eyes tighter, pressing herself closer to him. "I… I die before going to Oxford. Is my fate always tragic? Does the universe hate me? My dream was to go to Oxford."
Peter stopped at the red light, waiting for it to turn green. He let out a soft sigh and placed a comforting hand over hers.
"Don't worry," he said, voice steady. "I will not let history repeat itself. I will not let it happen. You're the only one I care about."
Gwen let out a soft laugh, her lips brushing his shoulder. "Heh… I love you, Peter."
"I love you too, Gwen," he whispered, squeezing her gently.
The light finally turned green, and they continued riding. The city blurred around them as they approached Dr. Curtis Connors' place. Peter parked the bike and carefully helped Gwen remove her helmet.
"Thanks," she murmured, her expression still distant, a fog lingering in her eyes about her fate.
Without hesitation, Peter twipped his webshooter at her back, gently pulling her close. He pressed his lips to hers, a comforting, steady kiss.
"Pe…ter…" she whispered, a tremor in her voice.
"Shh," he murmured against her lips. "I promise you, with my life, Gwen."
Peter rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. His voice dropped to a soft, intimate whisper. "I will not let it happen. I promise."
"Mhm… thank you, my Petey," Gwen murmured, allowing herself to lean fully into him, her tension slowly melting away.
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Chapter 19 — End