An Awkward Time

Peter groaned as he woke up, then he stilled immediately.

On the other side of his bed, Olivia was fast asleep, breathing heavily.

Peter quietly stepped over to the bathroom, and freshened up.

Once he was done, he softly opened the door, only to find Olivia blearily clearing her eyes.

"Peter?" Olivia asked. "How long have you been up?"

"Just a few minutes," Peter admitted. "Did I disturb you during the night?"

"Not at all," Olivia said. "I should be asking that, considering my extra arms and all. Did I bother you?"

"Eh, one of your arms hit me once in the middle of the night," Peter shrugged. "It wasn't even too disturbing, just a little surprising is all."

"I apologize for the disruption," Olivia said. "Even if it wasn't a big deal to you, it was nonetheless disruptive."

"No problem," Peter said. "Do you want me to head down without you, or should I wait?"

"Please wait for me," Olivia requested as she stood up. "I'll be out in a few."

Five minutes later, Peter and Olivia headed down the elevator to the dining floor, where everyone else was having breakfast.

"Good morning, everyone," Peter said.

Everyone responded in their own ways.

"Good morning, all," Edith said. "I shall post the current Web Rankings.

Web Rankings, Day 4

1. Emma Frost (9 Webs)

2. Olivia Octavius (5 Webs)

3. Felicia Hardy (1 Web)

4. Ava Ayala (0 Webs)

5. Maybelle Parker (0 Webs)

6. Mary Jane Watson (0 Webs)

7. Anne Weying (0 Webs)

8. Natasha Romanoff (0 Webs)

"Ms. Weying, Mr. Parker, I hope you enjoy your Date today," Edith said.

Emma immediately spoke up. "Peter, you entertaining Olivia yesterday was bad enough, please don't entertain Anne as well."

"So, you want me to just be a symbiote?" Anne asked angrily. "And not just a symbiote, a fucking perverted one!"

"You have a symbiote right now, don't you?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?" Anne asked.

"Would you say Venom isn't her own person?" Natasha asked.

Thank you, Natasha, Emma thought. You've put my opinion into words.

"No, she is," Anne said. "And you know that isn't a valid argument."

"I understand that you don't want to be diminished to symbiosis," Natasha said. "However, our other option is turning into slaves for a demon."

"No," Anne said. "My other option is falling in love with Spider-Man, which is something I have done before."

"You know that's unrealistic," Emma said.

"Even if it is, I'm not backing down," Anne stood up angrily. "Peter, if you want this Date, I'll be at the Date Floor at 8 P.M."

Anne left the room in a huff.

"Peter, you know I'm right," Emma said.

"How could you ever want someone to turn into what Edith said would happen to Anne?" Peter asked angrily.

"Firstly, it's necessary," Emma said. "Secondly, we can try to beat this system without fucking ourselves over."

"If I can offer something," May said. "I died because my Peter had the option between saving me, or saving everyone in New York. Peter made the right choice. Now, the question here is similar, except it seems like instead of New York, it's the whole multiverse. I don't think you should go as far as Emma and Natasha are going, but don't try to save anyone, just let us lose."

"Spider-Man doesn't save everyone," Peter said. "That doesn't mean he doesn't try to save everyone. I'll go on these Dates, I'll do whatever I feel is necessary, but if it fails, it fails."

"That's the least I can ask of you," May said.

I still think you should do more, Emma thought. However, this is acceptable.

At 8 P.M. that evening, Peter rode the elevator to the Date Floor.

When the doors opened, Peter found himself in a coffee shop.

"Hey, Peter!" Anne called out to him from one of the tables, and Peter joined her as he gave her a look over.

"I should've told you I was going for a casual vibe," Anne blushed as she looked at Peter's shirt and tie. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Peter said, then he took a deep breath. "Ms. Weying, I think we can get to a great relationship."

Anne raised an eyebrow at him, while Peter waited expectantly.

"Why didn't that work?" Peter asked. "It worked with Olivia and Emma!"

"Why didn't what work?" Anne asked.

"When I said that, they gained 4 Webs each," Peter said.

"Probably because you didn't mean it," Anne theorized. "We're working against a devil, he's definitely already cleared any sort of loopholes."

Peter slammed the table. "This thing is just so fucked up!"

"I agree," Anne said. "But it's bad date etiquette to be so dour, so let's ignore that."

"What else is there to talk about?" Peter asked.

"Well, how about how our worlds are different?" Anne asked. "According to Felicia, you don't even have a version of Venom in your universe?"

"That is impossible," Venom said. "They just haven't met me yet."

"I sincerely doubt that," Peter said. "I've been off of Earth, and I never heard about any symbiote things."

"What'd you get off planet for anyways?" Anne asked.

"I had to fight Thanos," Peter said.

"Yeah, you almost definitely have a version of me in your universe," Venom said.

"Well, I guess I'll meet you eventually," Peter said.

"When you do, just make sure you're accepting of Venom," Anne said. "In my universe, you basically traumatized Venom."

"I'll... Keep that in mind," Peter said.

"I guess I really don't have a chance at not getting eliminated?" Anne smiled sadly. "I mean, today wasn't bad, it just feels like..."

"I'm sorry," Peter said.

"No, don't be," Anne said, standing up. "If anything, it's definitely me. After all, if Olivia was able to get you to thinking of her positively, it's clearly up to us."

Peter opened his mouth, but Anne cut him off.

"Let's just head to your room," Anne said defeatedly.

Peter stood up with a sigh, then they entered the elevator.

It's almost like I could've seen this coming, Emma thought. Peter don't you get that I'm trying to work with you?

Not now, Emma, Peter thought back. Please.

Emma didn't respond, and the doors opened to Peter's floor.

Peter awkwardly sat on his bed, and Anne went into the bathroom.

When she exited, Peter's jaw dropped when he saw Anne's bed attire.

"Hey, I just want to have a fun last time at sex," Anne said. "After all, when I lose this, Edith said I'll just turn into a symbiote."

I did not see this coming, Emma commented.

"... Look, not to be mean or anything, but I don't feel comfortable doing anything," Peter admitted. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine," Anne said sarcastically. "Just let me turn into some bullshit symbiote, and you get to enjoy Emma or whoever else you want to enjoy."

"That's not what this is about," Peter said. "I barely even know any of you."

"No, you're right," Anne said. "I'll just die then."

"Anne —"

"Just drop it, Peter," Anne said.

"But —" Peter began.

"I said, drop it," Anne said angrily, then she turned away from him.

After a few moments, Peter sighed, then he tucked in as well.