Return of Old Flames

Peter, still in costume minus the mask, was reclined on an armchair while his three very well dressed girlfriends tended to their wounded boyfriend. MJ putting ice on his face where the laser burned him. The wound seared with pain that would make most fall over crying, but Peter had experienced worse and did not want to worry his girls. Gwen was bandaging up his arm and Felicia was handing him water.

“What was that robot?” MJ asked. Tenderly nursing her lovers face.

“Spider Slayer. A robot made to kill me.” Peter gritted his teeth as the ice touched his face.

“Smythe, I hate the villains who think they’re hot shit inventors.” Felicia scoffed.

“Well he’s still in business, thanks to his new benefactor.” Peter did not have to say his name as the girls knew already.

“Lex really wants you out of the way, he owns one of the most successful international companies, why go after small fish like Oscorp?” Gwen pondered openly.

“I don’t know yet, but I—

“HEY PETER, DID YOU FORGET ABOUT US!?!?”

Pete and the girls looked wide eyed at the two women sitting on the sofa across from them. A visually agitated, Liz Allan, and a lost in thought, Betty Brant. Peter’s looked upon the girls with an apologetic face.

“Liz, I—

“Don’t start pulling out your usual bag of excuses Parker. So when were you gonna tell us you were freakin Spider-Man?!?!” Liz bursted into a rant. “You obviously told Gwen and MJ, but not me or Betty?!?!”

While Liz fumed at Peter, Betty was rubbing her temples putting everything together in the mind. “This explains…so much. All those times you left our dates, the erratic behavior, why didn’t I see it all until now.”

Peter tried multiple times to get a word in, with Gwen and Mary Jane defending him from Liz’s verbal bombardments. In the end, it was Felicia who stopped it all by standing in the middle of it all and silencing the room with a very loud whistle.

“Okay everyone, I think the defendant has the right to speak in his own defense.” Felicia gestured to a rattled but quick to recover Peter. Looking at the two opposing women with resolve and standing up strait despite the pain he was in.

“Okay…first things first, yes I’m Spider-Man. Yes, I’m sorry for not telling you both, the truth is I never wanted to tell anyone who I really was. I thought that if I didn’t tell anyone, I’d be protecting you all, but I’ve learned a while age that sometimes the best intentions can also hurt those you care about. The truth is that I am a very flawed individual that has made ALLOT of mistakes from then to now. Betty, I was a terrible boyfriend who left you out to dry on multiple, unforgivable occasions and I never had the guts to tell you why. Liz, I’ve been a horrible person and friend towards you, there have been many times where I didn’t consider you to be a part of my life. I should have been a better person to both of you, and I have not, I admit to it, from the deepest depths of my heart and soul. I won’t ask for your pity nor forgiveness, and I’ll respect your wishes to walk out of this place, never wanting to talk to me or associate with me ever again.”

The room went dreadfully silent from Peter’s breathless speech of guilt and sorrow. His head lowered to the ground as he waited for Borge women to walk out and depart from his life forever. Instead he was shocked to find himself being hugged on both sides by both Betty and Liz, tears appearing in the corner of both girl’s eyes.

“All that time, the kind and selfless man I dated years ago, was also the kind and selfless hero who not only saved my life multiple times but thousands of other peoples lives? Peter, you don’t ever need to apologize. Even with all your faults, you’re still the guy I loved back then, and still do now.” Betty nuzzled her head into his shoulder.

Liz wiped her face of wet tears. “If there’s anybody who’s overdue on apologies, it’s me. I’ve never treated you consistently with kindness as you’ve always treated me. Whether it was helping Flash pick on you back in Midtown High, or when I started driving a wedge between you and Betty. I was not fair to you back then, and I’m not being fair to you now. I’m sorry for everything too, and I wish I had the courage to say this to you back then as well, I love you Peter Parker.” Liz kisses his forehead.

Peter returned the affection of his high school crushes with a firm hug. He briefly ignored the pain he was in before letting go and settling back into his rest seat. This time he had five women he loved tending his wounds.

—————

Peter was relaxed for the most part, his wounds were dressed and beginning to heal, being surrounded by the women he loved and who loved him put himself at ease. The five of them settled in the living room and had dinner, those instead of small talk and reminiscing, it was all business. Peter explained everything that he found in the apartment, there was a long silence.

“Harry’s coming home, and Luthor wants to kill him?” Gwen broke the silence and looked concerned.

“Maybe, I was told that someone from out of the country was blocking Lex from becoming the majority shareholder of Oscorp. Harry has to have some stake in his dad’s business.” Peter shuddered at mentioning Norman.

“Then it makes sense, Luthor wants Harry out of the way so he can acquire Oscorp. You took pictures of all the details, I can take those to the Bugle and we can put this out in the open!” Betty exclaimed optimistically.

Peter grabbed his damaged mask and tossed it on the table. “The Slayer torched part of the memory drives with the laser. It will take awhile to fix it and dig through it, assuming they weren’t lost.”

Felicia sighed. “It’s never that easy anymore.”

“So, what are you gonna do now?” Liz asked.

“Harry comes home tomorrow, I’m gonna make sure he’s safe. He’s our friend, and he doesn’t deserve to be the target of a greedy shark like Luthor.”

Mary Jane is the only one who hasn’t spoken up to this point. She sat in silent contemplation at the news of Harry’s return. The two of them had once dated one another, until his father was outed as the Green Goblin. Harry left New York in disgust and only left a letter to those who knew and cared about him, ‘Don’t come and find me’ was all that was written. MJ was distraught but moved on from Harry and fell in love with Peter. Now after so long, Harry is returning, and MJ doesn't know how to feel about this whole situation.

“You ok?” Peter looked at her, everyone looked at her. She shook herself out of her thoughts.

“Ye-yeah, you’re right. Harry’s our friend.” She smiled at Peter.

Peter nodded, then thought deeply. “Okay, I can’t do this alone, Luthor won’t hesitate to throw everything at getting Harry.”

Peter did not need to look behind him to know a certain silver haired thief was laid out behind him.

“Is this my handsome spider calling for his feline companion?” Felicia asked in her usual sensual tone. Her hand glided through Peter’s hair.

“You have the right to say no.” He looked at her

“And miss out on getting payback on that bitch from the harbor? Peter, I’m with you whether you want me or not.”

He smiled and held her hand. “Thanks Cat.”

Peter was joined by the four women in the room, their hands joined in.

“We’re all here for you, even if we can’t fight with you.” Gwen commented.

The girls smiled and huddled close to Peter as a sign of their unity. In that moment, the pain in his body faded away and was replaced by the sensations of their love for him.

‘I couldn’t have asked for a better family.’

——————

“The prodigal son is coming home.” A voice spoke in the dark. A man was listening to the voice, the voice spoke and the man listened, the voice commanded and the man obeyed. The voice laughed and the man shuddered.

“You know what we need to do, give him a proper welcome home.”

The man nodded and went to work, priming the pumpkin bombs and sharpening the razor bats. An orange cloak and a goblin mask hung in the corner.

And the voice kept on laughing and laughing.