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Teen And Up Audiences
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No Archive Warnings Apply
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Fandoms:
Parahumans Series - WildbowSpider-Man - All Media TypesSpider-Man (Comicverse)Marvel (Comics)Marvel 616Marvel
Relationships:
Taylor Hebert | Skitter | Weaver & Peter ParkerPeter Parker/Mary Jane Watson
Characters:
Taylor Hebert | Skitter | WeaverPeter ParkerLisa Wilbourn | TattletaleBrian Laborn | GrueColin Wallis | Armsmaster | DefiantDragon (Parahumans)Sophia Hess | Shadow StalkerThomas Calvert | CoilEmily PiggotDanny Hebert
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Cross-Posted on FanFiction.NetCrossoverAction/Adventure
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English
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Published:2026-05-07Updated:2026-07-30Words:60,582Chapters:14/?Comments:255Kudos:390Bookmarks:136Hits:13,101
Tangled in a Stranger's Web
CHPrime
Chapter 6: Chapter 5: Taylor
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
I quickly made my way out of Winslow. This week was finally over, and I was finally free from my own personal purgatory. I should have been at least a little bit excited.
Instead, I was numb in anticipation.
Tattletale had called me. There was a big meeting with all the gangs tomorrow. Apparently, Kaiser had an announcement, and so everyone was meeting on neutral ground, except Lung.
It had to be about Bakuda's bombing spree, she had said. The Empire Eighty-Eight had been clashing with the Asian Bad Boys ever since Lung had arrived in Brockton, but after Bakuda's bombing spree, something must have changed.
Thinking back over the school week, I did notice more Asian students getting into fights with the Empire youth. In between getting harassed and bullied by the trio, of course. That took up most of my school days. Like it always did.
But there was that one time the new tutor told Madison off and sent her running for the hills. That was pretty cool—
"See you next week, loser!" A cup of soda raced through the air before nailing me in the face, covering me in a sickly sweet syrup.
I blinked and tried to wipe my face clean with my hoodie, for all the good it did. I looked up in time to see Sophia laughing as she stepped onto the bus. Some other students were looking at me, but no one said or did anything, as always. Some were even giggling along, as always. The bus driver, an older, heavyset woman, definitely saw what had happened. But she couldn't be bothered to get up. As always.
And Emma, my former best friend, just smiled her usual sweet, oh-so innocent smile. "Bye, bestie." She waved as she walked on, leaving me standing in a puddle of misery.
Thinking about it now, the tutor was probably another Mister Gladly. He was offering to help, but not the kind of help that would actually do anything. He probably just wanted to feel better about himself, like all the other teachers. By next week, he'd have stopped caring about me, just like all the rest. Just like everyone who met nebish, pathetic Taylor Hebert.
But that didn't matter. Because this weekend, I wasn't going to be Taylor. I was a supervillain. A member of the Undersiders. The PRT had declared that my name was Skitter, and it fit as well as any other name.
As the bus exited my power's range, I felt a few hornets and flies hovering near Emma and Sophia. I was tempted to make them dive-bomb my bullies. To risk exposing my identity for some small, sweet measure of revenge. I really did think about it. But I didn't. Some self-preservation instinct or the fact that I was better than them held me back.
It didn't matter what the PRT called me. I was going to throw it all away in a few months anyway.
We were all sitting in a dingy bar called Somner's Rock. Almost every villain in the city was there: Kaiser and his entourage of Nazis, Coil, Faultline and her crew, Skidmark and the Merchants, a new group called the Travelers. But no Lung.
Kaiser, whose costume resembled some sort of knight, knocked his gauntlet on the old wooden table that all the leaders, save Skidmark, sat at. "We are all here, good. Let us begin."
"What's this about, Kaiser?" Faultline, a woman in a blend of riot armor and a skirt, asked. "It's not like you to call a meeting out of the blue."
"I would hardly call it 'out of the blue', Faultline." Kaiser was leaning back in his chair. It gave the sense that he was looking down on everyone, but only subtly. "With our city besieged by a madwoman, and with the heroes their usual useless selves, the time has come for the Empire to act."
Grue spoke up. "What are you talking about? Bakuda's done. We beat her and then sent her to the PRT so they could clean up her mess."
"Of course you did, child." Kaiser seemed to consider snorting, but decided he was too dignified for that.
I could feel Grue's shoulders tense. He was annoyed because we had footage of us fighting Bakuda. Not our retreat, but when we were on the attack, showing our strength. But it didn't matter now because she was thrown into prison by someone else. Tattletale said presenting it now would look desperate. Like we were a bunch of kids chasing someone else's victory.
"Spider-Man came in at the end, yes. Everything else was our fight. Uber and Leet's hospital bills can vouch for us."
"Regardless." Kaiser waved his hand. He almost tried to hide his amusement. "Lung is now free. And he will not rest after this humiliation. The brute is a predictable creature and will be on a warpath against those who wronged him."
I didn't like the sound of that. Faultline scoffed. "So he goes and fights the PRT. Again. Who cares? Armsmaster and his gaggle of idiots can handle it."
"We all should, Faultline." Kaiser continued. "An angry Lung is a dangerous Lung. And when he breaks Bakuda out of PRT custody, which he will—" There were a few laughs, mostly from Kaiser's men. "—the powers that be will suddenly grow very interested in our fair city. They will have to respond with more heroes. And given the damage just one of those vermin can cause…"
"They will send in the big guns." Coil finished. "Which means more unwanted attention on all of our operations."
None of the villains in the room liked that idea. "But why would he try to break Bakuda out?" Grue asked. "The woman is insane. She drilled bombs in his men's heads. A lot of them. Her stunt put the ABB in the national spotlight, and that's attention he's never wanted."
"Lung is a lazy son of a bitch. He's always been content ruling over his little fiefdom." Faultline agreed. "I'd say he'll try to return to the status quo. Lung made an investment in Bakuda, and she repaid him with a jailbreak and a shitload of heat. It makes sense that he'd rather lick his wounds than start something right now."
"Hmh." Kaiser brought his fist up to his mouth to cover his ever-so-polite laugh. "I see you think me a fool. That I came here without proof." He glanced backwards, and one of his valkyries stepped forward and handed him an audio player. "Do not worry, Faultline. I have more than enough evidence to convince you of Lung's intentions."
There was a crackle, and then a booming male voice flickered to life, speaking Japanese. "—kuda? Tashikadesu ka?" It was Lung. The language and the static on the recording made it difficult, but I could never forget that voice.
Another man answered timidly. "Hai, Lung-sama."
The conversation continued at a clipped pace, and the only words I understood were the occasional 'Bakuda', 'PRT', and 'Lung', I think I heard Oni Lee mentioned once. It was difficult to say with how fast they were talking.
Victor, a man with a black armored vest and a blood-red shirt, stepped forward. "Lung is making plans to free Bakuda, despite her insolence. He fears retaliation from the Empire now that his section of the city has been upended. He suspects the PRT is hoping we fight and destroy each other."
The recording continued. Lung's voice had gotten even angrier. "But first, he wants to kill the one who defeated him." There was a guttural noise, and my heart dropped. "He will burn this city to the ground, and will damn whatever consequences there are so long as his honor is avenged."
There was a sharp yell in another language. "Oh fuck!" A much clearer voice said, followed by running and gunfire.
The message ended there. "Two good men died for this information." Kaiser said solemnly. "I trust that is enough?"
There were a few more questions passed around the table, but I couldn't hear them over the sound of my beating heart. Armsmaster had taken the credit for Lung's defeat, but Lung knew who had really beaten him. He was a psychopath and a monster, and the single strongest cape in the city, from what I read online.
And now he was gunning for me.
I had heard a lot of things about Lung over the years, but no one had ever called him stupid. He wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice. And now he was on a warpath, aimed squarely at Taylor Hebert.
As much as I hated to admit it, Kaiser was right. If he managed to break Bakuda out, who knew what kind of damage they could do to the city, or how many people they could kill. I had to stop Lung from ever getting to her, somehow. All while I tried to play around the fact that everyone thought that the PRT had dragged Lung in because no one else knew the truth, except—
An elbow snapped into my ribs, and I nearly screamed. Bitch was giving me a look. "What?" I whispered.
"Your hair's starting to buzz." Regent said as he poked my mask with his staff. "Keep it down, dork."
I flushed with embarrassment—sometimes, when I got scared or excited, the insects around me would start to react. Thankfully, no one else seemed to have noticed. Tattletale was looking tensely at the recorder. She was probably thinking about everything I had just gone over in half the time.
"Homeland Security is already trickling in. They don't want to take any chances with Bakuda's leftovers. My operations have run into difficulties." Coil noted. "If Lung does free her, it is only going to get worse."
"So we are all agreed, then. Lung and his ABB must be removed. The Empire has endured him long enough. We will lead the charge, and we will bring an end to his little fief once and for all." Kaiser stated. "So long as we are allowed to complete this task without you all snapping at our heels."
"We don't fight amongst each other, and don't aggravate the heroes or law enforcement anymore than we absolutely have to." Coil looked around the table. "Until you deal with the dragon at our door, we have a truce. Agreed?"
Kaiser inclined his head. "Of course."
"I don't start shit unless I'm paid to. Like always." Faultline said.
"Naturally." Coil glanced at Skidmark, who was still stewing in his seat. The man jerked his head and went back to glaring at Kaiser, who hadn't bothered to turn his head at the Merchant leader.
Trickster puffed his cigarette. "We were hoping to stay a little while. We won't make a mess if you all don't."
"We agree." Grue was last.
"Good." Kaiser deigned to acknowledge Grue. "Now, there is a personal matter. One of my subordinates has with you, Undersiders."
Hookwolf stepped forward and pointed at Bitch. "This dumb cunt wrecked one of my dogfighting rings. I want payback."
"You were torturing dogs, you fuck!" Bitch growled back. "You didn't even care if they lived or died! Fuck you, bastard!"
Grue didn't say anything. Professing ignorance would only make him look weaker. After Spider-Man had stolen our thunder, we were only known as upstart kids who had smacked around the Wards, and everyone here had done that a dozen times now.
"It isn't the monetary value that is at stake. We can wave our hands and replace Hookwolf's stock." Kaiser flicked his wrist. "But you attacked us, and now you must suffer the consequences. Blood or money, take your pick."
A silence descended over the room, filled with a soft groan of metal grinding against itself as Hookwolf postured next to Kaiser. Grue's biker gloves gave a subtle wheeze.
Tattletale stirred her tea. A sign to stall.
"We're in a truce now, one you called for. Can we settle this afterwards?"
"That's fine." Kaiser languidly stood up to leave. His entourage followed after him. When he reached the door, the Empire's leader looked back over his shoulder, staring down at Grue like he was a particularly loud fly. "But remember, boy." Even behind a helmet, his sneer was clear as day. "Interest is always exponential."
"That could have gone worse." Regent said as we made our way through the back alleys. "Not by much, but I think we managed."
"...Yeah." Tattletale still had that far-off look in her eye. "It's going to get bloody."
"Tell me about it." Grue sighed. "I've got to make sure my sister stays out of this mess..."
"What do you mean? Haven't the ABB and Empire always fought?" I asked.
"Yes, but things are different now. Bakuda hurt a lot of people." Grue explained. "I've already seen fights in the streets. Even if they airlift the bitch straight to the Birdcage, I don't think this is going to end."
Regent tapped his staff on his crown. "But hasn't Kaiser been trying to kill Lung for years? Why does he think he has a shot now?"
"My guess is that he was betting on the truce. If he doesn't have to worry about his territory, he can throw every cape he can at Lung." Grue paused and looked at Tattletale. "What I don't get is why Coil went along with it. He just sat there and agreed with everything Kaiser said."
Tattletale didn't look up from her phone. She'd been on it ever since we left the bar.
"Oi! Dumbass!" Rachel shouted. "Pay attention!"
"What?" Tattletale jerked up and then relaxed. "Oh. Coil. Right. He's more into white-collar crime, so he doesn't like the ABB bringing federal attention to Brockton. Like he said, it puts a lot of his operations on ice."
"Plus, all of the Empire's rank and file are demanding action." She continued on. "I saw it on his subordinate's faces, Hookwolf especially. They lost people, and want to hit back, hard. If some of the online chatter I'm seeing is true, that recording spread quick, and I'm guessing the fights started without Kaiser's say. So he has to do something to keep them happy and stay in control."
She made a gesture with her hand like a wheel spinning. "More than that, if Lung wants to spring Bakuda, there might not be a Brockton next time. We all know it, so all us villains are happy to play along. Plus, with the myth of Lung's invincibility shattered, Kaiser thinks he has a shot. If he wins, he can get rid of his most dangerous enemy and seize his territory in one fell swoop."
"If Lung wants to spring her?" Bitch's voice was puzzled. "We all heard the recording. The fucker said he was going to break her out!"
My fingers gripped the bony growths on the dog I was riding. That was right. Lung's declaration of war. He was coming for me. I needed to make a plan quickly. Lung shouldn't know my identity, but Dad and the dockworkers were near his territory. If he made good on his promise, I would have to find a way to lure him away from that part of town.
"Uh. Whoops."
"Not words we want to hear from you, Tats."
"Look, it was just a slip of the tongue. It doesn't matter."
And if any of the other gangs found out my little secret, how would they react? Kaiser had spent the entire meeting disrespecting Grue. Would our stock suddenly rise if he knew I had been the one to bring down Lung? Or would he see me as the dumb kid I was protected by other teenagers, and try to take me out before I became a threat? Not to mention the other gangs…
At least I had the Undersiders with me. They knew everything already and had planned to take out Lung themselves once. He hadn't seen their plan in action, so maybe they could do it again? If we worked together, maybe we had a chance.
Hope sparked inside of me. Tattletale was really good at figuring things out on the fly. Even if the most obvious move was to run and hope the Empire could kill Lung, I would fight with my teammates, no matter what. We could be heroes again, like we were against Bakuda, and help save the city from another rampaging monster!
But from that thought, my mind drifted back to my original plan. I was going to betray the Undersiders at some point. Once I found out who their boss was, I would have to turn them in, too. I didn't like it, but Tattletale was clever, and she—
Oh fuck. She knew things she couldn't. She had already spent plenty of time around me. What if she knew?
But then she would have told the others. I glanced up—Tattletale was still arguing with Regent and Bitch. No one was looking at me. That was good. That meant she couldn't read my face. Maybe I had just gotten lucky, and she really hadn't noticed. That was the only explanation I could think of.
…Or maybe she was like Emma. Early on in my bullying, Emma had once pretended to apologise and make up with me. At first, I was over the moon. An hour would pass, and she tore me down all over again and laughed when I ran off crying.
Maybe that was Tattletale's game. Maybe they were all in on it, and they were just using me while I thought I was cosying up to them.
And once they were done with me, I would be thrown away like trash. Again.
They had the perfect opportunity to do it against Lung. He was coming for me. All they needed to do was break my ankles and then hand me over. I was fucked. I—
"Hey." A hand landed on my shoulder. I nearly screamed.
It was Grue. Even with the biker helmet on, he managed to look concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I—" Didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to react. Didn't…
Grue nodded. "It's okay. Lung is scary, but you proved he isn't invincible. I—" He coughed. "We won't let you get hurt. This time, the overgrown lizard stays caged."
My nerves were fried. Brian's reassurance felt nice and heartbreaking and frustrating, and he had said I, not we. Did that mean that after that hug after almost got Bakuda, he—
I shook my head. He could be lying. He could always be lying. "...Thanks."
He tilted his head. "Something wrong? I know what Lung said was scary, but he's going to be busy with the Empire. I think we are in the clear if we keep our heads down."
"I—I—" I struggled to keep myself in control. I had to refocus. "It just…feels wrong, you know? Letting two maniacs burn down the city while we run and hide? W-we should be doing something. And what Kaiser said to you…"
"...Yeah." Bri-Grue words were tight and controlled. Even I could see it. "I…" He looked like he was about to say something else, but then something caught his attention. "...Do you hear that?"
I had been so caught up in my own thoughts that I hadn't been focusing on our surroundings. Another stupid, stupid mistake. One of Bitch's dogs was growling, getting ready to attack. Tattletale had already drawn her gun. I reached out for the insects in front of us—
—Just in time for it not to matter. A skinhead sailed through the air before he was covered in webs and nailed to a brick wall. A few seconds later, an asian guy with an ABB armband stumbled over and collapsed unconscious.
"Hey, kids! Fancy meeting you here!" A familiar voice called out. Another body covered in webs fell to the ground. Spider-Man's red and blue silhouette jumped up onto the wall with a casual grace, and he struck a heroic pose. "Pleasure to bump into you while everyone's conscious!"
None of us were really sure what to say until Bitch broke the silence. "This is the dumbass who beat Bakuda? His costume looks fucking stupid."
Spider-Man visually slumped. "Nice to meet you, too."
"What kind of fucking spider is red and blue? Retard."
"That's not a nice thing to call someone." Spider-Man slid down the wall and landed in front of us. One of the dogs, Brutus, I think, growled at him. "But since you asked, there are actually several species of arachnids that—"
"Nerrrrrrd." Regent drawled.
"...Yeah, you're welcome for the save, kid." I could see the frown behind the mask. How could a guy as strong as he was be this unserious? It was like he was trying to be one of those hip youth pastors, but only now remembering that they were walking punchlines.
Spider-Man pointed to Bitch, who was still wearing her heavy jacket and dollar-store mask. "And I'm revoking your costume critic privileges because you're not even trying. Also, maybe you need a swear jar."
I was quietly gathering my swarm. No matter how we met, Spider-Man had undoubtedly learned that we were villains by now. That meant we were going to have to fight him if we wanted to escape. It sucked and felt kind of like a betrayal after he saved us, but this was how things had to be. The dogs were already pacing forward, waiting for Bitch to give the order and—
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's all calm down. I'm not here to fight you." Spider-Man made a show of raising his hands in the air. "You can believe me. Just ask your psychic."
I glanced at Tattletale. She was frowning. "He's telling the truth. He wants to talk."
I held my swarm back. Grue stepped forward. Darkness was pooling at his feet. "Alright. So let's talk."
Spider-Man's posture relaxed. "Thanks. You kids recovering well? Pain bombs are nasty."
"We're fine." Grue snapped back. "Do you have a point, or are you going to waste our time?"
"Right to it then." Spider-Man leaned back on his feet. "You're thieves, right? I saw some clips of you robbing that bank. Nice job only traumatizing the hostages, by the way."
Was he trying to sound condescending? "We're villains." I hissed with the bugs in my hair.
Spider-Man didn't even bother looking my way. Or at least his head didn't move. "So listen, from what I gather from the local riff-raff," He gestured to some of the unconscious gangsters. "There is going to be a war between the Nazis and our dear friend Bakuda's boss. You kids really should get off the streets and—"
"We aren't kids." Grue snapped. "We're professionals, and we know what we're doing."
"Famous last words." Regent muttered under his breath. Tattletale shushed him.
"Be that as it may, these guys play for keeps. If you go to the Protectorate, even with your felony charges—"
"Oh, come off your high horse!" Tattletale laughed. "I know you're from another universe, but things work differently here! We don't need the white hats' help to survive!"
Spider-Man didn't contradict her about the alternate universe. Maybe he really did come from one? His PRT press release didn't say anything about that…"You clearly know this is going to be dangerous. Why not go to the PRT—"
"No." "Pass." "Pussy shit."
The hero scratched his head. "Are they really so awful?"
Tattletale gave her trademark smirk. "Every villain in the city has escaped their custody at least twice. Their plans leak before the pencil-pushers can write them down! They can barely protect themselves, much less other people." She leaned forward. "You have some experience with that back home, don't you?"
"...Maybe."
A few seconds passed, and then Tattletale's face practically split open. "...Ha! Ha ha ha! That's fucking hilarious!" She was cackling. "Holy shit, your Earth's PRT is even worse than ours! At least here, if they get you into the Birdcage, you stay there!"
"I'll have you know…" Spider-Man raised his finger. Then it drooped down. "...Yeah, we still haven't figured that trick out." He paused again. "You do realize that now you're arguing for the PRT's competence, right?"
"Oh, they're great at throwing people into holes and never coming back. Everything else?" Tattletale shrugged. "We're better off on our own."
"She's right. We don't need the PRT." I tried to add on and fit in. "It's all a big game of cops and robbers to them anyway." Spider-Man finally looked at me. I took that as a victory.
Tattletale continued to grin, clearly pleased by my interjection. "Exactly! And going by your own total lack of seriousness and the fact that your PRT builds prisons out of Swiss Cheese, you must know that it's all theatrics. Nothing really—"
"No." Spider-Man suddenly snapped, taking us by surprise. His voice had steel in it, the kind that cut through all the bullshit and demanded you pay attention. "This is not a game. Not in my reality or yours. Not ever."
I was confused by his sudden shift, so I looked to Tattletale for support, but she looked like a deer in the headlights. "I think we've gotten started on the wrong—" She began.
"The minute you start thinking that this is all just a show, people get hurt, and then people die. Do you think any of Bakuda's victims are laughing?" Spider-Man slashed his hand through the air. "I've seen the PRT in action. They might be overworked, and they might not be able to cart away the bad guys, but every last one of them understands the stakes."
Grue tried to step in. "Look, what Tattletale meant to say—"
"I know what you meant." Spider-Man glowered. The contrast between his previously silly self and now was unnerving. "And if any of you actually think that, it's time to—"
"Okay, fuck this." Regent declared. His hand shot out to make Spider-Man trip—
The hero was already reacting. Webs sprayed out of his wrist and nailed Regent's hand to his shirt. "I said I wasn't here—"
"Brutus, hurt!" Bitch commanded. Her largest dog charged forward, but Spider-Man easily vaulted over the animal.
Tattletale's eyes widened. "We can't take him by surprise! he's—"
"God damn it, guys!" Grue shouted as he flooded the alleyway with his darkness. Brutus charged through it, and Spider-Man once again dodged his attack, this time without even looking.
"Listen, if you wo—" He was cut off midsentence by Grue's sound nullification.
I had my swarm ready to pounce once he escaped, but Spider-Man was staying in the shadows longer than I would expect. He wasn't going out the back way either…
"Regent, when he appears, point his arm at the other and then make him do this!" Tattletale mimed pressing two fingers on her palms.
"No, don't help me get out of this, that would be too much effort!" Regent shouted back as he tried to pull his hand free.
"He's coming out!" Grue shouted. Sure enough, I could see Spider-Man's arms emerging from the blackness, ready to web us up—
Regent acted just in time. Spider-Man's right arm twitched violently, and a glob of his webbing shot out and pinned his other arm to the wall. The hero's face emerged just in time to see it all happen. "—eriously, stop—"
"Book it!" Grue shouted. Bitch looked like she wanted to say something, but Brian cut her off. "We don't have time for this Bitch! He's probably called the cops on the goons!"
She growled, but accepted his reasoning. We all hopped onto Bitch's dogs and quickly retreated. It wasn't the most dignified escape, but the last I saw of Spider-Man, he was still trying to break his hand free.
Half an hour later, we had made it back to the hideout, and Tattletale was reasonably certain no one had followed us. I couldn't sense anything, and Bitch said her dogs couldn't pick up anything on the wind, so we were pretty confident.
"Damnit, why is this shit not coming off?" Regent growled. He was still trying to pull his arm free of the webbing. "I swear, if I have to replace my costume because of that douche…"
"Well, maybe don't spend hundreds of dollars on a shirt you know you're going to get into fights in." Grue said as he wiped his helmet down. His jacket was hanging on his chair, exposing his muscular arms and shoulders, which I tried not to stare too obviously at.
Regent rolled his eyes. "Like biker leather?"
"It's starting to break apart." Tattletale had collapsed on the couch. "It's decaying…my best estimate is that it should dissolve within an hour."
"Dissolve. Oh joy, just the word I want to hear." Regent sighed. "It really is going to take my shirt."
"No, it's some sort of Tinkertech." Tattletale's brow furrowed. "It looks like it's going to fall off cleanly."
"Wonderful. I'm going to try to wriggle out of this and take a shower. Don't bother me, because I am done for the night." Regent casually waved over his shoulder before he retreated into his room.
"We should probably try to figure this guy out, in case he chases after us again." Grue said. "You said he was some sort of precog, Lisa?"
"I'm certain about that." Tattletale looked up at the roof. "He was reacting to all of our punches before we threw them. Seems pretty minor, but definitely dangerous."
"I think he called it his Spider-Sense." I tried. That earned a confused glance from Grue and a glare from Rachel. "I-I think. He mentioned something like that after Bakuda, remember?"
Grue nodded. "Vaguely."
"Stupid name. Stupid fucker." Bitch snorted loudly and turned back to her dogs.
Tattletale continued. "But he didn't react to Brian's darkness. Maybe because it wouldn't put him directly in danger?" Then she grinned. "No, no. Your power interferes with all sorts of stuff. It can screw with his precognition."
"Really?" Grue asked with a contemplative look. "That's…useful."
"Sure will be." Tattletale glanced at me. "Did you catch anything else, Taylor?"
"Oh. Um." I fidgeted. "I…I don't…do we have to fight him? He seemed…"
"You saved people. You're a hero, no matter what anyone says."
"...Is he even with the PRT? I haven't seen anything about him joining."
Tattletale pulled her phone out and scrolled through a page or two. "No. It's been long enough that he's probably going to stay independent."
"As for fighting him, I would prefer not to. But if push comes to shove…" Grue said. He had a worried look on his face. "He's strong, but if we have a plan going in, I think we can make it work, or at least force him to back off."
"And if worst comes to worst, the dork can just take control of him!" Alec shouted as he exited his room and made his way to the shower.
Tattletale gave her usual smirk. "That too. What's it like to have your very own superhero to command, bug girl?"
"I don't control peop—" I started before realizing they were pulling my leg. Stupid, stupid! "I—I'll make him do backflips, or something. He won't see it coming."
"That's the spirit!" Tattletale waved at me before her phone beeped. "Who—" She scowled. "Of course. Looks like I've got a long night playing pin the tail on the dragon. Brian, make something for me, I'm going to be on my computer."
Grue rolled his eyes. "And would you like it with or without a sodapop, madame?"
"With, of course!"
Grue sighed as he reached into the fridge and pulled out a burrito that he put into the microwave, followed by a can of Coke. "Taylor, Rachel, want one?"
"Yeah."
"Uh, sure." He tossed the cans at us. Bitch caught hers easily enough, and I managed not to completely fumble it. "Thanks."
"No problem." Grue said. "Look, you should probably head home tonight and get some rest." He glanced out of one of the windows. The sun was starting to set. "Are you going to be okay walking? This part of the city should be safe, but…"
I put on a brave face. "I'll be fine. No one can sneak up on me, remember?"
He snorted a laugh as he scratched his head, which coincidentally put his musculature back on display. "True enough. See you then."
I fought to keep myself in check. What do you say to that? Something cool? Something cool. "Yes."
I regretted my choice immediately, but Grue didn't seem to notice, thankfully. He did give me a friendly wave, which I tried not to misinterpret.
It was just as well. The walk back to my house gave me time to think. A lot had happened today, and I was ready to flop onto my bed and pass out. If I were lucky enough to get any sleep. Lung's threat still hung over my head like an invisible guillotine, and my fears about Tattletale. Hopefully, she had been too distracted by everything else to pick up on my worry.
And then Spider-Man's warning…I knew it wasn't a game. Lung was trying to kill me. He had tried to kill me on my first night out. But that was between villains and other, more psycho villains, so the rules were different. Right?
Plus, Spider-Man didn't know about my plan. Not that I could tell him. Armsmaster had nearly exploded when he learned about it. The new hero would probably react the same way. All the heroes would, especially after the bank, and if I didn't have any results yet…
The sun was setting when I turned the corner onto my street. The same faded street sign hung above the same broken street lamp as the shadows covered the same faded buildings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so the ABB hadn't found my identity yet. That was good. A little weight off my shoulders so I could try and rest.
But it seemed fate had other plans for me. Because as my house came into view, I saw my dad standing at the door. The new tutor from school was next to him.
Notes:
I am putting up a poll in the Space Battles cross-post for an interlude. It will be up for a week because I'd like to see what you all want to see. Of course, you can all leave a comment about who you want to see get an interlude on this site as well, which I will be happy to count.
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