Emma knew very well what it meant to be involved with The Hand, as she had made deals with the group in the past when she was part of the Hellfire Club. Peter watched her with a certain regret in his eyes.
"Say something," he asked.
"What do you want me to say, Peter?" she asked. "You're involved with a criminal organization," she whispered.
"I'm not part of the organization," he said. "I only train with them. It's different."
"Training with them has a price," she replied angrily. "And sooner or later, they'll collect."
"Nothing's going to happen. Trust me," he said, turning his back.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked firmly.
"I've changed," he looked at her. "I'm not the same naive guy I was."
"I have to go," he changed the subject.
............
New York
Julia had a terrible headache after the conversation with Logan. She saw Jessica entering the café without Cindy.
"Where's the other one?" she asked, watching Jessica sit down.
"She couldn't come," she simply replied. "You know how she is..."
"Yeah..."
"How did it go with Logan?" she asked.
Julia sighed, which made Jessica understand it hadn't gone well.
"You told him about your job as Madame Web, didn't you?"
"There was no way to explain it without telling him," she sighed. "Maybe he would've asked how I know all that..."
"As much as I want to know how Logan treated you, we need to set that aside and focus on what matters," Jessica declared. "Did he tell you where Emma is?"
"Yes, she's in Japan."
"And what are you going to do?"
"Go there, obviously," she sighed. "It's easier to deal with this in person," she muttered.
...............
Black Cat entered what used to be Peter Parker's apartment. She was surprised to find the place completely empty, as if everything had been looted. Holding onto a sliver of hope, she went to the bedroom. To her disappointment, there was nothing there either. She searched the closet for any clothing, but it was empty.
She stepped back and sat in the middle of the room. She took off her mask and lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
"Peter..." she whispered. "W-why am I crying?"
"What are you doing here?"
She quickly got up, putting her mask back on, surprised to see the young man in front of her.
"Peter?"
The young man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"I'm not Peter," he replied. "I'm Kaine. Kaine Parker," he clarified. "What are you doing here, Felicia?"
"You know me?" she whispered.
"How could I not know one of the most important women in my brother's life?" he said coldly.
"What?"
"Doesn't surprise me that you don't know. After all, you wanted the mask, not the man," he growled. "What did you come here for?"
"That's none of your business, fake Peter," she replied coldly.
Kaine raised an eyebrow and scoffed. His brother had already told him about the thief's attitude, so he wasn't surprised.
"What are you carrying there?" she asked.
"My brother's mask," he replied. "Why? You want it? After all, it was the only thing you loved."
She frowned.
"No..." she whispered. "Where are his things?"
"They were donated or sold," he replied.
"Donated?"
"Yes. Spider-Woman, Cap, the Fantastic Four... they helped clear the place out. Some kept something as a keepsake," he explained. "Or it was simply donated or sold. There was no point in leaving it all here," he muttered.
"Where's May?"
"Tsk... She's out of the country," he sighed. "But we're getting off track. What did you come here for?"
"Do you miss him?"
"I..."
"But who do you miss, Felicia? Spider-Man or Peter?"
"Tell me... TELL ME!" she shouted.
"Peter... I miss Peter. The man behind the mask," she answered quickly, tears streaming down her face.
She fell to her knees on the floor, crying. Kaine laughed cynically and tossed the mask to her.
"I don't believe you," he growled. "I don't believe a word you say."
"It's the truth," she whispered. "I miss Peter..."
"Spider-Woman, Madame Web, Captain America... they all told me not to believe a word from you," he looked at her. "My brother was naive and trusted you, but I don't... I'll go with the majority. And I don't believe you," he declared. "Now, get out of here," he turned his back.
...............
Japan
Several days after that little argument, she still didn't know what to think. Peter's change was surprising, and the reason was understandable, but she knew how dangerous The Hand was. She made a decision. Even if it was risky, she had to trust him and be by his side when he needed it. She wouldn't let him die again.
She entered his apartment and found him, once again, lying on the floor.
"How was training?" she asked, closing the door.
"You came back," he whispered.
"I needed to think," she replied.
He got up from the floor and hugged her.
"Even if I don't like you training with The Hand," she whispered. "I'll support you and be by your side."
A smile appeared on his face, but it quickly vanished. Without saying a word, he went to the bedroom, followed by Emma.
"So you're alive," said someone entering through the window.
"Julia," he growled.
"What's going on?" Emma intervened.
"I knew you were involved," Julia snapped. "What are you doing here, Peter?"
Madame Web was surprised by the change in him. He was more muscular, a bit taller, and had some visibly recent scars.
"This is Julia Carpenter, also known as Madame Web," Peter said. "Her job is to warn the Spiders of danger and prevent them from dying."
"Prevent them from dying?" Emma repeated. "Doesn't seem like she's very good at it," she looked at her. "You let him die."
"No, I didn't let him die. He..."
"I what? What are you going to say now?" Peter interrupted. "That it was my fault? That I was irresponsible? That I only cause problems? Say it! SAY IT!"
"Calm down, Peter," Emma said.
"No, I won't calm down, Emma," he looked at her. "You don't understand, do you?" he sighed. "She sees the future. She knew I was going to die and did nothing."
Emma quickly looked at her. What Peter had just revealed was shocking and infuriating—it all could have been avoided if she had done her job.
"I did something, Peter," Julia replied nervously. "I looked for the Avengers, we went to you..."
"Too late, you were too late," he growled. "I was tortured by that psycho Goblin. I died, Julia," he said angrily. "And for some reason, I came back," he frowned. "Why are you here?"
"Jessica and Cindy," she replied.
Peter laughed cynically.
"Of course, had to be them," he muttered. "I don't know how you had the nerve to come looking for me."
Without another word, he grabbed her by the neck and threw her against the wall.
"Ngh," she groaned. "P-Peter..."
"You're not going to tell anyone I'm alive," he said sharply. "Who did you tell?"
"T-to Logan..."
"YOU IDIOT!" he shouted in fury.
He threw her against another wall, which cracked from the impact.
"GIVE ME ONE REASON NOT TO BEAT YOU RIGHT NOW!"
"W-we're friends..." she replied, trying to get up.
"You're not my friend. Not anymore."
Emma, still coming out of the shock, approached Peter and knocked him out with her powers. She looked at Julia, who sighed in relief.
"Thank you," she smiled.
Her eyes glowed menacingly in her direction.
"Peter changed drastically," she said. "And that wouldn't have happened if you had done your job right," she frowned. "Now tell me: why are you here?"
"My visions..." she sighed. "They showed me a blonde-haired girl in white beside a masked man," she explained. "They told me about the hair color and the clothes and I thought it had something to do... fortunately, I wasn't wrong."
"Peter's not the same anymore."
"I believe that. Can you stop threatening me with that look?" she asked.
"I'm so furious, even if it doesn't seem like it," she whispered. "I want to kill you," she confessed. "For not protecting Peter. For leaving him alone..."
"I know I failed him..."
"You did more than fail. You disappointed him," she declared. "He feels betrayed."
"And he has every right to feel that way."
"Yes. Now, here's what you're going to do," the glow in her eyes faded. "You will go back to New York. And if anyone asks, you'll say you mistook someone for Peter—or I will personally turn your brain to mush and leave you with the mind of a five-year-old. Got it?"
"I said got it," she asked coldly.
"Got it," she whispered. "And Logan?"
"I'll handle him."
...............
New York
Black Cat managed to enter the Baxter Building. She was impressed by the place, though the security was pretty basic.
She searched the place until she found a shelf with several pictures of them with Spider-Man. She grabbed one where Peter was alone. When she tried to exit through the window, she hit a force field.
"Leave it. It's not yours."
She turned around and came face to face with the Invisible Woman.
"I would, but I need to escape."
She threw a smoke bomb, distracting her and breaking her concentration. Alarms began to sound, and she had already jumped out the window.
Back in her penthouse, she went to her room, removed her suit, and threw herself on the bed, staring at the photo.
"I like you, Peter Parker," she whispered. "More than I wanted to admit," she hugged the photo.