Before Rick's tragic death at Roxxon, he and Phin had been working closely together, determined to expose the dangers of Nuform, a revolutionary yet unstable energy source that Roxxon was aggressively pushing forward. Rick, who had once believed in the potential of Nuform, had uncovered alarming flaws in its development far too late that prolonged exposure lead to severe health problems, something he experienced firsthand. Determined to stop Roxxon from making it widely available, he had confided in Phin, and together they began working to uncover the truth.
One evening, Rick and Phin met in the lab, reviewing data on Nuform's instability.
"This is worse than I thought," Rick said, his voice strained as he stared at the latest test results. "The energy output is erratic. If this gets out, it could kill hundreds—maybe thousands."
Phin, standing by the lab table, clenched her fists. "We have to stop them. We can't let Roxxon release this. You know what it did to you."
Rick nodded, exhaustion and frustration written all over his face. "I know, Phin, but they won't listen to us. We need hard proof—enough to shut them down."
But because of the evidence Deon gave Mary Jane Watson before hand in exposing Roxxon's unethical dealings.The article itself brought widespread attention to the company's corruption but it also had an unintended consequence. Panicked and desperate to prove they were an ethical business, Roxxon's executives ordered their top scientists, including Rick, to accelerate their experiments.
"They've pushed the timeline," Rick told Phin in a hushed tone during a late-night phone call. "The higher-ups are forcing us to run more tests. They're cutting corners everywhere, Phin. It's chaos."
Phin's voice tightened with concern. "You have to get out of there. If they're rushing it, you're going to get hurt."
"I can't leave, not yet," Rick replied, frustration creeping into his voice. "If I walk away now, we lose our inside track. This is the only way to gather the evidence we need to shut them down for good."
Phin hesitated, then said softly, "But it's killing you. Every day you stay there, the exposure gets worse."
Rick paused before responding. "I know. But if we don't stop this now, a lot more people will die. I can handle it for a little longer."
But Phin wasn't convinced. She could see the toll the experiments were taking on him. His health was deteriorating rapidly, and the accelerated tests only made things worse. Roxxon, desperate to silence the critics after MJ's article, was cutting every corner imaginable, pushing their scientists—and the Nuform experiments—beyond safe limits.
As weeks passed, Phin watched helplessly as Rick's condition worsened. His voice became weaker, his energy drained, but still, he refused to quit. Roxxon's ramped-up testing was spiraling out of control, and Rick was right in the middle of it.
"I can't keep watching this, Rick," Phin said one night as they sat together in the lab. Her voice trembled, the weight of her fear for him surfacing. "You're going to die if you keep doing this."
Rick gave her a sad smile, wiping sweat from his brow. "I have to finish what we started, Phin. I don't have a choice. If I leave now, they'll sweep this under the rug, and all of this… all of this suffering will be for nothing."
Tears welled up in Phin's eyes, her frustration boiling over. "It doesn't have to be you! We can find another way. You can't be a martyr for this."
Rick shook his head, his voice low and resolute. "I'm already in too deep. If we don't act now, it's going to be too late."
As Roxxon's experiments became more unregulated and reckless, Rick's exposure to Nuform intensified. One fateful day, the experiments pushed his body past its breaking point. The chaotic energy reactions, unstable and unpredictable, caused Rick's condition to worsen far faster than he or Phin had anticipated.
The day Rick collapsed in the lab, Phin rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. "Rick, stay with me," she pleaded, gripping his hand as she felt the life draining from him.
His breathing was shallow, and his voice came out as a rasp. "I'm sorry, Phin. I didn't… I didn't think it would be this fast."
"Don't talk like that," she whispered, her tears falling freely now. "We were supposed to stop this together. You can't leave me."
Rick gave her one last, weak smile. "You'll stop them, Phin. I know you will."
And with that, Rick was gone.
Phin's world shattered. In her heart, she knew she had lost him because Roxxon had pushed too far, too fast. But more than that, she blamed herself for not finding a way to stop it sooner. The weight of her guilt and grief transformed her, and she vowed that she wouldn't just stop Roxxon—she would destroy them. For Rick.
After Rick's death, Phin threw herself into her work at Roxxon, her grief manifesting as anger and determination. But underneath her hardened exterior, she felt more alone than ever. Deon noticed the toll Rick's death had taken on her and started being more present in her life. He didn't push her to open up immediately, knowing that grief is a slow burn, and Phin appreciated that. It was in the small moments that Deon truly showed his care—checking in after work, dropping by to share a meal, or simply being there when she didn't want to talk.
Slowly, as Deon continued to support her, Phin began to lean on him more. It wasn't a sudden revelation, but rather a gradual thawing of the walls she had built around herself. One night, after a particularly grueling day, Phin found herself breaking down in front of him. The mix of exhaustion and lingering guilt over Rick's death overwhelmed her, and Deon quietly held her, his arms a comforting presence as she sobbed.
Wiping her tears, voice shaky "I thought... I thought I was over this. I told myself I was moving on, but it's like... it never stops hurting."
Saying softly, his arms still around her "It's okay to still feel it. Losing Rick... it's not something you just get over. It's always gonna be with you, but that doesn't mean you have to carry it alone."
Looking up at him "I've been so angry, Deon. Angry at Roxxon, at myself, even at Rick... for leaving. It's like I don't even know how to feel anymore."
Gently brushing Phin's hair back "You don't have to have all the answers right now. You've been through so much. You've kept fighting, but you don't always have to be the strong one."
Her voice softening, as she leans into his touch "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Smiling slightly while pulling her in even closer "You'll never have to find out."
Their connection deepened in the weeks following that breakdown. Phin found herself feeling something more than just friendship as she saw how dedicated Deon was to helping her through the darkest time in her life. His touch lingered a little longer when he comforted her, and their conversations, which had once been about missions and grief, now drifted to deeper, more personal topics. Phin felt her pulse quicken whenever he was near, and she began to notice the way her eyes would linger on him. She knew she wasn't the only one feeling the shift.
Deon, for his part, sensed the growing intimacy between them but didn't rush it still giving her time to grieve. He could see Phin's vulnerability and knew that trust was key. Slowly, their proximity became more charged—as their hands would link together while walking, they would cuddle while watching movies even sometimes letting him pick her up and hold her close,as the long evenings they spent together became tinged with an unspoken tension. It was only a matter of time before that trust and mutual understanding blossomed into something more.
While Rio was struggling with the pressure of her political campaign and the emotional toll of Jefferson's absence. At first, Deon helped her in the way any son might—helping with campaign duties, keeping the house in order, and making sure she took care of herself. But as the months went on, their dynamic shifted in subtle ways. Rio wasn't blind to the fact that Deon had grown—as a man who exuded confidence as a man who exuded masculinity. She began to look at him differently, admiring the maturity he had developed in the face of so much loss.
At first, the shift in their relationship was innocuous. Deon would linger a little longer when they hugged, his touch firm and comforting in a way that sent a warmth through her. Rio would tell herself it was just the comfort of family, but soon those moments began to feel different—more intimate. When Deon would come home from late nights of study which would actually just be his Spider-Man Patrols, Rio would find herself waiting up for him, offering a drink or just talking in the kitchen long after the world had gone to sleep. The late-night conversations became more charged, filled with lingering looks and soft touches and long cuddling sessions that neither of them fully acknowledged at first.
As Deon continued to help her with the campaign, offering his unwavering support, Rio began to notice her own feelings deepening. One evening, after a particularly heated debate, Deon came home to find her still in the campaign office, staring blankly at her speech notes. He offered to help her unwind, and they shared a bottle of wine together. As the night wore on, the tension between them grew palpable. Their usual hugs grew longer, lingering just a bit too long, and when Deon's would touch her Rio's hand, she felt a spark that she hadn't felt in years.
Looking at him over the rim of her glass "You've grown so much, Deon. Sometimes I look at you, and I wonder when you became this... man. This strong, confident man." The tension clear in her voice just now thinking about how her son has gone from 5'8 and a skinny build to 6'2 with an athletic build in such a short time
"Well, I had a great role model." With a soft chuckle while trying to act nonchalant
Shaking her head, a small smile tugging at her lips "I'm serious. You've been there for me in ways I never expected. I don't know if I've told you enough, but I'm proud of you, Deon. For everything you've done—for this city, for me."
His voice quiet but firm "You've been through a lot too, Mom. Losing Dad, the campaign... I just want to be there for you the way you've always been for me." With him now seeing his mom and a whole different light,he liked her before when he was on earth but her in real life she's an absolute 10 out of 10 + curvy with a thick build
(They hold each other's gaze for a long moment. Before either of them realizing that their faces were mere inches from each others.)
In a softer tone
"You don't have to take care of everything, you know. Sometimes... I feel like I'm leaning on you too much."
Gently placing his hand behind her head, holding her gaze "You've carried enough. It's okay to lean on me, Mom."
And as they both leaned in to kiss she finally snapped out of it
" That wine may be affecting us a little hard I think it's time you go home" Rio said with an awkward giggle
Deon a bit shocked and dazed
"Well I could for you"
"No no I it's not needed uh good night mijo"
"Good night ma"
From that night forward, the air between them became electric. Rio couldn't deny that there was something more between them, something that went beyond the typical bond of a mother and son. The stolen glances, the way Deon's hand would linger around her waist when they embraced—it all pointed to the fact that their relationship was evolving into something far more complex, something that she was on the edge of acknowledging but hesitant to fully embrace.
For Hailey, her internal battle wasn't one of grief, but rather the struggle to become the artist she knew she could be. Her murals were gaining recognition in Harlem, but she constantly felt the pressure to do more, to express herself more deeply. Deon saw how much Hailey wanted to grow and made it a point to support her. He'd often stop by to watch her work, bringing her new materials and offering his encouragement. While Hailey appreciated the gestures, what really mattered to her was the fact that Deon believed in her talent when she often doubted herself.
Their connection grew in the quiet moments they shared while she worked on her art. Deon would sit beside her as she painted, watching her movements with quiet admiration. Hailey, who had always been more reserved, found herself feeling comfortable around him. She appreciated his quiet understanding and the way he respected her space. But as time went on, she began to feel something more whenever Deon was around. His presence was calming, but also increasingly charged with an energy that she couldn't quite place.
One evening, while working late on a mural, Hailey felt Deon's gaze on her in a way that made her heart race. When she turned to face him, he was already saying to her
"You're too hard on yourself. Every mural you've done makes people stop and stare. You've got something special."
Hailey paused, taking a moment to absorb his words before replying through sign:
With a small smile on her face "You always say that, but sometimes I feel like I'm not enough. Like... I'm not doing enough."
Deon leaned closer, his movements more deliberate as he places his hands around her waist
"You're more than enough, Hailey. You put your whole heart into this. It shows in every line, every color."
She felt the warmth of his gaze, and for a brief moment, everything around them seemed to fade.
Her hesitation clear "Do you really believe that?"
"Always."
Over time, their relationship became more than just one of support. The lingering looks became more frequent, the touches more intimate. Deon's quiet encouragement of Hailey's artistic journey soon became laced with deeper affection. Hailey began to realize that her admiration for him went beyond gratitude—it was something much more, something neither of them had quite put into words yet, but both were clearly feeling.
As winter started and as Phin, Rio, and Hailey threw themselves into their respective battles, Deon, too, was learning how to manage his dual life. With Ganke's help, Deon started building a Youtube presence as Spider-Man, posting carefully curated clips of his patrols and rescues. The videos quickly gained traction, and Ganke suggested they monetize the channel to help fund Deon's ongoing fight against crime.
They were cautious, setting up burner accounts to receive the income. Phin, ever the genius, devised a secure way to funnel the money into various accounts, making it impossible for anyone to trace back to Deon. She handled it expertly, using her knowledge from Roxxon to ensure the financial transfers looked legitimate. Phin's involvement was essential, especially after she learned Deon's secret, and it became a way for her to contribute to his mission while also channeling her frustrations into something productive.
Despite the financial success of the channel, Deon found himself struggling with the constant pressure of being Spider-Man Like every time he received a notification about a new video or comment, he was reminded that people were watching him, relying on him to be their hero. It was a weight he hadn't anticipated, and although he appreciated the support from his friends, there were nights when Deon felt completely overwhelmed.
However, Deon couldn't deny that he loved being Spider-Man. Swinging through the skyscrapers, making daring rescues, and outwitting villains—it was exhilarating. But even heroes get tired. Ganke noticed this and, instead of outright suggesting a break, he proposed they plan something special for the upcoming Christmas break. Deon could use the time to recharge without feeling like he was abandoning his responsibilities.
"Deon, I've been thinking… How about you relax this Christmas break?" Ganke said one evening as they were winding down from a patrol.
Deon raised an eyebrow, "Like what? I can't exactly take a vacation."
"Who said anything about a vacation?" Ganke replied with a grin. "You could have a low-key week. While I focus on the fun stuff like building new gadgets you could binge shows, maybe even try cooking some new recipes. It's not just about rest; it's about keeping our heads in the game by having a little fun."
The thought of a break initially made Deon anxious, but Ganke's idea sounded manageable. He nodded slowly. "Alright, Ganke. Let's do it. A Christmas break where we recharge and still keep an eye on things." With that, Deon felt a bit of relief, knowing he could balance being Spider-Man and taking care of himself.
And yet throughout all of this, Deon's role in Phin, Rio, and Hailey's lives continued to evolve. What began as emotional support and a way to gain their trust in their times of grief or personal struggle soon deepened into something far more intimate. Deon's natural empathy and quiet strength drew each of them to him in different ways. With Phin, his care and understanding helped her confront the guilt and anger she felt over Rick's death, and their trust blossomed into something charged with unspoken desire. With Rio, his unwavering presence as she fought for Harlem's future evolved into a bond that went beyond the familial, becoming something steeped in the simmering tension of mutual attraction. And with Hailey, his encouragement of her artistic growth turned into a connection built on admiration and deepening affection.
Deon didn't push for these relationships to change, but he wasn't blind to the shifts happening between him and these women. He was keenly aware of the growing desire that lingered just beneath the surface in his interactions with each of them, and while he valued their trust, he couldn't ignore the intensity of the feelings that had developed. Whether it was the way Phin's eyes softened when they were alone, the lingering touches he would share with Rio late at night, or the way Hailey's breath hitched when their hands brushed—Deon could feel the bonds between them deepening into something far more passionate.
What was once emotional reliance had now begun to grow into complex, layered relationships, built on trust, shared experiences, and undeniable attraction. Each of these women looked to Deon not just for support, but for something more—something unspoken that they were all on the edge of discovering.