The dimly lit conference room at Oscorp Tower buzzed with tension. Security footage from a drone feed played on the large monitor, showing Adrian Toomes hovering unsteadily in his exosuit. Sparks flared from the wings as he maneuvered awkwardly, but the raw power of the suit was undeniable.
Norman Osborn sat at the head of the table, his steepled fingers resting against his lips as he studied the footage. His sharp gaze flicked to Alaric Kane, who leaned casually against the wall, his smirk faint but present.
"This… is what happens when people underestimate us," Norman said, his voice low and measured. He gestured to the screen. "Toomes has managed to weaponize Oscorp tech faster than our projections."
Kane straightened, his smirk fading into a more businesslike expression. "You want me to handle it?"
Norman nodded slowly, his expression hardening. "Find him. Neutralize him. Quietly. We can't afford another public debacle." He stood, his shadow stretching across the room. "And ensure the task force is ready. I want their deployment expedited."
Kane inclined his head, his confidence unshaken. "Consider it done."
The room's atmosphere shifted as Norman turned to the scientists standing by the monitors. His cold gaze landed on the lead researcher. "And Gargan?"
The scientist hesitated, glancing nervously at the data on his tablet. "The stabilization process is progressing, but his neural activity remains… volatile."
Norman stepped closer, his voice sharp. "Progressing isn't good enough. He needs to be ready for deployment. If we can't control him, then we're no better than Toomes."
Behind the reinforced glass of the containment unit, Mac Gargan's hulking form twitched against the restraints. His glowing eyes opened slowly, burning with rage. His gaze locked onto Norman as he growled, his voice a guttural rasp: "Spider-Boy…"
Norman smirked, leaning closer to the intercom. "Don't worry, Mac. You'll get your chance soon enough."
Gargan's lips curled into a snarl, his voice filled with venom. "I'll find him. I'll make him pay."
Norman turned away, his expression unreadable. "Let's make sure he has the tools to do just that."
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Midtown High's science lab, glinting off rows of microscopes and glass beakers. The faint smell of ammonia lingered in the air, a testament to the experiments from earlier in the week. Students shuffled to their seats as the teacher, a tall man with a booming voice and perpetually ink-stained hands, began writing the assignment details on the board.
"Alright, class," the teacher announced, his back to the room. "You'll be working in pairs for this project, and your partners have already been assigned. Check the board for your name."
Peter sat at his desk, pen tapping nervously against the notebook in front of him. His mind wandered, oscillating between thoughts of Oscorp's tech and Liz Allan. A knot tightened in his stomach as his name appeared on the board—right next to Liz's.
Peter glanced across the room, catching Liz's eye. She gave a small, polite smile before gathering her things and heading toward his table. He felt a mix of excitement and anxiety churn in his chest.
"Looks like we're partners," Liz said as she slid into the seat next to him. Her voice was calm, but there was an undertone of weariness that hadn't been there before.
"Yeah," Peter replied, his voice cracking slightly. He cleared his throat, forcing a more confident tone. "Guess we'll be spending a lot of time together."
Liz gave a faint smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Hope you're good at this stuff, Parker. Science isn't exactly my strong suit."
Peter chuckled nervously. "Don't worry, I've got your back. This isn't too bad once you break it down."
The assignment required them to build a working model of an energy transfer system. Liz pulled out a notebook and began sketching rough ideas while Peter sorted through the provided materials. Despite her initial hesitance, Liz seemed to relax as they worked together. She asked questions, made suggestions, and even cracked a joke or two.
As Peter explained the mechanics of kinetic energy transfer, Liz leaned forward, genuinely interested. "You're really good at this," she said, her voice soft but warm. "It's like… you actually care about what you're saying."
Peter shrugged, his ears burning. "I just like figuring out how things work. And, you know, science is kind of my thing."
Liz smiled, her expression softening. "It's nice. Flash never—" She stopped herself, frowning slightly. "He never really cared about this kind of stuff. I guess I didn't either, but it's different now."
Peter hesitated, unsure if he should press. Instead, he offered gently, "Sometimes it's good to change things up. Try new things. You're pretty good at this already."
Liz laughed lightly. "I think you're giving me too much credit."
The two fell into an easy rhythm, their conversation flowing naturally. As Liz sketched ideas for their project, Peter couldn't help but admire how at ease she looked. But just as he thought the moment couldn't get better, Liz spoke again.
"You're not like Flash," she said softly, her pencil pausing mid-sketch. Her eyes met his, sincere and searching. "You actually… listen."
Peter froze, his heart racing. "Well, I—uh—try to, you know. Listening's kind of important."
Liz's lips quirked into a small, genuine smile. "It is. And I didn't realize how much I needed someone to just… listen."
Peter swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "You deserve that, Liz. You deserve someone who really… sees you."
Liz stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she smiled again, a little wider this time, and leaned back in her chair. "Thanks, Peter. You're a good guy."
Peter's heart soared, but her next words brought him back down to earth.
"Right now, though," she said, her tone soft but resolute, "I think I need to figure myself out. Before anything else."
Peter nodded, swallowing his disappointment. "That makes sense. Take all the time you need."
For the first time in days, Liz's smile seemed to reach her eyes. "Thanks. That means a lot."
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Liz gathered her things and offered Peter a final, grateful look before walking out of the room. Peter stayed seated for a moment, staring at the empty chair beside him.
A mix of emotions churned inside him—hope, regret, determination—but one thought stood out: Whatever she needs, I'll be there for her. Even if it's just as a friend.
With a sigh, he packed up his own things and headed for his next class, the faint scent of Liz's perfume lingering behind like a quiet reminder of the moment they'd shared.
Later that afternoon, the cafeteria was its usual cacophony of chatter and clinking trays. Peter weaved through the maze of students, his mind still lingering on his conversation with Liz. He spotted Gwen and Harry at their usual table near the window, where sunlight poured in, casting a warm glow over the scene. Sliding into his seat, Peter set his tray down, though he didn't immediately start eating. His thoughts were elsewhere.
Gwen leaned forward, her eyes sharp and inquisitive. "Alright, Parker, spill it."
Peter blinked, pulled from his reverie. "What? Spill what?"
"You and Liz," Gwen replied, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "I saw you two talking during science. It looked… cozy."
Harry raised an eyebrow, setting his drink down. "Oh? Did Flash's old flame finally catch your attention, Pete?"
Peter's face turned crimson. He shook his head quickly, fumbling for words. "No, no—it's not like that. We're just… partners for a project. That's all."
Gwen's smirk widened as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. And what about that look on your face right now? You can't fool me, Parker."
Harry snorted, smirking as he took a bite of his sandwich. "She's got you pegged, dude."
Peter groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I think she's great, okay? But she just got out of a relationship. I'm not going to—I mean, I wouldn't…"
"Pounce?" Gwen supplied, grinning mischievously.
Peter buried his face in his hands. "You're not helping."
Gwen's expression softened as she leaned forward again, her tone losing its teasing edge. "Seriously, Pete, she's figuring things out. Breakups are rough. Just… don't rush it, okay?"
Harry nodded in agreement, his tone unusually serious. "Flash might be a jerk, but Liz was with him for a while. That kind of thing doesn't just go away overnight."
Peter lifted his head, their words grounding him. "I know. I don't want to mess things up for her—or for me. I just… want to be there for her, you know? As a friend."
Gwen gave him an approving nod, her teasing grin returning. "Good. That's the right mindset."
Then, with a sly smile, she added, "Just don't get too friend-zoned."
Peter groaned, rolling his eyes as Harry burst into laughter. "Why do I even talk to you guys?"
"Because we're awesome," Harry said, raising his drink in a mock toast.
Despite their teasing, their advice stuck with Peter. He knew they were right—Liz needed time, and so did he. For now, he'd focus on being the friend she could count on, even if a small part of him couldn't help but hope for something more in the future.
As they moved on to other topics, Peter found himself smiling. The moment was a reminder that even in the chaos of Oscorp's secrets and his newfound powers, some things—like friendships—kept him grounded.