章 20: Chapter 20: A Cold, Ruthless Guardian
Police headquarters,New york,
The police headquarters was bustling with activity as medical staff tended to the captured villains and goons. Many were writhing in pain, their injuries severe but non-lethal. The specialized medics and medical staff, brought from the hospital, moved quickly to treat the wounded.
"Hold still," one medic said to a groaning thug. "We need to set this bone before it heals improperly."
The thug winced but complied, his eyes wide with fear. "He...he broke my arm like it was nothing," he stammered.
Another medic was treating a mutant with deep lacerations. "You're going to be fine," she said soothingly. "Just try to relax. You're safe now."
The mutant shook his head, eyes unfocused. "Safe? You don't know what you're talking about. That guy...he's a monster."
Officer Yuri Watanabe, also known as Wraith, stood with Officer Greer Nelson, known as Tigra, observing the scene with strange looks on their faces.
"Do you really believe he could do it?" Tigra asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Why are you asking me?" Yuri countered. "It was you who got information about him from the Avengers."
Tigra sighed. "But their answer was very vague. They said it could be him based on Jarvis's calculations, but most of them don't believe he could do it. They said it's unlike him."
Yuri nodded. "Well, they are right. It's very unlike him. He is different. That guy is too much bright... I mean, look at them. They are like kids who had seen the worst nightmare. Some of them still have their sanity, but their bodies are severely traumatized like they just survived a disaster or something."
As they were talking, they heard strong footsteps approaching. It was Captain George Stacy, the head of the Special Criminal Department. He too looked at the whole situation and then at Yuri and Tigra.
"Officer Yuri, Officer Greer, inside my cabin. Now!" he commanded.
Yuri and Tigra exchanged glances before complying with the captain's order.
Inside George's Cabin
George sat in his chair and saw the two officers in front of him. Sighing, he said, "This is getting really out of hand. Although our workload has gone down a lot, the way it's done is quite worrying and not likable to me."
Tigra and Yuri nodded, standing straight.
"Please, sit and relax," George said, gesturing to the chairs.
As they sat down, Captain Stacy continued, "What are the opinions of our superhero friends on this situation?"
Yuri and Tigra weren't shocked that George knew their secret identities. He also knew that his daughter Gwen and her friends were superheroes. He had encountered them during their work, and being an experienced and skilled officer, he figured out their secrets. He confronted them but seeing their dedication towards justice, he let them be. He was also happy that the future generation was so good and mature.
Yuri relayed what Tigra had told her. "They said it could or could not be him."
George nodded. "Well, Gwen said something similar too, but her convictions leaned more towards 'not.'"
Tigra, who had been quiet for a while, said, "We can't be sure, but I feel it's him. Although my logic still denies it, my heart tells me it's him."
George took a deep breath and said, "I have received this," revealing a file given to him by higher officials.
Yuri looked at the file and started reading it. "New high-quality weapons, with technology more advanced than what the thugs who fought the Avengers had. These weapons will be provided to every officer except newbies, with strict restrictions on their use to prevent unlawful activities. They are more for capturing than causing serious damage. The control of damage mode will be provided on the command of higher officers."
Tigra became excited. "This is good news, Captain! With these weapons, our officers can be useful in situations involving superpowered individuals. And having a command process for the weapons is good, as it will keep officers in check."
George nodded and gestured to Yuri to continue reading.
Yuri then stumbled at a junction and looked shocked.
Tigra looked at her and asked, "What happened, Yuri?"
Yuri, in disbelief, said, "The arms dealer/provider... Parker Industries, a subsidiary of The Parker Foundation."
Tigra looked at her, shocked, then both looked at George for answers.
George said, "It looks like the boy is doing some serious stuff, and it isn't only the New York Police Department but the whole of the American police department and military too."
Tigra said, "The military too?"
George said, "General Thunderbolt Ross approved this. *sigh* Of course, it was him."
Yuri said, "Well, this is something."
George said, "Leaving it all, we shall send those criminals to their respective prisons. Goons and thugs will be sent to normal prisons as they are just ordinary people with some weaponry. As for the mutants and other criminals, send them to special prisons developed by the Avengers. Although Looter and Scourge can be considered normal, they are still more dangerous than the goons and thugs."
Just as they were discussing these things, they heard footsteps in the corner of the room. They became alert and drew their guns as a figure clad in a black suit and mask revealed himself. It was Peter.
"Well, well, well, quite a welcome from the police. I guess this is your style, Captain Stacy," Peter said jokingly.
Tigra asked, "How long have you been hiding there?"
Peter, sounding bored, said, "Man, I've been here for like forever. You took so much time to even come and discuss those useless things."
Yuri said, "Why couldn't I detect you?"
Peter mockingly replied, "I don't know. Maybe... skill issue?"
Yuri narrowed her eyes and glared at Peter.
George questioned, "Why are you doing this, kid? What do you want?"
Peter still took the situation lightly. "Well, I didn't know we were so close that you could ask me like you know me for a long time."
Yuri said, "Drop the act, Spider. We know it's you."
Peter said, "Really? Do you really think you know me? Look, bitch, I am not your itsy-bitsy spider."
Tigra said, "Come on, Pete. We don't have time for mind games." Her tone then turned soft. "I know what has happened to you. Please, let's talk and sort things out."
Peter said, "Spider-Man has been critically injured and is nowhere to be found. And Peter Parker has gone through a plane crash, so he is pretty much considered dead."
George said, "Kid, don't say it like this. We know you have been through a lot. I have always considered you like a son, as you were the nephew/son of two of my friends. So tell me, what's going on in your mind?"
Peter, this time in a serious tone, said, "Captain George Stacy, I advise you stay in your limits. As I have said, I don't know what you lots are talking about. I came to say to you that I have prepared a gift for you on the top of the headquarters terrace."
Yuri asked, "Is it a bomb or something?"
Peter smiled at her attitude. "Do you consider me a villain, darling?"
Yuri replied, "With what you have done to those people out there—"
Peter cut her off. "Criminals. Those shits are considered criminals. Please don't refer to them as people."
Yuri looked at him seriously and continued, "With what you have done to those criminals, you can be considered a villain."
Peter then asked, "Did I act before they did?"
Yuri said, "N-No."
He turned to Tigra and asked, "Did I attack or cause harm to any innocent people at the scene directly or indirectly?"
Tigra thought and said, "No."
He looked at Yuri again and asked, "Did I somehow make a nuisance at the scene that made it hard for police officials?"
Yuri, trying to avert her eyes, said, "No."
He looked at Tigra and asked, "Did I help the citizens at the scene like a good citizen?"
Tigra, with her head down, said, "Yes."
He looked at Yuri and asked, "Did I not warn them to not escalate the situation and stop, or they would face consequences?"
Yuri, biting down on her lips, said, "Yes."
Peter then held her head and looked into her eyes, his fury increasing with each sentence. "Tell me, Officer Yuri Watanabe, what is it that I did was so wrong that you call me a villain? Did I kill people? Did I steal from the innocent? Did I harm any innocent in any way? Did I fucking rape a woman and steal her dignity? Did I kill a happy family of four where two were just kids of four and two years old? Did I beat and continuously stomp on a man until he gave up and died?"
Yuri, with tears in her eyes, said, "No, no, no, no, no!!"
Peter, with a strong voice, said, "Then why is it that I, who beat those fucks down who did each of these things, am a villain, and they, who should be burning in hell, are victims in your eyes?"
Yuri, tearfully, said, "Because it's not you. You aren't supposed to be like that"
Peter said, "Then what am I supposed to do?
Keep watching them do it continuously?
How many homes do I see being ruined? How many families do I need to see torn apart?
How many fathers do I have to face who have lost their child?
How many women do I see being widowed? How many men do you want me to see torn as they have lost their better half, the love of their life?
How many children do I have to see orphaned?
, just because those shits need money, power, pleasure, and can do anything they want?
Wait No, no, no, that's not what you meant, right?
Because you fight for that cause too.
Then let me change this: do you want me to fucking sit there and take hits and fucking die there, Yuri?"
Tigra was the one who replied, "NO! We don't want that, Peter. You were different. You were full of light and life. You sought the good inside the most evil. You are my hope. You are my dream. You are my love. You can't be this cruel, this ruthless. I love you, and I know you because of that."
Peter then smiled mockingly under his mask and said, "Maybe you didn't love me enough, or you never truly loved."
Yuri was broken by that sentence, but Tigra was angry. She transformed into her demi-human tiger form and attacked Peter, punching him while saying, "I didn't love you? My love was not enough? Nobody can judge my love for you, Peter Benjamin Parker. Not even you yourself! I am not like those bitches who were with you then spread their legs for another. You dare compare me to them? I stayed away because they had you at that time. I stopped myself because I thought you wouldn't accept me, a single mother."
Peter pushed Tigra away and said, "If you loved me and knew you were better, you should have taken me from them. I wouldn't have cared about your kid. I fucking love your kid. I gave him love that even his biological father couldn't give. You know it. These are just fucking excuses you formed. If you loved me, you should have come to help me when those fuckers tried to kill me. I asked for help from all of you, but you all denied it."
Tigra, in her fury, said, "I couldn't help you because Max suddenly got a heart attack..."
Peter, shocked, asked, "What??"
Tigra panicked. "No, no, forget it."
Peter, angry, said, "Fuck, Greer Nelson, tell me what happened to the kid. I clearly heard 'heart attack.' How is the kid? Where is he? Why the fuck didn't you tell me?"
Tigra said, "He is alright. I admitted him to Metro General Hospital. You were busy; I couldn't tell you as he said to not worry you."
Peter was silent for a while, and no one knew what was going on in his mind.
George said, "Kid..."
But suddenly, news started playing on the TV.
News Anchor: "The city is attacked again by the Sinister Six... No, they are the Sinister Twelve. Although the Spiders, Ms. Marvel, and X-23 are fighting them, they are losing. They need assistance, but most of the heroes are facing other villains who also attacked with similar instances."
Peter said, "So they finally arrived, huh? Looks like these bastards can't wait. Well, neither can I."
As Peter was going to leave, Yuri, who had somehow held herself up, said, "Peter, take us with you."
Peter replied, "No."
Tigra called, "Peter."
Peter said, "What is it?"
Tigra said with a worrying smile, "Take care, Max, and I will wait for you."
Peter was shocked, his heart beating fast seeing Tigra like that. He said, "I will come back."
Peter then looked at George and gave him a bracelet like device saying, "Go to the terrace when this will rings the cover on the gift will be removed switch it on, got"
George nodded, Yuri and tigra also gave affirmation.
Peter teleported away.
Yuri said, "Will he be alright?"
Tigra said, "Yes, I believe in him, and you were wrong."
Yuri asked, "About what?"
George was also interested.
Tigra, with a smile, said, "He is still the same Peter, just a bit more intense. He is still the Peter who loves everyone but has become somewhat cold. But the kids still melt his heart. For the first time, I am jealous of Max and the other kids that Peter holds dear. You know, those little lives kept our Peter still the same. Their Peter, 'my' Peter. I will make him acknowledge my love. Peter, I love you, and I will do anything for you."
---
In the night sky of New York, Peter, in his noir suit, stood atop a building opposite the hospital, looking at a particular room where a six-year-old boy was sleeping on his hospital bed with an oxygen mask and glucose drips on both sides.
Peter's personalities were clamoring in his mind.
**Jason Todd:** "You should be with the kid. He's your responsibility now."
**Togi Fushigoru:** "The city needs you. But so does that boy. It's a tough call."
**Ben 10:** "You can't be in two places at once. Choose wisely."
**Issei Hyoudou:** "Your heart knows where you need to be. Follow it."
**Natsu Dragneel:** "Kick those villains' butts, then come back for the kid. You can do both!"
**Goku:** "Protect the innocent. That's what heroes do."
**Garou:** "Fight. Show them your strength. Make them fear you."
Peter then called, "Nexus."
[Yes, Peter?]
Peter said, "Buy Metro General Hospital and make the highest official shift Max Nelson into the most advanced, comfortable ward, with the most efficient doctors on service for his care."
[Okay, Peter]
---
Peter's mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions and advice. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his responsibilities.
Ben 10:"You need to be there for Max. But you also need to stop those villains."
Togi Fushigoru: "The boy will be safe with the best care. You can't ignore the threat to the city."
Jason Todd: "You're a hero, Peter. You have to act like one."
Issei Hyoudou:"Your loved ones need you. But so does everyone else."
Natsu Dragneel: "Fight with all you've got, then come back. Never give up!"
Goku: "Protecting others is what you do best. You can find a way to balance it."
Garou: "Show no mercy to those who threaten your home."
Peter steeled himself. "I'm going to end this quickly," he said to himself. "For William, for the city, and for everyone who believes in me."
He stood outside William's room, watching the boy sleep. He felt a profound sense of relief knowing the child was safe.
His personalities were silent, giving him a moment of peace.
Peter whispered, "I will protect you, William. And I will protect this city. No matter the cost."
He turned away, ready to face whatever came next, knowing he had the strength and determination to overcome any obstacle.
As he left the hospital, he couldn't help but think of Tigra's words. Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for him to find a way back to the light.
But for now, he had a mission to complete. He had a city to protect, loved ones to care for, and a promise to keep. And he would do it all, no matter what it took.
---
Peter's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of chaos erupting in the city. The Sinister Twelve were wreaking havoc, and the heroes on the scene were struggling to hold them back.
Peter knew he had to act fast. He took one last look at the hospital, then teleported to the scene of the attack.
He took a deep breath, his mind focused on the task ahead. "Time to end this," he muttered.
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