Crossing the Line
Peter had never felt more conflicted in his life. The cool night air brushed against his skin as he and Felicia ran across the rooftops, their footsteps light and silent against the dark city skyline. Every time she pulled him into one of these “adventures,” it felt like the world disappeared for a while, and all that remained was the rush of adrenaline and the magnetic pull between them.
But tonight felt different. There was something more at stake—something Peter couldn’t quite put his finger on. As much as he tried to focus on the thrill of the moment, the warning bells kept going off in the back of his mind. What was he doing? Felicia was fun, exhilarating even, but this was starting to get dangerous. And not in the usual Spider-Man sense of the word.
“So, what’s the plan?” Peter asked, his voice muffled slightly by his mask.
Felicia glanced back at him, her usual smirk playing at the corners of her lips. “It’s simple. We slip into the gallery, grab what we need, and get out before anyone notices. Easy.”
Peter raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly is ‘what we need’ this time?”
Felicia winked, her silver hair glowing under the moonlight. “A little something I’ve had my eye on for a while. Don’t worry, Parker. It’s just a small heist. We’ll be in and out in no time.”
Peter hesitated, his gut twisting. “You said that last time, and we ended up in a high-speed chase across the city.”
Felicia laughed softly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that. Admit it, Spidey—you love the thrill just as much as I do.”
Peter didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes. She was right. He did love the thrill. But that didn’t mean it was the right thing to do.
As they reached the rooftop of the gallery, Felicia crouched down, expertly disabling the security system with a few flicks of her wrist. Peter watched her work, his mind racing. He should stop her. He knew that. But somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he just stood there, torn between doing what he knew was right and following her into the unknown.
“There,” Felicia said, standing up and dusting off her hands. “We’re good to go.”
Peter exhaled, his heart pounding. “Felicia, are you sure about this? I mean, breaking into a gallery—this could get us into serious trouble.”
Felicia stepped closer, her gaze softening as she looked up at him. “Peter, you worry too much. Trust me, okay? It’s going to be fine.”
Her words were smooth, reassuring, and for a moment, Peter believed her. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that they could just slip in and out without any consequences. But deep down, he knew better.
Still, against his better judgment, he nodded. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
Felicia smiled, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “That’s my Spider.”
They slipped into the gallery through a skylight, Felicia moving like a shadow while Peter followed closely behind. The room was dimly lit, filled with priceless artwork and sculptures. Felicia moved with precision, her eyes scanning the space for her target. Peter, meanwhile, felt the weight of his decision growing heavier with every step.
“What are we looking for?” Peter whispered.
Felicia stopped in front of a glass case, her eyes gleaming as she gazed at a small, ornate necklace. “That.”
Peter frowned, stepping closer. “A necklace? That’s what this is about?”
Felicia nodded, her voice softer now. “It’s more than just a necklace, Peter. It belonged to my mother.”
Peter blinked, taken aback. “Your mom?”
Felicia’s smirk faded, replaced by a rare vulnerability. “Yeah. She sold it a long time ago, and I’ve been trying to get it back ever since. It’s… personal.”
Peter’s heart clenched. This wasn’t the usual thrill-seeking heist for Felicia. This was something deeper, something tied to her past. And now, more than ever, Peter understood why she was so driven.
But that didn’t change the fact that they were breaking the law.
“Felicia,” Peter began, his voice soft, “I get it. I do. But there’s got to be another way. We don’t have to do this.”
Felicia’s eyes met his, and for a brief moment, Peter saw something flicker in her gaze—something uncertain, conflicted. But then, just as quickly, it was gone. She turned back to the necklace, her resolve hardening.
“I’ve waited too long, Peter,” she said quietly. “This is the only way.”
Peter felt his chest tighten. He wanted to help her, wanted to be there for her, but this—this wasn’t the answer. Before he could say anything else, Felicia cracked open the case, gently lifting the necklace out. The soft sound of the alarm system disengaging echoed in the room, but otherwise, everything remained still.
“Got it,” Felicia whispered, holding the necklace up to the light.
Peter took a deep breath, watching her. She looked so different in that moment—vulnerable, human. This wasn’t about the thrill anymore. This was about something real, something she couldn’t let go of.
But before Peter could respond, his Spider-Sense flared to life.
“Felicia, we need to go. Now.”
Felicia’s head snapped up, her eyes widening. “What? Why?”
“Security. They’re coming. We need to get out of here.”
Felicia swore under her breath, slipping the necklace into her pouch. “Alright, let’s move.”
They sprinted back toward the skylight, but just as they were about to make their escape, the door burst open. Security guards flooded into the room, their flashlights sweeping across the space.
“There they are!” one of the guards shouted.
Peter’s heart raced. “Felicia, go!”
Felicia didn’t need to be told twice. She leapt up through the skylight with catlike agility, and Peter followed close behind, his webs shooting out as they swung into the night. The city blurred around them as they escaped the gallery, the sounds of sirens fading into the distance.
They finally landed on a rooftop a few blocks away, both of them panting from the sprint. Peter ripped off his mask, running a hand through his hair.
“That was close,” he muttered, trying to catch his breath.
Felicia stood up straight, pulling the necklace from her pouch. She gazed at it for a long moment before finally slipping it around her neck. “Yeah. But we did it.”
Peter looked at her, his emotions swirling. “Felicia… I can’t keep doing this.”
Felicia blinked, surprised. “What do you mean?”
Peter shook his head, frustration boiling to the surface. “I mean, this. Running around, breaking the law, getting into trouble. I can’t keep crossing this line. I’m Spider-Man. I’m supposed to protect people, not steal things—even if it’s for a good reason.”
Felicia’s expression hardened. “You knew what this was, Peter. You knew who I was. You chose to come with me.”
“I did,” Peter said quietly. “But that doesn’t mean it’s right.”
They stood in silence for a long moment, the tension between them thick and heavy. Peter could see the conflict in Felicia’s eyes, the way she struggled to reconcile who she was with what he was asking of her. But in the end, he knew the truth—she wasn’t going to change. Not for him. Not for anyone.
Felicia’s lips curled into a bittersweet smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe this was a mistake.”
Peter’s heart sank. He didn’t want to lose her, he didn’t want things to end like this. But he also couldn’t keep walking this dangerous path. He had a responsibility—to the city, to the people he cared about, and to himself.
“I don’t want to be your mistake,” Peter said softly. “But I also can’t be the guy who lets you pull him into this life.”
Felicia stepped closer, her hand brushing against his cheek. “You’re not my mistake, Parker. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Peter closed his eyes, leaning into her touch for just a moment. Then, reluctantly, he stepped back, putting distance between them.
“Goodbye, Felicia.”
She nodded, her eyes sad but understanding. “Goodbye, Peter.”
And with that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Peter alone on the rooftop, his heart heavy with the weight of what he’d just done.
For the first time in a long time, Peter wasn’t sure if he’d made the right choice. But deep down, he knew that walking away had been the only choice he could make.