Amazing Spider-Man: True Purpose

(Unknown Location)

Dominikos Petrakis. That's his name. He knows that much. And the last thing he remembers was that he was running. He was running away from Utopia. From Emma Frost and Cyclops. The power of the phoenix started to get to them. He and many others fled for their safety. They didn't want to join the fight against the two. They split and just went underground.

But someone found him.

He doesn't know where he is. He can barely form a thought. He can see what's in front of him but he can't seem to be able to do much else. He can't close his eyes to blink. They are dried out.

"Life is cruel. And depending on how one lives this cruel life, will determine how they will spend eternity in the afterlife."

Who's voice is that? What's that squelching sound?

"I once believed evil is based on one's perception. After all, to a gazelle, a lion is evil. But to a lion, a gazelle is merely a meal."

Magneto? The man did like giving speeches.

"I lived this cruel life with the perception that I was a lion. Doing what I needed, what was natural. But that was my error."

No, it's not Magneto. This man has an accent. German he thinks.

"And with that error, I found that I would have spent eternity in torment. Had it not been for the simple fact that I was more than just evil."

Something is wrong. He's having trouble with head. With brain.

"I am brilliant and I am hateful. I despise many things. I wish to eradicate these things from the world. To purify the world of the filth that fills it. Like your kind."

Thoughts aren't working. Him not making those.

Someone step in front of him. It a red man.

"And so because of that, I was allowed to return. Granted it is not as simple as I am making out to be. But what in this cruel life ever is simple."

He no look him, he lift shiny to above him.

And suddenly he can think clearly. He knows what he has to do.

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the inciting act.

(Avengers Mansion)

"This was a mistake, this was a mistake. I am so stupid. So so stupid. Why did I think this was a good idea? Why? Why? Why?"

This is the scene in the living room of the Avengers mansion. Spider-Man extremely nervously paces around the room with Captain America and Red Sonja sitting on opposite ends of the couch. The man has his mask down and is reading a book while the warrior is watching the panicky hero pace around the room. And they're both waiting for their cue.

The reason for Spider-Man's behavior is because J. Jonah Jameson, the man who has hated Spider-Man since he began his hero career, is interviewing said neurotic hero. The idea was Spider-Man's after Steve offered him the job of leading a new team he's assembling. The younger man had made the suggestion on a whim but it was one Steve and Tony saw great benefits too. After all, getting good PR and political support is certainly a good way to start a hero team that is meant to unify mutants and non-mutants.

And what better way than to turn the man who was editor and chief of the Daily Bugle and is now the mayor of the city and has hated him since the beginning. Two birds, one stone.

'Well three really, but the last one seems more personal,' Steve thinks as he hears the front entrance open and in walks Tony with a familiar face, "Tony, Alex."

Tony and Alex Summers, AKA Havoc, see him and the redhead, "Rogers, Xena," he greets back, Sonja gives him a side glare, before he walks into the living and sees the panicky hero, "How's our boy doing?"

MJ figures it's a joke so Sonja plays along as her eyes follow Spidey, "About as well as you'd expect."

"So he couldn't sleep, he hyperventilated until he passed out, and he's having second and third thoughts about this," Tony jokes.

Sonja and MJ think about that before MJ relays to Sonja on what to say, "Yes to the first, half correct to the second, and he's far past third thought."

Tony smirks and nods, he was right in his expectations, while Alex, who instead of looking at the subject of discussion looks at the gorgeous redhead in the room, and puts on his most charming smile, "I don't think we've met," he says as he sticks out his hand, "I'm Alex Summers."

Said redhead looks back at him with a blank gaze and doesn't reach out to shake his hand, "Red Sonja. And you are the brother of the man who murdered my love."

"Your what?"

Sonja merely gestures with her head to the pacing hero who is unaware of their conversation.

Alex retracts his hand and rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably as he remembers that Spider-Man died in the battle against the Russian sibling mutants, "Technically that was Magik. And she was under the influence of the Phoenix."

Sonja's gaze does not waiver, "She was still involved with the group that man was leading."

"Do you have something against him personally?"

"No, merely her," Sonja focuses her sights back on her vessel's love, "And she best hope that she does not cross paths with me," her eyes harden, "I am not known for being forgiving."

Alex looks at her worriedly before he nods, "Good to know."

Havoc is certainly worried for Magik. Maybe she could win in a fight against this new woman, but if this redheaded Xena is friends with Spidey, who is an Avenger, then Magik will certainly have her work cut out for her.

"I can still get out of this," Spidey stops as he gets a little excited and they all look at him, "I-l can fake a heart attack. Or-or say I-"

And that is Steve and Sonja's cue, "No."

Spider-man drops his head despondently. And that is the main reason why Steve and Sonja are here. To talk to Spider-Man and encourage him into doing this. To make sure he keeps his word.

"Look," Steve closes his book and stands up to walk over to him, "I know you're worried but you don't have to be," he places a hand on the younger man's shoulder, "Just be honest."

Spider-Man sighs as he droops even more, "That's what I'm worried about," he says as he goes to sit on the couch, "I have to be honest with the guy. And I know the questions he'll be asking me."

Steve and Tony look at each other, figuring out what he means, before Tony says, "How about you just relax for now? You got about forty-five minutes before you got to spill your guts. Best not to be all antsy beforehand."

Peter rubs his head exhaustively, "How do you suggest I do that?"

Tony thinks about it for a moment before his sights turn to Sonja, who gives a questioning glance back, "Well your girlfriend is here," he says as a grin works it's way on his face, "There's plenty of relaxing activities that you could-"

"Tony," Steve says to get him to stop.

"Seriously?" Spidey says flatly.

Sonja is not against it, "We'll have plenty of time for that later, right now he needs support," Sonja rolls her eyes before she gets up from her seat, "You have faced down some terrifying adversaries in your life. Venom, Carnage, Morbius, Goblin. Enemies that make others wet themselves," she stands by him and places a hand on his shoulder as she smiles supportively, "Just take this on like you did all those other times.

"You want me to punch Jonah in the face?"

Sonja knows he's joking but does consider the option, "Well-"

"Sonja."

Again, Sonja rolls her eyes, "No. As tempting as it might be, it would be wrong," she says before she turns her head to mutter, "Though I do not know why."

"It's called assault."

So is spouting lies of his person. Yet Sonja has not seen him taking action against that. Honestly, the modern world and it's rules, written and unwritten, are insufferable.

While Sonja is grousing over the modern world, Tony looks at her with an analytical eye and asks a question that has been on his mind, "Does her personality shift when she transforms or something?"

Spider-Man tenses up as he gets panicky, "Pardon?"

Steve and Alex look at the genius curiously, while Tony continues to look at the warrior woman, "Sonja and the other redhead. Can't help but notice how different they act. Or speak for that matter."

Spider-Man begins to sweat under his outfit, "Uh," he tries to think of what to say but his mind is a total blank. He looks at Sonja and hopes that she and/or MJ can come up with something.

The two see this and while Mary Jane tries to come up with something, Sonja decides to try something else, "I am Red Sonja," she says and feels Mary Jane panic inside her, "I am a spirit from another timeline. The vessel that I am inhabiting is her own person as I am."

Steve, Tony, and Alex look at her in confusion. Steve and Tony because they don't fully understand, and Alex because he has no idea what is going on. Peter looks at her in complete shock which matches the feeling Sonja is getting from Mary Jane.

Tony eventually figures out what she means, "Oh~, like what the Voodoo brothers did," he wasn't fully aware but he got the gist of the dead brother's situation from Strange.

But just as Spider-Man and Mary Jane feel relief that the genius was satisfied and won't press further, another thought pops into his head, "Wait," he turns his sights to the arachnid-themed hero, "Have you and the other one been together while She-Devil here watches from inside?"

The implications are making Steve look at the younger hero in bewilderment and Alex even more confused.

"Of course not," Spider-Man gets up from his seat to stop her from talking but Sonja whips out her sword and points it at his neck to stop him while she smirks seductively at him, "I am a frequent participant."

"WHY?!"

It is the same question that the hero before her is asking with his expression pointed at her.

She shrugs, "It was bound to come out eventually," she says to them both as she sheaths her sword, "Might as well get it out in the open now."

The look and feeling of betrayal she is getting from Peter and Mary Jane respectively make her smile in amusement. She does not know why she is enjoying this, but she certainly is.

Steve is shocked by this news as is Tony but the billionaire philanthropist's shock fades and slowly a smile works its way onto his face, "I'm sorry, are you saying that you, she, and he are in a menage a trois."

Sonja gets confused for a moment before the knowledge from Mary Jane's mind leaks over, "I suppose we are."

"Could you go into detail please?" Tony asks with some eagerness.

Sonja looks to her pleading lover, "I'll allow them to tell you more later."

"Oh you evil bitch," and once again Sonja smirks. This time in victory.

Alex just looks at everyone in the room, perplexed before he decides to say, "You know what? This seems a little personal so I'm just gonna go and get something to eat."

The Summer brother leaves the room and tries to figure out what is happening. From what was just said, that woman, Sonja, is involved with Spider-Man and another woman. Hence the menage trois confirmation she gave Stark. So while it's impressive that the webhead is with this hot redhead and another one, he doesn't understand why everyone is so shocked and perplexed. He does understand why he

Far as he is concerned, it's nobodys business but theirs.

Once he's gone the room falls into an uncomfortable silence. Well for two people. Tony is more or less eager to hear more about the situation Spider-Man is in with the two redheads while Steve clears his throat and decides to change the topic, "So can I assume you're here to join the team?"

Sonja looks to him before she thinks about it for a moment, "It's a certain possibility," she says before she turns her attention to the sitting hero she is beside, "We had a discussion concerning it."

Spider-Man, relieved by the topic change, lets out a breath and nods in confirmation, "Yeah, we talked all night about. I told her what happened yesterday after I came back from Jonah," he looks at her lovingly, "And they are gonna be there to back me up when I need it."

Sonja gives him a soft smile and she can feel Mary Jane feeling determined to do as they discussed.

Tony and Steve smile, happy for the street hero, and Tony asks, "So I guess she needs an Avengers I.D."

Peter winces at that and his smile dims, "Maybe. Like I said, we talked and she mentioned some ideas like giving up her career for this," the other two looked intrigued at this while he give her a resolute look, "And I told her not to do that."

Now they look surprised and they shift their sights between the two of them and Steve asks, "Really?"

He tenderly grabs her hand and rubs his thumb on the back of her hand, "It's not that I don't think she can handle it," Peter tells them, "Cause after everything, I know she can deal with a lot. And Sonja is obviously no pushover. It's more towards that I don't want her to. She is a world-famous supermodel and actress. She worked too long and hard to give it up for this insanity."

They give him a look of understanding. Maybe they can't personally understand what they are going through, since the superhero life is basically their career, but they can at least comprehend how hard it is to balance a normal life and a hero's life.

Spider-Man is basically a poster child for it.

"This life already took too much from us," he continues and gets sadder, "From her. I won't let it take any more if I can help it."

Sonja can feel her and her vessel's heart swell at the conviction he is showing. She had actually argued with Mary Jane over this very issue. Stating that, in comparison to being a hero and saving lives, Mary Jane's career was obviously not that important. And while Mary Jane knew that, she still did not want to abandon the life she had built.

The two gentlemen look at them with smiles, happy that they are trying to do their best for each other, before Tony says, "That's sweet. Now tell me more about this menage a trois you have with She-Ra."

Spider-Man groans as he drops his smile and his head while Sonja merely smirks in amusement, "I hate you."

Suddenly an interview with Jameson doesn't seem like such a bad idea. 'Then again, it's bound to be a roller coaster of emotions too.'

Ding Dong!

They hear the doorbell echo throughout the mansion and Steve goes to the window to see who it is before he looks back at the spandex hero, "It's Mayor Jameson."

"Thank god he's early," Spidey says as he gets up from his seat while Steve goes to answer the door.

"Well," Tony says as he claps his hands, "Seeing as how I did my part in helping you relax for this little pow-wow, I'm gonna head out."

"Actually Stark," Sonja says as she goes to stand by the billionaire, "There is an important matter that she wishes to discuss with you."

Figuring out that Sonja is referring to Mary Jane, which is still giddy to hear that the Webhead is getting a two-for-one deal, Tony nods and walks to the back of the mansion with her.

Spider-Man doesn't say anything. He just thinks about the irony of the situation he was just in. He was nervous all day about the interview because he had to answer some hard questions. And he spent the last few minutes dealing with something similar.

'Irony is starting to become a common trend with me,' he thinks to himself as the two leave the room.

They walk in silence until they reach the back of the mansion and Tony turns to regard her, "So what can I do for you?"

Sonja raises a finger at him, "One moment," she says before she closes her eyes and her form starts to become as transparent as glass. Inside the glass figure of the warrior woman, Mary Jane Watson, t-shirt, jacket, and jeans, stands there until the figure of Sonja disappears and she is all that's left.

Mary Jane opens her eyes and blinks a few times to try and clear up her vision while she rubs her head, "Well at least I'm getting used to that."

Tony tilts his head in curiosity and asks, "How does that work in the bedroom with you guys?"

MJ recoils before she glares to the side, "Damn you, Sonja," she mutters and then takes a breath, "Look I'm sure you want all the juicy details-"

"I do," he says with no shame.

"But it's our life," she says resolutely, "And I would appreciate it if you didn't pry."

Tony raises his hands in surrender, "Alright, I won't pry. I'll just ask your boyfriend later," he crosses his arms, "So what do you need?"

Maybe it's a little mean on Mary Jane's part to let Peeter deal with Stark's curiosity, but considering what she plans to do, well he could do with some embarrassment. So she just shrugs and asks, "Can you find someone's phone number for me?"

Tony raises an eyebrow at her, "Little insulting that you have to ask if I can do that but yes. Very easily. Who do you need?"

MJ takes a breath before she says, "Felicia Hardy. The Black Cat."

Now both of Tony's eyebrows go up, "Okay? And why do you…"

"It's personal," she says with finality.

He thinks about her request for a moment before he shrugs, "Alright," he says as he gives her an apprehensive look, "Just don't do anything your boyfriend wouldn't be happy about."

Given the history between them, MJ can understand Tony's worry, but she assures him, "I'm not gonna hurt her or anything. I just need to talk to her."

He nods in satisfaction, "Okay. I guess this is the least I can do for you after what you did for me."

She nods in thanks before she gets confused, "What did I do?"

His eyes get some sadness in them as he turns his sights down, "I thought I figured out the solution to the ole Webhead's problem," he states with a downtrodden tone, "You know, him trying to juggle a double life. Turns out my solution wasn't as perfect as I raved about to Steve."

Mary Jane understands that feeling. She thought that if she gave up her career to stand by Peter throughout all of his Spider-Man craziness, she would be doing him a big favor. Turns out it wouldn't be. He'd feel guilty for making her choose the hero life over her career that she worked so hard to obtain.

"Maybe not," she says to him but gives him a small grateful smile, "But it did make me feel better."

Now Tony gets confused, "Come again?"

"You heard what he said," she says referring to what he said the day prior, "He wore the mask more and more, putting his normal life on the back burner because he felt like Spider-Man was needed more than Peter Parker was. Now he knows better," a small slowly works it's way on her face, "And now I know he knows better."

Something that definitely bothered her was the fact that her once husband thought that he couldn't do as much good in the world outside the mask. That Peter Parker was not as good as Spider-Man because he couldn't do all those amazing feats. Another reason why she hated the stupid thing. Why does he think he's two separate people?

"Well nevertheless, you improved my solution," Tony tells her.

MJ shakes her head and frowns in frustration, "Not yet. I'm still figuring out how to make it work. I have the books Doctor Strange gave me, but the application of it all is complicated."

Tony shrugs and points out the obvious, "So ask him to help you out."

She crosses her arms, "I don't think that's a good idea right now."

"Okay, seriously. What happened?" He is of course referring to the night Strange invited them over after Peter's possession.

She sighs, "Can you just get that number, please?"

Two more seconds of silence Tony nods, "Sure."

"Thanks," she says before she takes a deep breath and straightens out her jacket, "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go and patiently wait while the most biased editor/mayor verbally assaults the man I love."

With that said Mary Jane makes a motion to grab a sword and a flash of bright light later Sonja stands where she was. The warrior woman nods and turns her back on him.

A view Stark is very appreciative of and ogles until she disappears into the kitchen.

"Hey, Friday," he says into the earpiece that he always wears.

"Yes boss," his personal AI responds

"Put out a phone number search for Felicia Hardy and all her known aliases. And get me Doc Weird on the phone."

"On it."

(Same time during that conversation)

Steve opens the door and sees Jameson standing there with a plastic bag in one hand and a satchel on his other shoulder, "Captain Rogers."

Steve nods back in greeting, "Mayor Jameson," he then steps aside, "Please come in."

"Thank you," the mayor nods and does so. He looks around critically, "I see Stark did a great job rebuilding this place."

"Well, it certainly helps to have a few million dollars between the cushions," Spider-Man quips from the living room.

Jonah grunts as he gives the man of the hour, (see what I did there), a hard look. Spider-Man does not flinch or look away. He has been nervous all day but now that the moment is here he realizes something.

He is scared stiff.

Steve goes into the other room. Spider-Man asked Rogers to not be in the room while the interview takes place. Apparently because of the respect that the mayor has for the WWII vet, if said vet remains in the room, then Jameson won't be as aggressive as he wants to be with his questions to Spider-Man.

Earning his trust by showing that he can handle what questions the man throws at him.

The Avengers leader will respect the request but he still will be within an earshot, just in case something goes down.

Back in the room, Jameson takes out the contents of the plastic bag and shows he brought food, "It's a casserole," he announces, "Thought it was a nice way to break the ice."

Spider-Man looks at the food questionably, "Casserole for breakfast?"

"You want burnt waffles or pancakes? I can't make much else."

The arachnid-themed hero raises his hands in surrender as the Mayor goes into his satchel and brings out other items. A tape recorder, a notepad, pencils, and a kitchen timer.

That last one prompts Spidey to comment, "Guess you want to get your full hour, huh Jonah?"

That came out dirtier than he wanted.

Jonah gives him a hard look, "I don't trust you to keep your word," he goes to sit down on the couch, "You showing up here just means you have an ulterior motive."

Spider-Man goes to sit down opposite of him, "And that would be?"

"I'll find out after this," he tells him determinedly before he pushes the button on the recorder and turns the kitchen timer, "Let's get started."

They sit in silence for a few moments. Just stare at each other. Jonah glares at the bane of his existence while Spider-Man looks right back at him. Patiently waiting for the first question that he knows Jameson wants to ask.

The man jabs his finger at him, "Who are you underneath there?!"

There it is. Going right for the soft spot.

Spidey sighs, "Can't tell you."

"I knew it," his glare gets some smugness in it, "You said this would be a 'no holds bar' interview, and here you are going back on your word."

"It's not like that," Spider-Man defends himself as he looks at the man, "I can't tell you now because…" he tries to find the right words to phrase what he thinks will happen, "Well the moment I do I get the feeling you won't want to hear me out."

That's what he believes at least.

"And why is that?" Jonah asks as he gives him a suspicious look.

And again Spider-Man struggles to find the right words before he shakes his head, "Look I'm here aren't I? Which should tell you that I am serious about this. So why don't you just save that question for later."

Jameson narrows his eyes at the man in front of him, "Fine. Why do you do this?

Now that was one he can easily answer, "Because with great power, there must also come great responsibility."

(Jean Grey School)

Logan looks at the large portrait of Charles Xavier with a blank face. Though those that knew him well could see there are hints of sadness in his eyes.

Why is he sad?

Because he had outlived another good man. A man who offered more to the world than he ever could. Then ever he did in his long life. Charles wasn't even half his age and he did more for mutants than Logan has. Even though Logan is helping run the school, he still doesn't feel like he has done much.

'Not compared to you at least, Chuck,' he thinks to himself as he looks down at the notecards with the speech he spent days writing. Trying to find the right words to give a proper eulogy, but he also didn't want it to drag on so long.

And now the day is here and he still feels like he didn't do it right.

"God," he rubs his eyes in exhaustion, "Like I didn't have enough problems running a school. Now I gotta pay homage to the guy that started it."

Speaking of running the school, he thinks about all the new mutants popping up all over the world. He will likely have to do it like the old days, where they got to go out and get them before any anti-mutant zealot kills them or an organization that will likely take advantage of them.

He hears some approaching footsteps and can tell by the scent that hit his nose that it's the young girl who restored mutants.

"Hey kid," he says not looking away from his cards, "Be out in a sec."

Hope stops behind him and tries to look over his shoulder, "Still going over your speech."

Logan lets out a bitter laugh, "Yeah. Out of everyone in this school, out of everyone that knew Chuck, and they all want me to give a eulogy."

"Yeah, you don't seem like the public-speaking type," Hope jokes before she tilts her head curiously, "How come the Avengers aren't here? I thought Captain America and them were really close with Xavier."

Logan glances in her direction before he looks back up at the portrait, "Things are still tense. They'll come and pay their respects when it's not so crowded."

Hope nods in understanding before a thought pops into her head, "I wonder if that's what it would have been like at Spider-Man's funeral if he had one."

Logan's sights drop from the painting as he thinks about that. He, and others, imagined what would that have been like when the guy was dead. They discussed whether or not they should reveal his identity to certain people, like the guy's aunt, and allow her to decide whether or not the public should know who her nephew is.

"For Spider-Man, a big public thing with lots of media coverage," he tells her, "For the guy underneath, he would've gotten a real small one. Only family and close friends."

Hope gives him an inquisitive look, "He doesn't have a lot of those?"

Logan shrugs his shoulders as he turns around and walks past her, "Hard to say," he says while Hope walks with him to the entrance, "Guy liked to keep his two lives separate. Meaning besides red, there weren't much else people I was allowed to know."

At the mention of the redhead, Hope gets a far-off look of admiration as they get to the large doors, "An incredibly famous girlfriend who is way~ out of his league. I'm still trying to understand how he pulled that off."

With his hand on the handle of the large door, Logan lets out a barking laugh, "HA! When you figure it out, be sure to call Stark! He'll want to spread the word."

He needed a good laugh. He opens the door and walks out. As he makes his way to the crowd, he starts to think about the Webhead and what he would say. He would probably make a few jokes here and there and get a lot of awkward silences. But he would also point some things out about Chuck that Logan feels should be mentioned.

And as he starts to think about it more, he looks over his speech and realizes what he's missing.

(Avengers Mansion)

Three people sit in the kitchen of the famous hero team home. Red Sonja leans on the counter while Alex Summers sits on it and Steve Rogers sits at the table patiently tapping his finger on it. And all of them are listening in on the interview.

Because it is very hard not to.

"You have been terrorizing this city since you first showed up!"

"Yes, of course. I key their cars, spray paint 'Spider-Man was here' on their walls, and worst of all I steal all of their left shoes."

Sonja smiles in amusement. Since the interview began, which was just less than ten minutes ago, all the mayor seemed to have been doing for that time was yell at her lover. She and Mary Jane both have the urge to barge in there and yell at the man, but they will respect Peter in his request to allow him to handle this on his own.

Confidence is key in this, so Sonja does not understand why he was so worried, "My guess would be because he plans to tell Jameson everything."

Even with that, he is doing what he does best. Telling a joke and making fun, "You know I always found it dumb that his jokes are so bad that they turn out to be good."

As Sonja continues to listen to the interview echo throughout the mansion, Alex, who has his peepers pointed up at the ceiling as he continues to listen to all the shouting, is feeling some sympathy for the spandex-wearing hero. But not enough to want to switch places.

"Boy am I relieved that you asked him over me to lead this new team of yours if this is what I would have had to deal with," Alex tells the good Captain.

Rogers has his arms crossed as he nods with his lips sucked in, "Yeah. But I doubt you would have had to deal with the same amount of scorn from Jameson. He is an active supporter of mutant rights."

Alex concedes to that before he brings up an interesting fact, "You know for someone who's not a mutant, Spidey understands how it probably feels like to be treated like one thanks to that guy."

Steve nods, as does Sonja, "True."

Alex gets off the counter and goes to sit at the table across from Steve, "So, not that I'm insulted or anything, but I heard a rumor that you wanted me to lead this new team but then opted for Spidey. What made you consider Spider-Man over me?"

That gets Sonja's attention as Rogers looks at the mutant and answers, "I didn't. Truth is, Spider-Man wasn't even an option I considered."

The way he said that rubs the two women the wrong way, "Really?"

Steve, hearing her tone, placatingly says, "Yes, but Tony convinced me. He made some good points that Spider-Man would be a better choice to lead the team."

Sonja's accusing gaze does not waiver, "And they were?"

He recalls what Tony told him, "Well for starters Spider-Man has a good standing with the hero community in general."

"I don't?" Alex says as he gestures to himself, "I mean, from what I heard, a lot of people don't like him."

Sonja gives him a small glare as the Captain responds, "You do and that is somewhat true. There are plenty of heroes that consider him to be too annoying to work with. And yet he has worked with more heroes than anyone I know."

"Really?"

Sonja decides to speak on her lover's behalf, "It's true. He's even worked alongside villains when their goals aligned. The reason behind that is because he gets involved in all problems," she peruses through her vessel's memories, "He doesn't care if it's mutant, human, alien, or anything else. If he sees a problem he can't help but get involved in solving it."

Steve nods in confirmation, "It's true. Out of all the heroes out there, Spider-Man has worked with more of them than anyone else," he looks to the redhead in the room, "And it's why he has respect from a lot of us."

Sonja smiles as she and Mary Jane are happy to know that there are those in the hero community that know how much Peter does for the world. He may not be well-liked, but he is respected by many, "That's a win in my book."

Alex looks impressed as he rubs his face, "Wow. Can't help but feel a little inadequate now."

And now he also sees why the Sonja woman is with the guy.

He slaps his thigh and gets up from his seat, "Well I guess I better move in here," he receives an appreciative smile from Rogers.

Tony enters the room at this point, "Hey everybody," he greets them but his attention is on the displaced warrior, "Got what you wanted," he says as he hands her a piece of paper.

Sonja takes the parchment and looks at it, "Thank you. We are very appreciative."

"Happy to help. Now, about the menage a trois thing…"

"Oh god," Sonja smiles in amusement, "As I said, she'll explain everything later."

"Yeah she seemed reluctant to talk about it, and you seem more open than she does. So I was wondering-"

CRASH! "The hell are you doing?!"

They all whip their heads in the direction of the living room before rushing into it.

(Moments Prior)

He is regretting this. It's only been a few minutes and he's already regretting doing this.

"-terrorizing this city ever since you first showed up!"

"Yes, of course. I key their cars, spray paint 'Spider-Man was here' on their walls, and worst of all I steal all of their left shoes."

He expected hostility, a lot of hostility, but to this level is ridiculous. Jonah hates him so much it kind of astonishes Spidey. The man has been asking questions and when Spider-Man answers honestly, Jonah believes he is lying.

Why did he think this was a good idea?

"You are a clown!" Jameson continues to shout, "You can't even take this seriously when you were the one who asked for it!"

Spider-Man nods as he continues to sit with his arms crossed over his chest, not even touching the food the man had brought, "True. I did ask for this. And I also expected some hostility from you. But even you have to admit you're being a bit biased."

Jameson scoffs at the notion, "Of course, you'd see it that way," he lifts up two fingers, "I've asked you two questions so far and all you've given me are bull answers."

"And why do you think that?" Spider-Man asks rhetorically.

"Because I know you," Jonah narrows his eyes hatefully at the man in front of him, "I know the real reason you do this," he closes his eyes as he recalls a memory from a long time ago, "I was there the night you first showed up. I saw you from backstage. The Amazing Spider-Man. And I'll never admit this to anyone else and I'll deny it until my dying breath, but I did think you were amazing."

The hero under interview looks at his interviewer in surprise, having never known that bit of information about the man.

"You were an amazing entertainer," Jonah continues in the same angry tone he's known for, "And you should have stayed that way."

Spider-Man looks down in shame, "I couldn't. Not after I learned what happens when I'm only thinking about myself."

He gets a small flashback of the night his Uncle Ben died. Yes, he forgave himself for it but that doesn't mean he will forget the lesson he learned.

"And you think you haven't been selfish up until now?" Jonah sarcastically asks.

Spider-Man thinks about that for a second before some moments in his life pop into his head and he feels some guilt, "Maybe I still am in some way," says before he gives Jonah a hard look, "But not in the way you think."

"Is that so?" Jonah challenges.

"Yes," Spider-Man stands up and starts to gesture around himself, "You think I do this for the thrill of it but I don't," he walks around the couch he was on, "You have no idea what I have to sacrifice to do this. What I've given up to help and save people every day," he leans on the chair he was just sitting on, "And you really don't know how much I had to endure to keep going."

"Please!" Jonah says dismissively as he stands up as well and jabs a finger at the man, "You crack jokes every day! You toy with the people you fight! You don't take anything seriously!"

Spidey drops his head between his arms in frustration as he continues to lean on the chair, "God, you are such a bitter, baneful, blowhard."

Spider-Man is trying to not lose his cool. My god is he trying. He wants to tell the man before him off and be finish with the interview then and there. But he knows if he does that he will only end up hurting himself in the long run.

"And you are a clown," he hears Jonah reiterate, "You do what you do for yourself and nobody else," the grip on his chair tightens, "You cause harm to everyone around you," the leather on the couch starts to tear, "And you play it off like it's no big deal."

"That is the farthest thing from the truth," he says through clenched teeth, lifts his head back up, "All the joking is to make this easier to deal with. Because if you had any idea about half of the insanity I have to deal with, you'd lose your mind just by hearing about it."

Jameson gives a disparaging frown, "Sure. You're a pretend clown. That makes sense."

At that moment, Peter decides to let a bit of his anger out, "God, you think you know everything about me! When in fact it's the total opposite! You don't know me, Jonah!" Peter then takes a breath to calm down enough to give the man before him an accusatory frown, "But I sure as heck know you."

Jameson reels back in disbelief, "Excuse me?"

"I told you yesterday I know you, better than you know me," he reminds him, "You love this city, you love the Bugle, and you care about the people who work for you. You just have a hard time showing it. Except when it comes to your son. With him, you have no problem showing love and adoration." His expression becomes baffled, "But one thing I never understood is why you hate me so much?" Jonah reels back as Spider-Man continues, "Since I first showed up, you have dedicated your life to being my worst enemy. To make me public enemy number one. You've hated me this whole time Jonah and I just don't understand why."

Jonah's frown remains in place but his face becomes blank, "I'm not the subject of this interview."

"Tough. You're asking hard questions for me," Spidey tells him before he crosses his arms.

Jameson goes silent and just continues to stare at the hero in front of him. He doesn't say a word and does nothing for a few seconds before he walks around the couch he was sitting on to stand in the front of the window. He stares out of it and goes deep into thought. He knows the reason for his hatred but he's never really spoken about it to anyone. Not his best friend Robbie and not his son John. The only one he's ever told was his deceased wife Marla.

And now he's about to tell the one person he hates most in the world.

"Years ago," he starts but doesn't turn around to look at him, "When I was young, I got mugged. I wanted to fight back. To teach that punk a lesson. But the girl I was with at the time told me not to." He lowers his head and closes his eyes as the memories surface, "She was right to do so of course. Man had a gun. I would have been an idiot to try and fight. Years later, my first wife Joan got mugged. She was alone. I wasn't there for her," he takes a breath to not lose his composure, "I wanted to hunt the man who took the mother of my child away from us. Both times both men wore masks. And somehow, for some reason, I convinced myself that those two muggers were one in the same. I convinced myself that if I stopped him the first time around, my son would not have had to grow up without his mother."

Peter is stunned. He did not know any of this. In all the years he's known the man, he didn't know that he blamed himself for his first wife's death. And in such a similar manner that Peter blamed himself for his Uncle Bens.

Before the younger man can offer any words of comfort, Jonah turns around, "He was a coward," he says as he glares hatefully at the masked man in front of him, "A goddamn coward. That's the only reason you all wear masks. To hide behind them. To pretend to be something that you're really not. But I see right through it."

Spider-Man stares at the mayor incredulously, "Are you seriously comparing me to a mugger?"

"He wore the damn thing to not face the consequences of his actions." Jonah points out, "Can you say different?"

Spider-Man stays silent for a second as he realizes how much truth is in Jonah's words, but he also doesn't know the entire truth, so he tells him, "I wear this to protect my loved ones."

"Cops, lawyers, judges, they all don't wear masks," Jonah points out, "They live with the consequences of their actions. And you could do any one of those things, I acknowledge you're smart enough to do so, but you choose not to. You choose to do this while wearing that thing on your face," he grips the back of the couch as he leans forward, "And that makes you a coward."

Spidey nods, "Maybe you're right," he says before he gives the mayor an accusatory stare, "But then again when I have to answer to certain people, like say a mayor who has made villains like Scorpion or the Spider-Slayer, well it kind of puts things in perspective."

Jonah's grip tightens at the reminder of the problems he created, "I've made my fair share of mistakes. And I live with them all."

That accusing statement rubs the queens-born hero the wrong way, "You think I don't?" Peters raises his voice, "You think I don't torment myself for all the people I failed to save?!"

"No! I don't!" Jonah shouts as he lifts the couch up an inch before slamming it back down and walks back around to stand in front of the table, "You're always joking! Always laughing! You never take any of this seriously!"

Spider-Man loses his temper at this point that he breaks the back of his seat, "I TAKE THIS COMPLETELY SERIOUSLY!" Jonah doesn't blink as he watches the hero stomp around, "I TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY THAN ANYONE I KNOW! I KILL A PART OF MYSELF EVERY TIME I WEAR THIS THING!"

"IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN ALL THOSE LOONATICS THAT YOU LOCK UP WOULDN'T STILL BE CAUSING SO MUCH TROUBLE FOR THIS CITY! IF YOU TOOK THIS SERIOUSLY, THEN WHY HAVEN'T YOU PUT SOME OF THOSE MAD DOGS DOWN!"

"BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHO I-GAH!" Spider-Man grabs his head and shouts in pain.

He is in the middle of the street. A crossroad. He can't see the street name but he can see the Chrysler Building not too far from where he is. He sees people, blurry and kind of faceless, going about their day minding their own business.

"THE MUTANTS ARE BACK!"

A shout echoes around and suddenly the ground starts to shake. It cracks open and buildings collapse. He sees hundreds of people fall into the dark abyss and die.

And at the center of it all he sees a man smiling maniacally at the devastation. But behind him it's a silhouette of another figure. A shadowy figure that isn't painted black but red.

He gasps as he lands back on the seat he broke and he comes back to reality.

"The hell was that?!"

He looks up to see Jonah staring at him in shock. But before the man can ask again, everyone else comes rushing in to see what had happened.

Rogers, Stark, and Summers stop at the door while Sonja immediately rushes to him and kneels by him but doesn't touch him as she sees some smoke still coming off his person, "Are you alright?"

He breathes heavily as he makes to stand up with Sonja's aid, "We need to go," he says as he looks to Captain America, "We need to go now."

Cap immediately figures it was him having a vision and asks, "What did you see?"

"There's gonna be an attack," he tells him quickly as he places a hand on Sonja's to assure her he can stand on his own, "A big one. Someone is going to tear up the streets and so many people are going to die.

Everyone gets alert as they pay more attention, "When?"

Spider-Man tries to rack his of the vision, "I don't know. I think soon. I saw a garbage truck a few blocks away from the front of the Chrysler building."

"Tony," Rogers simply says.

Stark immediately gets it and pulls out his phone, "On it."

"Let's get a move on," Rogers says as he and the rest follow him out the door.

"Hold on a second!" But they all stop when Jameson shouts at the arachnid-themed hero, "You promised me an hour! And in case you haven't noticed it's only been fifteen minutes!"

Spider-Man, and everyone else, get incredulous expressions at the mayor's statement, "Are you serious?!"

"As a heart attack!" Jonah tells him.

Spidey keeps his incredulous look for a few more moments before he shakes his head, "Jonah, there is about to be an attack! This interview can wait!"

He begins to walk out but stops when Jonah starts speaking again, "I knew it. I knew you wouldn't keep your word."

"Jameson," Tony calls out from beside Spider-Man, who still hasn't turned around, "There are lives at stake here."

JJJ rolls his eyes and his head, "Give me a break! You think that I'm gonna fall for that little light show of his!"

Steve decides to de-escalate the situation by stepping forward, "Mayor Jameson, I assure you-"

"NO!" But Jameson is having none of it as he stands his ground to one of the very few heros he actually respects and admires, "Dammit, Captain Rogers no! You can't keep making excuses for this menace! You have to realize how much of a problem he is!"

Steve gives him a firm frown, "He is not a problem. And I don't make excuses for him."

Jonah takes a breath, not wanting to yell at the WWII veteran more, and gives the man he admires a firm look of his own, "I have the utmost respect for you, Captain Rogers. I really do. But I just don't understand why you don't see how much of a problem he is to this city. He. Is not. A hero."

All throughout this tirade, Sonja has been slowly losing her temper. She has been with Mary Jane since the woman first wielded her blade, and she knows the young woman has had to suffer in silence with Jameson constantly saying Peter was not a hero.

"Just let him handle this Sonja," Mary Jane tells her but she feels the woman's frustration at the man and the thoughts of what she wishes to say, "What good would come of it?"

Only one way to find out.

"Yes, he is," Sonja speaks up, ignoring her vessel's pleas and stepping before the mayor and giving him a fierce look, "He is without a doubt the greatest hero who has ever lived."

Jonah, and incidentally Spider-Man and Havok, reel back in surprise at her declaration before Jameson scoffs at her as he gives her a disdainful look, "You're delusional."

"You have no idea how wonderful of a man he is," she tells him factually, "How much he truly cares for everyone around him. How much he loves and cares for this city and the world at large."

Jonah gives her a challenging look, "If he cares so much, then why is it so hard for him to act like it?"

"You are referring to his attempts at being humorous," Sonja points out, having heard what the man was shouting beforehand, then gets a thoughtful look, "I will admit, at times I wonder if what he does is appropriate," she then looks back at Spider-Man lovingly, "But it is also a comfort." Spider-Man looks at her curiously, wondering what she means as she continues, "To know that after everything, no matter how horrible his day may have been, either the next moment or even the next day, he is still able to smile. He will still be who he is."

She can see a smile start to work its way onto Peter's face through his mask.

"So he'll still be a man-child? You don't see that as a problem?"

Sonja whips her head back round to glare vehemently at the mustache man, clearly not happy he ruined a moment, "He is not the problem! He has done more for this city than you have in your entire pathetic life!"

Spider-Man places a hand on her shoulder, "That's enough Sonja."

"No!" She pulls his hand off her but doesn't let it go, "It vexes us to no end how you constantly allow this man to slander you!"

Having known MJ's own dislike of Jonah's campaign to slander him, Spidey merely repeats what he always says, "It doesn't matter."

Sonja wants to argue that it does but stops when a thought pops into her head, "You're right," she says with realization, "He doesn't matter."

"Excuse me!?" Jonah shouts furiously as he looks between the two.

"That's not what I said," he immediately tells her not liking what she is saying.

"Nevertheless, his actions have never helped anyone outside of himself. He is a tiny little man that has wasted his life hating you," a particular memory of Mary Janes pops into her head, "And it was because of that hatred, Jameson, that your wife died as a result."

"Sonja!" Spider-Man reprimands her as everyone else stares in shock.

But nobody is more shocked than Jameson. Sonja's words feel like a thousand knives pierced into Jonah's heart and stomach because he knows how true those words are. He knows he created the monster that murdered his second wife, Marla. Her words also remind him of Marla's last words to him.

"For once please listen to me. Don't waste any more of your life on hate."

Her dying words to him. To not waste his life on hate anymore. And yet here he is doing that very thing. Trying to prove once and for all that his hatred for the man he's hated for so long is justified.

But if this many people, if someone like Captain America, says he's a good man, then…

Jonah lowers his head in shame, "Go."

Spidey steps to the man, "Jonah, she didn't mean to-"

"GO!" Jameson lifts his head up to cut him off before he lowers it again and plops down on the couch, "We're done here."

Spider-Man looks at the state of the man, how broken he is right now because of Sonja's words. He can't do the interview right now because of the vision he had, but he knows if he leaves right now he'll regret it in the long run.

He doesn't know how but he will. His life is like that.

"Open up that heart, son. The possibilities will be endless."

He takes a deep breath and steps toward Jonah. He doesn't say anything but as Jonah looks up at him he does something that shocks everyone.

He takes off his mask.

Jonah's eyes widen in complete and utter shock, "P-Parker? I don't-"

Peter gives him a reassuring smile with a nod of understanding, "It's a lot to take in, I know," he says as he sits on the table in front of Jameson, "But Jonah, you know me. You know the kind of person that I am."

The man does not say anything. He is still trying to process this new and frankly incredibly shocking revelation. The young man that he has known for so long, hell the young man that is family through his father's marriage, is the superhero he's dedicated his life to discrediting.

"I started this because of my Uncle Ben," Peter tells him, "Because he was gunned down by a thief that I let go."

Jonah recalls that. Now thinking about it some more he realizes how much the young man can relate to his tragedy concerning his first wife.

Peter stands up and places his mask back on, "I came here with every intention of answering all of your questions, Jonah. I swear I did," he turns around and walks out of the room, "But I have something I need to go do," he stops just at the twin doors and looks at his old boss, "When I get back we can finish this."

He leaves without another word with Sonja in tow. The other three remain in place for a few moments but then follow after the man.

Jonah remains in the seat, still shocked that the young man he has known for so long, was the man he hated for nearly the same amount of time.

"Has he been laughing at me the whole time?"

(Streets of New York)

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the inciting act.

That was all he had to do. It's all he's thinking about doing as he walks down the street clutching tightly to his bag that had his helmet. Walking by all the humans in his trenchcoat.

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the inciting act.

This will be the start of a new world. A better world. He does this and they all will see. They will finally see what the real problem is.

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the inciting act.

It will be biblical. And that is appropriate. Considering who started this.

The devil himself.

"Hey, buddy," a random stranger called out to him from beside him, "You okay?"

He looks at the man and gives him a polite smile, "I'm great, pal. Never been better."

The man's eyes shift between him and his forehead. He twitches. He feels itchy but doesn't scratch. He needs to do something.

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the inciting act.

He pulls out his helmet. He smiles even bigger now. People around him then become weary.

They should be.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" He shouts and thrust his hands out, "THE MUTANTS ARE BACK!"

The ground breaks apart and people scream in terror. He smiles maniacally. He watches as the ground rises higher. He feels like a king.

Burst the dam. Release the flow. Complete the-

WHAM!