A Couple's Getaway Goes Astray. Part Five.
(Unknown Location)
It's nothing but pitch-black darkness ahead. No sources of light other than the torches by them and the ones far above them. There is a way to light others, that much became evident when one lit up. Mary Jane stares at the torch that lit up after she said she was happy Felicia was here with her. Why did it light up after that? Was it the words or the confession itself? A frown creased her brow as she ponders why would simply stating that she is happy Felicia is with her light the torch up. Why would Gaea and Aphrodite want that?
Beside her, Felicia has her eyes set on the light far above them, where she suspects the exit to this place is. It's clear it's a spiral stone ramp now based on the curve the newly lit space has, and both goddesses want the girls to perform some task to get up there. Not physical but something that she suspects will be uncomfortable. But Felicia is not one for doing what she is told, even if it's by goddesses.
"Hey, Red," she calls out to the model by her, "If we feel our way around we could just walk the way up."
Mary Jane gets an uncertain expression as she glances back into the dark, "I don't think we should or could do that Felicia," she responds with caution in her voice.
"Why not?" Felicia inquires with confidence, "You heard what Mother Earth said. Her son wants to help us so I doubt they are gonna hurt us."
While that does seem to be true, Mary Jane doubts it matters here, "Maybe not hurt us, but they don't have to."
Felicia thinks about what her romantic partner is implying. The redhead is right in being skeptical over walking in the dark and feeling their way around. They were sent to this place with a wave of a hand, so it's likely it won't be as simple as walking forward and finding a way out.
Felicia looks around on the floor before she picks up a pebble and tosses it up and down in her hand. She then flicks it and it skips across the ground. But once it goes past the light the torch is providing, the sound of the skipping pebble comes from behind them. Both whip their heads around in time to see the stone stop just behind them.
Hardy picks it up and examines it to make sure it is hers. She then looks at Watson and nods, confirming it.
MJ sighs and looks into the abyss, "So we can't just stumble in the dark. We have to go through whatever this is."
The supermodel looks back at the torch on the wall with a thoughtful frown. When she said what she said to Felicia, something that Mary doesn't think is such a big deal, the thing lit up. But she was honest, so is that key here?
"Hey 'Licia," MJ gets the thief's attention, "Tell me something honest."
Felicia raises a brow at her, "Okay," she says before she repeats what was said to her, "I'm happy you're here with me too."
They both glance in the direction they expect a torch to illuminate but nothing happens. After a tense few seconds, Mary Jane shoots a crossed look as she looks at Felicia while the platinum blonde woman gets an upset one.
"Well I'm not happy to be in a situation like this, even with you," Hardy says defensively, "I prefer if we were doing something we'd actually enjoy."
This time a torch does light up, making them both look at it curiously. They both walk past the torch that lit up when MJ said what she said and stop in front of one Felicia lit up.
Staring at it, Felicia tilts her head and questions, "So what? We got to make confessions to get through this?"
"I guess so," Mary Jane says with a shrug.
After a beat of silence, Felicia inquires, "Is that why the Goddess of Love, er, former, was there with Gaea? They expect us to declare our love for each other?"
There is an uncomfortable silence that falls between the two. Both not taking their eyes off the torch and refuse to look at each other for similar reasons.
Felicia decides to be the one to voice her thoughts. So with a deep breath she starts, "Mary Jane, I like you a lot," she says as she gives the redhead a caring side glance, "I love spending time with you and Peter, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this weird relationship of ours goes," she gets an uncomfortable expression as she continues, "But I'm just not there yet with you or Sonja."
There being she is not ready to say she is in love with Mary Jane. Though she can see it happening.
Before either can think about that some more, three torches illuminating grab their attention. But the torches are not very close to one another. They are far enough to leave a dark space between each other where there are likely torches between them.
"So declarations of love are not needed," Felicia says while trying to hide the relief in her voice.
"Looks like," Mary Jane nods, a sense of relief washes over her as well and she surmises, "We just gotta tell each other things honestly and we both have to give the same amount of honesty too apparently."
She is just basing that on the amount of torches that lit up after Felicia's declaration. It's certainly safe to assume this with the dark space between each of them.
"So I was more honest than you?" Felicia says teasingly with a raised brow at the supermodel.
Mary Jane narrows her eyes at the thief, seeing the game she wants to play. So MJ thinks of a rebuttal in the form of a confession, "I'm jealous that you can embrace whatever excitement or danger that comes your way."
Three torches light up and Felicia looks at them with a raised brow before she turns it to Mary Jane. Conveying for her to go on.
Mary Jane does so, "It doesn't seem to faze you that we're in this predicament. If anything you're excited to see where and how this thing goes."
Felicia gives the redhead an incredulous smile, "Red, as much as I enjoy the thrill of an adventure, this is way out of my comfort zone."
"What exactly is your comfort zone?" MJ asks.
Felicia shrugs nonchalantly, "Honestly? Stealing valuable art from wealthy jerk elitists."
"Or their yachts?"
Felicia nods with an amused smile, "Or their yachts."
They both end up giggling before they turn their attention to the illuminated path they must travel through. With a deep breath, Mary Jane says, "Let's get this over with."
Felicia nods in agreement and they both walk up the spiral stone bridge. Not knowing what's ahead but confident that they can deal with whatever it is. Also hoping that it is as straightforward as it seems to be.
"So," MJ starts as they continue to walk, "What else have you got?"
Felicia seems hesitant for a second before she replies, "How about we take a step back and start small?"
Understanding the woman's reluctance to share anymore than she already has, Mary Jane nods, "Okay," she says and tries to think of an easier truth to bring up. "My acting career isn't as glamorous as I'd hoped it'd be…"
(With Peter and Elektra)
Taking a deep breath and clearing her mind, Elektra does her best to ignore her surroundings to immerse herself further into her meditation. The only sounds are the trees leaves rustling by the slight breeze the cavern seems to carry. The water droplets from the stalagmites that echo all throughout. All of these distractions to achieve the perfect mindset of meditation.
Centering herself is paramount in meditation. Finding a sense of calm to better build a mental acuity and hone her techniques. It has taken her years of harsh and rigorous training to achieve the level she has gotten to.
But she is finding it difficult to do such a thing now because of her task. Which is to train someone else into achieving what she can do.
Said someone is proving to be a very difficult student.
Her eyes may be closed but she can feel Peter's presence. He is sitting across from her attempting to meditate. Attempting and doing a very poor job of it.
"Your mind is not clear," she adresses with her eyes still closed.
He doesn't respond verbally but he does grumble. He refocuses on his task. Taking deep breaths and slowly exhaling. Trying his best to clear his mind of any thoughts.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Your mind is not clear."
"You don't know that," he retorts. To which she doesn't verbally reply but instead opens her eyes and raises a brow in challenge for him to deny her observation. He feels her eyes and opens his own before he gives indignant frown, "What? You're a telepath now?"
She is. But he does not need to know that and it's not how she knows he isn't meditating properly.
"It's your breathing," she informs him, which is the truth.
He gets a perplexed look, "My breathing?"
She closes her eyes again as she explains, "When we began, I told you to clear your mind and focus on your breathing. When you are not, your breathing changes. It's subtle but it is different from when you are focusing."
This is actually a skill she picked up from Mathew. It's how he sometimes predicts a person's next action. Like how someone takes deep breaths when about to commit to a dangerous act or even subtle when they are about to speak. In this instance, she can tell how long Peter is focusing on his breathing and when he is not.
"How do I clear my mind when I have to think about my breathing?" He jokes but also asks genuinely.
She opens her eyes and gives him a blank look, "It's that sort of mentality is why you cannot focus," she says referring to his joking nature.
"I'm able to focus," he retorts before he looks down and draws circles on the ground, "I just don't see how meditation helps with that. I mean I know that the science behind meditation has been proven several times but it's also too varied for it to be conclusive. And let's not forget about all those quacks and con artists who take advantage of gullible people and give real yogis a bad name."
She gives him a peculiar look for his line of thinking before she comments, "Your mind is far too scattered and erratic. You need to focus on what's in front of you."
He looks her in the eye and she him. He doesn't blink while she gives him a stoic look.
"Not me," she says.
"You said right in front of me," Peter jokingly states with a shrug.
She resists the urge to roll her eyes at his lame attempt at humor and says, "In confrontations with your various enemies you've been taken by surprise more often than not. A feat that is supposed to be impossible."
"Hey, they learn from every fight and so do I," he argues, "I may not always come out unscathed but I do come out on top."
"If you had more focus, then you could do more," she counters.
Peter snorts before he sardonically replies, "Sure, cause it's that simple."
"You'd be surprised," she coolly shoots back, "I've done enough research on you to know how much more effective you can be if you had more discipline."
That is what she has surmised at least. Based on his battles with villains, he could have easily won each one if he took them more seriously.
"I'm plenty disciplined," he declares before he mumbles out, "Present situation notwithstanding."
"The present situation," Elektra starts with a hint of annoyance, "Is a prime example of you not being disciplined as you say. You are tasked in learning how to better hone this sense of yours. I'm here to train you in how to do it, to give you a baseline to continue when we leave. Yet while I'm focused and committed to doing this, you're not."
That is why she is primarily annoyed. He hasn't put any real effort into learning how to meditate. Despite him being so intelligent, he lacks the mentality to perform a simple task.
"I'm sorry," he says genuinely, making her look at him curiously as he continues, "You got dragged into this because of me."
She raises an observant brow at him, "Matthew mentioned you have a guilt complex," she says before she clarifies her reasons for her annoyance, "I'm not bothered by this situation, I'm bothered that you are not taking it seriously enough."
That is the truth. She isn't as bothered by the fact that a spider god has bargained with her to train Spider-Man, but the fact that said hero is being a difficult student. She didn't think it'd be this hard to teach him.
She is starting to regret not coercing Anansi into giving her the information she desires in her own way.
"I am," Peter claims somewhat childishly, "I want to get out of here as soon as possible. I promised those girls that I'd leave the craziness of my life at home and we would enjoy a nice normal vacation."
Elektra supposes that is a rather romantic gesture but not important at the moment, "Set aside your motivations. Focus on the task right now," she tells him.
He sighs again before he goes back to attempting to meditate. Elektra follows suit. She finds herself pleasantly surprised when he lasts longer in focusing on his breathing. But she then becomes aggravated when it's gone still less than a minute later.
"You know I used to be a teacher," he says, making her look at him with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, "One of the things I learned is that not every student learns the same way as others do. Some require a more hands on approach, while others need specific instruction to get the lesson through."
Her aggravation leaves her and she thinks about his advice. He does indeed raise a valid point. She knows that not everyone learns a lesson the same way. Different and even special methods are sometimes required for better education. In her younger days, when she was in Columbia University, she did notice how different each student learned. Some focused on the lessons and cling to the professors' words, while others daydreamed yet still managed to pass those courses. They were accused of cheating and some did but others used different methods to learn the lessons they were supposed to learn in the class.
Perhaps that is what she needs here?
She looks at him and inquires, "Do you have something specific in mind?"
Peter nods and responds with, "Okay, so you're training me in the same way you were trained to hone and master your killer instinct, right?"
And her aggravation returns, "Assassin's instinct."
He waves it off, "Same difference. Point is you are training me the same way. But I doubt that it's the same as mine."
Hmm. Again he makes a valid point. Anansi said she has a similar ability as the symbiotes, not Spider-Man. He told her to train him but he did not specify how, so she assumed he wanted her to train Spider-Man the same way she was. Though focusing more on his mental fortitude than anything physical, obviously.
Perhaps he wants her to take a more physical approach. Regardless, she needs to know more about his ability.
"What exactly is your spider sense?" She questions.
Peter thinks about his response before he says, "Well, over the years I've theorized that it's an omnidirectional sense. It's always active and in tune with everything around me. To the point where it doesn't warn me of just immediate danger or danger in general, but over stuff like spoiled food or when my alarm clock is about to go off."
That peaks her interest.
"Your alarm clock and spoiled food trigger it?" She questions.
He nods, "That and so much more," he says exhaustively, "Sometimes it tells me if someone has a gun in their purse, a knife in their pocket, or an animal like a dog or cat is walking nearby."
As she hears it, the ability reminds her of Mathew's atom induced radar sense. Mathew mentioned he possesses a radar that allows him to get a picture of his environment in his head. Though only in shapes and it better functions when there is less noise. But where he took years to train and hone his heightened senses, Spider-Man clearly never did.
"Sounds exhausting," she comments.
"Painful too," Peter tells her with a nod and then rubs his head, "I have constant headaches because of it and have a hard time sleeping. Especially recently with it evolving or whatever."
"Interesting," she says before acknowledging his wince and asks, "Is it happening now?"
Peter nods in confirmation, "Yup. Like I said it's always on."
She glances around the cave, "What is it telling you to be wary of?"
"You, mostly," he simply states.
She becomes befuddled by this but hides it as she looks back at him, "Me?"
Peter nods and with an expression on his face that is telling Elektra he is not taking the warning seriously. Which irks her more than she wants it to. She admittedly prides herself in being the deadliest assassin in the world. None come close. She is Elektra Natchios. Not even the stars are safe in the sky.
And though she is hiding her feelings well, it seems not well enough because Peter raises his hands placatingly and says, "Before you get the wrong idea, I know you are dangerous. I'm just relaxed because I know that you wouldn't attack me unless you have a reason."
Well that does take away much of her irritation. Still, how would he know?
"Matt told me you're a good person," he says, again as if he was reading her thoughts, "He said that despite your uh occupation, you're not evil or malicious."
She squashes the slight flutter in her heart at the reminder of her on-again-off-again lovers thoughts of her. For years Mathew has thought her to be a better person than she actually is. She accepted what she is, but his hope for her has often put her mind in a flux.
Not wanting to go deeper into that line of thought, she keeps her emotions in check and refocuses on the task, "How does it work exactly? Is it a voice in your head or images in your mind?"
Peter squints in thought, "More like information that I have to process. I have to know what it is, otherwise I have no clue what to do."
She gives him a curious look and he elaborates more, "Okay, so way back when I started web swinging, I was pretty dumb about it. I figured the math was simple enough but boy was I wrong. I hit the ground and broke my nose so many times," he has a moment of reminisce before he refocuses, "Anyway, I took a step back and did my homework on what I was doing wrong. As it turns out, there was so much I didn't account for."
"For example, I forgot to account for Hooke's law when it came to my web fluid. The tensile strength is immense but it still stretches considerably when I'm swinging through the air. I forgot to account for my height and weight, not to mention other factors like wind, temperature, humidity, rain. When I did study up on all of that, suddenly it became so much easier. I just knew where to aim without having to look up," she doesn't much understand what he is explaining and he seems to pick up on that, "To simplify, I have to know these things in order for my spider sense to work better."
Elektra now understands what he means, "You're saying that your spider sense works in tandem with your knowledge of anything and everything?"
Peter nods in confirmation, "I didn't know that at the time and I only really figured that out recently when I got it back during the whole Spider Island thing." Now she gives him a peculiar look one that he feels is very judgmental, "See during the time when I didn't have it, I did everything I could to make up for the loss of such an integral part of my powers. One that I relied on to not only keep me alive but to also help me do typical Spider-Man things like web swinging. I built armors and gadgets and was way more careful in my crime fighting. And I also learned some fighting moves from Shang-Chi. That in particular clued me in on what my spider sense is and what it can really do."
"Training under Shang-Chi, I was able to create my own fighting style. The Way of the Spider. Don't judge me, okay?" He immediately says when she feels the urge to give him an incredulous look and he was able to tell that somehow, "It's appropriate because it utilizes everything I can do. From my speed, strength, webs, and now that I got it back, my spider sense. I mean when I fight with it, it's incredible. It's like I know when and where to strike and how hard I should to get the best results that I want. Cause I know that I can turn someone's head into paste with a single blow. So my spider sense helped me hold back. Now it can tell me how hard and fast I can go against someone."
Despite how impressive it sounds, Elektra doesn't look anything but. She has a look on her face, though subtle and minute, that is telling him her thoughts on him are not flattering. Like a teacher who cannot believe this student is in their class when they clearly should not be.
"You're saying it took you losing this ability for you to learn how to properly utilize it?" Elektra inquires blankly.
Peter feels a bit insulted, "No. I just never really put much thought into it. It was just there. What was I supposed to do? Cut my head open and see how the thing works?"
Her expression does not change. She would like to berate him and insult him in so many languages for being so stupid with such a useful and versatile ability. Honestly, she can sense danger but that took years to develop and she knows it's nowhere near the same level as his. Because again, the fool never bothered to keep it a very big secret and he is now divulging everything in how it functions.
However his openness is helping her in coming up with ways to train him. She ponders on what the information he has given her so far and she can see that while teaching him to meditate the same way she does would be helpful, it's not necessarily the best way to teach him to better hone his spider sense. Because he doesn't need a clear mind, he needs a fast one.
She takes a moment to think about how to go about her assignment of training him. As she has stated, his mind is erratic and unfocused. His thoughts are everywhere, from his concern for his lovers to his task of learning under her. He needs to focus on what's in front of him and put all else aside for now.
The deadly female assassin stands up and tells him, "Remain seated, I want to see how extensive and in tune your sense is with your surroundings."
Peter does as he is told and looks up at her curiously, "And how will you do that?"
She stands with her back straight and her hands behind her, "Close your eyes."
She expected a bad joke or lame quip to come out of him, maybe one with sexual implications, but to her surprise Peter does as he is told and closes his eyes and awaits for further instructions without a word out of his mouth.
She is pleased to see this but keeps her usual demeanor as she says, "Ignore everything else and focus on the sensation. Focus on your spider sense." She can feel his attention shift somewhere else. His breathing is leveled out and face is contorted in concentration, "What is it telling you?"
He tilts his head somewhat before he responds, "You're about to attack me."
"In what way?" She immediately questions.
He gets a confused look, "You're going to hit me in the throat?"
She nods, since that is where she was going to strike, "Good," she says before she shifts her stance and asks, "Now how am I going to attack you?"
Again he moves his head around, and she suspects it's likely an attempt to get a better feel on his sense, before he responds with, "Uh. Your thro- No. Your voice," his concentration breaks and he looks at her bewilderingly, "Wait, you can attack me with your voice?"
She keeps her blank demeanor and just stares at him. A subtle way of her saying she can kill him in many ways nobody else can.
"You know that whole mysterious ninja thing is cool and all, but right now it's just annoying."
(Pocket Realm)
Hours later, Mary Jane and Felicia have continued their exhausting ascent up the spiral stone bridge and illuminating torches with confessions. Some of them were not too deep truths, light hearted and whimsical. Like Felicia admitting she is not too great with kids or MJ admitting that being an actress isn't as glamorous as it's made out to be. While some cases were mildly deep, like with MJ's anxiety in being a good enough hero like Peter or Felicia admitting Peter being a good influence.
They also swap stories and offer each other advice on how to handle life's unpredictable twists and turns. In another example of them having similarities, the both of them said doing something adventurous or spontaneous is the way to go.
For Felicia, since she had a more direct connection to it, she mentioned the constant trips abroad. And while it does seem tempting, considering their present circumstances Mary Jane doesn't think that will be the preferred method. She said clubs are her preferred method. Dancing the night away, forgetting about her worries and losing herself in those moments. But Felicia said she wasn't welcomed in most New York City clubs. The feline themed thief did not divulge anymore, but she figures MJ can venture a guess as to why.
Hey, a girls gotta eat.
Anyway, now two are getting into deeper stuff. Felicia lost count of how many torches have lightened up because of her confessions to Mary Jane and said female friend also lost count. But that's not what they were keeping track of in the first place. More of who lights up more at a time.
At this moment, Mary Jane is telling Felicia over her desire to be closer to her family.
"…and I haven't spoken to my sister, Gayle, in months since her new marriage," Mary Jane says with some melancholy, "I miss her and the kids."
Felicia gives the redhead a look of sympathy, "I get that. I wish I could talk to my mom since she's pretty much all I got. But I know she wouldn't approve of my life choices considering I'm basically filling in my dads shoes."
That's the gist of it at least. Felicia's mother resented her father for the longest time. She is not even sure she made peace with him since after his death all these years later.
MJ looks at her curiously and asks, "Does she visit?"
Felicia responds with a shrug, "Sometimes. I see her maybe once or twice a year."
"That's more than I see anyone else besides my aunt Anna," MJ tells her friend before she looks at her curiously, "What kind of business does your mom think you do?"
"Trade," Felicia simply states, not wanting to go into more detail than that.
But she doesn't need to since MJ nods with an impressed look, "Smart. A line of business that makes plenty of money to excuse your lavish lifestyle and you're being vague enough to not have to go into any more details."
Felicia glances at the redhead, impressed that she would pick up on that. Most people would ask what she meant specifically, and she would have to spin a tale that would explain nothing, but people would buy it. She learned how to talk circles around even Wall Street types.
But that's neither here nor there. She looks back at the pathway and sees they are not far off from their exit. A few dark spots between her and red is all that is preventing them from leaving. So far, it's been a back-and-forth game between them.
And since she just revealed that tidbit about her mother, she feels like she could ask a question that has been browning her since the day before on their date, "So I got a question that been bugging me since yesterday," she announces. MJ looks at her expectedly, "Were you serious about letting me use a legitimate business you're starting to-?"
"Yes," Mary Jane answers before she finishes. The actress knowingly looks at the platinum blonde, "I know you better than you'd like me to. So I know that even though you're gonna tell us you're going straight, you're not going to be able to help yourself."
She should feel insulted but she doesn't. Felicia knows she is a kleptomaniac, to a degree. She does take things that tickle her fancy but on occasion does leave it behind if her Spider is involved.
"But why would you be okay with this?" Felicia inquires.
Mary Jane stops walking and gives her a serious look, "Because I don't want you to lie to Peter or me."
Now she feels irritated, "You mean like you two have?"
The redhead is caught by surprise by this and frankly so is Felicia. She didn't mean for that to come out. Truth is she wasn't even going to bring up the issue. She was just going to bury that inside until it came up later or it became a none issue.
"What are you-?"
"Red…" Felicia interrupts her before she sighs and decides to push forward. She started this, might as well see it through, "Back at the mansion, I heard the door close and could hear the two of you saying something. It may have been muffled, but I could still hear you two talking. And whatever it was, you both didn't want me to hear."
Mary Jane doesn't respond. Felicia knows that the supermodel has been caught in her own hypocrisy over telling lies or keeping secrets. Her calling out on Felicia made the thief want to return the favor.
"You don't trust me Red," Hardy states with a hurt tone, "You and Peter are keeping secrets from me."
She knew this back after their weekend together, when they closed the door after she got into the shower. She suspected they wanted to have a conversation over something she wasn't privy to. And she got that same feeling every time they glanced at each other when they thought she wasn't looking.
She looks at the redhead and sees her closing her eyes. Felicia figures MJ is trying to come up with something to say. But there is nothing that she can say that'll-
"I was pregnant," Mary Jane suddenly announces with great pain in her voice and Felicia whips her head at her in complete shock at the bombshell the redhead just revealed. MJ swallows and braves through as she tells the next part, "It was years ago. But… I lost it. Norman Osborn poisoned me."
That sends a thousand volts of lightning through Felicia's system. Spider-Man's worst enemy, the man who has tormented the hero practically his whole career, committed such a heinous act in poisoning Mary Jane so that they'd lose their unborn baby.
Felicia shakes her head in disbelief as she looks down, she can't even imagine the kind of pain they must have gone through, "Peter never mentioned-"
"He doesn't know." Mary Jane interrupts her.
The platinum blonde woman gets taken aback, "What?"
"Peter doesn't know," MJ reiterates as she looks down in sorrow, "I couldn't tell him Felicia. I knew how much this would destroy him. How much it still can."
Felicia stares at the redhead in disbelief. Unable to understand how this woman could keep such a secret. Well she can understand the need to protect him but still.
"Then how come Osborn never said anything?" Hardy questions, "That guy would relish in the opportunity to torture Peter with this."
MJ's eyes are shadowed by her hair, "That man is a sick twisted bastard. I don't even want to put myself in his head."
Hardy can't argue with that. That guy relishes in causing pain and misery to Peter. She can picture that man waiting for the perfect moment to reveal this information when it'll hurt him the most. Like when Peter is at his lowest to completely break him, or at his highest to tear him down.
And Felicia does not like either scenario. She feels like she has to say something.
And it seems her intentions are written on her face because Mary Jane knows what the thief wants to do, "Felicia, you can't tell him."
A bit bothered that her intentions were so easily read, Felicia doesn't focus on that though, "Red-"
"Listen," Mary Jane interrupts her as she grabs the woman's hands and looks her in the eyes with such sincerity, "I do trust you and so does Peter. But the secret we keep isn't because we don't trust you. It's because we don't want to hurt you."
Felicia's eyes light up in realization and in a bit of horror. Whatever they are keeping between themselves is something that is as bad as Mary Jane keeping that she lost a baby because of the Green Goblin from Spider.
Hardy's curiosity is still there, but now it's being overwhelmed by an immense amount of fear. She can't imagine what they are keeping from her that could be as bad if not worse than this secret. She doesn't even want to think about it.
Felicia turns her attention back to the pathway they are on and notices the last torches are lit, "Guess we can leave now."
She glances at MJ but the redhead doesn't look up. Her eyes are still pointed to the ground with tears threatening to fall from them. Seeing this, Felicia pulls the saddened model into a tight hug, and it reciprocates with just as much emotion. She holds her with her arms over her shoulders and MJ has hers around the waist.
Neither say a word. Felicia just keeps her hold on the mode, as if holding her together will stop her from falling apart. Which she feels like she is doing. She can actually feel Mary Jane holding in her tears and anguish by her taking deep breaths.
"Promise me you won't say anything about this to him," Mary Jane requests.
Fleicia doesn't immediately respond. In her mind, Peter has every right to know about this. But at the same time, she knows him as well. Mary Jane is right in how something like this would destroy him. He would definitely hunt down Osborn and likely kill the man.
While the idea of someone like Osborn dying is pleasing to her, Felicia can't stand the thought of Peter being the one responsible for it. She knows the guilt of it will eat at him, even though there is nothing for him to feel guilty for. She has to protect him from himself.
"Felicia?"
Felicia tightens her hold on her friend and buried her face in her neck. This is also something else she has to protect. She can't lose this. Him or her.
"I promise."
(With Peter and Elektra)
To sharpen a sword, one needs the proper tools and method. Most think it doesn't take much skill or intelligence. But most are fools. A blade requires constant care and different blades require different techniques. Above all else, patience is key. One cannot rush sharpening a blade, otherwise one can break the blade and make it useless. Even go so far to use a whetstone to break the blade out of frustration.
In the end, it's a lot like teaching. Different techniques for different students and above all else, patience.
"Boy, you are one violent angry woman. These things I'm seeing in my head over what you plan to do to me are vicious."
'If it weren't for my years of training and discipline, I would have given into my irritation and taken a stone to bash this man's head with it. If only to get some quiet,' Elektra darkly thinks to herself. "And yet you seem insistent on infuriating me," she says.
Peter, still sitting on the floor in a meditative position with his eyes closed, shrugs and retorts, "Meh, I tick off my bad guys and they try to kill me regularly. You only want to kill me now, at this moment."
Elektra, who is still standing in front of the man, takes a breath to quell her anger and forms another plan of attack.
"You are about to grab me by the head and drown me while beating me viciously," Peter announces.
Elektra nods in satisfaction, "Good," she says before she changes her intention of attack and focuses on hiding it.
This has been going on for hours now. Elektra is about to attack Peter but stops when he announces her intentions and method of attack. Rinse and repeat, only making it less obvious each time. She uses a technique to hide her intent so that he focuses more to actually sense her intended actions. Anansi did say that was how Venom hid himself from the hero.
At first he was unable to accurately detect her action but as time progressed and she continued to berate and correct him, he eventually figured out how to sense her when she was hiding or disguising her intentions.
It has been an interesting experience for her to train someone like this. Not attacking them or doing anything physical, but focusing more on the mental development of the hero. He focuses on his spider sense and as time goes by, he is picking up what he needs to do to understand and better utilize his ability.
"You are about to jab your fingers through my eyes and then rip out my-wow you are really mad at me."
Though as interesting as it has been, she cannot wait to be done with this insufferable fool.
And it seems he shares in her desire to be done with this as she hears him groan and flop onto his back, "Are we done now? I'm bored."
She resists the urge to roll her eyes at his childish behavior but relents in his request, "Very well. I believe we achieved what we set out to do."
"Thank god," he says with great relief before, in a show and flair of his acrobatic skills, he flips on to his feet and lands right in front of her, "So you wanna sing show tunes on the way back?"
She gives him a blank look, "No," she states before she turns around and walks away, heading the same way they came in.
He quickly rushes to walks beside her, "C'mon we just spent the whole day with you envisioning multiple ways of killing me. If that doesn't make us friends then I don't know what does."
"I can only imagine how your enemies treat you if your standards for friends are so low," she retorts without looking at him.
He gasps at her, making her raise a brow at him, "Did-did you just make a joke?"
Now she feels insulted but she hides it well when she looks at him. Did he think she has no sense of humor or is unable to convey it?
He seems to pick up on it since he raises his hands placatingly, "Sorry, it's just the entire time we spent together, you barely did or said anything? Not even when I was provoking you."
"I was tasked with training you to better hone you extra sense," she states, ignoring his correction and saying 'It's called spider sense' because she will not be saying that, "I was focused on the job unlike you."
He sighs at this, "I was focused. Sorry it wasn't to the same degree you were but I was focused."
"Regardless," she starts as they arrive at the pool they came out from, "I completed my task and now I'm going to go and collect the information that was promised."
He seems to recall why she agreed to do this in the first place before his face adopts an expression of concern, "You're not gonna hurt anyone right?"
She doesn't answer. She just stares at him blankly and gestures to the pool, "I can't travel through this on my own."
She's hoping he gets the unsaid message to mind his own business, but he doesn't care for it and presses the issue, "Okay look," he says with a firm tone, "You helped me out today, and I'm very thankful for that. But I will not help you get out of here until you promise not to hurt anyone."
"Are you going to stop me?" Elektra questions.
He hesitates to respond before he looks her in the eyes and says, "Remember what I said about Matt telling me you are a good person?" She assumes it's rhetorical so she doesn't say anything, "After spending the day with you, I can see it too."
She raises a brow at him and points out, "I made you envision various scenarios where I attacked you or murdered you viscously."
He winces as he realizes his blunder and awkwardly scratches his head, "Well, yeah but you were training me. It was in a very traumatizing way but still."
While she can appreciate the sentiment, it's pointless. "I am what I am," she impassively tells him what she has told countless others, "I make no apologies for it."
She made the choices she did. She takes full responsibility for what she does and who she is. She makes no excuses.
"Is it because you don't want to or don't feel like you should?" Peter questions.
The question makes her think for a moment before she counters with, "What would be the point? I've made those decisions. Feeling guilty or sorry will do nothing."
He goes quiet for a moment. He gets a sort of thoughtful look on his face, but not one where he is thinking on her words. Rather it seems he is thinking of a retort.
"You know why I have such a guilt complex?" Peter rhetorically asks her, "Because I care a lot. I've been told maybe too much by some close friends. The safety of everyone in the city is not my responsibility and that anytime something bad happens, it's not my fault," he gets a melancholy look, "But… they don't understand. To me, saving one life isn't just a typical day. To me, saving one life is like saving a whole world."
She looks at him curiously as he continues, "My uncle Ben had an amazing and simple life. He served in the army, he raised me and practically raised my father, and he did his best to be an honest good man. And he tried to make sure that I was the same," he gets a fond expression, "He worked hard everyday to make sure me and my aunt had everything we needed to live a good life."
Elektra realizes what he means by a life being a whole world. It's their story. What they've done, do, and will do. An admirable way to view the hero lifestyle, but there is a flaw in his view.
"He sounds like he was a good man. But not all are like that. What if they do nothing but bring misery and pain onto others? Would their lives still be worth protecting?" She questions.
He gets silent for another moment before he says, "Harry Osborn is a very close friend of mine and his dad, Norman Osborn, is my worst enemy," Elektra raises her brows in surprise at this information as Peter continues, "Years ago, Norman was impaled by his own glider after he killed the woman I loved. We thought he was dead and Harry blamed Spider-Man and was angry with me for defending the man he believed killed his father."
Elektra continues to look at him in surprise. She has heard the story of Green Goblin being Spider-Man's true nemesis from Mathew and other sources. The man being the bane of the hero's existence. And to think, he's close friends with the man's son and family.
Talk about a knife in the back on both ends.
"He is not aware of your double life then?" Elektra's inquires.
Peter shakes his head, "Harry? No. He hated Spider-Man and he tried to kill me to avenge his father."
"But you didn't kill him," Elektra points out the obvious, "He was impaled by his own weapon in an attempt to kill you."
Peter shrugs helplessly, "It's his father. Harry was blinded by the rage. And in his own sick twisted way, Norman loves Harry. Despite him being a monster to me and so many others, Norman was still a father and grandfather. Because of that, Harry took on his fathers Goblin persona and it nearly killed him. He's fine now, but it was a brutal road," Peter looks down to the ground in shame as he says this next part, "Killing Norman or any other villain could and would solve so many problems in my life. But it would also cause more. Because no matter how bad they are, they have people that care about them, and those people will come after me."
Elektra remains silent. Because she cannot refute what he said. She has had many come after her for justifiable reasons. Her kill count is long, and the list for people who she wronged is even longer. But she does not apologize for it.
And more than that, he seems to acknowledge how beneficial it would be to kill his enemies, but doesn't because he values life in every aspect. His example of Osborn being a father means that his son would, and in fact had, seek revenge on the man that kills him. No matter the consequences.
A loved one will always seek revenge.
'Something I understand far too well,' her conscience reminds her. How many has she had to kill that sought revenge for her misdeeds? Far too many to count.
Peter voices brings her back to the present, "My point is this Elektra, everyone has a story to tell. Some are amazing, some may seem dull, and some are down right horrific. But regardless, it's someone's story. An entire world that nobody has the right to bring to an end."
She gives him an askew look, "Sometimes bringing an end to one life can save and preserve more. Say a cruel dictator, corrupt businessman, or even a mob boss."
She is referring to Wilson Fisk. A man who's ambitions know no bounds and morals are nonexistent. Elektra firmly believes killing him would solve so many problems that plague New York and perhaps the country slightly. That's just based on the information she gathered on him spreading his business beyond New York.
"Kill one to save a thousand," he simplifies before he questions, "But it never stops at one, does it?"
Elektra frowns. Again, she cannot argue with that.
"Life is beautiful," Peter continues, "Painful, but beautiful. Everyday is a gift. To have it end because of someone else is just plain wrong."
She stays silent as she looks at the man. She wouldn't say she is stunned by his exposition, but she is surprised that it came from him. She keeps her stoic expression steady as she ponders on his words. To value an individual life in such a way, speaks volumes of the kind of hero he is. She assumed what everyone has, that he was more a joke of a hero than an actual hero.
Mathew, for all his convictions and morals, is a rather angry man. He does what he does to protect the innocent but to also punish the guilty when the law cannot. For when the law falls short, which is very often, Daredevil must intervene.
But Spider-Man is different. He doesn't just go stop villains and criminals from doing harm or breaking the law, he does it all to preserve life. To think Spider-Man's conviction is this deep and profound. She has definitely underestimated his character despite what she has heard of the man.
"So you do not do what you do to stop villains, but to prevent the loss of life," she summarizes his heroic path.
"Pretty much," Peter confirms with a nod before he gets a lopsided grin, "I won't deny and say there isn't a certain amount of satisfaction in smacking some of those guys around, Shocker comes to mind actually," he loses his grin and gets a melancholy look, "But some of those guys didn't have it easy. Life got to them and they chose to be a problem instead of a solution."
She looks at him curiously, "What do you mean?"
"You know about Otto Octavius?" He inquires and she nods, "His mechanical arms were and still are a revolutionary invention. I mean, the way that they can not only act on thought in milliseconds, but can also act on their own when needed, well…"
As he trails off, she picks up the underlying tone in his voice, "It almost sounds like you admire him."
"I admire the genius in him," he clarifies before he looks off into the distance as he sighs in disappointment, "But he wastes it on selfish endeavors."
Again she sees he's being genuine. He is not angry at his enemies but rather he pities them. Because they chose a to walk a different path, one that follows their anger and greed, when he believes they could have chosen another.
"You're filled with much wisdom," Elektra comments as she gives him a scrutinizing look, "And yet you come off as a clown.
Peter huffs and nods in amusement, "Yeah, and I can get away with so much because of it."
"So this persona is a strategic move?" She asks, "So that your enemies underestimate you?"
If that is the case then he's far more clever than given credit for. Very clever if the deadly assassin is being honest.
Peter shrugs and responds with, "Somewhat. I mean, it's also a way to comfort people. Let them know that as bad or scary as the situation is, it'll be okay. Because I'm not that worried."
Elektra thinks about that for a moment before she points out the flaw in that, "It can also be viewed that you are not taking it seriously."
Peter nods, "True. Jameson certainly thought that since day one."
Hmm interesting. She just remembers that Peter Parker took pictures of Spider-Man for the Daily Bugle. A rather clever and underhanded way of gaining income and hiding his identity. Afterall, what fool would sell their own pictures to a newspaper editor whose sole purpose seems to be to make that person public enemy number one.
"But thanks to recent decisions I've made, he no longer sees me as a menace," he proudly states before getting a bothered expression, "A somewhat incompetent boob, but not a menace."
Her lip twitches in amusement, "Well at least he's more accurate."
He doesn't appreciate her humor, "Hey, most of my rogues know that they have to take me seriously to begin with. They also know that when they cross a line with me, they'll pay for it in bruises and broken bones."
That she has heard of as well. Apparently when he loses his temper, he leaves his enemies in a mess. Most know that when he reaches such a point, it's best to cut and run.
She gestures to the water hole again, "Shall we?
He nods and steps forward to stand by her. He is about to place his hand around her waist but stops and hesitates. He then aims to place it on her shoulder but stops again. This moment continues as Peter awkwardly tries to find the best and most suitable spot to place his hands.
Deciding to have mercy on him, she grabs his hands and wraps them around her waist. She gives him a look that tells him not to argue and he nods.
Honestly, what does he think? He places his hands on her and suddenly she'll find him attractive.
(With Mary Jane and Felicia)
Mary Jane thought that as crazy as life with Peter can get, it should eventually reach peak craziness. After walking out of wherever she and felicia were in, she now finds herself standing in front of not one but two goddesses. Which undoubtedly puts a perspective on what craziness she can tolerate. Because she isn't intimidated or scared of them. She is more annoyed and aggravated by these two. Which is crazy because she knows they can kill her very easily. 'One of them created the world, or rather is the world, and all I can think about is telling them off.'
Maybe she just finally went crazy.
Before she can mull over that some more, she recalls what happened before she and Felicia went away, "Where is Sonja?"
Gaea, standing with Aphrodite by the large brazier, gestures to the side and both girls turn their sights to a green bubble. Inside the bubble curled in a ball is a familiar redhead in her ethereal form.
"Sonja!" Mary Jane exclaims in shock and rushes over to her. She stops when she reaches the bubble and finds it to be like a wall. She looks at the warrior with worry, "Are you okay?"
When she does not respond, Felicia turns her head and gives an accusing glare to the two goddesses, "What did you do to her?"
Mary Jane looks up to Gaea who responds with, "I spoke with her. Revealed some truths she was not aware of," the goddess gets a sympathetic expression as she turns her gaze to the downtrodden warrior in the bubble, "Unfortunately those truths were painful for her to hear."
"What truths?" MJ immediately asks, concerned that a strong person like Sonja looks so broken
Gaea shakes her head and responds, "It's not my place to tell you."
Mary Jane looks back at her friend in concern. She kneels down to be at her eye level and can see her eyes are red from crying. She places her hand on the bubble, "Sonja?"
The warrior closes her eyes and takes a breath, "I'll be fine. I just need time."
Sonja's weak assurance doesn't erase Mary Jane's concern. She may not know much of the warrior woman, but thanks to her connection to Sonja, she does know that the warrior did not have it easy in her previous life. She also bases it on specific cues she has picked up. She recognizes that Sonja's actions serve as veiled attempts to conceal her emotional pain. Mary Jane interprets Sonja's preference on limiting her relationship with Peter to primarily the physical aspects as a manifestation of her fear of emotional vulnerability. It even extends to Mary Jane whom she shares a body with.
Sonja is strong and she, much like a sword, had to be forged through fire and take lifes pounding. Whatever she had to deal with, whatever she went through, MJ can feel so much turmoil in her but it's buried deep inside.
'She shares that with Peter,' Mary Jane mentally notes. She stands but does not leave Sonja's side as she looks at Gaea with a hardened gaze, "What do you want?"
"I told you before I sent you in there," Gaea tells her, "My son, Anansi, made a request and I granted it."
Not satisfied with that, MJ opens her mouth to ask for more, but Felicia beats her to it, saying, "Why? Why make us go through something like that?"
Gaea regards them for a moment before she sighs and looks to the brazier, "Do you know what it means to be a champion, Ms. Hardy?" She asks and MJ assumes it's rhetorical, "Not in the context of one being a victor, but instead one that is chosen for a great purpose by those in position of power."
Fleicia crosses her arms as she inquires, "By positions of power, you mean gods?"
Gaea shakes her head, "No," she says, "Gods, much like my son Thor and his people, are immortal beings who have incredible power over forces of nature. Elder gods, like myself, are beings that have been here before it all began and have shaped reality. And then there are cosmic beings who are aspects of reality given thought and form," Gaea turns her sights back to the two women and gives them a serious look, "Your lover is a champion to beings in all three categories, and he is involved in a great game. He has been long before he was even born."
Both girls become confused, and MJ asks, "What? What the hell are you talking about?"
Gaea's eyes have a hint of regret in them as she answers, "Unfortunately I cannot say more."
Becoming aggravated by the lack of information, Felicia asks with a growl, "Why can't you tell us? Hell, why can't you do anything if it's that serious? Why do you have to involve us in whatever the hell is going on?"
Mary Jane shares Felicia's aggravation as she voices her own thoughts, "This is our lives, not some game you all can play with."
Gaea looks at them again, only this time, her eyes are hard as she responds, "Believe it or not, Ms. Watson, I despise doing this," she begins to walk towards the three women and Mary Jane can suddenly see the goddess for what she is, "Far too many times have gods and other beings interacted and interfered with humanity. Altering the course of your history to such a degree that you've all become involved in affairs that decide the fate of all reality."
Mary Jane tries not to back down as she stares the goddess in the eye, "We didn't ask for that."
Gaea regards her for a moment, "No, you did not," she says before her face gets a hint of sorrow to it, "But hardly ever a time comes when you receive what you ask for."
Mary Jane tilts her head in confusion, wondering what the mother of the world means by that. It didn't feel like a shot at her or anything. More like it was something personal for the goddess. Like she hasn't gotten what she asked for.
"Humanity is incredibly unique," Gaea tells them as she stares at them fondly, "An example of this is your uncanny creativity. Did you know music is actually a human creation?"
They did not know that, "Seriously?"
Gaea nods with a small fond smile, "Yes. Before your species, it was all just noise. Then humans harnessed it a created a concept that was adopted into the greater universe and beyond."
"Well that's all fine and dandy," MJ aggressively says, "but what does that have to do with why we're here?"
"And why is she here?" Felicia asks gesturing to Aphrodite.
Gaea turns her attention to Felicia and answers, "Aphrodite had once been the goddess of love. But she has not known what it is to be genuinely in love for a very long time. So she passed that mantle onto another," she looks back at her fellow goddess who has a shameful expression, "Her decision however was not for the best."
Seeing where this might be going, Mary Jane voices her concern, "You're not thinking about making one of us the new goddess of love, are you?"
"No," Gaea tells them, "Though one of you would have been a fine choice and the other a better one, she is not here to choose one of you to take that title," both glance at each other for a second, wondering who she means would be the better one before they look back at her, "She is here to provide a crucial element."
Aphrodite pulls an emerald diamond about the size of a baseball from her robes. She proceeds to hand it to Gaea, who then holds it out to Felicia. "As a way to apologize for making you go through with all of this, my son made another request of me and Aphrodite."
Mary Jane's eyes were wide when she saw the large rock, but not as wide as Felicia's. The thief was almost salivating at the sight of the valuable rock. When it was being offered to her, her eyes were sparkling.
"My son did warn me of certain instincts you might have in regard to this emerald, Ms. Hardy," Gaea says, making the model wince, "So, to quell any ideas you might be having, let me inform you that this is no ordinary emerald. This is one I fashioned with the help of Aphrodite," Gaea then forms a necklace to go with the emerald as she continues to speak, "I'm sure you're familiar with the term, a cat has nine lives," she finishes making the necklace and the once large emerald is now nine smaller one, "Now so do you."
Both girl's eyes are as wide as saucers now. They are rendered silent by the immense gift that Hardy has just received.
Gaea turns her attention to Mary Jane. "And for you, Ms. Watson," she says before she waves her hand, and a tree sprouts right by her. It grows as tall as the goddess, who then promptly pulls the thing from the ground with a single tug. She proceeds to hand the thing to MJ who is bewildered by this. She gives Gaea a questioning look to which she raises back a brow of her own, "You are learning to forge weapons for Sonja, are you not? Weapons made from that will know no equals."
Weapons? She thought she was learning to use magic by using items imbued with them. But she thinks on it some more, weapons make more sense. Especially considering who will be using them.
MJ looks back at her fellow redhead to see she is no longer curled into a ball. Though she has her hardened look, Mary Jane can see there is still great pain in her eyes.
Sonja's gaze is set on the small tree in Mary Jane's hand, "We will be needing that."
MJ, concerned for her friend, wants to ask why. But Gaea waves her hand and Sonja's bubble is gone and she is flying back into Mary Jane. It was a rushing feeling, like drinking multiple expresso shots. But she doesn't dwell on that as in another wave of her hand, Gaea sends them away. In a flash of light, both girls found themselves back out on the temple they had descended down from in the now-darkened forest they were traveling through to arrive at the temple. They look around and see that the table that allowed them to descend is no longer there.
Felicia frowns in displeasure, "She could have at least put us closer to the treehouses."
Mary Jane doesn't say anything. Too occupied by the days events. All the confessions and truths she told Felica and regaining Sonja's spirit has certainly been taxing.
But there are now even more concerns for her. Namely, what Gaea told Sonja that made the warrior woman become so downtrodden and what MJ told Felicia, a secret that not even Peter knows.
"Lies can do much harm, but they stand next to nothing compared to the truth."
She clenches her fists tightly. God give her strength.