Conversation
Chapter 7: Conversation
It was over. The clone conspiracy was done. Most of the clones were destroyed during the explosion in the New U Headquarters. Even if some of the clones survived, they would either get dissolved or disappeared out of sight. Prowler and Jerry Salteres would be cured of their earlier conditions with the New U procedures. Everything should return to normal after this, and Gwen Stacy from earth 65 would return to her earth as well.
However, before she could that, she needed to have one conservation with Cindy about Peter.
It was a few days after the New U Headquarters’ destruction. Peter, Cindy, Gwen, and Anna were all staying in Peter, Cindy, and Anna’s apartment to recuperate from the damages. Peter and Cindy were cuddling at the couch while Gwen was looking at them at a corner and Anna was off somewhere.
“What would happen if my earth’s Peter was still alive had he not taken the lizard serum? Would we be a couple like what I am seeing right now? Would we be doing something like this?” Gwen thought.
As Gwen looked at Peter and Cindy cuddling together on the couch, Gwen felt a big emotion hitting her heart and body. Deep within her heart, even after all those years, she still misses her earth’s Peter. Her earth’s Peter, the smart, nerdy kid of Midtown High who never got bitten by a radioactive spider. The Peter who never became a superhero. The Peter who died because he wanted to be like her...
“I just wanted to be like you...”
Those words her Peter said still linger in the back of her head, no matter how much she tried to block out those words. They still haunt her to this day...and she still hated herself for her earth’s Peter’s death.
As Gwen continued to look at Peter and Cindy, she wondered if she can ever hope that Cindy doesn’t meet the same fate as she did, seeing someone you care die in front of you.
“Hey Cindy, Gwen. Do you mind watching the apartment? I need to be out for a moment,” Peter asked.
“Sure,” Cindy replied.
“Okay,” Gwen replied.
Peter then left the apartment, leaving Cindy and Gwen alone. There was an awkward silence between the two, as Cindy was looking a doppelganger of Peter’s deceased first love. Cindy heard about Gwen Stacy from Peter and the history they shared.
“So...” Gwen said as she tried to start a conservation. “How’s Peter?”
“Hm? Oh, well he’s fine. He’s caring, always considerate of other people, and nice as well. He treats me well, respects me and my boundaries, and accepts me of who I am.” Cindy said with a smile.
“I see. Does he tend to put himself in front of danger for danger as well?”
“Yup.”
“Guess your Peter is still the same then. A reckless, selfless, self-sacrificing idiot,” Gwen joked.
“Yeah,” Cindy said as she laughed at Gwen’s joke.
As Cindy and Gwen continued their conservation, they talked about their Peters’, including how similar they are; their interests, their favorite foods, and how they act. Of course, the happy conservation had to end when Cindy had to ask one simple question.
“So, you going to visit your Peter once you get home?” Cindy asked.
The silence returned as soon as Cindy asked that question. Gwen felt the pain return after hearing that question. It brought out painful memories, especially after what happened to her earth’s Peter.
“What’s wrong?” Cindy asked.
“It-it’s nothing,” Gwen hastily answered.
“Are you sure about what you just said?” Cindy asked, not convinced at all.
“What do you mean?”
“There’s tears coming out of your eyes.”
As Cindy said that, Gwen touched her face and noticed that it was wet. Fresh droplets of water came from her eyes from the mentioning of her earth’s Peter. Even after all those years, mentioning her earth’s Peter’s death still hurts Gwen.
“Alright. The truth is...my earth’s version of Peter died a long time ago,” Gwen said sadly.
“How?” Cindy asked.
“Well...it was a long time ago. It happened when me and Peter were in high school along with Harry Osborn. We were best friends, until a certain event split all of us apart,” Gwen said in a sad tone.
“What happened?”
“It was during the Midtown High school dance. During the dance, I went with Harry, and it set Peter off quite a lot. To make matters worse, nearly all of Midtown’s students started picking on him and made fun of him for being alone during the dance.”
“Wow. That’s horrible. No one should be treated like that,” Cindy said.
“Yeah, and that was not the worst part. Then Peter took a serum made by Dr. Connors that was supposed to give traits of a lizard to a normal person. He wanted to get revenge on those who taunted him on that day. However, the serum wasn’t properly tested, and it turned Peter into a giant lizard, and he lost control. Of course, he returned to normal after I knocked some sense into him literally, but...”
“But what?” Cindy asked.
“Apparently Peter’s body couldn’t handle the effects of the serum and died because of it. However, before he died, he told me the reason why he took the serum and that was the worst part of it all.” Gwen said while tearing up.
“What did he tell you?” Cindy asked.
“He told me he wanted to be like me. I couldn’t believe it. He took a dangerous, untested serum just because he wanted to be like me! I didn’t want him to be like me! I just wanted him to stay the way as he was before!” Gwen yelled in tears.
Cindy gasped at Gwen’s confession. She didn’t know that Gwen had been holding these feelings this whole time. Gwen then went into a moment of uncontrolled sobbing as she could not handle the amount of feelings she was going through right now. Cindy then hugged Gwen out of comfort.
“Th-thanks,” Gwen said while hiccuping.
“No problem. So, what happened afterwards?”
“After Peter’s death, I became a public menace thanks to J Jonah Jameson. Of course, it wasn’t easy balancing both of my lives, especially with my dad hounding me without knowing who I am, and such. Eventually, a lot of stuff happened, and everything worked out in the end.” Gwen said while calming down.
As Gwen said that, Cindy released Gwen from her hug, knowing that she was fully calm now.
“You know...I was a little bit jealous of you the first time we met,” Gwen said.
“What do you mean?” Cindy asked, with a bit of worry in her voice.
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate you. I’m just jealous that well...there’s a Peter here that didn’t take the lizard serum, and instead just remained as himself, and the lucky girl who’s with him isn’t me, but rather you. Not only that, but you seemed to give Peter the happiness he deserved.”
“Gwen...” Cindy said.
“Even though I’m supposed to be happy for you two...my heart still hurts...” Gwen said with a sigh.
Cindy then placed a hand on Gwen’s cheek.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find someone who’s like Peter,” Cindy assured her.
Gwen looked surprised, but then smiled.
“Thanks,” Gwen said.
“No problem,” Cindy replied.
The two smiled at each other and then Gwen asked a question.
“Hey Cindy?”
“Hm?”
“Can I ask you a favor?” Gwen asked.
“Sure. What is it?” Cindy asked in return.
“Can I count on you to make sure Peter stays safe and happy?”
“Well...yes, but why are you asking me?”
“Because, if your Peter is like my earth’s version of Peter, then he’s bound to do something reckless and stupid that will require his own life, not knowing what would happen to the people who care about him in the aftermath. I can’t just hop from my earth to here just to check up on him every day. Can’t move to here either. I need you to make sure he doesn’t risk his life without any backup. And honestly...you two seemed like a best match.”
“Really?” Cindy asked.
“Yeah,” Gwen said with a smile.
“Is this some kind of blessing?” Cindy asked.
“Well...yes, in a weird way. Technically, I am Gwen Stacy...well a doppelganger of her from another earth...so it...kind of works, I guess.” Gwen said awkwardly.
Cindy then laughed at what Gwen said earlier.
“Well then, I accept your favor/blessing.” Cindy said with a smile.
Afterwards, Cindy and Gwen then continued their earlier conservation about Peter.