First Encounter with Spider-Sense

Although Gwen Stacy spoke casually, Catherine Hepburn, who had lived through two world wars, could tell that beneath the girl's calm expression, she was not so calm.

Just like many soldiers who returned home after a major war, not everyone would exhibit symptoms such as mental disorders or hysteria. However, when faced with certain triggers, they could experience emotional breakdowns, which are also symptoms of PTS.

Catherine Hepburn said nothing, but simply opened her arms, came to the girl, and embraced her. "Oh, child. It's so good to see you're back safe and sound."

At first, Gwen Stacy felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't want to push the other person away. After feeling that warmth, she turned around and hugged the other person back.

As the two embraced, a sense of security washed over Gwen, and she unconsciously buried her face in Catherine Hepburn's shoulder. For some reason, this gesture caused the girl to sob softly.

Perhaps there was no sound, only a slight tremor in her shoulders. But Catherine Hepburn knew very well that Gwen was releasing her emotions.

For Gwen Stacy, who lost her mother at a young age, this hug was both strange and incredibly nostalgic. This was one of the reasons for her emotional breakdown. What If...? it had been a man hugging her today, perhaps it wouldn't have had the same effect.

However, Gwen Stacy's resilient character, cultivated since childhood, prevented her from becoming greedy or even addicted to the embrace. She quickly patted Catherine Hepburn's back, indicating that the hug could come to an end.

"Are you alright now?" Catherine Hepburn looked at the girl in front of her, her eyes glistening with tears.

"It's alright." Gwen Stacy smiled as usual and added, "Thank you."

"It's good that you're alright, otherwise I would have thought that you actually needed someone else's hug more." The old man said meaningfully.

However, Henry was currently stroking Kitty's head. Being suddenly called out, continuing to play dumb wouldn't be right, nor would going along with it and saying something sweet in public. So, he simply used a clever diversion. In plain terms: change the subject. "More than a hug, I need food right now. Have you had dinner? These past few days I've only been eating pig feed in that desolate place. I need something good to soothe my Mind Stone."

Although the topic was changed again, Gwen Stacy was indeed hungry after being called in for a lecture as soon as she walked in. "I haven't had dinner yet, and George won't be home tonight. Can I stay for dinner?"

"Of course. Considering you just had a terrifying night, what would you like to eat? Tell me. I'll give you the chance to order," Henry said generously.

"I want pizza, sweet and sour, the kind topped with pineapple. And a can of ice-cold beer, ah~, bn!" Gwen not only said a sentence in Italy, but also added her classic finger-blowing gesture.

This request, however, left Henry dumbfounded. "Girl, you really dare to order that. Aren't you afraid that if a real Italy finds out about this dish, they'll blacklist you permanently, and you'll never be able to set foot in Italy again?"

"So I'll have to rely on you to keep this a secret." Gwen blinked, making a playful expression.

Before Henry could react, the two underage girls beside him began to express their disdain. "Oh, come on. Let's go get a room. Don't get in the way of us."

Skye and Lorna stuck out their tongues and disappeared into the room, one after the other. Gwen, the caring older sister, quickly followed them in, ready to discipline the two kids.

Don't let their Metahuman fool you. With Gwen's intelligence, she can easily subdue them; neither of them can cause any trouble. A single arm-hug move is enough to completely suppress them. The two little ones don't even want to struggle; they just regret not having the same magnanimity.

Henry, embarrassed by Catherine Hepburn's doting smile, went off to buy ingredients and make pizza. He was genuinely hungry; he hadn't eaten anything proper in days, so this meal was a reward for his hard work in acting.

After the meal, Henry drove Gwen Stacy home. Although Police Station George Stacy often worked overtime and came home late, it didn't mean his college-aged daughter could stay out overnight without permission.

If George didn't come home and wasn't there, Henry feared the Police Station would come looking for him with a gun. That would be a very ugly situation. Gwen sat in the passenger seat, empty-handed, looking somewhat uneasy.

Because Little Red has been upgraded to Spider-Car, it's no longer the handheld toy it used to be. This big guy is restless in the back storage space, looking like it wants to run forward.

"Go ahead and say it. What If...? you have something to say," Henry said, seeing Gwen's awkward expression.

Mustering her courage Gwen Stacy turned to look at the man driving. "Henry, thank you for coming to me, even though you weren't really helpful."

The last sentence was mumbled. Henry certainly wouldn't use his Green Arrow Duck identity to claim credit, but instead said, "After hearing the news, Kate gave me a death order: you had to come back safe and sound. Fortunately, it ended up being a good thing."

"Ugh, so if Kate doesn't speak up, you won't have wasted these three days of your time?" Gwen questioned, puffing out her cheeks.

"Haha, of course not. Even if Kate hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have stood by and watched you be in danger. But if you want me to be of any use, you'd better tell me in advance. Otherwise, I'll always end up like the police, arriving only after everything's over."

Gwen bared her teeth, expressing her displeasure. "If George heard you say that, he'd be furious."

"Ha, looks like I have something I need you to keep a secret too," Henry said casually, while holding the steering wheel.

"But I have one question."

Faced with Gwen's earnest voice, Henry remained calm. "Go ahead and ask."

"Why would you think I'm in danger? I didn't say anything when you called me." Gwen's large eyes were brighter than the neon lights outside, impossible to ignore. Henry replied directly, "Little Red informed me." Little Red, who was on duty today, was in the back storage space, controlling the Spider-Car by raising its front arm, as if in response to Henry's answer.

"Little Red?" Gwen looked at the back seat, puzzled.

"Don't treat these two Spider as mere pets. You should realize they're very intelligent. But you don't really have a clear understanding of just how intelligent they are."

How smart?

Henry glanced at Gwen with a serious expression, then turned his attention back to the road. "Perhaps they can't solve the Riemann Hypothesis either. But their sense of crisis is incredibly accurate. When they warn that something is serious, it's definitely not a small matter."

"So when they tell you to leave or warn you that things are dangerous, don't ignore them. Look, like this time, things have gotten pretty bad. They're like jinxes, bringing bad things to the table instead of good ones."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a pack of tissues flew from the back seat and hit Henry on the back of the head. Spider-Car and Little Red were gesturing wildly again, swearing profusely.

Even with both hands on the steering wheel, he could still turn his head and unleash an Omega-class Heat Vision, right? He shouldn't end up igniting the entire Spider just by hitting a Spider, the Kryptonian thought viciously.