"I'm going to crush you, Spider! Then I'll be the hero!" Electro attacked again.
Peter dodged easily, deliberately steering the battle toward the East River at the edge of Queens. He kept taunting Electro to keep his attention focused entirely on him, reducing the harm to civilians.
Just as they were about to reach the river, Electro suddenly fired a precise arc of electricity that severed Peter's web.
Peter lost his balance and slammed into the ground. Pain shot through his leg. The bone might have cracked.
Electro hovered above him, laughing triumphantly. "I'm stronger than you! You'll always be a loser, Spider!"
Peter rubbed his leg and rolled his eyes. "Can I ask a question before I die? Do you like water?"
Electro froze for a moment. Peter seized the opening to shoot a web around a nearby fire hydrant and yank hard. A high-pressure jet of water shot into the sky.
Peter pushed off a wall with his uninjured leg, leaping clear of the falling water.
"You think this can..." Before Electro could finish, the electricity spilling from his body touched the jet of water, instantly creating powerful circuit feedback.
"Aaah!" Electro convulsed and fell stiffly out of the air.
"That's basic physics." Peter fired two webs, pulled him closer, and drove a heavy punch into his chin.
Electro went flying. Peter leaped onto a streetlight and frantically sprayed webs down at him, wrapping him tightly from head to toe.
Dazed by the electric shock, Electro couldn't break free at first. But soon, the intense heat from his body began melting the webs, sending up wisps of white smoke.
Peter jumped back to the ground and smashed four more fire hydrants in succession, flooding the entire street. He quickly loaded a fresh web cartridge.
"Your lousy webs can't hold me!" Electro struggled, burning through most of the webbing.
"Maybe, but I can still make you hurt." Peter wrapped his right hand in thick webbing and climbed a wall, enduring the pain in his leg.
The instant Electro broke completely free, Peter leaped down from above and slammed a full-force punch into his face. With the sound of shattering teeth, Electro lost control and plunged headfirst into the standing water.
Szzzt-
The powerful current fed back through the water, and Electro began electrocuting himself. Peter knew he would die if this continued, so he shot out a web and hung him upside down from a streetlight, then bound him tightly in thick, insulating webbing.
Looking at the still-smoking Electro, Peter's scientific instincts kicked in. How could he store so much electrical energy inside his body without dying?
He walked over to a wrecked car by the roadside, twisted off a broken headlight, and used it as a test tube to collect some blood samples from Electro's split chin and gums. He sealed the opening with webbing and tucked it into a hidden pocket.
His curiosity satisfied, Peter immediately swung back toward the center of the incident.
Order was being restored at the scene. He saw Felicia helping an elderly person. Peter breathed a sigh of relief, swung back into the shadows, and changed into his Peter clothes.
Five minutes later, he ran back to the scene, panting. "Felicia!"
"Peter!" Her eyes reddened slightly when she saw him.
Peter pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. "You scared me to death, kitten."
"I'm okay. Sorry I ruined our date."
"Shut up." Peter lowered his head and kissed her. Felicia was startled at first, then willingly closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Cheers and applause erupted around them. Peter didn't know whether they were celebrating having survived or wishing the two of them well, but right then, he didn't care.
Rescue workers and police arrived one after another. Felicia was examined and found to have no serious injuries. Peter also saw three black trucks bearing the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo arrive and take custody of the upside-down Electro. Fury really was keeping tabs on him from the shadows.
Peter helped Felicia hail a car to the school dance.
But when they reached the school entrance, Felicia stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"My dress is ruined." She lifted the jacket Peter had draped over her, revealing the tattered evening gown underneath.
"I think you look absolutely perfect," Peter said softly, brushing her lips with his.
"I'm not going in." Felicia shook her head stubbornly.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"That's a shame. I wanted everyone to see how beautiful you are." Peter pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers.
"So I'm just something for you to show off?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No, a hero. A hero who saved people tonight." Peter gazed at her. "I want them to see the real you."
"That's not me." She sounded a little unsure of herself.
"Keep lying to yourself, kitten. I want at least one dance with you tonight."
"I said I'm not going in."
"Then we won't go in." Peter took out his phone, found a slow song, and pressed play.
He set his phone on a nearby bench and held out his hand to Felicia.
The melody flowed through the quiet street. Peter slipped an arm around her waist, and she leaned into his embrace. They swayed gently to the music.
She had a distinctive scent that deeply captivated Peter. He could feel her breathing gradually quicken, their body heat slowly rising in the night breeze.
"Everyone says you have no social skills. I didn't expect you to be such a romantic," Felicia said softly, resting against his chest.
"I was just waiting for the right girl." Peter looked down at her.
She was quiet for a while, then suddenly lifted her head. "Peter... do you want to go out with me another day?"
"Like a date?"
"Yes, a real date." Her eyes were earnest and bright.
"I'd love to, kitten." Peter smiled. "But I thought you weren't the type to settle down."
"I wasn't before," she admitted. "But you're different, Peter Parker. You're like a puzzle I can't solve. The more I try to figure you out, the more I can't stop thinking about you."
"So once you've solved me, will you lose interest?" Peter asked half-jokingly, though he felt a trace of nervousness.
"No," she answered softly.
"That's good." Peter chuckled.
Neither spoke again. They simply held each other quietly, dancing to the music on the street. The stars twinkled above them, as though even time had stopped for this romantic moment.