Liz stole the show in school today.
In the corridors, classrooms, and cafeterias, people everywhere were talking about the heroic rescue scene that Johnny-Human Torch staged on the street. Most people didn't even know she was dating Johnny Stone before, but now the whole school knows.
Peter leaned against the wall of the corridor, watching the crowd surrounding Liz asking questions. Liz and MJ tried to pull him over several times, saying they wanted to talk about how to help Johnny deal with Vulture, but he just waved his hand and turned away.
He wasn't in that mood.
There was no way to tell them what they wanted to hear - they thought the guy in the red and black suit had returned.
After school, Peter drove to the cafe.
The place where he and Felicia used to go.
There was no change in the store. He walked to the booth at the end against the wall and sat down, ordered a hot drink, and just waited. Maybe one day she would open the door and walk in, and he would see her again. Maybe.
But today is obviously not that day.
He picked up the cup and drank slowly, and a figure sat down on the chair opposite.
Peter raised his head.
Natasha took off her heavy winter coat and sunglasses and put them on the table. It was getting colder and colder outside. She looked at Peter and said in a calm tone, "Hello, Peter."
"Natasha." Peter nodded without getting up, "Is something wrong?"
"No." she said, "Do you know why I came?"
"Johnny said?"
"No." Natasha looked at him, "Adrian Toomes. He calls himself Vulture."
Peter raised his eyebrows. He smiled, "I thought he would call him Birdman."
Natasha showed no expression. She looked at him for a moment and then said, "Will you come back?"
"Return to the heroic life?" Peter asked. She nodded.
Peter snorted, "Forget it."
He took another sip of the drink. After a while, he still couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Tell me about Toomes."
"I thought you quit."
"Just think of it as curiosity."
Natasha was silent for a moment and said in a voice that was almost a whisper, "He runs a secret arms network and specializes in manufacturing weapons using Chitauri's technology. Although the workmanship is rough, it is very powerful. If it falls into the wrong hands, it will be very dangerous."
"Why did he find Harry·Osborn?"
"Norman·Osborn has been trying to obtain alien technology since the invasion incident." Natasha said in a calm tone, "He intercepted a large amount of Toomes's goods."
"So Toomes wants to arrest Harry and force Norman to return the things." Peter naturally followed this inference.
Natasha nodded. "Exactly."
"How powerful are those weapons?"
"It's big."
"What information does S.H.I.E.L.D. have on Norman?"
Natasha glanced at him. "Norman has been trying to combine Chitauri technology with Otto's solar energy concept. Tritium is too rare, and he plans to use those purple-emitting stones as a substitute."
Peter hummed thoughtfully. "That can indeed produce enough energy... and radiation will cause energy to explode, triggering a chain reaction, and continuously amplifying. Otto's machine can run forever."
"This is also our judgment." Natasha said.
Peter looked at her. She had no intention of leaving. He sighed, "I can't do it."
"I didn't ask anything."
"You've already asked." Peter picked up the cup, "You could have left a long time ago, but you are still here. You want me to keep an eye on Osborn to make sure he doesn't do anything crazy. If you don't want to ask this, make sure I won't put on the red and black suit again, and then it's time to leave."
"No." Natasha put on his sunglasses and stood up.
"Very good, because I won't go!" Peter said towards her back.
"I know." She opened the door and left the cafe without looking back.
Peter sighed. Crazy redhead.
At this moment, the phone vibrated. It was a text message from Norman·Osborn:
Peter, no contact for a long time, sorry for not being able to keep in touch.
This text message is to invite you to the dinner party held by Osborn Enterprises in my suburban laboratory. Otto's project has finally made a breakthrough, and we are ready to officially launch it and announce it to the public.
The event will be held three days later and is a formal dinner. I believe you will want to see with your own eyes the future that Osborn will create.
--Norman·Osborn
The invitation letter he sent this time was quite formal.
Peter put the phone away and continued to drink his drink. He wasn't going. No, don't even think about it. I wouldn't go even to death...
But what if something goes wrong with Otto's experiment?
That guy might go crazy because of this and become Doctor Octopus. At that time, his life will only become more difficult.
No, what was he thinking? Doctor Octopus only had trouble with Spider-Man, and he was not Spider-Man, not anymore. But... but this didn't mean that he directly signed a death notice to Rosie. He knew that he could never forgive himself.
... Damn it.
***
Three days later.
Peter drove to Long Island's laboratory. It was already dark, and he told Aunt May and Uncle Ben to go out on his own - saying that Harry invited him to attend his father's party. He also told his father the same thing.
From a distance, the place looked more like a resort than a research facility. The car was stopped at the entrance. Peter rolled down the window and the security guard came over. "Name and ID."
"Peter·Parker." He took out his driver's license and handed it over.
While the security guard was swiping the card for verification, Peter glanced inside. He was wrong - it looked like a resort from the outside, but it was actually a huge hangar inside.
He lowered his head and looked at himself reflected in the window. He was actually wearing a tuxedo. He sighed and raised his hand to straighten his tie. When he told them it was a formal dinner, his father insisted on buying him a new dress. He didn't want to spend the money, but his father wouldn't let him refuse, saying, "It's only natural for a father to buy a dress for his son. If I can't even do this, what use is there for me?"
The clothes are not fancy, simple and neat. Hidden under the vest is his Silk-Shooter. He doesn't know why he wears it, but he just does.
"Okay, sir, you can go in." The security guard returned the driver's license, "Go straight and hand the car to the parking attendant."
"Thanks."
Peter drove the car in. At the main entrance, the parking attendant was about to come over to take the keys. He waved his hand. "No. Doc, find a place to park."
"Okay, Peter." The on-board AI responded, and the car automatically drove to the nearest parking lot.
The people next to him were dumbfounded, some whispered, and some took out their mobile phones to take a video, but the car was already far away. Peter ignored it and walked straight into the hangar.
In the center of the hangar is a small experimental device belonging to Otto that has been enlarged countless times.
Peter swallowed.
He doesn't like this thing. The last time he saw something similar... was in "Spider-Man 2", where Otto was using it to threaten to blow up the entire New York.
The hall was filled with tables and people everywhere. Dresses, champagne, and flashing lights. A woman in a red dress walked past him, her body curves undulating just right under the satin. Peter quickly looked away.
He looked around. There were reporters, celebrities from all walks of life, and a few people who looked like security personnel. Did Norman expect trouble?
"Peter!"
A familiar voice sounded. Peter turned around and saw Otto and Rosie walking towards him with a smile.
"I was notified as soon as you arrived!" Otto smiled broadly, "It's great to see you!"
Peter also smiled, "Otto, Rosie, we meet again."
"Indeed, my young friend." Otto held his hand firmly, "Without you, this project would never have reached this stage."
"You praise me too much." Peter smiled and shook his head.
"You are too harsh on yourself." Otto said seriously, "Your technology is the real cornerstone of this project."
"What do you mean?"
"Parker's Blood." Rosie explained, "We use it to control energy transmission. Without it... it's hard to imagine what would happen."
"Ahem," Peter asked in a relaxed tone, "There won't be any problems like last time, right?"
"Oh no, don't worry." Otto smiled and leaned closer, "I have confirmed it repeatedly and found a third party to review. Everything will go smoothly."
"That's good." Peter smiled, "I'm not interested in being a black hole's dinner today."
Otto was amused and laughed, "Your jokes always make me laugh, Peter. Okay, sorry, we have to go socialize. Norman insisted that we continue to socialize with these... people." He muttered reluctantly.
Rosie smiled, "Don't blame him, he is really not good at dealing with people whose IQ is not as good as his own."
Peter shrugged. "I understand that feeling."
Rosie smiled and waved to him, and the couple turned and walked into the crowd.
Peter looked around the hall. There were people holding wine glasses and plates everywhere, chatting in small groups. He vaguely heard a few keywords - "Avengers", "S.H.I.E.L.D.", "Latveria". Without thinking much, he walked to the bar and ordered a Coke. He had to drive home tonight.
As soon as he picked up the cup, a woman came over and sat down next to him.
"Vodka, with vanilla." She smiled at the bartender.
Peter glanced at her. She was blond, pretty, probably in her early thirties, with a well-proportioned body, and might have practiced gymnastics.
"It's rude to stare." She didn't look at him.
"There are so many empty seats and you didn't sit down, so you sat next to me." Peter said.
"This doesn't mean I give you permission to stare."
"Just take a look?"
She turned her head and looked him up and down. She took the wine glass and said, "Sorry, you're too young."