It was around noon when the car pulled up in front of the Empire State gate. Per Gwen’s request, George had co to pick her up personally. She got into the passenger seat, and Harry Osborn settled into the back, his eyes distant, lost in thought.
Behind the wheel, George glanced at the rearview mirror before speaking in a firm tone:
"Peter is under police surveillance. He’s hospitalized... at an Oscorp facility, in fact."
He made a point of emphasizing the last part while discreetly eyeing Harry in the mirror.
Harry gave a wry smile, his mouth tight.
"Of course he is," he replied bitterly.
"Because everything revolves around Oscorp, doesn’t it?"
George didn’t press the issue. He took a deep breath and continued, his tone lighter now—but still full of concern:
"Last night... if it weren’t for Spider-Woman, I doubt anyone on that team, including myself, would’ve made it ho."
He was referring to the battle against the out-of-control Peter, already corrupted by a mutation beyond control.
"Not just the team," he added, more seriously.
"The entire city could’ve been in ruins. Maybe even the country."
It was the first ti George had spoken of Spider-Woman without a trace of suspicion. His view of her was changing. She had saved lives. That much was undeniable.
As he drove, George shared with the two young people what had happened after the fight—the containnt, the ergency protocol, the quarantine around the area, and the decision to keep Peter under observation in absolute secrecy.
The ride to the hospital didn’t take long. Upon arrival, they were ushered in without much resistance. No one would stop Captain Stacy—especially not with Norman Osborn’s son beside him.
The infirmary was guarded like a high-security prison. Caras, two ard agents, and a biotric scanner on the door. But George’s presence alone was enough to grant them access.
Gwen and Harry entered together.
Inside, Peter lay in bed, his skin pale and his eyes weary. Several machines monitored his vitals. When he saw his friends, his expression softened, but there was still a heaviness in his gaze. Guilt? Sha? Perhaps both.
"Gwen... Harry..." He tried to sit up but failed.
"I... I don’t even know what to say..."
Gwen stepped forward and took his hand.
"You don’t have to say anything. We’re here, Peter."
Harry remained mostly silent. He watched his friend, but his mind was elsewhere.
They talked for a few minutes. Nothing deep—just enough to ease so of the tension. Peter seed confused, still under the effects of dication... or maybe sothing more.
When the brief visit ended, the three left the infirmary in silence.
Harry turned to Gwen, looking like he wanted to say sothing—maybe about Peter, maybe about his father. But before he could speak, a new figure appeared at the end of the hallway.
"Dad...?" Harry murmured, surprised.
Norman Osborn, in a flawless dark suit and with a calculating gaze, walked with firm steps, as if he already knew exactly what he’d find there.
George narrowed his eyes. Even though this was an Oscorp hospital, Norman rarely showed up at dical facilities personally.
Norman also noticed Harry. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face but was quickly replaced by a neutral expression.
"Captain Stacy," he said with a formal nod.
"I’m here to see Peter Parker."
George raised an eyebrow, curious.
"And why exactly?"
"I t the boy once. A remarkable young man. Intelligent. Brilliant, even."
Norman answered without hesitation.
"I just wanted to check on him... as a family friend."
It was a convenient excuse. And technically plausible. George had no official reason to stop him.
Norman turned briefly to Harry, placing a rehearsedly cold hand on his shoulder.
"I know this is a difficult ti," he said.
"But there’s no reason for you to keep avoiding ho. Co with later."
Without waiting for a response, Norman turned his back on his son and entered the room, escorted by two discreet guards. Harry didn’t say a word—he just stood there, jaw clenched.
Gwen exchanged a look with George.
"Have you ever seen him like this before?"
"No..." George replied, suspicious.
"Not in hospitals. Norman usually sends others to do this sort of thing."
Inside, Peter’s eyes widened when he saw who walked in.
"Mr. Osborn...? What are you doing here?"
Norman smiled—one of those smiles that never reached the eyes.
"I’m Harry’s father. And my son’s friends are important to ."
He approached the bed, his voice soft... but with sothing hidden behind it.
"Peter, I’d like you to tell more... about the substance you injected. How did it make you feel? Were there any cognitive changes? Physical? Dreams? Visions?"
Peter hesitated, confused. But he answered. Still weak, still vulnerable, he described the sensations: the heat rising through his veins, the initial ntal clarity, the increase in strength—and then, the loss of control.
Norman listened intently. Analyzing. Calculating.
Half an hour passed.
Outside, George checked his watch. Sothing about the delay didn’t sit right.
"Harry... has your father known Peter long?"
Harry shook his head.
"Far as I know, they only t once."
That answer only heightened George’s concern. The conversation was taking too long. He stepped forward, about to open the door—
But just then, it opened on its own.
Norman stepped out calmly, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket. His face was expressionless—but his eyes... sothing about them had changed.
He noticed George’s suspicious stare and rely said with a polite smile:
"We were just talking."
George crossed his arms.
"I imagine so."
But deep inside, a voice scread: Norman didn’t co here just as a friend’s father. He ca as a scientist.
And Peter, now, was more than a patient.
He was a test subject.
Norman adjusted his shirt cuffs under his blazer as he turned to George and the young people.
"We were discussing biochemistry," he said with the calculated calm of soone who knows exactly what he’s doing.
"You know how it is... the field of science is always advancing, and Peter has a remarkable intellect."
George kept his gaze locked, trying to read between the lines of that casual tone.
"We have much to talk about, after all," Norman concluded as he walked away.
"Co, Harry."
Harry glanced briefly at Gwen before following his father, reluctant, like soone being dragged by an inevitable tide.
As the two disappeared down the hall, George gave one last look and opened the infirmary door, stepping inside again.
Peter was still awake, his eyes low but alert.
"Peter," George said directly.
"What exactly did you and Norman talk about?"
Peter hesitated for a second.
"He asked how I felt after the... mutation. Said it was out of scientific interest. After all, he’s a biologist too."
George narrowed his eyes but didn’t push further. Inside, alarms were blaring.
Peter stared at the ceiling for a mont, then turned his face to George, his expression tired but clear.
"Uncle George... what’s going to happen to now?"
George took a deep breath.
"I don’t know, Peter. My only order was to bring you here and keep you safe. What happens next... is out of my hands." He paused.
"We’ll only know once you recover."
Peter nodded slowly, then looked toward the door. Gwen was still there, watching in silence. Their eyes t.
"Gwen... I’m sorry. For everything."
She stepped forward, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Peter... welco back."
anwhile...
"Tony! For God’s sake... what are you doing?"
Pepper stood at the entrance of the makeshift lab, eyes wide, still in her pajamas. She’d spent the night with him, but when she woke and didn’t find him in bed, she followed the trail... and found a chaotic scene.
Machines taken apart, circuit boards scattered, and a gaping hole in the wall. It looked like a missile had gone through—or maybe just a bored genius with too much access to tech.
Tony, his face smudged with grease and a wrench in hand, didn’t even look back.
"Relax, I just... reconfigured everything for a new experint." He winked.
"I even called a crew to fix this already."
And, right on cue, JARVIS’s voice ca through the speakers:
[Sir, the repair team has arrived.]
"See?" Tony grinned.
"Punctuality. JARVIS will guide them. Now... you and I are going out for a bit."
Pepper crossed her arms.
"Tony, I have a thousand emails, three etings, and a pending rger with the Japanese."
Tony gently took her hand and kissed the back of it like a smug gentleman.
"I’m giving you the day off. I’m the CEO, rember? Total autonomy."
"This isn’t a monarchy, Tony."
"Of course not..." he said with a mischievous smile.
"But if it were, I’d still make you queen."
Pepper had no choice but to give in. A few minutes later, dressed and ready, she got into the car with Tony.
"Where are we going now?"
Tony started the engine and replied playfully:
"Rember that milk tea I brought the other day?"
"You an the best tea I’ve ever had in my life?" Pepper laughed, already excited by the mory.
"Exactly. We’re going straight to the source."
"Then my day off is already worth it."
Tony looked at her sideways, teasing.
"I thought I was the reason."
"It’s the sa thing," she replied with a smirk.
"Hm... you’re important, Pepper. But that tea... it’s practically divine."
"For that reason alone, I’m in."
The car sped down the road, heading toward Arthur’s estate.
At Stark Industries...
Happy looked at his phone with a content little smile.
"Have fun, leave the rest to us," he read aloud from Tony and Pepper’s ssage, nodding in approval.
Before he could even put the phone away, the door opened. Natalie Rushman stepped in with firm strides, carrying a file folder under her arm. She was dressed in professional elegance—a dark pencil skirt, a crisp white blouse, just like the efficient legal assistant everyone believed her to be.
"Mr. Hogan," she said with a polite nod.
"Ms. Potts isn’t here?"
Happy smiled.
"Ah, Natalie. She went out with Tony today. Couple stuff, you know how it is. I’m the only one left holding the fort."
"I see," she said, glancing at the empty office around her.
"Well then, I’ll get back to work."
Happy raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
"Hey, no need to rush. It’s a slow day. How about a movie? Rom-com? I’ll make coffee. You deserve a break too."
Natalie kept her professional smile but shook her head.
"I appreciate it, but I’ve got reports and contracts to review. Ms. Potts left quite the paperwork stack on my desk."
"All right," Happy said, raising his arms in mock surrender.
"But if you want the real coffee... the best the machine has to offer, you know where to find ."
"Noted, Hogan."
She turned and headed to her private office. But as soon as the door closed behind her, the smile vanished.
In silence, she activated a small communicator hidden inside the brooch on her cuff. A blue light blinked once.
She typed a quick ssage on a projected holographic keyboard:
[Tony Stark and Potts have left Stark Industries.]
She signed it as R-17, a codena only S.H.I.E.L.D. would recognize.
The helicarrier symbol briefly appeared on the display before vanishing.
Natalie sat down again as if nothing had happened, picking up a fake contract from her desk.
She remained invisible.
But watching every move.
(End of Chapter)
Give so power stones there you go~😉
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