chapter twenty-six:
❛ peter's identity ❜

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The chaos of Times Square surrounded Gwen as she stood amidst the flashing lights, the murmuring crowd, and the towering screen that loomed over everyone. It was as if the city itself had stopped to watch the shocking announcement playing out before them. Mysterio's recorded voice rang loud and clear across the square, his ominous tone echoing through the air.

"Spider-Man's name is Peter Parker!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd, their attention glued to the screen as the words reverberated through the square. The video abruptly cut out, leaving an eerie silence that settled over the bustling city like a blanket. Gwen's breath hitched as the weight of those words hit her.

"Shit!" she blurted out, the panic in her voice louder than she intended.

Heads turned toward her in unison, and Gwen felt her stomach drop. She could feel the eyes of the crowd narrowing on her, whispers starting to spread like wildfire. It didn't take long for recognition to light up in their faces. She was Peter's girlfriend-Spider-Man's girlfriend-and now she was standing here in the open, exposed.

Above her, Peter knelt on a pole high above the chaos, his Spider-Man suit blending into the shadows. He'd heard the announcement too, his sharp senses picking up every word. From his vantage point, he could see Gwen's growing panic as the crowd began to move toward her, like a predator circling its prey.

"Peter!" Gwen yelled, her voice shaky with fear.

Before Peter could act, a man stepped out of the throng and grabbed her arm roughly, his grip firm and unyielding. "Are you Spider-Man's girlfriend?" he demanded, his voice accusing and laced with suspicion.

The murmurs grew louder as more people pressed in around her. Faces turned hostile, curious, and hungry for answers. Gwen twisted in the man's grip, trying to pull away, but the crowd was closing in too quickly.

"Peter! Help!" she cried, her voice breaking.

That was all Peter needed to hear. In a blur, he leapt from his perch, flipping gracefully through the air before landing in front of Gwen with a soft thud. His presence seemed to command the crowd's attention, and for a moment, the man let go of her arm, startled.

Peter wrapped an arm protectively around Gwen and stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Please don't touch her, sir," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

Without waiting for a response, Peter tightened his grip on Gwen, and in one fluid motion, he shot out a web and launched them both into the air. Gasps and shouts from the crowd followed them as they swung high above Times Square, leaving the chaos behind.

Gwen clung to Peter, her heart pounding as they soared through the city. She leaned close to his ear, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so glad they don't know I'm Spider-Woman!" she hissed.

Peter sighed heavily. "Yeah, well, that makes one of us," he muttered under his breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Gwen's mind raced as she tried to process what had just happened. "Where are we gonna go?!" she shouted over the rush of wind.

"Your house!" Peter suggested, angling toward her neighborhood.

"No! Enzo will kill you! He's a cop!" Gwen yelled, gripping Peter tighter as the city blurred around them.

Peter faltered slightly, confused. "What?! I thought you said your stepdad liked me!"

"That was before he thought you killed a superhero!" Gwen snapped. "Now he'll want you dead!"

Peter groaned in frustration, veering away from her house and landing them both on a narrow construction pole about fifty feet above the ground. He gently let Gwen down, giving them both a moment to catch their breath.

As Peter's phone buzzed, he turned away to answer it. "Dude," he said, recognizing Ned's voice immediately.

"Dude!" Ned replied.

"Dude," Peter echoed, the two of them locked in their usual banter.

"Dude!" Gwen shouted, cutting into the conversation. Peter turned back to look at her, startled, and in his distraction, Gwen nearly lost her balance. She yelped and instinctively shot out a web, pulling herself back onto the pole.

Peter winced. "I'm so sorry! You really have to keep pretending you're not Spider-Woman!"

Gwen glared at him but before she could respond, a voice called out from a nearby skyscraper. "Yo, Peter!"

Her gaze snapped to the source, and she froze. Helicopters hovered nearby, their searchlights sweeping over them, and she could see the glint of cameras flashing.

"Shit! We gotta go!" she yelled, pointing at the scene.

Peter didn't hesitate. He grabbed Gwen again, launching them both back into the air. This time, their escape was more frantic as they weaved between buildings, dodging helicopters and spotlights.

"Take the subway!" Gwen shouted.

Peter nodded and angled downward, flinging a web to open a subway grate as they plunged underground. The dim, claustrophobic tunnels surrounded them as they swung between the tracks, but the rumble of an approaching train made Gwen's stomach twist.

"Peter, look out!" she screamed.

Peter reacted just in time, leaping through a side opening with Gwen clinging tightly to him. They emerged back above ground, panting and shaken. Gwen's voice trembled as she yelled, "That was not okay! Not after the sewer incident when I almost died!"

Peter ignored her protests and grabbed her hand, pulling her along. "Come on!" he urged.

Reluctantly, Gwen climbed onto his back again, and Peter launched them into the air once more. This time, he didn't stop until they reached the fire escape outside his apartment window. Landing lightly, Peter let Gwen slide off his back before he approached the window and nudged it open.

Gwen stepped inside first, using her sticky fingertips to slide the window open smoothly. They both climbed into the safety of Peter's room, collapsing onto the floor in a heap. For a moment, the only sound was their labored breathing.

Gwen looked at Peter, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and frustration. "What now, Peter?" she whispered.

Peter ran a hand through his messy hair, his voice soft but steady. "Now? We figure out a way to fix this... together."

Peter and Gwen scrambled off the floor, still trying to process the chaos that had just unfolded. Peter quickly began peeling off his Spider-Man suit, his fingers moving hastily as the tight spandex caught slightly on his arms.
The moment it came off, he stood there in nothing but his boxers, his torso exposed to the cool air of the room. Gwen's gaze immediately snapped down to his abs, muscles defined and rippling with every movement, and she couldn't help but blush at the sight. She had always known Peter was in great shape, but now seeing him like this made her heart race. She quickly turned her eyes away, but the blush on her cheeks remained.

Peter, noticing her reaction, couldn't help but chuckle nervously, his voice light and a little embarrassed. "I know, I know. Not exactly what you were expecting, huh?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck in that awkward way he always did when he was flustered.

Gwen quickly cleared her throat, trying to recover from the moment, but it didn't help that she could still feel the warmth of his presence surrounding her. "Yeah, not quite," she muttered, trying to focus on something else. But before she could say anything more, her thoughts went entirely blank when Peter stepped toward her, his hands cupping her face gently, and kissed her fiercely. The kiss was passionate and urgent, a mix of adrenaline and unspoken relief, as if their bodies and minds both knew they needed this connection after the whirlwind of events they had just survived.

They stumbled backward, not even noticing as their bodies collided with the wall behind them. A sharp thud echoed through the room, but neither of them cared. The kiss deepened, the world outside seemingly disappearing entirely. Everything except for them felt irrelevant in that moment.

But suddenly, there was a loud bang. Peter and Gwen froze, breaking apart, eyes wide.
They both realized that the world outside was still very much real and very much a problem.

Peter pulled back first, looking around the room in panic, his hands still half-clutching at the sides of his suit. "I don't know what to do, Gwen!" he exclaimed, his voice high and a little frantic, clearly still reeling from the situation.

Before Gwen could respond, there was a loud creak from the door, followed by a quick and unceremonious swing open. Aunt May and Happy stepped into the room, their faces frozen in surprise at the sight before them.

"Oh my God!" Peter's voice cracked as he stood there, half undressed, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"I didn't see anything," Happy immediately said, his tone a little too defensive as he hastily turned his back to give Peter and Gwen some privacy.

Gwen, eyes wide with embarrassment, blurted, "This isn't what it looks like!" but she quickly realized that wasn't going to make this situation any less awkward.

Aunt May, clearly flustered but also concerned, rushed into the room, looking past Gwen and Peter with a wild-eyed look.

"Be safe! Protection!" she said hurriedly, trying to be the mother figure she always was, as she reached for the door to close it.
She seemed to want to avoid any more of the situation.

But Gwen wasn't having it. "May!" she called out, holding up a hand to stop Aunt May from closing the door completely. Aunt May looked back at her in surprise, her expression softening when she saw the look in Gwen's eyes.

May moved toward Gwen, pulling her into an affectionate hug. "Gwen!" Aunt May said, her voice thick with emotion as she squeezed the younger girl tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Gwen, still flustered but relieved at Aunt May's warm embrace, hugged her back. "Thanks, Aunt May," she said softly, taking in the comforting moment. But her relief was short-lived when Peter spoke up.

"Wait, have you been crying?" Peter asked, his voice suddenly laced with confusion, noticing the redness in Happy's eyes.

Happy let out a long sigh, clearly exhausted.
"We broke up," he said flatly, running a hand through his hair. "May and I... we're done."
Peter and Gwen both blinked in surprise.

"Oh," they said in unison, their voices mirroring the shock that had suddenly hit both of them.

Aunt May stepped back from Gwen, her face etched with sadness, but she tried to mask it with a soft smile. "It's... complicated, Peter," she said, her voice low but filled with an unspoken weight.

Peter looked between Aunt May and Happy, sensing the tension but unsure what to say next. He quickly snapped a web to close the window, making sure no more cameras were peeking inside. Gwen, still holding the shirt she had grabbed earlier, handed it to Peter.

He pulled it on quickly, his hands fumbling slightly as he worked to cover up the rest of the situation.
"I didn't know you guys broke up," Gwen said, her voice soft with genuine surprise. "I thought you were in love, Aunt May. Do you want to talk about it?"

Aunt May sighed, shaking her head gently.
"We'll talk about it later, Peter. Right now, I just want you both to be safe."

Peter looked at Gwen, his concern growing.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked her softly, but before he could say anything else, Gwen shot him a mischievous look.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice steady but carrying a hint of excitement. "But I need to go tell my family I'm dating Spider-Man," she said with determination, standing tall.

Peter's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Gwen, are you sure you want to-"

But before Peter could finish, Gwen leaned in and kissed him again, her lips lingering on his for a moment longer. "Wish me luck," she whispered, the corners of her lips curling into a playful smirk.
With that, she darted out of the room, leaving Peter to stand there, watching her go.

The moment Gwen stepped out the door, she was immediately met with the harsh glare of camera flashes. A swarm of reporters had gathered outside, having clearly been waiting for just this moment. The noise was overwhelming as they rushed toward her, firing questions with rapid-fire intensity.

"Is it true you're dating Spider-Man?" one reporter asked, her camera shoved too close to Gwen's face.

"Did you know Peter Parker's secret identity?" another shouted, pushing through the crowd to get closer.

"Are you in danger now that Spider-Man's identity is out?" someone else pressed, their microphone pointed directly at Gwen.

Gwen's heart raced as the realization hit her
-this was the moment her life would change forever. But instead of succumbing to the chaos, she stood tall and ignored the reporters completely. She didn't need their questions, their assumptions, or their need to dissect her life.

She walked through the crowd, head held high, refusing to acknowledge the bombardment of questions. Her eyes were focused straight ahead as she ignored their calls, pushing past them like she was walking through the eye of a storm.

The reporters kept shouting, but Gwen refused to let them control her. The only thing that mattered right now was telling her family the truth, and that was exactly what she was going to do.

Gwen arrived at her apartment, her heart still racing from the chaos of the reporters outside. She had barely made it up the stairs when the door swung open, and Melina-her little stepsister-came barreling toward her, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Gwen! Gwen!" Melina cried, her voice full of energy. "Did you know your boyfriend was Spider-Man!? Do you know Spider-Woman!?" She bounced up and down, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "This is so cool!"

Gwen's breath caught in her throat. She had barely had a moment to process everything that was happening, but now it was all crashing down on her in full force. She tried to keep her face calm, but she could feel a nervous smile tugging at her lips as she met Melina's excited gaze.

"Melina, what are you-" Gwen started, but before she could finish her sentence, Max, her older stepbrother, appeared in the doorway, his expression tense. He looked at her with an air of knowing and seriousness that made Gwen's stomach drop.

"You're in deep shit with Enzo and Mom," Max said bluntly, his voice low but firm. He crossed his arms, clearly not impressed with the situation. "And I'm not gonna lie, I'm not sure how you're gonna get out of this one."

Gwen blinked in shock, but before she could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the apartment as the door swung open, revealing her mom, Linda, and Enzo, her stepdad, both storming in. Linda's face was a mixture of confusion and anger, while Enzo's expression was grim, his jaw clenched tight. His eyes locked on Gwen with an intensity that made her blood run cold.

"Gwen!" Enzo barked. "What the hell is going on? I just got a call from the station saying Spider-Man's identity's out, and now they're saying you're involved? Do you know what this means?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air with authority.

Linda's gaze was equally furious. "You've been hiding this from us?" she demanded. "You're dating Spider-Man? And now Spider-Woman?" She shook her head, her voice growing frantic. "How could you keep something like this from us?"

Gwen opened her mouth to defend herself, to try and explain that she didn't ask for any of this, but before she could speak, the doorbell rang. The sound echoed through the tense silence in the apartment. Gwen's stomach twisted into a knot, and she exchanged a worried look with Max.

"Who the hell is that?" Enzo growled, clearly not in the mood for more interruptions.

Gwen felt a chill run down her spine. She had a sinking feeling she knew exactly who it was.

Enzo stalked toward the door, and when he opened it, two uniformed police officers stood in the doorway, their expressions hard and professional.

"Gwen Stacy?" one of them asked, his voice serious.

Gwen's heart dropped into her stomach as the second officer spoke. "We need to take you down to the station for questioning," he said, his tone unyielding.

Linda's face paled. "What? Why?" She stepped forward, her voice shaky with panic. "She's just a kid! What does she have to do with any of this?"

Enzo didn't look at Linda; his gaze was locked on Gwen, his eyes full of an emotion she couldn't place-frustration, disbelief, anger. "You should have told us everything, Gwen. Now look at this." His voice was rough with disappointment.

Gwen opened her mouth to protest, but the officer stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he addressed her directly. "We've got questions, and we need you to come with us, Miss Stacy. You're involved in an ongoing investigation, and we'll be questioning you about your connection to Spider-Man and Spider-Woman."

Gwen's heart pounded in her chest. This was it. She was in more trouble than she'd ever imagined. Her mom, Enzo, Max, and Melina all stared at her, their faces a mixture of concern, anger, and confusion. She could feel the weight of their stares, and it made everything feel a thousand times worse.

"Wait, I-" Gwen started to say, but the officer cut her off.

"We're taking you down. Please don't make this harder than it has to be."

As the officer motioned for her to step out of the apartment, Gwen felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She didn't want to leave; she didn't want to face whatever awaited her at the station. But she also knew that if she stayed, things would only escalate further.

Her mind raced. She could hear the distant sounds of reporters still outside, likely watching everything unfold. The weight of being connected to Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, the truth, her family-it was all too much. She took one last glance at her family, feeling the burning pressure in her chest. They were all watching her, waiting for an explanation that she didn't have.

She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath, before stepping toward the door.

"I'll go," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm not going down alone."

ASH SPEAKS!!!

new gif banner!!

this act is gonna be chaotic and sad... the ending will make you go into tears.

i cant believe im almost done and will have to wait until 2026:(

i will be doing doomsday!! but gwen wont remember peter at all (until spiderman 4)

the interrogation scene next chapter is gonna be SO FUNNY GUYS I PROMISE!!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)