It was one o'clock in the morning. Or maybe it was two. Peter didn't know.

He needed Tony.

He couldn't need Tony.

But he needs him so badly oh god he couldn't breathe he couldn't breathe!

But he was fine. He couldn't need Tony, not when Tony himself was still recovering.

Peter had told FRIDAY long ago not to tell Tony when he was having a panic attack, or a nightmare, or was crying, or any of the above mixed together.

Mr Stark needed his peace, he needed his rest. Peter couldn't ruin that.

Spooder-Man
Hi, are any of you guys awake? [02:31]

Ah, so it was half two. Now he knew.

Spooder-Man
Oh, sorry, I didn't realise it was so late. If you've seen this, don't worry, go back to sleep. I'm talking to you, Harry. [02:32]

Peter hoped he hadn't woken up either of his friends.

And Gwen. He'd added Gwen to the group chat. He'd forgotten.

(She didn't have a fancy name yet. He doubted that she was going to choose a strange one like the others had.)

Gwen
Hey Peter :) you didn't wake me, what's up?? [02:33]

Peter could tell by the slightly delayed response that she was, in fact, lying to him, but the simple fact that she had tried to make him feel better about it warmed him inside.

But he couldn't bother her. He couldn't bother anyone.

(Breathing was so hard why was breathing so hard?)

He didn't know what to put. His hands shook as he struggled to type, barely typing actual words.

Spooder-Man
Sorry, you can go back to sleep, I'm fine. [02:33]
Nothing to worry about. [02:33]

Thank the lord for autocorrect. Gwen might have noticed something otherwise.

Gwen
Are you mad?? [02:34]
The only time I've seen people use full stops when they're texting is when they're mad [02:33]
Harry does it [02:33]
He's mad at me now [02:34]

SpideySupporter
no I'm not. [02:34]

Gwen
You so are [02:34]

Peter left them to their lovers spat. They would get over it soon. They'd be fine. He was sure of it.

He was considering typing a private message to Ned or one of the Avengers - but no.

He couldn't bother them.

(He need air, he needed air, he needed air so badly, please, please -)

"FRIDAY?" he asked quietly, his voice hoarse. "Could - could you please play some - some videos of me and - and - and W-"

He couldn't say it.

"Of course, Peter. Playing file The-Happy-Times-Are-Over-Now."

And man, did Peter hate the names he gave his files now. Why did he even give that one that name in the first place?

He should've known it would make him upset.

He sat there watching videos for who knows how long.

(He didn't know how he did it with a hitched throat, tears dripping down, not being able to take in air, oxygen, anything -)

He was at peace. It was nice seeing her alive, laughing, teasing, pranking, walking, eating, anything.

He didn't notice when a figure slipped into his room.

He didn't notice when said figure had a tear drip down his eye.

He didn't notice how his phone kept going off. He didn't notice how the figure glanced at the messages, replying once, before switching his phone off.

He did notice when the figure came up behind him, turned him around and gave him a fatherly hug.

"T-Tony..." Peter whispered.

"I'm here," he whispered back in a comforting tone.

And Peter finally allowed himself to break.

His breathing seemed a little better now.

~~~

Breathing was odd, most times. He had become so accustomed to being unable to breathe than now it came easy to him...

He didn't really know what to do.

Tony always somehow knew that he needed him. He had a sort of sixth sense for the thing.

Peter wished he didn't. He wished that Tony would leave him alone, let him deal with his breathing problems the way he was used to doing, and leave it at that.

And even though the way he was used to doing wasn't entirely the best, it would do.

Besides, he had Ned, MJ, Harry, and even Gwen now.

Only two out of the four knew his secret identity.

Only one knew who he was really adopted by.

Only one patched him up every time.

He just hoped the other two would stay out of it.

"Hey, loser," MJ greeted, nodding at him as she stood with him at his locker. "You okay?"

Peter shrugged. "Nightmares."

MJ nodded at that, leaving it. She didn't need to know what they were about. He didn't need to relive his nightmare again.

They had a strange friendship, but it worked, to say the least. At least it worked.

"How - how was your sleep?" Peter offered up another topic for conversation wearily, hoping she would continue on.

"I slept. It was okay, I guess," MJ responded. "It's not like we get a good amount of hours of sleep anymore."

Now that Peter could relate to. He was so busy being awake from nightmares during the night, he caught up on sleep during the day, which was not nearly enough.

He gave a small, appreciative chuckle.

MJ understood him. She didn't ask him why he was being so quiet all of a sudden, she didn't ask where he'd been for such a long time, and she didn't ask if he was okay every five seconds.

It was nice hanging around her, for a change. He'd give anything to be his normal, peppy self, just so it wouldn't be as awkward, but he couldn't muster up the energy to do so.

Oh well.

Ned, Harry and Gwen entered at that point, and Harry greeted Peter with a massive hug (which involved them both collapsing to the floor, Harry apologising profusely).

Maybe things could get better.

~~~

Naturally, just as Peter thought things could get better, they actually got worse.

Him, Harry, Gwen, Ned and MJ (although she was at the opposite end of the table, not wanting to ruin her reputation) were sitting at the lunch table, when Gwen suddenly perked up, having news.

"This new villain's gotten out," she said, her eyes lighting up slightly. "Not - not that I'm excited, but it's just so interesting seeing what they're going to turn out to be and-"

And as she continued on, Peter's heart filling with dread, he noticed how she kept glancing to him, like she expected him to know something she didn't.

"- said his name's something silly... It began with an 'M', I think," she said, pausing as she tried to think of the name. She shrugged. "It'll come back to me soon enough. Apparently he's dangerous, and get this - each time the police caught him, he-"

"- somehow managed to escape their grasps unharmed?" MJ questioned, raising her eyebrows.

Gwen gave her a confused look.

"How did you know that?" she asked, pursing her lips. "It's top secret, my dad only told me because he wants me and my friends to be careful."

"Seriously, if they're a 'super villain'," MJ said, rolling her eyes, "then they'll have learned to escape the police's clutches."

"I'm sure Spider-Man will be able to catch him, though," Gwen said confidently, her eyes darting towards Peter before she looked at Harry.

Ned and Harry gave Peter a small concerned look before turning their attention back to Gwen.

"What does he do?" Peter spoke up suddenly.

He was going to go after this villain. He needed to, he needed to go out as Spider-Man again, he needed to gain his confidence back.

"Like, what are his powers? What is he trying to get from this?" Peter clarified.

"... We aren't sure yet," Gwen admitted, giving Peter a shrewd look. He shuddered to think of what she would work out.

"When you're sure, can you tell us?" Ned asked to try and get the attention off Peter. Peter gave him a small, albeit thankful look.

"Of course!" Gwen said, nodding her head. "You guys need to be safe, after all, you're the best friends I've had!"

Harry grinned. "And may I say you're oh so welcome."

Gwen shoved him, laughing. "Be quiet."

"Will do, ma'am."

~~~

As soon as Peter got home, he started to do some research.

He needed to discover who this villain was, what his powers were, and why he was doing this.

Maybe Tony could help?... No, he was still recovering, as were the rest of the Avengers. It would be better if he did it himself.

New Villain in New York - ALL INFORMATION IS HERE!

Peter gave a small, surprised chuckle at finding it so quickly, before clicking on it, skimming through the information.

He wears a rather creepy mask, almost as though -

- his powers are hard to discern, but we assume that -

- he seems quite dangerous, so we advise that you stay safe and watch out where you're -

- as long as you aren't caught by surprise, it seems, his attacks are easier to get by -

- some police officers look as though they are trying to attack nothing when he is around -

- perhaps he is capable of making people hallucinate?

Looking through the website, he didn't see any immensely information; in fact, all that was said were merely theories, outright guesses.

He couldn't rely on that. He needed complete, concrete fact. He couldn't risk anyone being lost again.

From the reports on the website, he seemed dangerous, and almost made people go insane, by the looks of it.

Perhaps if he went on YouTube, he would be able to figure out more? Peter figured it was worth a shot.

New villain in New York video clips

Not a lot came up - although Peter guessed that was because of how new he was.

Or maybe how dangerous he was.

Either way, there wasn't enough clear video footage for him to be able to tell what the villain looked like.

He still held onto Gwen's words - the name began with an 'M'. Maybe tomorrow there would be more things on him?

He couldn't really see how much would change in the short amount of time he slept until the time in the morning, but he hoped there would be a change.

Hopefully.

~~~

Gwen
Guys [03:07]
We've discovered more on the villain [03:07]
He's unbelievably dangerous, but only because his weapons are so hi-tech [03:07]
If you get rid of the weapons, then boom, he's defeatable [03:08]

Spooder-Man
Tell me more. [03:08]

Gwen
Well [03:08]
We know what his nam [03:08]

SpideySupporter
... [03:09]
Gwen? [03:10]
Gwen, are you okay??? [03:10]
Why aren't you answering??? [03:10]
GWEN [03:10]
GWEN ARE YOU OKAY [03:11]
GWEN, ANSWER [03:12]
IT'S BEEN FIVE MINUTES [03:13]
WHAT'S WRONG [03:13]

Spooder-Man
Gwen? [03:13]
Gwen, are you there? [03:13]

Gwen
M [03:14]
Y [03:14]
S [03:14]
T [03:14]

SpideySupporter
Gwen what are you trying to say??? [03:15]

Spooder-Man
Shut up Harry she's trying to tell us the guy's name. [03:15]

SpideySupporter
Shutting up now [03:15]

Gwen
Kidnapped [03:16]
Taken [03:16]
Tell [03:16]
Police [03:16]
Please [03:16]

SpideySupporter
OH MY GOD [03:16]
GWEN [03:16]
GWEN, ARE YOU OKAY [03:17]
WHAT HAS HE DONE TO YOU [03:17]
OH MY GOD IM GOING TO MURDER THIS GUY [03:18]

Spooder-Man
That's my plan. [03:18]
Well, not the murder part. [03:18]
I don't kill. [03:18]
Let's get Gwen back, Harry. [03:18]

DatGuyInDaChair
I think you guys will need my help [03:18]
Let's do this [03:19]

SpideySupporter
For Gwen???? [03:19]

DatGuyInDaChair
For Gwen [03:19]

Spooder-Man
For Gwen. [03:20]

And that's it. This crappy chapter is what you guys have been waiting for. Sorry.

If it helps, I finally got the unicorn tattoo glitter thing off my arm?

I'm sorry I havent been getting chapters out.

Luckily, Gwendolyn__Stacy helped me with this chapter, and gave me ideas! So thank you so much! I twisted it a bit, of course, so that you didn't know entirely what to expect ;) hope you liked it!

Um, I'm not going to be on Wattpad at the weekend, by the way. It's my grandma's birthday and we're just going to honour her. She deserved it.

I hope you guys all have a great week, and I should see you guys soon!

Until next next Thursday, my young Wattpadians!

- Hunter

🕸🕷Until next next Thursday🕷🕸