chapter twenty-seven:
❛ interrogation ❜

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Gwen was ushered into the bustling police station, her heart pounding like a war drum. Reporters swarmed the entrance, shouting questions as camera flashes lit up the night. Officers formed a barricade, shouting orders to back away. She ducked her head, trying to disappear into her hood as an officer guided her inside.

The station was chaotic-phones ringing, people arguing, and the hum of conversation filling the air. Gwen's stomach dropped when she caught sight of a familiar face through the glass partition separating the waiting area from the interrogation rooms. Peter was sitting in a small, sterile room, his head hung low, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and defeat. An officer stood across from him, leaning on the table as he rattled off questions.

Gwen froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes darted to the other interrogation rooms. In one, MJ sat with her arms crossed, her face steely as she stared down the officer questioning her. In another, Ned fidgeted nervously, his leg bouncing up and down as he answered questions. Even Aunt May was there, looking weary but resolute as she spoke to yet another officer.

"Keep moving," the officer escorting Gwen barked, giving her a light nudge forward. She hesitated, wanting to run to Peter, to MJ, to anyone, but the officer steered her down a narrow hallway to a door.

The door swung open, revealing a small interrogation room. The walls were painted a dull gray, the table and chairs cold metal under the fluorescent lights. Gwen sat down, her palms clammy as she tried to steady her breathing. She didn't have time to think before the door opened again, and a tall, stern officer stepped in, a file in his hand.

He closed the door behind him, sitting across from her as he flipped open the file. His eyes scanned its contents before locking onto hers.

"Gwen Stacy," he began, his voice firm but measured. "You've been brought in for questioning regarding your connection to Peter Parker, who, as you're aware, has recently been identified as Spider-Man."

Gwen swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew this was coming, but now that it was happening, she felt utterly unprepared.

"You're his girlfriend, correct?" the officer asked, his tone sharp.

"Yes," Gwen replied cautiously.

"Then you're in a unique position to provide some insight into what's been going on. Let's start with this: How long have you known Peter Parker is Spider-Man?"

Gwen hesitated. Lying could make things worse, but telling the truth could incriminate Peter even further. She took a deep breath. "I found out a while ago," she said finally. "Not long after we started dating."

The officer scribbled something in his notebook. "And during that time, did Peter ever confide in you about his activities as Spider-Man? Specifically, his involvement in the events in London with Quentin Beck-otherwise known as Mysterio?"

Gwen's heart sank. This was it-the question she'd been dreading. She thought back to the night Peter had told her everything, how he'd tried to stop Mysterio, how the Stark drones had been used to frame him.

"Yes," she said quietly. "He told me what happened."

"Good," the officer said, leaning forward. "Then maybe you can explain something to us. Quentin Beck was a celebrated hero. He exposed Peter Parker as Spider-Man and claimed Peter was responsible for his death. Are you saying Beck was lying?"

"Yes," Gwen said firmly, her voice rising with emotion. "He wasn't a hero. He staged everything. He used drones to make it look like he was saving people, but he was the one putting them in danger. Peter tried to stop him."

The officer raised an eyebrow, his pen pausing mid-note. "So, Peter Parker claims he's innocent. If that's true, why didn't he come forward with this information?"

Gwen's frustration bubbled over. "Because no one would believe him!" she snapped. "Beck made himself look like a hero. Do you really think people would take the word of a teenager over someone like him? The second that video came out, everyone turned against Peter. He didn't stand a chance."

The officer's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone, Miss Stacy. This isn't just about public opinion-it's about the law. If Peter Parker is innocent, why hide? Why not trust the system?"

"Because the system doesn't care about the truth!" Gwen shot back. "It just cares about having someone to blame. Peter didn't ask for any of this. Beck set him up, and now you're all treating him like a criminal."

The officer's expression hardened. "And what about you, Miss Stacy? You've been seen in public with Parker numerous times. Did you ever assist him in his activities as Spider-Man?"

Gwen froze. She could feel the weight of the question pressing down on her. "No," she said carefully. "I didn't help him. I just... I supported him. I believed him."

The officer studied her for a moment, then flipped a page in his file. "One last question: Do you know Spider-Woman?"

The blood drained from Gwen's face, but she kept her expression neutral. "No," she lied. "I've heard of her, but I don't know who she is."

The officer didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue. He stood, closing the file. "That'll be all for now, Miss Stacy. Don't leave town-we may need to follow up."

As he opened the door, Gwen caught another glimpse of Peter being led out of his interrogation room. His eyes met hers, and in that brief moment, she saw the weight of everything he was carrying. She wanted to run to him, to hold him, to tell him they'd figure it out, but the officer stepped in front of her, blocking her view.

The door closed behind her with a heavy thud, leaving Gwen alone in the suffocating silence. This was only the beginning, and she had no idea how they were going to survive it.

Gwen stepped out of the police station into a chaotic storm of camera flashes and shouting reporters. The night air was cold, but her face burned with frustration and nerves. Her stepdad, Enzo, walked beside her, his jaw clenched and his hand firmly gripping her elbow to guide her through the crowd.

She scanned the sea of faces until she saw him-Peter. He stood at the edge of the parking lot, just outside the flood of reporters. He looked drained, the weight of everything he had endured visible in his slouched shoulders and the tired look in his eyes. But when his gaze met hers, his expression softened.

Without thinking, Gwen broke away from Enzo's grasp. "Gwen!" Enzo shouted, but she ignored him, sprinting across the lot toward Peter.

Peter's face lit up in surprise as she reached him, throwing her arms around his neck. The flashes intensified as cameras swarmed closer, reporters shouting questions:

"Miss Stacy, did you know Peter was Spider-Man?"
"Peter, how long have you been lying to everyone?"
"Gwen, are you Spider-Woman?"

The noise was deafening, but Gwen tuned it all out. She hugged Peter tightly, whispering frantically, "I didn't tell them anything, I swear. They tried, but I didn't say a word."

Peter's arms circled her, and he held her close. "I know, Gwen. I believe you. It's okay."

But their brief moment of comfort was shattered by the heavy stomp of Enzo's boots. He stormed over, his face a mask of rage, and roughly grabbed Gwen by the arm, yanking her away from Peter.

"Peter Parker," Enzo growled, his voice thunderous over the chaos. "You are not allowed to be near my daughter ever again!"

The crowd gasped, and the reporters surged forward even closer, their cameras and microphones capturing the confrontation.

Peter stepped forward, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Mr. Perez, I-"

"Don't!" Enzo interrupted, pointing an accusing finger at Peter. "You've lied to everyone, and now you've put Gwen's life at risk. You're nothing but trouble."

"Enzo!" Gwen shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. She yanked her arm free and stood between them. "Stop it! You don't understand! He's not dangerous-he's a hero! He saved the world!"

Enzo turned on her, his eyes blazing. "A hero? Are you serious, Gwen? This boy is being accused of murder! He killed Mysterio and dragged you into this mess!"

Gwen stepped closer to Enzo, her hands balled into fists at her sides. "That's not true! Mysterio was lying, and Peter-Spider-Man-he stopped him from destroying London! You don't know what you're talking about!"

"I don't care!" Enzo barked, his voice echoing across the lot. "He's a public menace, and I'm not letting him endanger you any more than he already has."

"Enzo, you're being ridiculous!" Gwen shouted, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes.

Before Enzo could respond, Gwen turned back to Peter, her heart pounding. Ignoring the cameras and the chaos, she grabbed his jacket and pulled him into a kiss. The reporters erupted in a frenzy, shouting questions and snapping photos like mad.

When she finally pulled back, her lips still inches from his, she whispered, "Meet me at the spot tonight. Please."

Peter's wide eyes flicked to hers, and he nodded slightly, too stunned to speak.

"Gwen!" Enzo roared, grabbing her arm again and pulling her back. "We're leaving. Now."

Gwen struggled against his grip, shouting, "You're wrong about him, Enzo! He didn't kill anyone!"

"I don't want to hear another word," Enzo snapped, dragging her toward his car. He shoved open the door and practically pushed her inside, slamming it behind her.

Through the window, Gwen caught one last glimpse of Peter, standing alone amidst the chaos, his expression torn between heartbreak and determination. The car sped off, leaving Peter in the swirling mess of reporters and flashing lights, the world crashing down around them both.

Gwen stood in front of her mirror, the soft hum of the city outside filtering through her partially open window. She adjusted the sleek material of her Spider-Woman suit, her hands trembling slightly. Tonight, everything felt heavier-the accusations, the reporters camped outside, the argument with Enzo. But none of that mattered. Peter needed her, and she wasn't going to let him down.

The door to her room creaked open, and Max, her fourteen-year-old brother, stepped inside, rubbing his tired eyes. His face immediately shifted when he saw her in the suit. "Gwen, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice a mix of worry and frustration.

Gwen turned, pulling her mask off and tossing it onto her bed. "I'm going to see Peter."

Max crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "You can't be serious. The reporters are swarming the building! If they see you leaving dressed like that, they'll know. And if they figure it out-if Mom and Enzo figure it out-you're screwed."

Gwen sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Max, I know the risks. But I can't just sit here while Peter's out there dealing with this alone. He's being accused of things he didn't do. Everyone's against him."

Max stepped closer, his tone sharper. "And what about you? They already know you're his girlfriend. If they connect the dots and figure out you're Spider-Woman, your life will be over too. You think Enzo's angry now? He'll lose his mind. And Mom... Mom will be crushed."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Gwen said firmly, turning back toward the window. She tugged on her mask, letting it slide into place.

Max grabbed her arm gently, his eyes pleading. "Gwen, please. Think this through. Peter wouldn't want you to do something stupid just to help him."

Gwen crouched on the windowsill, looking back at her brother. "I've already made up my mind. I love you, Max. But I have to do this."

Before Max could respond, Gwen leaped out of the window, shooting a web toward a nearby building. She swung into the night, the cool air brushing against her as she moved swiftly through the city. The lights of Manhattan blurred below her, but her focus remained sharp. She knew where Peter would be-their spot.

When Gwen landed on the rooftop of a tall building, she spotted Peter immediately. He was sitting on the edge, his legs dangling over the side as he stared out at the skyline. His Spider-Man mask rested beside him, and he looked deep in thought, his shoulders slumped.

"Peter," Gwen called softly, pulling off her own mask as she approached.

He turned, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You made it."

"Of course I did," Gwen said, walking closer. "I wasn't going to let you deal with all of this alone."

Peter stood and met her halfway. Without a word, Gwen threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, their lips meeting in a desperate, tender embrace. For a moment, everything else melted away-the chaos, the accusations, the fears. It was just the two of them, clinging to each other as if the world outside didn't exist.

When they pulled apart, Peter rested his forehead against hers. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Gwen whispered. "Are you okay?"

Peter sighed, stepping back slightly. "Matt Murdock is my lawyer now. He's... he's going to help me clear my name."

"Matt Murdock?" Gwen asked, blinking in surprise. "Wait-you mean Daredevil?"

Peter nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Yeah. He's... surprisingly good at what he does. Happy knows him, and he thinks we have a chance. But until this blows over, I can't stay in the city. It's too dangerous."

Gwen's stomach twisted. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"

Peter hesitated. "Happy set up a safehouse for me. It's out of the way, completely off the grid."

Gwen's heart sank. "Oh, shit. Well, I'll just sneak over, then. I don't care what Enzo says."

Peter looked down, his expression conflicted. "Gwen, maybe Enzo's right. Maybe we shouldn't see each other right now."

Gwen froze, her breath catching in her throat. "What are you talking about?"

Peter reached for her hand, holding it gently. "Gwen, think about it. They already know you're my girlfriend. The reporters, the cops, everyone-they're watching you too. It's only a matter of time before they figure out you're Spider-Woman. And if that happens..."

"No," Gwen said, shaking her head. "Peter, no. Don't do this. I don't care what anyone thinks. I don't care what Enzo says. You need me."

Peter's grip on her hand tightened briefly before he let go. "I love you, Gwen. But this isn't about what I need. It's about keeping you safe."

Tears welled up in Gwen's eyes as she stepped closer. "Peter, please. Don't push me away. We can figure this out together."

Peter shook his head, pulling his mask back on. "I'm sorry, Gwen."

"Peter-" she started, but before she could finish, he shot out a web and swung away into the night.

Gwen stood there on the rooftop, her heart breaking as tears streamed down her face. She sank to her knees, clutching her mask tightly as sobs wracked her body. For the first time, the city felt unbearably cold, and the weight of everything came crashing down around her.

ASH SPEAKS!!

told y'all this act was gonna be depressing. just got them together for them just to break up :(

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