"Don't think about it," Gwen whispered, trembling slightly at the sound of her own voice.
She decided to go into the kitchen and prepare breakfast, the usual meal for someone living alone—two cholesterol-laden sandwiches with fried eggs and a slice of onion in each.
The faint smell of sweat clung to her clothes, but she planned to take a shower afterward.
Looking out the window, Gwen noticed the blue car parked in the driveway, its surface covered in dew. It had obviously been parked there for a while.
She entered the kitchen, placed a frying pan on the stove, and took a few eggs from the refrigerator. The kitchen was brightly lit with fresh air, giving off a comfortable, cozy vibe.
"You're very positive today, Gwen," George commented, coming down the stairs and looking surprised to see his daughter cooking.
"I've always been good at cooking, Dad," Gwen replied nonchalantly. "But I don't think time should be wasted on food. There's always something more important to do."
"Like what?" George asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Like maintaining world peace," Gwen joked, rolling her eyes. "Well, maybe that's too far. Or city security."
Gwen put down the spatula and continued, "If it's something far away, then at least it's something with responsibility."
"Whether it's protecting the city or taking on responsibility, it's the kind of thing that the police should handle."
George poured himself a cup of coffee, glancing outside at the blue car parked by the curb.
Two people climbed into the strange vehicle.
Gwen, noticing the activity, furrowed her brows, though she tried to maintain her composure.
She asked her father, "Dad, what progress has your crime team made with the investigation of Spider-Man and Spider-Woman? Are you close to catching them?"
"I don't know," George replied. "The police department is currently focusing on Hell's Kitchen. Things are not peaceful there."
Gwen thought for a moment before asking, "I remember the name was Kingpin, right?"
"Yes, the man has been involved in a recent murder case."
George sipped his bitter coffee and added, "Matt Murdock has been after him for revenge since I threw him into prison."
"Is he a mutant?" Gwen inquired.
"No, just an ordinary person. But don't let that fool you. Kingpin is no typical thug. He wears special armor under his suit, Kevlar to be precise. So, normal attacks and bullets don't faze him."
George went on to explain, "He's the biggest cancer in Hell's Kitchen."
Gwen listened quietly, storing the information in her mind.
Kingpin had tried to hurt her father. Now, it was Gwen's turn to figure out what the man was guilty of and put him behind bars.
Even if he wore invulnerable armor, Gwen was sure she could take him down.
She stared out at the little blue car outside.
"That weekend is your first public performance, right?" George suddenly asked.
Gwen blinked, momentarily stunned, before nodding. "Yes, Miss Hardy invited our band. I've been busy rehearsing."
"I'll make sure to attend," George said, smiling. "You've always made me proud, Gwen. I can't wait to see your performance."
"Thanks, Dad," Gwen replied, her mood lightening from the earlier nightmare.
"You might become an excellent musician someday."
George mused about his daughter's potential future career.
"Well, that's not certain," Gwen said as she plated an omelet and brought it to the table. "I realized I don't have much desire to become a musician."
"Here's to a good breakfast," she added, setting the plate down for her father.
---
Meanwhile, in Peter's Room
Peter was experimenting with the thought projection machine Reed had invented. In his room, the Wendigo ghost he had encountered the previous night seemed to fill up most of the space, blinking and breathing heavily, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
As Peter's thoughts shifted, the Wendigo ghost transformed into a spaceship. His room turned into a science fiction-style spacecraft, with deep space outside the windows.
This technology was mind-blowing. It seemed to surpass even Mysterio's illusions.
Peter couldn't help but think, Could I become a mysterious guest, just like Mysterio?
"Peter?"
Aunt May's voice called from downstairs, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He quickly altered the projection, causing the spaceship to vanish. After heading downstairs, Aunt May had prepared breakfast and placed it on the table.
"There's a funeral to attend today," Uncle Ben said.
Peter blinked. "Do I know him? Uncle Steve?"
"Well, maybe not," Uncle Ben said, continuing. "But I have a strange feeling that the funerals I've been attending lately seem to set the tone for the year. It's been a difficult year."
Uncle Ben went on to talk about Steve's relatives being imprisoned for political reasons. The tears of an Indian man who had lost his family had left a lasting impression on him.
Aunt May joined the conversation, mentioning that she had attended several funerals this year. Among them, the loss of a neighbor's son in a tragic accident had particularly impacted her.
Peter felt a wave of melancholy sweep over him as he switched on the TV. He froze when he saw the news about Gwen.
It seemed she had been following a car on the highway, something Peter didn't know about.
He stood up quickly, his mind racing. He glanced outside the window, but the sunlight suddenly seemed harsh.
---
Gwen in Spider-Woman Costume
Gwen shot out spider silk and swung between the buildings, the wind whipping around her as she followed the blue car.
The car's driver appeared oblivious to her presence.
She tracked the vehicle at a steady pace, neither the driver nor the passenger concerned about being discovered.
As Gwen identified the car as her target, she fired a webbing shot from her wrist and swung towards it with precision.
A loud noise echoed as Gwen landed atop the blue car, startling the driver.
"What was that?" the man driving the car muttered, glancing upward.
Before he could react further, Gwen appeared at the door, waving.
"Hey, good morning!" she greeted them cheerfully.
The driver cursed and slammed on the brakes, while the passenger, reacting quickly, reached for a pistol.
But Gwen was faster. Using her webbing, she snatched the gun from the passenger's hand and pulled him out of the car, landing a solid punch to his face.
"Who do you work for?" she demanded, not letting up.
After confirming that the two men were sent by Kingpin to monitor her father, Gwen's anger flared. Kingpin had targeted her family, and she was determined to take him down.
---
Back at Peter's Home
Peter, still processing his thoughts about Reed's device, found himself distracted by the news. His eyes flickered toward the window as Gwen's pursuit was reported on the TV.
Is this what had happened earlier?
He stared at the sunlight outside, which now seemed unnaturally bright.
---––--––-------------------------------
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