Captain America and Black Cat stood in front of Peter Parker's grave with a shovel. Black Cat took a few steps back, still not entirely convinced about what they were doing. Captain America inhaled and exhaled before starting to dig. The weather changed, and little by little, it began to rain.
"We're almost there," Cap said.
He tried to do it as quickly as possible, but it still took a while. When he hit the coffin, he cleared some dirt off the wood and forcefully jammed the shovel into it, damaging it until the body was revealed.
"There..." he murmured between breaths.
Black Cat stepped closer and frowned when she saw Peter's body perfectly preserved. Two years had already passed, and the fact that the body looked like that made no sense. She saw Cap touch it and growled:
"It's a damn dummy."
Cap climbed out of the hole and looked at her.
"Cap, whoever did this deserves to die," she said, pointing. "We need to check the security cameras."
..........
Wilson Fisk had gotten out of prison. He was furious—Black Cat had taken everything from him. He wanted to see her body writhing in pain right in front of him.
He frowned as he felt a gun pressed to the side of his head.
"You're pretty bold to pull this off," he said.
Red Hood let out a chuckle.
"You don't scare me, Fisk. You've got nothing left," he replied.
"What do you want?" Fisk asked.
"Get Norman released."
Fisk burst out laughing.
"This guy's insane," he said. "What makes you think you can beat him?"
Red Hood threw a large bag at Fisk's feet.
"Take a look inside," he ordered.
With no choice, Fisk lifted the bag and opened it to see the contents. He flung it away upon seeing the heads of Electro, Rhino, and Octavius.
"You're out of your mind," he growled.
"Or maybe I'm the only sane one for stopping them once and for all," he replied. "So... are you going to do what I asked, or do you want to end up inside that bag?"
"I'll do it," Fisk said. "Norman killed the Spider... I hope he kills this one too," he thought.
...........
Cap and Black Cat were reviewing the security footage from Fisk's old building. Felicia was furious when she saw Kraven carrying Peter's body.
"This can't go unanswered, Cap," she said. "He has to pay."
Cap didn't respond, only closed his eyes, reflecting on everything that had happened. A groan was heard behind them, and as they turned, they saw Susan, slowly fading from invisibility.
"What are you doing here?" Felicia asked.
"Tell me it's not true," Susan said, looking at Cap.
"It's true," he sighed. "All of it."
"Then he's alive?" she asked.
"That's our theory," he replied. "And the other part isn't much better."
"What did you find out?"
"Peter might be Red Hood," Felicia answered for him.
"No," the blonde growled. "That guy can't be Peter," she said angrily. "Why are you letting this thief help you?"
"We need to go after Kraven," Cap changed the subject.
"What?"
"I'm going to get my stuff ready," Felicia said.
"Captain, this..."
"If you're not going to help, Susan, then it's best if you leave," Cap interrupted.
Susan frowned and crossed her arms.
"I know Peter's enemies better than you," she stated. "I know Kraven hides in Africa. You'll need a vehicle."
............
The X-Men were still confused about what had happened with that guy called Red Hood. Their memories were jumbled, and they couldn't understand how they had been defeated.
Elizabeth Braddock had been in a bad mood since the Red Hood incident. That's why no one approached her. The purple-haired woman frowned when she saw Emma heading for the exit.
"Going somewhere?" she asked.
"That's none of your business," Emma replied.
"I know you were there the day we helped the Avengers," Elizabeth said. "I remember that, but I'm confused. How did that guy beat all of us after Jean captured him?" she crossed her arms.
"You guys let your guard down, that's all."
"No, I know that's not it," she said, frowning. "You're with him, aren't you?"
"Kitty was right—you're seriously moody."
"Don't change the subject."
"Think, Betsy. Why would I be with someone like him?"
"I don't know. You hooked up with Scott, and he's got a shitty personality," she pointed out. "Your taste is questionable."
"Says the girl who dated Angel," Emma scoffed. "Go check if he can improve your mood... if it lasts more than five minutes."
"Tsk."
"I know because Angel's mind is like an open book."
..........
They arrived at Kraven's hideout in Africa aboard the Fantasticar. Without fights or drama, they politely asked to speak with the chief.
His daughter, Anna, though wary, agreed to take them to him.
"Father, these heroes want to talk to you," she said. "They say they come in peace."
Kraven turned and sighed.
"What's the reason for the visit?" he asked.
"Spider-Man," said Black Cat. "We know you have something to do with him."
"Mh... That was two years ago, but I suppose he's let himself be seen now," he muttered. "Very well, I'll tell you. Peter Parker is alive," he confessed.
The atmosphere tensed. Susan's breathing quickened, while Cap and Black Cat clenched their jaws.
"The Goblin hired me to capture him," he said. "Everything went smoothly, and I delivered him to the agreed location."
"You..." Black Cat growled.
Cap placed a hand on her shoulder, and she understood the signal, staying quiet.
"I didn't ask what they planned to do with him—I've done worse things myself. So I left," he sighed. "When I got back here, Anna told me about the live-streamed video. I turned around. I saw how they tortured him, and I thought to myself, that's not how a hero like him should die."
"You revived him just to kill him again," Susan growled.
"A dignified death is better than torture," he replied. "The thing is, after the funeral, my men went to retrieve the body and we replaced it with a life-sized replica of Peter that I had made," he explained. "I immersed him in the Lazarus Pit, which has the ability to heal any wound and, in certain cases, bring the dead back to life—provided the body isn't decomposed."
Kraven turned to face the trio.
"I submerged him, and everything went as planned. But once he emerged, he ran and managed to escape us," he finished.
........
Emma arrived at Peter's apartment, where he seemed a little tense. She hugged him from behind and began giving him a light massage.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"It won't be long before the Goblin is released," he admitted.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this? You know it's okay to change your mind," she said.
"No, I want to do it," he whispered. "He deserves to die."
"I know," she said, kissing his cheek. "But don't let it consume you."
Peter smiled and pulled her down with him onto the couch. He landed on top of her and used the opportunity to kiss her lips.
"I love you so much, Emma," he said, breaking the kiss.
"I love you too."
This time she kissed him, and slowly, the kiss grew more intense. A moan escaped her lips as she felt Peter grinding against her.
"God..." she said between breaths. "Let's go to the bedroom."
He got off her, and she quickly stood, grabbed his wrist, and led him to the bedroom.
She pushed him onto the bed and climbed on top of him.
"I'm going to enjoy this more than you can imagine," Peter said.
"I know you will," she smirked arrogantly. "So... what are you waiting for? Fuck me, Peter."
He grabbed her by the waist and flipped her, ending up on top.
"I don't want to hear you saying my name... I want to hear your moans.," he whispered before kissing her neck.
...........
When they returned to base, no one spoke, still processing the information Kraven had given them. They were surprised to see Spider-Woman approaching.
"Where were you?" she asked. "That lunatic Red Hood killed Electro, Rhino, and Otto."
Cap removed his helmet and let his shield fall to the ground.
"Not the best time, Spider-Woman," Felicia replied.
Spider-Woman frowned. She still didn't understand how they'd convinced Felicia to work with them.
"What happened?"
"We found out Peter is alive," Susan answered for Felicia.
"What?"
"We think he might be Red Hood," Felicia added.
Spider-Woman looked at Steve, who had asked Karen to play the footage of Peter's body being taken.
"It was Kraven," Cap said. "He brought Peter back."
"Peter can't be that guy," she said, her voice trembling. "Spider-Man... Spider-Man doesn't kill."
"That's the thing, Spider," Felicia chimed in. "He's not Spider-Man anymore. Now he's Red Hood."