*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
The deafening explosions sent waves of panic through the carnival crowd.
Shockwaves rippled outward, shattering nearby building exteriors as glass shards and chunks of concrete rained down like lethal hail.
The Green Goblin soared overhead, cackling maniacally as he hurled pumpkin bombs with reckless abandon, each detonation sending terrified citizens scrambling for cover.
Sean watched with mild amusement as Peter Parker disappeared into the chaos, no doubt to transform into New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
The real show was happening atop the luxury hotel where the Goblin had cornered Harry Osborn and Mary Jane...
With brutal efficiency, the deranged villain executed two of Oscorp's board members using his signature explosives, though notably spared Harry... It seemed a shred of Norman Osborn's paternal instincts still lingered beneath the serum induced madness.
"Look out!"
Sean had intended to remain an observer, but his sharp eyes caught movement near the collapsing main stage.
Gwen Stacy, his fellow research assistant at Dr. Connors' lab, stood frozen as a massive steel scaffolding teetered precariously above her.
With a resigned sigh, Sean's enhanced muscles coiled and released, propelling him forward at blinding speed.
He snatched Gwen clear just as the structure crashed down in an explosion of dust and twisted metal.
"Easy there, you're safe now," Sean murmured, feeling the petite blonde trembling violently in his arms.
Gwen's panicked breathing gradually steadied as she recognized her rescuer, "Sean? What are you doing here?"
Her blue eyes, still wide with shock, darted between his face and the destruction surrounding them.
"Friend's invitation," Sean replied tersely, helping her stand on unsteady legs, "I didn't exactly plan for this circus. Let's get you out of here."
Above them, the battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin reached new heights of spectacle.
The web-slinger's acrobatic dodging contrasted sharply with the Goblin's brute-force aerial assaults. Pumpkin bombs detonated midair as Spider-Man swung between buildings, his quippy remarks barely audible over the explosions.
"Enjoying my little presents, bug?" the Goblin screeched, banking his glider sharply to avoid a web-line, "There's plenty more where those came from!"
A particularly well-aimed bomb sent Spider-Man careening into a brick wall, the impact cracking the wall.
Before Peter could recover, the Goblin activated his glider's mounted minigun, stitching a line of bullets that chased the scrambling hero across the building's exterior.
Sean guided Gwen toward relative safety near a police barricade, his enhanced hearing picking up fresh screams from the hotel's upper floors.
Harry and Mary Jane clung desperately to a crumbling balcony, their precarious perch swaying dangerously with each new explosion rocking the building.
Spider-Man noticed his childhood crush in peril and immediately changed trajectory, but the distraction cost him dearly.
The Goblin seized the opportunity to land a devastating punch that sent the hero spinning through the air.
"Going somewhere?" the Goblin taunted as he intercepted Spider-Man's attempted rescue swing, "The party's just getting started!"
With another resigned sigh, Sean assessed the situation...
The hotel's elevators were undoubtedly inoperative, and emergency responders were still minutes away.
He turned to Gwen, "Stay with the police. There are more people who need help."
Before she could protest, Sean was already moving, his enhanced physique allowing him to scale the building's exterior with ease.
Within minutes, he'd reached the damaged balcony where Harry and Mary Jane clung desperately.
"Hold on!" Sean called out as he vaulted over the railing.
The concrete beneath their feet groaned ominously as another explosion rocked the building's foundation.
Harry's face lit up with desperate hope, "Sean! Thank god! Help Mary Jane first, please!"
Sean didn't waste time with reassurances.
He grabbed Mary Jane around the waist just as another section of balcony gave way and he hauled her to safety with one powerful motion.
The redhead collapsed against him, her entire body shaking with terror as she buried her face in his chest.
"Easy now," Sean said gently, prying her loose, "Now's Harry's turn."
With both safely extracted from immediate danger, Sean guided them through smoke-filled corridors toward ground level.
Harry kept casting nervous glances backward, his mind clearly on his father's whereabouts.
"We need to find my dad," Harry said once they reached the lobby.
His hands trembled as he pulled out his phone, dialing Norman's number repeatedly with no response, "He was supposed to meet us... If anything's happened to him..."
Sean placed a steadying hand on Harry's shoulder, "Check the penthouse first. I'll make sure Mary Jane gets home safe."
As Harry sprinted toward the private elevators, Sean found himself with two shell-shocked young women with Gwen having been escorted to the lobby by police during his rescue mission.
Mary Jane's tear-streaked face and Gwen's pale complexion made for a stark contrast against the ongoing chaos outside, where Spider-Man and the Goblin's battle continued to rage.
"Let's get you both home," Sean said, flagging down one of the few cabs still operating near the disaster zone.
...
The ride was silent save for Mary Jane's occasional sniffles.
Gwen kept stealing glances at Sean, her expression a mix of gratitude and something more complicated.
When they dropped Mary Jane at her apartment, the redhead surprised Sean with a sudden fierce hug.
"Thank you," she whispered before disappearing inside.
Gwen's voice was soft when she spoke next, "You were amazing back there. Most people would have run the other way."
Sean shrugged, uncomfortable with the admiration in her gaze. "I Just did what anyone would do."
The cab pulled up to Gwen's building, but she hesitated before exiting, "There's a lecture at Columbia University tomorrow on recombinant DNA. Maybe... maybe I'll see you there?"
Sean nodded noncommittally, watching as she walked away with one final backward glance.
As the cab pulled away, he allowed himself a rare moment of introspection.
Today's events had confirmed two things: first, the timeline was progressing much as he remembered, and second (much to his chagrin) he wasn't quite as detached from these people's fates as he'd pretended to be.
The cabbie's voice broke his reverie. "Where to now, hero?"
Sean gave the address of his apartment, already dreading the inevitable interrogation from a certain pint-sized assassin about why he'd missed her school interview.
Some battles were even more daunting than facing a deranged super-villain... he reflected as the city's skyline blurred past...
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