Not So Friendly Anymore

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Reactions



The video footage of Spider-Man's brutal takedown of Shocker spread like wildfire. New York City was in shock, and the superhero community was reeling from the revelation. The news wasn't just about the violence; it was about the truth that Shocker had revealed—Peter Parker had been mind-swapped with Otto Octavius, the Superior Spider-Man.

In Avengers Tower, the room was tense. Steve Rogers, Captain America, stared at the screen with a furrowed brow. Tony Stark, Iron Man, leaned back in his chair, looking more annoyed than concerned. Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, was stoic, her face betraying nothing.

Steve broke the silence. "We need to address this. Peter—"

Tony cut him off. "Peter made his choice. He's not our responsibility anymore."

Natasha shook her head. "Tony, this isn't just about responsibility. He's our friend. We can't just abandon him."

Bruce Banner, the Hulk, leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "It's the symbiote. It's influencing him, pushing him to extremes."

Tony shrugged. "Symbiote or not, he's a grown man. He knows what he's doing."

Clint Barton, Hawkeye, looked up from his seat. "It's not our problem, Steve. Let someone else deal with it."

Steve glanced at Natasha. "I'm with Natasha on this. Peter needs help. And if he's in there somewhere, we owe it to him to try and bring him back."

---

At the X-Mansion, the atmosphere was equally tense. Professor Charles Xavier and his X-Men watched the footage with a mix of horror and disbelief. Ororo Munroe, Storm, was the first to speak.

"This isn't the Peter we knew," she said softly. "He was always compassionate, always willing to help."

Jean Grey, sitting next to her, nodded. "He's been through so much. We should have seen this coming."

Scott Summers, Cyclops, was less sympathetic. "He made his choices. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions."

Logan, Wolverine, growled. "The kid's been through hell and back. Maybe we should cut him some slack."

Scott shot him a look. "We don't condone murder, Logan."

Logan's eyes flashed. "We also don't abandon our own."

Charles Xavier, his face etched with sorrow, finally spoke. "We failed him. We should have been there for him. But now, we must focus on helping him find his way back."

---

Elsewhere, Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, sat alone in her dimly lit apartment. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the footage of Spider-Man. Memories of her last encounter with Peter before he became Superior Spider-Man flooded her mind.

When Otto had control of Peter's body, he had brutally attacked her, breaking her teeth and sending her to prison like a common criminal. When Peter finally regained control and came to explain, she hadn't believed him. She had fought him, hurt him, driven him away.

Now, as she watched the man she had once loved descend into darkness, guilt consumed her. "I should have believed him," she whispered through her tears. "I should have been there for him."

---

In her Midtown apartment, Mary Jane Watson sat on her couch, staring blankly at the television screen. The images of Spider-Man's brutal confrontation with Shocker played over and over in her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gripped her heart.

"Peter... what have you become?" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "The Peter I knew... he's gone."

The weight of guilt pressed down on her chest. Memories flooded her mind—of times she had pushed Peter away, of moments when she had doubted him. She had always believed in him, admired his strength and kindness. But now, seeing what he had become, she couldn't help but feel responsible.

She remembered their last conversation, the frustration in her voice, the resignation in his eyes. "If only I had been more supportive," she thought, tears streaming down her face.

---

In a small apartment in Queens, May Parker sat alone in her living room, clutching a framed photo of her beloved nephew. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, "Oh, Peter... what have you become?" She couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed him somehow.

The news coverage played in the background, but May barely registered it. Her thoughts were consumed by memories of Peter—of the bright-eyed boy who had grown into a selfless hero, the young man who had faced countless challenges with courage and strength. Now, seeing what he had done, she felt a deep sense of sorrow.

"I should have been there for him," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I should have done more."

She thought about the last time she had seen him, the sadness in his eyes, the weight he carried. "I cast him out when he needed me the most," she realized, her heart breaking.

---

As the night wore on, reactions poured in from all corners of the superhero community. Some condemned Spider-Man's actions outright, while others expressed concern and disbelief. But for those who had been closest to Peter Parker, the pain ran deeper. They had witnessed firsthand the transformation of a hero into something darker, and they couldn't help but feel responsible.

---

Elsewhere, Black Cat, Mary Jane, and Aunt May weren't the only ones grappling with guilt and sorrow. In a quiet corner of a coffee shop, Betty Brant sat with her laptop, rewatching the footage of Peter's confrontation with Shocker. She had known Peter for years, had seen the struggles he endured, and now, she felt a deep sense of remorse for the way she had distanced herself from him.

"I should have seen the signs," she thought, tears streaming down her face. "I should have been there for him."

At the Daily Bugle, Robbie Robertson watched the footage in his office, his face a mask of grief. He had always believed in Peter, had seen the goodness in him, and now, he felt the sting of betrayal and sorrow.

In her penthouse, Liz Allan stared at the television, her heart heavy with regret. She had once been close to Peter, had shared moments of joy and pain with him, and now, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had played a part in pushing him away.

---

Back at Avengers Tower, Natasha Romanoff was resolute. "I don't care what you say, Tony. I'm going to find him. Peter is still in there, and I won't abandon him."

Steve Rogers nodded in agreement. "We're with you, Natasha. We'll do whatever it takes to bring him back."

Tony sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Do what you want. Just don't drag us into another mess."

As Steve, Natasha, and Bruce began to plan their approach, Clint Barton shook his head. "Good luck," he muttered. "You're gonna need it."

---

At the X-Mansion, Logan paced the room, his claws extending and retracting in frustration. "We need to help the kid. He's been through enough."

Scott Summers, still skeptical, crossed his arms. "And what if he doesn't want our help? What if he's beyond saving?"

Jean Grey placed a hand on Scott's arm. "We have to try, Scott. We owe him that much."

Charles Xavier nodded. "Indeed. We must do everything in our power to reach him, to show him that he's not alone."

Thanks for reading everyone

Follow me on X/Twitter @KaulusNoctis

Follow me on Tik Tok @thecrookedcannibal Subscribe to my YouTube Channel @KingCannibal2004

Please feel free to support me on Patreon.com/KingCannibal


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.