Logan was pissed. He had received information from the Avengers that Peter was alive. He wanted an explanation from that so-called Madame Web and from Emma, because he was sure she knew something.
"This is insane," Hope burst out. "We saw his body," she growled. "What else did the Avengers say?"
"Besides that he was alive and that he's the Red Hood... they said the Captain probably knows more," Logan replied, not looking at her.
"Alright, then let's talk to him," she said determinedly.
Logan let out a growl. He wanted answers, yes, but something told him Emma knew more. He remembered that call where she described the Red Hood's suit.
"Let's do that," he whispered, "but I need to talk to someone first," he informed her.
............
The Captain had been approached by Felicia, who was still in shock about everything that had happened with Peter. He sighed in frustration; none of this was easy to accept.
"What are we going to do?"
He turned and saw Jessica approaching.
"I think… I think we should leave him alone," he whispered.
Jessica widened her eyes, surprised by what she had just heard.
"You're kidding, right?" she said.
"Steve, we abandoned him before," she said. "We can't do it again," she declared. "You're doubting, aren't you?"
"Why are you doubting?" she asked.
"Because I don't know what to do or think," Steve confessed.
...................
Logan had tracked Emma thanks to his sense of smell. He entered the building and followed her scent to an apartment, where he kicked down the door and found the couple.
He looked Peter up and down. He had grown a bit and was more muscular than before. Logan frowned and approached, landing a punch that knocked Peter to the floor.
Emma was shocked and, without thinking, used her power to knock Logan down. She rushed to Peter and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
"Y-yeah…"
Logan watched the interaction between them.
"You already knew," he said.
Emma stared at him as she stood up.
"You knew and you didn't even tell me or Hope," he growled.
"I…"
"YOU WHAT…?" he shouted. "YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH HIS DEATH," he sighed. "What Hope felt…"
"I asked her," Peter interrupted. "I asked her not to tell anyone," he explained.
Logan looked at Peter.
"What the hell is going on in your head?" he asked. "Because the things you've been doing lately are seriously questionable," he stated.
"I've changed," Peter said.
"Killing? That's not you. Spider-Man doesn't kill."
"I'M NOT SPIDER-MAN! SPIDER-MAN IS DEAD!" he shouted.
Logan growled and turned his back.
"That's not you."
"People change," Peter said. "And after 15 years of being Spider-Man, now I understand," he confessed. "Crime can't be destroyed, but it can be controlled."
Logan turned to face him.
"What made you think that?"
"My death at the hands of the Goblin opened my eyes," he frowned. "He killed me, and what did you do?" he asked. "Just put him in jail, when that maniac deserves death," he growled. "Tell me, Logan, who did you put in my place? Jessica? Silk? Miles?" he questioned.
Peter smirked cynically.
"Or were you all just happy I died?"
"You're wrong. No one was happ—"
"Stop with that damn hypocrisy," Peter interrupted. "It disgusts me. Get out…"
...................
Kingpin stood before the Goblin, who was grinning maniacally on his glider.
"You've definitely lost it," he said.
"Thanks for getting me out of that hole," the Goblin said. "But you're no longer useful."
His glider fired a pair of blades, and laughing, he launched himself at Kingpin, impaling him.
...................
Logan had left, leaving the couple alone.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked.
"That's what I should be asking you," Peter joked. "But yeah, I'm fine," he sighed. "I'm sorry about all this."
"It's okay. In the end, it was my decision," she said, sitting on his lap. "The heroes are starting to figure out the truth. What are you going to do?"
"Let them. I don't care," he kissed her neck. "I'm going to keep doing things my way, with my methods, no matter what they think."
Emma said nothing, just kissed him on the lips.
"Have you ever thought about something beyond all this?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"A life… something beyond heroes and villains?"
"Yeah… I've thought about it."
"Am I part of that?" she asked, afraid.
Peter smiled and gently kissed her lips.
"Of course you are."
Emma was about to kiss him again, but the police radio interrupted:
"The Green Goblin has escaped and is causing destruction on the Brooklyn Bridge."
Peter lifted Emma off his lap and walked to the window, seeing small explosions in the distance. He turned to see Emma, using her powers, handing him the helmet.
"Shall we?" she asked, smiling.
..................
Karen had informed Jessica about what was happening. She was in costume.
"There's no time to hesitate," Jessica said. "We can't abandon him. Not again," she declared.
"Jess…"
"He was just angry," she said, facing him. "Are you coming or not?"
The Captain sighed and looked at Jessica with determination. He grabbed his helmet and put it on.
"This time, I won't be late."
The Captain and Spider-Woman watched the burning scene, and in the distance, they saw the White Queen and Red Hood fighting the Goblin.
"He wants to kill him," the Captain said.
"Peter was never vengeful. Why is he doing this?"
"People change… and he has reasons," he replied, "but that doesn't justify such extreme methods."
...................
Felicia was torn, unsure whether to go help or not.
She watched the fight between Peter and the Goblin on TV, and how they ended up inside a building.
"Are you going or not?"
She turned and frowned when she saw Logan.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm going," he replied. "I'm going to try to change his mind. If you come, it'll be easier. You're important to him."
Felicia turned her back.
"I'm nothing to him anymore," she confessed. "He tried to kill me."
"And you've done the same," Logan said, "and even so, he always tried to help you."
"Leave."
"You're afraid, aren't you?"
.................
Jessica stopped the Captain, and as he approached, she spoke.
"You should go," she suggested. "Stop Peter from doing something crazy."
"Are you sure?" the Captain asked.
"Don't let him be alone."
The Captain said nothing more and just left. Spider-Woman frowned when she saw Emma.
"You let him do this," she accused.
"He's an adult. He knows what he's doing," Emma replied. "Besides, I understand him."
"He's not like this."
"That's where you're wrong," she growled. "He changed since he came back, and you all need to accept that."
"He's becoming the kingpin of crime."
"No. He's controlling crime, which is different."
"You support this?"
"He's my boyfriend, and I won't leave him alone," she said.
"Then why let him continue?"
"It's the way he found to deal with everything. He has nightmares. He can't sleep through the night because, when he closes his eyes, he sees him," she explained.
"And you think killing him will help Peter move on?" she asked. "He needs help. Spider-Man needs help."
"That's where you're wrong, Spider," she frowned. "He's not Spider-Man anymore, and he's made that very clear," she sighed. "It doesn't matter if he kills him. In the end, he's doing what's right. What should've been done a long time ago."
"He doesn't kill!" she shouted angrily.
"Spider-Man doesn't. But Red Hood does," she said calmly. "The world saw Spider-Man die. He died a hero," she added. "The world doesn't need Spider-Man anymore."
"New York will always need him," she said, getting into a combat stance.
"I'm not going to fight you."
"Then let me through. Let me talk to Peter."
"That won't help. He's made up his mind," she confessed. "Why do you think I let Cap reach him? It was Peter himself who told me to let him in," she crossed her arms. "No matter what anyone says, he's going to kill him."
................
The Captain entered the room only to find Peter pointing a gun at him. The Goblin laughed at the situation.
"I gotta admit, points for Parker," he said, bouncing excitedly in the chair inside the closet. "Came back from the dead just to make this party happen." He looked at Peter. "Anyone got a camera? First a picture with the kid, then with you, then with the lever…"
Peter frowned and kicked him down. He crouched and pointed the gun at his head.
"Shut up or I'll do this the hard way."
"Such a buzzkill. Not even gonna have cake," the Goblin replied.
Peter stood up and pointed at the Captain.
"Ignoring everything he's done in the past," he said, "forgetting he filled graveyards and made thousands suffer," he glared. "I think I… would be the last person he'd hurt."
"You don't understand," the Captain sighed.
"What don't I understand?" Peter asked. "I get it. Your moral code won't let you kill him," he said. "Is it hard to cross that line?"
"No, God, it would be too easy," the Captain explained. "Ever since I found out what he did to you, I've wanted to kill him," he frowned. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about the torture he put you through. And then… taking him out."
"Who would've thought? Captain America thinks about me," the Goblin mocked.
"But if I do that, if I stoop to that level… I'll never come back."
"Of course you won't, Cap," Peter replied. "Few heroes can go to that place and not go mad. Only those with strong minds can go there and come back, like me."
He smashed the chair with his foot, grabbed the Goblin, and pointed the gun at him.
"I know you're not going to do it," he said firmly. "You can't, because deep down you know it won't fix anything."
"Are you challenging me?"
"This is going better than I expected," the Goblin provoked. "I always thought you were weak, Parker. A kid poking his nose where it didn't belong."
The Captain grabbed his shield. He didn't like the situation.
"This isn't you," he said. "You're better than any hero. You're Spider-Man."
"Tsk," Peter let out. "Spider-Man died because of this guy," he grabbed the Goblin's neck. "I'm Red Hood…" he shot.
Norman's body fell to the floor, and the Captain threw his shield, making Peter drop the gun.
"You're not that different from the villains," he said, readying himself.
"Anyone who thinks differently than you is seen as a villain," Peter replied. "You have your methods, I have mine… so why don't you leave me alone?" he asked, taking a fighting stance.
"I've been too soft on you."
"So have I."