[Third Person POV]
Peter ran the back of his hand across his damp forehead and let out a long, mock, tired breath as the spider-bots scurried back through the glowing portal that hovered in the center of Felicia's room. Each tiny metallic creature clicked and chirped as it marched in formation, their eyes flickering like tiny fireflies.
Felicia watched the process from the comfort of her bed, still wrapped in a thick blanket. Her silver hair spilled lazily over the pillow as she fixed Peter with a deadpan stare, the corner of her mouth twitching just enough to betray her amusement.
"What?" Peter asked, his brow lifting as he stood in nothing but his black pants.
Felicia rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, her voice dry and teasing. "Nothing. Just admiring how hard you're pretending to be tired when it was the spider-bots that did literally all of the work."
"Hey, I contributed!" Peter shot back with mock indignation, planting his hands on his hips. "I opened the portal for them, didn't I? Someone had to do the heavy dimensional lifting."
Felicia smirked, clearly unconvinced.
Peter, unbothered, crouched down to salute the last of the marching bots. "Good work, everyone. Take five, recharge your little batteries, take an oil break. You've earned it."
In perfect synchronicity, the spider-bots paused and raised their tiny appendages in a salute of their own before disappearing into the gateway. Peter chuckled and straightened, turning back to Felicia with a grin. He leaned over the bed and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, his voice softening. "Well, I better get going. We've got to get ready for Aria's big initiation ritual."
Felicia stretched beneath the blanket, her eyes narrowing in sudden recollection. "Oh right, that's today…" She arched her back like a cat before settling back into the pillows. "Guess that means I'll have to get ready too."
"Don't keep me waiting," Peter teased as he scooped up his shirt from the floor. With a final wave, he followed the last spider-bot through the portal. The moment he stepped across the threshold, the gateway folded in on itself with a quiet hiss, leaving the room silent once more.
---
Later that afternoon…
High above the bustling city, the World Trade Center rooftop was crowned by a swirling vortex of light. One by one, figures emerged from the glowing rift, each dressed in their hero outfits.
As the team stepped onto the rooftop, the portal remained open behind them, humming with restrained energy. Conversations quickly broke out as everyone began to loiter around the rooftop, waiting for the final arrival—the evening's main event.
"I know Aria said she was going to take a minute, but how long is 'a minute' exactly?" Lizzy asked, dramatically flopping down near the ledge. Her boots dangled over the edge as she peered down at the dizzying drop below.
"She's definitely going to take a while," Peter replied, crossing his arms as he joined her along with the others. "She mentioned making some last-minute alterations to her suit.."
Felicia scoffed, swinging her legs idly. "Oh please. I bet you she just wants to make a dramatic entrance."
Harry leaned over with a sly grin and raised brow. "Hm? And where could she possibly get that from?" He shot a pointed look at Peter, earning a round of laughter.
"Oh, come on," Peter waved him off with a chuckle. "If anything, she gets it from her mother. She's a girl, takes forever to get ready—classic mom behavior."
The laughter died instantly as every girl on the team slowly turned to give Peter a synchronized stare of death.
Harry snorted nervously. "Dude… maybe don't say that when the majority of the team is, you know… female."
Peter's confident grin faltered into a sheepish smile as a bead of sweat trailed down his temple. "Fair point," he muttered quickly, raising his hands in surrender.
Before anyone could tease him further, a series of rapid pitter-patters echoed from the still-open portal. A burst of excited energy followed, punctuated by a triumphant shout.
"Is everyone ready?!"
The team exchanged knowing smirks, the air thick with anticipation.
"Because presenting the main event of this evening… THE AMAZING…!!"
A flash of purple streaked across the portal as Aria slid into view, landing in a flawless spider-crouch. The breeze from the rooftop caught her scarf, sending it billowing dramatically behind her as she threw her arms wide and declared with unmistakable pride,
"ARACHNID!!"
When she finally looked up, a mischievous smirk spread across her masked face, and she let out a smug little scoff. Standing tall, she planted her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, clearly savoring every second of admiration.
Her suit was a masterpiece of design and flair. Black leggings hugged her legs like shadowed silk, overlaid by a sleek purple dress threaded with intricate black web patterns. Her arms were wrapped in shoulder-length black gloves, the fabric embroidered with tiny spiders crawled across the seams. Around her neck rested a long, flowing purple scarf that draped across her shoulders and covered the lower half of her face like a mysterious veil.
The rest of her mask was a deep violet accented with delicate black webbing, her lenses glowing faintly with tiny amethyst dots that radiated outward like the eyes of a spider. At the center of her forehead gleamed a perfectly cut purple gem. And atop her head, two neatly tied purple hair buns peeked through.
Aria planted one hand on her hip and extended the other outward in a playful peace sign, her violet lenses narrowing just enough to mimic a smiling expression. The subtle movement of her mask made it obvious she was grinning beneath the scarf.
"Soooo cuuuuuute!!" the girls squealed in unison, their voices echoing across the rooftop as they rushed forward like an excited tide.
Aria froze, her confident stance immediately breaking as the group surrounded her. The sudden wave of praise made her shoulders stiffen and her cheeks flush beneath the mask.
"I love the buns! They're so adorable!" Lizzy laughed as she reached out and gave the two purple hair-balls a gentle squeeze, making them wobble like tiny springs.
"The scarf is a really good touch," Gwen added, running her fingertips across the smooth fabric.
MJ tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing with curiosity. "But are you really going to let everyone see your purple hair? It's pretty unique. Basically anyone who knows you could figure out your identity."
Aria's lenses curved upward with a mischievous smile. "I thought about that. It actually makes more sense to hide my purple hair when I'm in my civilian identity. Watch this…"
The amethyst gem on her forehead glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. In an instant her vibrant purple locks shifted, melting into the familiar chestnut brown of Peter's hair.
"Problem solved," Aria said with a triumphant little shrug.
Once the last round of squeals and playful pokes died down, Aria turned toward Peter, her earlier bravado softening. "So… can we begin?" she asked quietly, her voice carrying a nervous edge that made Peter's grin widen.
"Sure," he said warmly. He glanced around at the team, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Everyone knows what to do, right?"
Felicia smirked and crossed her arms. "Please. It's not like we've done this a thousand times already."
"Actually…" Aria raised her hand sheepishly, cutting in before anyone could move. "Instead of everyone jumping one by one, why don't we all jump together? You know—like a proper team."
Peter arched a brow but smiled. "Your initiation, your rules."
Without further debate, everyone began forming a line along the rooftop's edge. The city sprawled endlessly below them. Wind whipped around their suits and tugged at their hair as they looked down at the dizzying drop.
"The sight never gets old," Harry said with a warm, almost wistful smile.
Every head nodded in agreement. No matter how many times they had stood at this height, the view still carried a rush that words couldn't capture.
Peter cupped a hand around his mouth and shouted over the wind, "Are you ready, kids?!"
A chorus of mischievous grins spread across the group.
"Aye aye, Captain!" they all shouted back.
Peter leaned forward dramatically, pressing a hand to his ear. "I can't hear yooooou!"
"AYE AYE CAPTAIN!!" they roared even louder, their voices ringing across the rooftop and scattering a flock of nearby pigeons.
Before the echoes faded, Aria launched herself back and wrapped her arms around Peter's neck, laughing as the momentum carried her forward. Their eyes met briefly behind their masks, sharing a grin.
Then, as one, they all shouted, "OOOOOOOOOH!"
Gravity claimed them.
They leaned forward and plunged into the open air, their stomachs flipping as the world dropped away in a blur of light and sound.
Gwen twisted her body into a backflip, somersaulting through the rushing wind with effortless grace.
Felicia planted her feet against the building's side and broke into a full sprint straight down the vertical wall, her hair streaming like silver fire.
MJ dove as clean and straight as an arrow, her arms folded casually behind her back as if free-falling from a skyscraper was a Sunday stroll.
Harry and Lizzy dove from opposite ends, limbs tight and streamlined. Their reflections flashed across the tower windows as Lizzy's chest ignited in a controlled burst of flame that soon consumed her entire body in a blazing comet. At the same moment, the familiar hum of Harry's glider unfolded beneath his feet, wings snapping into place with a metallic hiss.
Laughter and whoops of excitement filled the sky as Peter tilted his head toward Aria, their bodies slicing through the air.
"Ready to make your debut?" he shouted over the roar of the wind.
Aria's eyes sparkled, her voice ringing with pure exhilaration. "Hahaha! I was born for this!!"
Below them a portal blossomed into existence, its swirling center reflecting the glittering city and skyscrapers. Without hesitation, Aria kicked off the air, twisting into a perfect dive straight through the glowing gateway.
Towering skyscrapers stretched into a misty skyline. The momentum carried her forward, her purple scarf snapping behind her like a comet's tail.
Aria extended her wrist and fired a perfect web line that anchored to the nearest building. The tension snapped tight, swinging her forward in a smooth, arcing glide.
"Villains beware!" she shouted, her voice echoing across the canyons of steel and glass. "Lady Arachnid is on the case!!"
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