[Third Person Pov]
The next morning, the time had finally come to hand over their prisoners to none other than Nicholas Fury.
Peter, Gwen, Bruce, and Betty made their way down to the lower level where the holding cells were located. The corridor was dimly lit, lined with reinforced glass and humming containment fields that buzzed faintly in the background. Inside one of the cells sat Samuel Sterns — better known as The Leader — slouched against the metallic wall. In the cell beside him, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross stood stiff and silent.
Peter, dressed in his Spider-Man suit, clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Today's the big day — moving day!" he announced with mock enthusiasm. "Aren't we all just thrilled?"
"Just let me out, please! I'm innocent!" Samuel's voice cracked with desperation. "I don't even remember doing anything wrong! One minute I was thrown back by that monster—and the next thing I know, I wake up in this cell!" He pressed his palms against the barrier, trying to look pitiful.
Peter made a fake spitting sound to the side. "That's what they all say — criminal scum—Ow!" He flinched as Gwen smacked his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble slightly.
"Was just kidding…" Peter muttered, rubbing the sore spot under his suit.
"Look," Gwen said, stepping forward with her arms crossed, "I'm sure there's some truth to what you're saying, but that doesn't change what you've done. You're too dangerous to be released. And someone has to answer for the soldiers who died because of you." Her voice was firm, carrying the quiet authority.
Samuel turned his attention to Bruce, eyes softening as he tried a different tactic. "Come on, Bruce," he said pleadingly, "surely you of all people understand what it's like — waking up to find yourself accused of things you can't remember, watching your life fall apart because of something you can't control. You and I, we're not so different."
Bruce's expression darkened. He stared at Samuel for a long, heavy moment before sighing and lowering his gaze. "Trust me," he said quietly, "I understand better than anyone. But our situations couldn't be more different. It took time, but I learned that what's inside us — the monster, the rage — it's not just something to hate or deny. It's a part of us. The Hulk might be destructive, but he never wanted to rule the world or hurt people for power. He just wanted peace. You, on the other hand…" Bruce shook his head slowly. "I once trusted you. I shared my blood with you because I believed you could help me find a cure. But instead, you used it — you mass produced it. You turned it into a weapon."
Samuel's expression twisted from desperation to fury. "So that's what this is about! Revenge, huh? You want payback because I saw the true potential of your blood — because I wanted to share it with the world! You were too selfish to accept that you weren't unique anymore! You wanted to keep your—BZZZZTTT!"
The sound of electricity filled the air as Samuel's body convulsed violently. He dropped to the ground, writhing and screaming as sparks flickered from the collar around his neck.
All eyes turned toward Peter, who was standing a few feet away holding a small control device — thumb pressed firmly on the activation button.
"…What?" Peter said innocently, glancing around as everyone stared at him in disbelief. "Don't tell me you actually wanted to hear the rest of his villain monologue?"
Bruce sighed deeply while Gwen pinched the bridge of her nose. Betty just shook her head, muttering something under her breath.
"Am I wrong?" Peter continued, gesturing at the still-twitching Samuel. "Come on — it was obviously going to be another load of self-justifying nonsense. I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I don't have the time or the patience to sit through that speech." He scoffed and tucked the controller back into his belt pouch.
Betty raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "You know what? Honestly… fair," she admitted, nodding slightly.
"Yeah, he kind of has a point," Gwen said, though her tone was half amusement, half reluctance. Bruce, however, was still shaking his head, muttering something about "ethics" and "unnecessary force."
With a soft hum, the containment field flickered and then dissolved. Peter stepped forward, pressing the panel to open the adjacent cell. The door slid open with a hiss, revealing General Ross, who stepped out slowly, straightening his posture with all the pride he could muster despite the restraints around his wrists.
Ross's steely eyes met Betty's, and for a long, tense moment, neither said a word. A complicated mix of guilt, resentment, and longing passed between them.
Meanwhile, Peter strode casually into the other cell, crouched beside the still-groaning Samuel, and grabbed him by the back of his shirt. "Alright, sleepyhead, up you go," he muttered, effortlessly hoisting the man over his shoulder with one arm like he weighed nothing at all.
Peter stepped out of the holding area, the air in the room felt heavy, thick with a kind of awkward silence that could only come from unresolved family tension. His head tilted slightly as his mask lenses narrowed.
"Whoa," he said, waving a hand between Betty and Ross. "Okay, what's going on here? My spidey-sense is tingling. Didn't you guys have a heart-to-heart already? Don't tell me it didn't go well."
Betty let out a tired sigh, placing a hand on her hip. "It went… fine," she admitted. "But not everything can be fixed with a single conversation. Years of damage don't just disappear because we had a nice talk."
Ross gave a slow nod, his tone gruff but honest. "We agreed to start over," he said. "To rebuild from scratch. I know I haven't exactly been a model father, but I intend to change that. I owe her that much."
Betty's eyes softened briefly before she looked away with a faint, almost bittersweet smile. "We'll see," she said quietly. "Let's just take it one step at a time."
Peter raised his hands defensively. "Hey, that's still progress! Way better than the shouting match I was half expecting." He gave Ross a pat on the arm — or at least tried to, since the man's bicep felt like solid rock under his jacket. "Anyway, General T.R., I don't think you'll be needing this anymore…"
With a quick motion, Peter tapped a control device. The inhibitor collar around Ross's neck beeped twice before deactivating with a soft click. He carefully removed it, tossing it into a containment case at his side.
Almost immediately, Ross began to change. His muscles expanded, veins glowing faintly red as his skin shifted tone, darkening into a molten crimson hue. The Red Hulk stood tall once again, his immense frame dwarfing the others in the room. The floor vibrated slightly under his weight.
Betty took a deep breath and did the same, transforming into her Red She-Hulk form, her fiery aura flaring for a moment before settling. The two towering figures faced each other — a silent mirror of both strength and regret.
Ross exhaled, the air leaving him in a low rumble as his body began to shrink, his features softening back into his human form. He rolled his shoulders with a grunt, glancing briefly at Betty. "I'm ready to go," he said simply.
Peter gave a satisfied nod. "Alright then. Family reunion part two: success-ish."
---
A shimmering golden portal opened near the shipment yard by the docks, swirling like liquid before expanding into a full gateway. Peter stepped through first, followed by Gwen, Harry, and the rest of the Spider family, with Bruce and Betty bringing up the rear. Samuel Sterns, still unconscious and restrained, was slung over Peter's shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
The group emerged to find Nick Fury waiting for them — long coat flapping slightly in the sea breeze — flanked by Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton. Behind them, the Quinjet's loading ramp was open, its engines humming softly.
"Yo! What's up, guys? Long time no see!" Peter greeted, raising a hand cheerfully.
Hawkeye blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about? It's been, like, five days. You literally dropped by to see Stark's press conference."
Peter froze mid-wave. "Wait, that was this week?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Man, I swear, so much stuff's happened since then, it feels like a month ago."
Meanwhile, General Ross was escorted toward Fury. The two men exchanged nods — military sharp and mutual.
"General Ross," Fury greeted evenly.
"Agent Nicholas Fury," Ross replied in kind.
Peter dropped Samuel to the ground beside Natasha and Clint. "Here you go — one science-obsessed megalomaniac, freshly delivered. Please, feel free to never give him access to a computer again."
"Good riddance," Betty muttered under her breath, crossing her arms.
Natasha smirked faintly while she and Hawkeye began leading both Ross and Sterns toward the Quinjet's ramp. Fury, however, lingered behind, his one eye on Peter.
"So," Peter said with a grin, tilting his head. "Is he out yet?"
Fury's expression softened slightly — a rare sight. "Not yet," he said. "We're close. The team's working carefully to thaw him out. Everyone's worried they'll damage him if they rush."
Harry crossed his arms beside Peter. "You being in such a good mood is really, really unsettling," he said suspiciously. "Are you sure you're the real Nick Fury?"
"Shut up, will you?" Fury deadpanned, glaring at him.
"There it is!" Harry said with a grin, pointing dramatically. "That's the Fury I know!"
The others chuckled as Fury groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose before turning toward the Quinjet. "Whatever. If another mess like this happens, you know how to reach me."
"Yeah, sure thing," Peter said, waving lazily. "Just let me know when you finally unfreeze Cap, alright?"
Fury raised a hand without looking back — a casual "okay" sign — before disappearing up the ramp. The Quinjet's doors sealed shut with a hiss, and moments later, the engines roared to life as it lifted into the air and sped off into the horizon.
Peter watched it go, hands on his hips. "You know," he said, "Nightwing's right. Something feels off. I'm starting to miss the old Nick — the one who'd call us motherfuckers"
Harry laughed. "We should still check if he's an imposter though," he said half-seriously.
"Agreed," Peter said, nodding solemnly — before both of them burst out laughing.
Peter cleared his throat and turned to face the rest of the team, clapping his hands together. "Alright, everyone! Prisoners delivered, no explosions, no broken bones, and only one minor electrocution incident. You know what that means, right?"
The group grinned, energy already buzzing through them.
"BEACH DAY!" they shouted in unison, throwing their fists into the air as the portal shimmered open once more, leading them toward a much-needed break from chaos.
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