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Unsurprisingly, the next day, the lizard monster from the Williamsburg Bridge was the only thing anyone was talking about.
"Holy shit, did you guys see the news this morning?"
"Yeah. Thank God I live in Queens. My family could never afford a place in Brooklyn or Manhattan."
"You know, I'm starting to think we should all just leave New York after graduation."
"Why?"
"Think about it. A few years ago, it was the Hulk and the Abomination. Last year, that Stark Expo disaster. This year, we get aliens. And now, before the year's even over, we've got a giant lizard monster."
"Damn..."
"He's got a point. What the hell is wrong with New York these days?"
"It's been cursed ever since 9/11, man."
"Okay, but am I the only one who wants to know how that Spider-Man guy does the web thing?"
"..."
Sitting in the back of the bus, Hawk heard the quiet question and raised an eyebrow. He glanced at Peter sitting next to him.
See?
Peter felt the teasing look and just sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
Hawk just shrugged, then smoothly changed the subject, glancing at the empty seats around them. "Where's Harry? He's not riding with you today?"
"He had to go to Oscorp this morning. Said there was a break-in last night."
Peter lowered his voice, scanning the other students on the bus. "I asked him about it. It was Dr. Connors's lab that got hit. He said the lizard guy cleaned the place out, took all the equipment."
Hawk nodded. "I'm surprised New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man wasn't on the scene."
Peter's jaw tightened. "Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man needs to sleep."
He was suddenly very grateful for the mask.
Look at this... The one person who knew his secret, a guy who was just as introverted as he was—was already dissing him.
Imagine if anyone else found out.
Besides, he was trying to do good. Uncle Ben would be proud of him.
With great power comes great responsibility.
But—
Even with great power, you still need to sleep. Even actual spiders needed to rest every now and then.
He couldn't be on patrol twenty-four-seven.
Peter pushed the thought aside and leaned in, continuing their conversation from the night before in a low whisper. "So, what do you think Connors is trying to do?"
"Don't know. Don't care. Not my problem."
Hawk replied with a dismissive three-part combo.
Peter watched as Hawk, having said his piece, returned to his usual stoic silence, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. He opened his mouth to say more, but then closed it.
He wasn't about to ask Hawk to join him on his crusade.
Just because it was his passion didn't mean it had to be anyone else's. Peter understood that much.
...
At school, the buzz about the Lizard was even more intense.
Gossip and rumors flew through the halls, fueled by the overactive hormones of a thousand teenagers.
At lunch, Hawk, who had gotten his usual burger and Coke, was just starting to eat when Gwen, late from class, sat down across from him.
"Just got the news. I don't have to go in to Oscorp for a while. Dr. Connors's lab was robbed by the lizard-man, and Dr. Connors himself is missing."
"Uh..."
Hawk looked up. He thought for a moment, then leaned in, his voice low. "It wasn't some lizard-man who robbed the lab, Gwen. It was Connors."
He had been planning to tell her this morning. But Mary Jane had been with her, and Hawk hadn't wanted to say anything in front of her.
Now was as good a time as any.
"..." Gwen's eyes went wide. She gasped, her chest rising and falling in a sudden, sharp breath.
She quickly remembered they were in the crowded cafeteria and kept her voice down, her eyes wide as she stared at Hawk, who had already gone back to eating his burger.
"What? Dr. Connors is... Are you serious?"
"Ninety-nine percent sure. Spider-Man said the Lizard had my scent on him, but it was faint."
"Spider-Man?"
"Yep." Hawk nodded casually.
Gwen stared at him, her mind reeling. If her eyes could have gotten any wider, they would have. "You know Spider-Man?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
"Can't say." Hawk shook his head. He wasn't about to give up Peter's secret.
Telling Gwen about Connors was one thing. The Lizard was a direct threat to her. But Peter was different.
Especially this version of Peter, the original one. The one whose idea of "going dark" was getting a bad haircut, asking for a raise—and putting some dirt in his rival's eye.
Besides, Peter hadn't told anyone about his powers.
So, he was going to return the favor.
...
Hawk met Gwen's unblinking stare with a small smile. "You can stare at me all you want. I'm not going to tell you."
Gwen finally looked away.
Fine. I'll just figure it out myself.
Again, she knew Hawk's social circle was practically non-existent. If Hawk knew Spider-Man, chances are, she knew him too.
She was confident she could solve this.
As her mind began to race through a list of potential candidates, she leaned in again, her voice a whisper.
"But... how did Dr. Connors become that... thing?"
Hawk shook his head. "Only God knows. The last time I talked to him, he told me his regeneration serum had worked on a mouse."
He only bothered to think about it because it was Gwen asking.
If it had been Peter, he wouldn't have wasted the brain cells.
Even if the Lizard tore New York City in half, it wasn't his problem. There were other people who would be far more concerned about it than him.
He looked up and saw Gwen's eyes go wide with a new, dawning horror.
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