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[Frog] Chapter 137: The Enchanting Gwen and… a Meteor?
🕑 Added 2024-11-01 16:48:49 +0000 UTCIn a dark corner of a New York pier, bursts of electricity flickered through the air. With a quick tug of her web, Gwen smashed two gangsters' heads together, knocking them unconscious. At Pikachu's feet lay a few more gang members, all zapped into a state of oblivion.
A loud yell sounded from the other side as Daredevil's staff struck the neck of another thug. His eyes rolled back, and his machete fell to the ground with a clatter. Scanning the scene, Matt saw that every gang member involved in this shady deal was down for the count.
“Let’s see what they were so eager to trade this time,” he said, spinning his staff and prying open a nearby wooden crate.
Curious, Gwen jumped over, grinning. “So your staff doubles as a crowbar? Guess it’s pretty handy for getting through doors too, huh?”
Ignoring her joke, Matt looked inside the crate. The top layer was packed with dry straw. He cautiously pushed it aside with his staff, revealing the contents underneath.
“Wow,” Gwen marveled. “Looks like we’ve hit the jackpot.”
“Pika…” Pikachu peered into the crate too, its tiny head poking up with curiosity.
Nodding in agreement, Matt reached in and pulled out an M4A1 rifle, its black surface gleaming under the dim light.
Skilled with weaponry, Matt took a few seconds to inspect the gun. “It’s the real deal… and modified. This thing’s more lethal than usual.”
“If these start circulating in New York, you and I will have a lot more work on our hands,” he said, frowning at the thought of the city’s recent unrest.
“I already called the detectives,” Gwen replied. “They’ll be here soon to take it all in.”
Matt looked surprised. “When did you manage that?”
“Oh, I have a really convenient little gadget,” Gwen explained with a smirk. “Just press a button, and the cops are on the way.”
Satisfied with her answer, Matt returned the gun to the crate, then glanced at Pikachu beside Gwen. Although he couldn’t see Pikachu’s appearance, he could sense its size and presence.
“This your new partner, Spider-Woman?” he asked.
“Sure is! This little guy’s name is Pikachu, and he’s a powerhouse.”
“Pika…chu…” Pikachu squeaked with a cute enthusiasm.
The sound made Matt chuckle. “Definitely seems like a solid partner.”
“It’s getting late,” Gwen said. “Come on, Pikachu, let’s head home. Good teamwork, Daredevil.”
“Hold on, Spider-Woman.” Just as Gwen turned to leave, Matt called after her, then asked, “Has Nick Fury contacted you?”
Gwen’s brow arched at the name. Her impression of Nick Fury wasn’t exactly favorable. “You mean that bald-headed hard-boiled egg from S.H.I.E.L.D.?”
“Hard-boiled egg?” Matt echoed, picturing Fury’s face and bursting into laughter. “Haha… that’s a fitting description! He does kind of look like an egg.”
“Sounds like he’s reached out to you, too.”
Gwen gave a slight nod. “Something like that. So, he’s tried to recruit you too?”
“Yeah, he wants me to join his so-called Avengers.”
To Matt, it seemed Gwen’s experience with Fury was much the same as his own—another attempt at pulling heroes into the Avengers Initiative.
“Did you agree?” Gwen asked.
Matt shrugged. “Of course not. I’ve always been wary of government groups like his. I’m not about to join up with them.”
“Big, noble missions to ‘protect the world’ don’t interest me much.” His usually dim expression brightened slightly. “I’d rather focus on small, doable changes in my own way.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Did you say yes?”
“To be honest, I don’t have the best impression of him,” Gwen replied.
Matt interpreted her comment as a polite way of saying she’d turned Fury down.
Just then, the sound of police sirens began echoing from all directions.
“Alright, I think it’s time for us both to clear out,” said Matt. “Goodbye, Spider-Woman.”
He turned and darted into the shadows, while Gwen swung away on her web, vanishing from sight.
Moments later, a group of detectives arrived on the scene, dressed in bulletproof vests and holding guns as they swiftly surrounded the area. After spotting the unconscious gang members on the ground, they began inspecting the crates.
“Chief, no one else is here,” one detective reported. “But there’s a massive cache of weapons.”
Led by his officers, George arrived at the stash, picking up one of the weapons and studying it carefully. “This was Spider-Woman’s doing, no doubt. Looks like we’ll finally get a break from those annoying reporters tomorrow.”
“Huh?” The detective beside him didn’t follow.
After all, the press had been camped outside the NYPD headquarters, and the officers called to the docks tonight had come from other precincts. George himself had slipped away in disguise.
Originally, he’d planned to go straight to Peter’s place. But just after leaving the precinct, he’d received an anonymous tip-off via text. Not wanting to tip off the reporters, he discreetly brought his most trusted men and gathered reinforcements from nearby precincts to check it out.
George chuckled, tossing the weapon back to the detective next to him. “Get word to the NYPD. I want everyone here, the more noise, the better!”
The detective immediately understood his plan. “A diversion….”
“Stay here and hold the fort,” George said. “I’ve got somewhere else to be.”
“No worries, Chief, leave it to me,” the detective replied confidently.
With that assurance, George quickly got into his car and headed toward Queens.
Meanwhile, hovering high above, a green figure watched the scene below with interest. Perched on his glider, the Green Goblin chuckled.
“Looks like the detectives are busy tonight.”
Normally, Green Goblin would relish stirring up trouble in a moment like this, but memories of his past encounter with Emperor made him restrain that urge.
“I’ll let them off tonight,” he muttered, grinning wickedly. “Once my master’s plan succeeds, no one in New York will be able to stop me!”
He licked his lips, his gaze focused in a particular direction. “Now, time to pay an old friend a visit….”
The Green Goblin’s glider, upgraded by Mephisto, could now reach terrifying speeds. At full throttle, he quickly left the bright lights of New York behind, entering a stretch of barren landscape.
“There you are!” His lenses locked onto a group of military-green buildings in the distance.
This was a U.S. military base, built outside of New York City, known only to a few high-ranking officials in the city. Approaching from the sky, the Green Goblin’s eyes glinted with murderous intent.
“General, savor your last moments….”
...
At Alan’s House
Gwen sat on the balcony railing, holding a glass of wine that Alan had just poured for her.
"Cheers!" Alan raised his glass, clinking it with hers.
The two downed their glasses in one go, and a faint blush appeared on Gwen’s cheeks, making her look irresistibly cute.
"Alan, where did you get this wine?" Gwen asked.
Alan shrugged casually. "Stark Industries stocks went up again. Tony sent it over."
Gwen nodded—after all, Happy had also delivered wine once before, so it wasn’t surprising.
"Want some more?" he offered.
"Sure." Gwen held out her glass, and Alan poured her a little more.
Meanwhile, Pikachu stood on the floor, staring blankly at the little bottle of milk in its hands. Why does mine look different from theirs?
Seeing Pikachu’s confused face, Gwen couldn’t help but laugh. "Pikachu, you’re still young, so no alcohol for you."
"Oh, and Alan," she said suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"Something on your mind?" Alan asked.
Gwen recalled her earlier encounter. "I ran into Daredevil tonight."
"Did he say anything to you?"
Alan knew that if Daredevil had said something significant, Gwen wouldn’t have mentioned him otherwise.
“That baldy Fury from S.H.I.E.L.D. came to him too,” she said. “Tried to recruit him…”
Gwen thought back for a moment, then continued, “Into the Avengers….”
“But like you, he turned Fury down.”
Alan was momentarily surprised. It seemed his presence was altering the storyline of the Marvel Universe a bit.
Or maybe this was how the Avengers would assemble in this universe? In the cinematic universe he knew, Daredevil hadn’t even made an appearance at this point.
Even though Daredevil had refused, that didn’t mean Nick Fury would give up so easily.
The two of them kept chatting idly, and though they hadn’t drunk much, the mood between them was growing warmer.
Gwen looked at Alan. Sitting on the railing, she was positioned higher, looking down at him.
"Alan…" she murmured, cheeks flushed.
Alan stepped closer, speaking softly. "I’m here, Spider-Woman…."
Before he could finish, Gwen, emboldened by the alcohol, wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down to kiss him. Alan instinctively held her around the waist, pulling her closer as they shared a deep, passionate kiss, completely oblivious to Pikachu below them.
After a while, Gwen broke the kiss, resting her forehead against his.
"Did you enjoy that, Mr. Ford?" she asked playfully.
"Of course, Ms. Spider-Woman," he replied.
Gwen chuckled, "Consider that a reward for making my spider suit. Keep up the good work!"
"So if I make an even better suit, would the reward be…even greater?" Alan asked, his tone teasing and suggestive.
Gwen’s face turned even redder. An even greater reward… that would mean….
Her heart raced at the thought, realizing Alan was once again teasing her!
Fueled by the alcohol, Gwen found herself growing bolder. She tugged on his collar, leaning in with a mischievous smile. "Of course. If you can make it, the reward will be even more… generous."
As her lips drew near his, just before they touched, Gwen suddenly shot a web outside, swinging off the railing in an instant.
“So work hard, Mr. Ford! I’ll be going now.”
As she disappeared into the night, Alan chuckled, looking after her. “This girl’s getting bolder by the day.”
“Pika…chu….” Pikachu’s little voice snapped Alan back to reality.
“Don’t worry. You can sleep in the little bed in my room tonight. Anna’s heading to the station early tomorrow anyway.”
Pikachu happily waddled off to Alan’s room, milk bottle in hand. Ahh, nothing like home comfort.
Watching Pikachu’s adorable waddle, Alan smiled and leaned on the balcony, swirling the wine in his glass.
Just then, he heard the hum of a car engine below. Glancing down, he saw it was Anna’s car.
After a moment, Anna entered and noticed Alan standing on the balcony. “Drinking alone? Need some company?”
“Sure, why not,” he replied.
Kicking off her shoes, Anna padded over to him barefoot, noticing a half-full glass on the table. She instantly guessed who had been drinking with him.
Without a second thought, she poured herself a glass. “Cheers.”
“Cheers….”
After a while, Anna rested her head on the small balcony table and fell asleep. Thankfully, it was a warm summer night, and the cool New York evening breeze was gentle. Alan went inside to grab a blanket, covering her before turning back to gaze at the city skyline.
Suddenly, he frowned, noticing something unusual in the sky.
“Is that…a meteor shower?”
...
