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We both stood across each other, muscles tensed, breathing measured.
And in a flash, it began.
Ghost Spider fired a web at my chest, yanking me towards her. I slipped under the punch that followed, countering with a left hook aimed at her ribs. She jumped back, creating distance. I followed through, releasing a barrage of jabs and straights as I closed the gap. She weaved between my swings with practiced ease, using delicate footwork to redirect her body on a dime.
The contrast between us was evident. I was swinging like a brawler, trying to keep control of the tempo, while she seemed like a dancer. Every movement, every counter, every weave seemed like it was a part of her routine. She didn't need to control the tempo, she simply flowed alongside the current.
One thing was evident to both of us. We lived for this thrill. We had clashed countless times in the past six months, since she first appeared in public. And yet, we both couldn't get enough of this cat and mouse chase we did.
I was brought out of my thoughts by a counter of hers that actually connected, hitting me clean in the jaw. I stumbled backwards, clutching my jaw with a groan.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you knew what I was going to do before I even did it."
It had always been like this. I could never catch her by surprise. She was always one step ahead of me, dodging every punch I threw before I could even throw it.
"You gonna complain about how unfair this matchup is? I didn't think you were the whining type, Shadow." She replied, her tone teasing.
"Not the whining type? Do you even know me? All I do is whine. Although, I back it up with skill, too!" I yelled the last part, before throwing down a smoke pellet.
Ghost Spider coughed as the smoke spread across the rooftop. Then, I swung, and she dropped below it.
"Gotcha" I spoke as I dropped to do a leg sweep, knocking her onto her butt.
She can predict the future all she wants, if she's too busy coughing to react, I can still win.
She jumped to her feet, now throwing punches with vengeance. I slipped back into the smoke, letting her flail wildly at nothing.
"You know, this would be a lot more fun if you just let me hit you." She spoke, now scanning around to try to find me.
"I'm sure it would be for you. Me? Not so much. You punch with the force of an angry moose."
"HEY!" She yelled at my insult, before grabbing into the smoke where my voice came from.
She managed to grab my collar and yank me over her shoulder, slamming me into the ground.
"...Ouch. My everything hurts."
She jumped on top of me, pinning me to the ground and pulling my head up using my collar. She then cocked her other fist back, threatening to punch me with it.
"Anything else to say before I hand you over to the cops?" She spoke, a grin clearly present under her mask.
"...You feel really nice on top of me?"
"Wha- EW, GROSS" She yelled, picking me up and launching me at a nearby ledge.
I hit the ledge with a thud, and crumpled to the ground.
"Okay, I deserved that one." I said, groaning as I slowly stood up.
"Glad we agree. Now come on, you're going to jail" She said, before firing a web at my chest.
However, unlike the elongated string that usually came out, only a small burst of web released.
The web hit me in the chest, the impact a lot more forceful than usual since it wasn't holding me in place. The web hit me square in the chest, throwing off my balance. I fell backwards, legs hitting the ledge of the building.
"Oh shiiiiiiiiiii-" I yelled as my tired body couldn't support my weight after all that fighting, and I toppled over the building.
Have you ever almost died? I have. But I always had a plan. A way out. This time? I was stumped.
I felt the wind scream past my face as I plummeted story after story.
I watched the concrete road get closer and closer.
I felt every regret, every missed opportunity, every sadness.
The loneliness.
Oh god, the loneliness.
I closed my eyes and slowly exhaled. Maybe this is where my story was meant to end.
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Fuck that.
I started yelling. At myself, at God, at anyone that would listen. I looked over my shoulder.
Ghost Spider had jumped after me. But she wasn't even close. She wouldn't get there in time.
Come on, (L\N). Do something. Anything. COME ON ALREADY!
I felt my anger and frustration build in my chest. I felt it rage and boil over. I felt it... course through my arms?
And then, as if instinct took control, I summoned all remaining strength in my body, and righted myself. My feet now firmly aimed at the ground, I stuck my arms out, and let my rage course through my arms. My vision blurred as my body felt like it was coursing with energy.
And then it happened.
Arcs of pure, golden electricity arced through my arms, slamming into the ground 2 stories below me.
I squeezed every bit of willpower out of me. The arcs changed from scattered electricity to streams of golden lightning. I felt my descent slow down, as the concrete below cracked and shattered under the force of my power.
I wish I could say I slowed all the way down.
I would be lying.
I slowed down enough to not turn into red paste on the sidewalk, but was still falling fast enough to break my legs. At the last moment, I saw my salvation.
I redirected the electricity, propelling myself forward just enough to slam into the open rear of a garbage truck.
I groaned as I lay there motionless.
Maybe I'm not cut out for this villain shit.
I heard a thwip as Ghost Spider landed next to the garbage truck.
She slowly picked me up and laid me down on the side walk. Not as gently as I would've liked, mind you.
"Oh my god, are you okay!? I'm so sorry, my webshooter ran out of webs and stopped firing and-"
I groaned loudly, which she took as her cue to shut up.
"Do you need a hospital? Or like, a shady rundown alley doctor with rusty knives?" She asked, trying to use humor to cope with almost killing me.
"I need you to never do that again. I think I can feel my spleen." I said, slowly sitting up.
"Won't happen again, I promise." She said, sounding genuinely sorry for almost killing me.
"Thank you."
"...Since when do you have powers?" She asked, now sitting next to me on the sidewalk.
"What, you worried I've been holding back this whole time?" I asked, chuckling. Which caused me to feel my spleen again.
"Wha- No! It's just, I think you would have used those if you had them!"
"Yeah, well, they're brand new to me too." I replied, examining my hands. I could still feel the electricity coursing through my veins.
"You still planning on turning me in?" I asked looking over at her.
"...Probably. Sorry?" She replied, in a guilty tone.
I just sighed as I put my hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright. I'm sorry too."
"Huh? What are you sorry fo-" Her voice was cut off by me electrocuting her with the energy I had recuperated since landing.
She fell over unconscious as I just chuckled to myself.
"You'd think they insulated those suits after all those run-ins with Electro. And yet, here we are."
I slowly stood up, wincing in pain as I did. I picked her up carefully, and carried her bridal-style as I ducked into an alley. I climbed up a fire escape to the roof of a nearby building, laying her down on the floor of the rooftop.
I covered her with my jacket and walked away. Then I paused, and I looked over my shoulder, looking at her mask.
Nah. Some secrets are sacred.
I walked towards the fire escape, snow crunching under my boots as I did.
So, I've got powers now?
Dope.
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