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Peter’s spidey sense has been a constant low tingle for the last few days. It’s always like this before something big goes down. Peter can’t help but be anxious about what’s coming. And when he swings into a bank prepared to stop what he thinks is a regular robbery, and his spidey sense flares bright and loud, he knows he was right to be anxious.
The bank is mostly empty. Standing in front of the teller’s counter is the Green Goblin. Beside him stands a goon in a Green Goblin mask holding a man in front of himself. There is a blade at the blindfolded and gagged hostage’s throat.
Peter freezes. Green Goblin grins.
“Spiderman! Glad you could make it to our little get together.” Goblin’s grin grows.
“Well,” Peter says, putting his hands on his hips. “I’m not sure if I'm inclined to stay. This is a miserable party after all. No music, no games, no clowns, no piñata.” Peter shakes his head. “And here I thought you’d be better at throwing parties, Gobby.”
Goblin scowls. “Watch yourself, Spiderman. You wouldn’t want our party guest to get hurt, now would you?” He gestures to the goon beside him who brings the knife closer to the hostage’s throat. The man whimpers as a thin trail of blood tracks down his neck.
“Hey, now.” Peter says, putting his hands up. “No need for that. How about you let our guest go, and you and I can chat.” Peter glances between Goblin and the hostage. With the knife at the man’s throat, Peter won’t have time to pull him out of danger before he’s killed. He just needs to distract Goblin enough so that Peter can immobilize the goon before he kills the hostage.
“I don’t think so.” Green Goblin has gone back to grinning unnervingly at Peter. “I think I like him where he is. This way you can’t be a party pooper and end things early.”
“What do you even want, Gobby? Because I'm a pretty busy man. I’ve got things to do, places to be. So, if you could pretty please just let the man go and come quietly, I’d greatly appreciate it.”
“Or,” Goblin says, “you could give yourself up, and our guest could go home early.”
Peter freezes. He tries desperately to think of what to do. He knows he’s not fast enough to save the hostage before Green Goblin orders him killed. He can’t fight Goblin while also protecting the civilian. But… maybe… if Peter goes he can talk the Green Goblin down so Norman can take control. It wouldn’t be much better since Mr. Osborne is still obsessed, but at least he’s not a homicidal maniac like the Green Goblin.
“Well, if you wanted me to visit more, you could have just asked.” Peter says, trying not to let his voice shake. “You didn’t have to stage this whole elaborate set up. You wouldn’t want to appear desperate, would you?”
The Green Goblin’s grin doesn’t falter. “I’m always desperate for your company, Spiderman.”
“Ok, eww. Don’t be gross, man.” Peter says, wrinkling his nose and trying to keep his breathing steady. His spidey sense is screaming. He needs it to stop. He knows he’s in danger. It doesn't have to keep screaming about it.
Goblin just chuckles. “So, what do you say, Spiderman? Should we take this meeting somewhere else?”
Peter shrugs. “Where do you want to go?” If he knows where they’re going, he can start to plan an escape.
Goblin bares his teeth. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Now be a good little spider and take off your web shooters.”
Peter glances once more at the hostage. He still can’t think of a way to save the man. Peter’s only sixteen, he’s only had these powers for a year. He doesn’t have the same kind of training that the Avengers do. He doesn’t have a team like them or like the Fantastic Four.
Peter’s alone.
“Ok.” he says and slips his web shooters off.
“Now crush them.” Goblin’s gaze is intense, staring at Peter’s face as if he can see through the mask.
Peter gulps. He’s worked hard to perfect his web shooters, to scavenge the materials necessary to make them.
“Now, little spider.” Goblin says, his voice sickly sweet.
Peter holds them in his fist and crushes them, wincing as some of the shards of metal peirce his skin.
“Now come here.” Goblin beckons. His voice is still too sweet, and Peter wishes Goblin would growl the words or make threats. Peter can’t take the incongruity of the threat that Goblin is and the softness of his words.
He steps forward, nonetheless, because there is nothing else he can think of to do.
Goblin beckons him closer until Peter is standing only a few feet away.
Then Goblin’s hand is darting out, and he has Peter by the throat. He lifts him so that Peter’s feet barely touch the floor.
Peter scrabbles at the hand around his throat, his heartbeat picking up as he struggles to breathe.
Goblin’s head tilts to the side. “I like you much better like this. No more quippy comebacks.”
“Sc– screw, you.” Peter rasps out.
Goblin just chuckles. “Still too young to curse, I see. What? Mommy and Daddy spider don’t let you use grown up words?”
Peter glares because Norman knows Peter only has his aunt. He tries to kick out at Goblin, but he can’t find the proper leverage and Goblin doesn’t even grunt as Peter’s foot connects with his abdomen. Peter can barely breathe, and he’s too afraid of fighting back more and giving Goblin an excuse to kill the hostage.
He tuts. “That wasn’t very nice. Maybe I should teach you some manners.”
Peter kicks out again, this time managing to do it with a little more force. Goblin snarls and slams Peter against the floor. What little breath Peter had managed to get into his lungs escapes in a wheeze.
Goblin crouches over him, a hand still on his throat and a knee pressing into his chest. Peter sees black spots dance in his vision.
Peter hears sirens coming closer. If he can just hold on long enough, distract Goblin enough, the police could get here, and Goblin will have a harder time escaping.
“Tt. It looks like we’ll be having company soon. So, we best get going before they can crash our party.” Goblin pulls out a syringe, and now the panic really sets in.
Peter tries to buck Goblin off, but Goblin’s too strong and Peter is barely staying conscious. He feels the needle plunge into the side of his neck, and coldness rushes down his body. He feels floaty, barely registering Goblin releasing his neck and stroking his hand down Peter’s masked face.
“There you go. Go to sleep, little spider. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Cr– creep.” Peter rasps out as the darkness surges around him. He hears Goblin chuckle above him before Peter falls into the blissful darkness.