Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 17: Fractured Trust

Peter's heart was racing, his adrenaline pumping as he flipped and dodged through the chaos. The men in the safehouse weren't just ordinary thugs-they were well-trained, and they knew exactly what they were doing.

But Peter had something they didn't: the instincts of a spider.

With one swift motion, Peter shot a web to the ceiling, flipping over a man's head and kicking him hard in the chest. The thug slammed into the wall with a grunt, but Peter didn't have time to check if he was out.

Another two men were closing in on him, their weapons drawn.

"MJ, get to the back!" Peter shouted without looking. He needed her out of harm's way.

His heart twisted with guilt, knowing she shouldn't be anywhere near this danger, but there was no choice now.

MJ hesitated for a moment, her face pale with fear. But when one of the masked men lunged for Peter, she reacted instinctively.

Without thinking, she grabbed a broken chair leg from the floor and swung it at the nearest man, catching him off guard. He stumbled back with a yelp, and Peter quickly took advantage of the distraction.

"MJ!" Peter barked, and she didn't need to be told twice. She darted to the back of the room, her movements swift but panicked.

Peter turned his focus back to the fight, launching webs left and right to disarm and disable the remaining attackers. His body moved on autopilot, years of experience kicking in as he used his strength, speed, and agility to take down each man that came at him. But they kept coming. There was no end to them.

One of the men managed to land a solid punch to Peter's jaw, sending him staggering back. Pain shot through his skull, but he recovered quickly, spinning around and countering with a high-speed kick to the man's stomach. The thug crumpled to the floor."Stay down," Peter muttered under his breath, his voice laced with frustration. But he knew they wouldn't stay down for long.

These men were relentless, and the longer they fought, the more likely it was that they'd bring in reinforcements.

Peter's spider-sense flared again, just in time to warn him of a blow from behind.

He swung around, webbing the man's wrist before he could strike, pulling him off balance and sending him crashing into another assailant.

Through the haze of movement, Peter caught a glimpse of MJ-she was by the door, her eyes wide, and for the briefest moment, their gazes met. The look she gave him was a mixture of fear, confusion, and something else that cut through him more deeply than the fight. A question. A question he didn't have the answer to.

Peter's heart clenched. This wasn't the life he had wanted for her. She shouldn't be caught up in his war. But here she was— caught, whether he liked it or not, in the web of lies, enemies, and shadows he had created."M..." he began, but his voice caught in his throat.

She didn't say anything. She just stared at him, her expression unreadable.

Peter approached her slowly, his heart thudding in his chest. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

He had fought to protect her, to keep her sate, but now, he wasn't sure what he had really done.

He reached out a hand to her, his fingers brushing her arm gently. "MJ, I-"

But before he could finish, she pulled away, taking a step back. Her eyes darted to the men lying unconscious on the floor, to the chaos that had just unfolded around them.

"This isn't you, Peter," she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. "This isn't the person I thought you were."

Peter recoiled slightly, his heart shattering at her words. He knew she didn't mean it like that—he knew it was the shock talking—but it still hit him harder than any punch he had thrown tonight. He had spent so long keeping his secret from her, believing he was protecting her. And now, in the blink of an eye, everything was unraveling.

"I never wanted this, MJ," Peter said, his voice strained. "I never wanted to drag you into this world. But you're here, and I'm not going to let them hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

But MJ just shook her head. "You should've told me, Peter. You should ve trusted me. All this time, l've been wondering why you've been so distant, so... secretive. And now I know why."

Peter opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What could he say to that? He had kept the truth from her for so long, and now the consequences were catching up with him. She was right to be angry, to feel betrayed. But the one thing Peter knew, deep down, was that he had always tried to protect her."I didn't want to put you in danger," he said softly. "But you're not safe because of me, MJ. I'm sorry."

MJ took a deep breath, her eyes welling with tears. "You should've trusted me," she repeated, her voice breaking. "I can't... I can't keep doing this with you. I don't know who you are anymore."

Peter's heart broke as the words hung in the air between them. He wanted to say something-anything-to make things right.

To fix this. But he knew it wasn't that simple.

He couldn't just erase the lies and the secrets. He couldn't undo the damage.

MJ stepped away from him, moving toward the door. "I need some time, Peter. I don't know if I can keep doing this. I don't know if I can trust you anymore."

Peter watched helplessly as she walked out of the safehouse, leaving him standing alone in the wreckage of the night. His chest tightened with the weight of her words, and the sting of her departure cut deeper than any physical wound.As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, Peter's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. It was Harry.

"I got word from the inside. Osborn knows about you and MJ. You're in more danger than you realize. Don't trust anyone."

Peter's blood ran cold as the message sank in.

Osborn had known all along. He had been playing them both. And now, things were about to get even worse.

End of Chapter 17

Some complications with This chapter and the next two chapter.