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Being called a kid gets Peter to sputter, and shake his head quickly.

|🕸️| ❝I'm not a kid,❞ he insists, ❝I'm seve-eighteen. I'm eighteen! An adult.❞ |🕷️|

He still generally considers himself a kid, mostly because the world is scary and he wishes he had an adult to go home to, but he doesn't want other people to call him a kid.

... but, of course, Golden didn't mean anything by it, he's sure. Peter knows he looks younger than he actually is. His landlord took a lot of convincing that he was actually eighteen, because aparently he looks like, fourteen, fifteen.

He's seventeen, but seventeen should be able to pass for eighteen, but he often doesn't. Annoyingly.

|🕸️| ❝... I've been told I look younger than my age before,❞ he says sheepishly, ❝But I promise; I'm not just a kid.❞ |🕷️|

The question of trust gets a sigh. Peter doesn't trust anyone anymore, really. But that doesn't matter.

|🕸️| ❝It's not really about trust,❞ he says softly, ❝It's about doing the right thing.❞ |🕷️|

After making sure they're both covered some with the hoodies, he leads them (in a roundabout route as promised) to his apartment. He double checks that the entrance is clear before leading them into the building and to the elevator. He expects the hall to be clear; he's pretty sure his neighbors all work nights, because he's never seen them out in the daylight.

And it is. So it's quick enough to take them to his place.

|🕸️| ❝It's not much❞ he says, ❝But no one is going to think to look for you here, and I'm here, so even if they do, I can help.❞ |🕷️|

Valor kept two of his arms - ones on the same side - wrapped tightly around Flicker as they moved, and he kept looking around. Keeping any eye out for any more spiders, whether in the shadows or crawling across buildings. Thankfully there didn't seem to be any, at least not now, and at least not before they were able to duck somewhere else.

He reluctantly let go of Flicker so that they could put on the offered hoodie - big for them, but that just meant it covered them more - and took the one that had been offered to him. You two stand out a lot. There was a way for them to stand out even less, but not only would shifting while injured hurt - and he still had his previous concerns from earlier - but it would mess with the bandages as well. He didn't want to have to spend time re-applying them, nor did he want to annoy Spiderman for ruining the work he'd just done for them when he was their only ticket to safety.

Once he and Flicker were healed, though, it'd be wise to stay in human form. Especially if they ever went out.

Valor threaded his upper pair of arms through the sleeves and zipped the hoodie up, pulling the hood over his head afterwards. He checked to make sure Flicker's covered as much of their face as possible, and when he turned to look back at Spiderman . . .

He stared. He was . . . revealing his identity to them? Surely he knew what that meant, had there been any chance of Valor tricking him. The sheer amount of trust in letting them see this . . . The risk . . .

There was another reason he was staring, too, though. He tilted his head. ". . . You're just a kid." With how much difficulty he'd been having with him, he would have expected him to be at least a little older. He'd been going toe-to-toe with a kid and kept losing to him. What the heck.

If the removal of the suit was surprising on its own, what he said next was a shock, and he took a step back. He was telling them his name? They were going to his apartment? What?

"You . . . Do you really trust us that much?"

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Peter is glad to see the nod from Golden, glad to see him accept what help he can offer.

|🕸️| ❝Ok, ok,❞ he says quickly, moving back further from the street, ❝Let’s go away from right here first.❞ |🕷️|

He leads the pair off a bit, staying out of sight from the main streets as best as he can, and stops once they’re decently far where the blood trail led. And also by another one of his stashed bags. He first pulls the hoodie out of the bag he’s already carrying, and gives it to younger. It’s a dark blue pull over with a faded print of Never Trust Atoms They Make Up Everything on it. The fabric is worn, but soft.

|🕸️| ❝You two stand out a lot❞ he says gently, ❝If you put this on, and keep the hood up, it’ll be a lot harder for them to find you.❞ |🕷️|

Peter then retrieves the other backpack stashed here, and pulls out a yellow zip up pikachu hoodie.

|🕸️| ❝Sorry, it’s gonna be short for you,❞ he holds it out to Golden, ❝But it’s the best I can offer right this second. Hood up will still help.❞ |🕷️|

Peter takes a few deep breaths to steel himself, his back turned to Golden, and looks around carefully to make extra certain no one can see them before he strips off the suit and mask, leaving him in his tank top and shorts.

He has sweatpants inside both backpacks, but it’s not that big of a deal. He’s decent and doesn’t exactly have any wounds he needs to hide. So he shoves the spidey suit in one bag- slinging it back over his shoulder, and rehides the other.

And then he turns to face Golden, trying to put on his best smile and not show how anxious he is.

|🕸️| ❝So, my name is Peter,❞ he laughs nervously, ❝We’re gonna take a bit of a roundabout route to my apartment, just in case, but you guys should be safe there.❞ |🕷️|

Danger sense. Was that why he was always able to predict his attacks? ". . . Oh." That made sense. And . . . maybe made a little more sense for why he was trusting him now, too. Knew he meant no harm. Though meaning no harm now didn't mean he wouldn't later. Could his danger sense really reach that far? Able to tell that it wasn't a trick in any sense?

He shouldn't question it. He should just accept the luck he had that Spiderman was helping in the first place. Even if he didn't fully understand why.

And he was helping now, even further than Valor was even hoping. Keep you safe. Keep you hidden. He was expecting to have to hide out in a park somewhere, or some an alley, but Spiderman was . . . offering them a place?

He stared at him, panting hard, trying to understand this.

They didn't have the time to try to understand this.

After a long moment, Valor nodded. He had seen the kinds of things he could do, and he had been the most skilled spider in the facility. If he couldn't beat him, then other spiders stood even less of a chance.

And there was no reason for him to have bandaged them up in the first place if he intended them any harm. He could have taken them out right then and there if he really wanted to.

But he didn't. He helped.

Maybe . . . Maybe they'd be okay.

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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|🕸️| ❝Sure, but I could tell you weren't doing that this time,❞ Peter says softly as he finishes patching up the younger, ❝Or had you not figured out by now that I have a danger sense?❞ |🕷️|

They didn't like them leaving. They didn't like them leaving. That implies a lot of very bad no good things about the people Golden was previously working for.

He'd been wondering about them for a while, and the fact that they would do this to their own agents makes his blood chill.

But but BUT he can't worry about himself right now. He needs to focus on the suffering people in front of him. He's a hero, and Golden needs saving.

|🕸️| ❝Follow?❞ Peter repeats as Golden starts to panic. And he's sure it is panic, because he's felt that more than enough to recognize it in someone else. Even someone with a spider face. |🕷️|

He can't just stand by and let Golden and the younger spider be hurt. How can he help keep them hidden? It's not like he can just reach out to the Avengers. He's no one.

But they're pretty outlandish looking; they can't easily hide on their own.

But their former... bosses... would have no reason to believe they went to Spider-Man for help. And especially would have no reason to think they went to Nobody-Peter-Parker for help.

His secret identity was his protection against Golden. Used over and over and over to get away. But Golden isn't trying to hurt him now. He's not, he'd be able to feel it if this was some kind of sick trick.

And even if it was- he looks at the younger intently. Even if it was a trick, if these people are hurting a child, that child needs to be gotten away from them.

|🕸️| ❝You came to me,❞ he says quickly, trying to get Golden to focus on him over his panic, ❝You've seen what I do, what I can do.❞ |🕷️|

He really got a glimpse of that in their last fight, when he pressed in sooner, making it a 2-on-1. And Peter had to stop holding back so much, just to beat the original guy and get away from Golden without getting bitten again.

|🕸️| ❝Can you trust me to keep you safe? And hidden?❞ |🕷️|

"Doesn't mean I . . . haven't tried to kill you . . . every time we met." He certainly wouldn't feel safe with anyone that did that to him, whether it had been by the rule of someone else or not. Even now, he was reluctant to let Spiderman touch him, but he didn't have much of a choice, so after looking him over suspiciously he relented.

Not that he ever had any positive physical contact with anyone before he got Flicker in the first place. It was . . . odd, almost, to have someone he assumed to be an adult be so gentle with him. Even still, it was a relief when he finally pulled back, and with the worst dealt with, Valor let himself slide the rest of the way down the wall until he was sitting on the ground.

Flicker hesitated at this unfamiliar person's gesturing and looked to Valor for instruction. But he nodded, so they stepped closer, though still kept one of their hands clutching the fluff on his shoulder.

Valor, for his part, kept an even closer eye on what Spiderman was doing as he bandaged up his mentee. He was not going to allow any harm to come to them, even as injured as he was. He'd do everything he could to protect them.

. . . But he didn't have to, as it looked like Spiderman was being just as gentle with them as he'd been with himself.

There was a strained laugh in response to the question, and he responded, "They didn't . . . like us leaving." But they escaped. They escaped. They were out.

The only problems now were figuring out a safe place to live, and . . . well. They were probably going to be hunted down, weren't they?

A spike of fear shot through him and he instantly started struggling to get back up again. "Need- need to. Go. Blood trail. They could- could follow-" They would follow. Ohhh no. Oh no no no no no they had to go somewhere that wasn't the end of a blood trail. Bandaged wounds meant they wouldn't leave more so they just had to go. They weren't safe.

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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The reveal of a younger Spider is a shock, and Peter blinks rapidly in response. Oh, ok. Ok.

|🕸️| ❝Hey, man,❞ he says, ❝You said it when we first met; it's not personal. It's not like you and I have any real conflict, just whoever the hell you... were? working for.❞|🕷️|

The past tense is uncertain, but it wouldn't make sense for him to be here if he was still working for that person.

His touch is very gentle, showing none of the strength he has as he carefully bandages up the worst, most obvious wounds on Golden.

He then turns his attention to the child, motioning them closer so he can patch them up a bit too.

|🕸️| ❝... So what happened?❞ |🕷️|

Valor watched him uncertainly as he left, but did wait, as he indicated to. He could only hope he wasn't going to bring some sort of backup, even as he couldn't figure out any reason for him to do so in the first place. Half the reason he'd stayed in his spider form was so he could defend himself more easily, but it was only a small help. He was in no state to keep fighting. If Spiderman wanted to take him out then he could.

Still, it was a relief when he came back alone, and with a first aid kit. Something to help. Thank god he'd made the right call with coming here. He slumped against the wall as he started to relax and slowly shook his head in agreement. No, he wasn't going to stay standing for very much longer at all. Ugh, he was exhausted.

And that shift, combined with coming closer in general, revealed the smaller spider behind him, also injured but not nearly to the same extent. They clutched at Valor's fluff and looked up at the superhero with what would have been wide eyes had they not been the compound eyes of a spider.

"Thank you," Valor managed to get out between breaths. "I wasn't sure . . . you'd help."

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Peter tenses at the sound of the Golden Spider's voice, his head whipping to face him. He didn't feel in danger at all, and was about to head home, so the Golden Spider's appearance is a shock, to say the least.

It's a half second later that he takes in the state of the guy. And he doesn't even think about it before quickly holding up a hand to tell Golden to wait. After his first encounter with the guy, Peter stashed a few backpacks of emergency clothes and first aid supplies all over Queens, just in case he had a nastier repeat of that. He's not exactly tested the limits of his healing factor, and he has no interest in doing that.

It shook him up for a while, how abruptly that turned bad.

He comes back quickly, the backpack slung over his shoulder, and he ducks into the shadows himself.

|🕸️| ❝You're bleeding,❞ he says, pulling the first aid kit from the bag, ❝A lot. You're not going to stay standing much longer like this.❞|🕷️|

Of course, hemolymph isn't the exactly same thing as blood, but it's still important for living. So he needs bandaged up immediately.

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The Golden Spider, as Peter eventually learned the spider trying to kill him was called, only attacked him in specific moments. Usually that was immediately after dealing with some other villain, within a minute or two of the fight's conclusion, if not even shorter a time. Before he had the chance to take his mask off, certainly.

Last time, he'd taken it a step further and attacked during the fight, using the distraction of the other attacker to aid him in his attempt. Two on one was more of an advantage, after all, so long as Valor didn't annoy the other villain enough to also be attacked by them.

This time, though . . . This time was different.

He showed up after a fight again, sure, but it was with a raspy "Spiderman," from the shadows, and the Golden Spider never talked before launching himself at the superhero. He always preferred surprise attacks. His posture wasn't threatening, either, rather shrunk back, expecting to flee should he get a negative reaction.

Actually, he wasn't even wearing his armor. No armor, no cape, no mask. Just a fluffy spider person. A fluffy spider person that was injured, hemolymph dripping from cracks in his chitin and through his fluff.

(Flicker was held behind him, being blocked from view until he could ascertain that they wouldn't be harmed by this superhero he'd only ever fought before.)

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Peter basically can’t move now, the paralytic venom doing its job, and the forced relaxation of his muscles means he’s not showing any of the tension he’s feeling. He’s just slumped forward on his knees, which are really only held up by the positioning of his feet before it completely took effect.

That doesn’t stop him from seeing the guy who attacked him creeping along a wall above. He’s very, very aware of the visible (if already healing) scratches in his skin from his hasty dislodging of the guy, and just silently pleads that he doesn’t see them, doesn’t recognize Peter. Peter will be dead (again) if he does.

Who wants to kill him???? Who is this other spider guy working for that wants to kill him? He easily could have gotten what he wanted, if Peter had hesitated even a second in fleeing.

He’s silently thanking all the gods he doesn’t believe in and the ones he knows are real- even though he’s sure Thor had nothing to do with it- for his Spidey Sense. If it wasn’t for that…

… What if the people who made the spider that bit him are behind this? All these years he’s taken it as an accident, the fact that the spider did that. It was a disused lab holding what he thought was clearly ignored and discarded specimens that he got pushed into by Flash on a school field trip.

But it’s possible that they were doing more with Spiders. That maybe Peter is a loose end for them to clean up.

Well, that’s terrifying! The thought that a massive biochem company with government contracts could be out there manufacturing supervillains and sending them out to kill him the last thing that he needed to think of whilst he was already far from calm over the guy that nearly killed him.

They don’t know he’s Peter Parker. No one even knows who Peter Parker is. They can’t find him. He’s safe. He just has to be careful when out as Spider-Man.

It does little to ease his worry though, as his attacker passes him by, not sparing the kid on the sidewalk a second glance.

How is he supposed to prepare for that? He certainly doesn’t have the funds to reinforce his entire suit from those fangs. It’s about fifteen minutes before he starts being able to move again. He’s sure it would have been longer, if not for his healing factor. But even still, it’s on shaking footing that he gets to his feet. He wipes at his eyes, the tears there the only external sign of his spiraling thoughts that showed whilst he was paralyzed.

He needs to move, before that guy comes back and wonders why the same kid is still here. Before he can connect that to the paralyzing venom.

He’s still far from good. His limbs don’t want to move, and it’s very sluggishly when he does finally cajole himself into going, despite the heaviness of his whole body weighing him down.

It’s almost a miracle that he does make it back through the door of his apartment before collapsing again. And breaking into open sobs.

|🕸️| ❝What am I supposed to do?❞ |🕷️|

The kick not only dislodged Valor from his prey - though not without scratches from his claws and teeth - but knocked the wind out of him as well. He'd only just regained his breath when the impact with the building he was sent flailing towards knocked it out of him again, and he dropped onto a balcony below, gasping for breath.

It . . . It'd be fine. It'd be fine. He got a bite in. The paralysis should take effect quickly. He just had to find him, and finish him off when he did. Easy.

Once his breath had more or less recovered, he groaned as he picked himself back up. Ow- Yeah, that- that hurt. He wasn't used to being tossed around to that extent. Ow.

But he had to move. He had a mission, and he couldn't fail. He'd moved through pain before, he could do so again. At least his search would need to be slower, if he was to find his target.

After a few minutes, Peter would be able to see his attacker crawling slowly along the side of the building in front of him (one of his lower arms holding the other rather than helping him cling, nursing the worst injury he'd gotten from the impact), scanning both buildings and streets for the superhero that he knew. His gaze passed right over Peter, but didn't identify him, and the spider moved on to look elsewhere.

#An interesting theory Peter but no #So what do we do from here #|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Peter could tell the guy was fast on the ground, but this is something else entirely. Losing him is going to be a lot harder than anticipated.

He can feel the impact coming before it actually does, but mid swing there's not much he can do about it, other than just let go of his web. Which he does do, but not soon enough, and his attacker slams into him as they both hurtle towards the ground.

Peter can feel the fangs pierce effortlessly through his suit (he's proud of the one he hand sewed, but boy does he miss the reinforcement of the one Mr. Stark made for him right now), and something in his mind is SCREAMING at him to get away. Now now now now-

He knows better than to ignore that.

Kicking at his attacker hard to get him off (the possible property damage that this guy hitting stuff might cause only occurring to him a moment later in his panic), Peter blindly throws another web to catch himself before he hits the ground.

He doesn't let himself stop for even a second, the voice in his head still screaming for him to get away get away get away-

Dropping behind another building, he's quickly pulling off the mask and suit, leaving him just in the blue tank top and shorts he had under the suit. He barely has time to hide the suit to come back for and stagger out to the street before his knees give out under him.

Oh no no no-

That guy had VENOM. Paralysis, he thinks. He hopes it's just that. And he hopes his healing factor takes care of it quickly. He can't just... sit on the sidewalk for a long time. Not without someone trying to take him to the hospital.

|🕸️| ❝Damnit damnit damnit-❞ he mumbles, pulling his knees up to his chest as it becomes more difficult to move, ❝Please work, please don't find me, please please please-❞ |🕷️|

There was no response to his quips this time. Valor skittered up the wall he'd swung to even as the superhero paused to speak down at him. Just barely missing the attempted grab at his foot before he took off again.

And Valor followed, and he was fast. He couldn't swing, no, he had no webs of his own to spin, artificial or otherwise, but he could leap. So as Spiderman swung, Valor jumped after him from building to building. Always keeping him in sight, analyzing the way he moved, way he swung. Maybe . . .

He shifted his running from directly behind to off to the side some, watching the arcs of that swinging. Until, once more, he leapt, aiming just ahead of him on that arc, attempting to intercept him in the middle of the air. If they fell to the ground or hit a building, then so be it, so long as he could grab his target.

And if he could sink his fangs into him on the way down? All the better.

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper #Peter Parker having a panic attack on a public sidewalk? more likely than you think

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|🕸️| ❝Nothing personal?❞ Peter questions, shooting a web to different nearby wall and swinging to it, ❝You got a boss with something against me then? 'Cause if it's not personal-❞ |🕷️|

If it's not personal, he can be a little more certain that could get away without this guy hurting an innocent to get to him. Most people wouldn't be that driven for something that's not personal, even if they completely disregard the value of people's lives.

So he doesn't hold for even a second this time, swiftly climbing to the top of the building he swung to, taking a second to shout down to his attacker.

|🕸️| ❝If it's not personal, I really am a little busy for underlings. Tell your boss it take it up with me themself, alright?❞ |🕷️|

He takes off across the roof, running to the other side and webbing to another building to swing off. He doesn't expect this to be easy by any means. This guy is fast, so he's sure it will be a chase.

But duck and run is the smartest thing here. No point in fighting a guy who's only motivation seems to be to kill him. Non personally.

Another of those growling hisses, but otherwise he deigned not to respond. He was making light of him. Making fun of him even! Ohhhhh he hated that.

"Nothing personal," was his response to the question, before he chased. He wasn't going to allow Spiderman the chance to talk and rest this time, no, he was going to jump after and launch attack after attack. Even if he didn't get a bite in, maybe he'd land a hit, and if he was injured then it'd be easier to get more hits in.

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Asgore listens politely as both Valor and Wing Din talk, keeping a small smile fixed on his face, even as the words absolutely shock him.

Not a human? He'd have been inclined to disbelieve Valor- he seems like a perfectly nice man. He wouldn't have assumed him lying, just mistaken in some way.

But Wing Din? Wing Din would never ever make that mistake. Valor is not human.

As that really sinks in, his smile doesn't change, but tension visibly slips from his shoulders. He doesn't have to FIGHT anyone today. Doesn't have to kill.

|👑| ❝Well,❞ he says softly, while starting to pout hot water into the cups with the tea infusers, ❝I'm certainly glad to hear that. We can make sure everyone else learns that too. I'm terribly sorry if any of my people gave you trouble; they're all very eager to help, even though I've asked them not to.❞ |🔥|

It's his burden to bare, not theirs.

Wing Din's further words cause a change in that nice smile, surprise flickering across his face. He exhales softly, closing his eyes.

That's... an actual plan. He's tried to put Wing Din off researching ways to break the barrier recently. He knows his old friend is working himself too hard on that, with little to show for it. But... this is just a search for ideas; it's an actual plan.

Wing Din's mind on this, with an actual starting point?

That could work. And he laughs- a giddy little laugh- giving the pair a much wider grin than the moment before.

Hope is an incredible thing, and one that was in short supply for Asgore.

|👑| ❝Oh, that's AMAZING! You should make that research priority #1, Wing Din!❞ |🔥|

Dr. Gaster doesn't even hesitate to sit at the table with Asgore, having been strong-armed into tea with the king enough times that it's routine.

He'll have to ask again later who Valor was talking about with Belos.

❝I CAN CONFIRM THAT,❞ he says when Valor says that he's not human, ❝HIS SOUL IS WEAKER THAN A HUMAN'S. IT IS STRONGER THAN A MONSTER'S, BUT THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT.❞

He anticipates Asgore's relief at that news, and presses on, hoping to follow it with better news; hope for a way out.

❝AND BY REALM, I BELIEVE HE'S REFERRING TO WHAT I'VE CALLED DIFFERENT UNIVERSES. AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE A PORTAL TO HIS HOME REALM, USING IT AS A PATH OUT OF THE UNDERGROUND. NO MORE KILLING NEEDED.❞

#goldenbeastkeeper #scientistredacted #|👑|To See the Sun Again|🔥| Asgore Post Pacifist Verse #|👑|Royal Duties|🔥| Asgore In Character

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|🕸️| ❝What, do you think I'm stupid?❞ Peter says while leaping over to the wall to dodge the attempted trip, clinging to it a few feet up, ❝Or do you not know how to tell when someone is joking?❞ |🕷️|

He looks down at the other Spider guy, trying to figure out what to do here. His best bet might be to bolt, lose the guy, and take off the costume. This guy is attacking Spider-Man. The chances he'd know to attack Peter Parker is basically zero.

But he hesitates to do that, because he doesn't know if this guy is the type to attack random civilians to draw heroes out.

|🕸️| ❝Did I do something to offend you, though? Because this a pretty rude introduction, all things considered.❞ |🕷️|

Oh, so he was saying these things on purpose. And that? That was infuriating. He didn't appreciate being made light of. He was the most skilled, most successful spider of the lot, and this goody-two-shoes was acting like he wasn't even a threat! He wasn't even fighting back.

The noise he made in his throat was something between a growl and a hiss before he asked, "Do you not understand the situation that you're in?"

He didn't wait for an answer, and this time when he lunged he dropped to the ground and swung his leg in an arc, attempting to kick his legs out from under him.

#|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

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Peter is moving away, dodging before the guy is even completely past him. He spins about to keep his eyes on the guy.

Who is this? Normally he'd got more of an idea what bad guys want than this, or at least some idea of why they're mad at him. This is a total unknown.

|🕸️| ❝Wow, did you trip or something? You almost ran into me,❞ he says, and if the laugh in his voice wasn't evident before, it definitely is now, ❝Lucky that you missed, huh?❞ |🕷️|

This guy is fast; without his Spidey-sense he'd have already been hit twice now. What does he want?

|🕸️| ❝So, like, can I help you with something?❞ |🕷️|

The masked creature rolled as he hit the ground, popping back up to face him and . . . stopping. Staring. Did he . . . not realize that that was the point?

He'd failed his first attempt (idiot) but if Spiderman didn't realize what that attempt was, maybe he still had a chance at a surprise attack. Some part of him felt that someone that dealt with powered people often couldn't have misunderstood what that was, but . . . if he really did, then Valor couldn't afford to pass up a second chance. He just had to be careful in case it was a bluff.

His words were raspy in this form, with an underlying chitter. "My mistake, I just-" He lunged.

A feint. An attack from the front was easily seen, easier to dodge. His actual goal was the wall behind Spiderman, which he jumped off of to try to tackle him from behind.

It was funny, though, his claim of Valor encroaching on his brand. The spiders were being made since long before Spiderman ever made the news. If anything it was the other way around.

#'a bluff' nah man he's joking. he wasn't trying to trick you lmao #|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #goldenbeastkeeper

[cutexasxabutton]

Try to consider it from his perspective? Asgore had been trying to; that's why he was concerned about the scientist- the doctor- hating him. He's glad to be reassured that he was wrong about that.

But the explanation Dr. Gaster gives makes his soul ache. The loneliness of being forgotten must be so very painful. The hypothetical he proposed, of Asgore having to introduce himself to a clueless Gerson again...

Oh yes, that's very painful.

But he'd still do it. Still want that old friendship back in his life, in whatever way he could have it. Anything would be better than being completely, and utterly alone in the world.

|👑| ❝I understand,❞ he says softly, ❝you must be hurting a great deal. I understand your avoidance, but... That's all the more reason to not be alone? You must realize that, right? You need friends to help you cope, or...❞ |🔥|

Or despair might get him. Asgore knows- from what Dr. Alphys has told him- that Dr. Gaster is a very determined Monster. That he clawed his way back to existence through that determination.

But...

He looks towards the door inside Frisk just went through, thinking of his previous human child, who looked so similar.

Determination doesn't always last when someone is hurting so much.

|👑| ❝... Of course you were a medic,❞ he shakes his head, ❝that nicely fills in some gaps. Times in the war where, seemingly, there were no medics with my group... It was you. You were always with us, right? You probably saved my life countless times,❞ he reaches across the table, putting a paw on one of Dr. Gaster's hands ❝please, just let me return the favor and help you. You must be lonely.❞ |🔥|

Gaster doesn't really fight as he's tugged to the garden table, more or less resigned to have this conversation that he had been so desperately avoiding. It's not worth hurting Asgore over this; not when part of his purpose is to spare Asgore of having to know him in the first place, of caring about him in the case that what he did comes out.

Frisk appearing at his side right after Asgore left is a surprise, but it perhaps shouldn't have been.

He's long figured out what sign language the kid was using, so when they engage in idle chit chat with him, and he can respond accordingly.

He's a little disturbed by the kid, if he is being entirely honest. He's not even sure why.

Or well, not sure entirely why. The uncanny way they resemble Chara is definitely part of it. The same brown hair at the same length, similar facial features, similar heights, and even similar ways of dressing, though with a different favorite color pallet.

Is this... good for Asgore? To share custody of a child that so resembles his dead child?

Something else about Frisk reminds Gaster of Chara- not their SOUL color- but thinking about that too much makes his head spin, so he puts it aside.

And then Asgore gets back with the tea stuff and sends Frisk on their way.

He doesn't contradict as Asgore talks about how they must have been close friends, just ducking his head.

❝TRY TO CONSIDER THIS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SIR,❞ he says weakly to the first question, though when asked if Asgore offended him he looks up, fixing his gaze on him.

❝ASGORE, NO, NO-❞ he shakes his head quickly, ❝YOU DID NOTHING WRONG! AS- AS I WAS JUST SAYING, TRY TO SEE THIS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. IMAGINE, JUST IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF ONE DAY, ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE YOU'VE EVER KNOWN COMPLETELY FORGOT YOU. IMAGINE-❞ he takes a shaky breath, ❝IMAGINE YOU HAD TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO GERSON, AFTER ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE KNOW HIM. IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT WOULD HURT FOR HIM TO NOT ALREADY KNOW YOU INTIMATELY.❞

It was a lot to say at once, and it's not the full reason, but he hopes it will get his intentions across to Asgore. That it has nothing to do with anything Asgore did.

❝... I WAS A MEDIC,❞ he says softly, ❝A DOCTOR, LONG BEFORE I WAS A SCIENTIST. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING NOW, ACTUALLY...❞

Finding the tattered remains of his old medics coat from the war- carefully persevered and stored away- while Papyrus let him go through their stuff to find old belongings of his sent him into uncontrollable sobs. Which just made Papyrus start crying- he's so empathetic- and Gaster had to leave immediately. He almost definitely still has things there (not counting all the stuff he was just going to let them keep), but it seems like his past is too sore of a subject still to manage that task. He can't be that vulnerable in front of Papyrus again.

#'Is this... good for Asgore? To share custody of a child that so resembles his dead child?' probably not lmao #scientistredacted #|👑|To See the Sun Again|🔥| Asgore Post Pacifist Verse #|👑|Royal Duties|🔥| Asgore In Character

[cutexasxabutton]

Peter hasn't had a real challenge as Spider-Man for a bit. Not since the-

Not since those villains from the other universes.

He's just... the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, after all. Serious villains are for serious heroes. He's just a kid- even if his new ID says he's 18.

Sure, some of the street level bad guys are powered (which is CRAZY in it's own right; super powers are getting more and more common with time), but they're still not big threats.

He's about to pull off his mask, back behind a building a few blocks from his apartment, when a spike of anxiety yelling at him to move hits, so strong that it's physically tangible causing his muscles to tense in anticipation.

He knows better than to ignore that feeling, his Spidey-Sense (not the Peter-tingle). It took him a while to sort it out from his... general anxiety back when he first got his powers, but he's an old hat at it by now.

So he leaps forward, just before the spot he was standing in was lunged at.

|🕸️| ❝Woah there, Buddy! Watch where you jump! You could have killed me!❞ |🕷️|

It doesn't escape him that trying to kill him is probably exactly what the other was trying to do.

|🕸️| ❝Looks like you're encroaching on my brand a bit, though. I already have Spider themed covered, you know?❞ |🕷️|

@cutexasxabutton

Valor had been ordered to get rid of Spiderman.

That was about all he was sent out of the facility for nowadays: silencing those who were getting in the way of, or coming too close to, the organization and their more secretive projects. He was the most skilled at this point, having gained the highly coveted title of the Golden Spider, so reconnaissance missions were left to less experienced spiders.

This one, however, was different. He'd never faced a foe with powers before, much less ones so similar to his own. It was going to be a challenge, but also . . . interesting.

These were his thoughts as he made his way through the city, jumping from building to building, staying in the shadows. He knew his best chance would come when the superhero was already exhausted, which meant immediately following a fight with some other villain. Long enough time for him to drop his guard, but not long enough for him to disappear.

It meant he would have to wait.

He was very good at waiting.

Tonight was Valor's chance, and he took it. After donning his mask and armor and cape and shifting into spider form, he perched on a wall near the fight, hidden beneath a ledge, watching to see in what direction Spiderman would flee once it was over. Following after him silently.

The fight would be over quickly so long as he could get a bite in. A paralyzed Spiderman wouldn't be able to fight back, after all. So he followed, closer, getting a good angle . . .

And he lunged.

#|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse #if he's noteworthy enough that he's being targeted specifically it's def not his main verse #hence that #goldenbeastkeeper #|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character

[cutexasxabutton]

This doesn't make sense. That's really the only thing running through his head as he gets the indoor flowers watered, and grabs the stuff for tea. The only way it works at all in his head is if they aren't human at all, but...

Asgore comes into the garden, the stuff for tea on an ornate golden serving tray that he carries over to a small tea table off to the side in the garden.

|👑| ❝So,❞ he says while taking a seat, expecting the other two to follow suit, ❝Something interesting seems to be going on here.❞ |🔥|

His eyes fix on Valor, taking in his magenta eyes and pointed ears.

|👑| ❝I'd have assumed you a mage, based on the way you look,❞ he draws the words out slowly, ❝but... not only does that not make sense for our current understanding of the surface, but it makes even less sense for Dr. Gaster to have calmly walked you here if that were the case.❞ |🔥|

He pauses for a long moment, busying himself with getting the kettle on a conjured flame.

|👑| ❝Perhaps I should start over, I'm being very rude,❞ he says, ❝My name is Asgore, yours is?❞ |🔥|

❝IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES DOWN HERE THAT GETS SUNLIGHT,❞ Dr. Gaster says quietly, looking up at the many small gaps in the stone above them, and the sun streaming in through them. It's bittersweet, to get these tiny glimpses of the blue sky here, but still feel so far from really seeing it.

Any time it rains on the mountain, Asgore still gets him, because rain falling through and running in small streams across the stone into this room is the closest they can really get to real rain, and Asgore knows that it's his favorite.

It rains in waterfall too, but that's not the same.

❝AND HE'S LOVED GROWING FLOWERS SINCE WE WERE YOUNG. SO, YES, HE PUT A GARDEN IN HIS THRONE ROOM.❞

He looks sidelong at Valor, ❝WHO IS BELOS?❞

#goldenbeastkeeper #scientistredacted #|👑|To See the Sun Again|🔥| Asgore Post Pacifist Verse #|👑|Royal Duties|🔥| Asgore In Character

[cutexasxabutton]

|🕸️| ❝Oh, you know, it's just a tag dump.❞ |🕷️|

#yes I changed Peter's face claim #nothing against Tom I just wanted someone trans #|🕸️| A Friendly Neighborhood SpiderMan! |🕷️| Peter In Character #|🕸️| Teenage Prodigy |🕷️| Peter Headcanons #|🕸️| Won't Give Up |🕷️| Peter Musings #|🕸️| Spiderwebs |🕷️| Peter Aesthetic #|🕸️| Itsy Bitsy Spider |🕷️| Peter Main Verse #|🕸️| A Scientific Prodigy |🕷️| Peter PreSpider Verse #|🕸️| Far From Home |🕷️| Peter FFH Verse #|🕸️| The Iron Spider |🕷️| Peter PostEndgame Verse #|🕸️| Even Further From Home??? |🕷️| Peter Undertale Verse #|🕸️| No Way Home |🕷️| Peter NWH Verse #|🕸️| Earth-199999 |🕷️| Peter Spiderverse Verse #ish since I don't at all follow the mcu anymore if it doesn't involve my boy #so I guess he'd be from a different universe number lmao. But whatever #|🕸️| Not So Itsy Bitsy Anymore |🕷️| Peter Adult Verse #|🕸️| Forgotten |🕷️| Peter Post NWH Verse

[cutexasxabutton]

@scientistredacted @cutexasxabutton

(I have a prediction-)

#goldenbeastkeeper #scientistredacted #|👑|My Favorite Scientist|🔥| Gaster #LMAO I really cant stop laughing at the idea of Valor just internally screaming as they grieve over her

[cutexasxabutton]

Asgore doesn't actually spend much time in the house proper. It's much too sad there, the once lively rooms heavy with the emptiness of it all. The absence of his family is loud in its silence.

He can't stand it. He spends most of his time in the Garden, because at least his flowers make him happy.

But he does need to water the potted flowers in the house, which is why he's inside the house- yellow watering can in hand- when Wing Din enters, trailed by-

A human? The can slips out of his paw, and it hits the floor with a heavy thud and a splash, and he stares at the two stunned for a moment. At least partially because- orders be damned- he was pretty sure Wing Din would have killed any human he came across, rather than letting Asgore do it.

And how little sense this makes hits him a second later. Even if Wing Din was actually following the order to leave it to him that Asgore gave, he'd... have any human restrained. He'd have their soul blue and not let go. He'd have knocked them out before coming here.

And he seems much too at ease to have been walking someone to his death. As much as Wing Din might pretend to be desensitized to it, Asgore knows that isn't true. He was a pacifist. He loathed violence. Just because he had to break his values out of desperation doesn't mean he doesn't still hold them.

So something about this has Wing Din convinced that the human doesn't need to die.

Asgore hopes he's right. He's had no time to mentally prepare himself.

|👑| ❝... I feel like,❞ he says slowly while bending over to pick up the dropped watering can, ❝there's something we should talk about over tea? Why don't you two head to the Garden; I'll be right out once I water the flowers.❞ |🔥|

@scientistredacted

Valor listened in interest, though he didn't have much to say. It was obvious a lot of thought was put into it, though. Understandably so, considering the risks as well as the benefits. Provide relief for those passing through Hotland while also making sure they all stayed safe. "That's a really cool system. Useful, too."

"No one has added any more colorful decorations after the fact, though?" He couldn't imagine living in a place so bland. How long ago did they even move here? Surely long enough to add some color.

When they reached the house, Valor looked at it in surprise. "You really weren't kidding about identical." And Dr. Gaster's words implied the inside would be just as similar. But . . .

Surely this wasn't the king's house? They weren't going directly to where he lived? He knew Dr. Gaster said Asgore was nice and would offer tea, but . . .

@cutexasxabutton

#goldenbeastkeeper #scientistredacted #|👑|To See the Sun Again|🔥| Asgore Post Pacifist Verse #|👑|Royal Duties|🔥| Asgore In Character #Asgore can read the room #he's very confused but is immediately like “whelp I'll hear it out”