A/N: VIEW DISCRETION ADVISED. This chapter has themes of suicide and sexual assault.

This took me forever to do because I don't know what I'm doing but I really liked this chapter tbh. Sorry for the long waits!

.

.

.

.

Michelle and her father went to the mall since there was no way her mother and Teddy would ever go back willingly. Whenever Michelle thought about the suicide bomber, she wanted to throw up. Someone did that like actually did that. All for a statement. But why?

She shook her head of that thought and walked further ahead of her dad. He called out, "M! I'm going to Bed and Bath, text me if you need me!" He pivoted and raced into the store to probably inhale some perfumes.

Michelle waved her hand at him as he left and she kept herself alert. She found herself walking on her toes and she had to will herself to calm down, but it was an effort. Her hands balled up and she sucked in her bottom lip as she looked around for her.

Finally, Michelle spotted Liz sitting on a couch with her phone in her hand. Michelle let out a sigh of relief and quickened her pace to reach her. As Michelle got closer, Liz looked up from her phone and offered her a small smile. "Hey, MJ."

"Liz," she replied, stuffing her hands in her letterman's jacket. Michelle glanced around their perimeter, still anxious to see if someone would be bold like that bomber. No one fit the image. She relaxed. "So... what's up?"

Liz too glanced around cautiously. She slowly slid from the couch and clung onto Michelle's arm. Liz pulled her close and led her into a walk. She leaned close to Michelle to whisper to her ear. "I'm just super nervous..." She hesitated, her eyes drifting off to the distance before she blinked. "Everything is crazy right now. My aunt is getting married!" Liz said excitedly.

"I know, I know." Michelle nodded her head, remembering Liz's text messages to her.

"Like I don't even understand what's happening. One minute everything is normal and the next-" Liz cut herself off to take a deep breath.

They stood in front of a dress store. They both looked at each other for a moment, not quite believing that they were both here together. Yep, Michelle and Liz. Together. Sure, they've known each other for years since their moms were good friends in college, but they didn't go to the same school until high school. Their mothers tried their hardest to get the girls to be best friends but they simply didn't click...

Well until Spider-Man happened.

Liz walked through the store first with her hand clutching onto her purse as if someone was about to steal it from her shoulder. Michelle wandered in after her, her eyes enlarging as she took in the unfamiliar sight of decent dresses (dresses her mother would certainly approve of instead of the "garbage" Michelle would wear). This was uncharted territory for Michelle- no man's land.

Liz suddenly spun around and asked, "What size are you?"

"Um... 4? I think?" Michelle stepped to the side to run her fingers through the silky fabric of the closest dress. It sparkled and it definitely wasn't something she would ever choose to wear.

Liz cringed at the sight. "MJ, that's an awful dress. Don't worry, I'll get you something that you'll love and is completely you." She disappeared in the store, leaving Michelle at the door in bewilderment.

Michelle glanced around the assortment of dresses. There were some casual, some professional, some clubby and even some for prom. Thank god Michelle didn't have to worry about getting a prom dress soon. She wasn't going to go, obviously.

Liz grinned from cheek to cheek while she held up a green dress in her hands. "Modest and you..." She narrowed her eyes, "I think." She handed the dress over to Michelle to try on in the back. Michelle had no protests, it wasn't the worst dress she had ever seen and it would do for the wedding.

Michelle slipped out of her regular clothes (a denim jacket, a long-sleeved grey shirt, and baggy black jeans) into the green dress. It was slim fitting on her torso with short sleeves. She dropped her arms to her sides and tilted her head as she stared at her reflection. The mirror in front of her glowed like she was on Broadway, but really she didn't deserve to be on stage.

Liz knocked on the door and Michelle said she could come in. She pushed the door open, and once she saw Michelle she cooed. Liz shut the door behind them and leaned against it was a small smile. "You look really nice."

"Thanks," Michelle grumbled. Her hand went to twirl with her knotted, lifeless hair with a sigh. "So are we going to find your dress or-?"

Liz waved her hand in dismissal, her smile growing wide as she did so. "Oh, I have the perfect dress for tomorrow, I am going to look the best that I've ever been."

Michelle noticed a glint in her eyes as she said so. There was such determination in her tone and such passion that made Michelle wonder why the hell Liz was so invested in this wedding. Sure, the girl loved her aunt like any other relative, but Liz wanted to go above and beyond for some reason.

"Hey, should I invite Peter and Ned to go with us?" Liz asked out of the blue. "Think that's a good idea?"

Michelle pursed her lips, considering. "Ah, well about that, Ned told me that Peter got grounded yesterday."

Liz nodded her head slowly. "Oh okay, but that sucks for him."

Michelle watched her for the rest of the day and well into the next day after she spent the night over at Liz's. She was definitely acting strangely. Liz was so sure of herself, and now, it was like she was pretending to be sure of herself. Liz would hesitate between her words and struggle to say something so profoundly basic or present some opinion of hers. She was quieter than normal, but she tried to make up for it occasionally by squealing and laughing harder at Michelle's jokes (which Michelle was sure they weren't that funny anyway). Liz was still Liz, Michelle was sure, but something happened when she was living in Oregon with her mother. Or something happened when she came back to Queens.

The wedding was midday when the sun was looming over the rooftops of New York. Liz's aunt owned a luxurious hotel building in the city, and she booked it as the venue for her wedding. The rooftop was enormous, enough to hold two hundred people and then some. The ground was fake grass and tables were neatly arranged around the perimeter. Most of the chairs were moved to the center of the rooftop where people would sit during the ceremony.

Liz sat in front of a wide mirror that took the length of an entire wall in one of the penthouse's bathrooms. Her aunt and her bridesmaids were rushing about getting ready while Liz stared at her reflection. She had just finished applying her own makeup and was admiring her work. Liz rose from her seat and dusted off her dress. The dress was a soft pink maxi with a high neck and a high thigh split. Beautiful.

"Woah, Liz." She spun, her dress twirling after her in a mad dash as Michelle walked into the reflection of the mirror. Her arms were crossed firmly over her chest and she did end up getting that green dress they found at the store. Michelle insisted on wearing her Adidas and there was nothing Liz could do to stop her. Nevertheless, Michelle looked wonderful, even without makeup as well. Liz beamed. "Damn girl, you look hot."

Liz laughed lightly and reached out to hug her friend. "Thank you and you look amazing! Ah!" She circled around Michelle, inspecting her attire with a satisfied smile. "This is going to be amazing."

"It better be. What food are they serving again? I'm already starving."

Liz tried to answer, but her attention directed elsewhere. There were these tiny whisperings in her ears. They would come and go occasionally. They followed her everywhere, much like a ghost. She turned her head to listen to the voice and she had to go. "Sorry, I-I have to run an errand really fast. I forgot about it." She brushed by her friend in a hasty escape, confusing Michelle but she had no choice but to let Liz go.

She raced up to the rooftop of the wedding and searched the area for him. No one would be up here right now since the wedding wouldn't start for another two hours. The coast was clear.

Liz winced from the beaming sunlight. She brought her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes. The wind rippled through her dress, making it flap in the air. Suddenly, she felt it. Liz felt a prescience behind her. She slowly turned, her eyes watching her shadow as a black gooey figure bubbled from her own shadow. Liz swallowed, preparing herself. Her hands shook.

"Paradox."

He stood with his head cocked to the side with his hand stuffed in his pocket. His stance was lean and carefree in a lazy way. He wore his black hero's suit with the green trim. His eyes matched. They were a vibrant, electric green, hooded because of the way he tilted his head back as he regarded her. His long blonde hair fell in his face in strands.

Liz wished she could see the part of his face that wasn't masked to see what she believed he had, a leering smile.

"Liz Toomes, glad you could make it."

Flatly, Liz said, "It is my aunt's wedding."

"Yeah, but..." He stepped out of her shadow, his foot planted firmly on the fake grass. He sharply turned his head, glancing at the decor. He glided to a table. His finger grazed over a small bronzed vase of white and pink flowers. He picked up a pink one and twirled it between his fingers. "You're really here because of me."

She watched him cautiously as he approached her with the flower in hand. He stood uncomfortably close to her, towering over her like a giant to a man. He fixed the rose in her hair, just behind her ear. Liz flinched to the touch when he caressed her cheek with his finger.

He sighed deeply. "Is he here?"

Liz shook her head. "No... he's grounded. He couldn't come."

"Oh." Paradox simply nodded his head. He retracted his touch from her skin. He opened his mouth, flashing his white teeth and sucked in the air, making a soft hissing noise from the air going through between his teeth and the insides of his cheeks. "Well, that is not good for you, Liz."

"I-I did what you said," she pleaded. "I did everything I could! It's not my fault he isn't here! Please don't do this!"

Paradox hummed, his eyes lighting up. "You're begging," he commented. "That's cute, but I am a man of my word. And do you remember what that was?"

"Y-Yes."

...

...

Liz thought that he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen until she had gotten up close and personal with him. He was older than her of course, and she definitely wasn't going to get involved, but damn, can't a girl admire?

Liz was sitting in an outside cafe, waiting for a friend to arrive. She traced her fingertip across the lid of her latte while she scrolled on her feed on her phone. She glanced up once to see a young man on the other side of the cafe reclining in his seat lazily. He wore dark sunglasses and a black leather jacket with many silver buttons decorating it. Dark and mysterious. She could tell that he was looking right at her.

She averted her eyes back to her phone and continued to scroll. She waited a few seconds before she searched for him again. This time, she saw that he had pulled down his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose, his mouth twerked up to a smirk and he pressed his fist against his jaw while his elbow rested on the table.

Damn.

Liz felt her cheeks burn and before she could think anything else, her phone buzzed. Great. Her friend was a no-show. She sighed. She picked up her latte and made a move to leave. She was met with the man from across the cafe- he had walked right to her!

Don't panic, don't panic, she thought to herself. Wow, he's so hot.

He laughed. "Thanks."

Liz blinked rapidly. "Wait, did I just say that out loud? Oh, my god."

"No, no, don't be embarrassed. Although, it's kind of cute."

"Oh, really?" Liz lifted her brow. She was screaming at herself. What the heck was she even doing? This guy had to be in his mid-twenties. There was no possible chance, no way-

"My name is Nico, by the way," he introduced himself with a charming smile- it was almost too perfect.

She knew that. She knew it. "And I'm late." She scooted past him, sad to do so, but she had to. Her mother would kill her if she didn't. Liz kept a brisk pace out of the cafe, sure to not turn her head back or she'd regret it. Liz made it a few blocks away, the crowds thinning to a few scattered people.

As she walked, she was beginning to approach an alleyway. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw... bubbles?

It was pure as night. Bubbles surfaced from the side of a building like a tar pit. She stopped in her tracks just to watch it form a kind of shape... a human shape. The same man from the cafe stepped out from the darkness with his head hanging low. Through his long blonde hair, he stared at her, his smirk growing.

Liz was forming a scream from her throat when he grabbed her. He snatched her out from the sidewalk and pushed her against the wall with his hand clamped over her mouth. He hovered over her, chuckling to himself as she squirmed against him. Her hands tightened into fists and she banged them against his body, but somehow, it went completely through him as if he wasn't solid.

"Oh, Liz, you are incredibly beautiful," he cooed, leaning in close to her face. She squeezed her eyes shut, turning away from him. "You don't recognize me, Liz? Haven't you seen me before?"

Still trapped, Liz only managed to shake her head.

"Wow, I'm kind of..." He winced, "...insulted? I thought I was doing a pretty good job too." Nico cocked his head to the side and tilted closer to her ear. He whispered, "My name's Paradox."

Her eyes widened. He couldn't be a superhero. Liz had heard of him from all the way across the country in Oregon and she definitely wasn't expecting to meet him on her first day back in Queens. This was the same man that saved dozens of people from bombings. How could he just assault her like this?

"I know something about you, Liz," he said smoothly. "I know who your father is. Adrian Toomes, the Vulture. Real interesting guy, Liz, did you know that he is in solitary confinement?" He paused for a moment while she took in the news. "He is not an easy man to provoke, I'll tell you that."

He released his hand from her mouth and she panted out, "You... you put my dad in solitary confinement?" Her eyes narrowed and she hissed, "What did you do?"

"It's not important how he got in there, sweetie, it's important of what I learned." Nico moved his hand to her lower hip, fingers tracing over the jeans she wore. His other hand he used as support as he leaned against the building, effectively locking her in. "I've been interested in Spider-Man's career for a while now. But I've been wasting my time studying him instead of his enemies. I wasn't getting any answers until I turned to your father. Granted, he didn't give me a name but I got it on my own."

Liz swallowed. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"I found out that Adrian has a daughter. She goes- or she went- to Midtown High. She was on the Academic Decathlon Team and went to Washington D.C. for a little competition. The kids go to the Washington Monument and there was an explosion. Suddenly Spider-Man shows up to save the day? The kid never left New York before for such a small time deal. Isn't that odd?"

Realization hit her like a bullet train. Suddenly her stomach churned and she pressed her hand against it. Her eyes darted to the sides as she thought and Nico beamed down at her. "You're getting it now. You know Spider-Man. He is on the Academic Decathlon Team. And you know who wasn't there with you guys?"

"Peter," she breathed, all life drained from her.

"You're so incredibly smart, Liz." He smiled wide at her. "Peter Parker. Man, that kid is in love with you. I can see why. Can you imagine what he might do if you got hurt? If you died?"

"S-So you're going to-to kill me?" she huffed. Liz bit down on her lip with her teeth, her entire body racking with fear.

"Oh, no," he sighed. He slowly dragged his tongue over the top of his bottom lip as he stared down at her own. "You will, darling." He dipped down and kissed her.

She expected to be repulsed. She wanted to fight. She wanted to do anything but she was literally powerless. She knew that if she did anything, he could hurt her a thousand times more than she could to him. Liz let him kiss her, but it did catch her in surprise. She squealed, but it sounded too much like a moan. She felt him smile against her, the sound seemed to be music to his ears.

He pulled away but pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't tell anyone. I'll be close enough to know if you did. You're going to jump at your Aunt's wedding. Everyone is going to see. I want you to invite Peter so he could see for himself. Don't worry, he just might save you. I just might save you. But if he isn't there..." He kissed her cheek. "There will be no one for you, I promise you."

Liz had so many questions. The first being: Why? Why is he doing this? but she had no chance to ask. His face went completely black as his form liquified to bubbles. He shrank into the shadows from where he stood and he was gone.

And so was Liz's sanity.

She had been texting Michelle non-stop. She couldn't say why she was acting so paranoid obviously, but she expressed the pressure and the guilt she had. Liz cried all night, knowing that it would be one of her last nights. Deep in her heart, she knew that she was going to die. Talking to Michelle made it easier for her, though. She talked about her past mistakes and regrets. When Michelle asked why they were resurfacing just now, Liz had no answer.

...

...

A promise. A promise of her death if Peter didn't show. He wasn't here. He was grounded, of course. She didn't want him to see her fall to her death anyway. That would shatter him. She didn't want anyone seeing her die for that matter. The fewer people, the better.

It had been days now. She had finally accepted it. Seeing Nico there at that moment solidified everything. She knew if she didn't do it herself, more people would die instead.

Liz took the time to look perfect. If this was the last time her friends and family see her, then they should remember that she looked beautiful. At least I got a heads up, she thought bitterly.

"Are you ready?" he asked patiently.

Liz wasn't sure how to answer. He genuinely sounded concerned about her, which freaked her out. Nothing made sense anymore. She shrugged her shoulders. "Not really, but I don't have much of a choice."

"That is true. I am sorry about this, Liz. I am, truly." He lifted his hands to cup her cheeks. Once again, he kissed her, sending electricity through her body. The scary part was that she had no idea if it was the good kind of electricity or the bad kind of electricity.

When she opened her eyes from the kiss he was gone, somehow faded back to the shadows. She pursed her lips and took several deep breaths.

The wind kept blowing her curls hair through her face, but it didn't distract her. Liz dragged her feet towards the edge of the railings. She stopped right before it to wipe her hand across the bubbly concrete. It was solid. The last solid thing she would stand on.

She swallowed. Liz lifted herself up on the ledge and stared below. Since D.C., she had developed an acute fear of elevators... and a larger fear of heights. Somehow, it was fitting to be here in an ironic way. Her heart sped up, pulsing blood throughout her entire body. She was aware of it now. She could feel it in the smallest places: in her ear, through her toes, in her stomach. It was overwhelming to the point where the wind didn't bother her anymore, it was her own body that was the most distracting thing. It acted like a bomb that was about to go off. Each heartbeat brought her closer to the edge.

Behind her, she heard screams. People had begun to make their way up to the rooftop before the ceremony to mingle around. Liz couldn't hear a single word. She put one foot in front of the other, but one voice caught her attention.

"LIZ NO!" Michelle yelled. She pushed through the crowd and raced after her friend, but it was too late. Liz had only half-turned to meet Michelle's eyes before gravity took her down and she was out of sight.

Michelle collided to the edge, she gripped the railings and screamed, leaving her throat raw. Tears clouded her eyes until she couldn't see anything.

Liz was still. She fell without moving a single muscle. Her breath became the wind. Her body was nothing more.

Impossibly low to the ground, Liz was swept from her doomed fate. She was propelled sideways with a sudden lurch. Somehow her arms were tangled around Spider-Man's neck as he held her up with one arm while used the other to swing across to save her.

Suddenly Liz was standing again on solid ground at some other rooftop. She was shaking entirely, out of breath and prettified. Liz had her arms still wrapped around Spider-man while he too held her. They regarded each other for a moment before she said, "It-It was- he-"

"You're okay?" He asked. "You look okay, I mean, better than okay because you look beautiful but are you, like, okay-okay?"

Liz nodded eagerly. "Super okay and super scared and super upset."

Peter stepped away from her, giving her the space that she desperately needed to catch herself. "Why did you jump?"

She realized that he had no idea. He had no idea who they were dealing with right then. "Oh god, Peter, it was him. He's here!"

"P-Peter?" he repeated in surprise. "Who's-?"

"Hey Spiderling," taunted Paradox. He sat on the corner edge of the rooftop, swinging his legs like a child. "I am just so glad you made it to the party!"

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: FUN FACT: I was going to make Liz absolutely hate Peter's guts and want revenge for him imprisoning her father but I realized that is kind of a dick thing of me to do. So instead this happened, and yeah, I like where this is heading (even though I don't know where exactly). And I'm sorry if I offended anyone.