QUENTIN BECK
Present

I waited in front of the place that Shadow gave me the address of, which was some random abandoned building. It was filthy and run down, the cobwebs surrounding the walls only reminded me of Peter even more.

I agreed to help Shadow. By help, I mean "help". I needed to know what his intentions were so I could protect Peter. I would lay down my life for him, and that's what I was planning to do.

I jumped a little when I heard the sound of tree branches snapping on the ground. I came face to face with a bald man, sporting thick eyebrows and an evil glint in his eye that gleamed with revenge.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He rumbled and reached out his hand to shake mine. I glanced at it wearily before deciding I had to stay on his good side in order to figure out what he was plotting.

"I could say the same to you." I replied.

The door of the building creaked open and dust flew freely through the air as he guided me in with him. Spiders crawled over the walls and I cursed myself for constantly being reminded of Peter by just the simplest of things.

"Have a seat." He motioned toward a dining room table and I reluctantly pulled out a chair and sat down. It let out a puff of air and felt still underneath me. Shadow sat across from me and smirked.

"I know that you and Spiderman got quite close before he found out about your plans." He pointed out and I nodded, "Must I say, tricking him was a very smart idea on your part. Getting into his mind is one thing, but getting into his heart is even better."

Yeah. We get it. I suck.

I tried to keep on my nonchalant facade, "I figured it would be more effective." I lied.

Falling in love with him was never a plan. It was just inevitable.

"I take it after spending so much time together that you know all about what gets to him."

I cautiously agreed, "I know my fair share."

Shadow began to rub his hands together menacingly, "I've already gotten through half my plan." He told me.

"What do you have so far?" I asked carefully, making sure to keep myself guarded.

"I've been sending notes to his girlfriend." He grinned.

Girlfriend?

"He has a girlfriend?" I choked out.

He nodded, "I thought it was weird as well. I know you were acting, but he's gay for sure." I adjusted the collar on my neck nervously.

He really got over me that quickly? Did he even like me half as much as I liked him? How could he possibly-

"And," He continued mischievously, "I kidnapped her."

I suppressed the protests that were begging to come from my mouth. Protests telling him how inhumane that was- especially for a girl that's just a kid! If it was Peter himself, I would've punched Shadow right on the spot. But since it was his girlfriend I wasn't as mad. Still profusely repulsed, but not nearly as enraged. Plus, I needed to know all of the details before I confronted him then and there.

"Where are you keeping her?" I questioned as my leg began to bounce nervously under the table.

"She's right upstairs." He smirked, "Wanna see?"

My nails tug crescent moons into the palm of my hands, "Tell me the rest of your plan first." I told him, "So I can make it better." I added to make the statement sound more convincing.

"I left another note for his friend, Ned." The devil himself began, "It said to be in this building tomorrow night, and that if he didn't show, I'd murder his precious little girlfriend. And then everyone else he loves."

I held down my potent rage and urge to knock the cocky grin covering his ugly face.

No one is allowed to hurt my Peter like that. He's gone through enough. I've put him through enough. I owe him protection. And I vowed to give it to him even if he didn't want it.

"I'd make him watch, slowly dragging out the pain of everyone he loves. I want him to know it's his fault for the pain they feel." He cackled, "Then, I'll kill him too."

Over my dead body you will.

"Do you think he'll show up tomorrow?" He murmured in thought, "Or is he the scared little child everyone really knows about?"

I gritted my teeth together, "I know him. He'll show." I ran my fingers through my hair, conflicted. The need to kill him almost overwhelming but also knowing I had to be rational was a tough internal battle. But I didn't show it.

"Good." He snickered, "I can't wait to tear that boy apart."

I clenched my fists together, calming myself with the thought of knowing I could destroy him tomorrow. But if he kept talking about Peter like that... It was truly testing my self control.

"Do you think you're stronger than him?" I asked stupidly. I watched as he glared at me, but it was a fair question. Peter has superpowers, the man before me was just a regular guy. Peter could take him out easily.

"I've been plotting this for a decade." He roared, "I'll have him begging on his knees for mercy, pleading for death. Tony Stark killed my men with his weapons, so I'm going to kill this Peter Parker with them in return."

I had to swallow down my anger, fully knowing that if he said one more damn thing about Peter then I'd lose it.

"If you already had a plan then what do you need me for?" I pondered.

"It took longer than expected to find you. You're a very difficult person to contact, Mysterio." He remarked.

"I try." I gulped.

He cocked an eyebrow, "And why's that?"

"You don't know?" I looked at him with an "are you stupid" look on my face.

He shook his know, "What are you talking about. What is it that I don't know?"

"Peter thinks I'm dead." I blinked at him, "Everyone thinks I am."

His eyes widened, "Why?"

"I, uh," I stuttered, "I knew that Spiderman would seek after me, seeking justice if he was aware that I'm alive."

That was utter bullshit. The real reason why I didn't want him to know was because I was afraid of him forgiving me, at the same time afraid of him not forgiving me.

Because on one hand, I didn't deserve his forgiveness. And I never would. That boy deserved to have the whole world at his fingertips and no matter how much I wanted to give him just that, I hadn't earned the right to. I wanted him to find a nice guy or girl to settle down with that would treat him right. That didn't stop me from being jealous of his "girlfriend" though. I was happy for him, but wallowing in self pity for myself.

And then on the other hand, I couldn't bear to live without him. I wanted to crawl on my hands and knees for him, dedicating my entire life for him. I didn't want to see his hatred for me every day or see the look of hurt on his face whenever my name came up.

I couldn't live without him, yet it wasn't fair for me to live with him, either.

I desperately wanted to see him smile that cute little smile of his and feel my lips crash against his. I wanted to listen to his dorky facts and watch him obsess over Star Wars legos. I just wanted him. All of him. In every way possible.

Shadow let out a throaty chuckle, even daring to clap his hands together in pure laughter, "You really are an intelligent man."

"That is correct." I responded, not knowing why he said it but agreeing nonetheless.

"Imagine the look on his face when he sees you. How heartbroken he will be." He rumbled with laughter again as my heartbeat practically got caught in my throat.

"See me?" I coughed.

He bobbed his head up and down, "Yes, see you. Tomorrow night when he arrives."

"Are you sure he should see me?" I blurted out nervously, "I don't know if that's such a good idea." I trailed off.

He looked at me weirdly, "It sounds like a perfect idea to me. He gets to watch the love of his life participate in his death."

I felt both of my legs bouncing up and down subconsciously this time, at a much faster pace.

"Why?" Shadow mumbled, "Do you have a problem with that?" He asked with suspicion lingering in his tone.

"Nope." I shook my head and popping the "P" as I tried to act convincing so that he wouldn't catch on, "I think it's a great idea, when you say it like that."

He smirked again and I felt nauseous at the thought of what would happen tomorrow.

"Would you like to see the girl now?" He asked and stood up from his chair, ready to go before I even responded.

To be honest, I had forgotten she was even there.

I followed him up the creaky stairs and into a dark room. In the middle sat a pretty girl tied to a chair with fear pouring off of her in waves.

"I have a surprise for you." Shadow taunted as she flinched when she heard him speak. She hesitantly looked up and audibly gasped once she saw me.

"Mysterio?!"

I forced out a smirk, trying to make it look as evil as Shadow's was. But his harsh features made him naturally terrifying and unpleasant to look at, so I doubt I was doing a very good job.

"I'll leave you to it." Shadow told me, "I have something I need to do."

I waited until he closed the door before I dashed over to the girl as she flinched back in fear again.

"I'm not going to hurt you, calm down." I whispered, "You're Peter's girlfriend, right?"

Her eyes flooded with relief, "I mean- I think so? He's been ignoring everyone for a month." I got mad at myself when I rejoiced with glee at the thought of them being apart.

You don't deserve him. Stop thinking things like that.

"What's your name?"

"It's Michelle." She muttered, "But everyone calls me MJ."

I nodded and she blinked at me in confusion, "I thought you were dead?

"I'm not."

"Well, obviously." She rolled her eyes while I scoffed in return.

"You might wanna be a tad bit nicer when I'm your ticket out of here, sweetheart."

Her lips curled up in a genuine smile when she processed my sentence, "Why are you helping me?"

I averted my eyes and scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, "Don't worry about it." MJ seemed like she didn't want to drop the subject, but wanted to be free more.

She stared at me expectantly when I stood still, "Well?" She said, "Aren't you going to untie me?"

"No, I can't." I said while she shot daggers at me with her eyes, "Not yet."

"And why's that?" She sassed and struggled in the uncomfortable looking chair.

"Shadow has a plan, he wants revenge, it's a long story." I explained, "Just normal, psychotic villain stuff, ok? He wants revenge on Tony Stark but he's dead so he's using Peter. In order to hurt Peter he wants to hurt everyone he loves. So he wants to kill you and everyone Peter cares about remotely. So if you want to live, follow my lead and keep your trap shut.

Peter is going to show up here tomorrow to fight Shadow. I'm going to step in to protect him if anything goes wrong. Then, while Peter gets you out of here, I'm going to beat the living shit out of him." I hissed, clenching my fists at the thought of shoving that guy into his place.

I glanced at MJ again and really took in her appearance this time. I had to admit that she really was a beautiful girl. I could see why Peter liked her.

She had long, silky hair, soft and feminine features, she was thin with a curvy frame, her face delicate and tinged with innocence. She really was gorgeous. And it made my blood boil.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I promised, resisting the urge to leave her there. Harsh? I know. Unfair? I know. Jealousy? A bitch.

A/N
Hotel? Trivago.

Yes I set the last part up just for that bad joke.

I stayed up until 6AM to write this chapter so I'm forcing you to enjoy it and it probably has a lot of grammatical errors so tell me if you see any.