[You played the friendly neighbor rescuing unfriendly citizens. Restart count +3]
[Remaining restarts: 20]
Looking at the current restart count, Charlie smiled with satisfaction.
A sense of security.
"What are you smiling about? You still haven't explained what you meant by those words earlier!" Carter gave Charlie a sideways look.
Charlie came back to his senses and pointed to the mask on his face.
"Can you see me smiling?"
"I guessed."
"Impressive."
Charlie gave Carter a thumbs-up. He was about to say something when he saw George leading a group of officers hurrying over.
"Gwen, are you okay?" George asked anxiously, pulling Gwen close.
Gwen smiled faintly, "I'm fine."
George gave Charlie a glance, then waved for the officers to handle the scene.
He then turned to Gwen with a guilty expression. "I'm sorry I couldn't find you sooner."
"I understand; you had important things to do." Gwen had long grown used to it and showed understanding.
George shook his head, his voice trembling slightly.
"I mean, I couldn't come see you right away. You were missing for half a month, and I couldn't find you."
Gwen kept smiling, "I told you, it's okay. You have to protect a lot of people, and I understand that."
"I... I'll have someone take you home."
"I can go back on my own. You should take care of the important stuff first."
The father-daughter conversation seemed a bit off, and Charlie picked up on it right away.
But he wasn't interested in other people's family affairs.
However, the white bandage on George's wrist did pique his curiosity.
He didn't stay any longer, unwilling to face George's authoritative demeanor.
"Are you leaving?" Carter called out when she saw Charlie turn and shoot a web. "You still haven't told me why they're like that."
"I'm just guessing. Go ask Dr. Banner. Oh, and I'll borrow something from you."
With that, Charlie leaped off the hallway, using his web to snatch the mutant detection device from Natasha's waist.
After Spider-Man left, Gwen looked a little disappointed.
"I didn't get to thank him."
Mary Jane comforted her, "It's okay. Next time you're in danger, you can thank him personally."
Gwen fell silent.
These two sisters weren't the brightest, no wonder they couldn't get into Empire State University.
George also didn't have time to focus on Spider-Man—there were a lot of problems waiting for him to handle.
He walked up to Carter, "Hello, I'm George Stacy, in charge of this area. Didn't Coulson come?"
George was polite to the officials from mysterious organizations.
"Coulson has other tasks to take care of. I'm handling the mutant spider incidents," Carter said, expressionless, as she handed over the detection device from her waist.
"We'll be sending these devices to you in batches. Please make sure to report any infected individuals found in the future."
"What's this?" George asked curiously, taking the device.
"It can sense the special bioelectric waves emitted by those guys within a certain range. Here's the switch."
Carter began to demonstrate it on the spot, but George quickly interrupted her, looking tense.
"Wait, I think I know how to use it. I have some things to handle, excuse me..."
With that, George hurried away from the scene.
Watching George's departing figure, Carter frowned slightly.
"Something's off about him."
Natasha stepped forward, her lips curving into a slight smile, "Yes, something is off, but it's nothing major."
...
Late at night, George finally returned home after working late.
Despite his exhaustion, he went to Gwen's room and gently knocked on the door.
"How are you doing?"
After a moment, Gwen's voice came from inside the room.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"That's good."
A faint smile appeared on George's face, and he quietly removed his equipment, turning to the bathroom to wash up.
"Whoosh..."
He turned the faucet on full blast and looked up at his reflection in the mirror.
He had aged.
Gwen had grown up too.
His smile carried a hint of satisfaction, but when he glanced down at the white bandage on his wrist, his smile faded instantly.
Slowly unwrapping the bandage, a ghastly knife wound was revealed on his wrist.
Underneath the cut, traces of web protein seeped from small punctures in his wrist.
When he touched it, the web protein would condense into fine webs.
Yes, he had also been bitten by a mutated spider, and had become a "Spider-Man."
He had become the Spider-Man he hated the most.
He couldn't accept it, so he cut his wrist with a knife, trying to stop those disgusting webs from coming out.
But he failed.
His healing rate kept increasing. No matter how much he injured his wrist, the wound would quickly heal.
The web protein would come out of his wrist at unexpected times, piercing his sensitive nerves.
He had ultimately become the person he hated most.
George raised his head, staring into the mirror. His mind couldn't help but recall that red and blue figure.
The first time he saw Spider-Man, that guy didn't even have the nickname.
A fledgling super-powered individual who, upon his arrival, helped the police solve a tricky case—every officer had become interested in him.
George was no exception.
He was grateful to that guy, because he saved his colleagues using his webs.
George even praised him in front of all the media.
The name Spider-Man was first spoken by him, and so the media started calling that guy Spider-Man.
Quickly, Spider-Man helped solve a few more cases, and all of New York came to know this super-powered individual called Spider-Man.
But George realized that Spider-Man was just getting involved in their cases while dealing with small-time thugs, and luck had helped him save them.
Even so, he remained grateful to him.
But slowly, something started to feel wrong.
His colleagues and subordinates kept talking about Spider-Man, hoping he would show up and lighten their workload.
That was not right—to place hope of fighting crime on an unknown individual. The officers would grow increasingly reliant on Spider-Man, becoming lazy and lacking in initiative.
That was the first time George felt negative emotions towards Spider-Man.
But it wasn't enough to make him completely hate him.
As time passed, more people talked about Spider-Man.
He was the precinct chief, more capable than anyone else, yet no one praised his work the way they used to.
They attributed the successful arrests to Spider-Man.
How could this happen?
He was the one working hardest, the one taking his job the most seriously.
To fight crime in the city, he sacrificed everything.
He lost time with his daughter, his wife left him—he was a total failure as a family man.
All he had left was work.
And Spider-Man just showed up at the last minute, and all the praise and credit went to Spider-Man.
What did that make him?
Soon, his beloved daughter started talking about Spider-Man in front of him.
Since she had interacted with Spider-Man, Gwen began asking him about him, and their relationship improved.
George was happy about that, but also sad.
Gwen had admired him ever since she was little. Even after what happened with her mom, she never resented him, yet there was a distance between them.
That distance seemed like an insurmountable chasm that would last a lifetime.
The more understanding Gwen became, the more guilt George felt.
He wanted to make up for Gwen, but work wouldn't allow him to.
Thanks to Spider-Man, their relationship improved a lot.
But Gwen's admiration for him gradually faded.
He could feel it.
Damn Spider-Man, was he going to take Gwen from him too?
George was unwilling, indignant.
He was angry.
He had come to hate Spider-Man completely.
When Spider-Man appeared again, George wanted to arrest him.
The charges were obstructing police work, violating New York laws, lack of law enforcement authority, and so on—all these reasons flashed through his mind.
But when he was about to act, Spider-Man seemed to know what he was thinking and escaped before George could do anything.
The next time Spider-Man appeared, George took it as a provocation.
One day, finally...
Spider-Man died. The Green Goblin claimed he had killed Spider-Man.
George was overjoyed, but he couldn't show it.
No one was competing with him anymore.
That day, he took Gwen out shopping—something he hadn't done in forever—and bought her lots of clothes and makeup.
But Gwen was upset.
Because Spider-Man had died.
But that was okay—kids forget unhappy things quickly.
From now on, her dad would be her only hero.
His colleagues would also see who was the most capable.
But then...
A disaster happened.
Spider-Man wasn't dead—he appeared again.
He defeated the Green Goblin, and even more people admired him.
Once again, George was a failure.
Soon, Spider-Man disappeared for a while, and people said he had died again.
No, he appeared again—he wasn't dead.
He appeared for a while and then disappeared again.
Rumor had it he was dead.
No, he wasn't.
Damn it, would that guy just die already?!
George was on the verge of losing his mind.
Then, half a month ago, Gwen disappeared.
The people from the mysterious department told him Gwen had become Spider-Man and had likely been kidnapped by Kingpin.
God, my Gwen.
She had become the "Spider-Man" he hated most.
But he didn't have time for anger—he needed to rescue Gwen from Kingpin.
But Kingpin's influence was enormous.
He couldn't do it.
No one knew where Kingpin was.
Kingpin was a mystery.
Then, he too was bitten by a mutated spider and became Spider-Man.
He went crazy.
He hated spiders. He hated Spider-Man.
It was all because of Spider-Man—he was the reason Gwen was in danger.
Why hadn't Spider-Man shown up yet? Gwen was going to die.
Oh, he did show up, and Gwen was safe.
George breathed a sigh of relief.
He wanted to go to the hospital right away, but he was too busy.
As long as Gwen was okay, that was enough.
His daughter was understanding—she wouldn't blame him.
Damn it, there was an incident at the hospital, and Gwen was in danger again.
There were a lot of people at the scene. He couldn't just focus on Gwen—his duty was to protect everyone, including her.
But his ability was limited.
He had no choice but to hope Spider-Man would save her.
Spider-Man's rescue mission was successful. Although some people died, Gwen was lucky to survive.
God, what was he thinking?
People died—he shouldn't feel relieved.
But Gwen was alive.
He was torn.
When he saw Gwen again, it was like they had gone back to how things were.
They had a chance to bridge the gap between them.
Now, he might never get that chance again.
All because of Spider-Man!
No, he couldn't blame Spider-Man—he saved Gwen twice.
It was George's own doing.
Becoming Spider-Man was his punishment.
No matter how much medication he took or how much he damaged his web-shooting organ, every time he showered, it was still there—disgusting.
He had become the man he hated most.
In the mirror, George's face twisted in rage.
He wanted to smash the mirror because it showed him his most disgusting self.
He was George Stacy, protector of New York, Gwen's father!
But what had he become?
A mere clown.
That was his assessment of himself at this moment.
How ironic.
God had played a huge joke on him.
He hated God as much as he hated Spider-Man.
At least no one knew the truth.
Tomorrow, he would still be George Stacy, a man full of righteousness.
He would hide this secret for the rest of his life.
"Click~"
Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked open, and George hurriedly tried to cover up.
"Whoosh."
He splashed water on his face, adopting the smile of a father as he looked at Gwen.
"Why aren't you asleep? Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. How about I take you shopping tomorrow?" he said with a smile.
Gwen shook her head. She took a deep breath, looking at her father with a complex expression.
"Stop pretending—I already know."
"What?" George's face filled with panic, but his years of experience quickly calmed him down.
He forced his trembling lips under control, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Gwen glanced at the bandages poorly hidden by the sink.
"The medicine in the house, the blood and webs you didn't clean up in the bathroom—they all prove what's happening to you."
"I..."
George hurriedly threw the bandages into the trash. "No, it's not what you think..."
"You actually hate Spider-Man, don't you?" Gwen interrupted him.
George waved his hand, trying to explain, "No, I don't hate him. Don't overthink it."
"I know you hate him."
Gwen looked down. "That's why, after I became Spider-Man, I was so worried about you finding out."
George fell silent at her words.
After a long while, he sighed deeply.
"Yes, I hate him. I know my reasons are absurd.
I just despise my own incompetence."
His face was full of bitterness, "I've worked hard for so many years, and I still can't compare to some kid. It seems my daughter likes him too.
It makes me feel lost, scared, angry. I can't accept it, so I can only curse him in the shadows.
Even though he saved you, I still hate him. I know it's wrong.
But I just can't bring myself to like him. He's a hero, and being a hero was once my honor."
He turned his back, not wanting Gwen to see the ugliness on his face.
But Gwen's next words completely shattered his composure.
"But, Dad, no matter how much I like Spider-Man, I love you the most!"
"Because you're my father, my closest person, and the one I admire the most."
"Spider-Man is a hero, but he's everyone's hero. You're my hero alone."
Gwen walked over and hugged George from behind, her eyes full of pleading.
"So... Dad, please, stop comparing yourself to others."
Her voice was hoarse, as if she were also bearing another burden.
"Gwen..."
George trembled, trying his best to look up, not wanting his daughter to see him in tears, looking weak.
"I... I promise you, I won't compare myself to Spider-Man anymore. Forgive me, Gwen..."
"Dad, I forgave you long ago."
"Thank you, my dear Gwen."
"Hey, I forgive you too."
Suddenly, a head wearing a metal mask peeked through the bathroom window, startling both father and daughter.
"Spider-Man!"
"Spider-Man!"
"Spider-Man!"