25 Cheerios are the Best

'Now that I think of it... who changed my clothes?'

The scary expression on Gwen's face dissipated as she instinctively shifted her gaze toward Peter, who was currently arranging the dining table.

Feeling a gulp forming in her throat, she couldn't help but wonder. Just the previous night, she had been clad in her Spider-Woman suit, yet now she found herself donning pink pajamas adorned with pig faces instead of polka dots.

'What... The... Fuck.'

The girl touched her chest and then her lower abdomen in a subconscious gesture. Rising from the couch, she made her way to the table and took a seat on a chair. Resting her face on her hands, she fixed her gaze upon Peter, who was pouring cornflakes into a bowl of milk.

"Peter..." she struggled to find the right words, her voice catching in her throat. She grappled with how to approach the situation, a circumstance she never anticipated encountering.

"Um, I've been wondering about this for some time... but how did I end up at your place?" Gwen finally managed to voice her question, her curiosity tinged with a hint of confusion.

Peter smiled gently, picking up a spoonful of cereal and placing it in his mouth.

"Well, my dear, you were unconscious, and I couldn't bear to leave you alone... especially after everything,"

Her eyes suddenly widened and she put a palm on her mouth.

"No way..."

A series of images flashed through Gwen's mind, like a vivid montage. She remembered a man wearing a vendetta mask, swooping in at the perfect moment to rescue her from the clutches of the Lizard. He had saved her not just once, but twice, and on one occasion, his body appeared absolutely wrenched as if all flesh and blood had melted off, every cell in his body destroyed or similar damage.

The recollection didn't quite align with the events of the previous night, but upon careful consideration, she realized that the nature of his injuries seemed strangely familiar but extremely healed.

"You are Mr. Ouboros!!" Gwen almost jumped out of her seat.

Peter nodded silently, confirming her assumption. "And you are Spider-Woman,"

She hesitated, her gaze locked with Peter's. There were so many questions swirling in her mind, yet the intensity of the moment rendered her momentarily speechless.

She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before finally speaking.

"How... since when?"

Peter raised his eyebrows, "Isn't that what I should be asking you? You have been putting your life in danger every day, swinging down buildings."

Gwen's cheeks flushed slightly, realizing the truth behind Peter's words as she confessed earnestly. "I... I started only a few months ago, a radioactive spider bit me, giving me powers. I couldn't stand seeing the city suffer. I had the abilities, and I felt a sense of responsibility to use them for good."

Peter's features softened as he peeked into her blue eyes.

"You're brave, Gwen."

He then laughed self-depreciatingly as he spoke,

"I won't tell you to stop but promise me you will be careful." Peter paused and continued, "I don't ever want to see you hurt like you were yesterday."

"I promise," Gwen replied sincerely, appreciating Peter's genuine concern. "But what about you? How did you become Mr. Ouboros? And why did you save me?"

Peter leaned in slightly, taking a bite of his cereal as he spoke. "I always had my suspicions that you might be Spider-Woman. The way you would arrive late to class and then mysteriously disappear in the middle of the day whenever a major crime occurred in the city... It all started to add up. But it was finally confirmed when I saw you leaping from the hospital window yesterday."

Gwen's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and concern crossing her face. She subconsciously lowered her head and let Peter continue.

"Yesterday was the first time I donned the mask of Mr. Ouboros," Peter continued. "You know, I worked as Dr. Connors's assistant during my internship. It was during that time that we created a serum, a groundbreaking concoction that fused human and lizard genes—a miracle serum meant to heal the world. However, due to an unknown reason, the company decided to shut down the project leaving the serum research to be halted midway, incomplete."

Peter's voice carried a tinge of sadness as he recounted the events that unfolded.

"Dr. Connors was devastated. It was his life's work, his dream that shattered right before his eyes. I believe he injected himself with the serum in a desperate attempt but the unstable nature of the formula had grave side effects, transforming him into the monstrous Lizard, terrorizing the city."

Taking a deep breath, Peter continued, his voice filled with determination.

"To save the city from the Lizard's rampage, I managed to create a perfected version of the serum using the incomplete research and when I learned that your father had been injured by the Lizard, I couldn't find any reason not to inject myself with it. I couldn't bear to let you face him alone."

Gwen's heart swelled with a mix of emotions as she absorbed Peter's words. She murmured softly, her voice filled with a blend of awe and sympathy.

"Damn..."

The weight of the situation settled upon Gwen's shoulders. It was a lot for her to process at once. She understood just how much Peter admired Dr. Connors, how deeply he must have been affected by the turn of events.

'First, he was nearly consumed by the Lizard, and then he had no other choice but to fight and ultimately kill his own idol to save himself.'

A pang of empathy surged through her, realizing the immense emotional burden Peter must be carrying. She couldn't fathom the conflicting emotions he must be experiencing, the sense of loss intertwined with the knowledge that he had done what was necessary to protect others.

She almost choked on her saliva. Gwen reached out, gently placing a hand on Peter's arm. "Peter, I can't imagine how difficult this has been for you," she said softly, her voice filled with compassion. "But please know that you're not alone."

Peter smiled wryly, his expression with a mix of sorrow. He grabbed the delicate hand of Gwen from his shoulder and rubbed it gently, he looked into Gwen's eyes as he spoke softly.

"Partners?"

Gwen's heart skipped a beat at his words, feeling the weight of their connection deepen at that moment. Her gaze met his, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Partners,"

A carefree smile spread across Gwen's face, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and lightness. It was as if a small burden had been lifted off her shoulders, knowing that Peter was aware of her secret identity as Spider-Woman.

'It feels nice,' Gwen thought to herself, her smile widening, 'knowing that someone knows the truth about me, about who I really am beneath the mask.'

Gwen sat in a comfortable silence, peeking at Peter from time to time, her gaze different than before. She reached for the cereal bowl in front of her and dug her spoon into the bowl, savoring each bite of the crunchy cornflakes mixed with creamy milk.

The sound of their spoons clinking against the ceramic bowls mingled with the occasional shared glances, speaking volumes without the need for words.

Gwen's voice broke the silence as she spoke up, her eyes shining with hope.

"Do you think there's a possibility that the Lizard Serum you used could heal my dad?"

Peter's expression turned serious as he nodded in response. "I believe there's a fair chance, especially when it comes to his physical wounds," he replied earnestly. "I've already started researching his condition and exploring every possibility to find a way to help him recover."

Gwen's heart surged with gratitude and renewed hope. Knowing that Peter was actively working towards a solution for her father's recovery, it brought a sense of comfort to her.

She said sincerely, her voice tinged with emotion.

"Thank you, Peter,"

She then shifted her gaze toward the window, trying to not look at Peter out of embarrassment.

The morning sun bathed the city in a soft golden glow and the silver clouds danced across the expanse of the blue sky, painting a picturesque scene that reminded her of the beauty and resilience of New York City.

"Cheerios are the best,"

Peter chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he looked at Gwen.

"I couldn't agree more,"

With a gentle smile, Peter raised his spoon in a playful toast.

"Here's to Cheerios, to New York City, and to the countless shared breakfasts we have ahead of us."

Gwen raised her own spoon in response and they clinked their spoons together before bursting into laughter.

Right at that moment, the familiar sound of the bell filled the air, jolting Gwen and Peter from their breakfast reverie.

The last time a bell rang, it delivered bad news.

Peter rose from his chair, his footsteps echoing softly as he made his way to the front door. Gwen followed closely behind as he opened the door.

His eyes widened in delightful surprise as he saw the couple standing in front of him.

"Aunt May! Uncle Ben! You guys are back!!"

~

A/N: Throw some stones at this poor author.