New York, Manhattan, ESU – Alex's POV
After spending the day in class, trying to untangle the thoughts that had plagued him all morning, I felt a small sense of clarity return. The hours of lectures and campus bustle had done their work — not completely, but enough to steady my mind.
Packing up my things, I decided it was time to leave ESU behind for the day. The thought of heading home alone felt hollow, though. Gwen. She wasn't feeling well — at least, that's what Liz had said — and I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at the edges of my mind.
A small plan formed as I walked through the campus, the afternoon sun warm on my shoulders. I'd go see her. Bring her something sweet, a little pick-me-up — maybe a cake, maybe something else that would remind her she wasn't alone. Even if her illness was minor, even if it was just fatigue from the day, I couldn't ignore the nagging suspicion that it was tied to the spider bite.
Whatever the reason, she deserved a smile. And maybe, just maybe, seeing her would make the weight of the day feel a little lighter for both of us.
New York, Queens – 3rd's POV
Alex stood in front of the Stacy's door, a small, carefully wrapped package in his hand. He took a deep breath and knocked gently. A few seconds later, Gwen opened the door.
She was exactly as usual — lively, smiling, full of energy — but what immediately caught Alex's eye was her outfit. A surprising mix between a yoga suit and Spider-Gwen's look, tight-fitting and perfectly accentuating her curves. Alex felt a shiver run down his spine, both surprised and pleasantly distracted.
"Alex!" Gwen exclaimed, a radiant smile lighting up her face. "What are you doing here?"
Alex let out a small laugh, feeling the weight of his worries lighten. "Liz told me you weren't feeling well today, and since I didn't get a reply to my message, I thought I'd stop by… and bring you a little something."
Gwen tilted her head slightly, surprised but clearly delighted. Alex's presence had something reassuring about it, especially after the strange and worrying day she had just had. "That's really sweet… it feels good to see you."
Alex smiled back, feeling a familiar warmth wash over him. For now, he didn't have to think about powers, system missions, or complications. He was just happy to be there, with her, and to enjoy the moment. The world could wait.
As Alex handed her the small package, a faint glow caught the corner of his vision. A notification window from the system briefly appeared, announcing a new mission. He froze for a moment, surprise flashing across his features.
Gwen noticed it immediately, her eyes narrowing slightly as she caught the flicker in his expression. "Everything okay?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Alex shook his head gently, forcing a smile. "Yeah… just got a little surprise, that's all." He tucked the moment away, deciding not to open the notification. Some things could wait. Right now, he wanted to focus on her.
Gwen seemed to accept it, nodding with a soft smile. Neither of them lingered on the small interruption. Instead, they stepped inside, the door closing behind them, shutting out the rest of the world.
They moved toward Gwen's bedroom, the space warm and familiar, filled with personal touches that made it feel comforting. Sitting on the bed, Alex set the package beside her and finally let himself relax.
For a brief, rare moment, the weight of powers, missions, and obligations lifted. All that remained was the quiet intimacy of being together, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying each other's presence.
Alex leaned back slightly on the bed, looking at her with a soft, concerned expression. "So… how are you feeling? And… why didn't you come to class today?"
Gwen shifted a little, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. Her usual confidence seemed tempered by a hint of awkwardness. "I… I wasn't feeling very well this morning," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "Just needed some rest, I guess."
Alex tilted his head, studying her. He could tell she was holding something back, but he didn't push. "Just… a bad morning, huh?"
"Yeah," Gwen replied quickly, almost too quickly. She gave him a small smile, hoping it would reassure him. "Nothing serious, really."
She tilted her head, a playful smirk forming. "Although, considering how dramatic you were yesterday, maybe I needed a morning off just to recover from your fainting episode too."
Alex blinked, caught off guard, and then chuckled. "Hey, it wasn't that dramatic…"
Gwen grinned, teasing. "Sure, sure. That floor didn't seem to agree with you either."
Alex nodded, letting the silence hang between them for a moment. He wanted to ask more, to dig deeper, but something in her tone—her subtle tension—made him hesitate. He could tell she was caught between not wanting to worry him and not wanting to lie.
Instead, he reached out and lightly squeezed her hand. "Alright. Well… I'm just glad I'm here now. We can take it easy."
Gwen's shoulders relaxed a little at his words, the warmth of his presence offering the comfort she needed. She still hadn't told him everything, but at least for now, she didn't have to.
Gwen leaned back against her pillows, eyes curious. "So… how was your day? Did you survive ESU without fainting this time?" she teased, a soft laugh escaping her.
Alex chuckled. "Yeah, no fainting today. I made it through the lectures, managed to keep my sanity… mostly." He paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It was… normal, I guess. Classes, professors, a little chaos in the hallways, nothing too exciting."
Gwen tilted her head, a playful glint in her eye. "Nothing interesting at all? Come on, you can tell me."
Alex hesitated for a moment, then decided to share lightly. "Well… I ran into the Mary Janes. Mary Jane was… um, flirty. She wouldn't stop teasing me, you know, brushing elbows, playful comments…" He shrugged, smiling awkwardly. "It was… persistent."
Gwen blinked, a half-smile forming. "Oh? And this didn't bother you at all, I take it?" she said teasingly. "Hmm… interesting." She leaned back and let out a mock sigh. "I can't believe you only seduced Mary Jane while I was away. Really, Alex, what about the rest of the group?"
Alex blinked, caught off guard, a blush creeping up his neck. "W-wait, what? I didn't… it wasn't like that!" he stammered, waving his hands in protest.
Gwen laughed, shaking her head. "Relax, I'm just teasing! But seriously, you've been running into all of them, and somehow you only managed to get Mary Jane's attention?" She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, eyes sparkling with mischief.
Alex smirked, a teasing glint in his eye. "Oh, it's not that I didn't want to charm the others," he said, leaning back slightly. "It's just… well, the opportunities weren't exactly… favorable."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Favorable, huh? Do tell."
"Well," Alex continued, shrugging casually, "Liz is basically Harry Osborn's girl, so that's a hard pass. Cindy… she's kinda in her own world, doesn't really care about romance. And Betty? She's still with Flash. So, yeah… Mary Jane was really the only… open option." He gave her a sly grin.
Gwen leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, please. I don't care that the circumstances weren't 'favorable.'" She wiggled her eyebrows teasingly. "If I'm supposed to be the queen of your harem… the leader of the Mary Janes… how can that happen if my boyfriend limits himself?"
Alex blinked, caught between amusement and mild panic, a laugh escaping him. "Uh… well… I guess that's a fair point," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn't think of it that way."
Gwen grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Exactly. If you want to be the king of your harem, you have to let your queen do her… oversight." She tapped his arm lightly, teasing. "Otherwise, how will I ever run the empire properly?"
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, duly noted. I'll… expand my horizons… for the sake of the empire."
Gwen laughed, leaning back into her chair, clearly pleased with herself. "Good. That's what I like to hear. Your first duty as king: obey your queen."
Alex smiled, feeling the tension of the day melt just a bit. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The teasing settled into comfortable laughter, the weight of the day slowly melting away. Alex set the cake on the small table in Gwen's room, the sweet aroma filling the space. They dug in, sharing bites and stories, their conversation drifting from school to friends, to small, silly anecdotes that made them both chuckle.
Outside, the afternoon sun cast warm light across the room, painting everything in soft hues. For a moment, the worries of powers, missions, and the looming responsibilities of the system felt distant, almost unreal. It was just the two of them, enjoying each other's presence, sharing a quiet sanctuary in a world that seemed to move too fast.
Alex found himself relaxing more than he had all day. He wasn't calculating, planning, or anticipating. He was simply here, with Gwen, laughing at her jokes, listening to her thoughts, letting the small moments anchor him. For once, he didn't have to think about the system, the powers, or the consequences. Gwen, too, seemed to let go of her worries—the bite, the strange sensations, the uncertainties of her own powers—all of it faded for a while as they shared the simple joy of being together.
Gwen leaned back, licking frosting off her fingers with a mischievous grin, and Alex couldn't help but smile in return. They sat there for hours—or maybe just minutes, time slipping by unnoticed—sharing a simple peace that neither of them could afford often.
By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Alex realized just how much he had needed this: a reminder that, despite the chaos of his new life, moments like these were still possible. For now, at least, they could simply be themselves—two people, together, letting the world wait outside.
As the afternoon waned, Alex realized it was time to head back. He stood, brushing off the crumbs of cake from his lap, and looked at Gwen with a soft smile. "I should get going," he said, though he lingered a moment longer.
Gwen grinned, stepping closer. "Already? Guess I'll have to settle for a quick goodbye, then."
He leaned in, pressing his lips against hers, in a gentle kiss, a small, reassuring gesture that spoke more than words could. "See you later," he murmured.
With a final wave, Alex turned and made his way back to his apartment. The familiar hum of the hallway greeted him as he opened the door—already inside was his sister, bustling about, unaware of the quiet reflections Alex carried with him from the afternoon.