Chapter 80 80: Don't mind if I do
The golden sparks of the portal hissed shut, cutting off the freezing Himalayan wind and leaving Ethan standing in the warm, mahogany-scented foyer of the New York Sanctum.
He wasn't alone.
Standing near the grand staircase, peeling off her white-and-pink gloves, was Gwen. She was fully suited up in her Spider-Woman gear, but it had clearly seen better days. The pristine white spandex was covered in soot, and a jagged, heavy tear ran down the side of her ribcage, exposing a generous stretch of pale, sweat-sheened skin. Another rip across her right thigh left very little to the imagination.
Ethan stopped in his tracks and let out a low, highly appreciative whistle.
"Well," Ethan drawled, looking her up and down. "I leave for a few weeks, and you decide to embrace the 'battle-damaged chic' look. I highly approve."
Gwen whipped around, her mask already pulled off to reveal her messy blonde bob. Her eyes went wide.
"Ethan!"
She didn't hesitate. She crossed the foyer in three quick, athletic strides and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight, desperate hug. "You're finally back! Do you have any idea how crazy things have been?!"
Ethan blinked, momentarily surprised by the enthusiastic greeting. But as he felt her firm, incredibly fit body pressed flush against his chest, his surprise quickly melted into sheer opportunism. Through the thin spandex, he could feel the soft, heavy pressure of her breasts against his ribs.
Don't mind if I do, Ethan thought, a wicked smirk crossing his face.
He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back. But his hands didn't stay on her shoulders. Guided by pure, unapologetic instinct, his palms slid down the slick fabric of her back, tracing the curve of her spine until his fingers came to rest firmly on the rounded swell of her ass.
Gwen froze. She immediately felt the trajectory of his hands.
She stiffened, her spider-sense practically pinging with awkwardness, and shoved him back with a sudden, panicked shove that nearly sent Ethan tumbling over a Ming vase.
"Ahmmm..." Gwen stammered, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. A deep, furious blush exploded across her freckled cheeks, clashing horribly with the neon-pink accents of her suit. "Sorry. I just... got excited. It's been a really long two months."
Ethan simply dusted off his leather jacket, his smirk never wavering. "Hey, it's completely okay. I definitely enjoyed it."
Gwen glared at him, her face burning even hotter. "Yeah. I felt that you did."
A tense, incredibly awkward silence settled over the foyer. Ethan cleared his throat, letting out a short, dry laugh to break the ice.
"So," Ethan said, gesturing vaguely at the torn fabric on her hip. "Changing the subject before you decide to web my mouth shut... it seems like you've been having a pretty rough time while I was gone."
Gwen let out a long, exhausted sigh. Her shoulders slumped, all the fight draining out of her. She tossed her mask onto the coffee table and collapsed onto the plush leather sofa.
"Don't even say it," she groaned, rubbing her temples. "It's been a total nightmare, Ethan. The first few weeks after you left were fine. Pepper was great, the job was normal... but then the city just went crazy."
Ethan walked over and sat on the edge of the table facing her. "Wong mentioned colorful lunatics with animal themes."
"That's putting it lightly," Gwen grumbled, pointing to the tear on her ribs. "I got this one from a guy in a giant, mechanical rhinoceros suit tearing up a bank in Brooklyn. Two days ago, I had to stop some creepy old guy flying around Queens in a giant vulture rig."
She looked up at Ethan, her blue eyes filled with a mix of frustration and genuine exhaustion.
"They're coming from my side, Ethan. I know they are. I've fought guys just like them back home. The longer I stay here, the more weirdos from the multiverse keep popping up to cause trouble. I don't know how they're getting here, but they are tearing this city apart."
Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The playful, perverted Sanctum Master was gone, replaced by the guy who had just systematically dismantled a Dark Lord.
"They're slipping through the cracks because the local fabric of reality isn't used to a 'Totem' like you walking around," Ethan explained, his voice calm and serious. "But don't stress about it, Gwen. You aren't fighting them alone anymore."
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