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Spider-Man Mayham (AU) Chapter 366: Lydia and Felicia (5)
🕑 Added 2025-09-25 15:40:34 +0000 UTC[Third Person POV]
Peter leaned forward across the counter, resting one elbow on the polished surface like a salesman about to pitch a too-good-to-be-true deal. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he said, voice low and enticing, “Now that you’re practically caught up… how would you like in?”
Lydia blinked at him, taken aback. “What?” she asked, her brows drawing together as she gave him a weird look. Peter’s posture didn’t help—he was leaning in with the crooked grin of a man peddling something dangerous.
“I could get you a quick fix,” Peter continued smoothly, lifting his chin in a dramatic flourish. “Something that would completely change your life. Trust me, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Absolute game changer.” He shot her a sly look, eyebrows dancing suggestively.
Lydia narrowed her eyes and let out a sharp scoff. “Are you… selling me drugs or something? Because that’s a pretty bold opening line, don’t you think?”
Before Peter could answer, Felicia reached over and unceremoniously shoved his face away, pressing her palm against his cheek until his words came out muffled. “Ignore this idiot,” she said dryly, giving Lydia an exasperated glance. “He’s just trying to be mysterious. He’s talking about the same thing he gave his aunt and uncle—you know, the reason they look like they’ve suddenly turned back the clock twenty years.”
Lydia’s eyes widened as she leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Okay… what exactly is that thing, really? I noticed the change but didn’t want to say anything. I mean, it would’ve been rude. But are we talking, like… virgin blood or something?”
Felicia let out a surprised laugh. “What? No! What do you think we are, vampires?” She shook her head with an amused snort. “It’s the Super Soldier Serum. The same one that made Captain America into, well, Captain America.”
For a long second, Lydia just stared at them, her mouth opening and closing like a fish trying to form words. “Wha—how—when—what are you talking about?” she finally managed, shaking her head so hard her hair whipped around her face.
That was all the invitation Peter and Felicia needed. They launched into the story, tag-teaming the explanation of how Gwen had managed to not only recreate but improve the original formula. They spoke about enhanced stability, reduced side effects, and the subtle, almost imperceptible upgrades that made it safer and stronger than the original.
She rubbed her temples, still trying to process everything. “Okay,” she said finally, her voice weary. “I need to sit down before my brain melts. Can we please take this to the couch? I don’t think I can handle any more world-shattering revelations while standing.”
Peter and Felicia exchanged a knowing chuckle before moving to the living room. Felicia perched casually on the armrest, stretching her long legs across Peter’s lap as though claiming her throne.
Lydia followed more slowly, sinking into the couch cushions with a dazed expression. “Unbelievable,” she muttered, staring at the floor as if the answers might be hidden in the carpet. “To think that a fifteen-year-old girl—who hasn’t even finished high school—managed to solve and improve a scientific dilemma that’s stumped the greatest minds of the past half century…” She shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “That’s… insane. Impressive, but insane.”
“So,” Felicia said, tilting her head curiously, “are you going to take it?”
Lydia hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. “I don’t know. This is the serum that turned Captain America into a living legend. A national hero. Am I even worthy of something like that?” She looked toward Felicia, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re overthinking it,” Felicia replied flatly, though there was a note of quiet concern beneath the dry tone. “This isn’t about heroism or glory. It’s mostly about protection. If, God forbid, my identity ever gets leaked, you’d be one of the first targets. That’s why Peter gave it to his aunt and uncle—so if the worst ever happened, they’d at least have a fighting chance.”
Lydia chewed on the inside of her cheek, considering that. “Hmm… fair point.”
“Don’t forget the added bonus of looking young again,” Felicia added with a teasing grin.
“So how does this even work? Do I need to pre-order it? Does it arrive in some discreet little package with a fake return address or something?” Her expression was dead serious immediately changing her tone, which only made Peter snort.
Felicia rolled her eyes while Peter tried not to laugh outright. “Not quite,” he said, amusement creeping into his voice. “But before we get that far, you should know there are two options: the standard version… or the KoJ version. For some reason, nobody’s going for the KoJ, even though it’s objectively the superior formula.” He gave a theatrical sigh, slumping slightly as though personally offended.
“I wonder why,” Felicia said dryly, resting her head against the armrest. “Maybe because most people aren’t thrilled at the idea of mixing their DNA with that of a wild animal. Call me crazy, but that’s not exactly an easy sell.”
“Yeah, but Harry took it,” Peter argued, absentmindedly massaging Felicia’s thigh as he spoke, “and he looks and acts perfectly normal. No claws, no glowing eyes, nothing.”
“Wait, he did?” Lydia muttered, her brows lifting in surprise. “I… wouldn’t have guessed.”
“Yeah,” Peter said with a small shrug, leaning back with a casual grin. “That’s basically the point. The whole idea is subtle. The serum works with your body, not against it.”
Lydia tilted her head, curiosity lighting her eyes. “Okay, so—purely hypothetical—let’s say I’ve always dreamed of flying. If I took this KoJ thing with, like… bird DNA, what happens? Do my arms turn into wings, or do I grow an extra pair of wing-appendages on my back? How would that even look?”
Felicia’s eyebrows shot up, and then she burst out laughing before Lydia even finished her question. “Hold on, what? You’ve always dreamed of flying?” She clutched her stomach and doubled over in amusement. “What kind of weird dream is that? Hahaha!”
Lydia’s face went pink as she crossed her arms, glaring at Felicia. “First of all I said hypothetically. And don’t act like you’ve never thought about it! I’m sure that at some point, when we were little kids, we all wondered what superpower we’d pick if we could have one. Flying just… always seemed cool to me. Fun. Freeing.” She turned her head away, lips pursed in embarrassment.
Felicia laughed even harder at Lydia’s defensive pout, nearly sliding off the couch. “Ohhh, this is precious.”
Peter, however, nodded thoughtfully instead of teasing. “Mine was super speed,” he admitted with a faint smile.
Felicia arched a perfectly shaped brow at him. “Don’t you… already have that?”
“Yup.” Peter grinned, not the least bit apologetic. “And it’s just as cool as I imagined. Honestly? I love every second of it. I’m very thankful for these powers.” His eyes softened briefly before turning back to Lydia, the scientist in him clearly already running calculations.
“As for your bird question,” he continued, rubbing his chin, “I’m not completely sure. Gwen would have to modify the serum to make sure the animal DNA blends seamlessly with the human genome. It’d be a bit of trial and error, but knowing her? She’d love the challenge.” His lips curved into a smirk at the thought.
Lydia’s eyes flickered with polite confusion, trying to keep up. Peter chuckled and leaned forward, gesturing as he explained further.
“Okay, so—genomes are basically the instruction manuals inside every cell. Gwen’s job would be to write the perfect set of instructions so the bird DNA functions exactly the way we want it to. Instead of your arms mutating into wings, the serum would create retractable wings on your back—wings you could summon when needed. All without permanent, freaky side effects. That’s why I look normal and not like some… half-spider monster.”
Lydia’s shoulders slumped in half-relief, half-overload. “That… honestly sounds like so much work. I don’t want to be a bother. I’d probably be happier with the regular version.” She forced a small smile, clearly intimidated by how casually he made it sound.
Peter rolled his eyes dramatically. “You wouldn’t be bothering anyone. Trust me—Gwen treats this kind of thing like a Sunday crossword puzzle. She lives for difficult problems. All you’d need to do is tell me what animals you want.”
“Animals?” Lydia echoed, blinking. “As in… more than one?”
“Yup,” Peter said with a grin. “You can mix up to three traits. Like, say, the flight of a falcon with the strength of an elephant and one other. Triple combo package.”
Lydia’s eyes lit up with a spark of childlike wonder. “Ohhh, do that—do that!” she exclaimed, hands clasping together as her mind raced with possibilities. She immediately flushed, realizing how excited she sounded. “I mean… hypothetically.”
Peter chuckled, enjoying her enthusiasm. “Alright, What would your third animal be?”
Lydia tapped her chin, pretending to think while her eyes darted upward. “Hmm… good question…”
“Oooh, I know,” Felicia interrupted with a teasing gleam in her eyes. “How about a cougar?”
Peter snickered under his breath while Lydia turned an unimpressed stare on them both.
“That way we’d at least stay cat-related,” Felicia added, her cheeks taking on the faintest rosy tint.
Lydia raised both hands, curling her fingers like claws, “Why stop there? Why not a lion? They’re the king of the jungle for a reason.”
Peter and Felicia both froze, staring at her in silence as she held the claw pose with a perfectly straight face.
Slowly, Lydia lowered her hands, her expression flattening into mock indifference. “I think you have officially overstayed your welcome.”
“Ah—?!” they both yelped in unison, startled by the flicker of annoyance crossing her face.
Comments
KingSpy25i .
Finally! Someone else will use the KoJ serum! Also, for the Elephant one, I recommend the African Bush Elephant that can lift around 13,230 pounds making it the strongest living land animal alive. Thank you for the awesome chapter 🙏
