It has been a month since the shooting, Uncle Ben had been discharged after the first week because the wound was surprisingly small and he was healing incredibly well. They only kept him because of his advanced age and to ensure no complication would arrive, or so they say, but the hospital bill for nothing more than a couple night's stay and terrible food was basically daylight robbing in his opinion. That and he knew the reason behind his miraculous survival and healing.
His wife had gone grocery shopping and he decided now was the perfect time to have a little chat with his nephew. More specifically about his Not-So-Secret Identity. The kid looked so shocked he wasn't sure to be amused or insulted. It really wasn't that hard to piece it together.
"Peter, I'm old, not stupid. Give your Uncle Ben some credit would ya? I'm not 10."
"I- Wha- How long, how did you find out?!"
"... Are you seriously asking me that, kiddo? We live in the same house. You constantly come home late at night, your shirt and pants in the washer are always covered in some white gunk which I most certainly hope is spiderwebs, and-"
Suddenly with a speed that was hard to believe for his age the old war veteran threw a sharp jab towards Peter's face without warning, the surprised kid learned all the way backward and formed a bridge with his arms before continuing with his momentum and flipped back on his two feet. The younger Parker's eyes widened afterward, it had come so fast that he had done it out of reflex.
Whatever excuses he was about to say died in his mouth as his uncle gave him a deadpan stare with a single raised eyebrow.
"It also doesn't hurt that I saw you last week web-slinging out of the second floor. You really ought to be more careful Peter, especially if what Mr. Xavier told me about all the people out to get you is true."
"Yo- You spoke with them already?"
"Yup, honestly I've known pretty much since day one. Doesn't take a telepath to make the connection between the wrestling uniform you wore and Spider-man's. I was just waiting until you'd come clean to me yourself, but it was obvious you had no intention to do so. Besides I wanted to thank your friend Andrew for patching me up, otherwise, I'm not so sure the medics would've arrived in time."
He had heard what happened to the boy, and while he couldn't say he knew the awkward lad that well he was a good kid. Knowing that it was likely he was being dissected on a lab table somewhere out there according to what Mr. Xavier had told him, the man felt a fear seize his heart, unlike anything he had felt since his first battlefield. That could be Peter out there somewhere or worst.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Ben. I-I'm just worried. What if you and Aunt May disapproved? There are people out there who need me, who needs Spider-man! And... I'm scared of what would happen if someone found out, what if they went after you to get to me-"
This time he saw the blow coming but didn't move out of the way. The knuckles softly rapped on top of his head. Brown eyes peered into black as a wrinkled smile full of confidence grew on the other's face.
"You think me and May don't know how to keep a secret? I'll have you know I used to be known as the "Oathkeeper!"," Well it was back when he played D&D in college, but hey that still counted right? Ragnar the Righteous would never let anything slip! "I've never broken a single pinky promise I've ever made in my life either!"
"No- But what if-"
Uncle Ben let Peter ramble for a while about all the "What ifs" and "Dangers of being involved". Sometimes it was just easier to let children have their take and then calmly shut them down on why it was idiotic for him to pretend to be ignorant and turn a blind eye.
"Peter. First of all, you're living in my house. This isn't me saying "My house and my rules" or trying to push you away, but you're practically a son to us and May and I both love you."
First came the hug, then came the sucker punch when their guard was down. Considering the fact he has seen his boy casually get slammed through brick walls on numerous occasion and none the worse for wear during his costumed patrol, he knew he didn't have to hold back and really let the boy have it for being so reckless, but damned if his knuckles weren't sore. He had to hold in a hiss of pain to maintain his cool image of dependability and awesome.
It was hard being a parent.
" Also it's quite frankly stupid to think that leaving us ignorant of the situation would help keep us safe. Neither May nor I are children and we can take care of ourselves, but how can we do that if we don't know what we are preparing for? The Amazing or Spectacular Spider-man or not, you're still a kid Peter, and that's perfectly ok. You don't have to do this yourself, us and good friends you can rely on."
The boy let loose the dam of emotion's he had been holding in all this time as he cried in his Uncle's arms. The guilt of letting the thief go, the pain of losing his friend, the anxiety and fear he felt every day facing bad guys after bad guys.
"You wouldn't believe the traffic on the way back, honestly! Some asshole cut me of- Oh... Is this a bad time?"
Aunt May tumbled through the doorway and kicked it shut as she piled bags after bags of groceries onto the floor and started the rant. She only stopped once she saw the strange situation. Uncle and Nephew stared at each for a moment before laughing and pulling her into a hug as well, cluing her in on their conversation. She didn't like how Peter was doing something so dangerous, but Uncle Ben managed to convince her and the couple knew without saying anything that Peter was going to be a hero with or without their approval.
So might as well join the train and help him as much as they could. She felt both proud and helpless at once at his stubbornness, but that sense of justice and enduring idealism was why she married his uncle, the old silly man, in the first place wasn't it? Like father like son. There was only one thing left to say at this point.
"So... Ice cream?"
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Peter was really getting into the groove this heroics thing. Turns out it was a lot easier when you didn't have a set curfew and constantly have to make excuses on why you kept leaving the house or returned home beaten and bruised. He could hardly afford to make constant trips to the hospital, not only financially but also because of how unnaturally fast his healing was. Nothing crazy like Wolverine or Andrew apparently had, but fractures and laceration didn't tend to heal after 3 days after all.
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So having a support base at home with Aunt May keeping an eye on the news and his Uncle Ben who knew a thing or two about first aid was an immense help.
He flipped onto a rooftop as he watched over the city of new york from atop the building.
"Man, I wish I can afford a place like that someday."
Even from over halfway cross the city he could see the ever infamous Merchant of Death's Stark Tower. A beacon of light and advancement that stood out for all to see even in the City that Never Sleeps. He was a bit envious of the casual display of wealth and power if he was to be truthful. Even from here he swore he could see the flashing rave lights of the penthouse suite reserved for the CEO Tony Stark's private use.
Shaking his heads of the silly thoughts he refocused and scanned the streets for anything suspicious.
He didn't have to wait long although the source of it was completely different from what he expected. Rather than from below, he saw a shadow racing across his peripheral vision. It darted in and out of sight, intertwining with the shadows and disappearing behind chimes as it dashed from rooftop to rooftop.
Intrigued he stealthily followed her. Well, as much stealth that a kid in a bright blue and red costume swinging across from building to building could be, anyways.
As he got closer he could now clearly make out the figure and he was quite confused.
It was a girl dressed in black and white. She had on grey sweatpants and a large oversized hoodie. Her face was covered by a dull white scarf but he was sure that it was a girl from the slight clevage he could see despite her being so covered up.
The only distinctive feature Peter could see was there were cat ears of all things sewn on top of the hood.
"Isn't it a bit late to be doing free running?"
It seems he had spooked the girl as she almost went into freefall from missing a step. He rushed towards her to help, but thankfully she didn't need it as her hands managed to grab onto the ledge before gracefully pulling herself up and flipping around, wearily eyeing him.
"Who the hell are you?"
"... Seriously? You- you don't know who I am?"
He didn't mean to sound like he had a big ego, but that kind of hurt his pride. He's been busting his ass trying to keep this city safe! Heck, he was on Channel 5 sometimes! Only the really important people get on there!
Or cute stories about kids selling lemonade or cookies. Those were always popular.
So unfair that he had to risk his life in a thankless and payless job, but that his specials often get outshone by some snot-nosed kid. Darn you, Dinkleberg!
"No, should I?" The girl sounded as impressed as she thought he looked judging by her slow and deliberate glance over his homemade costume, which was evidently not very.
"You wouldn't happen to be new in town by any chance, would ya?"
"Not unless you count the past decade or so as "new" I suppose not." He couldn't see her face but he could already tell there was a smirk on her face. He took a moment to process the fact that someone living in his area didn't recognize him. Even the new transfer student from across the state knew of him! Nobody in his class or school didn't know of the Spectacular Spider-man! Crimefighter extraordinaire! In training! It was a work in progress...
"Do you not read or watch the news? I'm Spider-man. Ya know, as in, "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man"? I did that special interview..? Saved some kids from a fire last week down Broadway..? Ringing any bells?"
"I'm afraid not, Spider-man" Her voice was full of mocking laughter at his name, but at least she didn't forget the hyphen. Why do people always forget the hyphen?
"I... Argh Well, anyways, I'm kinda like a hero around here. I patrol the streets and make sure there's nothing weird going on. Like said, little girls racing across people's rooftops at night. Mind telling me what you're up too?"
"Well, Mr. Hero, it just so happens that I do in fact, mind. Very much so."
"Oh.. Er.. Ok then... Do you need me to drop you off home or down the street or somethi-" He wasn't sure what was the proper response since as far as he knew she wasn't doing anything wrong besides maybe trespassing and being reckless. It's not like he could force her to tell him why she was being weird and running. Man was it awkward, but then he caught sight of something shining in the moonlight behind her back.
"Hey! That's the Alexandria Cat's Eye Jewel!" He wasn't much a fan of history nor jewelry but he remembers seeing a documentary on it and how it had a unique crystal composition. A light which shine into it gets trapped and reflected so many times that it could actually store the light and keep its luminescence even after the source gets cut off for quite some time.
7.34 seconds if he recalled correctly, although it might've been 36. It had been some time since he watched it after all.
Point was that thing belonged in the local museum and was quite a rare and expensive item. He quickly flickered his wrist and send a glob of web towards the cat thief, and the pun wasn't lost on him, as she turned to run.
"Oh my, it's just the purrfect weather for a late-night jog, isn't it?" The girl dashed to the other side of the rooftop before jumping over the ledge. With just her legs she wouldn't have even made it halfway, but she pulled out a grappling gun from her hoodie's pocket and shot it along a far off building, pulling her along and shifting her momentum away and around the corner.
He quickly hurried after her, playing along with this game of cat and mouse until he could get close enough to safely subdue her. Easier said than done as despite his enhanced biology she seemed to have had far more training.
No movement was wasted, every seemingly pointless flip and twirl was filled with an ingrained grace and only served to further add towards her speed as she leveraged her weight to almost fly through the sky.
If that was all then he could've still managed, but as soon as he took his eyes off her for a second or she got around a corner he'd find her in the opposite direction or some other impossible location. It was too bad his Spidey Senses didn't have a built-in Criminal Tracker.
Maybe he should make some himself then because he could already tell this girl was going to be a major headache for him in the future with the way she was playing around with him. He never thought that having a girl wink or blow him kisses could be so aggravating.
It was only by sheer dumb luck that Peter managed to catch up to her after she tripped over her own shoelaces of all things. Guess constant backflips, somersaults, and aerial gymnastics weren't meant to be done in a pair of ratty and worn-out sneakers, who knew?
Not everyone could have an awesome suit like his with awesome custom made ones built-in.
He spent a lot of time and effort on it and his logo damn it and people should appreciate that fact! His bitterness aside he didn't fail to cash in on the opportunity and with a series of hand movements, he managed to wrap her up tighter than a Christmas present.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in... No wait, you're the cat, erms, hold on, give a minute. I'm new to this whole she-bang."
She didn't have much of a choice as even her mouth was covered so she watched the red and blue-clad boy walk back and forth muttering to himself as he thought out loud what he should say. Thankfully for the bound criminal it brought her the time she needed so slowly reach for her grappling gun, he grabbed the claw and carefully used it to cut away at the cocoon from the inside.
"I got it! Ok, let me start again. Well! Lookie here, it seems I've caught a cat in my webs tonight."
Ok, so that was pretty lame even to him and Peter winced and made sure to avoid eye contact. Oh, man, that was embarrassing.
"Well, that was just awful, and I meant the terrible lines, not the whole webbing me thing. Although you could've at least brought me a drink before you tied me up, not that I can say I'm not fond of such play myself, Spider-man~"
His eyes widened as he quickly jumped around and attempted to bound her once more, but with a quiet click he let out a groan. The canisters were emptied from how long he had been chasing her and he forgot to bring his spares. By the smirk on her face, he knew that she was aware of his predicament.
"Oh my, looks like the lil Spidey is all tuckered out, only one round? How disappointing. Don't worry though, I never kiss and tell, but a word of advice maybe you should quit the hero gig. You're not very good at it. How about becoming a web designer instead? Ciao." She soon tossed the gem she had stolen carelessly behind her shoulders at him. Peter managed to dive and catch it before it hit the ground and potentially rolled off the rooftop. He managed to look up just in time to see her blow him another kiss before she disappeared into the shadows.
... The verbal ass-whooping he just got served stung a lot more than any knuckle sandwich from thugs or Reptilian monsters he'd faced the past year.