I sat on the ceiling of the shed, clipping the bracelet onto my wrist again. I’d reworked it completely. No battery, just mechanical functions. Now I didn’t have to worry about it overheating or having anything affect the web fluid. It had taken a while but it should work. I adjusted the bracelet, the smooth metal cold against my skin.

I aimed down at the floor and pressed on the circular pad. A burst of the web shot forwards, the strands sticking to the floor. I pulled and felt it stretch slightly before hearing the floorboards creaked. It held. Perfect. I jumped down and landed on the floor. I fired a web at the ceiling, laughing to myself as I marvelled at it. I’d used a mix of a few ideas I’d had in college, but mainly one I’d had about a liquid that could be converted into a fibre when under pressure. I held the web tightly and lifted my feet off the ground. I laughed harder as I turned upside down, hanging from the web. “Perfect” I said dropping down. I looked over it again. I probably shouldn’t fire anymore, it’d take about an hour to disappear and I didn’t want the shed covered in web from floor to ceiling. Now that I was finished, I could probably call Ned, then May would have dinner ready.

I yawned stepping out of the shed and froze. It was dark and all the lights were off.. I pulled out my phone. It was 22:00. Dammit, I’d missed Dinner. I turned off the light in the shed and made my way over to the house quietly. I closed the back door quietly and looked around. I grabbed a note off the counter.

‘Your supper’s in the oven, with some pancakes for desert. Love May.’ I opened the oven and pulled out a plate of lukewarm beef brisket, with Aunt May’s homemade fries and some broccoli on the side. I smiled slightly, but it disappeared quickly. I needed to talk to Aunt May. I’d been sort of avoiding her whenever we didn’t have guests. She’d probably sensed I wanted space and kept her distance slightly. I was just using her kindness against her, and that just wasn’t right. I needed to just man up and talk to her.

But not right now. She was probably sleeping and even if she wasn’t I needed to get my thoughts in order. I could do it in the morning. Tomorrow I could get everything sorted; I would go home and tell Helga and Sasha the truth, I would meet up with Bella, Grady, and Sajani, and I would talk to Aunt May. But right now, I needed to sleep. I was tired.

I finished off the last piece of my food and put the leftover pancakes in the fridge. I slowly crept down the hall, trying not to look at the photos on the walls. I reached the stairs and climbed up on the wall, careful to not make any noise. I stayed on the wall, climbing soundlessly down the hall before reaching my room, opening my door slightly and then climbing inside. I dropped to the floor quietly and then unceremoniously slumped onto my bed. I needed to change but I could do that in a bit. I lay there, my breaths easing as they slowed. I opened my eyes as to not fall asleep and stared out at the moonlit sky. It was peaceful tonight, serene. It reminded me of nights when Uncle Ben would tuck me in. He’d read me a bedtime story, but unlike May, he’d always give it a special twist at the end to keep me guessing. Then he’d praise me. Tell me all sorts of wonderful things whenever I got sad, and even sometimes when I didn’t. I smiled faintly.

The memories were so clear I could hear his words.

You’re special Peter. You’ll do amazing things, probably change the world.

I chuckled to myself. Hopefully he was right.

I sat up, stretching as I let out a yawn. Getting up I stretched out and made my way over to my wardrobe. It was mostly filled with old stuff, but some of it still fit me. I probably should’ve brought clothes from home too. I undressed, changing into a some shorts and a white top. I walked back and took off the bracelet, setting it on the nightstand. I paused, glancing at the bag that peeked out from under the bed. It was fine. I glanced at the bracelet on the bedside. I was making enough progress already. I didn’t need to think about it now.

I lay down in bed, the supports creaking slightly. Staring at the ceiling I lay still, waiting for sleep to come. But now, for whatever reason, my mind was wide awake. I shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position. Still sleep didn’t come. I sighed and sat up, glancing at the bedside table. I stared at the bracelets, then reached under the bed and grabbed the bag. Silently I opened it, pulling out the mask. I set it on my lap staring at it in a peaceful silence.

I knew why I couldn’t sleep. Because of this stupid thing. It had been two days now since I’d taken this, and I still hadn’t done anything. Sure I’d made the web bracelets or whatever, and I’d come up with ideas for stuff I could use to repair the costume, but I hadn’t done anything. I hadn’t saved anyone. I’d just sat at home thinking about things and that wasn’t going to do anything. If I really wanted to do something, then I needed to go outside. Now. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t ready if I was going to do this then I couldn’t put it off till tomorrow. I couldn’t wait until I felt ready because I never would be. There was probably someone out there suffering right now, calling out for help, for a hero and there was no one there to help.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

I stood up, my heart beating wildly, my body trembling. I was doing this. I was really doing this. I pulled out the costume. I couldn’t wear it, not in the state it was in. I’d wear a hoodie, I had a purple one I could turn inside out. The mask was damaged, but not enough to cover my face. I searched quietly for my hoodie and pulled it on. I frowned then took it off and put it into a bag. I could change somewhere else. I didn’t want anyone spotting me in the same clothes that Spider-man would be wearing. I stuffed a pair of joggers, and some gloves into the bag before slipping the bracelet on and fastening it. I crept onto the landing, climbed downstairs and grabbed some shoes. I glanced at the front door. That’d make too much noise. I climbed back upstairs and opened my window, leaping down into the garden. I made my way around the side of the house and then out onto the street. I took a deep breath. I needed to find somewhere to change.

-

I sat in an alley between two bins, my hands trembling. I’d made my way to downtown Queens because it was probably where I was likely to find the most crime in a place that was still reasonably close to home. I’d found a secluded spot, hidden and changed. I’d done everything except put on the mask. I’d sat here for the past twenty minutes, too afraid to do anything. Even insulting myself hadn’t worked. I glanced down either side of the alley. I needed to suck it up and go out there. I mean if I didn’t someone was going to see me sitting here in these clothes. Then I definitely couldn’t go out. I went to pull the mask on again and hesitated again. I let out a sigh. Dammit. Why was I like this? Gwen wouldn’t have been afraid.

I took a deep breath, grit my teeth, pulled on the mask and stood up. I felt stupid, but I needed to do this. I stepped out of the alley, looking around as the few people in the street gave me weird looks. Right so now I needed to… I hadn’t thought this far. I guess I needed to patrol. I glanced down at my web bracelet. I probably should’ve figured out how to swing with this thing first. I mean I couldn’t just run around. Well figuring things out was why I was here anyway, right? I tightened the straps on my bag and looked around. I aimed my web bracelet up at a building and fired. The web shot out attaching itself to the wall face. Now I just had to think about mechanics of it. Hmm, it shouldn’t be too hard. I leapt up and backwards, climbing up the web and then swung forwards as my momentum came back down. I swung forwards in an arc, the wind rushing past me. I let go close to the bottom of the swing and shot forwards at incredible speeds. Hands shaking and head buzzing I fired another web, and repeated, swinging through the street. My heart felt like a hammer trying to break out of my rib cage, the sense of swinging nauseating. I came to a stop on top of a building and quickly scrambled over the edge towards stable ground. It took a few seconds to recover but I lay there for at least five minutes. Ok, I needed to keep repeating that until it didn’t make me feel sick. Exposure therapy. I stood up and walked over to the edge of the building.

I took a breath and clamped my eyes shut. My body refused to jump off the edge. Alright then. This was ok. This was fine I could just try again. I took a step back and braced myself before throwing my body forwards. I was doing it! I jerked backwards, my feet glued to the ledge. God dammit. I took in a breath and stared out over the street below. Nothing was happening right now. I could take a few seconds to gather my thoughts. I stepped back from the edge and sat down with a sigh. Well at least I knew it worked. I looked down my wrist, the grey metal poking out between the gloves and hoodie.

It stood out too much. I could dye it the same colour as the costume maybe? I also needed to think of a name other than web bracelet, I mean it didn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Web rope? No that was just describing the web itself. Web dispenser? Absolutely not. Web gun? No. Web shooter? Kind of aggressive, but it sounded nicer than the other names. Web grappler? No. I think I’d just go with web shooter. Either way, this whole things would definitely be easier when I made a second one. I heard a shout from down below and hopped up. I peeked over the edge of the building to see four guys chasing one dude. That couldn’t be good. I took a deep breath and leapt off the side of the building, firing a web and swinging my body forwards. My heart shot into my mouth but I ignored it as I cut through the air and let go, propelling myself forwards with a final push. I landed between the chasers and the runner, stumbling slightly before coming to a halt.

“Stop right there” I said. They all froze staring at each other as they panted heavily. I glanced behind me. The runner had kept sprinting away.

“Why were you guys chasing him?” I asked.

“Why’d you care?” one of them said, stepping forwards.

“Well we don’t want anyone doing anything bad do we”

“Oh shit you’re Spiderguy. What the hell are you doing out here?” another said, pulling out his phone.

“I’m just trying to help people” I said.

“Well stop that other guy. That’d help us. He owes us money”

“I don’t think I can just detain him because he owes you m-“

Before I could finish my spider sense buzzed and I dived to the side. Water splashed over the spot I’d been before. I glanced up. A woman threw a glass at me and I caught it.

“Fuck you Spider-Man!” she shouted. Huh? She disappeared and then came back, hurling pieces of garbage at me as she cursed.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?!” I shouted back.

“You put my nephew in the hospital in your stupid fight!” she shouted. Oh.

“S-sorry” I said back, uncertain how I was supposed to reply. She responded by throwing the whole rubbish bag at me. I caught it, only to have it explode as I did. Slightly warm garbage juice sprayed over me and the guys behind me all broke out into laughter. I shook my hands and wiped them on my pants, but they were just as dirty. I glanced up. The woman had closed her window.

Dammit. Frustrated I kicked the rubbish then gathered it up with web and took it to a bin in an alley nearby. I sat on the bin for a few minutes, silent. This had been a shitshow. I hadn’t even done anything. Well it was probably for the best if I went home for the night. I was tired.