Chapter Two: Most Wanted

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P E T E R   O N E

I sit up against a brick wall in a dirty alley bloody and bruised. My clothes are torn and I feel exhausted after taking down a gang of criminals and some police officers that tried to arrest me. The harsh and loud words of Mr. Jameson and the public still ring through my head.

Am I worthy of being a hero? Sure I've done well by saving lives, stopping crime, and making my neighborhood a safer place but I've also been reckless countless times causing property damage and almost putting those closest to me in harm's way.

I've also done a lousy job of keeping my secret identity hidden. Ned, May, MJ, Flash, and Betty are the only people that know my secret and I'm glad I don't have to hide my double from them anymore but today's earlier events have shown me how dangerous this hero gig can really be. I had help then from Mr. Stark and The Avengers to bail me out and lend a helping hand but now I'm all alone, lost, and being hunted down.

T H I R D P E R S O N

*Flashback*
Date: Fall 2016

"What the fuck?!" May exclaimed in anger and confusion.

Peter turned around shocked as his Aunt May stood at the doorway of his bedroom with her arms crossed.

The boy gulps as she was glaring at him he tried to muster up a smile. "Uh, Hi, Aunt May," Peter said nervously while waving awkwardly.

He then thinks of a quick excuse. "It's not what it looks like. This is for a school play."

She rolled her eyes. "Really? That's the excuse you want to go with? Do I look stupid to you?" May said not buying it and getting more irritated by Peter's lies.

Peter sighs in defeat and slumps his shoulder.

"No Ma'am."

May looks at Peter's fancy superhero suit and then at a brown paper bag that's on his bed with a message written on it.

"This belongs to you - TS."

May put the pieces together. "The Stark internship. It all makes sense now. Coming home late, you sneaking out at night, plus you having trouble in school, and even leaving poor Liz at Homecoming alone because you're a superhero and working with Iron Man."

Peter nods. "Yes, May. I'm Spider-Man."

"How did this happen?"She asks trying to stay calm and not get angry.

"Well do you remember that school field trip I took to the Connors laboratory?"

"Yes, freshman year. You were so excited to go and talk to Mr. and Ms. Connors about science mumbo jumbo. You talked about it for weeks."

"During the field trip, I got bit by a radioactive spider. I could then do these spectacular things like stick to walls and climb up them and I even got this tingle whenever danger was nearby."

"So on TV, you swing and the fluid that comes out of your wrists are webbing?"

"Yes, webs. But they don't come out of my wrists necessarily because that would be weird but out of these things," Peter said and then showed his Aunt May his web-shooters.

"They are called web-shooters. I just aim at something nearby and it comes out. Like you said I use it to swing around the city or for when I'm fighting a bad guy." Peter said and shows her his web cartridges as well.

"You made those?"

"Yes, using chemicals from the school laboratory to make the webs and the web-shooters themselves I made from junk in the city dump. But now since Mr. Stark had taken a liking to me he has upgraded my equipment."

"Why would he do that?"

"I think Mr. Stark wants to help me become a better superhero as he maybe sees a bit of himself in me. I've only been doing this hero gig for almost a year and I'm not gonna lie I have been struggling but maybe with his guidance I can try and do better."

May sits on the edge of his bed processing the information he just told her. Peter sits next to her and takes his hand in hers.

"I'm really sorry for not telling you sooner, May. It's just you do so much not just for me but also for the people of NYC. You work as a nurse at the local hospital to put food on the table and pay the bills as well as help out at the Feast center to feed and clothe the less fortunate. I didn't want to add on more to your plate so I decided not to tell you my secret and spare you the worry."

"Look Peter I may not have carried you in the womb for nine months but I did raise you and I'll always worry about you because you're my son. I just want my beautiful boy to be safe, make better choices, and live out his dreams." May said in a gentle voice feeling betrayed.

They then looked at each other and stayed quiet until she spoke up again.

"Did Ben know about your powers?"

"No, he didn't. But I did tell him everything during his last and final hours of life."

"How did he react?"May asks intrigued.

"B-Ben said that he was proud of me and that he loved me. He also said to take care of you and to use my powers for good by helping others because it's what's right. His final words were: I love you son."

"A-And then you became Spider-Man?"

"Yes, I officially became Spider-Man, and ever since then, I've been trying to do the right thing heeding his advice."

"I say you are doing a good job, Honey. Ben is up in Heaven smiling down at you."

"Thanks, May. You know sometimes I wish I could turn back time and see Ben again."

"Me too, Sweetie. I miss him dearly."

"But I could have saved him, May."

"What do you mean by that?

"I could have saved Uncle Ben using my blood."

"But how would that have worked? Ben was terminally ill and the doctors said there was no cure for his illness."

"I studied my set of powers with help from Mr. And Mrs. Connors and we found out I have an enhanced superhuman healing factor. I wanted to use my blood and administer it to Ben via blood transfusion but the Conners warmed me about the negative side effects of doing that sort of thing without further testing it on other people. So I got angry and we had arguments and I lashed out. I was selfish because I didn't think about what this procedure could do to Ben as theirs a 50/50 percent chance of it working or not. I was desperate in saving him but I was too late and that's when the doctors told us he only had a few hours to live."

"Oh, Peter. That must have been painful for you."

"It was. I had to choose. Save him or don't save him? I-I chose not to give him the blood transfusion and not save him. It was one of the harder choices I ever had to make, May."

May rubs Peters back soothing him. "Peter you made the right choice. Of course, it would have been wonderful to have him around and be cured of his illness. But what if it didn't work? What if he turned into a six-armed Spider monster? I'm glad you chose not to go along with it and listened to the Connors. We love Ben and he will never be replaced as he meant the world to us but he lived his life to the fullest and it was time to say goodbye but the memories of Ben will always live on in our hearts forever." She said softly and kissed his cheek.

Peter smiles back a bit. "So after everything I said you aren't mad?"

"Well I was and maybe still am a bit but now that you have explained it all to me I can understand and try and move on. But you know I always had a suspicion you were hiding something. I just didn't push you because I was afraid that I would push you away if I asked too many questions." She sighed by adding, "Ben always told me to be patient and give you space. He believed that you held things in but would open up in your own time." She looked up at him, "If I hadn't seen you, would you have told me?"

"I don't know, May. Spider-Man has a lot of enemies. You would be at risk constantly and it scares me because I can't lose you too. I also can't stop being Spider-Man because when I see danger I swing towards it and try to help out any way I can like you do."

She nods in understanding. "It's who we are, "May said.

"Yeah, and as long as people need us. We'll be there for them." Peter said.

May smiles at her son. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, May. That's means a lot coming from you." Peter said smiling back.

They lean in close and hug each other for a few minutes as they smile both feeling a sense of peace.

"My beautiful boy is growing up into a fine young responsible gentleman," May said looking at him truly through a different lens.

"Just like Uncle Ben," Peter adds.

Then the blaring sounds of police sirens, fire trucks, and ambulances alert Peter and May. He looks at her for approval and she nods smiling. Peter puts on his Spider-Man mask.

"Be back in time for dinner, Sweetie." She said.

Peter smiles under the mask and jumps out of the window as he swings towards the danger.

May looks on at her child with amazement and is proud of the man he has become.

"We did a good job raising our boy, Ben," May said leaning into him as her head on his chest imagining her husband by her side again.

"Yes, we did, May," Ben said and kisses her head smiling as he held her.

Present Day
Fall 2024

Happy Hogan is in his Audi driving through the streets of New York while looking for any signs of Peter nearby as he hasn't yet arrived at the Feast Center. The man was worried about the boy and hoped to find him alive as he feared the worst. A ringing from his phone interrupts his thoughts and he sees it from Pepper Potts-Stark. He quickly answers it and speaks.

"Hey, Pepper. I'm so glad you called I-"

"Happy. Check the news now."

"I can't. I'm in the car."

"Ever heard of radio?"

"Oh, right. Radio. Yes, just hold on a second."

Happy then turns on the radio in his car and hears the newscaster speak.

"Stan Kirby the current mayor of New York has just made a public statement about the shocking revelations regarding the city's spectacular hero."

"I have been the mayor of this city for the last four years and in all that time I've made its security my top priority. We now know that the self-entitled soul successor to the Iron Man poses a great threat to the safety of the citizens of this great city. Effective immediately I am initiating an arrest warrant to the dangerous criminal known as Peter Parker. We will capture this Spider-Man and keep this fine city of ours safe. That is my promise to all of you. May God bless you all."

Happy's eyes widen in shock and his mouth is wide open at the announcement made by the mayor.

"Happy? Are you there?" Pepper asks.

Happy takes a few seconds to process this bombshell of a statement.

"Y-Yes, I'm here." He said and clears his throat.

"I need you to meet me in my office now, Happy," Pepper said.

"Yeah, okay. I'm on my way." Happy said and drives faster through the streets of New York to Stark Industries.

P E T E R O N E

I jolt open my eyes and look at my surroundings alarmed. In an instant, I remember why I'm in an alley hiding like I'm the bad guy and get off the floor and stand up weakly. I sighed tiredly as I hear the police cars pass by the alley I'm at as they are patrolling for any signs of my whereabouts.

I yawn and rub my eyes and look at my Uncle Ben's watch.

"Oh, crap. I've been asleep for a few hours. May and MJ must be worried sick." I said to myself.

I then look at my dirty and ripped civilian clothes. "I can't be seen in this. The cops will spot me easily and other people might jump me. If only I had my suit then I could turn invisible and no one would see me. But where did I leave it? Oh, right... It's at the Feast Center." I said exhausted and a bit sigh annoyed.

"Okay, the Feast Center is only a few blocks away. You can do it, Parker. You've beaten the odds before. You can do it again. Then once I make it there and put on my suit. I can start to form a plan to clear my name." I said motivating myself.

I then use what little strength and speed I have left to swing towards the Feast Center without being spotted by the cops or citizens and eventually land on the roof of the building. Then the door to the rooftop elevator opens and running towards his aid are May, MJ, and Ned.

"Peter! Omg!" MJ exclaimed as she covered her mouth in horror and begins to cry uncontrollably.

"Peter, Sweetie. What dd they do to you?" She asks.

Peter too tired to talk makes audible groans and moans as May examined his injuries.

"Ned, get me the stretcher now!" May demanded.

"Pull yourself together and help me lift him up, MJ." May orders.

Ned gets her the stretcher and helps the ladies lay Peter on it. Once he's secured they head to the elevator as MJ holds her boyfriend's hand.

"You'll be okay soon, Baby. Just hang in there a little longer. Please I don't want to lose you too." MJ pleaded with Peter and he slipped into a coma.

T H I R D P E R S O N

Happy Hogan enters the office of the CEO of Stark Industries Pepper Potts-Stark.

"Thank you for coming, Happy. How are you holding up?" Pepper asks.

She is dressed in her business attire and sits at her desk looking at him.

"Honestly a little shaken up. But I'll be okay. You should be more worried for May and the kid like I am." Happy answered.

"Well, that's why I asked you to come here today. Look I know the three of you are close but I'm going to have to ask you to cut all ties with them immediately," Pepper said.

"W-What?"

"I-I know this must be hard for you but we can't afford to be associated with him anymore."

"Y-You're kidding me, right? Tony put all his trust in him. I could see the way he looked at Peter. I mean he looked at him like a son."

"Well, that's exactly the problem, Happy. Stark Industries is already implicated enough as it is and if there is any evidence we're still working with him then it's all over for us. This is nothing personal. You understand that right?"

"Wait you don't really think he actually did that stuff? Because I trust the kid and I know for a fact he would never do any of it."

"Do you have any evidence to back that up?"

Happy opened his mouth to respond but he couldn't come up with one and closed his mouth in defeat and stayed silent.

"I know just as much as you do. That the kid didn't do that. Mysterio tricked us all but the public doesn't know that and in their eyes, he's a martyr that died exposing Peter's crimes. You aren't gonna help him clear his name. I'm sorry, Happy. He's on his own now."