2002

3rd Person POV

The bustling sounds of chatter and the soft hum of high-tech machinery filled the air as the high school tour group stepped into the pristine labs of Oscorp Industries. Y/N L/N adjusted his backpack nervously, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and intimidation. His best friend, Harry Osborn, walked beside him, wearing his trademark grin, perfectly at ease in his father's empire.

"Come on, Y/N," Harry said, nudging his shoulder. "You're gonna love this. Dad's always bragging about the advancements here-bioengineering, robotics, you name it. It's cutting-edge stuff."

Y/N gave a hesitant smile. "Yeah, it's...impressive." His eyes flickered around the room, taking in the state-of-the-art equipment. He felt out of place, like a kid wandering into a world meant for geniuses and billionaires.

The group gathered near a glass enclosure housing several small, shimmering creatures spinning intricate webs. The guide, a sharply dressed scientist, explained their significance with the enthusiasm of someone who lived and breathed their work.

"These spiders are genetically modified to produce stronger, more efficient webbing. Their DNA carries potential breakthroughs in medicine, engineering, and more."

Harry leaned in toward Y/N and whispered, "Sounds like Dad's trying to patent Spider-Man or something."

Y/N chuckled softly but froze when he saw her-Felicia Hardy, standing a few feet away, her platinum-blonde hair catching the fluorescent light like a halo. She leaned casually against the glass, her piercing green eyes studying the spiders with genuine curiosity.

Harry noticed the shift in Y/N's gaze and smirked. "Ah, there she is. Felicia Hardy. You've got that look, man."

"What look?" Y/N muttered, trying to sound indifferent.

"The 'I'm too scared to talk to her' look," Harry teased. "Go on, say hi. You've been crushing on her since sophomore year."

Before Y/N could respond, Harry's attention wandered to another familiar face in the crowd. "Oh, hey, Gwen's here too. Don't wait for me, buddy-I've got my own mission." He patted Y/N on the back and sauntered off toward Gwen Stacy, leaving him flustered and alone.

Y/N inhaled deeply and approached Felicia, his heart pounding. "Uh, hey, Felicia," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Cool, uh...cool spiders, right?"

She turned to him, one eyebrow arched in amusement. "Yeah, they're...something. You into this kind of stuff?"

"Well," Y/N stammered, "I, uh, actually work for the school paper. I was thinking of taking some pictures, you know, for the article." He quickly held up his camera as proof.

Felicia smiled faintly. "That's cute. Sure, knock yourself out."

Feeling emboldened, Y/N adjusted his camera and began snapping shots of the enclosure.

As he focused on the viewfinder, a single spider began descending from its web on a silken thread, inching closer to his outstretched hand.

Before he could react, a firm hand smacked his wrist away, making him grunt in surprise. "Hey!" Y/N exclaimed, looking up at the man who had interrupted.

The man was tall and slightly disheveled, wearing a lab coat with no visible Oscorp ID. His eyes were sharp and calculating, though his expression carried a faint smirk. "Careful, kid," he said, his voice low and measured. "That spider was about to bite you."

Y/N glanced back at the spider within the man's grasp. "I didn't even notice it..." he muttered.

The man shrugged, his demeanor nonchalant. "Lucky for you. Those bites aren't exactly FDA-approved." He continued to smile as he inserted the spider in a tube.

Y/N glanced between the man and the girl beside him, who was sharing the young teen's confusion. "Oh."

"Such a little thing. But size can be deceptive, can't it? Who knows what kind of reaction it would have given if it bit you." The man continued. "The only way to know for sure was to let the little monster have it's way with you."

"Uhm." Was all the boy could muster out.

"I however would have to let that happen while I watched..." The older fellow then planted his hand upon Y/N's shoulder. "And with such power, comes no small measure of responsibility."

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"And who really wants to live in a world where men like me stand by and do nothing?"

"I know I don't."
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Before Y/N could question him further, the man disappeared into the crowd, leaving him with an uneasy feeling.

"What was that about?" Felicia asked, stepping closer.

Y/N shook his head, still staring at the spider. "I...don't know."