HE WENT STRAIGHT home after what happened at the bank. Peter and Ned were probably going to wonder where he was, but he'd call them later and apologize for not helping with the LEGO Deathstar.

Y/N had his backpack which contained his Spider-Man suit as he entered his apartment. His father, Michael, had just arrived as well and was coming out of his room.

"Y/N." He greeted as he rolled up his sleeves.

"Hey, dad."

The teenager gave a short glance before walking past him and toward his room. He was pretty rattled at what happened earlier. If Mr. Delmar would've died...he wouldn't have been able to live with himself.

He put his bag down and took a breath. Michael followed him into the room, nothing his son's mood.

"Everything all right?" He asked.

Y/N turned around. "Me? Yeah, yeah. I'm good."

"I thought you'd be at Peter's?"

"No. I mean, we were supposed to, but plans got canceled." The boy lied.

"Oh, okay." Michael replied. "Are you hungry? We still got leftovers."

"Sure."

Michael walked out of the room. Y/N rubbed his face and composed himself before walking out as well. His father was in the living room, having stopped to turn on the television. They were broadcasting the incident from earlier.

"Jesus..." Michael muttered as he looked at the screen. "That's not that far from here."

Y/N didn't reply, only looking down and fiddling with his hands. Michael kept watching.

"I hope Mr. Delmar is okay. We can't lose any more good people like him."

The teenager sighed walked into the kitchen. Michael looked back, still wondering what was getting his son so glum. He lowered the volume and walked away from the television to start preparing the food.

• • •

THE NEXT DAY, the three friends walked to school. They passed by the wrecked bodega and Y/N explained what had happened. Peter and Ned were relieved that he wasn't hurt and that Mr. Delmar was okay.

With the reassurances out of the way, Ned wanted to know every detail of his fight with the bank robbers. For every class they shared he'd ask Y/N about it, even during passing periods. They were now in P.E, and he was still aching to know more.

Y/N, Ned, and Peter sat with the rest of the class in the bleachers. In front of them was Coach Wilson, who stood beside a television that was detailing that day's fitness challenge by Captain America.

"Hi, I'm Captain America. Whether you're in the classroom or in the battlefield..."

Ned started to whisper to Y/N.

"Didn't you meet him?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah. Remember that video?" Y/N replied. "I took his shield."

"Today, my good friend, your gym teacher..." Coach Wilson smiled and raised his hand as the video continued. "...will be conducting the Captain America Fitness Challenge."

"Thank you, Captain." He began to speak to the class. "Pretty sure he's a war criminal, but I have to show these videos. It's required by the state." He blew his whistle. "Let's do it."

Peter, Y/N, and Ned were grouped to do their exercises. Peter tried to do sit-ups while Ned held his feet down. Y/N was to the side of them doing push-ups. After a rep or when Coach would tell them to, they'd rotate.

"So they were wearing masks?" Ned asked.

"Yeah." Y/N replied.

"But not ski-masks?"

"No. I told you already. They were cheap Avengers ones."

"So when you punched them...were you imagining it as really them?"

"Ned, please be quiet."

"I think this is the best time to officially become your guy in the chair. Like Otacon in Metal Gear Solid."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Imagine if you're in a burning building, I could tell you where to go. I'd have screens around me and I could swivel around."

"I don't think I need that right now."

Coach Wilson walked by and watched the boys do their reps. He noticed Y/N doing his push-ups really well and complimented him.

"Looking good, L/N."

Coach walked away and Y/N decided to slow down a bit. He needed to keep his enhanced athleticism and stamina low-key since he could barely do P.E before he was bit by the spider.

"All right, time to switch." Coach Wilson called out.

This time Y/N was the one holding Ned's feet as he did his sit-ups. Peter was on the side doing push-ups.

Nearby, a group of students that included Liz and Betty were taking a break and talking to each other on the bleachers.

"Now, see, for me, it would be F Thor, marry Iron Man, and kill Hulk." Betty said.

"Well, what about the Spider-Man?" A boy asked her.

"It's just Spider-Man." Liz corrected. "See the bank security cam on YouTube? He fought off four guys!"

Betty chuckled. "Oh, my God, she's crushing on Spider-Man."

The boy smirked. "No way."

"Kind of." Liz admitted.

Betty scoffed. "Oh, so gross. He's probably like...thirty."

"You don't know how he looks like. What if he's seriously burned?"

"I wouldn't care. I'd love him for the person he is inside." Liz replied.

As Y/N was helping Ned with his reps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the group.

"Y/N knows Spider-Man!"

Everybody stopped what they were doing. Y/N looked down at Ned and gave a scolding look at his sudden exclamation.

"No, I don't. No. I...I mean–" Y/N started to get up.

"They're...friends." Peter tried to save the situation. Tried.

Flash came down from the rope he was climbing and started walking toward them.

"Yeah. Like how Captain America and Coach Wilson are friends."

Some of the students laughed. Y/N couldn't do much now so he tried to come up with a lie.

"I've met him, yeah. A couple of times. But it's through the...uh...Stark internship." He looked back at Ned. "It's something I'm not really supposed to talk about."

Ned scratched his neck and looked down. Flash went up to them.

"Well, that's awesome. Hey, you know what? Maybe you should invite him to Liz's party. Right?"

Liz nodded. "Yeah, um, I'm having people over tonight. You're more than welcome to come."

"You're having a party?"

"Yeah, going to be dope." Flash chose to answer. "You should totally invite your personal friend Spider-Man."

"It's okay." Liz said. "I know Y/N is way too busy for parties anyway."

"Come on. He'll be there. Right, bro?" Flash looked at Y/N. "Maybe this time I can talk to a real white knight."

Flash walked away and pat his shoulder as he did so. Y/N knew his remark was about the time he stepped up to him on MJ's behalf several months ago. Y/N brushed it off and let him go, and then the bell rang, ending class.

The students started to leave the gym. Y/N shook his head and looked back at Ned.

"What the heck was that about?" He exclaimed.

"I'm sorry! It came out." He apologized. "Besides, it sorta helped."

"What do you mean?"

"Did you not hear her? Liz has a crush on you. She invited you to a party. And if she invited you that means she basically invited us."

"He has a point." Peter agreed.

"She has a crush on Spider-Man." Y/N said as he crossed his arms.

"And...that's you." Ned butted.

"You know what I mean."

Ned shook his head. "Dude, you're basically an Avenger. If anyone has a chance with a senior girl, it's you."

The teenager walked away. Peter simply shrugged and followed him, leaving Y/N standing by himself.

"Who says I want the senior girl?" Y/N muttered to himself, then walked out of the gym too.

• • •

THE BOYS WERE driven to Liz's house by May Parker. Y/N's father was surprised that his son was willing to go to a party since he wasn't much of a party goer. He let him go and was appreciative that Peter's aunt offered to take them.

They stopped in front of the house, seeing groups of kids outside in the yard along with many inside in the contemporary home.

"House party in the suburbs." May said. "Oh, I remember these. Kind of jealous."

"It'll be a night to remember." Ned replied.

She laughed and looked back at the teenager who was sporting some headwear.

"Ned, some hats wear men. You wear that hat."

"Yeah, it gives me confidence." He also held up another hat that he had. "I have an extra one in case someone wants it."

The offer was for Peter or Y/N, but the two shook their heads and declined. Ned shrugged and put it back down.

"Some men just don't wanna rock hats."

"I'm not so sure about this..." Y/N ignored his remarked and looked out the window.

"Yeah...this is a mistake." Peter added, also kind of nervous. He had never gone to a party. "Can we just go home?"

"Oh, Peter. I know. I know it's really hard." She also glanced at Y/N. "For the both of you. Trying to fit in with all the changes your bodies are going through..."

Peter arched a brow and shot a look at Y/N, who simply shrugged at the woman's statement. The older lady continued.

"It's flowering now."

Peter chuckled sarcastically and nodded. May looked back at Ned.

"These two have been so stressed lately. The internship and all."

Ned agreed. "What helps with stress is a party. We should go to the party."

Y/N finally caved in. "All right. All right. Let's go. Peter?"

"Yeah. Let's do it." He said with a sigh.

The three left the car. May called out to Peter who turned back around before closing the door.

"Have fun, okay?" She said.

"I will."

Ned stood by with Y/N as they waved goodbye. "Bye, May."

She smiled and drove off, leaving the trio on the sidewalk. They started making their way to the house.

"Dude, you have the suit, right?" Ned asked Y/N.

They've been discussing the whole day before the party about how Y/N would make an appearance as Spider-Man. All he had to do was show up, mention how he knew Y/N, Ned, and Peter, then leave. It seemed like a simple task that'd surely get Flash and other teasing classmates off his back.

He pulled up his sleeve and showed the red fabric of his suit. Ned beamed and let out a chuckle.

"This is gonna change our lives."

Techno music blared as they entered the house. Flash was at the turntables deejaying as party guests talked, ate, and drank. Y/N was never one to be drawn to alcohol, and he assumed that his superhuman metabolism wouldn't allow him to get drunk anyway.

"So what's the plan again?" Peter asked, which Ned chose to answer.

"Okay. We're gonna have Spider-Man swing in, say he's tight with you and Y/N. I get a fist bump or one of those half bro-hugs..."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the snacks table a few feet away from them. It was MJ, who was spreading peanut butter on a piece of toast.

"Can't believe you guys are at this lame party."

Ned looked at her. "But you're here too."

She squinted her eyes. "Am I?"

The tan-skinned girl took a bite of her toast and left the trio. Y/N let out a chuckle. He wondered why she was there, but assumed her close "acquaintance" Liz ended up inviting her too.

"If she's here, I wonder if Gwen's around." Ned remarked.

"Oh, no. She had to stay home today and help her little brothers with a project. Her dad's working late." Peter told him.

"Here you go again..." Y/N began. "Being a living FindMyGwen."

Ned and Y/N laughed but Peter shook his head and scoffed.

"That wasn't funny."

Liz Toomes came up to the three boys and greeted them. "Oh, my gosh. Hey, guys. Cool hat, Ned."

"Hi, Liz."

"Hey."

"Uh...hi, Liz."

"I'm so happy you guys came." She said. "There's pizza and drinks. Help yourself."

"What a great party." Peter replied.

"Thanks."

There was a sudden sound of crashing glass in one of the rooms. The crowd groaned and Liz took notice.

"My parents will kill me if anything's broken. I gotta—"

"Yeah." Peter quickly said.

"Bye." Liz bid the three farewell and walked away.

Ned turned to Y/N. "That was your chance to talk to her."

"I'm...not interested, Ned. You should try."

"I have my sights reserved a specific type of gal. And I haven't spotted her yet." He looked at Peter. "If anyone should try it should be Pete."

"What?" He asked. "I don't know...I'm not that good at talking to girls."

"Come on, man." Y/N put an arm around his friend. "The ladies love your charm. Whether that be Gwen or Liz...is up to you."

Peter chuckled and moved out from under his arm. "Yeah, yeah."

Suddenly, Flash started to speak to them from his spot at the turntables. He talked into the mic and everybody in the house heard what he had to say.

"Penis Parker and his posse! So where's your pal Spider-Man? Let me guess...in Canada with your imaginary girlfriends?"

He played an air horn sound effect and the crowd laughed. Flash kept prying on.

"Is that Spider-Man? Oh, that's not him. It's just Ned in a red shirt."

Y/N could take the bullying and teases from Flash, but he didn't like how he was bullying his friends too. He glanced at the two.

"I guess it's time."

Y/N was on the rooftop of the neighboring house. He started to take off the clothes he had over his spider-suit, throwing the articles aside and stepping toward the edge.

The teenager whispered to himself, rehearsing what he was going to say in his appearance at the party.

"What's up? I'm Spider-Man. Just thought I'd swing by and say hello to my buddies Peter and Y/N. Oh, what's up, guys? Hey, where's Y/N, anyways? He must be around. Oh, aren't you Michelle? Y/N's told me a lot about you. My suits better than the last time you saw me, huh?"

Y/N sighed as he looked down at the house, seeing the partygoers through the window. He could see Ned and Peter simply standing around. He shook his head and rubbed his temples.

"Christ, this is stupid. What am I doing?"

Suddenly, he saw a mushroom cloud of blue light in the skyline. Electrical humming and faint zapping were heard and it caught the web-slinger's attention.

"What the hell?" He muttered as he stood up.

He needed to investigate the commotion. He quickly put on his mask and leaped off of the roof, using the streetlights to web-swing through the suburbs.

Y/N slid off another rooftop and landed in a backyard. He shot a web and expected to attach to another building, but was disappointed upon seeing that he was now in an open golf course. The teenager groaned and started traveling on foot.

"This sucks." He panted as he ran.

• • •

BENEATH A BRIDGE, Jackson Brice was testing out one of their Chitauri weapons. He shot at a junked car and blew it to pieces, laughing in the process. A potential buyer, Aaron Davis, was in awe and pretty frightened at the sheer power.

"Now, this is crafted from a reclaimed sub-Ultron arm straight from Sokovia." Jackson stated before handing it to Aaron. "Here. You try."

"Man, I just wanted something low-key. Why are you trying to upsell me, man?" He asked.

"Okay, okay. I got what you need, all right? I got tons of great stuff here. One sec." Jackson went over to the back of his van and looked over the rest of his supply. "Okay, I got black hole grenades, Chitauri railguns..."

His colleague, Herman Schultz, walked up to the Jackson.

"You letting off shots in public now? Hurry up." He turned to Aaron next. "Look, times are changing. We're the only ones selling these high-tech weapons."

Unbeknownst to them, Y/N had arrived and was eavesdropping on their conversation. He stuck to a pillar beneath the bridge and watched from the shadows.

"Oh, this must be where the ATM robbers got their stuff." He spoke to himself.

Aaron kept speaking to Herman. "I need something to stick up somebody. I'm not trying to shoot them back in time."

Jackson found something else in his van. "I got antigravity climbers."

Aaron looked at Brice. That was something that piqued his interest and was possibly willing to purchase to better himself in his line of work.

"Yo, climbers?"

As Spider-Man was surveying the scene, his phone began to ring. It was a call from Ned. The teenager's ringtone, which was Timbaland's The Way I Are, blared throughout the quiet area as Y/N tried to silence it.

A/N: I've been vibing to 2000s pop music recently lol

"What the hell is that?" Jackson snapped back and looked around.

Herman panicked, taking out his pistol and aiming it at Aaron.

"Did you set us up?"

Aaron raised his hands. "Hey, hey, man!"

Y/N's eyes widened once he saw the goon threaten the man. He dropped down from where he was hiding and landed behind them.

"Hey! Come on. If you're gonna shoot at somebody, shoot at me." Y/N exclaimed and got their attention.

Herman looked back at Spider-Man. There was a beat before the man shrugged.

"All right."

He aimed at the web-slinger, but Y/N quickly webbed the gun out of his hands. Aaron immediately fled the scene. Y/N charged at the two goons, but Jackson put on a shock gauntlet and spun around to hit Spider-Man. The powerful hit sent him flying back where he crashed into the side of a pillar.

"Argh!"

Jackson laughed incredulously and was in awe at the weapon he had. He got into the back of the van and Herman began to drive off.

Y/N groaned as he got up from the floor. "Ugh...what the hell was that?"

Before they can flee, Spider-Man shot a web-line at the back of the van and allowed himself to be dragged by it. Herman kept driving through the streets and Y/N was still with them...despite hitting several garbage cans that were by the sidewalk.

"We got to call him." Herman spoke to Jackson.

"No, no, no." He started to charge up one of the Chitauri guns. "I got this."

Y/N shot another web-line and now balanced out his glide as he held two of them. He kept being dragged by the van, and Jackson tried shooting at him with the gun. He fortunately missed and shot off one of the doors instead.

"What then hell are you doing?" Herman exclaimed.

"Shut up!"

"Screw this. I'm calling him."

Y/N buttocks were being dragged across the street as the goons kept maneuvering the van.

"Ow! Road rash!" The teenager exclaimed.

Jackson kept shooting at Spider-Man, but a sudden turn caused him to lose his grip on the weapon and it fell out of the van. The hero's pursuit was less dangerous now, but he was still being purposely flung into mailboxes and trash cans...and those weren't pleasant.

Y/N came out from the rubble and shot a web at the back of the van again, but upon sticking to the open door it got ripped off its hinges.

"Great! I guess I have to take a shortcut."

Spider-Man ran toward a house and leaped over the gate. He sprinted by a couple of guys playing table tennis.

"Hey, guys. Good game. Have fun." Suddenly, their dog starts to bark and went up to him. Y/N quickly picked up a ball from the floor. "Sorry, no time to play. Here, buddy, go fetch."

He shot a web at the tree above and swung upward. Y/N started making his way down the street through the neighborhood as he traversed the trees. It wasn't smooth though, having accidentally taken down a treehouse and crashing through fences, even startling guests at a pool party.

Y/N ran across rooftops and spotted the van driving down the street. He chuckled under his mask.

"Almost got ya."

He kept leaping across the buildings and was prepared to land on top of the van.

"Thought you can get away from me? I got you right where I want ya." He jumped at the van. "Surprise–"

The web-slinger was suddenly grabbed by the legs and pulled upwards. Y/N was shocked at the sudden change of trajectory and yelled.

"What the hell?" He exclaimed and looked at who had grabbed him. The winged figure stared back down at him with glowing green eyes.

"Holy shit, that's terrifying!"

He was being pulled far up on the sky, and it wouldn't be long until the threat decided to drop the hero from that great height. Suddenly, Y/N's suit started beeping and the spider symbol on his back activated a parachute. It pulled Y/N back down and he escaped the winged man's grasp.

Unfortunately, Spider-Man was caught in the parachute and was free-falling. He struggled for about five seconds before he ultimately hit the water below.

Y/N tried getting out of the bundle so he can freely swim up to the surface. Every movement he made tired him out and he thought he was going to end up drowning. But he felt a pair of arms grab him and pull him out of the water.

Y/N panted and opened his eyes. He was being flown across the river, and he looked up to see who his savior was.

Iron Man.

"Oh...hi." Y/N said.

The Avenger didn't answer. They made it to land and Y/N sat on top of some sort of playground equipment. He took off his mask, wringing it out as he explained what happened.

"And then he just, like, swooped down like a monster and picked me up. I was damn near in space before he dropped me." Y/N shook his head and looked up at Tony. "How'd you even find me? Did you put a tracker in my suit?"

"I put everything in your suit. Including this heater."

The heating feature of his spider-suit activated, which warmed up the teenager after his involuntary swim in the river.

"Whoa. That's better. Thanks."

"What were you thinking?"

"The dude with wings is obviously the source of the weapons I've come across this past month. I gotta take him down."

"Take him down now, huh? Steady, Crockett, there are people who handle this sort of thing."

"You don't think I can? Have you seen what I've done?"

"Uh...if I can recall, you fought a guy on a hoverboard."

"You make it sound lame." Y/N scoffed. "Anyways, you didn't have to come out here. I was doing fine."

"Oh, I'm not...here." The faceplate of the armor opened up and revealed itself to be a sentry. Tony was actually overseas and communicating from an earpiece.

"Thank God this place has Wi-Fi or you would be toast right now." He added. "Rhodey would've been there but I didn't want him to deal with your mess."

Y/N sighed and looked down. Tony continued.

"Look, forget the flying vulture guy, please. He's a little above your pay grade. Didn't you tell me you wanted to be a...well...friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?"

"And this guy's in my neighborhood." He snapped back. "Besides, I'm ready to take on these bigger threats."

"No, you're not."

"Come on, you saw what I did back in Germany."

"Oh, right. When you backstabbed me."

"Uh, aside from that." Y/N replied. "You saw how I took on Black Widow. How I took on Black Panther."

"Please. If Romanoff wanted you down, she would've. And be grateful the cat's murderous intent was directed at Barnes and not you." Tony said. "Listen. If you come across these weapons again, call Happy. Peter has his number."

Y/N heard the sound of an engine revving through the comms coming from the sentry.

"Are you driving?" He asked.

On the other end, Tony had entered his sports car and was about to drive off.

"You know, it's never too early to start thinking about college. I got some pull at MIT. You and Parker can be roommates like Rhodes and I were." He said. "End call."

The call ended but Y/N still tried to plead his case, unaware that it was now just him and the automated sentry.

"No, I don't need to go to–"

"Mr. Stark is no longer connected." The female AI spoke.

The sentry activated its thrusts and flew off, leaving Y/N alone at the playground.

After taking some time to dry off, the now masked Y/N walked through the neighborhood where he chased the van. He passed by the overturned trash cans and broken mailboxes, even taking time to pick up the cans.

"Above my pay grade? Just because I never fought an Asgardian or a homicidal robot doesn't mean I'm not ready for some winged asshole."

As he walked, a glowing purple light on one of the lawns caught his eye. He went up to it and saw that it was part of one of the weapons Jackson Bruce was using.

"Woah."

The teenager's phone rang. He took it out and answered it upon seeing it was from Ned again.

"Hey, man, what's up? I'm on my way back."

"Actually, I'm here to tell you that maybe you shouldn't come. Listen to this."

Ned stayed quiet and allowed him to hear a chant Flash started that made fun of the flaking Y/N. Guests at the party were following along.

"Sorry, man. I guess we're still losers. Pete and I'll see you tomorrow."

Y/N sighed. "Yeah, I'll see guys tomorrow at school."

He ended the call and put his cell phone away. He looked back down at the piece of technology and picked it up, eyeing the glowing core in it.

"Maybe Pete and I can look into this."