THE LATE FALL weather consisted of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit weather and a light breezes. A coat and some sort of warm headwear were a combo worn by most of the people traversing the outside, and that's what Y/N had on.

He walked through the cemetery, holding a small bundle of bright purple Anemones. They were flowers that were grown and tended to during the current season. He didn't buy them from a shop...but had grown them himself.

Y/N eyed the gravestone ahead as he walked, then upon nearing it, he got on a knee and continued staring at it. The wetness from the grass, caused by the morning showers earlier, started to seep through his pant leg but he didn't mind.

The young man swallowed and let out a exhale through his nose. He held the flowers in his hands as he looked at them, brushing his thumb through a few of the petals. He inhaled, trying to keep his composure.

Y/N had frequently come to the cemetery and visited them...but always found himself as emotional as the first time. Some things just never changed, especially when visiting a deceased person who was very important to him.

He finally took a breath, still looking at the bundle of flowers in his hands. He tried his best to keep in the tears.

"It's me again." He began with a sniffle, then let out a chuckle. "I know you're probably tired of seeing me all emotional."

This was how it always went, with Y/N speaking to the gravestone. Nothing else mattered during those times. It could've been with the summer sun shining down on him...the fall leaves surrounding him...or the specks snow falling in the winter. It didn't matter. In those moments...it was just them.

"I miss you. Lots of people still do. That mark you left on all of us...it's still there. I hope you know that. Yeah, I've probably told you that already. I'm sounding like a broken record...but it's true."

He weakly smiled and looked up from the flowers, finally eyeing the gravestone. He read the name etched on the marble, and an ache was felt in his heart. Reading it again felt just like the first time.

A single tear dropped from his eye and he could feel its icy wetness after a cold breeze passed by and hit his face.

"It's hard...doing what I do...knowing what happened to you was because of me. I doubt myself sometimes. Great responsibility, right? "That's what—" He paused for a moment and took a breath before continuing. "But...but what if I'm not? Not responsible? All this power...and for what?"

Y/N rubbed his nose and sniffled once more. He lowered his head for a moment before looking up at the gravestone of his late loved one.

Finally...he broke down.

"I—I don't know anymore." He sobbed. "Can I keep this going? Should I? I was so sure back then of my mission, but now...I'm not."

The young man closed his eyes and lowered his head again, crying. Tears streamed down his face and fell onto the dirt near his knee.

"I could still hear him in my head. What he said before he..."

Y/N stopped, trying not to think back to that night. Still, flashes of the recollection filled his head and got him more upset. His eyes were still closed and he clenched his fist.

But upon doing so...he realized he was still holding the flowers. He loosened his grip, not wanting to damage the Anemones. Finally, he calmed down upon looking at the plants.

Y/N still had yet to place them down...but continued staring at them. For a moment, the ache in his chest eased as he eyed them...and kept doing so as he went into deep thought...

• • TWELVE MONTHS EARLIER • •

THE BALACLAVA-WEARING goon ran through the sidewalk with his satchel. Having just robbed a shop and assaulted one of the owners, he made his escape. The man shoved passerbys and continued down the street.

Suddenly, a web stuck to his back. He didn't have time to react as he was pulled up to the underside of the train tracks above him. He frantically looked around and ultimately saw Spider-Man crawling near him.

"Welcome to Spidey's cardio workout." The vigilante gleefully said.

The goon immediately took out his pistol from his waistband and shot at Y/N. The web-slinger quickly dodged the bullet and it hit the beam behind him. The burglar didn't expect such reflexes.

"What the—?"

Spider-Man pulled him up by the web and took away his gun. He stuck it to the beam behind him and started to spin a web around the criminal. As he was doing so, his cell phone chimed.

"Excuse me." Y/N said and let him go so he could check his phone.

The criminal fell toward the street but was suspended by the webbing. It worked like a bungee cord and he went back up before a car could hit him.

Y/N looked at the screen and saw that it was his 9 AM alarm, letting him know that his morning physics class had started.

"Already?" He asked himself with a groan.

He put away his phone and lifted the burglar back up, sticking the line he was suspended by further up against the track.

"Guess we'll have to finish our workout some other time." Y/N told him as he pat the top of his head.

Spider-Man swung away. Moments later, police cruisers arrived at the scene to apprehend the suspect. Officer Jefferson Davis got out of his cruiser and looked up at the burglar.

His partner, Stanley Carter, exited the car as well and eyed the criminal. He let out an exhale and rested his hands at his waist.

Portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan

"Thanks a lot, web-head." He muttered then looked at Jefferson. "How the hell are we gonna get him down?"

"Well...either we wait two hours for it to dissolve...or we call the fire department for a ladder." He replied.

"I got places to be, so NYFD it is." Stanley walked away and was about to call it in, but turned around to speak to his partner again.

"How'd you know it'd take two hours?"

"Found out the other day." Officer Davis said with a shrug. "My son knows things."

• • •

Y/N LANDED ON the rooftop of the ESU science building and immediately began to remove his suit. He took off his boots and he could feel the heat beneath his soles.

"Hot roof! Hot roof!" He grimaced and hopped around as he took off the rest of his suit.

His backpack was nearby and he acquired his civilian clothing from there. He put his spider-suit in the bag and slung it over his shoulder, finally leaving the rooftop via the fire escape.

Y/N already knew he was way late. After apprehending the burglar, he dealt with two more incidents on the way to campus. So by the time he made it to the classroom, students were already leaving.

He entered the room and saw one of his classmates still inside at his desk. Y/N had seen him around school the last couple of months but had never fully acquainted with him.

The young man was gathering his things and noticed Y/N walk in.

"Uh...what'd I miss?" Y/N asked.

"Basically the whole class." He replied with a chuckle.

Y/N shook his head and let out a huff. He looked to the front of the class and saw that the professor wasn't there. They must have left already.

"But I luckily decided to pay attention today." The young man spoke again and took out his notebook. "I usually don't but I didn't want to zone out for three straight physics classes."

He handed the notebook to Y/N and continued. "Here, take a few photos."

"Wow. Thanks." Y/N replied and did so. He gave the book back to his classmate.

"This really means a lot. Maybe I can repay with my notes for the last two classes you said you zoned out on." He added.

The classmate laughed. "Might just take you up on that. I'm Harry."

Y/N nodded. "I'm Y/N. Bioengineering major."

"Oh, we're saying our majors now? Then again, I'm Harry. Business major."

The two boys left the classroom and walked down the hallways as they conversed.

"What made you miss class today? Slept in?" Harry asked.

"Yeah." Y/N lied. "It's...been a problem."

"Tell me about it." Harry said. "You got another class today?"

"Chem lab's in a few hours. You?"

"Nah, I'm all set for today." He looked at his watch. "Right now is usually the time I go see a couple of my friends."

Y/N nodded. Through his time at ESU, he's rarely interacted with his peers and classmates.

"You got a few hours to spare, how about you come with me?" Harry asked.

Y/N wasn't sure how to respond but ultimately agreed.

"Uh...all right."

Harry nodded. "Besides, one of my buddies missed physics class last time. He could use some of your notes too."

They left the science building and walked through the courtyard of Empire State University. Harry still conversed with his classmate.

"Any friends of yours around?"

Y/N shook his head. "Nah."

"No girlfriend?"

He immediately thought of Kate, who he had been with since last Christmas and the two were going strong. Currently, the girl was away doing her duties as Hawkeye.

Although it sucked for Y/N to be away from her that last month, he understood the importance of her mission...her responsibility. For the last year, she was in the process of rounding up other young heroes...and right now, she was in Baltimore trying to recruit a young man who went by Patriot.

"So...no girlfriend?" Harry asked again after he didn't get a response.

Y/N snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh...yeah. Yeah I do. But she's out of town at the moment."

Harry arched a brow. "Are you sure? Or are you just making that up cause you don't have one?"

"I'm not lying, man." Y/N replied with a chuckle. "Do I look that much like a loner?"

"You said it, not me."

The two laughed and Y/N spoke again.

"And you?"

Harry nodded. "Been with her for the last couple of months. She doesn't go here but is going to transfer in January."

"Okay." Y/N shrugged, then glanced at him. "Unless you're the one who's lying."

"Haha."

They made it to a sitting area across the courtyard where two people were at. One was a petite Latina, a little over five feet, who was talking while skimming over her book. The other was a tanned-skinned guy with long hair and a goatee, and as Y/N got closer...he realized who it was.

"My boy, Eugene." Harry opened his arms up and smiled, greeting the friend.

"What'd I say about calling me that, man." He groaned with a chuckle.

"Right...forgot you were the fastest in high school. Flash."

Flash Thompson dapped him up. Harry then greeted the girl who was sitting down.

"Indy. How's it—?"

"You still owe me that coffee." Indira blurted out.

"Coffee?" He asked but quickly realized. "Right...for recording that lecture for me yesterday."

"And the day before." She added.

"Yup...so two coffees?" He asked, which garnered an eye roll from her.

Y/N had been simply standing around. Flash noticed the young man and asked Harry about him.

"So...who's your friend?"

"Right! Uh, this is Y/N." He went up and introduced him. "I gave him today's notes for physics and he's giving us the last two days." He looked at Flash. "So say thank you."

Flash eyed Y/N for a moment. He expected his former bully to talk down on him or say something to bash him...but he didn't. His stare and stoic demeanor immediately turned into a smile.

"Thank God, I really needed those notes. You cool with letting us have 'em?" Flash asked Y/N.

He was taken aback by his statement. Y/N nodded more than he should've.

"Yeah, for sure. Sure."

"Awesome."

Harry smiled. "See? Friends already. All this bonding makes me hungry. Let's stop by the cafe."

Indira was going to say something, but Harry spoke before she could.

"I know, I'm getting you that coffee." He said.

"Two." She replied holding up her fingers. "But I'll take one and a sandwich."

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Vamanos."

He started walking with Flash. Indira gathered her things but before she could get up, her bag on the table opened and the contents fell on the floor.

"Shit!" She cursed.

Y/N had been standing there and the gentleman that he was, decided to help her. He bent down and picked up some of the things.

"Sorry..." She apologized.

"Don't be." He replied with a chuckle. "You should see how clumsy I am."

"I'm not clumsy."

"Didn't say you were."

She snickered and got up holding her bag and most of her things. Y/N stood up as well, carrying a couple of the books. He handed them to her but eyed one in particular.

"El Secreto de Las Flores (The Secret of the Flowers)." Y/N spoke. "That sounds interesting."

She was taken aback by his bilingualism. She arched a brow as she took the books back.

"Hablas Español? (You speak Spanish?)"

"Claro que sí (Of course)." He answered. "My...uh...my mom taught me."

Before she can be able to ask about his parents further, he spoke about the book.

"How long have you been you reading that?" He asked.

"I just started. Along with this, I've been reading this." She replied as she showed the other book, which was about Floriculture.

"I'm getting a sense you're majoring in—"

"Journalism." She replied rather proudly.

"Oh." Y/N reacted. "That's cool."

In all honesty, he was assuming her major dealt with something in the floriculture field.

The girl still held the book. "But I'm also minoring in Botany." She looked down after doing so.

"Weird, I know. It's just...something I'm interested in. Plant life and stuff."

"It's great you're studying something you like. Even if it's only a minor on the side." The boy said.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Bioengineering."

She arched a brow. "And you like that?"

"More or less." He said with a shrug. "But I do also like photography. See? We all have our quirks."

Indira laughed at his remark. "I never got your name?"

"Y/N." He said with a nod and smile.

"Indira." She introduced herself. "You can call me Indy."

The boy nodded again. In the distance, Harry and Flash had been standing and looking at the two young people.

"Hello? I'm literally starving here!" Harry exclaimed. "That coffee and sandwich offer isn't gonna last, Indy."

The girl finished putting her things in her bag and walked with Y/N back to their friends. She called out to Harry.

"Quit with the empty threats, Osborn." She told with a smirk.

Harry laughed at her statement. As Y/N was walking, he stopped upon hearing the surname and his grin disappeared. The name immediately brought back memories of last year.

The laugh.

The pain.

His father...dying.

The chaos caused by the Goblin.

Osborn.

"...you are the one that killed him."

The three were walking but noticed that Y/N had stopped. Harry arched a brow and called out to him.

"Hey...Y/N?"

Y/N blinked a couple of times and finally looked at Harry. He didn't respond and the boy called out again.

"What's up?"

Y/N swallowed. Right then and there, he convinced himself that the name was just a coincidence...and that Harry had no relation to the Norman of this world. He feigned a smile.

"Nothing...sorry."

Y/N kept walking and finally joined them. The rest brushed off the peculiar moment and continued down the courtyard.