Batman and Spider-Man

EPILOGUE

"Now listen here, Peter," the doctor said. "Your aunt, she'll be fine."

"That's good to hear doc, I'll..."

The doctor put up his hand to stop Peter.

Peter nodded. "I understand."

"Good," the doctor said. "You can go see your aunt."

Peter made his way to her room. He opened the door only to see Aunt May doing some stretches in a nightrobe.

"Oh hey, Peter," Aunt May said. "The doctor's said that I'll need to do some exercise after I'm done recovering but seeing that I feel great, I decided to start exercising now."

Peter smiled. "Good on you, Aunt May."

"What's in that bag you're carrying?" Aunt May asked, point at the big duffle bag Peter had in his right hand.

"Oh, it's just something," Peter said. Inside that bag was his costume. After their talk, Peter would finally tell her what he'd been keeping from her this whole time. "I... I'll tell you about it later. I just wanted to talk."

"About?"

"Remember that talk we were supposed to have before..."

"Oh," Aunt May said in realisation. She noticed the serious look on Peter's face and let out a quieter oh. She smiled at Peter. She walked towards the bed and took a seat, beckoning him to sit next to her.

Peter carried his duffle bag behind him. It suddenly felt heavy despite all his Spider strength. He took a seat next to Aunt May.

"May I..." Peter could barely meet her eyes. Could barely meet her smiling face. "I want to talk about Ben."

May put a hand over his. It felt so warm. Peter desperately wanted to pull back his hand because he felt he didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve this warmth.

"I... I don't know where to start," Peter said, letting out a sigh. "Remember those nights when we first moved here? I'd say I was going out to the nearest library to study or read some science book I saw. Well, I... I was lying." Peter could barely meet her eyes but he steeled himself to do so anyway. "I was actually going out to look for a job. A good job so I could earn some quick cash you know? I didn't want to worry you so I... I lied."

"Oh, Peter it's okay." Aunt May was about to embrace Peter but he held out a hand to stop her.

"I..." Peter stammered. "I'm not done. There was this one job. My employer wasn't the greatest guy. He refused to pay me and that put me in a real bad mood. Soon after, the guy he got robbed and I didn't do anything. I let the guy run away and... and..."

Peter buried his face in his hands. Aunt May put an arm around him but Peter didn't want that. He didn't deserve that.

"That guy," Peter said. "The guy I let get away, he was the guy who killed Ben and I... I..."

Tears started falling down his face. Aunt May removed her hand, good Peter thought. Good, I don't deserve that. I don't deserve anything from you.

"Whenever I saw you," Peter said, trying his best to stifle his tears. "I thought about how I let that man get away. How it's my fault that

Ben died. How it's my fault that you're hurting and it was too much for me and I just... I just snapped. I took out my anger on you and I'm sorry May. I'm so sorry. All I've ever brought you is pain and that's all I'm good for."

There was a pause. He wiped his tears, barely able to bring himself to look May in the eyes. All he could imagine was her angry face or the look of disappointment in her eyes. He deserved that. He deserved all the anger May had, all the disappointment. He deserved all of that and more.