Kim Possible and Spider-Man: The Spectacular Sitch

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PARKER HOUSEHOLD, FOREST HILLS

The late afternoon sun was starting to descend to the horizon and Peter was caught up in his room. He laid motionless on his bed either with his eyes closed or staring straight up at the ceiling restlessly. His thoughts were wrapped around the events that had occurred early in the day when he allowed an innocent woman to be shot by someone he was trying to apprehend. And if that wasn't bad enough, there were pedestrians there to witness and record the aftermath of what happened, angrily heckling the teenage boy about how he was done for and going to be locked up for what he did. The sound of the weapon firing, the woman's blood staining her clothes, and the devastated expression on her son's face was scarred into Peter's memory, fueling his worries and his inner thoughts.

I really need to find something to take my mind off this. But then, how would that help in any way? It doesn't excuse what happened. It doesn't excuse that I have made an orphan out of that poor kid. That I recklessly allowed an innocent stranger to die.

He lifted himself off the bed and started pacing his bedroom floor, shaking his head to rid these cursed thoughts from his psyche. His heart felt heavier when he stood, making him more anxious to distract himself. He looks out to his backyard to find his Aunt May tending to her flowers and plants. He remembers from an hour ago when he came back home.

May was preparing dinner for both of them when he burst in, not giving her a full greeting. He just stormed past her and marched straight to his room, not allowing May a chance to cut him off. Naturally, May followed after him in a state of worry. She had never seen her nephew in such a state and wondered if anything was wrong.

"Peter? Are you alright?" she called as she climbed the stairs, Peter already closing the door to his bedroom. "You barely said hello?"

Peter didn't say anything for a second, as he tried to find the right tone to speak to her. "I'm fine, Aunt May. I'm just... really tired."

"Would you like me to bring up some potato salad?" she asked, stepping up to his door. "It's nearly ready..."

"No. I think I'm gonna turn in early tonight."

"Are you sure?"

Peter slammed a fist down on the mattress in agitation, wishing that he'd be left alone. "Yes, Aunt May! I'm sure!"

May felt startled by the hinted ferocity in his voice and stepped away from the door. She felt sadness deep in her chest for her nephew that he had been made to feel this way. She wanted to help, but after a moment of thought, knew it would be best for him to have time to cool down.

"Alright" she cautiously said. "Sleep well, sweetheart." She turned back toward the stairs, saying a quick but necessary "I love you" as she left. Sadly, there was no response. She frowns and wonders what is troubling him before returning to the kitchen to finish the meal that she would now have to eat alone.

The leftovers from the meal have likely been saved in containers at this point, leaving May to distract her thoughts about Peter with her routine evening gardening. To Peter, she seemed so peaceful and unphased by the problems life has dealt her and Peter, but he also knows that he spoke to her in a way that he never had before. She wouldn't let something like that be forgotten so easily, and he knew he would have to apologize and explain himself at some point.

I wish I could tell her what I'm going through. But if I did, I will have let her down. Seems like I'm always letting people down. May, Ben, Liz, Gwen... Harry. Ugh, Har will probably hate Spider-Man more when he gets wind of this. If only I could find a way to help him. But, to an extent, maybe I am; by sacrificing my chances with Gwen, he gets his happiness, and things can remain normal for him.