Be There For You

The last few days had been hectic for Peter Parker. Dr. Curt Connors blackmailed him into revealing his identity as Spider-Man to the Horizon High school board and had his mentor, Max Modell, fired from his position as headmaster of the school. One day, he asked his friend, Gwen Stacy, to meet with him to discuss something important.

The two teens spent the day wandering about the park.

"So Pete, what did you wanna talk about?" said Gwen.

"Well, now that you know I'm Spider-Man, there's something else you should know."

"What's that?"

"What really happened to me before the Goblin War incident."

Gwen was puzzled. "What do you mean what really happened to you?"

"See, when Ock was alive and still evil, I fought him while his mind was inside the Neuro Cortex. But he trapped me and used the Living Brain to upload his mind into my brain. And in doing so...," Peter paused for a second, "he took over my body."

The words completely shocked Gwen. "What?! Are you serious?!"

"Yeah. He found out I was Spider-Man when he took off my mask. And worse, he made it look like I had disrespected Max, made me the most hated student at Horizon, had me leave Horizon, and tried to take my place as Spider-Man by becoming the Superior Spider-Man."

Gwen couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she tried putting the pieces together in her head. "Jeez! That explains why you were missing before. But if that was Ock the entire time, what happened to the real you?"

"My mind was trapped inside the Neuro Cortex. And through trial and error, I was able to upload myself into Ock's tentacles and get in touch with Miles to tell him what had happened."

"I knew something was wrong with you back then," Gwen contemplated, "but I never considered that to be a possibility. Does Max know?"

"Yeah. He figured out I was Spider-Man during the Goblin War and put two and two together."

"I'm really sorry you went through that, Pete. If me and Anya had known you were Spider-Man back then, we could've helped you find a way back."

"I know. But who knows what Ock would've done if anyone had found out what he did. Fortunately, through an unforeseen miracle, he changed."

"How so?"

"The longer he stayed inside my body, he became deeply influenced by my good nature and the teachings of my Uncle Ben. When I tried to find a way back, I discovered his memories. In a way, we had some similarities. If he hadn't decided to give me my body back, my mind would've eventually faded." Peter paused. "And I would've been gone for good."

Hearing that deeply concerned Gwen. Back then, she and Anya Corazon were mad at Peter for things he didn't do of his own free will. And the probability that he wouldn't have been the same Peter Parker she knew and cared for filled her heart with worry.

"Now I'm in a predicament that could lead to who knows what. The school board knows I'm Spider-Man. I don't know how Connors found out, but too many people already know who I am. You, Miles, Anya, Max, Anna Maria, Harry..."

"Wait. When did Harry find out?"

"I told him during the Spider Island incident. And yes, he was mad at me just like how you and Anya were mad at me. And because of Connors' stunt, Max ended up getting fired anyway, and I can't appear on campus as Spider-Man ever again. And to add to that, you guys will be heading off to college, and I don't know what I wanna do. I wanna have a better future, but I can't just leave everything behind. The city needs Spider-Man; and being Spider-Man is what I'm good at. It means everything to me." Peter paused. "And I don't wanna lose that."

Gwen could tell where Peter was coming from. "I understand how you feel. When I no longer had my spider powers, I felt a bit helpless. Even though I still have my smarts, deep down I wanted to be more than smart. I wanted to help people who couldn't help themselves. When Anya told me she still had her powers, I was a bit jealous."

"Speaking of which, how did you get your powers back?"

"I got struck by a blast from a weapon Tinkerer had made that was powered by the Blood Gem."

Peter was surprised. "Wow."

"Yeah. Pete, I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but I want you to know you don't have to bear this on your own. Even if we're apart, we'll still be a team no matter what. You've always been there for me, as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man." Gwen grabbed Peter's hand and held it in her own. "And I wanna be there for you too."

Gwen's words cheered Peter up. "Thanks, Gwen. That really means a lot."

"No problem." Gwen then kissed Peter on the cheek.

"Whoa. What was that for?"

"That's my thank you for confiding in me with your troubles."

"Oh. Do you think I can get another?"

Gwen giggled. "Sure."

Peter and Gwen stopped walking and started kissing each other. He held her by her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They stood still kissing for a few minutes and then stopped.

"That actually felt nice," said Peter.

"Yeah, it did," said Gwen.