Ultra Responsibility (My Hero Academia X Spider-Man Reader)

Issue 12 - The Spider-Vigilante Vs Muscular

I still remember the first time I ever saw Uncle Ben lose.

The memory hit me in jagged flashes. The sound of my sneakers squeaking against the hospital tiles, the way the hall smelled like antiseptic and cold metal, the worried faces of nurses calling after me as I shoved past them.

"Kid, you can't go in there!" one of them shouted, but I didn't hear her. All I heard was the pounding in my ears.

I burst through the door to his room, skidding to a halt at the sight of him.

Uncle Ben, the Marvel. My hero. The guy who always stood tall, who always smiled even with the weight of the world on his shoulders, was lying there in a hospital bed. His left arm was in a sling, his face bruised and pale, his ribs wrapped in bandages. For a second, I couldn't breathe.

"Uncle Ben!"

His eyes opened, bleary but warm, and he turned his head toward me. That same gentle smile was still there, even if it looked tired.

"Hey, sport... You made it."

I didn't wait. I ran straight to him and threw my arms around his chest, clinging so tight it made his breath hitch. I could feel the warmth of his hand as he rested it on my back, slow and comforting despite the pain.

"I thought—" My voice cracked as the tears came all at once. "I saw the news... They said you— I thought—"

"Shh, easy now," he whispered, patting my hair. "I'm right here, kiddo. I'm not going anywhere."

"You... you never lose," I sobbed into his hospital gown. "You always win. You can't lose. Not you."

The door opened again. Aunt May rushed in, looking ready to scold me for running off, but the words died on her lips when she saw me huddled against him. She just let out a long, quiet sigh, the kind you let out when you're too tired to be angry. She moved to his bedside, taking his free hand in both of hers.

"Ben," she said softly. Her voice trembled. "How are you really?"

He brought her hand to his lips, kissed her knuckles with that same unshakable warmth. "I'm okay, May. I got off lighter than I deserved, really."

We all knew that was a lie. His body appeared to have been through a war. But he still tried to play it down, because that's who he was.

I pulled back enough to look at him, my eyes red and raw. I couldn't understand it. My uncle, the man who never seemed to falter, was beaten, in a bed like any other hurt human being. It didn't make sense.

He saw the doubt on my face and gave a weak laugh, ruffling my hair gently.

"Who says I lost?" he asked.

I blinked at him, confused.

"You're lying in a hospital bed," I whispered. "You lost..."

He shook his head, his eyes still bright despite the pain. "No. Losing isn't getting knocked down. Losing is staying down. I'm still here, aren't I? And tomorrow, I'll get up again. That's what a hero does. Doesn't matter how many times you fall, what matters is you get back up."

He tapped a finger lightly against my chest. "Remember that, Y/N. Heroes don't win every battle. But they don't quit, either. You understand?"

***

I understand, Uncle Ben. I really do. Heroes don't win every battle, but they don't quit either.

That mantra echoed in my head like a heartbeat as I stared across the ruined rooftop at Muscular. The memory of that night in the hospital burned at the back of my mind, Uncle Ben bruised, smiling anyway, telling me that heroes don't stay down. I clung to that thought because right now... I was terrified.