Home Is Where The Heart Is (Peter Parker)

[24] Freedom Falling

When we portal to the Statue of Liberty, Peter calls the Daily Bugle to make a statement. 

Jonah's Voice echoes from the other end of the line, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Bugle tip line has just received a call from none other than the fugitive known as Spider-Man! Fresh from his rampage in Queens. So Peter Parker. What pernicious propaganda are you peddling?"

"Just the truth." Peter says. 

"Oh sure..."

"The truth is... that this is all my fault. I accidentally brought those dangerous people here."

"Well, he admits it!"

"And if those people are watching... just know that I really did try to help you. I mean, I could have killed you-" Peter says and holds up the box. "At any given moment. But I didn't. Because my Aunt May taught me that everyone deserves a second chance. And that's why I'm here."

"Where is here, exactly?" Jonah asks. 

"A place that represents second chances."

Peter shifts the camera so that whoever is watching can see the Statue of Liberty in a mid-renovation state. The once green copper has been restored to its golden luster and the iconic torch was now covered by a large Captain America shield. God, Steve would hate it.

"The Statue of Liberty?! Good God, folks, he's about to destroy another national landmark!" Jonah exclaims. 

"But world, if you're watching" Peter begins.

"Believe me, the world is watching!"

"Wish me luck. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man could really use some."

And with that, Peter hangs up. He turns to me, he's beaten and bloodied and looks as if he had nothing left. I hug him tight. He rests his head on my shoulder and he tightens the hug. 

"Good luck Spider-Boy." I say.

"Thanks, Em." He replies. 

I break the hug and look at him. His eyes are bloodshot and puffy and no longer have any hope in them. I kiss him and he kisses back. It's a good kiss, you know, like the ones in movies where the romantic music plays in the background after so much build-up throughout the whole 2 1/2 hour movie that it makes the audience's hearts flutter. It takes a while for me to regain my sense of reality but I break the kiss. 

"Go get 'em Tiger." I say with a faint smile, which he returns, hearts in his eyes. 

He jumps onto the crown of Lady Liberty and scans the horizon. 

"Okay guys, it could be any minute now." He says.

I walk to the edge of the scaffolding and stand as I watch the other two Peters web the cures around the future battleground. 

"Yep, almost done." Other Other Peter says as he webs the final one into place. 

The wind was calm and my hair blew in around. 

"You know Max was, like, the sweetest guy ever... before he fell into a pool of electric eels." Other Peter says. 

"That'll do it." 

I let out a laugh and Other Other Peter stretches. 

"Ah, there it goes." He says.

"You okay?" Other Peter asks. 

"Oh, it's my back. It's kinda stiff from all the swinging I guess."

"Oh yeah, no, I got a middle back thing too."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You want me to crack it?"