Lost Stars - A Post No Way Home Story

The King's Speech

He had the certificate in his hands. He knew that he would get his GED in a landslide. There was a reason why he ended up going to a Science school. Normal school just wasn't going to cut it out for him with his photographic memory. He didn't have a hard time studying, a lot of people knew that, so when he started to slack it meant something was up.

The holidays went by. He still showed up to Ned's place and the revelation was an unspoken truce between the two, but Peter knew that Ned was hurt. Who wouldn't be? Peter was not mad about it. Maybe he would have been in the past because it was unfair, but he understood the gravity of his actions. He felt it every day.

"I wish your aunt was here to see this," Gloria said smiley as she ruffled his hair. "I never doubted you."

"Thanks."

"But why ever drop out of school in the first place, hm?" she scratched her chin. "Isn't it a public school?"

Peter had thought time and time again how to answer that. His answer was simple.

"I just didn't feel at home there anymore."
He stayed there, watching the people. Then, he waved goodbye and started to slowly make his way home.

On his walk home, he took a few detours. He wanted to enjoy the city as it was, remembering the people that lived there. They were the people he was protecting. If he only saw the nit and grit each night, he would forget why humanity was worth fighting for. The world was already so bleak. He liked hearing the sounds of laughter, of fighting – often it would be a couple in the midst of a break-up, but sometimes it was actually people fighting –, songs that were being played in the park by those kids who loved to dance in public. His hearing was great, but he was glad that he couldn't smell the air the way Daredevil did. Not feel the taste of heavy metal in the air from the factories nearby.

He took a bite from the hotdog he bought. New York. He wouldn't dare leave it now. It was the place where his family was, even if they were all six feet under the ground.

Click. Click. Click. Flash.

Peter frowned. Paparazzi? Where were they? He kept walking, trying his best to tune out the other sounds. Taxis, screaming, the window cleaner on Ecke Park Row street, focus, focus –

There was a crowd. Media people, from what Peter could tell. They were gathered in front of city hall. He couldn't see who they were looking at from where he stood. He snuck up closer. The man started to speak. He was big in stature and towered over anyone that stood near him. His neatly shaven head and stare, neatly crisp clothing and collected demeanor told him what he needed to know. A

"Yes, I am freshly out of the hospital and this city knows me, but I am also the man that is needed to keep this city safe. I call upon the City Council to take on the issue of these arrogant lawless thugs who have decided that think that they know better than our heroes, our best-trained police force in the world. They see themselves above the law and corrupt the ranks. You saw what happened during Christmas, what Hawkeye did. I appreciate his contribution to saving our Earth, but the problems The time is now to say vigilantism must be driven from this city so that we all may truly be safe once more. So, with this, I announce my campaign to become mayor of New York."

The lights began flashing once more.

No.

No. No. No –

Peter trusted that Wilson Fisk would not become mayor, but he knew that whoever gave the people protection would be the one to win. Fisk's world was one of money laundering, and drug trafficking, in a way that was so lowkey and unnoticeable that the people of New York would not notice. He managed it in Hell's Kitchen before he was imprisoned years ago, but from what Peter heard on the streets, Wilson Fisk was able to exert his power even from jail.