The Amazing Spider-Man of Young Justice (Season 1)

Waking Up

Peter's eyes snapped open, his body jolting upright in the sterile environment of the Mount Justice headquarters' medical room. His breath came in sharp, panicked gasps, and his heart monitor spiked as the memories of everything that happened under the symbiote's influence came crashing back into his mind—the people he'd hurt, the destruction he'd caused, and the uncontrollable rage that had consumed him. He could still feel the black tendrils crawling over his skin, the overpowering anger that had filled his thoughts, and the violence he'd unleashed on his own friends.

The heart monitor next to him beeped rapidly, reflecting the increasing pace of his heart rate. Peter's chest rose and fell quickly, his eyes wide as he scanned the room, disoriented. That's when he noticed Batman standing beside his bed, his imposing figure steady and calm.

"Calm down, Peter," Batman said in his usual deep, controlled tone, placing a firm hand on Peter's chest to prevent him from sitting up further. "You're safe now."

Peter's eyes flicked to Batman, but the wave of panic still coursed through him. His body refused to relax, his mind racing with everything he'd done. How could he have lost control like that? How could he have hurt his friends? He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The fear, the guilt—it was too much.

Batman, noticing the panic still overwhelming him, gave a brief nod to someone on Peter's right. Peter turned his head to see Miss Martian standing there, her eyes filled with concern but calm. Without a word, she placed her hand gently on Peter's forehead, and in an instant, he felt a wave of soothing energy wash over him. His rapid breathing began to slow, his muscles relaxed, and the tension gripping his body faded away. His mind quieted, and he sank back into the bed, his head hitting the pillow as the panic subsided.

Peter let out a long, shaky breath, feeling the last remnants of fear ebb away under Miss Martian's telepathic influence. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts, his heartbeat finally returning to normal. He could still feel the echoes of the symbiote's control in his mind, but it was gone now. He was free. But that didn't change what he'd done.

"What... what happened?" Peter finally managed to ask, his voice hoarse, his throat dry.

Batman crossed his arms over his chest, his expression as unreadable as ever. "The symbiote took control of you. It fed off your emotions, amplified your anger, and it made you violent. You fought your teammates, almost killed them."

Peter winced at the words, turning his head away in shame. "I... I didn't mean to... I just—" His voice cracked, the guilt tearing at him. "I couldn't stop it. I... wanted to..."

Batman's eyes narrowed slightly, though his tone remained steady. "I know. But you weren't in control."

Peter's throat tightened as Batman's words sank in. The weight of his actions pressed down on him like a boulder on his chest. He couldn't believe he had done it—he couldn't believe that he'd attacked them like that. He'd hurt people who trusted him.

"I hurt all of you," Peter whispered, his voice laced with regret. "I could've—" His mind flashed back to the moment he had Artemis pinned, ready to strike with the sharp pole. He swallowed hard. "I could've killed someone." He remembered when he had Shocker at his mercy in the tower, "I was gonna kill someone."

Miss Martian stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "You weren't yourself, Peter. We know that. None of us blame you."

But Peter shook his head, staring down at his hands. "That doesn't matter. I could have killed you, M'gann. Artemis, Wally, everyone..." His fingers curled into fists as he squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't know how I let it get that far."