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

Spider-Man No More

Lightning lit up the room for a brief moment, casting Peter's figure in sharp relief as he sat on his bed, staring blankly ahead. Thunder cracked outside, its low rumble echoing his own turmoil. Batman's words from earlier pounded in his mind, their weight growing heavier as he sat there, his heart sinking.

"You always have a choice," he remembered the nurse's words echoing faintly.

And maybe she was right. But if so, then... he'd chosen wrong. He closed his eyes and sank back into memory, feeling himself back in the car beside Uncle Ben, the engine rumbling softly as they sat in a quiet moment. Ben, his guiding presence, was in the driver's seat, his gaze steady but with a hint of disappointment that felt like a knife to Peter's heart.

"Peter... all those times we talked about doing what's right, about standing up when it's hard..." Uncle Ben's voice was quiet, but it held a sadness that stung. "I counted on you to believe those things, to have the courage to live them out."

Peter clenched his jaw, shaking his head slightly, feeling a flicker of resentment even as the guilt gnawed at him. "But you don't get it," he muttered. "Look where all that's gotten me. It feels like my life's a mess because of that... of that so-called 'responsibility.'"

Ben's gaze softened, but there was still something resolute in his tone. "Responsibility isn't supposed to be easy, Peter. It's part of what makes it worthwhile. When we take on the hard things, that's when we grow. It's how we make a difference."

"But... don't you see?" Peter's voice rose, a mixture of hurt and frustration in every word. "You're asking me to carry your dreams. I don't know if I can do it anymore. I want something for myself. A life of my own."

Ben turned to him fully now, his gaze warm but serious. "Peter, those dreams weren't just for me—they were for you, for the world around you. There's a maniac out there right now causing who-knows-what kind of chaos. You have the power to do something about it."

Peter's hands clenched into fists. "There are so many other heroes, Uncle Ben. Ones who can do this better than I ever could. They don't need me to step up."

Ben took a deep breath, and in that moment, Peter saw a trace of sadness in his eyes. "Peter, you've been given something special—something not everyone has. Gifts like that don't come with guarantees, but they come with a chance. The power to help, to protect... with that comes a duty, a calling." He held out his hand gently. "Peter, don't let that go. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Please, take my hand."

But Peter only looked down, refusing to meet his uncle's eyes. "No, Uncle Ben. I can't keep carrying this. I'm just Peter Parker." He swallowed, the words heavy on his tongue. "I'm Spider-Man... no more."

A pained expression crossed Uncle Ben's face, but he withdrew his hand, letting it rest on the steering wheel. They sat in silence, Ben's presence still strong yet fading, leaving Peter alone in the thunder-filled night.

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Peter stood in the alleyway, the Spider-Man suit draped heavily over his arm. He felt the weight of it—not just in his hands but in his mind, as if every responsibility and sacrifice he'd made hung there, tangled in the folds of the suit.

He took a deep, shaky breath, running his fingers over the suit's smooth, almost organic texture. This suit had been a part of him, a symbol of everything he'd become. But now... now it was a reminder of everything he'd lost, of all the mistakes he'd made and the people he'd let down. The realization felt raw and jagged, twisting in his chest.

With one last look, he tightened his grip, closed his eyes, and dropped it into the trash can. For a moment, he just stood there, staring down, his fingers lingering on the edge of the can as if hesitating to truly let it go. But finally, he stepped back, his jaw clenched, and turned away, leaving the suit behind him. It was over—or at least, he wanted it to be.