Spider-Man Evolution

Day One

Peter Parker sits on the ledge of his best friend's patio wall, overlooking the cityscape, his mask off and fisted in his left bloody hand. The morning sun is just barely rising over the horizon.

His friend, Harry Osborn leans on the wall, his arms holding his weight.

“Ben had a saying, he had a bunch of sayings, philosophies really, but his favorite one was with great power comes great responsibility.” The boy starts, as he brings his left leg up and holds it close to his chest, “I think I finally know what he meant; when you can do good things for people you have a moral obligation to do those things.”

The teen didn't say anything, he just listened.

“And boy did Ben live up to that; he was seventeen when my grandma died and he had to take care of my dad. He joined the marines just so his little brother could be admitted into the New York Military Academy. And when two little kids were dropped on his doorstep he retired from a lifetime of service to take care of them, to love them like the…y were his own.” He wipes his eyes roughly before tears could fall, “He gave and he gave and he gave, that's all he ever did. I… should have followed his example but I was selfish, I didn't think it was my responsibility. I mean I'm not a police officer or a soldier, right? I don't have any type of training, I would just make things worse.” He looks towards the older boy who looks back. “Right?”

No words are exchanged but an understanding is shared.

“I can help people in ways no one else can and maybe I'll mess up but I'll learn, I'll give it everything I've got.” 

Harry stands straight and smiles, “And I'll be with you, every step of the way.” He offers a hand and Peter shakes it. “You're going to change the world Peter and I want to change it with you.”

The boy smiles, “Thanks, Harry.” 

“So, what now?”

“Now, I need to go home.” He looks back out, towards the only family he has left in the whole world.

The rich kid nods, “Be careful. We're not sure what the police will think with Kasady being brutally beaten and mutilated hours after killing Ben, especially given how you described it looks and with the trail you left behind looking for him. Spider-Man might be suspect number one and you're not exactly subtle with your connection with him. They could be looking at you.”

“Well, Spider-Man is a friend, isn't he? He came by to congratulate me and I told him what happened, what he did next was out of my hands.”

“Sounds plausible, especially when I corroborate and bribe the front desk but what about your family? Are you going to tell them?”

Peter shakes his head, “Dude I'm twelve.”

Snorting, the teen shakes his head, “I mean your aunt can't really stop you, right?”

The preteen gives him a side eye, “One day but not right now.” He stands up and stretches. “Mind if I take a shower and borrow some clothes, I need to get to May and Teresa and I don't want to smell like a brewery.”

“You got it.”

~Spider-Man Evolution~

Mary Jane Watson sits on the couch watching t.v feeling listless and useless.

She knew Ben Parker, knew how good of a man he was, and in a world where there were so little good people left it felt like a montomentual loss. 

“Knock! Knock!”

The girl turns towards the entrance to her house and stands up, walking over. Looking through the peephole her eyes widen when she sees Peter standing outside.