Spider-Man | Doesn't Need Help

CHAPTER 11

  The moment I crossed the threshold of the apartment, I began looking around, immediately concluding that at least it was better than living in ruins.

  "I know, Petey, I don't have the best living conditions, but..."

  "It's fine." I interrupted her, genuinely believing it.

  Truly, even though I didn't show it, I was incredibly grateful to her. While I was still in the hospital, she told me about how she had organized my room, apologizing a million times for not being able to provide better conditions.

  But it didn't bother me. I was just happy to have my own bed, my own desk, and the books I got from the school my aunt had enrolled me in.

  "Honestly, this is more than enough... Aunt May." It was still a bit hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I had any living family left.

  The brunette gave me a tentative smile.

  "You can just call me May." She said, and I quietly sighed with relief.

  I won't lie, it was easier for me when she gave me explicit permission. There had already been times when I'd addressed her-rare as those occasions were-and almost slipped out with either "ma'am" or just May.

  "Thanks..." I said, not knowing what else to say in response.

  "It's okay. Oh, Peter, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." At her words, I focused entirely on what she was about to say. "I don't want it to seem the way it's going to sound, but I'm struggling financially, and..." She paused for a moment, and I already knew what she meant. "And I can't take time off. I'm so sorry. I'd love to spend the next week with you while you still have some free time, but my boss said he'd fire me, and I can't let that happen. I really am sorry, Pete..."

  "It's fine." I interrupted her, genuinely appreciating the fact that she was telling me this at all.

  She could have just gone to work tomorrow without mentioning a word. But instead, she was explaining it to me, even apologizing, which felt... a little strange to me.

  "Really, you don't need to apologize. Everything you're already doing for me means so much." I gave her a slight smile.

  It wasn't much, but maybe it was sincere.

  May exhaled with relief. I didn't see it, but I heard it.

  I couldn't understand why she was trying so hard. She didn't even know me. She could have just sent me to an orphanage. And yet...

  "Thank you. But, you know, we're family, and even if it's a bit messy, I already love you. I want the best for you. I want to give you the love you didn't have..."

  "And even if it's a bit messy, I already love you." Those ten words echoed in my mind.

  Instantly, my mood shifted completely. I became angry, though I didn't show it. But there was no smile on my face anymore either. There was nothing left-just indifference again.

  She couldn't love me. I was a stranger to her, just as she was to me. So what if we were family? That didn't change anything. We didn't know each other.

  Okay, maybe I'd seen her a few times in my childhood, and I had a middle name after her husband, but that was so long ago...

  "Peter?"

  Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

  I lifted my gaze from the floor to her.

  "What?" I asked coldly, and she flinched slightly-imperceptibly to an ordinary person, but I noticed.

  Immediately, her posture and demeanor shifted too. She became... more alert?

  Wait, was she afraid of me?

  I raised an eyebrow slightly, still holding her gaze. At one point, I deliberately made a small, sudden movement toward her, and she automatically stepped back, fear flashing across her face for a split second.

  She was scared.

  She was scared I might hurt her. Scared that after spending four years with Mr. Adams, during which I was often forced to hurt others, I might do something to her too.

  But I couldn't blame her. She had every right to be scared. I was dangerous, and now, with my "abilities," I was unpredictable-even to myself.

  I think if I were in her place, I'd be scared too. After all, no one knows what's going on in my head. How broken I am. What I've been through and what was drilled into me-only I know that.

  "I'll head to my room." I announced, immediately retreating from the room and heading toward one of four doors.

  One was the entrance, another, as I'd noticed earlier, led to the bathroom, the third was open, revealing May's belongings. The fourth door was closed.

  Without hesitation, I went through it and, without turning back, closed it behind me.

  I looked around the small but sufficient room. Directly across from the door was a window. To the left, a bed was positioned horizontally. To the right was a small desk with a plain chair. There was also a wardrobe and two boxes with clothes that my aunt had gathered for me.

  I sat on the bed, which was terribly hard. Maybe softer than my mattress back in the ruins, but much harder than the one in the hospital. Not that I was complaining!

  It's just that I didn't feel anything but gratitude. I couldn't bring myself to be happy about what I was given. I couldn't feel joy at the thought of still having someone in this cruel world, even though I thought I'd lost everyone that fateful day...

  I sighed, lying down on the bed.

  Why couldn't I have died with them back then?

    POV: May Parker

  "Damn it." I cursed under my breath, sitting on the floor and leaning against the bed.

  How could I have let him see so easily that I was scared!? I mean, it's not exactly that I was afraid of him, right? It's just that I don't fully know what he's capable of. And that's what scares me.

  I know Edward Adams was a murderer. A serial killer, with whom Peter lived for four years...

  I felt so terribly sorry for him, but at the same time, I was so proud... Proud that he survived it, didn't break down, didn't end it all. Because I imagine that most people would have given up long before. But him? He made it through...

  I buried my face in my hands, unsure of what to do.

  Now, I regret that Ben and I didn't decide to take him in immediately after Mary and Richard's deaths. But we had our reasons... No money. And six months later, when I lost Ben, it only got worse. I ended up on the streets once but worked hard to get back on my feet-and I did.

  Later, I was offered custody of Peter multiple times, but I always refused.

  I wouldn't have been able to manage raising a five-year-old in such conditions. I could barely take care of myself.

  But four years ago, when that psychopath abducted him, I swore that if he was ever found, I'd take him in without hesitation.

  And now, here he was, living under the same roof as me.

  I was genuinely happy about it! Though I suspect Peter doesn't realize that I'm also his mother's sister.

  Years ago, we had a falling out, which led to us not speaking. The wedding was supposed to fix things, and Ben and I, as well as Richard-Ben's brother-were invited. But ultimately, neither Ben nor I attended because of the brothers' feud.

  That saved our lives.

  Because if we had gone, we'd be dead like the rest of our families. And then Peter would have been the only Parker left.

  Because I'm sure that Peter's survival wasn't just a coincidence.