Batman and Spider-Man

FINALE

After a long night of studying and reading rejection E-Mails from various employers, Peter was ready to call it a night. The house was reduced to a dull silence after Otto revealed who he really was, Aunt May only chipping in to check up on him or cook something. Peter however took up her job, allowing May time to grieve.

Allowing her to grieve, Peter scoffed at the thought. Hadn't she already lost enough? May was taking it harder than just a breakup and Peter wondered why.

He bumped into her at the hallway on his way to the bathroom. She looked visibly shaken with her tired eyes and weary look. Peter caught a glance at her wrinkled hands and for the first time in a long time he realised just how old she was.

"Oh Peter," she said, still managing a smile at her nephew. "What are you doing at this hour?"

"May," Peter said, smiling. "Just going to brush my teeth."

"You should be asleep," Aunt May said. "A good rest is just as important as working hard, you know?"

Peter laughed nervously. "But you're up too."

Aunt May didn't have a good comeback. Instead, she just sat on the sofa.

"You okay?" Peter asked, walking towards her.

"You shouldn't concern yourself with an old lady like me," Aunt May said.

Peter chuckled. "Old? You barely look 30."

A small sliver of a smile appeared on the side of Aunt May's face. "I hate being here," she said. "This city."

Peter reached out to her but she stopped him. "I shouldn't. You shouldn't concern yourself with an old lady's ales."

"May," Peter said. "You've been there for me. The least I can do is be here for you."

"Oh Peter," Aunt May sobbed, hugging him. "What did I do to deserve you?"

"You made amazing wheat cakes and meatloaf, that's what," Peter said. Aunt May smiled at him warmly and took a seat in the living room, Peter followed.

"I... now you probably don't want to hear this..."

Peter shook his head. "Don't worry."

"I thought, after Ben died, after the grief had set that I could build something here," May said. "Work was hard. That attack with Vulture was a scare but I thought I could start again. Otto was an opportunity to start again."

Peter didn't very much like the mention of Otto. He felt the scar on his thigh throb.

"He was charming, ambitious, despite his disability..."

At that moment Peter's phone rang. Peter quickly shut it off despite the call going through Barbara's new encrypted Oracle app.

"Is that..."

Peter shook his head, smiling a nervous hopefully convincing smile. "No. Just some stupid scam call."

May nodded. "When you get old a lot of the doors you thought were once upon, suddenly close." May wagged her fingers. "Which is why you should always do your best in everything, Peter. Otto reminded me that age is just a barrier and you could do anything if your set your mind to it. It's just a shame what he set his mind on."

May sighed. "If only he hadn't been so ashamed of himself, of his disability, if he didn't let what the Waynes did to him define him. He could've accomplished so much with the talents he was given. I find myself reeling from the secrets he kept from me, the pain he hid for me and keep wondering if I could've done something about it. He hid something from me, kept secrets and those secrets hurt."