A Different Type of Game

A Little Closer

It was now the day after the incident with the men. Peter had to tell Michelle about his previous encounter with them and then went home. Michelle didn't seem too happy that he was the web-slinger who went around putting his life on the line everyday, but Peter made it quite clear that he was not going to give up his job. 

The whole time they were talking, Peter was trying to pluck up the courage to tell her that he might have, well, feelings for her, but that never happened. He couldn't tell if he was sad or relieved...

When Peter got home from Michelle's he debated on whether or not he should go to bed or check the security cameras. He decided to try the cameras but sadly found out that there were none where he encountered the four men. He went to sleep and slept in till ten the next morning. Luckily May wasn't home to question him about waking up so much later than usual.  He was also lucky that it was a Saturday.

Peter had Karen check all the security cameras in the city. They spent four hours looking at all of them but still found nothing. It didn't make sense. Where could four men hide out for weeks without anyone seeing them? How were they able to avoid all the cameras? The two spots where Peter met them were far apart, too. Peter just didn't get it.

He was really deep in thought when he heard May come home. He hid his suit and walked out of his room to greet her.

"Hey, how's it going Pete?"

"Good." That's an overstatement.

"Hey could you help me with these groceries? I need you to put the cold stuff-" she looked up from what she was doing and got a good look at Peter. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look too good."

"Nah, I'm fine.." 

"You were out saving the city weren't you."

"N-no not exactly.." 

"Well come on! Tell me. If I'm going to have sit back while you get beat up I at least want to know why. Hell, you're lucky I don't lecture you every night."

"Well, I mean, you did lecture me every night for the first week or two."

"That's besides the point."

"I think it's relevant enough-"

"Oh for goodness sakes stop stalling!"

"Fine, fine!" Peter told her everything. The way she reacted to the events from last night kind of broke his heart. He knew she hated the fact that he was a superhero. She'd lost her brother-in-law and his wife, then her own husband. She's been through more than anyone should ever have to. Peter had, too. He has little to no memories of his parents, and he doesn't know if thats better or worse than if he did know them. Then he lost the only father-figure he grew up with. But May always had to be the strong one. She made sure Peter was safe and happy. If she lost Peter... he didn't even want to think about that.

May hugged Peter so hard he thought he might have cracked a rib.

"May, I love you."

"I love you too kiddo."

"I can take care of myself, though. You really don't have to worry so much. I know what I'm doing. More or less."

May let out a soft chuckle. "I know, but I'll always worry 'bout you."

***

After his talk with May, Peter felt a lot better. It was like a giant weight was lifted off of his shoulders.

He was trying to figure out how to find the alien-men when he got a text.

MJ: Hey, when do you want to meet up for the project?

Peter: Could you do tomorrow at 2?

MJ: How 'bout 2:30

Peter: Sounds good. See you then

MJ: See you loser

Peter laughed. Would she ever stop calling him that?

He went back to thinking about the four creature-men. He had been trying to keep this away from Ned because he was pretty sure Ned's O-Positive. Peter couldn't let Ned get sick, but at this point it seems like if Ned doesn't get sick this way, he definitely will eventually. Peter decided to call him.

"Hey Pete, what's up?"

"Uh, hey Ned? I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"You remember all those people who got sick a week ago?"

"Yah, how could I forget that!"

"Well, I kinda fought them... twice... and I need you to see if you can find out anything about them."

"Wait when'd all this happen?!"

"That's not important-"

"I think it is-"

"C'mon Ned. I need you to try and figure out anything you can, but there's one thing you should know."

"What?"

"Well, you see... they kinda look like they were in a lab accident-gone-wrong."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, I kind of saw them with their masks off... and they look like, well, almost like aliens."

"That narrows it down."

"Just call me when you find something."

"Yeah, okay."

"Oh there's one more thing you should know.""

"Okay"

"MJ knows I'm Spider-Man"

"WAIT WH-"

Peter hung up before Ned could scream at him or smother him with questions. He really hoped bringing Ned into this was worth it. He didn't know what he'd do if Ned got sick because of him. 

Now, at least he has a glimmer of hope. But at what price?