「Sunflower」a Spider-Man/Miles Morales fan-fiction ☆

Chapter 2.

If there's anything I learn in English Literature class it's the art of debate. Greek philosophers preached about this skill and our teacher could not further emphasize the fine line between arguing and debating. The preferred would always be debate, persuasion of the audience and opponent.

This was defined as the easiest route to victory. All it required was an acknowledgement of your stance on the issue, the targeted audience, and your goal. Unfortunately for my teacher, the Ancient Greek practice of persuasion was not my greatest feat.

People who knew me could testify on my lack of patience, and today seemed to be my worst case yet. Anger got the best of me as I stormed over to the neighbors. My feet stomped on the wooden patio steps and stopped when I reached the door. Without a moment to waste my finger smashed into the doorbell while my other fist banged on the door itself.

Eventually the gray haired widow answered, looking rather ticked at the sudden disturbance. "Ah, Van-"

"Who's he?" I didn't have time for pleasantry, all I wanted, what I needed, was the truth. "I know you know because his costume... it's just like His... he also uses web shooters, something of His invention."

For a moment Aunt May looked completely shocked, then concerned. She must've wanted to say something as she kept her lips stayed parted. Her mind, I imagine, was a blank canvas. Aunt May was left clueless of which actions to take or words to say.

A loud crashing sound interrupted our lame conversation. I slipped into the house without Aunt May's consent. The house was in tip top shape with nothing out of place. This led to my conclusion that the disturbance must be located in the back.

I looked back to Aunt May in disbelief. "You didn't."

Her eyes evaded my own in hopes of not revealing the secret, but it was as clear as the nose on my face. I raced across the house and through the back door. Into the garden I stumbled, only for a moment before crossing over to the shed. I ignored Aunt May's calls as I undid the lock with ease and hastily made my way down with the elevator.

My eyes darted around the open space. It was fairly dim in the room but I could rely on memory to manage around. I was almost content that everything had stayed in order, until I realized a missing Spider-Man suit.

My blood boiled with anger at the sight of such reckoning.

"Who did this!" I yelled out to the emptiness, not caring if I would scare the person off. "Peter worked hard to maintain that suit! It was his favorite-!"

My throat stung with a bitter taste. My cheeks felt wet but I discarded the feeling in my fit of rage around the Spider-Man cave. Suddenly the elevator began to operate on its own. I imagined whoever responsible for the suit was functioning the elevator. So without a moment to waste I escaped through the emergency exit and rushed inside the house.

I wouldn't allow the culprit to slip right through my hands.

On the way I collided with Aunt May. "Oh dear!" She cried out in surprise.

"Where did they go!"

"Now, now. First, I think we need a talk." Without warning, the woman pinched my left ear tightly and led me to the living room. She didn't let go despite my cries. "Now sit."

I complied and sat on the loveseat. Though it was rare, Aunt May could definitely be aggressive and hostile. She expected me to learn to obey whenever she got like this. She also knew that I've always been a stubborn kid. Finally she released my ear and sat besides me.

"I know how you feel," she spoke. "Losing Peter did more on you than you'd like to admit."

My hands dropped to my lap, idly playing with the hem of the skirt. "Don't you miss him, Aunt May?"

Her lips curved at the ends but her smile wasn't happy. It felt forced. But it was enough to distract away from her teary eyes. "There are no words, or amount of tears that can truly describe how much he means to me."

Her hands on her lap tightened into tight fists, making her skin lose all color. She looked a deadly pale.

"My husband would be so proud of the man Peter was," as she talked I placed a hand over her shoulder, she was trembling.

My touch only helped to snap her back into the correct mindset. After all, she was the adult, the role model I had to look up to. Aunt May had to be the strong adult.

"I want to make my loved ones proud like they've made me. They would both, I think, agree that Spider-Man must live on."

"But Peter was Spider-Man!"

The words blurted out of my mouth faster than I could blink. There was some hesitation, but I went forward in fear that I would never get another opportunity. My voice needed to be heard.

"People were so unfair to him when he was alive. Peter endured so much and he only gets recognition for that after his death! The people of New York don't deserve him! It's not fair!"

Worry flashed in Aunt May's eyes before she turned to her purse. She retrieved a piece of tissue and began dabbing at my face, collecting wet tear drops.

She gave me another tissue which I dove my face into. I couldn't hide from Aunt May, but I wouldn't let her see my pathetic face. She seemed understanding of this and carried on without judgment.

"Peter loved you so much Vanessa," she pulled me into her side. "He would do anything to keep the city safe. Didn't matter the size of the enemy or how injured he'd be after the fights. It was worth it for him. He'd continue fighting bad guy after bad guy, just to come home and see you smile."

There were so many times Peter would return home bruised and battered, I knew it. He'd try to hide but I always saw the scars. Some were life threatening, requiring a trip to the Emergency Room. Peter would never let me witness it. Those nights I'd spend all alone, restless and praying just to see him the next day. Sometimes I'd even spend the early morning on Aunt May's patio with a first aid kit in hand. I'd sit there and wait until he made it back to us.

"Peter would want us to keep his spirit alive," whispered Aunt May, "for you to be safe, and happy."

Author's Note: Sorry this was so long but Vanessa finally gets her resolution on Peter's death! Yay! I hope you were able to enjoy it. Thank you for reading. It means a lot that people can actually enjoy and I'm always open to my reader's opinion so please comment or PM me whenever. Have a nice day!