A Lost Hero

Set between Homecoming and Infinity War

Peter burst out of class the moment the bell rang. The bell hurt his ears a little bit, but he didn't care. It was time for patrol and that was all that mattered at the moment. Once out on the streets of Queens, Peter fell back into his element. He knew every nook and cranny of the town and the chances that he would get lost were extremely slim. His sure feet carried him effortlessly towards Delmar's for a sandwich.

Then his ears picked up the most silent of screams. He pondered whether he should put on his suit, but then the scream came louder and Peter decided there wasn't time. His web-shooters were unfortunately in his backpack. He admonished himself in his head while he ran. The atmosphere grew darker the closer he got and his sixth sense began to tingle up his neck. At last, he reached the alley.

A young girl who looked like she was lost was being touched by a man much older than her. In his hand was a gun, which was what he was using to intimidate the girl into staying quiet.

"Hey!" Peter shouted. "What are you doing?"

The man turned to face Peter with a snarl. The scent of alcohol and pot was so strong, it nearly drove Peter's senses into overdrive.

"Stay out of this kid," he rasped, waving the firearm haphazardly. "You'd get moving if you know what's good for you."

Peter didn't falter and began to slowly move forward. "Let her go. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me, okay?"

"Sorry, but no," the man smiled. His teeth were yellow and rotten. Peter grimaced.

"I'll fight you!" Peter challenged. He squared into an aggressive stance.

The man raised his gun. "Wouldn't try that, kid."

"I'm not a kid!" Peter growled. The gun went off, but Peter dodged and bent the man's hand down. The girl screamed, distracting Peter and he turned to her. In the split second, he wasn't paying attention, the man shot one last time.

Peter didn't feel anything, but he quickly knocked the man unconscious and turned to the girl Her baby blue eyes were welling with tears.

"Y-you're bleeding, mister," she sniffled. Peter looked down. And then the pain kicked in. It was awful, it was so awful. He sank to his knees from the pain and clutched at his chest in an attempt to stem the heavy blood flow. It was a shot near the heart.

Peter looked up at the girl. "Run. Get out of here and send help, okay? Just don't come back. I'll be fine." The girl's expression was terrified, but she scurried out of the alley. Peter let the rest of his body slump to the ground. His legs and his fingers were now numb, due to the lack of blood.

There was no time left. His vision was blurry and a bright light was forming in front of his eyes. There was no pain. No fear. Just acceptance. Peter knew he'd died doing the right thing, he hoped. And with that, Peter Parker closed his eyes for the last time and took his last breath.

~*~~~~~*~

May Parker moved around the kitchen. Her nephew should be home soon, and there was a new recipe that had turned out pretty okay. Then, her phone rang. It was an unknown number, but after Ben, there was a paranoia that wouldn't let her ignore a call.

"May Parker speaking."

"Ms. Parker, we found a boy who is assumed to be your nephew, Peter Parker," the call operator said into the phone.

May immediately began to panic. "Is he okay?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Parker. He passed away from a gunshot wound to the chest..." May Parker heard no more.