The date is August 10 / 1999. A married couple just had a baby boy delivered to them after hours of pain for the mother and a little bit of waiting. The couple, Richard and Mary Parker look lovingly at their little boy, who they name Peter. Peter Benjamin Parker.
Two years later a similar event happens, yet now instead of a boy, it's a little girl called Teresa, Peter's little sister. Sister that he will be together with for a year, before she gets taken away by the people their parents work for.
Richard and Mary agree to this, seeing as how there are many people that want them dead. It's not safe for anyone if she stays with them. Not right now.
So in the year 2002, a 3 year old Peter says goodbye unknowingly to his sister without knowing why. Because of his age, he forgets she's real, and his parents help in making him believe he dreamt her. Peter, sometime later stops crying for her, falling for the lie.
Now Peter is five years old, and is being taken to his father's brother's place. He likes the couple as they are both sweet and gentle with him. When Peter was younger and because of the difference in ages his Aunt and Uncle had with his parents he thought of them as his grandparents.
Only to be corrected and told he didn't have any.
"We'll need you to stay here with May and Ben for a few days, all right sweetie?" Asks his mother as she battles with the tears clouding her eyes. She and her husband have a mission that's imperative for them to accomplish if they want to stop their past from chasing after them.
So that they can finally stop looking over their shoulder and live their life with the complete family. Once this is done, everything will be alright.
Yet, the mother is nervous, she feels as though something terrible is going to happen.
"What? You'll leave me here?" Peter asks scared, after his sister turned out to be a dream, Peter had been more clingy and emotionally dependent on his parents without anyone realizing.
This would be his first time without his parents near.
"It's just going to be a couple of days, kid, a week tops" his father reassures him as he playfully ruffles his head. There's a slight tantrum from Peter and reassurances from both his parents, aunt and uncle.
Peter, seeing he is not going to convince his parents to stay, promises he's going to behave while they are away.
"I love you more than anything sweetie" "Be good kid, I love you" said both his parents at the same time as his mother kneeled and hugged him for the very last time.
After that they were gone.
It had been more than two weeks after the couple left their kid behind when a man with an eyepatch came to the Parker residence.
He is the bringer of bad news and Peter opened the door, expecting to see his parents with a childlike glee that somewhat breaks the tall man's heart and resolve. But he's there to accomplish his duty, as a boss, a friend and as this child's godfather.
Peter is told he is never going to see his parents again.
He is young and doesn't know what to do, he knows he just lost his entire family and he doesn't know why. Peter cries and cries for days in his room at the Parker's while the old couple doesn't really know what to do since they've never had children before.
A week later at the funeral the same man approaches Peter and tells him he will be looking for him from a distance. Peter doesn't know or understands him. He does however resent him a little, after all when thinking about the worst day of his life, the man's face pops out inevitably.
Peter tunes out everything else at the funeral, but notices a kid, roughly 4 or 5 years older than him, standing in front of the grave next to his parents own. He remembers hearing about him, Edward 'Eddie' Brock, an older kid that lost his parents in the same accident that involved Peter's parents. Apparently both couples were long time friends or something.
The funeral for Eddie's parents was the day before Peter's, but he came to visit the grave and give his condolences to Peter.
Perhaps it's wrong, but Peter can't help but feel that this older kid is the only one who is genuine when he says he's sorry that this happened to him. Adults of all kinds came to the funeral, and all of them are telling Peter how sorry they are.
And he hates it.
Sorry? They are sorry? It wasn't their fault, Peter understood that even in his young age. What happened is a tragedy to anyone. But sorry?
Peter for some reason feels like the word lost all meaning after the fifth grown up patted him on his shoulder and told him that.
He only feels pitied.
And it's something he can't quite understand yet.
What he does understand is that it's his parents' event, their last one. So why is everyone looking at him? Telling him that they are sorry, like that is somehow going to make things better.
They should be thinking about his parents and let him do the same. Not staring at him with eyes full of pity that makes the young boy squirm uncomfortably in his seat with feelings that, even if he can't understand them, make him feel bad. He can feel their eyes on his back while he seats in the front row of the event, sandwiched between his aunt and uncle.
Sorry.
Peter, as young and sweet as he's always been, can't help but Fucking hate that word.
…perhaps not in those words, but the sentiment is there.
Except when Eddie Brock told him how sorry he is that this happened, because it also happened to him. He's not pitying Peter, he's sympathizing with him on a level that perhaps no one else could.
When everyone told Peter how sorry they were, he simply nodded with the older couple talking for him, saying how thankful they were for whoever was talking for being there in this time of grief.
But when Eddie told Peter "I'm sorry" among other things, Peter uttered his first words in the whole funeral, telling the older kid "Thank you, and I'm sorry too" with a broken and tired voice.
The older kid shot Peter a kind smile, and after talking for a bit with his uncle Ben and aunt May, he left. Leaving Peter as the only kid in the funeral, silent as ever.
That same night Peter was in his room, sitting on his bed while watching the floor with unfocused eyes, when both his Aunt and Uncle stepped in with some papers in hand and a small sad smile on their faces.
"Son, I know this situation isn't fair to you and it isn't something anyone would ever want, or even go through, much less at your age" started Ben with empathy "but we promised your parents that we would look after you, and so we have this" finished as he show the papers, still in a manilla folder.
"W-what's that?" Peter was so distraught by everything that happened that he can't understand why they are telling him this.
May took word from there, putting her hand on Ben's shoulder "We want to adopt you dear, that does not mean that we want to replace your parents. It means we want you to have someone looking after you, and we want to be that someone."
"It's entirely your choice son, but if you choose us, we promise to take care of you and keep you safe to the best of our abilities" followed Ben with his speech as he kneeled in front of Peter who was still sitting in his bed, eyes red with tears and emotion.
"So what do you say champ, wanna stay with old Ben and May here-" Ben couldn't finish his sentence, as Peter hugged him tightly as he started crying with full force on the man's shoulder, letting all his feelings out on the older man.
Ben returned the hug with care and May shed some tears herself.
That night in a little house in Queens, a family was formed between tears.
All this happened during summer, so Peter will be starting elementary school in a week and so days. After a few days of the funeral, Ben and May got everything ready for him but soon realized something they were too busy to see before. Children are expensive.
The old couple was never greedy or really ambitious, and they lived comfortably with what Ben had for his retirement money, both as a military man and an electrician that was laid off due to his age. The family would still live comfortably enough, just a bit more scarce on money.
School finally started a few days after Peter's birthday. First day of school, August 22 of 2005 was the day that marked Peter as a social outcast.
He was still depressed over the occurrences that happened a couple of weeks back, relating to his parents, and no one could blame him for it.
Except for one person. Eugene "Flash" Thompson, who was Peter's best friend during nursery school, did not take kindly to Peter's mood change. From a bubbly, lively and talkative guy, to a weirdo who spent all day brooding with his head deep in a book, trying to distract himself from the real world and his problems in it.
So seeing how he was, he started picking on him. Bullying the poor boy for all his preferences in science over sports and 'geek' stuff over socializing. Things escalated when others, seeing Flash's acts and Peter not defending himself, followed him in the act.
This cemented Flash as the popular and strong guy and Peter as the weird and weak nerd.
Peter didn't even bat an eye at all during all of his first school year, too busy feeling sorry for himself to notice what his stance was in the school.
He still had his play date with the 11 year old Eddie Brock who started calling Peter 'brother' affectionately, and Peter did too, finding solace in the older boy.
He had also made a friend in the other 'weirdo' in his class. Harry Osborn, who was more of an awkward guy, rather than a nerd. Still, being lonely with someone was better than being completely alone.
Plus he had fun with Harry, he was honestly a good friend for Peter and he felt as if his support was everything he needed to sail smoothly at school without letting anyone get under his skin.
But one day in particular was bad for Peter, since it was his mother's birthday in late May, and she wasn't with him to celebrate it with.
The class had a substitute teacher for a day and was checking assistance.
"Okay kids, how about you tell me your name and what your dream is so we get to know each other? Astronaut, president or things like that, okay?" Asked the substitute cheerfully as he was calling on everyone.
Peter was not listening to any of his classmates, too busy thinking about his own wish. His thoughts quickly became depressive as he thought about the thing he wished for the most, his family.
He loved May and Ben, and they have loved him in return. They teach him valuable lessons about responsibility and the importance of others. Like when Ben taught him the lesson on human dignity when they gave money to a homeless man.
But they weren't his family, not his real one, they are acting like it for his sake. And he loves them so, so much, he'd do anything for them! But it's not real. Not in the way Peter wants.
So when the teacher got to him and asked "Now, Peter?" He could only answer automatically as he stood up like the others before him. "Here, Peter Parker".
"Great, now what's your dream?" Encouraged the man.
'My dream…' Peter pondered for a second, thinking about the future. His family was taken from him, but still he could always build one of his own. One he would never abandon, one he would love and care for as hard as he could.
"… a family, my dream is to have a family of my own." Peter said with a broken voice that he was able to disguise from the untrained ear.
*PFFT* "Laaame! He meant career, you moron!" Flash laughed cruelly as he tossed a paper ball at Peter's head.
"Hey! Settle down, it's a good dream Peter, thanks." Said the teacher dismissively as he carried on.
Peter for the first time got the urge to punch someone. He started breathing heavily in his seat and clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.
He was starting to get sick of Eugene always laughing at him. Always mocking him. Yes, he wants a family, so what? Who is Eugene to laugh at his wish of having a family again?
Who cares about money? Who cares about what job you do if at the end of the day you're alone? Peter could be a janitor or a movie star and nothing would change if he came to a lonely home at the end of the day.
And why would he laugh? What did Peter do to the blonde kid that prompted him to be this way to him? Peter didn't understand the change in his former friend's attitude, but what he's sure of is that he won't stand for it anymore.
"Uhm, are you okay?" Harry seeing his friend act so weird got worried, so he asked him in a whisper.
"H-huh? Yeah! Yeah I'm fine i just… got a little angry at Flash is all" Peter noted his state and quickly got embarrassed. Also somewhat surprised as he'd never even know he could get angry like that.
"Just ignore him dude, you know how he is" was the last thing said before getting called out by the teacher for whispering in class.
Arriving home Peter was still shaken up by what happened. Between his realization of having a family on his own as a dream at such a young age, a product of him being robbed of his real one, and at the utter rage he felt at being mocked in front of everyone, especially for what he said.
During dinner Peter was still in a bad mood, but tried to mask it in favor of the dinner and cake that May had prepared in his mother's honor.
However, the couple noticed Peter's behavior and got worried, so May decided to talk to him before he went to sleep. Entering his room as he was standing up, preparing his clothes for tomorrow.
"Peter? Is there something you want to tell me?" Asked May gently as she sat in his bed.
This has been a common occurrence since he started living with them, being that he was a very troubled child. Both because of the bullying and his parents. So he knew better than to try and say he was fine, sooner or later they always got him to talk.
"It's just… Flash never leaves me alone like you said he'd do if I ignored him, and more guys started to pick on me and Harry! Like the other day the kid named Kenny…" Peter started rambling on his bullies and May listened attentively. She did tell Peter to ignore them and it will pass, or tell the teachers and faculty. That also didn't work.
But May was a woman devoted to God and his teachings; she is very faithful and believes faith and love conquer all. That's why she doesn't let Peter play violent games, watch violent shows and always tells Peter that violence is never the answer to anything.
May hates violence. And Peter knows it.
"And-and I hate him!" That got a gasp out of May. "I hate how he makes fun of me and Harry and-and next time he does I'll punch him, even if-" *SLAP*.
Peter didn't know what happened, he started rambling about his bully until he once again got angry, furious. So much so he even forgot he was talking to May, his dear sweet aunt that he loved with all his heart and he knew hated violence.
And as he was talking he didn't notice what he was saying, until he felt his cheek with a stinging burn that made his eyes water. He opened his eyes wide at what happened.
May listened until she got worried about how much her nephew was ranting, until he started talking about hate and punching someone. So she became a hypocrite in that moment and educated Peter like people educated their children when she was a child.
She slapped him.
"I won't allow that kind of speech or thoughts in my house where I sleep young man! Do I make myself clear?!" May felt her heart break at how scared Peter looked at her. As is if he couldn't even believe she did such a thing.
But this was not time for May to falter, even if she knew she was just violent herself, making her a hypocrite. This was too much of an important thing for May that Peter just has to understand.
"Y-yes" Peter said through tears.
"Peter, it's important for me to know you understand that you can't resolve violence with more violence…I can't have you here in the house if you don't understand that. So don't ever think about it again." May calmed her tone as Peter now looked embarrassed and scolded, still with a few silent tears rolling down his eyes.
"…okay aunt May, i won't think like that again" Peter said barely above a whisper, not wanting to be kicked out of the house (a threat without real bite).
"Promise me you won't ever go down to their level" May requested, as her voice also got slightly stuck in her throat with emotion.
"I-I promise Aunt May… I won't" after that May stood in front of Peter without saying a word, seeing the regret, fear and tears in Peter's face. She then gave a quick hug with a short apology and wished Peter sweet dreams, before starting out of the room with shame and regret filling her chest.
Peter had a nightmare.
Since everything that has happened it has become somewhat normal for him to have bad dreams. Mostly, if not all, involving his parents and a plane, which is how they died. Sometimes it showed a little baby being taken away, he did not know what that meant but he knew he didn't like it. And others it was May and Ben, this time in his parent's place, losing them as well.
But this time it was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, it felt real, and at the same time so unreal it was impossible for it to be even a dream.
Peter is scared.
He was standing with the little suit he had on the day of his parent's funeral in what seems to be an endless plain of liquid gold. In front of him was a man with a red and blue suit with black patterns resembling spider webs. His eyes didn't move up to see his face because his head was hung low.
The man was tall, and the suit was skin tight so he could see he was very strong. "You're crying" said the man, in a voice so familiar it made Peter uncomfortable, since he had never seen him before. Peter noticed he was indeed crying his eyes out..
"Today is my mom's birthday" Peter was surprised he answered since he didn't mean to.
Peter got more scared when he finally moved his head upwards and looked at the man's face. It was so familiar as if he'd seen it every day for his whole life. Yet he knew he hadn't. Peter was scared, he could feel his heart beat in a way it never did before and started to struggle with himself, trying to run or wake up or something!
Instead, Peter felt how his mouth began moving on it's own, clearly talking, but for some reason nothing he said could be heard by himself.
The man's eyes got extremely red as if he was a monster and his mouth quivered with whatever Peter was telling him; as if every word that came out of his mouth was physically affecting the older man. Then suddenly the man dropped to his knees while crying and sobbing like a child, now very much hearable.
"…I'm sorry… I'm so-so, sorry!" Cried the man while apologizing again and again as he suddenly hugged Peter very tightly.
And the little boy couldn't take it, he had to get away, he had to be somewhere else this was wrong. It felt unnatural, wrong! He needs out!
Then he heard something to his side at the same time the man hugging him did, for they looked at what made that sound.
Watching them was a kid between the ages of Peter and the man, probably around 15 years old. Being wrapped up in webs by a horde of spiders.
Only leaving free his wide and scared eyes that were turning from whatever color they were to the deep red that the man in front of Peter had.
When the spiders covered the teen completely, Peter woke up. Forgetting everything he saw as one sometimes does with their dreams, still feeling his heartbeat going a hundred miles per hour. Wailing and weeping, scared at whatever it was he saw.
Ben then rushed into his room to comfort the boy and asked him what was wrong. He got worried for the boy when he said he had a nightmare that felt real but couldn't remember.
The old man stayed by his nephew's side, giving words of comfort as he fell asleep again.
The next day May apologized again, and Peter reaffirmed his promise on not taking a violent approach on Flash or his bullies. Making Peter endure the status quo for many years.
Now we jump in time to see Peter more grown up, still lanky and with big round glasses that make him look even more dorky. He is now going to start middle school and is currently celebrating his twelve birthday with only his uncles, his best friend in the world, Harry Osborn and the girl both friends like, Gwen Stacy.
He and Harry became best friends during all of their time in elementary school, seeing as they both had every class together for all that time and were considered to be weirdos by their peers. They quickly bonded in their second year of school and have been together ever since.
Harry truly does care for Peter and would do anything for him. They love the other like a brother after all. But like a real brother, Harry has been getting more and more jealous by the way his father, Norman Osborn, sees Peter.
Norman, since meeting Peter when this one was 7 years old, was impressed by him. The boy was a bona fide genius that could read college level books in almost all science related topics, and yet he was still humble and well mannered.
Norman also saw how he was a nervous wreck and had low self esteem. He assumed it was related to his poor physical attributes and his sad parental situation. Nothing that couldn't be fixed by a firm hand. He saw in Peter great potential of a man who could become someone great. He saw himself in Peter.
Unlike his son, who had the same problems as Peter, but with no excuse for them. On top of that of being kinda mentally slow, barely at his own grades speed. Norman made these comparisons of Harry and Peter during all this time and Harry was getting sick of them.
Nor faulting his father, but Peter. Starting to resent him for getting the attention of his idol and the man Harry wanted to become all for himself.
Harry knew he was wrong for resenting Peter at something he wasn't at fault or even aware of. So he tried not letting it show. It was kinda easy since he was still his best friend in the whole world.
Meanwhile Gwen entered school in 5th grade and quickly found an intellectual rival in 9 year old Peter. First declaring him as an 'enemy' for taking the number one spot from her in all of the exams results.
To then quickly change her views on him from a rival to her crush. And how could she not? Peter was the nicest, funniest and most intelligent boy she'd ever met, even if he had a weird tendency of saying dumb jokes when nervous. During the second half of 5th grade and the entirety of their senior year of elementary school she tried her best to 'seduce' (as much as a child can) Peter. Too bad he was so darn dense to see that.
It didn't matter to Gwen though, Peter was hers and she would wait for him to see that. Besides him being so incredibly dumb when it comes to romance amused her and she found it adds to Peter's charm.
She also liked Harry, but strictly as a friend. Sometimes he and most importantly, her dad, creeped her out.
And Peter couldn't be happier right now, he had his uncles in good health, his best friend and his crush celebrating his birthday with him.
He's had his ups and downs in these few years, but his uncle's teachings, and his aunt's sweet attitude he can say he grew up to be a nice and well mannered pre-teen.
Since his aunt slapped him, she'd never done so again, becoming even more gentle and caring with time. And his uncle is so wise he sometimes can't understand what he's talking about.
Like the phrase he loves so much about power and responsibility. Just today he said it in breakfast in response to something Peter said about one of the many heroes that have been popping out.
And that's another thing he, together with every kid in the world, is excited about. Superheroes are now real and walk among them! Well maybe not really walk among the common folk, since they live in the 'Avengers Mansion' ever since they teamed up to defeat Loki.
These heroes entailed the 'small' couple of Ant-Man and the Wasp. The Incredible Hulk that until recently was considered a villain. The Mighty Thor, the literal god. And the secret agents now known to the world, Black widow and Hawkeye.
And his personal favorites, The Invincible Ironman and the most famous soldier in American history, Captain America.
They were his favorites because of what Peter could relate to them. Tony's engineering genius matched Peter's love for science and Steve's righteousness paired with Peter's hope for a better world.
He and every child in the world wished to have powers like them, fighting side by side with their heroes in epic battles for the survival of the planet. It was like comic books come to life.
And so the day was spent with laughter and games at the Parker household, until sunset was nearing and Harry had to leave. Being the son of a rich and powerful man brought Harry the best things he could buy, but also a limit on how he could enjoy life as a normal person. Such as having a curfew no matter what because of the danger of being a high profile target for kidnapping.
So Harry showed off his money by buying Peter a brand new Stark phone, with the intent of impressing Gwen with his money. Who only rolled her eyes in his mind at the blatant intent because of how he told everyone (specially Gwen) of the price.
And to make his father frown at Peter for 'betraying' him for buying from Stark's company, who was Oscorp's rival. Thing that will bite him in the ass, since his father is the owner of the card he used to make the purchase. (He's really a dumbass).
As he left, Peter's uncle also left, leaving Gwen and Peter both secretly cheering in their minds for being left alone with the other. Until Peter had to walk Gwen home, who thanked Peter with a kiss on the cheek after telling him goodbye.
Shortly after he got home, Peter placed all his information on his new phone and called his 'bro' Eddie back, since he'd missed his phone call the older man made earlier, most likely to wish Peter a happy birthday.
Peter would've liked Eddie to be here right now as he was on his other birthdays, but Eddie was on a trip looking for universities across the country with a good journalism program. And while Peter was slightly saddened by the fact that his 'brother' may leave New York, he was really happy for the soon to be college student.
And so Peter called Eddie, who did congratulate him on his birthday, while lightly scolding him for not picking up his phone. Peter laughed and told Eddie about his day, while Eddie did the same, telling Peter how his trip across the country was going.
Eventually each had to hang up due to the time, but Eddie did promise Peter a gift and a souvenir, so that he would be looking forward to seeing the older man again.
Not that Peter actually needed an incentive to want to see his older bro.
'This was a nice birthday' thought Peter as he went home. Excited to enter middle school.
Middle school came in and it brought all kinds of drama for everyone, now more than ever with them being seniors and all.
Harry was each time more and more jealous of Peter, not only because of his father, but because everything Peter did was always so great in the eyes of everyone.
So he began taking pleasure in seeing him fail, get bullied and get sad from time to time. He wanted to stop but he couldn't, it was basically the only thing that brought him happiness during school days. But remained friends with him in a weird toxic friendship kind of way.
Peter found more friends to hang with. His neighbor and once crush Mary Jane Watson and Sophia 'Chat' Sanduval were some of the ones he spent more time with in middle school, making for himself a friend group with them rather than a trio of just him, Harry and Gwen.
Gwen however found love rivals, since she saw how both girls would gaze dreamily at Peter when he wasn't paying attention. Not that it stopped her from becoming friends with them. Even going as far as starting a band with MJ and other girls. During all of middle school, her friendship with Peter deepened and was made stronger.
In fact, everything was looking up for everyone, and Peter loved his new normal. Going to Gwen's and MJ's rehearsal sessions, even though Betty Brant and Glory Grant gave him the nasty eye many times. Talking science with Gwen while walking home with both girls afterwards. Spending time with Harry even though he's been kinda mean these last few years 'maybe puberty or something' guessed Peter. And just hanging out with Chat who is a nice person all around.
And even though Flash got worse, he gets friendly from time to time in a weird and inconsistent way, as if he still wanted to be friends with him but something stopped him.
He also got better at socializing, even having acquaintances in both his band group (that May kinda forced him to take part in) and his decathlon team, which included Gwen.
Two of the best 'acquaintances' he had are Liz Allan, a super popular and pretty girl everybody likes, that even though she's part of Flash's clique, still is nice to him and goes out of her way to talk with him. And the other is Jessica Jones, who is a kinda awkward and shy but equally very nice and pretty girl who's always happy to talk with him.
It was all looking up for Peter until it inevitably happened.
The bite.