Peter sprinted the entire way home, arriving at his doorstep gasping for air.
He'd been in a great mood earlier. At Oscorp, using his parents' decayed algorithm, he had helped Dr. Connors crack the genetic puzzle that had stumped him, successfully using the model to regenerate the limb of a disabled mouse.
Once Connors confirmed his results were viable for humans, this breakthrough could save countless lives!
But when he finally left Oscorp and saw the darkened sky, Peter's stomach dropped.
He remembered Ben's repeated warnings at lunch not to forget picking up Aunt May. He'd been so engrossed in his work with Connors that he'd lost all track of time.
It was so late. He couldn't be sure Aunt May was still waiting.
He'd rushed to the diner where May worked anyway, only to find that Ben had already taken her home. Filled with dread, Peter hadn't paused for a single breath, pushing his body all the way back to Queens.
He spotted Uncle Ben standing by the front door from down the street.
Ben's stern expression filled Peter with unease. The fear of being scolded was minor compared to the terrifying, gnawing worry that something might have happened to Aunt May because of his negligence. New York at night was dangerous. If his forgetfulness had put her in harm's way, he would never forgive himself.
"Uncle Ben! Where's Aunt May?" he shouted, not even slowing his pace.
The frantic run had left him exhausted, even with his enhanced stamina. He bent over, hands on his knees, his throat burning, barely able to speak.
But his face was a mask of pure fear and concern.
Seeing him like this melted the stern reprimand forming on Ben's lips.
"Ben Jr. brought her home," Ben said, his voice softer than intended. "He lied for you. Said you asked him to get her."
Relief washed over Peter so powerfully it felt physical. The rock in his chest vanished, only to be replaced by sharp surprise and guilt. Ben had been the one to remind him in the first place. Not only had he forgotten, but Ben had also kept his promise for him.
"I'm so sorry..." Peter mumbled, too ashamed to meet his uncle's eyes.
Perhaps it was because Peter hadn't completely forgotten the task—his genuine worry and remorse were plain to see—that Ben's anger didn't flare as it might have.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Peter," he said gently, choosing his words carefully to not crush the boy further. "You're so much like your father. I think that's a good thing. A great thing!"
Ben meant every word.
Though brothers, Peter's father and he were polar opposites. Where Ben was ordinary, Richard Parker was brilliant. Ben had always hoped Peter would follow in his father's footsteps, become a remarkable scientist.
"But your father always believed that with great power, comes great responsibility." Ben walked over and put an arm around Peter, offering warmth and comfort.
"You're growing up. Even though May and I aren't your real parents—"
"What? No!" Peter's heart clenched. He looked up, desperate to object, but Ben motioned for him to listen.
"It's alright, Peter. It's the truth," Ben said seriously.
"May and I don't mind if you or Ben look into your past. That's your right. We'd never stop you. But remember, even if we aren't your birth parents, we love you both just the same."
"I don't expect you to carry the weight of this family on your shoulders, but I need you to promise you won't hurt May, okay?" Ben continued. "Do you have any idea what might have happened tonight if Ben hadn't been there?"
"I..." Peter's mouth opened, but no sound came out.
The entire run home, his mind had conjured the worst-case scenarios. He could have lost Aunt May forever.
Ben squeezed his shoulder. "And it's not just you. If May didn't see you, she'd be even more worried than you were!"
"Yeah." All Peter could do was nod, overwhelmed.
Guilt flooded him, washing away much of the joy his new powers had brought him these past weeks.
Seeing his distress, Ben softened his tone. "The important thing is everyone's safe. That's enough. Just remember this for next time, okay? Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility."
Peter nodded, his eyes glistening.
Just then, the front door creaked open.
Ben stood leaning against the doorframe, a pork chop in one hand. He took a huge bite, grease glistening on his lips. "You two planning to stand out here all night?"
Peter and Ben turned to look at him.
Ben squinted, then gave Peter a pat on the back. "You must be starving, kid! Get inside and eat!" he said loudly.
Then, he leaned in and whispered in Peter's ear, "Ben already covered for you once today. So let's stick to that story, alright? Don't worry May."
"Okay!" Peter nodded vigorously.
Later that night, after Peter and Ben had devoured an astonishing amount of food, the two boys were crammed into Ben's room.
"Ugh—" Peter let out a massive burp. "I never thought I could eat that much."
"Seems our powers come with a serious calorie requirement," Ben said, lying sprawled on his bed. "At this rate, we're going to eat Uncle Ben out of house and home."
He'd been sure a major argument was unavoidable tonight, but Uncle Ben had handled it with surprising peace. However, that brought another pressing issue to the forefront—money.
Without him and Peter, Uncle Ben and Aunt May would live comfortably. But supporting two growing boys was a significant financial strain. Now, with their super-powered metabolisms, they'd nearly cleaned out the entire fridge in one sitting.
"We need to figure out a way to make some money."
Peter nodded seriously. "With great power comes great responsibility. We have these abilities now. It's time we started pulling our weight for this family." He thought for a moment. "What about underground fighting? I bet no one could beat us! We could make a fortune!"
"No! Absolutely no fighting!" Ben jolted upright, the suggestion sending a chill down his spine.
He'd barely prevented one canon event; who knew what chaos would unfold if Spider-Man started brawling in illegal fight clubs?
Peter's mind, always jumping, quickly pivoted. "Maybe we should use our powers for something else, then."
He slid his chair closer to Ben's bed, his expression turning earnest. "Like Uncle Ben said. We were given these powers. It's not just a gift. More importantly, it's a responsibility."
"We have an obligation to use them to make the world better!"
/-\
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