I got on my feet, standing before us was Tyrone's body, now darker than before. "Light! Hunger! Hunger!" he growled as he charged ahead.
Skit!
I swiped at him, but like the darkness, this did nothing. He instead caught me in a tight grip before swinging me round and into a tree.
I crashed into it and collapsed down in a heap. I looked up, the darkness was moving to consume Tandy, the girl looking frightened. "NO!" I cried out.
But as it was about to consume her yet again, I saw the fear drain out of Tandy's eyes. I saw an iron will replace it, I saw...pure rage. And for a moment, regret.
I didn't realise it happened until it was over. There was a flash of bright light that ripped through Tyrone's cloak. I watched as several daggers of light came flying out of Tandy and into Tyrone's body.
He staggered for a moment before falling on his back, coughing up blackish blood as he did.
"No..." I said in horror as I got up and ran to his side. I grabbed his head and held it on my lap as I watched him bleed, "stay with me, man, please! I'll get help!" I was about to cast a stasis spell to hold him stable when he grabbed my arm.
"N-no," he coughed out, "this has to happen….I...I won't be a monster anymore," he looked over to Tandy, a genuine smile appearing on his face for the first time since we met him, "t-thank you...what's your name?"
"Tandy, Tandy Bowen," the girl who stammered in polite conversation replied with a steel in her voice. She kneeled down next to Tyrone, holding his hand in hers, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."
"No...you did what I asked you," his smile continued to widen, "and now...I'm free," he coughed, more blood staining his cloak, "Tandy Bowen huh? I'm glad the last thing I'll see in this world is someone so...beautiful..."
And with those last words, Tyrone died. Tandy looked down, ashamed. And I looked down in horror. All of this...this was my fault...if I hadn't shown Tandy Bowen compassion that night...she would have remained homeless...she would have met Tyrone. They would have been captured together, they would have awakened their powers together and then...they would have been each other's rock, Tandy keeping Tyrone's sanity in check. But by saving one of them...I damned the other.
And with him...the lives of fifteen other souls...why? Why did this happen? And how could I have prevented it? How could I have known?! I should have known! I didn't realise who Tandy was! Who she was meant to be! By interfering in her life I-I...I changed her destiny.
"Peter?" Tandy spoke quietly, "are you okay?"
I looked at the frightened girl before me. I knew I should be angry at her, she killed someone who could have been saved. But she wasn't a superhero then, no, she was just a frightened little girl...and she still is.
"I'm fine Tandy it's just..." I unwrapped Tyrone's cloak from his body, it had returned to the white bedsheet it once was, "I'm sorry we couldn't help him..."
"What do we do now?" she asked.
I looked at her. Immediately I recalled everything I could about Cloak and Dagger. They lived together, they fought against drugs together. They were an important interracial couple in comic books and they were also...technically mutants.
I sighed, "first, I need to take care of Tyrone," I reached down and closed his eyes, making him seem at peace, "and then...you need to learn how to control your powers. Sexy, call the police."
"I'm sorry?" Tandy blinked.
I smiled, "my AI, it's called Sexy."
The call went through, a woman picked up on the other side, "hello, 911, what's your emergency?"
"This is Spider-man," I replied, "there's been an accident at Central Park, one young African American teenager has been killed, a female Caucasian has been hurt and," I looked around, no sign of Harry anywhere, "and I guess that's all. You need to send an ambulance and a squad car over, now."
"I'm sorry? Is this a joke?" the lady asked in a sassy tone, "because I do not have time for this."
"Lady, I am Spider-man, okay, the real one. Now send a squad over on the double!" I growled, cutting the call.
Just then there was a roar of engines as suddenly Glider came flying through the trees, a pumpkin bomb in each hand, "where is that shadow freak?!" he cried out as suddenly he noticed us, "woah! Spider-man?!"
I sighed, so that's why he was missing.
Tandy blinked, "Glider? But how?" she was confused, but I understood perfectly.
"Ah, I was in the neighbourhood," Harry admitted sheepishly in his disguised voice, "I saw Harry Osborn flying through the air. So I figured there was something wrong."
"Oh my God! Harry! What happened to him?" Tandy asked, worried.
"Oh, it's fine! I got him to safety!" Glider quickly spoke, "I mean, he is my boss's kid, I would kind of lose my job if I didn't. Are you okay, ma'am? Are you hurt?"
"N-no," she looked down at Tyrone, "I'm fine..."
"So he's dead huh? Nice job Spidey!" Glider gave me a thumbs up, "guy was a monster. From what I heard he tried to kill-"
"Shut up!" Tandy and I roared at the same time, startling Glider.
"Woah," he put up both hands in defence, "sorry...am I missing something?"
"No," I spat, "nothing."
"Right," Glider turned to Tandy and looked surprised, "hey ah...is it just me, or do you have a crescent moon glowing off the side of your face?"
Tandy gasped as she reached out and touched her new power mark, it glowed in the slowly darkening light, making her stand out even more. Tandy looked up, afraid, she had seen what happened to Tyrone, no wonder she got scared.
"It's fine," I told Glider, "it's a side effect from that shadow monster's attack," I'm sorry Tyrone, but right now I need to protect the living, "listen, it could still be around. I can't really swing around to search, can you do a patrol? That thing might still be around."
Glider was confused, "ah, what thing? Wasn't this guy the monster?"
"No," Tandy snapped, "he wasn't a monster...not in the end."
"He was being controlled," I supplied, "and whatever controlled him escaped after he gave his life to free us...so go, check out the park, if that thing gets out it's on you."
"Wait what?!" he cried out, "but that's not fair!"
"You want to be a fucking hero?!" I cried out, "this is what you do! Some days it's not fair! Learn to fucking deal with it! Now go, I have no patience for you right now."
He said nothing, sending me a glare before taking to the sky and flying away. Tandy looked at me, "why did you lie to him?"
"I never got along with Harry," I replied, "seeing him play superhero isn't something I want to see right now."
"Oh...wait...Glider is...Harry?" Tandy blinked, suddenly her eyes widened, "oh..." we went silent, looking down at Tyrone's body. I think the shock of everything that happened today made her numb to everything, and honestly, I can't blame her.
"I did this," she slowly gasped in realisation, looking down at Tyrone's body, "I killed him. I killed a man, Peter..."
Yes...you did. But this girl wasn't a monster...she was still innocent. I sighed, I removed my helmet, showing her my face.
And then, I began, "Tandy...you did what you had to do...if I was in your position, I would do the same," I reached out and pushed a stray strand behind her ear, "you're not a killer, you're not a monster...you're a kind girl who made sure a young man who was suffering didn't spend the rest of his life as a monster. I know it's difficult but...you don't have to do it alone, Tandy," I held out my hand.
For a moment she looked like she was going to say no. But then, she smiled and nodded, taking it and squeezing it tight.
And just then, there was a burst of energy as a circle with sparks rolling out of it appeared before us.
"Get back!" I cried out, slipping on my helmet and standing protectively before Tandy. But it seems it was for nothing, as the person who stepped through the portal was none other than the Ancient One herself.
The bald woman stopped and looked down, her face morphing to one of regret at the sight of Tyrone's body. She then turned to me and Tandy, a small smile growing on her face, "I see...I suppose it would be fitting that you would decide the balance between the Lightforce and the Darkforce."
I blinked, "you're going to have to be a lot more specific than that."
"W-what's going on?" Tandy asked.
"What's going on, my dear, is that you have become a vessel for a dimensional force far bigger than any of us," the Ancient One spoke before turning to me, "Peter...let me handle this. As skilled as you are, this is far out of your...expertise as it were."
I shook my head, "I made a promise, Ancient One. Until she says so, I'm not going anywhere."
"What's going on?" Tandy asked, "who are you? Why are you here?"
The bald woman sighed, "I am...someone who does not mean you harm, Tandy Bowen," Tandy gasped. I rolled my eyes — show off. "But, I am here to help. You can feel it can't you? The energy inside you? Just begging to be released? Begging you to allow it to grow, to save the people around you?"
Tandy's eyes widened, "h-how do you know?"
The Ancient One smiled, "because you are not the first person to be able to access the Light," she looked at Tyrone, "and he is not the first to access the Dark and sadly, like those before him, he too fell into its grasp."
"No," I shot back, "in the end...he didn't. He sacrificed himself, for us. In the end...he defeated the Darkness as well."
The Ancient One had a look akin to pity on her face. She nodded, "if you say so."
"How are you even here?" I asked her.
"I sensed their powers, all the way from Nepal," she replied as she leaned down to examine Tyrone's body, "at first I believed the darkness to have won. But then I sensed her...her power, her strength, it can be used for great things, Peter. She cannot stay here...let me take her to Kamar Taj, let me train her."
"Wait, what?" Tandy asked, "Peter...what is she talking about?"
I turned to Tandy, the words stuck in my throat. I sighed, "she's not going anywhere."
"If she doesn't, she'll hurt the very people around her," the Ancient One spoke.
"How can she?" I asked, "she's not darkness, she's the light! What could she possibly do to us?!"
"Do you know how the light works?" the Ancient One asked. At my silence she continued, "it doesn't just give out energy, it feeds on her life force. Just a little yes, but still, she burns so that others can heal. And if she doesn't learn how to control it...she'll burn herself out."
I was stunned, shocked still. Tandy gasped behind me. I knew the Ancient One didn't lie, she wouldn't, not for this. I knew I had no choice. If it meant saving her life….Tandy had to leave.
I turned to her, she looked scared, so very scared. "Peter...am I going to die?" I looked down at Tyrone's body, stark reminder of my failures, of what happens when I interfere.
"No...you won't," I pulled her into a hug, holding her tight as she cried in confusion and terror, not understanding what was happening to her. I turned to the Ancient One, "if you ever let anything happen to this girl, I will personally hand deliver every single Infinity Stone on the planet to Thanos and step aside to watch him blow this Universe to hell, do you understand?"
The Ancient One didn't treat it as a jest, because she knew it damn well wasn't. She nodded, "I understand."
I nodded, "good," I turned to Tandy and slowly pulled her away, looking into her eyes, "Tandy...you have to go with her. She'll protect you, do you understand? She'll make sure nothing ever happens to you...so you won't end up like Tyrone."
She looked afraid, but she nodded, "r-right. I understand. I-if you say I have to, then I will."
I felt my heart break. This girl...this poor trusting girl...if she knew what I did...she wouldn't even look at me.
Suddenly there were police sirens in the distance, the police had arrived. I turned to the Ancient One, "go, now. Talk to her uncle, get this sorted out. If she just disappeared it would be an issue."
The Ancient One nodded, "I'll handle it all. I promise."
Tandy looked at me, "c-can I see? One last time?"
I nodded as I removed my helmet, looking at her with my own eyes. She didn't say anything, instead choosing to lean forward and kiss me on the lips.
Her hands on my face, her palms cupping my cheeks. She tasted sweet...like cherry. And then, it was over.
I don't remember what happened next, it was a dull blur. I remembered watching her leave. I remembered waiting with Tyrone's body with my helmet on. I remembered Harry coming back as Glider and telling me he didn't find anything suspicious.
The police came soon. I had to face questioning for over an hour, obviously the first time I explained the story things didn't make any sense, even for this town. But eventually my goodwill with the people won out.
I swung away and soon found myself on top of the Empire State Building, looking down at the city. I killed him...I made him a monster...so what did that make me?
I curled myself into a ball. What was wrong with me? I had pushed Reed away, Liz and MJ...well, I can't blame them.
Was I truly alone? I looked around and I realised...no...I wasn't.
Half an hour later:
I leaped down from my car and landed on the mansion roof quietly. I carefully moved to her room and jumped down to her balcony. I removed my helmet and put it away, I wouldn't need it, not here.
I knocked on her balcony doors and waited. The lights came on inside her room. The curtains were drawn and the doors swung open. She wore a pair of light purple PJs and a pink top, her red hair coming down to her lower back, her frame stronger than I last remembered.
"You're late," she smiled.
I looked at the clock in her room, it was ten at night. I smiled sadly, "sorry," I held out a box of chocolates I had bought at the last moment, "forgive me?"
Immediately Jean frowned, "Peter...what happened?"
I closed my eyes and thought, "so very very much," I sent her images of my day into her mind, my pathetically novice abilities at telepathy proving even that a challenge.
She didn't say anything, she didn't speak. She took the chocolate and guided it to her night stand without a word. She took me by the hand and into her bed. She pressed the spider symbol on my chest and released the costume.
I didn't even know she knew how to do that.
She threw the costume away and pulled me under her covers, wrapping her arms around my head and pressing her chin on my head, gently caressing my back, "it's alright Peter...it's alright."
"I wasn't strong enough," I admitted, barely able to hold back breaking down in her arms.
"No, you weren't...but you saved one...that's enough," Jean kissed my forehead, "even one life can make a difference."
I smiled, "when did you get so wise?"
She chuckled, "I had to...if I wanted to walk beside you as an equal."
I sighed, "I'm not wise...a wise man would have known not to interfere."
"What do you mean?"
I tried to tell her, but couldn't. I sighed, "I'm sorry...but I can't...I can't explain it."
Jean nodded, "it's fine...tell me...did you try to do what's right?"
"Yes."
"Then...that can never be the wrong thing to have done."
"But if I hadn't done it...things would have been better."
"Better? Or easier?"
"Better."
"How can you know that?"
"I do."
"Then maybe you should ask yourself if you could do it all over again...what could you possibly do differently?"
Not save a homeless girl? Not try and protect her? Not...not be a hero? No...no...I would have done the same thing...if anything, I would try and save them both...I failed him...I have to live with that.
I slowly pulled away and looked up at Jean, "Jean...do you think me being in your life was...was for the best?"
She smiled, leaning down to kiss me. This time the kiss wasn't a sad goodbye, but a fiery and passionate hello. I let myself be lost into it, slowly gaining the spark that roared into a fire that gave me the drive to wrap my arms around her and kiss her back.
Jean smiled as she pulled away, "yes, Tiger. I do. You were there for me when I thought I was a monster. You saved me, you showed me that I can be someone important, that I can be a good person, even if I'm different. You were there for me, Peter," I felt the clouds of sadness slowly lift, "just for tonight...let me be there for you. Happy Valentine's Day, Peter."
"Happy Valentine's Day...Jean."