I, spy

"I spy with my little eye something starting with T." Spider-Ham said, beginning a game of I spy to pass the time as the bus headed towards Fisk Tower, where their ticket home awaited them.

"Tax evasion." Spider Noir answered the first thing that popped into his head. Recalling the dirty tactics Norman Osborn undoubtedly employed to keep his ill-gotten wealth out of the government's hands.

"I was thinking taxi." Spider-Ham clarified, surprised by how off Peter's guess had been. Nevermind, maybe he'll get the next one.

"Okay, how about this next one. I spy with my little eye something starting with C."

"Corruption."

"Car. I was going to say car." Spider-Ham patiently revealed the correct answer once more. Did Peter not understand how the game worked?

"Now I know you can get this next one. It begins with a B, you can see it in the streets." Spider-Ham winked at Peter, hoping he would get it right this time.

"Beatings." Peter gave a cynical answer, yet again. Growing up in a poor neighbourhood, it was either beat or be beaten up.

"Billboards. You're really bad at this."

"It's not a game of word associations, Peter." Gwen chimed in, head leaning against the bus window, bored with waiting for the bus ride to end. This was the time to mentally prepare themselves for the challenge ahead, not for playing games.

"I only reflect upon the world that I've lived through." Peter lamented and lowered his head to express the melancholy of his existence.

"Rough childhood, am I right?" Spider-Ham joked to Gwen about the man who viewed the world with black tinted glasses.

Christmas Carrots

You can't stay in the house forever May, you have to go out once in a while. It's for a good cause. May told herself, on the way to a nearby soup kitchen. Happy to draw upon her experience cooking for Peter and Ben, May was assigned to chopping vegetables. This was no date, but May was grateful for something to do on a lonely weekend. As time passed, May soon had company—a man with wavy, greying ginger hair.

Like the colour of the carrots she was currently chopping, but tinged with age. May greeted the man who introduced himself as Frank Spencer and the two worked together chopping vegetables.

While May was too focused on chopping carrots for making chit chat, Frank made a joke to break the silence.

"Do you like Christmas carols? Personally, I don't carrot for them at all."

"That sounds like a dad joke, if I ever heard one." May remarked with a smile, charmed with his effort of breaking the ice. "Do you have children?"

"Daughter and son. Will you be spending the holidays with anyone?" He asked. May knew he was asking her to be polite, but a part of her wished he was extending an invitation. Christmas wouldn't be the same this year without Peter to share it with.

"No. It's just me this year." May answered, pretending like it didn't bother her. Perhaps it was obvious that May was putting up a brave face or maybe it was Frank's years of experience detecting when his former wife was hiding something bothering her. Nonetheless, Frank offered her an invitation to join his he and his family for a fun activity.

"You know, I'm taking the kids ice skating next week, followed by a bit of Christmas shopping. Why don't you join us? I could always use a second opinion."

"And an extra pair of hands to carry the shopping bags." She quipped, making Frank laugh, who appreciated her sarcastic sense of humour.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"It's a date then." May remarked with a hopeful smile.

Christmas

"Peter, why don't you watch the movie with us?" May asked, gesturing for the monochromatic man to join her, Peni and Spider-Ham on her cozy sofa.

"Let me see if I have my facts straight. This is a moving picture… in a box?" Peter asked after sitting down. The convenience of watching a film in your home instead of in theatres, an unusual one for him to grasp.

"That's right. They're probably not far off from being invented in your world, but in the meantime, you can watch It's a Wonderful Life."

"What's wonderful about life?" Peter asked, feeling sullen about the premise already.

"You'll see."

Once the movie was over, a chorus of reactions took place.

"I don't need wings to hover." Said Spider-Ham comparing his abilities to Clarence the guardian angel gaining his wings.

"That was so kawaii! He made the town a better place."

Peter however, did not say a word. Was that a sniff May heard underneath his mask?

"Beggin' your pardon…" Peter excused himself and went to the bathroom. Following her aunt's intuition, May went up to see Peter who was gripping the sides of the bathroom sink.

"Peter, are you alright?" May asked, concerned for the man drooping his head sadly.

"My uncle Benjamin fought for the greater good and spoke for the people trapped in poverty. In the end, it got him killed. He didn't get a second chance like George."

"No, but he has you to carry on his good work." May gripped Peter's arms and gently turned him around to face her. No matter which dimension he came from, Peter always had a place in May's heart and it was time for Peter to do the same.

"Now, let me see my nephew's face." May reached for the mask covering Peter's face. But Peter had other plans.

"I'm not taking off my… mask." Peter protested, while May disregarded his words and did so anyway.

Underneath the mask revealed a weary figure, a face etched with wrinkles around his eyes. Offset by the handsomeness of his features and a stylish, slicked back hairdo that made his hair shine.

"The war has been hard on you." May said softly and wrapped her arms around Peter in a warm, loving embrace.

The Spider's Apprentice

Unpredictable and dangerous like a lightning strike, Electro was a sinister opponent for even the most capable of heroes. In spite of being covered from head to toe in insulating leather, Spider Noir was unfortunate to be hit in his unprotected leg, by a stray bolt of electricity. Lights out for the Spider-Man.

In a dreamlike state, Peter was suddenly on the stage of a speakeasy, belting out a heavenly tune and capturing the gaze of two fine young ladies; Gwen and Peni—his teammates.

"Never thought I'd see an angel, but seein' is believin'. You've got me believin, darlin', in you!"

—

"No, no, no, no. This can't happen to you now, I need you!" Miles cried out, shaking Peter's unconscious body repeatedly. Desperate to wake him before Electro could kill the both of them. But though his eyes did not flutter open, his subconscious mind picked up on Miles' cries.

"Excuse me, sir. You have a phone call from a mister Miles Morales on the line." Spider-Ham informed him, dressed as a waiter.

"Be there in a sec." He replied and waved dramatically goodbye to his adoring audience. Back in the real world, Peter's eyes finally opened to Miles' relief.

"I had a dream. I was singing and Gwen and Peni were there." Peter said with a groggy voice, mind slowly rising from the fog.

Uneasy with Electro still at large, Miles looked frantically over his shoulder, looking for any sight of him, as Peter put a hand on his forehead to soothe his aching head. The kid was right to be scared. Getting hit with one of Electro's bolts was a doozy. But there was still a glimmer of hope.

"Don't worry bud, the gang will get here soon." Peter put a reassuring hand on Miles' shoulder.

I hope you enjoyed these one-shots I came up with. Please leave a review, I'd love to see your thoughts. There's two more chapters coming up, so stay tuned.