Summary: it was the final battle. The ultimate standoff and he won. Spider man finally succeeded in making new york safe for its citizens, for them to enjoy and prosper. But it came at the cost of peter Parker's life. Now with everyone he knows and love taking him for dead, our friendly neighbor peter has hit the absolute bottom of the barrel. Now the only way to go is up, as peter decides to turn this curse into a blessing to create a brand new life for himself away from all the bad memories of new york and into the peaceful life of echo creek. Unfortunately for our dear wallcrawler, the infamous Parker luck chases him everywhere and is hell bent on making his life a living hell. Lucky for him there just so happens to be a bright star from another dimension ready and willing to make his new found life into one of the wildest experience he has ever known. Lets hope he survives the experience.
Prologue: Born Again.
It was an incredibly morbid thing, to stare into your own coffin knowing it was nothing but an empty box. That everyone you cared about, everyone that came to your funeral, were completely ignorant to the elaborate trick meant to deceive them.
The tears, the cries, the flowers, the whimpers...all genuine.
All for a pretend memorial and they didn't even knew it.
All of his dear friends, companions and fellow workers coming together to give their last goodbye, to grieve, and all peter Parker could do was watch from afar.
Lying to them should be a second nature to him at this point, considering the complexity of his former "other life", but it did nothing to diminish the crushing pressure on his chest and the burning of his eyes. One last lie he told himself. to protect them he had convinced himself.
What a bunch of bull.
It was just him using another excuse to avoid pain. This is what all of this was about, what has always been about ever since he got bitten by that damn spider!
All the lying, the excuses, the secrets...he used to think he did it for them. To protect them from a truth that would most likely hurt them in ways he couldn't bear. that his secret was already crushing enough on its own and that sharing it would spread unnecessary pain to those he loved.
But the truth was more disappointing than that silly pretense.
He just didn't want to get hurt. He didn't want to live his life worried about every move, every action that they made, in fear that it would lead them to their demise in the hands of his numerous enemies. He didn't want to be excluded, demonized for the freak that he was. Not quite human, not quite a mutation of nature but something in between. A true freak.
It was so stupid. All this time he thought he was protecting them and in reality he was just thinking about himself.
As usual.
Just the good old selfish Parker that he had always been! Superpowers didn't change who he was at all. He still was that idiot kid that was too self centered to notice the bad man getting away with the money, not knowing it would end the life of the greatest father figure this world had ever known.
And now it had happened all over again, just that in place of Ben Parker being shot by a thief, it was…
Needless to say, he could now be considered a true orphan this time. He had no family left in this world. He was truly alone this time.
That final battle...it had broken him, and not just his body.
It had drained him. The sacrifices he had to make to keep his city and all of his friends safe had been enormous. But he won in the end right? So it was all worth it right?
Wrong again.
All that event did was robbing him of the only family he had left and alienating him further from any kind of resemblance to a social life.
The gig was up and the secret was out. He had lost even that.
What other choice did he have but to fake his own death?
Well, "faking" is kind of a stretch because he really die, however temporary it had been. It was the closest near death experience he had ever since becoming spider man. If not for the intervention of a certain super spy, and the pull of certain strings, he really would have been six feet under in that grave.
Nevertheless, by the end of everything and when the dust settled, he was left with no home, no family and no apparent life.
He had finally reached rock bottom.
Right then he was faced with two choices: one, to come clean with his best friends, revealing them the truth of every secret he had to maintain, while also revealing the fact that he was not dead, in hopes that one of them might take him in so that he could go on with the crumbled bits that would be his life, or two…
Well his current situation just speaks for itself doesn't it.
He lied. Again. Like he always does.
This lie however, unlike all his other deceptions, was a long time coming. A truth he was afraid of admitting but has no choice now. The first real decision he had ever made and should have made ages ago, but refused to because some delusion of grandeur or something like that. After all that he has given to new york city, to its citizens, to his friends...it had left him with nothing. He gave himself to this power, and the responsibility that came with it, so that he could do righteous acts in honor of his uncle...
"With great power there must come great responsibility".
Even now peter still believes in those words. But, no matter how strong or durable someone is, be it on their mind or their bodies, there is a limit to how much responsibility someone can take on before the weight becomes too much to bear. His powers are great and spectacular, so to avoid the risk of using them selfishly again, he dedicated his life in saving others.
Catching bad guys, sometimes saving them.
Solving the occasional murder
And lets not forget the annual team up with other heroes when the situation demanded it.
Each scenario more exhausting and consuming than the last.
He never actually thought he would lose. That he would take on any challenge that came his way and emerge victorious.
After all, the good guys always win at the en right?
Not this time.
He might have won the war, but it came at a too high price. He is done. He can't keep on living like this. He always cared too much about others and he will always care...but what about him? What about his safety? What about his happiness? Didn't he deserve peace and tranquility just like every other person he had saved? Just because he was a "superhero" it meant he had to keep on giving and giving until he had nothing left worth loosing? His life wasn't enough, now he has to keep on living without family, endangering his friends, always preparing for the next big attack? The next doomsday plan?
He is just a teenager for god's sake!
This was never meant to be his life! The power may be amazing, but it means nothing if he has to let go of everything that should be his real life and responsibilities.
Girlfriend? Forget it!
Hanging out with his friends? NO!
Quality time with family? Ha!
Planning for a future in which he could contribute to society and humanity as a whole? Good luck with that!
Making a family of his own? Never gonna happen!
The crux that came with this abilities had become too big for him to carry.
No more.
So, when presented by this particular proposal by the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, he only took two days before coming with an answer.
Which leads us to right here, in the graveyard; a hoax funeral for a very faulty "human being" that did nothing but lie to everyone he cherished, once again, for "their own good". Said liar was also watching every part of the ritual from a safe distance, so to not draw any attention to himself.
What a coward, right?
…
He is just tired you know? He can't keep on living like this...something has to change. Using his own death as an advantage would have never crossed his mind. God bless the calculative and tactical mind of Nick Fury. Its twisted and nefarious ideas are simply the best.
A blessing in disguise, where his exact words. He isn't completely sure about that, but who knows. It just may be exactly that.
After today, a brand new day would start for Peter Parker.
One in where he didn't have to fight super villains in a daily basis.
A life where he wouldn't have to lie to anyone for his, or their "benefit" ever again.
A life in which he can finally think about his future without ruining the futures of others.
A life where...no one would get hurt by his actions or inaction as spider man.
He made sure to not leave any loose ends that might unravel the truth. With the help of the previously mentioned super spy of course. It seems that being the director of the most powerful security enforcing entity on the world has its benefits
…
This was the right call...it has to be.
There is no going back for him after this. He couldn't do this to them, only to reappear some time later to reopen the wounds. This has to be permanent. They would grieve him, yes. But they would move on. Time heals most wounds and sooner or later, they will go on with their lives. Not quite the same, but it would be better than what would happen if he remains.
This is his final scheme. His final lie to them.
After the funeral it will be bye-bye New York.
Bye-bye to captured villains that were breathing through straws and would never see the light of day.
And it will bye bye his dear and closest friends. No matter how much it actually hurts to do so. And it hurts.
By god, how much it hurts…
As Peter realizes this, he sees a familiar and beautiful blonde girl, covered in black like the others, approaching the lowering coffin, only to drop on her knees,on the verge of pulling out her hairs by sheer grief. Her cries of anguish, mixed with the ever falling rain, created a very depressing image that was sure to remain in his mind for a very long time.
As Peter watched this, and as the funeral came to a close, it occurred to him that this will be the last time he would ever see Gwen Stacy again in his life. If only he could tell her. If only he could get close to her, to ease the pain in her heart that was sure to be the same pain he had on his own. He wanted to held her close, to dry her tears and to kiss the pain goodbye. He wanted so badly to give her the love he had for her in his heart.
But it was far too late for that. Those wishes, along with his love for her, would have to die today.
This time he didn't bother with preventing the tears from forming.
Even if it was all fake, a complete ruse, he should at least grief for the end of his old life. The end of an era.
As of today...Peter Parker is dead.
And with him...spider man is no more.
He is born again.
He is Ben Reilly.
Now and for the rest of his life.
"Are you all set kid?". Peter didn't need to turn around to recognize the owner of that gruff and no-nonsense voice. Nick fury was behind him, awaiting his response so that they may leave for his new home.
"Remind me where we are going again", he asked without turning around. He was surprised by how tired and hoarse his own voice sounded in comparison. Jesus he sounded older. He was only 15 years old and he sounded like an adult.
How much can change in only 3 months.
"We are relocating you to a small town in L.A called Echo Creek. It is an insignificant, quiet place. Hardly anything happens in there and i doubt anything ever will. S.H.I.E.L.D has just finished manufacturing your new records, personal information and papers for your new identity. It will in no way, shape or form be traced back to here or to Peter Parker. You have my word on that".
Peter knew all of that already. He just wanted to hear it from his mouth. Those words said aloud made the situation all the more real. As if to remind him of the severity of what he was doing.
Not that he needed it. This was his choice. He had to confirm it. All of the wheels have been set in motion and no one can stop it now. Specially not him.
"...I know i said it before but thanks Fury. for doing all of this for me i mean. I couldn't have done it better even if i knew how to start. It would have been a disaster if i tried to do this on my own".
"Well...i would be lying if i said i did this out of the goodness of my heart. Your current situation can be of use to me in the future, which is why i intervened as much as did. Just don't be surprised if one day i come to you for a favor".
The tone of which he said that last part left no room for negotiation or argument, as Peter already expected. It was fine though. He already expected that kind of condition out of him. Nick fury never does anything without thoroughly planning every step of the way and predicting all possible outcomes. Also, he's never personally involved in the affairs of other heroes or vigilantes, unless he is capable of drawing some kind of benefit or favor that he can exploit at a later date of his choosing.
The conditions for his new path he guessed.
"Don't worry. If you ever need me for anything just let me know. It's not like i can refuse anything you say now, when you pretty much gave me this second chance on a silver platter".
"Well, it's not like you have an actual say in the matter anyway-Peter decided to ignore that bit-. Anyway, you will be attending the Echo Creek Academy so you can finish your formal education. Not that i think you need it, but i had a hunch you would like to finish school and would have requested me to do so".
"Good guess...so what happens now".
"Now we get a move on. The longer you remain here, the bigger the risk it is for anyone you know to recognize you. Word of advice, try changing your image".
"My image? Like plastic surgery or something?".
"Nothing that extreme. You would be surprised how the little changes can completely alter the perception others have on you. I would recommend dying your hair to a more vibrant color".
"Dying my hair?...that's it?"
"Right now you should be the opposite of Peter Parker as looks are concerned. It is usually the more extravagant individuals that tend to be ignored when someone comes looking for a person in disguise. It works more often than people realize. Now while i don't think you should go to those extremes, dying your hair to a more bright color will immensely reduce the probability of familiar and unfamiliar faces to recognize you. Similar faces and doppelgangers exist as a fact in this world. No one will none the wiser if they somehow found someone that resemblances Peter Parker but only by face".
"Is that so?".
"Come on kid...who is the super spy here?".
Touche.
"Well, any suggestions?".
"...Dye your hair blonde":
"Blonde? Why specifically blonde?".
"I could give you an extensive explanation, detailing the symmetry of faces, the social meaning of color and a whole other bullshit you don't need to know or you can just trust me on this. What will it be?".
"Relax...i trust you. I will dye my hair blond as soon as i get the chance".
"Good. Now, if you don't mind, we are wasting daylight as it is and the plane should arrive in half an hour from now, so we need to go right now if you want to arrive in time".
Peter sees him turn and walk away from him, towards the black car that has patiently waited for both of them ever since they arrived to the graveyard.
Peter doesn't move from his spot.
Noticing this, Nick stops and gives a heavy sigh.
"Look kid...i know all of this may be too much for you to bear. I have been trained for this sort of thing and now you are forced to leave everything that you knew and love behind to start a new life far from your home. It can be crushing. It is crushing, but i want you to understand: you are doing the right thing. You are doing the smart thing. Sometimes doing the smart thing isn't the thing we want to do at all, but the other options can lead to disasters much worse than the ones that forced you to choose in the first place. It sucks, but that's life. Nothing we can do about that. You have made the choice and all that is left is to stand up and move forward. And who knows, the future might look up for you from here on out. After all, once you hit rock bottom the only way you can go is up".
The way he said all of it made peter almost crack up a smile. He needed to work on his motivational face. but the speech was good.
"A" plus for effort.
And so, grabbing his bearings, Ben Reilly moved from his spot behind the tree and made his way to the car. And as Nick gave instructions to the driver, and as soon as they got moving on the road, not once did the individual formerly known as Peter Parker looked back.
His future didn't lay in the past anymore, regardless of all the precious and loving people he had left behind to mourn his death.
The moment he got in that plane towards L.A, and as soon as they were in the air, far above the dark clouds of storms, the sun shined brightly with a newfound warmth Ben had never actually experienced in his life till now.
Resting his head in the window, Ben allows himself to drift to sleep while a small smirk made its way to his calm face.
The worse was behind him now.
It was a brand new day for him. A brand new life.
He was born again and this time he will not waste the opportunity life has given him.
A quiet town in los Angeles is just what he needs to start over.
In such a boring and tranquil town…
What could possibly go wrong?
To be continued…
This is my first spider man crossover, and hopefully not the last, tell me what you guys think of it. As you can probably guess, the tone of the story will be a little more mature and dark, while still having fun and very entertaining moments. The spiderman of this story will be heavily inspired by the spectacular spider man TV series. That show was simply the best.
Anyway if you guys have questions regarding the story don't be afraid to comment or to PM me whenever you guys like. I will try to answer as soon as i can.
Anyway, stay frosty and i will see you all in the next chapter.
bye-bye!