Chapter 11: Explosion

"I'm Spider-Man," Peter revealed.

"What?"

"It's true. I'm Spider-Man."

George shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "Son, if you're screwing with me-"

"Why the hell would I lie about something like this?!" Peter exclaimed. "Especially after what you saw tonight? I'm only telling you this because I need you to understand that I'm a good guy."

"Peter, h-how the hell is this possible? A kid like you-"

"Over a year ago, I was bitten by a genetically-modified spider at Oscorp. You know how Osborn wants to enhance the human race? Well, he experimented on the little things, and since then, nothing's been the same. I haven't told anyone because I need to keep my identity a secret. If someone were to find out, I could lose everything. I already lost my uncle. I can't lose anyone else. Not May, not your daughter, not anyone else."

"Jesus…" George sighed.

"Please, Captain Stacy. You have to promise me you're not gonna tell anyone."

"I have to say, Parker. You have guts, telling me something like this. If I were in your position, I'm not sure I'd do the same," George admitted.

"So, is that a yes?"

"You don't have an approval. What I do have is an offer."

"What do you mean?"

"Peter, you're a good kid, and my daughter, as well as your aunt, is very lucky to have you. From what I saw tonight, you're just a guy who wants to do what's right for everyone in this city. You don't have to, but you choose to. However, you're still a kid, making you all that more vulnerable."

"What are you saying?"

"As the NYPD Captain, I'm asking you to cease crime fighting. I've realized that you've done a lot of good for this city, but from this moment forward, the station and I will handle future threats. As I speak, several units are hunting the Goblin right now. Your life will be in danger if you continue this, Peter."

"Sir, I can't stop this. My job is to protect people," Peter defended.

"No, Mr. Parker, that's my job. Your job is to go to school and get a good education so you can have a successful career in life. Superheroes don't get paid for crime fighting, you know. You're a bright kid, and a great future is inevitable for you. Gwen tells me you like photography and work for the Daily Bugle. I'd hate to see that all thrown away because you're lying dead in a puddle of blood on the street."

Peter stood up and looked Captain Stacy in the eyes. "Mr. Stacy, I won't give up being Spider-Man."

"Well, then, I'll have you locked up, and your identity will be revealed to the public. I truly am sorry, Peter, but I don't want to see you get hurt or killed. And I know Gwen and May don't, either," Captain Stacy threatened.

Peter's heart raced. This was the hardest choice he had to make. He either had to give up what he loved most, or he would be sent to prison and lose everything. Captain Stacy was right. He had a great future ahead of him. But he tried to imagine his future without Spider-Man, and he didn't like it. Spider-Man helped the crime rates go down. If Spider-Man was gone for good, then the city would forever be at risk.

Instead of giving a response, Peter stormed out, leaving Captain Stacy speechless.

"Is it time, boss?"

"It's time. Let's make everyone burn," Hammerhead declared.

Six armored trucks pulled up to the NYPD station. Hammerhead drove one of the trucks, viewing the station with an evil glare. Tombstone sat next to him in the passenger seat, nervous yet excited.

"Are you sure about this? If this goes to shit, then you have no one but yourself to blame."

"Shut it, albino. Nothing bad's gonna happen. We've been preparing for this, and we know what we're doing. Besides, if I get caught, you're going down with me."

Tombstone scoffed. "Whatever you say."

Armed men started coming out of the trucks, and they all kicked open the doors to the station, opening fire. Some of the officers were shot while others ducked under their desks. They pulled out their guns and started shooting back, though the henchmen's better weaponry put them at an advantage. George panicked and opened fire on the men with a machine gun. However, a bullet hit him in the shoulder, knocking him down. He yelled in pain as he dove under his desk, avoiding the bullets.

"Captain! There's too many of them! We can't stop them!" a cop yelled.

"But I know somebody who can," George declared.

Peter was lying on his bed, looking through his Instagram, bored. After Peter's talk with Captain Stacy at the station, George had lied and tied up all loose ends to Aunt May and Gwen, though he was serious about arresting Peter if he risked his life ever again. It had only been two days, and Peter was already bored out of his mind.

BRIIING! BRIING!

Peter didn't recognize the caller ID but answered his phone anyway. "Hello?"

All Peter could hear was screaming and gunfire, until George shouted, "Peter!"

"Captain Stacy? What's going on?"

"Look, Peter, it was never my intention to put you in harm's way, but we're severely outmatched here! You've beaten Hammerhead before. You can-"

"Hammerhead?! I'm on my way, sir."

Peter hung up the phone in a rage and started to put on his costume.

Back at the station, George and his men were still putting up a fight, though it wasn't long until a grenade was thrown in. One of the cops quickly ran over and threw the grenade back, which exploded in mid-air as it knocked the cop back and burned some of the armed men. George continued to take out the men with his gun, though he was almost out of ammo. An immense amount of dread went through the cops as they noticed one of the armed men pulling out a rocket launcher. However, a familiar web pulled it away.

"Okay, as a guy who's seen a lot, this is terrifying!" Spider-Man admitted as he avoided the bullets and started taking out the guards one by one. "But let's be honest here. You guys can't win."

Spider-Man swung a table at the rest of the men in the building, knocking them out. He ran outside and saw further reinforcements outside of the trucks. The last person that stepped out of a truck was Hammerhead himself. The men aimed their guns, though Hammerhead held his hand up.

"Wait! Leave the insect to me," Hammerhead gleefully stated as he cracked his knuckles, walking towards the hero.

Spider-Man quickly shot multiple webs at the men, tripping and knocking them over each other. He ran towards Hammerhead and started dodging multiple punches. Spider-Man pushed Hammerhead and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him down. Spider-Man then proceeded to web Hammerhead's legs together.

"Too easy," Spider-Man chuckled.

However, Hammerhead pulled a gun out of his pocket and started shooting at the hero, who dodged the bullets. Hammerhead then took a knife out and cut the webbing off his legs. Spider-Man swung back at Hammerhead, though the latter managed to grab and pin him down. In a rage, Hammerhead punched Spider-Man twice in the face and threw him onto the street. Spider-Man got back up, and his spider-sense warned him to jump over the armored truck speeding towards him. He then webbed the truck up to avoid damage.

"I'm getting really sick of you mafia guys," Spider-Man remarked.

Hammerhead walked over with a shotgun and aimed it at Spider-Man.

"I feel the same way about you," Hammerhead admitted.

However, a bullet knocked the shotgun out of Hammerhead's hand. Hammerhead and Spider-Man turned to see Tombstone with an assault rifle.

"I feel the same way about both of you," Tombstone remarked as he started firing repeatedly.

Hammerhead started running, though he was grazed in the leg and knocked down by his shotgun. Spider-Man jumped and webbed the rifle out of Tombstone's hands. Tombstone quickly pulled a pistol out of his jacket and started shooting at Spider-Man, who dodged the bullets. Spider-Man ran at Tombstone, who body-slammed the former to the ground. Tombstone started punching Spider-Man with his brass-knuckles, knocking him out momentarily. Tombstone walked towards Hammerhead and aimed his gun at him.

"You have too much power, Hammerhead. After the recent mistakes you've made, you're not deserving of this position. Someone's gonna take it away from you before you mess it up for the rest of us."

Hammerhead smirked as he quietly grabbed a knife in his pocket. "Think fast."

Before Tombstone could fire, Hammerhead quickly slashed Tombstone's arm, knocking his gun out. Hammerhead then grabbed his shotgun and shot Tombstone in the face, killing him instantly and knocking his body down.

Spider-Man came to to see the scene take place and wasn't surprised to see Hammerhead kill one of his own men.

Just in the nick of time, Spider-Man charged towards Hammerhead and sucker-punched him in the face before he could escape. That was when the police cars surrounded them, and the hero watched as Hammerhead was finally taken into custody.

In Captain Stacy's damaged office, he was having a conversation with the webslinger while his shoulder was bandaged up.

"Pete, I gotta tell you, you really saved us out there. I was wrong about you," Captain Stacy admitted. "You took out several guys out there."

"No hard feelings. All I wanted was for you to understand that I'm a good guy with good intentions. I just want to save people."

"I understand now, Peter. The city needs you. And I'm proud to stand by you."

Peter was proud to finally hear those words from his girlfriend's dad. It meant a lot knowing that he no longer needed to keep his biggest secret from him.

But Gwen could never find out.

"This is something I've gotta do for the rest of my life, Captain Stacy. When I didn't use my powers when I needed to most, my uncle was killed. Before he died, he always told me that with great power, there must also be great responsibility as well."

"I'm really sorry to hear that, Peter. I never thought about it that way," Captain Stacy apologized.

"It's fine. You didn't know. I couldn't tell you," Peter admitted.

"Does your Aunt May know?" Captain Stacy reluctantly asked.

Peter thought for a little before answering that. "No. Not yet. And I'd like to keep it that way."

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Next chapter: The main villain in Volume 3 will be introduced.

Sorry for the hiatus. Avengers: Infinity War and personal issues took over our brains. Looking forward to finishing Volume 2 and bringing greater things to Volume 3.