With the sun coming down gently in the sky, Peter worked on dressing himself. On top of his spider suit, he wore a nice collar shirt and khaki pants. There was no doubt he would spend the majority of the announcement ceremony as Spider-Man, but that didn't mean Peter Parker couldn't try to look good as well.

He looked into the mirror and adjusted his shirt. It was habit for him to perfectly hide his suit under his clothes. He'd often forget this was a world where he didn't need to do that, but that didn't stop the idea from giving him anxiety. Someone seeing him in his costume without a mask was like being seen naked fresh out of the shower.

"How do I look?" Peter asked as he came out of the bathroom and presented his attire to his legal guardian.

"Very handsome," Inko complimented, still taking a moment to adjust the wrinkles for him, "Are you nervous?"

"Public speaking has never been my strong suit."

"We'll be in the front row, so just look at us."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

Peter checked his phone to see if Kendo or any of the others texted back. A lot of them were under house arrest by their parents due to everything that happened, including Momo, who's guardians weren't too happy with her actions. Guardians, of course, being the waiters, waitresses, and other servants. Her parents were far too busy to focus too highly on it.

"Before I head out," Peter said, "I'm gonna pop over to New York for a minute."

"Why?" Asked Inko, "Not for vigilante work, I hope."

"No, no," He reassured, "I just need to talk to Doctor Strange about something important."

A crashing came from the hallway as Izuku rushed in, barely keeping his balance, "Doctor Strange?! Like, the wizard?!"

"…Yeah?" He quizzed, "Why?"

"Think I could go with you? I haven't really gotten to see your wo-ooooonderful city," He caught himself in front of his mother, "And I really want to meet a real wizard!"

Izuku never really got to see much of Peter's world beyond the funeral, but this wasn't going to be a sight-seeing trip. Peter needed to address the being he met the other night and Strange was the only person who could help, "I don't know …"

"Please!" he begged, "I'll be on my best behavior!"

Peter looked to Inko for approval. She seemed hesitant, but eventually nodded. As much as she was very protective of Izuku, as long as it was just a visit, then one trip shouldn't hurt. Maybe Izuku needed this after All Mights unfortunate retirement.

"Fine," Peter agreed, "You can come with me. Head for the fire escape and meet me up on the roof."

"Yes, sir!" Izuku saluted before rushing into his room to get dressed.

In the moment of silence alone, Peter could feel the tension coming from his adoptive mother. There was a hesitation despite her agreement to the trip. He could tell from the way she held her hands together, locking her shoulders in place and keeping them on level with her chin. She did this whenever she wanted to say something but hadn't the heart for it.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I know working with the Pro heroes is a good thing, but …I don't know."

"Why?"

"You were working with them and you still got captured and …I just don't know if I can really trust them to keep you safe."

"You can. Getting captured was my own fault. I promise I'll be okay with them."

"But-"

"Inko. I'm okay."

It didn't matter how many times he said that, she would never fully believe it. Her sole responsibility toward him was his safety. That was the promise she made when May passed from this world, and she refused to break it, no matter what.

"I'll see you at the ceremony," He hugged and kissed her forehead, "Love you."

"I love you too, Peter."

She wanted to keep him locked in the house, but could do nothing as he left. Why couldn't he just choose a normal life? Why did he have to be a hero?

Why did he have to be Spider-Man?

…

"Interesting," said the Sorcerer Supreme.

Peter had taken both himself and Izuku to his world and met immediately with Doctor Strange. While Peter spoke with the sorcerer and explained the strange phenomenon that happened the other night, Izuku could only goggle at all the magical items in the room. He practically opened every book despite Stephen's protest, as if he would accidently unleash something he shouldn't.

"I felt something last night," Strange explained, "A disturbance…"

"In the force?" Peter joked.

"In the stability of the multiverse itself."

"…So, the force?"

Strange rolled his eyes as he read one of his books, "I spend much of my time in deep meditation, astral projecting across the vast dimensions of time and space. Reality is made up of many different concepts. Alternate timelines, different universes, and in your case with this alternate Japan, parallel dimensions."

"I'm aware, yes."

"Then you should also be aware of that which keeps these realities from crashing into one another. There is a microscopic barrier known as the 'Alleyways' between worlds. It's the sliver of space between existence."

"Why have I never come across it?"

"Your gate key creates breaches that leapt right over these barriers."

"And what does that have to do with the guy I saw?"

"Whoever he was, he broke straight through it."

Strange closed his book and set it down before picking up another one. There were thousands of books in that room alone, not accounting for the various other rooms in the Sanctum. Despite all this, there was surprisingly little in those books that had to do with the multiverse. It was a concept of which they still knew frighteningly little.

Sorcerers of the past were once able to traverse the multiverse with ease, but that practice faded away as the various realities expanded. Especially in recent years, more and more parallel realities have come into form and made travel far more dangerous. Parker was lucky that his second home rested in a dimension that still had ties to his original reality.

"These barriers are vital, but they are also fragile," Strange continued, "I don't know what universe he came from, but he was able to barge directly through the barriers to earth 7-2014-7. That kind of power is extremely dangerous," he groaned, "I should have foreseen this."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since your breach imploded on your last visit, cracks in these barriers have formed. I suspect that was how he was able to break through."

Peters' expression drained in color, "So …this is my fault?"

"No! No, Mr. Parker! Something else caused the destabilization of the barriers. Your breaches were just an unfortunate side effect."

After calming himself down, Peter found a place to sit, "Should I be worrying?"

"I'll be working diligently to ensure the cracks are patched. Cleaning up messes like this is my specialty."

"I thought your specialty was pulling …I was gonna say rabbits out of a hat but that seems too easy."

"I once pulled a dragon out of a hat."

"For real?"

Strange put the book down and adjusted his cloak, "I'll retrieve you when I've found out more on the situation. In the meantime, you should keep an eye out on the other earth and try to locate this entity. Send him here, if you can, like with your enemies."

"The ones you mind wipe for my convenience."

"Yes, exactly."

"…You took that way too straight."

"Everything I've done involving that world was for your protection and interest. Minding wiping your villains, giving you the gatekey, the perception spell, it's all to-"

"Time out," he cut off, "Perception spell?"

"Yes?" Strange questioned, "The one I put around Japan?"

"…You didn't mention that."

"I didn't? Apologies," he laughed, "After the funeral, I put up a perception spell around Japan, so that any information about Peter Parker going in and out would be altered—this way, no one would confuse you and your doppelgänger on that world."

"How does THAT work?"

"Any information about you is changed when it leaves Japan. Everyone outside the bubble will see a different face and a different name unless they know you personally. Same goes for your doppelgänger so he doesn't get arrested for your wrongdoings …that was poorly worded."

"How come you didn't mention this?"

"Slipped my mind."

"Uh huh," Peter stood up, "Next time you decide to do charity for me, give me a heads up."

Strange was taken aback by his sudden malice, "I …apologize."

Peter stared at him blankly for a moment until he realized the intensity of his words, then relaxed his shoulders, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to snap at you. It's just that this is the second time you haven't mentioned when you do something. First the mind wiping, now this?"

"Why else did you think no one on either world questioned you as Spider-Man? Your villains would have talked in prison."

"I know, I know. It makes sense, in the end. Guess I've just had a rough week. I do appreciate everything you do for me. Just promise you'll give me a heads up in the future."

"Of course, Mr. Parker. I'm always here to help."

Peter left the conversation at that and grabbed Izuku to leave. Strange only watched as they left and pondered Peter's emotional state. Yes, Strange should have said something about the perception spell, as well as mind wiping his villains. He was just trying to look out for the kid. Despite their limited interactions, he was becoming fond of the boy. He just hoped that whatever anger Peter was harboring would not eventually consume him.

Peter and Izuku walked down the steps of the Sanctums main room, with Peter skipping a few steps ahead. Izuku was not in as much of a rush as his brother, and stopped in the middle of the steps. Peter stopped when he noticed him falling behind, and gestured him to keep up, "You coming?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just …you and Doctor Strange are okay, right?"

"Sure, why?"

"Just from how you kind of …you know."

"It's not like I chewed his head off. I'm just a little concerned that he keeps doing things without telling me."

"But he is your friend, right?"

"Of course, he is," Peter said, his mind suddenly focusing on the term, "Friend. Best friend," he gasped, "Harry!"

"Harry? Osborn?"

"I promised Harry I would be at his dad's trial!"

"When is it?"

"Yesterday!"

"You're not gonna make that in time!"

"I know! Agh!" he rubbed his face, "I can't believe I let this happen again!"

"Again?"

Peter quickly opened a breach back to Japan before completely avoiding it as he made for the front door, "You go back to Japan! I need to talk to Harry and make this right!"

"Peter!" Izuku argued, "What about the ceremony?!"

"This is more important!"

Peter gave him no time to retort as he ran through the front door and out onto the streets. Izuku just stood there, dumbfounded.

Logically, he should have gone back to Japan to be with his mother before the ceremony. Peter was responsible; he could make it back in time if he was quick enough. Even though he knew this, there was still an itch in the back of his head that told him that logic wasn't the answer this time.

"…aaAAAgh! Peter, wait up!" Izuku exclaimed as he followed his brother out the door.

Peter didn't want to change into Spider-Man just to change back when he got there, so instead he simply ran through the streets and ignored any traffic, which wasn't an uncommon move for a New Yorker, but that didn't stop people from getting angry and honking at him. Izuku followed behind and tried to keep up, tempted to use his quirk and boost his speed, but held back by a silent reminder that this world wasn't like his own.

Eventually, Izuku trailed Peter to a penthouse apartment building, taller than any he had ever seen before. It was only a few blocks away from Oscorp tower, which stood even taller than the apartments. There was even a helicopter pad on both roofs; perhaps Norman liked to take a helicopter between home and work to avoid traffic.

Peter briefly greeted the bellhop before rushing to the elevator and buzzing Harry's apartment number. All the way there, he had been texting Harry to meet him at the bottom, begging that they talk. He didn't answer a single message, but that didn't stop Peter from trying.

Izuku rushed in a few seconds behind him, taken aback by the size and luxury of the main lobby. He was going to catch up with Peter, who was just a short distance away, but stopped when the elevator opened.

Harry Osborn stepped out of the elevator, forcing Peter to back up. Izuku shouldn't have been surprised to see how much Harry looked like his father. It brought back memories of every time Peter was hurt or hospitalized because of the man, and he prayed his son wasn't anything like him.

"Harry," Peter greeted with worry, "Let me explain, please."

Harry said nothing, only gesturing that he continued.

"I'm so sorry that I wasn't there. I know I promised I would be but so much got in the way- I swear I wanted to be there and I really tried but I got caught up in something I couldn't get out of! By the time I realized- when I remembered the trial, I mean- I wanted to-"

Peter memorized the look on Harry's face. There was no change, no nod of approval, no raise of the eyebrows to convey understanding. He wore only a face of pain, and contempt.

"…Harry…?"

"You made a promise," He finally spoke back.

"I know! I know, I did, and I'm so sorry."

"You're always sorry. You always have an excuse. I just can't listen to it, anymore."

"Harry, please-"

"You ghosted me. I get that your aunt died and I'm sorry, but you ghosted me and I thought you were dead. Then you come back and you're still never around. I asked you for this one thing and you bailed on me, again. Every since High School started, you've never been around. Even before your aunt died, you always bailed on me; always busy."

"I know-"

"But you don't do anything about it, do you?"

Izuku could only watch as the two friends spoke, one with such malice, and one with such sorrow. He wanted to step in and defend Peter, but felt it may have not been his place to intervene.

"I've decided to accept that I just can't rely on you, Peter," Harry stated, "And you know what? That makes things a lot easier for me. I'd rather know I can't rely on you than not know if I can."

"If you just give me a chance to really explain-"

"My dad was proven not guilty, by the way."

"…Yeah? That's …" Peter tried to find the words, fighting through the concern he felt, knowing Normans history, "I'm glad."

"Are you? Is Spider-Man?"

Peter froze his expression, "Come again?"

"You take his pictures, right? Does he seem happy the Green Goblin isn't going to jail? Or is he upset that his enemy isn't rotting there?"

"I just take his pictures- I'm sure Spider-Man doesn't think that- the second part, I mean!"

"Yeah, sure, but he's the one that arrested him and broke his knee. Did you know he needed surgery? He needs a cane, now, and I'm not sure he'll ever walk the same again."

Peter never considered that. Technically, it was Kendo who broke the Goblins knee, but it was in an attempt to save Spider-Man. Peter had gotten so used to Recovery Girls ability to heal people that he forgot this world didn't have that. Still, they're technology was leagues ahead, anyway. "I'm sure Stark Industries or the Wakanda medical labs could whip something up for his leg-"

"They won't; we've tried, but they don't want to help a former criminal," Harry sighed, "I have to focus on helping my dad, now; help him readjust. I wanted to tell you in person."

"I don't understand …"

"I can't be friends with you, anymore, Peter. It's over."

The color from Peter's face drained all that was left from it. His heart was beating fast, and not in a good way. Stuttering, his eyes darted between Izuku and Harry. Peter wished his adoptive brother didn't have to watch this, but he didn't want to alert to Harry he was here and observing the whole scene.

Harry was Peter's longest known friend, and he was dumping him just like that.

"I know I haven't been- I haven't been here-reliable, but I still want to be your friend!"

"Well, I don't."

"Harry, please!"

"Please what?! Give you another chance so you can let me down again?! Forget it! I've given you too much and you've given me nothing in return. By this point, I just have to accept that deep down, you just don't care."

That hurt Peter the most. He did care about Harry and what he was going through and wanted so badly to have been there. His outings as Spider-Man always keep him away from his promises made by Peter Parker, but he never imagined losing this much because of it. Harry was his last, true connection to this city, one that had just been severed by his own mistakes.

"He does care!" Shouted Izuku as he invaded the conversation.

Peter tried to shush Izuku away, but it was too late as Harry addressed them. "Who is this?" Harry asked.

"Peter is a good person!" Izuku argued, "He has only ever tried to help people! It's not his fault that he couldn't be here! If you're really his friend then you should try and understand!"

"He's the one that abandoned ME, bud."

"Only because he's-!"

Peter cut in quick, "Midoriya! Enough!"

Izuku immediately went quiet. The amount of anger in his voice was like poison on a knife. He had never spoken to him like that before, not like that, and it was enough to scare him into silence.

Peter tried to say something else to Harry, but he couldn't. Instead, he took Midoriya by the hand and left the building without once looking back. Harry simply groaned and went back into the elevator, putting all of what happened behind him and leaving it on the first floor.

…

Peter dragged Izuku down the street, holding his wrist tightly. He hadn't even looked at him in the last few minutes despite Izuku's pleads. It was an eerie silence in the noisy city that was concerning him. Every time he tried to talk to his brother, Peter's grip would tighten, telling him without words to not speak them.

They arrived in a secluded alleyway, where Peter immediately opened a breach back to Japan and gestured Izuku step through. The green haired boy stood there twiddling his fingers; his shoulders tense as though he was trying to hide.

"…Did I do something?" Izuku asked.

"Let's just go home," Peter didn't answer.

"But I-"

"-shouldn't have said anything," he scolded, "I know what you were going to say, but that is my secret to tell."

"If he knew the truth-"

"This isn't your world! I don't get to tell people my identity here! If I do, people get hurt; that's how it is! Besides, you really think Harry would ever understand that his best friend is the same guy who fought against his father and got him arrested and crippled?! No! He wouldn't! He already hates Spider-Man and Peter parker respectively—I don't want him knowing they're the SAME PERSON!"

"I didn't mean to- I just thought-"

Peter could see how scared Izuku was; not of him, but of hurting him. It broke Peter's heart to see him that way, no matter how angry he may have been. Izuku was still his brother, in the end, "I know, man …I know."

They stood in silence, feeling the cold breeze of the New York air.

"Izuku," Peter continued, "my life is so unbelievably complicated. I wish It could be easier, but it's not. Sometimes …I just wish I could at least have all my problems on ONE earth."

"…couldn't you?"

"Sorry?"

"Couldn't you just have everything back in Japan? Like, you could transfer schools or something," he muttered, "Maybe even go back to U.A?"

"…I wish that were possible," Peter softly spoke, "There's no way they'll ever let me back into U.A after everything that happened."

"Wouldn't they? All Might was able to convince them to let you catch your villains; they gave you a temporary license! Maybe he could convince them to-"

"I don't need any more charity work, Midoriya," he said sternly, "So many people have already done so much for me. I'm not a pity party in need of cake."

"Well maybe it's not just for you!" Izuku suddenly shouted, "Maybe everyone in the class just misses you! Did you ever think of that?!"

Izuku recoiled after his outburst, trying to silently take it back. Peter thought for a moment on what he was saying. He would love to go back to U.A, but something like that couldn't be done very easily. Even with All Mights influence, it would take a lot to convince them just to give him a chance. It clearly meant a lot to Izuku, but it just didn't seem possible.

"…Let's get going," Peter said. "we don't wanna be late for the ceremony."

"…Yeah, okay."

The two brothers stepped through the breach and returned home, carrying all their deepest thoughts with them.

Inko noticed the awkward silence between her two sons as they drove to the ceremony site. She tried to ask them about it, but they both brushed it off with the smiles they practiced so well. She assumed it was simply nerves for the ceremony, and didn't dig deeper into it. Still, she couldn't ignore the tension between them; something unspoken but louder than the sounds of the engine.

The ceremony was being held in the middle of the park. A large stage was set up in one of the clearings as the sun finally set and night climbed the sky. People were already gathered in front of the stage, awaiting the event to start. None of them knew exactly what was being announced, but they have their theories.

The Midoriya family parked a short distance away so no one would immediately see Peter before his debut, "Okay, boys," Said Inko with cheer, "Izuku and I will be sitting in the front row, so if you get nervous, just look at us!"

"I will," he said, glancing at Izuku with tense shoulders, "I'm just gonna talk to Izuku for a second."

"Alright. I'll go ahead and get our seats."

As soon as she had left, Peter was the first to speak.

"Sorry for snapping …" he said, "My secret is just …I've always held it close to my chest."

"I know …" Izuku said, "I guess I just forgot how different things are on your world."

"Believe me, I wish I could tell Harry but …I just can't."

"Peter …" He hesitated, "If you could come back to U.A …would you?"

He thought about this for a moment, rather seriously. Peter never felt that he belonged at Midtown High; always being made the butt of every joke, picked on by Flash Thompson and those around him. At U.A, he always felt so welcomed. Everyone wanted to be around him, they accepted him because they all had the same ambitions; the same drive to be heroes. He never had to pretend to be someone else.

"Honestly …yeah," he answered honestly, "I really wish I could."

"…Me too."

"So …bygones?"

"Bygones," He sighed in relief, giving his brother a warm hug, "Break a leg! Or, don't! That would be bad!"

"That would be bad, yes. I like my legs."

"I mean you could just swing everywhere."

"I'm good at hand stands so there's that."

Peter laughed as he swung away, making for the stage from the back of the park.

"Fancy seeing you here."

Izuku turned around to find he had been greeted by the voice of All Might himself. Bandages were still wrapped around parts of his body, including across his forehead and his arms. His arm was in a cast, still brandishing quite a few scars from the battle that took place the night before. Even though he still looked tired, he had made his way out to the event, anyway.

"All Might?" Izuku greeted with both joy and concern, "What are you doing here?"

"The hospital staff aren't going to be too happy with me," he rubbed the back of his head, "But I didn't want to miss this for anything. Parker is finally being publically ordained by the Pro Heroes, after all. Even if it's a very restricted agreement, it's still an accomplishment worth celebrating."

"Yeah …" Izuku looked down.

"Is everything alright, young Midoriya?"

"Of course! It's just …" he hesitated bringing this up with All Might. The former symbol of peace had already done so much for Peter—convincing both the pros and the government to allow Peter to catch his villains and setting all this up for him—so to ask for anything more just felt selfish. Yet, the smile on the mans face, so warm and comforting, told the boy that it was okay to make one more request.

"All Might," Izuku raised his shoulders with confidence, "I have a favor to ask you."

…

By the time the sun was completely gone from the sky, the crowd which gathered in front of the stage had expanded beyond the chairs provided. Most of those in the front row were reporters, bloggers, and everything in between, all with their own theories for this event. Some thought a new hero team was being formed, or a new agency, or something else that could be easily marketed and turned into click bait. The truth was far richer than they could have ever hoped for.

Peter, now dressed in his costume, paced back and forth behind the curtain, holding his mask close to his emblem. Hearing the crowd of people reminded him of every public speaking event he was ever forced to do, including every science fair he won. This was so much bigger and so much more intimate. Even though he'd be hiding behind his mask, everyone would be looking straight through him.

"Two minutes, Mr. Parker," said one of the stage workers.

"Do you know where Mirko is?" he asked, realizing his main companion in this project had been strangely absent.

"She wanted us to inform you she wasn't going to make it. Pro hero Mirko has other business to attend to at her agency."

Mirko wouldn't let something like 'agency business' get in the way of something this important. She barely spent any time at her agency as it was. What could be so important that she would actually want to be there?

The police chief himself stepped onto the stage and stood at the podium as people clapped for him, silencing their conversations. That was Peter's cue to put on his mask and await to be called. He'd have to worry about Mirko later.

"Thank you everyone for joining us, tonight," said the chief of police, "The police department and the Pro Hero community would like to address some of the various rumors you've heard over the last few days. A lot has happened recently, including the unfortunate and sudden retirement of All Might, our most beloved hero. However, many of you may have also seen the vigilante, Spider-Man, fighting alongside Pro heroes against the nomu threat that same night."

There was an audible disappointment that swept through the crowd. It made Peter's heart drop thinking about all that All Might had sacrificed, and that this event was overtaking that recent development. It felt like he was overshadowing him in some way.

"On All Mights request, we have decided to hold this announcement ahead of his official retirement. Many of you have spoken out about Spider-Mans crimes against the Pro Hero community, and we have heard your concerns. That is why we have made the decision —with restrictions and guidance from the Pro Hero community— to allow Spider-Man to catch and detain the supervillains which followed him here from North America."

The people's voices raised, some even shouted. While half of them supported the idea of Spider-Man being enlisted into the Pro Hero community, the other half demanded his immediate arrest for everything he's done.

The chief tried to answer as many of their questions as he could. He explained that Spider-Man would be working with a pro hero to hunt down every one of his villains and send them back where they came from, and that he would be doing this under a temporary license which would be revoked upon each villain being caught. It became increasingly harder for him to talk over the roaring voices of the crowd.

"I am now going to direct your questions directly to Spider-Man himself," said the chief, pointing to the curtain.

Spider-Man came out from behind the curtain and was immediately blinded by a spotlight and the dozens of pictures being taken. In order to handle all the lights, he had to adjust his lenses to let in less light. He tried to figure out who to talk to first, deciding to start at the front of the crowd.

"Are you still operating as a vigilante?" Asked one reporter.

"Here in Japan? No," Spider-Man answered honestly, "New York has looser laws on that stuff, but I've only put on the suit when the Pro heroes required it of me."

Another reporter jumps in, "Will you address the rumors that you once worked with the League of Villains? You were seen fighting alongside the villain 'Twice' during the battle of Hosu!"

"Yes—Twice had helped fight against Carnage and Bloodstain but that was before he became a super villain."

More reporters fought to get their questions in as Spider-Man did his best to appeal to them. Everyone back stage explained how he needed to answer each question by playing pacifists and owning up to his mistakes. He needed to spin every question to make himself look good while not necessarily picking sides on certain topics.

Another reporter jumped to the front and shoved the others aside, "Spider-Man; just to clarify, you were put on the run because you refused to cease your activities as a vigilante."

"At the time, I didn't understand how many people my actions may have been hurting," Spider-Man recited directly from how the backstage workers told him to respond, as much as is somewhat hurt to do, "That is why I am working closely with them to make up for it."

"And a short time after you went rogue, your aunt suffered a medical scare?"

"…Yes," He said, confused, "I'm sorry, what does-"

"It seems awfully coincidental that not long after you leave, the closest person to you suddenly falls ill."

"Wait, are you-"

"You came back when her illness was broadcasted on the news, and then by the end of the day, she was found dead in her room, and you were the last person with her."

The other people around her murmured; some even agreed.

"After countless criminal acts, how do you address the possibility that you may have been responsible for her death?" asked the reporter without a hint of remorse.

"Are you asking if I- I had nothing to do with-!"

"Your aunt was the number one witness to your crimes and she up and passed away conveniently. Seems awfully suspicious."

"I didn't kill her if that's what you're asking! I loved my aunt!"

"And yet you left her behind to play vigilante instead of just obeying the law. How many OTHER people have your reckless actions hurt? Why should we trust you to clean up the mess YOU caused?!"

Some of the other reporters jumped in and attacked in the same way, using minute details to criminalize him as a psychopath. Inko and Izuku, who sat in the front row, didn't know what to do with all these voices around them. They wanted to speak up against them, but if they did, they would hound them even harder than Peter.

Spider-Man tried to keep up with the accusations, getting more and more emotional as they fired at him. Some of the backstage workers came on to try and pull him aside, but the reporters pinned the exists of the stage with questions. Peter could see the headlines now: 'Spider-Man; murderer', 'Parker a suspect of murder', 'Pro Hero community made laughing stock because of web headed loser'.

Through all this, he thought only of his aunt. How could they ever assume he was responsible for her death? He only ever tried to protect her. It wasn't him that brought her here, it wasn't him that made her heart give out. Peter only ever did what he thought was right.

And that was what killed her.

He had the stones in his hands; he could have saved her, then just dropped the stones a second after. Fixing heart disease with the infinity stones would have been easy, yet he convinced himself that it would be morally wrong to do so. How could it have been morally wrong to save his dear old aunt from an unfair death?

Now even he was asking—did he kill his aunt?

Panic overtook his lungs. It felt as though each of the voices were drowning his ears and yanking on his heart, trying to pull him limb from limb with every comment and accusation. The hero no longer felt safe on that stage and his spider-sense told him to run away, just like in High School when Flash Thompson would stroll down the hall. This, however, was way worse.

Every camera flash struck his eyes, every word struck his heart, every hateful look struck his lungs. He could no longer breath right as his muscles ached and shook.

The hero pressed a button on his belt and he suddenly turned invisible, swinging away as everyone gasped in surprise.

…

Spider-Man swung for so long that his invisibility tech almost ran out its battery. His swinging was sloppy; fueled by grieve and anger rather than the thrill of being up so high. He refused to look back, going wherever he could find himself in the moment. His chest hurt so much and his muscles still felt weak. It became increasingly hard to hold onto his weblines as he traversed.

Finally, he made it to one of the taller buildings in Musutafu, where no one could find him. He sat atop one of the gargoyles that peered over the streets like a watchful guardian, breathing heavily. His mask was ripped off by his grieving hand and he could finally get some fresh air.

His eyes were glossy; a feeling he grew to hate. He fought it for as long as he could, telling himself 'No, I don't want to cry. I don't NEED to cry'. He even tried to not blink, but eventually, he caved in and the tears started flowing.

Enraged by his own weakness, he struck the base of the gargoyle and watched the cracks form, stopping before it got serious damage. The boy shouted to the sky as if it would answer and take pity on him. Perhaps whatever watchful god was looking down on him would finally grant him mercy and accept he wasn't some human punching bag.

The sky was silent; not a drop of rain, not a flash of lightning.

His body had given up as he sat there, crying his eyes out for the first time in weeks. Days upon days of torment had finally been able to leave his system in the ugliest way he could imagine.

"I didn't mean to kill you …" He muttered to himself, "I didn't mean it …I didn't mean it, May …"

Watching him from high above was not the merciless god Peter believed to hate him, nor was it just the sky trying to cause him torture. No, watching him from atop the tower he cried on was a dark, muscular figure, all alone with only his symbiotic companion.

We must kill him, now, said the voice in his head.

"But … he looks so …sad," Said Venom.

This is what we wanted; a chance to end his life once and for all.

"It's what YOU want," he pushed, "I …I don't want to kill him, anymore. He apologized."

Apologies mean nothing! Kill him! Kill! Kill! Kill!

It repeated the word over and over again, like an immortal echo bouncing off modern walls. In that moment of weakness, he was tempted to jump down and take the hero by surprise. Yet, he could not bring himself to do it.

Rather than attack, the 'villain' fled the scene without Peter noticing. He only turned his head to the sound of wind left behind by the entity, before returning to his wallow.