"May, no, I change my mind. I really don't think this is such a good idea." A familiar prepubescent voice pleaded out.

"Peter, how many times must we go over this? It'll be fine."

"See, actually, it won't. It'll not be fine, because now everything's gonna be different. Because of what happened over the summer."

His aunt May pulled the SUV around to the side of Peter's school, shifted the gear into park, and set her arm behind his seat to face him, eye to eye.

"You mean to tell me you have no problem jumping headfirst into gunfire, alien battles, and theatrical lunatics. But you're too scared to go back to school?"

"The secret's out, May!" He spazzed out.

"Mrs. Potts has it all under control!"

"Okay, so she filed this huge lawsuit against the Bugle, but-"

"For defamation and endangerment of a minor, yes. Jameson still refuses to pull the video from the site, but it's only a matter of time. And we were lucky that Happy relocated us right away. Before all the paparazzi and crazies started swarming our place. Who knows what would have happened if we'd stayed."

"The new place is nice, yeah. Roomier than what we're used to-"

"Don't forget all the undercover security. Twenty-four, seven."

"No, course not." Peter was beginning to ease down.

"So what are you still worried about, bud? Careful steps have been taken. We even marched down to the station with Mrs. Potts' legal team as her publicist advised. Openly and publicly, because Peter Parker has nothing to hide."

He recalled the trip. A smart preemptive move on their part before the authorities did something rash, or so he was told. Pepper had even accompanied them.

All the flashes and chatter from the cameras and reporters then began to flood his mind; The chaotic noise that had awaited them outside the precinct. He remembered the anxiety hitting him worse than the abrasive interrogation within the walls. From the officers to the journalists, they all had questions, and Peter had a list of answers of which he had memorized on the ride there. Though he stuck to the cards and had his aunt and Pepper's support behind him on that stage, he still came off frighteningly nervous with his deathly pale skin under the coat of sweat that glistened at the shot of every single camera flare. The microphones themselves struggled to carry his shaky voice across the gathered crowd.

"M-my name is Peter Parker… and… and I am not Spider-Man."

He still had yet to conquer the enemy of stage fright that plagued many of his age. Though, he was informed it worked out in their favor. A frightened, young boy trembling before the masses could not truly be New York's villainous arachnid.

On his way down from the podium, he had even missed a step, fumbling over awkwardly. This clumsy fall further helped this public image of innocence. The sole thing that saved him from the hard, embarrassing impact was an officer from the security lineup.

"You're good, kid." She told him upon the swift catch.

She looked young, fresh out of the academy; still hopeful and eager to do good as opposed to the more hardened oldtimers on the force.

Before Peter could utter thanks-

"Watanabe!" A superior officer scolded the rookie. "Back in line!"

From there, the boy and his accompanied team made haste through the congregation of verbal incoherence and blinding lights. Flash after flash after flash, question after question, the boy lost himself in the media void. That day alone, it all went by so fast he hardly remembered what else he said under the spotlight. But there was plenty of news coverage to remind Peter Parker of the mess he was in.

"Peter?"

"What? Yeah, no. Sorry." He snapped back to reality, to the safety of isolation with his aunt in the SUV. Though he knew that once he stepped out, the deafening noise would begin again within the school.

"Like I was saying, we fully complied." May continued. "The video proved inconclusive. There was no solid evidence to charge you with, or even a person to press the charges. Beck had no living family. The police won't come bothering you here."

"No, but that video still went viral. Everyone at school will still be talking about it." He began fidgeting about with his new burner phone that Happy had gotten him. "Everything blew up after the leak. My old phone, my socials, emails. Haven't even been able to message Ned or MJ since."

"I'm sorry, Peter…" She laid her hand on his troubled head, truly sympathizing with him. They were in this together after all.

"But rumors aren't the biggest thing on my mind."

"Then what is?" Her voice was as soft as it was concerned.

"The Bugle alone managed to turn the whole city against Spider-Man." "Not all of them." His aunt tried reassuring him.

"Well, feels like it. Whenever I'm out there…" His tone dropped ever so saddened. "People just aren't the same around me… the neighborhood isn't so friendly no more."

She brushed away the loose strands of his hair. "You'll gain their trust back. And you're not alone. You'll continue to have all our support every step of the way."

The worried boy stared out the passenger window, right onto his school of science. "You have friends waiting for you there too."

Peter knew she was right, but all he really wanted at the moment was to simply escape this conversation.

"You done freaking out?" She asked with her sly dimpled smile.

Her sweet nephew looked back at her and nodded. "Thanks, May." He spoke softly, gathering his things.

"Any time. Now, get out of my car. I'm late for my meeting at the shelter." He hurried awkwardly, but got himself out of the vehicle.

May rolled down the window for final words as she drove off. "I 'larb' you! Don't let the rumors get to you! And don't cut class!"

It almost brought a smile to his gloomy face, but Peter kept on walking. Moving forward was the only option left for him in this whole made-public disaster.


Sure enough, right around the corner, a handful of news pests awaited him outside the main entrance. Peter flung his hoodie up and tried to sneak by.

"Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Over here!"

"What are you doing to clear your name!?"

"Are you not worried to bring danger into your very school?"

"What would Stark think?"

The boy murmured a reply, but more so to himself, "Leave me alone. Please."

Thankfully the school guards rushed out with Principal Morita. Such increased personnel was never in place before, along with metal detectors or anything of that sort, but this year security was deemed a necessary expense due to the drama hovering over the young boy from Queens.

"Get inside, Parker." He instructed. Once safely within the confines of the institute, the head of the school turned his attention back to the intrusive crew. "Off the premises! You are blocking the entrance. You are harassing my students!"

"You heard him, move it! You can't be here!" A robust guard chimed on. "We have a right to be here!"

"What does the district say about harboring an alleged criminal?"

Peter was clear for now, or so he thought. After removing his hood, barely two steps in the door, he was met with hundreds of eyes staring him down. It was as if the entire school was waiting for him.

"Umm…" Caught in the spotlight once again, he froze, for what could he possibly say?

They said nothing either, but their silence echoed loud. Until at long last, shoving himself through to the front was his best friend, Ned.

"Peter!"

"Ned, thank god!"

They instinctively greeted each other, arms out.

"Come on." He guided him through the main hall.

Students stepped aside, but their eyes never ceased track, not for a beat. Along the way the whispers inevitably began.

"Can he really be Spider-Man?"

"No way he's Spider-Man."

"Parker's Spider-Man?"

"Remember him ditching Liz's party?"

"Ditching Liz at Homecoming."

"Her dad was the Vulture. Her boyfriend, Spider-Man?"

"And Washington finals."

"That was Spider-Man all over Europe."

"It all makes sense."

"He killed a guy?"

"Think he had anything to do with the Avengers?"

"Why not? He killed one superhero."

"Could it really be…"

"Spider-Man?"

"Spider-Man,"

"Spider-Man."

"SPIDER-MAN!"

Or was it all in his head?

"I'm not Spider-Man!" Peter erupted out in frustration. Only to meet the exact same deafeningly silent gaze of countless eyes.

"Damn right he's not Spider-Man," Left to none other than Flash Thompson himself to break the silence. "I know my Spider-Man. He's no killer. He saved me up on that monument. And again when I was being attacked by Mysterio's magic drones. And he's no dweeb. I know for a fact that this loser," Pointing dead at the victim of interest as he strutted right up to him. "Penis Parker, is not Spider-Man. Not my Spider-Man."

The hairs on the back of Peter's neck spiked up. Something was coming, but all eyes were on them.

"Because if he was…"

Here it comes. He braced himself.

"I wouldn't be able to do THIS!"

A sharp shriek of pain escaped poor Parker immediately following a strong, solid knee to the groin that dropped him dead to the floor in a fetal position. No one laughed, but faint mummers now filled the awful silence. Hopefully this would also kill enough suspicion of him being Spider-Man, and not just his pride.

"What the hell, Flash!?" Ned quickly bent down to Peter's aid.

"That's for punching me on the bus, dick." He completely ignored the helping friend, and marched off proudly.

This is going to be the worst year ever. Peter thought to himself while choosing to stay on the floor, desperately hoping to hide from it all.

The first bell sounded off.

"You are all late to first period!" Principal Morita returned. "Get a move on, now! Before I start handing out detentions." The students dispersed into various directions, clearing

the line of sight to Peter and Ned. "Parker, what happened?" He helped the boy up, noticing faint tears in his eyes.

They were not from the physical pain. "Nothing, I'm okay." Peter stood stably enough on his own.

"You sure? You can come talk to me in my office."

"No, really. It's fine. I need to get to class anyway." He reiterated ever so weakly.

"Well... if you need anything, my door is always open." Before they fully left his peripheral, "And Parker!"

The boys both turned around to listen to what their principal had to say.

"Everything that's happening to you right now. It'll pass. Just hang in there." Morita came from a family of veterans, not just his grandfather. He knew with all his heart and intuition that Peter Parker was no murderer.

His student nodded in gratitude. The pulses of pain slowly left the junior's center as they finally exited the hall.

"It won't pass." Ned blurted out.

"Shut up," He replied, already wanting the day to be over.

After making their way up the stairs, the best friends met Michelle Jones, standing right there by the windowsill, waiting. Waiting for him. For Peter.

"MJ," the crack of a smile blessed his drained face.

She smiled back with an innocent wave. "I um… haven't heard from you since the joy ride."

The couple stood feet apart. The morning sun shining through warmly. Peter almost forgot how pretty she was without having to try. She merely stood in place, hands folded before her, sun highlighting her natural curls.

"I know, I'm so sorry. I couldn't. With everything that suddenly happened, I-"

"I know. I get it. I just… I missed you." She finished shyly.

Peter's smile grew. "I missed you too."

They waited for a few awkward moments, ensuring that no stragglers would pass by. The staircase was clear, for all other students were seated in class by now. The two then jumped right into a tight, long embrace with one another. Ned stood aside, so genuinely happy for them. The adorable high school couple then began to kiss. Now Ned felt extremely uncomfortable, not knowing what to say or even do with his hands.

When Peter and Michelle finally peeled away, she asked. "So what are we gonna do?"

"We?" Peter questioned.

"Yeah, you're not alone here. This affects us too." The brunette answered. "Are the cops looking for you?" Ned worried.

"No, he got that sorted three weeks ago. Nice call with the PR stunt in front of the station."

"Wasn't mine. It was all Mrs. Potts."

"Wait, but doesn't associating yourself with her link you to Iron Man?"

"Well, no because turns out the Stark Internship was a legit thing." Peter told him.

"It's true." Michelle added, "There's a paper trail. Actual students applied and got to work at Stark facilities for the hands on learning experience. Peter was the only one off being Spider-Man instead, but he's still in the records. There's even an alibi to why he was in Berlin. That was the date and place of the interview that first got him hired. Stark Industries flew him out and everything. It's all legitimate. From the very beginning, Tony made it official to cover him in case someone started asking questions, or, you know, something bad like this happened. He was smart."

"The smartest," Peter uttered mournfully.

"Plus, Stark Industries has excellent benefits that extend to its valued interns." She further explained. "So to come after one of their own, it's slander against the company and you get hit with the full force of their legal team. Potts, as the CEO, has every reason to be involved."

"Wow," is all Ned could say at Michelle's vastness of effortless knowledge. "Yeah, wow, how do you know all this?" Peter asked, impressed.

"I've… been observing your case very closely, because…" She swayed a bit "It's my job to worry about you since I'm still your girlfriend."

"Aww," he let out happily.

"I am still your girlfriend, right?" She timidly asked.

"Of course you are," Peter reassured her, gripping her hand lovingly.

"So then while this whole legal battle is going on to defend Peter, what about Spidey?" Ned questioned with concern. "Can't you reach out to Fury to put in a good word for you?"

"The world still thinks Fury's dead with the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. Besides, I've tried. He hasn't answered any of my calls. Happy thinks he might be off world or on some super secret spy mission."

"What about the Avengers?" Leeds followed up. "Have someone dress up in your suit and stand next to you."

"The Avengers are gone, Ned…" Peter informed somberly. "The ones left, a lot of em are in space. Black Panther's busy restabilizing his country after the Blip. Strange? Forget about it. And who knows where the rest of em are. It's not like we all keep in touch."

"There's no Avengers group text?"

Peter shook his head. "I wish."

"Then… what are you gonna do?" his best friend wondered.

"Try to lay low, I guess. Least that's what May wants."

"But you don't think so?" Michelle could already tell.

"Every little thing that happens out there now, the Bugle and that Jonah guy somehow find a way to spin it around and blame me for it. 'Peter Parker' has to lay low and out of trouble, yeah. But Spider-Man… he has to stay out there and clear his name by doing some good."


Flocks of Seagulls flew over the East River on the same breezy morning, squawking passed New York's most renowned super prison. Within the massive halls of Ryker's Island Maximum Security Penitentiary, lawyer Benjamin Donovan stepped on through as if it were his very own home. A significant ninety percent of his career was spent visiting clients during their incarceration, so this familiarity was of no surprise. He knew the ins and outs like routine clockwork.

"Good afternoon, Daniels." He greeted with a handsome smile as he approached the guard just outside his destined sector. His custom tailored suit was just as fly and pressed as always. "Did you and your family enjoy the luxurious vacation to the Galápagos?"

"Oh, yes, mister Donovan. Very much so. My wife and I, we've never gone farther than Jersey."

"That's refreshing to hear." He presented his visitors' pass.

As the officer led him through the checkpoints, "Please, make sure to give the big guy my thanks."

"Officer, please." Politely, he raised a hand to stop him. "My client takes care of his own."

They made it to the private holding cell where another prison guard was stationed before the gate.

"Officer Bricker, good morning! I heard your niece got accepted into NYU."

"All thanks to your glowing letter of recommendation." He stated, gratefully, with hands comfortably on his belt.

"The least I can do for gracing us with these private sessions."

"I do what I can for you and your client, mister." Bricker said humbly. "Oh and today I can only grant you five minutes before the next shift rotates in."

Donovan understood and conformed. "That's plenty, Bricker. And, again, congratulations to your niece."

Both security guards gave their final thanks before letting the big time lawyer in and returning to their separate posts. Elsewhere, in the designated control room, two other officers looked at each other before cutting off the audio receivers within the cell room for those five minutes of unrecorded privacy.

Despite the city's outrage over Fisk's hands in the FBI six years ago, the public's anger and concern had turned towards far greater threats since then.

People, especially in today's age, inevitably move on from such controversies, but their greed never fades. In the end, everyone had a price, and Wilson Fisk had the deepest pockets. He always found a way to find and exploit people's unquenchable desires. Someone, no matter their rank, always needed something outside their reach. The Kingpin just happened to always be able to supply that need.

"Good morning, Donovan." There he stood, bald head staring at the blankness of a white wall. Hands folded behind his tall, broadened stature. "What news do you bring me today?"

His deep, reserved tone of voice was always so careful yet, in a way, exasperated. Every breath carried all the weight of his burdens and his rage. Hence why all under his employ were always so cautious when responding to him. The monster could snap at any given moment.

"All is moving along swimmingly. The perfectly legal business practices of our allies overseas is funneling in enough revenue to keep your stay here comfortable, and look after your wife. She's loving Osaka."

"I knew she would."

"As for your secret investment... My, my, Mister Fisk. I never would have thought."

"Desperate times, Donovan. Celebrities lie on mountains of wealth. I had been sitting on that private island for so long, I had nearly forgotten about it. Let them use it for

their particular indulgences. Away from the eyes and ears of the public. Besides, they're the most spineless breed of society. None would dare speak out against me. The generous hand feeding them."

"Especially not with the career ending footage you've accumulated on their activities. I hear it's quite… controversial."

"Controversial enough to warrant my overpriced service fee."

"A fee that is funding your secret side project." The trusted lawyer placed his briefcase on the stainless steel table. "Speaking of which, your new partner on that endeavour is the real entrepreneur, that one. He is discretely upholding his end of the deal. In fact he wanted me to promptly deliver these blueprints."

Fisk turned to the files neatly displayed before him across the countertop. "Still in the pre-development stages?" He seemed displeased.

"Well, yes." The man deemed it wise to tread carefully. "Their previous test runs have continued to prove… fatally miscalculated. But not to worry. I'm informed that all the necessary preparations are in order for phase two."

"Our partner needs to speed up the process." His intense eyes remained focused on the details of the documents. "I want satisfactory results by the end of the week."

"Of course, Mister Fisk."

Upon a deep inhale, "I've lost enough time in my absence." He made his way back to the white wall.

For officially, a good six years had passed since his return to prison. For Fisk, it had barely been one. The Kingpin was yet another victim of the world's sudden decimation.

"Understood. And, sir, if I may?" Donovan began collecting the files in their proper folders. "Why not start reinvesting in your old territories? Your presence has been sorely missed in New York's underbelly. The city is still in shambles after the other half of the population's return. There's no better time to jump back into business. The market now is even more fertile than it was after the Incident."

"Because there's no need, Donovan." Fisk faced him, providing all his respect and attention. "Our new partner and his capable assets are doing well enough on that front. They shall continue to look after my city and all it's underground opportunity until my project is fully realized. Why exhaust the money and resources on something when I can simply take it all back upon my freedom from this cage."

"Clever man, Mister Fisk. As always."

"Besides!" The Kingpin of crime paced about at his leisure. "Nearly all of the inmates here were at some point in time under my employ. After we usurp the warden, the rest of the prison staff will quickly follow. Conducting business locally would only draw unwanted attention. I have all I need right here on this lone island."

"Sounds brilliant. Well, if there's nothing else you seek from me, I'll run along to pass the urgent message to our partner."

"No. That is all, Donovan. Thank you for your loyal services."

"Pleasure." The lawyer stated with a humble nod. He then tucked in the last file upon his departure. The classified header read:

Project Renaissance

Once Fisk was left alone in the bleakness of his cell, he uttered one thing to himself as he gazed into the white abyss. "Never again, Vanessa… never again." The only thing that truly mattered to him. Especially now more than ever before.