Listen With Your Heart Chapter 7

Peter Parker now had his way in.

The moment Curt Connors learned Peter's true identity it was all over.

Invited into the house Peter was taken by Curt Connors into the kitchen while Phoebe was directed into her room to work on her writing. Phoebe wanted to stay with him, but her father gently pulled her aside and requested she sequester herself in the bedroom. Phoebe wanted to protest further only the look in his eyes stopped her entirely. Truth be told she'd seen him rattled before, but never like this. She could tell he was trying to keep it together her father's face was composed. It was the eyes that gave him away. So she reluctantly complied shutting the door to her room.

Alone in the kitchen Curt Connors prepared tea pouring it into two separate mugs.

"I'm afraid I can't help you much, Peter. I don't know why they left or where they were going," said Curt Connors, somberly.

As Connors went to put the kettle close to the sink it bumped into one of the mugs knocking the cup off its perch on the counter.

Peter caught the mug expertly by the handle without spilling a single drop on the spotless floor. He managed this quite easily with his spider reflexes. Something Curt Connors noticed.

"Good reflexes," he said.

"Thank you," said Peter, waiting until Connors put the kettle down to hand him the other mug.

"Thank you," said Curt Connors, nodding.

Leaning back on the counter, Peter said "I read your book."

"Oh," said Curt Connors, questioningly.

"Yeah. It's something, you know. So you really think it's possible, cross-species genetics," said Peter, broaching the delicate subject.

"Yes, of course, but for years your father and I were mocked for our theories. Not just in the community at large, but at Oscorp, as well. They called us mad scientists. And then your father bred the spiders, and everything changed. The results were beyond encouraging. They were spectacular. We were gonna change the lives of millions. Including my own," said Curt Connors, passionately, the last part in reference to his missing right arm.

Peter listened to all of this intently with rapt attention fixated solely on Connors.

Connors then became subdued as he spoke of memories he long ago left buried. Things he'd rather keep in the past instead of the present.

"Then it was over. He…He was gone. Took his research with him. And I knew without him, I…," said Curt Connors, mournfully, visibly struggling to continue. This is very difficult for him to say. Without his partner beside him Connors had reached a dead-end his work at a standstill. The projects with the spiders were Richard's doing so he couldn't push when he's lacking the data. He'd been on his own ever since. "I…I was angry. So I stayed away from you and your family. And for that, I'm truly sorry."

The evident remorse on Connors face revealed to Peter how honest the man is about this.

Biting his lip, Peter said "Say…Say it worked. Say y-you got it to work. Like, how much would the foreign species take over? What could the side effects be?"

Peter needed to know if his new abilities would progress in anyway to a point where he was no longer human. The possibility's on the ramifications this could mean bothered him immensely.

"It's hard to say, considering no subject survived," said Curt Connors, shrugging.

Well that was encouraging. Not!

Curt Connors said "The problem was always the-."

"The decay rate algorithm," stated Peter, out of the blue.

Surprised that Peter knew what is was, Curt Connors said "Right."

"Right," said Peter, gulping down his tea. He then circled around the counter to sit on a stool pointing at a notebook Connors had lying on it. "Can I, uh…?"

"Of course," permitted Curt Connors.

Peter then hastily wrote the equation for the decay rate algorithm his father had cooked up exactly as it had been made. Connors slowly made his way over observing Peter. Finished Peter placed the notebook in front of Connors and he leaned forward to see what the boy freely gave. Connors read over the results and he was astounded with the calculations.

In awe, impressed, Curt Connors breathed "Extraordinary. How did you come up with this?"

Unable to give Connors a truthful answer Peter just played it up giving the impression that he worked it out by accident or on his own.

"Peter, how would you feel about coming to see me at the Tower one day after school," said Curt Connors.

"Yeah," concurred Peter, fidgeting with his dad's glasses. He'd like that very much.

"Thank you," said Curt Connors, grateful for this piece of information. He picked up the notebook and began to walk away.

But Peter wasn't done yet. No, not by a long shot.

"Dr. Connors," said Peter, "your work isn't all I came to speak to you about."

"Really? What else then," said Curt Connors, obligingly.

Peter took the photograph of him and Phoebe out of his pocket. He then pushed it across the counter towards Connors. When Connors saw the picture he froze.

For a couple of seconds an uncomfortable silence was passed.

"Where did you get this," said Curt Connors, huskily.

"Does it matter," countered Peter, stone-faced.

Releasing a shaky breath Connors rose fully averting his gaze from the picture back at Peter, saying "No, it doesn't…You know?"

"Yes," said Peter. "My Uncle Ben told me everything the moment I showed him the picture."

"And I'm guessing you want an explanation," gathered Curt Connors.

"Why didn't you ever tell Phoebe about me? That she had a brother a twin. Even after our parents disappeared," demanded Peter. "Uncle Ben told me you threatened them with lawyers if they ever tried to get her back. Why?"

Smiling, Curt Connors said "Look at me, Peter, and tell me what you see."

"What," said Peter, this not making sense to him.

"I'm an old man, Peter, with no wife or any other children. All I have is my work…and your sister. When your father vanished I guess I didn't give Phoebe up because…because your sister may not be my blood, but at that point I loved your sister as my very own child. Phoebe, she is all I have. The one true joy I have in my life, my precious daughter. I didn't want to lose her," reasoned Curt Connors, softly.

Peter took his leave soon after bringing the picture with him. Any longer his aunt and uncle would begin to worry. He didn't want to have to explain himself. At least not quite yet.

At the window Connors watched Peter leave a bearing a thoughtful expression. A reflection in the glass made his eyes widen in horror. Spinning around on his feet Connors found Phoebe standing in the hallway tears streaking down her heartbroken face.

She'd heard everything.

Authors Note:

This chapter is in honor of the Avenger Infinity Wars premiere. Enjoy! Both this and the movie. I have a moviepass so I'm going to the showing at my local theater. I can't wait. Here's a bit of advice. If you're going to see it get there about two hours early otherwise you'll end up with a crappy seat and no one wants that.