The Talk

Peter Parker slowly opened his eyes as he lay in his own bed. The first thing he noticed was the sunlight pouring in from an open window. His eyes then ran across the room until they found Uncle Ben staring at him from a chair on the end of his bed.

"Hey." He said quietly sitting up in bed, "What're you doing here?" Peter tugged at the top of his bed sheet. He was shirtless but had some shorts covering his lower half.

Ben raised his eyes, "If you don't remember what happened yesterday, then you were in worst shape than I first thought, you've been asleep since yesterday."

"What?" Peter inquired, the last clear memory he had was witnessing the Green Goblin's destruction and heading home. "Did something happen?" He asked nervously afraid of what the awful truth may be.

Ben nodded, "Something happened alright." His usually gentle tone now very harsh, "Care to explain?" He asked raising the torn Spider-Man costume in his hands.

"I-I do-there's a logical explanation for this." Peter replied, stumbling over his words.

"I'm waiting." Ben replied.

The chirping outside the window was soothing and if not for his confrontation with Ben, Peter might be able to catch another hour of sleep or so. He opened his mouth to start a long-winded and elaborate reason why he showed up the way he did but then realized the futility of it all. Ben was a smart man and wouldn't be swayed by feeble excuses, "I'm Spider-Man." He said defeated.

"You?" He said looking at the costume somewhat afraid, "How long have you been doing this?"

Peter raised his eyes and sighed, "Since May died."

Ben was silent for a moment, his face stone, "You're Spider-Man?" He asked as in disbelief, his nephew nodded and Ben rubbed his brow, "You can't be."
"Why not?" Peter asked.

"Because you're Peter Parker, you're my nephew." Ben responded his hands shaking. "Are you a mutant?"

"No." Peter replied confidently, "Mutants are born with their powers."

Ben breathed a sigh of relief, "So how did you get them?"

Peter laughed, 'It came from a spider of all things. When I was at the field trip to that spider institute a month ago, I got bitten. At first, I didn't realize what had happened but soon they manifested themselves. Strength, agility, speed and a sort of response to danger moments before it happened."

"So you've got a spider-sense now?" Ben inquired.

"I guess you could call it that."

Ben nodded, "So why did you become a…hell, I don't even know what to call it."

Peter's face became grim and the lines deep, "I can't tell you." He couldn't bear to see his uncle's face when the truth was revealed, that he was responsible partly for Aunt May's death. "Please."

"Fine. Have you ever murdered anybody?" He asked.

"No."

"You saw me that night." Ben said, his eyes dark, "When I killed that man, you were there that night, I saw you."

He nodded, "I saw you too."

"I'm sorry." Ben said regretfully, "I'm so sorry, I was angry and when I heard they had him cornered, I-I just couldn't let him get away." He put his face into his hands, "Forgive me, Peter."

Peter nodded, "Don't worry about it, Uncle Ben, we both made mistakes that night, some worse than others."

His uncle nodded and sighed heavily, obviously shaken, "How did you end up like that?" He inquired pointing to the bruises and gashes that cluttered Peter's body like a disease.

Peter shrugged, "I ran into some trouble."

"I can see that!" Ben said loudly, "How?"

"It was somebody I've never seen before. The guy must have been crazy, the Green Goblin, and I thought I had a cheesy name." Peter answered.

He sighed, "Are you alright?"

"Apart from a splitting headache, yes." He said with a certain degree of humor, "Its funny. I had thought I was invincible, that nothing could beat me." He laughed, "Arrogance seems to a failing of mine. Then the Goblin came and I realized how…vulnerable I really am."

Ben nodded, "Peter, what are we going to do about this?"

"I don't know." He replied, "I can't make your decision for you. I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

"Pete." Ben started, "I don't know what the hell to do. I can't even pretend to have a word of wisdom for this situation. I'll figure something out, but in the end no matter what happens we have to do it together." He smiled, "It's the least May would have wanted. I just want you to make me a deal."

Peter nodded, "What is it?" He asked cautiously.

"Don't keep me out." Ben replied, "Please."

"Deal."

Ben Parker rose from his seat and nodded, "You better get your rest." He suggested, "If the new confidence you've been showing the last couple of weeks is any indication this job just might be helping you." Ben noted with a smile as he began to leave the room. "Take it easy…Peter." He said just before closing the door.