Act II (Part 3)
Robbie Robertson was waiting in line as he was in a bank. He wanted to ask why his debit card wasn't working, however, in typical New York fashion, it was crowdy today. He didn't mind though, as many of the people here needed to get their stuff at this bank taken care off and could be here for any reason.
As it came to be his turn, he asked the bank teller, "Hello, my name is Robbie Robertson as I wondering why my debit card won't give me access to my account."
"I'll see what we can do," she said as she took his card.
After a few seconds of silence, doors burst open, and someone shouts, "Everyone get on the ground! This is a robbery!"
Robbie immediately went to the floor following this robber's instructions. What surprised him though was that this robber is Spider-Man. Almost same height and same costume. He was wearing a backpack and whatever was inside couldn't be good, Robbie thought.
"Stay on the floor! If I see anyone getting up, I'll give you a beating of a lifetime!" He yelled as he ran to the bank tellers and took off the backpack and yelled, "Give me all of your money and put it in!"
Robbie couldn't help, but be weirded out by this "Spider-Man". The same guy who'd help with old ladies go where they need to go, tackle bike thieves, was even gotten charges off of murdering Mysterio in a trial not so long ago. Spider-Man was now robbing banks.
"And you're sure you saw him?" Jameson asked him like a child wanting a new Christmas toy.
"Yes, but Jonah…" Robbie tried to speak, but Jameson didn't bother to listen as he kept cheering, "Halleluiah! We got him now!"
"Jonah, wait..." Robbie tried to speak again.
"Ugh, what?!" Jameson yelled, annoyed at his editor-in-chief.
"I don't think this was the same Spider-Man." Robbie pointed out.
"What do you mean?! Oh, come on!" Jameson yelled in frustration. "You said you saw him!" He continued on.
"I saw a guy in a Spider-Man costume robbing a bank-" Robbie pointed out, trying to speak.
"And how do you know it isn't him! It could be the real guy!" Jameson retorted.
"The keyword there is could, Jonah. Could be Spider-Man, not is Spider-Man." Robbie pointed out again.
"I am not having this argument again with you, Robertson!" Jameson barked.
"Don't bark at me Jonah!" Robbie retorted.
As they were arguing with everyone trying to work on a story and minding their own business, Peter entered in the room, noticing this. He approached Betty.
"Hey, Betty. What's going on?" He asked, gesturing to Robbie and Jameson arguing.
Betty sighed as if she was disappointed in something. Peter had a bad feeling about what she was going to say.
"Jonah was celebrating, but Robbie kept arguing with him about Spider-Man robbing that bank." Betty stated.
Peter was shocked and asked, "Spiii-Spider-Man did what now?"
"Yeah, that's what Robbie saw. Every paper in town is now running with that story." Betty added on.
Peter's eyes widened to the point, he was about to go into a fit of rage, but he working now. As Jameson and Robbie were arguing, Jameson quickly turned and noticed Parker.
"You…." He pointed at Parker and said "We'll use one the kid's pictures of Spider-Man. That's it. That's the ticket. There's your front page… Spider-Man: Criminal."
As he said that he was pointing at Parker who had a grim expression on his face. Ironically, pointing at Parker and saying the front page of Bugle's paper calling his alter ego a criminal was rather unamusing.
Ironic, but unamusing. Peter went deep into his thoughts again. Someone using my name and costume and is robbing banks. Great, just great.
Jameson looked at his phone quickly and was astonished. A source gave him a video and he ran to his news room to livestream.
MJ's boss came by and saw the TV. His eyes widened a bit. "Turn that up, Jones." He ordered.
MJ got a remote and and increased the volume. Ned turned to see what the boss was looking at.
A huge "BREAKING NEWS" appeared on screen.
Jameson started speaking, "Breaking news, the Department of Damage Control is issuing a press conference on the vigilantism increasing in New York City."
Pictures and cameras are all focusing on a head agent coming to a podium and began announcing, "Recently, there's been a huge uneffective method on the Sokovia Accords not being enacted on New York City's recent uptake in vigilantism. As a matter of fact, it has been increasing to over 80% of the rise vigilantism and correlates being the cause of the crime rate being down up to 94%. However, these vigilantes have sparked a debate in Congress, in the U.N., and other governments to whether or not vigilantes should sign the Accords. It has come to our public attention that the vigilante known as Spider-Man will placed under an arrest warrant for the crimes of robbery. If anyone sees him, please contact us or your local police."
This just keeps getting worse for Peter. He had to meet with Daredevil tonight and who knows how that'll go. He has to deal with Happy and Fury telling him not to be Spider-Man for a few days and he disobeyed them. And now someone was going around dressed as him and committing bank robberies. It was bad enough he was framed for Mysterio's murder, now this. Goddamn, Parker luck.
He turned to Betty and asked, "Hey, Betty, do you think you can get Ned, MJ, and yourself to my place tonight. Somewhere around five?"
Betty nodded and said, "Of course, what is it?"
"I'll tell you guys when you arrive at my place, ok." Peter said as Betty nodded. He gave her his address and hopefully things will go smoothly.
As they were going up the elevator, Ned commented, "I never thought Peter would live here. I mean I expected something a little more… less gross."
MJ and Betty ignored his comment, this must've been really important if he needed all three of his new friends to come his place about something.
MJ couldn't help shake the feeling that she and her friends were about to find out something horrible. Or worse.
Ding. Elevator doors open up. They walk out of it and walk a few more steps until they approach, Peter's apartment.
Ned was about to knock, only for it to push slightly, meaning it was already open. That was a little weird.
They entered in and closed the door. Betty called out, "Peter?"
After a few seconds, Ned looked up and eyes widened, MJ noticed this and her eyes widened as well. Betty glared at them weirdly, "What are you guys looking a-" She couldn't finish her question as she too looked up at the ceiling,
One the ceiling, there he was, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. "Hey, guys." He greeted.
Ned waved slightly, "Uh… hello Mr. Spider-Man…"
He took off from the ceiling and landed on the floor. He tried to ease their nervousness, "Don't be nervous, Mr. Parker, just please have a seat somewhere."
While slow, they did what they were told and all three sat on bed. He sighed, hoping this decision is the right one.
"Listen, I have reason to believe that all three of you are great danger, but before I get into that, I want you guys to promise me something, ok." He started as all three nodded.
"I'm going to reveal my identity to you three. You have to promise me to keep it a secret," he began as they nodded. "Your lives depend on it and I cannot keep lying to you." He spoke. Ned was about to ask something, but Spider-Man waved his hand.
"You probably have a lot of questions and I will answer them, but let's just say when I take off my mask, you're going to remember me. Remember what I was like." He said sadly.
MJ asked, "Why would we remember you?" Betty and Ned were just as confused, but decided not to ask any further.
"Because I've been me my whole life. When you can do the things that I can, but you don't. And then the bad things happen, they happen because of you," he starts. "I was an orphan, raised by the best aunt and uncle in the world. Loving me like a son, they gave me all the affection any kid could ever ask for… only they couldn't give me friends."
MJ, Ned, and Betty were a little perplexed by this revelation of the hero. He slowly starts to unveil his mask, revealing his chin and mouth.
"I was the shy, book-wormish type taunted and teased all through school. But my interest in science sustained me gave me a sense of self-worth that my classmates denied me. That interest led, one day, to a one-in-a-million chance event. To me being bitten by a radioactive spider. It died, but not before it's bite had granted amazing powers. I gained the proportionate strength, speed, and ability of a spider. I could walk up walls, cling to any surface, and even a spider-sense which alerted me to danger. I soon donned a costumed, created my web-fluid and began to capitalize on my powers. In doing so, I forgot that with great power… comes great responsibility. Looking out for number one, I let a two-bit burglar whom I could've helped capture, escape. I did finally catch him several nights later, but not before he'd murdered my uncle Ben." The mask is raised up to his nose.
MJ held her breath as the revelation was getting a little tense and sad. Ned and Betty didn't know what to say to that
"That robber pretending to be me on the news doesn't know what it means to be Spider-Man I don't do this for fame or fortune. I don't do it cause of the thrill of it all or because I get off on danger. I'm a hero because it's my duty to be one, cause fate one day decided to give a lonely kid this great gift of power and turn him to Peter Parker, Spider-Man." He unveiled his mask to reveal he is Peter Parker.
Just then, they stared at him in shock, most likely due to the memories coming back to them, especially for Ned and MJ.
Betty exclaimed, "You're Spider-Man!" However, she took a step back remembering all the accusations that came at the web-head, especially the recent robbery.
Peter noticed the slight movement from her, but decided to not pry on it any further. He looked at Ned and MJ and said, "Guys, look I know you're-" Instantly, they got him into a tight hug. The trio couldn't believe it, they were back.
Betty feeling left out, wanted some context, but she decided not to ruin the mood as the trio was still hugging and crying. She also thought that something terrible must've happened for the trio to act like this.
"You- you promised us," MJ sniffed.
"Why-why-why didn't you come back for us?" Ned stuttered as he sniffed.
Peter wasn't holding back any tears and said, "I'll explained everything, just go back to sitting on the bed."
They did as he suggested. Betty also sat down next to the duo as Peter explained to Betty what happened in Europe, about Beck being a fraud, the video defaming him and how the charges were dropped, but a lot of good universities rejected all three of them. Then Peter went onto explain about Doctor Strange and how he messed up the spell and how that caused other villains from other universes to come to this one. He didn't want to bring this one up, but he felt the need to. He went on to explain about what happened between him and Goblin and May...
He teared up and Ned spoke for him explaining about how him and MJ met two other Spider-Men. Ned was glad he remembered he can do magic, but decided not to ruin the mood with everyone in this room. Peter calmed down and then went onto explain how he and the other two Spider-Men fought the villains and how he asked Strange to do a spell to make everyone forget about Peter Parker in order for the multiverse be maintained and for no other people to come into this universe.
Betty didn't know what to say that as it was too much to take in.
He then spoke to MJ and Ned, "I also did come back for you guys," he went to his desk to get the paper that would've explained everything. "This paper was going to explain everything... maybe... even hopefully getting your memories back... but..."
"But?" Ned repeated as he started to tear up.
"I saw how happy you guys were... without me. Hell, I wasn't even sure if you guys were going to remember me. It felt better just letting you guys not know me anymore because you were safe and not in danger. So, I made a choice to live in responsibility. That the world didn't need Peter Parker... it needed Spider-Man." Peter said.
"Whoa, dude, don't think about yourself like that," MJ spoke up, worried about him and his mental state.
"Yeah, we could've helped you-" Ned then spoke up, but Peter interjected.
"Yeah, and you two almost died that if it wasn't for Doctor Strange and the two versions of me. It's my fault. I made too many mistakes by trusting Beck, not getting you guys into MIT, messing up the spell, killing May..." Peter said as he tried to fight back the tears.
"Peter, no, don't do think like that," this time MJ spoke up as she went up to him and grabbed his hand. Peter flinched and MJ stepped back a bit.
"Listen, guys. There's even more after all that." Peter said bluntly.
"There's more?" Betty asked, shocked to see about it can get any crazier.
He went onto explain about Beck's crew is back and hired Kraven to go after him. He then added about how he met with Happy due to a fight he had with Kraven and how he dislocated his shoulder and how Happy regained his memories, which is why he's doing this revelation in the first place, but he had to think about it.
"What do you mean think about it?" Ned asked.
"I mean like how you guys were going to react. I wasn't sure if you were going to be mad or happy to see me." Peter added.
"Did you want us back?" MJ asked, wiping any tears left.
Peter wanted to speak, but couldn't find the right words. He paused and said, "I wanted to so bad, but Spider-Man will always have enemies..."
He bent down to MJ and Ned. He put his hands on her face and said, "I will... always be Spider-Man." Ned and MJ started to cry even harder.
"You guys were the best part of my life. My journey. But this is my path... my gift... my curse... I can't put you guys through that again." Peter said.
MJ bit her lip as Ned looked at the floor in sadness. Betty didn't what to say to his relationship of theirs, but it was making her emotional.
Ned asked and sniffed, "Can we still help you with Kraven?"
Peter shook his head. "Kraven's my responsibility. Beck's crew is after me, pretty soon, they'll remember you three from London and then... I can't let happen. Not again... not after May..." He said trying to not cry any further.
Betty asked "And what about that robber pretending to be you?"
"I'll find him and I'll kick his ass," he said bluntly which caused MJ to chuckle slightly.
He looked at MJ for a bit and then asked, "Hey, Betty, Ned, do you guys mind if..." he gestured to him and MJ. Ned got it immediately, whispered to Betty about Peter and MJ being boyfriend and girlfriend and they got up and left his apartment.
MJ still wiping away tears. She looked at Peter and asked, "Do you want us to continue?"
Peter's heart got up into his throat and he quickly nodded, "Yeah... yeah of course I want to continue with you. I love you." He stroked her hair and said, "More than anything, I love you."
MJ bit her lip and they pulled each other into a tight hug. "I missed you so much, Peter..." She let it all out.
I just want everyone to know the scene where Ned, MJ, and Peter talk (from the part where it says "especially Ned and MJ" to where it says ""Peter, no, don't do think like that," this time MJ spoke up as she went up to him and grabbed his hand." had way better written dialogue than what I wrote here (which I think is still good) it's just when I used the fanfic app on iPhone and went on laptop only to find the stuff I wrote wasn't there anymore, I got annoyed and had to rewrite it from memory. I really wish all of you could've read it the way I originally had it cause it was more emotional.
Yes, the scene where that fake imposter Spider-Man was inspired by Ultimate Spider-Man #29. I'm doing that arc in order to like have Spidey rage out more in this fic, so stay tuned for that.
Also yes that dialogue where Peter tells his origin to Ned, MJ, and Betty is straight out The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 #87.