"You guys!" Dodge ten bullets, watch five guys get hit and go down, web another one. "Really don't!" Jump onto the wall, spring back and kick a guy in the face before twirling back into the air. "Like me!"

I was blaming this all on Ganke. I mean, I had come down here when I knew high tech scientist guys meant high tech guns and also they wanted to experiment on me. Which meant I was to blame. But blaming Ganke was more fun.

If it wasn't for the whole 'I really don't want to get hit by bullets' thing, I would have almost enjoyed the light show. They were like little lasers, dancing around with me. Following me, moving with me, it was kind of pretty!

Alas, I had to dodge them and all. So I wouldn't die or anything.

The one upside was, with it so dark and everything, I was able to jump around the room and in front of important looking things without anyone getting in my way. I didn't even need to venom strike anything, the scientists were doing that job for me! Honestly, for genius scientists it was very one-track-minded of them.

"I would!" Slide under a desk, kick a guy in the shins and crush the gun before jumping away. "Love to stay!" Gunk up another scientists gun with some web. "But!" Jump onto the ceiling and roll along, narrowly avoiding being littered with holes. "I would like to live!"

I webbed the stairways door open a crack and dived for it, squeezing myself in to the narrow entrance. I kinda felt like I was doing an Indiana Jones here! I hit the ground hard, sliding along on the tiled floor. Ouch, rug burn! I didn't get a chance to enjoy my victory because the bullets immediately followed me in.

I got to my feet and was almost out of the way when a lucky stray bullet nearly got me in the shoulder. I dodged its counterpart, which in the scheme of things was way off. I jumped onto the rail of the stairs.

"Adios!" I yelled, then aimed high and thwipped a web. I said it once, I'll say it again. Webs are so convenient! I quickly climbed the web rope, leaving behind the scientists in the dark.

Good luck to them - climbing up seventy flights of stairs in the dark didn't sound fun.

When I reached the top and climbed back out into the warehouse, I had never been so happy to see the night sky as I had now. Sweet, sweet freedom! I ran over to the nearest window and crashed through it, webbing off into the night.

I didn't let myself stop until I was half way home. The further away I was, the less chance they had of getting me again. I thwipped one last web and let myself slump onto a building.

I was never going to listen to Ganke again, I swear.

I pulled out my phone and gave him a call.

Ring, ring. Ring, ring. I impatiently tapped my feet, then sat down with my back against the rails. Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

"Miles?" he mumbled, sounding like he had just gotten out of bed.

"Just for the record, I'm never taking your suggestions again," I grumbled.

"Huh? Wha- oh, the investigating thing," he said after yawning. "Right, right. How'd that go for you?"

"Well, I'm in one piece so that's the upside!" I sighed. "But, uh, looks like there's more than just one bad guy now."

"There's always more than one bad guy. But can any of this wait until tomorrow? It's like three am dude," he yawned again for good measure, while I froze up.

"Wait, three am? What is the time, Ganke?" I stressed.

There was a small commotion in the background before he finally replied, "two thirty-seven, why?"

"You go back to sleep, I, uh, well I'm in so much trouble. See you tomorrow dude!" I quickly said, barely giving him time to reply before hanging up. I was so dead. Nevermind that Alchemax wanted to kill me, Mum and Dad would make my death so much worse than anything they could come up with!

I jerked forward, ready to swing back home, but my left arm collapsed by my side in protest. It felt like it had been lit on fire! I bit down on a yelp, falling forward.

I grabbed at my shoulder, which only seemed to make the pain worse. Let's not do that. I drew my hand back and found it covered with blood.

Ah, right. That would… would explain it. I guess a lucky bullet had gotten me after all. I looked over and found a whole chunk of my shoulder bloody. I could even see some muscle under that blood, which was a whole 'nother level of gross. Luckily it didn't seem too deep, more like it had skimmed past me.

I grabbed my mask from my pocket, turned it inside out so the sneezed-on side was on the outside and tore a line through it. I then tightly wrapped it around my shoulder and secured it with several thick layers of webbing.

There, that should keep the blood inside me - where it was supposed to be in the first place. I stood back up, wiping my blood off on my legs. Those first aid classes were really coming in handy.

At least this wound backed up my story? There was no way they could be angry at me for something like this.

But that did leave one question. Could I swing one-handed the rest of the way home?

I rolled my one good shoulder, stretching it out. I bounced on the balls of my feet. I mean, I was Spider-Man, I could do whatever a spider can!

I stepped onto the ledge and thwipped my first web. It hit the building over with a thunk.

Let's go!

I dropped into open air, arching into my first swing. I took the swing the whole way forward before thwipping my next web. Huh, that was easier that I thought it would be! Maybe I should practice this some more?

When I got home, I wasn't as successful, however. I crept in through my open window and onto my bed. I reached over and turned my bedside light on.

Nope, parents weren't hanging around waiting to tell me off for being home late. Score! I flicked my backpack over to the side to look after later.

I slithered out of bed and tiptoed into the bathroom,carefully pulling out the med kit that felt like it was built for war. We had upgraded since the reveal, and Mum had been very insistent on explaining each part to me. And then making me promise to always tell her about my injuries ten times over so she could treat me.

I mean, technically I would tell her in the morning after it had healed some more. So she wouldn't eat a brick in worry. Win-win all around!

Except, either she had gained super hearing or had set some sort of trap. As soon as I clicked it open, I heard her door open and stomp into the bathroom.

"Miles Morales, what are you doing?" she demanded, flicking the bathroom light on.

I looked between her and the med-kit, then back to her. "Uh, studying?"

She gave me a Look and I quickly withered under it. "Ok, so, uh, maybe I got shot. Or something."

"Ay, Mr. Morales! ¿Dónde te duele? Show me right this instant," she growled, bending down to get at my level while I unwrapped my web-bandage. It hurt just as much as when I had first touched, but I did my best to not let it show on my face.

She tsked at the sight of it, immediately washing her hands and getting ready to treat me. "What did you get up to, huh? You know you need to be more careful." She examined my wound for a brief moment before nodding to herself. "Take off your shirt and we'll give that a wash."

I carefully pulled it off and set it aside. I resisted the urge to sigh at the tattered shoulder, I would need to stitch the costume back up. Again. "It's a miracle I'm not littered with holes, really," I said, standing up and leaning over the sink so she could get at it. She turned the tap on and gently began washing it. "There were like, I dunno, fifty-odd scientists shooting at me?"

When I risked a glance at her, she was frowning. "Scientists? I think you'll need to start from the top, hijo."

"Well, I stopped a bank robbery. That was kinda cool. But, uh, one of the guys had some of my powers. And he told me was with this group called The Owls?" I began.

"The Owls? What an odd choice. Owls aren't all that scary," she murmured, happy with the wash and grabbed a towel, some disinfectant and a roll of bandages. She hesitated. "You know your healing better than I do. How well will this be healed by morning?"

I shrugged my good shoulder. "Probably scabbed over and beginning to scar over. It wasn't like I got shot in the stomach or something, it just skimmed me."

Somehow, her frown grew deeper. "Small miracles, I suppose. I guess it won't need stitches. You really shouldn't be fighting that many people at once."

I chuckled. "Oh I know, but things happened."

"Right, continue your story," she said, now happy with how dry it was and started to disinfect it. I grimaced at the sting.

"Well, I talked with Ganke cause I didn't know how they got my powers so I went back to the place I was kidnapped." I didn't miss her small flinch. "I didn't think anyone would be there, but, well. There were a bunch of scientists. Also I overhead that there's some guy they're trying to hire to, uh, stop me, and some other dude is going to make an announcement. Anyway, I found them doing some bad science stuff in the basement of the place and so I shut it down and they weren't very happy with me for that. Then I got shot, the end."

Just enough information for her to feel informed, but less than a full version, because I really didn't want to think about that guy in the tube. Ever. Maybe I should look into a therapist sometime…

She had finished wrapping me up by then. She gave it a small tug and seemed satisfied. "Head to bed, Miles, we'll talk more in the morning."

I smiled and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Mom."

She passed me some panadol, too. "And take some of this. Oh, and you're banned from Spider-Man until it's healed."

"Wha- But, Mom!" I protested, jaw dropping.

"But nothing, Miles! Mirá- I see no alien invasion, do you?" She asked, pointing out the window.

Stupid clause in the stupid agreement. I had Spider-Manned with so much worse before. "...Fine."

She kissed my cheek before heading off to bed. I gave in and went to bed, too. She hadn't even mentioned the fact I had missed curfew, either, so at least there had been one upside?

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

I rolled over, grabbing my pillow and stuffing it over my ears and groaning. Ping! Ping! Ping! I slapped my phone and brought it over, muting the phone. I blearily looked at the time. Six AM? It was a Sunday! Wake me up at noon, not this ungodly hour.

I reluctantly opened my phone and had a look at my phone messages. Ganke, Gwen and Kevin. Did someone die? Is this why everyone's pestering me? I clicked on Ganke's first.

Ganke: Dude! Check the news! Someone's impersonating you!

I blinked slowly. Um, what? Ok I guess. I went into my news app.

Spider-Man Turned Crook! - Daily Bugle

I squinted at the screen. Yeah, no, I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything to warrant Daily Bugle throwing a fit. I mean, they threw a fit everyday anyway, but not a fit about me. I sat up, way more alert than I had been moments before.

I clicked in, skim reading. Bank robbery at three am, person dressed as me in costume throwing a bag over his shoulder and running off. Eye witnesses saying he didn't immediately respond to Miles, police at scene confused.

I immediately jumped on Instagram. Gotta shoot this down quickly. I took a selfie of me wrapped up in the bandage and half awake.

Apparently I'm robbing banks now? Even tho I'm a good guy? Even tho I've been banned from spiderman till this bad boy heals? And also I was getting stitched up at three am?

Honestly, get good imposter

#fakenews #spiderman2.0

There was an immediate flood of likes and comments, but I ignored them in favor of looking at the message from Gwen and Kevin, and also replying to Ganke.

Me: Ganke, it was bound to happen some time since I'm just that cool

I saw him start typing but flicked over to Gwen.

Gwen: They couldn't even get your spider right, yours are always clearly spray painted and his looks like he printed it cheaply from China

I snorted.

Me: You can never beat the original. Honestly, no taste this dude

And then Kevin.

Kevin: Did you really rob a bank?

Me: Why would I? It would just bring a bad rep dude

Gankes message had finally come through. Ganke: You? Cool? Lmao

Me: ouch, I need some ice for that burn

I rolled out of bed and went into the kitchen, where I found both Mom and Dad watching a news broadcast with frowns on their faces. One look and I realised they were watching about my apparent robbery.

"You guys don't believe I would have robbed a bank, do you?" I asked, pulling out a stool and sitting down.

Dad shook his head, looking grave. "No, but an impersonator with the ability to mimic your abilities so well…"

I sighed. "Yeah, not so good. I mean, I just don't get why they would bother. Everyone knows who I am, it's not like I'm some mystery man who might have done that."

"Ruin your reputation? Prove a point? You've gotta be careful out there Miles, people like this will do anything to get what they want," he said, putting a hand on top of mine and lightly squeezing.

I nodded, "Yeah, I know. I'm being careful." Mum looked over her shoulder and gave me a Look. I sheepishly grinned. "Hey, when playing dodgeball with bullets sometimes you can't avoid getting hit."

Dad frowned at us. "Did you get hurt?"

I sighed an even bigger sigh. "It's not that big of a deal! The bullet/laser thingy only skimmed past me. It's not like it hit me in the stomach or anything."

He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at me. I reluctantly pulled off my shirt so he could have a look. He examined it for a moment before shaking his head. "'Only skimmed past,' you've got some guts Miles."

I shrugged. "Seriously, its fine. I've gotten way worse."

"No Spider-Man until it heals, young man," he said.

I put my hands up in surrender, ignoring the small jolt of pain it earned me. "Mom already gave me that lecture."

She nodded. "Yes, I did. Now, I've got work today unfortunately and so does your father. Will you be fine here on your own?"

I grinned. "Of course! I'll make sure to burn the house down while you're out."

Dad chuckled as he went back to their bedroom to continue to get ready. Mum kissed my forehead and followed him. I turned back to the TV.

"A post on Miles Morales's - the new Spider-Man's - Instagram has just come through. He denies his involvement and further went on to say that he was already grounded from Spider-Man due to an injury. He did not clarify how he received the injury, but in this video-" they started playing back video of the bank robbery. I peered closer. Gwen was right, this guy probably had gotten the costume from China! "-it is clear that the criminal is not inhibited by any shoulder injuries."

The news cut in half so the woman on site and the man at the news desk were both on screen. The man at the news desk started talking. "Is there any evidence for where Miles was at the time of the robbery, any photo proof?"

"Yes. A user on Twitter by the username gifnotjif2001 posted a picture which, though not completely clear, does show Miles ten minutes before the robbery swinging with one arm and looks to have some sort of temporary wrapping around his shoulder. This picture was claimed to be taken at a location halfway across town from the bank," the woman said.

"Is there any possibility that he could have reached the bank before the robbery started?"

"As far as we know, no," she stated.

The man nodded. "Thank you, Jane."

"Thank you, Jeff."

The screen shifted back to just Jeff. He shifted and another news segment began. I tuned it out.

A huge smile spread across my face. Huh, maybe this whole identity revealed thing wasn't so bad. People had actually jumped to my defence? Which was super cool. Well, except for the Daily Bugle. But that was the Daily Bugle for you.

Then I realised, there was still the matter of someone impersonating me. The thought wiped the smile off of my face pretty quickly. Even worse, I couldn't even go investigate! I wasn't allowed to be Spider-Man.

I leaned my head on my fist, thinking. Well… I wasn't allowed to be Spider-Man. They never said anything about plain ol' Miles, now did they?