Act IV (Part 5)

Spidey and DD ran and jumped on rooftops. It was thrilling if Parker and Murdock were honest with each other. They landed near the building which it wasn't too far from Hell's Kitchen or Manhattan.

"This is where we stop," Daredevil said.

"Oh, come on, we can still go on patrol." The hero pleaded with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.

"No, we shared intel, so we need to be on our A-game for Kraven," he approached the young hero and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Spider-Man, I want you to remember Ben Urich in your heart. And other people that got us this far. Their names will live on in us because we are continuing a mission to stop evil and corruption and uphold justice for those that need it," Daredevil said to Spider-Man.

"Yeah, people I knew once said something to me that I didn't really get until becoming Spider-Man. With great power, there must also come great responsibility." He said proudly.

"It's a nice belief," the Man Without Fear said. He waved goodbye and leaped off the rooftop. Spider-Man turned his body in the direction of Manhattan, looked back at DD leaving, and then swung away back to his home.


Today was the day. Today was finally meeting MJ's parents. Peter was completely nervous. Even more nervous compared to when he met Liz's dad, Adrian Toomes. He wasn't going to let it overcome or embarrass him, however.

Last time, he only heard that her dad liked her, then the Mysterio video dropped, and all hell broke loose for him. This is his girlfriend's family, so they've forgotten that he's Spider-Man due to the spell. His phone vibrated and it was a call from MJ.

"Hey, MJ." Peter greeted her.

"Hey, loser. You ready for today," MJ greeted back, but he could tell she was also nervous.

"Yeah, after work, I'll come by. If I'm a little late, mostly due to my spider-sense alerting me of danger, you remember the excuse we're using, right?" Peter said.

"Yep, just say the train didn't come on time as you 'text' me about it," MJ said.

"Right, hopefully though, no danger occurs, but knowing my luck," Peter said a bit saddened.

"Hey, nothing bad is going to- actually I don't even want to jinx that," MJ stated.

Peter chuckled at that and they both said goodbye and she ended the call.

As Peter exited his apartment, the area around him changed as purple smoke started to go around him and he looked around in worry.

"Beck!" He yelled out of anger, however, his spider-sense didn't warn him, so what was this?

The area was all-black in every direction and had strings of web going all around the top and somewhat walls.

"STOP HIDING FROM ME, BECK!" Peter yelled loudly and got into a spider crouch position and started to jump around in case anything crazy happens.

"My, my, you Peter Parkers are always on alert when coming here," an old lady voice said and Peter turned to see an old woman with short hair, red sunglasses (almost uncanny to Matt Murdock's), a chair with web-like structures behind her, and a spider-like outfit with a large white spider on the center.

"Ok, this has to be one of Beck's illusions," Peter analyzes his surroundings.

The old lady shook her head, "You've had a hard life, Spider-Man."

Peter froze, the spell should've made this lady not know ho he truly was.

"Ok, who the hell are you?" Peter asked ready for any attack at him.

"Throughout the multiverse, I've encountered many Peter Parkers... many Spider-Men and guide them to the hero they are meant to be," the old lady began.

She then pointed at Peter, "You are not like most Peter Parker's across the multiverse."

"What does that suppose to mean?" Peter asked, but the old lady didn't answer.

"An answer you'll find out in the future. First let me introduce myself. I am Madame Web. And please take a seat," Madame Web gestured to a seat next to her.

"I'll stand," Peter said wearily and suspiciously.

"You're suspicious of me. Nothing to worry, young man, for I am your ally," Madame Web stated.

Peter froze again and asked, "How did you know what I was thinking?"

"I'll explain later," she chuckled to herself. After all, she's been waiting to see this Peter Parker for a long time.

She started to gather up some cards, they were tarots and she shuffled the deck and pulled one tarot out.

"Oh my, so this is the part of your life will give you trouble," Madame Web said.

"What?" Peter asked getting even more confused.

"This card says you battle demons and must overcome them," Madame Web handing Peter the tarot as Peter stared at it in bewilderment and confusion.

"Ok, now I'm even more confused... what the hell is going on? How do you know me? Where even am I? And why do you know so many Peter Parkers?" Peter asked all of his questions in a rush that lead to Madame Web to just shaking her head in amusement.

"I told you, I am Madame Web. I am your ally, Spider-Man, not an enemy. And you must learn to trust me. Grave danger awaits your future. Overcome your demons and we will talk soon," Madame Web said as everything turned to purple smoke again.

"Wait! Wait! I have more questions!" Peter shouted as everything around him was gone.

"Goodbye, now, Spider-Man," Madame Web said in a distant voice.

He was now back in his apartment and an elevator made a ding sound for going down. Peter head to it right-away and just thought about what occurred.

"Stuff like that make me want to retire very soon," he said to himself as the elevator doors closed.


He was done with work and getting ready for the meeting of his girlfriend's parents.

He decided to dress up casual with a bright orange shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. He also brushed his teeth five times like a maniac.

He got a call from MJ and answered it.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey, listen, you ready?" MJ asked.

"Yeah, I'm heading there. I'm gonna jump by rooftops to get there faster," Peter said as he went up to the roof and starting to jump across rooftops.

"Won't someone notice you?" She asked in worry.

"Nah, people don't notice regular guys jumping on rooftops that much, besides I'm pretty high up." He said as he leaps wall-to-wall to an alleyway.

"Anyway, I'm nearby." He said as she sighed in relief and Peter ended the call as they both said bye.

He entered the building and saw an old looking guy that looked like he didn't have a care in the world. Peter assumed this was the landlord.

He told the landlord that he was to see the Jones family and he let him go. Wow, guess he just lets anybody in. Peter went in the elevator as it opened and closed. Moving up, he texted MJ where he was.

Ding.

The doors opened up, Peter exits the elevator and looks around. He sees a deserted hallway, almost creepy looking. It doesn't help that MJ loves on the 13th floor. Probably explains her dark sense of humor after seeing a hallway like this.

He approaches her apartment door and knocks on it three times. There's some stumbling inside as if someone was running to the door. From inside, someone turns the knob slowly and creepily opens it to reveal a tall, black, balding man with probably the most intimidating face ever, if you weren't facing criminals or super-villains on a daily basis. He was also a bit chubby, but anyone could tell he works out, or used to? He was also unshaven with his beard having been grown out, but not trimmed. he was 6'0 as well compared to Peter being 5'7. He also reeked of alcohol. This... was MJ's dad?

"You must beee her trash boyfriend," he slurred some of his words and when he said that, Peter was aghast.

"Uh, yes, sir..." Peter said nervously. He wasn't sure of her dad, after all he's Spider-Man. But just what did he to his family? Did he have a drinking problem? Was he abusive?

"Come insiide," he slurred his words again and gestures Peter to come in.

Peter does it quickly and tries to avoid his gaze on him. Then a woman, MJ's mom, greets him, however what shocked Peter was that she also smelled like alcohol and also had an intimidating glare on her face.

"My daughter is dating you?" She looks at him up and down.

"I don't see it," she commented as Peter was about to say something until MJ came running downstairs.

"Peter," she said happily running towards and hugging him as he hugs her back.

"You didn't tell us he was a scrawny boy?" Her dad commented.

"He's not scrawny!" MJ retorted.

"Sure he's..." he didn't bother finishing his sentence and just went to sit on the couch.

"Hey, listen. We're gonna be in my room until dinner gets ready," MJ gestures her mom as she slightly gets up and walks slowly to the kitchen. MJ slowly turns her head to Peter out of shyness and intense blushing.

"Let's just... let's just go to my room," MJ said. As they walked upstairs, MJ's dad shouts, "No sex!"

MJ runs quicker to her room, lets Peter inside, and slams the door. "Wow, your family is..." Peter starts.

"Junkies? Is that you were going to say?" MJ asks angrily as she stares at him.

"I was gonna say 'something.' Are they junkies?" He asks her.

MJ just held her head in shame. A tear leaked from one of her eyes and dropped to the floor. "They're not junkies, but they need help. They've been drinking a lot... because I blipped, but they didn't..." MJ said still looking at the floor.

"Oh, MJ, I'm so sorry... you've been trying to take care of them?" Peter surmised.

"Yes... but before the blip, my dad came back and we always were arguing and so on, but then the Blip happen and when I came back, they were happy to see me, but they have a drinking problem. They tried to stop, but that council that helps people with being blipped, they're not doing much. Five years of my life gone and my parents just let themselves go... and my dad when he drinks says horrible stuff to me and about you... No one at Midtown ever knew and then you did that forget spell and my life felt without purpose," MJ said as she started to tear up.

"Also, I'm starting to get sick of crying so much," MJ sniffled and held back tears.

"MJ," Peter called out to her as she looked at him into his brown eyes. "You can always cry to me and I'll always be there for you. MJ and Peter forever," Peter said.

MJ chuckled at that last part, "Dude, that's so corny with that last part."

"Now there's the MJ I know," Peter said laughingly.

"Are you upset that I didn't tell you?" MJ asks him.

Peter shook his head, "No... people have problems and you have to deal with them. We can deal them."

MJ smiles at that and they embraced each other tightly. MJ's mom called out that dinner was ready. They stopped hugging and exited her room. As they went downstairs, it was weird as they kept their gaze on Peter. They all sat on the table. Her dad started the conversation.

"Peter, what school do you go to?" Right off the bat with this, huh?

"I... I used to go to Midtown," Peter started. "But a tragedy with my family happened and I had to drop out. I'm basically an orphan. Since then, I've been studying for the GRE and SAT."

Her mom and dad stared at this kid for a second. "You've been living on your own?" Her mom asked as Peter nodded.

"Sorry to hear that son, what happened to your folks?" Her dad asked.

"Parents died in a plane crash... my uncle got shot by a burglar," Peter froze at that one as it still hurt him. "And my aunt... died by the hands of a super-villain."

Her mom and dad stared at him astonished. "So that Avengers crap costed you a loved one," her dad said as he stares at his food.

Peter was perplexed. "You don't like the Avengers? Or any hero?"

"I'm grateful for Iron Man, but the rest of them never helped us before or after. They stayed in that tower watching over global events, but never caring about the little guy." Her dad commented.

"What about Spider-Man?" Peter asked as MJ kept waving her hands across from Peter as if to say 'Don't talk about Spider-Man.'

"Him, I hate the most. Guy thinks he's the best, but when in reality he doesn't help. Just makes things worse for us. He's running around in a mask, not protecting innocent people, like he has some sort of personal vendetta," her dad said as it hurt Peter in his heart. All he tried to do was make everyone feel safe from bad guys, but now it seemed like he wasn't doing enough.

"For what it's worth, Mr. Parker, I'd rather you not hang out with that 'so-called' hero," he said as he glares at MJ.

"Dad," MJ called out feeling embarrassed.

"No, MJ. Spider-Man left you on the Statue of Liberty, we were so worried about you. What kind of hero leaves people in dangerous situations," her dad said.

"You don't know the context of what happened..." MJ said starting to feel a fume of anger inside her.

"Don't I? Weird things happened in the sky and all of sudden, Spider-Man was to blame? Seemed like he was the cause of it with all the weird magic crap that shows up in our world. Face it, anything he does will never be seen as heroic to me," her dad said.

A big slam on the table was heard and it was coming from Peter. MJ, her dad and mother, turned to look at Peter who appeared to have gotten up.

"Dinner was delicious, Mrs. Watson, but I think I'm gonna have to go now." Peter said as he started to walk out as MJ calls out to him.

"Peter, wait!" She calls out as she runs after him outside.

Mr. Watson just had astonished look on his face. "Did I say something?"


"Peter!" MJ calls out to him again as she reaches to him as he entered the elevator, she quickly grabs the doors before they close, and she lets herself in.

"Peter, what's wrong?" MJ asked as she sees him on the floor crying to himself.

"It's just..." he sniffles. "The more he talks about 'me', the more I'm reminded of my failure of saving her. Saving May. I did all of this because I didn't want her to worry, but even then..."

MJ sat next to him and got into a tight hug with him.

"You don't have to listen to what he says, I should know..." MJ said.

"You were right, by the way." He said as she looked her boyfriend in confusion. "Getting sick of crying," he said as they both started to chuckle and giggle.\

"Where are you going to go now?" MJ asked.

"How about we go somewhere else?" Peter suggested.

"Where? And my parents?" MJ asked.

"Your parents wouldn't know," Peter said while giggling at the idea he had.


"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH OOOOOOOKKKAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY! OOOKKK! OOOOOKKKKK!" MJ screamed aloud as Peter was swinging really fast and intense to a lovely location.

She closed her eyes as they landed, well technically Peter, but she held on to him. Peter giggled and said, "You can put your feet down."

She opened her eyes and immediately got off from him. She then glared at him.

"What did I say about doing that?" MJ said threateningly.

Peter giggled and chuckled as that turned into laughter. "I'm sorry, ok. It's a romantic view from here."

"What are you talking about-" She turned and looked around to see that she's on top of the Chrysler Building.

"Shall we have a nice night?" Peter asked as MJ just shook her head and hugged him again, mostly due to fear of heights and because she knew Spider-Man would always catch her if she fell.


Jameson was walking around and headed inside a bar. The smell of alcohol was overpowering, but durable. He sat down, ordered a drink, and kept doing it.

"You know that drink sucks in my opinion," Robbie came by and sat down next to him.

"Robbie, what are you doing here?" Jameson asked.

"The real question is what are you doing here?" Robbie asks back.

"Drinking, what else is there?" He remarked.

"You know you're gonna have to face him soon," Robbie said.

"I know and that's what I'm worried about. It's been so long since I've seen him..." Jameson said.

"So, what are you worried about?" Robbie asked him.

"Him just not talking to me is my worst fear," Jameson said as he took another drink.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't get to that," Robbie said as he ordered a drink and sat with Jameson all night.


Alright, the chips are set everything is going to go down in Act V and VI. Hope you enjoyed this one!