The Stings That Don't Hurt

In an alternative universe, where people with abilities beyond anyone's imagination, are seen as hostiles behind the piercing eyes of the public, Peter Parker is gifted a power that he knows no bounds to his limits. He goes on the search to find himself... As well as more of his others...

No Place Like Home

"Alright, everyone let's do this one last time..."

Spring 2008

- New York City -

Queens, Forest Hills Neighborhood

In the Parker Household...

A heavy yawn escaped Benjamin Parker as he flipped over a page of The Daily Bugle Newspaper trying to keep himself occupied as the time goes. He is seated on the couch in the family room as his nephew was getting ready for his studies. The kid was so insistent to get him out of the house that he just HAD to go to this library. It couldn't be any other time, he had said. It had to be today. Must've been some project... Never a moment that his kid doesn't surprise him these days. A low chuckle from him came.

He knew Peter was eager to do all sorts of things but to go to a library of all places? To go do his studies instead of this household? Over there? He hasn't put much thought to it, but there was something off about it...

Was he overthinking this?

Most likely.

Did he have every right to know everything?

Maybe, but he didn't want to pry further into his nephew's space. He had his suspicions, yes, though it didn't mean he wanted to break anything between them. He a right to be worried for the kid.

Ben knew he can trust the kid. Peter has come far to where he is now and he hoped nothing is changing anytime soon. He would just have to be ready for a confession so he can lend an ear for him. At least that's what he's leaning toward for now.

He flipped through another page of the print which had held many offers from many businesses that he did not have the slightest interest in. Oh! A betting section. He had marked it down with a pen and was sure to come back to it later. He knew he had shuffled a bit of money in there, but what are the odds that he would gain it back?

Most likely low.

With a quick skim over to the Sports section, he wasn't ever so surprised his favorite team is losing once again.

At the corner of his eyes, he noticed a group of bold texts that had informed him of the latest acts of this city. His brows furrowed in surprise as he had just read the amount of excessive detailing of the numerous damage that had occurred not too long ago a few districts away from here.

With an exasperating sigh, he flipped to the other page. The content of these newer texts did not differ from the last one. He shook his head in dismay as he read through it. What was it that was going on in these streets? It's almost as if everyone had been gone nuts and write everything backwards... The sudden change of

"I know that look, hun. You should fix it before it freezes up on you," said Maybelle Parker as she walked up to the side of him with two cups of tea in hand. He chuckled and flipped to another page. She sincerely smiled at him and offered him a cup, in which he happily took. "Not much up to date?" She is a woman in her late thirties. There was a sign of grey hairs on her brunette hair, but no dares to remind her of the coming of age. Her attire often includes of a mixture dresses and jeans in her style. Her work was one as a nurse assistant. Her personality has shown that if "You help someone,

He only shrugged, "I can't help but want to know. It's the same thing every week... There's either someone getting their money hassled or a place being demolished by so and so. Same old, same old, I'll tell ya..."

"It is worrying..." She hummed in thought, "Though, would it help if you would just put the papers down for once out of the entire week? If it's all bad, then just give it a break, will ya?

Ben nodded his head in acknowledgment and folded the newspaper, placing it to the side. "Just waiting for a change of scenery is all. Can't get nowhere if anyone isn't doing anything..." He stood up from his seat and peered through the hallway and called out to his nephew. "Alright, Peter. C'mon out. What's the hold up in there?"

"Just give me a second!" His boy said from the other side of the house. A bit more rummaging of objects falling followed after that, making the Uncle even more curious as to what was going on.

Benjamin shrugged as he slouched back onto his seat, "Hey, May... Do you ever get the feeling that the kid is a bit... Oh, I don't know... Unusual from the past few weeks?"

"Oh, let him be. He's just looking out is all. He's no different than we were at his age."

"I get that I do, but we didn't have anyone else looking out for us." Ben ran a hand to his chin, "Ever since that field trip of his, he started to act more... Open. By the time it was dusk, he was already out of the house. I'll tell ya, it's like half the time he's out there than he is here. He has his reasons, sure, but it just feels like he's getting a bit distant. I don't wanna pry, but it's gotta be something he has say, right?"

May shrugged, "Oh, just let him be. He's just growing is all."

Ben heavily sighed, "I know that. It just feels like we're growing apart from him is all. The one thing I don't want is for him to feel like we're in the way. I don't want him to avoid our direction where we are trying to look out for him."

May hummed in thought, "Well, if you do happen to feel like that, Ben, now's a time to talk to him. As long as he has someone to listen to, I'm sure he'll be fine."

The sound of footsteps grew closer to them as their nephew finally joined them in the family room. He ran a hand through his messy hair "Sorry for the hold-up, Uncle Ben. I was just making sure I had everything." Peter Parker replied as he slung his overpacked backpack over his shoulder. He sported a denim t-shirt with a thin white sleeve shirt underneath. He wore over khaki pants and black shoewear for his clothing style.

The Uncle stood up from his seat, "I've been wondering where you were at. Are you sure you got everything you need?"

"About as everything I can get." Peter smiled as he made his way towards the front door.

Both Ben and May were surprised to find a stuffed backpack right behind him as he shuffled it in adjustment. May sighed, "Dinner will be ready by the time you back, kiddo. Don't get too caught up on studies alright?"

"I'll try not to do that, Aunt May!" The woman scoffed as he left out the household.

Ben raised a shoulder and chuckled, "Kids..."

Just as their car took off, they were making good time as the drive over to the library was only a few minutes away. With every passing street they passed by and fewer cars driving into the night, time was an ally to the young Teenager.

For within his Backpack lies a secrecy that his Uncle and Aunt do not know of the other part of him.

Peter Parker is going to be a Contender... As a masked-looking vigilant. He would hope that he wouldn't disappoint his parental figures if he had stayed too late...

In the Driver's Seat, Benjamin had just begun to notice how quiet it is between him and his nephew. It's quite odd as this isn't how they usually pass the time. It's this part of the stage where he was unsure how to approach a developing young adult. Starting a conversation used to be a fairly easy task... He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in thought.

The Uncle cleared his throat, "Hey, uh... there's a game coming up with The Yankees. Haven't been to those in a while! What say you and I take a trip over there this weekend? Maybe we'll be able convince May to join with us, right?" He smiled off to him. Though, his nephew didn't share one with him as he seemed lost in his own thoughts. He's doing it again... "Peter?"

The Teen sat up straight from his posture, "Oh, uh, sure. I'll think about that." This time, Peter had no direct eye contact with him, nor did he face him.

"Hm." Now, this was something new. Ben was assured that something is going on with his nephew. He didn't look to be focused at the moment. Wha

That was too much small talk he can get to. "How about the schoolwork, Pete? Nothing troubling for you?"

"It's going alright. Nothing too much."

Ben hummed, "Ah, I see... I don't have to have a chat with those teachers, am I right?"

"Oh, what? No. Course not. I've... Just been distracted is all. I need to be caught up is all."

Peter finished those sentences way too blandly for his comfort. He was too quiet. The Uncle didn't want to push further into trying to make him talk. The one thing he doesn't want to do is make him feel unsure of himself.

.

The Uncle eyed up at the familiar building towards them. He would hope that by the end of his tutorial session, Peter would become out of there with an open mind. He gave another sigh and made a few turns until he parked along the side of the walkway, letting the passenger side of the car face the entrance of the library.

"Well, kid. Here we are." Ben said as he shifted the gear into Park. He took a glance at his nephew as he noticed he was in a trance of some sort. "You doing okay there? You sure you got everything settled in?"

Shaken from his thoughts, Peter raised his hand towards the handle and pushed the door open "I... Uh, yeah! Everything's fine. I'll... Um, get going. Thanks for the ride, Uncle Ben. It means a lot."

Just before he would leave, his Uncle placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his place. "Now hold on, Peter... You've been a bit... off lately. Do you mind telling me what's going on? I mean this with no pressure. It just feels that you're away from the house too much."

"There is something that's been on my mind lately..." Peter slowly slumped back into his as he fumbled with his fingers. "Uncle Ben, If you can do something and do it better than anyone else... Then it wouldn't be wrong to, you know, cash in on your talents right?"

The Uncle only hummed in thought. "Well... Son that depends on what talents we're talking about."

The Teen had only sighed to this and gave no response. Just what was it that he is going for exactly? It happened all too fast. One moment he was just enjoying himself at a field trip, the next few minutes he was bitten by an arachnid that made him enhance in his senses and strengths. How was he supposed to respond to that exactly? He was well aware of the public's view of the "Heroics."

One hand, he could just make some quick cash and would be done and over with this gig.

On the other hand, he couldn't if maybe the people were ever so wrong to ban out the Supers... Something life-changing has happened to him and would he really be expected to lay low? If it meant looking after his Uncle and Aunt, so be it.

"Listen, kid... The thing that you're going through right now... I've been on a similar thing at your age. It's not one I'd often like share, bu."

Peter sighed at this and turned away from him. "I... No. It's not exactly like this, Uncle Ben."

"Point is, kid, is that your changing. Growing into the man you're going to be. And just because you can't do something doesn't mean you should. With Great Power, must also come with Great Responsibility... Remember that, Peter. Remember that."

Peter only nodded dumbly as he wasn't sure how to respond to that. "I... Appreciate the talk, Uncle, but I don't get what you mean by that."

His Uncle chuckled "We just want the best of you, Peter. That's all. Don't ever forget we'll always be here with open arms. The one thing we least want is for you to be turning away from us."

"I'm... sorry. About not being around as often. I just... need to catch on to a few things is all and I'll be set." Peter returned his genuine smile, "And Uncle Ben... There is something I have to tell you... I just don't know how to put it easy for you..."

"Take all the minutes you've got son. There's no rush to this until you are ready. How about we just take it to dinner and say we're square?" Benjamin noticed how honest his nephew sounded. The sincerity of his voice being brought back was one he had hoped to hear. He smiled back, "You want me to be here in two hours right?"

"Yep." Peter had said as he stepped out of the car. "It shouldn't take me that long, but if I do, I'll let you know."

"Sound like a plan. You go on and take care of those studies of yours. I'm sure it won't be a problem for you."

Peter had only nodded and began to walk in the opposite direction to the Library.

So did Uncle Ben, but he never stopped looking back.

Had this in mind for Two to Three Years... I have thought of the entirety of this one.

Let's see how much I can put through...