vfc15650: Yes, I do plan on getting those one-shots that take place after this season out. They will take a bit longer since this is my last semester and I am desperately searching for a job. I have gotten started on them, though, so be ready! Glad you enjoyed the last chapter, and I hope this serves as a good conclusion for Ben.
boybay44: Yeah, the newest issue of ASM 2022 wasn't actually that bad on the Spider-Man side of things, it's just really frustrating every time we cut back to MJ and see what's happening with her and the Peter Parker side of things. We have no idea what is happening, how MJ got kids that are 3-5 years old after a 6 month time jump, and why she and everyone else hates Peter again. It's really annoying, and Paul makes me nervous. The guy has a vibe that just feels icky. His dialogue and the framing of MJ in certain scenes makes me worried that he's a violent guy that is holding MJ and I don't like that for her character. She would know not to be around someone like that after her childhood and past with her father. Especially if her kids are involved, but she also wouldn't have kids until she had chosen to settle down cause she doesn't want to end up like her mother and sister. Sorry, I'm letting my frustrations carry me away. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and I hope you like the conclusion. I also hope you read the rest of my stuff when they come out.
Also, I'm glad you really liked my MCU Spidey 4 outline. I set some rules for myself where I couldn't use any villains that appeared in past Spider-Man movies (Tobey and Andrew included), and I kept only a few characters we've seen in past movies (I'm not going to use Harry Osborn at all). I also thought that Felicia is the perfect character to introduce now since Peter wouldn't be looking for a serious relationship, and Gwen in my trilogy is going to be just Peter's best friend. Smythe was a good choice for a villain since he's not very big and can allow for me to make a more character-focused story.
Guest who commented on Jun 15: I'm glad you enjoy the chapter. This is the last chapter for Season 4, but there will be more one-shot arcs coming that continue the story of this world.
Author's Note: Hey guys, this is it! The ending of my Spectacular Spider-man Season 4, however, it is not the end of my writing in this world. I have plans for more stories, and I will also be posting the Screenplay for my Spider-Man movie when I finish it! I hope you all enjoy the ending of this season, and please let me know what you think of this season as a whole down below. If there's anything you guys felt like I missed or could've done better, please let me know! I'm always looking to improve my writing.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy!
Who am I? Part 5
Peter took a breath as he watched Ben swing out the window of the Oscorp Warehouse. It was odd to watch himself swing away.
No, that's not me in that uniform, Peter thought. He knew he didn't handle the initial cloning reveal very well. But it had to be harder for Ben. Peter couldn't imagine what it must feel like to have someone else's memories become yours. He had no idea what that was doing to Ben right now. If he could take back what he said…
Peter sighed. He knew better than most that there was no changing the past. All he could do was make the future one where he never made the same mistake again. He had to make things right with Ben, but that could wait. He owed someone else an apology.
"Hey Cat!" Peter yelled, looking up. He waved for her to drop down.
Gracefully, Felicia lowered herself from the rafters and to the ground level. She cast the melted and cracked container on the ground a wary look. "You sure that thing is dead?"
Peter looked down at the burnt symbiote and gave it a little kick. The formerly slimy black goo broke off like loose bark on a tree branch. "Seems deader than the last time I tried to kill it."
Felicia tilted her head. Then, she kicked the container. It skidded across the ground, leaving a trail of black flakes in the air until there was nothing left of the demonic sludge.
Peter looked at Felicia with a smile. "Well, that's one way to make sure."
Felicia returned the smile, then walked past Peter and for the door. "I'll see you around, Spider," she said, patting him on the shoulder.
"W-wait, you're leaving?" Peter asked. "Just like that?"
"I think it'd be better if I made my escape, for now, Spider," she answered. "There are a few threads I need to cut."
"Well, you don't have to be a stranger after that," Peter said. "This team of Spiders would always welcome a third."
Felicia smirked. "We will never be strangers, Spider." With that, Felicia walked out of the warehouse.
"She's dangerous," Harry commented.
"You have no idea." Peter clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Come on, man. Let's get you back to Liz."
Harry went rigid. "Y-you aren't going to arrest me?"
"Why would I?" Peter asked, tilting his head.
"I attacked the school, I nearly killed you! I should go to jail!"
Peter moved to place his hand on Harry's shoulder but stopped when he saw Harry's fearful gaze. "Harry, you were a victim of Venom," Peter insisted. "And you didn't hurt anyone."
Harry looked away from Peter. "Something is wrong with me, Pete! First, it was the Green, then it was Gwen, and now it was Venom! I just jumped from one fix to another!"
"Remember what you said to me last year?" Peter asked. "When you're addicted, it's easy to backslide. No one can help you until you are ready to help yourself! But you want to help yourself!"
Harry didn't look back at Peter. "I-I'm worse than my father."
"No!" Peter said adamantly. He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder without hesitation, and turned his former best friend to face him. "Norman did everything of his own free will! He hurt you and everyone else consciously! Harr, you broke free of Venom! You made sure that it didn't hurt anyone else!"
Harry's eyes drifted past Peter's, almost as if he were seeing someone beyond him. "Y-yeah."
Harry shook beneath Peter's hand, and instinctively, Peter lifted Harry over his shoulder. Peter's midsection complained as the weight of his injuries from their first tussle came back. However, he would fight through the pain. He needed to get Harry to the hospital. To get him the help he needed from a discrete professional.
"Don't worry, Harr," Peter said, walking toward the giant doors. "I know someone who can help you."
Barzini's
"Liz, you need to breathe!"
Mary Jane sat across from Liz Allen in the back corner booth of the pizzeria. Liz's chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm that Mary Jane recognized all too well.
Mary Jane took Liz's hand and squeezed it. "Liz, look at me, right now!"
Liz's eyes whipped to meet Mary Jane's. Channeling her inner Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane directed Liz to follow her breathing.
She pulled her hand toward herself. Deep breath in.
Mary Jane pushed her hand away. Deep breath out.
In.
Out.
Liz retracted her hand. "How did you do that?" she asked.
"You know how it is dating Peter," Mary Jane said, trying to crack a smile but it never came.
Liz nodded in understanding. "I just thought I'd be able to handle it better."
"I thought I could too, but…" Mary Jane took a breath. She needed to be careful with her words here. Everyone was aware of the fact she and Peter were separated during the night Venom attacked. And the cover story they had for it was that she accidentally ran him over. "When things go down, it's a lot harder to hold it together. You remember what it was like when Mark…went through it."
Liz shifted in her seat.
Mary Jane looked down at her hands. "Sorry."
"It's fine," Liz said in a small voice. "I-I know what you mean."
Behind Mary Jane, the bell jingled as the door to Barzini's opened, and Liz's head whipped to it. Her face was full of hope, only for that hope to be wiped away like rain on a windshield.
Mary Jane felt a pang of deja vu. That was the same look she had in her face for the past three months when she would watch Peter's house at night.
God, this just doesn't get easier does it? Where is Peter!? Mary Jane glanced at the Tv in the corner of the restaurant. There was no coverage of whatever was happening with Venom. No coverage of the possible fights.
That simultaneously made her happy and angry.
On the one hand, she wouldn't be forced to watch Peter fight that monster. She wouldn't be forced to see if her dreams came true. But on the other hand, Mary Jane hated being kept out of the loop. She wanted to know everything that happened in case there was something she could do to help!
Mary Jane's hand trembled. It was happening all over again. Peter was out being the hero, and here she was; waiting in the dark.
Why didn't I stop him! I could've done it. Turned on the waterworks, or put my acting chops to work! Anything to keep that thick-headed hero from getting himself killed.
That was her job now that everything was in the open now, right? Be the person that keeps him from burning the candle at both ends, right?
The bell jingled again and both girls looked at the door.
Oh thank God!
"Petey!" Liz rushed up out of the booth and ran toward the young superhero. Liz stopped just in front of Peter. "Where's Harry? You found him, didn't you? Tell me he's alright!"
"Easy Liz," Peter said, raising his hands placatingly. "I found him. Let's just take a seat."
As Peter led Liz back to the booth, he locked eyes with Mary Jane. She could see the happiness he was hiding behind his mask of calm and wondered how she had never picked up on it before. That spark in Peter's eye.
Even after he came back half dead from the Midtown High Brawl, and just before he left to help Harry, he'd had that spark. In that moment, that spark made her realize that no matter what she said, he would always go back out into the city. He would always jump straight into the fire, regardless of what condition he was in.
And that terrified Mary Jane to her core.
"So," Liz started as she slid into the booth and Peter slid in next to Mary Jane, "where's Harry?"
"He's at the Hospital—"
Liz gasped and made to leave the booth, but Peter grabbed her arm.
"He's fine," he insisted. "Just needs to get his mental house in order."
"So, he's not hurt?"
"Physically, he's drained. Mentally?" Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and Mary Jane placed her hand in his and squeezed tight. "Harry's got some stuff to work through."
"Can I see him right now?"
Peter shifted again. "He's at Midtown General. I don't know if they'll let you see him though."
Liz collected her things and shuffled out of the booth. "Thank you, Petey. And thank you, MJ…really."
"Of course."
Liz walked out of the building and the breath that Mary Jane had been holding in left along with her.
"You okay, Red?"
Mary Jane looked up at Peter and felt all her worry wash away when her eyes connected with his. And that terrified her even more.
"We need to talk, Peter," she said, pulling her hand away from his.
Peter furrowed his brow. "Okay?"
"Please, don't take my words the wrong way," Mary Jane said, shifting in her seat so she could properly face him. "I love that you are Spider-Man, I really do. There's just this one part of me that is afraid that one day, you will suit up and leave in the middle of an argument and—"
"It won't go down like that," Peter insisted, shifting in his seat as well to face her.
"Peter, look at what happened today!" she hissed. "We decided that you wouldn't suit up. That you would let Ben and Felicia handle Harry, but at the first opening you got, you ran straight for the fire!"
"What was I supposed to do?" Peter asked. "Liz called me directly, and Harry was my fault!"
Mary Janes pinched the bridge of her nose. "Peter, if this is going to work, we need to work together! Just like how you and Ben do!"
"There won't always be time for a committee meeting!" Peter growled. "When shit hits the fan, there's no time to think!"
Mary Jane shook her head. "You're not listening to me. I'm not asking you to call me every time some idiot decides to take something that isn't theirs. I just want you to listen to me when you need a reality check!
"Think about what happened the last two years when you were alone when compared to the time Ben came into the picture! You have had someone to bounce off of, someone to take the weight of the city off your shoulders! And that's been something you needed! All I'm asking is that you please listen to us when we try to help!"
Peter stared at her for a moment. Mary Jane could see the familiar spark in his eye change ever so slightly. Whether it was a good or bad change, she didn't know yet.
"I'll do my best," he said, grasping her hand tightly, "but if I see something going down that the police or any other costume can't handle solo, I can't just stand aside and let it happen. I won't do that, not again!"
Mary Jane placed her free hand on Peter's cheek. It wasn't the resolution she was hoping for, but she knew better than to expect Peter to change overnight. All roads needed a foundation after all, and this foundation needed to be strong.
She pulled him close and kissed him. Kissing Peter was one of the few things that always managed to set her at ease. His hand on her waist was all the assurance she needed to prove he was okay. The eagerness and intensity with which he met her always put her insecurities to rest. That she wasn't some skank out to add a notch to her bedpost. Something that her father always accused her of simply because of how outgoing and friendly she was. It was during these kisses that Mary Jane truly felt loved.
All too soon, Peter pulled away from her. "Come on, I think I owe you a movie," he said, pulling her out of the booth.
Mary Jane grinned. "You owe me several. Starting with The Godfather!"
Peter offered her his arm. "After you, Miss Watson!"
Mary Jane wrapped her arm through his with an even wider grin, and the young couple walked out of the mom-and-pop pizza joint. Both looking forward to a cozy rest of the day curled up on the couch.
Inside the Stacy Household
Gwen sat at her desk. Ben had dropped her off at her window hours ago, so now, Gwen was distracting herself with a book.
It was not working.
Normally, she would plug her headphones in, drown out all the sounds of the city, and bunker down with the closest bit of reading material she could find. That would get her through even the most harrowing of events when her father was on duty.
In truth, she wasn't worried about Ben getting physically hurt. He had told her his plan, and she had seen him in the thick of the action before. She knew he could handle this. No, she was more worried about what the last few days had done to his head.
Gwen had tried. She really tried to get it into Ben's head that he was his own person. That she liked him for who he was, and not because he was Peter's clone. If she was honest with herself, it didn't bother her that Ben was a clone. That didn't change who Ben was as a person. He was still the same go-with-the-flow, happy, selfless person she met at the beginning of the school year. A few memories wouldn't change him. And she needed him to see that.
Her phone buzzed, and Gwen shot toward the end of her bed. She fumbled around the corners for a moment before finally getting a good grasp on it.
Ben: Can you open the door before I become the Scarlet Statue please?
Gwen grinned and whipped around to see Ben crouched on her fire escape clad in his traditional sleeveless blue hoodie and jeans. Of course, he'd forgotten to put a shirt on underneath.
"You know," Gwen said the second her window opened, "you wouldn't turn into a statue if you put a shirt on."
Ben rolled through the window. "What is it with you and making good points?"
Gwen rolled her eyes and rushed to Ben, wrapping her arms tightly around his midsection. She sighed into his chest as she felt Ben wrap his arms around her shoulders.
Gwen lifted her head. "I take it everything went okay?"
"Venom's gone, Harry's free, and I don't know what Felicia is doing," Ben answered. Then, he smirked. "Pete's gonna get his ass beat, though."
"What did Peter do?"
"He showed up in his suit!"
Gwen's eyes bugged out of her head. "I thought he and MJ decided he would stay at home?"
Ben cocked his head to the side and moved toward Gwen's desk. "Thought so too, but you know us Spiders; we can't help ourselves." Ben grabbed the bag of goldfish from her desk and popped a few into his mouth.
Gwen sat on her bed and crossed both her arms and legs. "That sounds really reckless, even for Peter."
Ben nodded and munched on more goldfish. "I was pissed at first, but it all worked out. To be honest, I don't think I could've reached Harry myself. I'm not Peter…"
Gwen perked up. He's finally getting it! Gwen felt her heart soar. The one thing she wanted Ben to see, he had! But, why didn't he look happy about it?
Ben shifted in Gwen's desk chair. He reached for more goldfish but came up empty. He threw the bag into the garbage and looked at everything in the room except Gwen. She watched as he gripped the arms of her chair and bent them.
Gwen jumped from her bed again and pulled Ben from her desk chair and to her bed. She sat down with her back propped up against the wall and pulled his head into her lap. Gwen ran her fingers through Ben's shaggy blond hair, trying to undo the knots that formed from wearing a mask. Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I have an idea, but I could use a second opinion," he said, his eyes still closed.
Gwen's hand stuttered for a second. Ben never really asked for a second opinion. He would share his plans, and would always accept her input, but he was always so confident in them. Confident that he made the right choice, even when it came to revealing his true origins to everyone.
"What's the idea?" she asked, resuming her stroking of his hair.
"I-I think I need to go away for a while."
Gwen stopped abruptly, her hand still stuck in the middle of a small knot in Ben's hair. "What do you mean 'go away?'"
"There's too much of Peter's past here. Too many of his memories that I just can't shake." Ben opened his eyes and stared straight into Gwen's. "I need to make some of my own."
The first thing that popped into Gwen's head was not the thought she expected. She expected to have some sort of counter for this. Some reason why Ben's idea didn't make a lick of sense. That all of his memories from the start of senior year were his own. But…she couldn't.
Instead, she found herself agreeing with Ben. Even though she tried her hardest to make him realize he was different, she knew this was something he needed to do. She could give all these pretty speeches about Ben, but Gwen knew that there was no way she could relate to this.
"I-I think you're right," she said in a small whisper.
"That would mean leaving you, I don't really want to do that," Ben said, reaching up to grab her hand.
"You've spent your whole life doing things for others, literally." Gwen closed her eyes and squeezed Ben's hand. She could feel herself trembling. "I think it's time you did something for yourself."
"You were the first choice I made for myself."
And that did it. In just a few words, Ben tore down that wall of insecurity that had been looming over Gwen her whole life. She wasn't the second choice.
It was time for her to make her own choice. Gwen stood from her bed and walked to her door. She cracked it open and peeked her head out. "Dad? You home?"
Gwen couldn't help the nervous smile that crested her face when only silence called back to her. She turned around, feeling butterflies start to fly in her stomach, and then snorted. Flush against the ceiling was a wide-eyed Ben.
Gwen's snort turned into a chuckle. "What are you doing?"
Ben gestured to her door. "Your dad!" he hissed. "He's gonna see!"
Gwen placed her hands behind her back. "He's not home."
"If you knew that, why give me a heart attack?" Ben asked, as he stood on the ceiling. His head dropped down to be level with hers.
"I just wanted to be sure."
Ben tilts his head. He's adorable when he's confused!
"Sure of wh—"
Gwen couldn't help it anymore. She crossed the space between them in one step, and with the second, she crashed her lips into his.
At first, it was just like normal. That fire inside of her that Ben first lit during their date in Central Park was alight again. Only this time, instead of the campfire it started as it was a roaring fire that soared high into the sky.
Gwen tangled her hands further into Ben's hair, and he gave out a moan. Then, a yelp. Ben fell headfirst to the floor.
Gwen couldn't help herself again and doubled over as laughter spilled from her mouth. "What was that?"
Ben looked up at her, his face as red as a tomato. "Uh, usually I have to concentrate to not stick to things."
Gwen extended her hand and pulled Ben to his feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. "So, I make you lose your concentration?"
Ben stared at her for a second, then smirked. "You gotta work on your flirting, Gwendy."
"Oh shut up!"
Gwen pulled Ben toward her, and his hands instinctively went to the small of her back. Gwen felt her heart pound in her ears. She had been here before with Harry, but never went further. That wall of insecurity had always stopped her, but now, thanks to Ben, it was gone.
She took a step backwards, and Ben followed her. Gwen felt her legs hit her bed frame and lifted herself on top. Then, she leaned back and pulled him on top of her.
Ben broke away from her, and searched her face. She could see just how nervous he was in the way his eyes bounced around. "A-are you sure about this?"
Gwen nodded. "I want your first new memory to me."
Ben smiled and leaned in again, capturing her lips in his. Gwen felt the fire inside her build and build. This was going to be a day she would remember for the rest of her life.
Christmas Eve
Ben sat in his room in Aunt May's house. It had been a month since he, Harry, and Peter destroyed Venom. Things had been relatively calm for them. Only a few incidents with the Enforcers and low-level crime.
Of course, the arrival of a masked man in black in Hell's Kitchen, a man by the name of Mr. Knight, and the return of Moon Knight had helped things. Marginally, Moon Knight's methods still left a little to be desired, but at least he wasn't kidnapping reporters anymore. At least, as far as Ben or Peter knew.
The arrival of new heroes put Ben's mind at ease about leaving. He wouldn't be leaving Peter completely in the lurch. However, that wasn't the part that had Ben sweating.
He hadn't told Aunt May or Peter yet.
Ben's phone buzzed.
Danger: Got the motorcycle you wanted.
Ben smiled, though, he had to be safe.
Ben: Legally?
Danger: Do you really want to know the answer to that?
Ben rolled his eyes.
Ben: Thank you for this, really.
Danger: You tell Spider yet?
Ben rolled his shoulders. He needed to get this over with. He needed to tell them both. For some reason, telling Aunt May and Peter that he would be leaving was a more daunting task than revealing his origins as a clone to the masses.
Danger: From the silence, I'll take that as a no.
Ben: Maybe.
Danger: Just rip it off. Like a band-aid.
Ben sighed. That is how he planned on doing it. He knew the actual goodbye would be prolonged.
Ben: Yeah, yeah, I know. Just let me know when you are ready to drop off the bike.
"Ben, Gwen and Captain Stacy are here!"
Ben took a breath. With Gwen here, this announcement would be a lot easier. He put on his hoodie over his longsleeve, and walked out of his room. He could hear the sounds of jovial conversation at the top of the stairs.
"Ben, please tell me you washed that hoodie?" Aunt May asked as Ben rounded the corner of the stairwell. Peter laughed behind Aunt May. She walked up to him and fussed over the whole thing. "Why you insist on wearing this even when its freezing outside is beyond me."
"You can't tell me you've never had a favorite shirt?" Ben responded with a smirk.
"I had one," Aunt May conceded, then she flashed him an identical smirk, "but then I realized how much Ben hated the smell of day-old salamis and I started doing my laundry."
Ben's eyes widened and he sniffed his armpit as Aunt May walked toward the dining room table. He gave Aunt May a deadpan glare and her smirk grew wider.
"Ben!"
Ben spun around and felt his shoulders relax. Gwen fit snugly into his arms, and he planted his lips on hers. She met him passionately, and gripped his face so tight that Ben was sure she'd never let go.
"Good evening, Benjamin."
Ben's eyes bugged out of their sockets and he jumped away from Gwen. "Good evening, sir," Ben said, giving the Captain a shaky salute. George eyed Ben, and Ben got the feeling that he was being analyzed like a perp. "Merry Christmas."
"For some more than others, it seems," George responded, his eyes narrowing.
"Daddy!" Gwen growled, giving her father The Look.
George raised his hands in surrender and walked forward to the dining table to help Aunt May and say hello to Peter.
Gwen nudged Ben's hip with her's. "You haven't told them yet, have you?"
"Have you and Felicia been talking?"
"After dinner, alright?" Gwen said, squeezing Ben's hand. "Let's just have a good night for now."
Ben nodded and walked toward the dining table. He had just sat down when the front door opened with a bang, and in walked Anna and Mary Jane Watson. Each had a container of food in their hands.
"Hey Red!" Peter said, patting George on the shoulder so he could walk over to his girlfriend.
"We come bearing Lamb and cranberries," MJ said, showing the red bowl she carried.
"Good timing, Anna," Aunt May said, coming out of the kitchen holding a steaming pumpkin pie. "It's all ready! Take a seat everyone."
Everyone filed into the dining table, and as they dug into the feast before them, Ben looked around at the people that had become the most important in his life. Peter, the hero. His brother. The person who inspired him and also the person who pushed him to discover who he was. Without Peter, Ben knew he wouldn't have become the person he is right now.
Then there was Aunt May. She had accepted him into her house despite whatever bad blood remained between her and her sister. She did it without any questions and treated him like her own son.
Captain Stacy. The man that put his faith in him to protect the city. The man who helped Ben track down Hobie, and who promised to make sure Hobie got a reduced sentence.
Mary Jane, the girl that actually scared him more than any villain he'd ever come up against. The girl whose strength rivaled both his and Peter's.
And finally, Gwen Stacy. The first person to truly see him for who he was. Even before he figured it out. And even when he was at his lowest, she never gave up on him. Gwen Stacy was the hand that helped pull him out of the hole he'd fallen into.
And now he was leaving them. He could do this. Just take a deep breath, and say it like you practiced.
Ben stood at the table and cleared his throat. "Hey everyone. There's, uh, something I need to tell you guys."
The conversation around the table came to a halt. Was it just his imagination, or did the temperature of the room rise?
"I, uh—here's the—" Ben closed his eyes and took a breath. He then looked directly at both Peter and Aunt May. "I'm going back home tomorrow to spend Christmas Break with Mom."
Ben locked eyes with Peter, who jerked his head to the side. Ben got the message.
Aunt May tilted her head to the side. Ben could see the disappointment on her face, and his heart sank into his stomach. "Well, that's lovely Ben, but how will you get there?"
"A friend of mine is letting me borrow her motorcycle," he answered. "She's gonna drop it off here for me later."
"Ben," George said, leaning forward. He gave Ben that stare that made him feel like he was being analyzed. "You do have a motorcycle license, yes?"
Ben pulled out his wallet and showed off the motorcycle endorsement on the license J.A.R.V.I.S. made for him. George stared at the license for a moment before nodding his head.
"When did you get your motorcycle license?" Aunt May asked, standing up to look at the card.
"I've had it since last year," Ben lied. Aunt May looked at Ben again, and he averted his gaze. "I'm sorry, Aunt May. I would've told you I was leaving sooner, I just–I guess I'm not really good at goodbyes."
Aunt May smiled at Ben. She stepped away from the table and walked over to Ben. "It's alright, honey. No one's perfect. I'm glad you told me rather than just disappearing tomorrow morning."
Ben's eyes widened, and Aunt May gave him an exasperated smile. Ben shrugged. "That's kinda how I planned on leaving tomorrow."
"You knew about this, Gwen." All eyes landed on Captain Stacy, who looked at the pair with a sad smile. It wasn't a question. He knew.
"I tell her everything, sir," Ben said, looking directly into George's eyes.
George nodded and returned to his dinner.
"Well, why don't we get a few pictures," Aunt May said, walking over to Peter. She grabbed him and pulled Ben over to the fire place in the family room. Aunt May sat down in the armchair, and Ben and Peter stood on either side of her. Ben looked at his brother and aunt. Even though he was going to leave them, he knew he would always have a home in New York. Ben smiled and looked up at the camera.
The Front Porch
Ben leaned over the railing of the front porch. Felicia had just messaged him that she'd be by with the motorcycle in a few minutes, so he chose to wait outside. Their Christmas Eve celebrations were beginning to wrap up as well. Anna Watson had already returned home. Peter and Ben had convinced Aunt May to go to bed, reassuring her that they would clean up. And inside, Captain Stacy was preparing to return to the precinct to deal with a few perps brought in by Moon Knight.
The door opened behind Ben and out walked Captain Stacy. "Ah, Ben. I'm glad I caught you."
Ben spun around. "Captain. Duty calls?"
"Indeed it does," George said. "Gwen is just saying her goodbyes inside. She'll be out in a moment."
Ben nodded. "Good."
"I wanted to thank you, Ben," George said.
Ben furrowed his brow. "What for?"
George nodded toward the house, and Ben peered through the window to see Gwen happily conversing with MJ and Peter.
"I haven't seen Gwen that happy since before her mother left," George said.
Ben's eyes widened. "I-I didn't know."
George placed a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Don't mistake my words, Ben. You aren't doing any damage to Gwen by leaving. I think the fact you told her first is the best thing you could've done for my girl."
Ben shifted. In truth, he didn't really know how to take the captain's words. But they made him uncomfortable. Ben didn't know how long he would be gone on his mission to make his life truly his own.
"I meant what I said earlier," Ben said. "I tell her everything."
"I know you do, and I know you will. You will be missed Ben," George said, extending his hand.
Ben shook Captain Stacy's hand, and as he did, he got the feeling that the captain wasn't just talking about Ben. And Ben wasn't surprised by that. He'd never tried to keep his identity all that secret from the people in his life. The knowledge that Captain Stacy knew his secret and still trusted him with his daughter made Ben swell with pride. "Thank you, sir."
Captain Stacy nodded then stepped off the porch. The second he did, the front door opened, and out walked Gwen, Peter, and MJ. Gwen looked at the retreating form of her father and then at Ben's calm face.
"What'd you guys talk about?" She walked over to Ben and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Just about me leaving, nothing big," Ben answered.
"It would probably be different if he knew you were leaving the state," Gwen commented. "I don't think he'd be all that jazzed about me doing long distance."
"About that."
Gwen furrowed her brow, and Ben started to sweat as he saw Peter and MJ's eyes land on him. But he didn't have eyes for them. He looked directly at Gwen.
"Gwen, there's something I need to ask of you," he said. She tilted her head to the side. "I don't know how long I will be gone. We'll still be able to talk, but I don't want you to wait for me."
Gwen sighed and burrowed her head into Ben's chest. She took a deep breath and squeezed him tightly. "Yeah, I kinda figured. I…I made my peace with it."
"Ben, where exactly are you going?" MJ asked.
"I don't really know," Ben answered, resting his cheek on Gwen. "I just want to continue making memories that are just my own."
"Continue?" Peter asked, cocking his head to the side. Ben felt Gwen shake in his arms as she tried to contain a giggle. As she shook, Ben fought with his face to hide the smile forming on his.
Ben locked eyes with MJ, and hers widened with excitement. She bounced in place, and Ben shook his head at her as Peter remained oblivious.
"Hey, uh, Gwen, MJ, do you guys mind if Ben and I talk for a second?" Peter asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sure thing, Tiger," MJ said. "Gwen and I need to have a chat as well before we call it a night."
Ben nodded and loosened his grip on Gwen, only for her to lift herself up on her toes and kiss him. Ben pulled her closer for a moment. He wanted to savor every last second of this moment before he let go of Gwen. The taste of her strawberry lip gloss and the rose scent of her hair. They were two of the things Ben would carry with him when he left.
They broke apart and, with one last squeeze of each other's hands, Gwen walked down the porch with MJ.
"You'll keep an eye out for her, right?" Ben asked Peter. He turned around and leaned over the porch railing again.
Peter snorted. "Two eyes, as often as I can spare them.
Ben chuckled. "God, we are nerds."
"We are more different than either of us realize," Peter said, leaning over the railing as well. In his hands was a small haphazardly wrapped box that he presented to Ben. "You'd think I'd be better at wrapping things considering I managed to stitch together a decent first Spider-Man uniform, but here we are."
Ben took the box and gave it a little shake. "You know you didn't have to. I tried to make sure no one got me anything because of my plans."
"Yeah, well, both Aunt May and I didn't listen," Peter responded. "She got you a lot more than I did."
Ben peeled off the wrapping paper to reveal a Polaroid Camera.
Peter clapped Ben on the shoulder. "I know I didn't handle the whole 'clone memories' thing very well, and I'm sorry for that. Those memories belong to you just as much as they belong to me. I just hope that you document the new ones you make so that you can share them with the rest of us when you get back."
Ben looked up from the camera, stared at Peter, and swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. "Pete, I…thank you. Really, thank you for this."
"Anytime, brother."
Peter and Ben wrapped their arms around each other. Two heroes that were both made by a science experiment, and two brothers that knew they could count on the other to back them up without hesitation. They stayed in each other's company for a long time on the front porch. That is until Felicia Hardy came by to drop off the motorcycle that Ben was waiting for.
Ben retrieved the bag he had packed that housed his scarlet body suit, spider gadgets, web fluid, and all the money he had from his room. On his way down the stairs, he stopped in the kitchen and wrote a note for Aunt May letting her know that even though he was leaving, this would not be goodbye forever.
The Scarlet Spider mounted his motorcycle and drove off into the night, searching for the next place to make his own memories as Spider-Man swung out into the City That Never Sleeps.