With an excitement to my step I head back home to make a quick disguise for myself. With an illegal place like that I can't just show up without at least hiding myself, if anyone at school were to find out I'd get suspended for sure.
"Hey Peter how's it goin-whoa!" In too much of a rush I ignore my uncle trying to greet me and run up the stairs to my room.
Door closed behind me and locked.
But despite running all the way here, I feel no energy drained for me at all, like I could keep going for hours on end.
The proportional powers of a spider if it were the size of a human. A blessing that has come to your life. Though… Despite that spider getting hit with a full force of radiation, it's not like it gained powers before it died. So what makes me different? Does it need a step by step process then? Going from the spider then to me, rather than just hitting a target with radiation? Would it work on other creatures then if they got hit and bit someone? Inanimate objects too?
Too many questions that I don't have the answers for.
Now alone in my room, I go grabbing some old clothes and make an impromptu mask for myself. A large white jumper, some old blue jeans, and a grey shirt that I cut up to wrap around my face.
Hm, the mask is done, I need to settle my glasses down now.
But, as soon as I take them off, I notice something strange. Or rather, I don't notice anything strange, in fact my sight is the exact same as when I had my glasses on. It fixed my eyesight too?
Forget about what happened at school earlier today, this is great! Everything in my room is so clear! From the desk with stacks of homework where I can read the words clearly whilst standing up, to the individual grains of dust on my carpet floor.
I feel a joy that has never hit me this hard before. A quirk that can actually be of use to me.
Deep breaths Parker, deep breaths.
I wrap the mask around my face, and instead of going downstairs, I go out the window, crawling at the side of the house until I reach the floor. And with an excited start, I run and run. Faster and Faster. A feeling of complete and utter freedom washes over me.
It doesn't take me long until I reach that same alleyway again, luckily not stopped by any cops who might happen at me going so fast. If it feels like this, no wonder there's so many people who become heroes and villains, being able to use your quirk anywhere in public feels marvellous!
"Welcome in, coming to fight in the ring today or betting?" The large bouncer says as you get in front of me, eyeing me down with my barely hand-made costume.
"Fighting." I say back simply, confidence oozing from myself.
He squints. "...sure. Come right on in." He then relays what I just said into a walkie talkie in his hand, before stepping away as I walk right through, going down the stairs as I start to hear noise. A lot of noise in fact.
The sounds of shouting and cheering all at once.
My eyes get blasted with light and that heavy noise as I open a door and step on through, seeing an absolute crowd of people all at different sides, steps going up to sit at, whereas in the middle you can see a large stage with a cage that surrounds it.
If not for my own new confidence and strength, I might've found myself sweating in nervousness here. I've heard of these places before after all, ones where you can unleash your quirk in all it's might without anyone to stop you. Still good to have a mask on though, there's no telling just if anyone might report me or not given my age.
"Aaaaaaaaaand here comes a new challenger! The… What's your name kid?" A voice booms around the room, they already know you're here for a fight? Ah right, the bouncer outside who relayed on his walkie talkie. With a quick look, I can also see a person within the cage too, some guy who's thrice as large as a regular person, muscles rippling as red veins pop out in disgusting fashion.
A name… "Man… Spider?"
"Spider-Man it is!"
Wait I didn't say that-oh whatever.
I feel a smirk come from underneath the mask I wear as I walk at a leisurely pace, going down the steps whilst I see people around me snicker, finding my costume ridiculous and sure to know that I'll apparently be destroyed.
I'll show them all.
"Lift the cage!" I hear being said as I get near it. As soon as I walk into the ring it's lowered back down, trapping me and the enemy at the other side of the ring.
The man laughs. "A pipsqueak? Really? Sounds like an easy payday for me!"
"Just to let you know, there ain't no money at the end of this road." I quip back. Ha, that actually feels good to say, nobody to actually judge me for it.
"Ding!"
As soon as I hear a bell ring out, he shouts. "I'll show you!" He then raises his colossal arms up, I don't even need my danger sense to see where this will go. And with a back dodge I flip backwards, one hand at the ground behind me before landing back on my feet. Them smashing the ground where I once was and leaving a large quake that goes off.
I can feel the people all around, as they look and bet. This good enough for ya?
"How's about a kick for size!" I jump right at them, swinging my leg as I make a sweep right at their jaw before they're even able to react. They stumble back at that, their jaw bruised as they wobble to ropes and put two arms up to stop from falling. Damn, just how strong am I? Can't use that strength on normal people that's for sure.
"H-How the hell? What quirk does your scrawny ass have to pull that off?" He questions out loud to himself before steadying himself and going for round 2 with a full charge, trying to instead grab me this time.
***From your sides!***
Taking advantage of my own dexterity, instead of flipping away I step towards the hulking fellow and duck, the two arms missing me as they swipe overhead. With a clench of my fists I jump my legs back up and with full force smash it up! But as it does he predicts it's movement and tries to dodge, barely able to as my fist scratches against the side of his face.
"Tricky little fella aren't you?"
"If this is tricky then I've gotta question your intelligence." I bite back at his comment.
Gotta think of something quick, I don't exactly know how durable I am, and I ain't willing to test it out with someone who has a quirk that boosts their strength. Something that'd put them in a disadvantaged position.
Got it.
***To your chest!***
Don't do anything crazy, just focus and get the timing right.
As I see the man take their right arm for a straight punch, I just simply sidestep it, watching as it passes by me. He's now close to me.
Ducking down, I get my leg into position as I sweep at his feet, catching him off guard as he trips and crashes to the ground. "Aw, did the big baby trip? Don't worry about a thing, you can stay down there for as long as you like!" Standing over the man I grab him by his shirt and pummel him with my fists. Again and again. Until finally, I see the consciousness from his eyes fade as he goes slack.
That's that. I won.
"Ding ding ding!"
"H-He did it! The newcomer Spider-Man has defeated The Muscle Champ! Sorry to all you folks who just lost your money!" The announcer says from wherever they are, you don't know exactly where really.
You've never felt strong before, not in your whole life. But this… This is something you're going to love.
—
"That was amazing, kid!" I feel yourself blush at that as I stand in front of a rather flabby man who wears a fancy suit. "Here's the cash for winning that fight! Come again at any time, seeing someone with a quirk of your caliber is spectacular! Buy yourself an actual costume if you're going to hide your identity, that one isn't… Very showmanship." My eyes practically bug out as I see the money in front of me. 30,000 Yen for a single fight!? "Nice, ain't it?"
"Yeah, nice." I can only find myself saying that as I just stare down at the money. If I go again for more fights… Perhaps I could get something good for Ben and May.
But… Not now. I need a good night's sleep just to get my head thinking about what happened today.
"I'll see you some other day then, tomorrow perhaps!" With a smile under my mask, I turn to go away.
But then I'm stopped as they say one last thing to me. "Wait kid, perhaps watch the next fight closely, I'd say it compares rather well to you."
Hm. Yeah, I can at least watch one fight.
I go back to the ring, taking a seat for myself. Not buying my hard earned cash right away though.
I look closely as a person enters the room, as a tall man with mantis-looking claws walks into the room, scars across their face. "Coming on from the right corner, The Clawed Devil!"
Scary looking guy indeed, I don't exactly know how well I'd do against a quirk that can cut me up.
"And this newbie who has been making huge waves in the underground fighting scene lately… The bunny schoolgirl who is always itching for a fight, Usako!"
I blink as I see a girl that looks to be my age, wearing a middle-school uniform from some different school that I can't exactly place at the moment. With dark skin, flowing white hair that's set up in pigtails as well as long ears of the same colour protruding upwards, she wears a smirk on her face. Along with a white eye mask with jagged edges at the sides of it. Ready and wild in her stance as she eyes her opponent.
The cage lowers…
"Ding!"
Claw guy over there goes for the first strike, swinging his claw horizontally. It doesn't matter though as Usako takes a giant leap, hitting the ceiling of the cage with a foot and bouncing right off it, flying towards her enemy. Three immediate kicks to the face as she goes down to him, and then puts his head between her legs whilst still in midair and twists.
Throwing his entire body into a loop as he crashes to the ground in a great thud.
This person is the same age as me and she can do that all whilst being in midair? No wonder that guy told me to watch this.
She throws her arms to the air in celebration as the crowd roars. "Got any more where that comes from!? That was too easy! Ha ha ha!" She shouts with gusto.
Well, that's enough watching for now, I can't go worrying Ben and May with being out for this late.
But as I turn to leave, for a brief moment, I swear I could see her look me dead in the eye.
—
I count the money in my wallet, I know how much I have but it almost feels surreal that it's in my hands at this moment.
I feel like I could do anything, be anyone now. Having a power like this… I could beat up Flash now, get Liz to like me, not be as some kind of "wallflower" or "bookworm". I'm not someone to be pushed down anymore.
In the distance behind me I start to hear something through this streets. Running? I turn around, seeing a blonde guy with a handful of cash running out of a store, being chased by what I can only assume is the shopkeeper that just got stolen from.
As the criminal on the run gets near me… I let him pass on by.
"Hey why didn't you do anything!" I hear the shopkeeper say, his voice hoarse, practically heaving as he catches his breath.
I raise an eyebrow at that. "I'm no hero, and I'm especially no vigilante, I'm not gonna go breaking the law just to help you." And with a shrug on my part, I leave.
Now where to go to get some lovely presents for Aunt May and Uncle Ben?
—
Sneaking by the side of the house and crawling to my window, I make it through, presents in my hands. They barely feel like any weight at all in my arms despite the size of them.
Taking my clothes off and fitting normal ones on, I decide to go downstairs, presents in hand as I see my aunt and uncle at the TV watching something.
"-For the first time in the incredible hero's career, All Might has taken in a sidekick by the name of Sir Nighteye!"
Well ain't that interesting. "Thralled by the news there you two?" After calling them out I see the two turn around to look at me.
"Oh, Peter! What are those in your hands?" Aunt May questions, some excitement coming from her voice. Ben looks to be thinking the same thing too.
"Just a few things I thought you two would like, been doing some extra stuff on the side to get these." That isn't exactly a lie, right?
I go to sit down on the couch as they both grab the presents in my hands.
"Oh Peter, you shouldn't have!" Aunt may exclaims as she holds a silver necklace. Meanwhile Ben…
"Oh Peter, you… Shouldn't have?" He says, holding a fitness tracker in his hands.
"Hey, you've been the one who has kept saying he needs to get back into shape, don't blame me for getting you that." I say that with a small laugh as I try to switch to another topic. "So, All-Might's finally got a sidekick, wonder what that's all about?" I ask, hoping they have a bit to say about that.
As expected Uncle Ben answers me. "Nobody's got a single clue, but if I had to put it on something I would say he's getting on in his years, the man's about the same age as me ha ha! Did I ever tell you about the time he saved my life?"
This again? "Yeah yeah, you've told me a bajillion times Ben." Back during his early 20's he got saved by the legendary All Might, who is now known as the number 1 hero in the world. Though at the time of him being saved, All Might was just a hero student. Born in Japan but taking an extended education to America before returning back and introducing himself as a pro hero.
When it comes to the exact event where Uncle Ben was saved, he was in the middle of a villain group brawl, but All Might managed to hold them all off and defeat them one by one. Many thanks were given from Ben and he even invited the young All Might to dinner, though that last bit always felt just a tad suspicious to me. Whether he's exaggerating about that part I don't know.
"Gyah! Seems like my wonderful nephew doesn't want his present after all!" Wait what?
Seeing my expression, he pulls from the side of the couch, hidden behind a pillow is a microscope. And not just any microscope, the one I've been trying to get a hands on for months! "Since when!?"
"Turns out you weren't the only one getting something for someone." The two smile as I grab hold of the thing for dear life. I feel some tears start to water my eyes as both May and Ben take some time to giggle at my reaction.
They're the only ones who've ever been kind to me. I'll see to it that they're always happy, but the rest of the world can go hang for all I care.
—
Creating a costume was a real piece of work, between getting more money from the fights for materials, and designing the whole thing on my own.
But the real thing of beauty was a splash of inspiration I had, if I'm going with this Spider-Man, I might as well go all the way.
These metal wrist-bands on both my arms are what I call Web Shooters. A little bit of engineering work, only doing this at hours where both Ben and May are off working, and the right mixing of chemicals has led to a web like substance which I can shoot out of my wrists, which I put into small containers to fit within the metal wrist band. The button being a bit down my palm as I use my middle and ring fingers on each hand to shoot. Sticky and incredibly durable.
I honestly didn't know I could even pull something like that off, but I guess my excitement brang out an unknown talent from within me. How'd I even think of mixing liquid cement into it in the first place?
The costume itself is skintight spandex, thin enough I can fit it under my normal clothes. Red at the mid-section, mask, gloves and boots. Blue everywhere else. A web-like pattern at only the red sections. And to top it up a plastic lens for both eyes to see out of, though for anyone looking in it'd just be pure white. Hopefully this looks more heroic than villainous, if only because it'd make me less likely to be stopped whilst wearing it.
They laughed at me for being a bookworm, eh? Well only a science major like me could do this! Look out world, here comes the Spider-Man!
—
A couple days pass and my wallet is almost bursting with cash. I'm here yet again at the ring, though watching a match for now. Some lady slick with green slime sliding over the place against a guy who's body is full of orange thorns.
I've already made plenty of money today, so after this I'll be heading back home.
As for school I haven't revealed my powers as of yet, though when I finally do so I can only imagine the look on everyone's faces. Scrawny Peter Parker having a quirk that can rival anyone within Midtown Mid, perhaps even all of the middle schools in the city.
"So, you're Spider-Man 'eh?"
I jolt a bit as I recognize the person who just decided to sit next to me. "And you're Usako?"
"That's right!" She says with a grin, flexing her arm. Sheesh, for a girl she sure packs some muscle. "You're strong as hell man, can't wait till I get to fight you!"
I put my hands up as if to refute that. "Nah, I'm just here to gain some extra cash."
An eyebrow is raised from her. "Are you kidding me? For the past week you've been trash talking every single person you've fought against."
I scratch the back of my head at that. "I'm just… Not used to this. The whole quipping I do is more of a way to calm myself and keep steady."
"Eh, either way you've still been gloating against every opponent you've defeated. That's gotta be some points towards you loving the thrill of fighting. As for me I love it, seeing someone go down and out because of my own skills? The boost I get from that just doesn't compare to anything else!"
Cute.
Gah! Get those thoughts out of your mind Parker! I don't even know her real identity!
"So you're just here for the thrill?"
"Pretty much!"
I can't say my reasons are exactly all that noble either. Taking advantage of this new power of mine just doesn't compare to anything else.
I sigh to myself. "Well, I'm going off home, see ya next time?"
And with a smirk of her own, she makes a deal with me. "If only that means we'll be fighting the next time we meet." To which she turns her hand into a fist, waiting for my own.
In turn, I fist bump it. Feeling confident and honestly just cool from the experience, I leave, sure to remember this promise.
As I step out of this place, and back outside the alleyway, I feel the cold night air. Man, I sure stayed here way longer than I should've, Aunt May and Uncle Ben are going to be worried. I straighten my back, and with conviction start walking my way back home. Completely ignoring the ominous sounds of police sirens that I can barely hear…