Power to Protect, Power to Destroy
Another chapter, the last of the build up chapters before the climax of act one, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Spider-Man, Stranger Things or their characters.
Chapter 16
At home, Mike had again shut himself in his room. His mind was racing as he sat on his bed, worried and unsure. While he was pleased to have completed two assignments with full pay for both, while he admired the selfie he took with Spider-Man which had pride of place on his desk currently, he still felt shaky. Despite his mother's concerns as she fussed over him on his arrival home, it had nothing to do with the bomb blast. Typically his father hadn't even reacted to his return, but his mother more than made up for that, despite his reassurances, Holly had been overjoyed to see him and Nancy had called him worriedly, he'd done his best to reassure them all. But that wasn't the reason for his current state.
No, his problems stemmed from a confusing mixture of feelings he was having right now, as well as fear.
'I, what do I even do? I know now, I know for sure...I have a crush, on Will. Was I just in denial before, it sure feels like I've, like I've felt this way a long time...' He reflected worriedly. 'Urg, but this is complicating things, there's Spider-Man too...he always looks so, amazing, and he saved me twice, I...'
He looked towards the selfie again and smiled, before the smile vanished, he felt confused, conflicted, torn as he felt so strongly towards both Will Byers and Spider-Man. But then there was the fear, the fear of his dad finding out. Ever since Ted's outburst not all that long ago, Mike was more afraid than ever of the truth getting out. He had no idea just what it would do, only that it would be unpleasant.
XXXXX
The knock at the door roused Will from his reverie.
"Will, can I come in, I'd like to talk?" Joyce's voice came from the other side.
Will smiled and straightened up. "Sure mom, come in."
Joyce entered the room and smiled warmly as she approached him. But Will could see she looked exhausted and there was definitely worry in her eyes.
"Mom?"
But whatever was bothering her, she put it aside it seemed, being more concerned for him.
"Are you doing okay, Will? You've been so quiet...distant lately." She said gently. "I don't want to pry, I appreciate that you like some privacy. But if there's anything bothering you, I'd like to know...maybe I can help."
Will tensed at that, then shifted in his seat, concerned. He had long wondered about how to keep his identity as Spider-Man secret, but there was always a niggling at the back of his mind in regards to his mother. But despite sometimes wishing he could, knowing it would therefore be easier to share his burdens, he never dared. If he let her know, then he knew she'd worry endlessly, that she'd be in danger if any of his enemies found out. He couldn't tell her.
But there was something he could, he just hoped it wouldn't go as he feared. "Well there, there is something..."
"Yes?"
"It's just, I...well, I'm not...girls aren't really..." He stammered, silently cursing himself. 'Look at me, I'm Spider-Man, I can throw quips all say and fight even the craziest of this city and not be afraid.'
Yet here he was, terrified of coming out to his mother.
Luckily she seemed to get it. "Will, are you...telling me, you're gay?"
He nodded, tense, fearful. That fear quickly melted away however as Joyce embraced him.
"Oh Will, were you afraid of telling me?" She said softly. "You didn't have to be. I love and accept you, you're my son and that's all that matters."
Will returned the hug, shoulders slumping in relief.
Leaning back Joyce smiled. "Also, if any boy breaks your heart, he'll answer to me."
That was enough to draw a laugh out of Will, before he couldn't hold his curiosity in check any more.
He couldn't get the tiredness and worry on his mother's face out of his mind.
"Mom, are YOU okay? You look exhausted." He queried.
Joyce for a moment and then sighed.
"Things got rather heated at F.E.A.S.T. today." She explained. "There was a loud argument between Mr. Creel and the Mayor, a lot blame throwing and accusations."
Will tensed. "I can imagine what Mr. Creel said about the mayor, but what could Osborn possibly blame Mr. Creel for?"
"Misappropriation of the funds we get from the Mayor's office due to being non-profit...since we've not hit the kind of targets Mayor Osborn expected us to." Joyce explained. "Admittedly there were ways we could have improved...but that doesn't justify the way the Mayor acted, or his threat to shut F.E.A.S.T. down."
"What!?" Will cried in horror.
Joyce quickly calmed him. "It's okay, I was able to defuse things and convince the Mayor not to go through with it...yet. I've been made Acting Operations Manager in order to implement those changes and prove they'll work."
"Mom, that's..." Will gasped.
He couldn't believe what he'd just heard, but still, there was hope, he could see that. He knew that if anyone could turn things around, it was his mother. But it did leave questions about Mr. Creel and his future.
XXXXX
In the darkness of the night, while the people sheltered at F.E.A.S.T. slept, Henry Creel stood in his office, back to the door, shaking with rage as he glared down at his desk, at the photos and documents upon it.
'You just have to keep trying to destroy me, Norman...you just won't leave me alone.' He thought in a fury. 'You take that murderer, Brenner, the man who killed my parents and ruined my life with his experiments and prevent him from facing justice. You destroy every business venture I try out of your petty greed and now you try to take F.E.A.S.T. away from me, to ruin my dream of helping those in need, my dream of giving people a better life for themselves...especially after you ruined their lives with the financial crisis YOU caused...'
He straightened up, his anger building and an unsettling white light glowing in his eyes as he hissed.
"You will pay...Norman."
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.