Peter Parker

I watched as MJ walked through the portal with Clea. As the portal closed, I stared in that direction for some seconds. I knew MJ was in good hands. But still, I hoped nothing bad happened with her situation while she was away. With that in mind, I took in a breath before I turned towards the others. I looked around. They were all looking at me. I was about to speak, but Kitty interrupted.

"I think it would be best if MJ explains it herself later," Kitty said. "As curious as I am about what is going on with her, planning things out take priority." I didn't argue with her on that. If anything, I was a bit relieved. I figured MJ could explain her situation better than I could.

"So what do we do?" Kaine asked. We all looked at him. "Do we lure The Jackal out?"

Kitty shook her head. "We can't. If Kraven and The Jackal are working together, then it's practically guaranteed that Kraven knows about you and your abilities. I don't want to risk a fight with Kraven just yet." She sighed. "We'll have Carmilla's people look at the laptop." She looked at Carmilla. "Can you have them prioritize it?"

"I might have to slide them some cash to do it, but I'll have everything ready by tomorrow," Carmilla replied.

"Good." Kitty looked around at all of us. "We'll get everything cleaned up, then we'll send you home and –"

"Actually," I spoke up. I looked towards Kaine. "I'd like to go to your home, if that's okay with you."

Kaine blinked slowly. "And why?"

"I… I just have so many questions and… I don't know." I looked down towards the ground and gave it a nervous kick. "…I guess I want to get to know you."

Kaine scoffed. I looked back at him. He had a serious expression on his face. "Be careful what you wish for. Knowing me is not exactly safe for one's wellbeing."

"Where have I heard that before?" Craig deadpanned. I gave Craig a halfhearted glare. He smiled at me.

"It's seems like you and Peter have something in common," Kitty mused.

Kaine sighed. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

After we cleaned up, put out the fireplace, and sent Lockheed and Puff on their way in their disguises, we were all ported home. I went home with Kaine. As the portal closed behind us, I looked around the place. It was a wide open space for the most part, except for a few support columns. I realized we were inside of a warehouse. In one corner, there was a living room. In another corner was a kitchen, complete with a stove, a steel refrigerator, an industrial sink that looked like it wasn't meant to be a part of kitchen, and some standalone shelves and cabinets. Near the kitchen was a small table with four chairs. Near the doors was a black sports bike that was propped up on its kickstand. As I continued to scan the area, my eyes landed on a steel staircase. I followed it upward until it reached a catwalk, with one of the paths leading to a room.

"So," Kaine spoke up. I looked over at him, seeing him walk towards the fridge. "Do you want anything to drink or something?"

"What do you have?" I asked.

He opened up the fridge. With his back turned towards me, I saw his head move. "I got… Coke, Sprite, water, AriZona Iced Tea…"

"What flavor?"

"It's lemon."

"I'll take it." He reached inside of the fridge. A second later, he turned around and tossed the long can towards me. I caught the long can with both hands before I cracked it open. "Thank you." As I took a sip, I walked up to the table and took a seat. I looked around the table, looking at the seats. "You have company often?"

"No." I looked at Kaine. He walked up to the table and took a seat across from me. He set his drink down – a bottle of Tecate. "It turns out a lot furniture stores don't sell kitchen tables with only one chair."

I nodded. "Good point." I smirked. "I guess there's no money in bachelor packages."

Kaine scoffed. "If only. But I can't complain. Calling all the furniture I bought a drop in the bucket that is my finances would be a huge overstatement."

I raised an eyebrow. "How much money do you have?"

Kaine shrugged. "I don't know. I stopped counting after the first fifty million." As I mouthed a "wow", he picked up his bottle of beer and twisted off the cap. He took a sip from the drink as he lay the cap down on the table. He looked at the bottle after he swallowed before he set it down.

"So, why this place?" I looked around some more. "It's not a bad place, don't get me wrong, but it's not exactly conventional."

"That's part of the reason I chose it." Kaine took a moment to crack his back with brief grimace. "It's out of the way, so I don't have much in the way of neighbors. I can pretty much come and go without people batting an eye. Other than that, the person who owns this warehouse allows me to pay underneath the table. He only cares about being paid on time."

I nodded a few times. I then furrowed up my eyebrows. "And the bartender the job?"

"I just needed a job."

I narrowed my eyes. "But… you're a millionaire."

"That's…" He trailed off for a moment. He then tilted his head briefly. "…true, but I don't like staying idle."

I wanted to retort, but how could I? Craig himself was secretly one of the richest people in New York, and yet he was still working more than one job. I could see why he would keep his job with DJ Veras. He always talked about how much he has working with her. But, being a rideshare driver and a worker at a chain drugstore was something I internally questioned him about.

Speaking of questions…

"How come you never tried to find me?" I asked.

"Because doing so would be rather risky," he replied simply. "It's nothing against you, but, like I told you before, I was trying to keep a low profile. And, no offense, but you're kind of a trouble magnet. I didn't want get stuck trying to help people I don't care about."

I narrowed my eyes as I tilted my head. "But you were protecting El Paso."

"That's different."

"How?"

"Because most of the trouble in that city happened due to what I did as part of the cartel and because of the cartel going after me. I may not have the heart for people, but that doesn't mean I'm content with people paying for my actions." From there, he changed the subject. "What about you? What made you so special? And what happened with the Mysterio situation?"

I frowned. "It's a long story."

Kaine pointed at my AriZona. "That's a long can."

I took in a breath. "Okay, but… before I tell this story, I have to ask you. Do you believe in magic?"

Kaine glared at me. "…You ask me this… after I've seen your friend Ned open portals on more than one occasion… and knowing we live a world where Doctor Strange exists?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, it's a force of habit," I replied apologetically.

From there, I told him everything.

I told him… everything.

I told him about how I grew up. I told him about how I lost my parents when I was very young. I told him about how I ended up being raised by my Uncle Ben and Aunt May. I told him how I got my powers and how Uncle Ben died because of someone I let go. I told him how I eventually became Spider-Man and how I was taken under Tony Stark's wing. I told him about my battle against The Vulture and how I ended up in space. I told him about how I fought Thanos along with Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and The Guardians of The Galaxy. I told him how I got blipped and how I took part in The Battle for Earth. I then told him about what happened with Mysterio and how he screwed me from beyond the grave. I told him about the events surrounding The Spell – including the death of Aunt May – and how I slowly reunited with MJ, Ned, and Betty while joining the X-Men along the way. I told him about how things got rocky between MJ and I because she was angry with me over what I did, and rightfully so. I told him about how reconciled and how the X-Men defeated Scorpion… Hammer's Scorpion.

All the while, Kaine listened quietly. He kept a still gaze on me most of the time, only breaking it when he took a sip of his beer. When I was done, he kept on gazing at me. He then shook his head.

"Maybe Joanna is right," he commented. "Maybe getting fucked by life runs through our genes."

"Maybe it is," I replied glumly.

He frowned. "I'm sorry you went through all of that."

I looked at him and smiled. "It's not all bad. My life has gotten a lot better." I tilted my head briefly. "Granted, I'm getting real tired of having to deal with people who want to take their issues with Tony out on me, but my life is back on track. I guess you have to take the good with the bad, right?"

Kaine raised his eyebrows briefly. "I suppose." He sighed as he shook his head. "I'm really going to help you guys with this, aren't I?"

I frowned. "Sorry?"

Kaine chuckled bitterly as he shook his head. "It's not your fault. I didn't exactly ask to be born, you didn't ask to be cloned, and knowing our apparent 'luck', we'd have to work with each other against The Jackal eventually."

I nodded. "You might need a suit. If you want, I can…"

"No need. I already have one."

I raised my eyebrows, a bit surprised. "You know, for someone who does want to do superhero stuff, you're awfully prepared for it."

Kaine rolled his eyes. "It was a gift. On my way out of El Paso, that politician gave it to me. It wasn't meant for superhero work. It was supposed to be the basis of a Dia de Muertos costume." He paused for a moment. "That is –"

"Day of the Dead," I finished.

He raised an eyebrow. "You know Spanish?" he asked.

"I'm a little more than semi-fluent."

He smirked, looking a bit amused. "Good to know."

From there, we talked about different things. He told me more about what life was like in Mexico. I ended up telling him about the other Peters. He asked me what it was like, being in a relationship. I told him was like a long road trip where you have your good days and your bad days, and it all being worth it when you're with the right person.

That's how Aunt May described it.

We talked about hopes and dreams. I wanted to become a scientist that helps change the world for the better like Tony Stark and Hope Van Dyne. Kaine just wanted a quiet life. I jokingly asked if he wanted kids. He told me with gruff earnestness that he didn't think he was father material.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked me a question I didn't expect.

"Peter, how do you feel about me?" he asked me.

I looked at him, a bit confused. "What do you mean?" I replied.

"I mean… how do you feel about my existence?"

"…I'm not quite sure." I paused for a few moments. "It's… this is new to me. This is all new to me. You're the first clone of any kind I ever met. I… figured such a thing could be possible, but…" I shook my head. "…I never thought I'd run into a clone of me. But, it's a lot more than that. Right now, you're the only biological family member I have left."

Kaine tilted his head. "What about your other aunts and uncles? Do you… we… have any cousins?" I looked at him. I then closed my eyes and shook my head a few times. He cringed. "Well, shit." He sighed. "…I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I smiled at him. "We're here now."

He nodded. "That, we are."

We talked a little bit more before I left. Right when I stepped aside, I turned around and looked at Kaine.

"Hey, Kaine?" I said.

"Yes Peter?" he replied.

"It was great hanging out with you and getting to know you."

He paused for a moment as he gazed at me. I could see the gears turning in his head. What he was thinking over, I did not know. After that moment, he nodded. "Likewise." With that, he closed the door. I smiled a bit before I looked around. I realized I was near Brooklyn Bridge Park. Smiling to myself, I decided to head over there.

Once I was there, I walked through the park. I retraced the steps MJ and I took during our first ever post-Spell date, eventually arriving at the bench where MJ held me. I sat down and looked towards the East River. I smiled to myself as I recalled the memories from that night. MJ and I haven't been to this place since that day. I wanted to change that. I made a mental note for MJ and I to come back here when the Kraven situation was over. I was content to just sit there for an hour or so and watch the river.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to.

For the first time in a while, I felt a familiar tingling sensation move up my spine. I felt the hair on my arms and legs rise. I felt a buzzing sound in my head. All around me, just like earlier in the morning, I started to a hear sounds that I was sure a normal person couldn't hear, like the footsteps of an insect. What really stuck out to me was the heartbeat I was hearing – it was moving at a fast rate. I was so happy to get that power back that I almost forgot that I was in apparent danger. I stood up and turned around quickly. There was a guy in the hoodie that was rushing towards me. He tried to lunge at me with a knife. I moved my hands quickly. I didn't have my super reflexes back yet. But I was still fast enough to grab him the wrist of his knife-wielding hand with my left hand while I grabbed a fistful of his hoodie with my right. I quickly turned, using the man's own momentum to flip him over the bench and onto his back. Before he could move to his feet, I quickly lifted up my right foot and dropped my heel on the right side of his ribcage. The man screamed out before he rolled onto his side.

"They were right," I whispered to myself, the "they" being Craig and Carmilla. "A liver shot works wonders." With that, I walked away, deciding I spent enough time outside of my home.