The year is 2013. Earlier in the year, Barack Obama was inaugurated for his secondary term as the 44th President of the United States on January 21st. Same-Sex Marriage became legal on June 26th, and it was recently announced by SHIELD that it and the United States government has joined forces to send Captain America of the Avengers to Syria to intervene in the Civil War. While everyone's lives in the United States was mainly ordinary, sans the lives of the Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men, amongst them was a 15-year-old boy named Peter Parker, raised by Ben Parker and Maybelle Parker. Initially an orphan birthed by CIA agents Richard and Mary Parker, the elderly couple took him in as a result of the two CIA agents dying in a mysterious plane crash.

Regardless, Peter eventually grew up with an intelligent mind, clocking in to have an IQ of about 250, rivaling a younger Reed Richards. Although he had lots of potential hidden within his brain, he was often ridiculed of it by his peers at the school he went to, Midtown High. He was primarily a target of football star and jock, Eugene "Flash" Thompson, being shoved into lockers, having his own cafeteria food flipped into his face, and once almost being forced to drink toilet water in the public bathrooms. Peter still thanks the teacher who walked in - he wouldn't of had the taste of pure shit out of his mouth for a while..

..Which leads us to here. Outside of the Midtown High School building, several students collectively boarded a yellow school bus, conveniently selected teachers already seated inside to let some of the students sit with them in case they didn't find seats. The teeming bright sun shined over them as if they were destined to go on this field trip - it was only getting hotter and hotter due to the heat that it radiated. After a couple of minutes, most students were already on the bus. All except..

"Wait! Hang on, please!"

Desperate yells and hollers were heard from the impending Peter Parker, rushing as several papers fell out of his bookbag, left open since he was already in a hurry. Most of the classmates peeked out at the clear windows, some snickering at Peter's poor predicament. Flash Thompson pulls down the window, peeking his head out from the bus as he yells at Peter;

"Hey, Penis Parker! Hurry up, will you? Bus driver don't got all day!"

As one of the teachers nearby proceeds to immediately scold Flash for his poor behavior, Peter grimaced, gritting his teeth as his glasses fogged up from the huffed breaths coming from his mouth. He hated Flash, mainly because he was always the one giving him the most trouble at school. He always balled it up in front of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May, trying not to make them concerned, thinking that he could deal with the hate himself. Peter swore that he'd be better than Flash one day - while Thompson could be "a lazy, fat bum who wallows and pisses his pants over football like the musclehead he is", Peter thought, Parker will be a "brilliant scientist who can rival even Reed Richards and Tony Stark, ready to prove the world wrong". It didn't seem too hard to pull off, everyone else who's hit it big and is in the public's eye has come a long way from High School, then so could he.

Peter made it to the bus, finally. He huffs, turning to the bus driver and apologizing for his lateness. The seated classmates chuckle and snicker, some uttering under their breaths to call him insults. Whatever did Peter Parker do to gain the reputation he has now? It makes no sense to him.. but he'll have to put up with it as much as he can as a sophomore student. His brown, hazel eyes dart to Flash's dark blues - both meeting at a brief yet concentrated glance. Parker stops for a second, looming over Flash and his newly acquired girlfriend that he totally didn't bribe her to be with.

"I already told you, Flash," he said, putting emphasis in his name. "stop calling me Penis Parker. It's not funny."

Peter soon after goes to find a seat, while Flash scoffed, wrapping an arm around his girl's shoulder. Chatter continues amongst the students, as Peter darts around. Some kids from his smaller circle offer him a seat, but he declines politely, telling them that he'd "rather sit alone". They let them to his own devices, that being a book. Peter was unsure if those people were his friends, or if they just felt pity for him because of Flash's relentless tactics in the hallways. Soon enough, the bus driver buckles up and drives away from the school. It leaves the parking lot, and drives away into traffic. Peter leans his head back on the window, looking outside after he's had enough with his book. He peers outside, looking at the blurring cars that pass by the bus.

He wondered what it was like to be an Avenger, or an X-Man, or a F4 member of the sorts. Peter wondered how they survived school, probably unlike him, where he wallows in being a loser. One day, he'll prove everyone wrong. Beside him, two girls, a redhead and a blonde, traded glances towards Peter. They muttered to each other, before the redhead trades another look towards him, one of guilt. She truly did feel sorry for him, but the blonde was unsure. Neither of them knew Parker well enough to truly feel how he felt.

Eventually, the bus arrives to it's location, the Oscorp Laboratory Center. The doors open with a slight screeching sound, as soon enough the students walk off. Peter puts his book back inside his bag, slips it on over his shoulders, and walks out himself. Peter speedwalks towards the entrance of center, before Flash interrupts him, calling out his name.

"Hey, Parker! You better leave that door open for me and my girl, or I'll smash your face with it!"

His eyes widen upon this threat. He sure hopes the teachers intercept Flash Thompson from getting away with it like last time, because Peter doesn't want to be embarrassed again. Field agents of the center are already there, opening the doors for them. Peter was lucky, Flash wasn't close enough to see them. He hurriedly walks inside, before stopping to look around. The cool air of the center hits everyone, and a fresh smell fills their noses. It was a technological sight to behold to the tech marvels, with cutting edge technology revealed to them through transparent cases, as an automated voice message fills their ears.

"Welcome to the Oscorp Laboratory Center, where you can find the inventions of our ideas made by the most brilliant minds on Earth," it states. "want to become an employee? Consider investing in the online course at .org!"

Many of the students split up from the teachers, venturing around the center as the field agents remain outside. Employees show them around, but Peter roams alone, occasionally taking photos of some prop-ups with his phone. It isn't until he bumps into the redhead and the blonde looking around and chattering. He steps back, as they turn around to face him. The blonde smiles.

"Hi!" She says. Peter glances at the blonde girl, nodding his head. "Uh, hi there." He says meekly. The redhead smirks a little, before her demeanor changes, clearing her throat.

"This is Gwen Stacy. I'm Mary Jane Watson.. nice to meet you..?" The redhead raises her eyebrow.

"Peter. Peter Parker. Not.. Penis Parker."

The redhead chuckles. "Don't listen to Flash, Peter. He's stuck up anyways. Hey, do you mind if you take a photo of us?" Mary Jane gives her his phone.

Peter grabbed the phone, nodding. "Yeah, can do. Uh, where do you guys.."

"We'll just - stand right here." says Gwen, as the two girls stand near the spider exhibit. Common house spiders turned into radioactive test subjects. Peter gives the test subjects a glance, before raising her phone up to snap a photo. He raises the camera up, getting a good enough shot of them, and taking the photo. He looks at it briefly, before giving the phone back to Mary Jane.

"Hope it's good enough.." He utters. Gwen and Mary Jane look at the photo, before they turn to Peter Parker.

"It's fine, don't worry," Gwen promises. "you did good enough, Peter."

Peter smiles, before the two girls wave him off, walking away to look around some more at the center. Peter sighs, before getting a notification on his phone. From Aunt May? What could she want now? Opening the text, Peter reads it.

"don't forget to get the eggs!", followed by a heart emoji. Peter rests his other hand on the table with the spider exhibit, while texting Aunt May back with one hand. While Parker was distracted with his phone, one of the radiated spiders crawled from out of it's transparent glass-like cage, advancing it's way towards his hand. From one event to another, the spider was close enough to Peter's skin, arching it's head back, before sinking it's teeth into his skin. Peter lets out a loud yelp of pain, dropping his phone, and swatting the spider to death.

..The pain just slips away not even a second after. Peter suddenly felt fine, before realizing what had happened. All of the people inside the center turned to face Parker, confused and concerned, before the employees rush over, pushing Peter aside to inspect on the exhibit's condition. Even if it wasn't without words, Peter could tell they didn't want him there. Nobody really did.

Flash chuckled, grinning. "You just had to screw it up, huh Puny Parker?"

Peter was about to respond harshly, before getting hit by a tidal wave of sickness, mainly motion sickness. He lurches over and stumbles a bit, holding his stomach. Teachers and some select students begin to help Parker out, trying to carry him out of the the center. His phone slips out of his hand, tumbling on the ground. He isn't too sick to walk around himself, but he can't do it alone either. He's set down on a bench nearby, as field agents begin to inspect him, asking him if he's alright. The students from inside watch, before they're promptly huddled like sheep to focus on the field trip.

One field agent picks up his phone. "We need to get you out of here. Who can you call?"

Peter looks towards the agent, uttering under his breath. "Call my.. Uncle.."

The agent gives him his phone, and Peter musters up the already draining strength to text his Uncle Ben to pick him up. He sets his phone down, before closing his eyes. Alongside this sudden sickness felt heavy tiredness, as if Peter's worked a 9-5. A couple minutes later, a grey car pulls up near the entrance. Peter Parker makes his way to Ben Parker's car, his eyes meeting Uncle Ben's briefly as the agents help him in, teachers standing beside them.

"He should survive, though we're not sure if he can recover soon enough. May I suggest he keeps out of school for a while?" One agent proposes. Ben meets his gaze, and nods. "Of course. He's not gonna step out the house not one bit, sir. I'll make sure he's healthy enough."

The agent nods. "It's better if you do. Not sure if he's contagious enough, but he shouldn't be." Ben responds. "Hope not. I'll drop him off by Midtown in about two weeks.. hope you people have a good day."

The car drives away, heading off from the Oscorp center, and towards the neighborhood of Queens. Peter leans back in the seat, letting out a dragged sigh. The effects were still there for him, and Uncle Ben looks at him briefly, before looking back at the road.

"You alright, Peter?" He questions, voice etched with concern and worry. "How did you get sick in the first place? What happened at the Oscorp lab?"

Peter sighs, attempting to standing up straighter in his seat. "I got bit by a spider near it's exhibit.. It looked like a house spider, but it contained some sort of venom in it.. I dunno Uncle Ben."

Uncle Ben grimaced with quiet anger. He wasn't going to lose his nephew, not like this.

"I'm not losing another Parker."

Peter drifts into forceful sleep, the feeling of tiredness taking him over. Soon enough, the car arrives to a small house that Ben and May rented years back. He gets out of the car, and helps Peter shuffle himself to the door. Ben uses his key to open the door, and lets Peter inside first. Aunt May was just cleaning the dishes from last night until she saw Parker walk in, face etched with gloom and pain. She rushes to her nephew, searching his face.

"Oh, no - Peter! Are you okay? Ben, what happened?" May looks up at Ben.

"He told me he got bit by some sort of house spider. I don't think that's possible.. house spiders aren't supposed to have venom in 'em. Something must of happened."

Aunt May shifts Peter Parker up to his feet, the elderly mother figure helping him up.

"You look tired. I'll carry you off to bed."

As Peter is carried off to his room upstairs, Ben sits down near the table, sighing. "Hope he recovers soon enough.." He utters, picking up a newspaper and reading it.

Meanwhile, in Peter's room, it was decked out with lots of scientific books and differentiating objects. There was a desk with his laptop plugged up sitting near his bed, his window with open blinds letting the sun radiate it's golden shine onto his bed. Peter slips under the covers, his eyes flickering open.

"..Aunt May.."

"Shh.." May quiets down Peter. "You need to rest, Peter. I'll give you something to eat when you feel better." She plants a tenderly kiss on his forehead, and steps back. Aunt May eventually leaves the room to join with Uncle Ben downstairs, closing the door. Parker, on the other hand, comes face to face with horrid dreams. Spiders ripping him apart and affecting him with their atrocious venom. He shifts and turns in the bed, sweating and clenching his hands into fists. This deep sleep carries him into the night, where he jolts awake. Peter rises up, sweating a little. He grabs onto the covers, swinging them open. Parker felt.. fine? In fact, he felt different, in a good way. He looks into the window nearby, and sees of his new physique - he's still a scrawny kid, but now it's leaning into a more athletic build. He isn't buff like the Hulk, but he's more fit than he ever was before.

Peter doesn't bother taking off his shirt to see. But he felt much more different than before. He opens his door, before going downstairs to meet Aunt May. She hurries on over to him, cupping his face with her hands.

"Peter! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

"I feel different, Aunt May.. like, a good type of different. I'm not sure. I feel.. powerful."

May's face turns to a confused expression. Her nephew was sick a couple of hours ago - now he's all of a sudden 'different'? This puzzled her.

"..What do you mean? Do you feel better?"

Peter could only nod. He didn't know what to make of his current condition. May searched his face once, before pulling back.

"Please remember, Peter. With Great Power, must come Greater Responsibility."

"Um, your Uncle Ben went out to get food. We're having Chinese tonight." Her voice raised a little to make Peter happier at the idea of Chinese dinner. He smiled a bit at the attempt, before walking over to the newspaper Ben left on the table. He picks up the newspaper, his eyes scanning over text; "100 DOLLAR TOURNAMENT TO FIGHT CRUSHER HOGAN!"

He's heard of the famous wrestler before, but to fight him for the grand prize or 100 dollars? This seemed like as if new hope had dawned on him and his family. He sets down the newspaper, before turning to face May.

"Um, Aunt May? I'll be heading out for a bit. I'll be near the neighborhood, promise!" Peter jogged up to his room, seemingly preparing to put himself into the tournament. For a 15 year old, it seemed like an impossible challenge, but Peter's entire perspective just got flipped over just by a mere 5 hours of sleep into the day. Peter slips into some sort of suit - a white long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes. He comes downstairs as soon as he could, rushing from out of the door.

"Wait, Peter! Be sure to come back by nine!" She tells him.

Peter goes down the street, encountering a building with red lights illuminating the words; "Fight Club Tourney". He walks inside. Peter's shoes meet the wooden floors with moderate squeaks, walking down the hall. For once, he can finally prove all of the people wrong at his school; no longer is he the geek known as Peter Parker, but now, he's..!

"Excuse me? Who're you supposed to be?"

A tall man with black hair trimmed down stands over a desk. He looks at Peter Parker, raising an eyebrow. His fingers loom over a sheet of paper to write his name down.

Peter thinks for a second, before looking back at the man, finishing his thoughts.

"The Spider-Man."

...

In the dimly lit underground arena, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Peter Parker, donning his alter ego as the masked vigilante Spider-Man, entered the Fight Club Tourneys, ready to prove his mettle. The crowd roared, hungry for the spectacle that was about to unfold.

His opponent, Crusher Hogan, a towering figure with bulging muscles, stepped into the ring. The bell rang, and the fight commenced. Spider-Man's agility and spider-like reflexes proved to be his greatest assets as he effortlessly dodged and countered Hogan's powerful blows. With each precision strike, Spider-Man chipped away at his opponent's defenses, slowly wearing him down.

The crowd erupted in jubilation as Spider-Man landed a decisive blow, sending Crusher Hogan crashing to the mat. The victory was his, a testament to his newfound powers and unwavering determination. Yet, as the adrenaline subsided, Spider-Man couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

Seeking his well-deserved reward, Spider-Man made his way to the receptionist's desk. However, his excitement quickly turned to confusion as he learned that he had been a last-minute addition to the tournament, and the promised prize money of $100 was no longer available to him. Disheartened but undeterred, he left the reception area, determined to find his own justice.

Just as he turned to leave, chaos erupted within the building. The Burglar, a cunning criminal, burst onto the scene, evading the pursuing police. Peter's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly maneuvered away from the chaos, his keen eyes catching a glimpse of the Burglar's face. Seeking refuge, he found solace in an elevator, making his escape.

But fate had other plans for Spider-Man. A determined policeman forcibly turned his body to face him, demanding an explanation for letting the Burglar go. Without missing a beat, Spider-Man coolly replied, "Because I missed the part where that's my problem." It was a defining moment, a glimpse into the uncompromising nature of the hero he was destined to become.

Unbeknownst to Peter, tragedy was about to strike close to home. Uncle Ben, returning from a routine Chinese food run, found himself in the path of the Burglar's desperation. He drops the money bags to load the bullets in his Smith and Wesson pistol, and aims it towards Uncle Ben. In a cruel twist of fate, a shot rang out, piercing the night air, and Uncle Ben fell victim to the criminal's callousness.

Thirty minutes later, the neighborhood swirled with anguish and sorrow as policemen and locals gathered around Uncle Ben's lifeless body. Tears streamed down Aunt May's face, her grief immeasurable. In his final moments, Uncle Ben's voice echoed in Peter's mind, urging him not to succumb to anger and revenge, but rather, to embrace the Parker code: "With great power must come greater responsibility."

Driven by a profound sense of loss, Peter navigated the streets of Queens, his mind consumed by a single purpose. He relied solely on his physical abilities, traversing the city on foot. For two arduous hours, he searched tirelessly, determined to find the remote warehouse where the Burglar had sought refuge. Inside the warehouse, there man shuffles around nervously, eyes darting at the room. He knows that the police will come to find him, so he hides out here. Unfortunately, someone much worse than a policeman comes to serve justice to the criminal.

The Spider-Man crashes through the window, glass shattering across the ground. He lands in an exquisite pose, landing on the ground, feet wide apart and supporting his weight with one hand on the floor while his other hand is outstretched away from his body, pointed diagonally upwards. His head faces the Burglar, eyes gleaming with unbridled rage.

"..You bastard.."

The man steps back towards another window, aiming his pistol towards The Spider-Man.

"..Stay back.. STAY BACK!"

He shoots a bullet, but the vigilante launches from the ground, soaring through the air with elegance, before slamming the heel of his foot into the pistol, launching it out of the Burglar's hands. He lands, before grabbing him by the hem of his shirt, and slamming him through the window, still having a grip on him.

"..Why did you do it?! WHY DID YOU KILL MY UNCLE BEN?!"

The Burglar squirms in his grip, sensing the near bloodlust this kid possesses. He looks down at the steep, dark fall that's near the warehouse. He closes his eyes shut, praying to god that the Spider-Man doesn't lose his grip on purpose.

"Let me go! Please! I don't wanna die, man!"

Parker wasn't having it. He lets go with one hand, and still holds onto him with the other. Before a sudden realization hits him - "With Great Power, Must Come Great Responsibility". The adage said by both May and Ben Parker. The Parker Code.

The Spider-Man throws the man into the ground, before turning away from him. He realized that taking another man's life would not make the situation any better. Peter Parker returns home, holding his head to the ground as tears drop from his eyes. He, Aunt May, and the people in Queens have learned the hard way that with Great Power.. there had to come Greater Responsibility.

..To be continued.