Damn... I don't know what to say here this time.

Um

Uh

I can do a split? And also I've been reading star wars books of late. Because... Research for the future!

Chapter 6: Wasn't always like this

November 3rd

Sometimes Peter dreams, dreams with endless possibilities to them. Sometimes they have no meaning, sometimes they do. But other times, Peter has nightmares, and often then not, they're always link to his spider-man life.

Like any other time, he has control of himself when in a nightmare, enough to make it feel real. But the majority of time, he's unaware that he's having a nightmare. Right now, his nightmare involved chasing after a maniac who kept running away from him, "COME BACK HERE JOKER!" Peter pushed and pushed. It often felt like every time he was pushing himself enough to outclass the joker, he should've been able to reach and catch him.

But he wasn't and he kept laughing, "YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM ME JOKER. I'LL CHASE YOU TO THE DEPTH OF HELL IF I HAVE TOO!" In brittle rage, Peter thought to hell with it, he had enough of chasing and lept to him.

And when that didn't work, he used his webbing, pulling him forward to tackle him. Suddenly, he and the white face, green hair, lips red, mouth grinning widely as he dressed in a purple suit, joker himself were sent crashing out a window and were now free falling, "YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN FROM ME?!" Peter ruthlessly punched him, not giving the joker any room to hit back, "YOU THINK I WOULDN'T CATCH YOU?! AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO MY FAMILY?!"

The joker kept laughing, and Peter kept punching, "YOU WON'T CRIPPLE ANYONE AGAIN!"

Laughter, then punch, "YOU WON'T KILL ANYONE AGAIN!"

Laughter, then punch, "YOU WON'T SCAR ANYONE EVER AGAIN!"

Laughter, then punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, and punch, "YOU WON'T TAKE AWAY MY FAMILY AGAIN!"

Yet he kept laughing as they kept free falling, "STOP LAUGHING!" Peter proceeded to choke him.

And somehow, he was still laughing even when they approached the ground. Nor did his laughter stopped when Peter felt himself becoming bigger.

He was now engulfed in his black suit, but now transformed into a monster with teeth as sharp as a shark, tongue as long as a snake, and roaring with anger like a beast.

He would then proceed to eat joker, chomping his head off till he stopped laughing.

But the laughter didn't die out, and so he proceeded to eat the rest of his body.

Peter felt his consciousness awakened from that dream he had. He didn't react to it, only really remembering the joker laughing, creating him to be very antagonistic in response. He felt restless from that dream and it didn't help he didn't exactly slept right away. If it wasn't for Cassandra, who snuggled up right beside him, he might've actually been awake for three straight days.

Wouldn't be the first nor the last.

Without moving and opening his eye, he knows the sun is already up, breaching through the curtains of their window, and reflecting right on his cheeks. He wonders how long he had slept for? Wonders if Cassandra slept at all. His eyes peak open, looking right down under him, he finds her sleeping away.

Or so he presumes.

The way she held tightly, the way her head nuzzles in his chest every chance she gets, suggest she's only half sleeping, drifting in and out from sleep to being awake. Unlike him who relied on his spider sense, Cassandra relied on being half asleep just in case anyone wanted to try to break into the manor.

It was rare, but Cassandra doesn't hold things to chances or faith.

At the very least beyond his girlfriend, Peter knows he isn't as tired as before. Part of the reason why he wasn't sleeping earlier was simply because his mind was too busy finding ways to catch this killer. He kept thinking on things he missed, things he overlooked, maybe other inmates he might've known the killer, the carnage killer.

Or maybe a fan that kept preaching how much he wants his attention on social media

But the trail was getting colder and colder. He knows he isn't the best detective in Gotham, that goes for the likes of Bruce, Jim, Barbara Dewolff, Tim, and a few others outside of Gotham. But he's no slouch from the years of dealing with these types of cases, just that he feels useless when he has to wait when a killer such as this can pounce at any given moment.

For now, he's focusing on resting just a bit longer along with Cassandra. He gently passed his hands down her hair that no longer was braided. By now, she usually was the one who woke up early, to train and wake him up for work, regardless if she was half sleeping, 'She's definitely taking the advice from the old prestigious batgirl herself.'

Oddly enough, it was the day where he didn't have to worry about work where she's sleeping just a bit more. He was taking some days off from the fundraiser attack. It was enough for him to focus on the search for this carnage killer, and rest.

Peter found himself sighing, even if he wants too he knows he can't rest anymore then he had. His mind is too focused on this and he needs to go to the batcomputer to find something, anything, and not just wait for Barbara's end.

He doesn't want to feel useless right now when lives are at stake.

With a kiss on her forehead. Peter would try to untangle himself off of Cassandra; it was hard because she kept herself locked tight on him to use him as a pillow. Peter found himself chuckling as she saw her eyebrow furrowed at the prospect of him leaving, "I'll be back," he whispered in her ears, "Don't get up now ok?"

The only response was a small moan, and she slowly let go of her pillow. In an instant, she went from half sleeping to straight sleeping, but her little scowl didn't leave her face at the prospect of Peter leaving the bed.

Peter at the very least had his boxer kept on when he got up from the bed. He caught himself in the mirror; seeing how long and semi big his brown hair was getting, enough to glaze his eyes, and it was so messy that it went all over the place. Then there was the beard that started to grow just a bit more, the bag under his eye, and yet somehow his own body was kept in shape through all the stress, the fighting, no signs of scars thanks to his small healing factor, and even his little chest hairs were still intact. And Peter didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that he looks relatively clean, compared to Cassandra, 'Eventually, I'll do something about facial hair and.. Well hair,' he told himself, without promising anything.

Before leaving the room, he took his phone, checking to see who message since surprisingly it was 30 minutes after 12. Peter saw Jonah text him that he better come to work soon or his own ass is fire.

Wasn't the first threat and won't be the last.

Robbie was checking on him and he was hoping everything on his end was good. He also made sure to appreciate the footage he brought to the Gazette so that they can use it for the news anchor and website.

Peter would text back that he's doing fine and should be ready to work real soon, and that he's welcome.

Vickie made sure if he was ok and that he hadn't quit. Of course Peter cheekily respond back that he wouldn't leave his sidekicks anytime soon.

She very much didn't like being called a sidekick, after all, he learned a lot from the more experienced reporter.

What surprised Peter was a text from a peculiar person he didn't expect to check on him; a contact by the name angry bird. It made him stop for a moment before he even approached downstairs to take the time to text them.

Angry bird: The fuck is going on over there with you and Cass?

Peter: You know it's early for that language.

It took a few seconds to respond.

Angry bird: Never too early for anything Parker.

Peter: Uh huh, let's just say Gotham is dealing with a long Halloween situation.

Angry bird: Good luck with that.

Peter: That's it? That's all you wanted to say Jason?

Angry bird: …What is there to even say? I'm checking on you and Cass aren't I?

Peter couldn't help but glare at the message, 'Asshole to the end. I swear…'

Peter: Oh right! I forgot you don't do things the normal way. And even then, you had so many chances to message not only me but Cass, and you decided now you would do it?

Angry bird: And this is why I only text Cass. I can't stand you being all high and mighty like fucking Bruce.

Peter: Are you drunk already?

Angry bird: Does it fucking matter?

Peter: Well I can see you're still trying to kill your liver.

Angry bird: And so what if I am? Its my life Parker, I can do whatever the fuck I want.

Peter found himself frowning at his comment.

Peter: Why do you always do this Jason? Always starting a fight?

Angry bird: Why do you always have to be so patronizing? At the end of the day, we were always fighting because we hated each other's guts. Just accept it already.

Peter: It…

Peter's eyes softened, and he couldn't help but sigh, turn off the phone and let it press on his forehead. He was already tired of this constant back and forth argument that was going on and he didn't want to deal with it right now.

It always seems to go in this direction. Yet Peter knows from the many adventures he had with Jason that there was a time where it wasn't always like this, where they do argue a lot, but they were able to sometimes just be friends instead of less than that, 'It's like whatever Joker did to him again… Only brought back our relationship to square one. Rocky and constant argument,' Peter let out an exhausted sigh, 'Gwen made it easier. I don't know how she did it, but she kept us in check and allowed us to actually be friends.'

'But she's gone,' Peter thought sadly, 'Ever since then, it's been hard to be friends with him, even when he got resurrected thanks to Ra's. But still, it wasn't always like this… We weren't always hostile towards each other…'

Peter couldn't help but think back to a little bit of a simpler time; earlier in his career when he was still figuring out being spider-man, and figuring out how to get along with Jason.

12 years ago

"Why the hell are we doing this Parker?"

"Wasn't my idea."

"Why did I agree to this?"

"Because that's how Gwen is. Always finding her way to win with us."

"And why the fuck do we have to wear blindfolds?"

"Wasn't my idea either."

"You need to keep her on a leash."

"Me?" Peter turned to where Jason was, which was right beside him in the middle of a football field. His eyebrow arched, "You're the one who wanted to be friends with her in the first place! At least I know what I've gotten myself into since I knew her way back in middle school."

Jason's feet tapped, getting more and more impatient thanks to Peter's constant snark, and the fact Gwen still wasn't here, "All I can say is… I've been compromised."

"Ain't that the fact. After all, you were supposed to keep your eyes on me, and instead, had eyes for someone else."

"Wanna say that to my face?!" Jason's face tightened, and his voice hissed with anger, pride, and a tinge of ego to it.

And Peter despises it all together, "I am…Stupid."

And like Peter, Jason hates how much of a smart ass, snarky, brat he is. So much so he didn't care if he had a six sense to dodge just about anything, he just want to shut him up for once.

"ENOUGH!" Peter and Jason stop there bickering over hating one another's guts. Both rather be anywhere then near each other in Gotham high very own football field. In fact, since it was late out, they rather be suited up for some individual crime fighting. But they found themselves here, having to be blind folded, and at the request from none other than a girl that would take pleasure at what she'll do today.

But she has to bear through their constant ego smack talk a bit more.

She has blond straight hair that was kept proper with the headband on top of her head, wore comfortable jacket with a green day shirt underneath, jeans that were ripped yet held a pocket taser gun on the left side, and shoe's that looked to be running base. She carried out a metallic machine that was in stasis she drop by her side. She then pull out a paint gun from her bag, having it at the ready.

This was Gwen, best friend to Peter and a crazy, cute girl to Jason, "You two need to learn to get along. I don't care about what Batman thinks about Peter or how you should keep your distance from us Jason. You two wanna make a difference in Gotham? Then it's time to start being proper friends, proper partners."

Jason laughs, having his hands shoved in his pocket while Peter could only shake his head at this terrible idea that his friend had on her today, "You're too funny Gwen. Probably more funny than this guy over here," his head gestured at Peter's direction.

Peter scoffed, "Like you're any better. Can't even make a joke on the fly to save your life," Peter snidely said.

"Why the fuck I need to joke? This isn't a fucking game," he took a little step forward, knowing just enough that he was close to Peter as he can at least here his small shuffle of moving back, "You should do what batman says and quit while your head."

"No one is telling me what to do," Peter bit back, not scared of Jason coming into his personal space, "You two are so busy in the night but what about in the morning? Can't do crap in the morning because both of y'all sticks are putting fear in the night. At least I make sure Gotham is safe both day and night."

"Oh give me a break! You got fucking powers and got your ass handed to you by the fucking riddler of all people! RIDDLER! Guy has a question mark stick and relies on dumb asses to move his plans."

"Well sorrrrrry! I don't have Batman watching over my shoulder 24/7 like a baby! At least I'm doing things on my own. So if I make mistakes, then I'll learn without anyone telling me so."

'Technically I help the fuck?' Gwen mentally said, finding herself eye rolling of the situation. She would let them beef out just a few more seconds before putting a stop to it.

"And that's why your a fuck up," Jason added with his fingers poking Peter chest, "That's why you always be a fuck up Parker."

Peter swatted Jason's finger off him, "And that's why you will always be a bitch under Batman's gaze."

Jason felt his hands clench again, Peter mouth grinds as body tensed up, ready to move if he starts swinging. They were at the tipping point of ready to fight, and they were glaring at each other through the blind fold.

Gwen hated it, hated the bickering, the shouting, the constant fighting between these two. It had been like this for sometime with them and Gwen just about had enough.

Peter needs to learn to rely on others even if they have differences of opinions and perspective.

And Jason needs to learn to count on those who have the same vision as himself instead of putting them down. Even if they're relatively new to punching criminals in the face with a costume on.

Peter felt his senses tingle, shoving Jason just enough that he doesn't fall but also good enough for him to also dodge. Jason was about ready to take on the spider if it wasn't for the loudly groan coming from Gwen, "Jeez, why do guys always feel like they've gotta prove who's the toughest in the room?"

Peter looked into Gwen's direction, "Gwen…Was that a paintball you tried to shoot at us?"

"Yeahhhh," she took out her phone, pressing a few buttons for two machines to raise up, transform like a gun, and get ready to hose down their target, "And also, remember the RKB we built?"

"The RKB?" Jason repeated with confusion.

Peter mouths agape, "You didn't…"

"Yep, better learn how to rely on one another."

"The fuck sh-"

"MOVE!"

"DON'T TELL ME W-"

"Target's acquired! Firing!"

Peter and Jason moved in their own directions in the field the second they heard the machine talking. Each machine put the focus on the two teenage heroes; Peter had the ability to dodge effortlessly, back flipping, rolling, and overall using his ability to constantly move.

Jason simply ran, he had the cardio to run fast and not stop without tiring out

Meanwhile, Gwen made sure to do her own firing. She chose to fire at Jason, and hit dead on by his temple, "Ah! You bitch!" he shouted from afar.

"Looks like someone go-Ooof!" Peter too got hit when in midair, mostly because he kept repeating the same dodging techniques to the point the machine eventually hitting him.

"Come on you two! You're making it easy on me!" Gwen made note of her easily beating them, "And I'm only handy with a gun mind you!"

"That's because your pops is Gotham finest!" Peter hollered back, recovering from getting hit and moving around yet again.

"And I got a name to live up by too!" She knew she couldn't shoot Peter, and would be wasting bullets with how he dodges. At the very least, the machines took focus on him while she made sure Jason is kept on his toes as the miniature machines had their lasers set on Peter more.

Jason knew they were out in a field where Gotham's high football team would play, so that means he should hopefully be near a goal structure. Luckily he found it.

Ended up running straight into it and Gwen held out a small laughter. She wouldn't say anything to let Peter dig in on Jason.

Jason growled for a second, shook off the small plain, and quickly got up to take cover. He took a deep breath in and out as he tried thinking of a way out of this shit, 'Could just take off my blindfold,' he quickly frowned, 'But then I would lose. And I'm not losing. I'll figure this out on my own!' But Jason doesn't know how since he can't freaking see, 'Of all the lessons, why did it have to be something that I'm still terrible at?' Jason asked himself.

Suddenly he heard something land near him, bringing him out of his thoughts. They both can hear each other breathing and feel their teeth grinding at the sight of each other through their own blindfolds. Jason pulled him by the collar of his shirt, "Tell your girlfriend to stop this insanity!"

He broke his grip while also slipping his head to avoid the paint bullets, and made sure to keep out a sight from the machine reach, "She's not my girlfriend!"

"Don't care! This is bullshit! Why the fuck she put us up to this?!" Jason shouted, questioning it all.

"Oh I don't know, because she is bad shit insane?! We hate each other and this is what she planned out!"

"I CAN FUCKING HERE YOU TWO OVER THERE! I WILL COME OVER THERE SHOOT YOU KNOW?! MATTER OF FACT!" She does so, with Peter pushing Jason out of the way, causing them to not only run from Gwen's frontal assault, but also the machines.

Both swallow their own saliva at the known sight of a menacing Gwen with a gun in her hand, "Listen! The RKB only detects movement," He push Jason for him to roll while he did a cartwheel and a flip, dodging more of the paintball, "Since its mostly targeting me the most, we'll use that to our advantage"

"Why the fuck you two built that?!"

"We were bored, and 13."

"BORED?! YOU GUYS ARE FUCKING WEIRD!" he groans at the thought of knowing what else they could do when they're bored, like flood Gotham from all he knows, "So what you have in mind then?!"

"How good is your aim without seeing?"

"Utter trash since I'm still working on it."

"Ok so we'll try it my way. Get your robinrang out and throw when I say throw."

"They're not fucking robinrang you dingus! Don't you have your stupid web shits on you?"

"I ran out, and they're web shooters you asshole."

"...Fan fuckingtastic…! Ok, let's get this shit over with."

Suddenly, Peter took hold of Jason, and had him on his back. He curved his movement where his senses told him where the danger was, and sprinted towards it, "WHAT." Peter moved quick, weaving from the amount paintballs coming at him, especially Gwen who begin walking around to get a good aim off the two, "THE FUCK?!" Jason shouted, holding onto dear life with one arm and the other arm simultaneously took hold of two R shape shurikens in his pocket

Gwen smirk, seeing the two finally decided to work together, 'That's it. Show me the dynamic duo in full force!"

"On three! One!" Peter leapt in the air, "Two!" Peter rotated his body downward, just enough for his body to fall and at an angle for Jason to throw, "Three!" Peter let go of Jason at a specific range where he could not miss.

Jason let out a roar, and threw the shurikens like his life depended on it. It hit its mark, and Peter landed right back on his feet, just in time to catch Jason before he hit the ground.

The RKG was hit dead on, stopping it from shooting and working all together, "YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Gwen shouted in excitement at seeing the two actually work together.

She also had to take a snapshot quickly as Peter held Jason in a bridal style briefly. The pair ended up hearing her camera, with Jason already hating the idea of what she just took, "HEY! DELETE THAT SHIT! Jason yelled as he took off his blindfold and went straight to Gwen.

And she ended up blasting him with a paintball, stopping his movement. Peter luckily saw it just in time when taking off his blindfold, and had a laugh at his Jason's vexed expression, "I'm keeping it, unless you want me to tase you?" Gwen said in a threatening voice.

Jason scowled, it made it a little bit more menacing with the black eye he had on him that was still healing from his nightly job as Robin, "You wouldn't dare…"

Peter stroll up to them, coming between them, "Alright alright. I don't want to take over Gwen's job now."

In response to his timing, Gwen couldn't help but giggled while Jason scoffed, looking away from the group, "Just making sure where he knows I stand. I need to keep this stuff for memory sake anyhow."

"You mean to use it as blackmail?" Peter questioned.

Gwen snorted and shrugs, "Who knows. Both of you better be on your best behavior then."

"Tsk… I don't gotta do anything."

"Oh ok," with the phone in her hand she was gonna use the picture to good use, "Guess I'll put this on insta."

"Wait! Gwen! Please don't!" Peter begged, going to reach for the phone, but Gwen was already moving. He then turned to Jason, "Jason! Say you're sorry!"

"Fuck that," he said with the corner of his blues looking at Peter, "I don't give a shit."

"And sent!"

"JASON YOU ASS!" Peter would pounce on him.

"GET OFF ME BUG BOY!" Peter's strength made it difficult for Jason to push off, but he did learn from best, and he would pull Peter close to him with both hands, and quickly sweep his right leg enough for him to get the top advantage, "HA! NOOB!"

In response, Peter picked up his body with both his hands. Didn't matter if Jason was taller, the strength of a spider won every time. He would then toss him backwards, with Jason barely flipping in time to get back on his feet, "CHEATER!"

Peter grinned, "I have my way and you have yours. So let's settle this."

Jason too grin, "Fucking finally you talking my language!"

The whole time their fighting went about, Gwen facepalmed at the two in the end duking it out, 'One step forward. Two steps back… Well there's always next week.'

She too couldn't help but record them fighting it out, for prosperity purposes. And found enjoyment in them trying to one up one another, learning not only how to fight one another, but how to improve one another where they have flaws.

In a sense, Jason and Peter were already friends. They just needed a reminder of what they were fighting for and put aside their differences.

Currently

Peter deleted whatever text he was gonna say, and just wanted to move on with his day and not worry about Jason for the time being.

When entering the lower levels of the manor, he oddly smelled something good, something that made it alluring, and nostalgic. Peter recognizes that smell, and he knows Cassandra is not up to make it, especially with the way it was designed to smell extravagant.

He went to the kitchen, finding an elderly man in a black and white suit, head almost bold with the two sides of his head had gray hair, tasting the tea he just brewed up, "Hmm.. Could use a tad bit of honey.." He didn't notice Peter walked in, very focused on what he was creating, and certainly didn't notice the surprise, elated look Peter had on his face.

"Alfred…?" Peter spoke in almost whisper, but it was out of being flabbergasted at seeing the aging butler come back to manor.

Alfred didn't much flinch at the sound of Peter, putting the tea down and smiling at the sight of seeing a familiar face, "Hello Master Peter," he said in a sincere, English tone. Peter quickly went to him, both hugging him and lifting him up from the floor, "Please, do try to be careful with your strength. I'm reaching 70 as is and would like to live a little bit longer," Peter chuckled at Alfred's sarcastic remark when putting him back down on the wooden floor, "And where's your shirt? Only got on a boxer? You and Misses Cassandra have no manners these days."

Again, Peter found himself chuckling more. He couldn't help but hug him again, "It's so good to see you again. I didn't think you were ever gonna come back to Gotham," when Peter let go, he soon found himself dimming just a bit, "Not since what happened with…Everything from last year."

Alfred took a deep breath in and out, "Yes well.. You could say I've been feeling a little bit homesick, but I will always come back for my family regardless of what had come to fruition last year. And these need just a bit tweaking from one of the brightest mind in Gotham," Alfred showcases his owns hand that had traces of it not being normal hands; there weren't any veins, looked to resemble metallic but with a dash of paint to add real coloring to it, and there obviously no small marks or dashes that comes with having a hand.

Peter looked at it, eyes squinting when holding his fake, robotic hands. He flexes them, one finger at a time, but the reaction time seems to be ok, "What problems are you having with it?"

"Randomly it has moments of twitching," the second he mentioned, he felt the hand shake just a bit, "Like that."

"Probably just need a system reset," he turned both hands over, and placed his thumb on the center, feeling a small button that he pressed on and held for a few seconds. Then hands soon slump, with Alfred not being able to move it the way he wanted too. Another second before he turned it on, "Honestly, it could be from the trauma you endured last year. After all, I made sure the hands were able to connect to the brain, acting as if it's a real hand and therefore, it'll react like a real hand."

Alfred couldn't help but massage the fake hands, "Always seemed to be quite remarkable about these types of things. It's a blessing to have a mind like yours to be able to help people out."

Peter shrugs, "I don't want people to know I'm the one who has a hand in helping Wayne enterprises sell these things. I like where I'm at with the gazette."

Alfred raises his eyebrow, not showing his small discontent of Peter still working at the Gotham gazette, "Come. There's much we should catch up with as I finish brewing the tea."

With that, Peter and soon Alfred move their conversation to the living room. Both sat across from each other with the sun lighting up the room without any need of lighting up the fireplace. Peter enjoys the tea Alfred brewed for him as he explained some of the things that's been going on Gotham, "Beyond what's going on now, Gotham for the most part has just been a bit quiet."

"And that doesn't sit well with you," Alfred interpreted, easily enough that Peter nodded, "I guess somethings are meant to constantly be repeated. As much change this city undergoes, it can never always seem to truly escape from the crutches of people who want to watch the world burn."

"If it helps, Cass and I have been getting some sleep compared to when we were younger," Alfred's expression turns to a deadpan, "...Ok not always but it is better," he backtracked.

Alfred's eyes tend to squeal the truth out of him, he's one of the few that can just do it with his eyes alone.

"Yes… The second I came in, Cassandra was already up and making sure her home was safe," he held a little bit of a frown when sipping his own tea, "She was rather sleepy though as I came about 5 in the morning."

"We only just went to sleep like 2 hours ago," Peter found himself snorting, "I'm not surprised that she got up before me, let alone making sure the manor was under protection from potential threats. It's probably why she let me get up at all," he whispered the last bit to himself.

Something Alfred heard but didn't want to touch that territory, "And then there are just some things that don't change in people," Alfred said with his observation, "Such as you still working at gazette. I would've thought you would leave that job and go for what you love most."

Peter shook his head, "I can't. They need me and I need them. Doesn't matter if I don't like it, I can at the very least be on top of what's going on in Gotham."

Alfred felt his lip tighten when Peter mentioned that. Because he knew Peter since he was a but an angst teenager, who dresses himself up like a spider to make sure everyone in Gotham can go home peacefully. He knows full well he's only lying to himself, stopping the full capabilities of what he can do without saving people with a mask and costume on, "Peter.. With all the technology at your disposal, you know you can always stay on top of Gotham without the need of the gazette. Better yet, Bruce and Lucius taught you the art of surveillance, you can always make sure to bug the gazette to keep tabs on them. Which you've clearly done years ago."

Peter found himself for a second quiet as a mouse. His eyes slightly widened before looking away from Alfred, cutting deep at the truth he doesn't want to admit to himself or the elder butler. There was more going on as to why Peter doesn't want to just leave the gazette and Alfred wanted to get to the bottom of this.

Better late than never, "There's a real reason why you don't want to leave the gazette, and I want to know why Peter."

Peter hazel eyes moved back to the butler that had helped him so much as he helped everyone else who was part of the crusade that Bruce started, "...It's…" his fingers tap the cup of tea in hand, taking a small sip to gather his words, gather his thoughts, to say things he only kept to himself, not even telling Cassandra, "...It's the only place I felt I can belong you know? Beyond here, beyond the costume I wear day in and day out, it's the only place where I can say I exist. Doing college, trying to be a scientist, an engineer, or anything else that I know I'm good at… I didn't feel like I belonged there.." Peter said with clear despondency in his tone.

And so there it was, 'Now I know why and it's not just the belonging part,' Alfred noted to himself before choosing his words wisely. He put his tea on the nearby wooden desk, and leaned forward just a bit with both hands clapping together under his chin, "...This has to do with May and Gwen?" Peter's eyes widened just a bit bigger at Alfred poking at the needle of it all, "Gwen wanted you to go to college, wanted you to make sure your life outside of the costume mattered. Bruce even made sure you and her would have no issues getting into Gotham university, and as much as you denied it, it was Gwen who told you to stop with the denial and accept the gift most people would say yes to. And… After her passing, you dropped out. But your aunt made sure you were able to do something beyond the gazette, persuaded you to try out the now departure of horizon labs.. But once she too passed, you gave up on that as well," Alfred took a second to let that sit. The thought of May's passing had a profound effect not only on Peter, but Alfred too. He shut his eyes briefly, sighing, "God rest her kindhearted soul," he opened his eyes, "But you see where I'm going with this Peter?"

"...Yeah… I choose to be there, from the beginning and now. No one told me to work at the gazette… I did it because I wanted to, no, needed to, just as no one told me to be spider-man. I did that too because I needed to, to make up for my mistake with my uncle…" Alfred nodded. Peter too put his tea aside near Alfred's as he let the topic at hand sit. It was a bit quiet for a minute or so as Peter tried to process all that was being thrown at him in the afternoon, "...I just can't do those things Alfred. Without Gwen or May… What sense of purpose do I want to even do those things?"

"And what about Cassandra? What if she wants you to be the greatest scientist, or the greatest engineer?"

Again, Peter shook his head, having his arm crossed and leaning himself back on the couch, "No she gets that. She doesn't want to force those things on me."

"No one is forc-"

"Yes you are! You're forcing me to do something that I can't do!" Peter said, a little louder than he wanted too. It caused him to have a regretful look on his face, his hands subconsciously brushing down his face in shame for yelling at the elderly butler, "...Sorry I just… I don't want to be those things Alfred. At one point I wanted to cure cancer, at one point I wanted to be the next Bruce Wayne, but I don't want that anymore… I don't have those particular people in my life to want those things anymore. And…Even if Cassandra wants me to do those things, she only wants me to do the things that make me happy… Those jobs don't make me happy Alfred…They make me think too much about them," Peter admitted.

A sad gaze became apparent on Alfred's expression. As positive as he can be, Peter's own weakness to negativity will always be himself, and it stops him from succeeding in his own life because of it. Alfred moved his seat, now seated near Peter as the younger man kept his gaze on the two tea's near each other, "...At some point Peter, you'll have to live your life. You might be the man who helps keep Gotham safe, but what about the man here?" He gently touched his bare shoulder, and Peter let it stay, "You have to take care of that."

"...Why does Peter Parker have to matter in the end? If Felicia can just be black cat then why can't I do the same?" Peter genuinely asked, looking up to Alfred.

"You know the answer to that, Peter. You've always had, and you shouldn't keep running around in circles because of it."

Peter found himself nodding; of course he knows the answer to that. He knows why he has to balance Peter and spider-man, even when being spider-man seemed to matter more. He has people in his life that need the man behind the mask, people who are not only counting on him for his mind and abilities, but also cheering him on to the best he can with the life he has. And he can't let them down too.

Peter saw Cassandra from the angle outside of the living room. She had on his shirt that made it look big on her, and short pants on, but looked very worried at Peter. Peter instantly felt regret at seeing her like that, worrying about him. She must've came down immediately when he heard him shout and he hated that she has to worry about how he is right now, "Hey…"

Alfred looked to see Cassandra coming over. He scooch over to let her sit by, but he didn't expect her to hug them all together, "Oh my..!" Alfred yelped.

The young girl seems like she only grows stronger with age, "Family…Stick together… No matter what…" She mentioned, holding the two people that matter in her life, like her own life depended on it.

"...I didn't mean to worry you," Peter said, guessing she heard either part or all of his and Alfred's talk.

"You always do.." Her basil eyes looked into Peter's own hazel eyes, then soon she kissed his nose, "Always will…Jason text…Should also apologize."

Peter groaned, "Casssss…"

"Peter, it's a time like this where you have to be the bigger man," Alfred didn't care if Peter's eyes narrowed at him, "What? We all know Jason hates apologizing."

Peter took out his phone from his boxer pocket and be the bigger man as Alfred said.

Peter: I'm sorry.

Like earlier, it didn't take long for Jason to text back

Angry bird: Whatever.

"How rude! And here I thought you kids would at the very least change just a bit," Alfred commented as all three saw the response he gave to Peter.

"Hold on! I've changed a lot!" Alfred again gave him a dry look, causing Peter to pout, and Cassandra to giggle, "Oh come on! Let me have a win here."

"No."

The atmosphere changed just a bit in the manor. Now it wasn't just Peter and Cassandra, but Alfred who brought a much needed presence in the manor.

A guardian to the end who always comes back for family.

I don't know why. Lately I've been reaching points in my chapter where I choose to end it. I started seeing more of the logic of not continuing on and on, even if it means the story is moving at a slow pace.

I hope you all who are reading don't mind the pace. I find having these moments in the chapter needing to stick instead of constantly moving and moving not making these moments have the impact it needed in the long haul.

To briefly mention Peter's mental state. It's not that he's back tracking like how the main comic writer does a lot. But mostly trauma has a tendency of making it hard for Peter to progress in his life. This is one of those challenges that Peter has to overcome like everything he has overcome for the past 12 years of being spider-man. The death of his aunt and Gwen, while he has moved on to not always thinking about it, still looms over his head. In a sense, it stagnates him just a bit of what he can do as an adult beyond being spider-man.

And hey! Alfred is here! Is he here to stay? Why is he even back? All good questions that will be answered, at some point. See ya whenever!