Chapter 1

Peter stood before his uncle's casket, but he wasn't truly there. Wearing a suit that still didn't quite fit him, even if the spider's bite brought him a step or two above scrawny, he lingered over his uncle. That night kept repeating on an infinite loop in his mind. Peter told his uncle he was studying at the local library but was using his newfound powers to hustle money from an underground fight club. He never showed too much, only using his abilities just enough to edge out a win. He had to make it convincing, or they wouldn't let him back.

Three months. That's how long Peter had his powers before Uncle Ben was taken from him. Ben wanted to surprise Peter with an evening trip to their favorite hot dog stand. It was 5 blocks from their house and only 2 blocks from the library. On his way home, he saw Ben arguing with someone at his driver's side window. Before Peter could understand what he saw, he heard the shot ring out. Peter rushed to his uncle. The man who shot him dove into an old car and sped off. Peter stood frozen. He was still trying to process what he saw. With all these newfound abilities, he was still helpless as ever. Peter snapped back to reality, but it was too late. The car sped off, but the back end was forever etched into his mind.

It was a late 1980s model Oldsmobile, faded gold, a bumper sticker that said Raegan '84, and a license plate numbered G86 4MN.

Suddenly, Peter felt a hand on his shoulder. He was so lost in thought that he forgot other people were around. A family friend offered his condolences, but Peter didn't hear him. The guilt that racked his mind was too much for him to handle. Peter scanned the room and found his aunt standing by the register book.

May was as present as ever. She and Ben had been running FEAST for a few years, and all that experience was clearly showing. She talked with friends and seemed too upbeat for someone who lost their husband. Peter knew the truth, though. He knew she was hurting as much as him. Peter blamed himself for Ben's death and simultaneously felt the burden of May's happiness on his shoulders.

May caught Peter's pained face and offered a sympathetic smile. After the visitation, Peter helped his aunt back to their house. May sat at the kitchen table while Peter started a fresh pot of coffee. May began to talk about Ben and his legacy. How he worked so hard for people that were struggling just to live.

"We have to do our best," Ben would always say. "Even if you feel your best isn't enough, you still try. And trying is better than doing nothing."

May parroted Ben's sentiments. "I know this is hard, Pete. I know how much you looked up to Ben. But we have to keep trying. For him. For us. For our future. We can't give up. Ben wouldn't want that."

"Remember when you made that birdhouse for his birthday?" May asked Peter, a smile appearing on her face.

"Yeah, it took me three days, and it fell apart as soon as a bird landed on it for the first time," Peter replied, his smile starting to shine through.

"I was so upset that the house fell apart, but Ben reassured me it was fine."

"Ben didn't care that all your effort fell apart. He cared that you put in the effort." May tried reassuring Peter.

"That's what we have to do. Put in the effort. Try to be better. We'll get through this if we stay positive like Ben would."

Peter gave his aunt a giant hug. May held him tight before kissing him on top of his head.

"I'm heading to bed. Bagels in the morning?" May asked Peter.

"Sure, from Kingston's. Extra cheese!" Peter replied. That was Ben's favorite.

Peter wished his aunt goodnight and sat in the kitchen until her door closed. Peter thought about what they discussed, living up to Ben's legacy. Still, though, Peter couldn't get that night out of his mind. How can he live up to his uncle when his selfishness and lies caused all this?

Peter couldn't stand being in the house at that moment. He had to get out.

He grabbed his suit and swung out his window. Peter spent the next few hours just swinging through the city. The lights and bustle kept his mind occupied. He dropped onto a rooftop as it began to storm. Before he could find shelter from the rain, he heard cries for help from the alley below.

Peter spotted a mugger trying to snatch a woman's purse. As Peter jumped from the roof, the mugger tore the bag away from the woman and began to sprint away. Peter webbed over to the adjacent alley and waited for the mugger to run his way.

The mugger turned a corner and smashed into Spider-Man. He started to stutter and run but slipped on the wet pavement. Peter grabbed him by his shirt and spun him around to face him.

"P-p-please, let me go. I'm sorry. Take it; I don't even need it!" the mugger pleaded with Spider-Man.

Peter didn't let go. At that moment, he only saw the mugger that killed his uncle. The rain seeped through his mask, moistening his face and shallowing his breaths. The rage he had felt for days finally boiled over.

Peter threw the mugger into the wall. The mugger stuck his hand out to protect himself, but Peter grabbed it. The mugger yelled at Spider-Man, but it was no use. Peter wasn't there. He was back in front of the library with his dying uncle. The mugger struggled to get free, but Peter broke his arm.

The sharp crack of the bone broke Peter's trance. The mugger clutched his arm and screamed in pain. Peter realized what had happened and swung away to a nearby rooftop.

Peter collapsed onto the patchy roof. He peeled his wet mask from his face. His lungs were finally able to take a sincere breath. Overcome with grief and pain, Peter broke down into tears. The rain poured over him as his guilt drowned him.

"I have to be better, but I don't know if I can."

The Next Week –

Peter returned to school after being afforded a week of bereavement. He was a senior at Midtown High School. Peter didn't want to return, but May reminded him of what Ben would want. He would want Peter to take advantage of what's most important. His education. Peter walked into his AP science course but, before he could reach his seat, was ambushed by a massive bear hug.

"Oh, Pete! I'm so sorry!" a caring voice could be heard behind his back.

Gwen Stacy had been waiting for Peter by their desk clump. She and Peter had been friends since they both attended a science camp in the second grade. Gwen was short, with bobbed blonde hair that she didn't pay that much attention to. She wore thick glasses and always had a long-sleeved shirt around her waist. Gwen was a wallflower, but not in the wrong way. She preferred to study and tinker rather than engage in most social activities. The main activities Gwen enjoyed always had something to do with science. She always took advantage of every opportunity to learn. The only person Peter considered more of a nerd than him was Gwen. And you should see the amount of Star Trek action figures Peter has collected.

Peter finally broke free of Gwen's hug of friendship.

"Thanks, Gwen. I'm glad to see you again." Peter turned to face his best friend.

Gwen had a cookie wrapped in a paper towel she had brought from home.

"I knew you'd be back today, so I got your favorite!" Gwen unwrapped the cookie and gave it to Peter. White chocolate macadamia from Setter's, Peter and Gwen's favorite bakery.

"Are you doing alright? I didn't want to bother you too much while you were gone. I knew you needed to be there for May. But now you're back, and I want you to know I'm here for whatever you or May need. Dad already gave me the go-ahead to be there for both of you whenever you need it!"

Gwen was always sweet like that. Her dad was a captain in the NYPD but was always busy. So, Gwen spent much time with Peter, May, and Ben. They were like her second family. Although he saw Gwen and her dad at the funeral, this was their first real chance to speak.

"Thanks, Gwen. I'm okay. May is too. It's just…hard. I'm glad to be back here. I never thought I'd be excited to hear one of Mr. Larson's monotone lectures."

Gwen started to say something, but Mr. Larson grabbed the class's attention.

"Okay, class, settle down. I have an announcement to make. I would like to introduce everyone to our new student. Class, this is Harry Osborn. Harry will be joining us for his senior year, so I'd like everyone to give him a big welcome. Harry, take the free seat in clump 3."

Harry was tall and handsome. His hair looked messy but was perfectly styled. His clothes were crisp and new. Obviously, with the last name Osborn, he came from money. OSCORP was a powerhouse in New York. They had their hands in just about everything.

Harry scanned the room, finding his seat. An empty desk right next to Peter and Gwen.

"Harry, I'm putting you with Peter and Gwen. We just started a group project, and I think they would be a great resource for you." Mr. Larson said with a sense of pride. "Peter, Gwen, help Harry with whatever he needs."

Harry took his seat. Peter gave him an awkward wave, but Gwen jumped straight to the pleasantries.

"So, I'm Gwen, and this is Peter. What's your favorite snack?" Gwen asked with a hopeful smile. She always starts with the stomach.

Harry barely acknowledged her. He was tense, almost as if being there was a punishment. Gwen wanted to poke the bear some more, but the day's science lesson began to unfold. Peter and Gwen spent the rest of class helping Harry get on track with the project they had recently started. By the end of the period, Harry seemed to relax a bit. The bell rang, and the class began to scatter.

"Okay, Pete, I gotta get to rehearsal. Call me later, and we'll go over your part of the project." Gwen hurriedly spoke as she got her bag together. "Harry, think about your favorite snack and let me know. I'll add you to our group chat. See ya!"

Gwen jogged off to get to rehearsal quickly. Harry pulled his schedule out to find his next class.

"Hey, so where is Lit 2? This place is like a maze." Harry asked Peter.

Peter started to give him directions, but something caught both his and Harry's attention as he pointed in the right direction.

Mary Jane Watson. She was tall, slender, with fiery red hair that was always perfect. She was beautiful. Even still a senior, she was already taking modeling and acting gigs. That was her dream, to be a big-time actor. Peter had lived across the street from MJ since they were 10. He's had the biggest crush on her the entire time. He never got the courage to ask her out despite his new abilities.

MJ flashed a perfect smile and waved at Peter as she strolled by.

"Hey, Peter!" She said, with the sweetest voice.

Peter had just finished tutoring her for MJ's history mid-term. That was the closest he had ever been with MJ.

Peter snapped out of his smitten trance and tried to continue giving Harry directions.

"So you're going to want to go down this hall and then-" Peter started before Harry cut him off.

"Who was that?" Harry sounded almost star-struck.

"Oh, that's Mary Jane. She's cool. I've known her for a lo-" Peter was cut off again.

"Cool yeah, thanks," Harry lazily said as his attention was firmly on MJ now. Harry left Peter holding Harry's schedule as he walked after MJ.

Peter stood defeated, prophesizing about what could come. Handsome Harry and beautiful MJ? Peter stood no chance.

"She'd never go with someone like me anyway." Peter hung his head and headed to his next class.

Two Weeks Later –

Peter had spent every night since the funeral searching for Ben's killer. Seedy bars, dark corners, run-down parts of town. Heck, even the boroughs that neighbored his own. No luck. Peter barely caught a glimpse of the man who shot Ben, but he still remembered the back of the car clear as day. Interrogating your average thug was producing no results.

Peter had only been Spider-Man for about 4 months. Not long enough to know the ins and outs of the criminal underworld. Could he even solve a crime like this? They had nothing the last time he spoke with the officer in charge of Ben's case. The camera footage was too grainy, and Peter was the only witness. Peter, still dealing with the weight of the situation, was at his lowest point. Demoralized, he changed back into his street clothes.

Peter was heading home when he got a call from Gwen. She was checking up on him and asked how things were going. Peter couldn't exactly tell her about his quest for vengeance, but he vented nonetheless. How stressed he was. How he keeps trying to get out there and live life for Ben, but it's hard. It felt like no matter what he did, it'd never solve anything.

Gwen gently said, "Pete, you're trying. That's what's important. When I wanted to build my telescope, my dad didn't have the time to help me. I struggled with it. One day, I couldn't get the lenses to stay in the right place. I was so frustrated that I pushed it over. Your uncle saw me do it. Ben stopped, came over, and helped me pick up the pieces. He told me that even though I couldn't get it right the first time, I still tried my hardest. He could see that I did. Ben told me to keep trying. That as long as we're trying, we're making progress. That was something I've held onto ever since. It's what helps drive me to be a better student. And to be a better friend. Especially to you, Pete!"

For the first time in a long time, Peter felt little hope. Gwen was right. He was trying. Just like Ben would say. Just like May told him after the funeral. As long as he tried, there was hope.

"Thanks, Gwen. I really, really needed to hear that." Peter replied with a slight catch in his voice.

"I got you, Pete. That's what friends are for. Can we meet at 6 tomorrow? I need to run my side of the project by you."

"For sure. I'll call you tomorrow."

Peter felt as though a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders. He was trying to be better. He was trying to do the right thing as Peter and Spider-Man. Maybe he didn't need to crush himself. It may be time to move forward. To help those that need it. Like Ben would do. He could stop something like this from happening to someone else's uncle. Instead of focusing on vengeance, he would focus on bettering the community. One web at a time.

Peter noticed the hot dog stand he and Ben would always visit. He grabbed a dog and stepped off the curb to cross the street. He was finally starting to feel better.

Suddenly, his spider sense began to tingle.

A car was speeding right toward him. Peter jumped back but dropped his hot dog. Frustrated, he looked up to give them a unique New York thank you when his heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach.

G86 4MN. Reagan '84. The faded gold color. The Oldsmobile emblem.

It was Ben's killer.

-End Chapter 1