At the Dance…
Peter was the bell of the ball as everyone admired his skills in charming and alluring aura.
He was dancing with cool, smart, handsome college students and his pretty best friend from childhood while being in the spotlight for a change, in a good way. The young spider deserved to have at least one good day, even though he was a bit confused about how he became their date in the first place. They didn't pressure him per se, but he didn't really say no or didn't really give a response. But still, it was a nice night, and MJ and Eddie were there to make sure he was okay. He was still new to dating and everything seemed a bit unreal for him at the moment, that's coming from the guy who is a half-spider hybrid boy.
It was weird to have a sense of normalcy.
He never has a sense of normalcy.
"Enjoying yourself, my dear?" Alister wondered, trying to act charming towards the boy he deeply fawned over.
He was elated that the boy was his for the night and the years added to his beauty.
"Y-yeah it is pretty-pretty fun." Peter stuttered, not really sure what to say to him.
"I am happy you're enjoying yourself. To be able to dance under the moonlight… what can I say it is a dream come true."
"Huh?"
"Excuse me? May I cut in?" Morbius requested with a grin on his face and the accent dancing perfectly on his tongue.
Without being able to give an answer on time, he gracefully and elegantly like a vampire in the night, cut in on the dance to be able to tango with sweet, sweet Peter Parker. Alister grumbled at the sight, jealous and angry at his competition. He was not the only one for there were so many jealous, Eddie for them weaseling their way to his sweet Peter, Gwen and Liz who wanted to dance with the boy, Flash and Sally couldn't believe that they had hot dates, and Harry… Harry was about to break, especially since Gloria left him to be with Kong again.
He-he needed to be alone…
"Cowboy up. You want to be better in classes? Study. You want to become popular? Be popular."
He needed it.
"He let you have it. You didn't earn anything but a pity win, again. This is why Peter is better than you, because he tries a hundred times harder than you, and yet… yet out of the kindness of his heart, he lets himself be steamrolled by people like you."
He needed the Green.
Harry felt a prang of jealousy inside him. To Norman, Peter was the son he always wanted, what Harry couldn't be. He would always come second place to Petey, even when he tries his hardest. Everything was handed to Pete, even things he didn't want that Harry craves. True, it wasn't Petey's fault that he was the object of his father's affections, but it didn't make it sting any less.
He needed the Green right now!
Harry bolted out in search of the chemical that gave him everything.
While everyone was watching, Eddie's phone beeps and he was never happier. Perfect, a villain attacks at a party, far, far away.
"Hey, MJ, I need to talk to Petey. Mind-?"
"Gotcha. Coming to the rescue." Mary Jane gave a mischievous smirk and worked her magic.
Such a theatric girl like her has the perfect timing and knows how to work the room. With the right timing and a little bit of flare… she was able to be the heroine of the night and rescue the fair Peter Parker from two dastardly wolves.
"Hey MJ. How are you enjoying the party?" Peter wondered while they were dancing.
"Enjoying myself, Tiger. It's really a rump. But the reason I snatch ya is because your bro wants to talk to you." She informed as she brought the boy to the blond, "Enjoy the rest of the night, you two."
The vixen then scampered off as the two were alone.
"Hey Bro, what's up?" Peter wondered as Eddie showed off the news on his phone with explosions at a tower in New York.
"Duty, Bro. Suit up and let's go." Eddie informed then Spider-Man looked at his two dates.
"I hope they won't be mad at me for bailing." He whispered.
"No worries, they'll get over it. They're college boys after all. Besides, they'll probably blame me anyway. Now let's get a move on." The blond advised then rushed Peter out of the Gym, while Peter's date watched them leave.
Alister growled at Brock as he dreamed of a way to make the blond pay for cutting into their romance and brilliant future together when he becomes the next CEO. Yes, he will truly flaunt his power once he's on top and Peter could take him there.
Morbius simply crossed his arms with his own dark thoughts.
The Next Morning…
Peter was still sore all over after the defenestration he endured.
To all of you who do not know what defenestration is, here is a little lesson. Defenestration is a Latin word for throwing something or someone out of the window. For Peter… Defenestration was not his favorite word as he was introduced to defenestration by the newest bad guy in town, the Green Goblin. He was defenestrated from the tallest building for a fancy party of the astronaut and father of his boss Jonah, John Jonah Jameson II. He prevented everyone from getting hurt or defenestrated themselves and it seemed he was gunning for Tombstone as well, which is all the more shocking that he knows.
How could Goblin figure out a man who was so hidden, a man who could easily figure you out first?
"Spider-man, so we finally meet." The man breathed as the face was facing away from the hero.
"And you're Lincon Tompson, also known as the Big Man of Crime," Spider-man growled as his spider-sense was warning him of this man.
"I go by many names, little one, much like you. My personal favorite is the Tombstone." The man who looked like death introduced.
"Hey, I may be small, but I'm the toughest arachnid in town." Spider-man scoffed.
The Big Man only laughed at his outburst.
"Still a surprise that the elements of this city fear and respect a child, a powerful and talented child, but a child nonetheless." Tombstone remarked, "Now, why don't we have a nice talk, and you can sit down?"
"I-I'm not a kid!" Peter squeaked but sat down anyway.
"Oh, no? Your size alone should have been a dead giveaway, but your childish behavior, your naïve sense of duty, your ideals… only a child could believe that you can change the world without getting their hands dirty." He answered, calculating everything in his own mind, "And little boys shouldn't be playing this type of game."
"I'm not scared of you."
"You should be; child. Though, it would not sit right for me to harm someone so young as you."
"PETE, GET OUT OF THERE NOW!" Eddie screamed in his earpiece as did his spider-sense, but too late!
Tombstone pinned him to the wall by the neck!
"You don't fully understand the game well for someone as young as you."
Spider-man tried to throw a desk at him with his webbing, but Tombstone crumbled it into dust!
"A talented and skillful little thing, but one to understand how the world works. It's simply business, Child and we all have to do the work." Tombstone formally informed.
"What about the people that get hurt in your business pursuits?" Peter snarled.
"Accidents will happen, but you can't have progress without a little… destruction and you would know that due to your battles with the others."
"I am not a monster like you!"
"That is why you can't play this game. You're too innocent, too naïve to understand. Still, with talent like yours, it seemed to be a waste for it to go unnoticed." Tombstone informed, "I want to make a deal with you."
"Oh?"
Peter didn't like this.
"You can still be the hero and I can help with your publicity; help you shape up a bit. You can keep defeating the bad elements at bay. But when I business is at work, look away."
Look away?
Look Away?
'Not my problem…'
'Not my problem…'
'Not my problem…'
A snarl spewed from his lips as Tombstone was fast enough to escape from his claws! Peter was losing control again by that one remark.
"Hmm… It seemed a touched a nerve and my associates were right, your genetics are unstable."
Peter gasped and tried to calm down, the shell of his claws falling off his hand.
"Interesting… You are indeed an interesting creature. My offer still stands, whenever you are ready. But I hurry if I were you, Child."
Tombstone knew what he was just looking at him, even before all the bad guys and now it seemed that someone even worse was on the scene.
Everything seemed to be getting worse.
"Ow!" Peter squeaked as Eddie was cleaning up his little bro.
"Sorry, gotta clean this out. You're lucky you didn't get any glass in you, just scratched up." Eddie sighed as he was patching up Peter.
"Thanks again, Eddie." Peter sighed as he needed to get ready as soon as possible.
It seemed that his aunt was worried about him losing weight dramatically and more so that Peter was eating (which she was happy about because it meant that he wasn't anorexic) but it meant that Peter wasn't keeping the weight on.
Despite his protest, Aunt May decided that Peter needed to see a doctor.
"How am I going to keep my secret if a doctor examines me?" Peter fretted.
"Don't worry, Pete. I'll think of something." Eddie assured him as they heard May calling for her nephew.
While Eddie was about to leave, he heard the phone ringing.
"Hello?" Eddie asked.
"Eddie, you're over at the Parkers?" Gwen's voice echoed.
"Yeah. What's up, Gwen?"
"I need to talk to Peter. It's about Harry, I'm worried his abusing drugs."
"Osborn that idiot… Sorry Gwen, but Pete's heading for a doctor's appointment. He's fine but May wants to check on his metabolism to see if everything is alright." Eddie informed, angry at Harry.
"Okay. Can you pass the message along and have Peter contact me as soon as he can?"
"I promise."
"Thanks, Eddie. You're the best."
Eddie hung up and then headed downstairs to go with May and Peter to the doctor for emotional support (or to cover up Peter's artificial mutation.)