To say that May Happy, Pepper, or any other Avengers were mortified wouldn't even describe what they were feeling right now. They knew Jameson was a blowhard, capable of twisting the truth to get more views, and thought that this would be no different than his other interviews...

...But no.

John Jameson completely and utterly tore Peter apart in the interview, which went from a firm discussion to an outright demoralization of the Hero's character and pushed the kid to the point of tears.

May had some harsh words to say to that bastard of a journalist and was ready to assault the man himself with the other Avengers willing to back her up. But Pepper was able to talk them down. Still, not before banishing Jameson from ever interviewing Parker or the Avengers again, less he gets a restraining order—something which the News blogger shrugged off.

From then on, Rhodey decided Peter should take a break and sent him back to Queens for some RnR. They knew the whole while how distressed Parker was. The teen remained silent through all the arguments of that report, even when May and Happy began driving him back to his apartment.

'You know I told them that Jameson was terrible news. I told them to point blank what would happen, yet she didn't believe me. Aunt May rubbed her head in stress while Happy could only shake his head in response.

'Well, next will know better; I... can't believe that he did that to him, not even-' Happy stops before speaking out the boy past mentor's name while Parker was in the car, not wanting to hurt his feelings even more. 'My best friend had to go through that

May wanted to shout happy for bringing Mr. Stark when she gave him that stern look—but decided against it. Knowing that the fact that Happy wouldn't mention his name is enough to show that he cared about her nephew as much as she did, and a bunch of arguing adults in a car is the last thing that Peter needs right now.

'Happy...be honest with me,' May whispered in hopes that Parker didn't hear her, which, unfortunate for her, he did due to his enchanted hearing. 'If...He didn't offer Peter to be in your...super club...could all of this have been avoided?

Happy then closed his eyes in deep thought and shook his head. 'In all truth, May I don't know...Parker, his abilities in terms of physical power, he is on just below the high tires of the Avengers and something like that well...it can't be overlooked forever...if my friend hadn't found him...someone else would.'

May grimaced in thought from that statement as a Happy continued to drive on in silence.

'So, you are saying...that something like this was inevitable?' the older Parker questioned, which caused Happy to grimace.

'...If Beck hadn't outed Peter, someone else would have, and even if we did try to frame someone else as the kid or Spider-Man, most people would likely dismiss it as a hoax. While I can understand why he wants to keep his identity hidden, I do. It's just not feasible in this day and age; it's not. I can only wish that it could have only happened much later in the kid's life

May nodded as he looked back at her dear nephew, now falling asleep in the car. Not too long ago, her little man was a happy boy playing with Lego sets, watching movies, and worrying about getting a date. And now he looks like the entire world has turned against him. All the while, she could do nothing to stop it. Nothing to protect her child against forces beyond his or even her control, and the worst was that if Happy was right and that if...someone worse than Tony had come for her kid. Then this was the best solution that could happen to him...as fucked up as it was.

When Parker arrived at the apartment, he did not speak one bit as he went to his room to bed. Compared to the other apartments he and his aunt moved in, this one was by far the fanciest; he had ample space, a separate living room and kitchen, and an open balcony. All of which earn as his monthly wage as an Avenger. Yet Peter, despite feeling grateful, also felt guilty that he did not deserve it.

Jameson's words... tore through Peter like they never have before, not when he talked wrong about him during his day as a vigilante, which was over-hyped bullshit.

'Spider-man caused a car crash

(The video clip shows Parker catching a car safely

Spider-man steals a woman's purse

(a clip shows Spider-Man giving her purse back.)

Spider-man wreaks Long Island

(while Stopping the vulture from high-jacking high-tech cargo)

Same old, usually bullshit that didn't mean anything.

'But what that old goat did to him...today he humiliated him right on camera, bringing up his insecurities, his faults, all of which were true.

He was the one who gave Beck those glasses because of his weakness and because he refused to step up.

He should have been to have E.I.D.I.A.H on the spot so none of those agents got hurt, and Rhodes nearly died.

Maybe he should be in jail for what he did.

Maybe it would be better that he gave up being a hero.

But even if I did give up, what then?

He would still be running away, just as Jameson accused him of. He would still be letting people die, and his civilian life and his school career almost became nonexistent. Peter then remembered a few months ago how his last apartment was utterly vandalized and torn apart by angry mobs and how Aunt was fired from her job and forced to take a job as a secretary for the Avengers, which again he was grateful for Pepper and Happy for doing that for her.

He was grateful to them for cleaning up his mess.

He then thought back to the bodyguards, and May's conversation in the car and of how his identity being secret was doom to failure from the start and that if he hadn't found him, someone else would and upon remembering the type of enemies the avengers faced like Hydra, Stane, and other terrorist organizations. Happy May had a point.

...was it really that pointless to have one?

He hid his face to protect the ones he loved so that others wouldn't worry about him and that his enemies would not target him or his family...but did it protect anyone?

It didn't stop Toomes from figuring out and threatening his family and friends and Beck; while he did show him his identity willingly, it was almost definite; he figured it out beforehand, and if he continues to be with the Avengers, other bad guys would have figured it out too... even if he did have Shield to cover his tracks.

Did he only wear the mask to hide from his responsibility and for the benefit of no one else?

Parker's heart sank at the thought. But before he could ponder even further. A knock came on the door.

Aunt May answered it, and it turned out to be Ned, much to Peter's shock and joy.

Now, for those of you who have not read the first chapter. This is pretty much a massive deconstruction of Spider-Man's identity, as well as why it was doomed for failure. Now, of course, Spider-Man identity has been exposed plenty of times in the comics, and it was quickly resolved by either a memory wipe or by people not knowing his face when he was unmasked.

But since the MCU is a bit more realistic than the comics and more grounded on the power scale. Such methods would not work. Especially since it would take nothing short of something like an infinity stone to mind-wipe the entire world, and even then, it would have been too dangerous to use.

As for Parker's face, face-locating software would locate his identity in minutes. Which does exist in real life. The only reason he was able to have his identity this long. It was due to the people not caring or knowing about him much and villains like the Vulture keeping their mouths shut about it out of gratitude and taking him out himself. But once someone like Beck framed Peter for terrorism and exposed it to the public, any chance that Parker could maintain such a secret is gone. And as Happy said, if Quieten hadn't told him, someone else would, basically, despite Parker wearing a mask to protect himself and his loved ones. It wasn't going to last forever. See you next time