webnovel

Who?

I am and always will be that typical idiotic guy who's taken for a puppet.

That's just how it is...

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The characteristic cold of Queens was in full swing. The frigid air swayed the leafy trees around Peter's perch, and it was clear that rain was on its way. But he didn't care. Sitting on the edge of a tall building, he held the mask of his suit in his hands, gazing at it through tear-filled eyes. His face grew hard.

"You're a fool," he said to the mask. He stood up on the edge where he sat. "You don't deserve to be Spider-Man!" he shouted, throwing the mask with all his might. "Idiot," he muttered to himself, tears streaming down his face, as he stepped back inside the building.

He ran his fingers through his hair, turning his back on the view from the building. He felt broken and alone like never before. His phone rang several times, with calls from his aunt, his friend Ned, and Michelle. He didn't answer. He wouldn't. Suddenly, he felt the breeze pick up a little more, and he turned to face the view. He saw a semicircle of golden light forming amid the darkness, with several lighter colors. Peter furrowed his brow, not understanding what it was, but it vanished as something unexpected emerged from it.

"I think this is yours," the person who had come out of the semicircle said, walking towards Peter with the mask in her hands. "You dropped it, or rather, you threw it into the void."

"Who are you?" Peter asked, his heart pounding. It's not normal for a person to suddenly appear out of a circle in the night. "Don't come near me," he pleaded, scared. It should be noted that he's seen many things, but he's never seen this before, not up close. The person he saw was a girl, who stopped walking. She just looked at him, gazing at him with eyes like the sun, which Peter considered both strange and unique. The tears in his eyes made it hard for him to see the woman's face clearly. "What are you?" he asked again, stumbling.

"Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you," she said, avoiding the question. "I just wanted to give you back what you threw away."

"They always tell me they won't hurt me, and then they do," he told her, in response to what she said. "And I threw it away for a reason, didn't I? Because I don't deserve it."

The woman furrowed her brow, then approached Peter. He didn't know what to do, so he just stood there, frozen. But she looked at him, waiting to see what he would do. And then she took his right hand and placed the mask there. She patted his hand and looked him in the eyes.

"The good guys don't cry," she told him, raising her right hand to wipe away the tears on Peter's cheeks. He flinched back, thinking she might do something more, but her warm touch made him exhale and feel a sense of calm wash over him. As he looked into her eyes, he could see the girl who was wiping away his tears more clearly.

Her sun-kissed skin and perfect features were a sight to behold. Her eyes sparkled, and her long, curly hair was tied back in a perfect ponytail. Her clothing was unlike anything he had ever seen before, intricate and refined. Symbols adorned her arms and neck, almost like tattoos, but he could tell they were something more. He snapped out of his thoughts when she put her hands on his cheeks, and he looked into her eyes again.

"You can't be crying over something that I'm sure has a solution," she said gently, running her fingers through Peter's curly hair. "And you certainly can't say you're not a hero, because you are."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked, and she pulled her hands away from his cheeks.

"Because..." She took Peter's hand where his mask was and lifted it up. "It's your kind heart, along with this beautiful suit, that brings it to life. The suit comes to life because of the person who has the will to be unique, strong, and a hero," she emphasized every word. She smiled without showing her teeth, and Peter listened, not knowing what to say. Truthfully, no one had ever spoken to him with such gentle words that made him believe everything she said. "I guess I must have something on my face for you to look at me so attentively," she said after a few seconds, with a hint of amusement.

Peter, upon hearing what she said, took a step back with a nervous smile. He hadn't realized she was looking at him so intently and with such attention. He had to admit, she was a very beautiful woman, almost close to a goddess. "She must be one," he thought to himself. Her features were made for something like that and more.

"I... I'm sorry," he said, stumbling over his words as he looked at her mask. "It wasn't my intention. It's not that you have something on your face, it's not that... It's just that... Well... I..." He stammered and then fell silent. He heard a laugh that he found contagious. He looked up and saw that she was laughing a little. "Don't laugh," he asked her, unable to help but laugh himself.

"You have such a beautiful smile," she said, and Peter stopped laughing at her words. He felt his cheeks flush. "Because of that smile, a beautiful garden was created in one of my kingdoms," she added, and Peter looked at her. Truly, that was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to him.

"Don't exaggerate," he said, feeling his face redder than a tomato. "You only say that... to make me... feel good."

"And that's how you should always feel. Because you deserve to feel good and know that you are worthy," she sighed. "Listen... Are you Peter Parker?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "How do you know?"

"A very beautiful, but at the same time very sad voice, has been asking to be treated better... to be shown what he cannot see for himself," she replied, and Peter felt scared and surprised. Was everything she said being heard? Apparently, yes, and it was strange. "And... Well, I was wandering among planets until your car brought me here."

"First of all, all of this is very weird," Peter said. She gave a brief laugh. "Second of all... I... Sorry if I made you come down from wherever you came from and bothered you with the self-deprecation I have, and with even more reason, deserve. Sorry..." He whispered the last part.

"Don't apologize," she interrupted him, raising her chin. "Many people talk to me, although they don't know who they're talking to. But in the end, I come because I don't like seeing anyone unhappy. I like seeing them smiling and happy." She said. "So... Great Spidey," she looked him in the eyes with her hands at the sides of his shoulders. "I want to see you smile more like I saw you just now, okay? Everything will get better when you improve with yourself."

"Then everything will stay the same," he said, in response to her words. "I'm a..."

"Brave, unique, intelligent, and strong kid," she interrupted, saying things that Peter wasn't going to say. "And you're so much more than that. You need to realize that, okay?" she asked.

Peter looked into her eyes, those eyes like the sun, her gaze transmitting confidence that he could tell her anything. "Something very quick, you know," he said, feeling like it was something new.

"We agree," he replied, and she smiled. "How did you...?"

"Ah, there you are," Tony Stark interrupted, descending and revealing his face. "I had to search for you even under your bed. I'm not here for that kind of thing, kid."

"I'm sorry, sorry, Mr. Stark," Peter apologized as Tony walked towards him. "It won't happen again, I..."

"Your aunt is worried about you, calling everywhere to find out where this boy who decides to run away from..." His gaze fixed ahead. "You're...?"

"My name, Mr. Stark, is Freya."

"Sister of Frey, right?" Freya nodded. "Do you know that your brother is...?"

"The double or worse of an ego than you?" Freya finished, and Tony raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I'm well aware of that," she laughed a little, and Peter did too, gaining a serious look from Tony. Peter looked away. "Mr. Stark... I can't apologize for my brother's ego, but I dare say that you are..." She trailed off.

"I am...?" Tony prompted her to continue.

"Well... Tony Stark," she replied, and it caught Tony off guard. He expected something more detailed, saying how sexy, millionaire, playboy he is.

Peter couldn't help but laugh at the expression of indignation on Stark's face.

"Another garden has grown in my kingdom," Freya suddenly said, and Peter understood what she meant. He couldn't help but blush. Tony was still in his indignation. "I think I should take the great Spidey home," she sang to Stark.

He snapped out of his offended trance and took Peter's arm.

"That's exactly what I'll do, sister of the fool Frey," Freya laughed. She found his tone and offense amusing. "You better not do this again, kid," he ordered, and Peter nodded his head. Tony returned to his suit and let go of Peter's arm. "Put on your mask and start following me," he said before taking off.

Peter looked at the mask and then saw another hand on top of his.

"It's time to go see your aunt, great Spidey," she said. "Put on your mask."

Peter put on the mask, and Tony began to move away. The spider ran a bit and stopped for a second, turning his head.

"I'll be around here for a while. We'll see each other again," She said, as if he had read his thoughts.

Peter moved his head a bit, and although she couldn't see it, he smiled to himself before shooting his webs and following Tony.

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