77 Chapter 77

[Third Person's PoV]

The Prowler held his arm in pain as blood flowed freely from his injury.

"Uncle Aaron!" Miles couldn't help but shout with worry. He looked towards where the shot came from and saw Kingpin push Doc Ock's body off of him. Spotting Peter running towards them, he gave him a grateful look before turning back to his uncle.

Miles was unsure of what to do as he looked at the injury before remembering the web shooter he had on. He glanced at his wrist and pulled out the panel with multiple symbols, signifying the types of webs he could use. He swiped the panel towards a bold white cross.

"Stand still," Miles said to his uncle as he grabbed his injured arm and sprayed his web around the bloody gash.

"How are you feeling?" Miles asked.

"Well, for one word, numb. Thank you, Miles."

Miles nodded before looking at the approaching cop cars. "Let's get out of here…"

"Yeah, let's... we have a lot to talk about, Miles," Uncle Aaron said, putting his mask back on before they both started jumping building to building, getting away.

…

As they brought in all the Spider-Man villains and tied them together, they began to talk among themselves.

"Let's go and get the kid now that we have the goober ready," Peter B said, taking hold of it from Gwen's hands.

While they discussed, they failed to notice Shocker's hands pressing tightly together, charging an attack.

"Hey, can you guys let me talk to the kid…" Peter B started off before his spidey-senses, along with everyone else's, went off in their heads, warning of the nearby danger.

Instinctively, they all jumped and flipped out of the way as a giant wave of vibrations blasted from the center of the surrounding villains, destroying the webs holding them together. The vibrations expanded, causing nearby car and house windows to shatter.

Almost immediately, Vulture took to the skies, while the others scattered.

"Seriously!" Peter grunted before running off, chasing after them with the others following close behind.

However, before they could catch up, they all started glitching in place, giving the villains the perfect opportunity to escape.

"I want to go home," Peter couldn't help but whine when he stopped glitching in place.

Peter B sighed as he got up from the ground before turning to look at Peter, "Tell me, do you know where Miles is at the moment?"

"Aria?" Peter asked, to which she immediately answered.

"Based on the footage I picked up and the direction he was running towards, he should be at his Uncle's apartment currently…"

Peter relayed the information before giving him the address, and without hesitation Peter B swung away towards Miles.

The others looked at each other before deciding to follow closely behind.

…

"So you're Spider-Man…" Uncle Aaron said, sitting on his couch as he handed Miles a soda can.

"Yes?" Miles answered in a questioning tone.

"What, you don't know or something?"

Miles just sighed, "Well, I'm just not sure if I can be called that," he said while looking at his hands. "I mean, sure, I have the abilities, but I don't know if I have what it takes to be Spider-Man. Being Spider-Man is a big shoe to fill, if I take on that role, there's going to be a lot of people counting on me. I'm afraid that I won't meet their expectations."

Miles started venting all of his feelings, fears, and worries to the only person he knew he could trust with 100 percent certainty. He knew his uncle wouldn't judge him or think less of him because of this, so he let everything out, from what first occurred, him getting bit, to what happened currently.

"I see your problem," Uncle Aaron said as he took a sip of his drink. "You're trying to replace the old Spider-Man and become what he once was." He paused for a moment before sighing. "As your uncle, I know I should be stopping you, telling you to quit and live a safe and happy life—go to school, get a girl or two.

"But you're just not that kid, Miles. Man, I've known you for most of your life. I know you wouldn't listen to me if I told you all that. You're just like my brother; you have too big a heart that wants to help people.

"So, you shouldn't be like the old Spider-Man. You don't have to replace him; you can just be yourself. You can just be your very own Spider-Man."

Miles leaned back on the couch and looked at the ceiling, then down at his old Spider-Man merchandise he was still wearing. "My very own Spider-Man, huh," he muttered before softly smiling.

"Thanks, Uncle. I think I have an idea of what to do."

"You're my nephew, man. There's no need for thanks," Uncle Aaron said, nudging him with a smile.

Then, they heard knocking on their window and saw Peter B outside.

Uncle Aaron stood up and went to open the window. "What do you want?" he asked as Peter B stood outside with an awkward expression.

"Do you mind if I talk to Miles alone for a bit? It's important," Peter B said.

Uncle Aaron rolled his eyes and motioned for Peter B to get in. As he did, Uncle Aaron saw Peter motioning for him to sit on the fire escape with them. Though confused, he followed Peter's instruction, deciding to give Miles some privacy but still be close enough to intervene if necessary.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask what was going on, Peter motioned for him to listen to their conversation.

"What's going on?" Miles asked, curious about what Peter B wanted to talk about.

"Miles, I came to say goodbye," Peter B started.

Miles gave him a confused look. "We can just say bye at the collider."

Peter B shook his head. "You're not getting it. You're staying here."

"I need to be there so you all can go home."

"They are going home, Miles. I'm the only one that's staying," Peter B softly replied.

The others outside looked at each other in shock, ready to intervene. Peter stopped them, while Aaron raised a brow at what he was hearing.

"But..." Gwen2 whispered.

Peter shook his head and whispered back, "Let's wait and see how this all turns out. We'll intervene or come up with another solution as a last resort. Just wait."

"You're taking my place?" they heard Miles say before continuing, "If you stay here, you'll die."

"I'm just doing what needs to be done. I just wanted you to hear it from me."

"What about MJ?"

"Not everything works out, kid."

"I made a promise..." before Miles could continue, Peter B interrupted.

"A promise that will get you killed. You're not ready," Peter B sternly said.

"Yes, I am!" Miles confidently exclaimed.

Peter B attacked Miles unexpectedly and tried to sweep his leg. Miles, already suffering plenty from that, jumped out the way and tried to kick Peter B in the face as a counter-attack to show him. But Peter B just grabbed his leg and let go, grabbing his shirt before jumping up towards the ceiling, holding him up just by his Spider-Man merch suit.

Uncle Aaron, peeking through the window, was about to intervene himself, but Peter stopped him and shook his head, mouthing, "Just watch."

"Then venom-strike me right now," Peter B demanded. "Or turn invisible on command so you can get past me."

Miles looked up at Peter B with newfound confidence. "Well, just to be clear, you asked for this, so sorry in advance," Miles said, remembering Peter's advice about his power. 'Let it flow, don't force it, guide it.' And he did just that—static came forth from his hand as Miles took hold of Peter B's arm, shocking him off the ceiling. As he fell, Miles's body instinctively twisted, moving around and turning Peter B's body underneath him, cushioning his landing on top of him.

Peter B groaned from the unexpected attack before slowly sitting up. When he looked around, he didn't see anyone nearby until he heard Miles's voice right next to him. "So, what do you think? Am I ready now?"

Peter B sighed as he laid back on the ground for a bit. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess you did alright, kid."

Uncle Aaron, who saw everything, smiled proudly. Miles undid his invisibility and turned towards the window, asking, "Hey, guys, mind if I ask a question? When did you guys realize you were ready to take on the responsibility of being Spider-Man?"

Seeing their cover was blown, Peter smiled and peeked out his head. He lifted his mask and smiled towards Miles. "We didn't."

Miles looked surprised as Peter continued with a grin, "I speak for Gwen and I when I say we didn't know what to really expect when we decided to become superheroes. We just dove right in with uncertainties about many things.

"But my Uncle Ben once told me, 'You can never be certain. There are no certainties in life. It's all a leap of faith.' So, that's what it was, Miles—a leap of faith. Although he did have another saying…" he paused, causing mostly every Spider-Person to groan out loud.

"Now repeat after me," Peter cheerfully said, "With great power comes great responsibility!" They all said in unison in a tired tone, as if those words clung to them like a ghost.

Miles chuckled before looking at his hands once more. "A leap of faith," he muttered before nodding his head. He smiled towards everyone and looked at Peter B on the floor as he confidently said, "You guys can go on without me. I have something to do. I'll be sure to catch up to all of you and send everyone back home safely"

"You sure?" Peter B asked, standing up. But as he looked into Miles' eyes, he realized he didn't need an answer and just nodded. "Well then, make sure not to take too long, kiddo."

Peter B came out from the window and jumped off the fire escape without a second thought.

"We'll see you there, Miles!" They all shouted as they swung away.

"I guess it's time for me to be my own Spider-Man," Miles said before bidding goodbye to his Uncle.

"Go get them, nephew," Uncle Aaron cheered as he watched Miles leave his apartment.