The future of our friendly neighbor....

The police had finally arrived, by then I had already disappeared, a part of me did not want to leave Uncle Ben alone, but I had to escape, I could not allow myself to give Aunt May any more worries.

I climbed a nearby building, where I could clearly see the whole scene and rest a bit.

When I took the criminals out, I noticed that several of them were taken away, they were inhumane and since the law is the law, they were processed differently, if I hadn't come out of there I would have suffered the same thing.

-Now I have to explain this... To Aunt May? –

Did I tell them I was completely hurt? I wasn't, my wounds were starting to heal, the cuts were closing, my arms were returning to their normal state, the bruises were fading every second.

I didn't understand why, it took me a couple of days to stop feeling the pain in my wrists, and just now it had been a couple of minutes.

- What about you "power"? -

Once I was fully recovered I returned home as quickly as I could, as soon as the officers identified my uncle they would inform us. When I got home, I went back to Aunt May, she still had concern on her face.

- Peter... where... and Ben? –

-...-

- Peter? –

-Aunt May...forgive me...-

The tears came out of me unintentionally, Aunt May didn't understand what was happening, she ran to scald me, she ran her hand over my head, as she always did when she arrived beaten or something happened to me.

-Now Peter, everything will be fine. –

A few hours later, the police arrived at our door, I was in my room, but I could hear Aunt May's loud sobbing. I was leaning against the door, trying not to leave out of fear, and even if I hadn't noticed, my mask was sticking out from the zipper of the suitcase I had brought.

I was angry, the anger had consumed me, the guilt had clouded over, so I took the suitcase and slammed it against the wall, curiously dropping my phone. I had forgotten it was there. I looked at it, I had a lot of missed calls, I remembered that Uncle Ben had been calling to find me, and...the last thing he left me...was a voice message that would change everything.

*Do you have a new message, do you want to hear it? *

"Peter, you probably won't see this mostly because of what I said, so I'll just say what I had to say... life has never been easy for you, it hurts me to know how you feel, overwhelmed by things that didn't apply to you, you've always had unresolved issues and yet you haven't once declined and this old man who couldn't make it says so, but in the end those problems, those setbacks are what set us on our way, make us who we are, your new gift you owe to the world, I knew something about you some time ago, but that is not what is important now, what is important is what you will do in the future, the direction you will take, you are destined for greatness! You are destined for greatness! Become the hero I believe you already are! I love you Peter, you have great power, but that also means that you have great responsibility. We love you Peter, come home soon. "

The message ended, there was water falling from the roof...no...it was just warm tears running down my face...I wanted to be strong...but without it...I honestly don't know what was right and what wasn't.

A few days later, the funeral was held, and countless people arrived to pay their respects to me and my aunt. His co-workers, his friends from the army...even...

We buried him...MJ stayed a while to keep me some company, I told Aunt May that I would stay a while longer at the cemetery...after all...I was responsible for his death.

- Tiger...it's time to go -

- I think...I'll stay a little longer...-

- Okay...don't be late...-

MJ retired...it was a pretty cold autumn afternoon...an afternoon on which we were perhaps just having a hot drink together...but now he was resting in front of me.

Someone suddenly approached me, footsteps could be heard coming behind, until a silhouette I would not expect to see here...was right next to me...

- Your uncle was a good man... it's hard to believe that something like that would end him...

Harrison Thompson, Flash's father...it's amazing that he had the "kindness" to come to my uncle's funeral...after all, he was someone who had practically disappeared because he was drunk.

- What are you doing here, Mr. Thompson? –

- Isn't it obvious? I came to say goodbye to my friend.

Friend...so the Parkers and the Thompsons had already met before, Uncle Ben served in World War III, when inhumane groups sprang up and made an armed revolution to protect themselves.

If I remember correctly... he and Mr. Thompson fought in the same squadron... but both had a different path and history...

- How is Flash? –

- ... The Flash is doing well... he's the star of the school... but that's all I know. –

- Are you no longer friends? –

- I don't know... it's complicated. –

- Thank you...-

Huh? he... he was thanking me? for what?

- Wait... Why? –

- You've probably had a fight with him, haven't you? It's evident from your reaction, but I can see that you haven't given up yet... haven't you? –

- No, you're right... I haven't given up yet -

- It's a relief to hear that...so...if you ever run into him again...please take care of him. –

- I'll... I'll try -

- That's enough... -

Maybe it was a meaningless talk but I understood everything, many things have happened in my life...but never anything like what I am living right now. And now...I was carrying a new guilt...

*? 6 months later?

"Recent reports of new "vigilante" appearances have provoked multiple protests for and against the approval of these Super People. The vigilante better known as "Spider-Man" has caused these groups to split at an unprecedented level and inspired new actors in these outlawed works...since his most notorious appearance in saving 24 people from the assault on the Bank of New York by 12 highly armed inhumane criminals, with minimal damage to infrastructure, he has cast doubt on whether the government is really doing well in continuing to control these heroes...".

6 months have passed since what happened with Uncle Ben...

I managed to graduate from my high school and now I attend Horizon Academy, one of the most prestigious institutes in the country, I got a scholarship thanks to my performance in the exams and entrance tests, it was easy to get it, after all I had no head for more...

Now I have a secret identity, it's funny...just like the first heroes who started with their acts. As for A.S.A., I decided to decline that option.

Nobody knows about my powers, I've kept them hidden even from Aunt May, without Uncle Ben, the house bills were too much, so we moved to a cheaper neighborhood where we live, a small apartment in a building near Queens.

- Did I keep you waiting, tiger? -

- Of course not... shall we go? -

MJ attends a journalism academy, plans to work at a local newspaper and finish a master's degree in the same field.

- How are you doing now Pet? Did you manage to adapt? -

- Of course! Your classes on mechatronics and nanomaterials handling are amazing! I'm also thinking about taking the support equipment design course! -

I know she wasn't particularly interested in what I was talking about, I'm not someone interesting or anything, but at least she was trying to get me in the mood...

- Well, coming from a little brain like you it sounds interesting -

- How about you? How are you doing? -

- Well, I found out that we must have at least one history in order to be recommended for an internship -

- Do you have a story in mind? –

- Well... This is a secret but... are you ready? I'm hunting for the identity of Spider-Man! –

Huh? At that moment my heart stopped beating and I saw a ghost come out of my body, I just hope it wasn't me...

- Huh? Why...why are you investigating that? -

- I want to know everything about him! A watchman like that is golden news! He would even give me great recognition! Plus imagine he's quite handsome, maybe I can...you know...get close to him? -

- Approach you? –

I was scared, excited, nervous, in short I was dead...MJ is a highly intuitive girl, a mistake and she would discover me...and at this point I don't know if it's good...

- But Well...so far I have nothing, it's not at all easy to contact...nor to find...it comes and goes...but...one day I will find it! I swear on my honor as a reporter! -

- Yes... Yippee! –

I swallowed saliva deeply, one little screw-up and my whole life would go down the drain for my friend...

- Hey, what's wrong with you? Are you okay? –

- Huh? Sure! Perfectly like a tiger! –

I felt a little good that MJ thought Spider-Man was a good hero, only I couldn't let my guard down with her either...my Spidey sense vibrated warning me not to open my mouth for any reason.

But even if Spider-Man continued on his way, sooner or later he would have to end up... after all... he was an outlaw hero.

We arrived at MJ's apartment, it was a nice chat about our plans and if we ever went out again...it was always nice to see her.

- Ah, here we are! Well Peter, make sure you take me to a good place next time, you hear? Hahaha. -

- Of course... take care of yourself... I hope you manage to find out-

- Of course I will! Bye! –

MJ fired me with a kiss on the cheek, her typical flirtatious look was hypnotic, you could look at her all your life without even blinking...too bad it only lasts for an instant...

I don't know what the future holds for me, nor do I know if everything will turn out well...but the only thing left for me is to keep my head up...and continue to carry this great responsibility...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Spider-Man was seen again in the Manhattan area this morning, solving robberies of common criminals, many people believe that this mysterious masked vigilante is making a name for himself in the super society, people are beginning to support the acts of common good that this mysterious man performs with day even leaving his own mark when he deserves it, "courtesy of his friendly neighbor Spider-Man".

-Friday? -

- Yes sir -

- Have you located it yet? -

- I am working on it, sir, but as your assistant and ultimately personal advisor, I feel the need to question your decision again.

- Sure, tell me how many times I've been wrong -

- I really feel that that question could seriously affect you -

- Well then don't answer it, I still think...I can give it a chance. -

- In A.S.A. you can find more qualified candidates, why choose someone who does justice by his own hand? -

- I don't know, intuition maybe, I just think that kid has... potential...

- Okay, sir. -

- Keep me posted on what you find, Friday. -

- Yes, sir. -

- Well spider man, I think I'll watch you a little longer, I hope you're ready for what's coming. -