1. A Hero's Shadow

The television flickered in front of me, the volume turned just loud enough to fill the silence of the Brants' living room. I could barely believe my eyes. Tony Stark — the billionaire inventor, genius, everything I wished I could be — was looking straight into the camera, looking straight into everyone's eyes, really, and saying it as if it was nothing.

"I am Iron Man."

My heart pounded as the reporters around him exploded into a frenzy, camera flashes popping and questions flying. But Tony didn't even flinch. He just stood there, calm, collected, like he had the whole world in his hand.

"That's…wow," I breathed, practically glued to the screen. A superhero in a metal suit, just like that. No secret identity, no hiding. Just pure confidence.

But before I could fully savor the moment, a voice from the doorway broke the spell.

"Peter, do you have to watch this stuff so loud?" Betty's voice was full of irritation, like usual. She leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, giving me one of those disapproving looks she had perfected over the past few months.

I scrambled for the remote and quickly turned the volume down. "Sorry. It's just…isn't it amazing? Tony Stark is Iron Man. He's a genius and a billionaire and…well, just look at him."

Betty rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and what does that have to do with you?" she asked, the disdain practically dripping off her words. "Watching Tony Stark on TV isn't going to make you him, you know."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. I felt small under her gaze, like I was stupid for even admiring Stark. "I just think…it's inspiring, you know?"

She snorted, shaking her head. "Whatever, Peter. Just keep it down. Some of us actually have lives to get on with."

She turned and walked away, her steps echoing down the hallway. I could still hear her muttering to herself as she disappeared upstairs. "Honestly, what a loser…"

Her words stung, even if I was used to them by now. I shut the TV off, the silence filling the room again, heavier than before. My heart still beat with excitement, but it was fading fast, drowned out by the harsh reality of where I was and who I was.

As I headed for the stairs, I found myself face-to-face with Bennett Brant, Betty's older brother and a senior at Midtown. Tall, muscular, and with a permanent smirk on his face, he leaned against the wall, his arms folded as he looked down at me with that usual look of condescension.

"Well, well, if it isn't Pete," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Daydreaming about being a big shot like Stark again?"

I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his eyes. "I wasn't…I just think he's impressive, that's all."

"Impressive?" Bennettl let out a laugh that echoed down the hallway. "Let me guess, you think you're going to be like him someday, right? A little orphan like you?"

I flinched at the word. Bennett knew exactly how to cut deep, how to remind me that I was an outsider here, that I didn't really belong.

"Look," I mumbled, "I just think he's cool, alright?"

"Cool?" Bennett's grin widened. "Oh, you're delusional, Parker. You'll never be anything more than a charity case in this house. Got that? Think I haven't figured out that you probably day dream about having a friend like Stark or being him. Stark is a Genius, Billionaire and gets more ass in one day than you'll ever get in your lifetime, loser. Got that, just grow up."

I clenched my fists, but I forced myself to nod, keeping my head down. "Yeah. Got it."

"Good." He patted me roughly on the shoulder, more like a shove than a pat. "Remember, my mom might pity you, but that doesn't mean you're family. Don't go getting any ideas."

He finally stepped aside, and I slipped past him, heading up to my small room, my sanctuary from the rest of the Brant family. I shut the door behind me, collapsing onto my bed with a long sigh. The room was plain, with just a few of my things scattered around, but it was all I had.

I picked up my notebook from the nightstand, flipping through the pages of sketches and ideas for inventions I'd dreamed up. My own little aspirations. I wanted to be something, to be someone — to build things, to make a difference. To matter. But every time I thought I was getting close to that dream, I felt someone shove me back down. Whether it was Bennett, Betty, or anyone else, it was always the same.

…

The next morning at school, I felt like a zombie. Sleep had barely come last night, my mind too caught up in thoughts of Tony Stark and my own place in the world. But as I walked down the crowded hallway, my spirits lifted a little when I spotted her.

Gwen Stacy.

She was standing by her locker, laughing with a group of her friends. Her laughter was like a magnet, drawing me closer. Gwen had been my friend since childhood, one of the few people who actually knew me before all the foster homes and the Brants. And maybe she didn't know it, but I'd had a crush on her for as long as I could remember. She was just as smart as me, if not smarter, she was beautiful and her smile was one of the things that could brighten up this shitty world.

I walked up, hoping to catch her between conversations. "Hey, Gwen!" I said, forcing a smile, my voice a little too eager.

She turned to look at me, her smile fading just a bit as she saw me. "Oh, hey, Peter."

I could already feel the shift, the way her eyes darted back to her friends, the way she seemed…distracted. "So, did you hear about Tony Stark?" I said, trying to keep the enthusiasm in my voice. "I mean, can you believe he's actually Iron Man?"

She gave me a polite smile but didn't seem all that interested. "Yeah, I guess that's cool."

I swallowed, trying to keep the conversation going. "Remember when we used to talk about inventing stuff? You always said you wanted to create something amazing too."

Gwen's eyes flicked to her friends, who were waiting for her, whispering and glancing my way with barely hidden smirks. "Yeah, Peter," she said quickly, "but, you know, I kind of need to get to class. See you around?"

"Sure…yeah, see you around." I forced a smile, but the rejection stung deeper than I cared to admit. She turned back to her friends, and I watched her walk away, feeling that same loneliness settle over me again, like a familiar weight on my shoulders.

…

I tried to shake it off as I made my way to my next class, but it was hard to focus. I was lost in thought when I felt someone grab my shoulder, pulling me around. I barely had time to react before I found myself face-to-face with Flash Thompson, Midtown's resident bully and a guy who took way too much pleasure in making people miserable.

"Well, if it isn't Parker," Flash sneered, looking me up and down with that smug grin of his. "What's got you so down, Parker? Upset because no one cares about your little science projects?"

I tried to step back, but Flash blocked my way, his friends gathering around us like vultures. "I…I don't want any trouble, Flash."

"Oh, but you're so good at finding it," he chuckled, shoving me lightly against the locker. "You know, Parker, you're just the kind of guy who needs to learn his place."

I clenched my fists, my heart pounding, but I knew better than to fight back. "Just…leave me alone, Flash."

He grinned, leaning in close. "Oh, I don't think so, Parker. See, I've got this big chemistry project coming up, and you're just the guy to help me with it. In fact, I think you'll be doing my homework for a while."

"What?" I stammered, looking around for any sign of help, but his friends only laughed, some of them crossing their arms, clearly ready to make sure I complied.

"You heard me," Flash said, his tone turning cold. "You're gonna do my homework, Parker. Unless you want me to make your life even more miserable."

I felt my stomach drop. I wanted to say no, to stand up for myself, but all I could manage was a small nod. "Fine…fine, I'll do it."

Flash grinned, patting me roughly on the shoulder. "That's a good little nerd. Keep it up, and maybe I'll let you hang around us sometimes." He laughed as he walked away, his friends following, leaving me standing alone by the lockers, humiliated and defeated.

I trudged through the rest of the day, my mind clouded with anger and shame. When the final bell rang, I headed home, feeling more alone than ever. All the admiration I'd felt for Tony Stark, the dreams I'd held onto, felt hollow now, overshadowed by the relentless reality of my life.

I wanted to be strong, to be respected, to be more than just the invisible loser everyone pushed around. But right now, I was just…Peter Parker. And in this world, that didn't seem to count for much.