Telling the truth can be good sometimes, it usually saves you trouble, especially if you want to keep a lie ephemeral; The problem is... that just now I needed the sweetest lie, that the truth is bitter...
Two weeks passed since Aunt May found out that I was Spiderman, our relationship became a little distant, but it wasn't because she was afraid of me, we talked about it and put things in order.
Aunt May was not prepared for all this unexpected turn of events; her tranquility had turned to anxiety when she learned that her only nephew was endangering her life in an illegal manner and she was not at all reassured by the fact that he would now be trained at an academy for Inhumans.
The two weeks were gone in a flash, my teachers did not understand the sudden change, of course I told a different "truth" so that my discharge could be completed.
"I have had problems with my gift recently, in my papers I am registered as "without peculiarity" because it was not considered a really notorious gift, so my relatives did not consider that it should be put as a gift, but now I had certain problems with it, in a sudden evolution of it many people were involved, for that reason the authorities indicated that I should take adequate measures for its containment and control, and for legal reasons I must go compulsorily to the Academy of Super Persons "A.S.A." and comply with the measures imposed on me, with these reasons, I request my definitive discharge from the institution"
That's what I declared...
Everything went as it should, I dropped out of my current school, quit my part-time job at the newspaper, and of course the contact I had with Harry and the others.
Before retiring I stopped for a moment, looking at the school, and without realizing it I was already thinking about all I could have lived if I hadn't been bitten by that spider.
I would have finished my degree and graduated with honors, I would have looked for a job at OSCORP or STARK INDUSTRIES, even if it sounded a little ambitious, maybe even found someone to be with, I don't know, live my life as someone normal, and above all, Uncle Ben would still be alive. But even with all that, in each and every one of them, I find myself regretting the fact that I never achieved my dream, that I quit without even fighting a little bit, and that makes me realize that no matter how much I imagine that, what I really want is... to be a real hero...
Before I left I ran into Miles, he seemed to be a little upset, I thought he wouldn't forgive me for hiding things from him and leaving him aside, since I came in here he's cared about me, he's carried me on his shoulders without bothering.
He came over, shouting in annoyance, - Because... when you were thinking of telling me! - I was resigned to receiving a strong blow, I closed my eyes and mumbled to apologize, but the words were not complete, when I realized, Miles was surrounding me with his arms. - You could have told me, old man. -he whispered. -We're brothers, remember? -
My selfish acts had ignored this, with his act everything became clear to me, my reason to fight, my reason to win, my reason to be a hero.
Miles was worried, not only that I was dropping out of school, but also that I was suffering from my powers. I froze, although not for long, I apologized, explained something to him quickly, left him more calm...
After that he and I decided to go get something to eat, the burgers we were supposed to share. It was my last meeting with him, a friend I never thought I'd have and who was there for me all along, and I didn't realize it until... well... I was about to let him go.
Although he did not agree, Miles decided to support me, even with the distances we would continue to be in contact, and as expected he made me promise him something else. - When you graduate, you and I will form a team, I will be the creator of those great artifacts and you will be my personal mannequin that displays them here and there. - We both laughed, but I still nodded, I didn't want to lose him, no matter how much I didn't want to lose anyone else. - And besides, if you have a vacation, next time it's on me. - He said as he ate his last chip.
I smiled and offered him some of mine, Miles got excited and didn't hesitate to take some.
After that he and I took different paths, but with the promise that one day we would work together, and that Spiderman would be acclaimed as a great hero.
We said goodbye, but our story was just beginning...
After I was done with everything, I started meeting with Mr. Stark, he was preparing me for the tests that were coming up on the exam, plus some extra stuff.
- Well, kid, are you sure you'll be ready by December? There's less than a month left. -
- Of course! It must be this year too, I promised Aunt May to come back as soon as possible, so I don't have any time to waste! -
- That's the attitude! So... I'm not gonna make it easy for you.
Mr. Stark smiled mischievously, a platform in the room where we were standing opened, small androids came out of the floor and started running towards me. -I know we have a month, so, for this month, I'll be bombing you nonstop. - His voice was heard from a loudspeaker. - the rhythm will be hellish, maybe you'll die... -
There's no other way, if I lost here that meant I wouldn't be able to move on, so there was only one thing left for me to do...
ADVANCE!
- I'm not going back! - I shouted as I advanced towards the androids, one by one I tried to destroy them. - if I stop here then that means I can't, and what kind of hero I'd be if I didn't get back up! -
- That's the spirit! Then come back again! -
- YES! -
It was a hellish month, long hours of study, about the laws and the consequences of breaking them...day after day from morning to afternoon during that month, I was getting used to the rhythm that the aspirants of the academy.
The academy had a system of propaedeutic classes, you had to take the course for at least 10 months before the exam, since the written and physical test completely exceeded the human and inhumane capacities, they did it mainly to choose only the best.
The program was created to create reliable and capable heroes, plus they couldn't have tons of supers with authorized powers on the streets, the academy has been active for years, about 10 generations or more have successfully graduated, and I would be lying if it wasn't true that many didn't get to complete it, for personal or "external" reasons.
Yes, it was not uncommon for heroes to die in service, but that is why the program is so rigorous, to avoid unnecessary casualties for both heroes and civilians.
That's where my problem was, I didn't take any preparation courses, and that month that I had left was the only thing that would define whether I could enter or wait another year.
And as expected that month, it flew away, before I knew it, the day came...
18 December 20XX
Finally the day of the exam arrived, before leaving the house, Aunt May gave me a red and blue track suit, - I think this matches you, luck... - she encouraged me, put a hand on my head and then hugged me whispering in my ear. - You've grown up fast, your uncle wouldn't recognize you now. -
Even after all, Aunt May still supported me, I said goodbye to her with a kiss on the cheek, before closing the door I could tell her - Don't worry, I know perfectly well that he would recognize me immediately.
I rushed as fast as I could to get to the Stark Tower, where a transport would pick us up to take us to A.S.A.
I could not say that I was completely prepared, I had to admit that... I was afraid, my body was burning a little, the tension from the training still persists in every muscle of my body, even in all the fights I fought before, I had never reached such a point.
Once there, the group of people was quite small, I could count at least 15 people waiting for transportation.
A Quinjet, one of the planes that avengers usually use for their missions, was embarrassing for everyone in the group to notice my excitement when I got on it.
When we finally arrived, I was not surprised, it was the first time I saw the A.S.A. in person, it was huge, I did not imagine to be around, I imagined that I would miss the first day, probably today would be that day.
When we went down, we were told to go to building B, where we would be given the following directions for the exam...
This was the day, today I would decide how my future would continue, I would walk to the entrance of the building thinking and breathing erratically, I think this is the famous anxiety you feel when you go to an exam to study, I think...this is how I felt. "This is... my first step to being a hero", that's what I thought as I stumbled right in the middle.
And I think that even if I wasn't about to die, I saw my life before my eyes, but it wasn't a long moment of falling that happened, without realizing I was floating in the air.
- Huh? Ehhhhh? Now you're going to tell me I can fly? -
That's what I thought at the time, but actually a sweet voice was sounding behind me.
- Are you okay? -
Huh?
- Sorry for using my power without asking, but it would be bad if you fell down before the test. -
A brown girl was behind me, she looked quite nice, she stood me up doing a gesture with her hands and then she let me go.
Before I could say anything, a white flash appeared, telling the girl
- Sis! I told you not to separate from me, come on! The exam is about to start. -
- Yeah, sorry, I gotta go, good luck on your test. -
As they both vanished quickly, the boy had silver hair and was fast as lightning, I think I felt a little sorry for my power. Although it didn't matter now, I had to hurry too.
- Did you see that guy in the red sweatshirt? -
- Hajaj, I think this test will be simple. -
They directed us to room number 12, gave us a card with a sheet of paper that placed us in a specific room. Everyone around me looked so calm, they all had months of preparation, I only had a few weeks...or so I thought.
When all the aspirants entered, the doors were closed, the lights were turned off and a kind of reflector pointed to the lectern in the middle. And all of a sudden a voice was heard throughout the room.
- WELL? ALL OF YOU...
Behind the lectern some doors opened and a mythical character appeared who everyone knew, but in reality we were a little worried that he was our applicator.
- ARE YOU READY?! -
His cry spread throughout the room and once all the applicants saw him, they all shouted in unison.
*¡¿DEADPOOL!?