Peter's smile froze on his face, and he slowly leaned back into his chair.
"Why? Aunt May. I am a registered reserve Superhero now, I have an obligation..."
"Your obligation is next month's final exam, Peter." May's tone was unquestionable.
"You aren't even sixteen yet. You help those old ladies in Queens find their lost cats, or hang those wallet-snatching thugs on streetlamps with spider webs; that's fine, and I'm very proud."
"But that is a Universe gladiator arena, and the opponents are monsters that can destroy civilizations at will. That is not your battlefield."
"But I have power!" Peter said, somewhat agitated, pressing his hands onto the table. "With great power comes great responsibility. If everyone shrinks back, who is going to face those crises?"
May looked at her agitated nephew, a flash of heartache in her eyes, but it was mostly determination.
"That is an adult's job, Peter. Homelander will solve it, Mr. Stark will solve it. You are still just a child. I let you join the academy because it can teach you how to control your power, not so you can go to outer space and throw your life away. This is not up for discussion; I will submit an application to withdraw from the competition to Vought Headquarters."
"You don't understand at all!" Peter stood up and shouted. "This is the best chance for me to fight side-by-side with Homelander! I will absolutely not back down!"
Looking at May's face, which left no room for compromise, he turned around and strode toward the bedroom.
"Peter!"
"Bang!"
The bedroom door was slammed shut.
Five minutes later, the bedroom window was silently lifted.
A red and blue figure leaped out from the window, trailing a line of white spider web in the air, and vanished into the night of Manhattan.
The wind whistled in his ears, but it could not extinguish the Fire of frustration burning in Peter's heart.
He pulled hard on the spider web, performing extreme pendulum movements between the buildings.
"A child... In Aunt May's eyes, I will always just be a child."
Peter didn't understand why Aunt May just wouldn't believe in him.
He was no longer that little boy who needed protection; he was Spider-Man.
What he needed was recognition, to be able to stand upright beside Homelander just like Captain America, to fight, and to save the World.
Unknowingly, the surrounding buildings became taller and taller.
When he released the spider web again, did a flip in the air, and landed steadily on his feet.
He found himself standing on a flat and empty rooftop.
Peter finally came back to his senses.
This was Vought Tower, outside Homelander's office.
The office was lit with soft lights.
Peter looked at that window, feeling a sudden sense of unease.
That was his idol, the faith he had sworn to follow.
Every time he saw Homelander, Peter felt his blood boiling.
But at this moment, he looked down at the colorful night scene below, his heart hesitant.
"Never mind, the boss must be very busy. I'm being too rash."
Peter said to himself in a low voice.
Then, he turned around, preparing to shoot a web and leave.
"Since you're already here, why are you out there blowing in the cold wind? Come in and let's chat."
A low and magnetic voice passed through the glass and reached his ears.
Peter was startled, nearly slipping and falling off.
He turned his head abruptly.
The glass door on the platform had silently slid open at some point.
Homelander was wearing that signature uniform, smiling at him.
Peter was so nervous that his palms were sweating.
He pulled off his mask and walked into the office cautiously.
Homelander chuckled, walked to the bar, poured a glass of milk, and handed it to Peter.
"Relax, kid. Make yourself at home."
Peter took the cup with both hands, flattered.
"Thank you, Mr. Homelander. I... I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just... swinging around and got lost."
Peter explained, stuttering.
"Lost? No, Peter."
Homelander walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, with his back to Peter, looking down at the brightly lit night view of New York.
"You are Spider-Man, and Spider-Man's intuition never gets lost; it only brings you to the place your heart most wants to go."
Homelander turned around to look at Peter, his gaze seeming to see through everything.
"Tell me, Peter. What is troubling you?"
Peter lowered his head, like a child who had done something wrong.
"It's Aunt May..." Peter's voice was low. "Aunt May won't let me go; she says I'm too young. She says the Universe is not my battlefield and that I should just stay in Queens and save cats."
Peter suddenly became agitated, his eyes full of grievance and unwillingness.
"But I'm not a child anymore! I can fight! I'm not afraid of dying!"
"It's not fair, she doesn't understand what I'm capable of at all!"
Homelander didn't interrupt Peter, listening quietly as he vented his dissatisfaction.
After Peter finished speaking, Homelander walked slowly in front of him.
"I know you're not afraid of dying, Peter. You are very brave, braver than many adults."
Homelander's words warmed Peter's heart.
"Peter, why do you think May is stopping you?"
"Because she thinks I'm still a child." Peter lowered his head dejectedly.
"No, it's because she loves you." Homelander shook his head and said softly, "She has lost loved ones before, so she is afraid of losing you again."
Homelander pointed to the lights of ten thousand homes outside the window.
"Come look at this city, Peter. Come here."
Peter obediently walked to the window.
"What do you see?" Homelander asked.
"Buildings, cars, and... a lot of people." Peter answered.
"What I see is responsibility." Homelander's voice was suddenly ethereal, as if it were coming from a great height.
"When I fly in the sky, looking down at this Planet. I don't see scenery; I see billions of expectant eyes."
"They are weak, they are afraid. When they encounter disaster, they only know how to scream and cry."
"They need someone to rely on, someone who can hold up the sky."
"This responsibility is heavy, Peter. Heavy enough to crush a person's spine."
Homelander reached out and patted Peter's shoulder gently.
"I stand here not because I like killing, not because I crave glory."
"It is because I have no choice... If I don't stand up, who will protect them?"
Every word of Homelander's deeply shocked Peter's naive heart, which had just experienced the World.
"I don't need soldiers who charge blindly, Peter."
Homelander's tone was stern, but his eyes were full of expectation.
"What I need is someone who can understand how heavy this sky really is. Someone willing to shed their last drop of blood for those they don't even know."
"Do you think you are that kind of person, Spider-Man?"
Peter's breathing quickened.
Homelander's greatness, Homelander's spirit of sacrifice, like a raging Fire, ignited the desire in Peter's heart.
This is what a real Superhero is!
This is the benchmark he would follow for the rest of his life!
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