Carla ran away till she felt she was safe. She also helped some old people who were just having a nice day too. They thanked her with tears in their eyes, and some even hugged her.
Another explosion occurred and she felt a strange pang in her chest, as her mind wandered to the battle between Spider-Man and Bomber. Peter's words echoed in her head, but she quickly shook it off.
"There's no way right?" She half whispered, looking towards the swinging figure of Spider-Man.
'He just took off his gloves, that's all he did. Now tell me why my spider senses are tingling like crazy!'
"Let me demonstrate," Bomber began, picking up a stone. "You see, anything I touch becomes a bomb." He threw the stone upwards and it exploded.
"Woah!" Anna screamed, causing Peter to wince.
"You see Spider-Man, you can't stop me now."
***********
Aunt May slowly walked into her house. It was empty as usual, but she wasn't surprised because Peter told her that he'll be going out with Carla.
"Who are you?" She asked without looking anywhere in particular. The figure standing in the corner confident in his camouflage frowned.
She slowly turned to face him, and her usual calm smile wasn't there anymore.
"I said, who are you?"
"Well I must compliment you for actually knowing I was there May."
"Gary?" May asked slowly, her smile reappearing. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"I have my ways. I just came here to check on my old friend."
"Awwnnn. Well thanks a lot, I really appreciate it."
Gary sat down on her couch with a wide smile. "Where's old Ben?" He noticed her mood dampen, and his smile disappeared. "Did something happen?"
"Gary, Ben is dead. He was shot."
Gary froze, as an ugly frown formed on his face. "Did they catch the culprit?"
"It's complicated. The people involved were brutally murdered a few minutes after they killed him. The police gave up their search after weeks. They also closed the case because they had a pretty bad record themselves so it wasn't worth it."
"I see. I'm really sorry. How's Peter coping?"
"Peter is ... he's coming along. He's kind of becoming quite distant though and we rarely talk."
Gary hummed quietly as he raked his fingers through his hair. May slowly observed him, noticing the changes in his body since she last saw him.
Back then when they were younger, Gary wasn't really a tough guy like Ben. He loved being in the background and just blending in. He was slim, wore glasses and couldn't ever have a conversation with May without stuttering.
But looking at her was an extremely jacked man, with tattoos covering most parts of his hand. He had a cross shaped earring too.
He was younger than her, and she treated him like a younger brother. But the Gary she was looking at didn't look anything like the cute boy she knew.
"Are you done staring at me?" He asked with a little smirk.
May rolled her eyes playfully and walked towards the fridge wanting to grab a drink.
"Do you want to drink something?"
"Uhh...no, thank you though."
***********
Another boom. Another dodge.
Peter wasn't having it easy at all. He was afraid of hitting the Bomber because if he gets touched his story ends immediately. He wasn't that eager to meet the Heavenly Father!
So he stuck to throwing things at the Bomber, which looked kind of funny because he was holding back so his throws were weak. Suddenly, Bomber burst forward with a speed that Peter hadn't seen before. His spider sense buzzed with different warnings, and Peter weaved to the side. But Bomber's finger grazed his mask, and the next thing he saw was pure white. His body flew back like a ragdoll and he crashed like a meteor. His face was burnt pretty bad and half of his mask was gone.
Peter closed in the distance between them, taunting Peter as he menacingly approached.
"Ahh...is the little spider finished? Hehehe, hero my ass! I've seen five year olds do better boy!"
Anna bit her fingers nervously. She had come to a conclusion she didn't really like. Bomber was only able to touch Peter because he was afraid of going all out. But looking at the villain approaching him, Anna realized that holding back his reflexes and strength was doing more harm than good. If Peter wanted to end it quickly, all he had to do was use a little more strength. But she didn't know if that "little more strength" would push him to that bloodthirsty person he was just recovering from.
She shook her head slowly, sweat gathering on her forehead.
"He has to do it. He has to use more power." She murmured quietly.
*******
Peter threw a brick with a webline, but Bomber easily dodged it.
"Why are you fighting like this? Are you holding back? Or are you this weak?" Bomber yelled, getting frustrated at Peter's weak attacks. "Let's see if I'm correct."
Peter watched as Bomber's eyes darted round, seemingly searching for something.
Peter's eyes widened as Bomber suddenly dashed towards the civilians who were spectating.
"No!" He yelled, shooting a webline, trying to swing. Well he did, but it was quite slow because of his burnt face. Bomber grabbed a random woman, holding her hair roughly.
"Why don't I push you, so we can see what you can really do."
"Oh no." Anna muttered, leaning closer to the screen. "He shouldn't do that."
"Stop it Bomber! Don't hurt that woman!"
"But I've already touched her. What you gonna do Spider-Man!?"
"Bomber!"
"Hahahhahahahaha!!!" The villain laughed maniacally, his eyes bulging.
He pushed the woman towards Peter, and he ran towards her, though he knew he couldn't help—
BOOOOMMMM!!!!
Flesh, bones, and some internal organs scattered everywhere.
Bomber continued laughing, his behavior slowly looking deranged.
Peter stood there frozen. He couldn't feel his legs anymore, and his whole body became weak.
"See what you've caused?" The voice spoke. It had been speaking, but he was pushing it aside. Now the voice was loud and clear.
"Why did you hold back?"
"I didn't want to kill him ....." Peter whisperer, balling his fist.
"And what good has that done?"
"Nothing." Peter said, looking up at Bomber. The villain felt a chill run down his spine as Spider-Man looked at him.
Anna shook her head sadly. After his fight with Vulture Peter hadn't been cracking jokes too much. At least he tried to do some puns. But seeing him so quiet was really unsettling. In fact it was worse than unsettling, it was frightening.
He was flying. Flying backwards. He didn't see Spider-Man move, all he felt was the extremely painful punch. Just one hit and he could feel himself losing consciousness.
With a bang his back hit a wall, but the hero wasn't done yet. With a web zip, he fired himself forward. The sound of the webs shooting him forward was terribly scary, and it created sound waves that pushed dust everywhere. And with that momentum, he slammed his legs into Bomber's stomach.
BANG!!
Bomber finally landed, and his body was stiff.
'Am I dead?' he thought to himself. He felt so much pain that he couldn't even feel it anymore. He was just there, feeling like he was floating in space.
"You guys want me to fight, but you can't even handle it." A voice spoke. It sounded dry, bored and had a hint of mockery too.
Peter's body was steaming as his wounds healed at an impossible speed.
"Ahhhh..... finished already? That was quick." Peter said as he stood near Bomber, staring down at him. Bomber was sitting with his back on the wall, and he bled like a fountain.
Peter raised his fist to end Bomber's life when his spider sense tingled. Suddenly, a figure blurred past him, and he was pushed back as he felt a heavy blow on his stomach.
His spider sense tingled again and another punch followed.
"Am I too fast for you Spider-Man?" The running dude asked, as he hit Peter again.
As he ran towards Peter again, the latter caught his fist, surprising the speedster.
"You think you're fast?" Peter asked with a little frown on his face.
He looked at the attacker's body and shook his head.
He wore a red costume like Spider-Man, but it was red and gold instead of red and blue. It also had a lightning bolt on his chest.
"What are you? The Flash?"
"No, I'm Speedy."
Peter chuckled as he let go of him and turned towards the Bomber. "What the hell?" Bomber had disappeared.
Peter shot his web, preparing to leave, but Speedy stopped him.
"Are you just leaving?"
"Yes, I don't have time for a clown."
"Clown? I am the fastest man alive!"
"Fastest boy."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're the fastest boy alive. You are obviously not up to 18."
"I just sound young that's all."
"Look kid, I just want to get out of here before the police come and start questioning me."
But Speedy wasn't taking it. He still stopped Peter from leaving.
"I just want to tell you something.'
"And what's that?"
"You're no longer New York's hero. I am." And with that he ran away.
Peter shook his head, swinging towards the WEB.
*************
He sat on the bed that was meant for treatment and checked the time.
"That wasn't so long." He said looking at Anna. "What have you found about our new 'hero'?"
"Well, after he left he went around saving people who were getting robbed and all."
"Robbed? By this time of the day? Isn't it too early?"
"It's never too early for crime. Back to Speedy though, it seems he is actually very famous now. I think he's more than famous now! He just started not up to an hour ago and the Bugle just released a paper about him!"
"What does it say?"
"SPEEDY; NEW YORK'S ONE AND ONLY HERO.
JUST TODAY, WHEN WE THOUGHT ALL HOPE WAS LOST, A HERO SHOWED UP—"
"Alright that's enough."
He stood up and adjusted his clothes with a little frown on his face.
"I have to meet up with Carla, she must be worried now."
And with that he left. Anna was about to sit when she suddenly realized something.
Peter was calm.
************
Carla stood up when she saw Peter approach her. He ran towards when her and gave her a big hug. This surprised her but she didn't think about it. Instead she returned the hug.
"Are you hurt?" Peter asked after they had broken the hug.
"Umm not really. Maybe a few scratches here and there but I'm fine. Are YOU fine though? I heard you scream when you fell."
"What are you talking about?" Peter asked, genuinely confused.
"You fell, when you caught that woman."
"Carla what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me Peter!"
"What—"
"You're Spider-Man aren't you?"
Peter was silent, and his silence was more than an answer for her.
"I'm fine. The leg's a lot better now."
"That's good, be careful next time." She said with a little chuckle, as she embraced him again.
"Gosh I was so worried." She whispered, burying her face in his chest.
********
Peter jogged home whistling a happy tune. He used all of his mental strength to push the image of a woman exploding away from his head because it hunted him.
Getting to the front door, he heard his aunt laugh with an unfamiliar voice.
He walked in and saw May laughing with an unfamiliar man.
"Hey Peter, how did your date go?" May cheerfully asked when she spotted him.
"Terrible. A villain attacked, good thing Spider-Man was there though."
"Spider-Man saves the day again. I was honestly worried because I could hear the sounds from here and they showed it on the news too. Anyways, this is my friend, Gary. He was like a younger brother to Ben and I when we back in the day."
Peter turned to the man with little smile.
"Umm hello Mr Gary."
"Call me Gary." He replied walking towards Peter. He stretched his hand for a shake, and Peter received it warmly.
"See me as your elder brother Peter. I'm about to show you the world."