Post by Drake on May 6, 2015 21:21:49 GMT -5
#9: Family Matters Part 2
Whole Again
By Drake
Previously in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Spectacular Scarlet Spider…
Peter Parker encountered his mirror image in Ben Reilly: his clone. After the two discovered Ben’s origins in a lab of Norman Osborn’s creation, they accidentally set loose the most unstable of the Spider-clones: a Man-Spider of incredible strength and even greater ferocity. Driven by its primal instincts, the Man-Spider fled to Aunt May’s house, where the two heroes managed to stop it, but not before May discovered her nephew’s identity, his clone, and the beast that tried to kill her. Shocked and scared, May collapsed…
…
“No no no no no!” Peter slid down over the muddy ground next to his aunt, gently holding her up, “Aunt May, please! Please, please, please look at me!”
May didn’t respond. Peter choked back tears and looked back at his clone, Ben, who was pummeling their monstrous relative into the ground.
“I think she’s had a heart attack!” Peter shouted. Ben froze, his bruised fists hovering over the Man-Spider’s head. “I’m gonna take her to a hospital.”
Ben leaped over the beast-clone and nimbly landed next to Peter. “What the hell are you waiting for? Go!” Peter nodded and picked up May, carefully slinging her over his shoulder. Ben frowned. “GO!!”
Without a second to lose, Peter began swinging off into the sunrise, instinctively ordering his clothing—or more precisely the malleable black ooze on his body—to morph into his costume. Back down on the ground, Ben stopped to look back at the Man-Spider. He wasn’t sure how he was going to deal with it. Kill it, or…?
“Shit,” Ben whispered. The Man-Spider was gone.
Ben ran a hand through his hair under his hood. He couldn’t worry about that freak now.
Freak… Ben shuddered. What was he then? A freak too? Ben tightened his hands into fists and looked to the sky. He couldn’t even think about that. He had to go after Peter. He had to see how May was doing. Even if she wasn’t his real aunt, she was still important to him.
“Up, up and away,” Ben muttered, latching onto a telephone line with webbing and swinging away.
…
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Peter’s heel bobbed up and down as he sat outside the ER. Head in his hands, Peter resisted the urge to break down crying. He had to be strong for May. It was the least he could do after everything he had caused. If he’d just stopped the Man-Spider sooner, if he’d never worked for Osborn, if he’d just—
“I don’t have my ID on me! I’m sorry!” Peter perked his head up at the sound. The voice sounded familiar and yet unrecognizable at the same time. That concept alone made Peter realize whose voice it was.
Ben was caught at the front desk, struggling and failing to be allowed through. A security guard watched the young clone closely, his hand hovering over his taser. Peter stood up and hurried over to the desk. He needed to defuse the situation before it got worse.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t let you through without—“
“Hey, let’s just take a deep breath here, yeah?” Peter leaned against the front desk. Ben’s expression softened when he noticed Peter. The attendant paused, looked between the two, and then stared at the original.
“You’re…twins?” The attendant asked. Realizing there wasn’t a problem, the security guard relaxed.
“Yeah, identical twins,” Peter agreed. He nudged Ben. The clone shrugged him off.
“And your name?” The attendant continued, addressing Ben.
“Peter.” “Ben.” The two replied simultaneously. They looked at each other, their faces mirror images clouded with frustration. The attendant frowned, looking down at her computer.
“I have him,” she pointed at Peter, “down as Peter Parker. Is that incorrect?”
“No, that’s right,” Peter continued, “Ben over here was just messing with you. It’s a game we liked to play when we were young, pretending to be each other.” The original looked at his clone, eyes dark with intensity. “I thought we weren’t going to play that game anymore, Ben.”
The clone looked away and crossed his arms indignantly. “Sorry. I’m just…stressed. You know humor’s how I respond to…” Ben shook his head with frustration.
“Yeah, I know,” Peter nodded solemnly, turning his gaze to his feet, instantly feeling ashamed of the way he had been treating Ben. Imagine if he was in his shoes, figuring out all his memories were lies. Well, not lies exactly. They were just…
God, I hate this clone crap. It’s confusing as hell. Peter thought.
“So…are you going in or not?” The attendant asked. Ben and Peter looked at each other, both red-faced.
“Um…yeah,” they replied. Ben and Peter glanced at the other. “We’ll just…go now.” Then they broke down laughing on the spot, leaving the attendant, the guard, and the other nurses to stare at them with disgust. For the first time in a long time, Peter didn’t care what others thought of him. He finally had a brother. If May survived…
Peter’s expression darkened. Ben noticed the grief in his eyes, and his mood instantly flipped too. Without another word, the two solemnly approached two seats in the hallway outside the ER. Sitting opposite of each other, one on each side of the hallway, Peter and Ben waited. Eventually, the silence and the doubt proved too much for the two, and they both tried to break it.
“Ben, you know that—“
“The Man-Spider got away.”
Peter froze, but this time it wasn’t to laugh. “What?”
Ben looked away, ashamed, “I went to talk to you and the next thing I knew it was gone. I…I’m sorry, Peter. God, I’m an idiot.”
Despite all that had happened and everything Peter saw when he looked at Ben, he couldn’t be mad at him. Maybe it was the way Ben held himself since he had figured out the truth about his past. Maybe it was the fact that Ben reminded Peter so much of himself as recently as a year ago; someone who needed guidance. Maybe it was all of the above and then some. Either way, Peter found himself standing over Ben, smiling gently.
“Stand up, Ben.”
The young clone hadn’t looked back at Peter yet, so he hadn’t noticed the smile. Still, he put his hands on his knees and forced himself up.
“I’m so sorry, Peter. I screwed up big time. You—Wha—?” Ben spouted as Peter embraced him.
“It’s fine, Ben. I’m just happy that you’re okay.” Ben was still too shocked to return the hug, so Peter backed off. “Y’know, I always wanted a—“
“Brother.” Ben finished, realization dawning slowly. However, the young man did not smile. Peter frowned.
“Something wrong?” Pete asked.
Before Ben could respond, the door to the ER opened. Out walked the attending physician, who immediately stopped upon seeing the two boys. Ben and Peter both faced him, waiting anxiously.
“Is she…?”
“Your Aunt is fine.” Relief washed over the boys. They looked at each other and smiled. The doctor continued, “She had a heart attack, but we managed to stabilize her. I’m not entirely sure of the cause yet, but once we run a few tests we’ll be able to prescribe medication, and—“
“Can we see her?” Peter asked.
Ben looked at Peter worriedly, “Can we pay for the meds?”
Peter looked at his brother and smiled. He’d forgotten how much Ben didn’t know about his life since the end of high school. He didn’t know about Osborn.
“Yeah, we…” Peter frowned, glancing away. Osborn was the reason this happened. He couldn’t keep working for him, or…or did he have to? “We can.”
“Well, you can see her,” the doctor interjected. “She’s resting, so you won’t be able to talk to her, but—“
The boys were inside the hospital room before the doctor could finish. Both young men instantly felt a sense of joy upon seeing their aunt, but both also suffered an intense feeling of guilt. Neither smiled, but Ben in particular remained grim. Seeing May like this, remembering Peter’s words, Ben knew he couldn’t stay here. He was a danger to them and their lives. He could only make things worse.
Peter stepped over beside May’s bed and took her hand. Eyes brimming with tears, he managed a smile.
“I am so sorry, Aunt May,” Peter whispered. He gripped her hand tightly once and then stopped to look back at Ben…
But Ben was gone, the door hanging open. Peter’s eyes widened. No. He couldn’t have. Peter ran out of the room, looking left and right, but his brother was nowhere to be seen.
Defeated and more than a little unwilling to leave May’s side, Peter’s head sunk and he slunk back into the room.
…
“Rise and shine, gorgeous.”
Peter’s eyes fluttered open, revealing the bare, sterile hospital floor. Peter’s neck ached as he raised it, looking up to find Harry Osborn standing at the door, flowers in hand. Instantly, relief and happiness washed over the brunet. Peter shot out of his seat to greet Harry.
“Hey!” Peter said, “I didn’t realize—I mean, how’d you find out?”
Harry rubbed the back of his head embarrassedly, “Daddy dearest tagged you.”
Peter’s expression darkened. “Just another reason to hate Norman.”
“You’re telling me.” Harry walked over to May’s bedside and set the flowers down. “I have to live with him.”
Peter collapsed back into his seat. He rubbed his eyes in an attempt to wake up but got nowhere. If Harry was here then maybe…
“You talked to Gwen?” Peter asked.
“No, sorry. I assumed you had,” Harry replied simply, walking over to Peter and sitting down beside him.
Peter shook his head. “I’ve had a…hell of a day. Haven’t had time to.” He proceeded to weakly shrug. “Also, cellphone’s at home.”
“Ah,” Harry nodded, “So, you just…” Harry made rock signs with his hands, amusingly adding, “Thwipped her down here?”
Peter chuckled, “Yeah.”
“Then the suit’s still holding up,” Harry shot in.
Peter held his arm out and his simple black and white T-shirt’s sleeves expanded to cover his forearms.
Harry grinned. “I don’t think I’ve told you how much I like your new style.”
Peter returned the smile in kind, but his was far less natural and welcoming, “Goth doesn’t suit me, Harry. It doesn’t suit you either.”
The teenaged billionaire heir looked himself over briefly. He was dressed in black skinny jeans and a torn black hoodie, but he was chain-less and without any makeup. “I’m moving on.”
Peter punched his friend weakly, “I hear you have a habit of that.”
“That’s weak even by your standards, Pete,” Harry retorted.
“I dunno. My standards are pretty high,” Peter shot back.
Harry glanced away for a moment, his eyes darkening, before looking back at his friend. Peter didn’t notice the brief lapse of joy.
“How is Ms. Perfect?” Harry wondered.
Peter smiled a genuine, proud smile. “Perfect.”
Harry leaned back in his seat and weakly replied, “Sweet.” He paused before interjecting quickly, “For you, y’know. You hit the jackpot, Pete.”
Peter reassuringly patted his friend’s back. “We’ll find you your perfect girl, Harry. Just wait.”
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that…” Harry began. He looked grimly at the ground.
Peter gazed at him, eyes bright with curiosity. “Shoot.”
“Pete…I…I’ve wanted to tell you for a while....”
The door shot open and in walked a man in a black suit. Peter frowned, his gaze even cooler than the thug’s stoic expression. The suited man walked over first beside May’s bed, laying down a whole new bouquet of flowers and ‘get well’ balloons, and then to Peter.
“Norman wants to talk? Now?” Peter growled.
“Mr. Osborn requests your presence, yes,” the man agreed.
Peter hopped up and pushed the man to the side, marching towards the door, “Good. I’m in a ‘talking’ mood.”
“I’ll watch May, Pete,” Harry promised.
Peter paused for just a second at the door, turning to face Harry. His hardened gaze weakened for a moment. “Thanks, bud. We’ll talk later, I swear.”
Without another word, Peter and his ‘attendant’ hurried out of the door, leaving Harry to fall back into his chair, his head in his hands.
…
Toomes’ Lair
“WHERE THE HELL IS MACENDALE?!?!”
Adrian Toomes tried to stomp around his ‘throne room’ in a mad attempt at being threatening, but ended up merely hobbling alongside his bird-cages, cawing as loudly and weakly as his pets. Beside his throne, Felicia Hardy leaned against the enormous chair, a sly grin planted on her face.
“Relax, boss. You knew you couldn’t control him. Jason Macendale’s completely psychotic,” Felicia replied.
“If he ruins my plan…” Toomes growled, pausing at a cage and staring at the parrots inside.
“It’s already underway. There’s no stopping your plan now. The pawns are in place. The Dark Syndicate will wreak havoc across the city and end Spider-Man,” Felicia cooed.
“The six…the Sinister Six!” Toomes roared, before a coughing fit interrupted his rant. Felicia hurried to his side and helped him onto his throne.
Toomes frowned weakly, “They are to be the Sinister Six.”
“Whatever you say, boss,” Felicia replied.
Toomes heaved a difficult, gasping breath, “I’ll make them all remember…I’ll make them remember the true Kingpin of this city.”
…
Tick. Clack. Tick. Clack.
The small golden pocket-watch resting in Norman Osborn’s hand had long since lost its grasp on time. For good reason too, as the watch had seen its fair share of action. It had been in the Osborn family for nearly a century.
First, Norman’s grandfather, Alton Jr., had created it as a small business owner and left it at the front of his shop as a showcase of his talent. Shortly after the creation of the clock, however, Alton was drafted into the First World War and he took the watch overseas with him as remembrance of his family and home. Just two months after setting foot in Europe, Alton Osborn died in battle.
To honor his father, the 18-year-old Harold Osborn not only took over his father’s business but also kept the watch with him every moment of every day after one of Alton’s fellow vets mailed his possessions home. A decade later, Harold married Agatha Osborn and the two took it upon themselves to build Alton’s business into a corporation.
Two decades and a World War later, they had gotten nowhere. Now middle-aged and fearing a future without a legacy, the two attempted to have a child, but Harold was not capable of providing his own end of the bargain. Then the Vietnam War struck and Harold was drafted. For better or worse, he left Agatha, who had long since grown frustrated with his inability to conceive a child or to provide for their family. With him, Harold took his father’s pocket-watch.
Harold returned from the Vietnam War to discover his wife pregnant and remarried. Broken and hurt, Harold left Agatha, but continued to watch her as she advanced through her pregnancy. Upon the birth of their son, Norman Rockwell, Agatha and her new husband disappeared, never to be found again. Harold immediately jumped at the idea of raising a boy and adopted the infant Norman.
When Norman Osborn turned 18, his father gave him the watch and took his own life. Since then, Norman had carried the heirloom with him through every trial he had ever faced, including turning his father and grandfather’s smalltime clock shop into a flourishing technology conglomerate. Suffering, rage, and most importantly hard work were forged into the watch and acted as its lifeblood. Norman Osborn could never forget that.
“Don’t tell me it was harmless!” Peter Parker roared as Norman’s watch ticked and clacked away. “You cloned me! You created copies of me so you could replace me with a more—a more benevolent soldier!”
Norman’s greatest triumph was about to fall apart. He would not let it.
“No, Mr. Parker. I cloned you so if there came such an occasion in which you were to fall in battle, there would still be a Spider-Man to defend this city and a Peter Parker to continue your life and maintain the happiness your family and friends so greatly enjoy,” Norman replied without so much as a hint of emotion.
“Bullshit!” Peter retorted. “And even if it was true…do you not realize how creepy that sounds?”
Norman sighed and massaged his forehead, “Fine. You don’t have to believe me. I still own you.”
“Don’t even—“
Norman looked up, composed, but his eyes bled conviction, “You signed a contract. I can sue you, Mr. Parker. I can destroy the easy life you’ve so heartily embraced.”
“’Easy?’ You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Peter exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air exasperatedly. He slammed his hands onto Norman’s desk. “Don’t play games with me, Norman. I can ruin you too. I—I’ll use my connections at the Bugle.”
“A photographer. You’re an unemployed photographer who happens to occasionally do some tech work because Joseph Robertson pities you. What can you do?”
“I have pictures of the clones,” Peter lied, “and I have friends inside OsCorp. They’d help me.”
Norman stopped, considered what to say for a moment and then went with, “And your Aunt…?”
Something cracked in Peter. He leaped over Norman’s desk, grabbed the billionaire by his jacket’s collar and slammed him into the wall. The pocket watch clattered out of Norman’s hand and onto the ground.
“Don’t you dare mention her. Not after what you’ve done,” Peter growled.
Norman eyed the watch warily but remained in control, “Mr. Parker, this is not the right move to make. I accept that you can not trust me and you never will, but I swear on my father’s life to never so much as tamper with your DNA again.”
Peter frowned. He looked back to follow Norman’s gaze. He glanced between the watch and Osborn. Finally, he settled on the billionaire.
“Fine. That’s the deal…for now.” Peter stepped away and purposely fell back onto the pocket watch. With a crunch more sickening than that of a bone breaking—at least to Norman Osborn—the watch cracked in two. Norman fell beside the device and held its shattered form in his hands.
“Oh, sorry,” Peter sarcastically said. Without a verbal response from Norman, Peter felt no need to stay. As he left the room, both Peter Parker and Norman Osborn glared at the other, silently swearing...
I’ll beat you, Osborn. Just wait. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to my family.
Your end is near, Parker, and I swear you will suffer for what you’ve done.
…
Peter hurried into May’s hospital room, his only focus to return to his aunt’s side so he could be there when she woke up. Much to his dismay, Peter found May awake and surrounded by friends and loved ones. Gwen, Harry, Mary Jane, and Anna Watson all surrounded the bed alongside a number of May’s friends from her job at the library. The room was packed to the brim. It didn’t surprise Peter. May had a habit of attracting people.
“I’m so sorry…” The others let him pass. May’s face lit up upon seeing her nephew. “For everything.”
May reached out with a smile and Peter took her hand. “Don’t be sorry, Peter. Please.”
May looked to the others around her. Anna Watson was the first to speak up.
“Get outta here, folks. The Parkers need some time alone.”
May silently thanked her best friend with an assuring nod as Anna led the hospitalized woman’s supporters out. Before leaving, Gwen and Harry both stopped to greet Peter and nod him on. Peter smiled weakly, and Gwen pulled Harry out of the room.
Alone again, Peter and May turned their attention to one another.
“It seems as if we keep finding ourselves like this,” May quipped, “In some dire, dramatic situation. I suppose it’s the only way I can get you to visit me.”
Peter forced a laugh. “I swear that’s not true.”
May patted her nephew comfortingly, “I know. It was just a tasteless joke.”
Peter couldn’t help but smile, “Now I know where I get my razor sharp wit.”
May instantly replied, “Lord knows it isn’t from Ben…”
Silence fell over the room like fog. Peter shivered, staring intensely at the curtains over the window. May looked him over, worried, and squeezed his hand.
“Peter, you must understand I’m not mad at you,” May promised. Her nephew looked back at her. Something light entered his eyes, but it remained far overcrowded by the dark.
May’s eyes flooded with tears. “I’m proud of you.” Managing to speak with a smile through her sobs, she continued, “I may not like the idea of you putting yourself in danger, but I couldn’t be prouder of what you’re doing or the man you’ve become. Ben would be so proud of you too.”
Peter lost control of himself and fell onto his knees beside May’s bed, sobbing into her shoulder. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t think. All he could do was let his anger, regret, and grief wash over and out of him. Similarly, May could only bring herself to cry alongside her nephew, running her hand through his hair.
Together and truly united for the first time in a year, the Parkers allowed themselves to break. They comforted one another, mending the breaks in a shattered relationship, finally, honestly coming together as a family again.