"That was honestly great, Red" Peter said with a bright smile as he walked home with Mary Jane while the sun started to show signs of wanting to leave them under the dark blanket of the night.
"You said that like 10 times already, y'know?" she answered with a fond roll of eyes and a smirk that betrayed how much she actually liked to hear him say that.
"Well, if you keep singing like that, you better get used to your number 1 fan saying it a hundred more!" Peter teased, making MJ shove him playfully with her hand.
"You're a dork" MJ said, holding a laugh at Peter's offended expression.
"Excuse you? I'm, like, the furthest there is from a dork" Peter said with his head held up high in mock pride, causing MJ unable to hold a small laugh any longer.
Peter held his expression for a few moments, but ended up joining MJ in her laughter. But soon her smile faded into an awkward grimace.
"I do appreciate your compliments, Tiger. It's just… I think the band is going to dissolve without it even getting anywhere" MJ admitted much to Peter's surprise.
"What? Why?" He asked with genuine curiosity and wide eyes, knowing that MJ and Gwen really put effort in the band "you girls didn't get into a fight, right?"
"No, no. Nothing like that" MJ dismissed with a wave of her hand "it's just… everyone is so busy with different things, I feel like they are losing interest in the band".
Peter knew exactly what the redhead was talking about. Even if he's not exactly friends with Betty or Glory, they spend a considerable amount of time together thanks to MJ and Gwen, so he knows them pretty well.
Betty loves the idea of being a reporter, and even began working as the Midtown news reporter with his classmate Jason even while she is still in the decathlon team.
And Glory is one of the most talented cheerleaders the school has, and she's also MJ's friendly rival in the theater club, which also takes much of her time.
Gwen lost her internship last summer, but she confided in MJ and Peter that she doesn't want to give up on her career as a scientist, so she is still looking for places to intern at, which her position as the academic decathlon captain helps.
Unfortunately, that leaves the girls with little time to keep practicing their skills to really try and get somewhere with their band; something that Peter knows is very dear and important to MJ.
Perhaps because it makes her feel like she belongs here in New York. Something to hold on to as an excuse to not go back home.
"Well.. even if you girls disband - hopefully not though!" Peter added quickly to MJ's raised eyebrow "that doesn't mean you'll stop being friends, right?"
"Of course not!" MJ practically yelled, to then mutter "I just… I thought it meant as much to them as it meant to me… and the fact that it doesn't makes me feel... I don't know, less important?".
"…" Peter stood silent at that, not knowing what to say or wanting to talk on the girl's behalf. The only thing that came to mind was for him to say "Well… no matter what happens or what you do, I know you'll make it big and succeed in it. And you'll always have your number one fan cheering for you!".
Just then they both arrived at MJ's porch, where she stood still momentarily to assess his words while looking at him. She sees how his eyes focus deeply on her - his dumb, cute and handsome smile resting easily on his face as he professes his vote of confidence to her… they all mean too much to her, so she smiles.
Because he is right. It doesn't matter what happens with the band, or if her friends want to go and do their own things! She's Mary Jane Watson, and she only needs herself to reach the top of the stage!
Only her… and her number one fan's support. Without Peter… well, MJ is happy to know she has Peter.
"Yeah… I guess you're right" MJ said as she shot him and a charming smile "Thanks, Tiger. It means a lot to know you'll be there for me".
"Always" Peter says without a doubt, also smiling at the girl.
MJ felt something in her chest. Something that she had been forced to forget, something private and precious to her. She didn't know what it was, but whatever it is, she knew Peter was the cause of this welcomed feeling.
So without another word, MJ threw herself to him and hugged her best friend in a tight embrace. Perhaps conveying more emotion than either teen could comprehend at the moment.
Peter returned the hug with less emotion than the redhead, but not less enthusiasm. She is just a hair shorter than he is, so she hid her face in the crook of his neck while he held her tightly and comfortably to close the distance between them.
*RING RING*
However, their moment was soon interrupted by Peter's phone - who began ringing without much care for the mood.
"Oops, sorry about that" Peter said as he broke off the hug and gave her his usual sheepish smile.
"It's okay" she reassured easily, slightly embarrassed for throwing herself at him out of the blue like that.
MJ felt her stomach sink and her heart ache slightly when Peter's eyes lit up with the same joy that he would sometimes shoot her way when he smiled at the ID on his phone.
She unconsciously frowned when Peter greeted the one who interrupted their moment with a happy "Emmy, hi!".
"Well, today was a good last Saturday before classes. I'll see you tomorrow or Monday?" MJ questioned with fake optimism while stepping towards her door.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure, MJ. See you later!" Peter said somewhat dismissively as he started walking away from her porch, still looking at her but with his attention clearly on the girl on the other side of the phone.
MJ likes being the center of attention.
Not all the time or in an overly aggressive way, but she still loves it.
That's why she wants to be an actress, a model, the lead singer of a world renowned band - everything! She loves feeling seen with happy feelings - something akin to love and adoration - even if it's not genuine; the way her own family never looked at her.
The way Peter used to always look at her and only her.
Perhaps his gaze is the one that meant more to her out of everyone she knows, will know, and won't ever know.
In fact, MJ knows she loves to be seen by Peter. She very consciously chooses to do and say things that she knows will make him smile, because she absolutely adores seeing him looking at her with those gentle brown eyes and handsome smile.
She loves it.
Which is why she feels so hurt whenever he looks away from her in order to focus on other girls.
This usually happens around Gwen, who is a close second behind her in Peter's female best friend's 'list' - according to MJ herself. But because MJ knows and likes Gwen, so she doesn't feel as uncomfortable as when Peter looks and 'fawns' over other girls.
Especially over Emma.
'… I preferred him single' MJ shamefully admits to herself as she shut her door and watched Peter walk away with phone in hand and a dumb smile on his face from a window; her face showing a small sad pout.
MJ knows she has no right to think that. And she even feels ashamed of herself when thoughts like that invade her mind. She never felt any romantic feelings for Peter, and if he's happy then she should be happy too.
But she just can't. MJ can't understand why her heart aches the way it does, but she can at least understand that it's related to Peter and his relationship.
MJ can't help but feel and think badly about Emma Frost and her relationship with HER best friend.
….
"Hey, guess what. Connors was released from prison!" Peter revealed to Emma after a few minutes of catching up with her and listening to how she was doing on her vacation while sitting on a chair in his porch so as to not disturb his aunt.
"Really? How so?" Asked Emma with genuine interest. She knows that, for whatever reason, Spider-Man's villains have a tendency to escape from prison father easily.
Wich is why the government remodeled the prison on Ryker's Island to be able to hold super-powered individuals and try to stop them from breaking out every other day.
But this is the first time she's heard of a villain who was willingly released, and because she knows him, she was totally taken by surprise.
"I overheard it from Gwen's dad's phone call. That due to good behavior, he was granted house arrest" Peter started explaining "but get this, a security guard was worried about doing that since Connors kept muttering about his serum from his cell, like, all the time".
"That's… concerning" Emma muttered - very consciously ignoring Gwen's and MJ's previous mentions; remembering how truly scary the appearance of her transformed teacher was, and how powerless she felt when trying to enter his broken mind.
"I know!" Peter exclaimed with worry "so I was thinking about going to his house and check up on him; get a feel of the guy, you catch me?"
"Of course. Are you going to talk to him or are you just going to watch him from afar?" Asked Emma, interested in Peter's strategies.
"Hmm… I think I'm going to just see from afar" Peter mused, thinking of how awkwardly it would be if he just showed up as Spider-Man randomly at their door "I'll patrol for a little while first though, right after May closes her door to sleep".
"All right. Just be careful out there, you hear me? I don't want to see on the news that the menace Spider-Man is terrorizing the city yet again" Emma said while trying to hide any emotion her voice might betray, which Peter found funny.
"Please, when am I ever not careful?" Peter asked with the most serious tone he could muster, which still sounded pretty entertained.
"…" but he was only met with silence.
"Yeah, okay. Will I see you tomorrow?" He asked after waiting a few seconds for an answer that never came.
"I'm actually uncertain of it" Emma said with some frustration painting her voice "I know our flight is late, but my mother always makes us be late because of one stupid reason or another, so I don't know at which time I will be arriving at my penthouse.
What I do know without a shred of doubt is that I will be attending school on Monday, since it would be a sin for my father to spend money somewhere it's not being utilized" Emma huffed, referring to the private school she supposedly goes to.
"How dreadful it sounds to spend more time in possibly the best villa in St. Barth. Truly, I weep for your misfortune" Peter teased Emma in a mocking and overly theatrical voice.
*Scoff* "You wouldn't be making those types of comments if you were here" Emma understands he is teasing her, but still "not when my father makes me feel like a dumb and cheap slut".
"W-What?!" Peter asked with surprise and anger clear in his voice "he said that?! What did he say?! What happened?!".
*Giggle* "Calm down, sweetie. Don't get all heroic on me now" Emma teased again, finding his protective side for her as cute as always "he didn't exactly say anything. But I know what he thinks by the way he looks at me. Even if I don't read his mind" she explained with the faintest hint of sadness behind her uncaring tone.
*Ugh* "Does it sound bad if I tell you I really dislike your old man?" Peter groaned; not liking how Emma's dad makes her feel badly and how he's unable to do anything about that.
*Pfft* "Please, I think not liking my dad is like, the minimum someone needs to date me" Emma practically laughed as she talked.
"Well, glad I got that one covered~" Peter quipped, wanting to move on from what is possibly making her sad with comedy and flirting.
"You got more than simply 'that one' covered, sweetie~" Emma full on laughed this time, imagining very accurately Peter's red face. But once she finished laughing, her tone got softer and quieter "… I miss you".
"I miss you too, like crazy actually" Peter added after letting out a content sigh "two weeks are too long for a simple break if you ask me".
"I'm sure you're the only one who could hold that opinion" Emma mocked with fake surprise "well, aside from me of course".
Before he could answer to that, Peter heard a mumbled yell coming from Emma's phone which he could recognize as her brother, paired with a groan from her.
"I have to go. Apparently my mother made a reservation in a french restaurant for us to dine at" Emma said with a dissapointed tone for having to end the call, but with an undertone of excitement "it's called 'Le Tamarin' and it's supposed to be really good".
"Sounds fancy" Peter said, knowing Emma loves those types of things.
"It better be" Emma huffed. If she was interrupted, at least let it be for something worthwhile "anyway, talk to you tomorrow?".
"You got it" Peter agreed easily.
They exchanged quick goodbyes and Peter finally entered his house where he found his aunt May finishing her dinner.
"Oh, sweetie, you're here" May greeted him with a smile "how was the girls' band practice? I hear from Anna that her niece is really excited about it".
"Hey, May. It went really well, they are all very talented" Peter said "it's just a shame that they are all very busy with their studies and career paths, which makes MJ think that they don't care enough about their band".
"That saddens her" May stated, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah, she said that she feels slightly less important to them" Peter admitted with worry for his friend's feelings.
"Hmm" May considered Peter's words for a second and then admitted "I think that's very silly and selfish of her. Being hurt by something like that".
"Really? How so?" Peter asked, a little bit shocked by her words; never before has Peter heard May say anything bad about Anna's niece.
*Sigh* "People can't put their all in everything they do. I've heard many times that 'if you don't give it your all, don't start at all' 'Give your 100% percent in everything' 'Always give your maximum effort in everything' and many more phrases like that.
Which is honestly good advice… good, but unrealistic. People aren't going to give their all in everything because they'd run dry easily. And we're not unstoppable machines that can do everything all the time.
It's important to know that there are things more important than others that require more time and dedication and accept that fact.
And if Mary was a good friend, she wouldn't be hurt by it. She would be proud that her friends are thinking of their future and are working hard for it, instead of feeling bad for herself" May said with a tired sigh, knowing what it's like to try and really give it your everything.
She knows it's impossible, as much as one tries to. Some things are simply more important than others and will take more from you than what you wanted to give… perhaps even more than what you're capable of.
"I understand that. But isn't it a bit harsh?" Peter asks with a little hurt behind his neutral voice; relating her words to his duties as Spider-Man.
Peter also knows what it's like to give everything of yourself to everything you do. The burden of having different responsibilities and not being able to keep up with them all. The heavy stress that it brings him to know that he cant be that better version of himself.
Every time he puts Peter Parker's wants above, some type of disaster happens on the other side of the city for which he ends up feeling a pang of guilt in his heart.
And every time he puts Spider-Man's responsibilities above, he hurts his friend or his aunt in some way, shape or form without question. He can save lives, but then he returns to see the frowning faces of those he ditches to be of help.
And he doesn't like that. He wants to believe he can do better than he is already doing if he tries hard enough. He wants to be able to give his all in everything.
He just needs to be stronger, faster, smarter… better.
He doesn't want to listen to his own aunt saying it's impossible to do so, because above all, May's opinion matters the most to him. Her words always seem to hit him the hardest, whether it's for good or not.
"It is harsh. But it's also true" May answered, sure of her words.
"So what should the girls do?" Peter asked, trying to find an answer for his masked dilemma as well.
"They should talk it out with each other. If the band is something that the others can't manage to keep doing, they should let it go. Even if it hurts Mary" May explained with experience. Sadly, Peter can't 'talk things out' with his problem.
Perhaps he could reveal everything to his friends in hopes that they understand and support him. But would they really?
Peter loves them all dearly, but what would happen if they were to learn that he has been Spider-Man for almost a year now? That he has done things like locking up Liz's dad, Mr. Connors, and many monsters behind their backs.
Would Harry freak out? Would Gwen be afraid of him, given how she seems to dislike Spider-Man? Will Mary Jane be incredibly hurt to know she was kept from this since they are both supposed to be very close? Would Chat try to make him stop risking himself?
Would May…? Peter doesn't even want to think what May would think, say or do, he… after everything he's done with Ben and everything else he simply can't. He is not that strong.
He can only be 'better'.
"… and, what do we do if we can't give our all in everything?" Peter pressed on again, wanting a more direct answer.
May looked at Peter for a second too long and noticed how there was a hint of weakness and vulnerability in his brown eyes. It's… weird for Peter to be so blunt about things he's unsure of like this.
Usually, Peter carries everything deep within him, pretending everything is all fine and dandy under a smile when things are in fact not fine.
Peter has always been like that. Reserved, independent, not willing to get any help from anyone.
But there are these moments every once in a while where he shows her a weak side of him he so desperately wants to hide away from the world.
Moments where she truly feels like he relies on her as a son would a mother.
"… we do the best we can" May said softly while standing up and walking towards Peter. She gives him a tight hug that conveys more feelings than what would have been required from the conversation at hand.
Peter stays quiet, but returns the gesture naturally. Though May can see that she left him thinking. She then breaks the hug and heads to the kitchen's door; leaving Peter quiet, without any more questions to be said out loud "Good night, sweetie. I love you".
"Love you too, May" Peter answered without looking at her, still thinking about what was said.
Looking at the clock, Peter realized he should have something to eat before starting patrol. He really wants to check up on Connors, but he needs to wait for May to be locked in her room so that he doesn't get found out.
'I'll save this conversation for later' Peter sighed mentally, saving his aunt's words in the back of his mind.
Some time go by where Peter dines, leaving his cellphone in the kitchen and tells May to have a good night before closing his own door.
'Perhaps I'll check up on Connors first…' Peter thinks as he sees his alarm clock marking 10:45 pm. It's somewhat of a long road till Connors' house so he'll patrol after paying him a quick visit.
————
Sometime Later
'Okay… Connors lives in 2-17… 2-17 … Ah! There it is!' Peter says mentally as he lands quietly on the next door neighbor's roof to the right side of Connors' house.
It was now very late at night; half hour before midnight, give or take. Peter swung all around the city until he reached Connors neighborhood, which he learned where it was back when Curt was still a teacher in Midtown and had his files there.
The neighborhood is pretty decent. Not super high class or anything, but definitely more expensive than the place Peter lives in. Bigger houses, broader sidewalks, more space in between each residence.
'Huh, seems like having two world renowned scientists in the same family has its perks' Peter thought to himself as he looked at all the expensive cars, big houses and overall nice place.
Peter has always wanted to be a scientist of some sort in the future, but he really never thought about the money that comes with it. He's just not interested in money like that.
But comparing this with his house in Forest Hills… meh, he loves his house in Forest Hills.
"Everything looks normal… but I…" Peter mutters out loud now as his spider-sense begins humming slightly. walking through the neighbor's roof, he noted that it increased by how close he got to Connors house, which made his stomach sink.
'Shit!' Peter jumped with a front flip to Connors back yard, where his spider-sense kept on warning him of something, which only made Peter's nerves get higher and higher.
Something is very wrong.
"Connors? Anyone?!" Spider-Man yelled from the back door with desperation laced in his tone. He waited a few seconds for anyone to answer him, but the intensity from his spider-sense forced him to force the door open with his strength.
If he was wrong about something going on, he would apologize and do what's necessary to make it up to the family.
But the smoke coming from the kitchen that invaded his nose paired with the ever increasing hum of his spider-sense panicked him.
Never had his sense been so high without 'telling' him of anything particularly dangerous about to happen to him. It was just warning him of something up ahead… and perhaps that was more daunting.
He quickly ran towards the origin of the smoke, fearing something might be catching on fire in there or something. He ran there despite his spider-sense heavily warnings against that idea.
Perhaps Peter should've listened.
Because if he had listen to his spider-sense, then he wouldn't have frozen at the horrific sight of the thing that is happening in the kitchen he just entered.
*… ah… aaahhh….. AAAAAAARRGH* Peter let out incredulous sounds out of his mouth at the sight before him before letting out a blood curdling scream that came from within his soul.
Laying on the ground in the large kitchen was Martha Connors. Or at least what was left of her.
Blood was painting the wall behind her, as well as the whole floor beneath her unmoving and equally stained body. Her stomach ripped open, and Peter could easily see that she was halfway eaten, with the rest of her insides being a mess all around her.
In her left hand, Peter identified a metallic canister of something. Something that must be pretty important to her, since she still held onto it tightly.
Her face showed the despair she felt in her final living moments, with her dead, glintless eyes barely open to witness the tragedy happening over her corpse.
Standing in the kitchen a few feet away from the woman, is the man once known as Connors - scientist that Peter admired and even thought for a few months as a friend while he was a teacher at his school, now turned into the monster known as The Lizard - looking more monstrous than ever.
Each time Peter saw him, he grew larger and scarier. This time was no exception.
But the reason why Peter screamed, is because of what the man turned beast is currently doing.
The scene is nightmarish and gruesome, with Connors holding Billy Connors, his son, his own flesh and blood, on his hands while devouring his now disfigured little body.
The Lizard is standing slightly hunched over with both hands on his son's torso, holding him tightly and roughly - so much so that he stabbed into him with his claws, digging into his small and frail body through his Captain America themed pajamas, causing blood to cascade down to the floor through the boy's legs and torso.
Billy is missing his right arm, and the Lizard is currently eating his left arm from the hand, all the way to the elbow. All while staring wide eyed at Spider-Man with a low grumble coming from the monster's throat in warning.
But what terrified Peter the most is that Billy's head is barely holding on to his body with a single strand of flesh. Billy's head turned to a 180 degree angle, staring upside down at Peter.
Staring directly at him with his dead, frightened and betrayed eyes - showing just how much agony and despair the boy felt in his final moments.
*AAAAAAAHHHHH* Peter kept yelling horrified at the scene. Not knowing what else to do. His mind became numb with horror at the scene.
*ROOOOOAAAAAAWWWRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH* But The Lizard answered in kind with a scream - or more like roar - of his own at the adversary that appeared before him.
His animalistic instinct told him that this was a rival predator, and he must be there for his prey. So Connors dropped the body of the person most precious to him in the whole world with a wet *Thump* and got in position to leap at the other 'animal'.
His position caused his tail to knock over the pan where his wife was cooking dinner, causing the fat of whatever meat was in the skillet to drop all over the counter and make a huge flame in reaction.
The flame was so big that nearby towels and wooden cutlery ignited in a big fall of fire that touched all the wood around it.
But Peter couldn't care one bit about the fire happening, because as soon as he got out of his trance, The Lizard pounced at him with the intent to kill. His monstrous maw wide open, still with pieces of his family in it, and his huge claws outstretched to get to him.
Spider-Man reacted just in time to intercept the monster's hands with his; barely avoiding being bitten on the neck with a move from his head. But he wasn't prepared for the new strength that the beast possessed, so Connors ended up on top of him and Spider-Man with his back against the floor.
*Krash* *Aargh!*
Peter yelled when Connors pushed his body against the floor so hard that it couldn't hold them anymore, throwing them both down into the basement.
Spider-Man used this opportunity to push The Lizard off from him with both his feet. Kicking harder than he ever had before to force the monster to release him from the hold he was in and made a quick backflip to land safely on his feet.
*CRK*
The double frontal kick was so strong that it caused the older man's ribs to crack roughly, making him flail around in pain against a wall on the other side of the fairly small room.
With a single second to spare for himself, Spider-Man looked around the basement, and he could very easily tell that this is where he transformed because of the thrashed state of the furniture and the claw marks decorating every wall around him.
The illumination of the basement was poor. The only light that helped Spider-Man see Dr. Connors notes tucked safely in an untouched desk against the farthest wall was from the side of the basement that still held its white light and the fire quickly spreading through the wooden floor upstairs.
"…W-What have you done? … What did you-? You…fucking MONSTER!" Peter panted and yelled furiously at The Lizard once it stood up. The kick may have been too much for the bones of the animal, but they quickly regenerated back.
Spider-Man was experiencing a torrent of feelings like never before as he saw the man he once considered a friend and idol get into a position of attack.
He felt grief for the woman and the child he couldn't help - people he had met and liked - even if their interactions were few.
He felt guilt for arriving too late, being unable to help those that needed it. He only came to see the aftermath of a tragedy that perhaps he could've prevented.
He felt sick at the sight; the blood and guts spilling out of their bodies as well as Billy's entire frame making Peter's stomach churn and his heart sink.
He felt fear for the possibility of ending like them at the hands of a man he looked up to.
But most of all, Spider-Man felt rage.
Rage at the man who used his intellect irresponsibly. Rage because he wasted, not only a second, but three chances of redeeming himself. Rage because of the monstrosity that was the sin of killing and eating his own family. Rage at the disappointment he felt towards the man who couldn't control himself and took the serum while in his own house.
He felt rage above all because Peter, subconsciously or not, knew that if he faltered for just one moment, someone else would die this very night.
Peter Parker - Spider-Man - is angry and afraid.
"YOU HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD LIFE AND YOU JUST… THREW THAT AWAY!" Spider-Man yelled with tears threatening to come out of his still masked eyes.
He didn't want to fight. He doesn't want this to be happening. He doesn't want to even think it's real.
But it is real, and he can't afford to let this man run loose. Peter even had the passing thought of asking someone for help - The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Wolverine, The Avengers, SOMEONE! - but by the time someone else arrived it would be too late for someone else.
Spider-Man has to deal with this alone. Just like he deals with everything else.
*RRRAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH* roared The Lizard yet again as he ran to Peter in all fours.
*AAAAAAAARRGGHH* This time Peter answered the roar in kind with one of his own as he charged the animal as well.
Spider-Man connected his fist first to the monsters jaw, breaking and denting his jaw inwardly with a loud *CRACK* that sent him hurling backwards into the wall again.
Very similar to the time he did that in the school; unlike that time however, Spider-Man didn't stop to make sure Connors was alright.
He instead ran up to the monster with the intent of punching the monster until it passed out with whatever strength was needed to make it happen.
The monster however, did not care that his mouth became undone, and instead swiped at the hero with its powerful tail.
Given the state that Peter found himself in, he wasn't fast enough to dodge the blunt hit, but was lucky enough to partially block it with his left arm. He then grabbed the entire monster by the tail, and flung him to the other side of the room against a wall.
Hitting the wall full faced, The Lizard turned around a little dazed to see the hero running almost instantly to him to deliver a powerful punch to his stomach.
Connors received the punch, and tried to land a swipe or bite on the hero, but this one was too fast. Spider-Man started dodging everything Connors threw at him with uncanny ease while trying to web shut his eyes or trap him under his annoying webs.
But it doesn't work. The Lizard is currently strong enough to break through the webs and his claws sharp enough to rip them apart with no issue.
'I can't trap him…' Peter realizes as his webs are torn apart again by the running monster, who Peter dodged and thus met yet another wall face first 'I'll have to knock him down the bad way!'
Spider-Man jumped towards The Lizard again with the intention of punching into its nape for a quick takedown, but the creature turned around and intercepted Spider-Man's arm with his own huge palm and held it up to try and swipe at his torso.
But Spider-Man was still strong enough to stop The Lizard's arm with another kick. Connors didn't let go of him though, so he opted to hold the spider-themed hero close in a snake-like hold with his tail included while his maw regenerated, barely stabbing into his forearm in the process with his claws.
*NGH* "Let go!" Yelled Spider-Man as he thrashed in The Lizard's hold with pain, given how the monster was very strong, and was practically squeezing him to death. He then head-butted the monster harshly under the jaw, ruining whatever it had already healed.
Irritated by this, The Lizard threw Spider-Man against the wall behind him, and before the masked hero could get up, Connors pounced at him again. This time one of his claws connected with the hero's right shoulder, slashing at him through the costume and making him yell in a painful *AAARGGH*.
The monster used this opportunity to grab the hero by the shoulders with both hands and push him forward against the wall.
*CRRRKKK* *Splash*
The weakened wall behind Spider-Man finally gave in, and the hero was able to use the momentum of his fall to turn around and make The Lizard fall against the water. The smell prompted the hero to look around quickly, and Spider-Man noted that they were now in the sewers.
But he had no intention of looking around. Instead, Spider-Man brought his free hand up and punched The Lizard directly on the neck in hopes of making him choke enough to knock him out while stepping roughly on Curts arm to get away from him, successfully breaking a bone as well.
Usually, Spider-Man would be way more careful and gentle with his opponents. Even going as far as allowing himself to be injured if the other guy had a chance of being harmed by him avoiding whatever attack was thrown.
This was not one of those times. His feelings didn't allow it to be.
Spider-Man's plan to choke The Lizard kinda worked since Connors started thrashing around in pain; unable and desperate to breathe.
*NGH* Unfortunately for Spider-Man, the tail worked as a lightning-fast whip and slapped him directly on the face against a wall while the dinosaur looking man kept thrashing around - hitting his head hard enough for Peter to feel the skin on his head open up and start feeling extremely dizzy.
It was painful for the monster to feel his bones shifting around his face, neck, chest and wherever the masked hero attacked him while his body fixed itself.
'He's too strong…' Peter thought as he saw his forearm all bloodied up because of the monster's claws from when held the hero.
Luckily, his web shooters are still working.
So Spider-Man went back to the original plan, and began spraying his webs onto the monster in an attempt to hold him still, all while jumping around Connors to encase him completely.
"How could you do this?!" Spider-Man demanded an answer with an extremely angered voice as he attempted to trap the monster while this one was too busy regenerating.
But The Lizard was still strong enough - with sufficiently sharp claws to rip and tear all the webbing thanks to his thrashing.
In one particularly violent roll, Spider-Man's webbing pulled the hero towards The Lizard, causing Peter to almost fall on top of the monster due to the action.
"Whoa!" To avoid that, Spider-Man shot a string of webbing upwards and stuck himself to the ceiling. From there he saw that Connors had finished fixing his face, and was now starting to fix his arm while he snarled at the hero on top of him.
"Damn it!" Not wanting to give Lizard an opportunity to fully recover, Spider-Man jumped upside down from the ceiling directly to the monster and flipped himself to land with his feet on Lizard's face.
His plan worked, but his feet were grabbed as soon as he landed by Lizard's one good hand, and he was roughly slammed against the concrete all around them. Even the one underneath all the sewage.
The monster was desperate to finish the fight since he recognized the other 'animal' as a real threat, so without his maw available or the other arm at full strength, The lizard opted to slam him again *UMF* and again *ARGH* and again *Splash* *GAH*
Spider-Man avoided getting hit too hard on the head with the help of his arms softening each blow, but he could still feel his brain rattling inside his skull. His eyes started to become unfocused as he felt himself being slammed against the concrete.
Peter managed to recognize he got a concussion in the midst of the various hits.
He was used as a sledgehammer until The Lizard finally felt all his teeth returning back to their place, which made him release the hold he had on Spider-Man's legs once he slammed him one final time on the ground and jumped as high as he could to pounce on the masked hero.
In a desperate attempt to stop Connors from biting him, Peter stopped the monster's maw from clamping down on him with his bare hands, which caused the razor sharp teeth of The Lizard to dig themselves on his palms.
*ARGH* Peter howled in pain again, but he quickly front kicked at the monster's chest to get him off of him before the monster could successfully rip open his torso with his claws.
The Lizard rolled around for a bit on the water thanks to the force of the hit, and even stepped a few feet more from his opponent to allow himself a proper regeneration.
Seeing the space between them, Spider-Man also used this opportunity to web his injuries and stop them from bleeding. All while staring intently at the animal doing the same.
"Connors…!" Peter said, trying - hoping, to find some semblance of the man under those frightening eyes.
But his only response came in the way of a beastly snarl.
Spider-Man closed his eyes tightly as his spider-sense worked as a timer, marking the seconds left for The Lizard to completely regenerate. He used this mere seconds to get rid of any remaining hope of this ending any other way than one of the two on the ground.
And for Peter, that meant death. And not only for himself. He can't allow Connors to keep going.
*AAAARRRGGGHHH* Once his body was fully healed, Connors roared in challenge and ran off against the masked hero on all fours.
"COME ON THEN!" Peter roared back as he also ran against the monster.
They met each other in a fight that almost looked like a choreographed dance. One where each warrior gave their all to finish the fight their way.
Peter tried to focus more on his Spider-sense and superior agility, but it was really difficult to avoid being hurt sometimes because of the creatures massive body, strength, extra limb and the enclosed space he found himself in.
In one particular hard hit, The Lizard managed to whip his tail again against the man's chest, forcing Spider-Man to the ground without much air left in his lungs.
With this opportunity, The Lizard deemed this a good moment to jump and pounce on him yet again.
Spider-Man, seeing The Lizard above him, shot a web line from each of his hands as slinged himself up, feet first, to meet the monster halfway through.
*SNARL* *TRRKKK*
The Lizards snarled in pain as he was sent flying upwards, breaking the 'ceiling' and the road above the sewer they were fighting on, and went flying above the absent road - still very close to Curt's home.
*PUM* *CCSSHHK*
Connors landed directly on the power pole in front of his house, which brought it down together with the power lines, causing a major blackout in the neighborhood.
Not that many noticed thanks to the late hours of the night.
Jumping out of the sewers to follow his teacher, Peter saw with dread how the entire street went dark, and that the only thing illuminating the neighborhood was Curt's house by the ever expanding fire from within.
"Holy shit…" Peter muttered with a heavy heart at the sight of what was happening. He's seen destruction before; he's lived it, been responsible for it even - been at the center of it.
And the same could be said about death…
But he never saw a man's life destroyed quite like this, not even when he caused that plane to crash. Because even if Peter managed to cure Connors now, what would he have but regret, grief and guilt? This wasn't just the destruction of a street, this was an entire family's complete and utter destruction.
All because of the father's sin.
But Peter didn't have any time to ponder about that because of a car that was thrown his way.
Alerted by his spider-sense, Spider-Man struggled, but managed to catch the car that was parked in Connors' house after it was thrown to him by the animal.
*RRRAAAAWWWWRRR* Yelled the monster yet again while leaping towards him. Which infuriated Peter even more.
"Shut up already!" Spider-Man yelled as he used the car as a baseball bat, sending the monster flying back to his front lawn.
'I can't allow more damage!' Spider-Man thought as he let go of the damaged car and followed after Connors, who was getting up as well from a small crater he did on his very own property.
Spider-Man webbed Connors eyes the moment The Lizard looked up at him and, jumping higher than he most probably should've, he delivered a hard hammer fist with both arms on the beast's cranium, forcing him back down to the crater, making it bigger.
*KRCK* Peter felt the man's skull cracking under his fists, and finally, The Lizard stayed put.
Peter thought warily that he was still conscious because of the hum of his spider-sense, but the monster's breathing evened out as he laid on his stomach in the ground without any other movement - other than his heaving back due to his breathing.
*Huff - Huff* Spider-Man is left panting heavily, waiting for the next move of the monster. But nothing happens for around 30 seconds, making Spider-Man's body relax involuntarily.
Feeling his knees go weak and all his strength leaving his body, Spider-Man allowed himself to fall to his knees in front of the sleeping monster with blood running down the top of it's head; right where Spider-Man punched him.
…*Sob* "G-god, fucking damn it, Connors" Spider-Man allowed himself to cry once the fight was over, starting with a single tear to stain the insides of his mask.
What happened this night is a horrible tragedy. Tragedy that could have been prevented by many, many things. So much could have been done by literally anyone and two people would still be alive right now.
Two wonderful people Peter had the fortune of meeting in life. And now he has the disgrace to mourn their deaths because of the-the thing in front of him.
"H-he was just a kid. Your kid…" Peter kept on sobbing as he thought about Billy. He had liked the kid very much that day when they both met.
Peter asked about him almost every day when Connors was a teache and the older man would relay happily that Billy also asked regularly about Gwen and himself.
He was just an innocent and sweet kid.
He didn't deserve what happened to him. No one deserved what happened.
Sadly, the fight was not over yet.
*RRRAAARRGHH* The Lizard suddenly jumped at Spider-Man from his position, much like a crocodile would, with an impressive speed, making it difficult for the crying hero to avoid it.
'FUCK!' Peter yelled startled in his mind as he placed his left arm in front of the monster. If it wasn't for Peter's Spider-sense, he's sure he would've died.
Instead he was fast enough to avoid getting bit in the head or neck, but not fast enough to leave unscathed.
*KRNCH* The Lizard bit down on Spider-Man's left arm with all its might, crushing the bone in the forearm and causing the hero to scream in unparalleled pain.
*AAAAAGGGGHHHH* yelled Spider-Man as he was dragged to the street due to the strength of The Lizard, who ran with the boy's arm in his maw to try and rip it away.
But Peter stuck himself to the ground once they reached the very middle of the road. Ending once again underneath the monster while this one was burying his teeth each time further into his arm, spraying his mask with his own blood.
With his right arm struggling to keep one of The Lizard's arms away from him and the other being inside the monster's jaw, Peter was unable to stop Lizard's right hand from swiping at his abdomen, cutting into his stomach.
*GUHH* Peter groaned in pain at the, thankfully, superficial wound that goes all over his belly.
The Lizard, seeing as he had no room to properly stab or swipe at his rival, opted to place both his arms on the ground to try and rip away the arm inside its maw with a death roll, but his rival was weirdly stuck to the ground beneath him, making him unable to do as his instinct dictated.
Spider-Man used this chance to try and open the jaw forcefully with right hand, digging the sharp teeth in his hand once again. But it was useless, the maw was already deeply clamped in his arm, and if Peter stayed like this any longer, The Lizard would successfully rip his arm away thanks to how he is thrashing his head around.
*GAH* So violent was his thrashing, that Peter felt his shoulder forcefully pop out of his socket. And he became even more panicked and desperate.
Peter felt his eyes hurt, both his forearms tingle and his teeth ache while he tried to forcefully open the beast's mouth while this one moved violently. In a desperate attempt, Spider-Man switches his arm from trying to open the jaws to punch the monster's eye with all his might, in hopes of making The Lizard release him.
Spider-Man felt the eye socket crack and the soft eye all but explode under his knuckles.
*ROOAAARRRGGHHH* yelled The Lizard while holding his eye socket with both his arms as he released Spider-Man and staggered backwards in pain.
"Shit, shit, shit…" Spider-Man started muttering as he got up with a back flip, putting much needed distance between them and webbed his left arm and stomach. He can't believe that he almost died and that to avoid doing so, he rendered Connors blind from one eye.
'He'll regenerate - h-he'll regenerate…' Peter repeated to himself again and again as he looked at the agonizing monster; webbing his bitten and now broken arm while popping his shoulder back into place with a loud *GUH*.
Repeating himself again and again that his teacher was going to regenerate was the only consolation for what Peter did.
Looking around, the young boy noted that without power in the neighborhood, the authorities would take a little more than usual to arrive at the scene. And most of the neighbors are probably still sleeping despite the intense battle going on.
But someone must've woken up by now, and that meant that people would soon get in his way. And Spider-Man is not too sure he could save everyone if that came to be.
And perhaps he is losing a little too much blood. His arm, the injuries he has on his head, every cut he has on his body… all while the monster keeps on fixing himself without issue. Spider-Man needs to think of a better plan.
'… T-the cure!' Not knowing what to do, Spider-Man suddenly recalled the moment he saw Martha - she had something in her hand. It's most possibly the cure for Connors, it has to be! Something he so desperately needs.
*Thwip* He shot a strand of webbing to The Lizard, and using all the strength from his right arm, Spider-Man threw him to the burning house, which had the flames getting higher and higher by the second.
*TRRSSHH* sounded the wall being destroyed as The Lizard was thrown inside the house. Not only destroying one, but two walls in the direction of the kitchen.
Connors was still thrashing around due to it's missing eye, so it fell into the hole to the basement they previously made.
"S-shit!" Yelled Peter as he followed after Connors, still not used to entering flaming buildings and the sight of the two corpses despite all his time as Spider-Man.
Peter fought against his stomach's need to release its contents and the desire he had to throw himself next to the two bodies and just stay there and cry for what happened to them.
*CRACKLE*
"I'm sorry! God,*Sob* I-I'm so sorry!" Spider-Man apologizes loudly as he kneeled beside Martha; failing to avoid looking into her dead eyes while taking the little canister from her surprisingly strong grip while her whole house crackled loudly under the unforgiving fire.
"I'm sorry!" Screamed Peter with a broken tone as he leapt into the hole to the basement to follow after Connors. Unaware of the other 'person' in the room watching him with amusement.
A person Peter has seen before.
A pale woman with black markings on her beautiful and ethereal face. The fire crackling switched her looks from a human to a skeleton wearing a black robe as she looked at the hole in the ground.
Her face became fully human once her eyes set on what was left of the boy. His body still mangled and undone on the floor, with the pieces that make a human, that he still had, all twisted and bent in unnatural ways over his own crimson red blood.
Her eyes softened at the sight of the boy, and she started marching toward him with security in each step. Not caring at all for the fire spreading all around her or the state the boy's body was left in.
She stopped once she walked by the mother. Locking eyes with her, the pale entity bowed her head slightly; perhaps her way of greeting or acknowledging the woman while the entire house shook from the fight going on downstairs.
No doubt Spider-Man and The Lizard were throwing each other around while trading punches and swipes, sometimes shaking the entire foundation of the house any time one of the two met a wall. Making the foundation even weaker than the fire was.
Continuing her way towards the boy, the entity kneeled next to the head and carefully - very carefully - passed her thin fingers through the boy's brown hair, clearing the disheveled hair to see his eyes.
Blue - hollow - eyes meet hollow dark ones.
The woman opened her mouth ever so slightly, perhaps to speak some words for the two humans that have now stepped into her domain. But was interrupted by a yell from the boy and the distinctive sound of the canister releasing the cure.
"Is it going to happen? Is he going to do it?" Asked Lady Death without looking behind her. Her tone is filled with interest as she keeps combing the unfortunate boy's hair.
"You are already aware that no one knows what is going to happen" answered The Watcher from behind the mistress, his tone and face betraying no emotion.
"How exciting" Said Death calmly with a smile tugging at her lips. Standing up, she looked at The Watcher "let us see, then".
Uatu nodded his head, and followed after Death down while both of them made themselves unseen to the mortal eye.
….
*Huff - Huff* Peter panted heavily with his good arm supporting his weight on his right knee while watching disturbed as The Lizard began turning human once again.
After a little fight in the basement, Peter managed to give him the cure while sacrificing another swipe from Connors. This time at his right thigh.
*RAAAA-aaarrgh aaauuugRRRAAOORGggggaaaahh* Peter felt his stomach move around with the intent to puke once again by the way Connors' flesh moved around in a gruesome way.
The man is writhing around in clear agony as his body fights against the cure. His screams switch between cries of a man and the growling of pain of a wild animal.
"PlEaSSSe! maKe iT SSStoP!" Connors begged from the floor as his arm and tail fell apart, with him feeling as if they were being torn apart from him.
"StOp iT, p-pLEaSe!" He kept on pleading as he felt his skin contracting against his bones, his muscles being made undone around his whole body and his bones cracking and reforming with snaps all over his body, causing the man to wail in pain.
The scales finally fell down from him, revealing the small man beneath the monster as he started breathing heavily against the ground.
*Huff* *Huff* Connors struggled, but somehow managed to kneel on the floor and looked around him while Spider-Man was unable to say anything about what happened that night. The only sound still being able to be heard was from the fire crackling upstairs.
"…N-no, it c-can't be…" the man muttered as he looked at his bloodied hands paired with the destruction all around him.
He was witness to everything he did.
Every single act was still present in his mind. From the moment he woke up in the basement, to stabbing his wife, to eating the two members of his family. All while he was unable to do anything to stop himself from within his mind.
He was witness to the power he craved to have while he was powerless to do anything about his actions.
"I-it wasn't supposed to be this way… this is not-! NO! THIS IS WRONG!" Connors yelled with tears in his eyes as he banged his only fist on the ground below while he pressed his forehead roughly against the ground.
"Connors-!" Spider-Man tried to talk to the man despite his own tears, heavy breathing and injuries. He needed to stop the man from now banging his own head in the ground as the older man's breathing became even more erratic.
"NO! IT WAS MEANT TO WORK! I WAS-! I WAS GOING TO BE COMPLETE WITHOUT…! without…!" Connors turned to see Spider-Man while yelling with his forehead now bleeding, to then feel shame and guilt at his actions "… o-oh god…".
He wanted to continue on yelling, but he was unable to do so.
*Eeuugh…* Curt Connors started to weep and sob uncontrollably as the hell above him got brighter with flames and the ground beneath him got wetter from the sewage slipping into his house.
*Sob* "W-What have I done…?" Connors asks quietly in between sobs as he hid his face behind his only hand "Martha… Billy… son. I-I sorry *Whimper* I-I'm so sorry… please… please forgive me…".
Peter stood forgotten while Curt apologized time and time again in between sobs and whimpers to the people he betrayed and the lives he ended.
His own eyes kept watering at the display of regret despite feeling himself tense each time Connors apologized. It was wrong for Peter to think that Curt didn't deserve to ask for forgiveness. Not after what he did.
Peter had always had a problem with apologies, and he thinks that anyone could agree that it is a shameless act to ask for it after what he very consciously did. No one forced him to take the serum, and Curt knew what the consequences of doing that could bring.
Actions and consequences.
Doing what Connors did and then ask for forgiveness is… for Peter, that is something cowardly - soemthing wrong.
Unforgivable.
"You!" Suddenly Connors attention was shifted to the hero standing painfully to his side, a few feet away from him. His sudden call startled the hero for a bit "you have to kill me!"
"…What?" Asked Spider-Man in almost a whisper with his mouth widening ever so slightly at the sudden request while he took a step backwards.
His head atill throbbing in confusion due to the concussion he most definitely has.
"P-please! You don't understand… I-I corrected the formula to be perfect, and the cure will only work for a little while!" Curt informed as he weakly stood up and mustered all his strength to barely walk over to the hero, supporting his weight on him with his only good arm "I'll-I'll soon turn back into t-that monster!"
"N-no, I - you… I-I can't kill you, Connors!" Spider-Man said as he felt his heartbeat drop. Everything around him suddenly faded away and from one moment to another, Peter was standing alone in the whole world with only Curt as his companion.
Unaware that two entities were watching him intently. Waiting to see his next action. His decision. His choice.
"Please! I-I can feel it inside of me! I'm going to turn any moment now!" Curt said as his grip tightened on Spider-Man's shoulder harder than any human should be able to do, giving the hero the answer that what he was saying was indeed true.
His spider-sense also started buzzing inside his head, giving his teacher even more credibility on his words.
"Then let's make another cure! Together! R-Right now!" Spider-Man said desperately as he looked around and saw much of Connors' work spread all around the wet floor. All but one file that more than likely contained the 'perfect formula'.
"NO! There is not enough time, please!" Connors pleaded again as he fell to his knees *Sob* "…Please, I-I don't want to live in a world where I'm the monster that ate his f-family *Sob* I-I can still taste them, god. I-I cant live anymore… please… end it" he begged.
He begged because he knows that there is no forgiveness for what he did. He begs to die, to meet his maker and be righteously judged on his terrible actions.
He begs to be released from this horrible prison that he calls reality, because even now that he so consciously knows that what he did was the worst crime and sin he could have possibly committed, he still feels that ache inside his being of wanting to be 'complete'.
Beyond all that regret and revulsion and disgust and utter self-hate… Connors still finds himself craving to be The Lizard.
And how could a father allow the monster who killed his son and wife roam the world of the living? How can he allow himself to still breathe after what he did? How can he live, knowing that it's more than likely that he will not be strong enough to resist the temptation - the agonizing urge to become who he is meant to be?
"Connors I… I can't kill you. You- I… I can't-" Peter started stammering, still feeling himself sick at just the idea.
But this just angered Connors, who was starting to feel the change rapidly. So he stood back up and got on the hero's face while gripping his suit by the chest "WHY NOT?! CAN'T YOU SEE IT'S FOR THE BEST?! CAN'T YOU SEE I CAN'T LIVE BECAUSE I'M A MAN EATING MONSTER?! CANT YOU-"
"CONNORS!" Spider-Man roared as he matched the doctor's intensity, successfully shutting him up "Connors… I can't- I can't kill you…".
Curt widens his angered and tear filled eyes ever so slightly as he recognizes Spider-Man's voice.
Right now he wasn't talking with Spider-Man - the hero that defeated him three times already, the masked vigilante that defeats villains all around the city while getting trashed by the press, the fearless man who faces anything and anyone who threatens innocent lives.
Right now he was talking with a scared teen.
A teen he knows very well.
"…P-Peter?" Connors questions in almost a whisper. His confirmation came in the form of silence and the way the masks lenses widened a bit in surprise.
Without waiting for confirmation, Connors moved his hand to the top of Spider-Man's head and pulled the mask off.
And there he was.
Peter Parker - star student and 'would have been' intern of his. With blood painting part of his face, coming out of his mouth, nose and somewhere from the top of his head. His eyes showed nothing but terror and grief as tear marks could be seen on his cheeks and his lips trembled, not knowing what to do or say.
Connors staggered a few steps backward at the sight of the kid.
His mind flashes through moments involving the two of them.
Billy asking him about the teen who he had so much fun with; Gwen Stacy, Peter and himself discussing genetics as if they were the only ones in the classroom, laughing at something only they seem to understand; the day he first met him in the university, where Peter fixed the formula and…
…He fixed the formula, didn't he?
Connors tightened his fist hard enough for his knuckles to turn white while he shook slightly, and whispered in a broken tone "… it your fault".
"W-what?" Asked Peter with a frightful expression, knowing that in some measure, Connors is right.
"It's your fucking fault! You fixed the formula! You turned me into a monster! You are responsible for this! You…! you…" Connors started saying as he got up in Peter's face yet again, rambling about it was Peter's fault.
But upon seeing Peter's broken and scared expression he stopped.
Who was Connors kidding? It's not Peter's fault, it's nobody's fault but himself's. Connors committed enough monstrosities for various lifetimes; filling a young man's heart who only wants to help with guilt was something he didn't want to do.
He doesn't want to cause any more pain.
He just want this all to end.
"… Y-you aren't at fault Peter. I-I shouldn't have said that" Connors said with regret clear in his voice and his head hung down low "if it wasn't you, I would've fixed the formula myself after some time. And perhaps I-I would've killed more people that day…".
"Dr. Connors, I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" Peter tried saying with a lump on his throat, but was interrupted by the older man who shook his head while it was still looking down.
Man who was starting to feel his stump grow and his whole body shiver with anticipation at what's to come.
"Don't be sorry, Peter. You're… you're a good man. Which is why I need you to kill me" he said as he looked at Peter, making the boy tense slightly at the sight of Connor's slitted eyes.
'The transformation is happening' Connors noted as he felt this stump itching more intently as the seconds flew by. All while he heard the sirens of the firemen and police heading their way while the house was fully on fire. It would be only a matter of time until the house falls apart on top of them.
But Connors knew that it wouldn't kill him. It needs to be Peter and it needs to be now. And Connors knows he needs to force Peter's hand to do so.
"Dr. I-I can't… the police are coming and-" Peter said, tripping over his words thanks to a sob he had to swallow forcefully. .
"You have to be the one to do it, Peter!" Connors yelled desperately with tears forming in his reddened eyes again. He is, after all, scared as well.
"I can't!" Peter yelled back. He can't kill, he won't kill. He's made a promise to himself, to his uncle, aunt, friends, the whole damn world! His powers are to save people, not to end lives!
"What do you think it's going to happen?! I'll transform into that thing again and when I do everyone in this neighborhood will die by my hands! And you're going to let that happen?!" Connors demanded to know as he stepped closer to the boy.
"No! I-I'll stop you!" Peter yelled, unsure of his own words.
"You're not in condition to fight again! God, Peter, FUCK! Why are you making me kill more people?! Huh?! You can stop me, right here, right now!" Connors kept pushing, now right in front of him.
"It doesn't have to end in death!" Argued Peter, battling himself to even stay conscious.
"Can't you see it already has?! My wife is DEAD! MY SON DIED BY MY HANDS AND I DESERVE TO DIE!" He kept pushing it, placing his hand on Peter's shoulder.
"No! No one deserves to die!" Peter yelled back.
"WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH, PETER?! DO I HAVE TO KILL EVERYONE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YOU TO SEE IT?!" Connors voice started to shift, making Peter's spider-sense buzzing each passing second harder and harder in alarm inside his head.
The shock of seeing the bodies, the intense fight, the loss of blood Peter is still experiencing and the torrent of emotions paired with the smoke filling the room is all too much for Peter.
His mind is turning into mush as the man demands for him to kill him.
His arguments are sound, but Peter can't! He just can't kill!
"N-NO!" Peter yelled again, not finding any more words to deny Connors' argument.
"AND NOW THAT THE LIZARD KNOWS WHO YOU ARE HE WILL GO FOR YOUR LOVED ONES, PETER!" Connors voice was slowly but surely being replaced by the low growling like voice of The Lizard.
Peter could see that scales are starting to sprout from the man, as well as a protuberance from the stump. Peter's time is running out and Connors knows he just needs a little push.
"I WON'T HEAR IT! SHUT UP!" Peter basically begs with tears filling up his eyes yet again.
"HE - I WILL KILL THEM PETER. I'LL KILL THEM ALL BECAUSE YOU WERE TO WEAK TO KILL ME!" Now referring to himself as The Lizard, he taunted Peter further.
"NO! STOP TALKING!" Peter pleads as he covers his ears and closes his eyes tightly, denying the words and the reality he is in.
"I'LL KILL GWEN, I'LL KILL MARY, EMMA, ALL YOUR CLASSMATES AND EVEN YOUR PRECIOUS AUNT!" Connors began gaining height as the hand that held onto Peter stabbed into his shoulder with his ever growing claw.
"I WON'T LET YOU!" Yelled a disoriented Peter through the pain.
"THEN KILL ME, PETER!" Connors yelled out loud.
"NO!" Peter denied out loud as he closed his eyes again and held his head down low.
"DO IT!" Connors insists with urgency as he gets up in Peter's face, making the blood still fresh in his mouth reach Peter's enhanced senses.
"SHUT UP!" Peter yells with anger, frustration, fear and disgust at what the man is saying.
Their screaming started to blend in together as they each yelled at the same time "DO IT, KILL ME!"
"NO! SHUT UP!
"IT HAS TO BE YOU! YOU HAVE TO DO IT NOW"!
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"
"DO IT OR ILL KILL FUCKING EVEYONE PARKER! KILL ME ONCE FOR FUCKING ALL! KILL ME! KILL ME!!"
"NO! NO! NO!"
"DO IT! JUST FUCKING KI-!" Yelled Connor's again; his screams overlapping with Peter's denial as his voice now completely shifted into The Lizards and his arm finally grew one more time. The process was almost done, which spiked Peter's spider-sense to a much higher degree.
His spider-sense, rage, fear, anger, disgust, grief, numbness and all that made Peter Parker as he currently is, explode.
"SHUT UP!" Without thinking, the young boy interrupted as he threw his fist forward to stop the man from talking, to keep him from turning into that monster again, to stop whatever he was planning on doing, to… to…
*CRKK* *SQUELCH*
Peter looked up, and froze horrified at what he had just done; snapping his head upwards and locking eyes with Connors' ones that widened at what just happened.
Slitted green eyes locked with crimson red ones.
*BLRGH* Was the noise that sounded from Connors mouth as he vomited blood, spraying much of it directly on Peter's face.
Peter shut his eyes closed at the sudden spray of blood to his face, making it so that all his enhanced senses could distinguish be the man's and his family's blood, which made his stomach churn once again.
Hesitating to do so, Peter opened his eyes slowly once again and fearfully looked down to his arm, where he saw and confirmed that he did what he imagined and dreaded in his moment of weakness.
Peter had rammed his fist through Curt Connors' chest with his right arm. His fist destroyed the ribs, lungs and heart that were in the way.
Spider-Man used a strength that can only be found in anger and fear, causing him to completely impale a man with his bare hand.
*…aah…. aaaauuugh…uua-aaaahh-eeeuugh* For the second time that night, Peter started letting out weak whimpers at the actions that had transpired.
"Ah, he did it" said Death from the shadow from where she and The Watcher were looking from. Her tone betrayed no other emotion than real surprise at the sight before her.
The Watcher only watched with his usual quietness and stoic demeanor. There was however, a little flicker of pity behind his blank eyes.
"… heh… heheh. He did it…" said once again Death with a small, soft and genuine smile painting her beautiful face. Clearly pleased at what is happening.
*Gurgh* In between Peter's whimpers and noises, Connors tried to talk to the boy. But nothing came out of his mouth but the remaining air he had in his body in the form of painful moans and more blood.
In his moment of weakness, Curt tried to lift up his new arm and look at it for one last time. But this one fell apart once again, together with the scales he had been trying to grow.
His body was too weak to handle another transformation.
But Curt, with all the strength he had left within him, smiled at the sight.
What he had done this night was an unforgivable act that will surely haunt him wherever his soul ends up in. But… he was going to die a man. What he did effectively made him a monster, but Curt was honestly relieved to know he was going to leave this world as he was born.
A human.
Plain and simple as that.
Peter looked at the man he still held in between his right arm with tears running down his reddened face that showed no other emotion but utter regret and horror; locking his eyes with Connors now blue ones.
'Thank… you' Connors' mouth moved as he tried to convey his words by Peter reading his lips, since he had no air left within him; his mouth and teeth were all still painted with a horrible red color that he showed off in what Peter could've sworn was a sad and broken smile.
'… I'm… sorry'.
That was the last thing Curt Connors tried to say in life, before the glint in his eyes disappeared and his corpse fell fully onto Peter's arms, completely limp and lifeless.
*aahh… aaahhh* Peter kept mumbling noises as he held his teacher in his arms. Blood painting his whole body.
*Squelch* Peter retired his arm from the body in a nasty squelch, making whatever organ Peter did not destroy to flow out of the gaping hole in the man's chest.
*FFTTSHH* Peter allowed the body to drop onto the sewage water. .
He took several steps back and looked around him while not being able to feel anything. Everything was numbed out for Peter but his eyesight. He couldn't feel his injuries, he couldn't smell the disgusting water or the smoke, he couldn't hear the crackling sound of the fire destroying the house, he couldn't taste the blood on his mouth nor feel the ever increasing heat around him.
He could only see the destroyed basement that held in it the corpse of its owner in the middle of it all. His blood flowed out of his body without any kind of measure or hesitation, while the body itself was that of a simple man.
Peter shakinginly held his twitching hand and fingers up and saw just how much blood it had on it. Blood from the man he just killed; proof of the sin he swore on everything he loves he would never, under any circumstances, commit.
So he took a big breath in between his quiet sobs and whimpers.
And he screamed.
*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH*
Scream filled only with the despair he was feeling right now. Scream that showcased the raw emotion he was experiencing in his whole being. Scream that told whoever may be listening to it that this was the sound someone makes when they betray everything they stood for.
Peter screamed with utter despair as his fingers twitched with disgust at the feeling of Connors inwards still fresh in his mind and skin.
*AAAAGGHH-* *B-BLERGH* His screaming stopped when Peter was unable to hold the contents of his stomach where they belonged any longer. His knees finally gave up on him and he fell to the ground while vomiting everything his stomach had until there was only bile on him.
"C-Connors!" Peter's extremely reddened and tearful face calls out for his teacher in a mock attempt to wake up the man. Tears strolled freely down his face as he crawled a little bit closer to him.
"CONNORS…!" Peter tried again, a muffled yell that came out of his gritted teeth made itself known, but Peter knew there would be no answer.
It is futile to try and call out to the man whose blood is flowing oh so freely from the hole he himself made.
And it is too much for Peter. This is just way too much for him. And it becomes worse when he starts hearing the police patrols and firemen very close to the house.
It's. Just. Too. Much.
So without even thinking about what he's doing, Peter grabs his mask, puts it on, staggeringly makes his way to the hole he came down from and he jumps to flee the basement.
He pauses momentarily and glances down one last time at the man he killed.
His eyes shift quickly to the file on the work bench and he shots a line of web to it with a *Thwip*.
This file is too dangerous for anyone to have, so Peter will hold on to it.
Now in the kitchen and with the file in his hands, Peter also looks one last time at the messed up corpses of the family.
And he says nothing.
He can't.
He failed them. He failed Connors, he failed Martha, he failed Billy and he failed himself. There's nothing he can say to a couple of corpses now. What would be the point?
Now there is only regret.
So Spider-Man exits the house from the back door from where he initially came in and flees through darkened backyards, only illuminated by the huge fire coming from the house he came out from and the white moon watching over him.
Swinging with his good arm while making sure no one, not even cameras, can see him through whatever tree or house he can find, Spider-Man escapes.
The last thing he hears makes him do a big jump to land on a house's roof uphill and see the destruction he left behind. Only seconds after he fled the house, it crumbled down on a ball of fire, no doubt burying the family under its flaming debris.
He lost…
Peter - Spider-Man - might still be alive, but that doesn't mean this is a win for him, because he definitely lost something tonight. Because he betrayed everything he stood for and he failed those who needed him.
In just a moment of weakness, Peter became the thing he never wanted to be. A murderer.
The consequences of using the strength born from anger and fear can be devastating for everyone involved in the situation. No matter who the victor turns out to be, everyone ends up losing something.
And Spider-Man is no exception. In weakness, he was strong - and in victory, he lost.
And all that Spider-Man can now do, is stand there completely still - with his torn and bloodied suit, file stuck safely on his body and his mask hiding the tears running down his cheeks for lord knows how long while watching all the firemen, police men, neighbors and news crews gathering around the destroyed house.
He stands there, unaware that his eyes has been glowing an ominous red ever since he killed that man.
He turns around and keeps his path towards his own home while thinking so much and nothing at the same time.
————-
Spider-Man stops in a park before arriving at his house.
A deserted park with a small lake, only illuminated by lamps scattered all over the place and the white shining moon watching over him; this is where he first learned he could walk on water.
He leaves the file on a bench nearby and he walks into the lake. Walking on the surface with little and tired steps while dripping blood on the otherwise crystalline water until he's dead center of it.
Closing his eyes, Peter allows himself to fall backwards into water with a loud *Splash* that echoes in the empty park; he forces air out of his mouth so that he can sink down to the very bottom.
He wants to clean his suit and wounds a little bit before heading home. And the only way he can do it right now is to try and be as secluded from everyone as he possibly can.
And that is in the cold embrace of the water while looking up at the distorted moon gazing down at him.
This is a place where he can let out some of his feelings. So yet again, he screams while being muffled by the water. He screams as loudly as he possibly can, allowing all of his feelings to spill out of him one more time.
*GGAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH*