Peter left The Daily Bugle significantly happier than he left Otto's lab. And how could he not? He came out with a good paying job! Or - well, not an official job per se, but at least with a chance to freelance more for Jonah paired with keeping his online page working, which is perhaps even better than a job because of his schedule!
And of course, Peter hopes that everything goes smoothly with Otto, and that it was just a false alarm of his to see the city's grant committee so unhappy, but it's always good to have a plan B.
And well, it honestly feels good for the boy to know that he is liked in The Daily Bugle… at least as Peter Parker. And it's always good for Peter to feel independent and self-sufficient.
And him becoming part of the Daily Bugle's family sure helps Peter feel that way.
Speaking of family though, there is one very important to Peter that he has been avoiding ever since his accident.
The Fantastic Four, a family that accepted him when no one else seemed to be willing to. A family of people just as quirky and 'changed' as he is.
And he has a different relationship with all of them, one he appreciates equally in his heart. A unique relationship with each one that allows himself to 'show off' sides of himself he is not usually allowed to as much as he otherwise wants.
Like with Johnny, who Peter shares a friendship with like no other. His first, and so far, only other superpowered teen friend that understands the burden of what it's like to be right in the middle of a hero-villain world at their age.
And despite that burden, he is still such a nice and funny guy to be around! They play together; racing all over the city with their powers, or just a regular hang out with regular games, or simply just being able to talk about the craziness in his life in a funny way!
Like comparing villains or adventures! Something Peter is not allowed to do with anyone else. Because who other than Johnny Storm would spit their soda when talking about Paste-Pot-Pete and his god awful nickname?
If Peter had spent as much time with Johnny as he's had with Harry, Peter is sure that Johnny would definitely be as close - or closer even - than the Osborn heir is to him.
A… slightly hurtful thought, given all the time Peter has spent with Harry and how much he cares for him, but a true one nonetheless.
And then there's Reed, who he can discuss his gadgets and any scientific theories he might have while at the same time getting some lessons from him. If Peter was bold enough to close his eyes and believe himself to be part of them, he would consider Reed as his mentor-like older brother.
And similarly to Peter's relationship with Johnny, his relationship with Reed is different - and in many ways, better, than it is with his other mentor - Otto - because he can discuss his super hero related gadgets and findings with Reed! Which is always such a thrill and so, so helpful!
Or Ben, who would be like the fun older brother that teaches him how to play card games! Whatever that is not poker, since he got annoyed when Peter started calling all his bluffs with no issue. They have even sparred twice or thrice so that Spidey can have more insight as to how to deal with bigger and stronger opponents - like The Rhino - while Ben learns how to deal with fast and agile ones.
They were of course forbidden from injuring each other - which is more of a rule for Ben, since… c'mon. Rule placed by Sue, obviously.
And speaking of Sue… She is like the wise and motherly older sister Peter never thought he wished to have. She's so smart, wise, funny, protective and someone Peter can just sit down and talk with without the need to be either 'Spider-Man' or just 'Peter Parker', but truly himself.
And more often than not, Peter finds himself speaking his true feelings and burdens with her… as much as he allows himself to share anyways. And Sue has responded to that sentiment with her talking about her genuine feelings and concerns as well; feeling somewhat relieved to have a fresh perspective from someone outside her immediate circle.
Which helps with the fact that she knows his name and what he looks like underneath the mask, and so does little Franklin.
The little ball of sunshine that seems to love being babysat by him.
Unfortunately, Peter is not a member of the family, not really. He's just someone friendly that has known them for a few months by now. He likes them all very, very much… but not so much as to even reveal his face to the rest of the team, so he's not about to tell them what he did.
He can't.
No matter how much he actually wants to. No matter how much he wants to keep hanging out like he has always been with the family or how much he actually wants to keep babysitting Franklin.
Something he will never do again. Because how could Peter take care of a little kid - one that he is extremely fond of - while knowing how dangerous he is? After what he did?
It wouldn't be fair. Not to the family, not to the parents and definitely not for sweet little Franklin. Peter needs to make a decision about how he wants his relationship with the Fantastic family to be moving forward.
And for that, he needs to visit them. Which after leaving them without any form of communication, he would need a good explanation and perhaps a small gift or something.
He just got 200 bucks from Jonah, and perhaps he should be saving every little penny he can get his hands on… but he can surely spend a bit for a cake or something without problem, right?
Something big that the whole family can enjoy.
With that in mind, Spider-Man went full costume on to a pastry shop, already trying to plan just what to tell his super-powered friends.
….
Spidey arrived rather quickly to the Baxter Building, still a few hours before the sun started showing signs of turning orange at the edge of the west horizon, and landed on their landing pad up top of the building.
It had become a custom of Spidey to arrive there since it would be too much of a drag to be in the lobby like everyone else who may be doing whatever they do there.
Instead, he easily reaches the almost-top of the futuristic building and rings on the bell the family had there. Peter honsetly can't remember if the bell was always there or if Reed had it installed after Peter had agreed to babysit Franklin whenever they had particularly tricky missions.
But it was really convenient for Peter, because soon enough HERBIE answered "Greetings, Mr. Bug-bro! Do you have an appointment with the family?"
"Hello to you, HERBIE. Did Johnny ask you to call me that?" Peter sighed with a little smile, always entertained at how HERBIE calls him with different funny names whenever he comes due to his blond friend.
"He did!" HERBIE agreed easily with some humor in his advanced mechanical voice while he scanned the hero with a blue light from head to toes to check vitals, suit material and his voice to make sure he is indeed the real Spider-Man.
One can never be too careful about safety when you live in the most technologically advanced building with super heroes as residents after all.
"Figures" Spider-Man mumbles as he shows the cake in his hands for the robot to analyze as well "but uh, no I don't have an appointment or anything. I just came to visit. See how the gang is doing, y'know?"
"Of course!" HERBIE answered happily as a green light appeared on top of the doorbell and the door slid open to the sides, leaving enough space for someone big enough like The Thing to waltz in easily "Most of the family are in the common living room. Enjoy your stay, Mr. Bug-bro!"
"Thanks HERBIE. You're a charmer" Spider-Man fondly rolled his eyes and waved his hand as he walked past the door, heading towards the living room he was off-handedly instructed to go.
So he walked there while coming up with whatever excuse he was gonna have to their questions… if they even had any. They also probably didn't even notice Spider-Man supposedly gone missing for little less than three weeks.
Which, admittedly, would hurt just a bit. But whatever works best for him, right?
"Spidey! Dude, where have you been?!" Johnny calls out the moment his red and blue suit is able to be seen from the corridor.
Johnny was playing a video game on the huge television while Sue was reading a book next to a sleeping Franklin in his cradle - which he is now startingbro look a bit small for him - next to her brother in the big and comfortable looking blue couch. While Ben was merely watching Johnny in boredom in his special singular chair, made specifically for him and his 'special needs'.
It was a pretty lazy day for the Fantastic Family.
"H-hey, everyone!" Spider-Man answers dumbly as he quickens his step a little bit to reach the room faster "how have you guys been?"
"Heh, can ya' believe this guy?" The Thing days as he points at Spidey with his thumb in a mocking manner, only to look back at Spider-Man with a stern look "we were worried about yer' web-patterned tushie, y'know?!"
"R-really?" Spider-Man asked as his lenses widened slightly and he hunched his back a little, showing he felt bad hearing that.
"Duh!" Johnny replied as he tossed his control away and stood up. Peter could see some hurt behind his angry eyes "my sis was ready to send a damn search party for you!"
Spider-Man turned to see Sue, who also had a similar hurt expression behind the one she was currently wearing. But unlike Johnny, she was looking more embarrassed than anything with a sheepish smile and blush on her face.
"I-I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to worry anyone like that" Spider-a man said with clear shame in his voice as he scratched his nape, balancing the cake under one hand.
"I-it's fine, Spidey" Sue dismissed with what she tried to make it seem like an easy tone, thinking that perhaps she was exaggerating earlier this week when she became worried for her missing friend.
But how couldn she not be worried? Spider-Man has been spotted every single day, every single week, all year long without missing a single day. Not holidays, not during breaks, not when it stormed so badly she knew for a fact he couldn't swing properly.
No matter what happened, Spider-Man was always there, doing his best to help the city with his amazing powers without caring for bad press or anything like that.
Always there…
And then suddenly, he wasn't.
Reed pointed out one day during dinner that Spider-Man had not been mentioned to be seen in any news outlet or social media network in almost three weeks some days ago, which made Susan feel somewhat uneasy.
Peter is a sweet boy, and of course he is powerful enough to take care of himself against those monsters he fights on the daily. But everyone can have a day off, right?
So what happens when he suddenly disappears and worse, doesn't answer her when she calls him? Sue began fearing the worst. Perhaps someone finally got the best of Peter and he is being blackmailed for his identity, or perhaps he was taken! M-maybe he was… maybe someone truly defeated him and his body is somewhere six feet under.
Three weeks is not much, not by a long shot. But for someone who makes daily appearances and is one minute - one single mistake - away from death? It's perhaps a little too much.
And Sue is unable to contact Peter any other way that isn't by his phone, which is also dreadful. Of course, Sue could've told Johnny to write a message in the sky, but what if he really was in trouble and whoever got him was waiting for exactly that?
Sue told her concerns to the group Saturday night, and while the team wanted to deny something bad could have possibly happened to the web-head, she still felt uneasy.
And then Sunday night came, where she was seriously considering going out as a family to search for their unofficial fifth member, when HERBIE happily announced that Spider-Man was spotted leaving some robbers webbed up in a drug store with one of his custom sticky notes.
And she, together with the whole family, felt an immense relief. Relief that was honestly paired with some hurtful feeling.
Because, where could he have been? Why didn't he tell them? Why didn't he answer Sue? And why did he not check on the family right away?
Well, he seems to be here now with an apologetic feel to him and what she assumes is an apology gift in the form of a - honestly kinda cheap, based on the brand - cake on his hands.
"Can you just explain what happened? Why have you been gone for some time?" Sue requested as she gently placed the book to her side while she looked at Spider-Man with a soft and expectant look.
Peter had to steel his nerves because of the way everyone's attention was now on him, but he just let out a small awkward laugh, one that Sue could now recognize as him being nervous.
"It's a dumb thing actually" Spider-Man started saying as he walked over to the table in the middle of the room and left the cake there "my family and I went on a trip to California this past three weeks. And we did so after spring break because we got the dates mixed up.
I would've called you and everything, and I'm sorry Sue for not answering your call that day either, it's just, uh... Well, I honestly forgot my 'business' phone here, so…" it was a lame and poor excuse, he knows it. But what else could he say that wouldn't worry them? Embarrassing himself a little with a fake accident is literally the only thing Peter came up with.
The family remained quiet for a moment, squinting their eyes at their friend as they assessed his words and his whole demeanor. He was clearly flustered and embarrassed, plus if he truly had any problem, he would have had the confidence to ask for their help, right?
Johnny and Ben smiled as they concluded that Spider-Man told them the truth. But Sue didn't believe Spidey's words.
She wants to believe she has known him long enough to know that there is no sense in the excuse he just gave. Peter's family is not interested in leaving New York unless it's for Boston - his words - and they don't even have money to do so!
Why would his aunt want to leave for California? What happened with his school? Why does it seem to her that he is purposely leaving clues specifically for her to figure out the fact that he is most definitely lying?
"Hah! See Suzie? I told ya' the kid wasn't in trouble" Ben laughed as he relaxed his posture. He was also slightly worried for his little buddy when Sue pointed everything out, but three weeks was too short of a time to worry about anything.
Plus, Ben knows Spider-Man is pretty capable of taking care of himself.
"The only trouble he has is that he's not as smart as he thinks he is if he forgets his phone like that" Johnny teased as his posture also relaxes, happy to see his friend back all safe and sound.
"I'm still smarter than you though" Spider-Man replies in the same teasing tone, making Ben bark a laugh out loud.
"Hah! He got ya' there, flame-brain" The Thing keeps on laughing as Johnny starts complaining with a betraying fun smile on his face, prompting Spidey to continue his quipping against his friend.
And Sue remains quiet, watching the boys act and play around as if nothing had happened. They took Spider-Man's excuse easily and aren't questioning it anymore. Why would they? Why is she?
And of course she feels happy to see this relaxed and happy mood in her home, which always happens when Spidey comes around. But her knowing that Peter is hiding something really gnaws at her.
She needs to make an opening to talk with Peter one to one so as to not call him out in front of the other two.
"Spidey?" Sue talks again for the first time after a few minutes of staying quiet next to her son, making all three boys stop whatever they're doing and look her way "would you like to have dinner with us today? I'm sure Franklin and Reed would be happy to see you're back from your 'vacation' ".
"Oh, that's a nice idea, sis!" Johnny happily said with an almost evil and mocking grin "that way that god-awful cake won't go to waste".
"What?" Peter asks as he looks over at his gift with worry "what's wrong with it? I love this cake!"
"Ya' do?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow and a fun smirk on his face "not only do ya' have cheap taste, you also have a bad one. Everyone knows the pastry shop down in Yancy Street has the best cake in da' whole town".
"… okay, maybe it's cheap, but I bet whatever you want that this is gonna be better than whatever soggy mess of bread they sell in Yancy Street" Spidey challenged as he crossed his arms in defiance, but with a clear entertained tone in his voice.
"Ooohh, Spidey's dissing your beloved street" Johnny mocked as he moved one hand as if it were burnt while the other hid his mouth "Me? Personally? I wouldn't let that slide~".
"Ooohh, Johnny's saying you got no backbone~" Peter teased just as his flamey friend had, trying to get under his rocky friend's skin while making Johnny snort out loud.
"Yeah? Imma' make you both eat those words one of these days" Ben said with the same challenging expression as both teens "next time ya' stay to have dinner I'll bring over a true delicacy, and ya' two brats will see what's really good!"
"But you are staying today, right?" Johnny said with an excited look in his eyes directed at Spider-Man again "because I can't wait for you to hear about our adventures on the moon!"
"Whoa, wait, what?! You guys went to the moon?!" Spider-Man's eyes practically shined behind his lenses with awe "is that where you guys went for spring break!?"
"We don't have spring break since we aren't in school, webs" Ben said with a proud smile and mocking tone "but yeah, we stayed up there for da' whole week".
"Whoaa" Spider-Man breathed out lamely while Ben puffed his chest up high in pride.
"And most interestingly, I met a hottie that knew how to identify a stud, since she didn't leave my side for one second!" Johnny added with a dreamy look on his face, remembering meeting and talking for hours without end with the princess, Crystal.
"Uh, what?" Spider-Man asked with a dumbfounded voice, not really understanding his friend " 'A hottie'? What do you mean 'a hottie'? Like, you met a girl on the moon? Were there other astronauts there?"
"Heh, it's a little more complicated than that; if you catch my drift" Ben answered for Johnny, enjoying as always the teenager's awe for their life.
"Wh-?! Like aliens? There are aliens on the moon?!" Spider-Man could barely handle his excitement at the news, causing Johnny and Ben to snicker at him. Sue was beginning to get impatient though "T-that's so crazy! That's…! But wait, Johnny, what happened with Dorrie?"
"Oh, uh, she and I took a little break" Johnny admitted somewhat sadly. He really likes the brunette, but she doesn't like his heroic lifestyle and he feels like she is a little too much of a killjoy. They ended on friendly terms, but it still stings a bit.
"Damn man, sorry to hear that" Spider-Man mumbled ashamedly, not meaning to bring down the mood yet again. But Johnny merely shrugged.
"Eh, it is what it is" Johnny said as his smile returned "but dude, wait until you hear about this chick. She's like an actual princess of-"
"Wait. Flames, slow down yer' train for a bit" Ben interrupted his other member before he revealed everything "maybe we should wait for stretch-o before revealing everythin' - everythin'. Y'know? No offense, webs".
"I-it's fine" Spidey waved his hand to ease Ben's gaze, knowing that he meant nothing bad when implying they should keep things secret from him before being completely sure about telling him "I understand".
"I'm sure Reed will want to tell Spidey everything himself" Sue said with a wave of her hand "that is, if he is really going to stay with us today?"
Her question prompted both men to look towards their friend once again with expectant looks, and Peter internally sighed. Not a tired or annoyed one, but rather a content one, liking how it feels to be included.
He thought for a second, and remembered that he really didn't have anything to do. May would be at FEAST until late today due to budgeting reasons, Emma is busy with her family's affairs and he really has nothing going on.
"I-If I'm not imposing or anything, then sure! I'd love to stay!" Spidey's words made the family happy, and so Ben was the first that happily stood up.
"All righty then!" Ben said as he started walking to the hall with a smile on his face "Lucky you, I'm on cookin' duty today, so I'll head to the kitchen to start ma' aunt's special soup that ah' just know ya're goin' to love! It's got dat' special zing to it!"
The young hero has already stayed for dinner, but for The Thing's growing frustration, it was always someone else's turn to cook. Until now at least. He will finally show off Aunt Petunia's culinary knowledge for someone outside of the family - finally!
"…ya' don't have anything against garlic, do ya'?" Ben paused at the hallways edge to look back at Spider-Man with narrowed eyes "or against a kosher meal? Or just… something you can't eat?"
"Uhm… p-peppermint scratches my throat in a funny way" Spidey admits as he recalls any allergies or other, but he only found that "I'm not a picky eater otherwise. I'll eat anything you place in front of me happily!"
"Atta boy!" Ben smiled excitedly once again, turning around in his heel to work his magic on the kitchen.
"Peppermint?" Sue asks as she is momentarily distracted by that not-so fun-fact about her friend.
"Wait!" Johnny exclaims with his index fingers raised in front of him as if in pause before Spider-Man had the chance to speak "I know for a FACT that spiders are weak against it. So, did your weakness against it come from before the bite or after it?"
"Uh…" Spider-Man mutters lamely about the answer "after…?"
"…Eeewww! That's so freaky!" Johnny exclaimed out loud with a big-fun grin and a shiver going down his spine as he thought about it in the few heartbeats that passed in silence, making Peter feel extremely embarrassed.
"W-what?" Peter asked as Sue scolded her brother with a loud 'Johnny!'.
"Think about it!" Johnny defended himself with his hands raised up in mock defense, still with his grin present "if he became intolerant to the same foods as a spider, then that means he also likes the same foods! He eats insects!"
"What!?" Peter asked dumbfounded "Eeww! I have never eaten any insects, and I never will!"
"But you would like them!" Johnny exclaimed again with a shit eating grin.
"That's so dumb" Peter breathed out mildly annoyed and equally entertained "if that's the case, then you would love to eat timber".
"Maybe I do and I just don't know it yet!" Johnny claimed victoriously "rather eat wood than insects anyways".
"…what would Ben eat then?" Peter wanted to argue further about how he does NOT eat insects, but the thought of food and their nature got Peter curious.
"Hmm" Johnny hummed as he also thought about it with his hand scratching his chin with a thoughtful expression that does not look serious due to his smile. At least for a little bit, until he eventually tapped his forehead in a gesture that screams 'obviously' "Duh! He would eat sticks!"
*Ha!* Peter snorted out loud, thinking of how he actually reached the same conclusion but didn't really want to say it out loud.
"Now, Reed is a stretchy man, so he-!" Johnny wanted to keep on the topic while Spidey finished his light chuckle, only to be interrupted by Sue before they moved onto her.
"Johnny, please go set the table" Sue said while trying to keep herself from laughing at their silly theories, still with the gnawing curiosity of Peter's words picking in the back of her mind.
"Daww, do I have to?" Johnny wined childishly to his older sister, slumping his shoulders and all "Spidey just came and I wanted to show him the new grilles and wing on the car I've been working on".
"You can do that after dinner" Sue's voice sounded motherly but firm, while her face started to show signs of wanting to turn into a scowl.
"Oh, come on" Johnny kept whining "we won't take long!"
"Jonathan!" Sue exclaimed as she crossed both her arms and legs from her seat, a full scowl now on her face. She doesn't care for her little brother's stubbornness.
"It's fine, man, we can look at your car after dinner" Peter interrupted while shrugging his shoulders to stop an argument from forming between the siblings "I don't have anywhere else to be tonight".
Johnny considered his friend's words while trying to match his sister's scowl, not wanting to back down from what now appears to be a staring contest. Unfortunately for Johnny, Sue's gaze is much scarier.
"Yeah, okay, fine" Johnny concedes with a defeated sigh and his arms raised above his head in mock surrender "but seriously dude, prepare to have your mind blown when you see my sweet, sweet ride".
"My socks are already falling" Spidey quipped from his place as a smiling Johnny walked past him with a pat on the shoulder after grabbing the cake. He was heading to the kitchen anyway, no sense on leaving it here now.
"…" after Johnny left, silence flooded the living room. And there, an understanding was made that there was something more serious that Spider-Man wanted to tell Sue and only Sue.
And that made her heart skip a beat when the realization of her bieng right hit her.
"Well, don't be shy now" Sue said as she tried to show her friend a reassuring smile that faltered a little bit "come sit down".
Sue was on the left edge of the three seated sofa, and she patted the place next to her. She saw as Peter hesitated to do so just for a moment - a moment where he very wearily looked at her left and saw the napping form of her baby - before sitting down on the far right, clearly making as much space between them as he could.
"Thanks…" Peter mutters with his voice - his real and genuine voice that is slightly deeper than what he was talking to Johnny with. He intertwined his fingers with each other and rested his elbows on his thighs, avoiding looking at her in favor of the floor "so, how was the moon for you?"
'…small talk' Sue noticed inevitably after the question was made, feeling slightly confused and relieved at the same time that he chose not to delve into the truth right away. She answers honestly nonetheless, with a gentle tone and a warm smile that he is unable to see "it was really fun. The people there… They are all good people. Good friends".
"Heh, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that there are aliens living on the moon" Peter admits softly while playing slowly with his fingers.
"I understand that" Sue answers with a soft giggle of her own "but with the craziness of our lives, there are now few things that really make me gasp".
" 'The craziness of our lives'… I suppose you're right" Peter matches her light giggle with a low chuckle of his own, agreeing deeply with that notion "more than a year ago, I wouldn't have been able to wrap my head around my current life either".
"And yet you did" Sue says encouragingly "we all have. And we have changed for the better due to it".
"You… really think so?" Peter asks with some hesitation on his voice, looking at her with those big and emotionless lenses for the first time since he sat down.
"Of course I do!" Sue exclaimed with no doubt in her mind; slightly worried for how Peter asked it but with a reassuring smile nonetheless "I wouldn't change anything about my life as it currently is".
Sue's life has been a series of events that changed her into who she is.
When her mother died, when her father began drinking, when he was ultimately arrested for murder and she moved with Johnny to her aunt's boarding school, when she fell in love with Reed, when she moved with him to California and she was a naive girl with no idea of what to do.
She studied what she wanted, and she became an expert on her field with a doctorate to show for it. But it wasn't what she was really looking for in her future.
When she boarded the Marvel-1 with Reed, Johnny and Ben, she became an adventurer.
Everything continued to change drastically after that. She became a powerful mutate, a hero, an icon, malice, someone stronger than she could have ever fathomed in her youth.
She became invisible.
And it was scary because she felt no one was ever going to see her again. Not truly. Even when her powers were not activated, she felt like she was trapped inside the tower she came to call 'home' and had no choice whatsoever in her destiny due to how her life was forever altered.
Worse, she felt like she had trapped her little brother together with her, and that his change was her fault. She was meant to protect him, and she had failed miserably.
Then change came once again. A happy change.
She became the bride to the man she has always been in love with, and with her new status as a wife, came her child.
And she had finally felt more seen than she ever could have imagined thanks to the members of her family. They were all there with her, all changed but all happy nonetheless.
Her life has been a rocky one, filled with tears, doubt, regret and an an extreme sense of fear. And yet, it has also been the most exciting and fun adventure she continues on living every single day. Every single moment is a small adventure that she is fortunate enough to share with the family she adores so much.
Her life has been hard; filled with change without asking for her consent. And she loves it. And she wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
And she gets along so well with Peter because he's someone that is able to understand her better than almost anyone in the whole world.
Outside of her family, Peter knows best what it's like to be at the mercy of changes so drastic, sudden, unpredictable and jarring that throws their entire world upside down while still trying to be as normal as they originally were.
Because Peter Parker and Sue Storm were 'normal' before they changed. And that is something unique to them.
Reed Richards was always so obviously special and talented due to his mind. The smartest man to have ever lived - a mind that came once every few generations if ever. He was always destined for greatness.
Ben Grimm, even with his financially challenged upbringing and heart of gold he humbly wears, was also meant for big things. As a high school football star, a full paid scholarship university student, the best pilot of the Air Force's history and one of the few people in history to be able to be an actual astronaut, Ben was always meant for greatness.
And Johnny… Sue has always seen the stars in his future. She has been witness for years and years to that drive and eagerness of her little brother to shine brightly amongst others. And he has always been good at it - much more with his natural charisma and the fact that he was the youngest race car driver ever.
And it has always been a bit scary for Sue as his caretaker, because she has always been able to see that her baby brother was born for greatness.
And she… she has always been told by everyone that she too is marked for greatness. That she is as smart as she is beautiful, that she is as kind hearted as she is strong willed, as brave as she is compassionate, as capable of everything she does as she is able to do everything she doesn't want to.
And now, she is as powerful as she is great. That she is simply fantastic.
Sue is beyond proud of herself, what she has achieved through sweat and tears and of how she came out on top of everything that wanted to push her down. She is not insecure or ashamed of anything that makes her who she is.
But she is no god, and she never intended to be one.
Whatever it is she wanted to be when she was young, whatever dreams she's had… she had no choice but to accept who she is now. And she made the most of it with the poeple she loves.
And while Peter is in the same situation, he is still fighting to keep the normalcy in his life alive. Despite being as incredibly smart as a very young Reed, as young and rash as Johnny and as pure hearted and incredibly strong as Ben is, Sue still believes that Peter would have a chance at being 'normal'.
Chance that she no longer has
And the fact that he was alone when he changed, the fact that tragedy struck when it happened and he still chose to become a hero while wearing a mask to keep his family safe - his life as it was for the sake of everyone he knows…
That is strength.
And it would not be that of a stretch to say that Sue admires Peter's.
"… something has to change" which is why Sue's worry returns heavily to her when Peter mumbles those words under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear.
"W-what do you mean?" Sue asks with that same worry thick in her tone, which only makes Peter cower a bit into himself.
"I… I am sorry, Sue" Peter apologizes as an answer, his words heavy and even somewhat sad while looking away from her again; now looking back at his interwoven fingers instead.
He… doesn't know how to tell her that he won't be babysitting her son anymore while still keeping the friendly relationship he has with the family without revealing his insecurities and fears to her.
Which may prove to be an incredibly difficult task, given how Sue already knows him better than all of his friends combined.
She knows his name and his alias, his face and his mask, the words of wisdom that drive him together with his initial guilt. She knows what motivates him and even some of his fears.
It's… hard for Peter not to open himself as much as he has with someone who does the same. Someone so admittedly similar to him in the parts that matter the most.
Because just as she knows him, he knows her. Peter wouldn't be so keen to talk about himself as much as he has with her if she didn't talk even more about what troubles her after all.
So Peter knows more or less how she might react to the news. And to avoid that, he will simply apologize and say his piece.
Sue meanwhile felt her stomach drop slightly at his words and tone. There were many things Peter could be sorry for; being gone for three weeks without any communication, not answering his phone and worrying her… lying right now about his whereabouts… but Sue wants to hear it clearly from him.
"W-Wha….? What are you sorry about, sweetie?" Sue fixed her tone, and questioned with a motherly voice that she knows Peter is weak against. That soft and gentle tone laced with a level of worry behind it that really seems to hit home with him.
It makes Sue feel ashamed of herself a bit for using it as a 'weapon' against the boy.
Because it had taken a lot of time after Peter revealed himself to Sue - at least his face and first name - for him to talk about his family. And almost being twice an orphan with just his mother figure still by his side would almost definitely have some kind of consequences for the boy.
And she is 'weaponizing' the love Peter has for his own 'mother' with her demeanor to satisfy her own selfish curiosity.
But she is doing it solely because she is worried for him! Because whether he realizes or not - wether he wants it or not - he has become a part of her extended family. And he looks like he needs some type of help right now.
"I… I don't think I can baby sit Franklin ever again" Peter admits with shame in his voice, still unable to look her in the eye.
And Sue almost gasped at that. Because, why? Her son adores Spider-Man as a hero and is extremely fond of Peter as a babysitter and (almost) uncle!
Why would he say such a thing!? Why does he say it while looking so obviously against that idea!? Why now!?
A week before the whole family went to the moon to talk with The Inhuman Royal family, they held Franklin's second birthday party. And the baby had insisted very thoroughly that Spider-Man just needed to be there and celebrate it with him in between babbles and the few words he had managed to know.
For an almost 25 month old, Franklin was learning how to speak with an astounding speed.
And his birthday was just such a great time for everyone! She remembers that day as if it was just yesterday; it was a perfect day! There were balloons and presents and cake and no supervillains like The Moleman to get the family's attention or Big Wheel to get Spider-Man's.
It was just a perfect and fun day that was immortalized by Peter himself when he took out a camera from the backpack he also brought Franklin's present in - a Spider-Man themed pajamas that Franklin loved and Johnny mocked for being too 'narcissistic' of a gift.
A literal family photo between the six of them, framed on both Franklin's bedroom wall and on her own.
So why would Peter say he won't babysit him again all of a sudden? Did… did someone in the family do something to Peter to warrant this? She knows that it can't be something that Peter did to them since they would know thanks to their super advanced building - which is the place where most of Spidey's interactions with the family occur.
Sue is not sure her theory is correct. In fact, she is not sure about anything right now. Which is why she presses for an answer.
"W-what? Why? Did-did someone from the family do something?… W-was it me?" Sue's questioning went from hurried to a shy tone when she thought of the possibility of it being her, the one that might've done something that caused this from her young friend.
But Peter shot down the idea pretty quickly "N-no! No! Of course not! It's not something any of you did! All of you are great, really awesome and I couldn't ask for better friends! I-it's something about me…".
"What is it then!? Why would you say that!? What could have possibly happened for you to-!" Sue asked with a little too much emotion. So much so, that she even cringed to herself when she saw the way Peter tensed.
One does not question someone as private and secretive as Peter quite like this. Especially when he seems to be struggling just to get the 'easy' part out.
She's going to scare him away like that.
"…I just… Please don't think that it's not because I don't want to, or because Franklin did something! T-that's not the case at all!" Peter hurried to say after he saw the downcast look on her face "and-and I'm really sorry for this, Sue. And I'm sorry for-for not answering the phone, for lying about where I…".
Even with the mask on, Sue could easily see that Peter closed his eyes tightly in regret as he said that last part. And Peter did in fact curse his loose mouth.
Because he had everything planned out before arriving at the Baxter building. What he would say, the excuses, the lies, all of it. However, he wasn't really prepared to see how really worried Sue is for him, and that made him drop almost all barriers.
Because Peter is ashamed to make her feel that way. She and her family have been nothing short of fantastic with him and he is repaying that with lies, disappointment and something that Peter cringes to think is betrayal.
"…You lied about where you were these last three weeks" Sue says with a statement, a few moments after Peter stops talking. She knows this already for a fact, and she suspects Peter is aware that he laid the clues necessary for her and only her to know that.
"…yes" Spider-Man's lenses widened a little bit at her before zeroing on the ground yet again "I-I'm sorry for that".
"W-Where were you?" Sue ignores Peter's apology and keeps asking with the same gentle tone from before, searching for the truth "why lie about it?… what happened?".
That… was perhaps a little too many questions for him. She already suspected that he was going to get overwhelmed if she questioned him like that, and while the last thing she wanted is for Peter to put on the 'mask' of comedy he used when trying to escape his own negativity, she couldn't help herself.
And she is conscious that Peter shifting to an awkwardly-'fun' attitude would mean that she lost the chance to have a genuine talk with him - that he would put his defensive barrier to keep her away from him.
And it always hurts when he does it.
Sue however was not expecting Peter to narrow his lenses in a way that made him look critically in thought while also making him look both sadly dejected and almost angry.
Not necessarily angry at her… but… more frustrated with himself than anything. And that got a reaction out of him that Sue had never seen before in his friend.
"I-I'm sorry Sue, I should…" Peter said with a serious and even voice while standing up from the couch in one swift motion "I need to leave".
"W-what? Spidey, w-wait a sec-" Sue said nervously. She is not sure of what to do now that he is quite literally fleeing away from her; something she knows to be uncharacteristic of him.
"Please tell Ben that I'm sorry, and that I'll… try to make it up to him somehow another day" Peter said with the same tone and look on his lenses as he scratched his neck and stepped backwards away from her.
"Spidey, please wait" Sue said with a shy voice as she also stood up; carefully and slowly. The look on his mask, his voice, what he's saying… something bad definitely happened and it makes her really worried about him.
"I can't" Peter says without missing a beat, turning around to walk away "I'm really sorry about all of this Sue, but-but I just can't-".
Peter stops talking as he is forced to stop. He doesn't see what makes him pause in his step, but he doesn't need to see it. The 'feel' about the thing that is surrounding his body and who he is in the room with makes it perfectly obvious as to what is happening.
Sue used her powers to stop him.
"Spidey, please…" sue says with a regretful voice, really, REALLY, disliking how she had to use her powers to keep the boy from walking away from her "I just want to talk".
"…let me go Sue" Peter answered with a low voice that try to hide the pleade it carries without looking back while trying to force his way out of the field that captured him entirely from the neck down. A futile effort, given how he knows Sue to be leagues above him in power "please, let me-".
"Don't shut me out, Peter" Sue responds with an even more pleading tone while saying his name for the first time "I'm not angry that you lied to Johnny or Ben, I don't judge you for choosing to do so and if you… if you really don't want to babysit Franklin again, I'll accept it. But… please, Peter, don't shut me out".
Peter turned around to see the way Sue's eyes were turned into a worried mess, clearly hurt by his actions and words that only leave her confused about it all.
Mad his heart squeezes with the guilt of knowing that is him and his selfish ways the ones that are causing her too look and feel this way. And hurting someone he likes as much as Sue is not part of what being 'better' is.
The better version of himself would not be making one of his closest friends feel that way about and for him. He wouldn't be such a messy burden on them.
He repay the the trust she has shown him by at least giving her an inkling on the truth that made him take such a decision.
"I… I quitted being Spider-Man… for a little while" So Peter finally admits as his lenses shift from sharp to soft and dull; hesitation and worry clear in his voice. And this time, Sue wasn't able to hold her gasp as her eyes widened and her hand went to her mouth as she deactivated her powers.
That wasn't what she was expecting. Not at all. Because she would've never guessed that, for she knows how important the mask is to Peter.
She met him like that after all, the first time she had a positive opinion on him was because of what he said of power and responsibility - he is the family's friend because of the mask.
"W-why didn't you tell us?" Sue asked shyly after changing her shocked face for a hurt one; feeling hurt for feeling like she is not in fact Peter's friend, but only Spider-Man's.
And if Peter stops being Spider-Man, well… what reason would Peter have to be around her and her family?
And she wants to deny that in her mind, because she knows that Peter told her his name because of an important reason. They talk about their feelings and lives beyond the heroic life - of the family. Sue is sure she is the only one that Peter confides in to tell her about himself.
Sue knows that in Johnny, Peter has a best-friend who he can act his age with. With Reed, he has an intellectual connection that is not easy to find anywhere else. And with Ben, Peter shares the experience of being so damn strong - frighteningly so - so they can bond with each other like they can't with literally anybody else.
But Sue has always felt their connection to be deeper - more intimate. She is not a playmate of his age he can fool around the city with, she is not an intellectual sparring partner or mentor, she is not a bond experience over weariness over the 'weak' ones.
She is Sue, and to her, he is Peter.
The orphan boy that became a hero so that what happened to his uncle doesn't happen to anyone else. The boy she can talk feelings with. The boy she trusts her son with.
The boy who is truly her friend and is not awed by her money, beauty or powers. But who befriended her just because of what is in her heart, just like she did because of what is in his.
Peter quitting being Spider-Man? Sue knows Peter well enough to know something really wrong must've happened.
"… I was… I didn't know how to. I think I was… I simply think I was worried" Peter answers her with a broken voice, almost sounding like he wanted to swallow shameful sob while looking away from her into the ground. Sue, hearing him like that, also felt her eyes begin to sting ever so slightly.
It's hard to hear someone so young and so strong as Sue knows him to be, admit to being so - what she thinks is actually - scared. Peter - Spider-Man - is someone that Sue knows to be physically, mentally and emotionally strong.
Not everyone can live the life that the young one has and still be able to see the light through it all; to become a symbol of hope for those in need - one that fights literal monsters alone at his young age.
What could make Spider-Man - Peter - scared when nothing else seems to be able to?
"About what?" So Sue asks as she moves closer to the boy that is still not looking at her.
"About everything" Peter says as he unlinks his hands and starts clenching his right fist over and over, now not really thinking properly about what he is saying "I was scared about what he did, I was scared about what would happen if anyone found out what really happened… I was scared to think that you would all hate me".
"I-I dont understand" Sue admitted quietly, almost in a whisper - almost to herself. Hearing Spider-Man talk like this, hearing how he thought the family could hate him when they weren't even on the planet, it's too confusing and almost dreadful for Sue.
And Peter… still doesn't want to say anything. But at the same time… he really does want to tell her. So he concedes with his dilemma and answers her.
She deserves as much.
"… I did something I shouldn't have done" Peter started talking seriously and without hesitation, gaining Sue's full attention "Something… wrong and awful and disgusting and…
And I did it to a man that had done something terrible and-and revolting and wrong and sinful and… I barely remember what...I-I mean, I remember everything perfectly, down to the smallest detail. But WHY I did it… it's not… I just remembered I got scared… and really angry.
I-I went above what I should've. With my own hand, with my strength that was meant to be used to help. I-I…" Peter stops talking at the same time he stops clenching his arm as both of his arms tremble and his fingers twitch, feeling ashamed of himself as he - yet again - keeps the full truth from someone important to him.
This is as much a he will tell her about it.
And he chose to talk like that because New York is a big city, and despite it being Peter's beloved one, he knows that the city is up to the brim with scum and villainy.
Even if Sue wanted to really know who Peter is talking about, she would never find out. A man doing something terrible? In a city where lives are ruined by the hour by some crazy super-villain? Where it's easier to buy drugs than candy from another country? Where the morality of the people is at an all time low because of all this?
In a city like that, with a population of over 23 million people? Never mind all the tourists and stuff - Sue would never find this person Peter talked about even if she wanted to.
And Peter knows she won't want to out of respect for him.
And Sue then understood what happened - at least she thinks so. She knows that Peter is more than capable of controlling his strength, and Reed had supported that claim before agreeing for the boy to be Franklin's babysitter due to various tests over stressful situations.
But he is still human; prone to make mistakes in the heat of the moment.
So Sue understood that Peter quitted being Spider-Man because he had hurt someone badly… or-or perhaps worse… and that scared him deeply. Enough to drop the mask and fear the possibility of her and the family hating him for it.
And it's sad that Peter would come to that conclusion instead of going straight to them for help. But for a scared kid? It made sense to have doubts. And Sue just wants to get rid of any doubts she may have with one 'simple' request.
"Can… Can you take the mask off?" Sue asked carefully and gently all of a sudden, which startled the boy slightly.
He wasn't expecting that to be the answer she would give him after what he said, so very easily and firmly, he said "No".
"I just want to look you eye to eye, Peter" Sue said with the same motherly tone as before while she closed the distance between them a little bit again "please?".
At Sue's plea, Peter slumped his shoulders, knowing that he is weak against her. She seems so calm after what he said, but it's clear to the boy that she is also very worried about him.
And he really wants someone to worry about him - enough to tell that to his face.
So he does so after a few tentative moments pass. He reaches the edge of his mask from the neck and pulls it upwards in a slow but firm manner. With the mask off, Peter still avoids looking at Sue, because he knows the look both of them have in their face.
And he hates it.
He knows he looks weak and pathetic with his eyes narrowed - fighting any chance of getting tears to form - while his face is reddened with shame and vulnerability. He doesn't want to cry anymore. What would be the point?
When has that ever helped him?
And he just knows that her face is going to show nothing but a pitiful grimace directed his way. Pity he doesn't want from anyone. Ever.
Suddenly, he feels the gentle touch of Sue's soft fingers on his chin, forcing his head to move very gently to look her way. He puts no effort to resist her, why would he? So he turns and is met only with a beautiful and friendly smile.
"You know we would never hate you, right?" Sue asks quietly, surprising Peter quite a bit. But her voice keeps that motherly tone that causes him to unconsciously melt. And Sue says this while closing any distance between them, successfully embracing her younger friend tightly and with a heartfelt hug "whatever it is that scared you so, whatever you did… we wouldn't hate you. We wouldn't judge you or even be angry at you".
"H-how can you say that when you don't even know what really happened?" Peter asks shyly and with a quivering voice, not really hugging her back, but also not resisting her hug.
"Because that's what families do" Sue says while shaking her head, smiling on Peter's disheveled hair as she talks. Noticing how Peter's whole body tensed at the claim, but still offered no resistance whatsoever "we support each other in our worst moments, and we help each other out of whatever mess happened".
"B-but you don't-" Peter attempted to make some type of denial once again, but he was soon interrupted by Susan.
"I don't know, I don't need to know and I don't want to know if you don't want to tell me" She said with a reassuring voice that masked the tight knot she felt in her heart when implying he doesn't trust her enough - quipping at the end; much like he does to hide his feelings "I just needed to see your kind and pretty brown eyes to make sure it's still you".
She doesn't need to know if Peter only broke a man's bone or if he snapped his neck. She doesn't want to know. Because she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Whatever blame she could place on the boy, he is already feeling it. Whatever she could say to ease him, he already heard - since he is back to being Spider-Man, she guesses so at least. It's not really her place to be questioning him about something that could've most likely been traumatizing for him either.
She just wants him to know that he is truly a part of their team, of their lives, of their family. And that she - they - are there for him.
And she knows she made the right choice to let him into her life because she can see he truly cares based on his regretful and sad expression. Whatever happened, he regrets it and it shows deeply in those brown orbs that rest peacefully on his face, and that's enough for her to know that he is truly a good man.
And that he did not say he doesn't want to babysit Franklin with any malice of either part, but just because he was feeling lost.
She, together with her family, can guide him back from whatever pit of regret he was in for him to quit. He just needs to let them in. And Sue knows it'll take time, that she needs to be patient and that there'll be times where both her family and Peter will be hurt by it all.
But she also knows that it'll be worth it at the end of it all. And that's what matters most.
"I-I'm sorry, Sue" Peter apologizes as he finally hugs her back with a tight but careful embrace, still fighting his shameful urge to cry pathetically once again. Something he can't allow himself to do.
He hates being vulnerable and weak. But something inside of him just feels right about being more honest with Sue than he is with most people in his life. A feeling that increases every time they both talk.
"It's fine, Peter" Sue shushed him with that tone and a genuine and gentle smile on her beautiful face; her tone then taking a breathy feel to it as she says "everything will be fine".
And Peter…he doesn't believe those words, not fully. But he really wants to, so he merely nods his head in her embrace without saying anything.
Both heroes stay a few moments longer with their hug, with Sue tracing a gentle palm over his back and Peter controlling his breathing - calming himself down.
" 'Peder'?" When all of a sudden, Peter feels a small tug on his leg as a small and childish voice calls his name, prompting Peter and Sue to release each other and turn to see Franklin standing beside the older boy.
"Good morning, sweetie" Sue says as she bends down to pick up her son, who most likely climbed down his crib and walked to his older friend.
Sue has become both proud and worried at Franklin's insistence to climb whatever he can… maybe there's a downside to her baby idolizing Spider-Man so much.
"H-hey, buddy!" Peter quickly wipes his face from any shows of him being sad from his face to greet Franklin with enthusiasm "how have you been?"
"Yuu o-kay?" Franklin asked with worry at seeing Peter with signs he can recognize of someone being sad, momentarily freezing Peter - making him think of how pathetic he must look to prompt even a baby too see how he is not okay.
But he simply smiled after just a heartbeat passed, and ruffled the baby's blond hair with care "of course I'm okay little dude, something just got into my eye. But tell me, how have you been!? I heard you went to the moon!"
"Mhm! I went-! I went flyin' in-in da…! Roket!" Franklin started saying with sparkling eyes as he bounced in excitement in his mom's arms - who whispered the last word in his ear while walking back into the couch "and-and we fly to da moon!"
"Woah! That sounds awesome!" Peter said as he very sneakily grabbed his mask and started putting it on while Franklin nodded almost furiously in agreement - also following Sue into the couch once again "did you enjoy the moon?"
"Aha! Dere-dere was a small g-! G…! Gabitti! And-and uncle Ben dhrew me up hai' in da' air and mommy yelled at him and-!" Sue smiled warmly as she helped Franklin recount the story of how Ben threw up her baby up in the sky thanks to the low gravity, with Johnny acting as a safety-flying guard and Reed as a bouncy safety net - while Franklin moved his arms dramatically and excitedly.
A story Sue is not entirely too fond of. She knew Franklin was completely safe, and by the way he was giggling and laughing out of his mind was a clear indication that he was having the time of his life.
But it was still a stupid, stupid thing for the 'smartest man alive' to agree to, so Sue scolded everyone heavily that day before they entered Attilan.
But right now, Sue was very happy and content, seeing how Franklin was excitedly talking about the inhuman city while Peter - now masked - was really paying him attention.
Was he believing the messy words of her son? Or was he just indulging him as he would other times? Honestly? Who cares? She only cares about both Peter and Franklin being happy with each other as they have been for so many months now.
"-but daddy said he was goin' on anoder trip, and that I can't go" Franklin words snapped Sue out of her mind, thinking that perhaps he was feeling sad about that. Instead, he was looking excitedly at Peter "so-so wen dey do, can we finish da' movie?"
"Hm?" Peter asks dumbly, making Sue chuckle softly.
"What he means, is that next week we're having another trip to another dimension that Reed found, and since it's new and maybe dangerous, we were thinking that it would be best if he stayed here with you" Sue explained easily at first, but then her eyes softened carefully "that is, if you still want to".
"I-I don't know…" Peter admitted as he looked away from the mother and son duo. Sue understood his hesitation, but her face still dropped slightly.
"Y-yuu don' want to 'sday' ?" Franklin asked with a hurt and nervous expression, originally expecting Spider-Man to agree instantly with a happy tone like always "a-ar yuu angry at me?"
"W-what? No! O-of course not, Franklin! Why would you think that?" Peter answered hurriedly, waving his hands almost comically in front of the baby to show how wrong he was.
"Yuu don' want to be with me…" Franklin answered with a sad and shy pout.
"T-that's not true, I just…" Peter moved his lenses upwards to see Sue, who is giving Peter a small and encouraging smile "…I just want to know if your mom is still okay with me being the one that looks after you".
After 'revealing' what happened with Peter and why he went 'missing' for three weeks, he had to know if Sue even wanted him around her son.
But sure enough, Sue smiled brightly and almost proudly "I couldn't wish for anyone else".
And her response made Peter smile. A real happy and relieved smile underneath his mask that was somehow able to show outside of it. Because truly, he still wants to keep the relationship he's had so far with the family and the kid.
"Well, kiddo" Peter says as he quickly ruffles Franklin's hair in a playful manner once again "looks like you're stuck with me".
"Yay!" Franklin shouts as a bright smile replaces his previous pout "does dat' mean I can hav'
ice cream for dinner again?"
Question that made Peter's lenses widen with nervousness at Sue's sudden serious face and raised eyebrow.
"You gave him ice cream for dinner?" Questioned Sue with an edge to her voice, one that secretly hides the fun smirk that threatens to come out of her mouth.
Because, despite not liking her baby boy eating something so sweet and unhealthy for dinner, it became almost like a family tradition for her to scold everyone for doing so at least once. Including Reed.
And she loves the feeling of Peter being a part of her extended family - even following silly and little traditions like this one.
"… we promised to never let anyone know about that" Peter mutters to Franklin in a playful manner, pretending like Sue cant hear them while still cowering under her gaze.
"O-oh, raight'!" Franklin said with a small nervous giggle, putting his finger in his mouth to make a shushing sound.
"… eh, good enough" Peter answered with a raised thumb, making Franklin giggle louder and Sue roll her eyes fondly. She really likes how her son is so at peace and happy around Peter.
"You know you're not allowed to eat ice cream for dinner, sweetie" Sue scolded her son with a frown, making him cower a bit in her arms.
"I-it vas for da' movie" Franklin tried to justify himself and Peter with a childish excuse and a worried pout, which only managed to raise Sue's eyebrow yet again.
But after a few moments of her eyes squinting at her, she simply slumped her figure with a sigh "it's fine, I won't ground you for that… but just this once!"
"Y-yes, mommy" Franklin said with a relieved tone and a bright smile "dhank yuu!"
"That goes to you too, mister!" Sue directed her squinted glare to Peter next, making him jump slightly "I don't want to hear this happened again, am I making myself clear!?"
"C-crystal, ma'am!" Peter said as he saluted with his right arm, making Sue unable to hold her glare and Franklin giggle once again.
"Good. HERBIE! Could you come please" Sue nodded, only to stand up and then place Franklin on the floor a few steps away from the couch while yelling for the little robot to come, prompting Peter to also stand up next to her "sweetie, do you think you can do mommy a favor and go tell daddy that dinner is almost going to be ready?"
"Aha!" Franklin exclaimed with eagerness, liking the feeling of helping his mom in whatever he can. Plus, visiting his dad at the lab is always fun.
"Oh, HERBIE, good. Please don't let Franklin get lost again" Sue requested as she looked at the little toNot who peeked his white little head from around the corner, who waved a hello for everyone in the room.
"I won't, Ms. Richards!" HERBIE declared as he moved closer to Franklin, who started walking with purpose with the help of his little chubby legs.
It's important for Franklin to get to know his house better, walk as much as he can to be healthy and be taught 'independence' and responsibility from a young age.
"He is growing too fast…" Sue says with a small breath of proudness, which is also something that she has trouble with; as she sees her baby son waddle away from her. If she had a choice, she would keep her baby as he is for as long as possible, but she wants to be the best mom she can be for her son.
"That just means you're a good mom, and that you're doing a great job" Peter replies as he also sees the funny way Franklin walks away. Words which cause Sue to smile fondly.
"Thanks for agreeing to keep on babysitting him" Sue said softly once her son was out of earshot, still looking at the hall instead of looking at the boy "he would've been devastated if you didn't… the whole family would've been".
"Yeah… I would've been too" Peter answers sincerely as he also looks at the hallway, making Sue smile further because she knows that he is indeed saying the truth "Thank you, Sue".
"You don't need to thank me, Peter" Sue said with the same tone as she turned and looked at him again with her gentle smile painting her beautiful face "I just wished that you knew that whatever it is that happened, we would have been happy to help if we were here. And that we would not hate you for making mistakes, but we would give all our support to you, just like we trust you to have our backs".
Peter smiled behind his mask, a smile that she was able to see and reciprocate… without knowing that his is actually a fake smile.
Because the word meant so much more to Peter than she could ever even begin to fathom.
Trust.
Peter… he doesn't trust anyone. Not really. Not fully. Not blindly and completely like he wishes he could. Because he simply can't. And it's not because he doesn't want to, but because he is afraid.
Perhaps he doesn't mean to be this way, and perhaps it is something completely self-destructing that he keeps on doing subconsciously. But to trust someone would be to allow them to know what you really are. And Peter doesn't want that.
He doesn't want anyone knowing more than what he is willing to give out.
He doesn't even trust his aunt fully. Peter only wants to be the perfect nephew - the perfect son for her to know. For his friends, he wants to be the perfect friend back to them. For the civilians, he wants to be the perfect hero.
And he knows that he is far from being perfect. He has done so many mistakes, so many bad things and wrong decisions that the possibility of being 'perfect' is simply null.
And still, he wants to be better than he already is at acting the way he 'should' with who he is dealing with, because that's the goal he will fight to be every single day of his life.
The better version of who he is as a son, friend, hero, worker, civilian, intern, photographer, student, pedestrian, classmate, etc, etc, etc… and to the fantastic four, he wants to be the better version of who he can be as a family member, even if he knows he isn't one.
But you can't get the whole package.
Peter can't be the better version of everything for everyone because even he knows he'll burn out. And that frustrates him beyond belief because he should be!
He should absolutely be the better version of himself and he fights so damn hard to be. He made the realization that that's who wants to be and he even admitted it so to MJ.
But a man so… broken - as Peter often feels - sees the better version of who he is and he knows he is just unable to reach him. He has always known he wouldn't be able to reach his better self, but… it's just so agonizing sometimes.
That's why it hit Peter harder than he would've liked when Sue asked him to trust her, because that would be his better self.
And when asked the question, does Peter Parker trusts Sue Storm-Richards?
…No.
The answer would be no. Because to Peter, trusting someone would mean that they know everything about him. His strengths and weaknesses, his victories and defeats… all of his good deeds, and also his sins.
And while a better Peter Parker would be completely honest with Sue - with all of his friends - someone he really wants to consider family even when he has met her only for a few months… he can't.
He simply can't depend on someone like that.
He can only trust himself with everything that goes on in his life.
But… perhaps he can change that with time. Little steps that make him open more and more to her, and eventually the whole family. And then maybe, just maybe, there won't be a need to hide himself from those who matter to him.
Perhaps he could learn to trust as he seems to crave doing so.
"Parker" which is why Peter suddenly says as he turns to look back at Sue, surprising her with the serious tone of his voice and the fact that he took his mask off again.
It's surprising because even though Sue knows what he looks like and he feels comfortable enough with her to be maskless, he still raises his guard up around the rest of the family. And once he places his mask on again, it doesn't come off.
Until now apparently.
" 'P-Parker'?" Sue lamley asks, not really understanding what the boy is telling her.
"My name is Peter Parker" Peter explains himself better as he sees Sue's eyes widen more "I'm fifteen years old. I live in Forest Hills, Queens. And my last relative's name is May Parker-Reilly".
"I-I, uh, I don't…" Sue was left speechless with a warm emotion swelling at her chest. Peter really just revealed himself, his whole self, to her with a warm and confident smile as if it was something casual to say.
"I have… I have some trust issues. If you haven't noticed" Peter said as his eyes change to show a little bit more vulnerability, yet, he quips anyway "but I do want you to know that I do trust you and the family. more than you could realize.
And that's why I was worried of saying what happened… because I was really afraid of all of you being disappointed in me.
So thank you Sue, for showing me that I was wrong… for trusting me.
And I swear, I'll try my best to reciprocate your trust back with my own… just please, have patience with me to reveal myself to the rest of the family as well" Peter's heartfelt mini-speech and request made Sue's lip quiver slightly, loving to know how she is right in thinking her relationship with Peter Parker is special, even amongst her family.
"Of course, Peter" Sue said with a bright and quivery smile "this'll be our little secret until you feel ready".
"Thank you" Peter said while letting go of a breath he didn't know he was holding for her agreeing to his selfish request "yore the best".
*Giggle* You are not so bad yourself, Peter Parker" Sue said with a giggle, always entertained to see how easy it is for him to lighten the mood "You know? I think I really enjoy learning about you".
"Heh, I guess mystery is part of my charm" Peter quipped with a slightly embarrassed undertone and a blush painting his face, which made Sue giggle softly again.
"You could say so" Sue teased as she saw Peter perk up and look away from her into the hallway as he placed his mask on, where Reed soon walked in with Franklin in his arms.
"Spider-Man! Franklin told me we had a spider here, should've guessed it was you" Reed quipped as he smiled brightly, seeing as his friend had not been in some kind of danger as Sue had suggested some days ago with the way she is smiling pleasantly by the teen's side.
"Sorry to barge in unannounced like this, but I wanted to see you guys after the little vacation I took with my family" Spider-Man replied in a chipper tone while Franklin nagged his dad childishly as to how he did say it was Spider-Man and not just some spider.
"Nonsense! You're always welcome here!" Reed claimed as he eyed Sue very discreetly, who nodded in confirmation of Spider-Man's words. Reed doesn't want to doubt his younger friend, but he wouldn't be a good hero, friend not a smart man if he didn't.
He however won't question Sue, and knowing that she knows him better than he does, he will trust her judgment without hesitation. So seeing everything being well, Reed's smile remained easily in his face "in fact, why don't you stay for dinner tonight? Ben has been dying for someone else to try his food".
"I already invited him and he agreed!" Sue exclaimed proudly while Peter blushed a bit under his mask, nodding at her words.
"Great! Now, just between us, Ben's food always have a disastrous ratio between garlic and… the rest of ingredients, so be warned" Reed said as he shuddered a bit, not really enjoying the food of his best friend due to that small detail, causing Sue to roll her eyes fondly at the dramatics of her husband "don't act surprised when you taste it… and don't tell him I told you".
"I won't tell him" Spider-Man answered with an amused tone that suggested he suppressed a laugh, more so when Reed let out a breath of relief that made Franklin giggle "thanks for the warning though. Now I really want to taste Ben's 'zingy' and garlicky soup".
"Well, shall we head to have dinner?" Sue said, shooting Peter another encouraging smile that he reciprocated from underneath his mask.
"Let's, I'm starving and I bet Franklin is too. Isn't that right you big boy~" Reed started saying with a baby voice as he walked first, making Franklin laugh while Sue shrugged behind him with a smile at the small antic to Peter, who walked next to her.
….
"So, waddya' think of the soup, webs?" Ben asks as he ignores whatever Johnny was rambling on about how realistically Spider-Man should be eating insects while Ben sticks.
"Gotta admit it, I think this is the second best soup I've ever tasted. Really nailing down the comfort of homemade food that restaurants just can't get" Spider-Man says in a chipper voice as he grabs another mouthful, only to claim with a proud voice "of course, it still pales against my aunt's chicken soup".
Words that caused Sue to almost spit her mouthful when she heard Peter talking about his aunt so casually in front of everyone; something he has only done with her - with the rest of the group not knowing of his parental status.
She just had a talk with him of how he wanted to trust everyone more, but she had honestly no idea he was going to it so immediately after!
"Well, aunt petunia does make it way better than I could ever. But yer' aunts'?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow, not taking offense at the claim and instead being more curious at the sudden mention of a family member of Spidey's "doesn't your dear ol' mom know how to cook?"
"Uhm, I'm sure she did know how, but I wouldn't be able to remember even if I tried to" Spider-Man replied with a small shrug, noticing as Reed's eyes matched Sue's own surprised ones as he understood immediately what he's talking about.
"Yeah, some people just don't like to cook. I myself burn everything in the kitchen when I try to" Johnny half laughed as he remembered why he was banned temporarily from the kitchen.
"A shame kiddo, there's nothin' better than a warm homemade meal" Ben replied with a fond shake of his head, also in the same thought wave as Johnny "does your dad cook then?"
"I'm not sure if he did, I'd have to ask my aunt" Spider-Man shrugged once again, now with his hand rubbing his uncovered chin as he mentally questioned himself as to why he hadn't asked things like these before.
"What? You live with yer' aunt or somethin'? That's somewhat similar to-" Ben muttered as he subconsciously looked at Sue and Reed, with the latter shooting him a half-scowl for whatever he was going to say and Reed giving him 'a look' with wide eyes that wanted to convey something. Something he understood "-oh. Oh! Oh…".
"You live with your aunt? It's kinda weird that you also went to live with your aunt, no?" But Johnny didn't see the adults faces, so he asked as he kept on stuffing his face "Do your parents live away from where you study or something?"
*Chuckle* "Something like that" Spider-Man let out a small and shy chuckle as he said that; instinctively scratching his nape as he saw the quiet conversation the three adults were having with their eyes. He kinda jumped the gun with this little reveal of his, but well… he promised Sue he'd try.
And well, this is it. The only thing he hopes with all he has is for no one in the family to apologize or give condolences.
"Johnny…" Sue muttered as she gained her little brother's attention, who turned to look at her with curiosity at her tone.
He is then met with the three adults trying to give him clues as to what is happening, which took Johnny 4 exact seconds before his narrowed and confused eyes into wide and unbelieving ones.
"Holy shit! You also got orphaned and got sent to live with your aunt!?" Johnny sputters out loud as he bangs his hands on the table and gets closer to Spidey "That's crazy! Something exactly like that happened to all of us!"
"Jonathan!" Sue scolds with her voice raised up high at the crass way his little brother asked Peter of his parents fate, not liking it all - much less because of the way Franklin physically reacted at the noise of the bang and all the rattle of the cutlery.
"Oh, come on! It is crazy, right!?" Johnny asks around the table, looking for anyone to take his side - to then feel embarrassed when his eyes land on his friend, who is looking at him with what Johnny suspects is an entertained smile. So he says in a totally serious and genuine voice "also dude, I'm terribly sorry for your loss".
Everyone is unable to see how Spider-Man closes his eyes tightly at the apology thanks to how he expertly kept the rest of his face from twitching in the slightest.
"Oh come on, there's absolutely no need for you guys to be sorry or even awkward about it! This happened a few months shy of being a decade away!" Spider-Man shrugged with a wave of his hand to try and lighten the mood even if just a bit, still with his eyes closed tightly.
"A decade? Damn, ya' must've been pretty young" Ben claimed as he rubs his chin, thinking of how he also lost his parents - but he when he was in his teenage years.
"It was before I turned six, so I don't really remember them all that well" Spider-Man confessed with a small and gentle smile. His parents have always been… something that stirred many emotions within him, so he doesn't really want to think of them like that right now; which made him also reveal his age.
"So you're fifteen" Reed notes out loud almost immediately with an even voice, noting how he was correct in assuming so by Spider-Man's attitude, height and voice.
"Ha! I knew you were younger than me!" Johnny boasted proudly while pointing a victorious finger at Spidey, feeling good for some reason.
"Im still more mature than you'll ever be" Spider-Man replied childishly as he raises his chin up, making Johnny grumble some words under his breath.
"Yer' both making good points" Ben notes as he nods with wisdom, pointing one finger to Johnny and then to Spidey as he talks "Web-head - and everyone really - is more mature than yer' flamey tushie will ever be. And it is actually crazy how similar our stories are. Because I don't know if you know it, but I also ended up livin' with my aunt and uncle after my parents kicked the bucket".
"Hey!" Johnny complained as Ben tried to relate to his young friend, not being able to see the relief on Peter's face as no one else seemed interested in saying their condolences.
"Really? Huh, I didn't know that" Spider-Man lies with a breathy tone, knowing this already thanks to Sue, who had shared the team's family stories to him before in one of their talks. No point in saying he knew and shutting Ben up rudely like that.
"Yep, after both my parents and brother 'left', my aunt Petunia and uncle Jacob were the ones that looked after me and straightened my 'rebellious attitude' " Ben said proudly with a reminiscing smile of the time when he was a young gang leader.
"Yeah, it happened like that to me as well" Spider-Man nodded as he thought of Ben and May taking him, but then he corrected himself "I mean, I was as rebellious as a five year old could be, and I didn't have any brothers… or cousins for that matter".
"That's tough, man. I lucked out with Sue over here - without her, I don't know what I would've done in aunt Marygay's boarding house" Johnny said as he shot Sue a genuine and soft grateful smile, saying those words with nothing but the truth; causing Sue's chest to swell with warmth and love. But then he quickly turned to look at Spidey and shot him a warning look while pointing at him with an accusatory finger "and if you laugh at my aunt's name I swear we'll have smoked spider for dessert!"
"Woah, easy there hotshot. I ain't that kinda jokester" Spider-Man quipped as he raised his hands in mock surrender, trying not to think on how he was actually just about to make some kind of joke about it.
"Well, I'm sure you already know it, but my mother also passed away when I was young. Then my father had to leave for work, where he left me at Sue's aunt's boarding school" Reed also joined in the conversation after a look from his wife, who pinched him under the table for him to stop thinking whatever he was thinking and talk to his friend - who was clearly doing something big for them.
They all know how secretive and private Spider-Man is, so him talking about his personal life like this is a huge step forward and everyone knows it.
"Yuu don' have a mommy?" Franklin asks Spider-Man from his baby chair on the other side of Sue with a confused and worried look, not really understanding what everyone is saying.
"… I do have one, I just call her 'aunt' instead of 'mom'. And she's the best one I could've asked for" Spider-Man answered with a soft and slightly serious voice after a few moments went by, in which everyone turned to look at Franklin and then instinctively looked at Spidey to see his answer "and I'm sure you'll love each other when you meet".
Everyone smiled at the words of the fifth unofficial member. Not only because of the nice words he is saying about his aunt, who is someone he clearly loves very much, but because he is also saying he'd like for the team to meet her.
Eventually.
" 'Weally?" Franklin asks with a shy demeanor, but with shiny and hopeful eyes nonetheless. The young kid always likes to meet new nice people, more so because he is always cooped up in this tower of his without much interactions outside of his family.
"Of course!" Spider-Man replied with a chipper and excited tone, making Franklin's own excitement grow.
"And-and yuur' uncle?" Franklin asks with hopes of hearing the same thing and an excited body language. However, everyone was able to see how Spider-Man's smile faltered as his body deflated.
Much like Sue did out of everyone's eyesight, due to her already knowing what happened.
"My uh, my uncle is no longer with us, buddy" Spider-Man revealed with what he hoped was an easy tone while suppressing the intense need he felt of hiding his whole mouth "a year ago he was… uh, you know".
Everyone was left staring at Spidey for a few seconds with various looks. From Sue's understanding one she gave while hiding her mouth with her hand - more so with expectation of what her family would say, due to her already knowing about his uncle - Ben's and Johnny's pity filled ones that Peter tried to ignore, Franklin's oblivious and confused one and Reed's understanding one.
"A year… once you told me that you choose to be Spider-Man because an accident happened" Reed says as he remembers that particular conversation in his lab one particular afternoon, where he asked the young man why go to such lengths for the city to the point of being seriously injured, with all his tech messed up.
One particular hard fight against Rhino.
And he has said his famous words of power and responsibility, but beyond that, something had compelled Spider-Man to sincere himself and talk about the accident that took his uncle's life in an ambiguous manner.
Enough for Reed to know that someone died, and that Spider-Man could've stopped it. And after he didn't, he bowed to save every life he could.
"Was your uncle the victim of said accident?" Reed questions with an even tone, actively ignoring the look Sue shot at him to try and make him stop talking; knowing Peter doesn't like to be pushed like this - much less when it comes to his uncle.
To her surprise, Peter answered sincerely under the expectant eyes of the rest of the team "Yes, my uncle died because of something I did. A robber exited a store and I had the chance to stop him… I didn't. And by some coincidence, my uncle was the one that suffered the consequences of that.
'With great power comes great responsibility'… those were one of the few last pieces of wisdom he left for me. I didn't understand them back then… I'm not sure I do now. But I do know that I won't let something like that happen again" Spider-Man talked in a serious voice while avoiding looking at the team, in favor of looking at his right fist while opening and clenching it repeatedly; thinking of these past few days "I can't…".
Everyone was left silent, without really knowing what to say. The men of the group had heard that phrase repeatedly from their friend, even from when they first met. But they would've never thought it came from someone and something as important to him as this.
It really was something heavy to learn, and knowing him, everyone in the team - but Franklin - know without a doubt that he blames himself for what happened.
"Yuur' uncle?" Franklin asks with his head tilted, really not understanding what the grown ups are talking about. Uncles, robbers, responsibility and who knows what else… without the clue word 'dead', Franklin was really lost.
"Hmm, he is in a trip far, far away" Spider-Man simplified for the little kid with an apologetic tone and smile, not wanting Franklin to understand his baggage just yet "I'm not sure when he's coming back, so sorry kiddo, but I don't think you - or anyone for that matter - will be meeting him any time soon".
"Oh, is he on a fun twip'?!" Franklin replied with a happily, comparing whatever trip Spidey's uncle is with the fun trips his family so often has.
"You know what? I sincerely hope so" Spider-Man replied with a warm tone and a soft smile, feeling his mood starting to return thanks to Franklin's childish innocence.
"Err, webs, thats really…" Ben muttered without a plan as for what to say, same with Johnny who just muttered something like 'damn, that's rough' under his breath.
And Sue wanted to shut everyone up before they said something, knowing how Peter does actually blame himself and he won't be moved from that thought, god knows she's tried. And she doesn't want Peter revealing himself to the family as he is doing to turn into something uncomfortable that sours his mood.
"Spider-Man, I understand that you might blame yourself, but know that-" Reed looked around the table, and decided to be the one to say some words to his younger friend. He however, was soon interrupted by Sue.
"How about a toast then!?" She asks while raising her glass while yelling a bit more louder and roughly than she had initially intended, to then clear her throat to ignore the weird looks she got from her family. Despite them, Sue realized she did the right thing when Peter shot her a small grateful smile, so she continued with her toast "To thise who are no longer with us, to those that stayed despite the harsh moments, and to those we found and we decided to call family at our own choice. Because there is nothing more important than family, assigned or chosen".
Sue smiled with just a hint of nervousness while her family still kept their confused looks on her. Thankfully, Peter followed her lead.
*Snort* "Cheers!" Spider-Man snorted a laugh with a small, but very real, relaxed and grateful chuckle while raising his own glass "…to family".
Taking the hint to change subjects, the rest of the boys toasted as well, still somewhat confused but happy to do so either way. Sue must have her reasons after all.
"Cheers!" Yelled and excited Franklin as he raised his own little baby cup up high and started waving it around funnily. Good thing that it was empty, or he would've made a mess.
This got a small laugh out of everyone as they took a sip of their drink, now with the mood more at ease thanks to the mother-son duo.
"Mmm! Now, you guys have to tell me what that whole thing about the aliens on the moon was!" Spider-Man almost spitted on his glass as he remembered that not-so-little fact, making the whole table smirk.
"I see these guys couldn't keep their mouths shut, eh?" Reed teased with a fun smirk as he pointed at Johnny and Ben, not really minding Spider-Man to know about all of this. On the contraire actually, he was waiting for the right time to bring it up.
"Dude, you're really not going to believe this chick! An actual princess!" Johnny beamed with excitement as he took over the conversation, returning the whole mood back to what it was before Peter's little lore drop.
And Susan smiled as relaxation matched how extremely happy she feels at the sight once the conversation takes flight.
Right now, right here, seeing everyone at the table laughing loudly at something Reed of all people said, enjoying Ben's food - which he specially made to impress Spider-Man - and with both teens playfully bantering every now and then, was just perfect.
And everything felt so easy and relaxed. Almost as if she had a regular family that didn't require to be locked in a tower for security - almost like none of them had powers or situations unique to them that burdened them.
Right now, everything is perfect.
And she couldn't help to think that she in part felt that way because of Peter and the trust he has gifted her andnthe family with.
She has known that he has some trust issues, and they may stem from something deep to him - something she doesn't even know. But she is successfully working her way through all of his defenses so well that she now knows who he really is.
Peter had gifted her whole family with tidbits of his personal life, and he went above and beyond that with her; gifting herthe knowledge of his civilian life. Indirectly, he had given her permission to search him and his aunt without any strings attached.
And she absolutely loves that level of trust, which she will honor however she can. It's the least she can do for family after all.
And she truly wants to consider Peter Parker a part of hers.