Chapter 27 - His Fate - His Choice

Sunday / April - 14 - 2015

12:00 P.M.

"…Hello, Connors" Peter speaks in front of Curt Connors' tombstone, which is right in the middle of Billy's and Martha's own. All stones are different from one another in size, color, shape and, obviously, inscription; all surrounded by a patch of green grass that just can't help itself but feel so contradictory alive.

The inscription on the patriarch's dark and strong edged stone says his name, most important dates and his inscriptions which, much to Peter's chagrin, read 'loving father and husband'.

The day is warm, with a clear sky only painted by a few beautifully white clouds high up above in the sky, moving ever so slightly with the gentle breeze that passes through the city without any care; combing Peter's brown hair softly.

Where he is standing, in the graveyard, Peter is able to hear birds chirping and singing happily as they fly around the sky, uncaring of anything but themselves and the moment they are enjoying.

The teen stands alone, wearing that same suit he has been wearing for every major occasion he's had for over a year,passed down by his uncle, without any company whatsoever in the entire graveyard.

The day is perfect to be with company - to be enjoyed with his loved ones. Or in the very least, today feels like the perfect day to be literally anywhere else and have fun or relax and have it easy, just like everyone else probably is. And perhaps he should be somewhere else too, but here he stands there by himself, gazing at the inscription on that dark stone with three roses in his left hand.

The reason he's there by himself? He wants to visit the people he placed there without any company so he can speak freely.

A week after returning to being Spider-Man, and around a week before his uncle's death.

But now that he stands there, the teen is not sure of what exactly to say. Speaking to the grave of someone that is now missing… Peter did that with his uncle, and has even done it with his parents on several occasions.

And his words always seem to falter as to what exactly he is supposed to say.

"…You know, I probably should've come here sooner. I definitely should've, but… well, I have been very busy lately. Just a few days after I started wearing the mask again, some guys started stealing and killing people nonstop…" Peter started saying whatever came into his mind with a tired sigh as he played with the flowers in his hand, retelling how a group has been doing all types of awful crimes with some kind of agenda under their actions.

But Peter is just unable to piece together what their goal is. Which is very concerning, given the kind of equipment that is being stolen… and the brutality of some of the murder left behind.

"The group - I assume it's the same group at least, since their methods are all the same - attack labs and high tech facilities that won't fight back much. Universities and such things… I haven't caught them or even know who they are… so I have been busy and well… I-I know you can understand why it's difficult for me to be here" Peter kept talking awkwardly as he scratched his neck with his right hand.

"But well, today is Sunday, and with everyone busy, I figured it would be a good day to finally visit. I mean, I did come to your burial with the rest of my class and friends, but I took Gwen's unwillingness to be there for the whole ceremony to escape it with her.

…She was heartbroken, and I took advantage of that. For that, I want to apologize… there are many things I want to apologize for…" Peter sighed once again with shame at his confession of what he did to Gwen, and his reluctance to apologize. But it's something that has to be done.

"Buy I don't want to apologize only to you, but to your family as well" Peter says as he steps to his left side, where Martha Connors eternally rests on Curt's right.

"Ms. Connors… Martha…" Peter begins saying as he bends his left knee in front of her tombstone. The cursive inscription on her white and more rounded stone reads 'loving mother and wife'.

Simple, yet effective.

Peter is unfortunately familiar with tombstones and their inscriptions, given that he has buried more family members than he would have desired to, and he guesses that simpleness is always more effective than long and descriptive texts.

Because how can you summarize the entire life of a person to fit into a single stone? The answer is, you don't. Because you simply can't.

Their personalities, dreams and hopes, fears and dislikes, how many people's hearts they touched with their actions and the experiences earned throughout a life time; you can't summarize a life into a single sentence.

Instead, you write what was more important and significant to the person in question - what really made them themselves. And despite both husband and wife being world renowned scientists, no achievement is of greater importance than family.

Oh… if only Curt had realized that sooner…

Not that it matters either way, no one in the whole wide world knows what happened but Peter. And even then, Peter knows Connors did love his family more than - almost - anything.

"I knew you the least out of your family" Peter keeps on talking, his voice steady and composed despite his inner feelings "but I knew you well enough to mourn you deeply. I knew you to be a great woman, a great scientist, an awesome teacher for Gwen and a great person overall.

I… I also know how much you loved your family, even in your final moments, and that is why before I apologize to you, I want to thank you" Peter takes a moment to gather his thoughts as he looks into the sky for a second with a shaky breath, to then return his gaze to the stone.

"That night, when I was fighting The Lizard, you were the one that had the cure in your hand ready to be used. It was stupid of me to show up to your house empty handed given that the chances of Curt being The Lizard were so high that it's unfortunately what happened.

And without the cure, who knows how much damage he would've caused, who else would have been injured or killed as well… even I saw it really close…" Peter admits with a small shudder as he recalls having his arm almost tone off by the animals to then shake his head to keep his words on track.

"That night I was supposed to save you Martha, but you were the one that saved my life and many others, so thank you.

Thank you for being so brave, for being so smart, so prepared and so loving as to have that ready to help your husband, and most importantly… your son" Peter's voice begins trembling a little as he mentions Billy.

"Which is why… I'm sorry for being late. I-I should've been there sooner for you and Billy, I-I was supposed to be there and I wasn't and I want you to know that I'm-I'm… god dammit… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being late, for allowing this to happen, for what happened. I-I just… I can just say that I'm sorry" Peter's voice started to break as he apologized to the mother he let down without her even knowing it.

And he hates it. He hates all of this obviously, but it's devastating to him that the only thing he can do now is say how 'sorry' he is. It's extremely hard for him to do so given how he hates the word.

…but what else could he do now? There is nothing but regret out of that situation.

So Peter leaves the rose in front of the stone and stands up, wiping his face of any unshed tears already forming in his now glassy eyes.

"… My aunt believes that if you are good in life, then you will be granted eternal peace and happiness next to your loved ones in the next one" Peter says as he steps forward and places his right hand at the top of the stone, softly and gently; remembering every little detail he can remember of the woman.

Their little interaction, the times Gwen talked her up, Curt bragging to him and his classmates about her and even every article he's had the chance of reading that came out of her brilliant mind.

"I honestly don't know if I believe in that. In any of that… but I believe in my aunt, so I believe you achieved the right to be in what she calls 'paradise' next to your son" Peter taps the stone one time before taking a step backwards "and I want to believe - I hope - that wherever you are, that you're happy".

Peter nods to himself at what he's said, feeling somewhat satisfied with the little words he shared with the woman.

Were those words something she might've liked? Something she was expecting from him feom wherever she is? Something he needed to get off his chest to satisfy a selfish desire of forgiveness?

Peter isn't really sure… but his words can't bring any more harm to her than what has already been done. She can't be harmed any more.

So once again, Peter remembers the words of his aunt that told him how he can't control everything that happens, but he can control how to react.

He allowed himself to be consumed by grief and guilt, but not anymore.

Peter will smile, laugh and joke at the chaos and evilness that happens to him to rebel against it, to show that he is stronger than the forces that want to deviate him from his path.

Because that's how he will atone for what he did.

Facing the chaos with a smile.

So that's what he does. He steps away from Martha's stone with a satisfied but shaky smile that threatens to turn into a bitter grimace of grief and sorrow.

A fragile smile that is completely shattered once he steps in front of William 'Billy' Connors' stone. By far the smallest of the three stones, with a gray color and a mix of soft and strong edges that make the perfect blend between Martha's and Connor's own.

'Adored son' his tombstone read in a childish and fun font that encapsulates the innocent life of the dear boy.

"H-Hey, Billy" Peter greets almost shamefully, fighting the lump formed in his throat. Due to it, he started saying whatever caje to mind "you know, you are the one I've seen most out of everyone else in my nightmares… but I know it's not really you.

Because you wouldn't do something like that.

Tormenting me for what I did, taunting me to look at the consequences of my actions… it's just not possible for that 'thing' to be the real you, is it?

Because the Billy I remember is a nice, funny and incredibly brave kid that helped my friend Gwen reach your parent's lab when your dad first had his accident.

Gwen claims that she is the one that helped you, but I think you and I both know that she was the one getting help from you, right?" Peter quips with a shaky lip as he kneels with one leg in front of the stone.

"She was… she was devastated by what happened to you, y'know? She still is…" Peter admits as he looks away from 'Billy' "Of course she was also heartbroken by what happened to your parents, given that they were her bosses… but unlike them, you were her friend.

*Sniff* She talked a lot with Curt about you in class. How nice of a kid you ar- were, how smart, how impossibly energetic…

I would've loved to hang out more with you, just like we did that day in ESU together with Gwen… that was a fun day, wasn't it?" He asks as he leaves the rose meant for the kid in front of him and stands up.

"I hope you are having fun together with your family wherever you are, Billy" Peter says as he places his hand on top of the stone "… my nightmares… I think I have them with you because out of everyone, I feel like I failed you the worst, so I'm… I'm sorry, Billy.

You deserved to live your whole life without what happened to you being a reality. But now you can't be hurt or scared anymore, you are resting peacefully and… and…" Peter tried to find words, but his broken voice and trembling mouth made him unable to speak.

It's not fair what happened to the boy.

No one should experience what he went through - felt what he must've felt. Much less a child so young, nice and with such a bright future ahead of him.

But the deed is done, and Peter can't do almost anything but live with that fact, and one of the few things Peter can do is cling to his aunt's beliefs and hope that Billy is in a better place with Martha, as well as ask him for his forgiveness.

"And I'm sorry Billy" Peter finds the strength to talk once he takes a step back "I-I hope you know and understand that I'm truly sorry for what happened. …You'll be missed".

With that, Peter leaves Billy to go and stand before Curt, where he takes a few minutes to compose himself and gather his thoughts and feelings. He had planned to say so much, but now that he is standing there, he wasn't sure what to say.

So he simply started to say whatever came to mind.

"… I made another scientific gadget in Dr. Octavius' lab" Peter started saying as he looked at the last rose in his hand while playing with the thorns in it - the only of the three flowers with any of them "Well, I haven't told you any of this obviously, but since you know I'm Spider-Man, I might as well start from the beginning"

Thus, Peter started telling Connors about how he came to be Spider-Man and all the gadgets he came up with after the fact, talking casually and sometimes even excitedly when describing his scientific findings.

Because before Curt Connors was anything else for Peter, he was someone the boy looked up to as one of his scientific idols, and 'talking' with him like this is like a childhood dream of Peter's come true.

A very tainted and twisted form of that childhood dream.

"… and with this new gadget that I call a 'spider-tracer' I'm able to track down people with my spider-sense that I told you earlier about" Peter said after more than an hour had gone by, in which he explained everything to Connors.

His choices, his mistakes, his fights, his reasonings and the burden that it had brought on him to lie to everyone he loves to keep the lie alive. He even explained to Connors with an apologetic voice and a small-shy smile the reasons for the times where he was late to his class.

A class that he liked very much.

"… I would've loved it if you could have helped me know what exactly my spider-sense is… I would've loved many things… But there's no use in thinking about 'what could have been', is there? It doesn't matter anymore what I would've wanted to happen, because you made that choice for me - for us!" Peter's voice starts getting agitated as he motions to Martha's as Billy's tombstones; his breathing and voice becoming more and more erratic as he talks.

"Isn't that right?! You selfishly did whatever you wanted without thinking about the consequences of your actions, didn't you?!" Peter's face started becoming red and his eyes filled with unshed tears once again as he started yelling "World renowned scientist?! One of the brightest minds of the modern era?! What a damn joke!

How could someone smart do what you did?! What was going on in your head when you injected that serum in you?! All while knowing what was going to happen!

Ya had a second, and then a third chance to make things right! And what did you decide to do with that?! HUH?!

How can a husband betray the trust of his wife like that?! HOW CAN A FATHER KILL HIS OWN CHILD?!" Peter questioned in between ragged breaths, kneeling with both legs in front of the stone as he did so with his eyes looking frantically at the name carved before him.

Peter breathed heavily as the soft breeze could be the only thing he could hear while he gazed at the tomb of the man he once admired. Memories now forever tainted of the nice moments the teen had with his teacher, now replaced with the last memories of him.

A monster with his family dead, with their pieces and bodies on its maw, a fight with the monster who was trying to rip Peter arms off, and then the man - a broken shell of who he once was - demanding for his death at his student's hand.

"ANSWER ME!" Peter demands an answer from a dead man with an angered roar while tears ran down his reddened face - his voice raw and booming powerfully around him.

Because what else can he do?

He wants answers from a man who is never going to be able to answer him, but Peter can't keep that poison inside of him. He needs Connors to reveal why he acted the way he did to make some sense out of everything.

Or at least, Peter needs to scream his questions out loud to keep them away from him.

Realizing how hard he was yelling, the teen took a moment to look around and make sure was still alone in the cemetery.

Once he did, he took a full minute to calm himself down with deep breaths while cleaning his eyes with his sleeve as he prepared what words he was going to say next.

"…I thought you were my friend" Peter sniffed quietly as he said this, still kneeling in front of 'Curt' while looking away from 'him' "I thought you cared better for your family, I… I thought you were a better man…

But you killed them, and you left me to be the only one to carry the burden of knowing what really happened that night.

… worst of all, you thanked me…" Peter said with a broken tone as he began to stand up, now looking at the tomb "how could you do that? After what happened, you thank me? and then you have the - the gall to apologize to me? You said you're sorry? Is that it!? You're fucking sorry?!"

Peter takes a moment to gather his words, stopping himself from screaming yet again while his mouth twitched.

"There are a lot of people that you should've apologized to before me…" Peter quietly says as he drops the rose uncaringly in front of the stone "so I want to believe that you weren't apologizing to me, but to whoever it is that you pray to.

And you know something, Connors? Perhaps it's selfish of me to say this, but I do hope you find forgiveness… because I believe I'm going to need that same forgiveness as well" Peter shamefully admits as he looks away from 'Connors' "I won't stop being Spider-Man… after what happened I quitted, but…

I won't allow men like you to decide who I am or what I do. I can't. Only I can make that choice, and I will wear my mask as a way to repent for what happened, but I won't change myself…not for you or for anyone else" Peter said as he looked back at Connors for the last time "Goodbye Curt. I hope you find peace… wherever you are".

With those final words, Peter took a deep breath and turned his back to the man to walk away. Should he have said more? Less? Visited sooner? Make more of an effort to transmit all of his feelings that are gnawing at him?

The teen isn't sure, but he feels content. As much as he is able to with the situation at hand at least.

So he walks away, still trying to smile as he promised his aunt we would do; taking deep breaths of the fresh air that is an unusual delicacy for a city boy such as himself now that he is somewhat away from the city streets.

Alone in the cemetery, he feels like he did good in talking with the man four weeks of avoiding it.

….

He didn't walk long when, all of a sudden, his spider-sense flared up in a way that it had never done before, which causes his heart to skip a beat, his breath to hitch and his eyes to widen slightly.

The spider-sense warns him of danger, which has been its main and only function ever since Peter was bitten. Now that the teen developed the spider-tracer, he can use it as a sort of beacon to find what it's attached to.

But this feels different.

His spider-sense is humming as if in… recognition? Like it is resonating with something that he should know, but Peter doesn't understand what or why this is happening, and that freaks him out a little bit.

*Clap - clap - clap* Someone claps gently behind Peter, just where he was standing, which should be impossible for anyone to be there without Peter knowing beforehand. As if that person just materialized out of thin air.

So he quickly whips his head around, and there he sees an old woman dressed in all red with a blindfold on her face, sitting in a very complicated golden chair.

The woman has some symbol in her chest that reminds Peter of his own spider-logo, and the chair has some web-like patterns behind it.

But what confuses Peter the most, is the pleased smile she appears to have painted her wrinkled face. Face that seems oddly familiar to the boy, who is certain that this is the first time seeing her.

"That was a very heartfelt speech, Peter" the woman spoke with sincerity in her even and almost soothing voice - almost motherly in nature "or should I call you Spider-Man? Would you be more comfortable with that?".

Question that took Peter off guard, forcing him to take a step back from the woman as he subconsciously raised his guard halfway through.

"W-what?" Peter asked, his nervousness showing up without his consent "I-I'm not-! Who are you?!"

Many things were happening that Peter very much disliked. This woman appears out of nowhere, giving Peter a deja-vu like feeling, she triggers his spider-sense in a way nothing ever had before and now she knows both his identities?

This was wrong. This… it shouldn't be happening.

But the woman simply smiled warmly at Peter, raising her arms almost in mock surrender to try and calm him down even if a little bit.

"I suppose showing up out of the blue like this was bound to make you nervous" the woman said gently with a smile on her face. Not a mocking one, just… a smile "I would apologize for that, but I am aware of your… distaste for apologies".

"W-wha-? How do you know that?!" Peter demanded to know, a little more freaked out this time with another step backwards "Seriously, who are you?!"

"You can calm down a little bit, my dear boy" the woman said knowingly "I am far from someone that wishes harm upon you. But you already know that, don't you? Even if we haven't properly met, your 'spider-sense', as you call it, recognizes me. Doesn't it?"

"… Y-yes" Peter admits to the woman that she is indeed right. Peter feels it in his very soul, an unearthly bond that connects him to the woman that he is unable to place into words "b-but I still don't know who you are".

"Then introductions are in order" the woman nods at Peter's words, but she stops talking without introducing herself.

Instead, moving her left hand, the woman makes an ethereal and beautiful golden looking portal appear behind her hand that lights up the whole place up with its incandescent light that spooks Peter even further

"Holy shit!" Peter exclaims at the display of nonesensical power.

"Would you care to join me? There is much to talk about and this is really not the place to do so in" The woman invited him to step in with a half-entertained, half-serious manner.

Peter looks hesitantly between the portal and the woman, debating with himself if this is some kind of trap or something. He has many villains roaming the city that what both his name and head, and with people like Mysterio existing, it would be a very real possibility.

But as if she was reading his thoughts, the woman smiled kindly yet again to him.

"Peter, I understand you don't trust me yet" the woman started talking with care and understanding in her voice "but your spider-sense is a gift that will never betray you. Trust in it, and follow me".

The woman finished as the portal moved forward and swallowed her whole, leaving Peter alone with the portal shining brightly in front of him.

'Trust my sense…' Peter ponders as he fails to register any danger from the creepy And equally beautiful looking portal in front of him.

He is scared though. It's not every day this happens to him, or anyone else for that matter. Unfortunately for him, it seems that curiosity is stronger than fear.

"Oh, what the hell" Peter mutters with a shaky voice as he steps into the portal, closing his eyes tightly as he did so.

He exhales with relief once he feels himself pass through the portal safely, which is a feeling akin to breaking the surface of a water-body without getting wet.

"It is a weird sensation, isn't it?" The woman speaks with some humor in her voice, prompting Peter to open his eyes and look at her.

The moment he does, he finds himself to be amazed by what he is seeing. Instead of being under a sunny sky with a gentle breeze, Peter is now in what seems to be like an endless room of a gray and unearthly hue that spans as far as his eyes can see, with nothing but the woman and her chair in it.

Chair that now has expanded its 'webs' in a significant manner in all directions, with windows showing in between the web-like pattern of her chair.

Now, with the web-pattern oart of her chair stretched wide and tall all around her, the windows are able to show different places within, all unique from one another. In those places, Peter is able to distinguish people who wear masks similar to his own, yet, completely different.

"W-what is this place?" Peter whispers as he briefly looks around him, to then concentrate on the windows.

"Hmm, I suppose you can call this my personal pocket realm in between realities" the woman mused with endearment at the boy's awe "a safe place for me in the multiverse".

"Between realities? the multiverse?!" Peter asks with wide eyes as he whips his attention to the woman "you mean like-like THE multiverse?!

Because I thought that was just a theory, I mean that changes how we understand the single singularity! We are talking about an eternal inflation system! I mean, how does that even work with all the quantum-!? It's insane! I mean we…!" Peter got excited and started rambling a bit, until he saw Madame Web smiling softly at him, causing him to get embarrassed.

"Yes dear, the multiverse is very much real. All universes are part of a beautiful and complicated web that connects us all to it; The Great Web" she explains with a calm voice "and you are part of it".

"That's r-really cool" Peter replied, a little embarrassed, but not really liking that last part, so he returned to his original question "Uhm, you were going to introduce yourself…?"

"Of course. I am Cassandra Webb, the clairvoyant telepath that protects and oversees The Web of Life and Destiny that spans across the entire multiverse, assisting spider-totems such as yourself in their mission of righteousness and justice" The woman's voice boomed as the windows behind her focused on the mask-wearing people similar to Peter "but you can call me Madame Web".

"…Uhm" Peter said lamely as he registered what the newly identified Madame Web said. Perhaps it was too much information about things he had no idea about, so first things first, he asked the most important question "your actual name is 'Web'? Like a spider's web?"

"Humor to mask your nervousness at what has been revealed to you? How amusingly predictable" Madame Web talked with the same easy tone she had been speaking with, but then changed it to a more serious one "But is that truly the first thing you want to ask me about what I just said? Because I would recommend you to take this conversation seriously, dear".

Of course it's not the first thing he wants answered, but Madame Web hit right on the nail. What she just said was just a mess of information that Peter wasn't even too sure he wanted to hear, so he used comedy to avoid any anxiety that might appear.

But it does seem like something important, so Peter will act as such.

"R-right. Serious. I can be serious" Peter reaffirms lamely while clapping his hands once "let's uhm, let's go by steps. First of all, you say you're a telepath and… clairvoyant?"

"Indeed. I have powers that allow me to see into possible futures, marking the path of the spider-totems across the multiverse" Madame Webb says as she shows some other 'totems' behind her "as well as powers that allow me to master the world of the mind".

"Yeah, I-I know what telepathy is" Peter replies as he remembers Emma and her incredible abilities "but really, you can see into the future?"

"I can" Madame Webb agrees with a nod "I see into The Web of Life and Destiny, and I warn the Spider-totems of dangers to come, or ask for their assistance if such is needed".

"Spider-totems" Peter says with awe as he looks into the windows "are they… are they like me?"

"They are" The woman agrees again "people with arachnid-based powers that were chosen by the Great Web to serve as connections from their world to the greater multiverse".

"Wait, wait, wait" Peter suddenly says with a frown forming in his face as his heart suqezzes "Chosen? What do you mean chosen? I wasn't chosen to be… this, right? I was bitten one day because o-of an accident and that gave me my powers.

But the mask, being Spider-Man, is my choice. Choice I just reaffirmed today to the man I… I…" Peter stopped his little ramble as he realized what he was about to say, unfortunately for him, there are no secrets he can keep from Madame Web.

"It's fine, sweetie. I know what happened, I have been watching your adventure very closely and with great interest after all" The older woman says with a small, sad smile that threatens to turn into a grimace.

"What…?" Asks Peter with his eyes widening as he understands the implication "you… you are a clairvoyant that has been watching me closely? So does that mean that you could've warned me of what happened?! You could've avoided what-?!"

But he was quickly interrupted by the woman, who now spoke almost sternly "No. Perhaps what happened could've been avoided, but not by my intervention".

"What? What the hell!? Why not!? Didn't you just say that it's your job to assist totems or-or whatever like me in my mission of justice?!" Peter, now agitated, demands to know.

"It usually is" Madame Webb concedes with a level of regret in her voice "but you're a… special case, Peter. That's why I am talking with you on this particular day".

" 'Particular day'?" Peter repeats, now feeling confused "what's important about this day?"

"Don't you remember?" The woman asks, slightly surprised "it's the one year anniversary since you got your powers, Peter. Today, one year ago, you became Spider-Man".

Peter was taken aback by that. He had so much running around his head that he pushed that little, extremely life changing moment that would forever mark his life from that point forward aside in favor of his uncle.

"I…I know my uncle's death anniversary is in about a week from today. But the bite, I-" Peter answered, more to himself than to answer the woman. But he quickly turned back to his scowl "But wait, no, that's wrong. The bite didn't turn me into Spider-Man, what happened to my uncle did!"

"…Peter, do you believe in destiny? In fate?" Madame Web carefully asks the now irritated Peter, who was taken aback by the question.

It was a good question for him. Fate… events outside his, or anyone's, control that were bound to happen without consideration for the will of the people - no matter what.

That question reminds Peter yet again of the words of his aunt that told him that no matter how smart, rich or powerful you think yourself to be, you can't control what happens.

You can only control how you react to those events.

"…So you're saying that it was - what? My fate to become Spider-Man?" Peter starts questioning as he looks to the ground, 'calculating' the possibility of this being the truth "that no matter what, that spider was meant to bite me? That I was destined to be a vigilante?… that my uncle was always going to die on the street? All those people that I was unable to save? That I… Connors?"

Fate and destiny, a concept that everyone is familiar with, but always keeps it on the back of their minds. Some people accept it as a reality, some others deny it completely, while a few even refuse to think about it or simply don't care enough to do so.

But whatever side someone is on, there is always the uncertainty of it. Believing or not believing in fate requires a certain level of faith - the blind belief in something without any proof - because as much as you believe or don't believe in it, there is never going to be a concrete answer.

Are your choices truly yours? Are the things happening to you and around you part of a grander, universal scheme? Does your every waking moment and what you do with your life even matter? No one is certain to know.

At least they aren't supposed to know, not really.

"What would you say if that was the case?" Questioned Madame Web with genuine interest; forgetting the smile she has been wearing so far.

So what is Peter to do now that he is presented with a 'magical' woman that claims it to be true?

Peter, who is someone who has cried, griefed, lied, screamed - as well as laughed, hugged, smiled and loved because of his own personal experiences - from his choices… - how is a man like that going to react?

How does a man burdened by the guilt of the consequences made by his actions react to someone saying that everything that has happened was 'meant to be'?

" 'What would I say'?! I'd say that's bullshit!" Of course, that man would deny it with a heavy heart "what happened was not fate! T-that spider could've bitten anyone else in there! It was a millionth to one chance of it being me! And-and I was the one that made the mistake for which I decided to be Spider-Man!

That was my decision!

Every choice I make is mine and mine alone!

I don't follow the whims of T-The Great Web or whatever you're selling! I don't buy it! I…! I can't…" Peter finishes his ramble with his voice breaking down, because deep down, he knows the woman to be saying the truth.

It's the same feeling he got when he saw her. That somehow, she is telling the truth and his spider-sense knows it.

He simply and genuinely knows it.

The windows behind her are that, windows. Not screens that show different costumed men or women, or even cartoons imitating him. Peter subconsciously knows that they - all of them - are real.

Because he feels it. He simply knows this - he FEELS IT. He is able to recognize all of this to be true.

His spider-sense tells him so. And he does trust that damn thing with more than his life, he isn't about to start doubting now. He can't.

And how could he? When he gets an ethereal feeling everytime he swings around the city, every time his knuckles make an impact against something, even when he simply puts his mask on - that this is supposed to be.

He's known it ever since he started doing this - since his first swing, his first fight, the first person he saved, the very first time he placed that mask on his face that he was meant to be this - all of this.

He just… never would've thought it would be so literal.

"I know it must be hard to hear all of this" Madame Web says, keeping her careful tone with a sorrowful expression "to know that you were predestined for something - that the hardships you've endured have been far from your ability to avoid or prevent, that loved ones were meant to perish for the stability of, not only this world, but the multiverse as a whole".

"You mean to tell me that if uncle Ben had lived, the multiverse would have - what? Exploded?!" Peter demands to know with a mocking tone and narrowed eyes.

"In a manner of speaking" The woman nods easily, but keeps her grim expression, which causes Peter to get even angrier at it all.

" 'In a manner of speaking'?!" Peter asks with indignation and narrowed eyes at how she nodded simply when answering "Say that again… Tell me with that same confidence that I was meant to cause my uncle's death! You tell me - you take that fucking blindfold off your face and you look me into the eye when you say I was MEANT to do everything I have chosen to do!

You look me into the eye when you tell ME that I was FATED to-to be Spider-Man and cause my uncle's-! MY FATHER'S DEATH!" By this point, Peter's eyes were filled with tears at the… at the injustice that was all of this.

To him.

To everyone who has ever suffered.

Fate being real? Controlling everyone like their puppeteer? Making all of his 'choices' and the result of them meaningless? All his experiences, his whole life, who he is as a person - and not just him! But everyone! - to be meaningless? Slaves of fate?

How… disgusting.

"Go ahead! I DARE YOU TO TAKE THAT FUCKIG THING OFF YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT MINE WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT THE CONNORS FAMILY WAS MEANT TO DIE! THAT I WAS MEANT TO KILL HIM.

TELL ME THAT EVERY DEATH, EVERY FAILURE, EVERY SINGLE THING WRONG IN THE WORLD IS ALREADY WRITTEN DOWN!" It's simply not fair.

Peter has never yelled at anyone quite like he is doing right now. Bleeding his heart out for what he already knows is the truth - a horrible and disgusting truth that he was never supposed to learn.

And he yells at her, demanding a confirmation of something he already knows while tears start pouring down his reddened face.

He has made choices in life he would rather not have made. Just like everyone else in the entire world, right? But that's what life is.

Actions and consequences.

You do something, and then you face whatever comes from that. Every single one of your decisions born from your own free will has a reaction to it - one you must tend to.

And Peter, even when acknowledging that he has made some terrible, awful and disgusting mistakes, finds the idea of making his own choices to be sacred.

Everything that he has seen, learned, heard, tasted, felt, loved, hated - every single experience he has ever had - has shaped Peter into the man he is today. And every single one of his actions is the result of years of being himself.

Or that is the way it's supposed to be. That's the way Peter wants it to be.

And now that he has learned otherwise, he is supposed to, what? Be thankful for the gift of knowledge?

Now he can get rid of all the guilt that is weighing heavy on his heart and say 'Oh, well. That must've been fated to be' with a merry smile?

His uncle's passing? Now made a triviality of destiny? One where he is supposed to just shrug at the way he ignored the robber that ended up killing his uncle and simply say 'well, that's fate'?

All of his villains, their backstories and the lives they ruin, now simple stones in an otherwise perfectly kept road that is meant to look like that?

His parents' unfortunate and early passings? His friends' unfortunate pasts? Every single thing that has been done wrong in the world? Every genocide, every tragedy, every crime, death, sickness, evil doing… all were supposed to be?

And what is he supposed to do with this information? Rejoice for knowing that none of his choices have been his? Thank this woman for telling him that he has nothing to feel guilty or sad about?

… Peter hates that.

He hates that, he hates to think that, he fucking hates to know that. That's… that's wrong. That's messed up. That's… that's simply disgusting!

His choices are his! HIS! And so are his mistakes! No one can take that away from him! NO ONE! Because that's who he is! Who he chooses to be!

There is no comfort for the mistakes he has made! Comfort for the wrong decisions in his life! There simply can't be…!

Peter Parker - Spider-Man - can't accept something like 'fate' and 'destiny' to comfort his wrong doings. He will get up and he will do things right by fighting against evil and chaos.

That's his choice. And that's sacred to him.

"ANSWER ME" So Peter demands an answer much like he did before, getting closer to the woman that has been seeing his pitiful tantrum with a stone-like face.

She doesn't show anger, offence, frustration or any other emotion that one might feel when being yelled at directly at the face.

And Peter is rightfully disliking the lady for everything she's telling him, but he is willing to give her something in her favor.

Any other person would have made 'that' face when looking at his life and then being on the receiving end of this little pathetic tantrum. He is sure of it.

A face of pity for the ramblings of what is surely a broken looking man.

And her not pitying him gives Peter the clarity of mind to realize the shameful thing that he is currently doing. He doesn't need an answer from her, he has already 'felt' the truth. Screaming and crying like a literal baby will change nothing.

It never does. Peter knows there is no reason to cry. Ever.

But he still feels heavily burdened by what he's heard, so he's left panting slightly while the woman simply 'stares' at him behind those cladded eyes of hers.

A few minutes go by, where Peter's heavy panting is replaced by a tired and sad one. And once his posture relaxes in defeat, Madame Web allows herself to continue.

"Are you done?" She questions gently. Not annoyed or upset, but genuinely curious, with a tone that sounded almost motherly.

"Y-yeah… just… give me a minute" Peter requests almost pathetically as he rubs the bridge of his nose for more than a minute.

"…" and Madame Web simply stays silent, patiently waiting for Peter to finish walking in circles while clearing his head. 

"L-let's move on" Peter says shamefully while looking away from her while wiping his eyes clean, returning to his previous demeanor. At least he'll try to.

"The threads of the multiverse are a delicate and complicated matter. But then again, such is fate. Mysterious and illogical in nature. Beyond our comprehension… no matter how much time or effort we spend trying to make sense of it…" Peter heard her tone almost with grief and turned to study her face for a second, and he came with the realization that this woman was also someone who most likely had been affected by fate.

She had to be, perhaps even more than he could even begin to fathom. At least logically, given how she seems to have an important role in all of this mess.

"So… the multiverse and fate are real things" Peter asks with a defeated sigh, wiping his eyes clean of whatever was left previously.

"Yes" Madame web answers easily with no hesitation whatsoever present in her voice "it has always been real, and even the gods that roam around your universe are aware of this - each pantheon has its version of overdeers of it".

"And my spider-sense is somehow confirming all of this to me for you… very conveniently…" Peter ignored the comment about the pantheons as he has no way to prove that - in fact, the only way he has to validate the woman's words is his spider-sense. As he says, it is very convenient for her.

"Your spider-sense, Peter" Madame Web speaks as she returns to her 'wise' demeanor "is a gift that the spider totems are bestowed upon. And even then, some of them lack it. But you, my dear boy, have the privilege of enjoying more than its usual benefits".

"Oh yeah?" Peter asks as he tries to cling to any silver lining out of this conversation "like what?"

"Well, for one, we are connected, you and I" Madame Web says as she places her hands on her chest "as the role we both play, I am bound to you in many ways. One of which makes it so that you can 'feel' when I'm telling you the truth or not.

And Peter, please believe that I will never lie to you unless you ask me to" Madame Web's voice resonated through Peter's spider-sense, once again confirming what she's saying.

"That's…" 'really weird' Peter finishes his words in his mind, not really feeling comfortable with the idea of being bound to someone he doesn't know because of 'fate'.

Something like that is usually used in corny fantasy stories that involve a red string or something as a makeshift Cupid. Not bounding a 15 year old boy to a magical multiversal old woman.

*Chuckle* As if reading his thoughts - which Peter finds unnerving since she claims she can do - the older woman lets out a small little fit of laughter into her hand.

"I do know it might seem strange" Madame Web says as she stops laughing, to then say "Your name is John".

*Ngh* Peter let out an involuntary grunt of discomfort coming from the back of his neck the moment Madame Web said the wrong name. It wasn't painful at all, it was more uncomfortable and unexpected than anything else.

Like biting into something crunchy while you're having some soft food.

And with Madame Web's knowing smile, paired with the way his spider-sense had no other type of reaction besides that, Peter was left without a doubt that she is telling the truth about his ability to distinguish the truth and the lies, making her unable to lie to the boy.

"That's… very convenient…" Peter stresses again, not being able to refute or deny her words. It's… weird for Peter to know that she is telling the truth without having any other proof of it than his spider-sense, which is surprising him in ways Peter never expected it to.

"You also have a natural barrier against telepaths" The woman says while ignoring Peter's words "even I, being who I am, have some trouble accessing your mind".

"Wait, really?" Peter perks up at that, remembering that his mind had already been breached against his consent once by who is now his girlfriend "but-but I was-".

"I know" Madame Web interrupts while placing her hand up to stop him from talking; already knowing what he's about to say "I do say the truth when I say that you have a natural barrier. Unfortunately, it is not insuperable.

If a telepath of enough caliber is willing to see into your mind, then they most certainly will be able to do so. Luckily for you, I am of such caliber, and as such I filter your thoughts of any curious cat that may want to have a peek at your mind" Peter is unaware of it, but Madame Web has been protecting his mind ever since he was bitten.

A job that used to be tiresome, given the frequency in which this world's Emma Frost liked to gaze into the boy's mind. Until eventually, she tried to see everything from him, which Cassandra stopped Emma from doing so in some measure.

This Peter's thoughts are very private to him for a good reason.

Which is why it actually turned out to be good that Peter's barrier started getting stronger and stronger each time the young telepath tried reading his thoughts, forcing the older telepath to also enter his mind to try and stop the teenager from doing so.

Even if it's her, Peter's spider-sense doesn't take kindly to uninvited guests into his mind.

"Huh" Peter only mumbles, not really knowing how to feel at that particular reveal.

Should he be happy to have that extra layer of protection? Even if it's not invincible? Should he be proud of Emma for apparently being a telepath of high caliber? Should that scare him because that means she can get into his mind if she really wanted to?

Peter has, just as the moment this whole thing started, many thoughts running around his head. But there is one thing the older woman said that piques his interest above all else.

"Wait, you filtered my thoughts? So does that mean you helped me? I thought you said you couldn't help me because of my special circumstances or something" Peter questions with a raised eyebrow "and what does that mean anyway?"

"…let me tell you a story, Peter" Madame Webb says as she makes a show in front of Peter. Light that comes from nowhere starts moving around in front of the both of them as she moves her hands around, much like she did when the portal appeared.

Was this a hologram? A mental projection? Peter isn't sure about the nature of the show, but before he can ask anything, some silhouettes of people appear in front of him as she begins to speak.

She begins with creation, deities - much like Thor and Loki, who are also real living 'gods' - getting together to create The Great Web to connect the multiverse. Then came the creation of specially engineered spiders to create the agents that would become the spider-totems sent across time and space.

Peter can see them. The silhouettes of the 'spider people' with light showing the same form as Peter's lenses in each of those people, never minding how peculiar their forms are.

Then she shows leeches turning into men, and she explains how these beings are 'The Inheritors'. A family that has been pursuing different totemic beings for consumption. The predators of the spiders.

Peter's breath hitches as he watches a war happen between the spiders and the inheritors, but he doesn't interrupt. During all the explanation, Peter listens carefully, somehow knowing that all that is being explained is vital to who he is as a singular being.

Which… he doesn't really like.

"The spiders finally won the war against the inheritors thanks to the one that acts as 'the center of the web' and freed Karn to be The Master Weaver; he who is in charge of weaving and maintaining The Web" Madame Webb finished the presentation as she showed the shadow of a half-man, half-spider.

One that Peter feels he's seen before once in a dream now long forgotten.

"…" and Peter remained quiet as he listened to all of this, processing every reveal - every single word he got with the best of his ability.

It was… too much. Too many things to process, too many truths revealed out of the blue, too weird and crazy for Peter to even want to consider all of this as a reality which he, unfortunately, can't deny.

He has just been told that his life is basically one of billions that act the same way to preserve the integrity of reality as a whole. How is he supposed to react to that?!

"Perhaps this was too much for you to receive out of nowhere like this" Madame Web said with a soft and fake smile at the sight of the frustrated teen thinking everything she said very carefully.

" 'This'?" Peter questions mockingly "Oh! You mean that my existence was premeditated, none of my choices ever mattered and that I - together with everyone I love - are nothing but an insignificant speck in the grand multiverse?!"

A sickening thought to the boy.

"That's not true, Peter" Madame Web talked sternly, snapping Peter out of his thoughts "You do matter. Beyond your special circumstances, every soul is unique in this and every universe. There aren't two that are equal - even amongst variants - and the fact that this has been revealed to you should make you appreciate more what you've lived through.

Because you are wrong. Your choices have been your own to make, it just so happens that they also fit the already decided fate. What destiny has already written for you is just very specific situations that would lead you to make those choices.

And know that those choices have been your own and your own alone because no one has ever intruded into your mind or anything similar and forced you to do anything that you have not willed to do.

As someone who has been into your mind to protect it, I am beyond certain of it" Madame Web spoke sternly, with Peter unable to detect any lie within her little speech.

Were the words of the woman supposed to be comforting? Peter supposes that they are… in some measure at least. But again, Madame Web said and did something that did not sit right with Peter.

"…Thanks for that, I guess. But please, stay the hell away from my mind" Peter said with a deep scowl and a dangerous edge to his voice.

It didn't matter that this woman had already been inside his mind to help filter his thoughts or whatever. His thoughts are only his own.

Just like his choices are.

"Are you sure that is what you want?" Questions the woman with a slight tilt of her head "your mental barrier is not quite there yet. It will continue to grow stronger with time, especially when you accept your role in The Great Web. But until then, you are still quite vulnerable".

Peter paused again as he listened, now really starting to get annoyed by the way the woman, despite explaining everything to him, was still talking very vaguely.

*Groan* so Peter groans audibly as he hides his face in both his hands and starts pacing around the weird unearthly room he is still in.

"Okay, wait" Peter says as he waves his right hand in front of Cassandra and keeps the other hiding his face "This-this is not working. You've explained the history of The Web to me - which sounds like bull, by the way - but I still don't understand anything.

Why didn't you help me with Connors, or any other time for that matter? Why is it so important to talk to me on the day of my 'bite' anniversary? And why do you keep saying things like 'my special circumstances' and 'my role in all of this'?" Peter removes his hands from his face, now talking with some sort of vulnerability beneath his scowl.

Madame Web then changed the projection to show different silhouettes of people, this time way fewer than there were before, gaining Peter's attention; making him unable to see the slightest hint of pity in her face.

"Inside The Web, there are many roles that need to be fulfilled to maintain the order of things" The woman starts explaining "There are the ones I already explained to you"

"The center" she says as she makes the silhouette of someone painfully similar to Peter himself grow. The teen knows it's basically a shadow with white lenses, but he feels personal to Peter.

Close and intimate to his being.

And Peter finds that feeling unnerving.

"The bride" the next one to be highlighted is clearly the girl Madame Web talked about in her 'war' explanation.

"The scion" the baby, also thoroughly explained in the story.

"The Other" one that looks exactly like 'the center' but feels a little more distant from Peter. Maybe because of the huge Spider it has looming over it.

"The Master Weaver" The half-spider, half-man that has an integral part in all of this, now for some reason standing next to a little person with a large afro-like haircut.

"The Protector" next, it shows a girl doing a 'cute' pose he'd sometimes seen in some anime clips or whatever next to what Peter tries to guess it's a robot.

Curiously, Madame Web hadn't talked about this particular one yet, which picked Peter's curiosity.

"And The Champion" this time all the little figures in front of Peter disappear completely, leaving him more intrigued than before.

"Hey, wait" Peter asks as he looks around him with curiosity "what does 'The Champion' look like? And why hadn't you mentioned 'The Protector' or 'The Champion' before?"

"The Champion's and The Protector's role became something once The Master Weaver was freed and The Web became the organized structure it was always meant to be" Madame Web says as she shows The Protector's silhouette - bigger this time "she was tasked with being the one that would look over both the core of The Web, together with the Master Weavers themselves.

Which are now two, since Karn has taken a protégé to take his place when he is ultimately unable to continue. So you can think of The Protector as a kind of bodyguard if that's easier for you" she says as she brings out Karn's and his protégé's forms once again.

"Huh" Peter merely says as he nods to himself, finding that explanation the easiest to follow until now. The Master Weaver - and his student, apparently - does sound important, so it's even almost a relief to hear that 'the core' of The Web and them are being looked after.

"It is a great responsibility she now bears on her shoulders, and she does so faithfully and reverently" The woman's face softened just enough for Peter to see the care Cassandra holds over the girl.

"That's… that's good. If she has great power, then it is her duty to use it responsibly" Peter nods as he recites the words he lives by. Unaware that almost every totem does so as well.

"I'm so glad you think that way, Peter" Madame Web mutters quietly, as if she was talking with herself.

"Right…" which Peter found a little off putting, but then changed his tone to a quippy one "so, who is this Champion fella? Is he shy and that's why he asked you not to show his silhouette?"

"…" but Peter's quip was only met with a small, sad, and almost grim smile. Madame Web said nothing as she 'stared' blankly at Peter from underneath her blindfold.

*Sigh* Which made Peter sigh in defeat with his eyes closed tightly after a few seconds of him expecting an answer that never came from the woman. Instead, he understood what she was implying with just her silence.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me…" Peter starts saying as he rubs his temples with both his hands, groaning at what he's been told without words "You don't… you're joking right?"

"Time in The Great Web works in mysterious ways, Peter" She starts explaining with her tone empathetic "and it seems that the moment the need for a Champion became a reality, you were gifted with your powers".

"… so the war, the inheritors - everything - happened a year ago? Just when I was bitten?" Peter questions while opening just one hopeful and shy eye, only to see Madame Web agreeing with a simple nod, causing Peter to groan further.

Because of course he was. Who else could it be? Isn't this just like his incredible and exhausting 'Parker Luck' doing what it does best for him in ruining his life every chance it gets?

Because when else could he have been gifted/cursed with his powers other than the very day the multiverse decides it needs a champion? Whatever that means.

"So… why wait a year to tell me all this? You could've - I don't know - showed up the day after I got bitten or whatever" Peter asks as he gets his hands off his face to see her with a confused look.

"I couldn't interfere with your journey up to this point" Madame Web starts explaining almost ashamedly "I did have half a mind to groom you for your part, but then that would've changed who you are at your core.

More so than you'll probably change already.

And I can't interfere with who you are. I can't interfere in anything going on in your life aside from this because of your reward as Champion. Reward you are enjoying even before agreeing to the position" She says with a small and very fake smirk, trying to make it sound like that last part is a good thing.

"Reward?" Peter questioned, but something in her words made him change his line of thought "… no, you know what? It doesn't matter. I don't care, I simply don't care. You say I have to agree to the part? Easy, I don't".

"I understand this must all be overwhelming, Peter. But you-" Madame Web tried saying, but Peter interrupted her quickly.

"Yeah, I understand you understand, but that's not the issue here" Peter says with him starting to get agitated once again "The issue is that I'm really not the one for this kind of thing.

I'm your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. That's it. I help the little guy in the street, n-not wage war against multiversal threats or deal with the ramifications of going against fate or-or whatever the hell this is.

I'm not… I'm not cut out for that. If you want help of this magnitude you should go to The Avengers or-or The Fantastic Four! I'm sure Reed will be fascinated to know all of this! - if he doesn't already… - but I-I'm not…" Peter takes a moment to take a much needed breath to calm himself down while rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand while closing his eyes.

"I don't want to deal with any of this. I-I don't want to know how my uncle's death was necessary, or any of that! I just… Oh! Here's an idea!" Peter exclaims as he snaps his fingers very loudly, now looking at her "if you need someone, why don't you just ask literally anyone else in the entire multiverse if they are willing-".

"Peter" Madame Web interrupts him with a stern face that soon softens as he quiets down, still looking unnerved by it all "Peter, darling, it doesn't work that way.

I know it may seem unfortunate, unfair even, but you are the one that has been chosen for this role. And as such, only you can fulfill it. But don't worry, you will still be able to live the way that you've been doing so far if you so wish to.

Unlike the protector, you don't have to move dimensions or anything like that, and your duty doesn't require your undivided attention. You'll just have to be 'The Champion' a few times a year really".

That… was actually a relief to hear, Peter supposes. He has many responsibilities here in his own home dimension, so he can't really leave just because he has a grander responsibility elsewhere… which sounds crazy to say.

…Is he going crazy?

…he'll deal with that thought later.

"…Okay, okay. Uhm" Peter says as he considers his next questions, which he has a lot of "If you say it's my choice to accept or deny the position, why do you also say I'm the only one who can fulfill it? And why would my 'reward' stop you from helping me? And what is 'The Champions' duty?"

"To answer your various questions in order…" Madame Web says as she raises three fingers in front of Peter "You do have a right to accept or deny the position, and your final answer will come at the end of this very year. But despite that… you will accept, Peter.

You will agree because circumstances will push you to make that decision. Circumstances not even I am completely aware of.

Because it's in your very nature to accept such responsibility given the powers that you have been granted. It's who you are.

And you are many, many things. And one of them is a liar… you lie to everyone you know and you are damn good at doing so. But, Peter, sweetie, no matter how hard you try, you'll never - ever - be able to lie to yourself.

You will accept the responsibility, and I feel like you already know it" her voice was still and composed, but Peter could sense an undertone of sadness in it. As if that was pitiful.

As if she was pitying him. After not doing so, she does so now.

And Peter's mouth twitched as he listened with his eyes closed tightly, feeling indignation and the need to deny her words bubbling up deep inside of him. But no words came out of his mouth.

He wanted to say something to that, anything really, but… what? What could he say about something that he is very much aware is the truth? Who would he even deny it for? For her? For his own sake?

But before Peter could decide something to say, Cassandra took his silence as a queue to continue. So she lowered the third finger, leaving only two up as she started to speak.

"Your reward Peter… is freedom" Madame Web reveals with her voice booming all over the place despite carrying the same tone and volume.

The word reverberates through his whole body - perhaps even in his very soul - making him swallow thick as he ponders that word.

" 'Freedom'…" Peter says, tasting the word in his mouth; noticing how just saying it made Peter feel… something "What do you mean freedom? Free from what?"

Madame Web remains silent just for a few seconds, in which Peter felt his heart thumping clearer than most of the time, which made him feel the seriousness behind the 'reward'.

"The 'very special situations' I mentioned earlier are called 'Absolute Points' or 'Canon Events'. They are specific and fixed events in time for the multiverse to function correctly" Madame started explaining after, very consciously for both, ignoring Peter's questions; as the windows behind her show many things that even he is aware of.

He sees Steve Rogers being freed from a frozen state, The Fantastic Four's space ship being hit with some form of cosmic radiation, a rugged looking Tony Stark assembling something in a cave, Thor picking up his mighty hammer, Bruce Banner with a horrified face that is being lit by an ominous green light and who Peter assumes is a young Matt Murdock in front of a blind guy with a stick.

All the events that would lead those people to become the heroes that they are today. Showing a specific moment in time where their lives changed forever.

Amongst those windows, the one on the very middle of them in fact, Peter can see himself with those big-rounded glasses he used to wear as a spider - THE spider - crawls up to his neck and bites him.

The moment everything changed for him.

"These moments are of extreme importance, Peter. These, and many, many more…" she continues as she shows hundreds more of those showings, too fast for Peter to even distinguish what is happening in each "Don't think for one second that just because this is being revealed to you, that you are the only one under destiny's whims.

Every single soul that lived, lives and will live is a salve to it. And no one can do anything about that.

Not to say that there haven't been people who have tried to free themselves for what fate has in store for them" Madame Web 'turns off' all the windows, and shows Peter yet another silhouette of a man breaking some shackles weighing on his wrists "There will always be those who try to make destiny their own. Even if they do so without meaning to.

Which is why there are multiversal authorities that work against them, to protect what is otherwise known as the sacred timeline of each universe.

Such as the 'Time Variance Authority', whose entire existence is to fix deviations to the already established fate" Madame Web removes the silhouette from in front of Peter, which was now showing the letters 'TVA'.

Before Peter can say anything about that however, the projection shuts off, and Peter is left alone with Madame Web once more, prompting her to speak "But you don't have to worry about them, Peter.

You don't have to worry about anything I just said in fact. Because you are free from it" she insists once again to that.

And Peter still doesn't understand. What she said about those fixed points in time sort of made sense if he thinks about it. If the heroes were meant to be, then their 'accidents' were no accidents at all. They were predestined to be, just like him.

And that made him feel less lonely. Even if only for a bit, and perhaps it's wrong to feel that way, given how he knows how much other heroes - and villains - have suffered from their changes. Such as the case of The Thing, The Hulk and basically every mutant that exists.

But that doesn't really help Peter figure out how or what he could be free of.

"I-I still don't get what I'm being freed from" so Peter admits, still processing everything revealed to him.

"You're free from fate itself, Peter" She makes herself more easy to understand, making Peter slowly widen his eyes as he listens carefully to her "the very moment you were bitten, your fate was obscured. It became an enigma to me and many other cosmic entities, because never has there been a mortal with such freedom in his choice.

Your future became your own. Since the moment you were given your powers, you became free of all of this" she motions around to herself, referring to what she said previously "But make no mistake. You are free to choose, but the pathway to what was once written is still there".

At Peter's very confused look, Madame Web began her detailed and simplified explanation.

"Picture this, Peter" she begins "the moment your very being was made, even long before you were born, your life was written. Your parents, your uncle, the bite, all of it and much more was already set in stone.

But the moment the need of a champion came to be, with it came your reward. And so you were given freedom to choose your own life.

The path of the previous destiny is already woven, but if you wish to change its course, then you are in the right to do so.

You are a spider that is meant to crawl an already traced path, but if you accept the position of The Champion, then you will be given wings that will allow you to fly away from that path into any other you wish for" Madame Web finished her explanation as Peter digests everything, now looking a little pale and sweaty, looking at the ground before him with the same calculating eyes from before.

"… so the reason why you didn't help me…" Peter says as he lifts up his head and looks at the blindfolded woman.

"… is because I can't see your future" she answers before he even finishes his question "I can't see what's not there, Peter. Your future is and will only be decided by you the moment you make that choice.

That's why you are able to choose whether or not to be the champion. Because you are free.

And the problem with that is that you still are bound to the choices of others and rules of the natural laws. The only thing that you really, truly have freedom of, is of your own decisions" and Peter sighs.

Because he already knows that, ever since he had that talk with his aunt "yeah I… I get it. I am only free to control how I react to situations outside of my control".

"Exactly" Madame Web nods, satisfied at seeing Peter understanding her "Which is why I am unable to assist you as I do other totems. My clairvoyance only works when I see the future events of the totems through their future, so I can warn them of what's to come to them.

But since your future is obscured, I can't do that for you.

In the same manner, your freedom also alters the path of everyone around you" She says, revealing yet another thing that Peter hadn't considered.

"What do you mean?" He asks with intrigue and slight worry.

"Hmm" Madame Web mutters as she searches for a way to explain this easily for Peter "Imagine your friend Harry is destined to go to a fancy dinner one day and get mildly sick because of what he ate, but you invite him to hang out that night with the rest of your friends.

In that moment, Harry will stray from his already established path that will cause a great domino effect on everything and everyone else.

The consequences of that could be unimportant or catastrophic. Which is why your strand of universe is far away from all else's" Madame Web says as she shows the multiversal web once again, but this time highlighting a window far away from all the others. To make matters a little more uncomfortable for Peter, his little window shifts between golden and bloody red, differencing itself from the other's pure golden color.

"Like… like the Butterfly effect?" Peter mutters with disbelief "Wow, wow, wow. T-that's a lot! And-and dangerous, isn't it?! The ramifications of the tiniest of changes to the already established 'path' could very easily-".

"Calm down, sweetie" Madame Web interrupts quickly "you won't destroy the world if you decide you want to drink juice instead of water one particular morning, the multiverse doesn't work quite like that. The best advice I can offer to you on this matter is to try and live your life without thinking too much about your reward".

"… you mean like I would've lived if you hadn't brought all of this to me, right?" Peter asks almost in a mocking tone as he feels once again very frustrated by this.

"…perhaps" She concedes lamely with a hesitant nod "but it is very important for you to know what is to come, as well as your duty".

"Which is?" Peter asks, tired of not getting an answer to that particular question.

"What does a champion do?" Instead, Madame Web answers him with a question of her own, annoying Peter even further.

"What, you want a pep talk right now?" Peter quips with sarcasm and an angered voice.

"…" But Madame Web simply 'stares' back at him with a look of expectation, which causes him to look away and huff.

"A champion… well… he wins, right?" Peter gives the most obvious and simple answer that came to him at the top of his head in resignation.

"Right you are" Madame Web smiles a small victorious - and nervous - grin as she starts to highlight many windows in front of Peter. Soon, the golden light around the window starts changing into the deep crimson one that Peter's also has in his.

Inside the windows, Peter is able to see many different people wearing something similar to his own costume, fighting some villains he somewhat recognizes and many others he doesn't.

The fights seem to be going not-too well for the other totems.

"These heroes lost a fight they shouldn't have" Madame Web interrupts Peter's gazing with a grim voice "It was in their destiny to win, but they failed in their task to do so.

Which is why the role of 'The Champion' exists, why you were chosen as it. So you can fight the battles that were lost and bring correction and balance to the universe once again" she finally answers what he is supposed to do with an apologetic look.

One that Peter does not care for.

"That's…" something Peter really doesn't want to do.

He knows he gets a weird satisfaction from every fight he goes through. He is shamefully aware that he enjoys feeling his muscles burning up as the adrenaline kicks in. He is conscious that fighting as Spider-Man is a guilty pleasure he won't ever admit to anyone else.

But go to other realities to tag in for others and fight in their stead? That's ridiculous! Even if he only goes there to support that other totem, Peter's just not someone who wants to be someone who's entire thing is to fight.

That's not who Spider-Man is - who he wants to be!

He wants to be a hero! Someone who gives a helping hand to everyone and anyone who needs it!

And sure, sometimes, to help the city, he needs to fight those that want to bring harm to others. He can't help but face those men with his fists when it comes to that, but it's not like Peter purposely looks for someone to beat up.

So he looks for anything that might help his case.

"…wait, what about that TVA thing from earlier? Didn't you say it was their job to fix mistakes done to the 'sacred timeline' or whatever?" Peter asks with a hopeful and confused tone as he remembers that "why don't they just… fix their fights?"

"… you wouldn't be wrong about this being something they should fix. Unfortunately, the totems are personal and intimate beings to 'The Web'. And as such, only someone belonging to it can help remedy these particular situations" Madame Web tells Peter with the same apologetic attitude "and that someone, Peter, is you".

"…" and Peter stood quiet for a moment, in which he closed his eyes once again as he thought about everything he listened to "you say I can still say 'no', right?"

"It is your right to accept or deny, yes" Madame Web agrees "But the outcome will always be the same, Peter. Not because fate says so, but because you know that's how things are going to be as well.

When the time of choosing comes, you will understand the weight of free choice in the grand multiversal scale" she says almost ominously.

"When will that time come?" Peter asks nervously.

"On the fourth month of the year, you are being delivered the reveal of the truth" Madame Web starts answering, now with a 'profesional' tone "the same month that you received your powers a year prior.

On the eight month of the year, you will be forced into a challenge, to test your resolve and strength - a test -. The same month in which you were born many years ago" this perks up Peter's attention with some dread, but he allows her to continue.

"And on the twelve month, you will be presented with two choices, accept or reject the position. The same month in which the year ends" and so, Madame Web finished saying everything she needed to tell Peter with a tone of finality.

"Wait, wait, wait" Peter asks with his hands moving forward and backwards as if requesting a pause "what do you mean a challenge?! W-what challenge?!"

"Everything will be revealed in due time, Peter" Madame Web says with a shake of her head, meaning she won't answer that question, only to say in an almost pleading tone "until then, please try to remain alive".

"What?" Peter breathes out the question with a shiver running down his spine.

"Your future is uncertain to me" Madame Web starts explaining with some pity in her voice "and you are still very much mortal. I'm not sure what would happen if you died before your birthday, but it's still a very real possibility".

"T-that's…" Peter was unsure of what to say to that. He wasn't even considering that he would be immortal until his birthday, but to know he's not… it brings him a sense of relief? Perhaps because despite all of this, he is still somehow still a regular mortal?

And he's known ever since he placed the mask for the very first time that death was lurking on every corner, and it just got further confirmed by this magical lady. Isn't that scary as well?

"For now, I've taken enough of your time" Madame Web suddenly interrupted Peter's thoughts with finality in her voice.

"W-what? No,Wait! I-I still have many questions!" Peter says as he tries to formulate his every question faster. One doesn't just get revealed something like this and is content just by what has been told to him in the little time he's spent in this pocket dimension.

"There will be time for you to understand better, Peter" Madame Web says before Peter can make his questions "but for now, please just know… that I'm sorry".

Peter tenses as he hears that damned word; taken by surprise at the sudden apology from the older woman that he wasn't expecting at all. Peter had noticed that her smiles looked a bit off, but now she exchanged those fake looking smiles for a sad and grim looking expression.

"… You know I hate apologies" Peter wanted to ask why she would say that, but his animosity towards that word got the better of him, so he said this with a deep scowl and an edge to his voice.

"I do" Madame Web agrees, still looking sadly at him "But you have to know that this is not something that I wish upon you. The tasks ahead of you will be hard… probably harder than anything you've already experienced.

And I won't be able to help, assist or even counsel you as I wish I could. I just can't. I will be able to give you information and perhaps even things that'll help you, but… I won't be able to do much more than that.

Your reward… freedom, Peter, aside from the wonderful thing it is, you'll find it to be lonely.

And even though I can't see your future, I know you'll hate me for what is to come" Madame Web's voice broke slightly, as if she was fighting a lump in her throat "it's possible that you'll resent me, hate me and shout at me for everything that's going to happen and for that, I am sorry".

"…" Peter really wasn't enjoying this day.

The talk he had with Connors' family, the sudden appearance of someone knowing who he is and every reveal that came with her was making it hard for Peter to see this as a good day.

But nothing is worse than this.

Because, yes, he wasn't enjoying hearing anything Cassandra Webb was telling him. Far from it actually.

Everything relating to fate and his decisions so far was beyond heartbreaking. But after that jarring revelation …it didn't sound THAT bad - at least because he had a choice on the matter. That was until she started trying to contain what to Peter sounds like a sob coming to her as she apologized to him.

So far, everything about 'The Champion' sounded like a drag. Some type of mystical inconvenience to his already messy life. But not something the 'magical' wise person should be crying for.

That stirred something wrong in Peter.

"Heh, and there I was forcing a smile all throughout our conversation" Madame Web mutters as she very discreetly wipes her nose and eyes with her sleeve "guess me being a spider totem of sorts also makes me cower under comedy…".

That final thing she said as she used her other hand to make another golden portal behind Peter.

"Wait! I-" Peter tried to say as the portal actually moved closer towards Peter.

"I'll see you around your birthday… champ" Madame Web quips a final time with shaky lips as a goodbye while she motions the portal to 'swallow' Peter whole; forcing him out of the pocket dimension and into the very sunny day he was 'enjoying' before.

"…" the portal moved faster than Peter wanted to, rendering him unable to continue his words. Looking around, Peter saw he was put exactly into the same place he was taken from, which was still luckily alone.

….

The slight change in the shadows formed by objects around Peter however, were proof enough that some time, even if very little, had gone as he was gone. Meaning that there is simply no chance this whole thing was an illusion or dream of sorts.

"…Holy shit!" Peter exclaimed as he felt that weird water-surface-breaking feeling from going through the portal; also feeling weirdly jetlagged from the sudden shift of places.

"Uhm, M-Ms. Web?!" Peter yelled out loud as he looked all around him, noticing how he was exactly where he had been before meeting her. To his chagrin, she didn't answer.

He was all alone in the cemetery once again.

So after Peter gathered his thoughts and rubbed his face whole to regain his self-control again; trying to clear the mess he had left on his head. After a few moments, he muttered "… Jesus Christ… I-I need to sit down".

And so he walked around the empty graveyard with his eyes not showing any real emotion while the sun kept on shining brightly and the gentle breeze still blew gently, caressing Peter's face in an almost soothing manner.

Peter soon found a bench far away from the Connors family under the comforting shadow of a tall and beautiful tree where he could simply sit down and be alone with his thoughts, which are many; there is a lot to consider after all.

Spider-Man, the bite, fate, regret, duty, Madame Webb, the multiverse, death, The Great Web, being a totem, absolute points, a multiversal war, his role in it, his reward, freedom, choices, his birthday, a challenge, the end of the year… the apology.

Peter was told a lot, and so, he has a lot to think about.

And yet, with everything going on in his head, he circles back to his aunt's words about how to live life. How to rebel against the cruelty of the world that threatens to break him down.

Peter feels like he wants to scream, to shout at the unfairness of it, to demand a take back of the apology and yes, he even wants to cry after learning all about fate and how that relates to his uncle - to his parents - to everyone.

Peter Parker, The Amazing Spider-Man of one year, now has the urge to throw himself to the ground and cry his eyes out while screaming for everything he has been told and he knows in an ethereal way that it's all true.

But instead…

"Heh…" Peter huffs a small chuckle as he goes over every single detail in his mind; the sound he made even managed to surprise him a bit. 

"W-what a bunch of bull… heheheh - hahahaha" And he surprises himself even more when he starts laughing. A genuine, sincere and heartfelt laugh that comes from the bottom of his soul in a hearty and entertained way.

"Hahaha - m-my multiversal role as a Champion? I'll hate her f-for what's to come? *PFFT* T-that's such bullshit!" Peter exclaims out loud for no one to hear in the middle of his laughter.

*HAHAHAHAHAHAH* And he keeps going. Even feeling his stomach starting to hurt from the effort he is making.

Laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Laughing at himself.

And the laugh really is genuine, although as he laughs, Peter can't help but question what is the sentiment behind it. Does he find this funny? Too ridiculous even if he 'knows' it's true? Or is that a way of coping with things that he has never encountered before?

He doesn't know. And frankly, he doesn't want to know.

As the woman said, the time when he has to deal with that will eventually come. But for now, he just wants to be left alone in that cemetery; laughing as though a friend told him a really good joke.

As if he felt happy at the events of that particular day. The anniversary of his bite.

*Sigh* Peter sighs shakily with a big smile that doesn't quite reach his dead and tired looking eyes once he finishes laughing as he relaxes further into the bench; looking up at the foliage that allows some sunlight to escape through the leaves in a shower of golden liquid-light that cascades down onto him; enveloping him warmly.

And a thought overpowers all others, making the teen hold his right hand up as if he was raising an invisible cup for a toast.

'Happy one year anniversary, Spidey… Here's to the hope of next year being better than the previous. In fact… may every year from now on only get better and better…' Peter thinks as his smile disappears completely, his eyes strain into an ugly expression and his arm falls lifelessly into the bench.

The wind speeds up just a bit as his hand drops down on the bench, ruffling the leaves further to make a natural symphony for him; where he answers with a sigh while closing his eyes tightly. Leaving him alone in the middle of the graveyard, on such a beautiful day and with much to think about.

'…happy one year' he thinks, one last time.