Aunt May Finds Out
Dani had been on patrol a lot lately so when her Aunt asked her to stay home one Saturday evening for Thai food like they used to, she really couldn't say no.
They were five minutes in, talking about how school and work was going when May pit down her fork and stared at her niece. "Alright Dani, cut the bullshit."
The blonde, whose fork was halfway to her open mouth, dropped it in surprise. "Huh?"
"Where are you all the time? It's like I haven't seen you in months."
"Uh, well you know I've got the internship and-"
"I looked it up and it is literally illegal for you to be doing an internship for that much time every day, Dani. You're a smart kid, if you truly were working that much you'd have looked it up yourself. Tell me the truth this time."
Dani inhaled put her cutlery to the side, looking her Aunt in the eye. "Alright. I'm gonna tell you the truth but you need to promise not to freak out."
The older woman raised an eyebrow at her niece. "I can't promise that. Is it illegal?"
"No! Well, not anymore-" She mumbled the second sentence under her breath but her aunt still heard.
"What?!"
"Nothing, nothing, nevermind. Okay, so in order to tell you where I've been you need to know the whole story, okay?"
"I'm all ears." May Parker sat back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"Ok. Do you remember in my freshman year I went on a field trip to Oscorp?"
The woman thought for a second and slowly nodded. "I vaguely remember it."
"Well, while I was there they were doing some experiments and I don't really know much about them but long story short I got bit by a radioactive spider."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Just listen. After I got bit by the spider, my vision cleared as you know and I started sticking to things and I found I could walk on walls."
"Excuse me?"
"After- After what happened with Uncle Ben, I realised I could use my powers to help people and stop it from happening to someone else." She stole a glance at her Aunt to gage her reaction and saw her guardian sitting with a blank face. "So I did. I made a suit and started going out on patrols and stuff and just helped people. And it felt really really good. It felt like I finally had a purpose like my life was actually meant for something important. Aunt May? Please say something."
The brunette woman looked at her niece in disbelief. "So what exactly are you trying to tell me, Dani? Because I have a pretty good idea."
Dani exhaled. "I'm Spiderwoman."
Without saying anything, her aunt got up and walked over to the cabinet, her back turned so Dani couldn't see what she was doing.
"Aunt May?"
She saw the woman pour a glass of something and then down it in one go. She craned her head to get a closer look and saw it was a scotch that her Uncle had been saving for a special occasion and they'd drunk at his funeral in a toast.
The woman turned back to her niece and looked her over. "Are you being safe?"
She nodded. "As safe as I can be."
"I assume Mr Stark knows about this?"
She nodded.
"And the internship is, what? Just a cover-up?"
"Partly. I do have an actual internship at Stark Industries Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 8. The other times I'm on patrol."
May nodded slowly. "Are you keeping up with your grades?"
Dani nodded. "Yes ma'am."
She walked over her niece and pulled her in for a hug. "Would it make any difference if I told you to stop?"
Dani shook her head while in the hug. "No."
May sighed. "Alright. I know you don't need it but, you have my blessing if this is what you want to do."
"Thank you."
"God, why'd I have to raise such a responsible and selfless young woman huh?"
Dani laughed and pulled out of the hug. "Can we get back to dinner now? I'm kinda hungry."
"Sure."