I think I'm very far from home
Normal POV
May woke up the next morning after Croakus revealed Peter's secret identity. After going through her morning routine, she went downstairs to start making breakfast. Once that was done, she called for Peter to come down. But he looked even worse than he usually is nowadays.
"Did something happen, Peter?" - May knew that this he had a lot on his mind, but she couldn't tell him right now that she knows about his problems.
"No, Aunt May, Everything is fine". - said Peter tiredly.
And after that Peter just went to school. Later that evening May was back at movie theatre as well as the others.
"Welcome back everyone. I know you had a hard time not to tell Peter that you know about him being Spider-Man. But first, I think most of you want to know about what happened today".
Everyone nodded at the last statement as the show began.
'It really is quite strange. Almost everyday there is either a robbery or a supervillain attacking citizens, but these last few days there were no crimes at all. Of course, I put The Big Man in a cell, that led to decreasing the crime level. And still this feels strange'. - Peter thought as he swung across the city towards school.
As he came to school he noticed MJ and Glory smiling at him. And Harry trying to wave him over. But Peter just looked at them with empty eyes and immediately turned his gaze towards the ground as he walked into the classroom taking place at the back.
"Hey, Peter". - Felicia greeted him.
Peter didn't notice her being here.
"Ehm, good morning, Felicia". - Peter responded as he put a fake smile again.
Even if he wanted for his smile to be sincere, he just couldn't do it.
"Oh, Peter". - May said worriedly.
"What will we do now?" - asked Liz to her friends.
"How am I supposed to know?!" - responded Sally irritated but soon calmed down.
Maybe Sally hated Peter's guts, but she couldn't stand seeing her best friend sad.
"I'm sure he will manage, he is Spider-Man after all". - came from Flash.
"You know that we're talking about Peter, right?" - Gwen asked surprised to hear a good word about Peter from none other but his bully, Flash Thompson.
"Shut up!" - Flash answered.
"But he's not a robot. What if all of this will affect his Spider-Man duties?" - a natural question came from Gwen.
"Well, I think we still have time to think about how to help Tiger". - MJ smiled reassuringly.
"I'll show you something interesting very soon. But for now, let's get back to Peter's past.
The new scene started with Peter, Gwen and Eddie watching a tank, filled with electric eels and rays swimming around.
"In nature, everything is connected. As scientists, we explore and expand upon those connections to the benefit of society". - Dr. Connors explained to his interns.
"We're experimenting with genetically altered electric rays and eels". - Eddie told his friends.
"Think what it would mean if we could harness this bioelectricity generate an alternate form of energy: a new, clean source of power." - Curt continued after Eddie.
"It sounds great, but you might wanna clean the tank". - said Peter as he tapped on the glass with the green water inside.
"It's clean. The fluid - I call it sludge. - Increases the eels' bioelectric signatures".
"Yes. In fact, those very signatures have become so intense, we've been forced to upgrade the lab's bioelectrical filters".
"We've been forced?" - chuckled Max.
"I stand corrected. We're forcing Max, here, to upgrade". - Curtis corrected himself.
"All I'm saying".
"Curt, I need to get Billy to bed". - Martha came with Curt's and her son.
"Sorry, honey. I lost track of time".
"You? No. I'm shocked".
"I have to wait for Max to finish, but you go ahead, take Billy home".
"You might send Peter and Gwen home. It is a school night, doc".
"Right, right, right. Go on, you two".
Peter and Gwen walked to the door with Martha and Billy following behind them. As they walked down the stairs a alarm from Peters phone went off.
"It's my Aunt May early-warning system. I have to call if I'm not home by 10". - Peter said before taking out his phone. - "Hey, Aunt May. Sorry for running late. We just left the lab. I'm gonna make sure Gwen gets home safe, and then I'm on my way".
Scene changed back to Connors lab where he took a vile of liquid and put it under the microscope. It showed the cells coming together. Connors picked up the vile and smiled before he frowned when he heard the sound of a drill and saw Max working. Slipping the vile into his coat pocket he watched as Max struggled with a filter and dropped the drill making the machine spark and charge with electricity. Max reached over and went to grab the drill but was shocked with electricity making him scream out in pain and flung him back into the the tank where he broke the glass and was shocked again with by the eels and the water.
"Oh, god". - almost everyone gasped in horror.
Scene changed to a train speeding through the city and Spidey riding on top of it.
"I could be in real trouble here". - said Peter as he shot a web line to the belly of a helicopter and let it take him through the city. - "I'm not even sure my spider-powers can save me this time. - Parker swinged around the corner and landed on a roof overlooking the highschool right as the bell ringed. - "You know, just once, I'd like to be early for school".
Scene changed to Peter running through the halls and slides to a stop in front of the class room. Peter tries to sneak in, not noticing that he didn't pull his shirt down all the way, showing part of his spider-suit.
"Spider-Man in action". - Flash said, reading newspaper.
"It's not what you think!" - Peter almost yelled as he saw his suit and pulled his shirt down.
"It is too, dufus. Says so right here. The Daily Bugle is offering major fundage for a photo of Spider-Man in action".
"Then it is what you think. Hey, wait. That was my idea".
"Looking foolish in biology class?" - chuckled Gwen.
"No. The spider-picture thing. I told that bigmouthed Bugle guy to"...
"Take photos of someone famous? Yeah, that is revolutionary". - Harry said as he laid his hands on Peter's shoulders.
"All right, class, settle down. I know you're all eager to get yesterday's test back". - Mr. Ruby was giving the results of latest test as bell rang.
"C-minus? Sweet". - said Flash.
At the same time Liz saw that she got D-minus.
"Nice job, Mr. Parker. another A-plus".
Flash glared at Peter before eyeing the football beside him. Grabbing the ball, Flash throws it at the back of Peter's head, but Peter felt his spider-sense tingle and dropped his paper by 'accident' and lets the ball fly over his head as ball hit Mr. Ruby in the back of his head.
"Mr. Thompson". - after hearing his name Flash just hid his face with newspaper.
Flash's parents giggled at the scene.
"Remember, justice always comes out on top". - said Flash's mother.
"Yes, ma'am". -Flash smiled at his mom.
Scene changed to the hospital where the Dr. Bromwell and Dr. Connors walks into the waiting room, where Eddie is sitting.
"Dr. Bromwell, how's Max?" - asked Eddie.
"Alive. And that's a miracle, believe me. His condition is stabilized, but"...
"Maybe he should just see for himself". - said Curt as they took Eddie to the room, where Max was staying.
Eddie saw Max wearing a full body suit, and could see a yellow glow from the eyes.
"Hey, Eddie". - Max greeted Brock.
"Max's body is currently generating a constant stream of bioelectricity. That insulation suit will contain it, protect him and everyone. But, Max, I promise you, it's only temporary. We'll begin work on a cure immediately".
"Least you can do". - glared Max.
"Try to rest". - Connors said as he led others out of the room.
Back at the high school the bell had rung, signaling the end of class. Peter tried to leave the room but was stopped by Mr. Ruby.
"Ms. Allan, a moment, please".
Liz was walking out with Flash and Sally, but stopped as she heard Mr. Ruby calling her back.
"Liz, if you're gonna raise that grade, you need a tutor. And I'm recommending Peter for the job".
Liz looked embarrassed and looked back at her friends.
"Nerd is so not the hot accessory this year". - said Sally.
"Quality time with Puny Parker? I'd rather fail". - Flash added.
"Study with Petey? I don't think so. Couldn't Flash tutor me instead?"
"I'm not sure you understand. We want your grade to go up".
As Mr. Ruby walked back to his desk, Peter tries to smile at Liz but she frowns and flips her hair at him as she walked away.
"That wasn't really nice of you, Liz". - Liz's father told her as the girl apologized before May and Ben for this incident.
The scene changed to Eddie having a conversation with Max until Max escaped from the hospital in anger.
Then the scene showed Peter and Liz, sitting at the Silver Spoon cafe where they were supposed to be studying.
"See, the chapter's really about how biological systems interact".
"Anything in there about how biological systems are boring?" - Liz said disinterested as she tapped on her phone.
"Yeah, dullsville, right? Hey, who wants to waste their time with a textbook?" - Pete tried to keep the conversation going,
"What a coincidence.
"Flash just texted me those exact words about you, Petey."
"Maybe if you stopped texting Flash for just a minute"... - Peter couldn't even end his sentence as Liz interrupted him.
"Good idea. I'll call him instead".
Max walked into the cafe wearing sweatpants and a jacket. He tried to go unnoticed but was seen by a little girl, who saw his mask.
"Daddy, what's he wearing". - little girl asked as her father shushed her and pulled her away.
"And what are you staring at?" - Max told the cashier.
"I was just waiting for your order".
"Coffee!" - Max snatched the cup out of cashier's hand.
Max opened the mouth piece of his mask and tried to take a sip of his coffee, but a small bolt of electricity came out of his mouth and hit the cup, spilling it all over the floor.
"Oh, man. I can't even drink a lousy cup of coffee. Sorry. I'm sorry". - Max ran out of the cafe, frighting everyone.
"Oh, yeah, I'll be fluent in geek". - Liz said over the phone.
Peter watched as Max ran out of cafe and thought he was a robber.
'Thug alert. And just when I was having so much fun being ignored'. - Peter thought as he spoke to Liz. - "This tutoring thing is something you need, not me. So when you're ready to learn, let me know".
Liz watched Peter leave in total awe and didn't hear Flash on the phone.
"Liz? Can you hear me? Liz?"
"It was rather rude Peter". - said May, being not really proud of this.
"Well, Ms. Parker, I think it got my girl's attention quite well". - said Mrs. Allan as she smiled at her daughter, making her blush a little.
Peter ran down an alley and changed into his spider-suit before shooting a web line and swinging away. He saw Max running down the street and chased after him.
'Someone's getting paid for Spidey's picture. Might as well be me. Okay, self-portraits aren't going to be as easy as I thought. What I need is a group shot'.
Max was running down the sidewalk when he hit a guy rolling a dolly with bottled soda in crates. Max picked himself up and was about to continue running when he felt something hit his back.
"Say, "Spider-Man." Wonderful". - Peter said as he took pictures of Max and webbedd him up. - "You are a very cooperative crook. But I can't get a good mug shot if you're wearing this". - Peter finished as he webbed Max's mask and pulled it off, exposing his face that turned into electricity.
Max roars out in anger, unleashing his power, which burns through the ropes and hits Spider-man in the chest, making him hit a wall.
Everyone at theatre gasped as they saw Peter hit the wall.
"You shouldn't have done that". - said Max as he turned to look at Spider-Man. - "You really shouldn't have done that". - Max walked closer to Spidey, while making signs and lights explode.
"Now, now. "Attack" is such a strong word". - Peter said, dodging a punch from Max.
"What's your game?"
Max used his finger to shoot a small bolt of electricity. Peter dodged the first blast but was immediately hit by another one in midair.
"All right, Electro. Time to unplug". - Peter webbed a couple of TVs from a store window and slinged them at Electro, who blocked them and made them explode.
"Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!" - Electro lost control and sent dozens of bolts from his body, hitting road and signs.
Spider-man saw him lose control and tried to swing kick him, but Electro put up a dome of electricity, zapping spider-man, making him yell out in pain. Electro zapped Spider-man into a car, denting the side, and watched as he fell on the street.
"You should have left me alone".
Electro shot blast of electricity from his hands and tried to zap spiderman, but he kept dodging until he finally hid under a fire escape. Peter tried to catch his breath, but he froze when he heard an alarm go off on his phone.
'Perfect' - Peter thought as he checked his phone, seeing that it was 9:58 P.M.
Spider-man dodged some more blasts as he made his way up the fire escape to the roof. Once on the roof he called May and jumped it a Oscorp billboard.
"Hello?" - May spoke on the phone.
"Hey, Aunt May".
"Peter, it's almost 10".
"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm calling. I've been tutoring". - Peter said, while dodging another shot of lightning and moved to the back of the billboard. - "It's slow going, but I'll be home soon".
"I hope so. The weatherman predicted rain. You don't have your umbrella".
"Yeah, somehow, I doubt an umbrella would help. I mean, it's not raining here yet".
Max looked down and saw his mask and hat. After putting them on he ran while Spider-man was hidden.
"Okay, bye, Aunt May. Don't wait up". - Spidey hung up the phone and jumped over the billboard, landing on the street. - "All right, Electro, I'm..." - Spider-Man saw that Electro ran away. - "All alone".
"I hope that not all of Peter's battles are that dangerous". - May said worriedly.
"I must disappoint you, but all of his fights with supervillains are dangerous". - Croakus answered.
The next morning, at the school, Peter was checking the pics that he took from the night before.
'Blurry. Blurry. Oh, nice one of my elbow. Or my knee, maybe. And this one would've been great if my arm was 2 feet longer. No way the Bugle will take any of these. Not only does Lightning-Butt get away but I've got nothing to show..."
"Peter". - Gwen wanted to get Peter's attention before continuing. - "I just talked to Eddie. There was an accident at the lab".
Scene changed to Peter throwing away the photos after their conversation.
'Max's life is trashed. And not only don't I recognize him, I attack him. Not sure if I could've helped, but at least I could've tried'.
"Petey!" - Liz greeted Peter.
"Yeah, Petey. Look, I feel bad for ditching you last night. So, if you still want help, we can meet after school at the ESU lab. It's up to you". - Peter wasn't really in a mood since the time he got news about Max.
Scene changed to the ESU lab, where a storm raged outside.
"Could we put him in a tank? Use a bioelectric filter to siphon..." - Gwen offered.
"No. Won't work, I'm afraid. Eels evolved to exist in aquatic environments. Max didn't". - Connors simply answered.
"With the voltage he's currently generating... you don't want him anywhere near water". - said Eddie.
"Petey?" - Liz came into the lab.
Peter looked shocked that she actually came.
"Petey?" - Eddie was confused about nickname.
Scene changed to Max, who was about to walk into his apartment, but was stopped by Dr. Bromwell and two police officers. After some time, Max managed to escape, unleashing his powers saying that he knows who will help him.
Back at the ESU Labs, Peter was talking with Connors.
"Maybe this isn't such a good time".
"No, go on. I need to check some results in my office anyway".
Peter watched Connors go into his office and close the blinds. He gave a weird look at where Connors was last seen before walking back to Liz and the others.
"So, Eddie, you are quarterbacking for ESU?" - Liz asked Eddie.
"No. Hung up my jersey back at Midtown. I'm strictly a nerd now".
We're all nerds here. You can be too". - Peter said as he walked up to them with a rubber glove and a hook.
"Wonderful". - Liz said not really impressed by the idea.
"I'm serious, Liz. You're smart. You can get this stuff. You just need to look at it in a new way". - Pete led her to the aquarium and dipped the hook and his hand in the water.
"Petey". - Liz said frightened.
"In nature, everything's connected. As scientists, we explore and expand upon those connections". - Peter caught an eel and showed it to the girl. - "As people, we should do the same".
"Thought you said this stuff was boring". - Liz smiled at Peter with him returning the favor.
"You're lucky to have Pete as a tutor, Liz. Guy knows his stuff. Probably a Nobel Prize in his future".
Gwen frowned at Peter and Liz smiling to each other as she looked down to hide that.
"Seems like someone's jealous". - Captain Stacy teased his daughter, who blushed and turned away.
"So, that was the moment, when you started to fall for the boy". - Liz's mom smirked at her daughter. - "When should I expect grandkids?" - woman decided to push her teasing further getting a frown from LIz.
"Mom, you heard Sally. We've broken up. It'll never happen..." - Liz sighed sadly.
I have the results of... Curt, what are you doing?
"It's nothing. I can explain". - Dr. Connors rushed to his wife and closed the door.
"What is that?"
"An experimental bio-formula. Genetically altered lizard DNA".
"What?"
Their conversation was stopped by the flickering of the lights and to doors being blasted off the hinges. Liz wrapped her arms around Peters shoulders in fright.
"Connors! Where's Connors? You really don't wanna keep me waiting, kids". - Electro said angrily. - "Where's Connors?"
"Max, I'm right here. Try to stay calm".
"Calm? We left calm behind a lifetime ago, doc". I can't take it anymore. You caused this; you cure it".
"We're working on that, Max, I promise. It'll just take time".
"I don't have time! Cure me now..." - Max fired a lightning blast at the wall behind Connors and his wife. -"Before I really get upset. I know you can do it, doc. All you need is the proper motivation".
'Oh, well. The secret-identity thing was fun while it lasted'. - Peter thought, being ready to sacrifice his secret to save Connors.
"I'll distract him. You get the girls out". - Eddie said to Peter.
"What? Eddie, no".
They watched as Eddie ran and tried to tackle Max. But Max saw him coming and grabbed him with his open hand, shocking Eddie and threw him across the lab. Meanwhile Peter pushed Gwen and Liz out the back door.
"Come on. In there. It'll be safe". - Peter pushed girls to another building and slipped away.
"Police Emergency? There's a..." - Gwen was interrupted by Liz.
"Gwen. Gwen, wait. Where's Petey?"
"Max, please, don't hurt him. - said Curt as he watched Max walking to the downed Eddie. - "We'll find a cure. We just need time".
"You're lying!" - Electro broke desk and kicked it away.
"Guys, I know it's not exactly a cure, but how about some chill pills?" - Spider-Man joked.
"You!" - Max fired lightning at Peter.
"Yeah, me. Look, I messed up before. But now I really wanna help". - Peter held his hand out.
"You wanna hold my hand?" - Max grabbed Spidey's hand and sent a shock to his body, sending him crashing into the broken desk. - "None of you get it. Without a cure, I'm not Max Dillon. I'm..." - Max looked at Peter. - "What'd you call me?"
"Lighting-Butt?"
"No, not that. Electro. Yeah. I'm Electro!" - Dillon opened his mask and let his powers loose.
"All right, Electro, you wanna vent, then vent". - Peter webbed a piece of the desk and slinged him it at Max.
Electro tried to hit spider-man with his lightning, but spider-man kept dodging. Spidey knew that he had to buy time so Connors and his wife could get Eddie out. Spider-man tried to shoot a web at Max, but electricity went up the web and electrocuted him, making him yell and fall onto the desk that was under him. Max noticed that Connors and his wife were carrying Eddie out the door and was about to shoot a bolt of lightning at them, but was hit in the head with a computer. While Max was distracted, Spider-man webbed his arms and wrists to his body and then put three webs over the door.
"Gone. My only chance at a cure, and you let them escape".
Spider-man ducked under Max's body and let him slide on the table, dragging all of the chemicals to the floor, where it exploded. Spider-man was near the door and saw Max walk out of the fire, not a scratch was on him.
"That's it. The gloves are off".
Electro fired a blast that was as big as a car. It hit spider-man and blasted him out of the lab and onto the concrete outside. Spider-man groaned as he pushed his body off the ground and saw Electro walk outside. A bystander was walking by and saw the fighting going on and took out his phone.
"That Bugle prize money's as good as mine". - the guy tried to take a picture but Spider-Man was dodging blasts making it harder. - "If Spider-Man would just stand still".
Spider-man saw Electro shoot at the bystander and fired a web, pulling him to safety.
"Sorry, pal, photo shoot is over. But if those shots come out, I want my cut". - Peter dodged other blasts and found a rubber glove. - "Okay, Electro, the gloves are on".
Spider-man put on the glove and swung around a lamp post before grabbing Electro and throwing him into a wall. He thought that it was safe and walked up to him.
"See? You can dish it out, but you can't..." - Spidey didn't finish as he was blasted by lightning and grabbed a metal telephone tower. - "Oh, me and my big spider-mouth".
"Can't escape me up there, web-slinger. This is my playground".
"Okay, maybe climbing a big metal tower wasn't the brightest idea". - Peter said as his cellphone ringed. -"Oh, man, where does the time go? - Peter grabbed his phone. - "Hey, Aunt May".
"Peter, where are you? You sound strange, and there's so much static".
"Yeah, it's a bad connection. I'm running late again, but..."
"Peter, you're taking advantage of our arrangement. Calling in late every night is not acceptable".
"Sorry, I can't hear you. Static. I'll be home soon. Bye". - Peter finished the call. "I am so grounded. Of course, being grounded right now might not be such a bad thing. What I really need is a plan. Or the world's biggest dunk-tank".
Spider-man got outside the tower and swung around, kicking Max off the tower. Max went through the hole in the roof and into the pool, heating it up so much that the water evaporated. Spider-man looked through the roof, at the now dry pool, and saw Max unconscious at the bottom. Spider-man heard police sirens and swung away, leaving Max for the police.
"Whoa! That was intense! - Flash said in shock.
"Good job, Peter". - Captain Stacy said with a smile.
"I should've known that you would have stayed out past the time unless something was wrong". - May sniffled.
"You didn't know what he was doing, dear". - Uncle Ben tried to calm his wife.
"No, but I should've trusted him a little more".
The next morning at the school, Peter was walking down the hall with a frown on his face.
"Petey, what were you thinking last night?" - Liz gasped.
"That I should try to help?" - Peter was a little nervous.
"And did you?"
"Me? No. Old Petey's pretty useless, I guess".
"I wouldn't say that". - Liz smiled at Peter as did he.
"Hey, what's Puny Parker doing here?" - Flash ruined their moment.
"Way to ruin a moment, Flash". - Harry said.
"Hey!"
"Leaving, I hope".
Peter frowned at her and walked away from the group, not seeing Liz's sad look and longing in her eyes. He walked over to Harry and Gwen.
"Peter Parker, another hapless victim of the wild, undomesticated cheerleader". - said Harry.
"It's her loss, Pete". - Gwen tried to cheer up her friend.
"And, hey, if the job was to help her learn at least you taught her how to fold to peer pressure".
"No big. I reached out, and she knocked my hand away. You can't control everything. Trick is to never stop trying".
Scene changed to Connors and Martha in the destroyed lab. Connors was writing things down in a notebook.
"We won't stop trying, Curt, but we can't do anything more today. Come on. Let's go home".
Connors looked down and saw the injector and the green vile on the floor and pick it up when his wife wasn't looking. After slipping it into his coat pocket, he followed his wife out the door.
Curt saw the hurt on his wife and sons face and brought them into a hug. - "I am so sorry you two. I was so selfish that I only thought of myself, not what would have happened to guys if it went wrong."
"It's okay, dad. At least Peter was there to save you".
"Yes. Yes, he was". - Curt said with a smile, before turning to May. - "We owe Peter everything. If there is ever anything that you guys need, let us know."
May just smiled and nodded her head.
"Well, now to something interesting". - said Croakus.
Peter was surprised, that Aunt May canceled the curfew. So, Peter decided to swing around the city. But as he was about to put his mask on some kind of portal opened up under him as he fell through it and landed on a roof of a building.
"What is that? Why did I suddenly teleport outside... Wait... My mask! I need to get back home". - Peter wanted to swing towards his home but he heard some type of roar from an injured animal behind his.
"Everything is fine... Just breathe..." - female voice said to the boy, who was laying on the ground with his head on a girl's lap as she caressed his face. - "Please stay with me..." - seemed like the girl was on the verge of tears.
"I... Just wanted to be special... Just like you..."
"No no no, Peter! What have you done..." - the girl lifted the hood and put off her mask to reveal Gwen Stacy. - "Please... Don't leave me..." - the guy who was called Peter closed his eyes.
Peter swinged towards the noise and landed before a girl in a predominantly black, trimmed with white and features an unexpected touch of pink and purple costume with hood removed.
"H-hey, is everything okay?" - Parker asked the girl.
Gwen noticing appearance of someone new, shot her web towards Peter, but he immediately caught it.
"W-wait... Gwen?" - Peter was really confused right now.
"P-peter?" - girl couldn't believe her eyes. - "H-how is that even possible? I just saw you die in my arms. Who are you?"
Peter then noticed himself lying dead on the ground. - "This must be a joke!" - Peter whispered. - "I'm Spider-Man... and it seems I'm very far from home and need help to get back".
To be continued...