"he's the best of us"
The video spread like wildfire across every screen in New York City. On billboards, phones, and television sets, the unmistakable image of Spider-Man filled the displays, unmasking the web-slinger for the entire world to see.
"Spider-Man's real name is Peter Parker!" proclaimed Mysterio in a thunderous voice.
Gasps and exclamations of shock rippled through the crowds as the truth sank in. Peter Parker, an unassuming high school student from Queens, was the masked hero who had been fighting crime and saving lives for years.
In her room at the Avengers compound upstate, Natasha Romanoff stared at her phone in disbelief. The broadcast had revealed her biggest secret - that Peter Parker was her biological son. Natasha treasured their mother-son bond deeply, even if she had given birth to Peter as a teenager and placed him with her sister, May Parker, to raise.
Only Fury and the Avengers had known before today. Now her child, her little spiderling, had been exposed before he was ready. Natasha's shock morphed into determination as she grabbed her gear. She had to find Peter and keep him safe, no matter what it took.
MJ and Ned huddled together in Ned's living room, frozen as Peter's unmasked face remained on the screen. They had known his secret, had helped him, had been there for him when no one else could understand the pressures he now faced. What would happen to their best friend now?
On the outskirts of the city, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts gaped at the broadcast from the sanctuary of their cabin. Tony's heart clenched with fear. Not Peter. The kid had already been through so much. Pepper clasped Tony's hand, a silent promise passing between them - they would protect Peter, no matter what came next.
In the halls of Midtown High, Flash Thompson staggered back, catching himself on the row of lockers behind him. Puny Parker was...Spider-Man? The boy he had taunted and bullied for years had possessed unbelievable power all along. Flash put a hand to his mouth, bile rising in his throat as shame washed over him. How had he not seen this coming? If only he had treated Peter better before. If only...
On the streets below, New Yorkers shouted in surprise and anger as Mysterio's message sank in: Spider-Man was responsible for Mysterio's death. The web-slinger they had cheered for had betrayed them. Suspicion and fear rippled through the masses.
High above the city, Thor frowned deeply as he took in the broadcast from the balcony of Avengers Tower. The Midgardian warriors were turning on one of their own. This injustice would not stand.
"Stay here with Banner," Thor instructed. "I will find the boy."
With a crack of thunder, Thor took to the skies. He had fought alongside Spider-Man. The youth was noble and true - he did not deserve this betrayal. Thor would not let Peter Parker face this darkness alone.
At the Sanctum Sanctorum, Doctor Strange's focused meditation was interrupted by panicked warnings from Wong and other masters about the revelations on the news. As Sorcerer Supreme, Strange had a duty to protect the innocent. He waved a hand, forming a portal into Peter Parker's bedroom in Queens. It was empty. Wherever the boy was, Strange resolved to find him before the forces converging against Spider-Man did.
On the streets of New York, Natasha raced through traffic on her motorcycle, weaving between honking cars. She had to get to Queens, to May and Peter. Nothing else mattered but making sure her family was safe. Natasha grit her teeth against the anguish rising in her chest. She had sworn to protect her little spiderling, but she had failed. Now his life was in danger, and it was all her fault. She should have trained him better, prepared him for this. Natasha revved the engine, pushing the bike faster. She would find Peter first and deal with the consequences later.
Swinging through the concrete jungle of NYC, Peter Parker's mind reeled. How had everything gone so wrong so fast? Beck had seemed like an ally, a mentor even. But the illusion master had manipulated Peter and orchestrated an intricate deception to destroy his life.
Peter swung down into a deserted alley, chest heaving. He ripped off his mask, struggling for breath. His friends, his family, his identity - all exposed. And he had no idea what to do next.
Leaning against the rough brick wall, Peter slid to the ground. He thought back to what Tony had told him once: "If you're nothing without this suit, then you shouldn't have it." But Peter had always defined himself by his role as Spider-Man. Who was he now without the mask, just Peter Parker once again?
Peter sat alone in that alley for hours, lost in thought. He barely registered the growing furor sweeping the city as word spread of Spider-Man's supposed crimes. Peter felt unable to move, paralyzed by despair.
Until a familiar voice cut through the haze. "Peter!"
He looked up and there she was - Natasha, his mom, kneeling in front of him with a look of immense relief on her face.
"Oh Peter," she breathed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm so glad I found you."
Peter melted into Natasha's embrace, taking comfort in her familiar warmth and strength. "Mom, I really messed up," he mumbled against her shoulder.
"We'll figure this out," Natasha reassured him, voice gentle but fierce. "I'm getting you someplace safe."
As they separated, Peter asked nervously, "Is May okay? And my friends?"
"May's safe at home with Happy guarding her. Your friends Ned and MJ are together at his place and there's security details on both locations," Natasha reported briskly. "Tony's also having Stark Industries lawyers work on lawsuits against that garbage Daily Bugle website."
Peter nodded, reassured that his loved ones were protected. Natasha helped him up and led him swiftly through a maze of side streets and alleys. After ensuring they hadn't been followed, they arrived at an nondescript brick apartment building. Inside one of the units, they descended a flight of stairs into a hidden sub-basement.
"One of my safehouses outside the city," Natasha explained. "Only Fury and I know about it. We'll lay low here while figuring out our next steps."
Peter sat on the simple cot in the sparse room. Natasha sat beside him, keeping a comforting arm wrapped around his shoulders.
"I really made a mess of things, didn't I?" Peter said quietly.
"This wasn't your fault," Natasha said firmly. "That monster Beck manipulated you. What matters now is staying ahead of the situation."
Peter bit his lip. "I don't know if I can fix this. My identity is out there. Everyone thinks I'm a villain."
Natasha turned Peter to face her. "Listen to me. We've faced worse odds before, you and I. We're survivors. Whatever comes next, we'll handle it together."
Seeing the determination shining in Natasha's eyes, Peter felt the faint stirrings of hope. With his mom by his side, maybe he could find a way through this nightmare after all.
They both looked up as footsteps sounded on the stairs outside. Natasha instantly had her gun drawn and stepped in front of Peter protectively.
The door opened to reveal Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. "Stand down, Widow. It's just us," Tony said. Behind him, Thor, Dr. Strange, and several other Avengers filed into the safehouse.
"We came as soon as we could," Pepper said, rushing forward to hug Peter.
"We're here for you, kid," Tony said gruffly. "We'll sort this whole thing out."
Peter's heart swelled at seeing so many of his mentors and friends united to support him in this dire hour. "Thank you, all of you," he said sincerely.
With the Avengers assembled around their youngest member, Natasha finally allowed herself to relax slightly. Peter was safe for now, surrounded by people who loved him. They would find a way to reveal Mysterio's lies and restore Spider-Man's reputation.
Watching Natasha embrace her son, Pepper felt immense sympathy for the Black Widow. She knew Natasha blamed herself for not protecting Peter better from this disaster. Pepper made a mental note to take Natasha aside later and remind her that none of them, least of all Natasha, could have predicted what was coming.
Over the next few hours, the Avengers hashed out their strategy. Dr. Strange would use his magic to confirm Mysterio had used illusion technology to fake the attacks on London and frame Spider-Man. Stark Industries' lawyers would file lawsuits forcing media outlets like The Daily Bugle to retract their libelous claims about Spider-Man murdering Mysterio.
While the others coordinated the legal and media counterattack, Natasha focused on monitoring events in Queens. She knew Peter's main concern was keeping his loved ones safe.
Happy Hogan sent periodic updates from his protective detail outside Peter's apartment. He reported that crowds of angry, confused people had gathered, demanding answers from May Parker about her nephew's apparent double life. Thankfully, NYPD officers were holding back the mob.
Inside the apartment, May paced back and forth anxiously. Knowing her beloved nephew was in danger yet being unable to reach him was agonizing. A knock on the door made May jump. She looked through the peephole warily. To her shock, it was Peter's classmates Ned and MJ. She quickly let them in.
"Peter's gone, we can't reach him," Ned said frantically. "Is he..."
"He's safe, in hiding with Natasha and the Avengers," May said gently. Both teenagers breathed a sigh of relief.
"We had to come make sure you were okay, May," MJ explained. "Peter would want us to look after you."
May's eyes glistened with tears. "You two are the best friends he could ask for," she declared, hugging them tight. Together, they waited out the storm surrounding the Parkers' small apartment.
Across town, Flash Thompson sat alone in his luxurious home. His parents were away on business, as usual, leaving Flash alone with his thoughts. And all he could think about was Peter. Puny Parker, who Flash had picked on for years, had astounding powers he had never used against Flash.
Flash thought back to all the times he had mocked Peter, shoved him into lockers, made disparaging comments about Peter being a loser. Bile rose in his throat. Peter could have flattened Flash with his pinky finger, yet he had chosen not to. Peter Parker was a far better person than Flash could ever hope to be.
For so long, Flash had been jealous of Peter's easy friendship with MJ and Ned. He had just wanted to be included in their squad, but had never known how to reach out. Anger and resentment had festered inside Flash, making him lash out at the person he envied most - Peter.
But now everything had changed. Peter was out there hated and feared by the entire city, his life ripped apart. And Flash knew without a doubt whose side he was on. Spider-Man had saved countless lives. Peter Parker didn't deserve what was happening to him.
Flash knew what he had to do. Grabbing his jacket, he slipped out of the house and headed downtown. He would stand by Peter's side to face whatever came next. It was time to set things right.
Back at the safehouse, Friday's arrival brought some much-needed good news. The lawyers had filed their lawsuit and injunctions successfully. Many of the wilder conspiracy theories about Spider-Man being a menace who had murdered Mysterio were finally being retracted.
"My magic has also confirmed Mysterio falsified all claims of responsibility by Mr. Parker for the attacks," Dr. Strange added. "The truth is coming out."
Peter let out a breath he felt like he had been holding for days. Maybe this nightmare was coming to an end.
A few hours later, Pepper called a press conference in the lobby of the Avengers Tower. Peter stood between Tony and Natasha, trying not to fidget nervously. He wasn't used to being the center of this much scrutiny, especially without his mask.
"There have been many vicious lies spread about Spider-Man over the last few days," Pepper began, standing tall behind the podium. "Let me be clear - Peter Parker is a hero. He has risked his life many times over to protect innocent people. He played a key role in reversing Thanos' snap and saving billions of lives across the universe."
Murmurs rose from the sea of reporters. Natasha stepped forward next. "Peter Parker is an enhanced individual and my biological son. I gave birth to him as a teenager and entrusted my sister May to raise him. Very few knew about Peter's paternity until today. But I could not be more proud of the young man he has become."
She squeezed Peter's shoulder and stepped back. Looking out at the expectant faces, Peter knew it was his turn to speak.
"My name is Peter Parker. I'm a high school student, a science nerd, and Spider-Man. I became Spider-Man because I wanted to help people after..." His voice caught. "After my Uncle Ben died. With great power, comes great responsibility. That's what he taught me."
Peter went on to describe being recruited by Tony before the fight in Germany and receiving his upgraded suit and AI. "Mr. Stark, Ms. Potts, my mom Natasha...they have all helped and guided me so much. Now I have to continue doing the next right thing, no matter how hard it is. Because that's what heroes do."
Tony walked back to the mic. "The kid's right. Being a hero means facing adversity with courage, honor and hope. Spider-Man represents the best in all of us. Let's not turn against him now when he needs our support the most."
A few reporters hesitantly clapped. The tide of public opinion was slowly turning back in Spider-Man's favor.
From the back of the room, Flash Thompson watched Peter speak with awe. He had come here to show his support for Spider-Man, only to discover it was his friend Peter under that mask. Hearing Peter acknowledge Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow herself, as his mother only increased Flash's amazement. Peter had lived an extraordinary double life all this time.
Flash knew he owed Peter a long overdue apology. Stepping forward, he called out, "Peter Parker is a hero! He saved my life on the school trip to the Washington Monument when it collapsed. I used to give him a hard time, but I was wrong." Flash's voice caught. "He's the best of us."
Peter's eyes widened in shock at seeing Flash defend him so passionately. Natasha gave Flash an appraising look. Perhaps the boy who had tormented her son could still redeem himself.
After the conference, Flash tentatively approached the stage. "Hey Peter," he began awkwardly. "I'm really sorry for, you know, being a jerk to you all those years. And for saying you had a date with Black Widow that one time. I, uh, didn't realize she was actually your mom." Flash flushed with embarrassment.
Peter clapped a hand on Flash's shoulder. "It's okay, Flash. Really. I know you didn't actually mean any real harm. And I'm sorry I never told you the truth."
Flash shuffled his feet. "Do you think, maybe, we could try being friends now?"
Peter glanced at Ned and MJ who had come to stand beside him. MJ gave Peter an encouraging nod. "You know what, Flash?" Peter said. "I think we can do that."
And so Flash Thompson became the newest member of the academic decathlon team's inner circle of friends. In the weeks that followed, Flash learned to stop judging people at face value. He embraced kindness and courage, following Spider-Man's example.
Peter, though exhaustion still clung to him, found solace in the support of his loved ones. The lawsuits against slanderous media outlets proceeded steadily with Matt Murdock and Jennifer Walters leading the charge.
Finally, the day of the trial arrived. J. Jonah Jameson strutted into court, blustering that the libel lawsuit was a violation of his constitutional rights. He pointed an accusing finger at Peter. "That menace Spider-Man tried to murder our brave hero Mysterio!"
Seated beside Murdock and Walters, Peter had to suppress a snort. Mysterio had been the real villain, not him.
Murdock rose calmly. "Your Honor, my client Mr. Parker is an enhanced minor who has risked his safety to protect the people of this city. Mr. Jameson recklessly endangered and slandered this child."
Pepper and Tony testified about the harm done to Peter by Jameson's smear campaign. Natasha explained how Spider-Man had saved her life during the fight against Thanos, proving his heroism.
Finally, Dr. Strange presented irrefutable magical evidence that Mysterio had used illusion tech to fabricate the attacks. Jameson blanched, his case collapsing.
In the end, the judge ruled decisively in Peter's favor, fining The Daily Bugle heavily. Jameson's public threats against Spider-Man landed him a restraining order as well.
Justice had been served. Peter walked taller leaving the courthouse, thankful to be exonerated at last. Natasha hugged him proudly.
That night, Spider-Man patrolled the lively streets of Queens once more. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was back, stronger than ever.
Perched atop a skyscraper, Peter lifted his mask and breathed in the fresh air. The past few weeks had tested him severely. But he had survived the crucible - identity exposed yet spirit intact.
Peter knew threats still loomed on the horizon. He would likely spend his whole life facing down sinister villains and daunting trials as Spider-Man. But with his family and friends standing beside him, he could endure any challenge yet to come.
Spider-Man leapt boldly from the roof, shooting out a web. He soared between the glittering towers of his city, silhouetted against the moon.
Just another night on the job.
The morning of Peter Parker's return to Midtown High was unlike any other. A massive crowd of reporters and camera crews swarmed the entrance, barely held back by police barricades.
Inside, students murmured excitedly. Peter Parker was Spider-Man and Black Widow's son! This was insane!
Ned and MJ helped clear a path through gawkers for Peter as he walked resolutely to class. He kept his head high, trying not to let the stares unnerve him.
Flash nodded at Peter in greeting. "I got your back, man. We all do."
Peter smiled gratefully. With his friends surrounding him, he could do this.
In class, Peter answered his teachers' careful questions about how long he had been Spider-Man and how it had affected his studies. His teachers expressed sympathy for the difficulties Peter had faced balancing hero work and school.
At lunch, MJ glared fiercely at any student who tried approaching their table to pester Peter with questions. After a few days, the initial frenzy died down. Peter's classmates realized that despite his extraordinary abilities, he was still the same old Peter.
Between press conferences and strategy sessions with Stark Industries' lawyers, Peter and Natasha also made time to hang out together, making up for lost years apart. They trained together in hand-to-hand combat and talked long into the night. Their bond grew stronger than ever.
Natasha remained constantly vigilant, determined never to let harm come to her son again. Together with the Avengers, she helped Peter navigate the fallout of his exposed identity with wisdom and compassion.
And Peter realized that even stripped of his mask and anonymity, his essence remained. He was still just a kid from Queens trying to do the right thing. Whatever came next, whoever he had to become, his moral compass would remain unchanged.
With his friends and family around him, Peter faced the future with wary optimism, renewed courage, and an unshakeable trust that even his darkest days as Spider-Man were never final. The light would always return.
Two Weeks Later
"Whoa, this is insane!" Flash exclaimed, craning his neck back to stare open-mouthed at the towering Avengers Tower.
Peter grinned, leading his friends into the lobby. "Guys, welcome to my home away from home."
It had been two months since Spider-Man's identity had been revealed to the world. Peter was still adjusting to the new normal, but life was finally starting to regain some semblance of normalcy.
Well, besides the fact that his last name was now legally Romanoff. Natasha had wanted to make their familial connection official. Peter Parker was now Peter Romanoff, son of Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. That would take some getting used to.
But today was just about hanging out with his friends. Peter stepped into the private elevator, joined by Ned, MJ, and Flash.
"Romanoff Protocol enabled," announced F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s cool voice. The elevator shot upwards, giving them a breathtaking bird's-eye view of New York through the glass walls.
MJ and Ned were unfazed, having visited before. But Flash seemed on the verge of hyperventilating. Peter hid a smile. The intimidation factor of seeing Avengers Tower for the first time was not to be underestimated.
The doors finally opened directly into the penthouse lounge. Tony Stark glanced up from where he was tinkering with some new tech. "Hey kid, welcome back."
"Hey Mr. Stark," Peter replied. "You remember my friends Ned and MJ. And this is my, uh, new friend Flash."
"Welcome to the madhouse," Tony said wryly. He nodded to the teenagers. "Mini-fridge is stocked with drinks and snacks. Mi casa es su casa."
"You kids have fun. Peter deserves some normal time with his friends," Pepper Potts said warmly, kissing Peter on the cheek before heading off to a meeting.
Flash stared at Tony and Pepper in awe. He was standing casually in the same room as Iron Man and Rescue, like it was no big deal!
"Come on, let's explore!" Peter exclaimed. Soon, the four teens were racing down hallways and sliding down bannisters, Peter pointing out various labs and rooms.
"This tower has 100 floors," Ned informed Flash. "The training rooms and labs take up like 50 of them."
"Ooh, let's stop by the gymnasium!" Peter said. Inside the vast gym, they gaped at the Olympic-sized swimming pool, rock climbing wall, and gymnastic equipment.
Natasha Romanoff was currently sparring with Steve Rogers on a mat in hand-to-hand combat. She flipped Steve over her shoulder and pinned him in a chokehold.
"Gotcha again, old man," Nat teased.
"Alright, I yield," Steve chuckled. He caught sight of the kids and waved.
"Mom! You remember my friends Ned and MJ," Peter said. "And this is F-Flash."
Natasha smiled gently. "Nice to meet Peter's friends."
Flash stared at the ground, cheeks reddening. The actual Black Widow was standing right in front of him! Focus, Flash, be cool, he told himself.
"H-hi, nice to meet you," Flash stammered at Natasha. She seemed vaguely amused by his flustered state.
"Well, don't let us interrupt your fun," Nat said. "Enjoy exploring the tower."
The teens spent the next few hours racing up and down the building in the elevator, raiding the snack pantries, and playing virtual reality games.
For Peter, it felt good to just be a normal kid enjoying time with his friends. No prying eyes or reporters. No villain of the week to fight. Just the simple pleasure of goofing around with his best pals.
Eventually, they took a break out on the balcony. The teens sat around a table, munching on snacks and admiring the view.
"New York is so beautiful from up here," MJ said, sketching the skyline in her notebook.
"This is the craziest, most amazing day of my life," Flash declared. "Seriously, thank you for inviting me here, Peter."
"What are friends for?" Peter said, smiling.
"Sir Peter of Avengers Tower, it is truly an honor to be your humble sidekick on this epic quest," Ned proclaimed dramatically.
Peter laughed. "Sir Ned, noble knight of the hexagon table, I vow to defend your honor!"
Their impromptu roleplay was interrupted by loud rock music suddenly blasting from hidden speakers. Thor strode out onto the balcony holding his boombox.
"Greetings, young comrades!" he bellowed jovially. "Who is ready for the epic sounds of Asgard?"
The god of thunder was wearing sunglasses and a rainbow t-shirt that proclaimed "Stormbreaker" in glittery letters.
MJ quirked an eyebrow. "Cool shirt, Thor."
"Thank you, Lady MJ," Thor boomed. "I am most proud of my spectacular garb."
He turned the music up louder. The balcony vibrated with the throbbing bass.
"Come, we must dance to celebrate our mighty friendship!" Thor cheered.
Laughing, the four teens joined Thor in dancing wildly. As the song ended, Thor raised his arms.
"Another round of revelry!" He selected another song and then paused. "But first, I must quench my thirst." He strolled off towards the lounge bar.
Catching their breath from dancing, the teens became aware of two figures approaching from inside.
"Really, Bruce, I just think you need to be more assertive," came Natasha Romanoff's voice.
"I know, I know. I'll try to speak up more next time Tony and Steve start arguing," Bruce Banner replied sheepishly.
Peter and his friends exchanged wide-eyed looks. Only Flash seemed confused.
"Wait, Bruce...as in Bruce Banner? The Hulk?" Flash whispered loudly.
"No, don't call him that!" Peter whisper-shouted back urgently. But it was too late.
Bruce and Nat stepped out onto the balcony. "Hey kids, having fun?" Nat asked.
"Yup, we're great, just hanging out!" Peter said quickly.
Bruce smiled benignly at the teenagers. "Nice to meet you all. I don't think we've met before," he said to Flash.
"You're the Hulk!" Flash blurted out.
A tense silence descended on the balcony.
"I mean, sorry, I didn't mean..." Flash trailed off lamely.
Bruce's eye twitched but he kept his smile fixed in place. "I prefer being called Bruce, if you don't mind," he said lightly.
"Yeah, of course! Got it. Bruce, not...the other guy," Flash muttered, sinking down in his chair.
Natasha rolled her eyes in Peter's direction. "We'll let you kids get back to your fun," she said smoothly.
As the two Avengers left, Flash dropped his head onto the table with a groan. "I'm such an idiot!"
"Dude, you can't just call him the H-word to his face!" Ned hissed.
"He seems really sensitive about it," added MJ.
Peter patted Flash on the shoulder sympathetically. "I know you didn't mean anything bad by it. But yeah, best not to bring up the big green guy. Water under the bridge now."
Flash nodded glumly. "Still though, stupid move on my part."
"Don't sweat it, Flash," Peter said kindly. "Come on, let's head back inside."
Later, after ordering a massive pile of pizzas for dinner, the four friends sat around the lounge watching movies. They laughed at Thor and Hawkeye arguing over which movie to watch until Natasha stepped in and put on The Princess Bride.
Soon it was getting late. Happy would be driving them all home soon.
"Man, coolest day ever," Ned declared, high-fiving Peter. "We've got to do this again."
"Yeah, thanks for having us over, Peter," MJ said.
Flash nodded vigorously. "Really, this was awesome." He hesitated. "Sorry again about the, you know, incident earlier."
Peter chuckled. "Seriously Flash, it's fine." He stretched and stood up.
"Today was great. It feels good to just be normal for a while, you know?" Peter said happily.
"Sure, normal day of hanging out at Avengers Tower with gods and super soldiers," MJ said wryly.
Peter laughed. "Okay, so maybe my life will never be completely normal. But still, just getting to chill with my best buds for a day? That's all I need."
"Aww, Petey's getting sappy," MJ teased.
"Sir Peter, we'll be by your side no matter what craziness life brings next," Ned proclaimed dramatically.
Flash shook his head in amazement. "You guys are so tight. I'm just happy you're letting me share in this with you now."
Peter smiled, touched by his friends' words. "All for one and one for all?" he said, holding out a fist.
"All for one and one for all!" Ned, MJ, and Flash chorused, stacking their fists.
At that moment, Natasha walked back into the lounge. "Happy will be here soon," she reminded them. "Did you all have fun today?"
"It was awesome, Ms. Romanoff!" Ned said enthusiastically.
"Yeah, thanks for having us over," added MJ.
Flash stared intently at the floor. "Very cool of you to let us hang out here," he mumbled.
Natasha glanced at Peter in amusement. "You're welcome anytime," she said kindly.
The elevator dinged as Happy arrived to drive them home. As they all shuffled towards the elevator, Peter hung back.
"Thanks for being cool with my friends coming over today, Mom," he said.
Natasha kissed his forehead. "Of course. I'm glad you're letting people in more." She paused. "But that Flash boy seemed a little...shy around me?"
Peter flushed. He had hoped Natasha wouldn't notice Flash's odd behavior.
"Yeah, about that..." Peter said awkwardly. "So Flash may have mentioned this one time that he had a hot date with you. You know, before he knew you were my mom."
Natasha blinked once in surprise and then burst out laughing.
"That explains so much!" she said, shaking her head. "Poor kid looked ready to melt into the floor whenever I was around."
Peter sighed in relief. "So you're not mad?"
"Of course not. It's pretty hilarious actually," Natasha said, still chuckling. "But maybe let Flash know I don't hold it against him."
"Will do," Peter agreed. They joined his friends in the elevator for the ride down.
As they drove back to Queens, Peter replayed the day's events in his head. Despite a few bumps, it had been wonderful getting to share part of his world with his closest companions.
The coming days would surely bring fresh adventures and new challenges. But for now, Peter simply enjoyed the ride surrounded by people he loved - acting like any normal, happy kid. Well, as normal as life could be for one Peter Romanoff.