Confidential
“Yo, Pete! Over here!” he yelled, running down the hall to meet the other.
“Oh, hey Harry. How’s it going?” Peter replied with a congested voice. He shut his locker to greet him.
“Wow! You look terrible, like, really bad.” Harry knew better than to suggest Pete stay home. More times than not, he listened to the other complain about missing out on important classes and how “this year was the most important year for college scholarships”. Of course, he knew that Aunt May couldn’t afford to pay for college but Pete didn’t have to sacrifice his well-being, and others, for it.
“Oh thanks, pal.” he agreed sarcastically. “You know, there’s something going around. Wait, are you wearing bling?” Peter asked as he grabbed Harry’s wrist.
Realizing this was his opportunity, he decided it was time his friend knew. “Come with me.” Harry said in a lowered voice. He led the two to the boys bathroom. With ten minutes til class, he doubted anyone would be in here. Still, better to double check the stalls than be sorry.
“Harry, what’s the deal?” his friend asked him.
“Oh... nothing.” he said, subconsciously giving his automated response. Once he deemed the bathrooms secrecy enough, he walked back over to Pete. “Just the biggest secret you’ll ever hear in your life.” Harry added. “You know about that new hero, right?”
“The guy in the cool, black outfit…? Ugh!” Peter paused to groan at his sinuses. He cleared his throat quick before continuing. “Yeah, I’ve heard of him. What about him?”
Pete thinks I’m cool? Harry thought estaticaly. That meant he was in the clear to share his secret identity. And his best friend thought he was cool!
Ssssstay on track.
Right. Anyway, Harry figured now was as good of a time to turn his watch on. Venom creeped up his wrist and transformed into the suit. He was too overwhelmed with excitement and adrenaline to notice the other’s rising panic.
“What is that? Harry? No!” Peter cried out.
“Yes” they both seemed to say.
“You’re… you’re”
“That’s right. I’m the man.”
“Okay, okay. Come on, Harry.” His friend, who was practically at a loss for words, was keeping an eye on the bathroom door. “Take that off. Put that away. Do whatever you have to do… Y-you can take it off, right?” Pete asked, the concern in his voice rang loud and clear.
“Sure. Watch this.” Harry switched his watch back and the black mass recessed back into its container. “How cool was that?” He chuckled, trying to lighten the tension that has so quickly formed.
“You’re freaked out. I freaked you out.” Of course, the only thing Harry feared was happening. Peter was always the first one to run away from dangerous situations. Honestly, he was surprised that Pete was still standing in the bathroom and not already in Principal Coulson’s office.
“Jeez, Harry.”
“Look, I get it.” Harry placed his hands on Peter’s shoulders to reassure him that they were fine. “But I wanted you to be the first to know, Pete. I’m gonna be king of the world here. I mean, imagine how proud my dad’s gonna be!”
Harry removed his hands to go look in the mirror. He took out his comb and began checking his hair for any goop or debris from this morning. Can’t really have teachers look at it and get suspicious.
“Anyway, what do you think you’re doing, Harry. We both know what happened last time. Isn;t that the thing that tore up your house? Come on, that’s venom you’ve got in your watch.”
Wow. Pete was really getting worked up about this. I guess it was justifiable since he was in the bathroom with Flash when Venom first attacked… He probably shouldn’t tell him that the toilet sludge can speak...
“Well, it’s just a small piece of it. I found it and I’ve totally got it trained.” Harry really was trying his best to calm Peter’s nerves. “But, come on, this is the best thing that ever happened. I mean, I am the New-and-Improved Spiderman and everybody loves me.
“U-uh, I really don’t think you are. And being a superhero isn’t so easy.“ Pete declared like he had first hand experience.
“Pfft. How would you know?” If he was honest, the thought of “Puny Parker” being Spiderman was hilarious. Ever since they had met, Peter had shown no athletic abilities and was every bully’s personal punching bag.
“Oh, well I don’t- I mean it just seems like it’s not so easy, that’s all. You know what they say- and I can’t believe I’m actually paying this forward- ” Peter took a deep breath, as if what he was about to say would physically pain him. “But with great power there must also come great responsibility. You know what I mean?”
Ah… the classic Uncle Ben quote. He was a good man who spoke good words. It was a shame how different his father’s version was to that.
“That’s not what I’ve been told....”
“Remember, son, you’re an Osborn. A name that carries great power. And with great power can come great reward.“
Ever since he was a kid, his dad had drilled into him the importance of the Osborn name. It was exhausting growing up with weight crushing expectations like that. Especially, when all he wanted was Norman’s love and approval.
Harry put away his comb and turned towards his friend. He only had a few minutes to grab his books and get to class. “I gotta go, Pete.”
“Wait” Peter stepped out in front of him. “Okay, forget about that. Have you thought about what happens if you can’t control this thing?”
He sighed. “How ‘bout a little support, here, huh? I mean you’re my best friend, aren’t you? I’m telling you, I’m completely wired in. No… problem.” The boy gestured to his watch to emphasize his point before walking past him.
But before he could walk out the door, Peter grabbed his wrist. “Harry, wait-”
“I said...no problem.” Harry shook Pete’s grip in frustration and stormed out.