Chapter 5
The weird kind of fog began to spread across the centre of the room again, forming a new image.
“Some of these memories will go fast. Some will take time. After all, in the end, time is the only thing you need.”
Ben glared up at the ceiling, “Hey, roof guy. Can you shut it with the stupid omens of doom or whatever the hell you are on about? We have other places to be okay?”
“Actually, while you are watching, all time will be frozen. Do not worry. You won’t be missed while you’re gone.”
“What kind of being has the power to stop time?” Reed muttered.
Peter shrugged, “I can think of a few. But none that would do this.”
Reed opened his mouth as if to launch into questions about these people, but Peter was thankfully saved from the interrogation as the new scene began to play. They passed fast, like flashes of light.
The younger Peter was spinning around in circles, laughing his head off, Aunt May and Uncle Ben watching him, with huge grins on their faces.
The next image appeared, Uncle Ben giving young Peter a piggy back, and they were sprinting through a park, Aunt May relaxing on a picnic blanket.
It was Peter’s first day at his new school, he was standing there, in far too big clothes, watching as all these huge figures moved past him. The younger Peter cowered slightly, backing away towards the door, ready to sprint out. Then another person stepped in his way.
The real-life Peter heard himself gasp as he saw the young version of his friend appear. It seemed like forever since he’d seen him this small. It might well have been.
The young version of Ned grinned, extending his arm for Peter to shake.
“Hi! I’m Ned Leeds! I’m ten years old and six months! It’s nice to meet you!”
Ned spoke fast, as if he was racing to get the words out.
The younger Peter beamed back at the boy, his eyes shining behind the large frames of his glasses.
“Hi Ned! I’m Peter. Parker. Peter Parker! It’s nice to meet you too.” Peter cautiously accepted Ned’s outstretched hand, then shook it firmly.
“Friends?” Ned asked.
Peter nodded back solemnly, “Friends.”
The image blurred, then the flashes continued, almost too fast for Peter to see.
A young-looking Flash sneered in the young Peter’s direction, yelling out insults to him through the corridors.
The holographic Peter was sitting in Ned’s bedroom, building Lego with him.
Ned and Peter began putting together a secret handshake, constantly messing it up, but laughing and starting again.
Peter was helping Uncle Ben repaint the wall, making a huge mess everywhere.
Aunt May smacked Peter’s tiny hand away from where it was sneaking towards a plate of freshly baked cookies.
Ned and Peter lagged behind while the class was running laps, the young version of Peter breathing heavily, a puffer in hand.
Ned was yelling for a teacher as Peter had an asthma attack, his hands clawing at his throat, desperate for air.
Peter sitting alone in his room, going over his notes from chemistry.
Peter making faces as Aunt May and Uncle Ben waltzed together in the living room.
Aunt May and Uncle Ben worrying over the bills, while the small Peter peered through the crack in the door, watching them worriedly.
Uncle Ben teaching Peter how to fly a kite in the park.
Aunt May helping Peter feed the ducks at the pond.
Flash and his stupid goons yelling at Peter, one of them tripping him over, and knocking he air out of his lungs. They all crowded around over him, jeering. Peter’s face could only just be made out, already bruised and beaten, tears pouring down his face as he screamed for them to stop. To leave him alone.
More images and scenes swam past, forming, then blurring and disappearing near instantly afterwards. Each one hit Peter like a truck. Reminding him of times long past. He forced himself to try and regulate his breathing, but he couldn’t. A rogue tear escaped his watering eyes. Peter silently begged for the Four to not notice. But just his luck, they all did. Ben and Sue shared a helpless look, and Reed looked mildly sick. Johnny… Peter couldn’t let himself look at Johnny, scared at what he might find there. Disappointment? Disgust? Shame at the fact that the ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ wasn’t so great after all?
Peter felt a hand slowly grip his. He glanced towards Johnny cautiously.
Johnny’s expression wasn’t of disgust, but one of grief. He squeezed Peter’s hand tightly. Then his finger tapped against the back of Peter’s hand. Peter blinked at him. Did he know…
Johnny tapped out the pattern again. And again. He tapped it out, over and over. Peter found himself no longer concentrating on the scenes playing out in front of him. He made himself focus on the boy next to him.
I. A. M. H. E. R. E. I. A. M. H. E. R. E. I. A. M. H. E. R. E.
Peter met Johnny’s blue eyes. Johnny tilted his head slightly to the side.
Do you understand?
Peter nodded back.
I do.
Peter squeezed Johnny’s hand back, just as tightly as before. Johnny continued tapping out the message, and Peter let himself turn back to the scene in front of them, feeling stronger than before. Peter wondered distantly where Johnny had learnt Morse Code, but he decided to wait and ask him again another time.
The rest of the Four stayed silent, not commenting on the fact Peter was clutching onto Johnny’s hand like his life depended on it.
Peter could feel Johnny’s eyes on him, but he kept facing forwards. He just had to get through this. Then it would be over. Johnny squeezed Peter’s hand again, tapping out a new message.
A. R. E. Y. O. U. O. K. A. Y.
Peter didn’t reply. He had to be strong. He couldn’t break, he couldn’t break, he couldn’t break. He could feel Johnny’s hand slacken in his. Peter bit his lip. When the new scenes showed, and Johnny saw who he really was. The things he’d done… Johnny will hate me.
Peter sucked in a deep breath. There was only one choice to stop himself from hurting them all. From them hurting him. Everyone who gets close to him gets hurt… Peter snatched his hand out of Johnny’s, ignoring the choked sound that came from Johnny’s throat when he did. Peter shifted on the couch, so he was as far away as possible from the other boy.
Peter’s whole body screamed for him to take it back, to let Johnny help him. To be safe. Peter shuddered. No! IT’S BETTER THIS WAY!
He saw Sue’s face close up, growing cold. Because of what he had done to her brother.
It’s better this way!
Ben glared at Peter. Because he had hurt Johnny.
It’s better this way.
Reed looked disappointed. Peter had let them down again.
It’s better this way…
Peter quickly glanced in Johnny’s direction, seeing the pain written all over his face. Pain because of Peter.
It’s better this…
Peter felt as if he was about to scream, his whole body urged him to go back to Johnny.
It’s better…
He looked back at the scene, and saw Uncle Ben there, Peter sat in his lap. Uncle Ben was dead. Because of him.
It’s…
Peter made up his mind. He forced himself to hide his emotions away, and put up a mask, devoid of emotion. He let his expression go blank and fixed his gaze back to the scene playing out in front of him. His face seemingly unfeeling, his mind a mess of pain and regret.
It’s better this way.