"I... I'll do it..."
Barry spoke at length about Hydra's growing threat to society, deliberately exaggerating the impact Peter's abilities could have. His words carried the weight of moral blackmail.
In fact, everyone present could see through it, including Peter himself, Harry, Gwen, Flash watching from a distance with his simmering glare, and even the students standing around like background props.
No one who studied at LexTech High was a fool.
Yet Peter still agreed. It wasn't just because he was kind at heart, someone naturally willing to help others. For years, even while concealing his abilities, he had quietly stepped in whenever someone needed help.
The dividends from his five percent share in LexCorp were enormous. Most of that money Peter personally directed into welfare institutions, monitoring every cent to ensure it was used properly. The only people who knew were his uncle Ben, his aunt May, and Harry.
But more than his kindness, Peter's choice came from resignation. He knew he didn't have the right to refuse. Sure, he could say no to Barry here and now, but afterward LexCorp, Vought, the Hero Association, every branch of LexCorp's influence, would find ways to force him into becoming a hero, branding him with their colors.
Not because his powers were so extraordinary. Some of the heroes born from experimental serums or modifications had stronger strength or speed to spare.
The true reason was that five percent stake.
Peter understood well that keeping those shares wasn't thanks to LexCorp's generosity, nor to Ben and May's modest positions within the company. It all came back to his father. That man's achievements were the reason he still had that dangerous shareholding in his hands.
And now, at sixteen, he stood at a turning point. He wasn't an adult by law but this was the age when a person's path began to solidify.
He had to choose. Either take those shares back into LexCorp's shadow, or abandon them completely and live as an ordinary person.
The thought of selling them back had crossed his mind more than once. But whenever that idea surfaced, bitterness rose within him.
Not bitterness for himself, but for his parents.
To him, that five percent symbolized their glory, the proof of what they had accomplished. He had lost them, but at the very least, he would guard the legacy they had left behind.
So, in the end, he had no choice. Becoming a hero was the only and simplest way to silence every doubt and dispute.
Even though it wasn't the path he wanted.
* * *
"It's okay, Peter. Even if you're forced to register as a hero, as long as you don't take part in too many missions, the Hero Association will eventually strike you off the roster. There's a reason all those heroes are afraid of Fury," Harry said softly, trying to console him as Peter stepped out from the testing area.
He had guessed part of the truth, but more than anything, he didn't want to see his best friend walking down this road.
"My activity zone will be centered around my neighborhood in Queens. How could I just ignore that?" Peter replied with a weary sigh.
He had already studied the regulations for assigning hero districts. His primary patrol area would likely be near his home, but if he counted secondary areas, it might as well be the entire city of New York.
Had he been just an ordinary person, maybe he could turn a blind eye. But now that he had chosen to take on the responsibility of being a hero, how could he allow himself to slack off?
If he neglected his hero duties just to abandon the role, then when danger truly arrived, every second of hesitation could mean the loss of a life.
Harry didn't know what to say for a moment. He understood Peter's nature all too well. If not for that, back when Hydra attacked, the boy wouldn't have grabbed his hand so tightly while they were fleeing, dragging him along to safety.
"Looks like I'll have to reopen the lab at home," Peter murmured, forcing a thin smile. "I'll need to design some gadgets for myself."
With that, the two prepared to leave the school together.
But before they could go far, a familiar figure blocked their path once more.
"Peter Parker!!!"
Flash stood in front of them, fury burning in his eyes. He tore off his jacket and threw it on the ground, then jabbed a finger at Peter.
"Come on, let's settle this!"
He began to stretch his arms and roll his shoulders.
This time was different than normal. Although Flash often picked on Peter, it was more out of frustration than malice. He hated how the boy clearly had potential yet chose to act useless.
But now his rage was real, and his stance showed he was ready to attack at any second.
"Flash, what are you doing?!"
Harry quickly stepped in front of Peter, but Flash didn't stop this time.
His iron-like hand clamped down on Harry's shoulder. With a single shove, he flung the boy aside. If it hadn't been for the nearby students catching him, he would have hit the ground hard.
And just like that, nothing stood between Flash and Peter anymore.
Peter's heart pounded. Facing Flash's anger and his obvious readiness to brawl, he felt uneasy.
He might believe he could handle the work of being a hero one day, but right now, he was still just a teenager with no real combat experience.
"Flash, I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding…" Peter raised his hands and tried to explain, hoping to calm him down. But Flash had no interest in listening.
"There's no misunderstanding!"
With a furious roar, he lunged straight at Peter.
"Flash, wait, don't—!"
Peter didn't even have time to react to the sudden charge. But even though his mind froze, his body moved on instinct.
His legs kicked off the ground, flipping him into a graceful somersault through the air. Not only did he dodge Flash's tackle, he landed neatly behind him.
Normally, that would have been the perfect time to strike back, but Peter had no such thought. He kept waving his hands, still trying to reason with him.
"Flash, I don't know why you're angry, but we can't fight here! The Flash and the Thing are still inside the venue!"
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