[A/N]: I have accepted my fate. Here is your first bonus chapter. Just remember that 600 Power Stones unlock two more. Please think of my sanity, even though I know you will ignore this.
"I'm never getting used to that."
Jay sat beside him. Let Peter recover. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The city breathing around them.
Finally, Peter spoke. "Thanks for... for everything. The talk. The cake. The quarter. All of it."
"No problem, kid." Jay pulled something from his pocket. A business card. He handed it over.
Peter looked at it. His eyes went wide.
"Reed Richards. Fantastic Four."
Contact information.
"That's... that's Mr. Fantastic's card. You're giving me Reed Richards' card. The Reed Richards." Peter looked up. His hands were shaking again, but this time from excitement rather than fear. "Why?"
"Call him," Jay said. "Share your web fluid formula. Get yourself a patent. Make some money. At least solve the monetary problems. You're fifteen. You shouldn't have to worry about medical bills. Or college tuition. Or any of that."
Peter's eyes were impossibly wide now. "Mr. Fantastic would actually want to... I mean, I'm just a kid. My formula's probably not even that good. He's a genius. Like, a real genius. I'm just..."
"He'll be excited. Trust me. Guy's a genius, but he loves meeting other geniuses more. And Peter?" Jay paused. "You ARE a genius. Stop selling yourself short."
Peter looked down at the card.
"I don't... I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything yet. Just think about it." Jay's expression grew more serious. "And Peter? Remember. You are a kid. Focus on being a kid first. Enjoy your youth. Make friends. Go on dates. Be awkward and stupid and make mistakes."
He leaned back, looking up at the stars.
"Don't just jump blindly into responsibility. Take a breather. The hero stuff will always be there. Your childhood won't."
Jay's expression grew more serious. "With great power also comes great opportunity. And the only way to live up to that responsibility is to take every opportunity to protect the people you love."
He reached out. Ruffled Peter's hair like an older brother might.
"Call me if you need anything, kid. I mean it."
"How do I..." Peter started.
"You've got my number." Jay gestured at the card. "It's on the back."
Peter flipped the card over. Sure enough, a phone number. Written in neat handwriting.
A direct line to the Power Broker.
Just... sitting in his hand like it was normal.
"Now go." Jay smiled. "Your family's waiting. And Peter? Happy birthday to your uncle."
Blue energy gathered around Jay. He vanished before Peter could respond.
Peter sat alone on the rooftop. The cake box warm in his hands. The quarter heavy against his chest. Reed Richards' card in his pocket.
But he was smiling.
He swung home. The web fluid held perfectly. His movements were getting smoother. More confident. He could feel the difference even from this morning. By the time he reached his fire escape, he felt almost natural.
Peter landed softly on the metal grating. Opened his window as quietly as possible. Slipped inside with the cake box balanced carefully in one hand.
He turned the light on only to find Uncle Ben sitting on his bed.
Peter's heart stopped.
Ben's eyes locked on him. Took in the suit. The web-shooters on his wrists. The mask dangling from his hand. The expensive-looking cake box.
The silence stretched.
Heavy.
"Uncle Ben?" Peter's voice came out small. Strangled. "This is not what it looks like."
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"I'm... I'm cosplaying. Yeah. Cosplaying. I was at... at a comic shop and they had this event and I borrowed the suit and..."
The lies tumbled out, desperate.
Ben didn't move. Didn't speak. Just watched him.
"Peter." Ben's voice was quiet and calm.
"Yeah?"
"I'm your uncle. I've lived in this house for decades. I can hear when someone's walking on the roof. Not to mention that viral video of you in similar theme suit lifting a car during the invasion. Did you really think I wouldn't watch every video?"
Peter's mouth went dry. The cake box slipped from his hands. He barely caught it. Set it on the side table with shaking fingers.
"What kind of guardian would I be," Ben continued, "if I couldn't recognize my nephew's voice?"
Deafening silence stretched.
Peter's legs felt weak. His chest hurt. All the guilt from the past week crashed over him at once.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Ben." The words rushed out. "I was busy doing this. Playing hero. Instead of answering your calls. Instead of checking up on you. Instead of being there when you needed me. I'm such an idiot. Please. Please forgive me."
Ben stood slowly. The neck brace made his movements stiff.
Peter flinched. Prepared for anger. For disappointment. For everything he deserved.
But Ben wrapped him in a hug.
Careful of the neck brace. But firm.
"Forgiveness?" Ben's voice was thick. "There's nothing to forgive, Peter."
"But I wasn't there when you needed me..."
"We all mess up sometimes," Ben said softly. "It's not only inevitable. I think maybe it's even necessary. You know what would disappoint me? If you didn't reach for the kind of life I wanted for you. If you settled for less because you were afraid. If you walked away from what you believe just to play it safe. If you stopped helping people because it was hard."
He pulled back. Looked Peter in the eyes and saw him.
"Have you done that?"
Peter shook his head. "No. No, I haven't. I... I can't. Even when I try, I can't just walk away."
"Then I taught you right. Your life has meaning. You have meaning." Ben smiled. "Remember, Peter. With great power comes great responsibility."
The same words Jay had said. But different.
Because Ben meant them as a blessing. As trust and as love.
Peter hugged his uncle again. Tighter this time. Fighting back tears that were threatening to spill over.
Two different philosophies. Two different paths. Ben's absolute faith that Peter would do the right thing. Jay's warning that trying to save everyone would destroy him.
Peter didn't know which path was right. Didn't know how to balance Ben's wisdom with Jay's warning.
But standing there, his uncle's arms around him, the cake waiting on the table, the quarter warm against his chest, Peter decided something.
He'd figure it out. One day at a time. One choice at a time.
"Come on," Ben said, releasing him. His smile was proud. "Let's get your aunt. Time for cake."
Peter nodded. Wiped his eyes quickly. Grabbed the cake box. Followed Ben out into the hallway.
From the living room, he could hear Aunt May moving around. Humming softly. The sound of home.
Family first. Always.
The hero stuff, the powers, the responsibility. It would all be there tomorrow. Tonight was for cake and celebration and the people who loved him even when he didn't answer his phone.
Tonight was for Uncle Ben's birthday.
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