The next day Peter Parker tapped his pencil restlessly against his desk, surrounded by files, newspaper clippings, and scribbled notes. His undercover role as a reporter gave him the freedom to dig without suspicion—but something nagged at him, a quiet feeling of unease he couldn't shake off.
He picked up his phone, quickly dialing a number he knew by heart. After two rings, a familiar, resonant voice answered.
"Parker," said Doctor Strange calmly. "Still troubled? I thought it was done."
"Yeah, Doc," Peter admitted. He glanced at a recent photograph from Midtown High—a snapshot of Ethan Kane. "The kids who disappeared: Ethan, Amy, Rachel are back. The demon's been dealt with and everything still seems stable, but I still feel like something's off."
"Well, I can't do much about feelings," Strange replied. "If there are no magical anomalies, no dimensional rifts reopening, then it appears resolved."
Peter hesitated. "I'm at the school. I'll try to get a story as a reporter and check up on things regardless. I also want to make sure the kidnapped students are okay."
The reception at Midtown High was colder than Peter had expected. The front office staff stiffened at the sight of his press credentials. He gave his name, flashed his badge, and politely requested an interview with faculty or staff regarding the recent student disappearances.
"Mr. Parker," the secretary said with a forced smile, "I'm afraid we're not at liberty to discuss any ongoing investigations or sensitive student matters. The administration is doing everything possible to maintain a safe environment. Please understand, we don't want any undue publicity or disruption."
He gave a diplomatic nod, though his jaw tightened slightly. "Understood. Just looking to get clarity and make sure the truth gets out. No agendas."
"Of course," she said with finality, already turning away.
Peter stepped outside, adjusting his bag and muttering, "That went about as well as a wet web-line in a rainstorm."
"Mr. Parker?"
Peter turned to see Ethan Kane walking casually toward him, his expression unreadable.
Peter blinked, quickly slipping back into his reporter role. "Hey, uh—Ethan, right? You're one of the students who... went missing recently? I'm surprised you know me. Mind if I ask a few questions? Like, how do you know my name?"
Ethan offered a small smile. "It's good to see you again."
Peter's brow furrowed. "Have we met?"
"In the other dimension," Ethan said plainly. "With the demon. You were wearing the jacket next to Black Cat. It's nice to meet Spider-Man."
Peter froze. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Ethan watched him with the faintest hint of amusement.
"I recognized your voice, your posture," Ethan continued, unbothered. "The costume was different, sure, but the way you moved—plus, who else would throw themselves into a demon's maw to save three kids they'd never met?"
Peter scratched the back of his neck, searching for a safe response. "You're sure it was me? I'm just a regular reporter."
"Positive," Ethan said. "Relax. I'm not outing you. Just figured you'd prefer to speak openly without the whole secret identity charade. You must be investigating the school to make sure everything really is resolved, right? Who better to ask than a survivor of said incident?"
Peter chuckled awkwardly. "Right. So… I guess we're doing this now?"
"I'm hungry. Are you hungry?" Ethan said abruptly. "We should get something to eat."
Peter raised a brow. "Don't you have class? School's only halfway done."
"I faked being sick to leave early," Ethan replied with a casual shrug. "I was about to head home anyway. A small detour wouldn't hurt. Besides, I'm sure Peter Parker—or Spider-Man—has a few important questions for me that can't be done in a school environment."
Peter couldn't help the smirk that tugged at his lips. "Alright, Ethan. You're definitely not your average high schooler."
Ethan turned, already walking. "You'll find I'm average in a lot more ways than you think. But to your point, no, I'm not normal. I take it as you meant that instead?"
They hailed a taxi just outside the school, slipping into the back seat with the casual ease of people used to walking city streets under different masks. The ride was quiet at first, the city slipping by outside the windows—brick buildings, fire escapes, pedestrians lost in their own busy worlds.
Peter glanced at Ethan. The kid was calm—eerily so. Not cocky, not nervous. Just quietly observing the world with the patience of someone who'd seen too much.
They arrived at a small, red-brick pizza joint tucked between a laundromat and a pawn shop. The sign above read "Tony's Slice of Heaven", the paint faded, and the awning a little crooked. It wasn't glamorous, but it smelled like heaven—fresh dough, garlic, melted cheese.
Peter held the door and nodded toward the counter. "My treat," he said. "You've just recently survived a hell-dimension, plus you're a high student. The least I can do is buy you a slice."
Ethan gave him a sideways glance, a faint grin twitching at the corner of his mouth. "Thanks, I'll take two. I'm starving."
They ordered quickly—two cheese slices and sodas—then made their way to a corner booth near the window. The place was mostly empty, just a tired-looking couple sharing a plate of spaghetti and an old man reading a newspaper.
Peter slid into the booth, folding his arms on the table. "Alright," he said, voice low but even. "Let's start simple. Who are you really?"
Ethan chuckled softly as he opened his soda. "Really? That's your first question?"
Peter raised a brow.
Ethan leaned back, letting the neon light from the window glow trace a faint halo behind his head. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, it's just I expected a different question. Like, how do you know I'm Spiderman? I'm Ethan, Ethan Kane. That's the truth. No secret identity, no hidden mask, no alter ego. I'm not a clone or an alien or a time traveler or some backup personality that popped out of a dimension crack. I'm just a high school student you could find anywhere."
Peter tilted his head. "That's… refreshingly straightforward."
Ethan took a bite of pizza, chewed slowly, and then said, "Of course, being me comes with its own complications. But I don't have time to pretend to be anything else than what I am."
Peter watched him for a moment longer, trying to gauge if it was a bluff or if the kid really was just… that composed. The weird thing was, that Peter believed him.
And somehow, that made Ethan even more unsettling.