"She's not a version of me...she's my daughter," I tapped on the photo, zooming in on her features, "her name is May Day Parker,
she's the daughter of Spider-man. And she's...she's...she's our kid."
"O-Our kid..." MJ looked shocked, she turned to the image and moved to the version of her that was aged, "t-that's me...oh my
God...this is us?"
I shook my head, "no….it's a version of us," I reached out and MJ placed the phone back in my hand with a shaking grip.
"W-what do you mean?"
"In that world I never….I never dated Felicia Hardy," I lied, but she needs to understand the differences between these worlds so
that she knew this wasn't technically possible, "in that world, there are a lot of differences. For us….it may not be possible, we
probably won't end up...like this. But...look MJ, what I'm trying to say is maybe one day, you will have your happy ending."
MJ looked at me, "Peter...are we going to get married one day?"
I chuckled, "no you idiot," I patted her head, "that's not what I meant. What I meant is that one day you'll have things figured
out. I have seen other worlds, in some we never end up together, in a few we do. But in almost all of them...you figure it out."
The last part was a lie, I had to think off something up, I could feel the false hope I had installed in her.
Oh God, what have I done? I regret showing her the picture, of promising her a future at her most vulnerable. I'm a monster.
"I see..." MJ looked down, "so...we don't end up together…."
I looked at her, "I honestly don't know...the future is kind off a shitty thing MJ. But I do know one thing. Tomorrow will always be
a new day. For you and for Mark. I don't think we can ever be this picture MJ...we're just too different. But maybe you can still
have your happy ending."
I got off the bed and walked to the window, trying my best to get out of there as fast as I could. I had done so much damage
already in my selfish desire to not be alone anymore. I was a cruel sadistic monster.
And then, MJ spoke, "I guess I should have asked you out the first moment I met you huh?"
I paused as I stepped on her window sill and looked back. I smiled sadly, "maybe...maybe things would have been different. Who
knows...good night MJ," and please forgive me.
I left right after and went back to my room. She didn't cry that night, the crying stopped, I was glad. But I prayed it wasn't
because she was thinking I would be her safety net, because I knew if she did try and love me, I could never love her back. It
would not be fair to that poor and innocent girl.
And the reason was simple...I was still in love with Felicia Hardy. Damn that girl. I fucking hate my love life.
The days quickly flew by for me. I went to school, but only paid half a mind to it. It was more of a compulsion now than an
actual need, I fucking hate Richard for this.
Mark and MJ broke up officially two days after I saw them fight, MJ and Liz became closer as such. The red head had joined
back with Harry and Flash, the toxic gang I had to deal with in my first year was back.
All that work Felicia and I did to remove them from those two idiots were for nothing now. But...with Harry's new responsible
attitude in life, I think things won't turn out that bad this time around.
Hopefully.
MJ and Liz trying to reach out and get me to hang out with their new gang, but I also figured a way out, either work or work.
Liz understood, while MJ seemed more annoyed. She wanted to sit down and talk about us...and I knew I could never have that
conversation with her.
I continued patrolling the streets as Spider-man, though nowadays criminal gangs avoided me like the plague. Even Matt rarely
encountered them on the streets anymore. They hide and try their best to make a profit, though I doubt their revenue streams
are that wide now.
So with that being said, I was able to donate a lot of time to my new costume and preparing it for combat. But first I had to
make a few adjustments for my present costume.
I created a new backpack design for the suit, but now, I added a new feature, I lined the inside of the bag with a self created
bag of infinite storage. It was a relatively simple idea, but being able to store more technology inside the backpack made hiding
the costume so much easier.
Not that I was hiding it. Since the fabric could transform, I don't technically have to use it. I just uploaded a new design into the
suit's memory banks, wash it a couple of times and presto, I never have to remove the suit.
Sue did find it a bit disgusting, but didn't object too much. It was an ingenious idea after all.
Speaking of Susan Storm...well, I can't say anything about that woman. She continued to ignore me, reducing our relationship
back to a professional and mentor-mentee manor. I didn't mind, I knew she found being with me in any form uncomfortable. But
I...I thought she would at least mention something.
But, it just seemed like another part of my life that was cut out. And so i accepted it, it's not like I could change her mind...nor
did I want too.
I had also finally finished the Spider-tank project, my car still sat in Johnny's lab, since I had yet to finish testing its full
capabilities, but all the new additions were installed perfectly.
Life had gotten clam...but I knew it was only the calm after the storm. And around mid May, the storm came.
I had woken up late that day and rushed through my daily activities. I put on my UMF suit and set it to civilian wear number 6, a
favorite of mine. A set of baggy pants, a baggier shirt and a shirt over that to give me a sort of relaxed stoner vibe.
I hurried through breakfast, wishing everyone a good day as I left home. MJ had already left for school so I didn't have to wait
for her. I ran like a bat out off hell and made it just in the nick of time. I walked in and immediately I knew something was off.
People were chatting amongst themselves, chatting up a storm. I grew curious, but before I could ask anyone anything, they all
slowly turned to me.
I blinked, they were all staring at me. I was kind of surprised really. I looked back at them, "ah...can I help you?"
"He's here!" someone cried out from down the hall. I turned to see MJ and Liz running to me, everyone else still looking right at
me.
"Hey you two," I wished them both, "what's going on? You both look like you've seen a ghost."
"Peter, you need to go!" MJ hissed as she and Liz grabbed me and made a beeline to the exit.
"What? Why?" I asked, and suddenly I realised the people were moving around us, blocking our way.
"Do you think it's true?"
"No way in hell man."
"I mean, it would make sense, he does work for the FF."
"No way in freaking hell," another hissed out.
"Get away," Liz hissed them, immediately forming a clear path through the crowd, she pulled us me and ran out the door.
"Guys, what the hell is going on?!" I asked them both as we left the school.
"Peter!" I turned to see Harry of all people running up to us, his eyes wide with shock, "is it true?"
I blinked, "what the hell are you talking about?"
"Peter, we have to go," MJ hissed, "where's your car? You need to leave!"
"What? Why?" I asked, pulling my arm out of her grapes, "MJ, what the hell is going on?!"
"This!" Liz yelled as she shoved a phone into my hands. And on the screen was a tweet, a single tweet with a single photo. It was
under the account name of 'Victor Von Doom'. And the tweet was short;
Peter Parker is Spider-man
And attached to the tweet was a picture of me in my lab in the Baxter building wearing my suit, without the helmet. My face was
clearly seen, there was no question of it being faked.
The tweet had been shared over a billion times.
I looked up, MJ, Liz and Harry were waiting for my reaction. I was too shocked to do anything. This was Doom's revenge...he
wasn't after the FF, no, first, he needed to destroy me.
I suddenly realised that it wasn't just three pairs of eyes on me, it was hundreds. Everyone in school were either outside with us
or looking out through a window. Immediately I began to think of an excuse, immediately I began to think of ways to push this
away. And I got one.
I sighed, "I'm not Spider-man," I said smoothly, handing Liz's phone back to her.
"What?!" Harry cried out, "but that's clearly you!"
I nodded, "yes, it is. I don't deny that. But, I'm not Spider-man, I made that suit. I built it and I also tested it. That is what this
picture showed."
Harry blinked, "y-you built it?"
I nodded, "yeah. Why do you think Spidey keeps swinging over to the Baxter building? I build his tech."
The students began to chatter very loudly, whispering to themselves. Some didn't believe me, others, who continued to
remember how Peter Parker was a nerd, found it more possible.
"Then why did Doom say you are?" Harry asked, "he has no reason to lie."
I nodded, "he has every reason to lie. He's an egotistical mad man, he can't stand the fact that he was drafted, especially at the
hands of Spider-man. He's planning to go after the FF and Spidey. What better way to do that then by removing his tech guy
from the equation?"
That got people talking, they seemed more and more likely to believe me now. All of them looked more accepting of this 'fact'.
Yes, I can do this, I can win!
And then, my spider sense blared. I turned, a missile came straight for us. I moved before I realised I was doing it. I had to save
my friends and the hundreds of teenagers around me. I leaped into the air and spun my hands, forming a magical shield.
I didn't even realise I was forming a whip of Vastha until it was already wrapped around the missile and flug into the school's
football field where it impacted and destroyed a huge chuck of the stands.
BOOM!
I landed on my feet and panted. People were gasping in shock. Slowly five figures descended from the sky, each dressed in
green. I looked up, five Doom robots looked down at me.
These models looked more advanced, if anything they looked like someone had taken Tony's mark 8 armour design and painted
it green and silver with a glowing green arc reactor
"Target identified," the five spoke as one as they raised their arms, revealing arm size rockets attached to them, "proceeding to
eliminate with maximum hostility."
And I knew right then, my life as I knew it was over. Doom gave me a choice, reveal myself to the world, or die. That was no real
choice.
You know the difference between FF and comic books? I don't have a minimum sales requierment, so I can do whatever the fuck
I want and keep whatever story point I want to use, permanently. Meaning the fucking Devil won't come to offer a sick fucked
up deal to hide my SI's secret identity from the rest of the world.
I really hate One More Day. I hate it. You know what the best running Spider-man story is now? Renew your Vows. A story where
MJ and Peter are married and have a kid. What canon Spider-man should be like.
Sigh, anyway, there you go. Next chapter: new suit, new car, same old Doom.
P.S. A friend of mine, who is helping me by making a few cover art for Gamer Kage, recently started a chat site around
fanfiction. While it isn't my cup of tea, it is well done and seems nice, so check it out if you can: discord .gg /Wvv5QB2 (or)
discord .gg /y4SHTeG.
Alright, shameless plugin over.