Arachnid: New Spiderman

[3rd POV]

Manhattan Center, New York, in the afternoon.

An office building in one of New York City's tallest towers was impressive in its scale and splendor.

It was big, with a clean marble floor. 

A man in a sharp black suit sat behind the desk and looked thoughtfully out the panoramic window of his office and pondered a problem...

The man gazed thoughtfully out of the panoramic window of his office, pondering a pressing issue.

Alonzo Lincoln, known as Tombstone, had been in business for a long time. This year marked exactly thirty years. He had started as a twelve-year-old boy. 

If anyone ever discovered that the Big Man's first "business venture" was an attempt to steal an ice cream…

He chuckled. 

However, that was a thing of the past, and a lot has happened since those days. He had become smarter and more cold-blooded but there was also a period of wild youth along the way.

Thompson's first successful move was joining Silvio Manfredi's group. He went from being a low-level errand boy to being New York's crime boss's personal bodyguard and executioner.

Of course, the moment Tombstone had the opportunity to take his leader's place, he took it without hesitation.

Who would've guessed how much trouble the new players would bring afterward?

Currently, the biggest players were Big Man and Kingpin but there was no absolute rule.

He wouldn't deny that the current situation had its advantages.

Fisk had proven himself a reasonable partner.

"Boss, you called for me?"

Lincoln turned.

It was Hammerhead. 

"Yes, we need to talk. I take it the Enforcers didn't live up to expectations?"

"Boss..."

"We can't afford any weakness at this time. The enemies are watching our affairs relentlessly. Another mistake could cost us our privileged position."

"Do you have a plan?"

"The Enforcer was a rather famous and expensive solution to our spider problem. And they failed. So, I thought—tell me, Hammerhead, who is the best mercenary?"

Hammerhead shrugged as expected.

"The one it's hard to find any information about."

"Exactly. Fortunately, I managed to..." 

Big Man picked up a notebook and pen from the desk and began writing something. 

"Here's the address. Tomorrow, you'll go there, hand our friend an advance payment, and give them a photo of the target."

"That's it?"

"Professionals don't bother with small details."

...

[Peter's POV]

There's no room for error.

One chance or death...

"Ultimate!"

"No way, Pete, you can't break the combo."

Harry hit an unbroken series by pressing all the buttons on the controller in unimaginable ways. 

"YEEEESSSSS. And with a score of 3:2, the winner is Harry Osborn!"

"The button on my controller was stuck." 

I pulled out my phone, rolling my eyes.

"Uh-huh, sure." 

Harry poured himself some Pepsi.

After discussing something, Harry and I decided to dedicate who is the champion of "Mortal Kombat."

"By the way, Pete, did you finish the projects assigned for the summer?"

"Back in June."

"Could you help me with one? Physics, you know how I am with that."

"You mean the report for Ms. Simmons? There is all the information in chapters one through seven."

"It's almost a hundred pages, Pete! Please help!"

"Okay, how about tomorrow?"

"Deal." 

We exchange a confirming high five.

"Alright, but I've got to go. I'd love to continue our exciting duel, but Uncle Ben needs my help. See you, Harry."

"Good luck, Pete." 

Harry said, turning off the second controller and resuming his battle with Shao Kahn.

...

"Hello, Uncle?"

"Pete, are you on your way?"

"Yeah. Do you need me to buy anything?"

"I've got all the materials we need. I just need you to be here."

"Then I'm on my way, Uncle." 

I said, ending the call.

Finding the nearest alley, I disappear among the familiar, trash-filled corners of the city and change my clothes. 

Shooting out two webs, I launch myself forward, giving my body the needed momentum. 

I reached Queens in twenty minutes.

"I'm home!"

"Hi, Peter. Ben's in the basement."

"Hi, Aunt May." 

I said, walking over to kiss her on the cheek. 

"How are you?"

"I'm good. And you seem to be in high spirits."

"Feeling full of energy!"

"And what's brought on this enthusiasm, young man?" 

Aunt May asked with a playful glint in her eye.

"Life is full of excitement. What's not to be happy about?"

"Ah, youth. You know, at your age, I felt the same way especially after I met Ben…"

"I'm coming, Uncle!" 

I shouted, laughing along with Aunt May as I rushed to the basement.

"Hey, champ, that was quick."

"I had to make up for my last mistake."

I put on my boots and grab a flashlight.

"We did agree to deal with the flooding today, but you could've stayed with your friends. Trust me, your old uncle can still handle a rotten pipe or two."

"I don't doubt that for a second, but I promised to help, and family is the most important responsibility."

"That's good to hear. You don't usually forget things. Was there a reason this time?"

"There wasn't just one."

"Let me guess, the main reason lives next door and has you floating on cloud nine?" 

Ben said with a sly grin.

"Just when I thought I'd avoided romantic interrogations from Aunt May, you come at me from the other flank, Uncle.

"Come on, Pete, don't blame us old folks for being curious. Come on!"

"Alright, fine. There's not much to tell. We went to a restaurant, had a nice chat, and reminisced about childhood. By the end, things got..."

I decided to stretch it out and tease Uncle Ben a bit.

"And?"

"We confessed our feelings for each other. So now, Mary Jane and I are dating."

"Happy for you, kid. Congratulations!"

"Thanks." 

I said, warmly accepting Uncle Ben's heartfelt hug.

"Just don't forget to use protection."

"What?!" 

I stared at him in shock.

I really didn't see that one coming.

"Oh, come on, kid. I was young once too, you know, and I'm well aware of what goes through a guy's head at your age. And trust me, girls think about it just as much."

"Just... wow."

In the canon, Ben Parker was gone too soon, but moments like this remind me how different things could have been. 

This kind of conversation might've been perfectly natural between us.

"Let's just get back to work." 

I said, shaking my head and grabbing the flashlight.

To be continued...