That Tuesday's headlines were bombing. “Farce Revealed! - Tony Stark has just leaked a dossier revealing criminal activity and farce of the operations of the vigilante and digital influencer, Screwball, in his social networks”. An arrest warrant had been issued for the criminal, and there was nothing else being talked about in Midtown once again. Peter had arrived as himself once more, and Ned was in the doorway waiting. The two smiled, and hugged, they managed, even with a slight help from their iron friend.
- People don't hate you anymore! — Ned pointed out happily.
- Don't exaggerate, haters will always exist, hahaha! Ah, Tony said to praise you, it's the second time you've proved yourself a super hacker, he said that if you continue like this, he'll have to hire you in the future.
- Wow, a compliment from the greatest genius in the world — The two began to walk into the school — But what about you, huh? The boom your channel will have is…
- So, about that... — Peter took out his new cell phone, which Tony was kind enough to give him after what he did with the last one, and showed a video
In it, characterized as his alter-ego, Peter said: “Thank you to everyone who believed in my innocence despite everything, Screwball slandered me precisely because I had found out about her operations, and the recording of that night, and everything else, proves this desperation of a crazy criminal. With that said, I wanted to thank you one last time, because this is the last Spidey Web video. I realized this life is not for me, so whenever you want to see me, take a look overhead, but also far away, where the little, wonderful people need me, because I'll be there, for all of you. A big hug to my friend, my chair nerd, for helping me leak all this essential information, and to our eternal Iron Man, Tony, for helping me spread the word, I hope I made you proud. And that was your friendly neighborhood, one last time. A hug, and we’ll meet around!”
- Damn... I can't even get mad — Ned said — But this is your most famous post ever, look at the number of likes…
Suddenly, Flash Thompson passed by, happily singing a rather curious song, which caught the duo's attention.
- …Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man! Wealth and Fame, he’s ignored. Action is his reward!
- Spider-Man? — Peter noted.
- Wait, what is this here in the suggestions?
- It's… A trend! “#GoodbyeSpiderMan” — Peter opens a video of the trend, and in it, a famous musician from the platform begins to sing, armed with his guitar. The title of the video was just “Spider-Man Tribute”.
"Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Does whatever a Spider can! Spins a web, any size! Catches thieves just like flies! Hey there! Here comes that Spider-Man! Is he strong? Listen bud, he’s got radioactive blood! Can he swing from a thread? Take a look overhead. Hey there! There goes that Spider-Man! In the chill of night, at the scene of a crime. Like a streak of light, he arrives just in time!"
- An archenemy and a theme song! — Ned couldn't contain the emotion within himself — That's it, you're a complete hero!
- No joke...
- What joke? — Michelle said suddenly, as always, startling them both. Peter almost dropped his cell phone.
- Oh, hey MJ — Ned smiled — What did you hear huh?
- Something about a theme song. Spider-Man's, I presume.
- That's right. He replied with an awkward smile.
- Can you give me a moment alone with Peter? You know, woman stuff.
- Ah… Ah! Got it, hahaha — The hacker walked away, smiling — Don't say anything I wouldn't say, eh Peter!
- So what? — MJ said, turning around to see Peter's red face — Why are you like this?
- Nothing… — Peter couldn't contain his flutter.
- Did you see…? Spider-Man did what was right after all.
- I guess we had no reason to doubt him.
- I never doubted it, though… — She gave Peter another genuine smile, and he smiled back, a genuine smile too — You know… You're a nice guy, Peter.
- Why do you say that?
- There are few people who know how to admit that they are wrong, and even fewer who apologize to me. You always do what's right in the end.
- I… I also think you're nice.
- You better! — She joked, and opened the smile even more, the two laughed.
They went their separate ways, and for
the first time in a while, he began to feel something more than admiration for
someone, Michelle's intoxicating smile was on his mind, and he felt so good
whenever he remembered her. Since she also had Peter in her head, she opened
her notebook to put the finishing touches on her last illustration, Peter's
face, and around it, lots, and lots of spiders. She had a hunch but chose to
wait for the right moment to risk a hit attempt, after all... Peter had not
only conquered her thoughts, but also her heart.
Only in one place, far away, was
there still talk of how Spider-Man was a menace, a juvenile delinquent who must
pay for his actions. An old broke reporter put his suit and tie back on, he had
a job to do. Yes, the girl was just as bad as he was, but there was evidence he
couldn't deny. Evidence about a masked vigilante who thought he was above the
law. “Spider-Man - He is still not to be trusted!” was the headline he had just
written from inside his locker with a green screen. He signed the report with
his initials, “JJJ”, and would not rest until all this commotion that started
with the leaking of the poor victim of the offender's abuse did not pass in
vain. John Jonah Jameson wanted Spider-Man!
Peter Parker was sitting on his bed, still remembering all these events. Screwball's ink ball still in his hand. A lot has changed since then, Tony and the Avengers, Thanos, Mysterio, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, Octopus, Green Goblin, Electro, all those villains from other realities, and also… The other spiders. Alone, there in that apartment, he found comfort in the thought that he wasn't the only one, his brothers were still out there in the multiverse, facing the same battles that he faced. He reached one last item out of his moving box… MJ's sketchbook. All the drawings of people in crisis that she did, the drawings about him, him with all the spiders, him with the uniform, and all the illustrations of a girl in love. The last one was just a drawing of the two of them, together, holding hands. The feelings that that image brought to his mind were bittersweet, he wondered what kind of life she was living at that very moment.
But then, on the last page of the notebook, a drawing he made himself. Three spider symbols, accompanied by three faces. The faces of him and his brothers, somewhere out there, faces he would like to see someday, one more time. He closed the notebook, and finally organized all the boxes. At the end of that day, which was still winter, he lit one of the burners on his stove and began to heat up some hot chocolate. He took the ball of ink from his pocket one last time and needed to say goodbye to the elusive first archenemy with flying colors. He took the box of matches, and opened the window, a weak cold breeze came in, and then he lit one of the matches, and lit the ball, quickly placing it on the edge of the window. As he imagined, the ball began to break up, and its colors colored an intense smoke that came out of the burning. He smiled, and the colors pink and white colored that cold corner of New York.
Finally, a little color painted the life of the young hero, who found himself alone, but not abandoned. That man's life had gone through many transformations, but now, he was a man, he had learned the most overwhelming of his lessons. “With great power, there must also come great responsibility”, that was his gift, and also his curse. Peter Parker is no more, but Spider-Man lives on.
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