Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own any of the characters used.

Peter finally limped into his bedroom at 2 in the morning, pale-faced and shaking. The streets were quiet, stores empty, lights shut off; with one exception.

The scene at Coney Island anything but quiet, and was already being shown live on the news. The headline read: Spider-Man, Super Criminal? Peter looked away at the close up of Toomes' face, bloodied and bruised, cursing himself for not being strong enough to save his life.

Peter reached for the advanced first aid kit given to him by Mr. Stark. He began to stitch up the slash across his body, starting up near his left shoulder and heading diagonally towards his waist.

He clicked on the small TV in the corner of the room.

"Adrian Toomes, a suspected criminal guilty of stealing a box of very valuable Chitauri-inspired tech, has been found dead on a beach at Coney Island," the reporter stated. "According to the police, he was here in a fight with Spider-Man, whose old goggles were found lying a few feet away. It is unknown, but heavily suspected, that Spider-Man was the one who killed Toomes. Why is the mysterious Spider choosing now to turn to the life of a criminal? We now send you over to Tom with Tony Stark, a former supporter of…"

Peter cursed and clicked the television off. He didn't know what to do. He thought his life was headed towards good; had the trust of an Avenger, maybe even be on the team. He had friends, he had Aunt May, maybe rekindle his relationship with Liz.

But no, it was not to be. This night had proved it.

Peter took his web shooters off and put them in their hiding place, right behind his computer in a small box, hidden from view. He collapsed on his bed, head in his hand, furiously cursing his life.

Kravinoff would pay. But not yet.

Peter barely had any weaponry at all. No technology to use, no cool AI to help him out. Nothing.

Well, no tech except for what he collected.

Shit, he missed Karen.

He missed the entire plethora of possibilities being in Tony's good graces could give him.

A police siren wailed outside the window, the blue and red light flashing on the ceiling of Peter's apartment.

Nobody came out the window.

Line Break

Aaron Davis opened the door to his apartment, locking the door behind him. He had seen the news; he wondered what happened to the kid that had just interrogated him a few days prior.

Granted, the attempt was laughable, but Spidey seemed like a good kid.

"Miles," he shouted, "Where you at?"

"In the back room," a voice called from the darkness, an excited tone dripping through his words.

Davis walked over, smile on his face. He saw the kid, a twelve-year-old clown with a huge smile on his face as he dug through one of the boxes, trying to find the source of the light.

When Aaron saw what Miles was doing, he panicked. "NO MILES WAIT," he yelled, as he lunged towards the box, desperately trying to contain the light.

He was too late. The purple glow had finally revealed itself.

In the form of a bomb.

The chitauri bomb exploded, wiping out half the complex instantly. Aaron's body was instantly evaporated.

When the police came, they only found one survivor in the destroyed half of the building; Miles. No one knew how he was alive, only that he was breathing and unconscious. He had no family left.

He was put up for adoption hours after receiving emergency treatment.

No one saw the reason for his survival next to his limp hand in his old home, the red and black arachnid dozing on its web.

Line Break

"Peter!"

Peter groaned as Aunt May shook his sleeping body, begging for a few more hours of sleep.

"It's Ned."

Peter shot up at the thought of seeing his best friend. "Where is he?"

Aunt May chuckled. "On the phone, Pete."

Peter groaned again at the thought of getting up, but did so anyways. Finally, halfway before he reached the phone, he began to think.

What if Ned didn't believe him? What if Ned was like all the others? Would Ned reveal his identity to the public if he refused to believe Peter? Would Ned betray him?

Peter slapped himself twice to check back into reality before he put the phone to his ear. "Hey Ned."

"Peter what the hell happened?" Ned didn't seem too happy yet. "I've called six times!"

"Ned I'm sorry I didn't reach yo-"

"Peter!" Ned interrupted. "Just tell me what happened!"

Peter breathed, in, then out, then in."Ok."

Ned sighed, and Peter got the impression that Ned was as exasperated as Peter was tired. "Then tell it to me, man! I didn't say I was watching porn for nothing!"

Peter started. "Huh?"

Ned laughed. "Never mind. Let's go Peter!"

Peter laid out the whole story. The building collapse, his escape, his fall, Vulture saving him for torture, Kraven's interference. He didn't omit anything, except for one small part.

The chitauri tech he had stolen from the box on the back of Toomes' dead body was something only he would know about, and he wanted, needed, to keep it that way. He wasn't sure why he was keeping it from Ned, but he had a gut feeling. He didn't know if that feeling was about Ned in particular, but he didn't want to test it.

Ned was silent for a minute, before whistling. "Shit."

"Yeah."

They were both silent for a moment, before Peter spoke up. "I don't know if I can be… be him anymore."

"But Peter!" Ned was stunned at Peter's admission. "You can't just walk away!"

"Why not?" Peter shot back. "Everything I do, everything I can do, it only leads to problems. I have the police on my back, I have the public on my back, hell, I got the Avengers on my back! How can I keep doing this?!"

Ned stayed calm. "Because you're you. You're a hero, Peter. Be one."

Peter exhaled shakily. "Thanks Ned. You're the best."

Ned laughed. "Don't you know it. See ya." He hung up.

Peter sat down on the couch. Finally, someone he could trust.

"Peter? What was that about?"

Aunt May walked into the kitchen with a concerned face, opened the fridge, and got some milk out.

"Umm." Peter hesitated. Externally he had a calm face, but his insides were in huge turmoil. Should he tell her?

Peter had gone over this question hundreds of times while on patrol. He never said yes to himself, but he wondered, after everything that happened, should he?

He tried to not think of the cons and just say it, for once, just say it, but he couldn't. If Kraven was truly hunting him, he couldn't put Aunt May in danger. He just couldn't do it.

"Nothing, May."

May walked over, handing Peter a glass, and slumped down on to the couch beside him. She put an arm around his shoulder, and pulled him close.

"Peter, if something's bothering you, we can sort it out. Please, talk to me. I'm your Aunt, I know when times can get rough, you can talk. Just let it go." She spoke pleadingly, as if it was the last thing she'd ever say to him. As if he was going off to college in California or something.

"I don't think there's anything, May."

May chuckled teasingly. "Does that mean there isn't anything, or that there is something that you don't want me to know?"

Peter was conflicted. He didn't know whether to tell her. If he did, would it bring her pain? If he didn't, what would happen if she found out on her own?

The TV was on, Peter only just realized. With a start, he realized he knew the guy on screen.

"Aaron Davis, 37, has been declared dead after a massive purple explosion rocked Harlem this afternoon. The apartment complex, known as Savoy Park, had five floors engulfed by a purple fire, similar to that of the bomb that rocked the Washington Monument two weeks ago. It is unknown what material they are made of, but it is likely Chitauri based. Miles is the last to be declared officially dead; 22 others have been confirmed. The only survivor that we know of is 12-year-old Miles, his son, who was presumed to be in the same apartment. It is unknown how he is still alive. He has been rush-" May clicked it off.

Peter looked at her questionably.

May gave a shuddering, bitter laugh. "We don't need to see that. This city is a constant mess; if only there were more people to try and save it."

Peter shrugged.

May turned her full attention back to him. "Peter, please, I can see it in your eyes. What happened?"

Peter had made up his mind. He was going to tell her. He knew he would probably be reprimanded, but there was no way she wouldn't believe him. He needed all those who he could trust to know him as a person. Right now, he only had Ned, and maybe May. Their comfort was his oasis; he needed their light in his period of darkness.

"I'm Spi-"

The apartment exploded.

Line Break

Shuri sighed as she hopped out of the plane, turning back as it became invisible once more and flew off, back towards Wakanda. She had just landed in New York, and was ready for her hunt. Whether her hunt was successful, that was still to be seen.

She picked up her backpack and slung it around her shoulders, while she took the suitcase in her right hand, and began rolling it behind her.

She stopped abruptly, however.

Where am I supposed to go?

She looked around, trying to find a hotel in her near vicinity, before her eyes fell on the former Stark Tower. A big 'For Sale' sign was attached to a row of windows, huge block font yelling out its message.

She decided she'd buy it by the end of her mission. For T'Challa, of course.

A/N

Hey Everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to update; I've had a pretty hectic two weeks. I only barely got this chapter up this early too; we got hit with a huge snowstorm; knocked out my power and internet. We finally got it back this morning. I think we got lucky, though; I've seen a whole bunch of fallen trees on cars and houses. It's been rough up here.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Sorry to leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger involving Peter. I have read your reviews, and I understand. I want it to be a bit longer too. Well, I'm not too good at writing filler; in the next couple chapters, the length will likely pick up. Hopefully.

I won't be updating next week; I have a week long field trip, and then a three-day Model UN Conference next weekend. Hit me up if you're going to EagleMUN! Peace out!