Peter was in a hurry, sprinting all the way home, his breath coming in ragged gasps when he finally reached the doorstep.
He had been in a good mood earlier, feeling accomplished after helping Connors at Oscorp. With his parents' formula, Peter had assisted Connors in cracking the gene lock that had been plaguing him for years. Together, they'd managed to heal a little lab mouse that had lost its leg.
If Connors' experiment could work on humans, it could save countless lives!
However, as he left Oscorp and saw the darkening sky, panic set in. He remembered how Bren had repeatedly reminded him to pick up Aunt May, but he had been so absorbed in the research that time had slipped away.
Now, it was late, and he couldn't be sure if Aunt May was still waiting.
In a panic, Peter rushed to her workplace, only to find that Bren had already picked her up. Without a second to spare, he dashed back home.
From a distance, he saw Uncle Ben waiting at the doorstep.
Bren's serious expression filled Peter with unease. The prospect of being scolded was the least of his worries. What bothered him more was whether Aunt May had gotten home safely. The streets of New York at night were dangerous, and if something had happened to her because of his neglect, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"Uncle Ben, where's Aunt May?" Peter shouted before even stopping.
The sprint had left him winded, even with his enhanced strength. He Bren over, hands on his knees, gasping for air. Despite the exhaustion, his face was filled with worry and fear.
Seeing this, Bren's stern demeanor softened.
"Bren brought her home," Bren said. "He lied and said you asked him to pick her up."
Peter let out a relieved sigh when he heard Aunt May was safe, the weight in his chest easing. But then guilt set in, he had forgotten what Bren had told him earlier that day. Not only had he failed to pick up Aunt May, but Bren had also had to fulfill that promise for him.
"I'm sorry..." Peter muttered, unable to look Bren in the eye.
Fortunately, Peter's genuine remorse didn't go unnoticed. Bren could see the guilt in Peter's eyes, and it softened his anger.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Peter," Bren said kindly, choosing his words carefully so as not to make the boy feel worse. "You remind me so much of your father. I think that's a good thing. A very good thing!"
Bren's words were sincere. Although he and Peter's father were brothers, they were very different. Bren was an ordinary man, while Peter's father had been exceptional. Bren had always hoped Peter would grow up to be a great scientist, just like his father.
"But your father always believed that with great power comes great responsibility," Bren continued, walking over to Peter and pulling him into a gentle hug. "You're growing up now. Even though May and I aren't your real parents..."
"What? No!" Peter's heart skipped a beat at the words, and he looked up, about to protest. But Bren motioned for him to listen.
"This isn't anything to worry about, Peter," Bren said earnestly. "May and I are not against you or Bren looking into your real parents, that's your right, and we can't stop you. But remember, even though we're not your biological parents, we love you both just the same."
Bren paused before adding, "I don't expect you to take on a lot of responsibility for the family. But I do hope you won't make May sad, okay?"
Peter nodded silently, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders.
"Do you know what might have happened if Bren hadn't picked up May?" Bren asked.
Peter couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario. He might have lost Aunt May because of his oversight.
Bren squeezed his shoulder gently. "It's not just you who would have been worried. May would have been even more anxious if she hadn't heard from you."
Peter couldn't help but nod in agreement, his guilt overwhelming him. The joy he had felt from his newfound powers was now overshadowed by this mistake.
Bren didn't want Peter to stay trapped in guilt, so he reassured him, "The important thing is that you're both fine. Let this be a lesson, don't let this happen again. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility."
Peter nodded, his eyes red with emotion.
At that moment, the door opened.
Bren, holding a pork chop in one hand, took a big bite, the oil splattering. He leaned against the doorframe and called out, "How long are you two going to stand out here?"
Both Peter and Bren turned to look at him.
Bren narrowed his eyes, patting Peter's back before calling out loudly, "Starving, huh? Let's go eat!"
Then, in a quieter voice, he added, "Bren's already covered for you today, so let's stick with his story, okay? Don't make May worry."
"Got it!" Peter nodded vigorously.
Later that night, Peter and Bren ate their fill in Bren's room.
"Ugh..." Peter let out a contented burp. "I can't believe I ate that much."
"Clearly, our powers are making us burn through more calories," Bren replied from his bed. "At this rate, Uncle Ben's going to go bankrupt feeding us."
They had both expected some kind of argument that evening, but surprisingly, Uncle Ben had handled everything calmly.
But a new problem had emerged—money.
If it weren't for Bren and Peter, Uncle Ben and Aunt May would have been able to live comfortably. But with two more kids in the house, expenses had skyrocketed, and with their newfound appetites, they had nearly cleaned out the fridge.
"We need to find a way to make some money," Bren said seriously.
Peter nodded, deep in thought. "With great power comes great responsibility. Now that we've got these powers, it's time to step up and help the family." He thought for a moment before suggesting, "What do you think about underground fighting? I'm pretty sure no one can beat us, and we could make a fortune!"
"No! Absolutely not!" Bren jumped up at the suggestion, horrified.
He had just avoided a major incident with the spider-web events, and who knew what would happen if Spider-Man got involved in illegal fighting?
Peter's thoughts shifted again, and he said, "Maybe we should use our powers for something else."
Sliding a chair over to Bren's bed, Peter continued, "Just like Uncle Ben said, these powers aren't just a gift, they come with responsibility. We have an obligation to use them to make the world a better place."