Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Spider’s Kiss
"Well, he's just a high school student after all. He doesn't have any guard at all and he fell for other people's tricks so easily. It's just that he lacks experience." Nick Fury watched Peter faint and shook his head, unable to bear to watch.
Ben also felt that Peter should hone his guard. Spider-sense is not omnipotent. It will not cause danger or give warnings. Over-reliance on spider-sense makes Peter prone to tricks that he should not have fallen into.
At this time, countless people were worried about Spider-Man after seeing him being knocked unconscious and taken away by the Green Goblin, and they all began to cheer for Spider-Man.
[Peter heard the Green Goblin's voice in a daze. The Green Goblin thought Spider-Man was very similar to him. Peter disagreed and said, "You are a murderer."]
[The Green Goblin said: "Everyone has their own aspirations. You choose to be a superhero, but people will only be interested in you for three minutes. They just want to see the failure, the fall and death of heroes. No matter what you do, they will hate you in the end. Why bother?"]
["Because it's the right thing to do," Peter replied, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.]
[The Green Goblin shook his head, leaning in closer. "You're so naive. The people of New York—they exist only to elevate a few exceptional individuals like you and me. The rest? They're leeches, clinging to your victories but quick to turn on you the moment you stumble. Join me, Spider-Man. Together, we could reshape the future, rise above this pitiful society, and leave our mark on history."]
[Peter glared at him, refusing to respond. The Green Goblin took a step back, his voice turning cold. "Think it over," he said. "Either join me, or fight me until one of us falls. But know this—if you choose to oppose me, countless lives will be lost, and it'll all be on your conscience." With that, the villain vanished into the shadows, leaving Peter to grapple with his words.]
[The next morning, chaos erupted as newspapers ran inflammatory headlines accusing Spider-Man of colluding with the Green Goblin. Some articles painted him as a "menace," while others demanded the authorities take immediate action against him.]
[Peter sat at the kitchen table, scanning the headlines with a heavy heart. The Green Goblin's venomous words echoed in his mind: No matter what you do for them, they'll hate you in the end. His fists clenched, crumpling the edges of the newspaper.]
This scene once again aroused the anger of countless people, Crowds gathered outside the Daily Bugle, their chants growing louder by the minute. "Apologize to Spider-Man!" they shouted, demanding accountability from J. Jonah Jameson for the paper's relentless slander, and strongly demanded that those reporters not disturb Peter Parker's life.
Remarkably, amidst the uproar, Jameson refrained from exposing Peter's identity. Though it wasn't out of altruism, this small act of restraint earned him a sliver of respect from some. Others speculated that revealing Spider-Man's identity would only further fuel the chaos.
[Later that day, Mary Jane Watson emerged from a building downtown, her expression a mixture of hope and nerves. She had just finished an audition and was lost in thought when Peter appeared, jogging up to her with a wide grin.]
["Mary Jane!" he called, waving. "How did the audition go?"]
[Startled, she turned to face him. "Peter? What are you doing here?"]
[He shrugged, trying to act casual. "Oh, just passing by." He paused, then added with a sheepish smile, "Okay, fine. Your mom told Aunt May, and Aunt May told me."]
[Mary Jane laughed, her earlier tension easing. "You came all this way just to ask me?"]
["No, no," Peter stammered, though his flushed face betrayed him. "I mean, kind of. I just wanted to see a friendly face."]
[Her smile softened. "Well, since you're here, I might as well tell you. They said I need acting lessons. Can you believe that? Acting lessons for a soap opera!"]
[Peter frowned. "That's ridiculous. You're already amazing."]
[Mary Jane shrugged, though his words seemed to lift her spirits. "Thanks, Peter. But I guess I have to keep improving."]
[Peter hesitated, then offered, "How about a burger? My treat. But, uh, I'm on a budget—$7.84 max."]
[Mary Jane chuckled. "Thanks, but I already have plans with Harry tonight. Why don't you join us?"]
[Peter forced a smile, shaking his head. "No, that's okay. You two enjoy yourselves."]
[Peter watched Mary Jane from a distance, but unexpectedly saw her being harassed by several men. His face immediately changed and he walked up to her. Mary Jane had a bad feeling and started running, but was eventually blocked by several men.]
[Minutes later, Peter's attention snapped to Mary Jane as she was surrounded by a group of men. His heart raced as he saw her try to escape, only to be cornered in an alley.]
[The men jeered, their intentions clear as one of them reached for her. Mary Jane fought back, her voice trembling as she shouted for help.]
[Peter didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a web flying, yanking one of the attackers off his feet. In a blur of motion, he incapacitated the others, his movements swift and precise.]
[Just as Mary Jane was looking around, Peter suddenly appeared upside down behind her, scaring her. Mary Jane said that she seemed to have a superhero bodyguard and praised Spider-Man for being in a good hero. ]
["Not everyone thinks so," Peter replied, his voice tinged with irony. But Mary Jane's admiration was unwavering.]
["Well, I think you're amazing," she said, her smile genuine. "Thank you."]
[Before Peter could respond, she leaned in, pressing a kiss to his lips. Though caught off guard, Peter reciprocated, his heart pounding. The moment ended as quickly as it began, and Peter pulled away, disappearing into the night. Mary Jane stood there, her fingers brushing her lips, a dreamy look on her face.]
Back home, Uncle Ben sat beside Peter, his expression thoughtful. "Peter," he began, his voice gentle, "I know you care about Mary Jane. But sometimes, the people we care for aren't the ones meant for us."
Peter remained silent, his gaze fixed on The Screen, which replayed Mary Jane's kiss. His heart was a storm of conflicting emotions.
Uncle Ben continued, "She admires Spider-Man, not Peter Parker. That's a hard truth, but it's one you need to accept."
Peter silently looked at Mary Jane on the screen, with a complex emotion in his heart. He wanted to encourage himself to pursue her bravely and tell her his true feelings for her. However, the doubts in his heart made him hesitate.
As a spectator for the first time, Peter was aware of Mary Jane's admiration for Spider-Man, and he was worried that it was just a momentary impulse rather than a real feeling.
He felt that Mary Jane was more suitable for his good friend Harry, who was mature and stable and could bring her a stable life.
Moreover, Peter also knows clearly that as Spider-Man, his life is full of danger and uncertainty.
He was unwilling to involve Mary Jane and did not want her to be hurt. In his heart, Mary Jane's happiness and safety were far more important than his own feelings.
Peter's eyes revealed helplessness and contradiction. He silently decided to bury this love deep in his heart and stay by Mary Jane's side as a friend.
He hopes that Mary Jane can find her true happiness, even if that happiness is not what he can give.
Uncle Ben knows that Peter learned a lot about the future because of The Screen, and he has let go of his feelings for Mary Jane. He knows what kind of life Mary Jane wants. As a person who has experienced this, Uncle Ben knows that Peter wants to help her and Harry, so that he can let go of his burden and become Spider-Man.
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