"How did this happen?"
'Yeah, no shit. I am just as confused as you are, buddy.' The young man in the interrogation room almost rolled his eyes at the cop in front of him. "What do you mean, sir?"
"Your uncle, how did he really die?"
'Are you-for god's sake. You have got to be shitting me.' He twiddled with his thumb. "As far as I know, from what I have been told, there was theft nearby. The guy, the thief, was running, trying to escape. My uncle was an outstanding man, an upright citizen. He must have tried to stop the man from escaping. In retaliation... This guy, this murderer shot my uncle."
"Is that so, Mr. Parker?"
'What do you think, Genius?' Peter rolled his eyes internally. "That is what I have been told."
"Oh, okay." The cop got up and walked around him, circling, trying to intimidate him. "Where were you when your uncle was shot?"
"I was-"
"And don't try to lie. We know exactly where you were?"
'Why would you ask me then?' He was actually dumbfounded. "I wasn't gonna anyways."
"Good. Go on."
"I participated in a promotional wrestling event in Mott Haven for 3000 dollars." Peter replied slowly.
"Hmm. That's a lot of money." The officer sat on the table beside him and glared at him with his arms crossed. "Why would a student like you need that much money?"
'Why is that even a question?' Peter stared at him blankly before he replied. "Financial needs."
"Hmm. I think that is because you were trying to get out of your uncle's control-"
'Bullshit-'
"Alright enough, Harvey. The boy is innocent." A senior officer entered the room slapped some papers onto the table. The officer interrogating Peter looked at the senior officer, then at Peter before grunting and picking up the papers. Reading them, he threw them back on the table.
"Strange for you to go out of you to bail a criminal out -"
"A suspect. Peter was a suspect, but the data I just gave you says otherwise. He is not a suspect anymore." The senior officer retired as the man grimaced. "And these scare tactics aren't going to work on a boy as brilliant as him."
"What do you mean?"
'Yes, what do you mean?'
"You'll understand someday." The senior officer smiled before uncuffing Peter and patting him on the back. "You are free to go. But I would like it, if you could wait outside for a bit."
"I understand, sir." Peter nodded and walked out of the room.
As Peter sat there in the lobby, he was immediately pinned with eyes filled with suspicion, curiosity, or sympathy. He sat himself down on a chair and buried his face in his palm as if grieving silently.
Cause that is what he should be feeling. His uncle Ben had died, killed by an assailant who disappeared under the watchful eyes of the NYPD, and yet he felt... Nothing.
Nothing because he wasn't Peter Richards Parker anyways. The body in which his conscience has been planted belonged to Peter Parker. A Human mutate, who seemingly gained superpowers after getting bit by a radioactive spider.
He knew because until a few hours ago, he was walking back home from his dead-end job as a different individual where the reality he is in now was fiction. Then suddenly he was in Peter's body, kneeling beside's uncle Ben's body, his hand soaked in blood trying to stop the blood flow.
By the time he realized just what happened, he was already being escorted into Police Station.
He has no idea just what happened to the OG Peter Parker, but he had a few theories, and none of them were in the OG's favor.
'The Bottomline is that I am not the Peter who lost his uncle, I am... I am just me.' Peter sighed out loud as he felt a migraine building in his head. 'What a mess-'
"I am surprised you waited." He was brought out of his thoughts as the senior officer came back.
"Well, you did ask me to stay."
"That I did."
"And you pulled me out of that room." Peter smiled lightly. "Thank you so much for that."
"That I did as well, and you are most welcome, young man. I am Captain George Stacy, by the way. " The man now identified as George offered his hand, and Peter shook it in a daze. "But you can just call me George. I believe my daughter is your classmate."
"Gwen Stacy? I mean, yes, yes, she is my classmate." Peter nodded, shaking his hand. "Is that why you helped me out?"
"Yes. Come. I'll drop you home." George nodded towards the exit, and Peter followed. "My daughter talks a lot about you."
"She does?" Peter asked, surprised while getting inside the car.
"Almost all the time when she isn't half-buried under a pile of books, haha. Even when she's on the phone with that Watson girl, she's talking about you. She thinks she is being sneaky, but I am a father, you know?" He looked at Peter and smiled. "What do you have to say for yourself, young man?"
"I don't have any defenses, Sir. I am dumbfounded right now." Peter smiled awkwardly. "It is news to me that someone would talk about me. But I hope it's only the good things."
"Haha. You wish. Sometimes Gwen gets annoyed that you both keep going back-and-forth in your classes over the first place. I frankly never thought that were was anyone her age that could match her brains." George laughed.
"Haha." Peter laughed with him.
"I am sorry for your loss." George said slowly after a moment of silence. "I meet him a couple of times during parent's visit days. Your uncle was a good man. I am sorry."
"It is alright." Peter sniffled and nodded. "I have to be strong for aunt May. She needs me."
"I know you are. Both physically and mentally." George looked at him with a critical gaze, but Peter maintained his facade. "I didn't know you packed such a mean punch under that nerdy exterior of yours. No offense."
"None taken." Peter sighed in relief internally. "I started working out."
"Is that the reason your demeanor did a complete 180 in your school?" He asked.
'This feels like an interrogation now.' Peter smiled. "I was just tired of being put down."
"And elevating yourself by putting other downs, how has that worked out for you?" George accused.
"My uncle had similar ideals like yours. How has that worked out for him?" Peter narrowed his eyes. "The world isn't perfect, and righteous ideals won't always earn you food, money, or respect. The more you bend in humility, the more the world is gonna fuck you over."
"Even if it means hurting others?"
"Let me ask you this. Between someone you care about or a random stranger, if you are asked to save only a single person between the two, who would you choose?" Peter asked, not backing down. George was surprised. And he became even more stumped as he was not able to respond.
"I... I would choose-"
"You would be a fool if you were to choose from any of them and abandon the other. The answer is you eliminate the threat." Peter said. "I would not forgive anyone who threatens me, or the ones I hold close to me."
"I... I see." George nodded. The more he talked with the young man beside him, the more enigmatic he became. He had seen the footage he had obtained from the event organizers of the wrestling event, and he knew just how strong Peter was. To thrash a full-grown adult in a mere couple of minutes. Peter Parker wasn't your average high school student, and that he knew for sure.
"Thanks for dropping me. I appreciate your concern, Sir." Peter nodded as he got out of the car and walked towards the door.
"Mr. Parker."
Peter turned around as George called out for him.
"Just call me Peter."
"Please don't do anything that would put your family or your friends in danger." George almost pleaded. "Promise me."
"I promise. I won't let anybody get hurt." Peter nodded.
"Good." George nodded, satisfied with his reply as he turned his car. "Goodnight, Peter."
"Goodnight, George." Peter watched him go with a distant look in his eyes. "Nobody is going to get hurt. Except for the ones who would tempt me."
Turning towards the door, Peter knocked.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Peter, Peter Parker. I am home." Peter smiled to himself.
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Edited on 25-03-22