Late nights, bruised ribs, and a constant cycle of exhaustion—this was my life now.
By day, I was Peter Parker, the nerdy kid struggling through school. By night, I was Spider-Man, swinging through the city, stopping criminals, and trying not to get myself killed.
It wasn't easy.
But despite everything, there was something undeniably thrilling about it. That feeling of flying through the air, of making a real difference… It was addictive.
And then Tony Stark called.
It started with a drone.
I was swinging through the city, enjoying the relatively quiet night when I heard the familiar hum of repulsors. A sleek, black drone hovered beside me, matching my pace.
"Spider-Man," came a voice from the drone.
I nearly lost my grip. "Whoa! What the—who is this?"
The drone emitted a holographic projection of none other than Tony Stark.
"Hey, kid. We need to talk," he said, flashing his signature smirk.
My brain short-circuited. "Uh… Mr. Stark?"
"That's me. Listen, I've been keeping an eye on you, and I gotta say—nice work with the whole 'friendly neighborhood vigilante' thing. But you're a little sloppy."
I stared at the drone, heart pounding. "You… you've been watching me?"
"Of course I have. You swing around in bright colors and fight crime like it's an after-school special. Look, kid, I have a proposal. Meet me at the old Stark Industries warehouse in Queens tomorrow night. Don't be late."
The drone zipped off before I could even respond.
I stopped mid-swing, hanging from a web, staring into the distance. "Holy crap. Tony Stark knows who I am."
The next day was brutal.
Between failing a chemistry quiz and nearly getting caught nodding off in history class, I was barely holding it together. MJ kept eyeing me like she knew I was hiding something.
At lunch, she leaned in. "Okay, Parker. Spill. You've been spacing out all day."
I blinked, trying to come up with an excuse. "Uh… rough night."
She frowned. "Look, if you need to talk—"
The bell rang, saving me from spilling my superhero secret. "Gotta go! Catch you later, MJ!" I said, bolting out of the cafeteria.
That night, I found myself standing in front of the old Stark warehouse, nervously adjusting my makeshift mask.
The large metal doors slid open with a loud hiss, and I stepped inside.
The place was dimly lit, filled with old machinery and dusty crates. And in the center of it all was Tony Stark, casually leaning against a table, wearing his signature shades and a smug grin.
"Glad you could make it, Spider-Boy," he said.
"Uh… it's Spider-Man, actually," I replied, feeling very small under his gaze.
Tony chuckled. "Sure it is, kid. Look, I'll cut to the chase. You've got talent. I like talent. But you're out here playing hero without any real support, and that's dangerous."
I crossed my arms. "I've been doing fine on my own."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Tell that to the bullet graze on your shoulder."
I instinctively touched my arm, remembering the close call from the other night. "How do you—?"
"Stark tech. We see everything," he said with a smirk. "Anyway, here's the deal. I'm offering you an upgrade—new suit, new tech, and maybe even a chance to run with the big leagues one day."
I hesitated. "What's the catch?"
Tony shrugged. "No catch. Just… try not to die. And keep your nose clean. You're not ready for the big villains yet, kid."
I glanced down at my hoodie and yoga pants ensemble, suddenly feeling very underdressed.
"…What kind of upgrade are we talking about?"
Tony grinned. "Follow me."
In the next room, I saw it—a sleek, red-and-blue suit hanging inside a glass case. It looked like something out of a dream.
"Whoa…"
"Yeah, I know," Tony said proudly. "Lightweight, bulletproof mesh. Enhanced optics. Webbing upgrades. Even a built-in AI—though I kept it simple for you, junior."
I ran my fingers over the fabric. It felt smooth but tough. "This is… insane."
Tony clapped me on the shoulder. "Welcome to the team, kid."
I swallowed hard. "So… am I like, an Avenger now?"
Tony snorted. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Spider-Boy. Consider this a probationary period. Show me what you've got, and maybe one day you'll get a call."
I nodded slowly. "Okay… so what do I do now?"
Tony gestured toward the exit. "Go out there and keep doing what you're doing—just try not to break anything expensive."
I grinned under my mask. "Got it."
Later that night, swinging through the city felt… different.
The new suit hugged my body like a second skin. The heads-up display inside my lenses showed me police chatter, navigation routes, and even temperature readings.
"This is unreal," I muttered, flipping through the HUD options.
My web-shooters felt smoother, more responsive. I fired a web at a distant building and soared across the skyline, landing effortlessly.
"Alright, Queens… let's see what you've got."
I spotted a high-speed police chase unfolding below and sprang into action.
I landed on the roof of a speeding car, startling the criminals inside. "Hey there! Need a driving lesson?" I quipped before webbing their windshield and yanking the wheel.
The car swerved and crashed into a fire hydrant, water spraying everywhere. I quickly webbed the doors shut before the cops arrived.
"Spider-Man!" an officer called out.
"All yours, officer," I said, saluting before swinging away.
As I soared through the night sky, a realization hit me.
I wasn't just some kid messing around with powers anymore.
I was really Spider-Man now.
And I had to step up.
To Be Continued…