Chapter Text
It was a chilly autumn evening, the kind that sends shivers down your spine. The air was thick with anticipation as my parents and I walked hand in hand through the dimly lit streets of NYC. We were returning from a family dinner, laughter still lingering in the air.
As we approached our home, a sense of unease crept over me. The flickering street lights cast eerie shadows on the pavement, and the silence seemed to swallow us whole. Something didn't feel right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Just as we reached the front door, a piercing scream shattered the silence. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned to see my parents frozen in fear. Before I could react, masked figures emerged from the darkness, their eyes filled with malice.
Time seemed to slow down as chaos erupted around us. I watched in horror as my parents fought valiantly, defending themselves against the attackers. But they were outnumbered, and their efforts were in vain. The sound of gunfire echoed through the night, drowning out my screams.
In that moment, my world shattered. I felt a searing pain in my chest, not from a physical wound, but from the loss of the two people who meant everything to me. As their lifeless bodies fell to the ground, I was consumed by a mixture of grief, anger, and an unquenchable thirst for justice.
Tears streamed down my face as I clutched their lifeless hands, vowing to avenge their deaths. The weight of their absence pressed heavily upon me, but I refused to let their memory fade away. They deserved justice, and I would stop at nothing to find the ones responsible.
“And so, the moment that strange spider bit me during a school field trip, life as I knew it changed forever," I began, swinging through the steel canyons of the city as I began narrating my tale. "I transformed into Spiderman, a vigilante determined to uphold justice in a world that seemed to have forgotten it. I’m going to unravel the truth behind that night, and I vow to use my newfound powers to protect the innocent and ensure that no one else would suffer a similar fate. But living this double life is no easy feat. Especially when you're sharing your home with Shirogane Takahashi, better known as Shiro, the man who took me in. A man who would lose his mind if he ever discovered what I was up to under the cloak of night.” I chuckled at the thought of Shiro's face flaring up red.
As I swing through the city, I carry their love and spirit with me, knowing that they are watching over me. Their memory fuels my determination to bring justice to those who deserve it. It's a constant reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
***
“Paige, I can’t! He’s so annoying. He couldn’t even come up with an excuse. If you’re going to lie, at least be slick about it!” I exclaimed, catapulting from one rooftop to another.
My “guy in the chair”, Paige, was a constant presence in my earpiece. She’s the only one privy to the dual life of the boy behind the mask. "Keith, you have to stop complaining about Lance," Paige interrupted my rants about my high school partner. "I know he’s a pain, but your focus should be elsewhere.”
"Easy for you to say, Paige," I grumbled, my annoyance seeping into my voice. "Lance dumped his part of the presentation on me because he was 'busy' tonight. Ironic, considering I'm also 'busy', just not in the way he is."
Paige, ever the voice of reason, quickly put an end to my ranting. "Keith, there's a bank robbery happening several blocks away. You need to go."
I didn't hesitate. I swung into action, heading straight towards the bank. When I arrived I realized the unreasonable amount of people who were robbing the bank. I mean seriously? Did all the robbers of NYC have a meeting and decided to rob this bank? As I fought my mind wandered to the project due in a couple weeks.
“Seriously, what was he thinking? It was so last minute too…” I grumbled. One of the guys kicked my leg, knocking me off balance. As I cursed my spider senses, I fell back to something hard.
“What the…” Our eyes met, but not in a romantic way- more like a “oh-shit- why-did-it-have-to-be-you” kind of way. His blue eyes and annoying grin was recognizable from anywhere. SwiftStriker.
Sure, we fought on the same side, but our relationship was anything but friendly. On the battlefield, our synergy was undeniable. But off it, we were rivals. SwiftStriker had declared me his adversary, a notion I thought utterly absurd. What irritated me the most, however, was his relentless insinuation that I should become a hero. Why should I, when the justice system had so conspicuously failed to bring my parents' murderer to justice?
“Good work, and goodluck.” Paige stated, checking my vitals from the suit she created.
“Goodluck?” I asked. Only to soon realize what she meant.
“Him.” I grumbled as Paige laughed from the other end. SwiftStriker was approaching me after his conversation with the police.
"I had it under control," I said defensively. "I didn't need your help."
"I was just doing charity work," SwiftStriker replied, a smugness in his tone. Our heated exchange escalated, our words flying faster than our fists had moments ago. But as we finally parted ways, a cloud of frustration hung over me. I was Spiderman, not a hero in the conventional sense, and I didn't need anyone to tell me otherwise. I was charting my own course, my own way. And no one, especially not SwiftStriker, was going to change that.
***
Drained from a day full of school and crime fighting, I found relief in the quiet confines of my secret alleyway. The familiar damp smell of the concrete walls and the faint city noises in the distance were strangely soothing. It was here that I would slip out of my Spiderman suit and back into my regular clothes, stuffing the suit into my backpack, a constant reminder of my double life. As I approached home, a wave of fatigue washed over me. My muscles ached from the day's physical exertion, and my mind was fogged with the constant juggling of my schoolwork and vigilante duties. The moment I stepped through the door, I was greeted with Shiro's concerned gaze.
"Keith, why are you always home so late?" he questioned, his tone a mix of worry and frustration. I knew he cared for me, but the weight of the secret I was carrying made each of his inquiries feel like a stab in the heart. I couldn't tell him the truth, couldn't let him see the danger I was constantly in, the danger I had willingly chosen.
"I had some things to take care of," I replied nonchalantly, brushing off his concerns. It was easier to bear his disappointment than to reveal the truth. His concern only deepened, his eyes filled with worry and disappointment.
"Keith, you can't just brush off my concerns like they're nothing. I'm only looking out for you."
I snapped. "I'm not a kid anymore, Shiro! I can take care of myself," I retorted, my pent-up frustration spilling out. I stormed up to my room, leaving a stunned Shiro behind. Once inside, I dropped my backpack on the floor and collapsed onto my desk chair. Paige's voice came through my earpiece,
"Rough day?"
"You have no idea," I replied, rubbing my temples. I quickly said goodbye to Paige and turned my attention to the school project. Exhaustion tugged at my eyelids and before I knew it, I was out cold on my desk.
***
Next morning, I woke up with a start, my back screaming in pain from the awkward sleeping position. "What's up with you?" Paige asked, noticing my discomfort. "Shit sleep, my back is hurting like crazy," I grumbled, running a hand through my messy hair. As I walked through the school corridors, Lance sauntered up to me, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Hey mullet!" he called, drawing the attention of the jocks and cheerleaders nearby. "Did you get the first part of the project done?" I shot him a glare and flipped him off, walking away as he laughed with his friends. It was just another day in my complicated life.
The rest of the school day was a blur, my mind too occupied with the upcoming night patrol and the unfinished presentation awaiting me at home. Classes seemed to drag on forever, and Lance's continuous jabs didn't make it any easier. I couldn't wait for the final bell to ring. When it finally did, I practically sprinted out of the school building, eager to get home and start my 'other' work. The city was starting to darken, the setting sun casting long shadows on the buildings. I felt a strange sense of anticipation, laced with a hint of dread. \
Once home, I avoided Shiro, heading straight to my room. I didn't want another confrontation, not when there was so much at stake. I quickly changed into my Spiderman suit and prepared to slip out of the window when Shiro's voice stopped me.
"Keith, dinner's ready," he called. I hesitated. I was already late for patrol, and yet, the thought of sitting at the dining table with Shiro felt... comforting, normal (a pinch of awkwardness, especially since I knew he was going to confront me about yesterday's outburst). But I couldn't afford that. Not when the city needed Spiderman.
"I'm not hungry," I yelled back, hoping he would leave it at that. But of course, he didn't.
"We need to talk, Keith," Shiro's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. I sighed, slipping out of the window before he could reach my room. I had a feeling that our conversation wouldn't have ended well.
The night was a whirlwind of activity. From petty thieves to a full-blown gang fight, it felt like the city was becoming more dangerous by the minute. By the time I returned to my alley, the sun was starting to rise. I was exhausted, my body crying out for rest. But my mind was buzzing. There was still so much to do, so much to prepare for.
I slipped back into my regular clothes, stashing my suit into my backpack. The comfort of the familiar fabric felt like a balm to my tired body. As I walked home, the city was starting to wake up. The morning rush, the smell of fresh coffee from the nearby cafe, the noise of the city - it was a stark contrast to the silent, dangerous nights.
When I finally reached home, Shiro was already up, his gaze worried as he saw me. "Keith, where have you been?" he asked, his voice strained. I shrugged, evading his gaze.
"I was out," was all I said before heading to my room. I knew I was pushing him away, but it was for the best. He wouldn't understand, couldn't understand. Because at the end of the day, I was just Keith to him. Not Spiderman, not a vigilante, just his adoptive younger brother trying to navigate through high school. And I intended to keep it that way, no matter what.