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Alright, Let's do this for the one and only time.
My name is Four Integer. I was bitten by a radioactive spider and for the past year, I've been the one and only Spider-Man.
You probably already know the rest.
My best friend, X, found out my secret and has been helping me keep it. I fell in love with my rival from class, Two, and now we’re dating. They almost died during one of my missions and I had to save them as Spider-Man.
They caught on pretty quicky on who I was.
My other rival classmate, One, turned out to be the same person that keeps trying to kill me as Spider-Man. I don’t know if she knows who I am or not. She hates me either way.
I live with my uncle, Infinity, after my parents died. He’s really the best uncle anyone could ask for. Doesn’t know about my secret so whenever I come home late, I just tell him I was at some math club.
So far, everything has been pretty calm and chill. I’m close to defeating One and her stupid little goons. When that’s done with, I can get to calmer things like saving cats from trees or something.
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“Foursie can you get me a soda?” Two asked from Four’s bed. They, Four, and X were all hanging out in Four’s room ‘studying’ for their chemistry test. But really, they were trying to figure out where One could be planning her next attack.
Four was focused on his computer, trying to find any traces on where One could strike next. “I’m not using my webs to get you a drink.” Four said without looking back at them.
Two had only just found out about their partner being the world’s famous superhero. So obviously they like to annoy him with questions like that.
They sighed loudly and dramatically before moving for the first time in an hour to get a coke can from Four’s mini fridge. As they did, Four’s webs shot out to grab another one for himself.
Two gasped offendedly and grabbed it midair before it could reach him. They dragged it back while it was still attached to the web, which was still attached to Four’s hand, causing him to fall to the ground.
Two laughed loudly at the scene. Four grumbled at them and shot his webs out to cover their mouth. “MMMGHHH” Two yelled in disgust as they attempted to rip the webs off.
“Okay I got it!” X called out randomly from her side of the room, just looking up to see what happened. She was too focused on what she was doing to even notice what was going on.
Four walked over to him as Two got the final strings off of them and followed him. They were both standing on either side of him while looking at his computer screen. “You found out where One’s next attack is gonna be?” Four asked.
“Ehhh” X cringed their face. “Not exactly” SHe pulled up a tab that showed a location on a map not far from where Four lived. “This is that grocery store that Three’s family owns. There are signs here that it could be where One hides herself when she's out doing villain things.”
Four hummed in thought as he looked closer at the map. “But why would One be there? And does Three know? Is she in on it too?”
“Probably” Two shrugged. “Considering how close those two are.”
Three and One have been friends for quite some time. They’re always together in school and it’s got to a point where some people were even coming to the conclusion that they were a thing. But that wasn’t the point. The point was that they may have a new enemy on their hands. Someone closer than they thought.
It was surprising. Three was a super nice person. She was friends with almost everyone. And she got along with Four swell. Maybe it was all an act? It’s hard to believe that she’s some secret bad guy.
Four clasped his hands together. “Alright. I have an idea. Let’s go over there and investigate the place. Try and see if we can find anything. Any secret passageways or rooms.” He pulled out his costume from a hiding place in his room and started putting it on.
“Isn’t that a little suspicious that we all just walk into the store with literal SPIDER-MAN?” X asked.
Four finished putting on the costume with putting the mask over his head. “No. We’ll go in separately. Obviously. I’ll go in first. And then you guys come in a little after. Try to act like regular customers.” He opened the window and stood on the window sill.
“But why as Spider-Man?” Two asked. “Isn’t that a little dangerous? You’d be easy bait for them.”
“What if One is there? If she spots me then maybe she’ll try to leave wherever she is and try to get me. It’ll confirm that she’s there and that there is a secret spot in the store. I’ll try to find something while I’m there before you get there.”
He shot his webs out at a random building and swung away. He looked over at the city below him as he swung around above his home. It was such a lovely place to be in and yet it was so often terrorized by selfish people. It makes him wonder what One’s intentions even are.
What does she want? What is she trying to gain? Is it worth hurting innocent people? Is it worth destroying an entire city every attack?
He got to the store and looked through the window to see Three sitting at the front desk and waiting for a customer. It was surprisingly empty in there. That was good. “Hello teenage girl that I don’t know!” Four casually greeted himself as he walked in.
Three looked up in understandable shock to see the world famous superhero in her store. “OH! H-HELLO S-SPIDER-SPIDER-MAN?” She nervously greeted back. She cleared her throat to make herself speak normally again. “What brings you here?”
Four had to think of an excuse to be there. He actually hadn’t thought of one. “I’ve been aware of some concerns from a few people around this area about this store and I would like to look around and see if there’s anything going on.”
He watched carefully for her reaction to his statement. Trying to see if she had something to hide. “Oh…uhm…” She looked around the store herself. “Wouldn’t that be a job for the police? Or health inspector? Or something?”
Crap. Maybe he should’ve planned this out sooner. Before they could come up with something else, X and Two came in. Perfect. “WOAH! X LOOK IT’S SPIDER-MAN!” Two yelled out while slapping X repeatedly in the face to get their attention. Gosh, their acting is terrible.
“Hello kids!” He waved at them. “Just minding my own business! As you should be also!” He gritted his teeth as he said that last sentence.
X caught onto his tone and grabbed Two’s hand. “Come on Two! Let’s go buy those condoms you needed!”
“What.” Two asked blankly. X dragged them away before they could say anything else. You could hear their silent questioning as they walked away.
Four turned back to Three, who had a confused and concerned look on her face. He cleared his throat to get her attention. “SOOOOO you don’t happen to have any rooms in the back or something that I could look into?”
Three’s pupils looked back and forth around the store for a while. Suspicious. He took a mental note of that. “Uhm…We have a storage closet to the right?” She pointed in the direction with her thumb. “Other than that however, there’s nothing else.”
Four started to walk over there before she stopped him. “BUT! The door is locked and I don’t really have the key on me right now!” She sounded so panicked and nervous. She was definitely hiding something.
“It’s alright. I’m Spider-Man!” He shot a web out on the door and pulled back aggressively. The door was thrown onto the floor.
“Oh haha!” Three laughed nervously. “Would you look at thaaaaat.”
Meanwhile, Two and X were searching different shelves and fridges until they had found something. It was a small peephole in between the shelves in the vegetable aisle. Two tried discreetly looking through it but it was too small to actually see anything. They stood up straight and saw Four walk into the storage room. That was nerve-wrecking for them. What if something– or SOMEONE– was in there?
“Keep looking.” They whispered to X. “I’m gonna go by the storage room.”
They walked over there and looked through the shelves next to it. They were full of cleaning supplies. They grabbed a box of tissues and thoroughly inspected it while listening in on what could be going on in the room next to them. They stole a few glances at Three. She looked very tense, standing up straight and tapping her fingers on the desk. It was a weird kind of tapping. Morse code maybe?
Four walked out of the room and dusted his hands off of his knees. “You’re good to go!” He said cheerily.
Three tilted her head. “Really?” She asked, a tone of relief in her voice. That just raised way more suspicion.
“Mhm!” Four nodded. “Thanks for your time!” He called out before leaving the store and swinging away.
Two and X looked at each other and waited a few seconds before grabbing the first thing in front of them and taking it to the cashier. Three was super shaky and nervous the whole time she helped them buy their items.
Once they got back to Four’s apartment, he was already there on his bed with his normal outfit on and looking at his phone. “So she’s totally on One’s side.” Two said, closing the door behind them.
“For sure. Look at this.” Four showed his phone to the others. There were photos of purple glowing liquids on the floor and walls. There was a huge space between two shelves. The wall was placed in an odd shape and stood out. “That must be where the secret hideout of theirs is.” He said, pointing at the wall.
“So now what? Do we blow it up or something?” X asked.
“We can check back on it in a few days. I go in, take her down, and get rid of her for good. Easy.” Four explained briefly. It sounds easier than it really is, but neither of them wanted to drop Four’s confidence.
X felt a vibration in his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Guys I’ve gotta go. My parents want me home for dinner now.” She told them, grabbing all her things that she brought. “Can we keep planning tomorrow?”
Four and Two agreed and she left the room, leaving the couple alone. “Did you actually buy a condom?” Four asked after a couple of moments of silence.
Two laughed. “No silly.” Two sat on Four’s rolling chair and rolled it in front of the bed where he was sitting. “It was just an excuse.” They smirked. “Unless you wanted me to buy some.”
Four flushed red and looked away, making Two laugh more. They got closer to him and held his hands in theirs. “You know.” They spoke in a low voice. “I think it’s super cool that my boyfriend is Spider-Man.”
Four chuckled slightly, looking down at their hands. His smile quickly fell though, rubbing his thumb on their hand. They noticed immediately and moved their head so he could look at them. “What’s wrong?”
He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it, trying to find the right words. “I don’t…I don’t think I like…you knowing I’m Spider-Man.” He cringed as he got the words out, hoping that it didn’t hurt them in any way.
To his dismay, they were frowning deeply at him. “Not that I don’t appreciate your help!” He quickly said before they started taking it the wrong way. “I really do! I’m more scared for your safety. X too, obviously, but you specifically.” He looked around the room then leaned into them. “Don’t tell him I said that though.”
“Do you think I’m gonna be unsafe with this?” They asked in a low and saddened voice. “I’m a safe person! I can be safer! Super cautious, watching everywhere I go, I’ll keep pepper spray in my pocket!” They pulled out an imaginary spray and sprayed it in Four’s face, making him laugh.
“No no…I…”
Two climbed onto the bed and put their knees on the mattress. Their faces were inches apart, making Four turn bright red. “I promise I’ll do everything in my power to be safe with this. And I’ll keep you safe also. You can’t go thinking that you can keep yourself without harm alone!” They smiled, booping his nose.
Four leaned back to give them room above him and wrapped his arms around their neck. “Okay I guess not. That doesn’t mean I can’t be worried for you though.”
“I’ll be fine.” They move their hands under his arms to cup his cheek and press kisses all over his face. He giggled and laughed as they smothered him in pecks with a dramatic “MWAH” coming after each one. It was a while before they connected their lips together, fully pushing his back onto the bed. They made out for around a minute before pulling away for some air.
“You’re gonna kill me one day, you know that?” Four joked as they ran their hand through his hair.
They laughed before kissing him again in a slightly more intimate way. Their hands fell onto his hips, holding him in place. “WOAH! If you guys are gonna do this, at least lock the door first!” The voice of an old man came from behind them. Four sat up and used his arms to hold himself behind him. Two moved back and sat on their knees as they both looked at who was there.
Four flushed a dark red in embarrassment. “UNCLE INFINITY!”
Two gasped and waved at him happily. “HEY INFINITY!!”
“Well, I don’t wanna intrude any further,” He chuckled seeing his nephew's embarrassed state. “Just wanted to let you know that I’m gonna make dinner now. Is pasta fine with you?”
Four grumbled a yes and watched him leave the room. “I should…probably be heading out then, no?” Two asked, moving to sit next to Four on the bed and allowing him to sit up straight.
“Hm yeah,” He checked the time from the digital clock on his desk. “It’s a school night also, so.”
Two smiled and kissed him quickly before grabbing their stuff. “I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Four smiled at them as they made their way out the door. “Love you too.” They closed the door. Now he was just alone in his room.
Maybe something he didn’t really enjoy. Being left alone with his thoughts. They were a greater enemy than One. He had been stressing and freaking out over Two knowing his secret identity for a long time. And now that they’re involved with it and is actually helping, who knows what could happen?
They had gone through the same thing with X. They were just reliving it. This time, with their partner. So now they were even more anxious and worried. They try to ease his anxiety and tell him that they’ll be fine but he doesn’t know if he can really believe it.
In the middle of his thinking, a loud explosion noise came from outside. He quickly ran to his window and looked down from his apartment. Fire coming from a nearby building. Crap.
He quickly put on his suit and swung as fast as he could to the scene. He escorted as many people as possible. In the process, he saw Two doing the same thing. At least they’re okay.
He ran over to them and grabbed their arm. “You need to get out of here.” He told them, covering their mouth and nose with his hands to block out the smoke from entering their system.
“I want to help!” They yelled back, pushing his hands away. “I’ve got this. Let me help you.” Just as they said that, another explosion came from the same place. Two reached into their bag and pulled out two ear pieces. Ones that they use in times like this. “Put one of these on. I’ll stay on the sideline and look out to where the fire might have started. You go get as many people as possible.”
Four nodded and swung himself to the building. He looked back and watched Two run to a nearby alleyway. He put his earpiece on once he landed next to the building. “Alright I’m here.” He said, pressing the button in it that allows him to speak.
“Perfect.” Two responded. “You know, I’m not one to assume things, but something tells me that One is behind all of this.”
“That’d be a pretty great guess.” Four said, running into the building through all the fire and smoke. Some people were still inside, struggling to escape through all the heat.
As he was running through the building, he noticed some of that purple liquid from earlier. The ones inside the storage room in Three’s store. He has no idea what it does or can do. All he knows is that it’s One’s. “There’s more of that purple liquid in here.”
“It could be some sort of flammable liquid that One uses for her attacks. Like gun powder in a gun. Or-” Their words were cut short and they stopped talking.
Four led the last person out of the building, leaving as well. “Two? Two you there?”
“Aaahah.” They breathed out into the mic. “Hey Four.” Their breath was heavy and inconsistent. “You…know that feeling you get…when a knife gets stabbed into you…”
Four frantically spun around to find the alleyway that they were in. They were holding their stomach with one hand and pressing their hand against the wall with the other. “Yeah I’m feeling a bit of that right now.” They laughed before coughing and falling onto their knees on the floor.
No. No. No. No. NO. NO. NO. That was the only word going through Four’s head as he swung as fast as possible to wear they were. He fell on his knees next to them and allowed them to fall backwards onto him. There was a huge, gaping, bloody hole in their torso and blood dripping from their lips.
“Ohhhh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” He ripped his mask off and looked them in the eyes. Their eyelids were barely open and they were wheezing instead of breathing, trying to keep themself alive. “You’re okay. You’re- You’re gonna be okay.” He didn’t know if he was reassuring them or himself. Tears were streaming down his face as he held them tightly in his arms. “Please please please I can’t lose you like this please.” He whispered.
Two could only breath heavily and helplessly watch Four hold and cry over them. Even during all of this and all of their pain, they still managed to let out a small laugh, causing Four to look at them with wide eyes. “We were just talking about how this wouldn’t happen to me haha…”
Four let out a sob. He tried to laugh with them but he just couldn’t. His partner. HIs love. His everything. Dying in his arms. This was real. This wasn’t a thought. Or a nightmare. This was life. He shouldn’t have been so stupid. If he just took them home so they weren’t a part of this. If he never had let them help him do what he does. This wouldn’t have happened. None of it would. They’d be okay.
Two’s bloody hand connected with his cheek. He quickly held onto it and kept it close to him. “I’m gonna get you help okay? I’ll- I’ll- I-”
They stared at him. A small smile on their face. Their blood was spilling everywhere. ON the floor, on him, on themselves. “I love you so much, Four.” They whispered. “Know that. Okay?”
He couldn’t respond with actual words. Just nodded through his sobs and cries. He lowered his face to theirs, placing one last kiss on their mouth. By the time he pulled away, their eyes were almost shut. Breathing stopped. Heart beat silent.
They were gone.
They were gone and it was his fault.
He couldn’t find who did it. He couldn't find any traces or any knives or other weapons. But the murderer knew what they were doing. And he knew exactly who it was.
She found him out. She used this as a confirmation. She was watching somewhere. He knows of it.
She probably had the widest, most evil smile on her face.
He pressed his face into their chest and screamed. Screamed like there was no tomorrow. Screamed like he had been stabbed himself. Screamed until there was nothing left inside of him.
The funeral wasn’t easy. He sat there, barely listening to the priest talk. He didn’t greet anyone. Didn’t give condolences to their parents and family. Just sat in the front row, staring. Staring at that open casket. Watching. Imagining.
Imagining a world where he was never bitten by that spider. Where that curse was given to someone else. A world where they’d still be alive. A world where he had nothing to fear or hide from. A world where they could be happy.
He was the last one to leave the church, his body sitting on his knees with his head inside the casket with them. He didn’t even care to dress nice. Just wore a pair of jeans and Two’s favorite sweater. That’s where he should be. Not them. They didn’t deserve this.
“Four.” A voice came behind him. A voice he now hated. “I’m so sorry.”
He turned his head slightly. All he could see from that angle was her red hair. He kinda wished it was someone else. Someone he so desperately wanted to kill the same way she killed Two. Maybe worse.
“You knew.” He spoke in a low voice.
“I didn’t know it was you. She always had her suspicions but I never believed her. Then she told me to do this and-” She stopped herself from saying anything more.
Four’s fists clenched. He didn’t have the energy to do anything right now. “Get out. Get out of my life. I never wanna see you or hear your stupid voice ever again. Jump off a bridge or something. I don’t care.”
Three didn’t say anything else. Just walked away and closed the doors.
“I’m so sorry, Two.” He whispered. He doesn’t even know how many times he’s told them that. It was too many to count.
There was nothing else he could say or do. He just sat in that empty church hall for hours. His head still shoved inside of the casket.
A murder that he didn’t commit. Yet still felt like his crime.