C659 Spider-Man (Patreon)
Content
Later that day, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the cityscape, Peter and Miles stood on the edge of the mirror dimension, observing Mateo and his Uncle Aaron as they practiced their newfound powers. The secluded landscape provided them with the perfect training ground, free from the prying eyes of the outside world.
Mateo stood atop his apartment building, summoning arcs of electricity, crackling and dancing across his body, shooting bolts of lightning with a flick of his fingers. Nearby, Aaron focused his concentration, sending waves of frost spiraling outward, encasing nearby objects in a layer of shimmering ice.
With each passing moment, Mateo and Aaron grew more accustomed to their abilities, honing their control and understanding of their newfound powers. Peter watched closely, taking mental notes of their progress and cataloging the range and scope of their abilities.
As Aaron demonstrated his abilities, freezing puddles of water and even conjuring intricate ice sculptures with a flick of his wrist, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had expected Aaron's powers to mirror those of Frozone when they first appeared, and he was pleased to see that his assumptions were correct.
Meanwhile, Mateo's powers proved to be more complex than initially anticipated. While he displayed an impressive command over electricity, Peter noted subtle nuances in his abilities, hinting at a deeper connection to electromagnetism.
As Mateo focused his concentration, a faint hum filled the air as nearby metal objects began to levitate, responding to his subconscious commands. Peter watched with keen interest, intrigued by the potential applications of Mateo's unique abilities.
However, despite the progress they had made, Peter knew that mastering their powers would require time and dedication. Mateo's abilities, in particular, seemed to hold untapped potential, waiting to be unlocked through trial and experimentation.
‘He could do a lot with electromagnetism…’ Peter thought, though he knew it would take time for Mateo discover and fine tune every ability that came with his powers. But for now, all he could do was produce and control electricity, and levitate metal objects.
With a satisfied nod, Peter made a mental note to continue training sessions with Mateo after this, helping him harness his newfound abilities to their fullest potential.
“Do you really think he can beat Centurion?” Miles asked as he watched his counterpart practice. “I mean, I’ve never seen a Kang before, but from what you’ve told me, they sound like boogeymen or something. Are you sure he can do it?”
Giving Mateo a scrutinizing look, Peter hesitantly shook his head. “No, he’s still not strong enough…”
Miles frowned, expecting that answer. “So, how are we going to break it to him?”
“We don’t.” Peter replied simply. “He wouldn’t listen anyway. Would you listen to us if it was your dad that was killed?” He asked, receiving a complicated look in return. “See, you two are more alike than you realize.”
“… I never thought we were different.” Miles grumbled.
“But he does.” Peter said, glancing back at Mateo.
Miles nodding sadly beside him. “Yeah…”
“Don’t take it too hard. He’s had it rough and then you show up, a version of himself with a life he would kill for. Just give him time and I’m sure he’ll come around.” Peter patted Miles on the back, reassuring him. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic. As I was saying, he’s too focused on avenging his dad, which is why we’ll have to watch his back.”
Miles nodded as they descended into silence once again, but that silence was quickly shattered as Miles spoke, an imploring tone to his voice, “You know, If you would just bring back his dad, then that would solve our problems. He wouldn’t be jealous of me anymore…”
Instantly, a complicated frown dawned Peter’s face, “That’s easier said than done, Miles…” He replied as he turned to watch Mateo working hard to master his powers.
…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mirror dimension, Peter called an end to the day's training session. With a sense of accomplishment, he turned to Mateo and Aaron, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Great job today, guys," Peter said, his voice filled with pride. "You're both making excellent progress, and I have no doubt that you'll master your powers in no time."
Mateo and Aaron exchanged a glance, a sense of determination shining in their eyes. With newfound level of confidence, they nodded in agreement, seemingly bolstered by their new superpowers.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the two U be and Nephew turned sheepish, causing both Peter and Miles to raise their brows in confusion.
"Umm… Peter, we just wanted to thank you for everything," Mateo said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We wouldn't have these incredible powers if it weren't for you."
Aaron nodded in agreement, his gaze meeting Peter's with a sense of appreciation. "Yeah, we owe you a lot. And we're sorry for doubting and being suspicious of you..."
Peter waved off their apologies with a casual shrug. "Hey, no hard feelings. I get it. We didn’t exactly have the best first impressions either, so don’t worry about it." After all, they were found spying on Mateo’s mother.
Mateo and Aaron exchanged a glance, a sense of relief washing over them. "Thanks, Peter. We really appreciate it," Mateo said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Peter clasped their shoulders in a gesture of camaraderie. "Anytime." He said as he turned around and waved his hand, opening a shimmering gold portal. “Now, I think we’ve waited long enough. Let’s go hunt down the President of the United States!” He laughed in amusement as the followed behind him, determined and ready for revenge.
As they left the mirror dimension and return to the bustling city beyond, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. ‘Hopefully, Centurion hasn’t actually run away…’
————
As Peter and the group stepped out of the shimmering gold portal onto the rooftop of Mateo's apartment building, the cool evening breeze greeted them.
Mateo glanced at the setting sun, a pang of realization hitting him. "Wait, guys, can you give me a moment?" he asked, turning to Peter and the others. "I need to say goodbye to my mom. She should be back from work by now."
Peter nodded understandingly. "Of course, Mateo. Take your time," he replied, offering a reassuring smile.
Aaron followed Mateo inside, concern etched on his features. He wanted to make sure Mateo would be okay and wouldn’t reveal too much, especially considering the daunting task that lay ahead of them.
Meanwhile, curious and worried for this universes version of his mother, Miles stepped off the side of the building, walking down the side towards his counterparts apartment, intending to peek through the windows for a second time.
Sighing, Peter followed after Miles as they reached the right floor. Peering through the window, they saw Rio sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by a stack of bills labeled "overdue." She looked weary and worn out, in dire need of a good nights sleep and a week long vacation, at the least.
Moments later, Mateo entered the apartment, followed closely by his uncle Aaron. “Mom?! Are you home?” He called out.
Instantly, Rio hid the overdue bills as he expression turned stern, her eyes landing on her son. "Miles Mateo Morales, is there something you want to tell me?" she asked, her tone firm.
Confusion flickered across Mateo's face as he shook his head. "No, Mom, everything's fine," he replied hesitantly.
Rio raised an eyebrow, revealing that she had received a call from Mateo's school, informing her of his absence. She began to scold him for skipping school.
Realizing he hadn't attended school due to recent events, Mateo apologized to his mother, who demanded to know why he hadn't gone.
Mateo hesitated, scrambling for an excuse, but Aaron stepped in, explaining, "He was with me, Rio."
Rio redirected her frustration towards Mateo’s Uncle, demanding, "Why did you think it was okay to keep him from school!? You should know better!"
Mateo intervened, confessing, "I was already skipping when Uncle Aaron found me, Mom. He took me home." He then promised, "I won't skip again… I'm sorry."
As the tension dissipated, Mateo gave his mother a surprisingly strong hug, leaving her perplexed. "I love you, Mom," he said softly, unable to say anything about his plans.
After all, she would definitely freak out if she learned that he planned to kill the president, even if she hates the piece of sh*t just as much as he does.
Rio's brow furrowed in confusion, but she returned her son's sentiment. "I love you too, Mijo. Just don’t skip school anymore, okay? You had me worried…”
“I won’t… I promise…”
————
Ten minutes later, Miles and Aaron made their way back up to the rooftop, finding Peter and Mateo waiting for them. Peter glanced at them expectantly. "Are you both ready now?" he asked, his tone filled with determination.
“Yeah, my mom is already asleep…” Mateo nodded, a sense of resolve shining in his eyes as he tapped a button on his watch. Suddenly, his Prowler suit activated, expanding to cover his entire body, including his face with a satisfying click of the mask.
His uncle, Aaron, opted for a simpler approach, pulling on a ski mask to conceal his identity. With a nod from Mateo, they were both ready to proceed.
Miles, wanting to maintain anonymity as revealing his identity would also reveal Mateo’s, donned his mask as well, blending in seamlessly with the group.
However, Peter chose not to hide his identity, knowing that this universe wasn't his own, and therefore, his face held no significance in the grand scheme of things.
With a wave of his hand, Peter opened a shimmering portal, leading them straight into the heart of the White House. Stepping through one by one, they emerged into the Oval Office, their senses on high alert. “?!”
Seeing that the room was empty, they prepared to start their search, but before they could make a move, a holographic figure materialized before them. It was Centurion, a confident smirk plastered on his smug face.
"Finally, you took so long getting here… Do you know how long you’ve kept me waiting?” He asked, his eyes landing on Peter, ignoring everyone else.
A/N: 1738 words :)