In a flash of white, heat and a thousand memories, I flew through a wave of chaos and green. In a desperate shout something clung to me, a primal fear I could only empathise with carrying through the sound. Then they were gone, a weight lifted from my shoulders. The heat slowly faded a dull ache carrying through me before so everything else faded too.

  My eyes flew open with a start and I sat up, eyes wide. A familiar quiet carried through the space, soothing my instinctual panic before a voice disturbed it.

  “Yu?”

  I turned, looking to my side as the sense of the surroundings solidified, the familiar colours, shapes, and sounds of the hospital room becoming apparent. My Dad stared back at me, leaning forward in his

  “Dad!” I cried, leaping forward as I wrenched him into a hug.

  “Woah. Careful now, careful, you’re hurt” he said, gently reciprocating the embrace.

  “Is everything ok?” I said, pulling back as my body protested the sudden movement. “Is it- no one came to hurt you? You’re alright? Ryo’s alright?”

  “We’re alright. The raiders are mostly in Manhattan and the second attack only happened near Brookyln. Are you- your friend, Jess, gave me a call, told me you were here, and I came as soon as I could. What happened? We’re you caught in the explosion? Something else?”

  “Just- stuff” I mumbled, sinking back slowly in my chair relieved, my shoulders slumping.

  “Yu?”

  “Sorry I just- I’m glad to see you. Sorry”

  “It’s alright” Dad said, smiling as he looked to me, taking off his glasses as he wiped at his eyes. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

  I frowned suddenly grabbing the side of my face, the skin somewhat numb.

  “What day is it? Is it still Thursday?”

  “Yes. Can you not remember? Did you hit your head?” Dad said instantly concerned.

  “No. I just- I was worried I’d been asleep for a while. Is everything alright? In the city I mean.”

  Dad sighed.

  “Manhattan’s still in ruin. There’s a lot of people looting. Trying to take advantage of the destruction”

  “What about villains. Is there that glider goblin guy? Is he still around?”

  “Glider? Well the spider-men went to deal with him when he started bombing Brooklyn”

  “They stopped him? Captured him?”

  “They stopped the bombing. The villain, I don’t know. He might have gotten away. There was a bombing in Chinatown, so that could’ve been him. I think someone was arrested. I don’t know. I was more worried about you”

  “Can you check?” I muttered, anxious.

  “A-alright” he said, pulling out his phone. He tapped away for a few moments glancing at me occasionally, before frowning.

  “What is it?”

  “There’s news reports all about it. Something about a Viktor Osborne being taken into custody by the MDA for the bombing.”

  “He’s alive?” I muttered anxious.

  “I think so” Dad said before frowning. “Yu why’re you so focused on this? Did you and your friend get attacked by this guy?”

  “I- yeah” I mumbled. “Where’s Ryo?”

  “At your aunt’s. Well- they’re probably driving back over now. Ryo got restless and threw a tantrum. Wanted to sleep at home.”

  I nodded letting out a sigh turning over before, looking down to myself as I winced.

  “You shouldn’t move. The nurse said you had strange burns likely from the green fire. Most of them should heal, but a few were more serious. We could be looking at skin grafts.”

  I nodded leaning back. For a moment I was still, before looking inward and hearing only silence. It was gone. Despite the uncertainty riddling my mind my body relaxed. Squeak, venom, the symbiote whatever you wanted to call it, it was all gone. My body was my own again. A grasp my bandaged hand into a fist, clutching at my chest as a wave of emotion passed through me.

  “Yu?”

  “Huh?”

  “Are you alright? The doctor said you’re stable but- I don’t know. You seem on edge. Should I get the nurse?”

  “No, no it’s alright” I muttered. We fell into a silence again, dad clear still wanting to say something. I frowned. Given the situation I guess I had a few things to say too. I glanced to him and he smiled weakly, before I looked away. I didn’t know the situation, so telling him, explaining things was the only way right?

  But the others wouldn’t have just left me here if it wasn’t safe. I mean Lucas knew that the Goblin was after our families, that he knew who we were. Wait, had I even told him that? Crap. And even if I had, what if Lucas wasn’t ok? I hadn’t even thought about the possibility that he’d made it out of the blast. So what? The best thing to do would be to tell Dad, and call the others? Or did I call the others first?

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  I glanced back to Dad for a moment as he frowned. Well… Lucas had done this right? Peter too, I think? Or he’d just gotten caught. It didn’t matter. Telling him was the right thing.

  “Dad… I- I have a few things to tell you”

  He was silent, looking to me with a mixture of confusion and worry.

  “I… you can’t tell anyone. Even Ryo. He’s not- he might talk about it and it could put us in danger. Well, we could already be in danger”

  “Danger? What danger? What happened?”

  “I’m a superhero. One of the spider-men. Well, I was.”

  Dad stared at me blankly for a moment before his eyes widened.

  “I’m sorry. I should’ve said or should’ve at least helped prepare you guys for the idea that I could be putting your safety at risk. And I know it was stupid but- I don’t know. I- sorry. Yeah. Just before you say anything just- sorry.”

  The silence stretched on for a few seconds as I stared at my bandage covered hands.

  “I… that makes a lot of sense actually” he muttered.

  “Are you angry?”

  “Angry? No, I just- just a little surprised is all. Though today’s probably a better day for this. On a normal day I probably would’ve had a little more of a reaction.”

  I looked to him as he sat quiet, almost thoughtful, then looked back to me.

  “Are you- did you help take down the goblin?”

  “Well” I muttered. “In a way. I was just… he knows who I am. Saw my face, and… I don’t know how he figured out, but I was worried. You and the others could’ve been in danger if he found you or told people who I am”

  “I see”

  “You don’t seem that surprised” I said glancing to him

  “Well, you’ll have to give me a little time for this all to settle in” he said. “Though it is somewhat comforting knowing you were out there, saving the city. Helping people.”

  “I did more than just save the city” I mumbled, my expression momentarily twisting with anguish, before covering my face.

  “Yu? Yu are you alright?”

  “Yes. No. I just- I messed up. I think it’s ok now but that doesn’t make it better. People got hurt, I- the bomb…” I trailed off, still holding my face in my hands.

  “It’s alright Yu” Dad said, sitting forward as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s ok.”

  “No, it’s… I need to call the others. Figure out if everything’s ok or just let them know important stuff. Can I use your phone?”

  “Yu-”

  “Please”

  “Alright” he said, handing me the phone, I tapped away earnestly at the phone Jess’ number practically appearing before I called her. The phone rung, each ring an eternity, before the dial tone rung.

  “She’s not answering” I muttered. “Dammit I didn’t memorise any of the numbers except Jess’”

  “It’s alright Yu. They’re probably busy”

  “Busy” I muttered harshly. “I should be out there helping them. Fixing this mess. My mess.”

  “Yu, you’re hurt. Just sit back and take a breath. It’s ok” Dad said. I looked to him then nodded leaning back in my bed as my skin stung, a burning sensation carried in a few places. I was silent, ruminating over my own guilt, and the lack of reaction for my dad. He was probably more shocked than anything.

  Today had been a long day for everyone after all.

  “Wow” Dad muttered. “To think you’re a superhero. It’s- well I guess you always said you wanted to be one. Still, it makes me proud of you. I’m sure your mother would be too.”

  I paused staring back at him, brought to silence by his words. He smiled weakly at me, then looked to the floor as he let out a sigh.

  “Your aunt called earlier. Ryo was getting restless. She’s probably driving f. I should probably call her. Tell her to meet me somewhere different just in case.”

  “Yeah” I muttered, “that’s probably a good idea.”

  He moved to take his phone back when it suddenly rung. I looked to the number my eyes widening. It was Jess.

  “Take it” he said, handing me the phone. I answered quickly.

  “H-hello?” A voice muttered concerned.

  “Jess? Are you ok?”

  “Yu? You’re awake? Already?”

  “Yeah. Is- everything ok? Is Lucas alright?”

  “Yeah. Uh- he was in a better condition than you but we sent him to the hospital anyway. How’re you awake. Without the symbiote you shou-”

  “What about the goblin?”

  Jess hesitated for a moment before speaking.

  “V- he was a lot worse for wear than the two of you. We got there and had to leave with you two when the MDA showed up to take him.”

  “Alright I just- he knew who I was. Who Lucas was too”

  “What?!”

  “I don’t know how, he saw my face probably found me somehow, but Lucas he just knew about.”

  “A-alright. I let Pete know. Just- it’s probably ok. He was in a bad way and… I think he was running on fumes fighting you guys anyway. I don’t know if he’ll wake up.”

  “So… alright” I said letting out a breath. “Are you okay.”

  “Yeah. Well, better now that the whole goblin fiasco is over. Well mostly over”

  “You sure?” I muttered, flashes of Jess’ injuries passing through my mind.

  “Yeah” Jess said. “Peter and I can handle the rest. A bunch of heroes and regular people are helping out and The Vanguard might show up. We’re alright.”

  “I- ok”

  “Just rest up. You’ll need it to heal” Jess said.

  “I- yeah. I guess I will” I muttered. “I’ll let you go. You’re probably busy.”

  “Alright. See you soon. And seriously, get some sleep.”

  She hung up and I pulled the phone away from my ear,

  “Everything ok?” Dad asked.

  “As ok as it can be I guess” I muttered, before letting out a sigh. “I think we’re safe”

  “Alright. I’ll go now. Keep the phone, I’ve got my work one. I’ll call you when I reach Ryo, it’ll be good for you to talk to him” he said, setting his phone on the bedside table.

  “It’s alright” I muttered with a smile. “We can call. Though it’s probably better to let him go to bed first. He won’t be able to sleep if he finds out I woke up”

  Dad nodded with a small smile before taking my hand and clenching it tightly.

  “You’ve done so much while I…” he trailed off, his gaze conflicted a moment before he smiled. “I think your mother would be proud of you.”

  My eyes widened, and he offered another weak smile before standing.

  “Rest now” he said. “You’ll need it.”

  “Alright” I mumbled, voice weak. Then slowly he started out of the room, pausing at the door. We exchanged a nod and then he was gone, leaving me in the silence of the room.

  I sat still for a moment before looking to my bandages, feeling the new texture of my body, a new weakness to it.

  “Rest” I muttered to myself.

  It was really over, wasn’t it? No healing, no quick recovery. I was just normal. There’d be no more heroics or anything. It was over now. I’d probably still hang out with Jess but that call of danger would only be for her now. I wouldn’t be able to save anyone as Spider-man anymore.

  Droplets of wate feel onto my bandages, and I blinked before quickly bringing a hand to my face.

  “Come on you idiot” I sniffled wiping at my eyes. “It’s gone. Isn’t this a good thing?”

  The tears faded quickly, leaving me only to sit in pain as I laid my head against the pillows. I stared at the ceiling silent as my skin stung, a newfound emptiness sitting in my chest. But a hope lingered too.

  After everything did it really all have to be over? Couldn’t I still help in some way? Even if it was minor, even if it wasn’t like before couldn’t I still be a hero?

  I looked to my hand, the bandages revealing slightly burned skin underneath. It was a marker of my mistake, but also of the right decision. I’d gotten rid of the symbiote. Not in some attempt at some great heroic sacrifice, but in the hope that I’d live to see another day.

  I smiled to myself. Lucas had been right. If I'd sacrificed myself I never would've have heard dad say he was proud of me. It really made me think.

  My idea of what a hero was had been flawed. And now I might have lost my powers, but even without them I could still help. Still be a hero in my own way. And there were other things to look forward to too.

  “Man” I muttered, chuckling to myself. “Now that I’ll have all this free time, I wonder what game Ryo will want to play.”