//------------------------------//
// Interlude: The Talk 
// Story: Spider-Man: Web of Magic 
// by MetalJrock 
//------------------------------//

It was the morning Peter dreaded. And he could tell it was already off to a good start when he saw Aunt May sitting at the table with wheatcakes in silence. He sighed and took a seat across from his aunt. Awkward silence was passed among the two for a moment, that is, until the woman finally broke the silence with a simple question.

"How long...?"

Parker exhaled, "Remember when I was really sick? And how I started to act... more emotional?" his aunt nodded. "I was bit by some altered spider. And it gave me powers unlike anything I've ever dealt with..." he frowned.

May looked at the ground, "So, this happened before Ben..." she didn't finish her question.

"Y-Yeah." slowly nodded Peter, "I-It was..."

May held Peter's hand, "This whole time you were out with what I thought was an internship, and worrying about you disappearing. You were out there fighting criminals?! Why didn't you say anything to me?" she asked, feeling hurt over not gaining the trust of her nephew. "Did you not trust me?"

Peter shook his head, "No, of course I could trust you, May. I-It's just... I know that you wouldn't approve of me going out there and doing all that. But I made a promise and that's what I intend to do."

"So, Tony Stark came here not for a charity fund... But for Spider-Man?" she saw Peter nod again and growled, "I should've known something was off when Spider-Man appeared at the same time you left for Germany!" she growled, "He let you go into that dangerous battle?!"

"May..." Peter tried to ease May, "I knew the risk. In fact, he wanted me to pacify the situation before things got violent, but the other Avengers weren't... Uh, cooperating right, especially with Wolverine there. So, it escalated. He actually regrets doing that and checks up on me to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. Plus, everyone there was holding back and we weren't at the risk of dying."

"But why? Why would you put this burden on your shoulder anyway? Why go out there and risk your life everyday like some kind of Avenger? That's all I really want to know." May nearly shouted, concerned over Peter, months of stress catching up.

The teen sniffled, "U-Uncle Ben... That's why..."

May snapped back upon hearing his words, "Ben... Peter, if this is about the argument you had, he wasn't truly upset at you... We knew you were going through something, a change, but we weren't sure what. He never would have wanted you to think he died hating you."

Peter sniffled again, tears threatening to run down his face as the memories came back to him, "I-It's more than just the argument, May... B-But, you d-don't want to know..."

"Just tell me, Peter!" May pleaded, "I need to know."

A sigh escaped Peter, "I joined a wrestling ring to gain money with my powers. They cut me short and refused unless I contracted myself. A burglar stole the money and I let them get away out of spite. After... After I found out Uncle Ben died..." he choked back a sob, "I chased after the culprit... May... I-It was the person I let get away..." May's eyes widened upon hearing him.

"Peter..."

"It's my fault! Because of my s-stupidity, he's gone! Uncle Ben's gone because of my irresponsibility!" the teen cried, flashing back to the night, "I-I swore to listen to his words that he explained to me when we argued. I'm sorry, Aunt May! I wish I never kept this from you, but you already hate me for this! For every bit of grief I caused you! I'm sorry!" sobbed the teen, his aunt embracing him for a hug.

May whispered, "Peter... I can never hate you. You didn't know that it would happen..." she comforted the teen, "It's just... I wish you never kept this a secret from me."

Peter wiped a stray tear from his eye, "Hm?"

"You made a mistake, Peter. If you knew what would happen, would you let it happen?" Peter immediately shook his head as a response, "Then you know it was an accident. The fact that you go out there and help strangers, no matter how minor the task..." May inhaled, "Your Uncle Ben would be proud at what you became in his memory."

"Do you think so?" asked Peter.

May nodded, "I'm sure of it. And I'm proud too." she smiled, "At the very least, you don't have to come up with those thin excuses over your disappearances or bruises, such as the Stark Internship." she joked to her nephew, releasing the embrace.

The boy chuckled, "Y-Yeah... I guess."

Silence was shared among the two before the aunt finally broke the ice with something less intimidating to ask.

"Now how about a pizza from Romita's?" May offered.

Peter replied, "Yeah... That'll work."