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Chapter Twenty-Five: The Meeting with Peter Parker (2).
Their three footsteps fell on the pavement. The rain had eased, but the air remained heavy with the scent of wet asphalt and the weary life of the city.
Peter walked close to his uncle, one hand on Ben's shoulder as if afraid he might evaporate from his grasp if he let go. His eyes shone with worry; he was perilously close to losing everything without even realizing it.
Daniel walked quietly; his steps were steady, though inside he felt a little embarrassed because of the bandage over his eye—had he not prepared and put on a coat after the change, he would not have walked the street like this. Fortunately it was a rainy night and people were not out; so far only two passersby had stolen long looks at him before moving on. Both Peter and Uncle Ben watched Daniel in astonishment. The first to speak was Uncle Ben. "So, Daniel, can you really… see with those eyes?" he asked.
Daniel smiled. "It's not seeing in the literal sense. I can sense everything around me with my other senses. Think of it like a bat."
Peter and Uncle Ben were amazed. Then Peter asked the question that had formed in both their minds but which Uncle Ben didn't want to voice bluntly, not wanting to hurt the man who'd saved him. "Are you… a mutant?"
Daniel chuckled, easing the tension. "No, I'm not. But I do have abilities beyond those of ordinary people."
He continued, "Have you ever seen anyone with extraordinary powers before?" Then Daniel looked at Peter and added, "Maybe someone close to you has powers and keeps them hidden."
Peter swallowed nervously. Before Uncle Ben could answer, he said, "I've heard things—there are rumors about a team the mayor assembled made up of super-powered people."
Daniel smiled. "Exactly. That's what I mean."
A thought flashed across Uncle Ben and Peter's faces: Isn't that the man the mayor despises so much?
They reached Uncle Ben's house. A moment later Aunt May opened the door with a tired smile; her features carried the warm, restless care of a mother. Seeing Peter and noticing Ben leaning on him, she sprang up and cried out in alarm, "Oh my God! What's wrong? What happened?"
Peter stepped forward, stammering, and began to tell—his voice choked and quick—what had happened outside and how Daniel had acted and saved Uncle Ben from danger. With every word May's fear grew in her eyes, then quickly shifted into deep gratitude as she exclaimed, "Oh my boy! Thank you… I don't know what I would have said if you hadn't been here." She turned to Daniel with trembling hands, wiping them as if to steady herself, and gave him a smile of thanks that words could not contain.
Aunt May didn't waste a moment: she decided to make dinner at once—"You'll sit and regain your strength," she said with that firm, caregiving authority—lighting the stove and gathering things from the fridge with the practiced speed of a mother who knows how to solve crises. The three sat around the table; the smell of soup and warm bread filled the room, and conversation came in fits—simple questions from Uncle Ben about the dangers of what Daniel did, and reassurances from Daniel.
During the talk, questions came up about how it had all happened and the nature of Daniel's abilities. Daniel answered politely and calmly, telling something like the truth of it. Peter, Uncle Ben, and Aunt May listened intently and with astonishment.
After a little food and light conversation, Daniel rose to leave. He wished them a quiet night and thanked them for their hospitality, but he added quietly that he wanted to speak with Peter for a moment outside. Surprise flickered across Peter's face, but he quickly understood—like an inward leap—that this meant Daniel knew a very private secret of his: the superhuman strength Peter had gained after being bitten by a small spider. Peter didn't dare ask directly, but his heart raced.
Uncle Ben hesitated. It was now well into the night, but he remembered the man who'd saved him and the grateful smile that wouldn't leave him, so he couldn't refuse. "Go on—talk a bit outside. I'll lock the door behind you," he said in a calm voice. It was not so much a refusal as a permission given by a man who owed his life; Daniel returned a soft smile of thanks and stepped out with Peter into the cold air.
The street was still wet, lamp light shimmering on the slick pavement, the rain whispering low so as not to drown their words. The two stood beneath a lamppost, their breaths misting in the air. Peter stared at the ground for a moment before the words began to slide from his lips. Daniel smiled at him and asked, "Will you tell me your little secret?"
Peter straightened, his inner certainty confirming it—he did indeed know—and said, "Okay. I suddenly became physically stronger a few days ago." Peter's face didn't yet show the resolve of Spider-Man; there was no fierce insistence on hiding his power.
"Why do you want me to tell you that?" he added uncertainly.
Daniel was calm. "Power always brings responsibility. The stronger you become, the greater your responsibility."
Although Daniel was aware he was speaking to a student, he wanted Peter to become Spider-Man—because Daniel knew Spider-Man had risen to fight criminals after Uncle Ben had died at the hands of a criminal. Daniel had now corrected that wrong, so he felt he should compensate and plant in Peter the idea and the will to become Spider-Man.
Peter said in astonishment, "You want me to become like you—a masked hero—because I have power?"
"No. You're still young, and I don't even know if your physical ability is strong enough for that," Daniel denied, though this was another method of nudging Peter toward becoming Spider-Man.
He went on, "Also, there's a mayor in this city who fights masked superhumans. Once you take on that role, the police will want you."
Peter asked, "Then why do you do it—help people? Won't you also be wanted by the police?"
Daniel replied, "The choice is between ignoring criminals and refusing to help to protect my anonymity, or helping and risking being wanted by the police. I simply chose the latter."
Peter's heart thudded. These words affected a boy whose future might be that of a superhero—especially coming from the man who had saved his uncle from death.
Before Peter could speak, Daniel pointed to a side alley that no one used. "Let's walk this way," he suggested.
Peter, startled, asked, "Why?"
Daniel said, "I don't know yet whether your abilities are adequate. If they're not and you decide to become a hero, I will stop you myself."