Web of Fate

Gwen turned to him, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Do you know me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. 

"I'm sorry, you just look like someone I know," Peter said awkwardly, giving her a quick glance before grabbing the book from the shelf.

Before Gwen could respond, he turned and walked away, clutching the book tightly. He moved through the aisles, picking out a few more titles that he thought might help him with his web-shooter project.

Once Peter had all the books he needed, he headed to the front desk to check them out. As he stepped out of the library and began his walk home, his mind buzzed with ideas for his web-shooter project.

Lost in thought, he nearly collided with someone shorter than him. "Oh, I'm sorry," Peter said, stepping back quickly.

"It's okay, bub," the man replied in a gruff voice, barely glancing at Peter as he continued walking. A faint trail of cigarette smoke lingered in the air behind him.

Peter's eyes widening as he took in the man's rugged demeanor, the distinctive sideburns, and the unmistakable air of confidence. "That's Wolverine, right?'

Shaking his head, Peter dismissed the thought. Adjusting his bag, he refocused on his path and continued walking home.

When Peter arrived back home, he wasted no time heading to his room and diving into the stack of books he had borrowed from the library. Spreading them out on his desk, he began reading, his eyes scanning page after page of detailed scientific explanations.

It didn't take long for boredom to creep in. The dense material felt like a chore, and soon enough, he stifled a yawn.

"This is definitely the boring part," Peter muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Even though I'm memorizing it all."

Despite his frustration, the information stuck with him. Everything he read made sense, each formula and concept embedding itself in his mind with surprising clarity. Still, he couldn't help but wish for a faster, more exciting way to get through it.

With a sigh, he flipped to the next chapter, forcing himself to focus. "If this is what it takes to figure out the web-shooter, then I guess I don't have a choice," he said, and continuing to read.

After several more hours of relentless reading, Peter finally closed the last book. His eyes were heavy, burning from exhaustion, and he could put the book on the side away, fell asleep on the bed.

As he drifted into unconsciousness, the fragments of the original Peter's memories, which had been trickling in sporadically, now surged all at once.

In his dream, Peter stood in a vast, empty void. One by one, vivid scenes played out before him like a movie on an endless reel.

Every memory, every thought, and every emotion of the original Peter unfolded before his eyes—childhood moments, scientific experiments, victories, and even painful regrets.

He watched it all, unable to look away, as the flood of memories overwhelmed him. It was like reliving a life he never had yet somehow knew intimately.

...

"In the middle of the night, na na na na," Peter sang softly to himself, his voice a mix of enthusiasm and exhaustion as he sat hunched over his desk. It was 3:00 AM, and his mind was buzzing with ideas.

With a pencil in hand, he began sketching the design for the web-shooter, detailing every curve and mechanism, ensuring it could withstand the pressure he'd need it to. On another sheet, he drew the web cartridge, envisioning how the fluid would need to be stored and dispensed. 

Peter listed everything that could be used in the formula for the web fluid—polymers, synthetic materials, stabilizers, accelerators, etc.—as his eyes darted across the pages.

He scribbled equations, wrote down potential chemicals, and drew connections between them.

While Peter continued listing chemicals and materials, his mind wandered to another idea. 'Wait, Bitcoin was created in 2009, right?' A smirk tugged at his lips as the thought formed. 'I could make money off this...'

The possibilities swirled in his head, but before he could explore the idea further, the sound of the door creaking open made him freeze.

In an instant, Peter spun around, only to see Uncle Ben standing in the doorway, looking at him with a concerned expression.

"Yes?" Peter said, a bit surprised by Uncle Ben's arrival.

"Go to sleep, Peter," Uncle Ben said, his voice gentle but firm. "It's already 3:20 AM."

"Right," Peter muttered, walked over to his bed and lie down.

"Good," Uncle Ben replied, smiling slightly. "Get some sleep. You have school tomorrow." He reached for the light switch, flicking it off before closing the door behind him.

Morning arrived, and Peter sat at the dinner table, his notebook open in front of him. He absentmindedly scribbled down notes.

Deep in thought, he considered what materials he still needed to buy before he could test his web fluid formula and he still feel like he is missing something.

Aunt May, noticing his intense focus, glanced at him from the stove. "What are you studying?" she asked, her voice warm but curious.

Peter quickly glanced up at her, snapping out of his thoughts. "Just some formula," he said casually.

Uncle Ben strolled into the kitchen, giving Aunt May a quick kiss on the cheek before taking a seat opposite Peter at the table. He glanced at his nephew, noting his focused demeanor.

"Are you planning to take the PSAT, Peter?" Uncle Ben asked, sipping his coffee.

"Probably not," Peter replied casually. "I've got a science project I want to focus on, and I'm planning to take the SAT next month instead."

Uncle Ben raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure? That's a big jump."

"Yeah," Peter said confidently, leaning back in his chair. "School's pretty easy."

Uncle Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "Never thought I'd hear that from you. But..." His tone shifted, becoming more concerned. "You're not rushing SAT because someone's bullying you, are you?"

Peter smiled, shaking his head. "No, Uncle Ben. Nothing like that."

Uncle Ben relaxed, but only slightly. "Alright, just checking."

"By the way," Peter said, pulling out a sheet of paper. "Could you pick up some of these for me at the usual store? They should have everything on this list."

"Sure, what do you need?" Uncle Ben asked, reaching for the paper.

Peter tore it from his notebook and handed it over. Uncle Ben scanned the list, his eyes widening slightly at the number of items. He looked up, surprised, as Peter slid a small stack of bills across the table.

"This should cover it," Peter said.

"Peter, it's okay. I've got it," Uncle Ben said, gently pushing the money back toward him.

"Uncle, this stuff is kind of pricey," Peter insisted. "I can't let you pay for all of it."

"It's fine," Uncle Ben said firmly, his warm smile reassuring Peter. "You just focus on your studies, alright?"

Peter hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Ben."

"Don't mention it," Uncle Ben replied, tucking the list into his pocket. "But now I'm curious—what's this project you're working on?"

Peter grinned nervously. "Just... science stuff. You know me."

Uncle Ben chuckled and let it slide, knowing Peter's projects were always ambitious, even if a little secretive.