Even before the news bulletin finished playing, Peter was heading home, needing to just get away. Beck had ripped apart his already torn world. He had taken... everything.
Peter wanted his dad.
But he had been taken too.
"It seems to me," Pepper told him over the phone, "that you have two main problems."
Peter's phone had been exploding with notifications all day. Happy had found him almost immediately and taken him to a secure location, and told him not to answer any of them. Luckily, only a few select individuals had the number of his private StarkPhone, Pepper being one of them.
"The fact that everyone hates me being one of them?" Peter asked, barely able to form the words. His head was spinning - how had everything gone wrong so quickly?
"Everyone knows your identity, and now everyone thinks they know that you're evil. We need convince them otherwise on both accounts. Until we manage that, you need to lie low and we need to be very careful."
"Okay. But how do we do that?" The panic that had been Peter's companion since he rushed away from that exposed lamppost started to fade, the logical side of his brain taking charge.
Pepper sighed over the phone. "We'll have to call a press conference. But for now, I think you need to be Peter Parker. Go home. Happy will stay with you to keep you safe, but you'll have to pretend you don't know each other, to keep up the guise that I've just sent him to keep you safe until this misunderstanding blows over."
"How will you call the conference without seeming suspicious."
"No need," As if on cue, Pepper's phone pinged with a notification. "I've just been invited to one."
Peter had barely made it through his apartment door before reporters were bashing on it, shoving microphones into his face. His drama teacher had always told him he was a terrible actor, but he had to try.
"Mr Parker! Mr Parker, over here!"
"Peter, a word-"
"Is it true that you're really-"
"Mr Parker, are you Spiderman-"
"Why did you want to harm-"
"What were you doing in London-"
"Do you deny that-"
Peter shook his head, not having to fake the overwhelming tide of confusion and noise.
"I-I'm sorry, this has to be a mistake, I don't know-"
He forced the door shut, and breathed a sigh of relief at the quiet. A moment later, a slip of paper was forced through the letterbox.
'Your presence is requested tonight at-"
Happy snatched it off him and read it. "That's it. The press conference."
Flash sat on his bed, staring blankly at the poster of Spider-man on his wall.
Peter.
Spider-man.
It seemed impossible, but in a weird way... it made sense.
The way Peter had disappeared at Washington. The way Spiderman had been everywhere they had been on the Europe trip.
The missed lessons. The supposed Stark Internship. The unexplained disappearances. The way Ned had blurted that Peter knew Spiderman. The way he'd ditched Liz at homecoming the night Spiderman was part of his biggest fight yet. The way he'd apologised when her dad had gone to prison and she'd had to move away. The way Peter had seemed more upset at Tony Stark's death than he had any right to be. The absence in the weeks before and after the Snaps. The way Ned and MJ hadn't questioned Spiderman's presence in London, had seemed to know that Happy guy.
The way Peter had never fought back - not because he was too weak, but because he was too strong.
He looked back down at the formal note that had been posted through his door, inviting him to a press conference.
Flash couldn't believe it.
But he knew it was true.
Ned took deep breaths, trying his best to stay calm for Peter. Pepper Potts-Stark had phoned him earlier, and told him exactly what to do and what not to do at the press conference. He was sat in the car outside now. It hadn't taken much convincing to get his mum to drive him there - Peter was like a second son to her, and besides, she would never turn down such a great opportunity for gossip.
"I suppose we should go in," he said shakily. She gave him a worried look.
"Are you sure? There are going to be a lot of people accusing Peter."
"That's exactly why I need to be there."
"I know, honey. The very idea of him being Spiderman... this is all a big mistake."
"Yes, mom."
They entered the conference hall, and were shepherded over to an area for witnesses, where several of Ned's classmates were. Including, Ned noticed with a groan, Eugene Thompson, but not Peter.
"Uh, I just need to use the restroom," he told anyone who was listening, then he bumbled past the guards and snuck into the backstage area. It didn't take him long to find Peter, talking to Mrs Potts-Stark and Happy.
"Remember, they can't prove anything. You've done nothing wrong, and we're going to clear your name, and Spider-Man's. Maybe not today, but we will."
Ned waved awkwardly. "Uh, hi. I came to see how Peter was doing?"
"Of course. You two should probably head back into the hall, it should be starting any minute."
Peter was quiet and seemingly calm on the walk back. Ned knew his friend well enough to know that this meant he was extremely nervous.
"It'll be fine," he said, not very convincingly.
"I know," Peter said in the same tone.
As soon as Peter came into the room, there was a hush. He had deliberately chosen his nerdiest, baggiest top, paired with a shapeless hoodie and loose jeans to make him as un-Spider-Man-like as possible. Even so, those who didn't already know him recognised his face from the news, and everybody stared. He shrank, exaggerating his nerves like the innocent high schooler he was, and did his best to blend in with the crowd of his peers.
Ned, bless him, slipped into his role immediately.
"Are you actually Spiderman? I mean, that would be so cool! Clearly you're not evil, but-"
"I wish, but Ned, you've been with me when we saw Spiderman loads of times."
Ned looked disappointed. "Oh, yeah. Still..."
"So it's false, that you're him?" Abe asked, Cindy and Sally behind him.
"Yeah. I just can't believe Spider-man would do something so... evil?"
"But if Mysterio was the good guy, why would he frame you, Peter?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
"And why Peter? He's not even believable - no offence Peter, but you're nothing like Spider-man!"
"Look, I think it's starting!"
"Order! Order. Today we are here to discuss the shocking news bulletin released earlier today by Fox News, where the late hero Quentin 'Mysterio' Beck convicted Spider-man as a criminal and revealed his identity as teenage Peter Parker. Today we have several witnesses to discuss whether or not Parker is actually the face behind the mask."
First of all, Peter was called up to the stage, along with Pepper and May. Happy came along for protection.
"Peter Parker, are you Spiderman?"
Peter took a deep breath. Everything was riding on him now.
"The truth is...
No, I am not."
There was a ripple of whispers.
"Do you have any idea why you would be named if it wasn't you?"
"No idea. I was at home watching TV when the news came on. It was insane, all the things they were saying about Spider-Man... but when my face came on, I... I didn't know what to think."
"You were definitely at home when the news came on? We have several witness reports that Spider-man was out and about when the truth was revealed. Can you prove this?"
"Yes," May began, "I was with him. I'm his Aunt, he lives with me. I was in the kitchen at the time - with the noise he made, I thought he was killing a cat!" She laughed.
Peter went red. "May! It wasn't that bad!"
"It was! You went, jhfbjilwe fadjilkjnbAAaaaauuueii!"
"MAY!"
There were some laughs among the reporters as they wrote that down.
"Also, I'd just like to add, no way I'd let Peter do something as dangerous as what that Spiderman does. Besides, Peter has the reflexes of a snail. Just a week or two ago, I threw a banana at him and it hit him in the face. From what I've heard, Spider-Man can dodge bullets blindfolded. My Peter can't even dodge a hostile fruit when it's coming straight at him."
Peter didn't have to fake his flush.
"Thank you, Ms Parker. Ms Potts-Stark, what do you have to say about the bulletin?"
"A lot, actually. Where do you want me to start?"
"Do you know the identity of Spider-man?"
"I do, yes. He and Tony were very close. I don't know him very well, but he was always polite and restrained. I can't imagine him even dreaming of doing what Mysterio accused him of. And before you ask, no. Peter Parker, who I have met only today and who is also a pleasure, is not Spider-Man. He's still in school, for goodness' sake!"
There were some murmurs of agreement from amongst the reporters.
"Thank you, Pepper. Next, we have some of Peter's classmates."
This was the most risky part. Peter just had to hope that he and Ned had done a convincing enough job.
"Abe, if I could ask you a few questions? What do you think about the bulletin?"
"I'm biased, but I don't think Spiderman could ever have done the things Mysterio said he did. Obviously, I don't know him personally, but he saved my life a few years back, at the Washington Monument. Our entire team could have died, but Spidey saved us. Why would he do that if he was evil?"
"Cindy?"
"I agree with Abe. And as for Peter, no offence, but there's no way he's a superhero. There have been a couple of weird incidents, but there's still no way."
"Brad Davis?"
Brad stepped up. Peter was so dead.
"I don't care what everyone else says, this makes complete sense to me. Peter must be Spider-Man. All through the Europe trip, he kept disappearing. I kept seeing him doing... really weird, unexplainable things. Maybe he's evil, maybe he's not, but something is definitely up there."
"He said he was visiting family!"
"I was visiting family!"
"But my point is, I think he is Spiderman. I mean, every time a monster showed up, Peter disappeared. Everyone brushed it off as him getting lost in the chaos, but I think that's what he wanted to think. It wouldn't be the first time he lied about something, or tried to get away."
Abe interrupted with, "Remember that time he pretended he had a Stark internship to get out of Decathlon?"
"Yeah, and once he and Ned said they were friends with Spider-Man to impress Liz!"
"Don't forget that time when-"
"Guys, this is stupid." Peter almost died there and then. It was Flash. He had come to either make Peter's life a living hell, or save it.
Flash looked at Peter for a long moment, his expression unreadable, then he said,
"Peter can't be Spider-Man, look at him. He's not called Puny Parker for no reason. Spider-Man can stop cars with his bare hands; Parker can barely do a pushup. He gets winded just running to class. Anyway, nerdy as he may be, Peter could never afford that fancy suit Spider-Man has going for him. It's not possible. So maybe Parker said he knew Spider-Man to impress a girl a few years back. Heck, I know plenty of people who pretended they knew avengers. Somebody said they were dating black widow - that doesn't mean that he was her."
"Hey Flash, wasn't that-"
"My point is, there's no way that Peter is Spidey. Brad, you're either just really paranoid, or you're trying to get revenge on Peter for stealing your girlfriend. I'd also like to point out the fact that Spider-Man cannot possibly be evil, or have done anything that that Mysterio guy said he did. So what if this weird smoke guy pops up out of nowhere just as a massive monster comes along, with the means to save the day. So what if he dies? Are we supposed to take his word over that of the hero that has been looking after this city for years? I don't think so. Spider-man is my hero, and I'm not about to forget that because some Iron Man wannabe said I should. Iron Man trusted Spidey enough to make him an Avenger. Surely that counts for something?"
Peter blinked, just as stunned as the rest of the hall. He'd hoped, of course... But that was on a whole new level. Who knew it was Flash who'd save the day when Peter needed it most?
"Uh, thank you, Eugene. Can I just ask, who's the girl you were referring to?"
"That would be me," MJ said, stepping forward.
"Michelle Jones!" the interviewer exclaimed. "For those of you who don't know, Spider-Man was seen with this girl just before the bulletin came on. Several eyewitnesses report that they were talking to each other like they knew one another personally. Some even said that Michelle seemed cross at the 'hero'. Now we know that she is going out with Peter? Michelle, what do you have to say about this?"
"Well, yes, Peter is my boyfriend, and no, he is not Spider-Man. And no, he could not hide it from me if he was. I know everybody's secrets." There were several scared nods of agreement from her classmates. "He can't hide anything from me." Nobody in the room doubted her for a second. "As for Spider-Man, I was being mugged and he saved me. He swung me halfway across the city, and I was talking to him because I was annoyed at him. I've taken self-defence, and I had it covered. Besides, I was nearly at Peter's - I was going to his for a surprise date - and now I was all the way on the the other side of Queens. Maybe I seemed like I knew him; he's a pretty easy guy to talk to. But his voice is nothing like Peter's. I ask you: even though it annoyed me, if he really was evil, why would he be saving a girl from a mugging just days after destroying London and murdering a superhero? Also, if Mysterio's team had that clip all along, why did they wait so long before publishing it? We can't even see Spiderman in it - it's obviously been edited. Oh, and Brad? All the times Peter vanished in Europe - are you really so obsessed with him that you didn't notice me going with him? I was with him most of those times, spending time together without your annoying face ruining the view."
Silence.
"Thank you, Michelle. Now can we please speak to Edward Leeds?"
Ned and his mum came forwards. Peter crossed his fingers. Everything was going so much better than any of them had expected. Don't mess this up, Ned.
"Uh, hi. I'm Ned, I'm Peter's best friend. I don't know why his name was on the bulletin. He called me straight away asking if it was some kind of prank, although I'm not really sure how he thought I could do that. He and I, um, we spend a lot of time together, we tell each other everything. Peter is not Spider-Man, and uh, he..."
Mrs Leeds put a hand on her son's shoulder. "Even before the bulletin came out, I've thought that Spider-man was a menace. Yes, I know he saves people, but I'm entitled to my own opinion. Peter is nothing like that 'hero'. He's kind, shy, easygoing, always very polite and a good friend to my son. He enjoys maths, science, playing video games and building Lego with my son. He's practically part of the family, and I tell you now, he is NOT Spider-Man."
"Thank you, Mrs Leeds. Now we're going to invite members of the public to speak..."
Peter sat, hardly daring to breathe as person after person came up to the platform. Some had theories about who they thought Spider-Man actually was, others wanted to convince everyone that he'd been evil from the start. Hardly anyone talked about Peter, but what really got him was the number of people who came up to the platform and relayed their story of how Spider-Man had saved them. Person after person after person, each desperate to convey how impossible it was for him to be evil. Mothers whose sons he'd saved. Husbands whose wives he'd saved. Every one of them grateful to him, and doing their bit to pay him back.
It was enough to move him to tears, but with the world watching, he couldn't shed them.
The conference was almost over when Peter felt his sixth sense buzz. He kicked at his laces until they came loose, making it seem like a nervous, bored action. The quiet warning became more urgent, then spiked painfully just as he leant down to re-tie his shoes.
The bullet embedded itself in the wall where his head had been.
Peter's senses were screaming at him to run, run, run, but he ignored them until other people began screaming and jostling, then he finished his laces and sat up, looking around in a display of confusion. "What's going on?" He asked loudly, above the rising chaos. "Happy, what's happening?" He asked the bodyguard as he shepherded him through a door to a waiting car, voice rising with fear. "Did someone just shoot me? Oh god, did I almost die?" He wailed, forcing Happy to force him through the door, putting on a show for the people and reporters flocking out behind them. Spider-Man, of course, would have ducked. He would have taken down the shooter, stayed to protect the civilians. Peter had to hope that the shooter was only after him.
Pepper piled into the car beside him, fixing her rumpled suit. She made sure the door was closed, tinted windows up, before embracing him. "You did really well, Peter. That went great."
"You think?" Peter asked, heart still hammering.
"Definitely. That was the first hurdle. Now we just need to wait and see the outcome, and start you along the long, long road to normalcy."