Spiderman 2 by Peter David

Author:Peter David [David, Peter]
Format: epub
Published: 2011-02-22T11:53:56.350000+00:00

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XIII

Peter could think of lots of places he would rather be than the planetarium that night. Curiously, most of them involved his risking his life, and yet somehow that was a more attractive option to him than watching Jonah Jameson strutting around, preening about his son the hero.

Yet as Peter, outfitted in the best-looking clothes he had, dutifully snapped pictures of elegantly dressed guests arriving in limos, he wondered if he wasn’t simply jealous. Although he certainly didn’t do his Spider-Man gig to be thought of as a hero, he knew that’s what he was. But he couldn’t feel good about it, since his heroism was rooted in his guilt over Uncle Ben. Furthermore, even if he did feel good about it, he couldn’t go around boasting because, hey, secret identity.

And finally, the thing that really hurt: He didn’t have a father to go around boasting on his behalf.

You could have had me.

Peter had sat down to take a breather. He’d been going nearly nonstop since the previous day and his altercation with Octavius—whom theDaily Bugle was now referring to as “Doc Ock.” It was a showy name and yet, Peter hated to admit, appropriate. More appropriate than Otto Octavius, really, because Otto Octavius had been a great man and even a friend. Doc Ock was a monster who ripped open bank vaults and kidnapped helpless women, and the mere thought of his aunt May in danger was enough to bring his blood to a boil.

You could have had me,the voice repeated.But you screwed up.

He glanced in annoyance at Uncle Ben, who was seated next to him on the bench. “I wouldn’t have been a hero then, wouldn’t have become Spider-Man, if not for that screwup. So you wouldn’t have had anything to go around boasting about.”

Ben’s face twisted in disappointment.You’re joking, right? Honor student? Science scholar? A good nephew, the son I never had? I would have found plenty to boast about. You don’t do this to give me something to boast about. You do it because it’s what you have to do. What you owe.

“But Uncle Ben—”

Suddenly a foot kicked Peter sharply in the shin and he jumped slightly. He blinked and looked up at a scowling Jonah Jameson. “Doze off and mutter to yourself on your own time, Parker, not mine. Now get out there and take pictures of me being altruistic and raising money for the new Library of Science, or you’ll regret it.” Then the scowl was instantly replaced with a snakelike smile as he stepped away from Peter to greet some dignitary, pumping his hand enthusiastically and talking, yet again, about his son.

There were fields of shooting stars glowing overhead in the planetarium dome, as well as constellations and comets. Peter would have been just as happy if they removed the dome so he could look at actual stars in the heavens. He maneuvered his way through the celebrants, deftly moving between waiters carrying perfectly balanced trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. In the background, a pianist was playing various standards and show tunes.

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