Chapter 12: Family

"Hey, Aunt May."

Bennett spotted her from down the block, huddled under the streetlight like it was the only safe spot in a war zone.

"Bennett?" May's voice cracked with relief and surprise. Her gray hair had come loose from its ponytail, and she practically threw herself at him, wrapping weathered fingers around his wrist like a lifeline.

Between her and Ben working multiple jobs just to keep food on the table and two teenagers clothed, May looked older than her years. She'd been washing dishes and cleaning offices for as long as Bennett could remember, never once complaining about the crappy pay or the way some customers treated her.

"How did you—what are you doing here?"

Because I was worried sick, Bennett thought, but didn't say it out loud.

In pretty much every Spider-Man universe he could remember, tragedy seemed to follow Peter like a shadow. Sometimes you could prevent one disaster, but fate had a way of course-correcting with something even worse.

Bennett had been paranoid about leaving Uncle Ben vulnerable, which was why he'd specifically reminded Peter to pick up May after work. But apparently even that hadn't been enough.

The fact that Peter had bailed on her anyway made Bennett want to punch something.

"Peter got caught up with Dr. Connors at Oscorp," Bennett said, keeping his voice steady. "Asked me to come get you instead."

The moment Bennett mentioned Connors' name, May's face went pale. She knew damn well that the doctor had worked with Peter's parents, which meant Peter was probably digging into their research again.

Ever since Peter had found that briefcase in the basement, he'd been completely obsessed with his parents' disappearance. May understood why—hell, she'd probably do the same thing in his situation—but it still stung. She'd raised both boys since they were kids, loved them like her own sons, and sometimes it felt like Peter was looking for any excuse to connect with the parents who'd abandoned him instead of the guardians who'd actually stuck around.

Maybe that was unfair. Maybe Peter didn't see it that way at all.

But late at night, when May couldn't sleep, she couldn't help wondering if both boys would eventually leave to find their "real" families.

"Don't worry about Peter," Bennett said, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "He's just processing a lot of stuff he's never had to deal with before. It's not about you and Ben."

May nodded, blinking back tears as she squeezed Bennett's hand like she was afraid he'd disappear if she let go.

She wanted to ask if Bennett ever thought about finding his birth parents. But the question stuck in her throat, because she already knew the answer would break her heart either way.

"Come on," Bennett said, steering her toward home. "Let's get out of here before some asshole decides we look like easy targets. I'm starving, and I bet Uncle Ben's pacing a hole in the front porch by now."

The walk home felt longer than usual, but Bennett kept up a steady stream of conversation about school and homework and anything that might distract May from worrying about Peter.

When they finally reached the house, Ben was indeed waiting on the front steps, looking like he'd aged five years in the past few hours.

"Bennett? May?" Ben's face showed a mixture of relief and confusion. "Where's Peter?"

"Got held up at Oscorp," Bennett said smoothly. "Some research thing with Dr. Connors. Asked me to play chauffeur duty."

Ben's expression shifted slightly, and Bennett could tell the older man wasn't buying the story completely. Ben had raised two teenage boys—he knew bullshit when he heard it. But instead of calling Bennett out on the lie, Ben just nodded slowly.

"Thanks for looking out for her," Ben said, and Bennett could hear the genuine gratitude in his voice.

"That's what family does," Bennett replied. "Besides, I'm free most evenings anyway. No reason May should have to wait around in sketchy neighborhoods."

"I'd take you up on that offer, but you disappear before dawn most mornings," Ben said with a tired smile. "Hard to coordinate when I never know where you are."

"Point taken. I'll work on my communication skills." Bennett gently nudged Ben toward the front door. "Come on, let's get inside. It's freezing out here."

"You two go ahead," Ben said, but his tone made it clear this wasn't a suggestion. "I'm going to wait for Peter."

Bennett felt his stomach clench. He could physically overpower Ben without breaking a sweat—one finger would probably do it—but trying to force the man inside would only raise questions Bennett couldn't answer.

Ben was planning to have The Talk with Peter. The conversation about responsibility and family and making better choices. And Bennett knew exactly how that conversation would go: Peter would get defensive, voices would be raised, and Peter would storm out of the house in a fit of teenage anger.

In the original timeline, that fight had led directly to Uncle Ben's death.

Bennett had already eliminated Dennis Carradine, but there were other threats out there. Other criminals who might target a good man walking alone at night, looking for his missing nephew.

"Uncle Ben, seriously, just come inside," Bennett tried one more time. "Peter's probably on his way home right now."

"No." Ben's voice was gentle but absolutely firm. "I need to talk to that boy when he gets here."

Bennett wanted to argue, wanted to physically drag Ben into the house and lock the door. But that would only delay the inevitable conversation, not prevent it.

Finally, he nodded and followed May inside, hating every step.

May looked even more worried than Bennett felt, clearly understanding what was about to happen.

"It'll be okay," Bennett whispered as they headed for the kitchen. "How about we make some food? Those two are probably going to work up an appetite with all the yelling they're about to do."

Despite everything, May actually smiled. "You and Peter would never yell at us like that. You're both too well-raised."

She said it with complete confidence, but her feet were already carrying her toward the refrigerator.

"Damn right we wouldn't," Bennett said firmly. "And if Peter even thinks about getting disrespectful with you or Ben, I'll remind him exactly why I'm the older cousin."

"No fighting in my house," May said automatically, though she was already pulling ingredients from the fridge. "What sounds good for dinner?"

"Something simple," Bennett said, settling into his usual chair at the kitchen table. "Fried chicken, pork chops, whatever. I'm so hungry I could eat a whole damn cow."

He wasn't exaggerating. The combination of spider powers and repeated Omnitrix transformations was putting serious demands on his metabolism. His body was constantly adapting, constantly growing stronger, and that required fuel. Lots of fuel.

At least the alien transformations didn't seem to drain his personal energy—that came from the watch itself.

Just as Bennett was contemplating whether they had enough food in the house to satisfy his enhanced appetite, he heard footsteps on the front porch.

Peter was home.

And Bennett could already tell this wasn't going to end well.

300 powerstones for extra chapter.