Marvel: The Spider-Grind

The walk home from Midtown High had been uneventful. Peter kept his head down, going over the day's events. Harry's casual questions, Gwen's subtle observations, and the Flash confrontation replayed in his mind. He knew he was walking a fine line, pretending to be someone else while also navigating a world straight out of his favorite comic books.

As he stepped into the small but cozy Parker residence, Aunt May greeted him with her usual warmth.

"Welcome home, Peter," she said, her kind eyes crinkling with a smile. "How was school?"

Peter smiled back, his reply automatic. "It was fine, Aunt May. Nothing out of the ordinary."

But in truth, everything felt extraordinary. He had an entirely new life, and with it came an immense opportunity. One he couldn't waste.

Once he was alone in his room, Peter locked the door and sat down at the desk. He flipped open the laptop, the screen glowing in the dim light of the evening. A determined look crossed his face.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to see how far this adaptability thing can go."

He started slow, opening tabs on basic subjects he already had a foundation in like physics, chemistry, and biology. At first, it felt like any other study session, the concepts crawling into his mind at a reasonable pace.

But then something shifted.

His cheat activated like a well-oiled machine, his focus sharpening to an almost inhuman degree. Concepts that once seemed complex unraveled themselves, becoming clear and intuitive. Peter leaned forward, the world outside his room fading away as he immersed himself in the endless flow of information.

He moved from physics to biochemistry, then to material science, mathematics, engineering, and computer science. He wasn't just skimming, he was understanding. Every piece of knowledge clicked into place, building upon what he had already learned. His cheat worked like magic, connecting dots he hadn't even realized were there.

Hours flew by in what felt like seconds. By the time Peter finally leaned back in his chair, his mind was bursting with new knowledge. He glanced at the clock and blinked in disbelief.

"It's just time for dinner?" he whispered, stunned. "How is that even possible? It feels like I've been studying for days."

It was thrilling and terrifying. If his cheat could work this fast with knowledge, what else was it capable of?

A ping from his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. Harry had texted:

Harry: "Hey, Pete. I'll swing by tomorrow morning to pick you up for school. Don't make me wait, alright?"

Peter smirked. Harry was exactly the kind of friend he needed in this world. Easygoing, reliable, and most importantly, loyal to the end.

He replied quickly: "Got it. See you tomorrow morning."

Closing the laptop, Peter headed downstairs to join Aunt May for dinner. The smell of her cooking filled the kitchen, and Peter felt a pang of nostalgia. In his old life, family meals had been rare. This warmth was something he had missed.

"You're just in time," Aunt May said, setting plates on the table.

Peter helped her carry the dishes over, making small talk as they ate. He kept his tone light, asking about her day and sharing a few stories from school. It was easy to see how much Aunt May loved Peter. Every word she spoke was filled with affection and care.

After dinner, Peter insisted on doing the dishes, despite Aunt May's protests.

"You've had a long day at school," she said.

"So have you," Peter countered with a smile.

It was a small gesture, but it felt good to help. After finishing, he took out the trash, the cool evening air refreshing after the warmth of the house.

As he walked back, he noticed movement across the street. Mary Jane Watson stood in her driveway, waving at him. For a moment, Peter considered waving back.

Then, a sleek car pulled up, and MJ's friends piled out, laughing and calling her over. Without a second glance at Peter, she hopped into the car, her attention entirely on her group.

Peter frowned, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "What a double-standard bitch," he muttered under his breath.

Back in his room, Peter wasn't done experimenting with his cheat. His newfound knowledge had given him confidence, but he wanted more.

Opening his laptop again, he searched for martial arts tutorials. He found videos on basic techniques like punches, kicks, stances and watched them intently.

At first, his movements were awkward, his punches clumsy and uncoordinated. But as he repeated the motions, something incredible happened. His body began to adapt. The punches became faster, more precise. The kicks gained power and fluidity.

Peter grinned, his heart racing. "This is insane," he muttered, shadowboxing in the middle of his room. "I've barely started, and it's like I've been training for years."

By the time he finally collapsed onto his bed, he was exhausted but exhilarated. The potential of his cheat was limitless, and he was only scratching the surface.

The next morning, Peter woke up before his alarm. He jumped out of bed, his energy levels unusually high. After a quick shower, he dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast, surprising Aunt May with his enthusiasm.

"You're up early," she said, raising an eyebrow as he entered the kitchen.

"Just excited for the day," Peter replied, grabbing a piece of toast.

Aunt May smiled warmly. "Well, it's good to see you so cheerful. Don't forget your lunch."

"I won't," Peter said, finishing his toast quickly.

He stepped outside just as Harry's car pulled up to the curb. Harry rolled down the window, grinning. "Morning, Pete! Ready for the Oscorp trip?"

Peter nodded, walking over to the car. As he climbed in, he thought about the friendship between Harry and the old Peter. It wasn't just convenience; Harry genuinely cared.

"Yeah," Peter said, returning Harry's grin. "Let's go."

=======

Please drop some stones and support! 💪