Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Rising Star
The first rays of sunlight filtered through Peter's bedroom window, but he was already awake, staring at his laptop screen. His heart raced as the page loaded.
Video Title: Spider-Man's Debut: Villains Caught in 4K!
Views: 237,119
Likes: 23,456
Subscribers: 12,819 (new subscribers!)
Comments: 5,612
Peter blinked, his jaw dropping slightly. "Whoa, 237K views overnight? That's… insane!" he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. He couldn't help but grin. So, people actually liked it. This might work.
His eyes scanned through the comments, a mix of enthusiasm, skepticism, and critique.
"OMG THIS IS AMAZING!!!!"
"Spider-Man is my hero! Keep fighting for justice!"
"I'm not sure if I believe this is really Spider-Man or just a prank."
"You're a menace, Spider-Man! You're going to get someone hurt!"
"I love how you're using your powers for good! You're an inspiration!"
"Can you please do a tutorial on how to make web shooters?"
"This is fake, I can tell by the special effects."
"I'm concerned about the safety of the people in the video. Please be more careful."
"How do you balance being a superhero with your personal life?"
"This is the most epic thing I've ever seen! Spider-Man, you're a legend!"
"I don't think you should be sharing this kind of content. It's too violent."
Peter leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Guess not everyone's a fan of vigilante street justice. J. Jonah Jameson must've infiltrated the comments section."
Still, the overwhelming positivity gave him a sense of pride. He spent the next half hour replying to relevant comments.
To the skeptic: "I get it. It's hard to believe, but trust me, it's all real. Stay tuned!"
To the tutorial request: "Sorry, no web-shooter tutorials! Last thing we need is amateur Spider-Men swinging into trouble."
To the concerned viewer: "I appreciate your feedback. Safety is my priority, and I'll keep it in mind."
And to the kid who called him a legend: "Thanks, buddy! That means a lot. Keep being awesome!"
Peter sat back, watching the subscriber count climb slowly but steadily. "Twelve thousand subscribers in a day," he whispered, shaking his head. "Not bad for a kid with a homemade costume and a camera."
Even when Peter sat at his school desk, he was distracted and scrolled through the growing comments on his Spider-Man video. He was deep in thought, crafting the perfect reply to a viewer's question, when a loud voice shattered his focus.
"Hey, Parker!" Flash Thompson's mocking tone echoed through the room. "What are you doing? Looking up tutorials on how not to be a loser?"
The class chuckled, some whispering to each other as Flash strode over, his signature grin plastered on his face. Peter sighed, barely glancing up.
"Actually, Flash," Peter said, leaning back in his chair, "I was just reading up on how to deal with insecure bullies. Guess what? You came up in the search results."
A ripple of laughter spread through the classroom. Flash's grin faltered.
"You think you're funny, Parker?" he snapped, stepping closer.
Peter looked up, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "Not as funny as the idea of you passing this class without a tutor. How's that math grade looking? Or do you still think two plus two equals touchdown?"
The room erupted into laughter. Even the teacher, seated at her desk, hid a small smile. Flash's face turned red as he struggled to come up with a comeback.
"You're lucky I don't.." Flash started curling his fists, but Peter cut him off.
"Don't what? Show everyone you can't win an argument without using your fists? Classic, Flash. Real classic." Peter's tone was light, almost bored, but his words hit home.
Flash glared but didn't say another word, retreating to his seat.
Peter returned to his phone, shaking his head. "One day he'll learn. Probably not today, though."
Peter returned to his phone, scrolling through more comments. He noticed a few constructive criticisms about camera angles and editing.
"Can't have the next video looking like it was shot during an earthquake," he murmured.
It may be just 2 more months at school, but he had enough. The classes were boring to him, his friends were ignoring him and the only one who interacted with him now was Flash.
This is depressing, need to find a way to skip school...
After school, Peter headed to Oscorp, where the familiar hum of machinery and the sterile smell of the lab greeted him. Dr. Connors stood hunched over a workstation, frustration etched on his face.
"Dr. Connors, everything okay?" Peter asked, setting his bag down.
Connors sighed, rubbing his temples. "Not exactly, Peter. The experiment's hit a wall. The regenerative formula isn't stabilizing. If we can't fix this, we'll be back to square one."
Peter walked over, peering at the data on the monitor. His mind whirred as he analyzed the problem. His rapid adaptability kicked in, piecing together potential solutions like a puzzle.
"Have you considered altering the protein sequencing?" Peter suggested cautiously. "The instability might be coming from how the enzymes interact at high temperatures. If we adjust the sequencing to align with..."
Connors raised an eyebrow. "Peter, that's… actually a solid theory. But are you sure it won't affect the cellular integration?"
Peter nodded confidently. "I've run the numbers in my head. It should work."
Connors hesitated, then gestured for Peter to proceed. "All right, show me."
Peter worked quickly, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he input the adjustments. Minutes later, the experiment was rerun, and the results were astounding. The formula began to stabilize, the data exceeding their expectations.
Dr. Connors stared at the screen, a mixture of awe and disbelief on his face. "Peter… this is incredible. You've given us a real breakthrough here."
Peter smiled modestly. "Just happy to help, Doc."
What he didn't say was that he'd already figured out the complete formula in his head. He knew exactly how to make the serum work, but he wasn't ready to share everything. Not yet.
Life is getting repetitive and boring. With the Captain back, it won't be long before Tony gets kidnapped. Got to finish the serum tomorrow and get started with my own soon.
He subtly adjusted the research direction to focus purely on regeneration, steering it away from any unintended side effects and advancing the progress by days.
Connors chuckled. "Lucky? With this and a few more adjustments, all I've to do is wait a few more days!"
---
Later at home, Peter sat at his desk, staring at his laptop. The numbers on the screen were staggering.
Views: 586,012
Likes: 38,576
Subscribers: 19,721
Comments: 9,513
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. "Almost six hundred thousand views in two days? Guess I'm doing something right." His lips curled into a smirk. The support, the buzz, it all felt exhilarating. Spider-Man was making waves, and he was just getting started.
But Peter knew he couldn't let the excitement cloud his mind. He pushed his laptop aside, cleared a small space on his floor, and sat cross-legged. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing.
Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
The world outside faded into a quiet hum as Peter centered himself. Meditation had become his way of processing the growing feeling of loneliness and boredom. His enhanced senses heightened his awareness, and he used the moment to scan for anything unusual in his mental landscape.
Although he knew about telepaths, he had never encountered one directly. He couldn't block what he couldn't detect, but at least he'd know if someone was snooping around in his head. For now...
After fifteen minutes, Peter stood, feeling sharper and more grounded. The city called to him, its streets alive with stories waiting to unfold.
He approached his closet, pulling out his homemade Spider-Man suit. It maybe a fabric that smelled faintly of glue and spray paint, but for him, it felt like armor. Slipping it on, he tightened the gloves and adjusted the mask.
"Time for round two," he muttered, for the Spider-Man had a second video to film.
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Bonus chapter.
The chapter might not seem like much, but the regular chapters are on the way. Thanks for the stones. (~ ̄³ ̄)~♡