Rebirth: MarveL Marvel's InvincibleSpider-MAn

Chapter 2: Spider-Man in the Classroom

Monday morning sunlight cut through the blinds, painting stripes of light and shadow on the chemistry classroom desks. I sat in the back row, my gaze uncontrollably drifting toward that slender back.

Peter Parker.

The name echoed in my mind, carrying the scent of comic book ink and the weight of movie soundtracks. But the boy in front of me, using the end of his pen to scratch his ear, saying something that made Mary Jane Watson chuckle softly—he was too real, too ordinary. The collar of his plaid shirt was slightly crooked, the fluorescent light reflecting off his glasses.

This was him before becoming Spider-Man. Or rather, this was him after becoming Spider-Man, desperately trying to maintain an ordinary appearance.

Mr. Rodriguez was explaining chemical bonds, chalk squeaking on the blackboard. I forced myself to listen, but my thoughts ran wild like untamed horses. Timeline. I needed to sort out the timeline. If this was spring 2002, Peter should have already... No, the movie and comic timelines differed, and this place seemed like some kind of hybrid. That spider, the Oscorp exhibition, Uncle Ben's death—

"—Therefore, the essence of a covalent bond is electron sharing," the teacher's words pulled me back. "Mr. Parker, can you give an example from daily life?"

Peter straightened slightly. "Um... water molecules, sir. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms share electrons."

"Correct. Any others?"

Peter thought for a moment, pushing his glasses up. "The double helix structure of DNA also relies on covalent bonds to maintain it, sir. Especially the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides."

There were a few soft sighs in the classroom. A typical Parker answer—accurate, detailed, a bit too nerdy. Flash Thompson and his table of athletes let out suppressed chuckles. Peter's face flushed slightly, but his eyes remained focused.

I observed him. No signs of superhuman agility, no subconscious Spider-Sense dodging chalk heads, no premonition of becoming a superhero. Maybe he hadn't been bitten yet. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week.

The thought made my palms sweat. If I knew the exact time, should I intervene? Stop that spider? But then, New York would lose Spider-Man. And New York without Spider-Man... I recalled those movie scenes: collapsing cranes, runaway trains, an Avengers team thrown off balance.

No. Peter Parker was destined to become Spider-Man. What I needed to think about wasn't stopping it, but how to help him become a better Spider-Man, how to prevent those tragedies.

Uncle Ben. Gwen Stacy. Harry Osborn.

My pen unconsciously sketched spider-web patterns on the edge of my notebook.

The bell rang. Students surged toward the door like water from a broken dam. I packed my books, a beat slower.

"Hey."

I looked up. Peter stood by my desk, his backpack hanging from one shoulder, his expression hesitant.

"In class just now... your explanation of covalent bonds was really clear," he said. "Easier to understand than the textbook."

It took me a moment to realize he was talking about my answer when called on. "Oh, thanks. Your DNA example was more professional."

He offered a shy smile. "I like biology. Especially genetics and radiation biology." His eyes brightened slightly. "Oscorp has a public lecture next month on the application of radioactive isotopes in gene therapy. I'm planning to go."

Oscorp. Norman Osborn. My stomach tightened.

"Sounds interesting," I said cautiously. "But... I've heard Oscorp's research can be pretty radical sometimes. Do you know much about their founder?"

"Norman Osborn?" Peter tilted his head. "My uncle knows him. Says he's a genius, but... under a lot of pressure. Why?"

Because in a year he'll be throwing pumpkin bombs from the sky in green armor. Because in a few years he'll die in front of you. Because his son will become your best friend, and then your most painful enemy.

"Nothing," I said. "Just curious. The line between science and ethics, you know?"

Peter nodded thoughtfully. "True. Powerful technology, if misused..." He didn't finish, but his gaze grew deep. In that moment, I saw a shadow of the future Spider-Man—the one always weighing responsibility and cost—on his face.

"Hey, Parker!" Flash's voice cracked like a whip. He swaggered over with two lackeys, deliberately bumping Peter's desk with his shoulder, sending the books on it sliding to the floor. "Spreading your nerd theories again?"

Peter pressed his lips together, bending to pick up the books. I watched him restrain his anger—this restraint would one day become self-control matching his superpowers.

"Watch it, Thompson," I said, my voice calmer than expected. "The hallway isn't a football field."

Flash turned to me, eyebrows raised. "Oh? Miller wants to play hero?" He took a step closer, his physical advantage obvious. "Sticking up for your little girlfriend?"

A few passing students stopped to watch. Mary Jane looked back worriedly from the doorway.

"I'm just saying you should apologize if you bump into someone," I stood up. This sixteen-year-old body was smaller than my original one, but I tried to stand straight. Adrenaline raced through my veins—I was provoking the future Venom host, even if right now he was just a school bully.

"Apologize?" Flash scoffed. "Let me teach you about—"

"Thompson!" Mr. Rodriguez's voice came from the doorway. He held lesson plans for the next class. "Do I need to remind you that three tardies mean detention?"

Flash glared at me and muttered, "Lucky this time," before swaggering off, his lackeys in tow.

Peter stuffed the last book into his backpack. "Thanks," he said quietly. "But you didn't have to do that. Flash... if he targets you once, there'll be a second time."

"It's fine," I said, my heart still pounding. Protecting Spider-Man—even if he didn't need protection yet—gave me an absurd sense of satisfaction.

We walked out of the classroom together. The hallway was a rushing current of people.

"You know a lot about Oscorp?" Peter suddenly asked, his eyes behind the glasses appraising me.

"Read some reports," I said vaguely. "Tech pioneer, but lots of military contracts. Places like that... boundaries easily get blurred."

"My uncle says that too," Peter nodded. "But he still encourages me to go to the lecture. Says exposure to cutting-edge science is important."

Ben Parker. The man about to utter the most important line in the Marvel Universe. I suddenly wanted to meet him, the thought growing strong.

"Your uncle... he has a big influence on you?" I asked.

Peter's expression softened. "He and my aunt are everything to me." A simple statement, yet carrying the weight of an entire origin story. "He always says knowledge is a gift, to be used to help others."

With great power comes great responsibility. The words hadn't been spoken yet, but they already flowed in his blood.

We parted at the stairwell—he went to physics, I to history. As I turned, I heard him say softly, "About the lecture next week... if you want to come along... I can get an extra ticket."

I looked back. "Sure," I said. "Thanks."

He nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

In history class, I barely heard a word. My mind jumped across timelines. What if Peter had already gotten his powers? No, his movements when picking up the books were completely ordinary. But if he hadn't, I was about to go with him to Oscorp—the very place of that spider.

A decision took shape in my mind. I would go. I would witness that moment firsthand, or ensure it happened. And then... then I would be there, at the starting point of everything.

After school, Lily found me at the lockers. "Heard you faced off with Flash Thompson?" Her eyes were wide. "It's all over school. Are you crazy?"

"Just said what needed to be said."

She stared at me for a moment. "You've changed, Alex. Since last week."

"People change."

"Not like this," she lowered her voice. "You were walking with Peter Parker? Since when are you two friends?"

"We're not friends," I said, then paused. "Just... have common interests."

"Science interests?" Her tone was skeptical. "Or something else?"

I didn't answer. We walked out of the school gates. The afternoon sun dyed the streets gold. In the distance, a police car sped by, siren wailing, reminding me of the city's other side—crime, crisis, the side that needed heroes.

"I'm going to the library," I told Lily. "Go ahead without me."

"Again? You've been to the library more in the past few days than in the last three years combined."

"Have some research to do."

She sighed. "Don't be late. Aunt May's making meatloaf."

I headed toward the public library, a plan becoming clear in my mind. I needed to record everything I remembered: events, times, people. Not to change history, but to understand it, and then exert tiny influences at key nodes—a warning, a hint, a perfectly timed intervention.

Like bringing up Oscorp's ethical issues with Peter today. Like accompanying him to that lecture next week.

The library computers were old, the keyboards sticky. I opened a document and started typing:

Marvel Universe Timeline (Memory Version, Needs Verification)

·

Spring 2002: Peter Parker gains powers (estimated)

·

·

Late 2002: Green Goblin first appears, Ben Parker dies

·

·

2003: Doctor Octopus incident

·

·

2004: Spider-Man conflict with Harry Osborn

·

·

2005: Black suit/Venom

·

·

2008: Iron Man reveals identity

·

·

2012: Battle of New York (Chitauri invasion)

·

·

2015: Ultron crisis

·

·

2018: Thanos's Snap

·

My fingers paused on the keyboard. 2018. Half of all life randomly wiped out. Peter Parker would turn to dust in Tony Stark's arms.

No. Couldn't let that happen.

But how was I supposed to stop a universal-level event? I was just a high school student, a dimension-crosser who knew the plot, no superpowers, no resources.

Unless...

That spider.

What if it bit me?

I closed my eyes, imagining that possibility. Strength, agility, Spider-Sense. Could I do better than Peter? Could I form alliances earlier, warn the world sooner, stop Thanos before he collected the Stones?

But another voice spoke in my mind: You remember Peter's story as Spider-Man because he went through that pain. Uncle Ben's death forged him. If you gained powers without experiencing that tempering, what kind of hero would you become? Or would you become a hero at all?

I didn't know the answer.

I deleted the document, cleared the browsing history. It wasn't time to write these things down yet. For now, I needed to focus on the immediate: becoming Peter Parker's friend, entering his world, establishing a foothold before tragedy struck.

When I walked out of the library, night had fallen over New York. The city lights sparkled, and in the distance, the silhouette of Stark Tower flashed against the night sky—for now, just an ordinary skyscraper, Tony Stark still the profligate weapons dealer.

Nothing had happened yet. Everything was about to happen.

I took a deep breath of the cool air and headed home. The smell of meatloaf would waft from the Millers' kitchen, Aunt May would fuss, Uncle Ben would ask about school, Lily would complain about homework.

Ordinary life. A mundane world.

But I knew, beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were already stirring. And what I had to do was learn to swim before the tidal wave hit.

Next week, the Oscorp lecture.

Next week, that spider.

Next week, the gears of history would begin to turn.

And I, a knower from the future, would be there to witness it.