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[steepwithdead]

"Oh, hey."

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[steepwithdead]

Can I ask why you felt compelled to deal with crime? Does your town not have local guards of some sort?

[heyunderoos]

There are, guards, police, but... New York is such a huge city, stuff slips through the cracks. There are almost 8 million people, its... a lot. I stay in one big neighborhood, and even then, there are a lot of people there too.

[He fidgets with his tea.] To be honest, I kind of started out because superheroes are cool and I idolized them. I wanted to be that cool, but, it changed after I realized how serious it was. I felt responsible to help.

[steepwithdead]

[That is an unreasonable amount of people in one place, good grief. No wonder they have such problems.]

You were a child, though. It isn't a child's responsibility to right the wrongs of the world.

[heyunderoos]

[American cities are exceptionally crowded.

Peter has heard similar sentiments from Rue, but hearing it again just makes him wrinkle his nose a little. He can't help but be a little defensive.]

If you have power, you should use it. I couldn't just... watch bad things happen. [His thoughts stray to the last conversation he had with May.

His expression sours briefly. Resignation. His gaze drops down to the tea. A bone deep weary kind of exhaustion settles over him.] With great power comes great responsibility.

[steepwithdead]

[Well there's a quote if he's ever heard one. There's things he could say to the rest, but he'll start with that.]

Who told you that?

[heyunderoos]

My aunt said it to me last I saw her. My uncle used to say it occasionally. [He's trying to just eat a biscuit to pretend this conversation isn't weird for him.]

[steepwithdead]

[Quietly judging these lovely people in the background.]

Were they aware of the power you have?

[heyunderoos]

My uncle died before I could tell him. [He manages to not talk with his mouth full, thanks, manners.] May knew. She- wanted me to protect people, do the right thing. Only after we talked about boundaries and stuff, since I tried hiding it from her originally.

[steepwithdead]

[Quietly judges them A LITTLE HARDER.]

I see... [He takes a ponderous sip of his tea.] ...I am sorry for your loss, Peter. And I'm sorry that you weren't protected as you should have been, at such a young age.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter definitely makes a face at that, conflicted on what to even feel or say for a second.]

I- I was protected. I chose to do this. It was my idea. May wanted me to stop, but knew I wouldn't. So we had like a deal about not doing it too much.

[steepwithdead]

Peter, do you know what the responsibility is for a guardian with a child with powers?

[heyunderoos]

[He's sipping tea, his expression uncomfortable. He takes a guess at an answer.] Take care of them?

[steepwithdead]

Mm. What do you believe "take care of them" entails?

[heyunderoos]

Feed, clothe, care, love and protect...? [He says hesitantly back.] May and Ben did all of them.

[steepwithdead]

All very worthy and good traits in a parent. However, for a child with special abilities, there are important ones missing from that list: guide, and teach. And the manner of protection changes a lot, too.

[heyunderoos]

No one else in my world had powers exactly like mine, so, they... didn't really have a guide book or anything to that. May and Ben taught me a lot though.

[steepwithdead]

[Hmm. Caduceus lowers his mug.]

Guiding someone toward understanding their power doesn't require they have the same ability. It comes down to effort, experimentation, support. What's important is that the child doesn't experience it alone.

[He clears his throat.] And... that the child is not putting themselves in danger with said power, until they are grown and in control.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter knows he's being a little defensive, but, it's hard not to be. May and Ben were the only people he had.]

It's not like I really told May about it. She found out when I was like... sixteen, and we had to figure that out together. I didn't want to make her worry about me anymore than she already did.

[steepwithdead]

[A curious look.]

Why did you not tell her? For the same reason, so she wouldn't worry?

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, I thought... if she didn't know, it would be fine. [He's fidgeting with the tea cup absently.] It was actually not fine.

[steepwithdead]

No, I imagine not.

[He folds his hands in his lap.]

I think maybe there's a fundamental misunderstanding for what is normal, so let me ask... is it unusual to have powers of any kind in your world?

[heyunderoos]

It's definitely unusual to have powers. Maybe 4% of people would have powers or decide to be a superhero. [Peter offers back, trying to help. Also being vague because the marvel universe is a mess.] I kind of lucked out I guess.

[steepwithdead]

[....Kiddo,]

Has it brought you joy?

[Was it lucky?]

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, sometimes. [That biscuit is history, he's just finishing it off.] I got to meet a lot of cool people, I met my idol and helped him with a fight in a different country. I like helping people around my neighborhood, making them feel safe.

[Peter can't help but frame it in what he can do for other people. Even now.]

I'm kind of... stepping back though. I really wanted to just be normal for a while, but, it didn't work out exactly.

[steepwithdead]

[More biscuits where that came from.]

What happened?