Chapter Text
The obnoxious noise of the city was driving me up a wall. What I wouldn't give to live out under the stars again! But that requires a vehicle and my license started being rejected as fraudulent almost 40 years ago. They wouldn't even accept a social security card or birth certificate. I certainly didn't look like I was born in the ‘30s, more like fresh out of high school. Cities were also stricter when it came to identification for getting a job.
It was just a 'fuck it' kind of Friday night. Like a bust open an ATM with a paper bag over my head kind of night.
Sometimes it feels good to just destroy something with your bare hands once in a while. To take out years of frustration on the stupid thing. Not sure if triggering said thing’s alarm added to the satisfaction or not. The metal gave way to my punches like a cardboard box that just wasn't useful for storage anymore. Screw that box and its split-open sides that refused to properly hold my old stuff I didn't need anyway.
I got a little carried away and didn't realize the front plate had already fallen off.
Calmly picking up enough bills to make a stack, I lined them up so they would fold nicely, and then put them in my pocket.
As I pulled my hand out, my arm was grabbed by something and pulled back.
"How did you do that?" A voice sounded from somewhere above me. "I mean don't do that, it's super not cool."
"Who the hell are you! I can't see, owing to this whole paper bag ‘mask’ situation." I replied.
"Oh! I'm Spiderman!"
"Oh for fucks sake!"
He yoinked off my bag-mask while I produced a flame from my hand to burn away the webbing. Before he got the chance to take it in, I booked it across eight lanes of traffic.
"Whoa! Who are you!" His voice echoed a bit as it bounced off the apartment buildings.
The kid caught up fast, swinging above me effortlessly. "That was really cool! can you make fireworks, after you give the money back I mean?"
"How about no to both?!" I yelled, still full sprint down 71st Avenue.
He snagged me with another web, sending me tumbling. I yanked it toward me before cutting it to throw him off.
He landed in the street hard but got right back up with a string of words I didn't hear.
My goal was to get to the water. I knew I was a strong swimmer and he wouldn't be able to swing after me.
"Slow down."
The request sounded less directed at me than him talking to himself but I answered anyway. "Hell no, I don't want you to catch me!"
"You could turn yourself over instead!"
"Buzz off! I just want to afford a place to stay for the night!"
He swung ahead, landing in front of me and causing me to come to a sliding stop just to avoid running him over.
"You don't have a place to stay?"
"Technically I have spots up in the bridge supports where I sleep, but no, I don't have a house right now."
"Wait yeah no okay, don't run away again. I can find a place for you to stay if you give the money back." Boy, did he move around a lot while he was talking and was probably a bit too trusting.
"You sure? I did just steal from a bank."
"I, yeah, I mean you're kinda like me with the super strength and the fire, that was so cool." He paused. "You haven't killed anyone have you?"
"No, I stop at necessary theft."
"I don't think that's necessary."
"I will say this is a bit far for me, but taking food out of restaurant dumpsters is also illegal, one of the ones I was hitting started throwing old bleach and other chemicals on the top of theirs to stop me."
"Oh shit, that is really messed up. I didn't know that. But uh, no murder... that's good. So yes, I can find you a place to stay. My friend Peter would be totally cool with putting you up for a few nights."
I kinda threw my hands in the air in defeat. "Okay fuck it, you have a deal."
"Really?! I mean uh normally I would have to take you to the police, but considering the situation, I'm just gonna let it slide this time. Uh, I gotta go give the money back."
I produced the wad from my pocket, "alright I'll be here but if I see cops I'm gone."
He zipped off with cash assuring me that he would be back soon.
Just a moment ago I was angry, pissed off, and probably ready to punch someone. The kid disarmed my anger completely, he would probably make a really good hero soon. I wonder if I could be like that if I wasn't so busy spinning my wheels.
He swung back right after I sat down and got comfortable. "Okay let's go, it's a short swing but a bit of a walk."
I popped back up and kept pace "you already checked with him?"
"Yeah no he's cool with it, I totally got it all taken care of."
"Alright, if you say so."
We walked awkwardly for a while, and yup, he was still bobbing around like a nervous yo-yo.
"You’re really cool, you could totally be a superhero!"
"Slow down there kid, having powers is one thing, but superhero stuff is way outta my league. I can manage veterinary work and that's about it. Extra strength and some fire do not make a hero."
"You could learn though!"
"Yeah, and who's gonna train me?"
"Oh! The Avengers!"
"What! Hell no! They don’t want me!"
"Just let me talk to Tony! I've got this internship thing going on because I'm still in school, anyway I have Happy's number."
"Ah yes the 'I know a person who knows a person.’"
"Okay okay fair point," he swiveled around. "If I can contact him and he says yes will you give it a try?"
"Sure but I doubt it would last long."
"Just, just try it okay?"
"Okay kid I will give it a try."
"Oh also we're here, just go knock on the door I gotta go."
"You're not-"
"Nope gotta go!"
He just sprinted off leaving me to just do this on my own. Were kids getting weird or was I just super old?
I shrugged, to be honest, I thought about just walking off. I didn’t want to be a burden to some random kid.
I mentally relented and approached the door just as it was swung open by some kid who seemed mildly out of breath.
“Oh hey you must be the person Spiderman told me about. Wait, what's your name again?”
He had the exact same voice and build as his “friend” Spiderman. The first part sounded way too rehearsed and the second was not how you would ask for a name during a first meeting.
“I’m going by Blasie right now Spiderman.”
“Wait no! I’m not!” , he paused, “was it really that obvious?”
How could I parse this nicely? “I don’t think deception is your forte as of right now.”
“Uh, what exactly is a fortay? Is that a music thing?”
“It's a word for when you get really good at something”
“Oh! Uh by the way I still have no idea if you are a guy or girl even with your name.”
“To be fair I do that on purpose, I go by they/them pronouns.” Please don’t be weird about it, I thought to myself.
“Ooooh yeah yeah yeah that makes sense, oh also my Aunt thinks you are a friend from school coming over to study.” He waved me inside.
“How old are you?”
“I’m 17 wait what about you?”
“Uh, 70 something? 76.”
“What!?”
I heard a voice from the other room, “Is that your school friend Peter?”
“Yeah, they just got here,” more quietly he asked again, “what?”
“I just haven’t aged since I was a teen, I can still pass as a young adult but none of my government stuff works anymore cause-”
“Cause they are expecting grandma or grandpa?”
“Yeah.”
The lady who called out came in to greet me. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
Peter did some panicked fidgeting “Uh Aunt May, Blaze, Blaze, Aunt May.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
She turned to Peter “Ned got here a little bit ago and I made you three snacks for studying. Where are your books?”
Peter looked so damn nervous but I was pretty quick on my feet. “I left them in my locker, which is part of the reason I wanted to come over so I could use his books. I would normally just study on my own.”
“Oh okay, that's probably why I haven't met you before then. I have the couch made up for you Blaise. If you kids need anything else just let me know.” I thanked her and she went back to doing whatever it was that parental figures do. Maybe reading?
As soon as she was out of earshot Peter turned to me. “I am so sorry! I completely forgot I invited Ned over to play video games.”
“Peter, how are you supposed to keep your lies in order if you can’t even keep the truth straight?”
“I uh, I don’t know.”
“On the plus side, you can theoretically use your forgetfulness to your advantage. If you put effort into it at least.”
The moment we walked into his room, the person I assumed to be Ned laid into him. “What is this about studying? I thought we were gaming?”
“That’s just what I told Aunt May so I could excuse Blaze staying the night, they don’t have anywhere else to sleep right now.”
“Oh, hi Blaze.” Ned waved.
“Hi” I waved back.
“Can we still play games?” Ned asked.
“Yes, but we have to look like we are studying If she comes in.”
“I can do that.”
Peter pulled out his phone. “I’m gonna duck outside and call about a place for them to stay.” He gave me thumbs up and a weird look that I’m sure he thought was conspiratorial.
As he left Ned asked “They/them singular pronouns?”
“Yes.”
“Just checking.”
“I appreciate it.”
He picked up the controller. “Which game do you wanna get schooled at?”
I grinned. “Bold declaration, how about you take your pick and we’ll see if you can back up those words, or if I can make you eat them…”
He handed me snacks and I took a round to get used to the controls. Then I proceeded to school him at Street Fighter Four.
Peter burst back in during the third match. “You're in! You have a place to stay, they are gonna pick you up tomorrow.”
Just like that? It was that easy for some rando with some powers to join the Avengers? “Seriously?”
“Don’t forget, you promised.”
I threw my hands up in defeat, “You got me, I promised.” It was still a huge shock though. I used the game to calm my nerves. What better therapy than dunking on some kids at street fighter?
After a night of games and good food, we all got ready for bed.
While Ned was in the other room, Peter made a silent excitable gesture and pulled out his phone. “I should get your phone number! Wait, do you have a phone?”
“Oh, I have a phone but I don’t have a number, do you have discord?”
“I do!”
I took his phone and searched for my name. His immediate response was; “wait, that's how you spell your name?!”
“Yeah, it's French or something.”
“You should spell it with a ‘z’ like fire, ‘cause your fire power, like a hero name.”
“That was the joke, but I wanted something a little less on the nose.” I kinda tapped my nose as I said it.
“That's cool but I mean--”
“If I get noticed by the press, that's how they are gonna spell it anyway.”
“Yeah! And it's cool!!”
“Alright. Blaze with a ‘z’ it is, let's make this official.” I went and changed my discord name again….