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Marc was walking down the street when he heard it. A groan of pain, a whimper and a failed attempt to stifle a cry. Did you hear that? Steven asked, concerned voice entering the front of his mind.
Marc hummed in response, pausing his walk to glance down the alleyway to his left. “We should leave it alone, Steven.” He warned, already sensing the alter’s annoying need to help everyone coming forward. Maybe his protective instincts were from Randall, whether either of them knew it, but it wasn’t always a good trait to possess. Steven had gotten them into a few bad situations with his attempt to resolve fights or help someone dangerous.
The brit took control of the body a moment later, blinking and looking down at his hands as he glanced down the alleyway. “Sorry, mate.” He whispered, “I didn’t mean to.”
Marc internally sighed, It’s okay, just walk back home, you know the way.
Confliction rushed forward and Steven frowned. “But - we can’t just pretend we didn’t hear that.” Another groan, this time quieter, came from the dark alleyway. “That’s it! We have to help, I definitely heard it that time.” Ignoring Marc’s protests, he marched forward. “Hello? Anyone hurt back there?” As Steven walked closer, he saw the silhouette of a young man, clutching his stomach. “Oh, my days. Here, let me help!”
He rushed over to the boy’s side and the boy immediately backed away. “N-no, it’s fine, i’ll be fine. It’ll heal!”
He sounds young, Marc whispered.
Steven frowned and kneeled beside him as he tucked himself away in the corner. “Hey, hey, it’s alright mate. I’m not going to hurt you. I just heard you in pain and well, i know quite a bit about injuries and fixing them up nowadays. Why don’t I call someone to pick you up? Or help you home? Or maybe take you to a hospital?”
The boy whimpered again, taking shaky breaths. “No hospital. I - I can’t go back home, my aunt will kill me.”
He shuffled closer, only now, as the moon shone overhead, did he see what the boy was wearing. “Oh blimey, you’re Spiderman. Is that how you were hurt? You sound quite young to be a superhero.” He rambled, only shutting up when Marc drew his attention back to the blood on the boy’s torso. “My apartment is nearby, why don't we bandage you up before we take you home?”
Spiderman looked cautious, but no one could resist Steven’s caring and innocent personality. “Okay, I guess.” Poor boy looked tired and could barely keep his eyes open. He didn’t look like he had any fight left in him to argue.
Thankfully for Spiderman, the streets were empty as he made his way to Steven’s apartment. “Here we are! Oh, how rude am i? I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Steven! And this is the apartment, welcome to our humble abode.”
“Our?” Spiderman whispered hoarsely, wincing as he wobbled inside.
Steven’s eyes went wide, “Oh, uh, well my wife lives here too but she’s on a work trip in Egypt at the moment. So, your secret’s safe with me, no worries!”
The boy nodded, sitting on Steven’s couch and hunching over in pain. The brit made a beeline for their first aid kit. Khonshu’s armour protected them most of the time, but on the off occasion the old bird felt resentful, they did need to patch themselves up quite a bit. “Now, let’s get a look at that wound, yeah?” He said, kneeling in front of Spiderman with a warm smile.
He looked up, nodding hesitantly. Removing his hand, Steven almost gasped at the amount of blood coming from his injury. “Okay…” he grabbed the medical wipes and began to dab the blood away. “Sorry,” he apologised as the boy hissed in pain. “I’ll need you to take off the suit though.” When Spiderman, even with the mask on, looked apprehensive, Steven added: “You can keep the mask on.”
Spiderman quietly thanked him and peeled the suit away. He had a thin shirt underneath and lifted it up so Steven could reach the stab wound. He assumed it was a stab wound anyway, based on the look of it. “This must have been bloody painful. Do you usually get stabbed?” He couldn’t help his curiosity as he dabbed the wound some more, with a cloth.
“Yeah, but it’s not usually this…bad. I heal pretty fast. I usually just wait it out.”
Steven hummed in disapproval. “Well, I know for a fact even with faster than normal healing, this wound would have bled out. It’s quite deep, I'm afraid. You’re lucky we, i mean, i was there.” Throwing the cloth and wipes aside, he grabbed the bandages and looked up at the boy. “I’m gonna put these on now, yeah? The pressure will hurt but at least you’ll live.”
You’re good with kids, huh? Marc asked.
Steven hummed in reply, not wanting to scare away the kid by talking to himself. He wrapped the bandage around him, making sure it was tight and securing it in place, before helping him put his shirt over it and the suit back on. “Did you want to stay the night?” He asked, afterwards. “Of course no pressure, I'd just like to make sure you’re safe. But maybe I can take you to your aunt’s place instead?”
“Um, would you mind?” He asked, sounding less in pain now but still a bit hoarse. “I- i don’t want to be an inconvenience. Or scare your wife when she comes back.”
Steven chuckled, “Layla is going to be in Egypt until next week and I'm sure this isn’t the craziest thing she’s seen. Besides, I can't let you leave to bleed out somewhere knowing I could have helped.” The boy thanked him again and Steven fought tooth and nail to get him to sleep in his bed, and not on the couch.
After Steven was sure the boy was asleep, he turned to his mirror and frowned. “Do you think he’ll be alright? He’s just a kid.”
Marc glanced at the boy the same time Steven did. “He’s a strong kid though, and he seems to have some sort of superhuman abilities if he’s Spiderman.”
“I can’t believe Spiderman is in our apartment right now.”
Marc made himself cereal, ignoring the way Steven complained about it not being vegan. “Yeah, well, I'm not eating your weird tasteless crap today, I'm starving.” He grumbled, shoving the spoonful in his mouth.
“Hi, Mr Steven, sir.” A voice chirped behind Marc and he nearly choked at the surprise.
He turned around to see Spiderman, reaching under his mask to rub his eyes. “Oh, uh, mornin’ kid. How you feeling?” Marc asked, definitely not panicking at looking like he was talking to himself.
“Much better thanks! Luckily, my wound healed overnight.” He bounced on the heels of his feet, then tilted his head. “Hey, weren’t you British last night?”
Caught like a deer in headlights, Marc shrugged. “Uh, nope.” Marc! Steven scolded, we shouldn’t lie to Spiderman.
Probably frowning, Spiderman made a thinking noise. “No, you were definitely British last night And you were totally different. Oh, waitttt. Are you a method actor? Is that what you’re doing right now?”
Dios, Jake commented, startling Marc as he hadn’t known he was near the front. Is this kid really that dumb?
Oi! He’s not dumb! Steven gasped.
“Um, hello?” Spiderman waved a hand in front of his face.
“Shit,” Marc swore, “Sorry kid. Spaced out for a second.” He sighed, pushing his cereal aside. “Look, i - we, have a disorder. And so sometimes I'll be a different person. I’m, we’re not dangerous though.”
The kid thought for a moment. “Ohh, do you have DID? Dr Banner has DID, or i think he does? Hulk is definitely not Dr Banner.” He ranted and Marc dropped his shoulders in relief.
“Yeah, something like that, I think.” He answered, smiling slightly. “Thanks for being cool about it, kid.”
“So, last night when you told me your name was Steven?”
“It was Steven in control of the body - fronting, is what we’re supposed to call it, I suppose.”
“So what’s your name?” He asked.
Marc smiled, a little surprised at how calm the kid was. “Marc.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Marc, sir! I’m Peter.” He stretched out his hand excitedly. Marc shook it with a chuckle. “It’s only fair i tell you my name after you told me about the DID. And tell Steven I said thanks for helping me last night.”
He nodded his head, “Of course, he was glad he was there to help you. We don’t like seeing kids in danger. You be careful, okay?” Spiderman nodded eagerly. “And come back here anytime you need.”
Ask him if he’ll be okay to get home.
“Steven wants to know if you’ll be able to get home okay?” He asked the kid.
Spiderman nodded, “Oh, yeah, definitely. I know New York like the back of my hand.” He then moved to face the window, “Uh, do you mind if I use your window? I think i’d draw too much attention using the front door.”
“Sure, kid.” Marc shook his head in amusement. With another thank you! Spiderman leapt from the open window and was gone.