( verseless ) || ❝ you're far too young and the best is yet to come. ❞

[notanemptymotto]

[ Things had not gone as well as she had hoped with Will, but, she hardly expected more than what she received. Helen knew the moment she made the choice about how to save Abby that it would cause a divide between her and her protege. From her eyes? It had to be done that way. There was no other way to save Abby. It was either make a choice that

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[amazing_spidey]

[Bringing the edge of his sleeve to his mouth the anxiously bite at it, and the end of his thumb, Peter listens to her speak. He knows she's right. He knows he needs to remember who "Peter Parker" is, he needs to remember that all of this started because he wanted to know the answer to that very question; who is Peter Parker? He knows things now he didn't know before, he's made horrific mistakes that cost him hugely, but if he loses sight of who Peter Parker is, he'll lose sight of who Spider-Man is too. They're two parts of one thing, even if Spider-Man was created to avenge his Uncle Ben, and he can't be just one of them now. He has to be everything he's made himself and everything he always was.

He still doesn't want to lose people if he can help it. Just the thought of how little he has left, what he's gained here, he doesn't want to damage any of it, and that's why he fears even getting close to Helen. He doesn't want to be the cause of any pain for her. He can see she's been through plenty already.] Even when people get hurt or killed because of me? It's my fault Gwen's dad and... and Uncle Ben are dead. Sometimes I forget why I'm doing this anymore, besides the fact that... I can help when other people can't. I want to do that, because I can finally do something.

[He sighs a little shakily and looks up at her.] The boxer? Cinderella Man. He was a boxer in like... the thirties, right?

[notanemptymotto]

[ Her hand moves up and down slowly on his shoulder to try and comfort him. Teenage years are always hard, but he has had it so much harder than most she has encountered. A missing mother and father, the loss of a father figure, accidentally setting off a chain of events that ended with the death of his girlfriend's father. Helen knows that his life was far from easy, but, she also knows that the lives with the most trails were the ones that could make it past all those challenges. They are the ones who could stand up and change the world. Either for better or for worse, depending on their choices.

Walls are an easy thing for her to recognize. She has plenty of them herself, but having to live a hundred years without being able to be close to the ones she loved was something that tore her down as it continued. There are still walls and distances, but, she is more willing now to bring people closer. Her long life is still a curse to her in many ways, but, it has given her the opportunity to help people like the young man beside her. ]

Peter, dear, I want you to listen to me. Very closely. [ She waits until she has his attention. ] Their deaths are not your fault. You may have caused the circumstances for it to happen, but you did not kill either of them. That man was the one who decided to pull the gun, and equally, your Uncle was the one who decided to go out into a dangerous neighborhood. Gwen's father was the one who decided to join the fight, and I'm certain he knew what could happen. D.r Conner's was the one who decided to turn himself into what he was. You may create the scenarios, Peter, but what happens is not your fault. You cannot control what others chose, only influence. And I highly doubt that you would influence either side to make the choices that they did.

[ And then she sighed, squaring her shoulders. ] That's right. I'm impressed you know of him.

[amazing_spidey]

[He lifts his gaze as she tells him to listen very closely, and frowns as she speaks, watching her face when she talks to him. She says all the right things, everything he needs to be told. She's honest in the fact that the circumstances surrounding each death and the fate of Dr. Connors are because of him, but the deaths themselves are not his fault. He didn't pull the trigger on Uncle Ben, he didn't stab Captain Stacy with Lizard's claws, he didn't make Curtis Connors keep using the formula they'd made. He just caused events that allowed these things to happen. It doesn't stop the pain but it puts it in better perspective and he can't help himself as he reaches to give her a quick hug.]

Thanks, Momma Bear. [She sets him at ease in the same way Aunt May does. She makes him feel cared for, like someone out there would worry if he was gone for too long. He knows he takes both his aunt and Helen for granted but he loves both of them. Helen has been nothing but amazing to him.

Still, he sits back and rubs at his eyes, nodding to her.] Famous New York boxer. Uncle Ben told me about him when I was a kid. I don't remember much, just his name and stuff.

[notanemptymotto]

[ Helen nods in reply. She does realize the hypocrisy in many of the things she's said. She is like Peter. While the circumstances were caused by her that nearly crippled the Sanctuary Network, that caused Ashley's death? Helen blames herself. If she hadn't of let Ashley go, then it could have been avoided. She raises her hands to give him a comforting hug, rubbing his back gently. Even if he does have his Aunt, she feels that Peter needs a mother figure in his life. Helen doesn't mind being one, but she'll never offer the spot. It is a choice that she will leave up to him and will accept whatever he wants with a smile. ]

You're welcome.

[ She gently pats his hair down. ] He was a very famous boxer. I didn't have the chance to meet him until after World War II, but, he inspired hope in people. Just as you do. James had hit an all time low in his career during the height of the depression. He worked the docks, but, it was hard to find work even there. He went back to boxing and became successful again. I remember hearing an interview with him before the title ship match.

James was asked why he fought. The answer he gave was a very simple one: "I fight for milk."

[amazing_spidey]

[Peter will never admit that he likes the way she pets his head, and still he will never admit that he needs a mother figure, even if he knows it deep inside. He is still very young, doing things even adults shouldn't have to do, but he does them because he has the strength and the power to do so, and therefore the responsibility, but he does them because he wants to as well. He wants to help, the make things right, to do good where good can be done, even if his mistakes have been painful milestones in his growth into Spider-Man.

Listening to her story about the boxer, he understands what she means once he gets past the surprise of her knowing the man himself. He knows what she's trying to tell him, and he nods a little bit to her.] I guess I fight for eggs. [He gives an awkward shrug and a quick flash of a toothy grin before stretching a bit.] You really know what to say to make me feel better.

[notanemptymotto]

[ They are both the type of people who have the hard lives and the hard to decisions to make because they can shoulder that weight. There are always few who have to make those choices, but they are always needed. She wishes that Peter didn't have to. He's still so young and already handed a destiny. At least she was a grown adult, even if she always knew she would be involved in her father's work. She wanted to be. It is why she chose to be a doctor in the first place - because of her father. She may never say it, but she and Peter are more alike than he knows. It's partially the reason why she's so adamant in helping him. ]

I would say that's accurate. [ Helen smiles at him fondly in return. ] I've been around the block a few times. I like to think I know how to cheer someone up.