What If Spider-Man Were an Immortal (3/5)
Title: What If Spider-Man Were an Immortal, (3/5)
Author: mark_clark
Fandom: Spider-Man (comics)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1325
Beta: htbthomas
Summary: Through a twist of fate, Spider-Man becomes an Immortal
Previously: 1 / 2
Learning the Game
Peter, with some help from Duncan and Joe, explained his new status to his family. Mary Jane seemed to take the news of Pete’s immortality in stride especially since she had been used to his Spider-Man activities for years. May, on the other hand, did not. Her nephew being a friendly neighborhood wallcrawler was one thing, but him also living forever was something else. Another demonstration was in order and once that was completed, much to Duncan’s dismay, it turned May into a believer.
“This is something I never thought would happen, especially after that spider bite all those years ago,” Peter explained to his family.
“I definitely wouldn’t believe this if not for Mr. MacLeod helping me to understand,” added May.
The cops began to arrive in the nearby area and Peter thought that it would be a good idea to head for home with their new friends in tow. Once there, Peter and Duncan would come up with a training regimen to prepare the webswinging wonder for his life as an immortal.
Before they started any training, Duncan informed Peter of a few more things about being an immortal. The first was that he could never have kids, the price of his immortality. That news hurt Peter and Mary Jane deeply, but if they truly wanted children, adoption was an option.
Next came the rules to the ‘Game’ which immortals refer to their combat with members of their ilk. The first was that Peter would need to carry a sword with him at all times because one never knew when another immortal would cross his path.
“Even when I’m out as Spider-Man, I would need to carry a sword?” Peter asked wondering how he’d be able to do such a thing.
“It would be ideal, yes. Even with your powers someone may use any means to take your abilities out of the equation if they knew how to do so,” explained Duncan who knew all too well what other immortals do to get an edge over an opponent.
Another rule was that fighting between immortals was one-on-one and once a fight started, no one was to interfere.
Duncan then explained the most important rule: you never fight on Holy Ground. He continues by describing Holy Ground was any land or building that is held sacred by any people throughout the world. He gave Peter examples like churches, cemeteries, chapels, monasteries, and Native American sacred land.
“That’s good to know,” Peter said, feeling better that there was a place for him to be safe from another immortal.
“Holy Ground can also be used to meet other immortals because of the no fighting rule as well as a retreat to when you need a break,” Duncan added.
The next thing Duncan talked to Peter about was the Quickening. He explained that when an Immortal takes the head of another, they receive the power and knowledge from the one that is beheaded.
He also told him about the Watchers. Duncan stated that they were a secret organization that observes Immortals. This brought him back to when he first met Joe Dawson and what he had told him about Watchers.
Duncan told Peter what Joe had said to him all those years ago, “Joe said, ‘ For as long as your kind's been around, we've been watching. We observe, we record, but we never interfere. Too much of man's history has been lost. When you get through all of life's crap, the only thing that matters is the truth. We want the truth about Immortals to survive, not a bunch of old wives' tales. If we had revealed your secret in more superstitious times, you can imagine the witch hunts. And today... You'd probably end up on page three in one of those supermarket rags next to the two-headed monkey and I'd've been in a straitjacket. ’”
Peter had to laugh at that last one. “Are we supposed to know about Watchers?”
“No, it was just a matter of circumstance that I came across Joe and then learned that he was my Watcher. Speaking of which, he’s probably arranging a Watcher for you.”
Something then just clicked with Peter. “Would my Watcher need to know that I’m not just an Immortal but also Spider-Man?”
“I don’t know, Peter. This is new territory for both Immortals and Watchers. No one would’ve thought that someone like you could be an Immortal.”
“The reason I ask is because I got more than myself to consider. If somehow my immortality got leaked out and that I’m also Spider-Man…”
“Your wife and aunt could be in danger. Let’s talk this over with Joe he may come up with something. Once that is over, we can start your training.”
“Thanks, Duncan.”
*****
For the first several days, Duncan instructed Peter on the use of a sword. They used katanas since Duncan used one himself. Peter caught on quickly and followed instructions incredibly well.
“I must say, Peter, you’ve taken to using a katana rather well,” Duncan complimented his pupil while they took a break from training.
“Thanks. I must say, I’ve got a pretty good teacher,” responded Peter as he picked up a towel, wrapped it around his neck and wiped away sweat from his face. “Have you heard any word from Joe about my Watcher?”
“No, I haven’t but it looks like you can ask him yourself,” responded Duncan as he and Peter noticed Joe and Mary Jane walking toward them.
“Hey Mac, Peter,” Joe greeted the pair of Immortals.
“How’s the training going, Tiger,” Mary Jane asked her husband once she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s coming along fine, MJ. My spider-agility has helped out a lot as well as my spider-sense,” answered Peter who was proud of his progress.
“Peter’s right, Mary Jane, he’s progressed extremely well in his training. That spider-sense of his… I wished I had something like that,” stated Duncan, happy with how things with Peter were going.
Peter then asked, “How’s my Watcher situation coming along Joe?”
“Haven’t found one yet but I think I have someone who is willing to fill in until we find one,” Joe answered with a smirk.
I wonder who Dawson has in mind, Duncan thought.
“Don’t keep me in suspense, Joe, who is it?” asked Peter.
Off to the left of Peter, Mary Jane cleared her throat and gave her husband an adoring smile with an added waggle from her eyebrows.
“You’re kidding… right?”
“No, Peter, he’s not kidding. I’m going to be your Watcher, at least for the time being,” MJ informed her husband.
“You sure about doing this, MJ?”
“Yeah, I’m sure sweetheart.”
They gave each other a hug and Peter checked Mary Jane’s wrists before they ended their embrace.
“What are you doing, Peter?” asked Mary Jane as she wondered what Peter was checking for.
“Just checking to see if you got a Watcher tattoo.”
“Watcher tattoo?”
“You see, Mary Jane, all Watchers can be identified by a tattoo on their wrist. It looks something like this,” Joe told her as he showed both Peter and MJ his Watcher tattoo.
“What do you think, MJ, up for a decorative design for your wrist?” Peter asked her jokingly.
Mary Jane’s answer was swift, an elbow to Peter’s ribs that ended his laughing.
“You won’t need one, Mary Jane. That is if you don’t become Peter’s Watcher on a full-time basis,” Joe mentioned to a not-too-thrilled Mary Jane.
“All right guys, enough about tattoos. I need to get back to Peter’s training and we can then work on getting sword of your own,” Duncan interjected to change the subject.
“See ya later, MJ,” Peter said once he got a quick drink of water and kissed his wife.
“Bye, Tiger,” replied MJ as she waved goodbye to Duncan.
Joe said his goodbyes and he went with Mary Jane to leave the two Immortals to their workout.
Author: mark_clark
Fandom: Spider-Man (comics)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1325
Beta: htbthomas
Summary: Through a twist of fate, Spider-Man becomes an Immortal
Previously: 1 / 2
Learning the Game
Peter, with some help from Duncan and Joe, explained his new status to his family. Mary Jane seemed to take the news of Pete’s immortality in stride especially since she had been used to his Spider-Man activities for years. May, on the other hand, did not. Her nephew being a friendly neighborhood wallcrawler was one thing, but him also living forever was something else. Another demonstration was in order and once that was completed, much to Duncan’s dismay, it turned May into a believer.
“This is something I never thought would happen, especially after that spider bite all those years ago,” Peter explained to his family.
“I definitely wouldn’t believe this if not for Mr. MacLeod helping me to understand,” added May.
The cops began to arrive in the nearby area and Peter thought that it would be a good idea to head for home with their new friends in tow. Once there, Peter and Duncan would come up with a training regimen to prepare the webswinging wonder for his life as an immortal.
Before they started any training, Duncan informed Peter of a few more things about being an immortal. The first was that he could never have kids, the price of his immortality. That news hurt Peter and Mary Jane deeply, but if they truly wanted children, adoption was an option.
Next came the rules to the ‘Game’ which immortals refer to their combat with members of their ilk. The first was that Peter would need to carry a sword with him at all times because one never knew when another immortal would cross his path.
“Even when I’m out as Spider-Man, I would need to carry a sword?” Peter asked wondering how he’d be able to do such a thing.
“It would be ideal, yes. Even with your powers someone may use any means to take your abilities out of the equation if they knew how to do so,” explained Duncan who knew all too well what other immortals do to get an edge over an opponent.
Another rule was that fighting between immortals was one-on-one and once a fight started, no one was to interfere.
Duncan then explained the most important rule: you never fight on Holy Ground. He continues by describing Holy Ground was any land or building that is held sacred by any people throughout the world. He gave Peter examples like churches, cemeteries, chapels, monasteries, and Native American sacred land.
“That’s good to know,” Peter said, feeling better that there was a place for him to be safe from another immortal.
“Holy Ground can also be used to meet other immortals because of the no fighting rule as well as a retreat to when you need a break,” Duncan added.
The next thing Duncan talked to Peter about was the Quickening. He explained that when an Immortal takes the head of another, they receive the power and knowledge from the one that is beheaded.
He also told him about the Watchers. Duncan stated that they were a secret organization that observes Immortals. This brought him back to when he first met Joe Dawson and what he had told him about Watchers.
Duncan told Peter what Joe had said to him all those years ago, “Joe said, ‘ For as long as your kind's been around, we've been watching. We observe, we record, but we never interfere. Too much of man's history has been lost. When you get through all of life's crap, the only thing that matters is the truth. We want the truth about Immortals to survive, not a bunch of old wives' tales. If we had revealed your secret in more superstitious times, you can imagine the witch hunts. And today... You'd probably end up on page three in one of those supermarket rags next to the two-headed monkey and I'd've been in a straitjacket. ’”
Peter had to laugh at that last one. “Are we supposed to know about Watchers?”
“No, it was just a matter of circumstance that I came across Joe and then learned that he was my Watcher. Speaking of which, he’s probably arranging a Watcher for you.”
Something then just clicked with Peter. “Would my Watcher need to know that I’m not just an Immortal but also Spider-Man?”
“I don’t know, Peter. This is new territory for both Immortals and Watchers. No one would’ve thought that someone like you could be an Immortal.”
“The reason I ask is because I got more than myself to consider. If somehow my immortality got leaked out and that I’m also Spider-Man…”
“Your wife and aunt could be in danger. Let’s talk this over with Joe he may come up with something. Once that is over, we can start your training.”
“Thanks, Duncan.”
*****
For the first several days, Duncan instructed Peter on the use of a sword. They used katanas since Duncan used one himself. Peter caught on quickly and followed instructions incredibly well.
“I must say, Peter, you’ve taken to using a katana rather well,” Duncan complimented his pupil while they took a break from training.
“Thanks. I must say, I’ve got a pretty good teacher,” responded Peter as he picked up a towel, wrapped it around his neck and wiped away sweat from his face. “Have you heard any word from Joe about my Watcher?”
“No, I haven’t but it looks like you can ask him yourself,” responded Duncan as he and Peter noticed Joe and Mary Jane walking toward them.
“Hey Mac, Peter,” Joe greeted the pair of Immortals.
“How’s the training going, Tiger,” Mary Jane asked her husband once she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s coming along fine, MJ. My spider-agility has helped out a lot as well as my spider-sense,” answered Peter who was proud of his progress.
“Peter’s right, Mary Jane, he’s progressed extremely well in his training. That spider-sense of his… I wished I had something like that,” stated Duncan, happy with how things with Peter were going.
Peter then asked, “How’s my Watcher situation coming along Joe?”
“Haven’t found one yet but I think I have someone who is willing to fill in until we find one,” Joe answered with a smirk.
I wonder who Dawson has in mind, Duncan thought.
“Don’t keep me in suspense, Joe, who is it?” asked Peter.
Off to the left of Peter, Mary Jane cleared her throat and gave her husband an adoring smile with an added waggle from her eyebrows.
“You’re kidding… right?”
“No, Peter, he’s not kidding. I’m going to be your Watcher, at least for the time being,” MJ informed her husband.
“You sure about doing this, MJ?”
“Yeah, I’m sure sweetheart.”
They gave each other a hug and Peter checked Mary Jane’s wrists before they ended their embrace.
“What are you doing, Peter?” asked Mary Jane as she wondered what Peter was checking for.
“Just checking to see if you got a Watcher tattoo.”
“Watcher tattoo?”
“You see, Mary Jane, all Watchers can be identified by a tattoo on their wrist. It looks something like this,” Joe told her as he showed both Peter and MJ his Watcher tattoo.
“What do you think, MJ, up for a decorative design for your wrist?” Peter asked her jokingly.
Mary Jane’s answer was swift, an elbow to Peter’s ribs that ended his laughing.
“You won’t need one, Mary Jane. That is if you don’t become Peter’s Watcher on a full-time basis,” Joe mentioned to a not-too-thrilled Mary Jane.
“All right guys, enough about tattoos. I need to get back to Peter’s training and we can then work on getting sword of your own,” Duncan interjected to change the subject.
“See ya later, MJ,” Peter said once he got a quick drink of water and kissed his wife.
“Bye, Tiger,” replied MJ as she waved goodbye to Duncan.
Joe said his goodbyes and he went with Mary Jane to leave the two Immortals to their workout.