MCU: Spider-Man: Rise of Saint

Franklin sat on his bed while MJ took the desk chair, her Christmas sweater with a reindeer still making him smile. They'd been watching Die Hard on his homemade projector - something he'd built from old parts to watch YouTube videos on his wall.

"Still can't believe you think this counts as a Christmas movie," Franklin said.

"Takes place on Christmas Eve. Has Christmas music. Therefore, Christmas movie." MJ grabbed another cookie. "Your aunt makes better hot chocolate than my mom though."

"Don't tell her that, she'll start making it every day."

They fell into comfortable silence, watching John McClane take on more terrorists. Snow fell outside Franklin's window, Christmas lights blinking from houses across the street.

"This is nice," MJ said quietly.

Franklin looked at her. She was watching the movie, but he caught her glancing his way.

"Yeah," he said. "It is."

The doorbell rang downstairs.

"Someone's out in this weather?" MJ asked.

They heard Gloria's footsteps, then the front door opening.

"Yes?" Gloria's voice carried up the stairs.

"Hi there, Mrs. Saint - or is it Ms.? Tony Stark."

"Tony Stark?"

"Yep, that's me. Look, I know it's Christmas and all, but I'm here about an impressive internship application your nephew sent to Stark Industries. Mind if I come in? Getting a bit chilly out here."

"Internship? Franklin never mentioned..."

"Oh, you know how kids are these days. Always online, applying for things. Great application too. Got any hot chocolate? Been out visiting potential interns all day."

Franklin heard footsteps on the stairs. Tony Stark was coming to his room.

MJ looked at him. "You applied for an internship?"

Before Franklin could answer, his bedroom door opened.

Tony Stark walked into Franklin's room like he owned it, hands in the pockets of his expensive coat. His eyes scanned everything - the projector setup, the posters on the walls, the movie paused mid-explosion.

"Fun little movie night? Cute." Tony turned to MJ. "Mind giving us a minute? Got some interesting tech stuff to discuss with your friend here."

Franklin's stomach dropped. MJ looked between them, confused.

Tony pulled out his phone, flicked something onto the wall next to Franklin's paused movie. Security footage showed Franklin in the spider lab during the field trip, then jumping when something bit his hand.

"See, one of my spiders goes missing. Then this starts happening." Tony flicked to another video - grainy CCTV footage of someone in red and black swinging between buildings. Another clip: the same figure landing on a roof, checking something on his wrists, then having to climb down when nothing shot out. "Those little shooter thingies run dry? Must've been a long walk home."

MJ stood up slowly. "I should probably head home-"

"Fixed that problem already," Franklin said, ignoring MJ. "What do you want?"

"What do I want? You got bit by one of my spiders, then started playing vigilante. Question is, what do you want?"

"I'm not playing anything."

Tony swiped to more footage - Franklin saving people from the fire. "No? Because from where I'm standing, you're a kid with stolen Stark tech in his system."

"It was a school field trip. Not like I broke in."

"No, you just happened to get bit by a multi-million dollar research project." Tony pulled up more data on his phone. "You know how many people we tested those spiders on? How many accidental exposures we documented? Hundreds. And you're the only one who didn't end up dead or in a hospital. Makes you kind of interesting."

"Lucky me," Franklin said.

"Lucky or special - jury's still out. Had to shut down the whole program though. Couldn't justify the body count." Tony looked at MJ. "Still want to stay for this conversation?"

MJ hesitated, then stepped outside.

After she left, Franklin stood up. "That all you came here for? To show me you know who I am?"

"More like making sure you understand what you're messing with." Tony walked to Franklin's closet, opened it before Franklin could stop him, and pulled out the suit. "Red and black. Not subtle."

"Worked so far."

"Until someone else figures it out." Tony tossed the suit back. "You're playing a dangerous game, kid. These powers aren't a toy."

"Never said they were."

"No? Then what are they? Your personal stepping stone to fame? Your shot at being an Avenger?"

"I'm just helping people."

"Right. Noble. Heroic." Tony shook his head. "You know, had to shut down that whole spider program. Millions in research, hundreds of tests, and you're the only successful enhancement we've seen. Funny how that works." Tony headed for the door. "Just remember - I'm watching. One wrong move, one slip up, and we'll have a very different conversation."

He opened the door. MJ stood in the hallway, not even pretending she hadn't been listening.

"Interesting friend you got here," Tony said to Franklin. Then to MJ: "Nice sweater."

They heard him downstairs, telling Gloria something about liability paperwork being handled. The front door closed.

MJ stepped back into the room. Looked at the Spider-Man suit still lying where Tony tossed it.

"So," she said. "Spider-Man, huh?"

Franklin sat on his bed. This was not how he planned to spend Christmas night.

"I can explain-"

"The webs. Quitting basketball. All those chemistry projects." MJ shook her head. "How long were you going to keep this secret?"

"Forever was the plan."

"Wow." She picked up the mask, studying it. "You made all this?"

"Yeah."

"That's..." She set the mask down. "Actually explains a lot."

Franklin waited for more questions. For anger about lying. Instead, MJ sat next to him.

"Must get lonely," she said. "Keeping all this to yourself."

Franklin looked at her. No judgment in her eyes. Just understanding.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "It does."

They sat in silence for a moment, the paused movie forgotten on the wall.

"Want to finish Die Hard?" MJ finally asked. "Unless you need to go swing around the city or something."

Franklin smiled. "Die Hard sounds good."

6 days later

Franklin watched fireworks light up the New York skyline from his favorite rooftop spot. He'd been up here for an hour, taking a break from the New Year's party at his house.

His phone showed 11:47 PM. MJ had texted earlier asking where he disappeared to.

"Thought I'd find you up here."

Franklin turned. MJ stood by the roof access door, wearing the same sweater from Christmas but with a winter coat over it.

"How'd you know?"

"Saw you climbing up earlier." She walked over and sat next to him. "Your aunt's looking for you. Party's almost over."

"Just needed some air." Franklin looked at her. "How'd you get up here?"

"Fire escape. Not all of us can climb walls."

They watched more fireworks explode over the city. Music from different parties echoed through the streets.

"Weird week," MJ said.

"Yeah." Franklin hadn't told anyone else about Tony Stark's visit. Hadn't needed to - MJ was the only one who knew both sides of his life now.

"You ever gonna tell me how it happened? The powers?"

"Spider bite during the field trip. Remember when I got sick after?"

"That's why you missed basketball practice." MJ pulled her coat tighter. "When did you figure out you could do all this?"

"Next morning. Broke half the bathroom trying to brush my teeth."

MJ laughed. "Must've been scary."

"Terrifying. But kind of awesome too."

More fireworks lit up their faces. Franklin noticed MJ had moved closer, probably from the cold.

"You should've seen me testing the web shooters," he said. "First time I hit a wall."

"That's what those bruises were from? We all thought it was from you falling on your side."

Franklin smiled. "Nah, just me being bad at swinging."

"But you got better."

"Had to. Can't save people if you keep face-planting into buildings."

MJ turned to look at him. "Why do you do it? The whole Spider-Man thing?"

Franklin thought about Jerome. About that night at the store.

"Because I can," he said finally. "Got these powers by accident. Figure I should use them right."

"Even with Tony Stark watching you?"

"Even then."

They sat in comfortable silence. More fireworks. More distant music. Franklin checked his phone - 11:58 PM.

"Hey MJ?"

"Yeah?"

"Want to go out sometime? Like, not just watching movies or hanging out. But actually..." He trailed off.

MJ smiled. "Are you asking me on a date?"

"Trying to."

"Face it tiger," she said, bumping his shoulder with hers. "You just hit the jackpot."

Franklin grinned. Below them, people started counting down.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!"

"Should we head back down?" MJ asked.

"Seven! Six! Five!"

"In a minute."

"Four! Three! Two! One!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Fireworks exploded across the sky. Music got louder. People cheered in the streets.

"Happy New Year, MJ."

"Happy New Year, Spider-Man."

They watched the celebrations for a while longer before heading back down. Franklin walked MJ to her door.

"Thanks for finding me up there," he said.

"Thanks for asking me out." MJ stepped closer. "Even if it took you forever."

Before Franklin could respond, she kissed him. Quick and soft.

"See you tomorrow, tiger." She smiled and went inside.

Franklin walked home, not feeling the cold at all.

********

Franklin pressed the side trigger on his web shooter, ejecting the empty cartridge. Car alarms blared below as he swung one-handed between buildings, reaching into his belt for a fresh web cartridge.

"Come on, come on." He clicked the new one in just in time to shoot another line. His phone showed 7:42 PM. Late for dinner with MJ. Again.

Three guys had tried robbing a convenience store. Should've been simple, but they led him on a chase halfway across Queens.

Franklin landed on a rooftop, checking his phone. Three texts from MJ:

"Still coming?"

"Table's ready"

"At least tell me if you're alive"

He typed back: "On my way. Sorry. Work stuff."

That's what they called it now - "work stuff." Their code for Spider-Man business.

Franklin changed behind an AC unit, stuffing his suit into his backpack. The restaurant was two blocks away. He'd been learning the fastest routes across the city, both in and out of costume.

MJ sat at their usual table in the corner of the Thai place, sketching in her notebook. Six months of dating and she still drew him every chance she got.

"I know, I know." Franklin slid into his seat. "I'm the worst."

"Thirty-five minutes." MJ didn't look up from her sketch. "New record."

"Had to chase these guys-"

"Work stuff. Got it." She closed her notebook. "At least you're here now."

Franklin reached across the table, took her hand. "I really am sorry."

"I know." MJ squeezed his hand. "Saved anyone cool today?"

"Just stopped some guys robbing Chen's store." Franklin picked up his menu even though they always ordered the same thing. "How was art class?"

"Good. Got into that summer program I told you about."

"The one at the community center? That's great!"

Their food arrived - pad thai for her, drunken noodles for him. They'd found this place in February, made it their spot.

"My mom asked about you," MJ said between bites. "Wants to know why you keep missing dinner."

"What'd you tell her?"

"That you're busy being Spider-Man." She grinned at his face. "Kidding. Said you're helping your aunt with stuff."

Franklin relaxed. Six months of lying about where he went, what he did. Only MJ knew the truth.

"Speaking of..." She pulled something from her bag. "Made you something."

It was a small case, perfect size for spare web cartridges.

"Noticed you keeping them loose in your pockets," she said. "Figured this was better."

Franklin opened it. Six slots, each sized exactly right.

"When did you-"

"Been working on it. The clasps should hold even when you're swinging around."

He looked at her. Sometimes it hit him how lucky he got - not just with the powers, but with her.

"Thank you."

MJ smiled. "Just try not to be late next time."

After dinner, they walked through the park. Summer meant longer days, more time together. Franklin held her hand, feeling normal for once.

MJ looked at him. "Mom's working late again."

"Yeah?"

She smiled. "Want to come over?"

Twenty minutes later, they laid on MJ's bed, Franklin's mask tossed on her desk. She kissed him, hands finding his face, pulling him closer.

"Missed you," she whispered.

Franklin stayed until he heard her mom's car in the driveway. One quick kiss, then he was out the window, swinging home.