"Aunt May, I'm home!"
Peter Parker pushed open the front door and walked inside, calling out as he went. Lately, he had been working with a biologist named Maya Hansen to perfect the Extremis Virus and create a flawless Regeneration Serum. He had even cut back on his superhero activities for it.
After all, if the serum succeeded, it would help far more people than he could through his superhero work.
"Peter's home!"
Today, however, it wasn't Aunt May who greeted him, but little Alice, with a cat and a dog trailing behind her.
"Alice? Quinn? Bea? What are you doing here?!"
Peter instinctively took a defensive stance, then looked around, wary of Kraft jumping out from somewhere.
"Look at you, you big chicken!"
Aunt May, who came out behind Alice, instantly saw through her nephew's thoughts and rolled her eyes, scolding him with a smile.
"Kraft and Martin both had to go away, so they brought Alice, Quinn, and Bea over for us to look after."
"Phew..." Peter Parker instinctively sighed in relief, then asked in confusion, "Uncle Martin went away with him, too?"
"Kraft said they were going to settle a score with someone. I don't like fighting, so I stayed behind."
Alice lowered her head and poked her fingers together as she answered shyly.
"You were right to stay. A young girl like you shouldn't be fighting."
Aunt May smiled and stroked Alice's head. She had always liked this thoughtful little girl, and after having Alice in the Parker home for less than half a day, she liked her even more. How could a child be so sweet and well-behaved?
She shot a disdainful glance at Peter Parker, who was still standing there in a daze, and couldn't help scolding him. "What are you standing around for?