Aunt May's "Spider-Man Nephew"

Queens summers always carried a cloying heat. The chime of the ice cream truck drifted from the street to the alley, mingling with children's laughter and spreading across the asphalt. Lin Mo crouched outside the repair shop, changing the tire on an old bicycle. Sweat ran down from his temple, dripping onto the grease-stained back of his hand and blooming into a small dark mark.

"Lin! Come up, quick!" Aunt May called down from the apartment window, her voice carrying a note of excitement. "My nephew's here!"

Lin Mo looked up and casually wiped his hand on his T-shirt. Past the sheets and blankets hanging out to dry, he saw Aunt May leaning over the windowsill and waving at him. Behind her was half a face in black-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting the glaring sunlight. His heart skipped a beat, and the wrench in his hand nearly fell to the ground. He was here.

He stood, brushed the dust off his pants, and headed toward the apartment building. The stairwell fan creaked as it spun. It could not disperse the stifling heat, but it carried the sweet scent of Aunt May's baking. When he reached the third floor, Aunt May's door stood slightly ajar, and he could vaguely hear voices inside.

"...I'm only staying for the two summer months. I'll definitely go back before school starts, so I won't trouble you." It was a teenage boy's voice, timid and bashful, still carrying the husky rasp of puberty.

"How many times have I told you not to be so polite with Aunt May?" Aunt May said reproachfully. "Your parents went to Europe for a conference, and no one's home. If I don't take care of you, who will? Besides, Lin and Ted are always freeloading meals here. What's one more pair of chopsticks?"

Lin Mo smiled and pushed the door open. The scene in the living room instantly reminded him of the comics he had read before crossing over—on the sofa sat a lanky teenage boy with his back ramrod straight and his hands properly resting on his knees. The collar of his faded T-shirt had curled up from washing, and the black-rimmed glasses on his nose had slipped down to the tip. He hurriedly pushed them back up.

"Hello, Uncle Lin..." The boy sprang to his feet when he saw him. He moved too fast and knocked over the backpack at his feet. Books spilled out with a clatter, revealing a notebook with a spider printed on its cover. His cheeks instantly flushed red like ripe tomatoes. "Aunt May told me you're really good at fixing computers."

Lin Mo's gaze fell on the spider notebook, then swept over the homemade wristband on the boy's wrist—circuit boards and rubber bands wrapped together. It looked familiar, almost like... an early Spider-Sense device? Suppressing a smile, he bent down to help pick up the books. "Just call me Lin Mo. No need to call me uncle. I'm only a few years older than you."

"Peter Parker," the boy hurriedly introduced himself as he clumsily stuffed the books back into his backpack. His glasses slipped again. "I... I'm a junior at Midtown High School. I'm staying here for the summer."

"Sit down. Don't just stand there." Lin Mo handed him a book, his fingertips accidentally brushing the back of Peter's hand. He felt him trembling slightly. Dynamic Vision activated instinctively, and Lin Mo clearly saw the metallic edge peeking from Peter's school uniform pocket—it looked like a small launcher, with some sticky, web-like fluid still clinging to its button.

So it really was him. Lin Mo sighed inwardly. This shy boy who could barely meet anyone's eyes would, in a few years, swing between New York's skyscrapers, catch falling school buses with Webbing, and punch alien invaders into the air. It felt strangely wonderful, as though he had glimpsed a star before it began to shine.

"Hungry?" Aunt May came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of cookies, and their fragrance instantly filled the living room. "Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. Hurry and try some." She pushed the plate toward Peter, then handed one to Lin Mo. "You have one too, Lin. Look at all that sweat. Did you just get back from the Sahara Desert?"

"Pretty much." Lin Mo took a bite, and the sweet chocolate melted across his tongue. "I was helping Carlos fix his motorcycle. That old man's bike is harder to handle than a tank."

Peter nibbled at his cookie, secretly glancing at Lin Mo before quickly lowering his head. His long lashes cast a small shadow behind his lenses. Lin Mo noticed that his fingers were long, his knuckles distinct, and his nails neatly trimmed. There was a faint callus between his thumb and forefinger, like one formed from years of holding pens or operating precision instruments.

"Peter's an honor student at school," Aunt May said proudly as she sat beside him. "He won first prize at the science fair with that... what was it... bioelectricity device. They said it could make frog legs move."

"It... it was a neural conduction experiment." Peter's face turned even redder. "It was actually very simple. Just batteries and wires..."

"Don't be modest!" Aunt May cut him off, then turned to Lin Mo. "He takes after his father. He's loved taking things apart since he was little. Radios, alarm clocks—nothing in the house could escape his hands. Oh, right, isn't your computer always getting blue screens? Let Peter take a look. He's better than most computer repairmen."

Peter immediately looked up, his eyes lighting up. "Really? What model is it? Did any error codes appear when it blue-screened? It could be a memory compatibility issue, or maybe overheating..." Once the topic entered his field of expertise, much of his shyness faded. He spoke faster and faster, excitement sparkling in his eyes behind the lenses.

Watching him go on and on, Lin Mo suddenly remembered the notebook that had fallen out earlier and deliberately teased him. "If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. Just stop climbing rooftops all the time."

Peter's words came to an abrupt halt. His cheeks instantly turned red enough to bleed. He hurriedly explained, "I... I just like looking at the stars. The rooftop has a better view. There aren't any streetlights blocking it, so you can see Orion..." The more he spoke, the more flustered he became. In the end, he simply lowered his head and pretended to study the cookie crumbs with intense concentration.

Aunt May laughed and patted Peter on the back. "This child has loved climbing high places since he was little. He fell out of trees in his backyard so many times, and he still never learned." She gave Lin Mo a meaningful look, her lips curling in a teasing smile. "Just like you when you were young. Always squeezing through cracks in walls."

Lin Mo's face grew a little hot too. He really had been mischievous as a child—climbing trees to raid bird nests, crawling through fences to steal cherries from the neighbors, and getting beaten more times than he could count. But compared to the future Spider-Man sitting in front of him, he was nothing more than a minor troublemaker. This guy could climb the Empire State Building.

"By the way," Lin Mo changed the subject and pointed at Peter's backpack, "did you bring a change of clothes? Aunt May's guest room is ready. If you need anything, tell me. There's a supermarket beside the repair shop."

"I... I brought some." Peter nodded quickly and pulled a folded laundry bag with a Spider-Man design from the side pocket of his backpack. Aunt May had probably bought it for him. The pattern was a little childish and did not quite suit his age.

Lin Mo's gaze lingered on the laundry bag for two seconds. Thinking of Peter's future red-and-blue suit, he suddenly felt the pattern was almost prophetic. He stood up. "I'm heading back to the shop. Carlos is probably about to start nagging. Peter, if you have nothing to do this afternoon, come by the repair shop. I'll show you a real 'big guy.'"

"Really?" Peter's eyes instantly lit up like ignited stars. "I heard there's a retired server at the repair shop, one that was phased out by S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Lin Mo froze for a moment, then nodded. "How did you know?" Carlos had gotten someone to acquire that server, saying he wanted to dismantle it for research. It had been sitting untouched in the corner ever since.

"My cousin is interning in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s logistics department. He mentioned it to me." Peter scratched his head awkwardly. "He said that server uses alien alloy and has extremely strong electromagnetic interference resistance."

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat. Peter's cousin? Could it be... He did not dare think too deeply about it. He merely patted Peter on the shoulder. "Come by this afternoon. You can take it apart and play with it."

When he returned to the repair shop, Carlos was swearing at an old printer. The cigarette in his mouth had nearly burned down to his fingers. "This piece of junk prints words that look like ghost scribbles!" The old man crumpled up the printout and threw it to the floor. "The customer needs it this afternoon. What are we supposed to do?"

"Let me take a look." Lin Mo walked over and activated his Phasing Ability to scan the printer's insides. A strand of hair had wrapped around the roller and gotten caught in the gears. He lightly hooked it out with tweezers, moving so quickly it looked like a magic trick.

"Done." He pressed the print button, and clear text immediately appeared on the paper.

Carlos stared blankly for a moment, then cursed, "When did you learn that trick? Why didn't you do it sooner and let me wrestle with the damn thing for half an hour?" His mouth complained, but the corners of his lips could not help rising.

"I just learned it at Aunt May's." Lin Mo smiled, but his eyes drifted toward the shop entrance. Peter appeared at the street corner, hesitating over whether to come in, his fingers nervously picking at his backpack strap.

"That kid is Aunt May's nephew?" Carlos followed Lin Mo's gaze. "He looks pretty honest. Not like that brat Ted, who'll tear the roof off if he goes three days without a beating."

"More dependable than Ted." Lin Mo picked up a rag and wiped down the workbench. "Good student, and he knows computers."

Just then, Ted walked in from outside humming a tune, carrying an enormous magic box with the words "Las Vegas Royal Circus" printed on it. "Carlos! Mo! Look what treasure I found!" He dropped the box onto the floor with a loud bang. "I bought it at a secondhand market. They said a real magician used it before!"

Peter jumped at the noise and instinctively took a step back, bumping into the bicycle by the door. Its bell rang with a ding-ding.

"Oh, you must be Aunt May's nephew." Only then did Ted notice Peter. He grinned, revealing a small canine tooth. "I'm Ted, Lin Mo's best buddy! Come on, I'll show you my new magic props!"

Ted dragged Peter over to the box. Peter stumbled a little, and his glasses slipped down again. Watching him panic, Lin Mo suddenly felt a little sorry for him. At that age, a boy should have been playing ball on the field and making childish jokes with friends, not shouldering the responsibility of saving the world so early.

"This is a Human Levitation device." Ted proudly opened the magic box. Inside were an iron plate and several magnets. "Watch closely. I stand on it, and I can float!" He stepped on it and jumped hard. Sure enough, he "floated" a few inches off the ground, though it was really just magnetic repulsion.

Peter's eyes brightened as he leaned closer to inspect it. "Neodymium magnets! Their magnetic force is at least ten times stronger than ordinary magnets, but the repulsion is unstable and can easily tip sideways." He pointed at the edge of the iron plate. "If you add a buffer here, using springs or rubber pads, it should be more stable."

Ted blinked and scratched his head. "You can modify it like that? I thought floating was enough."

"Science can make magic more perfect." Peter's cheeks were slightly red, but when he talked about technical knowledge, the confidence in his eyes could not be hidden. "I can help you modify it. We can use the circuit boards I brought and add a remote switch too. Then you can float whenever you want."

"Really?" Ted excitedly slapped Peter on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. "That's great! From now on, we're magic partners! You handle the tech, I handle the performance. We'll definitely make it big!"

Lin Mo smiled and shook his head, then turned to repair the retired S.H.I.E.L.D. server. Peter's voice came from behind him, carrying barely restrained excitement as he discussed improvements to the magic props with Ted. Every now and then, they argued over physics principles, like a marvelous duet.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the repair shop's glass windows, casting mottled shadows across the floor. Lin Mo sat at the workbench, listening to the laughter behind him. Guided by his Phasing Ability, the screwdriver in his hand precisely removed the screws from the server. He knew the peaceful days would not last long. Hulk's roar, alien invasions, the wars of Asgard... all of them waited in the near future.

But at least for now, Peter was still just a boy who loved climbing rooftops to watch the stars. Ted was still dreaming of magic in Las Vegas. Aunt May's cookies were still steaming, and Queens summers still carried that cloying heat.

Lin Mo picked up a chip from inside the server. The S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem was engraved on it. Looking at the chip's intricate circuitry, he suddenly felt that superhero stories had never begun with a leap from a skyscraper. They began with seeds quietly planted in a teenager discussing magic props with friends in a repair shop on a sweltering afternoon.

That evening, Aunt May came to call them home for dinner. Seeing Peter and Ted crouched on the floor tinkering with the magic box, she smiled and shook her head. "Two big kids, and you're getting along so well." She handed Lin Mo a bottle of iced cola. "Peter usually doesn't like talking much. He can only really chat with people like you who understand technology."

"He's very smart." Lin Mo twisted open the cola, and the icy liquid slid down his throat. "Much better than I was at his age."

"Smart, yes, but he's too honest. His classmates are always bullying him." Aunt May sighed. "Last time at school, someone stole his lab report, and he did not even dare tell the teacher. Lin, look after him a little. Don't let him be wronged here."

Lin Mo nodded, his gaze falling on Peter. The boy was focused on wrapping wire around the magnets, his fingers far more nimble than those of an ordinary high school student. A faint smile rested on his lips. Lin Mo knew that before long, this honest boy would become brave and strong, protecting the world in his own way. All Lin Mo could do was let him enjoy a few more carefree days of summer before then.

At dinner, Peter excitedly talked at length about his science experiments. Aunt May listened, nodding again and again, while Ted occasionally chimed in and said he wanted to use Peter's inventions in his magic acts. Looking at the scene before him, Lin Mo suddenly felt deeply satisfied. Perhaps this was the meaning of his arrival in this world—not to save it, but to protect these ordinary, warm moments.

After dinner, Peter volunteered to wash the dishes. He was a little clumsy and broke a plate, his face instantly flushing bright red. Aunt May smiled and said it was fine, telling him to go watch TV in the living room. But Peter insisted on cleaning it up. He crouched down to collect the fragments, cutting his finger slightly. He only frowned and continued picking them up.

Watching his back, Lin Mo remembered the future Spider-Man, who would rise and continue fighting even after being beaten black and blue. Warmth suddenly welled up in his heart. He walked over and used his Phasing Ability to help Peter pick up the last shard. "Be careful. Don't cut yourself."

"Thanks, Lin Mo." Peter looked up, his eyes shining. "Can... can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Can you really... walk through walls?" Peter lowered his voice, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Ted told me. He said you can do magic and pass through walls."

Lin Mo paused, then smiled. "What do you think?"

Peter lowered his head, tracing circles on his pants with his finger. "I think... it's real." He looked up again, his expression unusually serious. "Like... like some abilities already exist. They just haven't been discovered yet."

Lin Mo's heart suddenly jolted. Looking into Peter's clear eyes behind those lenses, he understood—some seeds did not need to be deliberately watered. They would sprout on their own. He patted Peter on the shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. Just enjoy your summer. If you want to learn computer repair or modify magic props, come find me anytime."

Peter nodded hard, a brilliant smile blooming across his face as if he had finally solved a difficult problem.

Late that night, Lin Mo walked home, the moonlight stretching his shadow long behind him. He thought of Peter's Spider-Man laundry bag, the homemade wristband on his arm, and the light in his eyes whenever he spoke of science.

The wristband suddenly lit up, and a line of pale blue text appeared: [Potential ally energy signature detected. Compatibility with host: 60%.]

Lin Mo smiled. It seemed the story of Queens had only just begun. And this summer was destined to become different because of a bespectacled boy.