MCU: Spider-Man: Rise of Saint

Two months after the invasion of New York, Franklin walked through Forest Hills on his way home from school. Construction crews worked on damaged buildings. Signs in shop windows thanked Iron Man and the other heroes who fought off the aliens.

His phone lit up with a text from his Uncle. "Stuck at work. Can you pick up milk?"

Franklin stopped at the corner store. Mr. Lee, the owner, pointed to his new security cameras.

"Since the attack," Mr. Lee said. "Insurance company made me install them."

The store radio played news about Tony Stark. Something about his latest press conference getting canceled. Franklin grabbed milk from the cooler.

"How's your uncle?" Mr. Lee asked while ringing up the milk. "Still working security at Stark Industries?"

"Yeah. Extra shifts since the attack."

Outside, a moving truck blocked part of the street. Another family leaving the city. Some people couldn't handle what happened two months ago.

Franklin walked past the Watson house next door to his. A redhead about his age carried boxes from the truck to the house. Must be the new neighbors Jerome mentioned last week.

At home, Gloria cooked dinner while watching the news. They showed footage of the battle again - the portal in the sky, the aliens, Iron Man carrying that missile up through the hole.

"Your uncle's working late again?" Gloria asked.

"Yeah. Some new project at work."

Franklin did homework at the kitchen table. His history teacher wanted a paper about the invasion's impact on New York. Easy topic - just look out any window.

The front door opened. Jerome walked in looking tired.

"They're moving the whole security team to a different building," he said, dropping his badge on the table. "Main one's still got damage from the attack."

Gloria served dinner. They ate while the news showed more cleanup footage.

"New neighbors moved in next door," Franklin said.

"The Watsons," Gloria nodded. "Met the mother this morning. She has a daughter your age starting at your school tomorrow."

After dinner, Franklin went to his room. Through his window, he saw the redhead arranging things in her new room across the gap between houses.

She looked up, caught him watching. Franklin quickly turned away.

His phone lit up. Text from his friend Keith: "Did you see the new girl moving in?"

"Yeah," Franklin typed back.

"Heard she's starting school tomorrow."

Jerome knocked on his door. "Got your progress report. Math grade's slipping."

"I'll fix it."

"Better. Can't get into college with C's."

Franklin nodded. Jerome had been pushing college more lately. Said education was the key to a better life. Franklin just wished he knew what kind of life he wanted.

The next morning, Franklin ate breakfast while Gloria got ready for work. She handled insurance claims now - lots of those since the invasion.

"Remember I'm working late," she said. "Money for pizza's on the counter."

Franklin walked to school. The redhead from next door walked ahead of him, talking to another girl. He heard her laugh about something.

At lunch, Keith wouldn't shut up about the new girl.

"Her name's Mary Jane Watson," Keith said. "She's in my English class."

Franklin remembered her arranging her new room last night. The way she caught him looking.

After school, he saw her again. She sat on her front steps reading a book.

"Hey," she said as he walked past. "I'm Mary Jane. MJ."

"Franklin."

"Cool name. Very presidential."

Franklin managed a "thanks" before escaping inside.

His phone rang. his Uncle again: "Working late. Don't forget to study for math."

Franklin opened his textbook before falling asleep.

3 Months Later

Franklin checked the clock during basketball practice. Coach Peterson made them run drills for missing layups.

"Saint, you're up," Coach called.

Franklin dribbled down court, faked right, drove left. The ball rolled off his fingers and through the hoop.

"Now that's what I'm talking about." Coach blew his whistle. "Hit the showers."

In the locker room, Keith complained about his chemistry test.

"How'd you get an A without studying?" Keith asked. "You slept through half the classes."

Franklin shrugged. "It's not hard."

"Says you. My mom's gonna kill me over this C minus."

After changing, Franklin walked through the school parking lot. Mary Jane waited by the fence, sketch pad in hand.

"How was practice, tiger?"

She started calling him that after he scored twenty points in the last game. Franklin pretended to hate the nickname.

"Coach made us run extra drills."

"Want to study for Thompson's math test?"

"Can't. Jerome's making me work with a tutor."

Mary Jane closed her sketch pad. "You know, for someone who aces chemistry without trying, you sure suck at math."

"I don't suck. I just don't care."

"Better not let your uncle hear that."

They walked home together like usual. Three months since the Watsons moved in next door. Three months of Mary Jane pointing out when Franklin was being lazy about school.

At home, Jerome sat at the kitchen table with Franklin's progress reports.

"A in chemistry, A in history, D in math." Jerome looked up. "Want to explain?"

"Math's boring."

"Life's boring sometimes. Still gotta do it."

Franklin dropped his basketball bag and sat down.

"Your chemistry teacher called," Jerome said. "Says you're not turning in homework but acing all the tests. Says you could be top of the class if you tried."

"What's the point? I'm getting an A anyway."

"The point is learning to work hard even when things come easy."

Franklin started to argue but Jerome cut him off.

"Tutor's coming at six. Either you start taking this seriously or you're off the basketball team."

"That's not fair."

"Neither is wasting what you've got up here." Jerome tapped Franklin's forehead. "Now go get cleaned up before the tutor arrives."

Franklin went upstairs. Through his window he saw Mary Jane drawing in her room. She looked up and waved.

His phone lit up. Text from Keith: "Coming to Mike's party Friday?"

Franklin started typing "yes" then remembered Jerome's threat about basketball.

"Have to study," he sent back.

The tutor, Ms. Chen, arrived exactly at six. She spread practice worksheets across the kitchen table.

"Your uncle says you're having trouble with algebra?"

"More like trouble caring about algebra."

Ms. Chen adjusted her glasses. "Let's see what you can do."

Franklin breezed through the first worksheet. And the second. By the third, Ms. Chen stopped him.

"You understand this perfectly well," she said. "So why are you failing?"

Franklin didn't answer.

"Either we figure out the real problem, or I tell your uncle he's wasting his money."

"I just don't see the point," Franklin said. "When am I ever going to use this?"

"Said every student ever." Ms. Chen gathered the worksheets. "Here's the deal. You clearly have the ability. What you lack is motivation. So let's make a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"You keep your math grade up, I teach you some advanced chemistry on the side. The interesting stuff they don't cover in high school."

Franklin sat up straighter. "Like what?"

"Like the kind of chemistry that got me a job at Stark Industries."

After the tutor left, Jerome checked the worksheets.

"Ms. Chen says you did well."

"Yeah."

"She also says you've been pretending not to understand math all semester."

Franklin studied his shoes.

"Look at me," Jerome said. "You've got a good brain. But a good brain without effort is like having a car without gas. Doesn't get you anywhere."

"Did you practice that speech?"

"Don't get smart. You know what I mean."

Franklin did know. He'd heard versions of it since moving to New York. Jerome pushing him to do better, be better, try harder.

That night, Franklin actually did his math homework. Through the window, he saw Mary Jane still drawing. She held up her sketch pad - a cartoon of Franklin sleeping through chemistry class but somehow getting an A.

His phone lit up. Keith sent a video from basketball practice - Franklin's perfect layup from that afternoon.

"At least you're good at something," Keith wrote.

Franklin looked at his finished math homework. Maybe he was good at more than just basketball. Maybe Jerome had a point about trying harder.

But math was still boring.

1 Week Later

Franklin sat on the school bus heading to Stark Industries. His chemistry class won some science grant that paid for a private tour of the research labs.

"Did you know they have a whole floor just for spider research?" Keith said from the seat behind him. "For medical stuff."

Mary Jane turned around in her seat. "Someone sounds scared of spiders."

"I'm not scared," Franklin said. "I just don't like them."

The bus passed through security gates. Guards checked IDs and paperwork. Franklin spotted his uncle Jerome in his security uniform, working at one of the checkpoints.

Their teacher, Mr. Thompson, stood up. "Remember, this is a restricted facility. Stay with your assigned groups. No wandering off. No photos without permission."

The bus parked in front of a massive glass building. A woman in a business suit waited at the entrance.

"Welcome to Stark Industries Advanced Research Division. I'm Dr. Hansen. I'll be your guide today."

She handed out visitor badges. "These must be visible at all times. Any area marked restricted is off-limits."

Inside, they passed through metal detectors. Mary Jane nudged Franklin when his basketball keychain set off the alarm.

Dr. Hansen led them into a huge atrium. Screens displayed Stark Industries projects - clean energy, medical research, environmental technology.

"Since ending weapons production, Stark Industries has become a leader in humanitarian science," Dr. Hansen said. "Including our bio-research division, which you'll see today."

They took an elevator to the tenth floor. The walls were glass, showing scientists at work in different labs.

"This is our genetics department," Dr. Hansen explained. "We study how to use animal traits to help treat human diseases."

Keith raised his hand. "Is this where the spiders are?"

"That's our last stop. First, let me show you our main lab."

The main lab looked like something from a movie. Machines Franklin didn't recognize. Computers everywhere. Scientists in white coats moving between workstations.

"Here we sequence genetic code," Dr. Hansen said. "Looking for traits that could help cure diseases."

Mary Jane took notes. Franklin pretended to pay attention while counting ceiling tiles.

"Questions?" Dr. Hansen asked.

A dozen hands shot up. Franklin used the break to check his phone. A text from his Uncle: "Saw you come in. Behave yourself."

They moved to another lab where scientists studied glowing bacteria. Then a room full of computer models showing DNA strands.

Franklin's attention drifted. He'd only signed up for this trip because Mary Jane said it would look good on college applications. And because Jerome kept pushing him to "take an interest in something besides basketball."

"And now," Dr. Hansen said, "the part some of you have been waiting for. Our arachnid research lab."

They stopped at heavy double doors marked 'Restricted Access.' Dr. Hansen scanned her badge.

"Our spiders have been genetically modified to produce proteins we think could help treat nerve damage," she explained. "The specimens are completely secure in their habitats. Nothing to worry about."

Franklin hung back as the doors opened. The spider lab waited on the other side.

"Coming, tiger?" Mary Jane asked. "Promise I'll protect you from the scary spiders."

"Very funny." Franklin followed her in, trying not to think about eight legs and webs and fangs.

The lab looked different from the others. Darker. Glass cases lined the walls, each containing elaborate webs. Screens showed magnified images of spiders.

"We have fifteen species," Dr. Hansen said. "Each modified to enhance specific traits."

She pointed to different cases. "Jumping spiders with enhanced reflexes. Orb weavers with stronger silk. Black widows with modified venom we're studying for pain medication."

Franklin stayed in the middle of the room, far from the cases. He watched a spider build its web on one of the screens, trying to ignore the real ones all around him.

"Over here," Dr. Hansen called, "is our pride and joy."

The class moved to a large case near the back. Inside, red and blue spiders crawled across complex webs.

"These combine traits from multiple species. Enhanced strength, speed, agility. Modified nervous systems that could revolutionize how we treat spinal injuries."

Franklin half-listened as she explained the research. Something about cross-species genetics and protein synthesis.

"Their bite is completely non-lethal," Dr. Hansen assured them. "Though we've never actually tested that on humans, for obvious reasons."

Mary Jane sketched the spiders in her notebook. "They're beautiful, in a creepy way."

Franklin stepped closer to look. The spiders moved with unnatural precision, their webs forming perfect geometric patterns.

One spider paused its work, turning to face the glass. Franklin could swear it looked right at him.

"Next, we'll see the testing lab," Dr. Hansen said. "Please follow me."

Franklin started to move but Mary Jane grabbed his arm.

"Look," she whispered, pointing at his badge.

The visitor badge had come loose, hanging by one corner.

"Better fix that before security throws you out."

Franklin reached to fix the badge just as Dr. Hansen opened the doors to the next lab.

In the case behind him, the red and blue spider he'd been watching was gone.