Spider POV

Today was a bad day for Spider.

It was one of those days where everything seemed too small. It felt as though the very walls were closing in on him, and the air was too dry, and it was quiet. It felt so...so...confined...stuffy...claustrophobic. It was claustrophobic today.

Not even the comfort of his little spider companions as they strung their homes among his web could cheer him up. He, himself, was strewn across the thick layer of webs strung from wall to wall, lying in comfy blankets he found in the weird structures - bunks, Peter said - below. The spiders busy stringing their webs went along their merry business, unaware of the way he picked loosely at a dangling string, making Spider wish he had someone to share his grief with.

He was the only one of his pack to really know the outside. One of the two who knew the exit to their freedom. Triton didn't understand the clarity of his discovery. He thought it was a way to the ocean, but Spider knew it was so much more, and it was really getting to him. He was getting - getting...apprehensive. He imagined it was the way Triton felt too. There was something buzzing in his limbs and his head, urging him to go down to the hatch finally be free. But he - he couldn't. Not yet, and that thought alone made sitting feel like true torment.

It was in all the hot, claustrophobic moments like this that he was tempted to throw all caution aside and go to the hatch. He was close. So, so very close. But he couldn't do yet. Not now, because his pack isn't ready yet. If they tried, and as much as Spider hated to admit it, they would be taken down by their enemies just like last time.

If they were going to win their freedom, they needed to be stronger. He needed to be stronger. He KNOWS this.

A wanton whine escapes him nonetheless, and Spider turns over in his web, curling up on his side with two of his left arms dangling through the open notches in the web. His pack is out resting for now. They had another easy win against the prisoner. Why Wolverine made it so easy on them, Spider couldn't quite understand.

He was being hunted. He should fight back, try to win and survive. That was...well, it just felt right. When Spider was fighting his enemies from the outside, he felt attacked. He felt hunted. Every part of him was telling him to attack faster and better, to win and survive. Why was it so different for Wolverine.

Spider waited for Peter to pipe up with some annoying comment, but was surprised when it remained quiet.

Curious, he lifted his head, almost as if to look for Peter. Cocking his head, Spider crooned softly to get its attention, and this time he felt a small stirring inside.

What do you want? Peter asked, and Spider was surprised with how...sad, it sounded. Why was Peter sad? It had no reason to be sad.

It's - it's nothing, Peter sighed, and Spider felt another shift inside him as if Peter was turning away. Go back to fantasizing about the outside, or whatever.

While Spider did like to think of the Outside, he didn't like it when Peter was gloomy. It made HIM gloomy, and this Pack did not need a gloomy Alpha. Spider crooned again, louder, and stared at the little spiders crawling along a web nearby. Peter ignored him, and Spider scowled.

He hissed, startling the spiders, but it got Peter's attention enough for it to whirl back around.

Just leave me alone! You already have my body and my friends, you don't get to have me too!

Friends? Things that are not enemies. Pfft, Peter didn't have any friends. He was stuck in Spider's head. Spider was his...well...Spider wasn't really his friend either.

You can't honestly think I'M the one who doesn't belong here? Peter snapped. I was here first, Six Eyes. You were second.

Spider scoffed and rolled onto his back. That was ridiculous. Spider was Spider, and Peter was a weird, little voice. If Peter came first, then why was it only in Spider's head? That didn't make much sense. Peter was...what's the word...crazy? Uh..not right...it was...delusional. Yeah, that seemed like a good word.

Peter shifted again, turning away. It was talking low and soft, almost to itself. Spider rolled his eyes and crouched on his web, maneuvering through the strands till he was perched on the edge. It would still be a while before his Pack was up and ready to go for another round of hunting. Maybe Spider should take this time to do...to do something. He wasn't quite sure what. But sitting here, doing nothing, was getting dull.

Now that he thought about it, there wasn't much to do in their prison. He's roamed the halls countless times, finished weaving his web-strands to alert him to his enemies, much to the displeasure of his aching wrists. He's already searched the place top to bottom trying to find a way out. There was just nothing.

Probably how your prisoners feel, Peter said. Do you think they want to be here any more than you do? They're kind of like you and your Pack in these circumstances.

Spider bristled. Peter shouldn't compare his prisoners to his Pack. They were different. Very different. Spider only needed the prisoners to ensure that his Pack would have a way to expand their skills. His enemies kept them here because - because of a reason Spider couldn't understand. He mulled over it often enough, but an answer never came. Why couldn't they just let them go? Why was it so bad that Spider and his Pack went outside? Why did his enemies have to keep them here in the dark when they could be out in the sun?

A whine keened past Spider's throat, empty, hollow, and lonely in the room. Peter shifted, this time drawing close.

Hey, it said softer this time. Look...umm...I know you're kind of, like, new to all of this. You have no idea what's going on. But there's a reason you need to be here. A real one. Those people out there aren't your enemies. They're your - our - friends, and they're trying to help us. They're our Pack.

But that makes no sense, Spider wants to yell. His Pack would not lock him away like this. His Pack would not hurt and neglect one another. That's not what a Pack did. They were a group, surviving and working together.

Ever since Spider first opened his eyes, when he was strapped down to that - that...table, he thinks it was, he was being hurt by his enemies. His enemies had sharp, pointy things in his body. They pinned him down while he was hurting. They didn't try to make the hurt go away, they made it worse. They attacked him, hunted him down, and pinned him again. Even then, before his Pack became his Pack, he could hear their pain too. Farther off where he couldn't get to them.

No, see that's - that's the thing, Peter stressed. That wasn't you they had strapped down, it was ME. I am you. Or, well, I guess you are me. We are...us? Arg. See, this is my body. It was hurt, someone hurt it, and SHIELD tried to help. They're trying to find the people that really hurt you - me. Us? Errg, this is getting confusing.

Yeah. Peter is usually confusing. But it's also wrong. This is Spider, not Peter. Peter wasn't in charge. Spider overpowered it, he was stronger.

Then why do you think I'm here, genius? People don't usually have a voice in their head. Why do you think you learn so much from me? Because I was there first. I was the one who experienced all those things - that's how you know them.

Stupid Peter. It's starting to annoy Spider. Everything it says is wrong. Spider is here, Spider was the first. Not Peter. Stupid, stupid Peter.

Spider jumped off the web, landing loud and rough on the floor. He jumped on to the wall and climbed through the exit, following along the web-lined walls, trying to ignore the way his stomach was beginning to feel weird. What was that? It made Spider feel odd. Made his fingers twitch with puzzling energy.

Anxiety, is the word that comes to mind. Unease. He knows what Peter said is wrong, but why was it making him feel like this. Why does it make him ponder on its words, wondering if maybe Peter is rig-

No. Spider squares himself, glaring at the darkness of the hall. Peter is WRONG. He was not the first. Spider was not after. He - he was not the second. Cause if he was, that would mean -

RAH! No. He is Alpha and he will keep his Pack safe. No matter what Peter says. They will get to the Outside and they will hunt their enemies down. For good.

Spider, please. Just think about it. I know you've got your own thoughts and emotions at this point, but really think about it. Why else would I know about these things? Why else would I know about the Outside unless I've seen it? If you were first, and I was second, how could I know these things if you don't know them?

Spider stops, struck. How - how did Peter know all of those things. Peter saw through Spider. If Spider didn't see them, then how does -

The yucky, bubbling feeling in his stomach heightens and - and he feels sick. That couldn't be true. No - no, it can't. Peter is wrong, it's just trying to annoy Spider. It knows how to get to him.

Spider realizes he's shaking.

He looked down at the webs under his fingers, to his many arms splayed around him. He looked at the red and blue fabric still covering parts of his body. Fabric that he hasn't torn at because...because it makes him feel better. Stronger?

Spider-Man. The word whispers through his head, and it sounds so familiar that it leaves Spider reeling. Those enemies outside, they were people. Men and woman are words that go with it. Is it possible that Spider was a - a 'man' before? Was Spider a person like his enemies? Now that he thought about it, aside from his arms, he did, maybe, kind of, look like them. Body wise. He- he had feet. The other spiders, the one in his rooms, they didn't have feet.

Spider brought his fingers to his face. His enemies had fingers just like him. He touched his face lightly, feeling past his barbs and fangs at the structure beneath. Chin, cheeks, nose, ears...

His heart beat faster. Was he like his enemies?

Was he a Spider...Man?

Spider is becoming aware. Poor lil dear is probably so confused. Hi guys! Welcome back to another update! It's earlier than usual! I'm gonna be going somewhere tomorrow/today, and I wasn't sure if I'd get this done in time. So, tada! Early update!

Just a quick reminder, I posted a book called "Fanfiction/Book Updates: Log-Book" on my wattpad accounts (OfficalUSMWriter and BornFromAshes). In case you guys ever wonder WHEN I'll be updating or WHAT I'll be updating next, go take a look in there. It also includes a list of my all my stories in all my accounts, their book cover, and the book description, in case you wanted to look those over too. It ALSO lists all my wattpad, and AO3 accounts. I felt guilty for keeping you all in the dark with updates, so voila!

Hope you enjoyed Spider and the beginning of his mid-life crisis.

Peace out, Chilladas!

-OfficalUSMWriter/Mystery_Name