Leon, visibly excited, shuffled through his room before changing into a long-sleeved white tee, black pants, and a grey cardigan. With a quick glance in the mirror, he smiled to himself and told his parents he was going out to explore the neighborhood.
As he walked along the sidewalk, Leon marveled at how strikingly similar this world was to his own. Everything appeared remarkably normal, yet the sky was a much deeper shade of blue than the one he remembered from his past world.
Although he was near the city, the air here felt lighter and freer, untouched by pollution in a way that sharply contrasted with what he was used to. These subtle differences reminded Leon starkly of the divide between the two worlds.
Beyond these minor details, he found little else to note, but the differences were unsettling enough. He circled the neighborhood, which seemed peaceful and quiet, its friendly residents unhesitant to strike up conversation. Leon encountered two locals who welcomed him warmly, sharing stories about their beautiful, tranquil community.
Returning home, Leon checked his wristwatch—only 11 a.m. As he opened the back door, he noticed the kitchen was empty but heard voices coming from the front lawn. Curious, he stepped outside to find his parents deep in conversation with their neighbors across the street. The Parkers — Lucian and Diana — were chatting with Ben and Mary Parker, while Peter and Mary Jane stood aside holding pies, smiling brightly.
Peter wore his signature spectacles, a white T-shirt, and a blue flannel shirt. He seemed like the classic awkward teenager but carried a hint of confidence. Unlike any actor who had portrayed Spider-Man — not even the latest version played by Tom Holland — this Peter looked like a fairly average teen. Leon mused that if Peter realized his looks weren't bad, a little effort with his style could do wonders. "Oh well, I'm here now," Leon thought, "I'll take care of it."
As for Mary Jane, Leon understood why she came across as so blunt in the comics. With her striking red hair, fair skin, and an innocent yet radiant smile, she embodied the girl-next-door archetype perfectly. She could easily be a model if she wanted, and no wonder she had so many romantic flings — almost rivaling Spider-Man himself. This version of Mary Jane didn't resemble any actress from live-action adaptations; instead, she felt more like the journalist Mary Jane version, fitting Leon's assumption that she lived with her abusive father after her mother's death, rather than moving in with an aunt.
Pumping himself up with confidence, Leon approached the group.
"Ah, Leon! Come here, son. Meet the Parkers, our neighbors," Lucian, his father, said enthusiastically, introducing him to the neighbors. Mary Jane seemed a bit stunned by Leon's presence, while Peter glanced shyly but warmly greeted him.
Leon observed that this Peter seemed somewhat more confident than the versions he'd known in the comics and shows, perhaps because his uncle was still around or due to the influence of Lucian, a brilliant biochemistry professor, and his mother, a doctor—both scientific fields known for intelligence. Leon, however, knew himself well enough to recognize he was only average, not a genius. As the adults chatted, Leon led the two teens, Mary Jane and Peter, into his house to set down the pies and into his room.
Upon entering, Peter and Mary Jane were visibly impressed by the workout equipment, books, and the newest computer model in Leon's room.
"Leon! This is so cool! Your computer's the newest model, and the CPU processor is off the charts! This must have cost a fortune!" Peter exclaimed, awe shining in his eyes. Mary Jane, curious, asked if Leon worked out.
Leon smirked and gestured to his tall, lean, and muscular frame, which his clothing barely concealed. "Doesn't it show?" he replied confidently.
Mary Jane blushed and simply said, "True." Peter, snapping out of his admiration, noticed her blush. But instead of jealousy, the shy boy seemed almost mesmerized by her cuteness.
Leon mentally facepalmed, silently thinking, *Don't worry, Pete. In this life, I'll make sure you don't miss out on any relationships.* He disliked the Toby Maguire Mary Jane from the movies, who was notoriously harsh, and he remembered comic Mary Jane's tendency to cheat. A little devil on his shoulder teased him to just take Mary Jane because she'd get bored and cheat on Peter anyway, but Leon shook his head. As a true Spider-Man fan, he vowed to make sure this life was different. Peter deserved happiness, plain and simple. Leon chuckled inwardly, thinking, *I've always been popular; staying single will be harder for me than finding a girl.*
As they chatted, Leon noticed Peter's introverted yet open personality, and Mary Jane's warm, extroverted confidence—though to Leon, her exterior did not hide her vulnerabilities. The three quickly became acquaintances and made plans to go eat near the park later. They planned to invite their other neighbor and friend, Gwen Stacy, who was currently at the library studying, leaving Peter and Mary Jane behind for the moment.
It became clear they had grown up together as a close-knit group. Leon felt a pang of sympathy for Peter, who seemed to have been friend-zoned by his close friends, possibly including Mary Jane. But maybe things would change after Peter became Spider-Man. As these thoughts raced through Leon's mind, he and the two teens parted, agreeing to meet outside in three hours at 2 p.m.
***