The backyard of the Parker residence buzzed with laughter and the chaotic joy of childhood. Streamers flapped in the wind, tangled with helium balloons that bobbed above tables of snacks, cupcakes, and homemade lemonade. The late afternoon sun cast golden rays over a colourful "Happy 6th Birthday Peter!" banner that flapped from the fence.
"Peter!" May called out from the porch, balancing a tray of sandwiches. "No jumping off the table, sweetheart!"
"I'm not! I'm flying!" Peter shouted back, his arms stretched like aeroplane wings as he leapt from a short bench into the grass, giggling.
Ben chuckled beside her, shaking his head. "He's got too much energy for six."
"He's got just enough," came a calm voice from behind.
Ben turned and smiled warmly. "Krace! You made it."
Krace, dressed in simple slacks and a navy button-down, walked into the backyard with a wrapped box tucked under one arm. He gave Ben a small nod. "Wouldn't miss it."
May greeted him with a nod. "Good to see you, Krace. Thanks for coming."
From across the yard, Peter noticed and sprinted over like a blur of energy. "Mr. Krace!" he exclaimed. "You came!"
Krace knelt slightly and held out the box. "This is for you."
Peter's eyes widened. "Whoa! Really?! Thanks, Mr. Krace!"
The boy ripped open the wrapping with enthusiasm, revealing a sleek kit inside—an interactive modular building set, complete with moving gears, magnetic joints, and tiny LED components. Peter's jaw dropped.
"It comes with a mini motor, too?" he gasped, examining the box.
Krace knelt beside him. "It's all about creativity. Build anything you want—robots, towers, traps, secret bases."
"Secret bases?!" Peter's eyes practically sparkled. "I'm gonna build an entire science lab!"
"You can," Krace said. "But take your time. Great builders learn through failure."
From across the yard, a small, goofy voice rang out: "Whoa! That's way cooler than the socks my dad gave me for my birthday!"
Ned Leeds, chubby-cheeked and always with a snack in one hand, waddled over with a juice box in the other. "Hey Peter! Show me if it explodes or something."
"Hey, Ned!" Peter grinned. "It's not supposed to explode. But maybe if I change the wires—"
"I'm staying far away," said Harry Osborn, appearing beside them and already pulling out the instruction manual. "Let's build it right. I don't want Aunt May to panic again."
"I only panicked because Peter nearly set the toaster on fire last week!" May called from the porch. "Not again!"
Krace couldn't help but smile faintly as the boys huddled over the kit, already deep in discussion about whether it could shoot lasers. Harry stayed close to Peter, pointing out assembly diagrams like a young engineer. Ned, meanwhile, stuck some stickers onto his face and declared himself the "robot overlord." Peter laughed so hard he fell backwards into the grass.
From across the yard came loud, thunderous stomps. Eugene Thompson entered the scene, carrying a toy blaster over his shoulder. He was slightly taller and more muscular than the others, even at six.
"Outta the way, nerds!" Eugene grinned, puffing his chest. "Flash Blaster is here! Pew pew!"
"Flash?" Ned blinked. "Why are you called Flash again?"
Peter grinned widely. "Oh! Oh! Tell them the story!"
Eugene puffed out his chest. "Because I run faster than everyone at school. Zoom!"
"You ran so fast you tripped over Mrs. Halverson's laundry," said Harry.
"And your pants fell down in front of the entire playground," Peter added.
Ned snorted juice through his nose. "That was hilarious!"
"It was part of the plan!" Eugene insisted. "Flash Surprise!"
Peter grinned. "He flashed the whole playground. That's why we started calling him Flash!"
The kids burst into laughter, rolling around in the grass as Eugene shouted, "Hey! It's a cool name now!"
Krace, watching from the side with Ben, leaned in. "They seem… chaotic."
Ben sipped his coffee. "That's childhood. Chaos wrapped in sugar and friendship."
Krace, observing from a shaded corner near Ben, let the laughter wash over him like a brief, forgotten warmth. This was the kind of moment he never thought he'd find again. It reminded him of something distant… something long gone.
"You're good to them," Krace said softly.
Ben shrugged. "Just trying to do right by the kid. He's got something special, y'know?"
Krace nodded. "He does."
His gaze lingered on Peter—so alive, so eager. He remembered another boy. Not in this world. Another time. A circus tent. A son. A cry. Then silence.
"He reminds me of someone I used to know," Krace murmured.
"A relative?"
"No," Krace said softly. "A son. In every way but name."
Ben glanced at him, but said nothing.
"I thought I'd buried this part of me," Krace added. "Then I saw Peter. It… startled me."
"He has that effect." Ben smiled. "May and I always say he was born to surprise people."
…
As the sun dipped lower, they gathered around a small cake with a single blue candle. Peter stood in the middle, beaming, his arms thrown over Harry and Ned's shoulders. Even Eugene clapped loudly as May lit the candle.
"Make a wish, Peter," she said.
Peter closed his eyes tight, scrunching his face.
"I hope one day I can fly for real," he whispered to himself. Then he blew out the candle with a puff.
Everyone cheered.
Later, as the stars began to twinkle and parents collected their kids, Krace stepped over to Peter, who was trying to balance a gear tower on a bench.
"Thank you again, Mr. Krace," Peter said. "I'm gonna build so many things with this and help many people. Maybe a robot doctor… or a rocket for Uncle Ben… or something cool like—like—!"
"Don't forget the grappling hook," Krace said, one corner of his mouth twitching.
Peter froze. "How'd you know I was gonna add that?"
Krace knelt, looking him in the eyes. "Because when I was your age, I wanted one too."
Peter tilted his head. "Were you a science nerd like me?"
Krace's voice dropped slightly, almost nostalgic. "I was… a boy who wanted to fix the world. Just like you."
Peter beamed.
"Keep building," he said. "And never stop imagining."
Peter looked up. "Do you think I can really be a scientist one day?"
"You already are," Krace replied.
And with that, he ruffled Peter's hair and turned to leave, the faint sound of the kids' laughter still echoing behind him—something he would carry with him into the night and helping him stand going forward, working to return home.
_______
Author's note;
Just wanna tell, I was on a long break because I got an idea for this story, but then, it disrupted the plot, so I planned everything from the base again. I also watched 11 hours of Batman comics from YouTube, and lemme just tell you, Batman is a psychotic, emotionally dysfunctional and really just plain stupid, especially when he pushes his bat family away. Different from the movies. And then, I was busy with other work... so...sorry, and thank you for tuning in.