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According to the address I got online, the Brown residence is located in Chelsea, not terribly far from the [i]Daily Bugle[/i] headquarters. With dusk fast approaching, I decide to take a swing around that way to check on my suspicions. The open air gives me time to reflect on the strange turn of events that have taken place in Peter Parker's life. In the space of a few days, I went from being totally, undeniably single to double-booking dates with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson! I'd be flattered if I didn't suspect that I was just being used as a pawn in some kind of girl-world power play. Still, I'm in no position to turn down the attention. And honestly, while dinner with MJ turned out to be a lot of fun, I'm not putting too much stock into that. Sure, there were sparks, but then again: Mary Jane Watson could have chemistry with a wooden plank! Meanwhile, I'm extremely curious how things with Gwen are going to go...

Before I know it, I've arrived at the proper neighborhood. It's unassuming enough, but this is coming from the wall-crawler who grew up in Forest Hills. Luckily, the streets are mostly clear, so I make my approach unnoticed. I swing over to the building in question, sticking effortlessly to the red brick facing. The address says that the Browns live on the fourth floor, so I start crawling in that direction. The windows loom above me, and I slowly sneak a peek inside. The apartment is pleasant if a little bare. The first thing that jumps out at me are the moving boxes piled against the wall. So, the Browns are new in town? That fits with the timeline of Spoiler's appearance, but it's hardly damning evidence. Shifting my weight, I crawl over to the adjacent window.

This one looks into a bedroom: Stephanie's bedroom, from the looks of it. There are moving boxes here, too, but the younger Brown is further along in the unpacking process. In fact, she's already started decorating. On a shelf along the far wall, Stephanie has constructed a display of her various awards. I squint hard enough to make out the little bronze gymnasts posing atop the trophies. Before I've had time to consider that fully, my Spider-Sense gives me a light buzz. I duck away from the window just as someone comes through the bedroom door. This must be our "guest of honor." I hear the door close and wait for the buzzing to stop before peering through the window once more. With her back to me, Stephanie crosses the bedroom towards the closet. She shrugs out of her hoodie, giving an audible wince as she strips down to a white tank top. As she turns to examine herself in the full-length mirror on the closet door, I spy her bandaged shoulder. Steph peels away the bandage to reveal a gnarly bruise. It's exactly the kind of injury I've grown used to lying about.

I crawl away from the window before Stephanie can catch me spying. I think I've seen everything I need to see for now. The evidence in favor of Ms. Brown being my purple-hooded crimefighter is start to mount; with the sun dropping low in the sky, I suspect it'll only take a little patience to know for sure. Luckily, I happened to bring some class reading in my web pack, so I'm all set for a stakeout. Firing a web-line across the street, I vault myself up onto the roof of the building opposite Stephanie's, perfectly overlooking her bedroom window. If Spoiler makes a move tonight, I'll know about it.

About an hour passes as I sit with one leg dangling over the ledge, trying to make sense of this paper on atomic density. The lighting conditions have started to turn on me, so I've got my phone out as an impromptu flashlight. All down the street, windows are lighting up like lights on a Christmas tree. I yawn and turn over my phone to check the time. Just as I'm about to accept that tonight might not be the night, I hear the telltale sound of a window slowly creaking open. Quickly extinguishing my phone, I lean over to see a hooded figure ducking out of Stephanie's window. [color=0072bc]"Jackpot."[/color] Spoiler bounds up the fire escape towards her roof, and I quickly gather my things. Giving the web pack a fresh spray to seal everything inside, I throw it over my shoulder and start shadowing Spoiler's movements across the rooftops opposite me. As she reaches the end of the block, she takes out her grappling hook and swings high above the intersection. I follow suit on a web-line, easily closing the distance.

[b][color=0072bc]"Well, this is embarrassing. Don't tell me Mrs. Davis also booked [i]you[/i] for little Timmy's birthday party!"[/color][/b]

Spoiler's head jerks around as I announce myself. Although the mask hides her facial expression, her tone says it all. [b][color=662d91]"Spider-Man! Have you been following me?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=0072bc]"You didn't leave me much choice, seeing as I didn't get your autograph the last time we met,"[/color][/b] I answer.

Spoiler growls under her breath and swings up towards a nearby rooftop, dismounting from her grappling hook with a little flip. No sooner have I landed behind her than she comes storming in my direction. She jabs a single, annoyed finger into my chest as she says, [b][color=662d91]"I told you not to follow me!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=0072bc]"Oooooh, that was like a 'general rule' type thing? I thought you just meant that one time."[/color][/b]

She clenches her fists, and for a second I wonder if she's going to throw a punch. But the Spider-Sense doesn't register anything, and the punch never comes. Instead, she merely seethes beneath her hood. This time, the accusatory finger is thrust in front of my face for increased emphasis. [b][color=662d91]"Why? Why do you insist on meddling with my crusade? Haven't you done [i]enough[/i] damage already?"[/color][/b] She throws her hands up and yells before turning to storm off.

I snort derisively. [b][color=0072bc]"Your 'crusade?' Wow. That is one inflated sense of self-worth coming from the girl lashing out against Daddy dearest."[/color][/b] The way she freezes in place gives me all the confirmation I need that my theory is correct. As Spoiler turns to face me again, I continue, [b][color=0072bc]"Yeah, I figured out who you are and why you're doing this. That line you threw at me, down at the docks? It wasn't yours. It was your father's."[/color][/b]

[b][color=662d91]"I don't [i]have[/i] a father!"[/color][/b] she spits. [b][color=662d91]"Not anymore."[/color][/b]

[b][color=0072bc]"That's all well and good, and I don't blame you for being angry, but have you given this any thought whatsoever?"[/color][/b] Sighing, I place my hands on my hips. [b][color=0072bc]"Look, whether you believe this or not, I was in your shoes once. The angsty teenage crimefighter, angry at the world and out for vengeance? Yeah. Been there, done that, have the pictures to prove it. But if you're not careful, it's a good way to get yourself killed."[/color][/b]

[b][color=662d91]"I was doing just fine before [i]you[/i] came along,"[/color][/b] Spoiler sneers.

I shrug. [b][color=0072bc]"Maybe. You wanna know the truth? You're small-time. If your father's half the criminal he appears to be, you've barely made a dent in his plans."[/color][/b] I take a step towards Spoiler. [b][color=0072bc]"But if you keep up on this one-track warpath, it's not gonna be long before he decides that Spoiler's more than just some nuisance that can be ignored. You really think you're ready to be in the crosshairs like that?"[/color][/b]

Spoiler steps towards me. I think she's trying to be intimidating, but the height difference just makes it look funny. [b][color=662d91]"I guess we'll find out, won't we?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=0072bc]"There's no reason you have to do this alone. I don't want the Cluemaster getting a foothold any more than you do. I can help,"[/color][/b] I offer.

[b][color=662d91]"No,"[/color][/b] Spoiler answers without hesitation. [b][color=662d91]"It's gonna be me who brings him down. No one else. I don't want your help, and I definitely don't need it. I can do this on my own."[/color][/b] With that, she wheels on her heel and steps to the rooftop's ledge. [b][color=662d91]"After tonight, I better not see you again. You may have more experience, but if I find you hanging around my neighborhood or interfering with my work, I'll take you down. Believe that."[/color][/b] Turning her head away from me, she takes aim with her grappling hook and swings off into the night.

I follow to the ledge, calling out, [b][color=0072bc]"Fine! Our costumes totally clash, anyway!"[/color][/b] Jeez, some people just can't take free advice. Well, no matter. If Stephanie Brown really thinks this is the end of it, then she has another thing coming. She's got no idea what she's getting herself into, and I don't feel like having another innocent death on my conscience. If she doesn't want to work with me, then I'll just have to start my own "crusade" against the Cluemaster. Maybe I can bring him to justice before Stephanie gets in too deep.