S P I D E R - M A N
N E W Y O R K C I T Y
The rush never got old. Swinging from building to building, feeling the wind flow by, waving at bystanders, webbing up crooks, being the one and only Spider-man. One moment, Peter Parker was just an average New Yorker, late for dates, a fan of good pizza, selling photos for a quick buck. But with the mask on? He was spiraling through the air, diving past office windows, running on walls, and leaping off skyscrapers, ready to save the day. And today was just another day. After hearing a police siren in the distance, Peter Parker raced through the air to be on the scene. Who was it this time? A small-time thief or someone big? Rhino? Scorpion? But as he found himself outside a bank, he saw the police arriving at a scene already covered in webs.
“Hey there Spidey!” One of the police officers smiled up at him and waved. “You’re late buddy.”
“Afternoon officer! How’s the—”“One of your smaller spider-bros just managed to clean up a couple of bozos and webbed them up good. I guess he’s like Spider-boy or somethin’? Arachne-kid?”
Peter nodded, it must have been Miles. Peter's not really the
only Spider-man... A few months back, he’d met Miles, a bright kid from Brooklyn who’d also gained spider powers. Peter had been trying his best to teach Miles all that he’d learned over the years, but at some point, the kid had to spread his wings and do what he had to do, and that seemed to be being a hero. Ever since then, Peter had felt a bit less alone, and the Big Apple seemed to feel a little smaller—for better and for worse, as Miles began to take his share of rescues and criminal shut downs. Sometimes Peter wondered if he himself was growing too old for the job, if it was time to fully pass down the torch…
“Just Spider-man.” Peter corrected.
“We’re both Spider-man, officer!”Seeing he wasn’t needed so much anymore, Peter got ready to swing away once more, but before he left, he saw the officer reach out to pull out a phone. “Wait a sec Spidey. Could I get a quick photo? The other guy seemed great, but my daughter’s a big fan of you too. And her head’s gonna blow when she sees that her pops met you.” Peter smiled softly and hopped down to stand beside the officer.
“Sure thing sir!” He felt a bit guilty thinking this, but Peter couldn’t help but enjoy being needed and admired every now and then. He was still needed.
***
The city was surprisingly peaceful today. Besides that robbery handled by Miles earlier, and a few minor incidents, Peter wasn’t seeing much crime. He sat on top of a light post, looking down at a busy city street. A group of teens bustled over toward an internet cafe, an old man was being helped cross the street by a young businesswoman, and a pleasant shopkeeper was painting a new sign for their cafe. Things seemed to be just right—
“HEY MUTIE! We don’t want your kind here! Buzz off!”
Peter’s spider sense tingled ever so slightly, and he craned around, trying to find the source of this angry voice. Was there some bigot about to assault an innocent mutant? As he turned around on the top of his light post, he squinted and saw a man holding a beer bottle in one hand, pointing his other hand right at Spidey. “Me?” Peter asked. At this point, Spider-man was more confused than worried.
“Yeahhhh, you! Mister fuckin’ Webhead, mask-wearing, mutie. I know you’ve been swinging around this fuckin’ city, but I’ve seen the truth, I know who you really are… Get your mutant ass out of my country! Go back to Krakatoa!” The man’s speech was slurred and he seemed to be vehemently drunk… at two in the afternoon. Peter rolled his eyes under his mask and stood up from his crouching position.
“Look man, first of all, it’s Krakoa, not Krakatoa. Second of all, I’m not even a mutant! And even if I was, that is a terrible way to greet a stranger, like at least a hello—” Peter tensed as he watched the man reach to chuck his bottle at Spidey, and Peter reflexively shot a rapid-fire of webs, one to stick the man’s hand to the bottle, one to stick his other hand to the wall, and a last one to cover his mouth. The man writhed in tipsy, muffled rage, and Spidey gave a little salute.
“This is for your own good, and for the good of everyone else who definitely does not wanna hear your voice!” Peter then began to swing away through the city.
“So much for peaceful…” he muttered.
What was the whole deal with mutant hate? It was never something he understood, even with all the controversy around Krakoa recently. When people like him or the Avengers put on their masks, they were revered (most of the time) as heroes. Yet when everyday people happened to get superpowers, the world seemed to twist against them. But mutant or not, hero or human, if they were here in this city, they all were New Yorkers in Peter’s eyes. Was that so hard to understand?
As the sun began to set, Peter swung up towards the top of an apartment building, running across the glass windows, then shooting a web towards the roof and pulling himself up to the very top. The city looked so small from up here, millions of people,
real honest people living their lives, working towards their dreams, all here in the greatest city in the world. The relative peace was strangely getting him a bit too sentimental. He needed to get busy. What else was there to be done?
Suddenly, Peter felt his Spider-sense tingle once again, yet not that aggressively. Something potentially dangerous was behind him, hopefully not another bigot with a bottle.
“Spider? I swear, it’s like you’re stalking me.” Peter turned towards that familiar playful voice and saw none other than Black Cat, his… enemy? Friend? Situationship? The woman was someone he’d tussled with time and time again, sometimes trying to put her in jail for her elaborate crimes, sometimes fighting alongside her against a greater evil. No matter what the situation was, she always managed to catch him off guard.
“Black Cat, I did not mean to run into you… What are you doing up here?” Peter eyed her suspiciously, looking at a black bag in her grasp, and seeing that she’d just crawled out from the fire escape.
“Always questions with you isn’t? Well, I’ll have you know, that it’s none of your business Spider, just a little personal project.”“Thieving again? T’was hoping you’d get tired of the whole petty theft thing.” Peter said. Although he said it jokingly, he did genuinely mean it. He wondered if there was a chance she would ever give up her criminal ways. Despite her antics, the two of them had had moments in the past where it felt like they had something more… More than just hero and villain, but perhaps something as equals, as partners, as
more.
“This time’s not just petty theft, I have a legit purpose right now.” She replied with a scoff, then swung the black bag over her shoulder.
“I don’t see you giving up the mask anytime soon, why should I?” Black Cat walked over to Peter and placed a single finger on his chest.
“Felicia. Is this all you’ll ever do? Is that all the future holds?” Peter looked at her, and an expression of genuine concern seemed to take hold on his face, surprising her and even himself.
“Future? Awfully dramatic aren’t you this sunset? What, Spider? Worried about me? High-and-mighty Avenger wanting to help a corrupted villainess out of a wrong path towards danger?” She snickered and walked her fingers up his chest towards his collarbone, and up to pat his shoulder. Something in her expression softened when Peter didn’t retort back.
“You’re so quiet suddenly… Are you… genuinely worried?” Peter backed up from her reach but nodded.
“Is it wrong? Wrong, that I am worried about you? That I wished you’d give up crime and try out being good?” he said. Whenever he met the Cat, he always felt so tangled up inside, caught in her own webs. Black Cat’s hand dropped to her side.
“You really are a hero aren’t you?” she whispered. Before Peter could respond, she began to walk away briskly.
“I’m fine Spider. Don’t worry, this kitty can take care of herself… But I’ll see you around… Maybe we can talk again… about the future.” And just like that, she lept away, from one rooftop to the next, disappearing into the shadows cast by the sunset.
Peter Parker was left alone watching the moon rise. As much as it had been a quiet day, there had been big moments throughout it. He looked over the New York skyline and just took a deep breath. He had no idea what the future held in store, but he knew that as long as he could, he’d keep being Spider-man.
Member
Prince Potter
