Spider-Knight: Year One - Part 1

Origin of a spectacular new hero! (Sort of) It’s a remix of Spider-Man & Batman.

8 Years Ago

In New York City, a young boy and his parents go to a science symposium about spiders. Their son, the young Peter Wayne, has had a fascination with spiders and science since he could remember. His parents, Richard and Mary, are proud of their son for his curiosity and want to learn. They agreed to take him because of this.

Peter is awestruck by the variety of spiders. Black widows, tarantulas, and exotic spiders alike are enclosed in glass cages. Richard and Mary smile at each other.

“Wow.” The young boy says.

“Personally, these things have always given me the willies, but anything for you, my son.” Mary says.

Peter is too engrossed in watching a tarantula to look back at his mom.

“Ah, our boy here seems to be entranced.” Richard states.

A conference is being held about spiders. Richard and Mary gently guide Peter to the auditorium so that they can listen to the conference. The conference is held by a renowned scientist. Doctor Curt Jones. A scientist who lost his leg in the war of Iraq. The man uses crutches to come to his seat on the stage.

The Waynes watch the conference. Mary was a little bored by the whole thing. But Richard is almost as fascinated as his son. The doctor tells of a special energy he has discovered.

“With this, we could revolutionize the energy race. This could reduce the amount of energy the city uses dramatically. Though of course, I could demonstrate.” He motions for an assistant to bring forth a contraption he tinkered together. Dr. Jones pulls his microphone to his mouth.

“I call it the Neogenic Recombinator. With these two points here, it concentrates the energy into a steady stream.” It’s a metallic device with two copper points on either end.

As the doctor continues, a loose steatoda spider is scaling the walls of the auditorium. Unseen by the conference members and audience alike. He makes a journey above Curt’s device. It creates a line of webbing and lowers down to the concentrated point of energy. It’s suddenly caught in the beam and drops dramatically.

“Oh!” Connors says. “It seems we have a visitor!” The audience laughs. Suddenly, the spider recovers and scurries off quickly. “Right, well as I was saying. If we could somehow mass produce this, climate change could be reduced tenfold.”

Peter’s mind goes to the spider that dropped down. Wondering where it’s gone to. Was it a spider for their exhibit or was it wild? Peter would soon get his answer to its location. The spider drops to his hand and bites down.

“Ah!” Peter shouts. Frantically waving his hand. Flinging the spider away.

“What’s wrong Peter?” Mary asks in a panicked voice.

“A spider! I was bitten by a spider!” The boy yells. His hand pulsing from the sting. Peter cries from the pain.

“Let’s go, son.” Richard gets up. Trying to keep calm. He touches the boy’s shoulder gently and Peter gets up as well. Mary follows close behind. Richard takes his family to an emergency exit. Which leads to an alleyway.

“It still stings.” Peter whines.

“Maybe we should go to a hospital.” Mary suggests.

“There should be one closeby.” Richard says. Richard leads them down the alley. When suddenly, a figure dressed in a ratty coat and a black hat emerges from the shadows. His hands in his pockets.

“Excuse us, we’re having a bit of an emergency.” Richard says with an air of kindness.

The figure removes his hands from his pockets. Revealing in one hand, a small bag. In the other, a handgun. He cocks the gun and points it at Richard. Richard extends his arms cautiously.

“Put the money in the bag.” The man demands. Richard slowly reaches for his wallet. The Waynes aren’t particularly rich, but he’d do anything to ensure the safety of his family.

“Just calm down.” Richard says with calmness in his voice.

“Richard!” Mary screams. Richard hushes her. Not wanting to startle the figure.

“It’s going to be alright.” Richard says. His heart is now beating a little faster. He slowly pulls out five twenty dollar bills and shows it to the man. “All I have here is a hundred.”

“The woman too!” The man shouts. “Give me her purse!” Peter looks on with a worried expression.

“Come on, darling.” Richard says. “Let’s do what he asks.” Peter cries out again. The pain is coming back. That pulsing feeling.

The man becomes startled and fires. Shooting Richard in the chest. Mary screams out. The man shoots her too. Her family’s pearls break from a string when she crashes to the floor. Peter’s pain subsides for now as he screams.

“Mom! Dad?!” He yells out. Richard looks at Peter as the light leaves his eyes. Peter cries again. “No no no no!” He repeats.

“Mary…” Richard calls out. Peter’s parents die in the alley. He can’t do anything but sit there. Over the bodies of his parents.

Soon, the NYPD arrived. A kindly old man steps out of the police car.

“I’m sorry, son. Come with us. Everything will be alright.” He says with an empathetic tone. Peter wants to believe him. He does. But how can everything be okay without his parents?

“I’m Captain Todd.” He says and extends his arm to Peter. Peter hesitantly accepts. Captain Todd guides him to the police car and lets him sit in the passenger seat.

At the station, Captain Todd gives a shaking Peter his coat. Peter gives a forced smile and Captain Todd smiles back. An elderly man and woman come into the station. Peter’s uncle and aunt.

“We’re gonna take care of you, now.” His uncle says.

“I'm so sorry Peter.” His aunt says with tears in her eyes.

“Looks like everything is taken care of now. Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. Ask for George.” He says and leaves the room. Peter spots a young girl with blonde hair and a headband across the room. She looks to be about Peter’s age. Her name is Gwen Todd. The daughter of Captain Todd. She gives a smile when she notices Peter looking at her. Peter returns the first genuine smile after losing his parents.

“Let’s go, my boy.” His uncle says. Peter agrees and takes off the Captain’s coat. Leaving it behind in his chair. Gwen waves goodbye.

Peter is brought to the home of his aunt and uncle. A humble two story house in Queens, New York. His aunt and uncle, Harriet and Al, have been living there for about ten years. Harriet prepares some Earl Grey tea as Al sits with him at the kitchen table.

“We were afraid that something would happen. That’s why we never left the suburbs.” Al explains. He’s a balding man with a small black mustache. His aunt, a woman with white hair. “I’m going to give you a choice,”

“A choice?” Peter questions.

“Yes. You can either stay here with us and enroll in a new school, or we could give you some money and send you on your way. Your parents had some savings and they entrusted it to us in case something like tonight ever happened. We can send you to a foreign boarding school by the mountains of Nepal.” Peter looks interested in the proposal. Harriet sets the tea on the table.

“Thank you, honey.” Al says. He blows on it and takes a sip. “Just like good old England.”

Peter thinks for a moment and comes up with an idea.

“I want to go.” He says, determined.

“Very well. What made you decide that, if I may ask?,” Al questions.

“I want to get vengeance for my parents.” Peter says honestly.

“I see. Well, I wouldn’t advise that. You’re only 8 years old. Vengeance rarely makes things better.”

“I know I can’t do anything now, but later on, I can. If I study and train my body. I could become a weapon.” Al nods his head. Taking another sip of tea.

“Alright. You seem to have thought this over. You can go on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Peter asks.

“You can’t kill the man that did this. You have a responsibility. A responsibility to move on the best you can and make something of yourself. Don’t throw your life away over one piece of scum.” Peter nods understandingly.

“Okay. I agree. I’ll make something of myself.” Al smiles.

“Ah, Harriet, I love this boy.” Al remarks.

“I love you too.” Peter says genuinely.

Harriet smiles. “Stay with us for the night and we can get things sorted first thing tomorrow. Are you hungry, Petey?”

“Yeah.” He says plainly.

“Good, because I made some rice cakes.” Harriet grabs a plate with a few rice cakes on them. Peter enthusiastically grabs one and starts eating.

“You said you wanted to turn your body into a weapon?” Al asks.

“Yeah. I want to train. Whatever I have to do to get stronger. No one will have to go through what I did.”

“You’re beginning to sound like General Guardian.” Al chuckles.

“I want to be just like him. He was a hero.” Peter says.

“That he was. Who knows how World War Two would’ve gone without his help. The help of the Raiders or the Commandos for that matter. Did you know I’ve actually met General Thaddeus Flag?” Peter’s eyes widened.

“You have?!” He asks excitedly.

“Yes. He’s a good man. You know, I have some movies we could watch after you finish eating.”

“Oh, I’d love to.”

“I have the newest one from 2011. Have you seen it?”

“Of course I’ve seen it! It’s only like the greatest movie ever!”

“Yes, I enjoyed it too. Much better than the one from the ‘70’s.”

“I’ve never seen that one before.”

“Probably for the best.” Harriet smiles at the chat they’re having. Peter hurries up and eats the remaining rice cakes.

The next day, the Wayne household gets up bright and early. Peter is excited and determined for his adventure. Al gets up and makes coffee for him and Harriet. Peter rushes down the stairs with a backpack stuffed with items his aunt and uncle had given him. Necessities for him venturing outside of the boarding school in Nepal and a couple textbooks they dusted off.

“Woah, slow down there Peter.” Al says. Peter slows his body but he’s feeling a great surge of energy. Al notices how heavy the bag must be. “Hey, uh. I can help you with that if…” Peter quickly removes the comically overstuffed backpack like it was nothing from his back. “...You know what, nevermind.”

Peter goes to the kitchen. A bright smile on his face. “Do we have any more of those rice cakes?” He asks.

“Afraid not, dear boy. I could make you some eggs though. How do you like them?”
“Scrambled please with lots of ketchup.” He says excitedly.

“Coming right up.” Al says gleefully.

“You know, I’m so excited for this trip I almost forgot that…” Peter trails off. “Hey, I wonder if I’ll meet a monk and he’ll teach me kung-fu.” Al laughs.

“You’ve got quite the imagination.” Harriet says as she walks to the kitchen.

“I’ve made you some coffee.” Al says. Pointing to the pot and removing it.

“Thank you, dear.” Harriet responds. Al pours it into two mugs and takes hers to her.

“You’re very welcome.” He says with a smile on his face. He then takes out a pan and cracks open a couple eggs for Peter.

“Tell me more about this plan of yours, Pete.” Al says as he prepares the eggs.

“Oh, well. I’d like to learn as much as I can about academics, spiders, and fighting.”

“Why spiders?”

“I wanna know what-” He stops himself. “I just really like spiders.” Peter thinks back to the previous day. Remembering the spider that bit him. Could that be why a bag that looks like it weighs about twenty pounds was so easy for him to carry? That would be preposterous, wouldn’t it? Then again, there is a man with super strength in the textbooks. So maybe not. Unless that was propaganda to make the Germans fear the United States.

“But of course.”

“I hope to meet someone that will teach me fighting skills. Anyone at all.”

“Ah, yes. A Mr. Miyagi type so to speak.” The eggs finish cooking. “Eat up. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.”

“You can come back anytime you like.” Harriet chimes in.

“Thank you. Thank both of you. I just feel like this is something I have to do.” His aunt and uncle smile at the boy. Peter digs in.

At the airport, Al and Harriet guide Peter through the terminal. He walks with the absolutely massive backpack around him. They reach the plane that leaves for Nepal.

“Give them hell for me.” Al says lightly.
“Don’t forget to eat three meals a day, brush your teeth, and-” Harriet is cut off.

“I’m sure he’s got it.” Al says. The plane begins to board.

“Oh, I love you Petey.” Harriet says.

“I love you too.” Peter responds. “Well, I suppose I better be off.” Airport staff came over to get his backpack to put in the luggage. The man grunts as he removes it from Peter’s hands.

“Jesus, what do you have in here, your whole bedroom?”

“Just some necessities. The folks wanted to make sure I wouldn’t go without.” The staff calls over another member and the two lift the bag together.

Peter looks back at his last chance for a normal life. His aunt and uncle wave goodbye and he finally steps onto the plane. His first step to becoming a man.

Cut to Mount Everest in Nepal. Peter trudges along snow banks wearing a big coat and gloves. It’s cold, but not enough to make him turn back. He shivers as he continues along. A temple just in view. There’s lights around the structure glowing in the snow. He finally makes it to the temple and knocks on a big door three times. The door slowly opens.

Inside, is a tall muscular man with a full beard. Accompanied by two girls around Peter’s age. He’s wearing a lion’s pelt and two shoulder pauldrons made of gold. The girls are wearing Asian martial arts gis. Both white. On the man’s left is a half Cheyenne, half Russian girl with dark brown hair. To his right, the eldest of the sisters by only a few months, is a Russian girl with blonde hair.

“Hello, young traveller. My name is Ra’s al Kravinoff. These are my daughters, Maya and Emma.” Ra’s speaks with a thick Russian accent. Peter bows before the impressive man.

“I see you’ve brought your manners. Please, let me take care of your belongings and my daughters can guide you to your quarters.” Peter takes off his bag and brings out a rare blue flower.

“Good, you’ve found it. Training begins tomorrow.” Ra’s takes Peter’s bag and doesn’t struggle like the men at the airport. Peter follows Maya and Emma to where he’s staying.

8 Years Later. September 1st.

Peter comes back home to New York City. He’s completed any training he could possibly learn. The boy is now 16 years old. A teenanger with eight years of knowledge and experiences. He’s fought the toughest apprentices, hunted the deadliest of animals, and survived the most deadly conditions. As it turns out, he does have super strength. He also has a built-in warning system that tells him of danger. Which helped him excel in his training. Now that he’s coming back home, he’s curious about what else he can do.

He chose to come back near the end of summer so that he can enroll in high school as a junior. His aunt Harriet and uncle Al wait for him at the airport. Peter walks off the plane with his backpack, now lighter due to his years in Nepal. He’s sporting thin facial hair, longer hair, and he’s a few feet taller than before.

“That’s him alright.” Al says.

“Hey guys!” Peter says excitedly.

“How did it go? Are you a tough guy now?” Harriet asks.

“Yeah, it was really good. I learned a lot while I was away.” Al nods knowingly. Surmising that there’s much that has happened these past eight years that Peter may never speak of.

“Well Mr. Tough Guy, are you feeling hungry?” Al asks.

“Starved.”

“I know just the place.”

They begin walking to the car. Through the terminal.

“Then we should probably get you a haircut. Want to make a good first impression on Midtown.” Harriet says. Peter nods agreeingly.

They make it to a buffet. One of those that has every kind of food imaginable. A waitress guides them to a booth. Harriet and Al sit together and Peter sits at the other side. The waitress asks for their orders of drinks and they go one by one.

“Alright Pete, go wild. We’ll catch up.” Al says. Peter goes to the food bars excitedly with his stomach rumbling. He can’t pile on food to his plate fast enough. Taking a variety of meats, veggies, fruits, and starches. Al and Harriet go to get their food. They start with salads.

They reconvene at the table. Al and Harriet can’t believe the mountain of food on Peter’s plate.

“Did they feed you in Nepal? You’ve grown up so much.” Al says.

Peter smiles and eats with abandon. Bite after bite, he can’t seem to shovel it into his mouth fast enough. Now after his training, he’s pretty fast. Al and Harriet eat their salads at a much slower pace.

After three rounds at the buffet place and getting a haircut and a shave, Peter and his aunt and uncle arrive back home. Peter is grateful to be home. With the knowledge the man named Kravinoff passed down to him. He lays on the bed his aunt and uncle kept for him and falls asleep.

September 9th.

About a week later, it’s Peter’s first day at Midtown as a junior. He wakes up bright and early to prepare for school. Going through the morning routine and eating breakfast. A taste of the normal life that was taken from him the moment his parents died. Al comes downstairs.

“I can run you to school if you like.” He offers.

“Nah, that’s okay. I’m feeling like waking.” Peter says. The school isn’t very far away from the house. About eight blocks. He'll get there even faster with his newly acquired speed.

“Very well.” Al responds. “Have a good first day.”

“Thanks.” Peter says. He steps out the door and takes a few steps out to the sidewalk.

“Alright, let’s see what else you can do.” He says to himself. He leaps into the air ten feet. He leaps a few more times closing the gap of distance to the school in a few short bursts.

Peter decides to walk the rest of the way. For fear that someone could see him. He walks at a brisk pace. Bursting with excitement to begin his first day.

He arrives on the school grounds with a smile on his face. He takes a moment to look around at the students. He sees a black limousine pull in. A teenager with red hair steps out. His name is Harry Elliot. A kid Peter knew when he was younger.

“Pete? Is that you?” Harry asks.

“Yeah, man. It’s good to see you.” Harry comes a bit closer with a wide smile on his face.

“Well how the hell have you been? I haven’t seen you in almost ten years. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Peter returns his smile.

“Yeah, no. I’ve been good. Decided I needed a change of scenery and here I am. How are you?”

“Can’t complain. I suppose being the heir to a fortune five hundred company doesn’t hurt.” Harry chuckles. “Tell me, what have you been up to?”

“Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. I’ve been away for a while. Did something I felt I had to do. You know?”

“Yeah, I get what you mean. You got a girl?” Harry asks curiously.

“No.”

“Well, maybe you could meet a nice girl here. I could set you up with a friend if you’d like.”

“Oh, uh. No, thank you.”

“Suit yourself. I know some pretty girls looking for a boyfriend.” The two old friends walk inside of the school and continue their conversation. Peter looks around. Seeing various banners and posters on the walls.

“So, what class is first for you?” Harry queries.

“I’ve got Dr. Jones. How about you?”

“Mr. Warren. Well, it was nice catching up. I suppose this is where we part ways for now. Hey, maybe we could meet back up for lunch.”

“Sounds great. See you then.” Peter smiles. Harry walks off. Peter’s emergency sense suddenly goes off before a student nearly bumps into him.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you there.” A girl with mid-length black hair says. She has fair skin and green eyes.

“It’s no problem. No problem at all.”

The girl smiles. Her green eyes almost sparkling.

“I’m glad. Next time I’ll be more careful. I’m Selena by the way.” She extends her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Selena. My name’s Peter.”

“Peter, huh? That’s a nice name. You're going to Dr. Jones’ class, handsome?” Selena asks.

“Yeah.” Peter chuckles softly.

“It’s your lucky day. I happen to be going to that class too. Come on, I’ll lead the way.” Peter smiles and follows the girl. After a couple minutes, they reach the classroom. Peter sits on an empty desk near the back of the classroom. Around him are two girls and one boy.

The boy is a Latino American with brown hair. One of the girls is also Latina with the same colored hair. The other girl is half Asian, half Caucasian with red hair. Peter thinks that she’s particularly pretty. Maybe even more so than Selena. He looks away when he realizes he’s staring. But not before the girl catches his glance and smiles gently.

“Hi.” The girl says in a friendly tone. Peter looks back at her.

“Hi.” Peter responds.

“I’m Andrea. What’s your name?”

“Peter.”

“Nice to meet you, Peter.” The girl’s gentle smile remains.

“Nice to meet you too, Andrea.”

Dr. Curt Jones, the same man from the symposium eight years ago, walks into the room with crutches.

“Alright class, I believe it’s time to get started.” Dr. Jones says. “Nice to see your young faces after summer.” He says as he hops to his desk. He’s closely followed by a woman with short brown hair and brown eyes.

“For those of you who don’t know. My name is Dr. Jones. This is my assistant and my wife. The lovely Mrs. Jones. Welcome to AP science.”

The scene changes to a man stepping off a subway train. He has black hair, greying temples, and glasses. He’s carrying a brown leather suitcase. The man’s name is Gordon Jameson. He’s a policeman. A Lieutenant from the Chicago P.D.

Gordon walks through the subway. With thoughts spinning in his head about the change in setting. He thinks of his pregnant wife. Who he’s flying in on his money. She didn’t want her to deal with the New York subway system. He journeys to the airport in a cab to meet up with her. She’s due to arrive in about forty minutes. He thinks that he may grab a bite to eat while he’s waiting for her.

September 21st.

It’s a Saturday. Peter has just completed his second week at Midtown High. He’s outside the house in a light zip-up jacket. Doing some training. The young man breaks a bick by chopping it with his bare hand.

I’m not ready. He thinks to himself. I have the means, the skill - - but not the method. No. That’s not true. I have hundreds of methods.

Peter kicks into a tree. Snapping it in half with his mighty kick. But something’s missing. Something isn’t right. I have to wait.

Captain George Todd is sitting in his office at the NYPD headquarters. Waiting for Gordon to come in. It’s been two weeks since Gordon transferred from Chicago. His wife’s due date is in a few months. He’s just trying to do well and save up some money. He approaches the office.

“Come in, Jameson.” The captain says. Gordon walks into the office and sits on a chair.

“I have something we need to discuss.” George says in a calm voice. Gordon thinks he knows what it might be.

“Yes?” He says. Wondering if his question came off genuine.

“It’s come to my attention that you assaulted Detective Wesley.“

“Yes sir. I have.”

“Care to explain?” George asks.

“He’s dirty. Taking money under the table. I could use some money myself, but there’s a way of doing things. What he did isn't right.”

“So you took the law into your own hands.”

“Yes, sir.” Gordon says in a defeated tone.

“I’ve had a feeling that something wasn’t right. If you want to change things, you can’t just go in like a wrecking ball and brute force your way through it.”

“Sorry sir.”

“That’s appreciated, but don’t apologize. Wesley was an asshole. I never liked him. Now I know why.”

“So what happens now?” Gordon asks. Expecting to hear something he doesn’t like.

“Pending an internal investigation, Wesley’ll be suspended. As far as you’re concerned, I’m going to put you with another detective. Somebody that should be much more suited for a man of your sensibilities. Stan Bullock. He can be a bit of an…acquired taste, but I trust him.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. You’re free to go. No more funny business, you got that chief?” George motions to the door.

“Yes sir.” Gordon stands up and exits the room. Grateful that he wasn’t punished for his actions.

October 11th

Peter Wayne walks into a shadier part of town. The East end. He’s wearing a brown jacket and a beanie. It’s a Times Square for dirtbags and degenerates alike. The police aren’t as active out here. Something that the criminals of the city are acutely aware of.

He walks by dingy lights and signs that read “adults only“. The lighting almost gives it a pink tinge. Like some Hell’s paradise for sinners. Selena views the walking figure from out of a window. She wonders who it could be. She thinks to herself that it can’t be Vice. She’s all paid up. She supposes it must be some idiot out to get himself killed. The “idiot” walks toward a scene.

“I said give me the goddamn money!” A man shouts at a young girl. Who couldn’t be no more than eight years old.

“Stop it! Selena!” She yells out. Selena perks up at the mention of her name. She jumps out of the window with catlike reflexes. Meanwhile, Peter confronts the man.

“Leave her alone.” He says sternly.

“And what are you gonna do if I don’t?” Selena jumps down on her feet.

“Get out of here, Holly. Now.” Holly runs away.

“This.” Peter strikes the man in the chest. The man crouches over.

“What are you, crazy?” Selena asks. Peter looks over. Surprised to see that it’s Selena. He tries to hide his surprise. The man recovers and throws a punch. Peter narrowly dodges.

“Well, you might be crazy, but you have good reflexes.” Selena says. Peter strikes the man back in return. Rendering him unconscious.

Hit him too hard. He thinks.

“Just who the hell are you anyway?” Selena asks.

“Was that your sister?” Peter asks. Putting on a lower voice.

“Hey, I asked you first, buddy.” She sighs. “No. Just some girl I’ve taken a liking to.”

“I see.“ Peter responds. “What was that all about?”

“Who knows what that girl gets herself into sometimes. It’s a wonder that she didn’t stick him before you showed up.”

“Stick him?” Peter asks.

“She carries around a pocket knife. Can’t be too careful out here. I’ve been trying to raise money to get us out of here and closer to the nice part of town. When I’m not in school at least.”

“What do you do for work?”

“That’s not important. It’s none of you—“

“Hey! What are you doing out here?!” A man dressed in a police uniform shouts. He approaches Peter.

“Nothing, sir. Just making my way home.” He lies. Selena looks at him. Noticing the change in his voice. She could’ve sworn it was familiar.

“Well, be careful now.” The officer pulls out a gun. Selena gets into a stance. “Wouldn’t want you to get hurt.” Peter remains calm. His mind drifts back to that fateful night.

He’s no different. Peter thinks to himself. Just wearing different clothes.

“You got a problem, kid?“ Peter glares at him. “Tough guy, huh? Let’s see how tough you really are when a couple of these slugs are in your chest.” Peter doesn’t waiver. He knew there were going to be baseless threats. Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot.

“Oh for Christ’s sake!” Selena says. She swipes her hand across the officer’s face. Leaving behind a scratch mark. He wildly fires. A bullet hits Peter’s shoulder and falls to the ground.

Next thing, another officer rushes over. Noticing the scene. Selena briskly walks away.

“He needs a doctor.” The new officer says.

“Maybe after he’s booked.” The other policeman says. He pulls out handcuffs and puts them around Peter’s wrist.

“Any cash?” The other officer takes out Peter’s wallet. Only finding a couple one dollar bills.

“Couple bucks. No ID.”

Suddenly, Peter breaks the chain of the handcuffs. Subduing the officers quickly and with purpose. He’s bleeding. But not badly. Bullet still lodged in his shoulder. He decides that’s enough for the night and makes his way back home. Before his aunt and uncle get worried.

A while later. He climbs to the rooftop of the house and quietly opens his bedroom window. He closes it behind him with his adhesive foot. He quickly takes out a med kit and pulls off his coat. There’s blood soaking through his shirt. He flips open the box and pulls out a pair of tweezers.

Peter takes a rag and bites down on it. Gently taking the tweezers to his wound. It stings as it goes into the hole. He gives a grunt as he gets a good hold of it. With a quick move, he pulls it out. Frantically removing the cap of some rubbing alcohol and generously applying it to the wound. It stings. He bites down on the rag harder.

Now that the worst pain is over, he takes out a bandage and puts it over the gunshot wound.

That was stupid. I shouldn’t have gone all half-cocked like that.

He rummages through a drawer and takes out a fresh shirt. Removing his old one and putting it on.

They weren’t afraid. I need them to be afraid. But how?

As he thinks to himself. His mind quickly moves to how to remove the evidence of him sneaking out. He supposes that under the bed would be the best bet for now and he’ll take them out to the trash when he gets a chance.

I need them to fear me. I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve tried to wait. But I can’t wait another hour. I have the training. The money. But I don’t know what to do to make them afraid. How do I do it? Mother…father…send me a sign. Anything.

Then suddenly Peter feels a tingle in the back of his neck. It’s his precognition. A bat flies through the window. It screeches and Peter jumps to the ceiling. Hanging from the bottom. He watches the bat flap its wings around.

That’s it. My god, that’s it.

Despite Peter’s fascination with spiders, he’s always been afraid of bats. They’re scary, ugly creatures.

“Shoo.” He says quietly. “Get out of here.” He pleads with the bat. As if in answer the bat flies out of the window. Disappearing into the night.

That was scary. Peter takes a breath and drops back down to his bed. He stares up at the ceiling. If that scared me with all my training, then it should do the same for criminals. I’ll do it. I have to become something else.

October 14th

Peter goes to school like nothing happened. He checked his gunshot wound in the morning and it was already healed. He was already aware of his fast healing in Nepal. Any bruises and cuts he received healed in no time at all. He disposed of the bloody bandage in the upstairs bathroom.

Walking through the halls, he sees Selena again. He thinks back to seeing her a couple nights ago. Did she live in that part of town? What kind of danger do they face that a little girl has to carry around a pocket knife? He’ll make this city better. In time. Before he thinks about it any further, Selena comes up to him and greets him.

“Oh, hey there.” Her mood is happy. Jovial. As if what happened the previous couple nights made no difference.

“Hi, Selena.” Peter says lightly.

“What did you do last night, huh?” He was afraid she’d ask that.

“Oh, uh, I have a quiz coming up in English so I pretty much just studied for that.” Smoothe. What he really did was go out on patrol. Hanging to the rooftops in black clothing with his incredible jump. Looking for anything out of the ordinary. Something he could stop. But no luck. Maybe for the best.

“What about after that? You do anything fun?”

“Not really.” He says casually. “I went to bed pretty early last night.”

“Well, since you’re hitting the books so hard, maybe you could help me sometime.” He suggests with a hint of flirtation in her voice.

She’s different somehow. Her hands seem to be sweaty. She’s nervous. Could she know? How could she?

“Yeah, anytime.” Peter studies her closely. She smiles and brushes some hair behind her ear.

Oh.

“But my place though, alright?” Peter adds.

“I was going to suggest that anyway. I…I don’t think my parents would like me bringing over a stranger. Much less a boy.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“Sure is, cutie.” She winks.

Shit. If there was one thing he didn’t learn about in his eight years in Nepal, it was girls.

“I suppose we should head to class before Jones wigs out on us.” The two teenagers walk to class together. Selena staying close by.

October 24th. One week till Halloween.

Peter has caught word of a wrestling match coming into town. Competing, is a contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. A statute-esque man named Powerhouse Randy Rhodes. It’s not a regular match. It’s an open challenge. Meaning that anyone or anything could accept the challenge. Even someone outside of the company. Peter wants to do it.

In his room, he considers ideas for a name and a costume. He begins scribbling ideas down in a notepad. For names and for what the costume could look like. He thinks he wants to go the mysterious route. Maybe a mask that covers his face fully. Giving no hint at what lies beneath.

Peter thinks he wants the theming to be around bats. He has a couple designs for bat wings. But nothing he’s particularly attached to. He’s even considered something with spiders, but couldn’t quite crack that. He takes a break for now, thinking that he really should do his homework tonight.

Then after approximately an hour and half later. After completing all of his homework. He goes back to the drawing board. Then an idea strikes him for a mask. He draws a mask shape with two short ears on top. He then adds two bug-like eyes. He draws two oval shapes and caps it off with wings on the eyes.

He takes out colored pencils. Now thinking about the colors.

Alright, what colors to use? Black? Grey? Maybe a little General Guardian blue in there too?

He colors the mask grey. Then he adds black to outline the eyes. He adds in some blue accents. Then finally colors the insides of the eyes yellow.

“Ah. Looks good. But how do I make it?” He admires the drawing for a second while going over the options. He couldn’t ask Al to make it for him. He’d never allow it. But if he said it was for Halloween…

His aunt could help. She has a sewing machine. His sudden clarity makes him feel better about the whole thing. He could just wear his black vest and fingerless gloves to go with it. Maybe paint some sort of emblem on it to stand out.

October 25th.

The next night, the preparations are made. His aunt made him his mask. It’s almost exactly like he pictured it. He painted on some blue accents. Also added a couple yellow lenses. Just one more thing to add. The emblem.

He has his vest on a spare mannequin. He’s decided to spray a spider symbol onto it. He puts on a breathing mask and some goggles to guard his eyes. He takes out a can of white spray paint and aims it inside of the tape he’s applied. He shakes it and sprays.

As he sprays, he breathes out of the mask. He finishes coloring it in the lines of the tap. He takes off his mask and goggles. Then gently peel away the tape. It looks good, but has a couple uneven edges. One of the legs is a bit bigger than the others. But it’ll do.

As a final touch, he adds some blue accents with traditional paint. It feels right. As Peter looks at the vest, It almost feels like destiny. But what the young man didn’t know was what destiny had in store.

October 26th.

In the morning, Peter wakes up with a pep in his step. He takes a quick look at his mask and vest before going downstairs. His aunt and uncle are already in the kitchen. Coffee was made and Peter smells rice cakes. Peter quickly goes over to his aunt and kisses her on the cheek.

“Thanks, Harriet.” He says.

“Oh, you’re welcome. I know how much you like them.”

Peter grabs a couple rice cakes and sits down at the table.

“You know, I could get used to this.” His aunt and uncle chuckle. His uncle Al smiles. He’s been a bit more worried as of late. Peter’s seemed to be more private. More isolated. Other than that girl that came over last week, he hasn’t even seen him around friends. He figured that he should cut the kid a break because of what he’s been through.

Peter hasn’t said a whisper about what he’s gone through in the last eight years. Leaving Al to wonder just how intense the training was. Did it change him? If it did, was it for the worse, or for the better?

“Hey, Pete. I’ll run you to the library and you can print out that paper you’ve been writing.” Peter smiles.

“Really? Thanks Al.” Peter finishes up his rice cakes.

“Hey, Michaelangelo, why don’t you get your bag and start the car. I’ll be out soon.”

“Sure thing Al.” Peter quickly goes upstairs and packs his vest and mask in his back. He leaves a couple textbooks in there for posterity. He quickly comes downstairs and catches the keys his uncle throws to him. Al smiles. Impressed. Peter goes out to the car and puts the keys in the ignition.

“Harriet, I’m a bit worried about our boy. I just feel like he hasn’t been himself lately. He’s more private. More guarded.” Al says.

“Oh, he’s just a teenager. Even if he did something most teenagers don’t do. Maybe he’s trying to see what life could be like. Maybe he’s finally healing.”

“Yeah, but sneaking out at night? What does he get up to?”

“That’s just what teenagers do, Al. I don’t think there’s any need to worry. He’s probably just seeing that girl.” Al thinks about what she said. Thinking it to be plausible. Hearing her say it of all people, makes him feel a little better.

“You’re probably right. Hearing you say that, I should probably just relax. Might just be my paranoia kicking in.” Al walks over to Harriet and kisses her on the lips.

“I’ll be right back.” He says.

“You haven’t kissed me like that in years.” Harriet remarks. Al smiles one last time before stepping out the door and shutting it behind him.

“Alright, kid. Let’s go.” He says as he puts his foot on the pedal. Al backs out of the driveway and onto the street. The drive there is mostly silent. Save the classical music playing at a dull roar. Al was trying to think of what to say to the boy. They pull up to the library. Peter is about to open the car when Al speaks up.

“Wait, before you go. We need to talk.” Al says with a serious tone. Peter isn’t used to hearing him in this tone. He’s used to his dry English wit.

“What is it, uncle Al? Is everything okay? Oh God, are you okay?” Al smiles a bit.

“Yeah, Pete. I’m fine. It’s just that…I’ve been a bit worried about you lately. I mean, are you okay? I just can’t seem to get a read on you.”

“Yeah. I'm sorry if I feel a little…withdrawn. I don’t mean to worry you, I just need to focus on school for the time being.”

“Bullshit.” Al says. Peter looks at him with a worried expression. “Yeah, I know. I know you’ve been sneaking out at night.”

“You do? But how…”

“You forget I was in the military. I spent nights listening for enemies in Vietnam. That kind of thing just doesn’t go away. But I’m sure that you understand that.”

“Al, I —“

“You haven’t said a word about your training since you came back. Not since the day you returned. Did something happen to you? Something I should know about?” Peter’s heart beats faster. Should he tell him? About the training? About the spider? About everything?

“Okay. Fine. Eight years ago, the night my parents were killed, I was bitten by a spider. Not just any ordinary spider. It gave me these abilities. I’m stronger and faster than any boy my age should be. I can also leap from great heights.” Al gives a nod of understanding.

“You never went to the hospital?” Al asks curiously.

“Dad was going to take me, but it happened when we were walking to one. Then, the strangest thing happened. The pain just disappeared. I figured that whatever happened to my body that day already took hold. I went to a medic soon after arriving in Nepal. Everything appeared to be fine. I didn’t even have a bite mark.”

“What happened in Nepal?”

“I trained with a league of assassins. Under the tutelage of a man named Ra’s al Kravinoff.”

“Kravinoff?”

“Do you know him?”

“I remember seeing a program about him. He was said to be the world’s greatest hunter. There was no animal he couldn’t kill. He disappeared for a while, which I guess he went to Nepal.”

“He has these daughters. They’re both sixteen like I am. But there’s something…special about one of them.” Peter thinks back to the night he learned about Emma’s abilities. “His older daughter has these powers. She can read people’s minds, move things with them, and can turn her skin diamond hard.”

“I knew it. I knew General Guardian’s powers had to be real. The things he did. No man could do them.”

“Yeah. Superhumans exist. She’s something called an oddity. A person born with powers. She didn’t get them in an accident like I did. I wasn’t exactly supposed to tell you. Ra’s thinks that the idea of superhumans among us would frighten people. Maybe even make people hate us.“ Al nods his head understandingly.

“What about this Ra’s chap? Does he have any powers?”

“Not naturally, but he can make these potions to make him inhumanly strong and fast. That’s why he’s such a great hunter.”

“Alright. So magic potions and superhumans. Got it. Now, you have to promise me something.”

“What?”

“Your aunt. She can’t know about any of it. If she asks, just say you learned martial arts or something of the sort. You wouldn’t exactly be lying.”

“I promise.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Al sighs. “I know what happened to you was a tragedy and it made you want to do something about it. Heed my warning. Killing changes you. It splits your soul. I should know. I remember every man I killed in the war. That’s not justice. It’s revenge.” Peter looks at his uncle. “That’s why I never went back. I could’ve become a sergeant.”

“Did you ever regret it?” Al looks through the windshield into space.

“I do. But I can’t change it. Neither can you. This isn’t about me though. I know I’m not your father. I could never replace him. But I love you.”

“I love you too, uncle Al.”

“If you continue along this path, you’re going to make enemies. You’ll face losses no ordinary man could comprehend. Just make sure this is what you really want to do. There’s going to be sacrifices. Life is going to take things from you and it’s not fair. It just is. There’s nothing you or I can do that’s going to change that.”

“I want to do this.” Peter says seriously. “I know the risks, and I think they’re worth taking.”

“Just remember what I said. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’ll never lose me, Al.”

“With great power, comes great responsibility.” Those words hang in the air.

“That’s all I wanted to say. Now you can go.” Peter nods. He opens the car door and steps out to get his backpack from the back seat. He begins to question his little scheme. He actually goes inside the library. Al sits in the parking lot for a moment. Taking in this new knowledge of his nephew.

Peter considers just staying at the library. But he can’t. It’s as if some unseen force is pulling him away. It’s not about money or glory. It’s about the experience.

Peter makes sure his uncle has left and goes inside the bathroom of the library. He puts on his vest and mask. He steps out of the stall to look at himself in the mirror.

Damn, I look cool.

He then leaves his bag on the bathroom countertop. He finds a window to crawl out of. He leaps along nearby trees. Toward the stadium. He then leaps to the ground.

“Look, mommy. It’s a superhero.” A little boy says.

“That’s nice honey.” His mom responds.

Peter makes it to the stadium. He steps inside to a desk with a woman. She begins to read a waiver.

“You do understand that the AWL isn’t responsible for any kind of harm that comes to you?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then. Good luck, kid.”

“Thanks.” Peter steps into the locker room. He’s surrounded by these titans of men. Heroes of his childhood. Even Bonesaw. His favorite as a kid. A man dressed in a flamboyant tux walks in with a clipboard.

“It looks like you’re up next…Spider-Bat? The hell’s a Spider-Bat?”

“Oh you know, Halloween and everything.”

“Sure kid.” The man guides Peter to the stage ramp.

“Put on a good show for us. I dig the look by the way.” Peter nods and steps out. A man is in the arena with a microphone.

“Introducing first, the challenger, weighing in at 189 pounds: The Deadly…the terrifying…the Amazing Spider-Boy!”

Hey, that’s not my name. Oh well.

Peter is surrounded by lights. The crowd cheers him on as he walks to the ring. His heart is pounding. Despite his powers, he’s a little nervous. He wipes his shoes on the edge of the ring and climbs between the ropes.

“Introducing next: The champion. Weighing in at 235 pounds. Powerhouse. Randy. Rhodes!” His music hits and the crowd goes wild. The wrestler walks in with the belt around his waist. Peter had only seen such confidence in Ra’s.

Randy Rhodes steps over the ropes and gets into position. The referee goes to the middle.

“Alright, kid. I want a good, clean match. Just try not to get yourself killed and have fun.” Peter nods. The bell rings.

The two men meet in the middle of the ring and shake hands. Then, Randy Rhodes grapples Peter. Peter breaks free very easily. Randy smiles. He calls an audible.

“Come at me, kid. We have to make this thing look good.” Peter lunges forward with a shoulder tackle. The speed takes Randy off guard. But he seems to be enjoying the challenge.

Randy puts Peter in a headlock. Applying more pressure than his first grapple.

“Let this one sit for a moment.”

“Oh, okay.” Peter agrees.

A beat goes by and Peter breaks out of the hold again. Randy runs toward Peter and he leaps over his head. The crowd cheers.

“Whoa, how’d you do that!?”

“A little trick I picked up.” The two lock up and now Peter has Randy in his grip. Randy tries with all his might to break free but he can’t.

“Can’t…break…free.” The champion says.

Right. Gotta control my powers.

Peter lets up his grip a bit. Now Randy breaks free. He takes Peter’s arm and throws him into the ropes. Peter bounces back and pushes Randy to the mat. Randy recovers quickly and clotheslines the boy to the mat.

Peter pulls Randy to the ground by his ankles. Peter sets up on the top rope, does a backwards flip, and slams onto the Powerhouse. Pinning him to the mat.

“One…two…three! Call it!” The bell rings and stock music plays.

“Here is your winner…Spider-Boy!” The referee lifts Peter’s arm in victory.

I did it! I really did it! He feels the music pound in his chest.

Powerhouse Randy Rhodes gets up to congratulate Peter.

“Good match, kid. You might have a future in this. Who knows, one day that title could be yours.”

“Thanks.” Peter says.

“You’re welcome. Hey, don’t forget to get the prize money before you leave.” Randy gives another sportsmanlike handshake before exiting the ring. The cheers fill Peter’s ears.

Peter goes to collect the prize money.

“Here’s a hundred bucks.”

The ad said three grand, but whatever.

“Thanks.” The man hands him a hundred dollar bill.

“Sure, kid.” The man counts his money. Suddenly, a figure barges in with a gun.

Ugh. Guns. It’s always guns.

“Put the money in the bag.” The man is holding open a duffel bag. Peter’s mind goes back to that night. When the shooter said the same thing. Fate had just presented an opportunity. To stop a criminal from committing a heinous act.

Peter springs into action. Twisting the robber’s hand until he hears a pop. His wrist is most likely broken. The gun is dropped to the ground and Peter kicks it away. Two police officers rush in. One of which is Gordon.

“Put your hands on the ground and get on your knees!” Gordon shouts. His voice booming. His partner is a larger man. A bit more stout. It’s Detective Stan Bullock. The would-be burglar complies.

“Thanks kid, you did us a real service. We’ve been after this guy for weeks.” Stan says.

“Anything to help.”

“Just don’t make a habit out of this, alright?” Gordon says.

“Okay.” The man at the desk throws a band of money at Peter and he catches it.

“Take it!”

“Why thank you, sir.” Peter gladly accepts. A voice comes through Gordon’s walkie talkie.

“Come in, Lieutenant, there’s been a shooting outside the library, over.”

Outside the library? It’s not? No, it can’t be.

“Uh, I have to go.” Peter runs out of the room. Sprinting to the exit and leaping in the air to gain as much ground as possible.

No.

He rushes to the library.

No no no.

He moves faster than ever before. Even faster than he did hunting the snow leopard in Nepal.

NO.

He finally arrives at the library. Where he sees a crowd and police officers there. There’s a woman with black hair and a neat ponytail. She seems to be the officer in charge.

“That’s my uncle!” Peter shouts. He rushes over Al, who’s bleeding on the ground. Peter cries uncontrollably.

“Peter…”

This is my fault. He thinks to himself.

“I’m here, uncle Al.” He manages to get out. He holds his hand.

“Peter, you have to…you have to take care of Harriet.”

“I will, uncle Al.” The light slowly fades from Al’s eyes. Peter hugs his body and gently sets it back down. He gets back up on his feet. The woman officer looks at Peter.

Peter doesn’t say anything. He just walks back into the library to retrieve his bag. Then he disappears. From any police or prying eyes. He goes home. By himself. It’s a bit of a longer distance than the school.

When Peter arrives, he sees a cop car outside the house. He walks inside the house in his normal clothes. With his backpack strapped around him. Harriet is crying on the couch. George Todd is with her.

“I’m very sorry for your loss.” George says sympathetically.

“Oh hi Peter.” Harriet says between sobs.

“Hi, aunt Harriet.” He says solemnly. He walks closer to George. “Is there anything you can tell me?” He asks the officer.

“According to witnesses, the suspect seems to be below average height. Smaller than the average man, and wearing a cat costume.”

A cat costume?

“Anything about Al’s car?”

“Suspect drove off with it. They could be anywhere. Sorry, son. Wish I knew more.”

“Thank you.” Peter says. Peter sits next to Harriet and puts his arm around her.

“Oh, Peter…” She buries her face in Peter’s shoulder. George steps out of the house. Driving his car off into the night. A sadness fills the air.

He goes up to his room. An idea pops up in his head. He takes a battery and attaches it to a cylindrical metal device. There’s tubes around the cylinder. It’s a mold of his own design. There’s also a trigger mechanism that extends out. He takes out an experiment he was tinkering with.

It’s a vial of white fluid. It looks like a liquid. He pours as much as there is in the vial into the tubes. It’s just enough to fill them all. He takes another piece of the device and clicks it to his wrist. Making sure the metal is secure. He then aims at a wall and gently taps the trigger. A white web shoots out.

Perfect.

Hours later, after Harrier goes to bed, Peter sneaks out of his window again in his costume and new wrist device.

I’m gonna kill them. Whoever they are, I’m gonna kill them.

He shoots his web to a light post. It’s a line that acts like a rope. He pulls himself forward. Leaping higher than ever before. Before crashing back down, he shoots another web and swings from it.

It’s actually working. I can’t believe it’s actually working. But, there’s still the task at hand.

He practices swinging for a bit until he gets used to the rush. His swinging takes him into the city. It’s hustling and bustling. There’s lights everywhere. It’s almost too distracting. He scales a building to help clear his thoughts.

Now, where to start. Let’s see. I should be looking for Al’s car. It’s grey. Okay. Grey cars. He makes it to the top of the building. Well, here goes nothing.

Peter dives off headfirst and releases another line. Letting the swing carry him until he starts to feel the momentum slow down and fires off another line to maintain his momentum.

I’m getting the hang of this.

He continues to swing. The lenses protect his eyes from the wind. He feels a little more free like this. The rush is giving him even more adrenaline.

I suppose I should start by looking at abandoned buildings. The shooter would likely be holed up somewhere.

He shoots a line and yanks on it, making him zip through the air. It’s almost like flying. He finally sees a section of abandoned buildings and drops down to begin his search.

Aright, tingle. Don’t fail me now. It needs a better name than a tingle. Make a note of that.

He starts looking for any signs that could tell him where the assailant is. Anything out of the ordinary. He thinks back to his training.

This would be a lot easier if I had some kind of a detective vision. Maybe I should look into that.

He stops for a moment to close his eyes. Sharpening his hearing for any sounds in the abandoned building. It’s still. Quiet. He opens his eyes again and continues his search.

He perches on a platform to look around and finds his uncle’s car. It’s parked right outside a garage. He shoots a line of webbing where the car is parked. He strums it. Making it vibrate. Nothing. Peter crawls down the web like a trapeze artist.

So it’s strong. That’s good.

He makes it to the ground.

Hey, I wonder how long this’ll stay there. Lots to test out. Questions for later.

Peter finds an entry way into the garage. When he enters, he slinks into the shadows. When suddenly, he finds scratches where he’s crawling.

Claw marks. Cat costume. They’re here.

He moves to the ceiling and crawls like a creature of the night. He starts to sense someone in the vicinity. The more he crawls, the more he hears little sounds. He hears the faint sounds of someone sobbing. Could it be who he’s looking for?

Peter follows the sound until it progressively gets louder. It sounds like a woman. He finds himself in an open area and sees a figure crouched over in the shadows. He crawls ever closer stopping in his tracks as a light shines in. When the light dissipates, he continues to stalk his prey.

The woman is shaking as she sobs. Peter crawls down the wall right behind her. Making it to the ground and kneeling down.

“Who’s there?” She asks.

“Me.” Peter says quietly. The woman jumps up out of shock and screams. Peter takes advantage of the surprise and attacks. He punches her. Knocking her body down to the ground. He then kneels down to her and cocks his arm.

“Wait!”

“Why should I? You killed my uncle!” The woman stops sobbing.

“Your uncle? Peter?”

Oh shit.

Peter brings his arm down to his side. Now he has to know who this is. Someone that knows him.

“It is you, isn’t it? I’m so sorry sorry Peter, I didn’t mean to kill him. I just wanted a better life. A better life for her.”

The girl. Could this be…

Peter extends his arm slowly.

“I’m just going to remove your mask. I won’t hurt you.” The woman in the cat costume calms down and lets his hand take her mask. Peter removes it slowly.

It’s her?! How the hell is it her?!

Underneath the mask, is a young woman with mid-length black hair and green eyes. It’s Selena. He takes off his mask and has a shocked look on his face. Of all people, why did it have to be her?

“Peter.” She says simply. The two look at one another’s unmasked faces.

“I'm so sorry for what I did.” She begins to cry again. Peter came in ready for blood. But now the bloodlust has subsided.

“With great power, comes great responsibility.” The words of his uncle echo through his mind.

“Someone I knew once said that killing splits your soul. The person you killed.”

“Your uncle…” She grits her teeth.

“I can’t do it.” Peter says. “I just can’t do it.” Relief falls over Selena. “He wouldn’t want me to. He’d want me to let you go.”

“H-he w-would?” She stammers out.

“Yes.” Peter takes a deep breath. “I’m going to give you a second chance. For him. No matter what happens, I’ll never be a killer. I’ll never bring myself down to that level.” She covers her face with her hands.

“Where’s the gun?” He asks.

“I got rid of it. It’s in the river.” Peter stands up and puts his mask back on.

“Are you gonna turn me in?” She says with makeup running down her face.

“I’m no cop.” He says. He turns away and starts walking.

“I owe you.” He stops walking. “Whatever you want, whenever you want. I owe you.”

“Just…stay away from me.” He says with a lowered voice. Selena just sits there. He walks outside of the abandoned building. He shoots a web and pulls himself into the darkness of the night. Selena wipes her eyes and thinks of what to do with this second chance.

At the NYPD headquarters. Gordon is watching footage of Peter’s wrestling match.

“Pause it.” He says. The woman that was at the scene of uncle Al’s murder is with him and does as he says. It’s a still frame of Peter in his costume. Gordon stares at it.

“Officers reported the sighting of this man swinging through the city.”

“Swinging?” Gordon asks. The woman nods in confirmation.

“Get the sketch artist on this, Renee. We may have a vigilante on our hands.”

“Yes, sir.” Renee exits the room. Gordon continues to watch the match and sees the leap.

“Now that’s interesting.”