"Hey, you look like you got mugged."
Jackie quickly recovered, eyeing Charlie's disheveled state with pity. He pulled a coin from his pocket.
"Take this. Buy a burger. Just a little help between folks from the East."
Charlie's mouth twitched at the single dollar.
"That's the going rate around here?" He accepted it anyway.
Jackie squinted, smiling. "Knew it. First time here, huh?"
He patted Charlie's shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Making a living here's not like back home. You gotta learn English first. But when you're cursing, do it like you just did—they won't understand, and you'll take fewer beatings."
Jackie rambled on until a young voice interrupted.
"What are you doing? They stole our talisman! Stop them!"
At the street corner, Jade glared at the chatting Jackie, fuming.
"Go!"
"Uh, oh, right, right!"
Jackie snapped out of it. He was being chased—no, robbed.
Following Jade's pointing finger, he locked onto a group of black-clad men.
Their leader, a massive guy, held the stolen talisman.
"No escape!!"
Jackie let out an exaggerated yell, then charged across the street with his bowlegged gait, nimbly weaving through traffic. His moves were comical but effective.
Soon, he launched into a textbook flying kick at the black-clad men.
Onlookers gasped in awe.
Jade's eyes sparkled.
"Jackie, go!!"
BANG!
Her cheer was cut short as a beefy hand grabbed Jackie's throat, lifting him like a ragdoll.
Jade: "…"
Charlie: "…"
Not his finest hour.
The burly Tru grinned. "You jump high," he praised.
Jackie forced an awkward smile. "You're pretty tall too."
He swung a sudden kick at Tru's lower half.
Whoosh~~
A breeze passed as Jackie's leg flailed mid-air.
Too short to reach.
Jackie: "…"
Tru looked puzzled. Jackie scratched his head, chuckling. "I used to play soccer."
He swung again, and a size-45 shoe flew off, smacking Tru's face.
"No!"
Tru yanked the shoe off, a footprint plastered on his face, looking ridiculous.
His other hand was now empty. He realized too late.
"He stole the talisman! Chase him!"
Tru shouted, and the black-clad men swarmed Jackie.
Surrounded, Jackie glanced around, then scrambled up a streetlamp pole.
Hahaha! "Come on, catch me!"
The black-clad men couldn't climb, and Jackie got cocky.
But Tru's fist snapped the pole, and Jackie's grin froze as it wobbled.
"Uh-oh, bad luck, bad luck."
As he teetered, he tossed the talisman to Jade.
"Jade, catch!!"
"I'm on it!!"
All eyes locked on the airborne talisman.
Jade sprinted, never looking away.
But a man appeared, snatching it mid-air.
"What?" Jade gasped.
"What?" Jackie gasped.
"What?" Tru gasped.
"What?" The black-clad men gasped.
"What's this?"
Charlie glanced at them. "Time for close-ups already?"
Muttering, he switched to a basic nano-suit and turned to Jackie, now in Tru's arms.
He pointed at Tru and his crew, righteous. "Let him go!"
Tru: "???"
He instinctively dropped Jackie, who hit the ground.
"Ow! That hurts~" Jackie rubbed his sore backside. Tru raised his hands. "I let him go."
A black-clad man snapped, "Why should we listen to him?"
Tru blinked, then growled, "Yeah, why should we?"
"Because of this!"
Charlie clenched his fist, then flashed forward. His loose sole flew off, landing in Jade's hands.
Jade: "???"
She blinked, staring at the beaten Tru and his crew, still confused.
"What just happened?"
BANG!
Three seconds later, Tru and his men hung from a streetlamp by webbing, wailing. The Invincible Spider-Man raised his right hand to the crowd's applause.
"Thank you, I'm Spider-Man! Please support me, thank you~~"
A spotlight seemed to shine on Charlie.
The golden pistol at his waist trembled, and Fin Fang Foom warned, "Snap out of it! Don't let this world seduce you!"
"What?" Charlie's eyes cleared.
He looked at the crowd, stunned.
"What did I just do?"
"You turned into a comedic sidekick," Fin Fang Foom said.
Charlie frowned. "Some weird force is messing with me."
"Of course."
Fin Fang Foom sighed. "I went through it too. Ever felt like you're about to rule the world, spout a bunch of nonsense, then get defeated by the hero? I was that unlucky sap."
Charlie: "…"
"So I'm one too?"
"Probably."
Fin Fang Foom cautioned, "Be careful, extra careful. Don't underestimate anyone, even normals. They could ruin our plans."
"I know. Normals can rival gods."
Charlie spotted Jackie squeezing through the crowd.
Jackie eagerly approached. "Your kung fu's amazing! Can I have my stuff back?" He eyed the talisman in Charlie's hand.
Charlie glanced at it, recognizing the totem.
"It's the Chicken Talisman. Don't give it to him—it's our target," Fin Fang Foom whispered.
But Charlie smiled and tossed it to Jackie.
"Back to its owner."
"Thanks."
Jackie tucked it away, grateful. "You said you're… Spider-Man, right? Cool name. You protected District 13. Yup, District 13's safe."
Charlie's mouth twitched. "Yeah, District 13's safe. Can you treat me to dinner?" He removed his mask, shocking Jackie.
"It's you!"
"Yup, me, the Invincible Spider-Man!"
"Uh, so Spider-Man's a beggar? Got it."
Jackie looked profound, tilting his head 45 degrees to the sky.
"The legend's true. A roadside beggar might just be the world's greatest master. My teacher didn't lie."
Charlie's forehead veins pulsed. "Even if you won't feed me, how about some clothes?"
Jackie snapped back, chuckling. "No problem." He turned to Jade. "Jade, let's go. We made a new friend."
He slung an arm around Charlie, chatting as they walked.
"Mr. Spider-Man, where's your kung fu from? Why do I see webbing? Is it the legendary Thousand Spider Poison Hand?
No, they weren't poisoned, and you don't seem like a bad guy."
"It's my superpower."
"Oh my God, a superpower! How'd you get it?"
"Got bitten by a spider."
"Heavens! Jade, you said there was a spider in your room. I'll clean it up later."
…
Chinatown, Uncle's Antique Shop
"Hey, Uncle, guess who's here?"
As Jackie brought Charlie in, the bespectacled old man behind the counter glanced up.
"Who's here?"
"My new friend." Jackie patted Charlie's shoulder, proud.
Jade jumped in. "He's Spider-Man, a guy with superpowers!"
"Superpowers?"
Uncle adjusted his glasses, sizing up Charlie.
"You wear such tight clothes. Not hot?" he asked curiously.
Charlie shrugged. "Nano-material. Warm in winter, cool in summer, with a urine filter. Wanna try?"
A glint flickered in Uncle's cloudy eyes. "High-tech, huh? That's your superpower?"
"Nah, my superpower is sensing… pfft, I mean, this!"
Charlie clenched his fist. "Ever seen a fist the size of a sandbag?"
Uncle looked disappointed. "Just a street hustler."
"No, Uncle," Jackie explained. "He helped us get the talisman back."
"Oh?"
Uncle took the talisman from Jackie. "Thanks, young man."
He stashed it, then eyed Charlie. "From your look, you want a place to crash, maybe mooch some food and drink, right?"
Charlie stayed silent. Jackie gave a thumbs-up. "Uncle's sharp."
Uncle side-eyed Jackie. "After all these years, I've seen it all. Guessed it right away."
"Uncle, can he stay?" Jade's big eyes pleaded. "Please, let him stay! I want a web hammock tonight!"
Uncle hesitated, turning away dramatically. "Fine, but…"
Before he finished, Jade high-fived Jackie, ignoring the rest.
"Yay! Uncle said yes!"
"Yeah, Jade, Mr. Spider-Man can stay!"
"I'm Charlie, Charlie Parker. Call me Charlie, classmate."
"You're still in school?"
"Nah, just never got a diploma."
"Oh, poor guy. Sleep in my room tonight, and teach me your fist technique. I saw you take those guys down in a few punches. Your kung fu's awesome."
"No big deal. Strength works miracles."
"Web hammock! Web hammock! Charlie, classmate, make it quick!"
"Alright, I'll head to your room…"
The trio laughed and headed upstairs, leaving Uncle talking to himself.
"You can stay, but you gotta clean, watch the antiques, no pay. If you do well, I might make you a full employee. Oh, and leave your high-tech suit. I just wanna study it, don't get me wrong. I'm not after your clothes. One more thing…"
No response. Uncle turned to find the shop empty.
Huff~
A cool breeze blew through the window, ruffling Uncle's sparse white hair.
He shivered.
"Brr~ So cold."
…
In a dim room, an evil dragon coiled atop a statue, its eyes glowing with malevolent red light.
"Failed again, you useless worms!"
Shendu roared, and the Black Hand gang before him trembled.
White-haired Valon glanced at Tru. "Spill it. What happened?"
Tru eyed Shendu, then said honestly, "We had the talisman, but a guy called Spider-Man showed up and took it. He's strong. My strength couldn't match his."
"Hm?" Valon frowned. "Stronger than you? You sure you're not lying?"
"No, no, I hate lying as much as I hate fish." Tru shook his head frantically.
Convinced, Valon turned to Shendu, whose red eyes flickered.
"Lord, what's wrong?" Valon asked.
Shendu paused, then sighed.
"He's here. That guy's finally here."
His laugh was sinister, yet gleeful.
Valon waited, not probing, letting Shendu continue.
Shendu's smile faded. "Keep an eye on them, especially Spider-Man. I want their every move."
"Yes!"
After Valon and the others left, Shendu 's red eyes dimmed.
"Spider-Man… perfect. Fin Fang Foom, your backup's here. Time for me to break this seal!"
…
The Next Day, Uncle's Antique Shop.
"Charlie, classmate, time to clean."
Early morning, Jackie handed Charlie his prized blue sweatshirt and brown jeans. "No need to be shy."
Charlie glanced at Jackie's identical outfit, exasperated.
"You got no other clothes?"
"Of course, but this is my favorite combo."
"I prefer red and blue."
"Oh, I get it. Your suit's that color. I'll find you some."
Jackie soon returned from the street with a new outfit for Charlie, then handed him a broom.
"The shop doesn't keep freeloaders. You know."
Charlie swatted the broom away and walked out.
"Cleaning? Why do it myself?"
He formed hand seals, and a Spider Totem shimmered briefly. Radiant light particles swept through the shop, turning into a whirlwind that funneled dust into the trash.
Jackie gaped at the magical display.
"What's that?"
"Magic!"
Uncle emerged, his face grave.
"Didn't expect you to know magic."
Charlie released his hands, the particles vanishing, leaving the shop spotless.
"Yup, magical Spider-Man, at your service!" He bowed.
But Uncle's face darkened, pointing at an antique vase. "Where's the flower on the vase?" he growled.
Charlie scratched his head. "Uh… washed off."
Uncle roared, "Go get it back!!"
"Don't freak out, I'll look—no, that vase is fake. Gotta be. Real ones wouldn't wash off."
"You didn't use water, you used magic!!"
"Sorry, but I'm starving. Can I eat breakfast first?"
"Go now!!!"