"...My name is Skye. So, are you the famous Evan Li?"
Though Evan seemed a bit harder to approach than expected, Skye still tried to make conversation. "I hear you teach at the school as well. Should I be calling you 'Professor'?"
"Skye?"
Evan straightened up, sizing up the beautiful woman before him. After a quick assessment, he smiled. "So, are you interested in becoming a superhero?"
Seeing Evan finally pay attention to her, Skye tossed her hair back with a smile. "Is this some kind of superhero quiz for joining the club?"
The two of them seemed intrigued by each other, and their conversation naturally flowed.
But the crowd waiting behind them couldn't hold back and started voicing their impatience.
Skye chuckled, looking a bit embarrassed. "Looks like we're causing a scene here."
She handed Evan her contact info and made a call-me gesture. "Let's pick this up later, Li~"
"I've got an idea—why don't you wait in the lounge area for a bit?"
Evan asked Skye to wait a moment, then headed into the club room.
Inside, Peter and Ned were curiously examining various Ghost-Spider-themed gear.
Seeing them, Evan eagerly approached. "Hey, Peter, Ned. You both just joined the club, right? I'm sure you're eager to get involved!"
"Definitely, Li! Is there something I can do?" Peter raised his camera. "I could take pictures... maybe even catch some shots of Ghost-Spider."
"No, no, that's too dangerous. Wherever Ghost-Spider shows up, there's trouble," Evan replied, clapping him on the shoulder. "I've got a simpler, safer task in mind. You too, Ned."
A few minutes later...
Peter and Ned, now seated at the registration desk, exchanged looks of mild exasperation, facing the middle-aged man in front of them.
Peter: "Name?"
Ned: "Age?"
Phil Coulson: "..."
Phil had taken an interest in the club after learning that Skye, someone on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, wanted to join. However, the less-than-thrilled attitudes of these two teens were... unexpected.
Can this group actually recruit members? Or maybe they're just using the club as a cover for something else? Coulson's agent instincts kicked in—something told him he should keep an eye on them.
...
Meanwhile, nearby...
Skye looked around with curiosity.
Evan had taken her to a high-end coffee shop with an artsy ambiance. Soft piano music played in the background, and art pieces decorated the walls.
Skye leaned in, her voice low. "I don't mean to be rude to the shop owner, but I have to ask, Li—do you think these paintings are real or replicas?"
"The one under bulletproof glass in the corner, 'Morning in Vienna,' is real. Also, the 'Moon' inside the hall and the 'Bat' by the front desk…"
Evan casually listed them. "Aside from those, the rest are just decorations. Putting original art by the window? That would be inviting thieves and robbers."
"A true art expert." Skye took a bite of her cherry cake, smiling. "It's amazing you can tell at a glance~"
There was clear admiration in her tone; impressive men were always attractive.
"Well, there's another reason I know—"
Evan gestured to the piano player to switch to a more romantic tune. "I own this café."
Skye blinked, then offered him a spoonful of her cake with a playful smile. "You trickster! Were you waiting to surprise me?"
"Well..."
Evan was about to reply when suddenly—
[Gwen Stacy's nemesis detected nearby—"Green Goblin" Norman Osborn]
[Gwen Stacy's rival detected nearby—"Rhino" Alexei Sytsevich]
What?!
Before he could react, a figure crashed through the glass door of the café. Rhino, shaking off shards, looked around and growled, "Spider! I'm going to crush you!"
"Oh!" Skye covered her mouth. "That's Rhino, the super-villain—they reported on him in the news!"
"I think we'll have to continue our talk later." Evan turned to the shattered doorway, peering out. "I've got something to handle here."
Skye quickly grabbed her bag. "Should I call the police? Evan, why don't you leave with me? It's not safe here."
Call the police? George Stacy couldn't handle this kind of situation, but I can save his daughter.
Evan had already spotted Gwen swinging between skyscrapers in the distance, with Norman Osborn in pursuit on his Goblin Glider. She was facing more than one enemy tonight.
...
If you find any mistakes in the chapter. Please point it out in the comment section and I will try to correct them as soon as possible.