Finally, he was going to see Mary Jane's performance in person. Afterward, he'd give her a rose, she'd be touched and kiss him, and then he'd have to decide her place or his?
The more he imagined it, the more elated young Spider-Man became. He couldn't help bursting into song:
"Back to where it all began,Your youthful face, so bright and grand,We've arrived at this day at last,The old photo tucked in the past,So many memories interlace,Today the boy meets the girl face-to-face—"
Wait... he messed up the lyrics. One more time!
Scooting cheerfully along, a bouquet of lilies in hand, young Spider-Man had no clue danger was speeding up behind him. In a stolen car barreling down the street were two robbers who had just hit a gold shop.
Now in a desperate police chase, the robbers were completely unhinged crashing into anything, hurting anyone in their way. Up ahead were two options: a taxi and young Spider-Man's little scooter.
They chose the scooter.
Because his powers had weakened, young Spider-Man didn't sense the oncoming car until it was nearly upon him. By the time he realized, it had already slammed into the rear of his scooter.
He barely glanced back before instinct kicked in. With the reflexes of a wild dog, he launched himself off the scooter and flipped to safety. The scooter, however, was obliterated beyond recognition.
Two kids by the roadside, stunned by what they'd just seen, dropped their ice creams in shock.
"How did you do that?"
young Spider-Man shrugged with a grin."Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, don't waste toilet paper and of course, eat your vegetables."
A kid in a headscarf blinked and said,"My mom says that too, but I never believed her."
young Spider-Man didn't stick around. The two lunatic robbers were already wielding shotguns, blowing up police cruisers left and right.
He darted into an alley, unzipped his backpack, and changed into his skintight suit mid-run. A burst of webbing later, he was soaring through the city, swinging from building to building like a modern-day Tarzan.
A police car with a blown tire was about to flip and crush a crowd. young Spider-Man acted instantly, he shot a web from over thirty meters away, latched it onto the vehicle, and yanked it to a halt against a wall.
A Black woman, eyes shut tight and braced for death, opened them to find herself untouched 0.01 centimeters from disaster. Before her, a glimmering strand of web held the wreck in place.
She'd always feared bugs, spiders, and snakes but in that moment, the web gave her a sense of safety, like being wrapped in layers of invisible armor. Nothing could get through.
After saving the crowd, young Spider-Man didn't linger. He left behind a flash of heroism and raced after the fleeing robbers. They drove like maniacs mowing down anyone in their path, smashing cars, and opening fire on cops without hesitation.
Even if a brick wall stood before them, they looked ready to crash right through.
Dodging a spray of bullets, young Spider-Man shot twin webs and disarmed both men. With a flying leap, he landed in the back seat of their convertible.
"Hey, fellas. Playtime's over."
"Go to hell!"
One robber yanked a knife from his boot and lunged at him.
young Spider-Man 's expression darkened."There are two things I hate most people insulting my mom and anyone going near my junk."
While the robbers stared in disbelief, he snatched the knife, then stabbed it deep into the man's thigh. Judging by the spray of blood like a geyser, it must've hit an artery.
Without flinching at the screams, he webbed them both and strung them up on a streetlamp like a pair of grotesque marionettes.
As the now-empty convertible sped forward, young Spider-Man glanced at it and thought of his poor destroyed scooter. He sighed, hopped into the driver's seat, and gunned it toward Broadway in the Broncos District.
Half an hour later, the car screeched to a halt in front of Broadway's entrance. He grabbed a suit jacket from the passenger seat and threw it over his costume.
A quick flip, and he was out of the car, sprinting toward the door. A patrolling officer raised a hand.
"Hey, buddy, leave that car there and I'm towing it!"
young Spider-Man exhaled."Be my guest. If you don't tow it, you're slacking off!"
He checked his reflection in the glass doors hair slightly disheveled, but by his standards, that counted as neat.
As he approached the entrance, a security guard stepped in front of him.
"Your shoelace is untied."
"Oh...thanks!"
He crouched to tie it.
"And your tie, too."
The guard pointed to his own collar as a hint.
young Spider-Man chuckled and adjusted his tie."Need a hand?"
The guard still blocked the way."I'm here for the show," young Spider-Man said, pulling out the ticket pack Mary Jane had given him the night before.
The guard shook his head."Sorry, sir. No entry once the performance begins, it's to avoid disturbing the audience."
young Spider-Man nearly lost it. Lately, everyone at Stark Industries treated him like a VIP. Even interns from Harvard and Cambridge were sneaking him flirty glances.
He hadn't been treated like a nobody in ages.
Still, out of respect, he kept his cool."Mary Jane's a close friend. She invited me personally."
He thought, That should be enough to shut you up. You're just a doorman. Who are you trying to impress? Careful, I'll file a complaint.
But the guard didn't even blink."Sorry. Miss Mary Jane didn't invite you to be late."
young Spider-Man clenched his fists."I was trying to be nice. But make no mistake I will see this show tonight. Now move."
He shoved the stone-faced guard aside and barged in.
Rules were fine until they got in the way. The strong make their own rules.
If Aetheris had been there, he might have even applauded. This kid, raised to follow rules too strictly, was finally reclaiming his own will.
The guard stumbled back, stunned by the force. Who knew someone so average-looking could be that strong?
"Sir! You can't go in!" the guard shouted, even as he fell.
young Spider-Man burst into the theater, every pair of eyes turning toward him. Embarrassed, he gave a small nod of apology.
(End of Chapter)
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