New York lay beneath a canopy of stars, surrounded by a vast dark expanse like a beast ready to swallow it whole. The lights flickered weakly, struggling against the encroaching darkness.
In this dimly lit area, the streetlamps cast only pale glows over the shadowed streets. With autumn's arrival, the nights began to carry a chill.
Suddenly, a frantic figure burst onto the silent street, clutching a pistol, panic etched across his face as he glanced nervously over his shoulder.
Out of nowhere, a short, round figure intercepted him.
"What the hell are you!? Why are you following me?" he shouted, his nerves frayed, aiming his gun at the unexpected figure, especially unnerved by the eerie clown mask.
"Hey, no need to be scared. It's just a mask! Why are you so afraid of clowns?" came a voice from the masked figure, who then removed the clown mask.
The man's fear escalated at the sight. Beneath the mask wasn't human.
A panda stared back at him. The bamboo hat cast shadows over the panda's face, and its exposed teeth made it appear more menacing. Coupled with the clown mask, the sight drove the man to panic.
"Am I that scary?" Barry, the panda, asked, seeing the man's breakdown and screams. He was bewildered, never having seen someone so terrified by his panda face.
The burly criminal, now reduced to a sniveling mess, cursed and pulled the trigger in vain, the gun clicking empty.
Barry brought the clown mask closer, puzzled by the man's escalating fear. Finding him noisy, Barry extended his bear claws, shooting spider silk from the wrist guard to seal the man's mouth and bind his limbs.
Soon, the criminal lay trapped on the ground, splayed out like a starfish.
"Maybe the description in English characters is more vivid..." Barry shrugged, wondering why the man reacted so intensely. He stepped forward and knocked the man out with a gentle slap.
"Good points +6"
Peter, who had been watching, finally joined Barry. He'd seen everything unfold.
Landing beside Barry, Peter eyed the clown mask thoughtfully.
"That might be a good tactic," he mused, stroking his chin.
"This?" Barry asked, holding up the clown mask he'd picked up from a nearby amusement park. Unexpectedly, the criminal seemed terrified of it.
"Do you want to be Spider-Man the Clown? Sounds interesting," Barry suggested.
"No, using urban legends with clowns could cause panic. And Spider-Man the Clown is a terrible name," Peter shook his head.
"How about Pigman?"
"Pig? How do you associate me with that?" Peter looked at himself, slightly offended.
"Just brainstorming."
"Then maybe I shouldn't add spider silk to your wrist guards," Peter teased.
"...Fine, Spider-Man it is," Barry conceded. He needed Peter's help for clothes and spider silk refills.
---
"Let's call it a night. It's almost dawn," Peter said after their series of ventures. He noticed Barry had become more agile, his movements more refined. The panda no longer moved clumsily; instead, he exhibited elements of martial arts.
Of course, with increased agility came increased destruction. They'd damaged streetlights, park sculptures, vehicles, and building windows along their path.
Peter hoped the damaged vehicles were insured, dreading the next day's headlines.
But these were minor issues. Peter admired Barry's unique approach and even considered learning from him.
"Alright, I'm going camping with Gwen tomorrow, so I better head back early," Barry nodded. The owl landed nearby, hooting as if reminding him of something.
"Oh, right, you haven't fed it yet," Barry said, placing the owl on his head and addressing Peter.
Peter considered the bear and owl duo, then said, "Take it to my house. I'll grab some pork chops from the fridge and refill your spider silk."
"Great, with this reward, it might introduce more animal friends to help us—delivering messages, scouting, gathering info."
"Better than going solo," Barry suggested earnestly.
Peter pondered the idea but shook his head, considering his finances. "I can't afford to feed more animals. I still owe you that meal, and I'll need to work extra jobs to cover it."
"Sounds tough."
"I think you're mocking me," Peter sighed. As a panda, Barry wanted for nothing, while Peter struggled for freedom.
"I'm not earning for others, so I'm not mocking you," Barry said with a smirk.
---
After their usual banter, they left using spider silk, heading home.
It was around three or four in the morning. Except for Asian businesses, the streets were dark.
Peter opened a window, letting Barry and the owl in, then quietly closed it behind them.
"Guu..." The owl began to hoot as Peter turned on the light, but Barry quickly covered its mouth.
"Shh... keep it down," he whispered, placing the owl in his palm and bringing a finger to his lips.
Once the owl nodded its understanding, Barry turned his attention to Peter, who was removing his suit.
Beneath the mask, Peter's face bore new bruises and small cuts. Despite his spider sense, unfamiliarity with his strength led to minor injuries during their encounters.