Chapter 22: The Visit of the Shadow Spider
The Bat that Peter Parker spoke of had just returned to Queens. Since morning, the stream of people coming to mourn the fallen Spider-Man had not slowed at all. Even the space in front of Bruce's rented house now had a small crowd gathered.
"Hey, man. If you're here to pay respects to Spider-Man, I suggest you go to the back of the line," a large man said, seeing Bruce approach the front. He reached out and gave Bruce an annoyed push.
But instead of moving Bruce, the push resulted in the man's own wrist being caught in a flash. In one smooth, almost dance-like motion, Bruce twisted the man's arm and pinned him face-down to the ground. It happened so fast that the people in line only saw a blur before the man was immobilized.
The crowd immediately took a step back, making a wide circle around Bruce and the downed man.
"First," Bruce said, his voice calm and low, "I am trying to go home. You are standing in front of my house. Second, do not touch other people without permission."
With that, Bruce pulled the man back to his feet. He held the man's arm firmly. "This may hurt for a moment. Bear with it."
Before the man could process the words, Bruce gave a sharp twist and a solid push. Pop. The man's shoulder, which had been dislocated by the takedown, slid back into its socket. A second later, the delayed wave of severe pain hit, and the man gasped.
Bruce patted the dust from the man's shoulder with a surprisingly kind smile. Then he walked past him toward his front door.
The group of young women waiting further back in the line watched the whole scene with wide, excited eyes. A man who was that polite, that strong, and moved with such grace was practically the perfect mate in their minds. In a country where anyone could get a gun, what good was hand-to-hand skill? They didn't care. As long as he was handsome and capable, that was enough. Being rich was a bonus.
Bruce clearly fit the first two. As for the last, some with a keen eye could tell his suit, while not bespoke, was a quality, mass-produced label—not something an average person could afford. The only odd thing was his choice of neighborhood. But that was a mystery to be solved later.
The small commotion naturally drew the attention of May Parker, who was still receiving visitors at her door. But the well-experienced Aunt May took it in stride. In this city, people shot each other over parking spots. A little scuffle was nothing. Still, it reminded her that this spontaneous memorial had gone on long enough. It was nearly evening. Her neighbors would be coming home from work, needing to rest. The crowd was becoming a disturbance.
"Thank you all so much for your kindness," May called out, her voice warm but firm. "But it's getting very late. Everyone should head home now and get some rest." She gave a final, gentle wave.
True to their nature as Spider-Man's fans, they were understanding. The next person in line, a large man with a booming voice, smiled at May. He then turned to address the crowd behind him.
"That's it for today, folks! We'll come back tomorrow. Just remember to get here early. I'm beat, and I'm sure Aunt May is too. Let's be considerate!"
His voice carried, and though a few people at the back grumbled after waiting so long, they began to disperse peacefully and quietly.
Bruce, having just stepped out of his shower and witnessed the end of the scene from his window, had to admire it. Just like that friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. His fans were considerate, too.
But it wasn't just May and Bruce who saw the earlier scuffle. The Shadow Spider, who had been keeping a protective watch over May Parker from the Parker house, saw everything. That simple, powerful counter. The efficient, clinical way he'd reset the man's arm. It all cast a veil of mystery over Bruce in the Shadow Spider's eyes.
What was a man who could move like that, who went for midnight runs and handled himself like a seasoned fighter, doing living in a modest neighborhood like this? The Shadow Spider didn't know. But from every angle, he felt a duty—to the memory of the dead Spider-Man and to the city—to assess the potential risk. He had to know if this man was dangerous.
"I'm going out for a bit," the Shadow Spider said to Peni, who was happily munching on cookies in May's living room.
Though young, Peni could sense the seriousness in his tone. She put her cookie down. "Is everything okay?"
"Just going to check on something," he said, and with a silent leap, he was gone from the window.
Peni felt a twinge of worry. She hoped the Shadow Spider wouldn't run into something he couldn't handle. But he was still a Spider-Man. She had to believe he could handle most things.
Bruce, in the middle of his evening workout routine in his sparse living room, was instantly aware of the presence that landed softly in his small backyard. After buying the house, he had set up a discreet but comprehensive sensor network. It was alerting him now.
To avoid all the perimeter sensors so lightly... in this neighborhood, only a Spider-Man could manage that.
Bruce stopped his exercise, grabbed a white towel, and wiped the sweat from his face and neck. He walked to the back door and pulled it open.
There, standing in the dim evening light, was the black-and-white clad Spider-Man.
"You're not an insomniac," the Shadow Spider stated flatly, his first words. He was remembering Bruce's performance from their alleyway meeting.
"And you're not just a Spider-Man fan, either," Bruce replied, not bothering to deny it. He turned his back, drying his neck with the towel, and walked into the house.
He left the back door open, an implicit invitation.
"Aren't you going to come in?"
The Shadow Spider, unsure of what game Bruce was playing, stepped inside out of a sense of duty. He needed to know if this man was a threat. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the scattered, well-used fitness equipment—weights, a pull-up bar, a heavy bag. It confirmed his initial thought: no obvious superpowers here, just extreme, disciplined human training.
Everything else about Bruce Wayne remained an unanswered question. And the Shadow Spider didn't know how much time he had in this world to find the answers.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan 20% off for a week
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
✨✨ I'll release an extra chapter for every 5 reviews! ✨✨🥳🥳 For every 50 power stones! 🥳🥳
Lets hit the goal of 30 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
I believe we can do it!