Arachnid: New Spiderman

[1st POV]

Six months later.

August 26 2004.

I was soaring through the skyscrapers of New York, reflecting on what had happened.

This summer had been hot. 

After the "The Warehouse Incident," I had to go deep secretive.

First, I mostly stay at high altitudes now, patrolling and thoroughly studying the buildings of New York. Secondly, my priority now is saving cats from trees and stopping small-time crooks.

I had been doing it all wrong from the start.

I made my first mistake when I only showed up at night.

To maintain the "Friendly Neighborhood" image, I should have been more visible during the day, flying around and building a solid reputation. 

Moreover, I'd have a steady stream of photos for Jonah Jameson.

It's not that I was scared… more like I was seriously concerned about the serious consequences. 

That's why I had to step back from any major activities, and most of my energy over these months has gone into training.

Thankfully, I've had a breakthrough with my Spider-Sense. Now, I'm not just sensing danger, but I can also track its source.

I honed this skill because an increasing number of people are hunting for my image to sell to various publications. 

Since I view them as a threat, it makes things easier.

The progress is definitely happening, even at a rapid pace, but it still feels like I've barely scratched the surface of what my Spider-Sense is truly capable of.

There have been significant changes in the relationship between Ben and May over the past six months.

I've tried showing them that Peter isn't as lonely as they're used to.

I tried to hide these changes by spending weekends with them, but eventually, they figured it out and started asking questions.

Ben was the first to confront me. He got worried I was hanging out with the wrong crowd, or worse, that I had gotten into drugs or something equally alarming.

Of course, I tried to shift the blame to school and work, saying I was chasing after Spider-Man and other newsworthy stuff. 

However, he didn't seem to buy it.

I've also become closer to Gwen, Miles, and Harry. 

We often hang out at someone's place several times a week. We usually hang out at Harry's place because there's the most space and we have the most freedom to do whatever we want. 

As I suspected, Norman hardly ever shows up at home. As for Harry's mother, she's often traveling across Europe and working with charities.

I'm not sure, but it seems like something might be developing between Miles and Gwen.

I also celebrated my seventeenth birthday.

So, everything was somewhat...

Suddenly, the alarm went off.

After clinging to the building, I watched two very familiar young people emerge onto the rooftop. 

"You're an idiot. Why did you trigger the alarm?"

"Shut up and run before the cops show up."

Suddenly, something quickly bound the right and left legs, knocking them down.

"Well, well, it's my favorite duo: Mario and Luigi, I mean Trapster and Bonebreaker. What are you guys doing here so late, huh?"

"None of your business, Flycatcher. Take him out!"

Trapster yelled, trying to hit me with a bag.

"Seriously? Where's your glue gun? Did the cops not give it back when they let you go?" 

I get silence in response.

"Really?"

"Shut up! I need supplies to build a new one."

"Yeah, they're right." 

I slap the "glue tube" in the face and slam him into the roof.

"Unlike that idiot, my brass knuckles are always with me." 

Bonebreaker cracked his fists together, "Let's dance, wall-crawler!"

"You know what, I think I'll pass."

I shoot a web at him, press the button, and unleash an electrical charge.

This is Electroweb. 

I spent a lot of time figuring out how to make it work, but it never let me down during practice.

I just need to carefully charge the web-shooter with the right connector and ensure the load is balanced so I don't fry the shooters. 

"Wait for the cops, guys." 

I stick them to the roof with the web.

These guys aren't top-tier, but I've handled them easily enough. In fact, I've run into them so often that they're starting to get annoying.

...

Well, as much as I'd like to fly a little longer, I should probably...

What's that?

A silhouette is moving on the roof below me. I descended and landed on the roof behind it.

Then I saw a dark cat-like suit and white hair, Black Cat, also known as Felicia Hardy.

I don't even know how to react.

"Meow, I thought this would be just a regular evening, but it looks like we're in for some fun."

"Well, I fly around New York often, but I've never seen such a hottie like you."

"Wow. I've recently returned to the Big Apple and heard about some Spider, but I never imagined he'd be such a tease,"

Black Cat said as she swiftly closed the gap between us, placing her hands on my chest.

The smell of her perfume suddenly hit my nose.

"It's dangerous for a lady to wander alone at night these days. Should I walk you home?"

"Sorry, darling, but I'm a cat who roams by herself. Although, if you want to keep me company..." 

She closed the gap between our faces, "...then catch up!"

Alright, let's play.

I ran after Kitty.

Jumping off the roof, he hooked a grappling hook onto the nearest ledge, soaring to another building.

A few seconds later, I caught up with her quickly, flying upside down.

"How's it going?"

Black Cat just smirked and jumped off. 

Then I followed her.

This felt like a dance or perhaps a flirtatious aerial gymnastics routine. 

With every movement and acrobatic pirouette, there was a spark, a flash of something between us. 

At the same time, Black Cat and I landed on the roof.

"That was fun, but you really should return what you stole," 

I said with a slightly relaxed tone.

"How did you figure it out?"

Black Cat's tension and anxiety were betrayed only by her slightly changed stance.

"A small bag behind your back. Usually, thieves use bags like that."

Honestly, I just made that up, but I had to cover up my "all-knowing" persona somehow.

"Wow, not only are you sexy, but you're also smart." 

She swayed her hips sexually as she moved closer to Spider-Man.

"Tell me, darling, why fight? If you want, I can share the spoils with you."

"That's a tempting offer, but stealing is not really my thing."

"Pity." 

She said in a deceptively disappointed tone.

Suddenly, the Black Cat extended her claws on her gloves and tried to unexpectedly attack me. 

Thanks to the Spider-Sense, this action came as no surprise.

"At least tell me what you stole. If it's the bills from the children's hospital, my conscience will be at ease knowing that I have to hurt a lady."

The girl abruptly stopped attacking, recoiling as if struck.

"Do you really think I could steal from children?" 

She said sadly, turning away.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that."

I approach the girl, placing my hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, she grabbed my arm and turned away.

"Don't be naive, pretty boy. And by the way, I would never steal from the innocent."

Pushing off from my body, the girl jumped off the roof, hooking onto a grapple and disappearing behind the building.

Alright, I'll scold myself later; it's time to head home.

...

After changing, I head downstairs.

"Hey everyone, I hope I'm not late for dinner?"

"Peter, I'm glad you made it, but why are you wearing those clothes?"

"Uh, what should I be wearing for a regular dinner?"

"Did you forget? We're going to Anna's for dinner. Her niece, Mary Jane, arrived today."

"So hurry up, champ." 

Uncle Ben said.

Without wasting a second, I ran upstairs at full speed.

I quickly pulled my best and only tuxedo from the closet and put it on. It used to look ridiculous on my skinnier frame, but the fabric nicely highlights the mass I've gained.

Then I went downstairs.

"You look great, Peter."

"I see you decided to properly prepare for the meeting with young Miss Watson, huh?" 

Uncle Ben winked at me.

"You figured it out by my hair?"

"You've always been a mess.'

After joking around, we walked a few meters between our houses and knocked on the neighbor's door.

To be continued...