C343 Spider-Man (Patreon)
Content
Peter and Lily soared through the air, their bodies gracefully gliding across the New York City skyline.
Their vibrant red and blue spider suits caught the attention of pedestrians below, eliciting awe and whispers of admiration.
But as they approached their destination, a closed-off construction site in Hell's Kitchen, their suits swiftly morphed, the colors fading into a sleek, dark black. The transformation signaled a shift in their purpose, an imminent covert mission.
After all, Spider-Man couldn’t be seen with the Hand. Even if they’ve been a force for good for a few years now.
The duo landed silently within the confines of the construction site, their feet touching the cold concrete with barely a sound.
The area was shrouded in darkness, broken only by the dim light of a few industrial light posts.
Peter's keen senses detected a presence lurking in the shadows, and before long, they found themselves surrounded by a circle of masked figures.
Each one donned the traditional garb of the Hand ninja, their eyes piercing through the darkness as they knelt before the father and daughter.
Years ago, Peter had subdued these very ninjas and emerged as their leader.
A title he hadn't sought, but one he had embraced to ensure that the Hand would never cause him any trouble again.
The ninjas, bowing their heads, addressed him. “””Black Sky!””” They spoke the name they bestowed upon him.
As the ninjas knelt, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. Unmasked, his piercing gaze met Peter's, and he knelt before him, paying homage to the man who had reshaped the Hand.
This was Scythe, one of the Fingers. Individuals whom Peter had strategically placed in positions of leadership within the Hand to reshape the organization into something more than a ruthless killing machine.
Scythe rose from his kneeling position, his gaze shifting from Peter to the young girl at his side. "Princess," he addressed Lily, a note of reverence in his voice.
Though this was the first time they had met in person, her invaluable aid and instruction helped in things like securing permits and acquiring the land for the excavation they were about to witness.
Her remarkable hacking skills had proven instrumental to the Hand's endeavors.
With pleasantries exchanged, Scythe extended an arm toward the construction site.
"Allow me to guide you." He invited, his voice showing a mixture of excitement and respect. "We’ve unearthed the dragon graveyard, thanks to the Princess's efforts. It is a sight to behold."
Curiosity flickered in Peter's eyes, but he turned to his daughter, offering her the choice.
Lily's face lit up with anticipation, her young heart brimming with the same adventurous spirit that had driven her father ever since he arrived in this world.
With a nod, she accepted Scythe's invitation, and the trio ventured deeper into the construction site, their steps echoing faintly in the night.
Following Scythe, the father and daughter duo arrived at the entrance of a tunnel, which was illuminated by rows of wired lights.
Lily, stood beside her father, her entire being vibrating with excitement and wonder.
With each step, guided by Scythe, the duo ventured deep into the tunnel.
Soon enough, the sounds of bustling city life faded away. The air grew cooler, carrying a faint scent of earth and mystery.
Lily's small hand gripped her father's gloved fingers tightly, her anticipation reaching a whole new level.
Finally, after walking for a few minutes, the tunnel opened up, revealing a vast and awe-inspiring cave.
Its seemed to stretch into infinity, adorned with ancient stalactites that hung from the tall ceilings.
But it was not the cavern that captured their attention. It was what lay within.
Peter's eyes widened, his breath hitching in his throat.
There, strewn across the floor and partially hidden within the visible walls, lay the petrified remains of immense dragons. Their skeletal structures, though frozen in time, maintained an astonishing level of detail.
It was as if these magnificent creatures had been waiting patiently for this moment to be discovered.
Lily's infectious excitement bubbled over, and she darted off, her feet echoing softly on the cavern floor, weaving between the giant bones.
She marveled at the massive ribcages that sprawled across the ground, the elongated spines that seemed to go on for miles, and the delicate wings that lay gracefully folded by their sides.
Scythe smiled. "Welcome to the dragon bone graveyard, princess." He said.
Peter watched his daughter with a smile as well.
He had known this discovery would captivate her, but he hadn't expected her enthusiasm to reach this level.
He moved forward cautiously, his fingertips grazing the smooth surface of an enormous dragon skull.
With a simple touch, Peter could feel the latent energy (Chi) left behind in each bone.
As Lily's exploration continued, Peter's gaze shifted to the surrounding walls, where even more dragons peeked out, as if they stood on their own two feet.
Time seemed to stand still within the dragon-filled cave as the two marveled at their discovery.
As Lily's laughter echoed through the cavern, Peter couldn't help but smile. His daughter looked like a little archeologist, who just uncovered some dinosaur bones.
“Good work, Scythe.” Peter said to the man standing beside him.
“Thank you, sir.” Scythe replied dutifully. “But we couldn’t have done all of this without your daughter's help. Her assistance was invaluable.”
“Either way, good job.” Peter patted the man on the shoulder as he walked over to Lily, wondering what he should do to reward her.
“This is so cool!” Lily exclaimed as he stood next to her.
“I know, right?” Peter nodded in agreement as he doted on his excited daughter. “Why don’t we explore a bit more before packing up the bones?” He asked.
“Okay! Follow me!” Lily leads the way, rushing around the cave with her father following close behind.
...
After spending an hour oohing and aahing at the many Dragon skeletons, Peter got straight to work.
With a few simple spells, he was able to pack up the bones and safely send them through a portal, where they’ll be stored for the time being.
It didn’t take more than half an hour.
And by the time he was finished, the entire cave seemed to lose every ounce of wonder that it once held, leaving it completely empty.
——————————————
After emptying the cave, Peter and Lily bid farewell to Scythe and the Hand Ninja, leaving Hell’s Kitchen behind.
As they swung through the towering city, enjoying the moment for a little while longer, a piercing scream echoed through the air.
Peter and Lily abruptly landed on a rooftop, their heads turning in unison toward the source of the sound.
Wordlessly, their eyes locked, a silent understanding passing between them.
Without a moment's hesitation, Lily dashed off in the direction of the anguished cries.
Peter froze for a moment, unsure if he should allow his daughter to get involved in this. After all, this was only supposed to be a night out together, not some crime-stopping adventure.
Shaking his head and taking a long breath, Peter pursued his spirited daughter.
He knew she was still learning the ropes, quite literally, but he decided to let her do as she pleased.
He wouldn't stop her. At least not yet.
Instead, he would keep close and safeguard her from the shadows, ensuring her safety.
Moments later, the duo arrived at a modest family-owned restaurant, its windows shimmering with warm, golden light.
Above it lay a small apartment, an unsuspecting residence for the family who owned the restaurant below.
Taking a more detailed look, Lily found a team of masked figures clad in ominous black attire, their every movement precise and deliberate.
After breaking into the family home, the unknown team came storming out with a thrashing child in hand.
‘Is this a kidnapping?’ Peter's eyes narrowed, his senses heightened.
He absorbed every detail, noting the terror etched on the faces of the parents as they valiantly resisted their attackers.
But these kidnappers possessed a cold, calculated efficiency that overwhelmed the desperate efforts of the innocent parents, rendering them defenseless.
It was then that Lily sprang into action, her small frame ablaze with determination. Swift and nimble, she utilized her acrobatic skills to outmaneuver the masked criminals.
With each well-placed strike, she subdued her opponents, her spider-like abilities lending her a formidable advantage.
‘Damn... When did she get so good?’ Peter watched with a mix of awe and apprehension, positioned at a vantage point that allowed him to intervene if the situation spiraled out of control. ‘AI’s are just too overpowered...’
It just wasn’t fair.
In a flurry of movement, Lily managed to incapacitate the kidnappers, rescuing the frightened child in a matter of seconds.
The parents, battered but relieved, rushed forward to grab their little girl, their gratitude evident from the tears in their eyes.
They embraced their daughter tightly, grateful for the mini Spider-Mans intervention. “Thank you!” The mother cried.
As the commotion subsided, Peter dropped down beside his triumphant daughter, a warm smile hidden under his mask.
He patted her head affectionately, a blend of pride and concern radiating off of him.
"Good work." He praised softly in admiration. "I don’t think that I could find a single fault in the way you handled that situation even if I wanted to."
Lily beamed up at him, happy to see that her father was impressed.
As Lily was preoccupied with her father's words, Peter looked over at the kidnappers target, wondering why these masked men would want to take her.
Though he wasn’t left wondering for long.
Just with a simple look, Peter instantly understood.
‘She’s a Meta-Human...’ His eyebrows raised in surprise. ‘Which dumb motherf*cker thinks that they can kidnap Meta-Humans in my city?’
——————————————
“Achoo!”
Across the city, in an abandoned laboratory, a tall, athletic man with a menacing demeanor sneezed, his shaved head shining under the rooms lights.
[Insert picture of Ajax/Francis here]
“Ooh! My spider senses are tingling!” A handsome yet disheveled man spoke, strapped to a hospital gurney. “Someone must be talking about you, Francis.”
[Insert picture of Wade Wilson here]
A/N: 1701 words :)