Peter slung himself around Manhattan, searching for anything that could be a problem. A dog barking could be at Venom, a person falling down could be his next victim. Anything. The web slinger stopped against the side of the Oscorp building, on a floor he was glad to see was vacant. He peered around the city, squinting at every flash of light. Then he saw it, a police siren, a buzz of blue and red.
Peter jumped from the building as hard as he could, and shot a web that attached itself to a gargoyle. He flung himself forward, attempting to overtake the police. It was him. It had to be. It was him, or some street punk, and if it was, Peter needed the situation calm, he'd be happy to web him up and send him to the police. The mayor had released a statement that morning saying that he and the police of New York were searching for the criminal who had killed the Punishers, but Peter knew better. Either he or shield would have to take care of everything.
When he finally passed the cop car, he saw nothing on the ground for them to be chasing. That must mean it was Venom, crawling across the skyline! Spider-Man looked at the sides of the streets, and saw nothing clinging to the buildings. As he continued slinging along, he saw what it must be. Looking up, he saw the Vulture, flying high in the sky.
In a rage, Peter slung himself on top of a building. In one shot, he webbed the villains contraption, making his flight impossible. Peter then leapt off the roof, and shot a web across the street, catching his former enemy before he hit the ground in what could have been a fatal fall.
"Toomes," Peter growled as he threw the villain down. "What have I said about you showing up in my damn city?" The villain rolled over, and Peter saw his face for the first time. He was old, ancient even. He had always been one of the older enemies of Peter, but he looked like he could die from a gust in the wind.
"And just what the hell kind of life do I have anywhere else huh? Should I go to Chicago, and get my hide skinned by the Avengers? Or should I go to California, and have Doctor Strange come out of retirement just to kill me? You're the only one Spidey. New York is the only place where anyone can get anything done." Spider-Man was again glad his mask hid his face. It showed shock, Doctor Strange had passed away three years ago, and the Avengers had their Headquarters moved to Orlando some fourteen years back. The man had lost it.
"What if I just kill you Toomes?" Peter lifted the old man, if he was crazy, he was more dangerous. "You won't do it," the Vulture said, spit flying onto Peter's mask with every word. "You're too soft." Peter tightened his grip.
"I told you, you come back, and somebody'll kill you." In a flash, Adrian Toomes changed from a weak old man to a powerful presence. "Then do it! I'm an old man Spider-Man! In my prime I destroyed Mafia empires and fought toe to toe with Octavius. Now my niece comes to see me and asks the nurse if I've stopped shitting myself in bed at night! I'm done being taken care of. So just give me over to the police, because you don't have the balls to end me." As quick as it had come, the fire was gone.
The cop car slid to a stop behind Peter. He lifted his right fist, preparing to kill for the first time, but he couldn't. Even for something that could very well be mercy, Peter couldn't kill a man so weakened by age. It wasn't in him to take a life. Instead, he ripped the harness off of the old man, and caught him as the strength left him. Without a word, he handed his old body over to the officer who ran out of the car, and leapt into the sky.
It was almost midnight in central park when James waited for Dinah. He looked up at the stars, and marveled at them as he did every time. Oscorp had done a great thing when they began work with the Nova Corps on cleaning up Earth's pollution, and it had been a great success. He hadn't seen a star until he was fourteen and his family went camping in Vermont, and now his kids were going to get to look at them every night.
God, was he thinking about kids? Two years ago he wouldn't have even considered marriage. Now he waited in Central Park, right next to the Turtle Pond, engagement ring in his pocket, for the woman he wanted to propose to. Life sure was funny. All of a sudden, he heard a piercing scream. After a moments hesitation, he took off in the direction of the yell. It had sounded like Dinah.
In a moment of relief and horror, he saw that it wasn't. It was a man, who looked homeless, being eaten by a large black body seemingly covered in darkness. Terrified, James turned, and began to yell for help as he bolted in the opposite direction. After a few moments he heard the clamor of feet, and something that was like a pant and a chuckle all at once. Then, a pair of massive teeth sunk into his skull.
Darrius Merryweather adressed the people of New York the next morning. "Breaking news, four dead bodies, two men, one woman, and a male child were found in horrible condition in central park last night. Authorities were alerted after several screams were apparently heard from within the park, and it is believed to be the work of the same criminal who struck two nights ago. The mayor says police are continuing the search for the criminal, and has even called in Shield for assistance. Meanwhile, Peter Parker, owner of the Daily Bugle and CEO of Oscorp and Rand, has personally donated even more money to his charity, and payed out of pocket for the funeral arrangements for these four latest victims, their names are as follows…"