So I know I said I was finished with this story, but one Guest pointed out that I completely left out Spidey, and I had to come back and make that chapter. So Guest, whoever you are, thanks for reminding me, and this is for you!
It never got old. Sure, it was a little crowded at times, and the people were an interesting bunch… scratch that it was really crowded. Stan was out taking his daily walk through Times Square, strolling down the sidewalks and staring at the flashing billboards. It never got old. Something new happened every time, whether it was a flashy celebrity being chased down by paparazzi, or vendors on the streets offering 'free' items.
And some days, like today, the citizens of New York got a special treat. Looking up into the bright blue sky, free from clouds, Stan saw who the town had dubbed 'the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man'. Stan stopped walking and stood in the middle of the wave of people and watched the web-slinger swing from building to building, his red and blue suit standing out like a sore thumb. Even with the hero being so close, only a few people noticed. Crowds with their nose in their phones didn't even see him, and the few who did could only get out an exclamation before being drowned out by the moving city.
A few people muttered angrily at Stan as he stood in the middle of the sidewalk, but Stan just watched with a smile at the superhero. Stan had run in with Spider-Man a few times, he even saved Stan's life a few times. He knew there were other heroes out there, flashy ones and one that stayed private, but they all got the same job done: keeping their town safer.
The web-slinger waved to a small crowd of college kids in the center of the square before disappearing out of Stan's sight behind a skyscraper. He shook his head and continued his walk, his hands in the pockets of his jeans and whistling happily. Today had been a good day, nothing was going to ruin his mood as he turned down a less crowded street and was finally giving a chance to breathe. He liked the crowds, but sometimes it felt like they were smothering him. Stan didn't notice anything peculiar as he continued his walk until the ground seemed to rumble under his feet and he ran to one of the buildings beside him for support. He heard a few small explosions and the tell-tale sounds of a fight, and two police cruisers blasted down the street next to him.
There was an unofficial protocol for the citizens of New York, if there was a fight going on, you needed to get inside and get safe. So along with the other people surrounding him, he ran into the building he had been next to and crowded around the TV attached to the wall of the inside. Everyone held their breath as a shaky news camera caught the fight happening on the street not far from them: Spider-Man was taking on Rhino next to a bank, and it wasn't a fair fight.
Rhino had nearly tripled in size from the last time people had seen him, and he was giving Spider-Man quite a beating. Soon the superhero learned that he wasn't going to get any hits in, so he started playing on the defensive. He swung around Rhino, the bulky metal suit not being able to react fast enough to the superhero. Stan turned away for a moment when multiple people ran into him, more people packing into the store to try and watch the battle, but when he looked back up, Rhino was on the ground and Spider-Man was standing next to him, police swarming the place. The crowd cheered, on the video and in the store, and Spider-Man gave a small wave. Stan's eyebrows bunched together in concern as the hero was more hunched over than normal, but the mask covering his face gave no hints on how he was.
Stan left the building when Spider-Man slung a web and pulled himself off the street, disappearing. Stan tried to tell himself it was nothing, that it was just the camera, and the hero had just fought Rhino, not an easy opponent.
Stan decided his walk could go on a slightly different route this time, just to check in the area. Spider-Man had done so much for the city, so there was no stopping Stan if the heroes needed help every once and awhile. So as he walked down the street where the police were currently taking Rhino away, Stan kept his eyes peeled. He was almost at the end and seeing nothing, he was mostly satisfied until he reached a long alley and saw a flash of red and blue.
He walked past the alley but had to double back, taking a quick look at the street around him to make sure it was clear of prying eyes, before running down the alley. Spider-Man was sprawled out on top of some cardboard boxings, unmoving. Stan approached cautiously, hands out at his side, trying to be ready for anything.
"Hello? Spider-Man?" Stan cleared his throat and walked closer, looking carefully over the hero. His suit was torn and ripped in multiple places, but you couldn't even tell from the distance because the red blood that replaced it blended in perfectly. When he got even closer, his mouth dropped open in shock when he got a glimpse of Spider-Man's face, the mask he normally wore loose in his hands. He was just a kid, a teenager. His head was hanging backward into an open box, leaving his neck at an awkward angle as the boxes barely bent at his weight. Blood ran down the side of the kid's face from a cut on his temple, and a large bruise was blooming on the opposite cheek. Stan shot a glance back to the alleyway, where people were starting to walk by again, and he decided he needed to do something.
Carefully, trying not to hurt the kid too much more, Stan got his hand under Spider-Man's shoulders and dragged him off the boxes and around the corner of the alley so they were out of sight. By the time Stan had gotten him laid flat on the ground, Spider-Man's eyes fluttered and his head rocked side to side slowly, signs of him starting to wake up. Stan took a few steps backward to let the kid do this naturally, and with a groan, Spider-Man's eyes opened and he sat up on the concrete. It took a few minutes for Spider-Man to realize that someone else was there, and with a quick glance to the mask in his hands, his mouth dropped open in a gasp. Quickly Spider-Man tried to get his mask back on his face but stopped halfway through when he tried to move his arms but couldn't do so with fiery pain shooting up his arm.
"It's okay, kid, I'm not going to hurt you," Stan said gently and crouched down to the hero, who had grabbed his injured arm and moved backward until he was pressed up again the brick wall behind him. "My name's Stan, I'm a friend."
Spider-Man stared at him, seeming trying to figure out if he could trust him or not, before nodding slightly.
"What happened?" Stan asked quietly as Spider-Man tried to flex his fingers with a hiss of pain.
"Rhino," the kid said, his voice quiet and hoarse from the fight. "Knocked me around a few too many times. Tried to swing away, and I felt some pops and I was falling." He paused to look around him in the alley. "I don't remember hitting the ground."
Stan nodded as the kid shifted to try and get comfortable. "Do you have a phone I can borrow?" He asked Stan and he pulled it out of his pocket, handing it to the boy. No more than a few minutes later, the caller picked up and Spider-Man explained his situation, sighing in relief when the phone call finished and he shut his eyes. He let one eye open again when he realized the man was still there, watching him.
"Thanks, Stan, but I'm good. I got someone coming to pick me up, you can go." Stan looked at him like he was stupid, but Spider-Man insisted. Triple checking that someone was coming, Stan finally got up and started to walk again, even though it was against his better judgment.
"Wait, sir," Spider-Man said and Stan watched him carefully. "Can you, uh, not tell anyone that-" words seemed to stop working after that, so he just waved towards his face. A smile went across Stan's face and he nodded.
"You got it, kid. Don't worry about it, I can keep a secret."
After he was sure the man walked away, Peter Parker shut his eyes and cursed himself for being so stupid. Why he took his mask off, he had no idea, but now someone knew about his identity. Before he had more time to ponder the consequences of his actions, the familiar noise of repulsors filled the air and Iron Man flew down to the ground next to Peter. Immediately, the helmet hissed off and Peter sighed.
"Hey Mr. Stark," Peter greeted, meeting the concerned eyes of the billionaire with a feeble smile. "Thanks for coming."
Tony reached down and pulled Peter up off the ground, getting him in a good position where he could hold him and not injure him anymore. "Anytime, Pete."