Time to accept another request. A Spider-Man and Yuri chapter, to be specific.
But please no more requests. I only accept requests when it suits my story. I have so many ideas of my own that I really want to finish. I can't do that if I'm constantly accepting requests. So, please, PLEASE, let me breathe. Just let me breathe. And by "let me breathe", I mean please let me do my own thing. Thank you. (inhale... exhale... inhale... exhale) Sorry if I sounded rude, but... satisfying people's requests is more stressful than writing my own stuff.
A/N: Just writing "Spider-Man said in a gruff/gravely voice" is getting repetitive, so from now on, if you see "Spider-Cop said" after a line of dialogue, it would mean that Spider-Man is speaking in his Spider-Cop voice.
Please leave a review after reading. Give me your full, honest opinion. I would really, really appreciate it.
I'd like to thank the following users for reviewing the previous chapter: Felipe Montenegro, ENDDRAGON369, CG, ZOE, BigDragon500, lindleya1
To Felipe Montenegro: You're welcome.
To CG: Easy with the recommendations, please. I can't keep stressing about meeting demands. I would really like to get back to writing my own stuff. Also, I'm not really sure about your new recommendation. I can't keep writing "What if?" stories. I want the characters to move forward, not look back constantly. The main reason I accepted the "What if MJ got bitten?" request is because we were both curious about that.
To Dcarus: I don't understand your review, but I do know that there's a Black Cat DLC coming. I'm waiting for it before I start writing about Black Cat in this story.
To ZOE: Don't worry. Some time after the Black Cat DLC comes out, I'll be writing my first Black Cat chapter.
Just another day for Spider-Man to swing around Manhattan. It's been practically quiet today. Not much crime except a mugging and a home invasion. So, he thought he'd settle down, hang upside-down from a construction crane, and check on his Twitter profile. Just your usual praises, a few criticisms, and some strange requests. And, of course, the rumors, including the romantic rumors between him and Captain Yuri Watanabe. As if the rumors of him and Silver Sable weren't enough, now the media has suspicions that would lead them to finding out that Yuri is partners with Spider-Man.
"Thanks a lot, Jameson," Spider-Man said with bitter sarcasm. "And speaking of Jameson..."
A new episode of Just the Facts just came out. As always, Spider-Man chooses to listen to it. He just loves and hates to listen to his #1 hater, no matter how laughable his theories are or how infuriating his hatred towards him is..
"What are the odds he's gonna talk about me and Yuri?" Spider-Man wondered.
Jameson started. "For the past few weeks, rumors have been crawling all over the internet about a possible romantic connection between that menace Spider-Man and the NYPD's Captain Yuriko Watanabe."
"Pretty high," Spider-Man said, answering his own question.
"We have an officer from the NYPD who is willing to give us insight on the possibilities of these rumors being true," said Jameson. "Speak!"
"So, last time Spider-Man spoke to Captain Watanabe was when he stopped a hostage situation yesterday," said the officer. "They sounded pretty chummy. I listened in and he mentioned something about buying her flowers for a ball."
"That was a joke," Spider-Man explained, even though no one could hear him.
"Anything else?" asked Jameson.
"Well, Captain Watanabe said that she would say yes if he got himself a nifty suit," said the officer. "And before he left, Spider-Man asked her if she loves him."
"Love doesn't necessarily have to mean something romantic, you know!" Spider-Man complained. "Also, Yuri was being sarcastic. At least, it sounded like she was."
"This is truly disturbing, folks," said Jameson. "Spider-Man could've hit on any other woman in this city, be it a crazed fangirl or some girl from high school, if he's the creep that I keep saying he is, but out of all of them, he chose to flirt with one of our city's most respected officers of the law. Even worse, it sounds like Captain Watanabe actually entertains the idea of a relationship. SHE HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO HIS FALSE CHARMS!"
"Well, the ladies do love me. I don't blame Yuri if she does, but I prefer if she was just playing around and not being serious," said Spider-Man. "I have a girlfriend, people. Okay, so they don't know that, but still..."
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing," said the officer. "I mean, isn't it nice if they really are in love?"
"Don't you get it, officer? He is targeting the top of the police department just so he can get leeway for his reckless actions," Jameson theorized. "This is only logical explanation as to why she pardons him for all the property damage he causes. Get back to work, officer, and replay this episode to your captain."
"Actually, she's a regular listener to your talk show," said the officer.
"In that case, Captain Watanabe, if you're listening... SAVE YOURSELF!" Jameson shouted.
And so that ends another episode of Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson. Or more like, "I Hate Spider-Man with J. Jonah Loudmouthson," as Spider-Man once said. He jokingly though it would be a great replacement name for the show.
"Oh, Yuri, I really wish you didn't listen to this stuff," said Spider-Man.
Just as Spider-Man was about to call Yuri, he got an alert from the crime towers. Fisk Thugs were spotted in a van heading to the Upper East Side. Suddenly, Police Commissioner Aaron Nicholson, who happened to be close to the scene, contacted his officers and told them that it was just teenagers playing dress-up for some Spider-Man fan film.
"A Spider-Man fan film? Hey, I wanna see," said Spider-Man.
Spider-Man swings his way towards a warehouse on the Upper East Side to get a sneak peek on this Spider-Man fan film. Perching from a street light, he found the car where the supposed Fisk thugs were riding in. These Fisk thugs seem to be trying to hide from plain sight. They didn't look like teenagers. They were grown men. And they don't even have cameras or any film equipment in the trunk, just guns. Real guns.
"They don't look like cosplayers," said Spider-Man. "Maybe I should intrude on their little gathering..."
Spider-Man sneaks into the warehouse through the ventilation system. He comes out of a vent and hangs upside down from the ceiling in a very dark corner to spy on Fisk's men until he's ready to make his move. They seem to be waiting for someone. That someone came in right now, wearing a trench coat and a hat.
"Sherlock Holmes called. He wants his clothes back," Spider-Man joked.
When this man took off his hat, Spider-Man recognized him. He uses the zoom function of his camera to get a better look at his face and snaps a picture.
"Isn't that Commissioner Aaron Nicholson?" Spider-Man wondered, confused. "Wait, is he in bed with Fisk? Okay, don't word it that way, Peter. Try that again... the NYPD commissioner is working for Fisk?"
Spider-Man had to tell Yuri about this. So, they set up another meeting at the Chinatown precinct rooftop. Yuri almost choked on her gum when Spider-Man showed her the picture of Commissioner Nicholson having a meeting with Wilson Fisk's thugs. She couldn't believe this, but what she was seeing was real. He wouldn't come to her with this if it was just some joke.
"Are you okay, Yuri?" asked Spider-Man.
"Oh, no. I just found out my boss works for Fisk. Why wouldn't I be okay?" Yuri replied sarcastically.
"Sorry," Spider-Man apologized.
"What were they talking about?" asked Yuri.
"They were talking about getting some of Fisk's men to infiltrate your ranks," said Spider-Man.
"More corrupt cops on the force is the last thing I need," said Yuri. "How are they planning on doing this?"
"By using some guys who have no criminal record other than minor offences such as illegal parking," said Spider-Man. "I mean, let's face it. No one among Fisk's men have empty criminal records."
"Well, I'm not gonna let this happen," said Yuri. "Did they say anything else?"
"Besides the usual Spider-Man-can't-stop-us, no-one-will-suspect-a-thing kind of stuff, not much else," said Spider-Man. "Well, except for Fisk's goons handing over some files. I couldn't check them out because Nicholson left with them. And I don't think attacking the police commissioner's car in broad daylight is just gonna help get Jameson off my back."
"And so you came to me because I can steal those files from him without drawing attention to myself," Yuri guessed.
"Aww, do you feel that? Connection," Spider-Man said, making a gesture that says their minds are linked.
"Well, what am I thinking now?" Yuri asked jokingly.
In his Spider-Cop voice, Spider-Man says, "That you need your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Cop to help you expose this treacherous traitor for making a complete mockery of the law."
"I... okay, that's almost exactly what I was thinking," said Yuri.
"Ooh, what am I thinking?" asked Spider-Man.
"That Spider-Cop needs a vacation?" Yuri joked in a hopeful manner.
"Okay, so maybe we're not that connected," said Spider-Man.
"Breaking and entering into my boss's apartment. Never thought I'd go this far off the books," said Yuri.
"I'd call MJ, but she's in Brooklyn working on a story for the Bugle. And Spider-Boy is... uh... busy," said Spider-Man, trying not to reveal that Spider-Boy is a high school student.
"And Sable's meeting with the President in D.C.," Yuri added. "It's really just us."
"Spider-Cop and The Chief, the two toughest officers in the force, are now all alone on a mission to take down a lawbreaking piece of garbage who calls himself the police commissioner," Spider-Cop narrated. "More like the commissioner of liars and lowlifes."
"You're not a member of the force," Yuri said, annoyed.
"No time for talk, Chief. There is a corrupt scumbag out there who stains the law with his dirty hands," Spider-Cop continued.
Spider-Man swings away to continue keeping an eye on Commissioner Nicholson. Yuri rolled her eyes as she looked at the picture again. Could her boss really be working for Fisk? She had to find out if there's more to this story.
Yuri drives her car to the apartment building where Commissioner Nicholson lives. He lived on the 9th floor, in room 907. She looked up the rooftops nearby to check for her red-suited partner. There he was, crawling on the side of a wall. He sees her and gives her a thumbs-up. Should she need him to intervene, he'll be one building away. Right now, she has to do this on her own.
"Just say the word and I'll swing right in," said Spider-Man.
"But for now, stay hidden," said Yuri. "We don't need anyone tweeting about seeing Spider-Man outside their window."
"Hey, if this is about the webbed pervert thing, I was focused on a mission. I didn't exactly count on a naked woman to see me out her window. I swear I didn't even see her," said Spider-Man.
"Just don't do anything until I give you the order," said Yuri. "I'm the captain. You're the Spider-Cop. Know your place in this mission."
"Understood, Chief," said Spider-Cop.
Yuri walks into the apartment building and takes the elevator to the 9th floor. As she waited, she thought about what she was doing. If Commissioner Nicholson really is working for Wilson Fisk, then what's gonna happen to the police department if the media ever finds out? She can't deny Spider-Man's claim since he brought her proof. Nicholson has always been a bit of a hothead, but his hotheadedness is what the NYPD needed in his 15-year run as commissioner. She had to put up with his constant issues with her audacious actions, but she respected him nonetheless. All that respect is almost completely gone now.
"You're just doing your job, Yuri," Yuri said to herself.
Yuri exits the elevator as soon as it reached the 9th floor. She walked up to Nicholson's apartment and prepares to ring the doorbell. She takes a deep breath to prepare herself for what must be done. Nicholson's time as commissioner is over, she told herself.
Before she could ring the doorbell, she heard Nicholson talking to someone on the phone. It sounded like he was arguing with someone.
"Fisk, don't worry. Your men will be back within the force soon. I promise that," said Nicholson, unknowingly further confirming his allegiance to the Kingpin.
"This better succeed without any problems," said Fisk. It was a video call, hence why Yuri could hear Fisk. "Do your job, commissioner, or I'll do it for you."
Nicholson hung up and started muttering angry words. Clearly, his partnership with Fisk isn't without its frustrations. Yuri decided now is the time to ring the doorbell. Nicholson answered the door after a long silence.
"Captain, what brings you here?" asked Nicholson.
"I needed to... discuss something with you in private," Yuri lied. "We can't have the department knowing just yet."
"Well, come in," said Nicholson.
Nicholson lets Yuri in. Yuri started keeping an eye out for any suspicious-looking files. But she had to make sure Nicholson isn't suspicious.
"So, what do we have to discuss about, Captain?" asked Nicholson.
After thinking hard, Yuri says, "Offering Spider-Man a place in the force."
"You want Spider-Man working for the police?" Nicholson questioned.
"Public opinion on Spider-Man is positive. But he's still a vigilante," said Yuri. "Having him work with the police department could benefit both the force and the city. More parameters, less property damage..." Jokingly, she added, "And maybe Jameson can finally lay off the hate and the ridiculous rumors."
"Such as the rumors that you're involved with him?" Nicholson added in a joking manner.
"Trust me. He's not my type," said Yuri. "Too puerile. But his heart's in the right place."
"I always thought he was your type. He's a lawbreaker and you're were quite the loose cannon," Nicholson joked.
"Okay, back on topic, please," Yuri pleaded, embarrassed. "But first, mind if I have some coffee?"
"I'm boiling a pot of coffee right now. I'll pour you a cup as soon as it's finished," Nicholson offered.
While Nicholson was in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, Yuri snuck off to look for the files. She has to do it quickly before he finds out. A slightly open bedside table drawer caught her eye. Inside were files of people who were clearly Fisk's men who Nicholson selected to infiltrate the force. Their recorded criminal records consisted of only very minor offenses that would not even make them suspects of being Fisk thugs, just potential alcoholics or hotheads.
"You son of a..."
Yuri was interrupted when she heard the sound of the cocking of a gun. She turns around slowly, sneakily turns on her phone's speakerphone so Spider-Man can listen in, and sees Nicholson aiming his gun at her.
"I knew it," said Nicholson.
"What are you talking about?" asked Yuri.
"You work with Spider-Man. Very closely, I suspected," said Nicholson. "You didn't think that I was expecting him to spy on me, do you? The supposed Fisk Goon cosplayers on the Upper East Side... that was just a ruse to lure him to me. We had a hidden camera recording the entire meeting and it saw him watching us. I figured he'd report back to you."
"And you knew I'd come here," Yuri realized.
"You're a good cop, Captain. One of the best in spite how difficult you can be at times," Nicholson said with sincere respect. "But I'm afraid I can't let you walk out of here."
Before Nicholson can pull the trigger, Spider-Man comes crashing in through the window and webs the gun away from the commissioner.
"You're busted, buster!" Spider-Cop said.
"What's wrong with your voice?" asked Nicholson, confused.
"You heard him, Nicholson. You're busted," Yuri said as she aimed her gun at her boss.
Nicholson slowly reaches for his phone and calls someone, saying, "Open fire."
Suddenly, gunshots from outside rained all over the apartment, giving Nicholson a chance to escape. Spider-Man had to grab Yuri and find cover to keep her from behind riddled by bullets. He lifts up the bed and uses it as a shield from the gunfire. The gunfire kept going on and on and lasted for about over a minute. Then it stopped. Both Spider-Man and Yuri are bullet-free.
"Snipers," Spider-Man realized. "Dang it! Why didn't I see them?"
"Forget why and just web 'em up," Yuri ordered. "I'll go after Nicholson."
Spider-Man swings out the window and engages the snipers. They were stationed in two separate rooftops across the street. Spider-Man starts with the four snipers to the left and immediately started webbing up all of their faces. He uppercuts Fisk Thug #1 and repeatedly punches him in the air before web-throwing him down at Fisk Thug #2. Spider-Man fires an Electric Web at Fisk Thug #3 and then flip-kicks him to the wall. Fisk Thug tried hitting him with his gun, but Spider-Man dodges every swing.
"You rip my webbing off your face and your first decision is to hit me with your gun instead of shooting me?" Spider-Man questioned humorously. "I thought goons were dumb, but you take the cake."
Spider-Man unleashes quick kicks on Fisk Thug #4 and finishes him off with a back-flip kick to the face.
Yuri, meanwhile, took the second elevator down to the ground floor since Nicholson already rode the first elevator before she could get to him. The elevator doors open for Yuri to see three Fisk Thugs trying to kidnap Nicholson.
"Help! Captain, help!" Nicholson shouted.
He was faking it, she could tell. This kidnapping must be just a setup to portray Nicholson as a victim. Yuri had to run and hide when one Fisk Thug started shooting at her. This gave the Fisk Thugs time to get out with Nicholson.
"Shoot!" Yuri cursed.
Spider-Man called her. She answered.
"Yuri, Nicholson just got abducted by Fisk's men and they're stuffing him in the back of a van," said Spider-Man.
"It's an act. He's pretending to be a kidnapped victim so no one would suspect him," Yuri said. "Chase them!"
"I am," said Spider-Man. "But one problem."
"What?" asked Yuri.
"RPG!" Spider-Man shouted.
Five seconds later, Yuri heard an explosion outside. The explosion caused a mini-quake. Yuri immediately ran outside to see what happened. She found a big crater in the middle of the road, obviously caused by the RPG. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Unfortunately, Spider-Man was. He lied down in the middle of the crater too hurt to get up on his own. Yuri quickly ran to him to make sure he was alive.
He was still breathing and moving, so that's good news.
"I'd ask if you're okay, but I think the answer's obvious," said Yuri.
"It's just a scratch. I've been through worse," Spider-Man said humorously, despite sound weak and hurt.
"An RPG almost blew you up and you're still cracking jokes?" Yuri questioned with a smile.
"You know me," said Spider-Man.
Yuri had to take Spider-Man to the hospital for medical treatment... again. Last time, she found him floating above water on a barrel half-dead. Fourteen broken bones from fighting the Sinister Six. She hopes it's not worse this time. She waited outside the room where Spider-Man was being treated. She checked the crime towers for a clue of where Nicholson could be, but there was none. She still couldn't believe this. Commissioner Nicholson was a no-nonsense commissioner who cared about nothing more than making sure all criminals in the city are locked up. That was obviously a lie.
"Why are you doing this, Nicholson?" Yuri wondered.
The doctor treating Spider-Man exited the room to report to Yuri about his condition.
"How is he?" Yuri asked, concerned.
"Three broken bones and a nasty headache," said the doctor. "But he'll be fine. His condition isn't as bad as last time."
"Well, he heals fast," Yuri informed.
"But he's still human, just like the rest of us," said the doctor. "Which means he needs rest."
"May I go and see him?" asked Yuri.
The doctor nodded and let Yuri inside. Spider-Man lied on his bed watching TV. He was watching a show about a man with super speed who fights crime dressed in a red suit with a lightning bolt in his chest.
"And The Chief stayed to see Spider-Cop awake from surgery," said Spider-Cop.
Yuri rolled her eyes, but smiled because she was glad he was okay.
"So, any leads on Nicholson?" asked Spider-Man.
"Not yet," said Yuri. "But we'll find him, as soon as you rest."
"But we must apprehend Nicholson. He doesn't deserve his position," said Spider-Cop.
In Spider-Man's attempt to sit up, he only hurt himself. His rib ached due to how much effort he's exerting in trying to get back on his feet.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow, ow, ow," Spider-Man complained. "Okay, I'll rest. But just for a few hours. I fought the Sinister Six with fourteen broken bones. What's three broken bones to someone like Spider-Cop? Ha-ha... ow!"
"I just can't believe Nicholson would do this," said Yuri. "All this talk about how criminals are scum and how insufferable but capable I am, it's all been a lie."
"Sometimes, it's the people closest to us who hide something dark from us," said Spider-Man, remembering Martin Li and Otto Octavius.
"Corrupt cops. Corrupt commissioner. I just don't know what I'm doing anymore," Yuri complained. She looked at her badge and said, "This is supposed to mean something. You wear it, you're devoted entirely to the law. But if someone who wears the title of commissioner could fall like this... am I even in the right place?"
"Hey, don't ask yourself that. You are in the right place, Yuri," said Spider-Man. "You're the best cop in town. You can't let the actions of Nicholson or any dirty cop to make you question your place in this city."
"But what's gonna happen once we expose Nicholson?" Yuri wondered. "The highest position of the police force has been compromised... can the city still trust the police?"
"I trust you," said Spider-Man.
"And I appreciate that," said Yuri. "But this is bigger that just one person's trust. The police, they have one job: protect the people of New York. And yet, for some people like Nicholson, that's not enough."
"Okay, why don't you just sit down and watch TV with me?" Spider-Man suggested. "Last thing this mission needs is the contentious captain who wanted to shoot Tombstone in the face."
"I'm as focused as you are on bringing down Nicholson, Spider-Man," Yuri insisted. "I just... maybe... okay, I suppose I could use a breather."
Spider-Man gestured to a chair next to his bed for Yuri to sit on. Yuri did. She didn't know what to think of the show he's watching, but right now, all she can do is watch while she waits for both Spider-Man and herself to feel better.
"Is he... throwing lightning from his hands?" Yuri asked.
"Awesome, isn't it?" Spider-Man replied.
Three hours later, Spider-Man and Yuri get back on the streets to locate and arrest Nicholson.
Thanks to a tip from a few civilians, Spider-Man and Yuri located the van where Fisk's thugs took Nicholson in. It returned to the same warehouse on the Upper East Side where Spider-Man saw Nicholson meet with Fisk's men. Two police cars were at the scene. The four cops who drove there clearly heard about Nicholson's kidnapping and responded to the tip from the civilians who saw the van. Yuri was glad to have some backup, but she wanted to approach this alone.
"When I give the signal, come for me," Yuri ordered. "Until then, secure the perimeter."
"What about him?" One officer asked, pointing up.
Spider-Man was perched on top of a street light, waving down at the officers below. One officer waved back, clearly a big fan of the wall-crawler.
"He's coming in with me," said Yuri.
A male officer elbowed a fellow officer and shot a teasing look at the captain, clearly a believer in this rumor of Spider-Man and Yuri being more than on good terms with one another. Yuri ignored him and proceeded inside. Spider-Man crawled around the place to sneak find a place to sneak in. He couldn't go in the vent again since Nicholson's camera saw him come through there. He had to find another way in.
Yuri, on the other hand, entered through the front door with her gun raised and her finger on the trigger. Six Fisk Thugs were inside. Nicholson was just sitting in the middle of the room, pretending to be tied up when he really wasn't. His ties weren't tightened strongly enough, and that was clearly intentional.
"Hands up, all of you!" Yuri ordered.
"You heard the captain, boys. Hands up," Nicholson said casually and jokingly.
All Fisk Thugs in the warehouse put their hands in the air. Nicholson stands up from the chair, but still kept the ropes around his wrists just in case.
"Two cop cars outside. Four officers. Not exactly what I call backup," said Nicholson.
"More are coming," said Yuri.
"But we'll be finished way before they arrive," said Nicholson.
"Yo, commissioner!" One Fisk Thug called.
An seventh and eighth Fisk Thug showed up dragging a badly hurt Spider-Man across the floor. His suit was burning as if he was electrocuted or he walked into a roaring fire. This worried Yuri.
"Back door... booby-trapped," Spider-Man said weakly. "So much zapping... ow, again!"
"Captain, what's your situation?" An officer asked through the radio.
"Tell them everything is under control," Nicholson ordered.
Yuri picks up her radio and says, "Keep guarding the perimeter. I'm good here. Don't come in until I say so."
Nicholson then removed the ropes from his wrist and grabs his gun. He walks closer towards Spider-Man and aims the gun at him.
"I'm giving you a chance to end things peacefully, Captain," said Nicholson. "Put down your weapon and we'll pretend that you rescued me. You'll be a hero. Fisk's men here will even sell the act."
"Why, Aaron?" asked Yuri. "Why are you doing this? Working with Fisk? Have you lost your mind?"
"This city was more or less peaceful before all these costumed nutjobs showed up," said Nicholson. "Then Spider-Man and the likes of Rhino, Vulture, and Doctor Octavius showed up and this city has become far worse than it was. I looked into Fisk's activities years ago and the way I see, he actually kept order in this city. He was a necessary evil, Yuriko. Working with him meant the officers of the NYPD will be spared and the criminals of this city would be kept in check. This vigilante you admire so much, he's not the answer to our problems. It's me. I am the ANSWER!"
"The Answer? Is that your supervillain nickname? The Answer? Ha!" Spider-Man said insultingly. "That's so lame."
"Shut up, bug man," Nicholson growled.
"You're a disgrace to the title of commissioner, Aaron," Yuri said with hostility. "No matter how much you drove me crazy, I believed in you. Your stand against criminals, I admired that. You yell at me all the time, but I still respected you."
"Put down the gun, Yuriko," Nicholson ordered. "You don't want your boyfriend here to suffer the consequences, huh?"
Yuri could laugh hysterically over this joke being told at such a wrong time, but all she did was glare at Nicholson with contempt. But there was also fear in her eyes, fear of failing Spider-Man.
"Hey, Aaron boy," Spider-Man called.
Spider-Man attempts to push himself back up.
"Her name..." Spider-Man continued despite the pain. "Is Yuri!"
Spider-Man webs Nicholson's gun away from him and then throws it back at his face. Spider-Man fires a Suspension Matrix to keep four Fisk Thugs suspended in mid-air. He webs Fisk Thug #5's gun away from him, spins around fast to hit Nicholson and the other thugs with the gun, and then throws it at Nicholson, hitting him in the face again.
Yuri shoots immediately and kills three Fisk Thugs. Nicholson picks up a nearby gun and shoots at Yuri, who manages to run away before she got shot.
Spider-Man webs up all of the Fisk Thugs suspended in the air. While he let three of them fall down, he web-grabbed one and web-threw him at Fisk Thug #8. He web-zips himself towards Fisk Thug #8 and knocks him out with one big punch.
"Now we're even," said Spider-Man, still feeling kinda bitter about the booby trap from earlier.
Nicholson, while shooting at Yuri, grabs a grenade from one of the unconscious Fisk Thugs and throws it at Spider-Man. Spider-Man was about to web-throw it back at Nicholson, but he sprained his arm, which was still injured from the RPG. Failing to react, the grenade blew up in front of him and sent him flying back. He is now lying on his back, very hurt, with Nicholson aiming his gun at him.
"I used to think you were a necessary evil too, Spider-Man," said Nicholson. "But now, you're just a pest that needs to be removed. So, say goodb..."
Nicholson was interrupted by three bullets to his back. He falls down on his knees and then on his face, dying immediately from the bullet wounds. Spider-Man knew where the bullets came from.
Yuri.
"Are you okay?" asked Yuri.
"Just a sprain," Spider-Man joked.
"Is everything a joke to you?" asked Yuri.
"Like I said, you know me," said Spider-Man.
"Despite not knowing who's behind the mask, I do," said Yuri.
Spider-Man and Yuri take the time to look at Nicholson's dead body. Yuri had to shoot the police commissioner just to save Spider-Man. Yuri looked like she had little regret for what she did, for obvious reasons. Nicholson was corrupt, but she knew him and respected him long enough for her hand in his death to affect her.
"You okay?" asked Spider-Man.
"I have no regrets," said Yuri.
"You killed a police commissioner just to rescue me," said Spider-Man. "I'm thankful, but... I feel guilty for putting you in that position. I should've stayed in the hospital for a few more hours."
"Hey, we stopped a corrupt commissioner from poisoning the city. That's a win, even if the means were not pleasant," said Yuri. "But now... I'm gonna be wanted for the murder of my boss."
"Not if we prove that Nicholson was working with Fisk," said Spider-Man. "We have the files, the picture, not to mention a lot of Fisk Thugs to interrogate. So what if the gun used to kill Aaron was yours? No one will blame you if it was to save me."
"But now we need a new commissioner," said Yuri. "And finding one Fisk won't compromise, I have my doubts. This city, it brings out the desperation in even the best people. How do we know the next commissioner won't become corrupt?"
"Maybe you should be the new commissioner," Spider-Man suggested.
"Me? Oh, hell no," Yuri refused.
"Oh, heck yeah," Spider-Man replied. "Yuri, you're the best. You know that. Who better to lead the police force than the best?"
"This isn't just a higher position of power, Spider-Man. It's a job that comes with even more responsibility than Captain," said Yuri.
"Yuri, ever since I started working with you, I never had any regrets," said Spider-Man. "You can be hard to be around with and you're almost devoid of a sense of humor..."
"Are you done?" Yuri interrupted.
"But you prioritize the safety of this city over everything," said Spider-Man. "We both know you are one of the good ones. Definitely one of the good ones. Who better to lead the boys and girls in blue than you? Commissioner Watanabe. Sounds good."
Yuri stayed silent as she thought. Being commissioner is gonna be harder than her current position, but she did see Spider-Man's point. She just discovered that the now deceased police commissioner was corrupt. She knows who not to be if she ever accepted his position. She knows right from wrong. She may not be the best cop in terms of attitude, but she always puts the people and the city of New York first.
"I'll talk to the mayor," said Yuri, agreeing to his suggestion.
"You probably can't tell, but I'm smiling right now," said Spider-Man. He changed his voice and said, "You've made Spider-Cop a proud officer, Chief."
"And you've made me proud of you," said Yuri. "Too many times, in fact. I am beginning to regret working you less and less with every single day that passes."
The two just looked at each other with smiles. Spider-Man was definitely smiling underneath the mask. It's hard not to tell. Yuri just said something nice to Spider-Man, so a smile was warranted.
"If I didn't have a girlfriend, this would've been the perfect moment for a first kiss," said Spider-Man.
Yuri groans and walks away. But she smiled anyway.
"So, should Spider-Cop stop calling you Chief from now on?" asked Spider-Man. "What should he call you? Commish? Skipper?"
"Actually, I'll stick with The Chief," said Yuri. "It's grown on me."
"You really like me," Spider-Man said, touched.
A few days later, the revelation of Aaron Nicholson as a traitor and a subordinate of Wilson Fisk was shared throughout the city. The new mayor announced that she is announcing the new commissioner of the New York Police Department. Lots of people gathered around City Hall for the announcement. The police were present for the event, but they don't know who the new commissioner is. So, it's gonna be a surprise to them as it will be to the people.
The mayor steps up to the podium and speaks.
"Three days ago, Aaron Nicholson was revealed to be a corrupt man who used his position as police commissioner in the worst way possible," the mayor started. "Collaborating with a criminal like Wilson Fisk was an act more despicable than anyone could imagine. But now that he is no longer with us, the NYPD has been searching for a replacement. And I have just the right person for the job. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present to you the new police commissioner... Yuriko Watanabe."
The people and the police officers cheered as Yuri stepped on stage and shook hands with the mayor. They smiled for the cameras so the papers can have a good shot for the front cover story.
The mayor lets Yuri stand behind the podium so she can speak to the people about this wonderful honor.
After a long silence, Yuri spoke. "When I started out as a cadet working my way to officer, all I cared about was the welfare of this city. Granted, my public reputation as a bit of a firebrand was always concerning to my co-workers and to the press, but I just wanted to do my job. A police officer's job is to put the people above all else. That's what the badge stands for. I never thought I would ever become a captain, much less a commissioner, but here I am and... I am honored. I promise to use my new position to continue serving this city as I have done for the past sixteen years. I won't let you down, ever."
The crowd cheered again. Yuri steps aside to let the mayor speak. The new commissioner took a deep breath, relieved that it was over. She was not the best with public speeches, but she felt that she nailed this one.
As the mayor spoke, Yuri noticed a presence on top of a nearby rooftop. Watching her from above...
Spider-Man.
Or should she say, Spider-Cop.
The masked superhero saluted to her. She smiled, happy to know that he would be by her side through this next phase of her career as a law enforcer. After all, The Chief needs Spider-Cop.
Commissioner Yuriko Watanabe. Does that sound good? I hope it does. Why not? Yuri may be the police commissioner now, but she will always be The Chief to Spider-Cop.
So, what do you think? Please give me your full, honest opinion.
Note:
- Did you catch a reference to a certain DC superhero here?
- Aaron Nicholson is a name from the comics. A supervillain nicknamed "Answer". I de-powered him and turned him into a normal person here, however. But hey, not the first time it's ever happened.