So, fresh new chapter for you, lovely people.

cabrera1234 raised a good question about something that may have been left quite ambiguous. This is not a love triangle story. It is an adventure polyamorous story.

Each chapter is named after a song that may or may not be related to the plot. Today? World Coming Down, by Type O Negative.

Enjoy!

"You know, I'm tougher than you think."

Spider-Man looked to the darkened sky through his lenses. New York was quiet. Quieter than most of the days, quieter than ever. He was worried. Silence was never a good thing amidst chaos. He could feel something wicked coming. He just didn't know what it was. Yuri Watanabe let a moan escape her lips while trying to stretch herself. She was looking through the window on her hospital room. Spider-Man's back touched the wall at the side of the window while they were talking looking at the same landscape. Grey skies and colossal buildings spread across the land of the free. He didn't answered. Not a single grunt or joke. His silence was not overlooked.

"What's wrong?"

"I was sloppy. Compromised you. I shouldn't have come back yet."

"The city needed you. You were gone for a long time.

Devil's Breath hit Spider-Man hard. Otto treason hit way harder. But Aunt May's death hit Peter in worst ways than Uncle's Ben passing. He and Mary Jane Watson broke up. She is now the editor at Los Angeles Bugle. A prized career opportunity earned after her investigations leading to Devil's Breath connection with Wilson Fisk and Norman Osborn. Fisk was still behind bars and Osborn was no longer New York Mayor. For six months, Peter was far from New York, hitchhiking, doing jobs no one wanted to do while trying to fix what was broken inside him. He was not able to do that yet. But he came back. A call from an old friend signaled the need for the good ol' friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to show up once again. And that was precisely what he did.

"You know what they say, an apple a day, Spider-Man comes say hey!"

"That was the worst thing you ever said to me."

"How you holding up there, Cap'n?"

"Not bad. Not a lot of pain, the wound is almost entirely healed. Can't wait to hit the streets again."

"Wanna go for a ride?"

"Never again, still got nightmares."

He chuckled. Jumping from the building wall, he landed on the edge of another building, using it to impulsionating him into the city, as he did since he was a teenager. He still could feel the adrenaline rush while traversing the city and the feeling was welcomed. Refreshing, almost. Spider-Man landed at the top of Avengers Tower and let the air invade his lungs. Propelling his body like a rocket, he followed the fainting sound of sirens until they were close enough for him to act. Another day, another job. Three criminals arrested with no difficulties. The applause, the quiet nods from the police officers, the meaningless of the act hit Peter. Webbing his way out of the scene, he reached for an old friend.

"Can you lend me some money?"

"Sure. What do you need?"

"Not much, Matt. Enough for the week."

"Not a problem. Give a look at your account in a few minutes, it should be there. Thank you for coming back. Heard you had some problems with your cop friend."

"She got shot because of me. I shouldn't have come back."

"John 3:17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. We need you because you do what only you can do, Peter. Don't forget that."

"What do I do? Lose everyone?"

"No, kid. You keep fighting. See you around."

Peter slipped inside the old Aunt May office at F.E.A.S.T. and quickly changed. He was staying at the shelter since he got back to New York, two weeks ago. He couldn't find a job yet and did not accepted Miles and Rio suggestion to sleep at their house. He need time alone, even if that meant to be surrounded by Aunt May's memories. Peter put his backpack on and left the shelter, taking the first cab he saw. He gave the address and his brain turned off while looking at the pedestrians unaware of his presence.

A few minutes later, he was climbing the stairs at a fancy building. One he went many, many times as Spider-Man but never as Peter Parker. He always preferred the stairs. Well, he preferred climbing the walls, but at that time, at that situation, he embraced the stairs and used the time to think on what to say. Peter knocked the expensive wooden door where he could read Dr. Ashley Kafka and waited.

OnlyEatSalad: No one missed NYCWallCrawler like me.

Reply from illstartafire: He seems kinda sad these days.

Reply from OnlyEatSalad: Well, he can use me to cheer him up if you know what I mean.

Reply from illstartafire: What...

Yuri woke up feeling dizzy. She was sleeping a lot because of the meds they put her on. She liked to sleep. A lot, in matter of fact. But that was not a good kind of sleep. It was a feverish slumber, filled with nightmares, pain and and her grieve for her father's absence eating her from inside out. Her mouth was dry and she almost couldn't handle her desire to lighten up a cigarette and let that soothing warm smoke fill her lungs and all her cracks. Her mouth filled with water at the simple thought of nicotine traveling her body and calming her down. It was almost sexual, as almost every vice is. The hospital was fairly quiet, Yuri realized. Hearing only the occasional typing sound of a nurse writing notes, she opened the window and let the night's air fill the room. It was cold and she welcomed the embrace of the night as she usually did on the nights she gained the police station rooftop to chain smoke while trying not to kill her superiors. She remembered the first time Spider-Man took a cigarette from her hand and threw it away. She wanted to shoot him. But now, she snorted at the simple thought of simpler times. She could feel Spider-Man was not fine. He took the Devil's Breath almost personally, she thought. Poor kid. Hope he's okay.

While distracted by her train of thoughts, the door opened. Preparing herself to hear a long lecture from an annoying doctor or nurse, she got caught by surprise when she saw a tall masked man reaching for a gun on his side. Throwing herself at the side of the bed, Yuri felt the IV needle tearing her skin. The bullet wound screamed out loud when the first shot hit the bed above her head. Reaching for her gun while still dizzy and trembling, Yuri wanted a cigarette. She laid on the ground and quickly shot the shooter's foot. He fell to the ground, letting a shot escape from his 9mm Glock and hit the ceiling. Yuri stepped on his hand while pointing the gun at his face until he let go of the gun and screamed to the nurse at the other side of the corridor.

"Call the police."

JJJatHome: Since Spider-Man got back strange things are happening in this city of ours.

Reply from DaniCaliGirl: Ok, boomer.

Reply from DaniCaliGirl: WTF HE BLOCKED ME LOL?

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir."

Snow covered the surroundings of the military base. At the top of the central flagpole, the Symkaria's red, white and green colors danced through the snowy night. Looking at the files at her hands, Silver Sablinova shook her head in disbelief. Since she came back from New York after telling Spider-Man she had a lot to think about, the last thing she did was thinking. As soon as she arrived, she got involved with her work again, but that time, not because she wanted. But because she was needed. The irony felt heavy on her stomach most of the nights. It was not what she wanted, but she was doing something good. Something selfless, if you may. The feeling was strange, but it was embraced with dedication.

"The team?"

"Sent these by the automated jets, sir. No news from them ever since this arrived."

"Prepare my things. I leave in twenty."

"Yes, sir."