Chapter Two

As he entered the apartment, Peter was surprised to see Mary Jane sitting on the couch. Next to Harry no less. It had only been, what, two weeks since Norman Osborn's death. She had confessed her feelings to Peter at the funeral. Peter had denied her feelings towards him, inwardly citing his responsibilities as Spider-Man - even though he more than reciprocated those feelings.

He had remembered Harry saying something about he and Mary Jane having a long talk about everything since his fathers death. Apparently they were able to patch things up rather quickly. Harry gave Peter a passing grin, while MJ looked over awkwardly.

There was an elephant in the room and apparently, everyone seemed to just want to avoid it. Peter smiled and walked over. "What are you watching?" he asked.

"Some special about Mutants. Nothing really exciting," Harry answered.

"They . . . they were talking about that big green guy that ripped through San Francisco six months ago," Mary Jane continued, breaking the ice. "It was just officially reported that it wasn't a Mutant."

Peter nodded in puzzlement. "If he's not a Mutant . . . then what is he?"

"I don't know, Pete. Kinda weird, though. Does this mean Spider-Man isn't a Mutant?"

Shocked, Peter tried to hide his expression. "Who said he is?"

Harry grinned at Mary Jane. "Well, MJ, you know him better than both of us. What do you think?"

Mary Jane shrugged. "I don't know. I think he's a man. Just with powers."

Harry grunted, his face losing the grin. "The only powers he has . . . is to take lives . . ."

Peter didn't say anything to that. Harry still blamed Spider-Man for Norman's death. Standing up for Spider-Man would strain their friendship . . . and probably bring that damn elephant back into the room. So, Peter didn't answer and made his way up the stairs. As he walked up, he noticed that Mary Jane decided to make eye contact. For the briefest of seconds, they locked eyes.

And then it was broken and Peter walked upstairs to be alone.

***

As Matt Murdock, Daredevil made sure that the assassin-for-hire called Bullseye remained where he was supposed to. In jail. So when word reached him that Bullseye had been released - into whose custody, he still didn't know - it was time for Daredevil to be concerned.

Walking across the rooftops, he was suddenly reminded of the incident from last night. From what he was able to deduce the government was working on some sort of project here in New York City. In Hell's Kitchen, no less.

As much as he wanted to stay out of the government's way, he couldn't help it when it came to Bullseye. And when he saw the same man that recovered the file from Spider-Man last night now walking out a car with Bullseye, Daredevil was a little concerned. He leapt and followed them into an old warehouse and stood silently as he listened to the conversation within.

"We were lucky," said the man from last night. "We weren't supposed to get this file. Daredevil and Spider-Man stopped our men, but I intervened at the last minute. Those two costumed fools that I was with the courier. Never had a clue."

"So what's this all about?" asked Bullseye then.

"One word: Mutants. Three weeks ago, they were responsible for the death of an old friend of mine, Colonel William Stryker. He believed that a Mutant haven known as the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is the training ground for a Mutant strike-force. I agree with him, even after his death."

Bullseye snorted. "And what do you want me to do about it?"

"Stryker had a plan. Using files he gathered from a man named General Ross, Stryker built up a contingency plan. One that we are implementing now."

"And just what is that contingency plan?"

"Tell me, Bullseye, while you were in jail, did you hear about that monster that trashed San Francisco? The one believed dead?"

"Yes."

"We believe it's still alive and we want you to recover it. If a strong enough tranquilizer is delivered to the base of his neck, it'll knock hm out. You're the best man for the job. You knock him out, we pick him up, drop him off at Xavier's School. He smashes the place up, and we're all happy. Then you knock him out again, and I hand him back over to General Ross."

"I see. If this green monster and a vigilante does this all for you, then your hands are clean."

"Mutants are dangerous. How would you like to help us out?"

"Just give me the money and the creatures location."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah. Security. I don't want that red-clad hornhead comin' after me again."

"Certainly."

Bullseye stood up. "You know, I never get your name."

"Just call me Mr. Trask."

Daredevil moved into the shadows then and watched as Bullseye walked out. He looked up at Daredevil and smiled. Daredevil ran off into the night as Bullseye started to laugh.

***

Swinging across the tall buildings of New York, Spider-Man made eye contact with the open window of his apartment. He swung in, and landed perfectly and silently. He pulled off his mask and just as he was about to completely undress, something outside caught his eye.

He spun around to the building across the street, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Pausing for a moment, Peter decided to chock it up to his imagination and got out of his costume. Something kept his spider-sense tingling, but he tried to ignore it and went to bed.

After a restless sleep, Peter woke up, got dressed and headed off to another job interview. Just as he exited his apartment building, his eyes fell upon a tall man with red hair and red sunglasses. His heart skipped a beat. There was something very familiar about this guy. The man smiled.

"Matt Murdock," the man said, stepping forward, grasping Peter's hand. "And I know who you are."

Peter's eyes widened. "Wha . . . what?"

He bent close to Peter's ear. "'Does whatever a spider can,'" he partially sang.

Peter took one giant step back. "Who are you?"

"Just a blind guy."

It clicked. "Daredevil."

"Yes. That's right. I need your help, Peter. And so do many others."