(Sorry for the late update guys.)

Sport21: Ava's fierce, and still playful when she wishes. Thanks, hope you enjoy the rest.

Ultimatrix bearer: Thanks.

Noble Six: Thanks.

Death Fury: Thanks.

Chapter 2: Political Problem

(New York City, Manhattan, the next day)

Spider-Man is slinging through the city, keen senses monitoring the city down below.

(Hey guys! I'm just slinging along, you know, normal day for ole' Spidey! It was my day to patrol and I felt like doing my usual thing! Though…I always do that…gotta come up with some new lines…anyways, Fury's got the others doing some obstacle course training. He's gonna have me do it tomorrow, so I'm trying to enjoy my patrol as best I can. Fury's obstacle courses are getting more and more difficult, but I guess that's to be expected.)

"Huh? Hey! Get off me! Help!" A voice cried out from down below.

Spider-Man looked down to see a guy in a hoodie getting mugged by a few men in an alley.

"Duty calls," Spider-Man said.

He dived down and landed on the side of the wall opposite of the muggers and their target. They turned when they heard the sound of the knocking he made behind them.

"I'm sorry, but this is a no mugging zone. So you're gonna be going to jail, do not pass go do not collect two hundred dollars," Spider-Man joked.

"Oh no! It's him!" One of the muggers gasped.

"Get him!" The second hissed.

The third charged him. Spider-Man lunged forward and punched him, knocking the man out instantly. He then webbed him to the ground. He turned to face the other two muggers.

"Next?" Spider-Man said.

The two other muggers charged him, coming from the sides. Spider-Man back flipped and landed back on the wall he landed on originally. The two muggers smashed into one another and hit the ground groaning, faces slightly bloodied. Spider-Man then webbed them to the ground.

"It's almost getting too easy," Spider-Man chuckled.

He looked the man.

"You ok?" Spider-Man asked.

"Y-Yeah…thanks," the guy said.

Spider-Man got a look of the guy inside the hoodie: he has small dark horns around the edges of his face.

"You're a mutant?" Spider-Man asked.

"Yeah…so?" The mutant answered.

"Why should that make any difference, those jerks shouldn't have attacked you," Spider-Man said.

"Oh…thanks," the mutant answered.

"Is…Is that…why…they—" Spider-Man nervously stammered.

"Attacked me? Most likely. The mutant community here has recently experienced more and more muggings and attacks," the mutant replied.

"Have you reported this?" Spider-Man asked.

"We have, but most of the time we're just blown off. Sometimes we receive help, but it isn't enough," the mutant answered.

"Perhaps you could gather them, or perhaps representatives, and come talk to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Spider-Man suggested.

"I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't get into political stuff?" The mutant asked.

"Don't you keep up with politics? There's be more anti-mutant frenzy than usual. Some of the major figures in the game are pushing for…well…you can imagine," the mutant answered.

(Oh man, I've been so caught up in my heroing stuff, I enjoy it mind you, but I've neglected to be aware of the bigger picture of how people are being treated. Damn it Peter, you've gotta catch up.)

"Yeah…well I gotta get going, you and your friends stay safe. Perhaps things will turn out for the better!" Spider-Man said before and during he web-slinged off.

"…Or worse," the mutant said before pulling down his hood and slinked away back to the sidewalk.

(S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Director Fury's office, several minutes later)

Director Fury is going over some reports from his agents. His good eye locked onto what he's reading. He flips through the pages slowly, carefully reading every word. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Director Fury said without looking up.

The door opened and Spider-Man walked in.

"Yes, Parker?" Director Fury said without looking up.

"H-How did you know it was me without looking up?" Spider-Man asked.

"Psychic powers," Director Fury grunted, still not looking up.

"Oh, a joke! Nice one!" Spider-Man chuckled.

"What is it?" Director Fury grunted again.

"I stopped a mugging today and –" Spider-Man started to say.

"Congrats, you're a hero," Director Fury interjected, still not looking up.

(*Crosses arms and sighs*)

"It was a hate crime," Spider-Man said.

Director Fury looked up at him. Spider-Man saw one of the most serious gazes he'd seen Fury ever given him.

"Tell me," Director Fury said.

(Conference room, several minutes later)

After the discussion with Spider-Man, Fury gathered all of the Academy together.

"I've been going over the crime reports across Manhattan lately and –" Director Fury started to say.

"Wait? Seriously? All of them?! There's gotta be hundreds of those things! No one could possibly –" Nova scoffed.

Director Fury glared at him with his good eye. Nova stopped talking instantly.

"Many of them are your usual reports that local law enforcement is capable of handling…sometimes…but there's a staggering rise in reports of muggings and assaults lately," Director Fury continued.

"Perhaps we need to be more present in the city?" Iron Spider suggested.

"Maybe, but from the reports and stories that have come to my intention I don't know if that will make things bad or worse," Director Fury replied.

"What's the matter?" Dagger asked.

"Most…about more than half of them have been hate crimes…against mutants," Director Fury sighed.

The room went quiet for a moment. Visages of rage, horror, and sorrow were fixed upon the young heroes. Director Fury's good eye was closed and his mouth twisted with a mix of emotions.

"Sir?" Agent Venom said.

Director Fury composed himself and opened his good eye. He turned his gaze back to the group.

"As you all know, S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't get involved in politics. We have had our criticisms from both sides of the spectrum in regards to how we operate. For that and other reasons, we have tried to stay away from such matters unless unavoidable…this is one of those times," Director Fury said.

"How do we proceed, sir?" White Tiger asked.

"Carefully. There are certain political figures aiming to have mutants and 'others' to be dealt with in ways that seem to vary…from monitoring, expulsion from the country, to all other manners of bigoted bullshit," Director fury answered.

The young heroes looked at one another in the way they had before.

"The suggestion for more patrols will be granted, some I want in more open view and others I want subtler. I shall assign these tasks, but your presence cannot be overbearing. I will also need to get in contact with some people to aid in this process," Director Fury said.

"Who?" Cloak asked.

"The X-Men," Director Fury answered.

To be continued…

(Again, sorry for the late update.)