Chapter 14: You Scratch My Back
Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter!
Sorry it took me so long to get back to this story—I've been working on other things, other stories, and, well... life happened. But I hope you guys like this!
I want to thank Cloud4012 and Kival737101 for letting me use their OC characters. I don't own anything except my own OC.
Anyway, sit back, relax, review, and enjoy!
We find ourselves at Midtown High, where Jake and Mia made their way to class and spotted Jaden, Gwen, and Harry waiting for them.
"Morning, guys," Jake greeted as he approached the group.
"Morning, Jake. Morning, Mia," Gwen replied with a warm smile.
"You're cutting it close," Jaden teased, checking his watch. "You two always walk in like you're on some kind of romantic stroll."
Mia chuckled and nudged Jake playfully. "What can I say? We like making an entrance."
Harry smirked. "Well, just don't get too comfortable. I heard Mr. Thompson is handing out pop quizzes today."
"Seriously?" Jake groaned. "I didn't even finish last night's homework."
"Shocking," Jaden said with mock surprise. "It's almost like you were distracted or something."
"Maybe a little," Mia said, grinning as she leaned against Jake.
"Alright, lovebirds, let's focus," Gwen interjected, her tone half-serious. "We still have to survive another day of high school drama."
As the group shared a laugh, the bell rang, signaling the start of the day. Together, they headed toward their first class, ready to face whatever Midtown High had in store for them.
As the class began, the teacher walked in and stood at the front of the room.
"Attention, class. We have a new student joining us today. Let's all give her a warm welcome," he announced.
"A new girl? Wonder if she's cute," Flash whispered, smirking.
The door opened, and Kamala Khan walked in confidently.
"Everyone, meet Kamala Khan," the teacher said.
"Uh, hi there," Kamala said, waving nervously.
"Whoa, she's kinda cute," Harry said, earning a sharp glare from Gwen.
"Harry, you're already dating someone," Gwen reminded him pointedly, while Jaden narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Have I seen her before?' Jaden wondered, his mind racing.
Jake and Mia exchanged knowing smiles.
"Kamala, why don't you find a seat so we can get started?" the teacher suggested.
Nodding, Kamala scanned the room until her eyes landed on Jake and his friends. She smiled and approached them.
"Hey, is this seat taken?" Kamala asked.
"By all means," Harry said, gesturing for her to sit down.
"Nice to meet you all," Kamala said with a friendly smile.
"A pleasure," Gwen replied. "I'm Gwen, and these are my friends: Jaden, Jake, Mia, and Harry."
"Thanks, Gwen. Do you guys think you could show me around after class?" Kamala asked hopefully.
"Sure," Gwen nodded.
Behind them, Flash snickered loudly.
"Looks like the new girl already threw away her social life," Flash said with a smirk.
"Yeah, anyone who hangs out with the nerds is an automatic dork," Sally chimed in, laughing.
"So, Kamala, where are you from?" Harry asked, ignoring their comments.
"Oh, Jersey City," Kamala said casually, brushing off the whispers from Flash and Sally.
"Well, welcome to Midtown. Hope you like it here," Jaden said, holding out his hand.
"I think I will," Kamala replied with a happy smile, shaking his hand.
From across the room, Liz narrowed her eyes, watching the new girl with curiosity.
After class, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Students shuffled out of the room, chatting and gathering their things. Jake turned to Mia, smiling warmly.
"I'll see you later," he said, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
Mia nodded. "Okay, don't keep me waiting too long!" she teased, grinning as she headed off to her next class.
Jake glanced around, spotting Kamala gathering her books. He made his way over to her, his expression a mix of curiosity and determination.
"Hey, Kamala," Jake said, stopping just short of her desk. "Do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something."
Kamala looked up, slightly surprised. "Oh, sure. What's up?"
Harry, who was lingering by the door, raised an eyebrow. He gave Jake a knowing smirk, but his expression quickly turned serious as he muttered, "You already have a girlfriend, Jake."
Jake shot him a sharp glare. "And you already have one too, Harry," he snapped back, his tone pointed.
Harry raised his hands defensively, backing away as Gwen and Jaden approached.
"Come on, Harry," Gwen said, tugging his sleeve.
"Yeah, let's go," Jaden added, guiding them both out of the room while throwing a quick glance at Jake and Kamala. He had a good idea of what this was about.
Jake approached Kamala after the room had cleared, his curiosity evident as he leaned against the desk next to her.
"Kamala, can I ask you something?" Jake began, his voice calm but serious.
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Kamala replied, setting her notebook down and giving him her full attention.
Jake folded his arms, tilting his head slightly. "Why are you here? Don't get me wrong, it's great seeing you, but... Jersey City isn't exactly around the corner. And with everything you've got going on as Ms. Marvel, I can't help but wonder what brought you to Midtown."
Kamala smiled sheepishly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I came to surprise you. I thought it'd be nice to be in the same place for once, instead of us always crossing paths in the middle of chaos."
Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "And what about your duties as Ms. Marvel? Don't tell me you just left your city unguarded."
Kamala smirked, crossing her arms in return. "Well, what about your duties as Shadow Spider? You think I don't know about all the stunts you've been pulling around here?"
Jake's confident facade faltered for a moment, and he let out a small laugh. "Touché. But seriously, Kamala, why now? Is everything okay back in Jersey?"
Kamala's expression softened, and she shrugged. "Things are fine. I just... needed a change of scenery for a bit. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to see how the great Shadow Spider balances high school and superhero work without losing his mind."
Jake chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Spoiler alert: I don't. But hey, if anyone can relate to juggling a double life, it's you."
Kamala smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Exactly. So, think of this as a team-up that just happens to involve school. We've both got responsibilities, but it's nice to have someone who gets it, you know?"
Jake nodded, his smile softening. "Yeah, I get it. Well, welcome to Midtown, Kamala. It's definitely going to be... interesting with you around."
Kamala grinned. "Interesting? Jake, you have no idea."
As they both laughed, the bell rang, signaling the next class. Jake offered Kamala a quick nod before they both headed off to their respective rooms, their conversation leaving them both with a sense of connection and anticipation for what was to come.
intro Music: Spectacular Spider-Men* Theme Song
Living on the edge
Fighting crime, spinning webs
Swinging from the highest ledge
He can leap above our heads*
Spider-Man swings gracefully through the cityscape at sunset, dodging obstacles and performing daring flips.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Villains on the rise
And the city's victimized
Looking up with no surprise
Arriving in the speed of time*
Shadow Spider (Jake) swings in from the shadows, landing next to Spider-Man. They exchange a quick nod before jumping into action against a group of armed thugs.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
The two Spider-Men work in perfect harmony: Spider-Man uses his web-shooters to immobilize criminals while Shadow Spider performs high-speed acrobatics, taking down enemies with precision.*
Crawling through the night
Facing evil in his might
He's a hero in our eyes
See the headlights every time*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider patrol the city at night, moving stealthily across rooftops. They spot a car chase below and spring into action, webbing up the fleeing criminals.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Making villains fall
Webbing rivals to a halt
Racing up and down the walls
Bringing justice to us all*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider face off against a formidable villain on top of a skyscraper. They use their combined skills to defeat the villain and restore peace.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider stand side by side on a rooftop, overlooking the city as the sun sets. They watch as the city lights flicker to life.*
Meanwhile, all over the school, rumors were spreading that Jaden was the reason Liz and Flash were breaking up.
"I mean, come on, Flash is the biggest jerk in school. It's not your fault Liz finally realized that," Gwen said as she and Jaden walked toward Dr. Connors' lab.
"Thanks. Well, you're the first to say that. I can't ever seem to catch a break," Jaden sighed.
"Oh, don't worry about it. This is just Sally looking for someone to blame. It'll blow over. You just have to wait for the next stupid rumor to come along," Gwen reassured him.
"You make it sound like these rumors happen every week," Jaden said with a smirk.
"They kinda do. I mean, you should've heard the stuff going around when Zeke Andrews came to pick you up," Gwen teased.
"That was a crazy day," Jaden chuckled, but then his phone rang. "Oh, uh, speak of the devil. Give me a second."
Nodding, Gwen let him step aside to take the call.
"Hey, what's up?" Jaden asked, answering the phone.
"I want you to come to Titanium City. It's time to get you more situated with your training. Also, call Jake," Zeke said on the other end of the line.
"Training? What did you have in mind?" Jaden asked.
"I'm sending a car to pick you two up. When a man named Bernard arrives to see you, get in the car. He'll be there in 20 minutes. Don't worry—I told your mom you'd be spending the weekend here, so she won't worry," Zeke explained.
"Well, that's good. Wait, who's Bernard?" Jaden asked, but Zeke had already hung up. "Man, I wish I could get more of a warning next time."
Hanging up, Jaden walked back over to Gwen.
"Sorry, Gwen. Can you tell Eddie and Dr. Connors I won't be coming in today?" Jaden asked.
"Jaden, we're about to walk in the door. Can't someone else cover for you?" Gwen asked, exasperated.
"I can't. He asked for me specifically," Jaden explained, making her sigh.
"Alright, I'll tell them. But you better not be gone long," Gwen warned.
"I'll try," Jaden said before taking off.
As Gwen watched him run off, she couldn't help but smile. Even with everything going on, Jaden was still the hardest worker she had ever met.
Inside the lab, Eddie was typing on the computer when Gwen walked in.
"Hey, where's Jaden?" Eddie asked.
"Work called. He had to run," Gwen explained.
"Again? Seriously, bro needs to get his priorities in check. This isn't something you can keep blowing off. If he's not careful, he's gonna get in trouble," Eddie said, shaking his head.
"Well, personally, I think he could use a little distraction. Things at school have been messy," Gwen replied.
"Flash and Liz are still done?" Eddie asked.
"Splitsville," Gwen confirmed with a nod.
"Oof, glad I don't go there anymore," Eddie said with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Shadow Spider and Ms. Marvel swung into action, chasing down a runaway car that was barreling through Midtown's busy streets.
"You know," Shadow Spider quipped, flipping through the air, "for a car that doesn't have a driver, it sure knows how to swerve!"
"Less talking, more stopping!" Ms. Marvel shouted, stretching her arms out to grab a lamppost and slingshot herself ahead of the car.
Shadow Spider fired a web at the back bumper, attempting to slow it down. "I'm literally doing that, Ms. Marvel! Multitasking is my thing!"
The car made a sharp turn, dragging Shadow Spider with it. He let out a yelp, flailing mid-swing. "Why did I sign up for this again?"
"Because you're a hero! And because I needed a partner!" Ms. Marvel called back, leaping over a parked car to keep pace.
"Remind me to renegotiate my sidekick contract later!" Shadow Spider grunted, planting his feet on a nearby building and pulling hard on the web to slow the car down.
As the car screeched to a halt, Shadow Spider flipped over it and landed next to Ms. Marvel, who was already peeling the car's hood back like a can of soda.
"Gotcha!" Ms. Marvel said triumphantly, revealing a broken control panel underneath.
"Great teamwork," Shadow Spider said, brushing some dust off his suit. "But next time, let's chase something slower. Like a tricycle."
"Noted," Ms. Marvel said with a grin, giving him a high five.
Just as they were catching their breath, Shadow Spider's phone rang. He held up a finger. "Hold on—gotta take this. Hero stuff can wait for voicemail."
Ms. Marvel rolled her eyes but chuckled. "You've got terrible priorities."
Shadow Spider answered the call. "Hey, Mia! What's up?"
"Hey, Jake," Mia's voice came through the line. "Just wanted to let you know I'll be gone for the whole weekend. Some family stuff came up."
Shadow Spider groaned. "The whole weekend? Who's gonna stop me from doing something dumb?"
"Ms. Marvel seems like she's got it covered," Mia teased.
Shadow Spider glanced at Ms. Marvel, who was inspecting her stretched-out arm like it was a bungee cord. "I don't know about that..."
"Anyway, I'll bring something back for you, okay? Gotta go now. Love you!" Mia said sweetly.
"Love you too," Shadow Spider replied, hanging up just as his phone buzzed again.
"Popular guy, huh?" Ms. Marvel teased.
"It's not always like this," Shadow Spider muttered, answering the next call. "What's up, Spider-Man?"
"Shadow Spider, change of plans," Spider-Man said quickly. "Zeke wants us in Titanium City. He's sending a car, and we're leaving in 20 minutes."
Shadow Spider sighed dramatically. "Seriously? Does this guy not believe in advance notice? Some of us have schedules, you know!"
Ms. Marvel raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, super busy stopping runaway cars and answering phone calls."
"Okay, fine, I'll be there," Shadow Spider said to Spider-Man. "But Zeke owes me pizza or something."
"You can ask him when we get there," Spider-Man replied before hanging up.
Shadow Spider groaned and looked at Ms. Marvel. "And just like that, my weekend is officially over."
"Wait a second," Ms. Marvel said, crossing her arms. "Titanium City? That sounds awesome! Count me in!"
Shadow Spider shook his head quickly. "Uh-uh, no way. Titanium City's cool and all, but this is a me-and-Spider-Man thing."
"Seriously?" Ms. Marvel raised an eyebrow. "What, you guys have a secret handshake or something?"
"Something like that," Shadow Spider muttered, firing a web to swing away. "It's complicated. Just trust me on this one."
"Fine, but next time, I'm coming," Ms. Marvel called after him, stretching her arm to grab a nearby lamppost and swinging off in the opposite direction.
"Fingers crossed that doesn't happen," Shadow Spider mumbled, shaking his head as he headed toward the meeting spot.
Soon, Jake and Jaden were sitting in the backseat of the car as Bernard drove them through Titanium City.
"So, Bernard... how long have you known Mr. Andrews?" Jaden asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, were you like his babysitter or something?" Jake added with a grin.
"I've been watching over Master Andrews since he was in diapers," Bernard replied without missing a beat.
Jake's eyes widened slightly, and he laughed. "Okay, I was just joking, but that's actually kind of cool."
"Oh wow," Jaden said, intrigued. "So you probably know everything about him, huh?"
Bernard glanced at them in the rearview mirror with a faint smile. "If you're curious about whether or not I know about Master Andrews'... 'nightlife,' the answer is yes."
Jake leaned forward in his seat, smirking. "Wait, so does that mean you've seen him mess up? Like, faceplant-while-swinging kind of mess up?"
"Master Andrews has had his fair share of 'learning experiences,' let's say," Bernard said diplomatically, eliciting a chuckle from Jake.
"Man, I knew he wasn't perfect," Jake said, leaning back with a satisfied grin.
As the car approached their destination, the mansion came into view. Jaden and Jake's jaws dropped simultaneously.
"Whoa," Jaden muttered, stepping out of the car.
Jake hopped out after him, spinning around to take in the massive estate. "This place is insane! How many rooms does it even have?!"
Bernard stepped out of the car with a calm expression. "Enough to get lost in, I assure you. Please follow me, gentlemen."
Jake looked at Jaden, wide-eyed. "If I lived here, I'd have my own arcade. And maybe a swimming pool with a waterslide. Or two."
Jaden nodded. "Yeah, and I'd probably never leave the house. Ever."
As they walked toward the front door, Jake nudged Jaden. "Do you think Zeke's got one of those fancy robot butlers? You know, the ones that talk all British and stuff?"
Bernard cleared his throat, holding the door open. "I believe I fulfill that role adequately, young master."
Jake grinned sheepishly. "Right. Uh, no offense, Bernard."
"None taken," Bernard replied with a faint smile, leading them inside.
As they stepped into the grand foyer, Jake whispered to Jaden, "I feel like we just walked into a superhero version of a palace. What do you think the snack situation is like in here?"
Jaden shook his head with a small laugh. "Jake, focus. We're here for training, not snacks."
"Training and snacks," Jake corrected. "I'm just saying—priorities, dude."
As Bernard led them inside, Jaden and Jake were surprised to see the mansion was almost empty.
"Looking for something, young man?" Bernard asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah, where's the rest of the house staff?" Jaden asked, curious.
"I am the sum total," Bernard declared, taking off his hat.
"Wow, you must be really good if you're the only person Mr. Andrews needs," Jaden said, impressed.
"He's not a servant," Zeke said, walking in dressed casually in a gray sweatshirt and khakis. "He's a friend."
"Master Zeke," Bernard acknowledged with a polite nod.
"Thanks for bringing them, Bernard. I'll take it from here," Zeke said, dismissing him. Bernard nodded and left them alone.
Jake looked around, taking in the grand hall. "So... uh, pretty big house you've got here," he said, glancing at Zeke. "Does it ever feel, I don't know, too quiet?"
"It's quiet, but I'm not alone," Zeke replied calmly.
Jake raised an eyebrow. "The butler doesn't count," he said quickly, earning a smirk from Jaden.
"I know. My answer is still the same," Zeke said cryptically.
Jake exchanged a look with Jaden. "Okay, that's not ominous or anything," he muttered under his breath.
Zeke walked up to an old grandfather clock and moved it aside, revealing a hidden staircase.
"Whoa," Jaden said, his jaw dropping.
"That's insane!" Jake exclaimed. "How long have you been hiding that?"
"Long enough," Zeke said, leading them down the staircase. "It's time you both really learned what you're getting into."
As they descended, Jake and Jaden found themselves standing in the middle of The Nest.
Jaden's eyes widened in awe. "And here I thought the coolest thing you had was the Birdwing jet."
Jake spun around, taking it all in. "Okay, this officially blows my mind. Is that a giant dinosaur?! And what's with the huge playing card? Do you, like, collect random oversized stuff for fun?"
"You guys seriously act like this is your first time here," said a familiar voice from the side.
Looking over, Jake and Jaden saw Dylan and Molly sitting by a large computer.
"Dylan!" Jake said, grinning. "Finally, someone who doesn't look like they stepped out of a secret spy movie."
"Funny, Jake," Dylan said with a smirk. "But we both know I've got way more experience than you when it comes to hero work."
"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," Jake said, rolling his eyes. "What's up, Molly?"
"Not much," Molly replied with a smile. "Just keeping the city safe while you guys are busy being amazed by the décor."
Jaden chuckled, leaning against the table. "Hey, Dylan, quick question—what's with all the bird stuff? Is Zeke just that into ornithology, or is it, like, a theme?"
"It's a theme, genius," Dylan replied, shaking his head. "What'd you think it was? A coincidence?"
Jake laughed. "Okay, point taken. But still, this is insane. You've got a dinosaur and everything!"
"You haven't seen anything yet," Zeke said, walking back over. "You two have a lot to learn."
Zeke gestured toward the massive computer. "This is how we keep track of everything happening in and out of Titanium City."
Jake stared at the screen. "Okay, this is officially the coolest thing I've ever seen. Wait, no—second coolest. The dinosaur still wins."
Jaden was about to touch the giant playing card when Zeke appeared out of the shadows in his Blackbird suit and grabbed his arm.
"Don't touch anything unless you know what it does," Blackbird advised firmly.
Jaden nodded quickly. "Right. Got it. No touching."
Jake pointed at Jaden and laughed. "Man, you just got the Blackbird treatment."
"Today," Blackbird continued, ignoring Jake's comment, "we're investigating some unusual activity at the docks. Molly and I will show you how it's done."
"Wait, why can't I come?" Dylan asked, looking annoyed.
"You know the rules, Master Dylan," Bernard said, stepping into the room. "No crime fighting until your homework is complete."
"Aw, come on, Bernard!" Dylan groaned.
Bernard handed him a textbook without missing a beat. "No exceptions."
Jake laughed, shaking his head. "Man, it sucks juggling both worlds, huh? I feel you, though. If you need a tutor, just hit me up."
Dylan gave him a look. "Thanks, but I think I've got it covered."
Jake grinned. "Your loss, dude. I'm a math wizard. Ask Jaden."
Jaden rolled his eyes. "Jake, you barely passed algebra."
"Details," Jake said with a shrug. "Let's focus on the superhero stuff, okay?"
An hour later, we found ourselves at the docks, but someone had beaten us to it.
Standing atop a water tower was a young adult with black hair styled into a sharp, layered mullet. He wore a black suit adorned with a sleek, metallic blue bird emblem across the chest, which extended into feather-like patterns on his shoulders and gloves. His boots had sharp, talon-like edges, and his high-tech mask featured angular blue lenses and a pointed design resembling a bird's beak. This was Nighthawk, the vigilant protector of Titanium City.
Nighthawk scanned the docks through a pair of high-tech binoculars, tensing as he noticed shadows moving behind him. His gloved fingers tightened around the binoculars.
"What are you doing here?" Nighthawk asked sharply, turning to see Blackbird and Sparrow approaching.
"Predawn, the docks—where else would a masked vigilante be?" Sparrow smirked, her voice teasing yet sharp.
"This is my operation. If I needed backup, I'd have called," Nighthawk shot back.
"Overconfident much?" Spider-Man quipped, crawling up the side of the water tower with Shadow Spider close behind.
"What the—? Who are these guys?" Nighthawk demanded, narrowing his eyes at the newcomers.
"My recruits," Blackbird said calmly.
"Uh, hey there. I'm Spider-Man. Nice to meet you," Spider-Man offered, holding out his hand.
"Spider-Man? I've heard that name," Nighthawk replied, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I get around," Spider-Man shrugged.
"And I'm Shadow Spider," Shadow Spider said, landing beside his partner. "We're partners."
"You can thank me for keeping Spider-Man in line," Shadow Spider added with a smirk.
"Keeping me in line?" Spider-Man shot back. "Pretty sure I'm the senior hero here."
"Focus," Blackbird interrupted, his deep voice silencing the banter. "What's the situation?"
"Gunrunners from South America," Nighthawk explained. "Those crates aren't filled with fruit—they're packing heat. Here comes their delivery now." He gestured to a truck pulling up near the docks.
From inside the truck, a forklift emerged, starting to unload crates.
"If you'll excuse me," Nighthawk said, standing up. He extended sleek glider wings from under his arms and leapt off the tower, gliding toward the action.
"Okay, that's pretty cool. How do you know him?" Spider-Man asked Sparrow, impressed.
"He was Blackbird's first partner," Sparrow explained, her tone softer.
"Wait—what?" Spider-Man turned to Blackbird, stunned. "You used to work with him?"
"Focus," Blackbird repeated, gesturing toward the scene below.
Nighthawk landed with precision, delivering a flying kick to one thug, knocking him out instantly. As another raised a weapon, Nighthawk dodged the gunfire, disarmed him, and knocked him to the ground with a powerful knee strike.
"Man, this guy's efficient," Shadow Spider muttered, watching from above.
"He's showing off," Spider-Man replied, shaking his head. "Let's help out."
"Fine, but don't steal my spotlight," Shadow Spider teased as they both swung into action.
As Shadow Spider flipped through the air, he turned himself invisible mid-swing. Landing behind a thug, he delivered a precise venom blast—a surge of crackling blue electricity coursed through his gloves, shocking the thug unconscious.
"Nice trick, huh?" Shadow Spider said, reappearing with a smirk.
"Not bad," Spider-Man admitted, tying up another thug with webbing.
Nighthawk dodged a forklift charging toward him, but Shadow Spider appeared in its path. Raising his hand, he fired a venom blast directly into the forklift's engine, causing it to short-circuit and stop in its tracks.
"Was that necessary?" Nighthawk barked, glaring at Shadow Spider.
"What? You were in the way," Shadow Spider replied nonchalantly. "You're welcome."
"I don't need your help," Nighthawk growled, chasing after a thug who was making a break for it.
Shadow Spider scoffed. "Well, someone's touchy."
Sparrow swung in just in time to knock out a thug sneaking up on Nighthawk with a plank of wood.
"Didn't see him, huh?" Sparrow quipped.
"I saw him," Nighthawk muttered defensively.
"Sure you did," Sparrow countered, dodging an incoming knife strike from another thug. Before she could counter, Spider-Man webbed the attacker to the ground.
"Maybe you should say 'thanks' next time," Spider-Man said, giving Nighthawk a pointed look.
As the thug turned a corner he noticed Blackbird leaning against some boxes but wasn't doing anything.
Slowly with caution, the thug ran pas Blackbird with Nighthawk right behind him.
"He's all yours," Blackbird gestured.
As Nighthawk continued the chase, Spider-Man and Shadow Spider landed nearby.
"You could have stopped him. Why didn't you?" Spider-Man asked.
"Yeah, dude," Shadow Spider added.
"Let him have this," Blackbird replied dismissively.
Curious, both Spider-Men couldn't help but wonder.
Little did they know, a figure was watching them.
As the thug turned a corner, Nighthawk tried to cut him off. To his surprise, the thug was already on the ground, tied up.
"I told you I didn't need—" Nighthawk began but stopped short. He expected to see Blackbird or Sparrow, but instead, he saw a woman.
Clad in a sleek black suit with glowing green accents tracing her sides and arms, Catalyst exuded deadly elegance. Her mask was angular, with cat-like ear points and neon-green lenses. A shimmering whip hung coiled at her hip, glowing faintly in the dim light.
"A gift," she purred, smirking at Nighthawk before flipping backward into the shadows and vanishing.
Nighthawk frowned but hauled the thug to his feet. "You said it," he muttered under his breath.
Nearby, Shadow Spider and Spider-Man watched the scene unfold.
"Wow," Shadow Spider said. "And I thought our city had colorful characters."
"Yeah," Spider-Man agreed. "Titanium's a whole different vibe."
Joining molly , Jaden and jake soon went to meet up with nighthawk .
At their place, Jaden and Jake saw a young man with black hair, wearing a blue biker jacket and black pants. This was Jason Grayson.
"So, you're the new guys zeke told us about, huh? How are you liking Titanium City?" Jason asked while working on his bike.
"Almost as much drama as are city. And are city has Broadway shows," Jaden quipped, earning a chuckle from Jason.
"Ha, nice," Jason smirked, amused.
Jake folded his arms and grinned. "Drama's one thing, but this city's got action, too. And action's kind of my specialty. So, what's the deal with the team? Where do we fit in?"
Jason raised an eyebrow, impressed by Jake's confidence. "Straight to the point, huh? You two are gonna do just fine here."
Jaden glanced around. "So, who was that woman earlier? Friend of yours?"
"Her name's Catalyst," Molly replied, her tone sharp. "And she's anything but a friend. Why'd you let her go?"
"She didn't do anything except help," Jason said with a shrug.
"Her kind of help you can do without," Molly chimed in, crossing her arms.
"Jealous?" Jason teased with a smirk.
Molly frowned, ignoring the jab. "What were you doing down by the docks anyway?"
"Keeping my eye out for things. I've been hearing rumors of a South American smuggling ring. Word is something big is coming in soon," Jason replied, opening a hidden cabinet to reveal his Nighthawk suit. "If you'll excuse me."
As Jason went to change, Jaden sat down in a chair near Molly, while Jake leaned against the wall, observing.
"There's safety in numbers, you know," Molly insisted.
"You and Zeke don't have to look out for me, Molly. I'm not stupid," Jason said from the other room.
"No... you just act that way sometimes," Molly retorted with a frown.
Jake glanced at Jaden before speaking up. "You seem to have history with Mr. Andrews—uh, Zeke. What's with all the tension?"
Jason emerged in his suit, adjusting his mask. "Listen to me, Jake. You might think having Zeke around is a good thing, but sooner or later, he'll start keeping secrets from you. You'll see sides of him you wish you never saw."
"Jason, that's enough," Molly said, clearly upset.
"Better they learn this now than out in the field," Jason said, ignoring her. "Let me break it down for you. You'll start to appreciate having him by your side. He'll show you a few moves, you'll get better, and you'll be grateful. But sooner or later, he'll use that. Important social events? You'll miss them all. Big achievements? He'll blow you off. For him, Blackbird is priority one. Everything else comes second."
Jake frowned, crossing his arms. "That's pretty harsh, man. I'm not saying you're wrong, but it sounds like you're blaming him for everything. Ever think maybe he's dealing with his own mess? You could try cutting him some slack."
Jason turned to Jake, narrowing his eyes. "Cut him slack? That's easy to say when you haven't lived it."
Jaden, sensing the tension, spoke up. "Look, I'm not saying you have to forgive him, but don't kick him out of your life. Who knows? Maybe deep down, he misses you."
Jason hesitated for a moment before chuckling softly. "You're a strange one, Webs. And you too, Jake. You might actually survive here."
As Jason headed toward his bike, Molly called after him. "There's room for two on that, you know."
"Some other time," Jason said, leaving without another word.
Jake watched him go, then turned to Molly. "So, you and Jason—were you two close?"
"Huh?" Molly asked, slightly startled.
Jake held up his hands. "Sorry, not my business. I'm just trying to get the vibe here, you know?"
Molly softened. "It's fine. For the record, Jason and I were close. We even dated for a while, but things ended after he found out I was keeping secrets about being Sparrow."
"You never told him?" Jake asked.
"How do you tell someone a secret that big?" Molly replied.
Pausing, Jake sighed. "I get it. It's not easy."
"No, it's not," Molly said with a faint frown.
Jaden, who had been listening, gave a small smile. "Well, at least you're not the only one with relationship issues. High school's full of them. Flash Thompson, my school bully, is dating the girl I tutor, and now I'm apparently the bad guy for her realizing he's a jerk."
Molly chuckled. "Sounds like high school hasn't changed much."
"Yeah, but thanks for listening. At least someone doesn't hate me," Jaden said with a small smile.
"Anytime," Molly said warmly. "And hey, you two better be ready. We're all in this together."
Jake grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Absolutely," Jaden said as the three of them headed out. "So, uh, who is this Catalyst lady?"
"She's a thief Zeke ran into a lot during his solo days," Molly said with a smirk. "She'd tease and flirt with him on a daily basis. They also had... a history."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "A history? Like, romantic history? You're telling me Mr. All-Work-No-Play had a thing for a thief?"
Molly chuckled. "That's right. Zeke may not have shown it much, but bernard always said there was something there."
"What would it take for you to tell me everything you know about those two?" Jaden asked immediately.
"Hmm, I haven't had breakfast yet," Molly hinted.
Jake grinned. "Alright, fair deal. I'm starving anyway. You've got yourself a bargain. But keep in mind, we're not made of money here."
"You two are hopeless," Jaden said, shaking his head with a laugh. "Fine, let's grab something to eat. But I'm only paying if it's under 20 bucks."
Molly giggled. "Don't worry. I know a good diner nearby that can easily cover all three of us with that budget."
Soon, the trio was seated at a small diner, sharing stories over breakfast.
"I ran into Catalyst a few times, and she always got the better of me," Molly said, eating her eggs. "She's sneaky, clever, and don't even get me started on her feline partner in crime."
"That sounds wild," Jake said, cutting into his pancakes. "A thief with a cat sidekick? That's got to be annoying to deal with."
"No kidding," Molly said with a sigh. "But the crazy part is her history with Zeke. Believe it or not, bernard told me Zeke actually had feelings for her."
"Zeke? Zeke Andrews in love with a woman?" Jaden said in disbelief.
"I swear I'm not kidding," Molly replied. "She would flirt with blackbird every chance she got."
Jake leaned forward, intrigued. "Okay, but if she's a thief and he's, well, Zeke Andrews, how does that even work? Did he ever, I don't know, let her off the hook?"
Molly shook her head. "Not exactly. Zeke is all about the mission. But bernard said there were moments where it seemed like he hesitated—like he didn't want to take her down."
"So what happened?" Jaden asked. "I didn't think he ever showed any signs of wanting a relationship."
"And you'd be right. For him, it's always work, no pleasure," Molly said.
Jake frowned. "That's rough. I mean, I get it—work's important. But what's the point if you can't let yourself be happy every once in a while?"
Jaden nodded. "Exactly. I just don't get it. I know this life isn't easy, but if you find someone you like, you should at least try to make it work, right?"
"That's the dream," Molly said with a wistful smile. "If only it were that easy. It's not like I can just walk up to a guy who's fine with me disappearing at a moment's notice and say, 'Wanna be in a relationship?'"
Jake leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "Hey, you never know. The right guy might surprise you. Besides, any guy who can't handle your schedule probably isn't worth your time."
Jaden chuckled. "Jake's got a point. And no offense, but any guy who says no to dating you might not be the brightest."
Hearing this, Molly giggled. "Thank you, both of you. That means a lot."
Jake grinned. "What can I say? We're here to boost morale."
Jaden and Jake exchanged a glance, clearly on the same page. Jaden was happy to learn more about the people he was working with, but out of everyone he'd met in Titanium City so far, Molly was definitely the person he felt most comfortable talking to
That night atop a skyscraper, Nighthawk stood silently, gazing out at a building across the street. A man stepped onto a balcony below, illuminated by the city lights.
The man was large and muscular, with a bald head, a scar running over his right eye, and a hook for a left hand.
"Enrique El Gancho," Catalyst said, stepping out of the shadows behind Nighthawk. "Aka Ricky the Hook. Used to be an enforcer down in Colombia. You're welcome for the intel, by the way."
"I would have figured it out," Nighthawk replied, brushing off her comment.
"Maybe," Catalyst said, unconvinced. "So, what's the plan? What are we doing here?"
"I'm following a lead. Seems the Hook was running the shipments last night," Nighthawk explained.
"And you'd like to find out what he's up to," Catalyst guessed.
"Something like that." He nodded.
"A patrol. Going to be tricky," Catalyst said. "I'll tell you when we can move."
"We? I don't know what your angle is," Nighthawk said, his tone sharp.
"Why is it so hard for you people to believe I've changed? Ever hear of redemption?" Catalyst quipped.
"So why come to me and not Blackbird?" Nighthawk asked, not hiding his skepticism.
"Blackbird and I have... too much of a history. He'd never believe me," Catalyst replied with a shrug.
"Gee, I wonder why," Nighthawk muttered under his breath.
"Now," Catalyst said, suddenly leaping off the edge of the building.
Using her whip, she snagged a flagpole and swung onto the balcony below. Nighthawk sighed but followed close behind her, using his grappling hook to land silently beside her.
"Next time, maybe a little warning?" Nighthawk said, annoyed.
"Sorry," Catalyst said with a smirk. "Not used to this whole partner thing."
"Who said anything about partners?" Nighthawk shot back as they slipped inside the building.
Nighthawk immediately made his way to a nearby computer, quickly accessing the shipping schedules, while Catalyst kept watch.
"Just need to transfer the data," Nighthawk said as he loaded everything onto a USB drive. "Got it. Let's go."
When he lifted his head, Catalyst was nowhere to be seen.
"Catalyst?" he whispered, scanning the room, but the sudden click of a light turning on froze him in place.
Standing before him was Enrique, flanked by two armed thugs.
"What do we have here? Nighthawk, the cheap knockoff? What do you think you're doing here?" Enrique sneered, grabbing Nighthawk by the collar and yanking him close.
"Apparently getting set up by my new partner," Nighthawk said dryly.
"Partner? I think you've miscounted," Enrique mocked.
Before Enrique could do anything more, Catalyst swung down from the upper floor, kicking one thug into a wall and sending the other sprawling with a powerful strike.
Using the distraction, Nighthawk broke free from Enrique's grip, landing a quick uppercut. He followed with a spinning kick, forcing Enrique to stagger back.
Enrique roared in anger, swinging his hook at Nighthawk, who ducked just in time. Nighthawk retaliated with a baton strike to Enrique's ribs and a knee to his face, sending the larger man crashing to the ground.
Meanwhile, Catalyst expertly maneuvered around the remaining thug, dodging his gunfire before snapping her whip to disarm him. She delivered a series of rapid punches, finishing with a sweep kick that knocked him out cold.
The victory was short-lived as more thugs burst into the room, weapons drawn. One of them opened fire, forcing Nighthawk and Catalyst to leap through a nearby skylight into a pool area below. Glass shattered around them as they hit the water, immediately taking cover behind the pool's edges.
"They just keep coming," Catalyst said, catching her breath.
"I noticed," Nighthawk replied, scanning the area. "Got a plan?"
"Always." Catalyst grinned, tossing him a smoke pellet from her belt.
Nighthawk smirked and threw it into the center of the room. The lights cut out, and smoke filled the air.
Using the cover of darkness, the duo moved like shadows. Nighthawk took down one thug with a precision strike to the back of the head, while Catalyst used her whip to trip another into the pool. The remaining thug panicked, firing wildly into the smoke, only to be disarmed and knocked unconscious by Catalyst's calculated strike.
As silence settled over the room, Nighthawk and Catalyst climbed out of the pool, dripping but unharmed.
"Not bad," Catalyst said, brushing water from her hair.
"You did good too," Nighthawk admitted grudgingly.
Catalyst smirked. "Let me know if you find anything interesting on those shipments." With a flick of her whip, she disappeared into the night.
Nighthawk stood alone for a moment, staring after her. "Partner, huh?" he muttered before grappling away into the Titanium City skyline.
At the Nest , Jaden walked in wearing his Spider-Man suit, minus the mask, to see Zeke staring at a monitor. Jake was nearby, fiddling with the straps of his Shadow Spider suit as he prepared to join them. Approaching Zeke, Jaden noticed the screen displayed a fancy building where a beautiful woman with dark hair lounged on a couch surrounded by several cats. This was Sam Black.
"Wow, didn't know you were into people-watching," Jaden quipped, leaning against the desk.
Jake looked up from his suit adjustments and smirked. "Yeah, Zeke. Should we call this the 'Nest Gossip Channel'?"
Zeke didn't even flinch. "This isn't some idle pastime. Sam Black is tied to an important lead."
Jaden raised an eyebrow. "Lead or not, you can't tell me she's not stunning. So, Zeke, secret crush?"
"That's history," Zeke replied curtly.
"Oh, you mean with the masks on or off?" Jaden teased, earning him a sharp look from Zeke.
Jake chuckled as he zipped up his suit. "Careful, Jaden. I think you're treading on dangerous territory."
Zeke's gaze narrowed. "How much do you know?"
"A few things," Jaden said with a shrug. "But seriously, why aren't you out there with Nighthawk helping him out? Or keeping an eye on Sam so she doesn't cause trouble?"
"Nighthawk doesn't need me holding his hand. He's capable of handling himself," Zeke replied.
Jake adjusted his gloves and jumped in. " molly told me he was your first partner. You two must've been unstoppable. What happened?"
Zeke's expression darkened. "He got tired of living in my shadow. I kept secrets from him, and when he found out, he realized my methods weren't for him. One night, he'd had enough. He quit."
Jaden leaned back against the desk, folding his arms. "He's still not over it, by the way."
"Not surprised," Zeke admitted, a rare hint of regret in his voice.
Jake tugged his mask down over his face. "Man, you two really need to work that out. Holding onto grudges isn't healthy, y'know?"
Jaden turned to Jake. "You're one to talk. Weren't you mad at me for accidentally webbing your snacks last week?"
"That's different," Jake shot back. "Snacks are sacred."
Before Zeke could respond, Bernard entered the room. "Master Zeke, young Master Jaden, and Master Jake, what mischief are you all conspiring now?"
Jaden grinned. "Just some light banter, Bernard. Nothing too devious."
"Speak for yourself," Jake added with a laugh. "I'm plotting a snack heist later."
Bernard raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were the responsible one. Now, Master Dylan just finished his homework and asked if he could accompany you. I've already informed him it's well past his bedtime."
Jake shook his head, laughing. "Good call, Bernard. Dylan's great, but I don't think he's ready for a night out in the field."
Jaden sighed dramatically. "Guess that means it's just us, then."
Bernard smirked. "Quite so. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have tea to prepare. Do try not to bring the building down while I'm gone."
As Bernard left, Jake turned to Jaden and Zeke. "So, what's the plan tonight?"
Zeke tapped a few keys on the monitor. "Nighthawk's tracking a lead downtown. We'll be on standby in case he needs backup."
Jaden slipped on his mask and stretched. "Sounds like a quiet night. Let's hope it stays that way."
Jake pulled his hood up and grinned behind his mask. "With us? Quiet's never an option."
The three of them moved toward the exit, ready to jump into action if the call came.
A few hours later, under the cover of night, we return to the docks.
As it turns out, "Little Angels" wasn't a cryptic reference in Ricky the Hook's data—it was the name of one of the incoming ships. Nighthawk and Catalyst suspected it to be the key to the operation.
Sneaking aboard the ship, the heroes made their way to the cargo hold, where rows of sealed crates awaited. Nighthawk grabbed a crowbar, prying open a crate labeled FRUIT, revealing a priceless South American artifact.
"Strange fruit," Nighthawk muttered, moving toward a large object draped under a cloth. Pulling it off revealed a massive Easter Island head.
"He's smuggling artifacts—bleeding his country's heritage for his own profit," Nighthawk said grimly. A loud crack interrupted his thoughts. "Catalyst?"
Following the sound, he found Catalyst prying open another crate containing small idols the size of nesting dolls. She smashed one to reveal a gleaming emerald the size of a pocket watch.
"What are you doing?" Nighthawk demanded.
"Just reclaiming what's mine," Catalyst replied coolly, picking up the emerald and sliding it into her sleeve. "The Cat's Eye Emerald—the pride of Argentina."
"You slipped it into one of Enrique's shipments," Nighthawk realized.
Catalyst smiled. "And you figured it out. Clever boy."
"You know I can't let you walk away with that," Nighthawk said, tensing.
"Can't blame a girl for trying." Catalyst grinned before spinning around, landing a back kick that sent Nighthawk sprawling. She cracked her whip, cutting loose a net above him, entangling him.
"To think all these years working with Blackbird would've made you smarter," Catalyst teased.
"He is," a familiar voice called out. Catalyst looked up to see Blackbird, Sparrow, Spider-Man, and Shadow Spider perched on the upper railings.
"Nice to meet you, Catalyst," Spider-Man said cheerfully as Blackbird tossed a batarang to cut Nighthawk free.
"You set me up!" Catalyst snarled.
"The second you asked about Enrique's schedule, I called for backup," Nighthawk said, brushing himself off.
"Smart move," Shadow Spider added. "But seriously, if I had a nickel for every sneaky thief we busted this year, I'd still be broke because Blackbird doesn't pay us."
Catalyst smirked, but before she could respond, the doors burst open, and Enrique's armed goons poured in, flanking the smuggler himself.
"Well, well," Enrique said, flexing his hook. "Looks like it's time to take out the trash."
"Oh, great," Shadow Spider quipped. "The extras are here. Did anyone remember to bring snacks?"
"No," Sparrow said, tossing smoke bombs. "But I did bring party favors."
Thick clouds filled the air, giving Blackbird and Nighthawk cover to attack.
"Let's go!" Spider-Man yelled, web-swinging to kick one thug square in the jaw.
Shadow Spider followed, turning invisible mid-swing. "Peekaboo!" he whispered, reappearing to zap a thug with a crackling blue venom blast, sending him flying into a stack of crates.
As more goons charged through the smoke, Blackbird used a chain to drop a large tarp over several of them. Sparrow leapt in, delivering swift strikes to two more, while Spider-Man fired webs to disarm the remaining thugs.
"Bad guys with guns? So 20th century," Spider-Man joked, yanking the weapons away.
Shadow Spider landed near a thug trying to sneak up on Sparrow. "Surprise!" he called, delivering a spinning kick before flipping over to knock out another thug with a venom-charged punch. "Don't worry, pal—it's just a shocking experience."
Enrique, growling in frustration, charged at Blackbird with his hook, but Shadow Spider intercepted, shooting webs to bind his arm.
"Hook, line, and sinker!" Shadow Spider grinned. "You're making this too easy."
With a roar, Enrique slashed free and swung wildly. Shadow Spider dodged, flipping backward onto a crate. "Missed me! What's next? You gonna cry about it?"
Enrique lunged again, but Spider-Man joined in, webbing his feet. "Two against one? Fair fight!" Spider-Man quipped, sending Enrique stumbling.
As Enrique staggered, Blackbird delivered a powerful uppercut, knocking him back into a pile of crates.
"Ooh, fragile goods," Shadow Spider winced. "Bet that's coming out of his paycheck."
Enrique roared in rage, swinging his hook wildly, only to hit a fire extinguisher, spraying foam into his face. Disoriented, he stumbled into a chain, which caught his hook and pulled it from his hand. The chain yanked several crates loose, toppling toward him.
Spider-Man swung in and pulled Enrique to safety. "Why'd you save me?" Enrique gasped.
Shadow Spider chuckled. "Spidey's a softie. Me? I'd have let you get squished."
Spider-Man shrugged. "Guess I think everyone deserves a second chance—well, almost everyone."
Meanwhile, Nighthawk pursued Catalyst, who fired up a speedboat to escape. "Not so fast!" he shouted, leaping off the ship and gliding toward her.
Catalyst fired a flare gun, forcing Nighthawk to dodge as the boat careened toward a larger ship with its propellers spinning. With seconds to spare, Nighthawk grabbed Catalyst and dove into the water as the speedboat exploded.
Sparrow arrived in the Blackjet-turned-boat to pull them aboard. "You okay?" she asked.
"Always happy to have a little help," Nighthawk replied, grinning.
Back on the docks, Catalyst awoke to find herself cuffed. Blackbird retrieved the emerald. "This belongs in a museum."
"Sorry," Catalyst purred, smirking as she slipped a tool from her sleeve.
Spider-Man's senses flared. "Heads up!"
Catalyst broke free and used her whip to swing away. "Sorry, boys. Nine lives and not one involves prison!" she called, disappearing into the night.
As the team regrouped, Shadow Spider looked at Blackbird. "So, uh, is it me, or does she get away a lot?"
Blackbird sighed. "We've got the emerald. That's what matters."
Spider-Man turned to Shadow Spider. "Think we'll ever catch her?"
Shadow Spider grinned. "Maybe, but where's the fun in that?"
Arriving back at the Nest, Molly was frustrated that Catalyst got away, but she was the only one.
"You know, Zeke, I learned quite a bit on this trip to titanium City ," Spider-Man said.
"Oh yeah, what?" blackbird asked.
"You have a lot of problems dealing with people, specifically trusting people," Spider-Man declared.
"Excuse me?" blackbird said, turning to him.
"After hearing the stories about Nighthawk and Catalyst, about how you pushed them both away, that was just an excuse for you. You act like you don't care about jason anymore, but the truth is you do. You love him like he's your son, but you can't figure out how to tell him. That's why you do this tough love thing with him and why you didn't fight him when he left to become Nighthawk. You were glad that he became his own hero, but you also hate that it ended on such a bad note. And don't even get me started with Catalyst. The reason she went to Nighthawk and not you, the reason you keep an eye on her place and what she does, why you even let Nighthawk handle her... You two still like each other," Spider-Man declared.
"W- What are you talking about?" blackbird said, fixing himself. "I told you it's over between us."
"Is it though? I mean, if it really was, would you two have gone to such lengths to get a reaction out of the other? Maybe Catalyst still has feelings for you and tried to get a reaction out of you with your protégé. Plus, when she got away, you weren't as pissed off as you should have been," Spider-Man said.
"She's just a thief, Jaden. It's not like she's a maniac," blackbird brushed off.
"So you say, but I think deep down you care too much about the people in your life. But you just won't admit it. I think you regret breaking things off with sam I think somewhere in that grumpy face of yours is the zeke Andrews you used to be. The man who wanted a little happiness in his life. And I want to meet that man someday," Spider-Man said.
"We're done here," blackbird said, turning to leave.
Sighing, Spider-Man shook his head. "Geez, I just can't win with this guy."
"Head to the training area right now," blackbird ordered.
"Uh, okay," Spider-Man said, unsure if he would like this.
Up above, Sparrow, Wild Force, and Bernard had listened in on the whole thing.
"Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen someone talk to him like that before," Wild Force said, amused.
"You know Zeke is gonna put him through the wringer for that one," Sparrow said.
"Well, I for one hope he sticks around for a while. He has a certain energy that has been lacking around this place for a long time," Bernard smiled.
Looking back down, they saw Zeke's stun lasers being fired at Spider-Man, making him yelp.
"Whoa! Come on, I was just messing around!" Spider-Man panicked before he got hit.
"They won't kill you, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt," blackbird said, increasing the level of difficulty.
Jumping around, Spider-Man dodged the attack before he started moving his body in dance-like motions.
"Know this, Jaden, you work with me, you follow the rules. Rule number 1, you give me everything you got. Rule number 2, then you give me more." Clicking a button, the pattern began to change, and Spidey ducked narrowly, avoiding an attack but getting blasted in the back, knocking him to the ground.
Groaning, Spider-Man looked up to see blackbird glaring down at him. "And rule number 3. I make the rules."
In the corner of the Nest, we see Nighthawk chuckling softly at his antics.
'I'm starting to like this guy,' Nighthawk thought, amused.
Growling, Spider-Man jumped back into it.
Firing webs, Spider-Man yanked the lasers out of their positions and hit the targets, shutting them off.
Panting heavily, Spider-Man looked to blackbird .
"Not bad…now for the next level," blackbird said, as Spider-Man found himself surrounded.
"Ugh, you're really making me work for that paycheck," Spider-Man groaned, making Nighthawk, Sparrow, and Wild Force pause.
"YOU GET PAID?!" all three yelled.
Groaning, blackbird facepalmed, knowing he was gonna have to do some explaining.
Bernard, however, was the only one amused.
Shadow Spider, who had been silently observing the whole situation, leapt down from his perch. "Looks like you could use some help, Spidey," he said with a smirk, joining the fray.
"Shadow Spider!" Spider-Man grinned. "About time you showed up!"
"Just keeping an eye on my partner," Shadow Spider replied, launching himself into the battle with quick, fluid movements.
Blackbird turned his attention to Shadow Spider. "You think you can handle it better, kid?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You bet," Shadow Spider said confidently, shooting webs to disable a few of the incoming lasers. "I've got some new tricks up my sleeve."
"Well, let's see what you've got," blackbird said, nodding approvingly as he observed the two heroes working together.
The teamwork between Spider-Man and Shadow Spider was impressive as they combined their skills, working seamlessly to dodge and dismantle the laser traps.
The following Monday, we see Eddie running to the lab as fast as he could.
"Oh man, the one time I forget to set my alarm, this happens," Eddie said, running in.
But when he entered the lab, he was surprised to see Zeke Andrews sitting with Kurt while Jaden stood nearby with Billy and Gwen.
"Jaden told me a bit about your research, Dr. Conners, and I'm very interested," Zeke said.
"Oh wow, well thank you, Mr. Andrews," Kurt said.
"What's going on?" Eddie asks, walking over to Gwen and Billy.
"Mr. Andrews wants to sponsor some experiments. We're gonna get more funding. Isn't that great?" Gwen asks.
"How does Jaden know Zeke Andrews?" Eddie asks.
"That's his boss. Jaden works for Zeke Andrews," Gwen declares, surprising Eddie.
"Wait, what?" Eddie said.
"Jaden's the coolest guy ever," Billy smiles.
Looking out, Zeke hands Kurt a check.
"I added a little extra as an apology for borrowing Jaden too often," Zeke said.
"It's no trouble at all, Mr. Andrews. I look forward to working with you," Kurt said as they shook hands before turning to Jaden. "Jaden, I cannot thank you enough for this."
"Glad I could help. Although, I'll admit, getting him to hear me out was not easy," Jaden smiles weakly, remembering all those training drills.
"Eddie, there you are," Martha said, walking over. "You're late."
"Yeah, sorry, Mrs. Conners. I guess my alarm didn't go off," Eddie apologizes.
"Well, try to be a little better about it next time," she said.
As Eddie watched everyone thanking Jaden and Zeke, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Jaden was almost always late or a no-show, but the second he brings over Zeke Andrews and his checkbook, all is forgiven. Meanwhile, with him, he arrives late, and he gets in trouble for it.
Tightening his fist, Eddie was not a fan of this. Not even a little bit.
Later That night it was dark, the city's skyline cutting into the starry sky. Shadow Spider and Miss Marvel were hot on the trail of a fleeing criminal, swinging from rooftop to rooftop with agility and speed. The chase had been intense, but they were closing in.
"He's fast," Miss Marvel said, stretching her body to form a giant fist to knock over a wall, creating a path through the buildings.
"Not as fast as us," Shadow Spider replied, his voice steady, as he effortlessly swung beside her.
But in the blink of an eye, Miss Marvel miscalculated a jump, her foot slipping from the edge of the building. She gasped as she plummeted toward the street below.
Without hesitation, Shadow Spider shot a web towards her, catching her just in time. He swung her back up, his strong grip securing her as she dangled in mid-air.
"Gotcha!" Shadow Spider said, swinging them both back onto a rooftop.
Miss Marvel's heart raced, not just from the adrenaline, but from the close call. She looked up at him, still in his arms, her breath catching for a moment.
"Th-Thanks, Shadow Spider," she stuttered, her cheeks turning a slight shade of red as she realized how close they were.
He set her down gently, keeping a slight hold on her arm to steady her. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just... a little freaked out," she said, smiling nervously. "I didn't expect the whole 'hero saving the day' thing to be so... real."
Shadow Spider chuckled, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "It's not as glamorous as it looks in the comics," he teased, though his eyes lingered on hers for just a second too long.
Miss Marvel blinked, suddenly feeling a flutter in her chest. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "So, uh... I guess I owe you one, huh?"
"Don't mention it," Shadow Spider replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "Just... be careful next time. Can't have you falling all over the city on my watch."
She laughed, a little embarrassed. "Right. I'll keep that in mind." She looked down for a moment, then glanced back up at him. "You really have my back, don't you?"
Shadow Spider met her gaze, his usual confident smirk softening into something more genuine. "Always."
For a brief second, there was an unspoken connection between them. It wasn't overt, but the way their eyes held each other, the small smile shared—it felt like something more than just a partnership.
Before the moment could stretch any further, Miss Marvel quickly shook her head and chuckled nervously. "Okay, okay. We should probably stop standing here and go after that guy before he gets away, huh?"
"Right," Shadow Spider agreed, his voice a little more grounded as he snapped back into hero mode. "Let's finish this."
As they both took off again, their movements in sync, Miss Marvel couldn't help but steal another glance at him. Her heart still raced—not from the chase, but from something deeper, something she wasn't ready to admit.
And Shadow Spider, despite his usual tough exterior, couldn't shake the feeling that this partnership, and maybe something more, was just beginning to form.