The sun hung low over Queens, casting golden light over the sidewalks as Nathan and Peter made their way toward the Parker household. It had been a long day longer than either of them would admit but Nathan's mind was still spinning from everything that had happened. Saving a baby. Running up a burning building. It all felt like a dream stitched together by adrenaline and web fluid.
Peter jabbed his elbow into Nathan's side.
"If you're gonna be a superhero like the Fantastic Four, you need a way better suit than what you just wore."
Nathan glanced down at the red and blue shirt he'd hastily thrown on from the costume shop. The spider symbol had already started to peel.
"Yeah, this thing's more Party City than superhero city."
Peter grinned and wrapped his arm around Nathan's shoulders. "Lucky for you… you've got a genius best friend who can sew. Trust me."
Nathan blinked. "Wait. You can sew?"
Peter looked slightly offended. "My Aunt May made me learn. You think I just buy all my cosplay gear?"
They reached the front porch. Peter unlocked the door.
Nathan stepped inside and noticed the house was eerily quiet. "Where are your uncle and aunt?"
"Date night," Peter said, kicking off his sneakers. "Some new sushi place Uncle Ben's pretending not to hate."
Nathan nodded, trying not to feel the pit forming in his stomach. He missed his parents already, even if they'd left him five grand and a sticky note. He wasn't ready to think about that yet.
They climbed the stairs to Peter's room. It was a chaotic mix of comic books, scattered robotics, and science posters. Nathan flopped down on the bed, arms spread.
Peter sat at his desk and flipped open a notebook. "So. Suit talk. What are you thinking?"
Nathan stared at the ceiling, then at Peter. "Keep the red and blue. Classic. And I like the mask design, so don't change that."
Peter started sketching, his brow furrowed in concentration. His pencil darted across the page, pausing now and then as ideas hit him like sparks.
After twenty minutes, he turned the notebook around.
Nathan sat up. "Yes. That's perfect."
Peter gave a proud nod and pulled a covered sewing machine from under his desk like it was Excalibur. "Let's get to work."
The hours flew by. Between cutting fabric, stitching seams, and making sure the mask fit just right, neither of them noticed that the sun had dipped below the horizon.
Nathan stretched his arms as they both admired the suit hanging on the wall. It was sleek. Streamlined. The spider logo popped on the chest, and the eyes on the mask had a sharper, more focused look.
"Dude," Nathan breathed. "That's actually awesome."
Peter grinned and gave a mock bow. "We also totally skipped school."
Nathan winced. "Right…"
Peter shrugged. "Worth it."
They both laughed, the kind of laugh you share when you're fifteen and the world feels both terrifying and completely under your control.
Then Nathan said, "Should we tell Harry? I mean, he's rich. If we ever need tech or equipment…"
Peter's smirk dropped. "No. Absolutely not."
"Why not?"
"Because Harry can't keep a secret. Remember your thirteenth birthday party?"
Nathan blinked. "No?"
"You asked who ate your cake. One glare from you and he folded like a deck chair. Told you it was me."
Nathan opened his mouth, paused, then nodded. "Yeah, okay. You got me there."
"And he's the type of guy to flirt with a girl by saying, 'Hey, I know Spider-Man.' You know he'd do it."
Nathan sighed. "That… is also true."
Just then, Peter's laptop pinged. A bright red alert pulsed across the screen.
NYPD INCIDENT REPORT – ARMED ROBBERY – QUEENS FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK.
Nathan leaned over. "You get crime alerts?"
Peter wiggled his fingers proudly. "Hacked the police scanner when you were in the bathroom."
"I was gone for like five minutes!"
"Three. Tops. Their cybersecurity sucks."
Peter turned to him, eyes glowing. "It's a bank robbery. You ready… Spider-Man?"
Nathan took a deep breath and nodded.
Minutes later, Nathan crouched on top of Peter's apartment building, clad in his new suit. He looked over the skyline of Queens. His fingers curled into fists. The fabric felt snug but right. Like it was made for him.
"Okay… here we go."
He jumped.
The first swing was awkward, like jumping off a diving board for the first time.
The second was exhilarating.
By the third, he was soaring between buildings, the wind screaming in his ears as he let out a triumphant, "WHOOOOOOOOO!"
Inside Queens Federal Savings Bank
Chaos reigned.
"EVERYBODY ON THE FLOOR!"
Twelve men, armed to the teeth, stormed the bank. Ski masks. Kevlar. Assault rifles. Two remained outside. Ten spread inside like sharks. One shattered the front security camera. Another vaulted the counter. A guard reached for his weapon—
Pop! Pop!
Too late.
The leader was a bald man with a crimson bandana barked orders. "Get the vault open! Five minutes!"
A teller whimpered. The nearest thug raised his rifle.
Then—
CRASH!
A body smashed through the skylight and slammed into the thug. They tumbled into the desk. Papers flew everywhere.
Nathan popped his head up from behind the counter. "Ow. Okay. I'm good. One down?"
All eyes turned to him.
"Is that a teenager?!"
Bullets ripped through the air.
Nathan's instincts flared.
Move!
Thwip!
He yanked one rifle away, slapping it to the ceiling.
Thwip-thwip!
Two more thugs tripped as their legs tangled in webbing.
He dove behind a marble pillar as bullets chewed through the edges.
Nathan panted. Okay, maybe twelve guys was a bit much.
Bandana guy yelled, "Flank him!"
Nathan's eyes scanned the room. Fire alarm. Chandelier. Smoke vents.
Thwip!
He launched up to the ceiling, sticking there like a spider.
He swung across the room, crashing into two thugs with a flying kick. The chandelier spun violently above them.
Gunfire. Heat brushed his shoulder.
He landed behind a robber and webbed his arms to his own chest. "Not today."
Another thug grabbed a hostage.
Not on my watch.
Nathan sprinted forward. Faster than a sprinter. Tackled the man full-force. They hit the ground hard.
Nathan stood first.
And punched him straight into dreamland.
Four left.
Grenade came out. "Smoke 'im out!"
Thwip!
Nathan's web shot from outside the window, snatching the grenade midair.
Too late.
BOOM!
Smoke exploded into the room.
Coughing. Screaming.
A gun slammed into Nathan's ribs. He gasped and spun and kicked someone and it connected then he dropped and rolled.
Spider-sense screamed.
He flipped backward barely dodging a shot that took out the wall behind him.
Instinct took over.
Thwip!
He shot to the ceiling beam, swung behind the last two robbers, and webbed their knees together.
They hit the floor like bowling pins.
Silence.
Smoke. Whimpers. Whispers.
A small girl peeked from behind an overturned chair.
"…Are you… a superhero?"
Nathan stood there, chest heaving.
He nodded. "Yeah… I think I am."
He webbed the last guy to a pillar and dashed out the back door, just as sirens screamed in the distance.
Two rooftops over
Nathan collapsed, tore off his mask, and gasped for air.
His ribs ached. Hands shook.
He'd just fought twelve armed men.
He also almost got shot.
And yet…
He grinned.
"That was so stupid."
Pause.
"But also… kind of awesome."