{One Week Later}
The funeral for Officer Alvin Davis had just concluded. You and Clementine are talking with Rebecca Morales when you notice her son, AJ, at his father's casket. You walk over to him.
You only knew him as Spider-Man, so it was new territory interacting with him as yourself.
You: I'm sorry for your loss.
AJ glances at you.
AJ: Do I know you?
You: I'm Y/N L/N. I was at City Hall when...
You sigh.
You: Look...I know you don't know me...but I just wanted to say—
AJ interrupts you.
AJ: "I know what you're going through."
You: Uh...
AJ: That's what you were going to say, right? Or... "It'll get easier with time." Or, "Don't worry, it's all part of God's plan."
You: I'm sorry, I was just trying—
AJ: "—trying to help." I know.
AJ walks away. That didn't go as expected.
Rebecca walks up to you.
Rebecca: I'm sorry about that. I don't know what I'm going to do with him.
She also walks away, catching up with her son ahead. You stand there, thinking of all the funerals you've had to go to so far. Your uncle, then Norman Osborn, then Glenn, then Lori. Now, Alvin.
No matter how hard you try...people still end up getting hurt.
• •
{Later That Day}
It was cloudy and the day felt gloomy. What a way to fit the mood for the last week.
You're in your spider suit, perched up on a rooftop looking over the city. You call Clementine.
You: Hey, it's me.
Clementine: Hey. So what are you thinking?
You: I'm thinking I screwed up, and AJ lost his father.
Clementine sighs. She's been through this before with you, how you keep blaming yourself for the deaths of others. She remembers how it was after Lori's death and the guilt you felt. It was during that time when your relationship with her started to take a turn.
Clementine: I know you too well to say you should give yourself a break. What about the police? Do they have any leads on Vince?
You told Captain Michonne earlier this week about Vince Li. Unfortunately, she can't pursue it unless she gets solid evidence.
You: They're not even looking for him. Michonne doesn't even believe me.
Clementine: Then it's up to us to find him. Lucky for you, I've been doing some research...go to this address.
Clementine sends you the address and you log it into your GPS. You leap off the building a start web swinging.
THWIP!
Clementine: Vince Li bought a controlling interest in this recycling center last year.
You: You think he's hiding out there?
Clementine: Maybe. We know he's not at F.E.A.S.T. If he's not at the recycling center, maybe you'll find some evidence as to where he might be.
You: Yeah...good work work, Clem. I'll let you know what I find.
Clementine: By the way, I talked with some detectives about the Demons they've arrested before. They claim Vince has the power to "corrupt" people.
You: Corrupt? That doesn't sound fun.
Clementine: They say it's like mind control, it brings out the "negative" part of you. Makes you do things you don't normally do.
You: So Mr. Li is Mr. Negative. I always thought he was a positive person...anyways, I'll let you know what I find at the recycling center.
You hang up and continue swinging to the address.
• •
You make it to the recycling center. You spot several Demons in the area. It was time to get the drop on them.
You pull one unaware Demon up onto a pole and web him to it. You then drop down on top of another gunman and knock him out. You were going to try and keep this stealthy.
You shoot a trip wire web at a nearby wall, in which it activates upon a Demon walking near it. It stick him to wall. The last two Demons are fiddling with a junction box near the entrance of the building. They speak in Chinese.
Demon 1: (Mind handing me the pliers over there?)
His colleague goes over to the table, but you quickly web his arm and pull him to the roof. The first Demon waits for a response from his friend, but looks back and sees him gone. He looks up and sees him webbed to the side of the building. You are behind him and you tap his shoulder.
You: Made you look.
He turns around and you roundhouse kick him into the junction box. He falls to the ground unconscious.
You: Okay...now we enter.
You go to a side door of the small building. It's made of metal bars and locked. You simply use your strength and pull the bars apart, letting you through. You walk through the corridor and enter a room, where you see crates of weapons and marked maps of NYC on the wall.
You: Woah...
You begin looking around. You go over to a table and see a map of the city. Landmarks and places of large gatherings are circled. You also see an illustration of a truck with bombs inside of them.
You: My God...who do these guys think they are?
On one of the maps, you see a familiar symbol.
Upon realizing what it is, your eyes widen.
You: The New Frontier? Mr. Li is with them?
You've kept tabs on this organization for quite some time, ever since you took down the Mad Bomber, Mitch, almost a year ago. They've been trying to take you down and cause chaos in the city since you became Spider-Man, now they're back.
You take pictures of the evidence.
THWIP!
You leave the building and swing away, calling Clementine to inform her of your findings.
• •
{Later That Day}
You spent most of the day patrolling or surveying the spots the Demons marked for their attacks. So far, nothing has alarmed you. You get a call from Michonne, and you assume it's feedback from the evidence you sent her hours ago.
You: Michonne.
Michonne: Hey, we've told the units around the targeted areas to be on high alert. We're aware of the New Frontier, but we still have no evidence that Vince Li is leading the Demons.
You: Yeah...I know. I'll find something...but I know it's him.
Michonne: By the way, have you heard about Dr. Lee Everett?
You: Um...yeah, actually. What happened? Is he out of the hospital?
Michonne: Yes...technically speaking.
You: What do you mean?
Michonne sighs.
Michonne: The bastard bolted out of the hospital. He killed several doctors using those...mechanical arms.
You couldn't believe it.
You: Dr. Everett? It can't be...he's a good person.
Michonne: Try telling that to the families of the deceased doctors...because I have to.
You shake your head.
You: Damn...you have a idea where he can be now?
Michonne: No clue. Best case scenario he goes into hiding forever, worst case...he uses those arms of his for darker deeds.
You: Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
You both hang up. You think of Lee, you still couldn't believe he was capable of that kind of carnage.
THWIP!
You swing away.
• •
{The Next Day}
The therapy sessions didn't seem to work. AJ felt like it was a waste of time. They will never understand the pain he's feeling.
But then his mother told him about the F.E.A.S.T center, currently being run by your aunt Y/A/N. Rebecca asked AJ if he'd like to volunteer and help get his mind off the trauma. AJ figured it'd be a good substitute to pointless therapy. Besides, why not help the needy?
AJ walks down an alleyway to make it to the other street, since there was construction going on ahead in his original path. He strolls through, listening to music on his MP3 player. Suddenly, four thugs stop talking to one another and make their way to AJ.
Thug 1: Hey, kid. What you got there?
AJ: Leave me alone, asshole.
The first thug laughs, and then the second grabs AJ's arm. AJ tries to push him away, but he gets pushed down instead. The thug smiles and is about to kick AJ, but he grabs his leg and tries to tackle the thug.
Thug 2: Look, we got a fighter.
AJ successfully tackles the first thug and starts punching him. The second thug gets behind AJ and grabs him, tossing him to the side. AJ hits the wall and lands on his bottom.
Thug 2: You just made your last mistake, punk.
The first thug nods, but is quickly webbed and pulled up. The second thug looks back in confusion, but you quickly land on top of him and knock him out. AJ looks in awe at his hero, Spider-Man.
The two remaining men ball their fists and face you.
You: Does it seriously take this many guys to mug a teenager?
You shoot a web at one of the thugs and pull him towards you, punching him square in the face. The last thug swings at you, but you dodge and grab his arm. You toss him into the side of a dumpster, the impact creating a dent on it. You dust off your hands, and look at AJ.
You: You hurt?
AJ smiles as you extend your hand out to help him up. He gets to his feet.
AJ: You're Spider-Man! The spectacular Spider-Man! The amazing Spider-Man!
He frantically shakes your hand.
You: All cool names that I still can't monetize. But hey, I remember you.
AJ: You do?
You: Christmas a few years ago. When you bought your mom those slippers. I actually got a pair of my own not long after.
AJ: Wow...you do remember me! I was such bratty kid back then.
You chuckle.
You: Anyways, that was really brave of you trying to take on these guys, but next time leave the fighting to the pros, ok?
AJ: Ok, but what if there aren't any around?
You think of what he said. He had a point.
You: Well, you can't just go swinging at someone twice your size. I mean, don't get me wrong...I fight guys stronger than me all the time. But when I do it I have—
AJ: Like that time you fought Rhino on the Brooklyn Bridge? That was so cool! I was on my was to a Nets game that day.
AJ remembers that day. His dad took him to see the game, and even stopped to talk to you and then-Captain Rick Grimes about Rhino. AJ starts feeling sad inside, but continues to hide it by smiling.
You: That's the thing...if they're bigger than you...you got to be quicker. Got it?
AJ nods, appreciating the advice despite not knowing when he will ever use it.
You begin to leave, but AJ stops you.
AJ: Hey...thanks.
You: Anytime.
THWIP!
You swing away. AJ looks up and chuckles to himself. He really got to meet Spider-Man a second time.