AJ: What are you guys? Like...Agent Coulson on steroids?
Andrea: That's an interesting way to put it.
Daryl looks around at the bodies of the New Frontier goons they took down. He holsters his bow on his back as he looks down at one of their necks.
Daryl: What is this?
AJ knows he's asking about the brand.
AJ: It's a brand of theirs. They're New Frontier.
Daryl: Never heard of these assholes before.
AJ: I interrogated one of them a couple days ago. He mentioned how they're connected with some group named HYDRA.
That statement causes both their ears to perk up.
Andrea: HYDRA?
Daryl gets up and looks at Andrea.
Daryl: That explains the Winter Soldier.
Andrea: I never thought he'd come out of hiding again this soon.
AJ overhears their conversation.
AJ: Um, hello? I'm still here.
Andrea looks at the teenager.
Andrea: HYDRA is a group hell-bent on world domination. They've been active since even before Dixon here was in diapers.
Daryl rolls his eyes as she continues speaking.
Andrea: They have an asset they can activate to assassinate those they deem a threat to their cause. He's a ghost...they call him the Winter Soldier.
AJ takes in the information. HYDRA must've seen you as a threat, and are now trying to come after him too.
AJ: So they saw my friend, Y/N, as a threat? That's why he went after him at the venue.
Andrea: They must've found out he was Spider-Man the same time S.H.I.E.L.D did.
Daryl: My guess is that Ava was a mole for these guys. It explains why she went to go kill him.
Andrea: That makes sense.
AJ: So what now? Do we go after the...um...Winter Soldier?
Andrea shoots a look at Daryl, then back at AJ.
Andrea: That's for us to handle. I think it's best if you stay far away from this.
AJ scoffs.
AJ: I don't think so. I've been chasing this guy for weeks now.
Daryl: And how many times have you run into him?
AJ: This would be my second time.
Daryl: Did you find him or did he find you?
AJ rubs his neck.
AJ: He...found me.
Daryl: I bet you narrowly escaped the first time like you did this time.
AJ remembers how is invisibility saved him from death the first time, like how his bio electricity did today.
AJ simply shrugs.
Andrea: Good news is we don't think the New Frontier or the Winter Soldier knows L/N is alive. Bad news, his mission is to kill the second Spider-Man, you.
Daryl: So you need lay low, while we try and take him down.
AJ: But—
Andrea: No buts, kid. I'm serious.
Black Widow deploys a grappling hook and pulls herself up towards a building. Daryl does the same with his bow but looks at AJ before leaving.
Daryl: If we see you out, I'll let her kick your ass.
Daryl pulls himself to the rooftop as well, leaving AJ in the lot.
• •
{Later That Night}
AJ sneaks into his room by crawling the side of the building and entering his fifth floor window. Tenn is there because he's been sleeping over for the week.
Tenn: Jesus! You scared me.
He notices his scorched suit. AJ sits on his bed, exhausted.
Tenn makes sure to lock the door in case his mom comes from work early and decides to enter without knocking.
Tenn: Woah...what happened? Are you okay?
AJ: Yeah...I just ran into the mercenary again.
Tenn: Did he escape?
AJ: He actually almost killed me, before...
AJ shows off his new ability and controls electricity on his finger tips.
Tenn: Holy shit...you're like...Cole MacGrath from inFamous.
AJ: Heh, I was thinking Raiden from Mortal Kombat.
Tenn: So, I guess that would explain your suit?
AJ: Yeah...I blasted the mercenary with it and burned the hell out of the fabric.
Tenn: You know...it might be time for an upgrade.
Tenn goes over to AJ's desk and takes out his notebook. There, it has the many suit ideas AJ thought of. Tenn even gave input on some.
AJ: You might be right. Time for something a little more...spider-like.
Tenn: Thank God. I don't know what you were thinking at first going with a ski-mask, red shirt, and Timbs.
AJ laughs and opens his notebook. Maybe laying low for a few days will be best, especially if they were going to take the time to craft a new suit.
Time for some new exaggerated swagger.
• •
{April 2009}
The swing back to Clementine's apartment was awkward. There was no exchange between you two, which was expected. You both were mad about the situation.
You land on the rooftop of the apartment and are about to let her go, but she pushes you away. She starts making her way to the door of the stairwell.
You: How about you think next time before putting yourself in danger?
She darts back around and faces you.
Clementine: Danger? I was doing my job!
You went to go take down one of Kingpin's weapon rackets in Harlem. It took you a while to find it, but Clementine got a tip from an anonymous source about it too.
Clementine was already in the area investigating when you arrived to take them down. She was almost caught in the crossfire, so you grabbed her and left the area before things went bad.
You: I didn't know the New York Times treats their journalists as expendable.
Clementine scoffs.
Clementine: It was supposed to be an in-n-out job. I take pictures, survey the area, and infer the situation. It didn't become a gunfight until Spider-Man arrived!
You: I have a job to do too, Clementine! I can't do it if I have to worry about you all the time.
The guilt of not being able to save Lori still lingers. You're more fearful now about possibly losing Clementine or even your aunt. It would break you.
Clementine crosses her arms. She sighs, holding back tears.
Clementine: Then maybe...you should focus full time on your job. The same should go for me.
You: What are you saying?
Clementine: I don't know...we should talk about this later, when you get out of that suit.
Clementine walks away and goes through the doorway. You want to go after her, but you don't.
Hopefully this can all be repaired.