FATHER AND SON sat at the dinner table eating pasta that Michael had picked up on his way from work. The elder took forkfuls into his mouth as he focused on both his journal and the laptop on his left. Y/N sat to his right and continued eating.

"You got an article ready to go?" The teenager asked upon looking up.

His dad was a journalist who worked at the New York Bulletin in the city. He's been with them for almost ten years and became a more prominent employee after Ben Urich's death a year ago.

"Yeah. A coworker and I are following what's been going on with Rand Enterprises. After its prodigal son returned they've been in the spotlight." He answered.

"Oh. Cool." Y/N replied as he continued eating.

Michael looked up at his son. He then put his pencil down and closed his laptop so he can eat like a non-workaholic for once.

"So how's the project coming along?" He asked his son.

"Really well." Y/N answered. "Peter and I think we might actually win this."

"Might?"

"I mean we will."

Michael smiled. "That's what I like to hear. So what do you plan on doing with the money? You're gonna split it with Peter right?"

"Each of us will get 10 thousand. I don't know. We could use it to pay some bills or something."

"Y/N." Michael put his fork down and looked at his son. "It's going to be your money. You don't need to worry about the things that I have to worry about. Spend it how you want."

The teenager nodded and took in a forkful of his food. Michael abruptly spoke again amidst the silence.

"But just don't use it to buy drugs. Or escorts. Or put it in bad investments..."

"Oh, man. I was thinking of kickstarting my drug empire." Y/N sarcastically remarked.

The two laughed and continued eating. Michael looked back at his son and smiled.

"I always tell you this, but your mom would be proud to see what you're doing and what you're capable of. You already make me so proud." He said.

"And I'll keep making you both proud in as many ways as I can." Y/N replied and smiled back.

Y/N had finished his food and picked up his plate. He got up from the table and went toward the kitchen. His dad turned around and watched him.

"You know what would also make me proud? Seeing you play basketball." He said.

The teenager chuckled. He couldn't before but now he can. Michael noticed how his son was more bulked up and athletic but assumed he just started working out.

"It isn't really my thing, dad." Y/N called out from within the kitchen. "Sorry to ruin your dream of having a son play for the Knicks."

Michael laughed and turned back around. He kept eating his food, opening his laptop again to continue working.

• • •

IT WAS A MONDAY which kicked off the next week of school. Y/N was with Peter and Ned during their lunch period where they sat at a table.

"We could use that money and buy a place." Ned said. The three were talking about the fair's prize money.

"Buy a place?" Y/N asked.

"Yeah. Like for the three of us." He replied.

"I don't know much about real estate, but I'm pretty sure $20,000 isn't gonna do much." Peter chimed in.

"You're right." Ned said dejectedly. "There goes our gamer house dreams."

Y/N chuckled. "We still got time for that. Besides, I think I'm just gonna put the money into a savings or something."

"May already talked to me about that. It's exactly what she wants to do." Peter replied.

"You know what you should do?" Ned looked at Y/N and got closer. "Use the cash to upgrade your costume."

"My costume is fine the way it is."

"Dude, you look like a WWE wrestler."

"Well..." Y/N scratched the back of his neck. "That's kinda what I was going for at first."

Suddenly, MJ arrived with her tray of food and sat at the table. She greeted them. "Hola, Three Stooges."

"Hey." They replied in unison.

"Gwen not with you?" Ned asked.

"She has a club meeting on Mondays during lunch." Peter answered for her.

Y/N, Ned, and even MJ gave him a look. Peter darted his eyes back at each of them.

"Uh, she told me." He added.

"Right." MJ replied, then looked at her food. "Is the teriyaki bowl good today or not?"

"It's okay." Y/N answered. "The orange chicken is still better though."

"Pretty biased since you always get that."

"I'm not biased."

She looked up at him. "What did you eat just now?"

Y/N looked down at his empty bowl, which once consisted of rice and orange chicken. He cleared his throat.

"Orange chicken."

MJ pointed at Y/N with her fork. "Biased."

The four friends conversed for a bit. As MJ was midway through her lunch, a couple of students came up to their table.

"Michelle!" The boy, who they didn't know, exclaimed.

"Do I know you?" She responded as she looked up.

"You're the girl Spider-Man saved." The other boy chimed in and pulled out his phone. "The video is everywhere!"

He immediately turned the phone horizontally so it could display the entire video. Some students at the tables nearby heard the commotion and chose to look as well.

"This is so cool!" The boy continued.

The video was of Spider-Man saving MJ last Friday. He kept the car from hitting her and put it down before helping MJ with her groceries. Y/N was reliving it yet again.

"Holy shit." Another student walked up to the table and looked at MJ. "That must've been crazy."

"Uh...I..." MJ tried to speak but more people began to show up at their table. Y/N, Ned, and Peter darted their eyes around at the arriving teenagers.

Each one started to ask their question.

"What were you doing there?"

"How did he look like?"

"Did you think you were gonna die?"

"What's he smell like?"

"Do you like him?"

Flash had joined the crowd too. "Do you know him? Can I meet him?"

MJ was beginning to get overwhelmed by the number of people at their table and the incoming questions coming from them. Y/N took notice and stood up from his seat.

"Can you all leave her alone? Please." He told the students. "Give her some space."

"We just want to know more." The boy, who first showed up, replied.

"She doesn't have to tell you anything. So just respect her space. Okay?" Y/N shot back.

The students who had dignity chose to oblige and went back to their seats. Others, along with Flash, stayed and looked at Y/N. He let out a snicker.

"Didn't know she needed a white knight." Flash remarked. "It's not gonna get you laid, bro."

"Flash—" Peter began.

He interjected. "Oh, don't get me started on you, Parker."

Y/N started walking up to him. "Just get out of here, Flash."

All he did was let out a chuckle. Y/N got in his face.

"Now."

Flash's expression changed from that of taunting to annoyance. He looked directly at Y/N.

"What are you gonna do, L/N?" He asked.

"Remember a month ago?" Y/N replied, recalling how he beat Flash and another student in a fight. They both remembered.

"You think I'd let that happen again?" Flash remarked about his loss to him.

Y/N shook his head. "I don't think you want to push your luck."

Flash stayed quiet for a moment, looking back at the students near him along with Peter, Ned, and MJ sitting at the table. He let out a scoff.

"I wouldn't want to keep pushing my luck either." He told Y/N as he walk away, also patting him on the arm.

The two boys who first showed up shrugged at the exchange and left the table.

"Phew." Ned breathed out. "I thought this was gonna turn into a scene from The Karate Kid...which would've been kinda cool actually."

Y/N ignored his remark and turned to MJ, who had her hands on each side of the lunch tray as she tried to relax. The crowd along with being the center of their attention was making her anxious.

"Hey. They're gone. We're here." Y/N told her as he gestured at Peter and Ned. "Now they understand not to do what they just did."

"Yeah, especially Flash." Peter chimed in. "I don't know about you, but he definitely peed himself when Y/N got in his face."

Ned and Y/N chuckled, which also got a soft laugh out of MJ. The teenager standing beside her placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her.

"Are you okay?" Y/N asked.

Something in MJ's memory slightly triggered upon hearing that question. It was as if she heard it before...in the same tone...but she brushed it off.

MJ nodded. "Yeah. I'm good...I'm good. Just another thing to tell my therapist about." She also joked.

Y/N let out a chuckle. "I wish I could help with that."

This time, MJ shot her head up after her friend's statement. It was the same thing the hero who saved her said during their exchange two days ago. She looked at Y/N, who smiled back. MJ also started to realize...he had the same eyes. Y/N stood there for a moment before walking back to his spot at the table. She still had her stare glued to him.

"MJ?" Ned asked amidst the silence.

She snapped out of her thoughts at the exact moment the bell rang. Lunch break was over and it was time for the four friends to go to their respective classes.

"Sorry." MJ apologized for her sudden blank expression. "I'm fine, though. I am."

Peter and Ned stood up and gathered their things in which Y/N followed suit, putting on his backpack.

"Peter and I are gonna continue working on our project after school." Y/N spoke to MJ. "You want to come see?"

"Um...I can't. I have to be home right away." She answered while getting out of her seat. "Maybe tomorrow or something."

"We'll be here all week." Peter chimed in. "Gotta do as many modifications as we can before the judging next week."

MJ nodded and began to walk off with Ned, who had the same class as her. Peter and Y/N walked with each other before their inevitable split up to their classrooms.

"You noticed MJ?" He asked.

Y/N kept looking ahead as they walked. "What?"

"You standing up for her. And the way she was looking at you after. She appreciated it."

"And I'd do it again, Pete."

Peter nodded, then chuckled as he recalled what Flash said earlier. "White knight."

"Huh?"

"You kinda were one. But it's cool."

Y/N laughed. "And your Gwen's." He pat him on the shoulder before walking the other way toward his class. "See you around."

Peter sighed at his comment. "Come on, dude."

• • •

ROBERT ENTERED THE limousine and met with James Wesley once again. They drove down the street as they began to talk.

"How's your day been, Mr. Farrell?" Wesley asked as he looked out the window.

"Terrible. Still wondering when you're going to pay me." He answered.

"With what happened on your previous job, that isn't going to happen."

Robert grumbled and looked out of the window too. Wesley spoke again.

"But I have something that you could do that will earn you double of what you wanted."

Robert turned to the suited man and arched a brow, intrigued at what he was proposing. Wesley noticed his interest and chuckled.

"It might be a little out of your comfort zone..." He began.

"What is it?" Robert interjected.

"If I had to be honest, I have my doubts on whether you'd actually do it."

Robert was desperate now. He needed to get the money for his mother's procedure. He didn't want his sister to put herself in debt to pay for it, and he surely didn't want his nephews to suffer because of it. He wanted to be the one to provide the help.

"Just tell me." Robert said.

Wesley nodded. "My boss wants you to take care of Spider-Man."

Robert sat back against the seat and sighed. He didn't need to ask what he meant by take care of.

"He fears that his dealings in the city will affect his grand plan. Before the vigilante can discover his operations...or worse, gain more notoriety, he wants him dealt with." Wesley added.

"So what's the plan then?" Robert asked.

"There's this warehouse by the marina where a shipment is coming in. We want you to cause commotion there...act like you are stealing it...and draw him in."

"Why there?"

"It's my boss's property. When the kid dies there...the big man's opposition will know that even the super-powered isn't safe from his wrath. He wants that fear."

Robert understood. He needed to do this...for his family. "Okay. How soon do we start?"

"The sooner the better. So...now actually." Wesley replied. "We'll send you the address."

The limousine came to a halt which informed Robert that their meeting was over. He left the vehicle and started walking off, leaving Wesley alone as the limo continued driving. Once they were a considerable distance away, he pulled out his phone and contacted his boss.

"Farrell agreed on the plan." Wesley spoke. "Now both he and the spider will be in the same place."

A deep gravelly voice spoke through. "Excellent. Now we go forward with it. I want them both dead by tonight."

Wesley nodded. "I'll make sure of it, sir."