TWAS A NIGHT in the Garment District. The workers at Chase Bank were nearing the end of the Wednesday evening shift and were helping out the remainder of the people inside.

The manager walked by with a colleague and spoke to the lone security guard who was at the desk.

"Brandon, time to close up."

The man nodded and picked up his keys. Brandon let out a customer first but before he can close the door, another guy wearing a hockey mask slipped through.

"Hey—" The security guard was quickly hit in the face by another masked man coming in.

The man in the hockey mask immediately threw a flash grenade into the lobby. It detonated, startling and disorienting the people inside. He was then joined by several other men, most of them holding rifles and cases containing the tools they needed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. This will all be over soon. Don't try to be a hero or you you'll spend the rest of the holidays in a casket."

Some still screamed in panic after the main man's threats. They were quickly quieted when his colleagues aimed their guns at them and forced them to the floor.

"Jasper." The masked man called out to another. "Cut the power like we planned."

The robber nodded and left the lobby. A few men stood in the room watching over the hostages and the rest were on guard as a man used their tools to try and open the safe.

Jasper went into an adjacent room where the breakers were. He put down his duffel bag and rummaged through to grab a tool. He acquired it, and upon looking back at the panel...he noticed webbing over it.

"What the...?"

He reached for the bag on the ground but realized it was now missing. Jasper was very confused and a little bit nervous. He reached for the pistol on his side, but his hand was quickly webbed to his holster.

"Shit!"

The robber looked up and for a split second, saw white eyes staring back at him from a shadowy corner on the ceiling. He wasn't able to let out a yell as the assailant jumped down and quickly subdued him.

Nearby, another robber heard the commotion. He looked to his colleague and motioned him to go check.

The masked man held his rifle up as he slowly entered the room. He looked around for a moment then spotted Jasper, sitting against the wall and enveloped with webbing. His mouth was webbed shut and wasn't able to warn his friend.

"Jasper? What the—?"

The robber was immediately pulled up by two web lines. He slammed against the ceiling and was webbed to it. He struggled under the blanket of goo as he stared at his subduer...Spider-Man.

"That should keep you secure, big guy." Y/N reassured the burly criminal.

He dropped down and took cover behind a desk. Y/N peeked out through the windows and saw the rest of the bank robbers.

"All right...three watching the hostages...four standing guard, and one cracking the safe." Y/N muttered to himself.

The web-slinger pulled out his cellphone and scrolled through his music. Earlier, he had paired it to the speaker system within the bank...in case he wanted to have some fun.

"Time to spread some holiday cheer."

Y/N tapped on the song. Immediately, Last Christmas by Wham! started to play through the speakers. The criminals and the hostages were bewildered by the sudden music.

A/N: Yes, I put the music video in the media above for immersion 😂🕺

"Where the hell is that coming from?" A man exclaimed as he gripped his gun.

Another pointed at the man who just asked the question. He started walking up to him.

"Kev! Go check out—"

Before he can give the order, the gunman was immediately kicked into the wall by a web-zipping Spider-Man. The hero backflipped off the man and landed on his feet. He quickly turned to two other gunmen, shooting webs at their wrists and flinging them upwards. The tension pulled them to the ceiling and they hung there.

With the three criminals taken down, Y/N shouted at the hostages.

"Get out! Go!"

The civilians listened to the wall-crawler and ran out the door. Y/N watched them all leave and then turned to the remaining gunmen. Wham! was still blaring through the speakers.

"What's up, boys?" Spider-Man called out. "If you're trying to withdraw funds for Christmas shopping, how about you go through the teller like normal people?"

"It's Spider-Man!" One of them exclaimed.

"I thought that son of a bitch only operated in Queens!"

The other man's mouth was webbed after his statement. His exclamations were muffled as he tried to remove the substance.

"First of all, don't call me that. Second of all, I've decided to change locale." Spider-Man said. "Doesn't mean you can go rob banks in Queens, though. I'll be there too if you try."

"Keep cracking the safe, Jim." A masked man ordered. "We'll handle spandex, here."

The two men with rifles gripped their guns while the rest readied to fight the vigilante. Y/N got in a stance.

"It's not spandex, bro."

Y/N shot a web at one of the gunmen before he could shoot. He pulled the rifle out of his hands and threw it at the other gunman, hitting him in the face.

The conscious robbers engaged the hero and surrounded him. One of them attacked first but Y/N slid between his legs and hurled him away with a spinning back kick. Another one ran up to him and tried punching him. Y/N weaved away and quipped as he fought.

"You guys like the music choice?"

He dodged the man's punch.

"Come on, let's enjoy it!"

He evaded a grapple from a robber behind him and made him fall to the floor. The young man began to sing along.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart..."

Y/N he backflipped over a charging criminal and stuck to the wall.

"But the very next day..." He stuck a web line to the man and pulled him into his fist, knocking him down. "...you gave it away (you gave it away)."

Spider-Man quickly zipped away from incoming gunfire coming from a robber who picked up the rifle. Y/N webbed the gun out of his hands again and flung it onto the head of another man. He kept singing.

"This year, to save me from tears..." He stuck two web lines onto the chest of the robber. "Come on, sing with me! I'll give it to someone special (special)."

He zipped toward the man and kicked him in the chest. The robber was hurled across the room and crashed through a window into an adjacent room. The final robber ran up to the hero and tried to attack, but Spider-Man evaded his hits. He quickly reacted by punching the man across the face several times and finishing him with a kick.

With the robbers now down and out, Y/N smiled beneath his mask and began to (badly) dance to the chorus as it repeated. He was having a little bit of fun but was also looking like a crazy person even though he wouldn't admit it.

"What's with you guys trying to rob a bank two weeks from Christmas?" Y/N asked the few conscious yet groaning men on the floor.

The hero checked his web-shooters and fiddled with them. "Y'all were fairly easy. I still got full cartridges. But I gotta make sure you boys don't go anywhere until the cops come."

About five minutes later, police officers entered the bank and had their guns drawn. Captain George Stacy lead the pack through, holding up his pistol as well. Last Christmas continued to play through the speakers but was fading as the song concluded.

They saw the downed robbers, some unconscious and some still awake but webbed to different surfaces. The officers eased their guns down as they surveyed the scene.

"Whoa..." An officer muttered.

Another policeman looked up and saw a figure crawling across the ceiling. They were making their way to a skylight.

"Up there!" He exclaimed.

He and a couple of other officers fired at the vigilante, but he dodged the bullets and let them hit the skylight. The glass shattered and Spider-Man made a quick escape out of the bank through the broken window.

A/N: The gif is literally the best way to visualize it lmao

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" Captain Stacy exclaimed and they stopped shooting. "It was just Spider-Man."

"Should we call backup? Send some units?"

"No." He shook his head and holstered his gun. "Let him be. Besides, you really think we'll be able to catch him?"

The officer shrugged. "Probably not."

"And I don't like to admit it..." He looked at the subdued criminals. "But he did the job for us."

"He's still a vigilante, Captain." A policewoman spoke. "And didn't he murder Quentin Beck?"

"That case never went anywhere, Sergeant Watanabe." Captain Stacy replied with a chuckle. "And you know my whole stance on that Mysterio situation."

"Right, Captain."

He nodded then gestured toward the robbers. "All right. Let's round these fellas up."

After stopping the robbery and concluding a night of patrolling, Spider-Man swung back to his apartment in Midtown. He stuck to the wall beside his window and opened it, entering the room and immediately removing his mask.

Y/N took off the rest of his costume, showered, and then put on comfortable clothes to sleep in. He sat on the edge of his bed, looking and fiddling with his hands before staring out the window into the night.

Straight away, he was feeling the same emotions he'd always get after every patrol. The same feeling he'd get almost every night. It happened like clockwork.

Woe. Despair. Desolation. Emptiness.

Y/N cried and buried his face into one of his hands. He continued sobbing and letting his emotions out until it exhausted him. Then, like always, he fell asleep amidst his tearful episode.

• • •

THE ELEVATOR OPENED and Kate Bishop entered her mother's penthouse. She took off her coat and beanie and left them by the table.

"Hey, mom." She called out.

Eleanor Bishop walked into the room and saw her daughter, feigning a smile. "There you are."

"You called me over. And...I think I know why." Kate began as she walked up to her.

Eleanor gave her daughter a look, scoffing as she walked back into the living room. Kate followed her as they conversed.

"You know, as much as I love having you home for the holidays, I'm not thrilled that I'm about to replace an irreplaceable clock tower."

Word got around pretty fast, Kate thought. It had been only a little over an hour since the security guard at her college caught her after the accidental destruction.

Kate clicked her tongue. "It was a bell tower."

"The Dean said it had a bell and a clock and overachiever that you are, you managed to destroy both. A big piece of Empire State University history...now gone."

They entered the kitchen and Eleanor stopped by an island. Kate let out an exhale and leaned against the counter.

"What can I do to make it better, Mom?"

"Well, I started by canceling your credit cards. But that's just my punishment to you. There's also the charges they want to put on you."

"Charges?" Kate furrowed a brow. "Are you serious?"

Eleanor nodded and Kate continued to ramble.

"All because of that tower? If I had to be honest, it was only a matter of time before it fell itself. Besides, who even remembers Obadiah St—"

"Kate." Eleanor stopped her. "They want to take you to jail for trespassing, vandalism, and destruction of property. Please stop acting like this isn't serious."

Kate sighed and looked down. Eleanor grabbed her purse that was on the counter and took out her phone.

"While I was on the phone with the Dean, they gave me an ultimatum. Well...they gave you one." She scrolled through her photos and slid the phone toward her. "Either they charge you and we go through an entire losing legal battle, or you do some sort of community service for the rest of the holiday."

"Community service?" Kate asked with an arched brow.

"That's the decision you have to make, sweetie. And I'd prefer my daughter to not have a criminal record and be behind bars for Christmas."

Kate looked at the phone on the counter, sighing and blowing away the strand of hair on her face. Eleanor stared at her, knowing her decision just by her body language alone.

"That's the place they recommended. The Dean knows the owner of the shelter and he'll inform her when you show up."

Kate simply nodded. Eleanor let out an exhale herself and continued her lecture.

"I know that young people think they're invincible and rich people think they're invincible and you've always been both. So take it from someone who hasn't, you're not. You will get hurt. So please, don't go out looking for it."

After a momentary silence, Kate finally looked up at her mother. "Sorry, Mom. Sorry."

"Okay." She said softly with a nod.

"I'll go to the place and do the service. Don't worry about it. I mean...how bad can it be compared to...being in jail?"

Eleanor chuckled and walked up to Kate, holding up her chin and smiling.

"They're expecting you tomorrow evening."

She let go of Kate and walked out of the kitchen. The twenty-year-old glanced back down at her mom's phone, seeing the picture of the flyer she had pulled up. Kate grabbed the phone and gave it another look.

The F.E.A.S.T Community Center.

• • •

FOR THE EVENING, Y/N spent his free time volunteering at the community center. Well, the eighteen-year-old had all the free time in the world aside from being Spider-Man and studying for his GED exam, but it just felt good helping others as Y/N L/N from time to time.

It's what his father would've wanted. And a part of Y/N wanted to make an impact in both his hero life and private life.

And that was his routine most of all. Eat (with the little money he had), sleep (hours varied), study (fairly easy), be Spider-Man (his main time consumption), and volunteer at F.E.A.S.T. He hadn't strayed from it since he began a couple of weeks ago.

Y/N was in the main lobby of the community center handing a middle-aged man his coffee. He had just come in and was looking for a place to stay, and the young man helped him get settled.

Nearby, Martin Li, the founder and owner of the shelter, was speaking with a young woman who had come in a bit ago. The man looked at Y/N on the side and called out to him

"Uh...Y/N! Can you come over here for a moment?"

He bid farewell to the homeless man and walked over to Martin. Y/N glanced at the girl and have a quick smile before bringing his attention to his boss.

"Yes, Mr. Li?"

"This is Miss Kate Bishop. She is going to be helping around here for the next couple of weeks." He replied as he gesticulated toward her.

"Oh..." Y/N looked back at Kate and reached his hand out. "Then, hi. I'm Y/N L/N."

She shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Katherine Bishop. Well...he already said that...but he said Kate instead." The girl stopped her rambling. "But it is Kate. You can call me Kate."

"Kate." He repeated.

"I'd appreciate it if you show her around a bit." Martin told Y/N. "Maybe even go through your routine here with her so she could know what to expect and get situated."

"Not a problem, Mr. Li." Y/N replied with hands behind his back.

"Great. I'll be in my office if you need anything."

He smiled and left the two young adults in the lobby. Y/N smiled back at Kate, thinking of what else to say.

"Um...well...if you can just follow me, I'll show you around."

They walked out of the lobby and into the main room. It contained many bunk beds, tables, and racks of clothing. Homeless and other people in need sat around talking, sleeping, or enjoying other activities.

"F.E.A.S.T was founded about six years ago, right when...well...half the world disappeared. Mr. Li made it his goal to help those in need at the time. From there...it grew to where it is now."

Kate took in his explanation. "That's cool. And very nice of him. Those five years initially were pretty...depressing, to say the least."

Y/N nodded, thinking whether to mention the fact that he wasn't part of the half that survived. He decided not to and kept walking, waving at a few people who were around.

"Here's the kitchen." He said as they entered it. He pointed through a window into another room. "That's the cafeteria. I work here from time to time."

"You cook?" She asked.

"Heh, not really. I just help prepare the easy stuff like hamburgers and sometimes soup. If they make me cook anything you might as well condemn the place."

Kate chuckled at his joke and Y/N let out a light laugh as well. Before they moved out of the kitchen, Y/N heard a commotion in the main room. He peeked out of the door and saw a few gathering around a middle-aged woman and a girl. Immediately, Y/N recognized them.

May Parker and his sister, Anya.

"Aww, she's cute." Kate remarked as she looked at the five-year-old.

Y/N didn't say anything as he felt great sadness upon seeing them. It wasn't an unusual occurrence for May to show up at the shelter since she worked there, but now she brought Anya. He hadn't seen her since the day at the cemetery weeks ago and hadn't spoken to her since before Strange's spell.

"Uh..." Y/N cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I'm gonna use the bathroom."

He quickly left the room and left Kate, who questioned his sudden departure.

Y/N entered the restroom in the hallway and locked the door. He went over to the sink and leaned over it, staring down until he looked up at the mirror. The teenager did his best to hold back tears, which was a normal occurrence as life went on after what happened a month ago.

He would often think of the friends that had forgotten him...the family that had forgotten him. Sometimes he wondered if the spell he allowed Strange to do was worth it, he also wondered if he should've just explained everything to MJ, Peter, and the rest of them. But he'd always tell himself that not telling them was the right thing to do. It was the sacrifice he was willing to make to keep them all safe.

Still, the thoughts of his former loved ones filled him with the anger of not being able to be with them. He gripped the side of the sink and accidentally broke off a piece of porcelain.

"Shit." He muttered as he held the chunk.

Y/N shot out webbing from the nozzle of his discreet web shooter onto the piece. He stuck it to the broken part of the sink and left it there. That should do it for the next couple of hours at least.

The teenager left the bathroom and went back into the kitchen. Kate was still there waiting for him and the boy feigned a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." He apologized.

"It's fine."

"Uh...if you're willing, how about I show you a day in my life around here?"

"Sure."

Before they can walk out, Kate noticed his eyes and the reddening of them. She could also tell how he was putting up a facade of being cheery.

"Are you okay?" Kate asked worryingly.

Y/N didn't expect to be asked that, especially with such a concerned tone and from a stranger he had just met. He looked back at her and nodded.

"Yeah...yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

The boy turned around and walked out of the room. Kate, not believing his answer, took it as is and followed him.

After going through Y/N's routine, Martin Li called him and Kate to his office. They entered the room, and the young lady looked on in intrigue at the things in the man's room. It included many hanging frames, books, and a shrine that had a picture of his deceased parents.

"I'm willing to guess everything has gone well so far?" Martin asked as he stood up from his chair.

"I'd say so." Y/N replied.

Martin looked at Kate and waited for her answer. Kate smiled back and nodded.

"Yeah. I'm actually liking the place a lot."

"That's great." Martin responded. "We need more friendly faces and you are just what we need. Even if it's only for what remains of the year."

He glanced at Y/N as he continued speaking to Kate. "If you don't mind, I'd like if Y/N served as a sort of overseer during your time here. If you need any help or have any sort of questions."

"I honestly don't think she needs a guide. She looks like she could handle herself pretty well." Y/N butted.

"Everybody could use a colleague, Y/N. Like my friend, Michael L/N, once said...we should use the gifts we have for the betterment of others. Your supportive nature is a gift."

Y/N inhaled after hearing his father's name and the words he once told to him. He nodded and turned to Kate.

"If she's willing to have me."

Martin turned to Kate. "How's that sound?"

She looked at Y/N for a moment and then at Martin Li.

"Sounds great. And it'd be nice to have someone to work with. You know...since I'm the new fish around here."

Martin chuckled. "I'm glad you're so keen to offer your talents here at F.E.A.S.T, thank you. Now, that's it for today. I'll see you again tomorrow, Miss Bishop."

Kate nodded at Mr. Li and then at Y/N. She bid farewell and left the office. Y/N was going to leave as well, but Martin stopped him.

"I'm also doing this for you, Y/N."

He turned around. "What?"

"I appreciate the work you've done around here, but I notice that you seem to be...isolated. Maybe you prefer to be. I think it's time for you to mingle...make friends, you know? Those healthy relationships are essential for a guy your age."

Y/N chuckled. "So this is how you're helping me?"

Martin nodded. "When you help someone..."

"...you help everyone." Y/N finished the quote, recalling what May would say. It also served as the organization's mission statement.

"You being happy makes everyone else happy. That's how I see it." Martin said.

Y/N tapped his fingers against the door and nodded. "Right. Thanks, Mr. Li."

The teenager left the office. Martin sighed and sat back down, continuing to sort through the paperwork he had on his desk.

• • •

AT THE TOP of his namesake tower, Wilson Fisk looked out the window onto the snowy night coming upon the city. As he did, he nodded in contentment.

It had been a long time coming to where he currently was now. He had immense power once and practically had a hold on the city...but after being taken down by Daredevil and Spider-Man before, it was seemingly stripped away once he was in prison.

But then...opportunity arose. An opportunity caused by the decimation of half of the population years ago. He was able to use the dilapidated legal system and writhe his way out of incarceration. Then he enacted his plan...and the first step was to make a positive name for himself.

He used the funds he had left to help the city. He supplied necessities and goods for the remaining populace. He supported those in need. Out of desperation for assistance and hope for such a dark time...the people now accepted Wilson Fisk as an influential figure. They seemed to brush away the crimes he did before and nobody dared to challenge him.

And with the death of Daredevil and Spider-Man at the time, the heroes who he loathed the most, there was nothing to fear.

Then...the half that was decimated was brought back. The world started to recover but Fisk's influence and power didn't waver. He was still known as the man who was there for the city in times of need. Despite many of the newly revived having a difficult time accepting the man's current position in society...they brushed it off, as there were many other things to worry about.

With the revival of half the universe came the resurgence of Spider-Man and Daredevil. It angered Fisk that they were brought back, and had to send his wife, Vanessa, into hiding again for the time being, as the two heroes were the ones with the knowledge that she ordered the hit on Agent Ray Nadeem years ago.

With her out of the country, he was now alone. Just Wilson Fisk and his operations. Only the Kingpin and his power.

Included in his many goals...were to find a way to eliminate Daredevil and Spider-Man. It wouldn't be easy, as despite knowing about Matt Murdock, he was formidable and slippery. In the case of Spider-Man, he didn't know who he was and had next to no information.

But he'd get them one day.

As Fisk looked through the window, the doors to his large office opened. One of the guards spoke to him before the guest could enter.

"Mr. Fisk. He's here."

Kingpin glanced back. "Let him in."

The guard nodded and held the door for the man. He let him in and left them to converse. Fisk turned around and looked at the older fellow he asked for.

"Mr. Kingsley." Fisk greeted. "I'm glad you can make it at such late hours."

Roderick Kingsley, CEO of Kingsley Corporation, held his hand out and smiled.

Portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito

"I'm willing to take time out of my day to mingle with an associate." He replied as Fisk shook his hand.

The large man motioned his fellow businessman over to the floor-to-ceiling window. They stood side by side as they looked out of it into the city.

"What do you think, Roderick?"

He continued gazing out with hands behind his back. "It's an excellent view. Not as good as mine, but great nonetheless."

Wilson was used to jests such as that by Kingsley. He let out a short chuckle as he kept looking out of the window.

"The people...they've been through so much the last several years. A few of us, including you, had to witness such atrocities and glum nature through that time. We were there for them when others were not...people like the Avengers. Men and women of power who stayed put after their failure and did nothing for five years."

Roderick nodded and continued listening, still looking through the window with Fisk.

"We're recovering. But with that recovery comes ones who try to reverse that. Make things harder. We've heard what happened in Westview, what happened with the Flag Smashers, the damage done in Queens and on Liberty Island. People need to feel safe in times when the powered folk seem to be...turning a blind eye."

"What are you proposing?" Kingsley asked.

There was a beat before Fisk replied.

"I want to implement a private policing force across the city. One containing...super soldiers."

All Kingsley did was nod. After another pause, he responded as he still looked out through the window.

"Suppose you can't just recruit what is left of the Flag Smashers?"

"Unfortunately, they are all dead, thanks to an unforeseen accident during their prison transport." Fisk walked back toward his desk. "But I'd prefer to have full control on the people I choose to enhance."

Kingsley looked back at him. "You speak so boldly. Do you have vials of the serum I don't know about?"

"No. But I have a seller who has one." Fisk turned to Kingsley. "And I want you to engineer that sample into many more."

Kingsley nodded. "That's a tall order."

"But you can?"

"I have a business partner. Brilliant scientist. Engineer. Chemist. Together, I think it's possible."

Fisk grinned and walked up to the tycoon.

"Imagine it, Roderick. When this police force goes out there, makes an impact, they will also see you as the one that made it possible. The publicity...the prestige...the money. Once they see the success in the New York, every city in the nation will want the same results."

Roderick stood quiet for a moment as he stared at Fisk. Finally, the man smirked.

"Again, a tall order, but one that I'm willing to accomplish. Just let me know when you get the sample."

Fisk smiled back and shook his hand. He pat the man on the shoulder. "I appreciate this partnership that we have. Greatly."

Kingsley nodded. "I'll let my partner, Norman, know about the job at hand. I'm sure he'll be willing to help."

They bid farewell and Roderick walked away from Fisk. He exited the office and left Kingpin alone in the room. The businessman, philanthropist, and criminal mastermind turned back around, looking out of the window once more.