THE YOUNG MAN heard someone shout his name. He immediately looked up, his hazy surroundings clearing up after several seconds. He blinked a few times and saw where he was...

A classroom.

"Mr. L/N."

Y/N looked forward, seeing his Physics teacher, Ms. Warren, looking straight at him. Other students were sitting at their tables, staring back at him.

"Mind explaining this to me and the class?" Ms. Warren asked him.

"Uh...sure. Sure."

Y/N looked ahead at the whiteboard. He couldn't really determine what was drawn on there, but something in him made him answer correctly.

"The mass cancels out, so it's just gravity times sine."

The teacher was content with his answer.

"Right. I'm glad you're still with us, Y/N."

Y/N nodded with a smile. There was a beat, a rather uncomfortable pause before she spoke again.

"Are you still with us, Y/N?"

The young man arched his eyebrows in confusion. Suddenly, he heard faint echoes, like a female voice saying something. He couldn't make out where they were coming from.

"Y/N!"

"Y/N! Please!"

"Oh, my God!"

Suddenly, the classroom appeared empty. It happened in the blink of an eye, and Y/N was flabbergasted. He looked around the empty room, and his heart rate rose.

"What the...?"

Y/N decided to leave the classroom and go out into the hallway, which was empty and deafeningly quiet. It was so quiet that Y/N could hear the blood rushing between his ears.

Suddenly, he heard some footsteps. Y/N looked to his right, seeing a silhouette by the double doors of the school's entrance. He could faintly make out who it was...and it looked like Peter.

"Peter?" Y/N called out. "Pete?"

He didn't answer back. His friend just turned around and walked out the door. Something seemed to draw Y/N to him, and he jogged through the empty hallway toward the exit.

"Pete?!" He kept shouting.

The hallway seemed to go on forever, but he finally reached the doors. He opened them and ran down the steps onto the Midtown High courtyard, where one lone car was parked on the street, where parents often picked their children up.

Y/N slowly walked up to the car, and he started to make out its color, make, and model.

It was a yellowish-beige 1973 Oldsmobile Delta, a car he only remembered one person having. He stepped closer and looked through the open passenger's side window, and upon seeing the man inside...his heart dropped.

The older man was skimming through a book. He adjusted his glasses and soon closed it, turning to his right and looking out the window at Y/N.

Y/N was still in shock. He did not know what was going on or how he was even here...how he was even alive, no less.

As they looked at one another, Y/N could still hear the echoes. He didn't even pay them any mind as they seemingly kept calling out to him.

"Y/N!"

"Don't do this to me!"

"Hold on!"

The man, Ben Parker, smiled at Y/N.

"Come in, kiddo. I was told you could use a ride home."

THE DOORS TO Metro-General Hospital were opened, and a bruised and bloodied Daredevil came in. People in the busy lobby looked on and noticed the hero but saw that he wasn't alone.

In his arms was Y/N, out of costume and bleeding from his wounds, including the two bullet holes in his side and his chest.

Matt called out to any doctor that could hear him.

"I need assistance! This young man has been shot twice! His heartbeat is faint!"

A couple of the medical personnel came over to check on him. Suddenly, one familiar voice called back to them.

"I got him!"

Daredevil looked ahead and saw the tanned woman: Claire Temple. She went over to the vigilante and looked upon the maimed young man in his arms. She knew exactly who it was and the special care it would take to assist him.

"We're bringing him in." She told her coworkers. "Get a gurney and prepare a room. Now!"

They did as told, and Matt put his friend's body on the gurney. The doctors and nurses soon rolled him into the emergency room.

"He...he was hurt at the Manhattan precinct. Things went awry..."

Claire still looked ahead. She had heard about what had happened at the police station thanks to the news reporting about it. Matt continued.

"Please," Matt said to Claire, his worry evident in his tone. "Save him."

Claire turned to him and nodded, giving him a reassuring look.

"I'll do my best. I always do."

Claire soon joined the others in the emergency room. Daredevil let out a breath as he stood in the middle of the lobby before running out, focusing on the task at hand: dealing with Arsenic Candy.

Even with Y/N out for the count, Matt would do his best to work with the others to find the hostages.

And if the young man were to perish somehow...they'd still work hard to take the perpetrators down and avenge him.

~ ~ ~

THE VINTAGE CAR drove along the streets of Queens. Y/N sat in the passenger seat beside Ben, who tapped his fingers on the wheel and jammed to the tunes from his radio.

He bobbed his head to Take On Me by a-ha. The man always loved such 80s music and liked to stay in that era, not giving current tunes a chance. He was always old school, as shown by the fact he still drove his old car and never bought a new one.

"This not your jam?" Ben asked Y/N with a snicker. "Right, I forgot you and Pete were in your techno phase or whatever. You see...I can't get with that. Sure, it's like disco, but—"

"How are you here?" Y/N finally asked, his mind still racing.

"To give you a lift. Again, your folks said you needed a ride home."

"Not that. You—You know what I mean."

Ben's grin started falling as he looked at Y/N, and then he turned ahead and stared at the road.

"I'm here for you, Y/N." The man admitted. "To help you. To help you in your recovery."

"My recovery?"

Ben nodded.

"You're in pain, Y/N. You still are...even after all these years. Not a day goes by when you don't think about it. About what happened."

Y/N was confused. But as seconds passed, he started to realize what he meant. His perplexed expression soon switched to a crestfallen one.

"I..." He began to stammer. "I—I don't—"

"It's not your fault, Y/N." Ben interjected.

"It is."

"It's not."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do. No one blames you. Not me...not May...not Peter. So...why do you?"

Y/N looked down at his lap. He shook his head, feeling the heaviness building in his chest and tears starting to well up in his eyes.

He thought back at that very night when he let Dennis Carradine go after he robbed the wrestling promoter...and Dennis had killed Ben not even an hour later.

It shouldn't have gone that way. Y/N should've stopped him. He should've been responsible. But because he was harboring a grudge and was selfish...his actions led to Ben Parker being shot.

"I shouldn't have gone. I—I should've stayed home and did my homework or something. But—But I just wanted money. I wanted fame. With my powers, I wanted to be something—and that led to what happened. You died because of my terrible choices."

Ben stood quiet, his hand still on the wheel, paying attention to the road. There was a beat, and the man finally responded.

"We all have made terrible choices, made mistakes. But we learn from them, kiddo. And become better people because of it."

Y/N had no response to his wisdom and just kept looking out the window. As he did, he seemed to spot some feminine silhouette on the sidewalk. The sight of it made him feel cold. A bit crestfallen.

They soon passed it, and all those feelings disappeared. Ben turned to him.

"Have you learned from them?" He asked.

"Huh?" Y/N replied.

"Have you become better because of it?"

Y/N turned to Ben, but he kept looking back at him. The young man sighed as he thought back to those years.

"I—I don't know, honestly."

Ben looked back at the road.

"Times were hard for May...for Peter...after I died. But I saw how their spirits never fully waned, and they never reached that low point because they had a great support system. A support system you were a big part of."

Y/N let out a breath through his nose. Ben continued.

"You were a big part of Peter's life. You still are. You are the brother he never had. Having you there after what happened made things better. And him being happy made May happy. Seeing the two of them still with their spirits high...made me happy. I thank you for that."

"You can't be thanking me," Y/N replied. "I did nothing. I—I caused the initial pain. Without me—"

"Y/N."

Ben spoke sternly and got Y/N to stop. His attention was now back at the older man. Ben parked the car on the side of the road.

"You did everything you could. You did everything right. You made up for it...both in and out of costume. You can't change what happened to me...but you've done a lot to make sure hundreds of thousands of people don't suffer the same fate. You've kept their families from having that one bad day."

The young man took in his words, and it honestly made him feel a bit better. Ben continued.

"You've righted your wrongs. You've done a ton of saving. And for that, I'm proud of you."

Ben held out his hand. Y/N looked at it momentarily before clasping it, and they firmly shook hands. But the handshake soon changed to an embrace as Y/N decided to lean and hug him.

"I never got to tell you...but I appreciate everything you did. For being there for me and Peter. For supporting my dad and I when my mom died. For...being an uncle to me, too. Heck, you were like a second father."

The embrace continued. Y/N sniffled a bit.

"Thank you, Ben."

"CLEAR!"

Ben smiled. He pat the young man's back.

"Again!"

"No need to thank me, Y/N. It's just what I had to do."

With that, their surroundings suddenly got hazy again, and seconds later...

"CLEAR!"

...everything went white in a sudden flash.

• • •

Y/N'S BODY JOLTED after being shocked by the defibrillators. Outside of the operating room, May was with Martin Li, who had brought her to the hospital after she was informed about Y/N's condition.

The doctors tried again but to no avail. May sobbed upon seeing the motionless body of Y/N and the sound of the flatlining in the room. Martin embraced the woman and kept her close.

They tried again and shocked Y/N. The doctors looked at the vital signs monitor in anticipation until, finally, his heart began to beat again. They let out a sigh of relief.

"He's good."

May still looked on, relieved but still in immense worry about her stepson. She continued to cry and buried her face into Martin's shoulder.

May sat outside in the hallway. Martin leaned against the wall, arms crossed and tapping his foot.

He, too, was worried about Y/N, a bright young man he had known for the last few years. One who looked after everyone but himself and dedicated himself to F.E.A.S.T.'s mission. Y/N was just like his father, Michael.

Later, Carlie Temple came over to them. They recognized the nurse, and May immediately got up from her seat.

"Ms. Parker?"

"Y—Yes." She replied. "How is Y/N?"

"The surgery was successful. The bullets didn't damage any vital organs, thankfully."

"What happened?"

"He was hurt while at the Manhattan precinct."

Martin spoke. "Where LaMuerto and those goons attacked? What the hell was he doing there?"

Claire didn't have an answer, although she knew he was there operating as Spider-Man. She obviously couldn't say that.

"Can I see him?" May asked.

"You can, but he's not awake," She answered. "Unfortunately, we don't know when he will be."

May thought she heard wrong. "W—What? What do you mean?"

"Ms. Parker...the surgery was successful but not without some hurdles. He suffered a stroke during it. He's in a coma."

It felt like everything was coming down for May. Hearing those words brought her back to how she felt when she heard about Ben's murder and the news that Michael was killed. She could not fathom losing another loved one. Not again.

"But—But he'll wake up, right? He will. He's...he's not dead. He's still alive. Just asleep..." May looked at Martin. "Right?"

Martin had not responded. He couldn't reassure her and said he'd be okay because he wasn't so sure himself. He did not want to give the woman false hope if the worst came true.

May began to cry again. Claire sighed.

"We'll do whatever we can to take care of him. We'll ensure his recovery. Trust me on that."

May nodded, holding the tissue to her eyes and wiping her nose.

"C—Can I still see him? Please."

Claire nodded and took her by the shoulder, escorting May and Martin down the hall to the room where the young man was.

In another part of the city, Detective Jefferson Davis stood on a rooftop. He looked out on the skyline momentarily, wondering if what he was about to do would be a good idea. It was very likely against protocol and hypocritical to his badge. But...after what he experienced the night before...he found himself with very little choice.

Jeff took a flare gun from his waistband and fired it up in the air. The fire shot up and lit the sky with a blood-red color, where it stayed there before dissipating.

After that, he just waited.

Jeff stood there for some time, staring into the skyline and looking around. He started to get impatient and let out a scoff.

"What the hell am I doing? Am I calling frickin' Batman or—?"

"Detective Davis."

Jeff was startled. He turned around and looked up at the water tower, where the Devil of Hell's Kitchen was standing. He soon dropped down and landed near the officer.

"Daredevil." He greeted.

"I never thought that flare would get used."

"Sergeant Mahoney told me about it. He gave it to me when he retired. He said he trusted you."

"It went both ways. Do you trust me, Detective?"

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't."

Daredevil nodded. Jeff then brought out a folder and opened it.

"My Lieutenant and I were going over these locations last night...before LaMuerto's attack. These are potential locations associated with the Undertaker..."

Daredevil took the folder and looked at it as well, running his fingers over the text quickly. Jeff found it strange as he didn't know the vigilante was blind. Still, he continued.

"...and if it's connected with the Undertaker..."

"Then it's connected to Arsenic Candy." Daredevil interjected, to which Jeff nodded.

"I'm going to gather some squads and check out a few of those places. I reckon...you and your posse can make use of it too..."

"You want our help, Detective?"

The officer sighed. He rested his hands on his waist.

"What we're dealing with now, it's unfathomable. The deputy commissioner was killed, so was our DA, our mayor. Hell, Captain DeWolff. Then, what happened at the precinct last night. Morally, it hurts, and we're spread thin as it is."

Daredevil took in his words. Jeff continued.

"We'll always need your help, no matter what the higher authority says. I truly believe in the good you, Spider-Man, and the rest of them do. You all bring what we need in times like these: hope."

Matt nodded. That was his goal the entire time, a goal he and Y/N have always shared: to instill hope in the city. Matt wanted to continue honoring that while Y/N was recovering.

"That's what all this is for, Detective. Without it...how can we thrive?"

Jeff nodded. He turned around and looked out at the skyline for a moment.

"That's a copy you can take with you. I marked the locations our teams are going to be checking out. I'm thinking you and your friends could see the rest and—"

Jeff turned back around and saw that Daredevil had vanished. He looked around the lonely rooftop and scoffed, shaking his head.

"Now, who am I? Commissioner Gordon? Ugh."

~ ~ ~

THE BRIGHT LIGHT dissipated, and Y/N's vision became clear again. He realized he was sitting on a log, looking out into a lake.

It felt rather calming. The sounds of the water, the chirping of the birds, and the buzzing of bugs nearby all brought a sense of comfort as if he was supposed to be there. Along with the cool breeze, it was like a welcoming feeling.

"Underoos."

Y/N heard the familiar voice and immediately turned around. His eyes widened upon seeing who it was, and his heart seemed to skip a beat.

The man with the greying goatee and hair came over and stood behind him, holding two cans of beer in hand. He gestured at the log with a tilt of his head,

"Move aside. I'm old." Tony Stark said. "My legs are getting tired. Come on."

Y/N immediately did and slid over, allowing Tony to sit on the log beside him. He opened one of the beverages and handed it to the young man.

"You're of age, right? I mean...you have to be at this point. You don't stay babyfaced and a high schooler forever."

Y/N let out a chuckle and took the can. Tony opened his own next.

"I mean...what's stopping them from drinking anyway? I started very young. Bad idea...but when you're constantly trying to win the affection of your dad and trying to do whatever you can to make him proud...you have to find things to help you de-stress." Tony held up his can. "Hence...the cold one."

Tony took a sip of the alcoholic beverage. Y/N just looked at his and tapped the side of it with his fingers.

"I—I don't drink." He admitted.

Tony looked at him. "You're kidding."

"No."

"Oh. So you're a square. You must be the life of the party." He started to mock him jokingly. "I'm sorry, but where do you keep the sodas?"

Y/N snickered and shook his head.

"I can't get drunk. You know..."

"Ah." Tony nodded. "I forgot. Whatever super-shit you got in you. Right."

"Right. At this point, it'd be like I'm just sipping wheat-flavored water."

"Hmm." Tony immediately took the can from his hands. "Then you need to start branching out. Try some wine when you can. Can't go wrong with a nice flavorful Penfolds Grange."

Y/N just nodded. He looked out at the lake and folded his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I've been here a few times. Your cabin. Peter and I visited it after..."

The young man let out a breath. Tony nodded and turned to him.

"I hope you took your shoes off before going inside." He jested.

Y/N smirked. "Yeah, Pepper reminded us."

Tony softly smiled, but Y/N didn't see him as he stared ahead at the lake, seemingly thinking. Tony noticed the young man pondering.

He kept looking out when he suddenly spotted something on the other side. It was the silhouette again. Once more, he felt cold and sad, and his heart started feeling even heavier, which forced him to shut his eyes and swallow hard.

Upon opening them...the silhouette was gone.

"Why are we here, Y/N?" Tony suddenly asked. "Why are you here?"

Y/N just shrugged. Honestly, he knew the answer but didn't know how to say it. A part of him wasn't even sure if he wanted to. There was a beat before Tony finally spoke again.

"It's not your fault."

Y/N scoffed, shaking his head. Tony tried again.

"It isn't. Not yours...not Peter's...none of you should be blaming yourself."

"We could've tried harder." Y/N finally replied. "I—I could've been better. Been...smarter. I could've done something different to..."

"What?" Tony interjected. "Tell me what you could've done to stop us from running into alien Squidward and his large friend. What could've you done to stop us from crash landing on Titan? What difference could you have made to stop Strange from handing Thanos the Time Stone?"

Y/N stood quiet as he tried to come up with an answer, but he couldn't. Tony continued.

"Remember, Thanos didn't take it. He was given it. It was all a part of the plan. The one scenario out of millions that lead to us winning."

"And you dying." Y/N abruptly said.

Tony took a breath and looked at Y/N. He then gazed out onto the lake, too.

"I went into that whole thing knowing what could happen. The dangers of it. The possible casualties. But I had to do it. We all did. We all understood it. From Steve, Banner, Clint, Nat, Rhodes, hell...even Farrell."

Y/N nodded, remembering that Robert Farrell helped the Avengers and was a part of the Time Heist. It showed them that no matter where you began...you can ultimately change for the better.

"Once Romanoff didn't come back, I realized the stakes. And then Thanos returned and threatened to kill everyone this time...even the people we just brought back. I knew then...that I had to do whatever it took to make sure that didn't happen."

Tony turned to Y/N, who still kept looking out at the water,

"That's what it is, right? What we do? Thinking about others instead of yourself." Tony sighed, thinking about Yinsen. "The man that saved me and helped me get out of that cave...he taught me that."

Y/N nodded. "My...my mom taught me that too. Or, at least, something along those lines. Her and my dad."

"It's a swell mantra." Tony replied.

The man put a hand on Y/N's shoulder. He finally turned and faced Tony as he spoke again.

"What happened then...you can't change that. No matter how many times you think back and imagine what difference you could've made. You have to look ahead...and think about the difference you can make."

Y/N let out a shuddered breath as what Tony told him started to make him a bit emotional. The older man smiled and gripped his shoulder a little tighter.

"You just keep doing what you're doing. You're actually making a difference in many, many people's lives, even if you don't realize it." Tony said. "You made a difference in mine—you and Peter. You two...made me strive to be better. And I left his world knowing that the two of you would still be there...making a difference."

Y/N smiled amidst his teary eyes. Tony smiled back at his spiritual son.

"I couldn't be more prouder of what you've done and what you will do."

Tony brought Y/N in for a hug. They embraced tightly, and the young man felt the same cool and calm as before. Moments later, the area they were in got brighter, and a bright flash was once again.

• • •

RICHARD FISK ENTERED the room. Inside was Mary Walker, with several henchmen looking over a map. She heard her brother come in and gave a surly look.

"Leave." She commanded the henchmen, who immediately obeyed and left the room.

Richard watched as they walked out the door. He went over and shut it before turning around and facing the redhead.

"Where have you been?" She asked,

"The Undertaker had to deal with things." Richard replied flippantly.

She already didn't like his tone and rather nonchalant attitude. She also hated his use of the third person.

"This isn't a game, Richard!" She exclaimed. "I have people scattered around the city and know exactly where they are. But then there's you...who I seem never to get a good read on."

Richard rolled his eyes and scoffed. He opened his arms.

"I helped move some people. LaMuerto, as well. He was pretty beat up thanks to our web-slinging friend."

She stepped forward. "Is LaMuerto still under our control?"

"He's all right. I just repeated some shit about his son and blah blah blah, and he started listening again."

Mary was somewhat relieved. Although she lost Vandal to the authorities again, she was content with still having Black Tarantula in her ranks. She walked back to the table.

"I gotta hand it to you, sis," Richard spoke. "Adding LaMuerto to the roster, brilliant! Unlike these other losers at your beck and call, this one actually has some fire in him. You should've seen what he did at the police station. Oooh!"

Richard was all giddy thinking about it. He was just insane like that. Mary stayed calm, annoyed at how her brother was acting.

"And Spider-Man? The other heroes? Are they accounted for?" Mary asked him.

Richard still had a smile on his face as he sat down and rested his chin on his hand. Mary arched a brow as she looked at him.

"The others, they're still out there. But Spider-Man..."

The man snickered again. Mary was getting annoyed.

"What? What is it?"

Richard grinned. "I killed him."

Mary didn't believe it. "Yeah, right."

"I did. I did! I shot him." Richard stood up and animatedly gestured toward his stomach and chest, all while making gunshot sounds. "Here...pwchek...and here...pwchek."

"And you're sure he's dead?" Mary asked.

"I mean...he looked dead as a doornail when I stood over him."

"But are you sure? Did you make sure?"

"Well...no." Richard scratched the back of his head. "I had to get LaMuerto out of there ASAP before the Cat bitch got up and the rest of his posse got to the rooftop,"

Mary groaned and slammed her fist on the table, startling Richard a bit.

"You dumbass! So he's not dead? You left him there to be rescued by the rest of the costumed circus! Idiot!"

"There was nothing they could've done immediately. I doubt the Devil or Castle are certified medical professionals. He very likely died there."

"Or they were fast enough to get him help somewhere else." Mary brought up.

Richard thought about it for a second before letting out a scoff. He knew what his sister was thinking.

"They're not stupid. You think they'd take him to a hospital?"

"If they're desperate to help their friend," Mary replied, sighing and crossing her arms as she looked at the wall. "There's the likelihood that he's being treated."

"Okay..." Richard began. "Then we just go in and shoot up the nearby hospitals. Hell, bomb them."

Mary scoffed, hating the sudden idea.

"How you gained notoriety in the criminal underworld is beyond me." She shook her head. "Besides, we're already spread thin as it is."

Richard rolled his eyes, annoyed that Mary kept him from satisfying his bloodthirsty needs. He rested a hand on his hip and leaned against the wall as Mary pondered.

"I'll have someone check the hospital. Look for any patients with wounds similar to the ones you described. He finds him...he finds Spider-Man. And then he kills him."

"Aww, no fair. I wanted to deliver the kill shot. But whatever. I got my sights on one man and one man only..."

Mary turned to him. Richard shook his head and snickered.

"Y/N L/N."

• • •

THE BLONDE WOMAN walked through the hospital hallways wearing a leather jacket, red top, and ripped black pants. She also had sunglasses and a cap on to avoid drawing attention.

It didn't work, though, as nurses and visitors were drawn to the young woman. Still, she kept walking and paid them no mind.

Finally, she made it to the room. She looked in through the window and saw who she came for. The young man was on his bed, still unconscious in his hospital gown and breathing through a ventilator.

Felicia went inside and crept in quietly. She eyed him further, and the sight of it brought a pang to her heart. It brought her back to the day she visited Randy when he was in his coma after being attacked by Puma.

Again, she felt so guilty. Another person was hurt on her watch, and she couldn't do anything about it. She didn't stop Puma when he inadvertently attacked Randy, and now she couldn't help Y/N when battling Black Tarantula. She wasn't even sure what happened, only hearing a couple of shots before she was able to regain consciousness fully.

Felicia stepped to the side of the bed, removed her hat and sunglasses, and put them aside. She leaned in, touching his shoulder. She took in a breath and looked upon the maimed body of Y/N in sadness.

"Come back to me, Spider." She muttered. "Please."

She leaned in further, kissing him on the cheek and then the lips. At that exact moment, the door opened, and someone else came in. They called out.

"Felicia?"

The young man stood upright and turned around, seeing it was Michelle Jones-Watson. She had a water bottle and a book in her hand.

"Michelle." Felicia greeted, clearing her throat and tucking some hair behind her ear. "Hey."

MJ looked over at Y/N, who was still in his slumber. She looked back at Felicia and feigned a smile.

"It's been a while. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing all right," Felicia replied. "You?"

She nodded. "Dandy."

There was a beat. MJ stepped forward and went to the seat she was in earlier. Felicia moved aside.

"I—I wanted to come see Y/N. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course, I don't," MJ replied. "I know you two mean a lot to each other."

It came as a shock hearing that. Felicia chuckled and began to stammer.

"Wh—What do you mean? Y/N's a friend of Randy's, and he was so nice when—"

"Girl..." MJ turned to her and smirked. "We all know you're Black Cat. And...I know Y/N is Spider-Man."

"He told you who he is?"

"Long ago." She sat back on the chair. "Well...I figured it out."

That brought a chuckle out of Felicia. She crossed her arms and glanced at the young man on the bed.

"Doesn't do a good job at hiding it, does he?"

"Nope." MJ replied.

The two shared a relatively quiet laugh. MJ looked over at Y/N and bit her lip.

"Do...do you know what happened?" She suddenly asked.

Felicia let out a breath through her nose. That alone let the auburn-haired girl that she did before she could even answer.

"The attack at the Manhattan precinct. Two nights ago. We...we were fighting LaMuerto."

MJ clenched her teeth at the name. Once again, the so-called Beacon of New York hurt and almost killed Y/N, the true hero.

"Him again?"

"I think so...but Y/N was shot. LaMuerto doesn't use guns."

Felicia leaned against the wall and kept looking at Y/N, trying to reflect on that night.

"I was out for the count. I couldn't take LaMuerto. He beat me so badly. All I remember hearing is the two of them fighting...fighting hard...and then it was quiet. It was like that for a while before a shot rang out. The silence again. And the...another shot."

MJ took in a deep breath as she was told the story. It pained her to know what they both went through and the pain Y/N likely endured just his job—following his responsibilities. All of which resulted in him being in a coma.

"When I finally was able to get up...I saw him there. Bleeding. Not moving. I got so scared. I tried to wake him, but he wasn't doing anything." Felicia explained. "Daredevil and the rest showed up, and we weren't sure what to do until he devised a plan to take him out of his costume and bring him here. It sounded risky at first..."

"But you had to do it," MJ interjected. "You acted fast. You saved his life."

"I—I did nothing. I'm no hero." She gestured at Y/N. "He is. The rest of them are. I just do what I do to make sure people like who did this to Y/N get what they deserve."

Suddenly, the young woman's phone chimed. She took it out and saw a message.

"Like now..." She added.

"What is it?" MJ asked.

Felicia looked at her, still holding her phone.

"Another location where those Arsenic assholes could be."

~ ~ ~

Y/N OPENED HIS eyes, and his surroundings became clear of its haze. He looked around and saw where he was, which was a backyard. It was a familiar-looking backyard, one that he remembered being in years ago.

He had his hands in his pockets and gazed around, seeing the lawn chairs, the patio, and the shed nearby. Suddenly, he felt someone touch his shoulder.

"Y/N."

Y/N looked to his left and saw who it was. It was George Stacy, out of his uniform and wearing casual clothing consisting of a blue polo and khakis, which he would often wear during leisure.

"Captain Stacy." Y/N said in awe.

"Please, son. You're out of costume." He motioned toward the patio nearby. "Call me George."

The man chuckled. He was led to the patio, and the two sat down. The wings of the rafters offered them shade from the scorching summer sun.

"You never let me call you George." Y/N remarked as he folded his hands in front of him.

"Like I said, only when you're in costume. Can't have Spider-Man calling me by my first name. What if someone hears and thinks we're in cahoots for something."

Y/N nodded. George snickered.

"I mean...we kind of were though, weren't we?" He added.

"There are many times you could've arrested me."

"Yeah, and locked your ass up. But...I saw something in you. I saw something everyone in this town needed to see as well..."

Y/N looked up from his hands and at George. He lightly smirked.

"I saw an icon."

Y/N wasn't sure what to say. The police captain continued.

"One that upheld the values even our own department struggles to uphold. One without bias, without looking for an incentive, without looking to be given anything back. To just...uphold your responsibility and do what you need to do. You follow that fire in you and do whatever it takes. I told Yuri the same thing."

Y/N nodded. As seconds went by, he remembered Yuri and thought back to that very day when George was killed. Seeing Yuri crying and kneeling over her friend, begging for help and pleading for him to stay alive.

As he thought about it, he glanced toward his left and saw the silhouette again. The sadness he was feeling thinking about George's death grew more potent, and he felt heavier. The young man closed his eyes and let out a breath.

"And like Yuri...you shouldn't harbor the blame." George said.

Y/N finally opened his eyes again, and he glanced at where the silhouette was. It was gone, and Y/N felt a little bit of relief and pressure off of him.

"It's not healthy, son." George added.

"You didn't deserve to die that day." Y/N replied. "None what of what happened shouldn't have. If only I had taken down Cassidy earlier. If I was faster to get there. If—If I was the one to get in front of his gun instead of you..."

"No," George said sternly. "I did what I did because I had to. I wanted to."

Y/N let out a breath through his nose.

"But I know Gwen and your sons didn't want that."

George stood quiet for a moment. There was deafening silence before the man finally responded.

"When I first swore an oath to my badge...to serve the people of this city...I knew what I was getting into. I knew what I was getting my family into, and I prepared them for the inevitability of tragedy."

"She misses you, George. I—It pains me knowing that Gwen's without her father, that her kid is without her grandpa, because I couldn't save you."

"She knows that I'm always going to be with her. She understands that my love is never going away. And you have to understand that she doesn't blame you...and that I don't either."

Y/N looked down at his hands again. George continued.

"Like we're told as servants of the people, we can't save everyone. It would help if you understood that, too, Y/N, more than anyone. You bear a burden none of us can fathom. People of all classes look up to you. For help. For hope."

The man reached out and touched his wrist. Y/N looked up and saw George smiling at him.

"They look to the icon you turned out to be. The one I knew you could become."

With that, Y/N smiled back and nodded. George gave his wrist a firm and reassuring squeeze before their surroundings suddenly went white again.

• • •

YURI WATANABE LED a unit to one of the locations connected to Arsenic Candy. Despite her still recovering from the wound she sustained by LaMuerto two nights ago, she was still heavily invested in taking down the gang. Nothing was going to stop her from taking them down, saving the hostages, and avenging those killed.

Surprisingly, some heroes, including Daredevil, Black Cat, and Black Widow, joined them. She didn't mind their presence and accepted their help, telling the officers with her that they would assist on the raid.

They went full force into the Washington Heights-based warehouse. The Arsenic Candy gang members there fought back with their multitude of weaponry, including firearms.

Daredevil, Black Widow, and Black Cat dashed in and attacked the ground forces in front of the warehouses, quickly taking them down. Yuri and her squad offered covering fire and kept the armed henchmen at the windows and catwalks at bay.

Yelena dashed at an armed henchman with quickness and tripped him with her baton, landing a final blow to his face. Another man tried to attack her, but she weaved away from his strike and disarmed him of his blade. She then swept his legs and pounced on him, where she was about to stab down at his chest.

"Yelena!"

The blonde looked to her right, where Daredevil had just dealt a devastating blow to a goon. He dropped his body and shook his head as he turned to her. Yelena groaned and knew about his dislike of killing.

"Ugh. You're so boring!" Yelena whined and knocked the man out with the blade handle.

She got up and tossed the weapon aside. Matt gave her a content nod, and Yelena scoffed.

"I could've gone to confession afterward. Come on! Don't shower me with your Catholic guilt."

While chatting, one armed henchman appeared behind Yelena and aimed her gun. Daredevil quickly tossed his billy club and knocked the woman out with a brutal hit to the face. Yelena looked back at the unconscious body.

"There are always other ways," Matt said, jogging away.

Yelena scoffed and followed, muttering to herself.

"Surely you didn't just give the poor woman brain damage for the rest of her life. Yeah, that's better."

Their fight against Arsenic Candy continued. Suddenly, the shutter doors were opened, and two other men came out, both holding light machine guns. Yuri shouted at her officers.

"Cover! Cover!"

The henchmen immediately fired their guns, raining bullets on the officers in the lot and taking out a couple of cops who weren't fast enough to get to cover. Matt, Felicia, and Yelena dashed away and avoided the oncoming barrage.

They stepped forward as they kept holding the triggers and shooting. One got on top of a nearby car and got on top of it, giving him the high ground and a better vantage point as he fired. The other laughed in glee at the thought of killing the officers before him.

Suddenly, his machine gun was hit with something. The henchman's gun jammed, and he looked down at the firearm and saw that it was an arrow. He stood there with a confused look for a second before the arrow started beeping, and it exploded, maiming the man's hands.

"Argh!" He shouted in pain.

Yelena saw it happen and looked up toward where the arrow came from. She squinted her eyes and saw someone perched on top of the billboard across the street. Yelena immediately recognized who it was and beamed with glee.

"No way!"

As the gunman's partner squirmed in pain, he saw someone ahead dashing at him. He immediately raised his machine gun and fired, but the costumed black adolescent held up his shield and deflected the gunfire. He kept running at him as the henchman rained bullets at him.

Upon reaching him, the boy leaped over the henchman and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him into the top of the car. He slammed against it.

He was quickly defeated with a brutal hit to the face with the young man's shield. He stood up and faced the other man, who still held his bleeding hand. He glared at the hero.

"I'll kill you, you wannabe—"

He didn't notice another arrow piercing the wall beside him. He also didn't see the woman coming down the zip line at him, and he was soon kicked down. The man groaned but was still irate.

"Ugh! I'm gonna f—"

Kate immediately shot him with an electric arrow, and it stunned him greatly. He shook but kept trying to curse them out.

"You b—b—bitch! I knew who you are. You—"

She shot him again. The two arrows kept electrocuting him until he finally was rendered unconscious.

Eli Bradley, also known as Patriot, looked down at the defeated goon then back at Kate.

Portrayed by Elijah Richardson

"That shut him up." He said and kicked him a bit. "Yeah. Shut him up good."

With the two armed men down, the police moved into the warehouse, where they arrested Arsenic Candy members who had surrendered. To their surprise, they also found a group of hostages.

Still, the rest needed to be found.

Yuri spoke with her team before talking with the vigilantes. She was surprised to see known Young Avengers: Hawkeye and Patriot.

"Surprised to see you here." Yuri told Kate.

"We were making our rounds. Heard about what was going on here." She replied.

"We appreciate your help."

"We'll stay as long as you need it." Eli said.

Yuri welcomed it and gave them a nod. She soon left to rejoin her team. Daredevil, Black Widow, and Black Cat acquainted themselves with the two heroes.

"Bishop!" Yelena called out.

She was surprised to see the Widow. "Yelena?"

"Oh, wow! You've grown! Not so small anymore. New look. I love it."

"You look good yourself." Kate complimented. "By the way, thank you for the macaroni recipe you mailed me."

"O-M-G. You got it?"

"I did."

"No way. She's the reason for that bomb ass Mac and Cheese?" Eli chuckled and looked at Yelena. "Everyone back home loves it!"

"Wow! You've got to invite me over. We can have a potluck!"

Daredevil chimed in. "We appreciate the help."

"Mister Daredevil!" Eli got excited but quickly cleared his throat and acted firm. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Daredevil nodded. Eli looked at the Black Cat next, smirking and giving a nod.

"Where's Spider-Man? I would've expected him to be here too?"

Kate wondered as well. Matt, Yelena, and Felicia looked at one another before the latter spoke.

"He—He's been hurt. He's in the hospital."

The raven-haired archer was stunned. She was immediately filled with worry.

"Y/N?"

Felicia nodded. Kate took in a breath.

"Take me to him."

The two women immediately left the scene. Eli stood with the remaining vigilantes, a confused look on his face. He pointed his thumb in the direction the woman went.

"Uh, who's Y/N?"

They ignored him. Yelena asked about the man who didn't join them on the raid with the cops.

"You think Castle's all right? Should we go to the location in Ditmars?"

Daredevil took a breath and shook his head. Although he hated Frank's methods, he knew they were effective for him and yielded results. Where he currently was...he didn't need any help.

"No. I'm sure he's got it covered."

~ ~ ~

WHEN THE YOUNG MAN opened his eyes, he found himself in yet another familiar place. He was on the sofa facing a television set that immediately made him feel nostalgic. He looks around the living room, seeing the dining table and kitchen nearby and photo frames.

He was in his first apartment, the one he used to live in with his parents.

Y/N got up and exhaled, standing in the quiet room. He suddenly heard someone call out.

"Y/N."

Y/N looked to his left and saw the person standing by the hallway. His heart swelled upon realizing who it was. He let out a breathy chuckle.

"Dad?"

Michael smiled and approached him. He took his hands out of his pockets and held his shoulders.

"Hey, buddy."

Immediately, Y/N embraced his father. He immediately teared up and cried as he held him tighter.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I—I miss you! I miss you so much..."

"No, that's not what I'm asking."

Y/N parted, wiping his eyes. Michael looked at him with a sincere expression.

"What's wrong with you?"

Y/N took in a breath. He knew what he was asking about, but the young man wasn't sure how to express it. He didn't even know if he wanted to admit it. But after staring into his father's eyes for a few more seconds, he let it out.

"You should be here. You should hear with me, with May, with Anya. We should all be together, but—" He took a deep breath in. "I couldn't save you. I let you die. It's all my fault."

Michael shook his head and gripped Y/N's shoulders tightly.

"No. You didn't let me die. It's not your fault."

"It is."

"No, it's not, Y/N," Michael said sternly. "Don't harbor that blame. Don't keep that guilt inside you. It's not true, and you know it."

Y/N didn't say anything and kept looking to the side. Michael sighed.

"If you're not going to hear it from me...then take it from someone else."

He arched a brow. Suddenly, someone appeared from the hallway where Michael had just come from. Y/N looked over his father's shoulder and saw the person smiling with her arms crossed. The young man's eyes widened in awe.

It was his mother, Aubrey.

"M—Mom?" Y/N stammered.

She kept smiling. "Hey, mijo."

He stepped away from Michael and slowly walked to Aubrey, looking her up and down with his mind still racing. Y/N hadn't seen her since he was 11, and he couldn't believe she was now there in the flesh.

Y/N continued to stammer, not knowing what to say. Aubrey chuckled and gently hugged her son, to which he soon melted into the embrace.

"You're so big." Aubrey parted and looked at him. "So tall. Handsome."

Y/N let out a breathy chuckle amidst tears. Aubrey rubbed his hair and palmed the side of his face.

"What's wrong, mijo?"

She asked the same question Michael did moments ago. The young man exhaled through his nose and looked to the side, where he saw the silhouette again through the window.

Again, he felt despair, guilt, and sadness. But when Aubrey moved his head back toward her, it seemed to all go away. Y/N shut his eyes again and looked down.

"No matter what I do...no matter how hard I try...the ones I love will always be the ones who pay."

Michael got behind his son and held his shoulders. Aubrey kept caressing Y/N's face.

"You died first. Then it was Ben, then Tony, then Dad." He sighed. "Captain Stacy...Indira. I'm afraid that it's going to get worse. There's May...there's Anya...MJ. I feel like it's inevitable that I'm going to lose everyone. Everything. Because of what I do."

Aubrey lifted his head and Y/N opened his eyes, looking to hers.

"I told you before, Y/N. We all have gifts. And once you uncover your gifts...use them, not only for you but for the betterment of others."

"Even when using those gifts takes a toll on you?" He asked.

"That's what great people have to deal with. It's what heroes have to endure. They look to make a difference in other people's lives...even if it means you have to sacrifice something of your own."

Michael spoke. "It's why we had to send Teresa away. We did what we could for our country and for our world, and for that, we had become targets. It wasn't safe for your sister anymore."

"It was hard, but it's what we had to do."

Y/N nodded. Aubrey continued.

"It was our responsibility. And we had to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of everything in the world. And when the time came, we did the same for her and you."

"And that's what you do now, Y/N," Michael added. "You have a gift. You have power. And with great power, there must also come great responsibility."

Those words echoed in his head. That mantra. One of the last things Michael said to him before he died. He closed his eyes for a moment and took in a breath.

"I know you think about what you lost, but you must also consider what you gain," Aubrey said. "Who you save. The lives you change because of what you do."

He opened his eyes again and looked at his mother. She wiped a tear that was stuck to his cheek.

"Spider-Man is not the only one that makes a difference in the world...Y/N L/N does too. Even with the mask...you are a hero. You are my hero."

"You are ours." Michael chimed in.

"Always will be." She added.

Y/N finally smiled amidst his tearful episode. He leaned in and hugged his mother again, and soon Michael joined. The three L/N's all embraced in the middle of the room.

"I love you. So much." He told them.

The room started to get brighter. Aubrey said one last thing before everything lit up in a flash.

"We are so proud of you."

• • •

KATE HAD GONE to see Y/N in the hospital. She was in the room, sitting on the chair and looking at the young man in bed. The heart monitor continued to beep as she stared at him.

"He was just shot?" Kate asked Felicia, who was also in the room with her. "He...he's always so fast. So powerful. I never thought that'd almost do him in."

"I still don't know how," Felicia replied. "They must've got the jump on him."

Kate sighed, leaning in and touching Y/N's hand. She ran her thumb across the top of it.

"He'll get through this," Kate said. "I know he will."

Felicia nodded. She looked down at her empty coffee cup.

"I'm getting a refill. Want anything?"

Kate declined. Felicia went outside to get more coffee from the machine by the front desk.

As she poured the hot liquid, she noticed two men walk out of the elevator into their floor. The woman at the desk was so busy speaking to a few people she didn't see them walk by without checking in.

She found it strange that they were nearing Y/N's room, so she kept an eye on them. Then, the men stopped at the door and reached for their guns. Immediately, Felicia stopped pouring her coffee.

The men looked into the room, and one immediately stormed inside. Kate reacted quickly and kicked one of the chairs into the man's leg, causing him to stumble.

"Argh!"

Kate got out of her seat and leaped at the henchman, attempting to disarm him. His partner saw the struggle ensuing and was about to draw his gun but was suddenly hit with a scorching hot splash of coffee on his face.

"Aaah!"

Felicia immediately kicked the hurt man in the groin, causing him to double over. She then drove her knee into his face.

Even with a burnt face and broken nose, the goon went after Felicia. He grabbed her and pinned her to the wall, starting to choke her.

The woman reacted fast and activated her claws from her glove. She dug the razor-sharp blades into his cheek, and he let out a pained yell.

"Argh!"

He loosened his grip and allowed Felicia to drive her knee into his stomach. He let go, and the blonde quickly slashed his shoulder and leg, too, bringing him to his knees. Felicia then delivered an axe kick at his head, knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Kate was still fighting the other henchman.

The two hit the walls and window, cracking it a bit. They still struggled for the gun, and the man ultimately forced Kate off of him with a headbutt.

She fell and landed on her hands and knees. The man still had the gun in his hand and could've shot her, but his attention was on his target: Y/N. He drew his weapon and aimed at him.

Immediately, Kate threw a hard kick from the floor that connected to his stomach, causing him to be thrown back against the cracked window. It shattered, and the man ultimately flew out of it.

Kate panted as she looked up at the broken window. She soon got to her feet, and Felicia joined her inside. The two walked up to the window and gazed out of it, seeing the body of the henchman four stories down in the parking lot.

Felicia turned to Kate, studying her expression and looking for her exact reaction. The woman seemed calm and unfazed by what she did.

"You okay?" She asked her.

Kate nodded. She was okay with dealing the fatal blow to the gunman. It was either that or letting him shoot down Y/N. She'd do it again if she had to.

"Yeah," Kate replied. "Besides, not the first time I've kicked someone off a building."

~ ~ ~

WHEN Y/N OPENED his eyes, it wasn't joined with a bright light this time. His hazy surroundings didn't clear up to reveal something else.

He stood amidst the darkness. A black void. It was very quiet and he could hear his own heart beating and the blood rushing in his head.

Y/N stepped forward, but he didn't seem to move. He kept looking around, not sure which direction he was even facing.

Suddenly, he heard an echoing voice.

"Who am I?"

Y/N darted his eyes into the darkness, calling back out.

"Who is that?"

He already knew who it was, and he already knew who he was going to face in this void. He was just in denial and filled with remorse. Y/N was just afraid to finally face it.

"What am I to you?"

Y/N turned back around and stepped forward, but he was suddenly grabbed by the throat.

The silhouette before him stood out in the void, looking darker than everything else. Soon, he started to make out their figure, seeing that it was feminine. The ghoulish-looking woman was pale and covered in blood. But what stood out were its white eyes and glowing mouth.

"Am I your friend? Your lover? The one shred, one light, one bright, shining star you clung to?"

Y/N writhed in their grasp and coughed. They were very strong and the young man could not escape.

"Or am I your guilt? Crushing the life out of you because you can't get over the fact that I'm dead? That you feel responsible?"

Y/N was being thrown around, seemingly hitting invisible walls within the void. The glowing-eyed monster kept their grip on the young man's neck.

"Who...Am...I?! Who do you keep fighting me?! We can't you let go?!"

Finally, Y/N chose to answer the burning question. He spoke amidst grunts as they kept choking him.

"Because you were my everything. And...if I let you go...I got nothing left. I don't want to lose that part of you that I still have in me."

Immediately, the grip around his throat loosened, and he landed on his feet, catching his breath. The figure before him brightened, and their glowing eyes and mouth disappeared. Soon, they changed into their true form...

Indira Sanduval.

The young woman held the man's shoulder and smiled.

"Acceptance. That's all you needed."

Their surroundings quickly changed from the dark void to the ESU campus grounds. Y/N looked to his right and saw the table by a set of stairs. It was the same place where he first met Indira years ago.

"I—Indy." Y/N breathed out, looking at the young Latina before him. "I—I'm so sorry."

Indira didn't respond, simply walking to the table and running her hands on it. Y/N followed her there.

"Sit." She said, gesturing at the seat.

Y/N did as told. Indira rubbed his back before sitting beside him. There was a beat before the young man spoke again.

"Why?"

"Why what?" She asked.

"Why did it have to happen like that? Why did it happen to you? Why...did it have to happen to me?"

Y/N took in a deep breath as he closed his eyes.

"Why did I have to lose something so precious...with you and..."

Y/N stopped and let out a shuddered breath, thinking of the unborn baby he lost along with Indira. The young woman reached out and took his hand.

"You didn't lose us. You never did."

He scoffed. "Please, spare me the I'm in your heart, we're always with you stuff.

Indira smiled, running her thumb along the top of his hand.

"We're around you."

Y/N was confused. He sniffled and turned to the girl. She continued.

"Everything you do. All the great you achieve. Those you help—the people you save. You honor us. You're doing exactly what I want you to do. What I told you..."

Y/N swallowed, not knowing what to say.

"Go be a hero."

The young man immediately recalled those words. They were Indira's last words to him before her death. They were also the title of her award-winning posthumous article that Empire One released. Those words had spoken to him ever since then.

"And being a hero comes with its troubles. It's hurdles. You can't save everyone, Y/N."

"But I could've saved you." He interjected. "I could've if I was faster...smarter...stronger! I just wasn't, and I—I paid the price."

There was a beat. Indira finally spoke again.

"Think back at the bridge. Who was there? It wasn't just me, you, and Kingsley. Think back at the others..."

Y/N did so. He remembered the mother and child he saved from falling debris, the old man he rescued, and the rest of the people on the road who were going to be causalities to Hobgoblin's pumpkin bombs.

"You saved them," Indira said. "They got to live another day because of you.."

Y/N took in a deep breath again as he looked ahead. She had a point. He saved many lives that day but at the cost of two that were dear to him.

Spider-Man and the city won that day, but Y/N had lost greatly.

"I sometimes thought if it was worth it. If anything I do is..." Y/N replied. "That's why I gave up those months ago because I doubted it all."

"And you ended up coming back because you realized it was worth it. Remember that woman you saved in the hardware store? Even out of costume, you're a hero. That's always going to be part of you, Y/N."

Y/N stayed quiet as he thought back to that day. She continued.

"And you can't keep doubting yourself. You can't let guilt consume you. You just have to accept that things can go wrong...that people can die..."

Y/N shook his head, a part of him not wanting to believe it. Indira touched his face and brought it close, making him look at her.

"That you can move on. That you can realize there are other people to support you and love you. The greatest heroes learn to move forward and continue making a difference. You need to understand that."

Y/N swallowed dryly as he looked into her eyes.

"Don't harbor any more guilt. What happened to me...what happened to our baby...it's not your fault. Please, don't blame yourself. Can you do that for me?"

Finally, the young man nodded. Indira softly smiled, and the sight of it seemed to lift a dark, heavy feeling in his chest. It was like a burden was finally lifted off of him.

"Thank you."

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. They embraced momentarily before parting, and she ran her thumb across his cheek.

At the same time, their surroundings started to get brighter and brighter. She told him one last thing before it was over.

"Go be a hero."

• • •

THE WAR AGAINST Arsenic Candy seemed to be falling in favor of the heroes and the NYPD.

Even with a vast amount of the gang members either being killed in firefights or arrested, and hostages being rescued from various locations, there was still the rest of them that were stashed away somewhere in the city. And time was running out.

Because of this, someone influential played their wild card. They made a move that many found shocking, and some were surprised they did it.

Wilson Fisk gave himself up.

He revealed to the public that Typhoid Mary, whose real name was Mary Alice Walker, was his estranged daughter. He also unearthed that her accomplice, Richard Fisk, was his son and known in the criminal underworld as the Undertaker.

He said he was ashamed of what they had become and ashamed of himself for not being a part of Mary's life and for not guiding Richard into the right path. To atone for his mistakes, he gave himself to them and was willing to pay the entire ransom in exchange for the freedom of those they kidnapped.

But even with that, Arsenic Candy didn't honor their word. They kidnapped Fisk when he arrived at the supposed drop-off location, killing the bodyguards he had with him, too. Now he, too, was among the remaining hostages.

MJ is in the hospital room with a comatose Y/N. She had a book in hand and was reading it to Y/N. She had been reading it to him for the few days that she had come to visit him since it was one he was reading before his coma.

The book was Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble, part of the Jack Reacher series. Y/N started reading the books while waiting for the next season to be released on Amazon Prime.

MJ continued reading the chapter aloud as if Y/N was hearing her. She said the dialogue in different tones to illustrate the various characters.

"I've had a real bad feeling ever since I went to that ATM in Portland. I spent all my money taking someone to dinner. Twice. Now I wish we had stayed in and ordered pizza. She might have paid. I wouldn't know about any of this yet."

"She?"

"Someone I met."

"Cute?"

"As a button."

"Cuter than Karla Dixon?"

"Comparable."

"Cuter than me?"

"Is that even possible?"

"Did you sleep with her?"

"Who?"

"The woman in Portland."

"Why do you want to know that?"

MJ chuckled at the dialogue and herself for trying to use different voices. She turned the page and was about to continue when suddenly...

"I commend the effort."

MJ's eyes shot up from the book to the bed, where she saw Y/N's with his eyes squinted and his head turned to her.

"It's funny. And cute." He added.

"Oh, my God." MJ put the book down, got up from her seat, and approached him. "Y/N!"

"Hey, MJ."

He greeted her with a weak smile, and she beamed back. MJ was a welcome sight; he was glad she was the first person he saw after waking up.

"Hey, Tiger." She said rather softly.

"How...how long has it been?" He asked.

"It's been a few days."

"And Arsenic Candy? LaMuerto?"

"Everyone's been fighting them. The cops...your friends...the tides seem to be turning in our favor."

Y/N nodded. He let out a breath as he laid against the pillow. He recalled the moments before he was shot.

"MJ...about Paul—"

"I know. He's not actually Paul. He's Wilson Fisk's son. It's all over the news."

"He was the one who shot me."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"That son of a bitch." MJ spat. "I should've known there was something gross underneath that ugly ass rat face."

The statement made Y/N laugh, but he groaned a bit afterward due to his aches. Suddenly, the news came on the television set in the corner of the room, and it got his attention.

"What?" Y/N reacted after seeing it. "They have Fisk? Why? What happened?"

"He tried to offer himself and his fortune for the hostages' safety. They didn't play ball and took him too."

Y/N found that perplexing. He didn't understand why Kingpin chose to sacrifice himself that way. He highly doubted that Fisk's heart grew two sizes and suddenly decided to be a white knight.

Still, he couldn't let it be. He knew that time was running out. Since Arsenic Candy declined Fisk's fortune, that meant they really didn't care about the money and just wanted to ensue chaos. They were going to kill the hostages they had no matter what.

"I'm...I have to go."

"Y/N..."

"Listen, MJ..." He interjected. "I have to do this. I have to do whatever it takes to make this right. All those people need my help. Hell...even Fisk needs saving by the looks of it. I can't just stay here and do nothing. I have to go be a hero. It's what I am."

MJ took in what he said and nodded. She let out a quick chuckle, smiling softly and fixing his hair.

"I wasn't going to stop you."

She reached for her backpack and opened it. Y/N watched as she took out a familiar-looking garment, the bright red and blue colors sticking out. He smiled as she showed it to him.

"I was just going to tell you not to forget your suit."