Film to Pen: An Experiment in Fan-Fiction (Spider-Man AU) Chapter Six

 Chapter 6

The next hour went by way too quickly. Even the next half hour of cleaning mats and bags ended sooner than I needed. Sensing my pent up energy Bruce asks, "All right what's eating you?".  I shrug, but I know I'll tell him something I always end up doing it. "I messed up," I stop finding my voice weak from emotion, "You know Beni is in a different home now,"  Bruce nods and stays quiet waiting for me to continue. "I can't see him this month. I was climbing and dropped a tile on my last guardian's head,". He whistles, "That is quite a mess. Even for you,". I shake my head, "I think Beni's mad at me too. He wants us to be together, and I do too. But I want all of us. I can't let go of the thought that maybe something will change. Maybe dad will take us back. Beni is all ready for a new family when I just want the old one,". Bruce sets down the rag he was using and looks me in the eye, "Jade I've never made it a secret I grew up in a single parent home. But did you know my dad headed out one day and left behind him more than emotional scars? It's why I started kickboxing. But I must tell you now there were days I'd suddenly see something and I would miss him. Now I'm not saying your dad was that kind of person, but I can tell you that you have to stop living in the past. All you can control is how you react to what life throws you. If he wants to reconnect you can only wait and do what you can to keep in touch with Beni. You understand what I'm trying to say?". I just shrug, it's not what I wanted to hear. But it is what I thought he might say.  My social worker often said stuff of that nature. Although she was easier to tune out. Bruce nods thoughtfully almost to himself and said, "Well that's the last mat. You'd better be getting home before late hours get added to your rap sheet,". I laugh at that and head out the door waving goodbye. Walking back to the house I wrestle with what Bruce said. It's not like I hadn't had doubts before, questioning what I remembered, but how could I stop now that I had some real proof? I had to try and show Dad that Beni and I were a part of his world whether he approved or not. Two weeks then one Sunday night I was going on patrol and with some luck I'd get to show him I was ready to continue the family legacy. 

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Hey asks me for the about one hundredth time. It does nothing to sooth my jangling nerves. I shake my head and hands to get some of the nervous energy out. "No, but I can't wait any longer. Now is the time for action,". Hey squinted at me, "That was incredibly cheesy. Anyway I guess I got the formula right, so I can't really stall you any longer. Do you want to try the shooters?". Tugging on the thin ski mask I had found at a thrift store so it settled around the swim googles Hey found in their closet, I consider how not having practiced web swinging at all might affect my performance, "Sure, I can just stick bad guys up not really try any swinging. To start out. If the webs hold up I can add that to my practice routine,". 

"You mean kicking the birdhouse?" Hey asks skeptically. "And going to the kickboxing studio. I can take you sometime if you want,". 

"Maybe. Do you want to try the webs out first?" Hey asks. "No, I probably won't use them," I respond. I jump onto the side of the house and climb up. Only getting my foot stuck twice. On the roof I stand up. It's hard to breathe in the mask, but it still feels good. I try and suck in a big breath. Despite what Ms. Wilt might say about my climbing excursions, I had never gotten this high before. It felt like somewhere I was always meant to end up. Taking another deep breath I run to the edge of the roof and leap to the next one. Almost slipping off but I regain my balance and keep going from house to house until they turn to apartments, then skyscrapers. Not shiny new ones, the old town house ones with store owners living above their stores. Even though my nerves are tight, close to snapping, I am fully expecting not to come across any real crimes. Maybe a purse snatcher at the most. Creeping along the tops and sides of buildings I hear a noise. At first I can't place it. A thousand skateboard wheels grating the cement? A turned over semi spilling its bulk popcorn? Suddenly the sharp sound of breaking glass makes me slip. I tumble off a high roof, but manage to flip landing a smude too heavily onto the roof below. "Spider-Girl sticks the landing" I murmur to myself glad Hey hasn't come up with fancy earpieces or something to hear that. The thought disappears when I look down. Right below me is a dune sliding out of a freshly broken front window. Sandman. A real super villain who is committing a crime right in front of me. Or more accurately underneath me. Adrenaline paces though my shaking limbs. Doubt causes my face mask to stick unbecomingly with sweat. I had thought a few muggers maybe a bank robbery the first time I tried this. Who actually accidently happens upon a super villian stealing stuff. I couldn't really make out what he was taking, but they looked like electronics bumping around in the swirling sand. My attention soon shifts to the head and torso emerging from the mass of sand. Not giving myself time to think I point my wrist and shoot a bright green thread to the building across from me and swing holding my feet out straight for his back. As I go my eyes close shut by themselves so all I know is the coarse sand as I swish through it and smash into the bricks of the other building. Swearing I force my eyes open as I scrabble to readjust and ready myself to try and stop the thief again. Alll I see is a tide of sand coming to pry me off the wall. Panic hurries my thoughts as for once my hands don't stick and I writhe in the swirling mass. I had always known failure could happen, but this was just humiliating. I knew how to defend myself against people. Just not a stupid sandpile. Worst was that this was completely undermining my point that I could crime fight. At least Dad wasn't here. *Thiwp* Groaning inwardly at the familar sound from all the news clips I'd watched. I desperately try to shoot more webbing to get some leverage out of Sandman's grasp. Suddenly I'm lifting out of the sand and whipped onto the sidewalk. "While I applaud your moxy. Stay here, when most kids try to crime fight at least they don't jump into a super villian,". Anger wells inside me. I'm not sure if it's more at myself or him. He almost causally fights these crazy lawbreakers all the time yet was too scared to keep Beni and me. Of course I'm also seething over my perfect ineptitude. Choking my rage I call out instead, "Just show me how to help! I can do something," Cringing I think that last part sounded a little too pathetic. A laugh that grates against my ears with an overture of clinking grit says, "Yes, let the kid help. Either way I am not letting anybody ruin my plans,". The Sandman starts to slid down a nearby side drain. "What plans does a guy like you have? Castle making?" Spider-Man retorts ignoring me. He starts webbing up the drain to stop Sandman. I also click my web shooter to help but something's wrong. Only a pale thick dribble flops out and green dye is oozing from a crack in the casing. I must have smashed it when I hit the wall. Swearing again I run over and start to squeeze in the drain after Sandman and past one of the electronics that has been caught in the silk. It looks like a light projector, the ones used by lazy people on Holloween. I'm stopped by a firm grip on my arm. "Where are you going?" Spider-Man asks. "After him, you can't fit," I quip. "No. I'll find him. You need to go. You could get-" he stops mid sentace to say surprised, "you're like me,".

Feeling the connection too, I pull my leg out of the gutter needing it to steady my increasingly weak knees. "But that's not-" He drops my arm like I had stung him as realization hits him. My mind screams at me to say something. All the things that have been building inside me for the past six years, but my throat is suddenly dry and my tounge a dead weight in my mouth. "You need to get out of here, it's not safe," he says backing away, "I'll get Sandman. Just go home,". As he starts to swing away my voice comes back and I yell, "What home?" after him. But I can't tell if he was still near enough to hear it. Looking down I notice the projector again deciding I can do something I pick it up and hand it to the bewildered shop keeper staring out his broken display window. More people are starting to come out and police sirens scream nearby, so I run down the nearest ally and don't stop till the sirens fade away. Only then do I halt against the brick wall dropping next to a stinking dumpster which fits my mood. Angrily I tear off the pieces of my ridiculous suit. The mask is wet and I rub my eyes to dry them. Stuffing the gloves, mask, and googles in the pocket of my hoodie as I yank it over my head. I tie it around my waist and force myself up bracing against the wall with one hand. That promptly sticks. Almost banging my head against the wall too. I restrain myself least my forehead get stuck as well. Breathing deeply I pry off my fingers and palm. Clentching them into a fist a can feel grains of brick still sticking, but I ignore them and head out onto the open street to find my way home.