Finishing his morning coffee, Peter Parker sat at the same table with Matt and studied the papers the lawyer had given him.
"Matt? Is this okay?
"What?" Murdock asked.
"Among all the documents about some guy in a green suit, there's an article by Jameson. Is this some kind of joke?
"Oh, that's my newspaper. Give it back.
"Don't you want to take 'Lawyer of the Year'?
"I'm trying to help you, and you're joking, Parker. Did you notice any strange entries in the reports? In three out of four cases, there's a spider web, and in the fourth, there are dead bodies. Witnesses describe the suspect as athletic with Spider-Man-like abilities. He has claws. And he glows green.
"Damn.
"Peter," Matt said, hinting that he didn't tolerate swearing in his office.
"Sorry. It just slipped out.
"And... Pete.
"Yes, Matt?"My client wouldn't want these papers to end up in the wrong hands... Let's say, the wrong people.
"Right.
"I'll go to court, and you study them.
"Good luck, Mr. Murdoch!
Matt waved to Peter and left the office.
"There you go. Blind, but living better than most. Oh, well...
A few hours and a cup of hot coffee later, Parker finished with the documents. Everything seemed too strange. There can only be one Spider in the city, right? I don't understand. And Matt is involved in this too. I have to find these imposters. What if it's me? That's it. I need to breathe.
A couple of hours later. Spider-Man was tracking down more criminals. They were talking about something. Peter followed them and listened, but the gangsters didn't say anything that could help him. His broken bones were making themselves known, and Spider-Man, moaning in pain, gave himself away. The criminals started shooting their guns. Pete, overcoming the pain, managed to neutralise them, but something grabbed his leg, and in a moment, Spider-Man found himself tied up with some kind of rope. The unknown man, by the way, was very athletic, though a little too tall, which isn't very convenient for heroics, is it? What if he's a villain?
"Spider-Man. Long time no see.
"Who are you? It seems like Halloween is still a long way off.
"You're joking, even when you've been caught. Interesting.
"I'll get you! Ouch!
"Cool it, street fighter. Did you know that Fisk broke thirty bones in your body?
"What? How did you...
"X-ray," replied the man in the costume.
"Untie me.
"As you wish.
He pressed something on the ropes, and they disappeared instantly. Peter hit the ground.
"Ouch...
"Come on, Spider, ask about the ropes. I can tell you want to.
"What are they made of? Titanium?
"Vibranium.
"So you're a smuggler?
"I'm an official representative of a trading company.
"If you're a representative of Wakanda, why are you wearing a costume? And it looks like my old one!
"Sorry if I infringed on your copyright, Spider-Man. We're not officially acquainted. I'm Octopus.
"Octo... Otto?!
"No. Not him.
"Then who the hell are you?
"I wouldn't advise yelling at me. I'll make you a deal. I won't bother you, you don't bother me. Deal?
"What do you mean, 'don't interfere'?! How could I interfere with you? You're killing people! And who gave you permission to wear my old costume?!
Octo grabbed Pete, and there was another crunch.
"Listen here, Parker. I know who you are. And if you think you can just do whatever you want, I'm sorry to disappoint you. You're nobody, Parker. And you'll always be nobody. But if you ever need help, ask Octavius from O.I. And I'm sorry I called you nobody. It was just to motivate you to find the other impostor.
Without letting Spider-Man say a word, the mysterious Octopus disappeared into the shadows. Peter gathered his last ounce of strength and headed home.
***
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