-NEW YORK CITY, 8:00 AM-
The city was alive with its usual morning chaos horns blaring, street vendors shouting, commuters rushing toward subway stations. Above the traffic,
Spider-Man, clad in an all-black suit with stark white lenses and no emblem, swings low between skyscrapers. His voice carries across the street.
Spider-Man: Jaina Hudson! Rabbit, stop!
Down below, White Rabbit weaved recklessly through traffic on her sleek motorcycle, her long ears flopping behind her as she turned her head and grinned mischievously.
White Rabbit: In your face, spandex boy! The man in tights with the creepy white lenses! Bleh!
She stuck her tongue out mockingly, revving the engine and shooting forward, leaving Spider-Man scowling mid-swing. He fired his web-shooter, but.
"Click!"
Spider-Man: Aw, you've gotta be kidding me! Out of webs? Really?
With no time to reload, he dropped down and landed awkwardly on the roof of a yellow taxi, startling the driver. The cab swerved slightly before screeching to a steadier pace. The driver, an older man with gray hair, thick glasses, and a voice full of Brooklyn grit, stuck his head out of the window.
Stan Lee: What is this, some kind of Suicide Squad?!
Spider-Man blinked, pausing for a split second, then leaned down to the window.
Spider-Man: Uh hey! How are you? Listen, could you maybe… help me chase down a crazy and lunatic lady in a rabbit costume on a motorcycle? White ears, fluffy tail, bad attitude you can't miss her!
Stan Lee sighed, shook his head with an amused grin, and floored the gas.
Stan Lee: Kid, I've been driving in this city for fifty years. Crazy ladies in rabbit costumes ain't even in my top ten weirdest things. Hold on!
The cab shot forward, weaving through traffic with surprising speed, Spider-Man crouched low on the roof, clinging tight as the chase continued.
-NEW YORK CITY, MID-MORNING-
The sidewalks of Manhattan bustled with the energy of another day. Barbara Gordon walked briskly, her sharp eyes scanning every corner, every face, as she muttered under her breath.
Barbara: Where is he…?
Up ahead, Captain George Stacy stood in the street, holding one arm out to stop traffic while guiding a couple of dazed pedestrians back onto the curb. His voice was firm but kind, the kind of tone that made civilians listen.
Barbara quickened her pace, curiosity sparking as she approached.
Barbara: What's going on?
Captain Stacy turned to her, his brow furrowed, still focused on keeping order.
Captain Stacy: Lady, you better step back a little bit…
Barbara tilted her head, confusion lacing her voice.
Barbara: Why?
Captain Stacy let out a short huff, half a chuckle, half an exasperated sigh.
Captain Stacy: Not really? Just a New York shenanigans as always…
Before Barbara could respond, the sudden roar of an engine cut through the morning air. She turned just in time to see a streak of white blur past them White Rabbit, ears flopping, laughter echoing as her motorcycle tore through the street.
Barbara's eyes widened, her thoughts sharp.
Barbara (in her mind): Was that White Rabbit?!
Seconds later, a yellow taxi came barreling after the bike, Spider-Man crouched on its roof like a black shadow. The sight was so absurd the crowd gasped, scattering as the chase cut straight through the intersection.
Captain Stacy's eyes went wide as he snapped into command mode. He spun to his nearby officers, pointing at the pursuit.
Captain Stacy: You see that?! After them! Follow both of 'em and arrest them if you can!
Sirens wailed as squad cars roared to life, tearing after the chaos. Barbara stood rooted for a moment, processing the insanity, her fists clenching at her sides.
Barbara (thinking): New York really doesn't mess around…
The taxi screeched to a halt behind White Rabbit's drifting motorcycle. Spider-Man crouched low on the roof, fumbling with his belt pouch.
Spider-Man: Perfect time for a reload…
He yanked out a fresh web-cartridge, snapping open one of his web-shooters. Just as he was about to click it in Stan jerked the wheel to the left, drifting to keep up with White Rabbit.
Spider-Man: Whoa!
The sudden motion sent one of his brand-new cartridges flying into the street, bouncing out of sight.
Spider-Man: Oh, c'mon! That was new!
Grumbling under his mask, he jammed another cartridge into place, sealing the shooter tight. Then, with a resigned sigh, he reached awkwardly into his suit. After a quick struggle, he pulled out a crumpled wallet hidden in his underwear.
Spider-Man (muttering): Don't judge me, New York… it's safer here.
He slid a ten-dollar bill out and leaned down to Stan's open window.
Spider-Man: Thanks for the ride, Old Man!
Stan Lee grinned, giving him a mock salute.
Stan Lee: No problem, Spider-Man. Just another day in the Big Apple!
With a nod, Spidey leapt off the cab, firing a fresh webline. The familiar "Thwip!" echoed as he swung back into the chase.
Up ahead, White Rabbit tossed a gleaming egg-shaped bomb onto a passing car. It exploded, flipping the vehicle onto its side. The wreck skidded across the asphalt, screeching toward a woman in the crosswalk her hands on her swollen stomach, frozen in terror.
Spider-Man's eyes widened.
Spider-Man: Oh no you don't!
He swung low, firing twin webs that latched onto the tumbling car. Muscles straining, he yanked hard, diverting its deadly momentum just enough to stop it from crushing her. He landed beside her, steadying the dazed woman on her feet.
Spider-Man: Ma'am you okay!?
The woman blinked, trembling, then looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes.
Pregnant Woman: What… what did you just… You saved me.
Spider-Man gave a half-shrug, voice warm but hurried.
Spider-Man: Eh, it's kinda my thing.
The woman smiled through her tears, her hand on her stomach.
Pregnant Woman: I'm gonna name my kid after you. I mean it... I'm having a boy. I need your real name.
Spider-Man blinked under the mask, taken aback.
Spider-Man: Y'know, I'm usually the one who does the jokes?
Pregnant Woman: No joke. Please. What's your real name? I'll never tell anyone I swear on his life. Just your first name. To honor him. Please.
The distant wail of sirens grew louder. Spider-Man hesitated, glancing at her stomach, then back into her desperate eyes.
Finally, he sighed.
Spider-Man: …Peter.
The woman's face lit up, relief and joy washing over her.
Pregnant Woman: Peter… That's a good name.
Spider-Man stepped back, firing a webline as he pointed down the street.
Spider-Man: Bye now, lady. Got a job to do!
With that, he launched into the air, swinging high above the police cars racing after White Rabbit, who still tore down the road with her motorcycle, leaving chaos in her wake.
The chase was reaching its boiling point. Spider-Man swung low, weaving through traffic, his voice echoing above the noise of honking horns and police sirens.
Spider-Man: Hey, slow down willya?! How can I pummel you senseless if I can't get my hands on you!?
White Rabbit twisted her head back, ears flapping wildly, and shot him a wicked grin. Without missing a beat, she raised her hand and gave him a sharp middle finger.
Spider-Man (pausing mid-swing): Okay… that's rude. But fair?
He swung up and perched on the roof of a speeding city bus, timing his move. As White Rabbit zipped by on her motorcycle, Spider-Man fired two webs straight at her front wheel.
Spider-Man: My turn!
With a hard yank, the wheel wrenched free, spinning off and bouncing down the street. The bike screeched, sparks flying before White Rabbit was thrown off, tumbling across the pavement.
Spider-Man wasted no time. He flipped down, slinging rapid-fire webs that pinned her arms, legs, and torso to the cracked asphalt. She hissed and kicked uselessly against the sticky binds.
Spider-Man: Good riddance. And maybe better go back to Gotham, White Rabbit.
Squad cars swarmed around the crash site, sirens cutting out as officers poured from the vehicles. Captain Stacy himself stepped forward, lifting a megaphone, his gaze locked on Spider-Man.
Captain Stacy: Spider-Man! White Rabbit! You two are under arrest! White Rabbit, for bank robbery. And you, Spider-Man… for vigilantism. Even if your suit's all black with those spooky white lenses. No offense, Spidey!
Spider-Man tilted his head, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
Spider-Man: None taken, Captain. I understand. But… not today.
Before the cops could move in, Spider-Man vaulted high into the air, firing a webline and swinging away above the flashing lights.
Harry Stein, one of Stacy's men, raised his weapon, ready to pursue.
Harry Stein: Captain, we can take him down now!
Captain Stacy raised a hand sharply, stopping him.
Captain Stacy: No. He's too far already. We'd just lose more good men.
-SOMEWHERE IN NEW YORK-
The officers hesitated, watching the black-suited figure vanish into the skyline, leaving only White Rabbit snarling beneath her cocoon of webs and the faint echo of "Thwip-thwip" disappearing into the city.
Barbara Gordon strolled along the crowded sidewalks, her hands in her jacket pockets as she scanned signs and storefronts.
Barbara (muttering): Where's a decent place to eat around here? Pizza, maybe… or something that doesn't come in a greasy paper bag.
Her thought was interrupted by a familiar "Thwip-thwip" overhead. She looked up just in time to see Spider-Man swinging gracefully between skyscrapers, his black suit catching the sunlight as he soared above the chaos of the city.
Barbara tilted her head, curiosity tugging at her.
Barbara (thinking): I wonder who is Spider-Man really is under that mask…
But mid-swing, Spider-Man suddenly jerked, his webline snapping uselessly into the air.
Spider-Man: Oh, c'mon not again!
The crowd below gasped as he plummeted. Barbara's eyes widened just as he crashed onto the hood of a random car with a "WHAM!" The vehicle's alarm immediately blared, horns wailing.
Spider-Man: Oof!
He rolled off the dented hood, staggering to his feet. Straightening his spine with an exaggerated groan, he twisted side to side until a small crack echoed.
Spider-Man: My back… oh, my back…
Barbara couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she watched him shuffle like an old man across the street, muttering under his breath.
The car alarm kept shrieking, lights flashing wildly. People pulled out their phones, some laughing, others snapping pictures. Spider-Man gave the noisy car a defeated glance.
Spider-Man: Yeah, yeah, I know. Should've bought the premium web cartridges…
Barbara tilted her head.
Barbara (thinking): So much for mysterious and untouchable… Wait... Gotham has Batman. New York has this?