Breaking Chains, Rising Vigilante

Chapter 2: Crossroads of Trust

2 months later.

He's finally free. He's slowly breaking out of the chains that held him down in his dark cell. He's becoming somewhat a better person. A person his parents would hate. That thought alone makes Peter glad he chose to be a vigilante.

Although he still steals and pick pockets random bystanders for a little bit of cash when he's desperate, he's the reason why Queens crime rate has lowered significantly. The reason why people are getting home safe every night. The reason why people can walk home by themsleves after a late shift. It's why children look up at the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of Spider-Man.

🕷

Peter just finished his new robot to enter the bot fighting competition. He ran out of money a couple days ago and had to steal loose change from people just to buy a simple sandwich. He gets up off of the dirty warehouse floor, making his way towards his motorcycle which is hidden behind a dumpster in the alley next to the building.

Double checking that everything is in his bag, he starts to make his way to the other side of Queens. Turning off his emotions and keeping his face neutral, he takes all of the back roads and secret pathways to avoid the cops and traffic. 

It doesn't take too long to reach his destination and check the perimeter of the warehouse before scaling a wall to enter through a window.

As soon as he entered, he noticed everyone felt the shift. It was chilling. Frightening. Peter barely knew how or why his presence could always be noticed in the warehouse but it was. It was like his body unconsciously emitted a suffocating atmosphere just to let everyone know that they should be scared. That they should know Peter can kill them without hesitation.

He stays hidden in the shadows, waiting for his name to be called. He knows it will be soon. Nobody ever wanted him to be here longer than he should. It was like they were terrified of making him wait. 

Peter never minded this though. It was easier than making them think he's defenseless and weak just because he's smaller than everyone here. It reminded them that anyone can be terrifying even if they're the size of a child.

"Up next are..." the announcer gulps, staring at the sheet of paper filled with the contestants. "Zayn and Ace." Quiet whispers begin to fill the place as Peter quietly makes his way down from his secret perch. 

He never leaves the shadows even as he makes his way to the arena. He likes to think they follow him just to fuck with these guys and make them think he's also a shadow. He keeps his head down the whole time, his hoodie covering most of his face.

Moving his joystick like it's an art form, it doesn't take long till his robot obliterates his opponent. He wears a devilish smirk as he silently takes the money, hiding in the shadows once again to make his exit.

Crawling out the window, he hears all of their hushed conversations about Ace. How he always wins. They always create rumors each time he comes. It always ranges from if he's Tony Stark's or the devil's secret son to accusing him of being a cheater, or even him being apart of a skilled mafia and he's their craftsman.   

He rolls his eyes, getting on his motorcycle to hide under a bridge for that night. After all, he can never stay in one place too long. If he does, it increases the risk of someone finding him and he wouldn't dare risk that. He cannot go back to Hydra or someone finding out any of his identities. 

🕷

New York is vastly different than Switzerland. 

Sure, he was secluded deep within the woods and only left when there was a mission or when his parents threw him out to survive on his own in the woods but it was still different.