Chapter 4.1

It was foolish to hope for luck. In the morning, I was ready to monitor forums about New York superheroines and villains, but the topic I was interested in was pinned to the page header: "Is there a new heroine, or villain, in our city?" The first comment was apparently from one of the participants in yesterday's celebration. There, the girl wrote that she was at a small party, that she was in full swing, when suddenly a terrible noise was heard, and then someone crashed into the windows of the apartment, almost knocking them out. Photos were attached. I sighed with relief - the quality of the photos was terrible. With all the desire, you could only discern a human silhouette, the white eyes of the "mask", and elongated arms, and this was on the best of them. In other photos, I was a practically indistinguishable spot. Then the users' opinions were divided - the first ones claimed that it was definitely a new heroine, the second ones, that it could only be a villain, the third ones lamented that they were not happy at all about a new super, heroine or villain, it didn't matter, New York only gets it from them, and the last ones thought that it was an actor and somewhere they were filming a new movie about superheroines and villains. What made me unspeakably happy was that no one even thought that it was a man. Exhaling, I closed the laptop and headed towards the kitchen - breakfast with a strong cup of coffee was necessary, and even better a bottle of wine to calm my nerves, spoiled after yesterday. After my yesterday's... not entirely successful attempt to practice my skills in the open city, I decided to put them off for two or three days, let the excitement about the new super die down a little, and in the meantime I will practice the coordination of small and large tentacles of the symbiote in my apartment. But that would only be in the evening, so what should I do before that? Well, of course, take a walk around the city! I've been in this new world and this new city for almost two months now, but I haven't moved more than twenty blocks from my shelter-home, which is an insignificant distance by the standards of a metropolis like the Big Apple. And there was a lot to see: the famous Empire State Building, the Stark Tower, the new St. Patrick's Cathedral, the rebuilt twin towers of the World Trade Center, but the Statue of Liberty had only just begun to be restored, and there was no opportunity to look at it, but I'll survive that somehow. Having handed over my plan to the First, I received her approval, she also wanted to see the city and look at people in their "natural habitat."

***

The sun was already setting, the evening twilight of the city was dispersed by numerous lights, the backpack was filled with various purchases - from small souvenirs to the already familiar chocolate. With a heavy sigh, I began to look for a sign with the street name, because I was lost again. I did not suffer from topographic cretinism, but for the second time in two weeks! Seriously?! Although, in such a big city this should be the norm. Instead of large skyscrapers of my area, I again found myself among low (no more than ten floors) buildings with a bunch of shops with a bright sign "24/7" and small cafes and restaurants. And judging by the abundance of signs with hieroglyphs and the Asians I constantly met - this was some kind of Chinese quarter or its beginning. Looking around again and regretfully realizing that I didn't remember how I'd gotten here, I turned around and headed back, intending to get out of this situation using the old plan – catch a taxi and give my address. But after I'd walked about two hundred meters, three dark figures burst out of the nearest 24-hour store, and a second later the alarm started blaring. A cheap pistol in the hands of one of them, a bag in the other, and plastic masks on all three made it clear that these weren't the "bad girls" who'd recently tried to pick me up in a very rude manner, but real criminals. Looking around quickly, I realized that the rare passersby had already quickly gotten away or were currently getting away. I found myself practically one-on-one with armed robbers. Why was I so "lucky" to get into all sorts of trouble? – What a bitch! — one of the robbers hissed angrily and looked intently in the direction of the store they had just robbed. — We should have tied her up! All the nearest cops will flock here now! And for what?! A couple hundred dollars?! It wasn't worth it! — Then stop talking and standing here like statues! — the one with the gun, apparently the leader of them, shouted back. — Let's get out! — Uh-uh, — the third one drawled, looking at me, — Annie, here… — Fuck! — the leader roared and shook the gun in the direction of the speaker. — How many times have I told you not to call me by my name when we're in the middle of it! — But… — the woman tried to justify herself. — But what? — apparently Annie asked angrily, to which the one who had let it slip pointed her hand at me, the other two women looked at me. — Oh, fuck! — the leader said with some resignation. — A witness… — What are we going to do? — the first of the robbers asked shrilly and began to frequently shift her gaze from her leader to me. — I don't know! — the armed one growled. — And a man, too! — the third one blurted out. — I see! — Eni cried out again. The three fell silent, I watched with interest what they would do next, and to do anything now would mean provoking them. And there was no fear of the criminals, excitement yes, but not fear. "That's right, Carrier, there's no need to be afraid. Ordinary people and their pathetic weapons are no longer dangerous to us." — The First echoed my emotions. I think the symbiote was right, ordinary people are unlikely to be able to cause me any significant harm, after all, I fell from the fifth floor onto a hard surface, and got off with bruises (though I was in my "suit", but I think even without it they wouldn't leave me with even bruises), but I would argue about the gun. And I had no desire to check whether I could survive a shot at almost point-blank range. Our reflections were interrupted by the howl of police sirens, or rather, they first interrupted mine, and a couple of seconds later the robbers heard them, simultaneously turning their heads to the approaching police. Hmm, and the senses really did get stronger. The police work surprisingly quickly here. — Damn it! — the main one hissed and looked at me with a doomed look. — That's why you didn't get away somewhere far away like the others, huh? — with these words, she pointed the gun at me. Now that was dangerous, the symbiote instantly showed through under the clothes, it remained to hope that such thin alien flesh could stop a bullet. - Eni, are you crazy! - her companion gasped. - Any court would consider it obligatory to sentence us to capital punishment for killing a man! - She's right, - the third one chimed in, - come to your senses! - Quieter, you! - the criminal growled. - I'm not that stupid, we'll just take this boy hostage.

- Hostage? - the other criminals asked in chorus.

- Exactly, the cops won't dare shoot at us if there's a chance to hit a man, and they won't pursue us if we promise to wound him because of this, - the other women hesitated, clearly not knowing what to say to this plan. - That's decided! Hey, do you hear me? Now you're going to come with us quietly and calmly and help us get rid of the cops. The main thing is to behave well, and we'll let you go safe and sound, maybe even thank you, - the woman said all this while approaching me, and she said the last word very cheerfully.

- Turn around! - the woman ordered, standing almost right next to me, waving her pistol. It was impossible to think of a better moment for self-defense. I had zero experience in neutralizing armed people, so I decided to rely on my increased strength, agility and the element of surprise. Grabbing the hand with the gun at the wrist, I quickly pulled it up and to the side, out of harm's way, twisting the criminal's wrist in the process. The woman screamed, either from pain or surprise, and my plan worked - the gun fell out of her hand, and I kicked it away from the criminals, and finally, I twisted the woman's hand behind her back, causing her to scream again and fall to her knees.

Her two accomplices were looking at me with wide open eyes, it was visible even under the masks, and an old Asian woman was pounding on the glass doors of the store they had just robbed and cursing in a language I didn't understand. Apparently, she was encouraging me and cursing at the robbers. - W-what?! How?! - the leader was amazed, and then, with a voice full of offense, she added: - You're a boy! And what are you standing there for? Help me! — the remaining robbers exchanged uncertain glances and slowly walked towards me, clearly not showing enthusiasm after what they had seen.

"What are you waiting for, Carrier? Kill the enemy!" — the First advised in the meantime. But then my "luck" made itself known again, a barely audible sound was heard and the legs of one of the criminals were entangled in a web, she did not notice this, took another step and fell with a slight cry of surprise, barely managing to put her hands in front of her so as not to break her face before falling. The last uncaptured woman did not even have time to understand what had happened, as a familiar figure in red and blue colors landed behind her and at the same second entangled her in a web.

The criminal naturally screamed and began to fall face first, but Spider-Girl caught her and sat her down on the asphalt, at that moment a lonely police car appeared at the end of the street. " This is the second time I've saved you," Parker chuckled, coming up to me a couple of steps and with a couple of hand movements entangling the last criminal, after which I let her go, but she was in no hurry to get up from her knees.

"That girl again. Still stronger than us," the symbiote drawled slightly sadly.

"But a reason to continue the mating games. We have gifts." - I had everything under control, - I answered the heroine, ignoring the words of the First.

- Hm, perhaps, - the girl reluctantly admitted, glancing at the leader, who in response glared at us from under the mask, - but you should be more careful, for the third time I may not be around. Although, if you consider that I meet you for the second time in two weeks, then anything is possible.

- I am also surprised by this fact, - I nodded looking at the approaching police car, - to meet so easily, in such a large city, apparently this is fate.

- F-fate? - the girl was surprised at something incomprehensible. At this point our conversation had to be interrupted, the police officers who arrived (both women) quickly began to detain the criminals, they put them in the car right like that, in the web, only handcuffing one, the one whose legs were entangled, at the same time tearing off the masks, and I was once again convinced that there are almost no ugly women in this world.

The door of the shop opened and its owner ran out and started saying something very quickly to the police in her language, pointing her finger first at me, then at the criminals.

- Do you understand what she means? - one of the women asked her partner, who shook her head. - Eh, I'll have to go back with a translator to take the testimony, take care of her for now, - the partner nodded and took the incessant old woman a little to the side.

- Let me thank you on behalf of the New York Police Department and me personally, - the woman extended her hand to the heroine, which she immediately shook. - You're lucky to be saved by a real superheroine, - she turned to me. I just sighed.

- Actually, when I arrived, one of the criminals had already been neutralized, and the rest clearly did not want to mess with a man, - Parker admitted and shuffled her foot uncertainly.

- Really? — the policewoman was genuinely surprised and looked at me with a look full of interest, surprise and something else.

— Daisy, did you hear? And this boy is not so simple, you rarely meet such people, — the woman began to speak cheerfully, apparently addressing her partner.

— What, broke his teeth, huh? — the third phrase was intended for the criminals, who hissed angrily in response.

— Didn't expect that from a boy?

— True, — I nodded, trying not to pay attention to the obvious disbelief in my abilities, if not for the words of Spider-Girl, it is unlikely that the policemen would have believed me, — the gun of one of them is over there.

— So they were also armed with a firearm?

Obviously illegal, — the woman picked up the gun with an evidence bag.

— They threatened you? — the policewoman clarified quite seriously.

— We would not have harmed him! — one of the criminals, the one who gave away the name of her leader, whined plaintively.

— Shut up! Compared to the threat to a man's life, robbing this store and carrying an unregistered gun are just flowers. You're in deep trouble, girls.

— They're criminals, — Parker shrugged, — they don't care. — Criminals? — Annie screamed and leaned forward, hitting the mesh that separated the back and front seats of the police car,and she did it so loudly and sharply that even the old woman, who had been chattering until now, fell silent and looked in her direction.

- Yes, compared to real criminals, those who kill dozens of people, destroy our city, and steal millions - we are nobody!

And okay, the cops are pressuring us - that's their job, but why are you bothering ordinary people? Are you afraid to meet supervillains?! Or is catching petty thieves your ceiling?!

- Shut up! - the policewoman barked at her. - Spider-Girl constantly fights them and saves people, it's not for you to judge her, scum!

- Really? - the leader did not calm down, tears began to appear in her eyes. - If she is so good, then where was she a year ago, when those alien bastards ruled here like they were at home, huh? When they killed hundreds of people, injured thousands and just as many were left homeless?

"You superheroines are all the same," Eni added rather sadly and silently cried, leaning back. This woman was clearly the one who had lost the most during the Chitauri invasion.

"I…" Parker began, but was unable to say anything in response to the accusations, only taking a couple of steps back. "And this in no way justifies your crimes," the policewoman commented sternly and turned to me: "Sir, I ask you to come with us to the station, where we will take your statement on this case." "I do not want to press charges against them."

"What?" both police officers, the three criminals and Parker asked at the same time.

"But they threatened you!" the policewoman exclaimed.

"And they clearly did not succeed in this, and they did it reluctantly and only because they heard your siren. And they clearly did not commit the crime out of a good life. Don't think that I'm justifying them," I quickly spoke up when I noticed the policewoman's frowning look, "but what awaits them for threatening my life and attempting to take a hostage?"

"Up to twenty years in prison," two of the criminals groaned pitifully upon hearing this. — And for robbing a small store, while they did not injure anyone, and possession of an unregistered weapon, if of course it is not registered? — From two to five years. If they have no previous convictions, they can give a suspended sentence and community service. — The difference is huge. It is better to try them only for an unsuccessful robbery than to ruin their lives for something they never succeeded in — and there was almost no threat to my life, but they do not need to know that. — Well, the point of the trial and punishment is not only to punish criminals, but also to re-educate them? The suspended sentence and community service will pass and perhaps we will get law-abiding citizens who understand their sins, but give them twenty years for something they never did, and for something I do not accuse them of and am not angry with, then we will get people embittered at the police, the law, and the whole world in particular. - Too naive a view of the world, - the policewoman shook her head sadly, and then added with a grin: - although, what can you expect from you men. But if you do not intend to press charges, then there is nothing I can do about it. Okay, sit down, Daisy, we still need to formalize them, write a report and come back here with a translator to take testimony. Eh, and the shift has only just begun. The second woman obviously willingly moved away from the old woman, who was still chatting in her own language (and how can she work in a store without knowing English?), and before the police closed the car doors and drove away, I heard a sad "Thank you" from Annie, and a minute later the police car disappeared around the same turn from which it appeared. The old Asian woman said something after them and dejectedly returned to the store, only Parker and I remained at the crime scene, and the ordinary people who stuck their noses out looked at the heroine and me with interest, some even took out their mobile phones and started filming. "Well, I guess I'll go..." the superheroine said sadly, slightly lowering her head and looking at me, but she was in no hurry to fly away on a web. "Did you take their words seriously?" "They're right," the girl sighed, "a year ago,when all that mess with the Chitauri was happening, I... Well, I couldn't help then and... Well... - Don't make excuses to me, - I tried to smile as warmly as possible at Parker, apparently this was a sore subject for her, - it's impossible to help everyone, there will always be those who are unhappy. - Ha, you say, just like... Oh, well, it doesn't matter, - the heroine waved her hand. - Well, okay, it's time to fly, I only just got out and I'll be patrolling for a long time, the criminals won't catch themselves, - Parker grinned. - Yeah, so here you go, - like last time, I take off my backpack and take out a couple of chocolates (this time the symbiote was silent) and hand them to the girl, she hesitated uncertainly, but still accepted them. The people around me began to discuss something with interest. - Do you always have chocolate with you? - Recently, yes. "Thank you," nodded the heroine, "last time it came in very handy. Well, I'm off, bye-bye," with these words the girl released the web and rushed upward. "Bye," I waved my hand goodbye, "I hope our next meeting will be in a calmer atmosphere." Apparently I shouldn't have said that. Spider-Girl turned her head in my direction abruptly and didn't notice the approaching roof parapet, caught her foot on it and flew head over heels over it, screaming in surprise and breaking off a small piece from that very parapet. Someone from the crowd gasped, someone laughed. I was about to ask how she was doing, but then the girl's head stuck out from the roof and looked in my direction. "I'm fine!" she waved her hand at me, and then released the web again, this time flying away on it without incident. Wow, was she really that embarrassed by my words? Okay, time to go back to the apartment, enough adventures for today, and the people around me were looking at me strangely and still continuing to film.caught her foot on it and flew head over heels over it, screaming in surprise and breaking off a small piece from that very parapet. Someone from the crowd gasped, someone laughed. I was about to ask how she was doing, but then the girl's head popped out from the roof and looked in my direction. "I'm fine!" she waved her hand at me, and then released the web again, this time flying away on it without incident. Wow, was she really that embarrassed by my words? Okay, time to go back to the apartment, enough adventures for today, and the people around me were looking at me strangely and still continuing to film.caught her foot on it and flew head over heels over it, screaming in surprise and breaking off a small piece from that very parapet. Someone from the crowd gasped, someone laughed. I was about to ask how she was doing, but then the girl's head popped out from the roof and looked in my direction. "I'm fine!" she waved her hand at me, and then released the web again, this time flying away on it without incident. Wow, was she really that embarrassed by my words? Okay, time to go back to the apartment, enough adventures for today, and the people around me were looking at me strangely and still continuing to film.