“What a bothersome roadblock” Jacob groaned before looking up at the sky rubbing his eyes, wiping off the weariness.

“Link how long has it been” Jacob asked.

“It’s been 6 hours, and no sign of change in recent developments.” Link reported.

“Not again. Link what are the operating hours of Maroni’s today.”

“10A.M- to 8P.M”

“it's still pretty early right…I guess this isn’t going to work out in my favor for the day, so let’s do some patrolling instead” Jacob put away his book bag before webbing it up in a corner hidden away from the world. He then put his mask back on before back flipping off of the building, and launching a web swinging away in Gotham as it was no longer held by the same beautiful sky instead it was overshadowed by the darkest of nights, The fog didn’t help it’s case either but with enhanced vision, it didn’t affect things too much. As he swung Jacob noticed the tense atmosphere on the ground noted by the stiff faces that the people in Gotham wore. Those faces seemed to be more hopeful when he swung by but it gave him an unwelcome feeling of dread and nihilism

‘I wonder if batman prefers his people to be suffering rather than hopeful. Metropolis may have been a better spawn point don’t you think goddess?’ Jacob thought before smirking through the mask, and then landing on a light pole near Midtown. He looked around as people waved and he waved back. He even stopped a bike thief, who immediately went for the running away strategy but it proven ineffective. Jacob taking another second to collect himself, noticed that Gotham’s electronic billboard had been turned on and it was the news playing.

“Citizens of Gotham, what a wonderful day to be alive in our city as we have a new hero with possibly better aspirations of hopes versus the caped crusader that is Batman. Multiple news sources and witness has seen this masked vigilante take care our of people in the latest weeks, stopping purse snatchers, helping firemen save people and put out fire, even walk our elderly citizens down dangerous multi-lane streets. Recently, we’ve broadcasted his new appearance but in the latest bank robbery, it was with the Scarlet Spider’s help that allowed our GCPD to apprehend the criminals. I would like to offer the Scarlet Spider thanks in every regard for not only bringing down the criminals, but giving each and everyone of Gotham, Hope. This is Betty Brant and I’ll see you guys after this break” Betty winked, cuing her send off before Jacob stood as people congregated around him. At first just friendly, but soon clapping appeared in one and than all, applauding their New Hero as he realized that was his real first debut as a crime fighter.

‘I wish I had a better suit’ Jacob thought as he waved. He didn’t exactly like the attention but it was nice seeing so many people smiling at something, glad about something for a change. It was reassuring to him that it was worth it. He jumped before swinging around to a different part of town. Looking around, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary besides a few shady groups now and again until he perched on top of a building over looking Burnside.

“I wonder if I ever met that person here? But she;s probably in-”

Jacob spidey tense activated causing him to look at an alley way were he saw someone struggling who almost looked like someone he knew, He was trying to place it but he couldn’t.

‘He almost looks like…Aaron?’ Jacob concerned for the stranger quickly rushed up running to the side of the building until he leap out. Trying to analyze what was going on. Everything slowed down to almost bullet time. As he captured everything in his path.

Jacob swung. Twirling and landing on fire escape over looking them, while the others continued hassling on poor guy that looked like his brother.

“Leave him alone guys.” Jacob advised. All of the besides the one being bothered snapped their heads to the location of the voice but Jacob had jumped down next to them.

“At least they treated you better than the kids. Man are they ruthless.” Jacob grabbed the guy, but taking the hood off of his head, he did look similar to Aaron but this guy had a afro, and a completely different build.

“Well, it’s not my first day being picked on Scarlet Spider.” The victim joked. The others ran off, not wanting to fight about someone who could catch cars like giant soccerballs.

“Welp that goes that.” Jacob grinned before going after them. He noticed that the guy wasn’t that beat up so they were than likely getting started.

“Thanks Spidey!!! Go get them for me” The victim cheered.

Jacob leaped on top of a building before webbing up the feet of one of them, while chasing after the others. It took less than an hour to wrap all of them up, and plaster them on the walls in a alley so they think about what they did. Jacob couldn’t help but imagine his brother being the one that was going to be hurt. Even as he patrolled for another hour, he wondered if he was alright and soon he was subconsciously already on the way their.

“I should pay a visit to my brother” Jacob thought before swinging away.

‘He would be at the his apartment in midtown, actually not too far from here’ Jacob thought as he made he adjusted his direction. Soon he had arrived and he had changed, wearing a gray sweater with a thick black leather wool jacket on top and joggers.. Keeping his book bag with him. He had started walking out of the alley and into the drizzling streets. He entered the closest apartment to him, going up the stairs to the third floor and then looked around. The hallway was pretty crappy as the cheap apartment didn’t offer much more than promise of a place of privacy to sleep. Though it didn’t smell as bad as his apartment’s hallway did those Saturday mornings.

“308..let’s hope he’s here” Jacob knocked on the door, and waited for an couple of minutes before knocking again. He sighed, in silence cursing himself for believing that his brother even spent a decent amount of time there.

“I guess let’s go to his other home of recent” Jacob left the apartment complex and walked further east heading away from the residential areas and back to a legion of restaurants, theaters, and bars- in particular.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The first time Jacob found him was the day of his father’s funeral. Jacob figured out that he spent most of his time there where Aaron claims that he works there, but every single time he finds him sitting. He drinks bottles upon bottles of beer and whiskey’ Jacob sighed, before looking at the sign.

‘Mickey’s Lounge’

Jacob opened the doors, and was hit by the acrid smell of alcohol. The grunge ash black furniture had long made it’s debut with their usage over the duration of the bar’s conception. The bar wasn’t as modern or filled with women as he would’ve expect his brother to gravitate too. It was more of a gentlemen’s club which offered a place of seclusion after a certain point, where folks who lived by old fashioned idealism would smoke cigars with each other like the mafia or on the show sopranos. Jacob’s view was immediately obscured by the bouncer, a big behemoth that should be a defensive linebacker for the Gotham Rogues.

“Sorry li-”

“Derek, he’s cool. That’s Jacob, Aaron’s little brother.” The bartender pointed with the pint class in his hand before continuing to wipe it down with a dingy rag. Derek eyed Jacob assessing if he was a threat before landing his bear paws on Jacob’s shoulder.

“You shoul-”

“Try out for the Gotham Rogues. I was the Defensive Lineman until 2003. ROTY in 1990.” Derek smile plainly before getting out of his way and surveying any newcomers. Jacob walked past the bar, until he heard a whistle.

“You ain’t going to say hey to me Jay? What a guy ever do to yo?. You lucky I’m feeling good because of the Scarlet Spider.” The Bartender was indeed the guy form the other from a couple of hours prior. Jacob was going to ask what happened but he heard the cold smack of glass to the wooden table from the corner of the bar. He turned and saw his brother muddling to himself, with a cold glass of something but if Jacob had to guess it would be Brandy. Jacob took a second to sigh to himself as he knew that once his brother was drunk, chaos was sure to follow. Jacob that made his gradual walk to his brother table where Aaron tilted his head ever so slightly to pretend like he was looking. Jacob pulled the chair out and sat, becoming eye to eye but his brother looked away slightly before trying to put on any emotions he didn’t feel.

“I told them to stop letting you in here after mom tried to hit me with a cast iron pan for you getting hurt” Aaron picked up the glass with the ice swirling, before lapping up the brown liquid and then looking at his brother. Unlike Jacob expectations, Aaron’s eyes were steeled, almost dead to the point that it sent a shiver down his spine and the tiniest amount of his spidey sense activated, telling him, warning him that his brother was doing something, becoming something he didn’t recognize as safe.

“Aaron- I am only here cause mom recommended I see you, but it’s hard when you are always here.” Jacob admitted, Aaron took another sip bringing oxygen in his lungs as the alcohol went down and into his system.

“Why didn’t-”

“I checked you apartment already but it was locked and I don’t have the key to it” Jacob interrupted.

“Why didn’t you call you smart-ass” Aaron shook his head.

“what’s your problem?”

“My pr-”

“Hey Davis” A voice called out. Both turned their heads with Aaron picking up his glass. Jacob didn’t recognize the guy for a second until he felt phantom pain that reminded him that the guy in front of him was the same person from the group of people who put him down that gruesome night he had got in Gotham. The guy’s name was Caine, He was about 6 foot 5 and 220lbs.

‘This guy looks like batman if I didn’t know what batman looks like’ Jacob joked, but then his goons who were all smaller than him stood around Jacob.

“And I doubt these guys could do any better than Derek” Jacob blurted out loud. He thought he had spoken to himself but when they all looked at him, he knew he fucked up.

“Yeah Derek’s a giant, but anyone’s a giant compared to you pipsqueak.” Goon 1 smirked.

“Yeah pipsqueak, go away! The adults are talking and we got shit to discuss” Goon 2 followed, but a hand was outstretched horizontally, Causing them to quiet down.

“Now. Now, Lil Jaybird here doesn’t need to be treated so brashly. You know he was having a hard time getting up the other day, if you’re planning on staying we’ll, walk you home again Jacob .. otherwise I suggest you go home.” Caine threatened. Aaron looked away, not willing to step up for his brother in the moment that he needed. Caine took a moment for Jacob to say anything else but the silence dawned on them that he wasn’t as brazen as before noted by the grins building on all of their faces. Jacob got up, looking at them before turning to his brother. He goes to his brother’s side.

“Let’s just get out of here. We could watch a movie, or I’ll order some food”

Jacob hear the awkward cough Caine had, saw that he had a spider in a vile somehow alive and thriving. Caine put it away, while walking towards the pair.

“Jacob, you don’t understand. You will never understand. This is my crowd, this is where I belong, you think- Your more like Dad then I’ll ever be. So stop trying to save me when there’s nothing to save and get the fuck out.” Aaron murmured, his voice clear and hoarse. Jacob took a step back before a hand outstretched to him grabbing his shoulder.

“See bitch, he’s not your brother, he’s ours though. You ever change you mind about joining I’ll consider you. Call it a family gathering or whateva the fuck you want pipsqueak. Now twit twit your way the fuck out before I’ll get you another bite of the spider.” Caine threatened. Jacob looked at the hand and saw a tattoo that looked oddly familiar, but before he could do anything he felt his spidey sense activate, causing him to automatically slapped someone’s hand away before smiling solemnly as he took another look at his brother. He looked dejected as Jacob decided it was best to leave the establishment. He felt the freezing wind in his face as snow started to fall, his breath vaporized into a thin white fog in the air, and he made his way to the train, not feeling the amount it would take to change again.

“Link pull up the graffiti and the picture I took” Jacob ordered as he walked through the snowing streets of Gotham.

“Here”

He looked through his memories and saw that they were a identical match. He thought about the chances for a while before feeling a slight headache come on.

“So they’re Maroni’s men.” Jacob smacked his teeth before seeing a notification pop up at the top of his phone’s broken screen.

Gwen: We need to finish the project. ASAP!! Come over my mom already ordered big belly burger for the both of us. It’s Maroni’s.

Meanwhile…

“Did you have to be such an asshole Aaron”

“I can’t let you get his hands on him, or you’ll make him…”

“What? can’t he have a choice?”

“NO, he can’t when it comes to this. He’s a minor, he’s gifted unlike you scumbags. He’s going places, and if you try to touch him. I’ll Kill you, you want me to kill right. I’ll murder all of you fuckers! You think Ronnie is merciless. He’s a beast, but I’m a monster” Aaron spat with vitriol

“Glad to hear it. Glad to hear it son” An old mobster walked forward with a cigar in his mouth, and whiskey glass in the other. The goons and Caine lined up uniformly as the man walked towards them.

“Sal” Goon 1 bowed

“Sal” Goon 2 saluted

“Mr. Maroni” Caine nodded.

“What do you want, boss.” Aaron said.

“Noth- well now that you mention it, how would you like to be…. We should talk about it on the way.” Sal Maroni finished the glass before slamming it on the table and grabbing Aaron.

“Why can’t we talk about it here?” Aaron said as he nabbed his glass.

“I ain’t gonna kill you on the way there or back punk. Just come on Davis. You should trust me by now. I was there every step In you life since you were 16. Every birthday. I gave you my home, and let you see my family. So come, your practically my son.” Sal Maroni took a puff of his cigar before walking back where he came.

“...”

“Nervous.” Sal Maroni raised an eyebrow. They walked to the back room which held a privately guarded elevator. They quickly entered. Where Maroni pressed a button sending them down to the lower floors.

“Alittle, These types of situation are really sketchy.” Aaron Joked. Sal Maroni chuckled for a while before he asked.

“Stop watching so many action movies, boy. C’mon. How loyal do I have to be to gain your trust, though it’s not a bad thing. Those men- my men aren’t the most trustworthy.”

“You can tell me again.” Aaron tried to seem relax but he was angry, angry at the world. Angry at himself.

“And that’s why I trust you, you perceive much more than the surface layer. No doubt your father installed that in you” Sal Maroni patted Aaron’s back.

“...”

“Sorry. I know…”

“It’s okay” Aaron nodded.

“Thanks Aaron, you and I have been connected for a long time. You’ve done alot for me, even when I wasn’t the most reasonable, and what we do, what I need you to do is going be increasing in this war. It will soon be bloodbath, and I can’t afford to lose my son. Aaron, please, look at this.”

They walked through a dimly lit room. Artifacts, genetic machines, and experiements ran rampant as part of the decoration of this room with them walking to one of the cases with a suit inside.

“A costume?” Aaron joked.

“It’s named the prowler. An enhancing exosuit that gives the strength to do whatever you want. Of course you won’t be no superman, but you can lift an extraordinary amount. Almost invincible to gun fire, and your body will most certainly thank you for it. It’s highy capable in the right hands, but… If you were to accept this suit. You will be changed forever” Sal Maroni explained.

“Mentally?”

“Nooo. You are working with real business. This is where your grinding is getting you. You be paid an a great wage only for a decent amount of service. You must understand my boy.” Sal smiled.

“I need you to help in war efforts. Gun transportation, guard work, drug work. Robbing banks, and don’t worry, my connection to the police to growing. You will be fine.” Sal Maroni said.

“Promise” Aaron looked at the suit, the glass reflected him in it. He was taller than the suit itself based on his reflection.

“My boy”