Chapter 5: Some Trouble and Becoming a Vigilante!
Sol finished cleaning up the mess and did his routine before going to his room and throwing on some clothes. He wore some jeans and a fresh shirt.
As he walked out of his room, the smell of breakfast hit him. He stepped out into the hallway and walked into the open kitchen-living space of their apartment.
The sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow on the kitchen table.
His mom stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with her usual tranquility. She gave him a nod when she noticed him, while his dad sat at the small table, reading a newspaper, a cup of coffee in his hand. Even though he looked a little tired, he smiled when he saw Sol.
"Morning," his dad said, offering a small grin. "Finally awake?"
"Yeah, slept alright," Sol replied, trying to sound casual. He grabbed a plate, a glass of water and helped himself to some pancakes as he sat down.
His mom joined them at the table, passing Sol the syrup. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind. Is it that girl?" she spoke with a knowing smile.
Sol's eyes widened, losing his composure a little. He then chuckled as he replied, "Mom, it's not like that."
"Really now?" She chuckled, finding it quite hard to believe. After all, she visits their house quite frequently. "When will she come over again? She's such a polite girl."
His dad looked away from his newspaper, placing his attention on Sol. He was also quite curious, evident in the small grin on his face.
'Tch, this old man...' Sol felt helpless.
Sol gave a small, tired laugh but didn't reply. He picked at his food for a minute, feeling the weight of everything that had happened so far but trying not to show it.
"So, Dad," Sol said, deciding to steer the conversation away from himself, "how was work last night?"
Seeing his son change the subject, his dad sighed but he didn't mind. However, when his son asked that question, his expression quickly shifted.
He placed his cup down, and with a weary expression, he said, "A real nightmare. I didn't get home until 2 a.m. We had a real mess today."
Sol looked up from his plate. "What happened?"
His dad paused, as if considering how much to say. He glanced at Sol for a moment, his face tightening just a bit. However, he always knew his boy was quite smart so he just said, "We found some bodies. Bad scene. There were... a few people dead." He removed the part on how gruesome their deaths were to not spoil their breakfast.
Sol's attention was drawn, nodding slightly. His dad's voice grew more serious, though his tone was still steady.
"There was one guy still alive in the alley," he continued. "Turns out he's connected to a crime boss — Silas Crane. He works under Tombstone, one of the biggest crime leaders in the city."
At the mention of the sole person that was alive in the alley and Tombstone, Sol choked on his drink, spitting it out all over the table. His parents looked at him in surprise.
"You alright there, Sol?" his dad asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sol wiped his mouth quickly, his heart racing. His mind was spinning as he finally connected the dots — the alley, the men he fought, the one guy he knocked out and left alive. He couldn't believe it.
He was the one that caused that crime scene!
"I-I'm fine, just accidently choked on the water," Sol stammered, his thoughts racing. He quickly glanced at his dad, hoping he didn't suspect anything. "Silas Crane? Sounds like trouble..."
His dad nodded grimly, clearly still shaken by what he'd seen. "Yeah, it's bad news. We're keeping an eye on things, but this could blow up if Tombstone gets involved."
Sol nodded, trying to focus, but his thoughts were spinning out of control. He hadn't just fought some random criminals last night. He had gotten involved in something much bigger than he realized!
Sol drew a breath of cold air. The weight of the situation was becoming clearer by the minute.
He probed a little, trying to mask the concern in his voice. "So... do you think everything's going to be fine?"
His dad let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked older in that moment, like the years on the force were catching up to him. "Silas Crane's been breathing down my neck since we brought in his guy. Keeps pressuring us to release him. We've been holding our ground, but if things don't settle down, they might resort to some... drastic measures."
Sol felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The thought of Silas Crane and his goons putting pressure on his dad didn't sit well. These weren't just small-time criminals — they were dangerous, ruthless people. People who would do anything to protect their interests.
"That sounds bad..." Sol mumbled, trying to keep his voice steady.
"It is," his dad replied, eyes distant. "We'll handle it, though. We always do. So you don't have to worry. As long as I'm here, I'll make sure this city is safe."
Sol smiled slightly at his words. Although this was his second life, he treasured his family in this life as much as his previous. He didn't previously have such a 'hero' mentality in this life, but his dad had greatly influenced him over the years — a role model to him.
They continued their meal in relative silence after that, the tension hanging slightly in the air.
Sol's mom talked about her day, trying to ease the mood, but Sol barely heard any of it. His mind was flooded with thoughts.
After finishing his breakfast, Sol stood up and stretched. "I'm, uh, gonna head out for a bit. Gonna meet up with some friends."
It was currently Saturday, so he had some free time.
His dad barely looked up from his coffee. "Alright, just be back for dinner."
After putting on his black jacket, he left.
Stepping out of the apartment, Sol felt his heart pounding in his chest as he walked down the steps.
'Whew... this isn't just about a couple of street thugs anymore. I've unknowingly gotten mixed up in something far more dangerous, and now my dad was caught in the middle of it...' Sol thought as he let out a heavy breath.
As Sol made his way down the stairs and into the streets of the city, his mind raced with thoughts. He couldn't just sit by and let this happen. If his dad was in danger because of what he did last night, he had to do something.
He turned a corner into an alleyway, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. With a quick flick of his hood, he pulled it up over his head. Taking a deep breath, Sol reached out to the symbiote residing within him, feeling it respond instantly.
The inky black substance emerged out of his sternum as it spreaded, crawling up his arms and body, enveloping him in a sleek, dark suit. It clung to him like a second skin, forming something akin to a spider-man suit — but with one key difference. An inky black hood formed over his head, shadows warping at the edges of his hood, making him look more like an assassin than a superhero.
It felt instinctive as Sol's Calamity suit had created a dark, purple spider logo on his chest. This was the trademark of Spider-Man, how could he forget?
Sol looked down at his hands, the dark material shifting with his movements. It was surreal.
Clenching his fists tightly, he felt the immense strength contained within his body.
"I guess this will be my first day as a vigilante," he muttered under his breath, a mix of excitement and a small sense of unease coursing through him.
He was obviously nervous, but he felt like he had a responsibility. He needed to protect his family!
Silas Crane and his minions were dangerous enough, but now Sol realized just how much worse it could get. If they ever targeted his dad... if they ever connected him to what happened in that alley, they wouldn't hesitate to make it personal.
And then there was Tombstone...
*[Image of spidey suit!]*
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