Chapter Text
James was a normal person, he had a pretty normal life, friend's that he knew he could count on and a great aunt that could take care of him.
His life seemed pretty normal to anyone who didn't know James, he was often told he would do great things in his life and that was what kept him going.
Except James had a big secret that no one, not even Sirius knew about; which was his secret identity. No one knew that James was the friendly neighborhood Spiderman that fights crime, helps people and makes sure everything is normal.
This whole double identity made James have an internal conflict, as if James and Spiderman were two different people fighting for dominance. James wanted to live a normal life, to fall in love to do what he was meant to do! But Spiderman wanted to help people, defend the people who can't defend themselves, and make the world a better place.
He had always dozed off in school, he was always eager to just get out of the school and swing around the city. That made him excited, but on the other hand he wanted to pay attention, he can't fail school, his aunt pays too much for it and he can't afford to fail any class—he owed it to her.
But there's one thing that made James more nervous, that one thing that made his heartbeat fast, made him swear a lot, talk too fast and become nervous; and it was Regulus Black. James shouldn't have fallen for his rich best friend's younger brother but he couldn't help it.
He couldn't stop thinking about his jaw length curls, or his gray like storm clouds eyes, his cherry lips, his defined jawline. James can go with so many reasons about why he fell for Regulus—even though Regulus had always been cold to him.
James had observed Regulus' personality so close he started to feel like he knew him more. like when Regulus talked and said he didn't care about anything James knows that he does care. For instance like last week's when Dorcas beat him to answer the question and won for her science team Regulus shrugged it off like it was nothing; but James noticed the flames behind Regulus' eyes even though it was a friendly competition.
James knows that Regulus hates pickles, he always picks them out. He hates tomatoes and wouldn't eat anything that was touched by tomatoes even if he picked them out, it was just a preference.
But the only thing James didn't really understand is why someone artsy like Regulus would join the science club for the school. Surely Regulus was smart but why would he join a club? Was it possible because Sirius was in it?
James had only a chance to meet Regulus because of one party Sirius threw and he met him there; and they became close ever since, if it weren't for Sirius James would've never gathered up the courage to speak to such a handsome man.
"From earth to James, have you ever been listening?" Sirius asked while waving a hand in front of James.
Shit.
"Yeah yeah I'm totally down" James blurted out since he wasn't sure what they were talking about which made them all laugh.
"You haven't been listening, i told Regulus that you like Queen and he said he didn't know that you had a taste in music" Sirius replied
Shit.
How did James not notice Regulus was there? how long has been zoned out for.
"I mean he seems like he has a lot to think about, well I have a free period. I thought I'd hangout but maybe not. see you guys'' Regulus said as he walked away from them.
Shit.
He blew it off! he can't believe he just did that! he could've spent two hours with Regulus and instead he chose to be a moron!
James decided to do what he thought was a good idea at the time, which was to follow him. "I have a free period too! what are we going to do?" he asked "I mean unless you want to."
Regulus looked over his shoulder while raising a brow "are you sure? you seemed you a little dozed off and i know when I'm not welcomed"
It was true, Regulus does know that but he loved being chased. He knew leaving would make James follow him, for some reason he enjoyed James even though he did questionable things and he doesn't even know why. He liked being around James for some reason, he wonders why he doesn't do it much.
"Oh no no no no no no" James' mind was telling him to stop saying no but he was too nervous to do so "no no no." he added.
Nevermind, Regulus takes that back.
"I didn't know you liked classic music," Regulus said, his mind begging him to shut James up.
"I kinda grew up listening to them, my aunt plays them all the time," James smiled at the thought of his aunt. After his parents died in that terrible accident his aunt Lolanthe had been taking care of him ever since.
"oh yeah, i heard all about your aunt from Sirius, she sounds like a lovely woman."
"Sirius talks about me to you?"
"Sirius talks about you to everyone. It's rather annoying, but he's my brother." Regulus definitely lied, he enjoyed it so much. He even lure Sirius to talk so he can hear more about James.
Sure James was handsome, he had a smile that can replace the sun, his untidy hair that makes him look warm and his golden retriever energy. He was loved by everyone, how can Regulus not like hearing about him?
James let out a faint chuckle while rubbing the back of his neck "yeah, that sounds like Sirius" he said and gave him a smile. "so, is there anyone special in your life?"
Shit.
Why did he ask him that?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Regulus shook his head in response, he thought it was just James' outgoing personality that made him curious about everyone around him.
"What about you?" he asked.
"No not really, I mean you know it's a part of focusing on myself" James said without thinking, what if Regulus thought he didn't want to date now? "i mean it would be nice having a boyfriend"
"Boyfriend? i thought you were straight" regulus said with a raised brow "you dated Lily" he added
"Yes, I dated Lily and I also dated Frank."
"Who's Frank?"
"Alice's boyfriend"
"Oh yeah? Why did you guys break up?" he asked.
"He wanted to move away, I couldn't do the whole long distance relationship."
"But he's right here in the city"
James let out a scoff "I know, that asshole" he whispered the asshole part.
"You want to drink coffee? Starbucks is just around the corner. I really want some coffee. I haven't slept" Regulus said, he was up all night studying.
James nodded "a coffee sounds good" he said as he walked to him to Starbucks.
Regulus entered the café, the smell of coffee beans and pastries nestled inside his nostrils. he walked to the cashier "i would like to have an iced americano with 3 pumps of white mocha and no water and a double chocolate brownie"
"Oh i will have the iced caramel macchiato " James told the barista his order and immediately got his cash and gave it to her so Regulus wouldn't have to pay.
Regulus furrowed his eyebrows "hey you didn't have to" he said, he knew from what he had heard from Sirius that James wasn't as fortunate as most people.
"It's okay you can pay next time" James said as he put the change in the tip jar, a certain name had caught his attention which made him turn his attention to the tv.
"A criminal by the name of Tom Riddle had broken out of the Azkaban this morning, he blasted his way out of his cell at 8:56 am using electric gauntlets. He harmed dozens of security, freed more criminals and made chaos inside of the prison" the reporter spoke.
"Luckily the prison guards did their best and they put them back in order, but with one still missing. Tom riddle or as known as the shocker is one of Spiderman's enemies and they had fought before and with the help he gave pur police they managed to capture him. the other one stated.
"So please if anyone sees the shocker, contact authorities immediately at the number that's showing right now at the bottom of the screen."
James' face turned pale, he remembers he was a normal engineer at first, he was wealthy due to his brilliant mind but he got drunk on power. He wanted more power, he couldn't get enough until he hurt too many people and it was too much.
The panicked screams of people had caught James' attention, he looked out, noticing the shocker had come, probably causing trouble for the spiderman to show up.
"He's here, we have to go!" He told Regulus without even hearing his protests and made him leave using the back door thay was used by staff. He made sure everyone else left before he got out and started to run off.
James headed to between buildings, a narrow way that no one uses and suited up. He shot some webs and flew over to him fast so he won't harm anymore people.
He was wearing a protective costume consisting largely of yellow quilt patches that James knew that he had designed to absorb the shock.
Once he was in eyesight James shot two webs at his vibro-shock gauntlets to make him stop blowing up anymore things.
"I knew you'd come" Tom smirked while looking at Spiderman "i came for you"
"Dude, do you like me or something? Why are you going after the friendly neighborhood Spiderman?" he asked.
"A man is a man, if he honors his responsibilities and you are one of mine" Tom said before he dissolved the webs around his gauntlets and shot a blast of air at Spiderman.
James was caught off guard, he wanted to know what Tom meant by that so he took the hit right at his abdomen, making him land harshly on top of the car.
Tom walked over to him "I remember you were tougher, what happened to you?" he asked before he sent another vibro-shock on his way.
James rolled over fast as the shock blasted off the car "and you Tommy were an honest man, what happened to you?" he mocked his tone before he shot some webs towards his face.
Tom stumbled back and started to remove the web "life happened, you'll understand what i mean when you notice you're fighting on the wrong side. this is just a warning, I'll be back spider boy." he added before he disappeared from thin air as if he didn't exist.
He left James standing there clueless, he didn't know where to find him now but he did know that he needed to work as fast as he could so he'd be able to catch him soon before he plots for his next appearance.
He shot his webs again towards the nearest building and started to swing back to the apartment he shared with his aunt Lola, he ignored the sharp pain that he felt in his abdomen since he was determined on getting home.
Shortly after he had arrived home, entering from his room window and removed the mask. "Lola?" he shouted for her but he got no response, which meant he was home alone.
Perfect.
He took off the suit and checked his abdomen, he now had a bit of a scar on the shape of a lightning bolt on his abdomen. It would bruise later and it still hurts as if he had just gotten hit by it.
He put a shirt back on from the pile of clean laundry that Lola had placed on his bed for him to put away but now he was too busy to do that.
He sat in front of his computer, ready to hack into the city cameras, security cameras and anywhere that had cameras.
Everything showed nothing, everything had seemed normal and nothing was out of the ordinary which alone made James feel like something was off.
But James knew better than that, he knew nothing can be too normal, something had to be wrong. He went on the internet to watch the footage of the prison when Tom had escaped but he wasn't able to find anything.
He watched the footage over and over again, and it made him ask himself questions. How did he manage to get those things inside? Who helped him? He needed to get more footage in hope to know who had helped him. Maybe then he'd have a lead to start on.
Maybe he should try and break inside the prison tonight to copy the footage of Tom's cell, maybe it will help him understand.
The sound of his phone ringtone made him flinch before he checked the caller ID which belonged to Sirius so he picked up.
"Where are you? Regulus says he lost you! too many people were pushing and you gave all of us a scare!"
"No no I'm good, I'm on my way home I lost Regulus too, there were too many people. I was worried too, is he alright?"
"Yeah he's alright he's here with me in the car we are on your way to you."
"What no!" James yelled "stay there i will come to you guys!" he added.
"We are already outside your apartment, should we wait?" Sirius asked "I think someone inside in your apartment is Lola home?" he asked.
James covered his mouth immediately "no no the apartment is empty that must be the tv, you know i forgot to turn it off" he whispered as he tipped toe to the living room and turned it on.
"Why are you whispering?"
James' face palmed himself and made his way back to his room and put his old clothes back on and turned his computer off and hid his suit.
"I'm in a sketchy part of town I don't want to be jumped" he spoke normally as he started to leave from the window "give me three minutes and i will be there."
"Alright we will wait right here" Sirius said and hung up "he is on his way" he told him.
Regulus nodded, he found everything kinda strange. There was no denial they heard a voice inside, was it possibly James?
James got down using his web shooters and landed on the ground as quiet as he could before he got inside the building.
He made his way to the fourth floor and walked down the hallway towards Regulus and Sirius "hey guys" he said as he pulled his keys out from his pockets and unlocked the door.
"Hey, are you good?" Sirius asked while looking at him and made his way inside after James.
"Yeah I am, so you guys took a closer look at the bad guy? I didn't see him."
"No, too many people were running. I was glad no one stepped on me" Regulus said as he entered the apartment.
The apartment was a simple one, it had a small living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and two bedrooms, it was his first time being there.
"Alright so Reggie it's your first time here, here's the living room, that's Lola's room nothing exciting about that and this is my room" James gave him a quick tour.
Regulus' heart fluttered at the nickname but he didn't show any reaction and started to look around James' bedroom; he noticed a few band posters, converse, were placed by the corner of his room. His dirty laundry basket was near the closet, what caught his attention more is james' backpack.
Regulus could've sworn that James was wearing it when they were on campus, but he didn't seem to enter with it. So what was he hiding?
"Cool" he said, not wanting James to notice anything. But Regulus wanted to know what secret James had been hiding, and he won't quit until he finds out.
He wanted to know where James had disappeared to, he wanted to know why he lied into being on his way home when he was just there, Regulus wanted answers and he'll get them one way or another.