Chapter Text
Much to Phil's dismay, Tommy hadn't been responding to his texts as of late. It was weird, so to speak. Tommy was usually responsive, always making sure to call Phil back whenever Phil had texted him.
Phil wasn't so sure what had started this change, but the sudden shift in his youngest son's demeanor had sparked up enough concern for him to handle. The stress Phil had been under had been too much. The job promotion that he'd originally celebrated with his sons had ended up more stressful than it should, seeing as there was this new spider-themed vigilante running around Brighton for the past two-weeks that Phil had the unfortunate responsibility of arresting as the new Police chief. In addition to the stress of arresting the elusive vigilante, was the paperwork and reports that had piled up on his desk and the worry for the safety of his sons, considering how high crime rates have been lately.
Phil stares at the phone in his grasp, worry still visible on his face. Tommy still hadn't responded and for a moment, Phil wonders if he'd been a good father as of recent. Tommy wasn't mad at him, was he? Phil hoped not, but if Tommy wasn't mad at him, wouldn't that mean that Tommy's unresponsiveness would be an indicator of his son being involved with something?
Gods no, Phil would prefer his son being mad at him than being involved with anything illegal.
It's almost 9 pm, Phil hopes he can go back home in time to see Tommy awake. He'd already texted Techno to order takeout for him and Tommy while Phil was still at work. Techno had only texted back a thumbs up and while that wasn't as much as a good response, it was better than getting none at all.
As Phil makes his way back to his apartment, he couldn't help but stop and stare one of the alleyways on his way home.
There'd been a loud thud, followed by a painful groan.
It's enough to get Phil curious and like the nosey prick that his sons had described him as, Phil steps in.
It's the spider-guy that's been terrorizing Brighton. The vigilante had been sat limp alone at the alleyway, blood coating half of his torso as he held onto the stab wound below his left rib. Half of his mask had been pulled up, revealing the lower half of his face, which had been agonizingly covered in bruises.
If anything it had presented a good opportunity for Phil to arrest him. A gut feeling, however, tells Phil not to.
To do his duty and get rid of the web-swinging menace once and for all or to commit to the reason why he became a cop in the first place and help him?
Phil goes with the latter and rushes towards the vigilante's direction.
"Are you alright?"
Despite the horribly-designed mask, which had looked as though it'd been crafted by someone with no background knowledge of how to sew, Phil could almost see the pain through the vigilante's mask.
"Phi-Phil?!"
Phil looks at him with wide eyes, confused as to how the vigilante had known his name. For a moment the vigilante had looked panicked before pointing at the name tag on Phil's uniform.
"Oh." Phil squints, before letting his eyes dart back at the stab wound on the vigilante's torso. "We should get you to the hospital, mate."
As Phil attempts to offer the vigilante a hand, his hand is slapped away in an instant. "It's fine, no need to help." The vigilante, dismissively waves him off with a groan.
"You'll die of blood loss, mate, best you get help now." Phil insists.
"Nah, I got super-healing n' shit, I'll be fine." A mental image of Tommy saying those words instead of the spider-guy appears in Phil's head. They did have similar speech-patterns, now that Phil looked back on it.
Wait.
Phil crouches down, leaving the vigilante perplexed. He extends an arm in the direction of the vigilante's mask in an attempt to lift it up, his arm however is caught in the iron-like grip of the vigilante, causing him to wince at the sudden pressure on his arm.
How strong was this guy, really?
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"
Shit. Shit. Shit.
It was more of a in a spur of the moment thing, really. Phil had been way too caught up with the thought that his son might be the same person as the web-swinging vigilante before him to even think clearly. What was Phil even thinking? Sure the spider-guy and his son had shared some similarities but there was no way someone like Tommy would be out here sacrificing his well-being for everyone's sake, right?
Tommy would never! His son had always ranted about causing endless destruction for everyone if ever that there was a scenario in which he would be given superpowers! There was no way a vigilante that had worked his ass off trying to save people from danger every day would be the same menace as Tommy "I will steal from charities" Innit Minecraft. At least, that's what Phil tries to convince himself.
"Sorry, just thought you sounded familiar. Didn't know what I was thinking, honestly." The vigilante's lips curl into a frown, causing Phil to try and pull away from the iron-like grip on his hand.
"I- No, I don't think, we've met before, Mr. Police Officer Phil." The vigilante let's go of the tight hold on Phil's arm and Phil let's out a relieved sigh. "Anyways, I appreciate the concern, but I'm all healed up now, see?" The vigilante stands up, causing Phil to do the same. Miraculously, the stab wound had healed up. Phil leans in, looking at it with awe before the vigilante lightly pushes his head away.
"It's gone?"
"Like I said, super-healing! Cool as shit isn't it?"
"So you just sit and wait it off to heal?" Phil grimaces. As bad as the implications were, he supposed it wasn't like there weren't any major villains the vigilante was facing as of now. Most of his injuries would be caused by some random muggers at best.
The vigilante shrugs. "Depends on the situation."
"Do you at least get someone to help? I mean, surely a bit of help to ease out the pain wouldn't hurt." As much as Phil had resented the vigilante for causing him much stress, Phil couldn't help but feel concern for him. The vigilante ahead of him freezes, as though he's considering something. "Nah." He shakes his head. "I work alone." Before Phil could argue any further, the vigilante, pulls his mask down, now fully-covering his face.
"Anyways, gotta go now, big dubs! Have some spider-duties to attend to!" The vigilante, leaves a light pat to his shoulder as he swings away to the top of the nearest building. Phil let's out a sharp exhale. As much as it was Phil's duty to try and arrest him, his shift had just ended and it's not like the spider-guy or kid, seeing as he sounded young, had meant any harm at all.
"Also thanks for not arresting me!" The vigilante thanks him from above the building with a salute. Phil salutes back as he watches the spider-vigilante shoot out a web from his wrist and swing away.
Phil hopes his superiors wouldn't demote him if they found out about his recent interaction with the vigilante.