Chapter Text
The air was crisp, his breath was visible as it danced from his lips. Aracely would make fun of the scowl on his face, some innocent comment about how it's a permanent feature while she eats chicken wings he would have brought back with him for her. Instead, he gave her a phone call, saying his little detour would take longer. She still made fun of the scowl on his face as he hung up. The plane ride wasn't any calming, the nightmares always come bubbling to the surface; it leaves him struggling to breath. He awakes, the plane still in the sky, his hands shaking as he remembers someone once told them they love him and he killed them, her, for it. He tried to bury that anger, that frustration, seeing his reflection in the window of the plane from the dim light inside and the darkness stretched out before him. He closed the blind, closing his eyes but sleep wouldn't find him again, instead a flood of memories he can't stop pull him back, no matter how much he tries to shut them out.
10 years ago
"We have to move quickly." Norman Osborn walked with a frantic pace, unable to hide the grin forming on his lips. "That fool Kaine is coming after us. He can never know." He turned to the woman walking beside him, a bundle in her arms. "Keep that child as far away from as possible. We'll decide what to do with it later."
"Her." Alison Mongrain spoke up. "They were going to name her May."
"Of course they were." He jerked his head, a car pulling up and well dressed people getting out to open the door for Alison. "That child is mine to do as I see fit. After what was done to my pathetic excuse of a son, their daughter is mine. The perfect exchange." Alison eyed him as she got into the car, the door closing once she was in. The baby began to cry and surprisingly, she tried to calm the baby down. Norman watched them leave, the grin visible even in the low light. "The perfect heir for the Osborn legacy." He laughed, howling into the darkness. "Oh, Peter, my boy, gotcha."
Elsewhere, Kaine had stormed into the warehouse that Norman had kept Ben Reilly in, during their confrontation. He had recently broken out of the Vault, learning that Norman had done everything to torment Peter and even Ben, the man he finally acknowledged as his brother. Too little, too late. He scoured, rage guiding his every action. He had learned, not only had Osborn done this to him, to Ben and Peter but he took her. Mary Jane and Peter's darling little baby girl. His... niece. He had a niece. He was going to find Norman Osborn and make him pay. Scouring through the night, attacking anyone he could find connected to Osborn before he learned something interesting. A woman and a baby had spoken to Norman before leaving on a plane, some place far away. He rushed, trying to find anyway to track the plane. He was going to find her. No matter how long it took. They were going to name her May.
Present Day
He cracked his eyes open as he felt the plane land, grumbling to his feet. The bustling airport did nothing to quell his headache. He remembered the last time he was here. It didn't go so well but this time, he clenched his hand into a fist, this time it won't go the same way. Even if he ends up in a dead end again, he's not leaving. Not this time. The spiders talked to him from their hiding places, some remembered the last time he was here; they would guide him. This power, this dumb, stupid power will help him find her this time. He'll balance the scales, for everything he put Mary Jane, Peter and Ben through. He'd find Alison Mongrain and learn what happened, give some kind of closure. No sooner had he left the airport had he slipped into something more appropriate: a costume he stole from Peter and caught stuck in a design that's haunted him ever since. Scarlet Spider. That's what they call him back home, the name of a better man. As before, there was an anger burning through him. He could have kept the costume off, moved through here incognito but something in him was screaming for him to get noticed. Whoever he was after, he wanted them to know he was coming for them. He'll kick himself and admit he's being a dumbass, like ever other costumed hero that runs around but right now, that thought of self loathing was far from his mind. He'll hate himself after he's fixed this, fixed something for once in his miserable life.
"He's landed." The aide pocketed their phone into their jacket after the call ended. "They lost sight of him once he left the airport."
"Of course they did." Norman Osborn flicked his cigar ash into the try. "Still no sign of Mongrain?"
"We're still searching since she went off grid weeks ago." Osborn clenched his fist before relaxing it, the wild anger in his eyes buried behind a calm, presentable demeanor.
"Tell your men to follow Kaine but don't get too close. If he's there and locates Alison Mongrain for us, that will confirm she's working against my interests. We can't have that. Kill her and recover the object."
"Of course, Mr. Osborn." The aide left the room, taking their phone out once more. Osborn could hear the start of the call before the voice faded, leaving him in his office. His anger bubbled back to the surface, cracking his desk with a slam of his fist. He had worked too hard for this pay off to be ruined. He'll win this upcoming election, having already gotten under Peter's skin. What better way to reveal his and Mary Jane's precious little daughter was alive but a fully fledged Osborn? It was going to be perfect. A wonderful trade off. His weak, pathetic son is dead and his grandson is just as weak and pathetic. She would be the perfect heir, she is going to bring about Peter's death and make the Osborn name strong again. If Alison Mongrain is going to ruin that, she'll share Peter's fate; buried in a shallow grave under Norman's boot.
Kaine rushed through the night sky, prowling, stalking. He listened to the spiders as they crawled with him, eyes all over the city. He told them what Alison Mongrain looked like, they would come back with some descriptions that had some matches or were way off but he kept at it through the night. Nothing that could really help him pinpoint who he was looking for, so he kept moving through the cool night air, stalking through the shadows. Below him, three men followed as best they could, calling ahead to any look outs to give them updates. The short, stubby one had to yank the taller, skinnier one from walking down an alley the Scarlet Spider just entered. "Slow down, ya mug. Ya want us t' get caught? Keep our eyes on 'im, report it t' th' boss."
"Hey, I wasn't gonna get caught. I was being real careful."
"Real stupid more like." the medium sized one said.
"Listen, ya mooks, all we gotta do is keep our eyes on 'im and we get that good dough." The three men nodded and continued to follow as they could but soon the lost sight of the costumed freak, cursing as they called in for updates. Elsewhere were a different set of eyes watching the Scarlet Spider, sticking to the shadows as much as he was.
"We have eyes on Kaine. He's making this seem easy."
"Because he is. He's a brute but he has a brain, he's methodical. It's why he was one of the best. Don't get too close. Whatever he's after, the Assassin's Guild wants to know, then, kill him."
10 Years ago
She put on a brave face, not for Peter, not for the people who came by to see how she was doing; no, she put a brave face on for herself. Just like before when her dad would yell at them, sometimes worse. She'd run and hide her tears, no one but her would see them. Mary Jane Watson-Parker sat in the room, but she wasn't really there. Peter could see it, talking for both of them. Sometimes Mary Jane would speak up, other times she'd stare off into nothing, imagining the doctor got it wrong, that her wonderful baby girl was here in her arms; that she hadn't failed her before she even got a chance to say hello. The people would say their condolences and leave, one by one until it was just her and Peter, then the tears would fall and she wouldn't dare stop them. The one man she trusts, she breaks down in front of him and he doesn't say anything, he's learned a lot from when he was a snot nosed brat of a teenager. Instead, he just holds her until she stops shaking, straightening herself out and trying her best to remember how to walk, how to breath. They named her May, after Peter's wonderful, courageous, strong aunt; the woman who raised Peter when his world crumbled under the poor boy's feet- first his parents, then Ben Parker. Her name is May. Mary Jane thought of all the birthdays they were going to have. The tears came again and Peter held her. The hours turned into days and then weeks, everything was a dull blur. One night, it all came flooding out again, the pain, the frustration and the shame she had turned on herself. Peter had been called away for his job and Mary Jane had to hold herself but she wasn't alone. Just outside the apartment, on the wall, was Kaine. He listened and listened until he was sure Mary Jane had cried herself to sleep, clenching his fist until blood ran from it. He crawled away, moving back into the night. Norman Osborn would pay. He would swear it. For Mary Jane, for Peter, for Ben, for little darling May.
Present Day
Kaine landed, overlooking the city. The last known description was this was and he was frantic in his movements, looking around for any clues, any giveaways, anything. He didn't want to leave here again with only blood on his hands. The pain and hurt these sick freaks had put Mary Jane through, he'd hurt them, burn them; then he'll drag Alison Mongrain in front of MJ and Peter and leave her to their judgement, whatever it is they decide, it'll be their call but for now, Kaine had one singular purpose in mind and that was- "Oooooh, you're going to make them pay?" Kaine was pulled out of his thoughts by one of the few people who would read them. The annoyance was drowned out by his surprise.
"Aracely?! What the-"
"No swearing! I didn't bring the jar. So, have you found her yet or are you still grumbling around the city, being grumpy?" Aracely Penalba, though she much prefers Hummingbird when she's out and in costume. The complete opposite of Kaine.
"How the hell are you-"
"Oh! Justice and Speedball found these nifty teleporters that helps get around so I decided to use one and wouldn't you know it? I wound up here cause I was wondering what you were up to and-" Kaine raised his hand.
"Okay, okay. I get it. I'll kill Justice and Speedball later, after you go back." He went back to trying to stalk as before but the cheery young girl would hop and skip beside him. "You know how dangerous this is?" She placed an index finger on her chin, thinking.
"Well..... Last time you were here, you had to team up with the assassin's guild to fight these other bad people and you made a ton of other mist-"
"Forget I even asked." He groaned, moving to the edge of the rooftop. He was half listening to the spiders and half trying to drown out Aracely. Great, he thought to himself, at least now they'll know he's around. Her rambling will-
"Oh, they've been following you well before I started rambling." He stopped, eyeing her. "Also, I kinda, sorta can't go back. I didn't bring the bands with me they built to help pinpoint where I went so-"
"You were even going to tell me I'm being followed?"
"I was. After I gossip about Speedball's date. Did you know he went on one? He's pretty nice despite all the-"
"Quiet." He paused. The spiders were panicking. He looked to where they were telling him to look.
"Kaine? We should-"
"MOVE!" Kaine rushed towards Aracely, hoping to get her out of the way of the incoming rocket.
"Is this wise? Wilson Fisk is still onto us. If he knows-"
"This doesn't concern him anymore. He's sulked back to New York. The guild is mine once again." Belladonna sat on her throne, a pleased look on her face despite the annoyed tone. She waved him away, beckoning another to approach her. The woman who walked from the shadows into the thinly lit room, had an odd pale glow to her eyes, the light from the flickering flames illuminated just enough of her scarred face; the long dark robe engulfed her entire body as she seemingly floated towards Belladonna, giving a small bow.
"Mistress. You beckoned, I answered."
"We have a wayward problem that needs his head removed from his neck. Can I task you with this?"
"Name the mark. I will achieve it."
"Kaine. The Scarlet Spider. He insulted me, he will not be allowed to do so again. Understood?" The figure in the robe bowed again. "Good." The wicked grin across Belladonna's face looked more sinister in the low light. "Bring his head back here so I can mount it above me. He'll be the perfect center piece."
There was a ringing in his ears, smoke in his lungs; he can't even hear himself coughing over the high pitch ringing in his ears. His vision was blurred and the panic began to set in despite the nausea setting in. He couldn't even hear himself curse between gritted teeth under the mask, tears in it exposing his anger filled eyes. His voice still sounded like a distant muffle as he called out for Aracely, making sure to call her Hummingbird; she'd be mad at him if he forgot she likes her stupid superhero name. His vision blurred, bringing a hand to his head, thinking that would help stop the ground from waving around him, when he pulled his hand away, he could see blood on the black fingertips; his blood. He wobbled, shaking as he crawled, slowly getting to his feet. His hearing was slowly coming back, his vision straightened out just in time for him to move again, gun fire blaring out, bullets smacking and chipping into the brick and stone around him. He couldn't see Aracely, he only saw the scorched stone and rubble. His heart raced, anger blurring his vision as he rushed the assailants shooting at him, tearing through them with frightening speed and ferocity. The pain dulled as the adrenaline rushed through him, the searing pain shooting through his body was a distant pulse.
He was being reckless. A new pain shot through him as a bullet ripped into his leg. Stupid of him to make an amateur mistake like that but the adrenaline kept him going. Soon, he was standing and they weren't, ready to make sure they'd stop breathing next until Aracely called out to him, snapping him back to reality. She had dodged just in time thanks to him. He let himself finally exhale, relief taking over the rage that had taken a hold of him just minutes ago. Though the pain began shooting through his body again, Aracely's voice was distant but he tried to focus on it nonetheless.
"Whoa. They're-"
"The Assassin's Guild." Kaine blurted through heavy breaths. "Guess they're back to being a pain in my ass again."
"They must really hate you."
"Almost as much-"
"As yourself. I know, you're brain screams it all the time. You need a hobby, Kaine." He grumbled. Kicking some of them over to go through their pockets, trying to find anything. He noticed Aracely was doing her weird thing, where her eyes glow and she just kind of floats there. "Hey, Kaine. I know you're trying to do this whole angry guy, running around and fighting but you really should ask them."
"Ask them? They're pretty much unconscious, Arac-"
"No." She pointed below them, revealing three guys staring at them before they noticed they've been spotted. "Them. They work for Norman Osborn." Kaine didn't have to be told twice as he lunged down towards them. Two tried to fight him off, it soon turned out to be a big mistake. The third one ran and Kaine knew if you have a runner, you have a talker. He soon caught up with him, lifting him up towards the rooftops; soon having him dangling over the edge.
"Alison Mongrain. Where is she? Try to lie and my backup here will leave your brain nothing more than a puddle." Aracely behind him did a scary face, though it came off as anything but.
"N-never heard of he-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Kaine let go, watching him drop before a web brought him back up.
"My arms tried from the other clowns who thought a rocket would do the trick. I won't be able to do that again. Talk or I let you splat next time." The man's panic was visible as he stared into the black, emotionless lenses of the Scarlet Spider before he shrieked.
"Okay, okay, OKAY! We're tailing you! We lost contact with Mongrain months ago."
"What do you mean you lost her?"
"Like, she went off the grid. Boss is pretty mad about it. He wants her and the kid back." That last part was like a wash of cold water just hit Kaine in the face.
"Kid? W-what kid?"
"Some kid the boss wants back. May something, I don't know anything beyond that! I swear!" Kaine was a thousand miles away. That can't be a coincidence, could it? Aracely could tell Kaine's mind was racing so she took the liberties of knocking the guy out. Kaine's breathing increased, his stomach felt like a knot. May. They were going to name her May.