Felix Faeth lounged on his couch, a half-empty bag of chips on the coffee table and a stack of DVDs next to the TV. It was the weekend, a rare moment of downtime for him. With his new powers, he could quite literally binge-watch for days without feeling the least bit fatigued. So, that's exactly what he was doing—catching up on movies and TV shows that he'd missed while swinging through the city, fighting crime, and dealing with the fallout from Crossbones' reign of terror.
Sunday afternoon rolled around, and the peace of the day settled in. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow across the living room. Felix had just finished a particularly gripping episode of Game of Thrones when he heard a knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
With a sigh, he hit pause and dragged himself off the couch. Opening the door, he found himself face-to-face with Rio Morales, a look of disbelief on her face. "Uh—"
"You own FEAST!?" Rio blurted out, eyes wide, coming way too close to his face.
Felix blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Y-yeah," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Is something wrong?"
Rio crossed her arms, clearly not done with her questions. "And you lent out some portable water filtration bottles? And then I hear you did it because Miles asked you!?"
Felix didn't know whether to smile, laugh, or deny it. "Something like that?" he replied, trying to gauge the mother's reaction. "The filter thing was an Oscorp invention that I was allowed to take home."
'And then mass-produce.'
Rio's expression softened, and she let out a small, exasperated laugh. "Look, FEAST helped me in the past, once, and I've been donating ever since. After the whole mess with Martin Li, I thought about canceling, but then I learned the new owner was right beside me. That's just...wow, what a turn of events."
Felix smiled, the tension easing. "Yeah, I took over after everything that happened. It just felt like the right thing to do, especially with people like Miles and you involved."
Rio shook her head, still processing the information. "Well, I guess I'm glad it's in good hands."
Felix looked her over; she wore jeans and a red top. She looked ready. "Speaking of which, I was heading over to the Harlem branch today to help out. You should come with me."
"W-wait, me? Me, go with the owner? Is that okay?"
"You sound like you know some people there."
"I just volunteered yesterday, so…yeah, kinda."
"Then it'll be fine. I've only gone there once myself. Most of my involvement is largely financial."
"Err…" Rio's eyes flickered. "You probably shouldn't wear pajamas though."
"Really? I thought it would be endearing," Felix joked.
***
Harlem was vibrant and alive as Felix and Rio made their way to the FEAST center. The streets were lined with murals, local vendors selling everything from food to handmade crafts, and people bustling about, enjoying the warm afternoon. The Harlem FEAST center stood in the heart of the neighborhood.
The Harlem FEAST center was modest but well-kept, a two-story structure with a welcoming entrance and a large sign bearing the FEAST logo.
As they stepped inside, Felix immediately noticed how busy it was. There were people everywhere—some carrying boxes of supplies, others serving food, and a few assisting residents who had come in for a warm meal or to seek shelter from the heat. Volunteers dashed between the kitchen, dining area, and various community service rooms. The smell of cooking food filled the air.
Rio smiled and gave him a gentle nudge. "Well, it's about time you got your hands dirty again."
"I'm a scientist. Don't underestimate the dirty stuff we do in the lab," Felix replied with a smirk.
"Right, right. Come on, I'll introduce you to Gloria. She's been running things around here since the Martin Li incident. She's new but she's doing great."
They made their way through the crowded center to the back storage room, where Gloria Davila was busy organizing donations. A beanie-wearing woman in her twenties with a kind smile. She didn't seem to notice Felix as they approached, her focus entirely on sorting through the boxes stacked around her.
"Hey, mija!" Rio called out cheerfully.
Gloria looked up, her face lighting up when she saw Rio. "Ms. Rio! Good to see you. I could use some extra hands today."
"That's what we're here for," Rio said, motioning to Felix. "This is my friend, Felix. He wanted to help out too."
Gloria glanced at Felix, giving him a once-over. She didn't seem to recognize him, but then again, why would she? The last time Felix had been at the Harlem FEAST center, it had been under far different circumstances, and he hadn't exactly been introduced around.
"Nice to meet you, Felix," Gloria said with a smile. "You ever done this kind of work before?"
"A bit here and there. Just tell me what needs to be done."
Gloria handed him a box of canned goods. "Start with these. We're organizing the pantry, so just make sure everything's sorted by type. And if you find anything expired, set it aside."
"Got it," Felix said, taking the box and setting to work.
The next hour passed quickly as Felix and Rio helped Gloria sort through the donations. Felix found himself enjoying the work more than he'd expected. It was straightforward, almost meditative, and a nice change of pace from the chaos of his usual Spider-Man duties.
Plus, he didn't feel exhaustion, so it was actually quite a lot of fun.
'Although…' Felix's eyes flickered. 'Someone is definitely watching us.'
His Spider-Sense was lightly tingling. Not to the point of danger but to the point of knowing something was out there.
'But who?'
As they worked, Felix made small talk with the other volunteers, blending in as just another set of helping hands. No one seemed to pay him much attention, which suited him just fine. It felt good to be part of the team without the weight of his responsibilities hanging over him.
At one point, Gloria glanced over at Rio, nodding toward Felix, who was stacking boxes with ease. "So, who's your new friend, Ms. Rio? He's pretty handy."
Rio smirked, clearly enjoying the opportunity to surprise her. "Oh, you know, the new owner of FEAST."
Gloria froze for a moment, then looked at Felix with wide eyes. "Wait, him? He's the new owner?"
Felix looked up, catching the tail end of their conversation. He gave Gloria a sheepish smile. "Guilty as charged. Sorry, I probably should've introduced myself properly earlier. Felix Faeth is the name."
Gloria shook her head in disbelief, but then a smile spread across her face. "You're the one who's been keeping this place running after everything that happened? I should've known—Miles mentioned something about a friend of his taking over, but I never put two and two together."
"Well, I couldn't have done it without people like you," Felix replied, genuinely. "I might own the place, but it's the volunteers who keep it going."
They continued working together, with Gloria now more at ease around Felix. She even started to share stories about her time at FEAST—how she'd seen the center go through good times and bad, and how it had become a lifeline for so many in the community. Felix listened intently. It was weird to be able to connect with someone who cared so deeply about the work they were doing. It reminded him of what he did with Spider-Man, except his mentality for a while had been very, very dark.
This was, well...everybody had their stories, and yet they pursued the light. It was the same and different.
Maybe that was why Felix sensed the same sensation being watching and nobody else did. It was outside, he felt, lingering across the street from the center. His spider-sense wasn't tingling this time, but his instincts told him something was off.
He leaned over to Gloria, who was sorting through a box of donated clothes. "Hey, Gloria, where's the bathroom?"
Gloria pointed down the hall. "Just take a left at the end."
Felix nodded. "Thanks. I'll be right back."
He made his way to the bathroom, but once he was out of sight, he slipped out the side exit into the alleyway. The sun cast long shadows between the buildings, and the city's noise was muffled here, creating an eerie stillness.
Felix climbed up the fire escape of the nearby building, positioning himself above the alley, waiting. The Advanced Glasses were already attempting to locate the watcher.
'There it is. I knew I wasn't going crazy.'
A hooded man had been caught on the other end of the street using binoculars. They went from one camera to another, jogging. They were chasing after someone. They were chasing after Felix.
The air was thick with the smell of the city—trash, asphalt, and the faint scent of food from nearby street vendors. Felix crouched on the fire escape, his body tense as he watched the hooded figure cautiously enter the narrow space below him. The man moved with a practiced stealth, every step deliberate and silent, like a predator stalking its prey.
Felix waited until the man was almost directly beneath him, then dropped down from the fire escape. He landed, tip-toed close, and then whispered, "Who are you?"
The figure was quick—he spun around the moment Felix spoke. The man's reflexes were sharp, far beyond those of an ordinary person.
Felix lashed out with a quick jab aimed at the man's chest, but the hooded figure deflected it with a swift parry, his arm moving in a blur. Felix followed up with a roundhouse kick, his spider-enhanced strength behind it, but the man ducked low, the kick sailing over his head.
Felix frowned, his senses on high alert. This guy was good—better than he'd expected. He threw another punch, this time aiming for the man's midsection, but again, the hooded man dodged, sidestepping with ease. The alleyway was narrow, the walls closing in on both sides, yet the man moved with a fluidity that made it seem like he had all the space in the world.
'He's a big guy too!' Block! Counter! 'Way taller and heavier than me!'
And yet—
Bam! Bam!
Felix could handle his strength. He could block everything the hooded man could dish out without hurting himself. But there lay the issue; that should have been possible. Whoever this was, they were probably as strong as the current heavyweight boxing champion.
Felix adjusted his strategy and stepped-back from the hook. He had the strength and speed advantage, but he couldn't use it to its full extent without revealing his superhuman abilities. Instead, he needed to fight like a regular human, relying on skill and technique. Footwork and observation.
'Meaning…the gravity training kicks in!'
The man came at Felix with a flurry of strikes—punches, kicks, and jabs that were almost too fast to follow. Felix dodged and dodged. If he couldn't realistically overpower him or outdo him in skill, then he would have to wait and find a weakness. Wait and dodge until he winded himself.
With each strike, it became clearer that he was a highly trained fighter, more skilled than Felix in pure hand-to-hand combat. But even the most skilled of humans required a break.
A break.
A crack.
An opening—
'Gotcha!'
Bam!
Felix managed to land a solid hit, his fist connecting with the man's ribs. The impact sent the man stumbling back, but he quickly recovered, his stance barely faltering. Felix could tell that the hit had hurt, but the man didn't show it—he was tough, resilient, and focused.
The hooded man charged, but that was his mistake. Felix slipped underneath his fist, grabbed hold of the hooded man's arm, twisting it behind his back and forcing him against the wall. The man struggled, trying to break free, but Felix tightened his grip, using his superior strength to hold him in place. With a quick motion, Felix ripped the hood off the man's head, revealing his face.
The man had a sharp, angular face with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His skin was a deep brown, and his dark eyes glared at Felix. His hair was cut short, almost shaved, with a few days' worth of stubble lining his jaw. There was a cut above his right eyebrow, fresh from the fight, and his lip was slightly swollen.
"Who the hell are you?" Felix demanded, pressing the man harder against the wall.
The man grunted, struggling against Felix's grip. "I could ask you the same thing. You're no regular fighter. Who are you?"
Felix tightened his hold, not letting up. "I'm the one asking questions. And for the record, I do karate.
The man shifted his weight, trying to break free again, but Felix kept him pinned. "You're not walking away from this until you start talking," Felix warned.
The man scoffed, clearly not buying it. But after a moment of futile resistance, the man relented. "Fine, fine. Name's Aaron Davis. And you?"
The Advanced Glasses had been using these precious seconds to scan his face. 'Aaron Davis…'
"Aaron Davis," Felix murmured, eyes narrowing. "You're Miles' uncle."
"Ha, so he told you. I guess he would tell Rio's new boyfriend."
"Not her boyfriend and not the point." Felix loosened his grip, but didn't let go. "What's a guy like you doing watching a place like FEAST? Why were you watching me?"
"You? I wasn't watching you, I was watching Rio."
"Why? You in love with her or something?"
Aaron cringed. "Ew! Hell no, dude! She's my brother's wife! My sister! My nephew's mom! Don't be weird, man!"
Felix studied him for a moment longer—or rather, studied the details the Advanced Glasses were giving him.
NAME: Aaron Davis
OCCUPATION: ?
GENDER: Male
AGE: 42
MARITAL STATUS: Single
HEIGHT: 6'2 / 1.87 m
WEIGHT: 225 lbs / 102 kg
IRISES: Brown
HAIR COLOUR: Black
EDUCATION: Unknown
PARENTS: Unknown
SIBLINGS: Jefferson Davis (brother, MIA), Rio Morales (sister-in-law)
SPECIAL NOTE: Suspected by his former brother, Jefferson Davis, to be the Prowler. However, no concrete evidence has been brought forth and since Jefferson's betrayal, it is thought to be fabrication in order to cover up his own crimes. Information on Aaron Davis has since been wiped off the board.
So if he didn't digitally exist, then what else...?
"You…" Felix squinted. "Didn't you die during the Kingpin incident? As a cop?"
"Rio told you, huh?" Aaron sucked in a breath. "Then I guess this makes shit less complicated. Or maybe more complicated. You said you weren't her new boyfriend, so what are you?"
"Her neighbour."
"Neighbour," Aaron muttered. "Look, man, you don't really wanna—"
Felix twisted his arm again and Aaron hissed. "I insist. I still have one free arm. Calling the authorities will take me two seconds."
"Tch. Okay. Okay, fine. I'll tell you. It's about…my brother."