Mark adjusted the collar of his Nightwing suit, the black and blue fabric hugging his frame as he glanced around the quiet alley. The morning sun filtered through the gaps between the tall buildings, casting long shadows on the pavement. The city was just beginning to stir, with the distant hum of traffic and the occasional clatter of a street vendor setting up shop.
Michael, clad in his sleek Spider-Man suit, stood near the edge of the alley. His eyes were locked onto Mindy, who stood hesitantly in front of them. The black and blue of his suit contrasted sharply against the dull, worn bricks that surrounded them. He crossed his arms, his stance casual yet alert, ready for anything.
Loe, in his blue and gold Angel suit, looked almost ethereal in the morning light. His suit glimmered slightly as he shifted, the metallic accents catching the sunlight. The cape etched into his back seemed poised to take flight at any moment, giving him an imposing presence despite the calm surroundings. He stepped forward, his boots barely making a sound on the cracked pavement.
Mark's smile was faint but reassuring as he noticed the tension rising in the group. The four of them stood in a secluded alley, hidden away from the bustling streets of Newyork. The early morning sun barely reached them here, the high brick walls casting long, deep shadows that seemed to swallow the light. The alley was eerily quiet, the noise of the city muffled by the surrounding buildings, creating a sense of isolation that added to the gravity of their conversation.
Mark turned back to Mindy, his tone gentler now. "Mindy, I know this has been terrifying for you, but we need more information. Anything you can tell us about their operations, where they take these people—anything at all—will help us shut them down."
Mindy's hands trembled as she took a deep breath. "It all started with a job offer at this clothing company…"
Michael leaned in, his tone sharp with curiosity. "Which company?"
Mindy glanced nervously at Michael, then Loe. "The Chicago Outfit."
Mark's brows furrowed, and he exchanged a quick, puzzled look with Loe. "Wait… the Chicago Outfit? The one that's known for making trendy, top-quality clothes?"
Loe's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're telling me that the company known for making brand-new clothing—like those stylish jackets and dresses—is behind all this?"
Mindy nodded, her voice trembling. "I thought I was just getting a job sewing and packing clothes, but once I found out the truth, I wanted out. That's when they started threatening me and my family."
Michael's face grew more serious, processing the gravity of what he was hearing. "They've been using a legitimate business as a cover."
Mark shook his head as the truth began to hit him. "So, they've been hiding their crimes by pretending to be a successful clothing brand. All those new clothes and fashion styles—they're just a cover for something evil."
Loe clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "All this time, they've been making a name for themselves in the fashion world, but they're nothing more than predators."
Mark's movements grew more intense as he paced back and forth, piecing it all together. "This isn't just about selling clothes anymore. They've turned their business into a full-blown criminal empire."
Loe turned to Michael, concern etched on his face. "What should we do?"
Michael clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tsk... We can't just storm the place without solid evidence." He paused, eyeing both Loe and Mark. "That's why we need to figure out exactly where they're keeping these people. If they're using warehouses or hidden spots, that's where we'll strike."
Mark leaned in, trying to think through the situation. "But how do we get that info?"
Mindy, still trembling but eager to help, piped up. "I overheard them mentioning a warehouse near the docks. They use it as a hub to move the 'merchandise' in and out."
Loe's eyes lit up with resolve. "Then let's go there right now!"
Mindy shook her head frantically, fear returning to her eyes. "No, no! I heard their shipment got delayed by a week…"
Loe groaned in frustration, waving his hand dismissively. "Tsk! Useless information."
Mindy shrank back, her voice barely above a whisper. "So-sorry…"
Mark let out a sigh, softening his gaze as he looked at her. "It's okay, Mindy. You've been through a lot. Just tell us—where exactly is this warehouse?"
Mindy bit her lip before answering quietly, "It's on Chicago Street, number 6…"
Loe's eyes narrowed. "Wait, you're saying we have to go all the way to Chicago?"
Mindy stood there silently, not daring to say another word after Loe's earlier outburst.
Michael sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Looks like that's the plan."
Suddenly, something clicked in Michael's mind. "Wait... you mentioned the shipment's delayed by a week… Damn it."
Loe frowned, sensing something off. "What's wrong?"
Michael's face twisted with frustration. "My father's been asking for my help tomorrow. There's a vampire case he can't handle alone, and he needs me to deal with it."
Mark placed a reassuring hand on Michael's shoulder. "Then you should go, Spider-Man. We can handle this."
Michael hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Mark nodded and looked at Michael. "You might be out for a while, but maybe not too long. So..." He turned to Loe and continued, "While you're out, this is our chance to prove we're ready."
Loe crossed his arms, his expression stubborn. "We're not kids anymore. We don't need a babysitter, you know?"
Michael looked at both of them, conflicted. The idea of his friends facing someone as dangerous as Alphonse Capone, with his mob connections and army of criminals, made him uneasy.
"But it's dangerous," Michael insisted, his voice tinged with concern. "Capone's got resources, armies, and he got tricks on his sleeves."
Mark looked straight into Michael's eyes, unwavering. "We know the risks. But even so, we think we can handle it."
Loe nodded in agreement. "Besides these mobs are easy to deal with.." he smirked
Michael took a deep breath, still worried but recognizing the determination in his friends' eyes. He knew they were serious, and that this was something they needed to prove to themselves. "Alright," he finally said. "But stay in touch. The moment anything goes sideways, you call me."
Both nodded
Then Michael, leaning against the rough, cold brick wall, looked at Mindy with a serious expression. The light from above highlighted the concern etched into his features. "Before we go any further to my situation," he began, his tone calm yet firm, "First...we need to know more about you, Mindy. What exactly are you?"
Loe, who had been pacing near the entrance of the alley, suddenly stopped. His boots scuffed against the dirty pavement as he turned to face Mindy, suspicion clear in his eyes. He took a step closer, his gaze sharp and probing. "Yeah, that's been bugging me too," he said, his voice edged with mistrust. "A girl like you knowing all this stuff… it doesn't add up." He crossed his arms, his posture tense as he stared at her.
Mindy stood a few steps away from them, her back against the cold wall of the alley. She hesitated, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her clothes. The dim light in the alley made her look smaller, more vulnerable. She glanced at Loe, then quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly. For a brief moment, she seemed lost in thought, her lips parting as she murmured, "Handsome…"
Loe raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by her comment. The suspicion in his eyes softened for a moment, replaced by confusion. "What?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.
Mindy shook her head quickly, her hair falling over her eyes as she tried to dismiss her slip. "Nothing… I'm not suspicious at all. I just…" She paused, her eyes downcast as she hugged herself, the cool breeze of the alley causing her to shiver slightly. She looked back up at them, her expression conflicted.
Mark, who had been leaning against a stack of crates nearby, straightened up. The shadows cast by the narrow alleyway made his expression hard to read. "Just what, Mindy?" he asked, his voice gentle yet insistent, urging her to continue.
Mindy's gaze dropped to the ground, her feet shifting uneasily on the dirty pavement. After a long pause, she finally looked up at them, her voice trembling. "I have… powers.." she confessed, the words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
Mark blinked in surprise, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Powers? Like supernatural abilities?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the shock.
Mindy nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting the fear she felt. She seemed almost fragile, standing there in the shadowed alley, the world outside continuing on as if nothing had changed.
Loe, still skeptical, took another step closer, his posture rigid. "You mean you're a mutant?" he asked, his voice low and filled with suspicion.
Mindy seemed surprised that they knew the term. She nodded again, a bit more firmly this time. "You've heard of mutants?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.
Mark exchanged a quick glance with Loe before answering. "I've heard the rumors, but I always thought they were just stories. But now… I guess they're real.." he said, his tone tinged with disbelief.
Loe scoffed, recalling his past with a smirk. "Yeah, I've known about mutants for a while. Back when I was just a gangster, my boss had some shady dealings with a few of them." he said, his voice gruff as he leaned against the wall, the brick rough against his back. "But enough about that—what's your power?"
Mindy hesitated again, glancing down at her hands as if they held some dark secret. Finally, she looked up at them, her voice more steady as she spoke. "I can… do telepathy.." she revealed, her words resonating in the quiet alley.
Michael's eyes widened as he processed what she had said. "Telepathy?" he repeated, his mind racing as he tried to place her name. He kept repeating it in his mind, (Mindy… Mindy… where have I heard that name before?)
As he pieced together the memories, a sudden realization struck him. Back in his original world, he had read a comic book series—Nighthawk. In it, Kyle Richmond, also known as Nighthawk, had a girlfriend named Mindy who was believed to be dead. Years later, she reappeared, in a wheelchair with telepathic powers.
Michael's breath caught as he stared at Mindy, his heart pounding with the realization. (It can't be… Could she really be that Mindy?) he thought, the possibility seeming both impossible and strangely fitting in this world where nothing seemed as it should.
Suddenly, Mark snapped Michael out of his thoughts, his voice cutting through the silence of the alley. "Michael?"
Michael blinked, realizing he had been lost in thought. He quickly forced a smile, laughing awkwardly. "Oops, pardon me. I got carried away.." he said, trying to brush off his distraction with a casual chuckle.
Loe, however, wasn't amused. "Very funny," he said, his tone deadpan as he crossed his arms. "Now, back to the topic. What's on your mind, Michael?"
Michael hesitated for a moment, glancing at Mindy before speaking. "Nothing… it's just that—" He paused, then turned his full attention to Mindy. "Mindy, what's your full name again?"
Mindy looked slightly puzzled by the question, but she answered nonetheless. "Mindy Williams," she said softly, her voice echoing faintly in the enclosed alley.
Hearing her name confirmed, Michael's mind raced. "I knew it," he thought, (She's that girl—the ex-girlfriend of Nighthawk. But in this world, it looks like she's different from the Mindy Williams I know. Well, what can you say? Many versions, many variants… after all, this is the Marvel world.)
Mindy noticed Michael's distant look and snapped him back to reality. "Sir?"
Michael blinked again, realizing he had drifted off once more. "Oh, sorry," he said quickly, trying to recover. "Um, do you know anyone by the name of Kyle Richard?"
Mindy shook her head, a look of genuine confusion crossing her face. "Who is that?" she asked.
Michael's thoughts whirled. "So they still haven't met yet, huh? Or maybe Kyle doesn't exist in this universe?" The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he kept his composure.
Mark, growing impatient, frowned at Michael. "Dude, why are you asking random questions?"
Michael quickly tried to deflect. "Um, nothing… just, you know, being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.." he said, forcing another smile. Inside, though, he was grappling with the complexities of his situation, not wanting to reveal his true identity as a transmigrator from another world.
Loe, growing impatient with the distractions, said, "Can we just focus on this?"
Michael, still trying to shake off his awkwardness, laughed nervously. "Alright, alright, ahahaha."
Mindy stood there, visibly anxious, her eyes darting between the three of them. Loe noticed her discomfort, and it reminded him of his own uneasy childhood days when he was unsure who to trust.
In an effort to reassure her, Loe, in his angel suit, reached up and pulled off his eye mask, revealing his face. His eyes softened as he looked at Mindy, hoping this gesture would make her feel more at ease.
Michael and Mark were shocked by Loe's sudden move.
Mark blurted out, "What are you doing?"
Loe shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "Oh, come on. If we want her to trust us, we should take off our masks first."
Michael hesitated but then nodded, realizing there was some truth in what Loe said. "Well, that's true..." he admitted. But as he thought about it, doubts crept in. (What if this woman is lying? What if she's not who she says she is? Revealing our identities is risky... But Loe is still young—just 18. He has a lot to learn. And I let it slide for now as Mindy... I know her from the comics in my original world. She's definitely Mindy Williams, though she's different from the one I know. Well, it's a different universe, after all.)
With a deep breath, Michael reached up and pulled off his mask, revealing his face. He stood there in his black Spider-Man suit, dark blue on his spider chest, and black mask with blue eyes now hanging at his side. Mark, in his Nightwing suit, followed suit, removing his eye mask.
Loe turned back to Mindy, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Now, stop being anxious and trust us." he said firmly, his voice carrying a note of confidence.
Mindy looked at Loe, and when she heard his bold statement, she couldn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks. She glanced away for a moment, her heart racing, and thought to herself,( Just Like I thought, he's really handsome.)