After the doctor left, Charlie approached Harry.
"What happened?" he asked.
Harry glanced at Clint Barton, who was in the neighboring bed. "Nothing, just a minor issue."
"He injured himself with a pumpkin bomb," Barton interjected.
"No, I was just trying to blow up the plane!" Harry got defensive.
Barton's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Yeah, and yet, you ended up more hurt than me."
"You just got lucky."
"Have you figured out how you're going to explain this to the Director?" Barton asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't need to explain anything. I look more like a victim here, so it's you who needs to do the explaining," Harry retorted.
Barton: "..."
As much as he hated to admit it, Harry had a point. Barton had no good comeback.
By now, Charlie had pieced together what had happened. Harry's injuries were self-inflicted, though that didn't rule out the influence of the Spider-Totem.
At least Harry seemed to have a decent amount of luck and wouldn't be in danger—provided they didn't meet too often.
Beep beep~
Just then, both Harry's and Barton's communication devices chimed.
"How are you two doing?" came the voice of Nick Fury, who appeared in a virtual display, also covered in bandages and looking no better than Harry.
Before Barton could speak, Harry jumped in to answer.
"I got seriously injured trying to stop Spider-Man."
Barton: "?????"
Fury looked a bit surprised. "Harry, I'm glad you're on our side."
"Director, I—" Barton tried to speak up, but Fury interrupted him.
"We just received word that Agent Peggy Carter is back. She's been frozen for seventy years by Steve. She has the evidence to prove Steve was the new leader of Hydra."
"What?" Barton exclaimed. "Captain America was Hydra? How's that possible? He's a hero from the last century!"
Fury shook his head. "I couldn't believe it either, but Agent Carter has the evidence. Plus, at the Brooklyn coast, many witnesses saw Steve transform into a monster. Those red octopus tentacles match Hydra's symbol exactly. We were wrong about Spider-Man."
As he said this, Fury glanced at Charlie, who had appeared in the background of the video feed.
"Harry, is that your friend? He seems capable. Could you invite him to join S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Harry: "..."
What a flimsy excuse.
Before Harry could respond, Charlie took a step back and disappeared from the frame, clearly rejecting the offer outright.
It seemed he had realized something.
But that was understandable. Charlie had been laying low for some time, and in that time, Spider-Man had also been absent.
If Harry hadn't joined S.H.I.E.L.D., maybe they wouldn't have noticed Charlie at all.
After all, with so many people in the world, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't pay much attention to an ordinary, exceptionally good-looking, witty, smart, self-disciplined, and justice-driven young man with an outstanding physique and charm.
However, with Harry joining S.H.I.E.L.D., everyone around him fell under their surveillance, Charlie included.
Both Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. were closing in on his identity. This was definitely not a good thing.
But Charlie had already come up with a plan.
Fury continued his briefing, connecting with other agents. On the screen, Coulson, Natasha, and several other agents appeared, all wrapped up like mummies. Clearly, they wouldn't be leaving the hospital anytime soon.
Charlie hadn't gone easy on them during their encounter, but he felt he had shown some restraint.
Still, he had no interest in these agents and didn't stick around long. He left the hospital and swung through the city in his Spider suit.
With the cash he had confiscated from criminals, Charlie was doing better financially than other versions of Peter Parker, and he could afford a nice apartment.
But achieving true financial freedom would require more than just fighting crime.
The idea of marketing artificial spider silk seemed promising. He could find a reliable business partner.
Harry's Oscorp was the first place that came to mind.
But that would take time.
As he thought, Charlie's glider wings folded under his arms, and he landed in Forest Park.
Whoosh~
On top of the treetops, Charlie shot a large web, and then lay back on it, hands behind his head, staring at the starry night sky as he drifted off to sleep.
For the first time in a while, his tense nerves began to relax.
The next day, Charlie woke to the sound of patrolling park rangers exclaiming in shock.
"Ugh, another beautiful day. Hello there!" he waved at them before launching a web and disappearing into the sky.
Not long after, Charlie returned to Black Street.
As he passed a police car, he made his way to his front door.
When he opened it, he found Uncle Ben and Aunt May joyfully unwrapping their gifts.
"Charlie, you came home last night, didn't you?" Aunt May asked, trying on a new scarf in front of the full-length mirror, a big smile on her face.
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I came back, then went to check on Harry." He poured himself a glass of water.
Uncle Ben was fiddling with his pipe as he said, "Harry told me you've been traveling again. Honestly, I didn't believe it."
"Oh? What did you think I was doing?" Charlie asked casually, sipping his water.
Uncle Ben put down his pipe and gave Charlie a serious look.
"Be honest with me, Charlie. Are you living with a girl?"
"Pfft!"
Charlie spat out his water, shocked.
"You're too smart. I can't believe you guessed it."
Grinning, Charlie continued, "I've grown up, so I've decided to move out. You guys don't mind, right?" he asked Aunt May.
Aunt May turned toward him with a warm smile, gently rubbing his face. "Charlie, you're so thoughtful. Staying here is just wasting food. Your Uncle Ben can't afford to support you much longer."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I never ask you guys for pocket money."
"That doesn't matter. You're an adult now. It's time to be on your own."
With that, Aunt May went to her bedroom, retrieving her little money box from the cabinet. She carefully counted the cash inside, then after a moment of consideration, handed Charlie a wrinkled bill.
"Don't be stingy when you take a girl out on a date."
"I'll make sure to buy the biggest ice cream," Charlie replied.
"Oh, silly boy. You can't just take a girl out for ice cream on a date!" Aunt May chuckled.
"But that's all the money you gave me!" Charlie protested.
"I'm old. I didn't hear that," she said, walking away.
Charlie: "..."
"Is it Mary Jane from next door?" Uncle Ben suddenly asked.
Charlie thought for a moment. "I don't think so."
"What do you mean, you don't think?"
"Okay, definitely not."
Uncle Ben seemed relieved by that answer.
"You don't seem to want me to be with Mary Jane," Charlie said, puzzled.
Uncle Ben had never been this concerned about his relationships before.
"Of course, I don't want that."
"Why?"
"Because I suspect Mary Jane has violent tendencies."
Uncle Ben lowered his pipe and whispered conspiratorially, "This morning, there was a huge commotion at her house. Apparently, a spider appeared, and she beat her father so badly he ended up in the hospital."
"That sounds ridiculous," Charlie muttered, frowning. His Spider-Sense told him something about this situation was off.