choi soobin, au :spiderman (andrew garfiel)

New York never slept completely.

From the window of the house where he lived in Queens, Soobin watched the city lights with an old camera in his hands.

The house wasn't big, but it was full of memories. Photographs, science books, plants, and little things that Mary had accumulated during the fifteen years they had lived together.

After losing his parents at the age of ten, Soobin had been raised by his aunt Mary. His parents had been scientists at Oscorp and had worked alongside Dr. Curt Connors, one of the researchers they most admired.

Connors had known Soobin since he was a child. He remembered perfectly the little boy who would accompany his parents to the lab and ask questions about absolutely everything.

After the death of her parents, Mary became her home.

And now, at twenty-five, he was still living with her.

Mary knew Soobin the scientist, the photographer, the nephew who could forget to eat when he was concentrating, and the boy who had been in love with the same person for years.

{{user}} .

On Soobin's desk were photographs of New York, Oscorp, wet streets, bridges, and buildings.

And among them, some that I had never published before.

One showed a {{user}} in high school, concentrating during a chess club game.

Another one was of her at university.

Another showed her leaving the library.

Soobin had been part of the university press and, coincidentally, always found a reason to have his camera nearby when {{user}} was present.

The curious thing was that both had been the students with the best grades.

She stood out for her research.

He was into science.

They had competed academically for years without really knowing each other.

Now, after so much time, they were finally working in the same place.

Soobin placed the photograph on the desk.

Then he saw something cross between the buildings.

A red and blue figure.

Jumping from one rooftop to another.

Spider-Man.

Soobin sighed.

—Another long night.

I didn't know who was behind that mask.

I didn't know exactly where his powers had come from.

And he also didn't know who the people responsible were for the strange incidents that were beginning to appear around New York.

I only knew one thing:

Every night there were more problems.

LATER — SOOBIN'S HOUSE

Soobin was looking through photographs of the university when Mary walked past him.

It stopped.

He looked at the screen.

Then he looked at his nephew.

—Her again?

Soobin raised his head.

-That?

Mary pointed to the photograph.

Era {{user}} .

—I don't know what you're talking about.

—Soobin.

—It's for the newspaper.

-Clear.

Mary smiled.

—You've been photographing her since high school.

Soobin looked away.

—That's not how it is.

—Then talk to him.

-So that?

—Because you like it.

Soobin let out a nervous laugh.

—That was years ago.

Mary raised an eyebrow.

—And you still have a photograph of her from ten years ago.

Silence.

Soobin did not respond.

Mary sat down opposite him.

—You don't have to tell her you're in love. Just talk to her.

—I don't know how.

—It starts with "hello".

Soobin smiled.

—Thanks, Auntie. Extremely helpful.

-You are welcome.

Mary made coffee and looked at him again.

—Now he works with you. How many chances do you need?

Soobin looked at the photograph again.

—I don't want to ruin it.

—You don't have to impress her. Just let her get to know you.

Soobin remained thoughtful.

—What if he doesn't like me?

—Then you will survive.

He let out a small laugh.

Mary placed a cup in front of him.

—But at least you'll stop wondering what would have happened.

Soobin drank the coffee.

Perhaps he was right.

Maybe this time I could try.

THE NEXT MORNING — OSCORP

The televisions in the cafeteria were broadcasting the news.

“Police are continuing to investigate a series of incidents that have occurred in recent weeks. The vigilante known as Spider-Man intervened again last night during an operation.”

The images showed Spider-Man swinging between buildings.

Soobin looked at the screen from afar.

Then the reporter continued:

“Authorities are also investigating a strange incident that occurred at a private laboratory in Manhattan. Witnesses described seeing an apparently human-like figure with reptilian-like features.”

The image was blurry.

There was no name.

There was no identity.

Just a silhouette.

“Police still don’t know who or what caused the incident.”

Soobin frowned.

An experiment?

It was possible.

Oscorp had too many secret projects.

The news changed.

“On the other hand, investigators continue to search for the person responsible for a massive power outage that recently occurred in Manhattan.”

The images showed destroyed cables and buildings without electricity.

“Police suspect it may have been a technological accident. However, some witnesses claim to have seen a figure surrounded by electricity.”

Soobin looked at the screen.

Two strange incidents.

Two possible experiments.

And no one has been identified as responsible.

Still.

I didn't know that Curt Connors and Max Dillon were behind those events.

And I certainly never imagined that both of them would end up becoming threats to Spider-Man.

For now, they were just unanswered questions.

CAFÉ

{{user}} was talking on the phone with his father.

—Spider-Man again?

-Yeah.

—Dad, he helped stop the criminals.

-It doesn't matter.

-Because?

—Because nobody knows who he is.

—Perhaps it's not a threat.

—I don't trust someone who hides behind a mask.

{{user}} sighed.

—You always have to contradict me.

—I just want you to be careful.

Across the cafeteria, Soobin was pretending to read a report.

But I was listening.

"And I want you to be especially careful at Oscorp," his father added. "Too many strange things are happening there."

Soobin raised his gaze slightly.

His father continued:

—We don't know if they are related.

Oscorp.

Soobin looked around.

For the first time, he began to wonder if any of those experiments could be related to his own powers.

LABORATORY

Hours later, {{user}} was in front of a microscope.

He had found a strange alteration in a rabbit blood sample.

—That shouldn't be happening...

He enlarged the image.

The cells showed an abnormal regenerative capacity.

Her phone vibrated.

Dad.

He turned on the speakerphone.

-Hello.

—Are you at Oscorp?

-Yeah.

—I need to talk to you.

—About what?

—Spider-Man.

{{user}} sighed.

-Dad...

—He reappeared last night.

—I already saw it.

—And there are other incidents.

{{user}} looked at the microscope again.

—I am working with samples that show similar alterations.

-Be careful.

The automatic door opened.

Soobin entered wearing a white coat, with documents under his arm and his camera hanging around his neck.

-Hello.

{{user}} looked up.

—Hello, Soobin.

He smiled.

—Am I interrupting?

-No.

Then {{user}} spoke into the phone.

—Dad, Soobin just came in.

There was a pause.

—Soobin?

He raised an eyebrow.

—Am I famous?

{{user}} smiled.

—My dad remembers you.

—That sounds worrying.

"You work in genetics, right?" her father asked.

-Yes sir.

—Have you heard anything about the recent incidents?

Soobin remained still.

-No.

{{user}} noticed it.

-Sure?

Soobin looked at her.

—Absolutely.

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

—You seemed nervous.

Soobin smiled.

—Maybe I just look suspicious.

{{user}} let out a small laugh.

-A bit.

Then Soobin's phone vibrated.

An alert.

EMERGENCY — MIDTOWN.

His spider-sense reacted immediately.

Soobin put the phone away.

"Everything alright?" asked {{user}} .

-Yeah.

-Sure?

Soobin looked towards the window.

Manhattan shimmered before them.

Mermaids.

Buildings.

Helicopters.

And something was happening.

—I just remembered that I forgot something.

-That?

Soobin picked up his camera.

-My life.

He left the laboratory.

{{user}} kept staring at him.

Then he lowered his gaze.

Soobin's camera had been left on the table.

The screen was on.

A photograph appeared.

She.

At the chess club.

Ten years ago.

{{user}} frowned.

—Why the hell does he still have this?

Meanwhile, several floors below, Soobin entered an empty elevator.

The doors closed.

His expression changed.

I didn't know who Lizard was.

I didn't know who was behind the blackouts.

I didn't know what was happening inside Oscorp.

I still didn't know that someone called Green Goblin was watching everything from the shadows.

But I did know something.

Someone needed help.

And Spider-Man had to show up.

Spider-Man.

Soobin sighed.

—Another long night.

I didn't know who was behind that mask.

I didn't know exactly where his powers had come from.

And he also didn't know who the people responsible were for the strange incidents that were beginning to appear around New York.

I only knew one thing:

Every night there were more problems.

🏠 LATER — SOOBIN'S HOUSE

Soobin was looking through photographs of the university when Mary walked past him.

It stopped.

He looked at the screen.

Then he looked at his nephew.

—Her again?

Soobin raised his head.

-That?

Mary pointed to the photograph.

Era {{user}} .

—I don't know what you're talking about.

—Soobin.

—It's for the newspaper.

-Clear.

Mary smiled.

—You've been photographing her since high school.

Soobin looked away.

—That's not how it is.

—Then talk to him.

-So that?

—Because you like it.

Soobin let out a nervous laugh.

—That was years ago.

Mary raised an eyebrow.

—And you still have a photograph of her from ten years ago.

Silence.

Soobin did not respond.

Mary sat down opposite him.

—You don't have to tell her you're in love. Just talk to her.

—I don't know how.

—It starts with "hello".

Soobin smiled.

—Thanks, Auntie. Extremely helpful.

-You are welcome.

Mary made coffee and looked at him again.

—Now he works with you. How many chances do you need?

Soobin looked at the photograph again.

—I don't want to ruin it.

—You don't have to impress her. Just let her get to know you.

Soobin remained thoughtful.

—What if he doesn't like me?

—Then you will survive.

He let out a small laugh.

Mary placed a cup in front of him.

—But at least you'll stop wondering what would have happened.

Soobin drank the coffee.

Perhaps he was right.

Maybe this time I could try.

📰 THE NEXT MORNING — OSCORP

The televisions in the cafeteria were broadcasting the news.

“Police are continuing to investigate a series of incidents that have occurred in recent weeks. The vigilante known as Spider-Man intervened again last night during an operation.”

The images showed Spider-Man swinging between buildings.

Soobin looked at the screen from afar.

Then the reporter continued:

“Authorities are also investigating a strange incident that occurred at a private laboratory in Manhattan. Witnesses described seeing an apparently human-like figure with reptilian-like features.”

The image was blurry.

There was no name.

There was no identity.

Just a silhouette.

“Police still don’t know who or what caused the incident.”

Soobin frowned.

An experiment?

It was possible.

Oscorp had too many secret projects.

The news changed.

“On the other hand, investigators continue to search for the person responsible for a massive power outage that recently occurred in Manhattan.”

The images showed destroyed cables and buildings without electricity.

“Police suspect it may have been a technological accident. However, some witnesses claim to have seen a figure surrounded by electricity.”

Soobin looked at the screen.

Two strange incidents.

Two possible experiments.

And no one has been identified as responsible.

Still.

I didn't know that Curt Connors and Max Dillon were behind those events.

And I certainly never imagined that both of them would end up becoming threats to Spider-Man.

For now, they were just unanswered questions.

☕ CAFETERIA

{{user}} was talking on the phone with his father.

—Spider-Man again?

-Yeah.

—Dad, he helped stop the criminals.

-It doesn't matter.

-Because?

—Because nobody knows who he is.

—Perhaps it's not a threat.

—I don't trust someone who hides behind a mask.

{{user}} sighed.

—You always have to contradict me.

—I just want you to be careful.

Across the cafeteria, Soobin was pretending to read a report.

But I was listening.

"And I want you to be especially careful at Oscorp," his father added. "Too many strange things are happening there."

Soobin raised his gaze slightly.

His father continued:

—We don't know if they are related.

Oscorp.

Soobin looked around.

For the first time, he began to wonder if any of those experiments could be related to his own powers.

🧬 LABORATORY

Hours later, {{user}} was in front of a microscope.

He had found a strange alteration in a rabbit blood sample.

—That shouldn't be happening...

He enlarged the image.

The cells showed an abnormal regenerative capacity.

Her phone vibrated.

Dad.

He turned on the speakerphone.

-Hello.

—Are you at Oscorp?

-Yeah.

—I need to talk to you.

—About what?

—Spider-Man.

{{user}} sighed.

-Dad...

—He reappeared last night.

—I already saw it.

—And there are other incidents.

{{user}} looked at the microscope again.

—I am working with samples that show similar alterations.

-Be careful.

The automatic door opened.

Soobin entered wearing a white coat, with documents under his arm and his camera hanging around his neck.

-Hello.

{{user}} looked up.

—Hello, Soobin.

He smiled.

—Am I interrupting?

-No.

Then {{user}} spoke into the phone.

—Dad, Soobin just came in.

There was a pause.

—Soobin?

He raised an eyebrow.

—Am I famous?

{{user}} smiled.

—My dad remembers you.

—That sounds worrying.

"You work in genetics, right?" her father asked.

-Yes sir.

—Have you heard anything about the recent incidents?

Soobin remained still.

-No.

{{user}} noticed it.

-Sure?

Soobin looked at her.

—Absolutely.

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

—You seemed nervous.

Soobin smiled.

—Maybe I just look suspicious.

{{user}} let out a small laugh.

-A bit.

Then Soobin's phone vibrated.

An alert.

EMERGENCY — MIDTOWN.

His spider-sense reacted immediately.

Soobin put the phone away.

"Everything alright?" asked {{user}} .

-Yeah.

-Sure?

Soobin looked out the window.

Manhattan shimmered before them.

Mermaids.

Buildings.

Helicopters.

And something was happening.

—I just remembered that I forgot something.

-That?

Soobin picked up his camera.

-My life.

He left the laboratory.

{{user}} kept staring at him.

Then he lowered his gaze.

Soobin's camera had been left on the table.

The screen was on.

A photograph appeared.

She.

At the chess club.

Ten years ago.

{{user}} frowned.

—Why the hell does he still have this?

Meanwhile, several floors below, Soobin entered an empty elevator.

The doors closed.

His expression changed.

I didn't know who Lizard was.

I didn't know who was behind the blackouts.

I didn't know what was happening inside Oscorp.

I still didn't know that someone called Green Goblin was watching everything from the shadows.

But I did know something.

Someone needed help.

And Spider-Man had to show up.