1 Shot Story

"This is a one-shot story I created, though there's a chance I may expand it into a full story.

POV: Gerald Weston

[New York City]

"Thank you, sir. Come again!" The cashier's voice cut through the hum of the fast food restaurant, a polite but automatic farewell. I nodded in response, my mouth already watering as I unwrapped the greasy paper around my burger. With a satisfied grin, I took my first bite, the savory taste of seasoned beef and melted cheese hitting the spot perfectly.

As I stepped outside the bustling McDonald's, the noise of New York City greeted me like an old friend—the distant honking of taxis, the chatter of pedestrians, and the hum of a million conversations blending together. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the skyscrapers, but the city's energy showed no signs of slowing down.

I took another bite, savoring the comfort of something so simple amidst the chaos. The streets were packed, each person moving with purpose, their lives unfolding in parallel to mine. A couple hustled by, arms intertwined, the woman laughing as she tugged the man forward. A street vendor waved a brightly colored umbrella, calling out to anyone who'd listen. I passed a musician strumming his guitar, his soulful melody drifting through the air, trying to catch the attention of someone willing to spare a dollar.

The rhythm of the city, its pulse, was almost intoxicating. Every face I saw told a story, every step I took felt like part of something bigger. The crowd parted slightly to let me through, but it never seemed to slow down. In New York, you had to keep up or get swallowed by the tide.

BOOM!!

The explosion hit me like a shockwave, sudden and violent, tearing through the air with an intensity that made my bones rattle. My head whipped around instinctively, and my eyes darted to the source. The collective gasp of the crowd echoed around me as people froze, all of us drawn to the spectacle unfolding above the rooftops.

I wasn't the only one looking up. The sky above was alive with chaos. A blur of motion, flashing between buildings, as three figures clashed in mid-air. One of them was unmistakable—the bright red and blue suit, the webbed patterns, and the sharp acrobatics. Spider-Man. But he wasn't alone.

The fight between them escalated rapidly. The Vulture darted in and out of view, his wings beating furiously as he launched a flurry of razor-sharp talons toward Spider-Man. The Green Goblin cackled maniacally from his glider, hurling pumpkin bombs that exploded in mid-air, sending shards of debris and smoke everywhere. Spider-Man, ever the acrobat, dodged and weaved, his reflexes pushing him to the limit as he narrowly avoided the deadly attacks.

For a moment, it seemed like the two villains might have the upper hand. The Vulture's aerial advantage kept Spider-Man on the defensive, and the Green Goblin's relentless barrage of explosives was making the air thick with danger.

But Spider-Man was nothing if not resourceful.

With a quick flip, he launched a web to snag the Vulture's legs, momentarily grounding him. The villain screeched in frustration, flapping his wings violently to break free, but Spider-Man was already two steps ahead. In a blur of motion, he swung to the Goblin's glider, pulling the maniacal figure off balance and sending the glider spiraling out of control. The Goblin screamed as his glider careened toward a nearby rooftop, and Spider-Man quickly followed, using his webs to latch onto the glider and bring it to a sudden halt.

For a brief moment, it seemed like Spider-Man had the upper hand, but the battle was far from over. The Vulture, shaking off the webs that had briefly grounded him, let out a furious screech and dove back into the fray, his wings beating with renewed force. His rage was palpable, but Spider-Man had already regained his footing. With quick reflexes and sharp instincts, he began to turn the tide, keeping the villains on the defensive.

With a sudden, calculated move, Spider-Man swung himself toward the Vulture. He shot a powerful web that wrapped around the villain, slamming him against the side of a nearby building, leaving him stuck in place, his wings flailing in vain. The Green Goblin, meanwhile, had recovered enough to take aim, his hand pulling another pumpkin bomb from his belt. But Spider-Man was already one step ahead, launching a quick web shot that immobilized the Goblin, trapping him in a sticky cocoon.

Just as Spider-Man thought the fight was winding down, something unexpected happened.

BZZZZZZT!

A small, mechanical buzz filled the air. From the shadows, a tiny drone—no bigger than a fist—shot into view, zipping toward the Vulture. It was one of his minions, a high-tech winged device with razor-sharp claws. With precise timing, the drone sliced through the webbing, freeing the Vulture with a series of quick, surgical cuts.

Spider-Man's eyes widened as more drones suddenly appeared, swarming the area, their mechanical wings buzzing ominously. The air was thick with the sound of their engines as they dove toward him, claws extended and weapons ready. The Vulture, now freed, took advantage of the distraction, launching back into the sky with a deadly swoop.

But this time, things took a darker turn.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the Vulture let out a savage cry and dove straight for the streets below. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any leverage, and that's when he spotted me—standing frozen in the chaos of the battle.

Without hesitation, his wings beat with a violent force, propelling him downward. In a blur of motion, he was behind me before I could react. His talons shot out, seizing me by the back of my jacket, lifting me off the ground with terrifying speed. His sharp, blade-like feathers brushed dangerously against my neck, and I felt the cold metal press into my skin.

"Don't do it!" I heard Spider-Man yell, but his voice was drowned out by the rushing wind as the Vulture hoisted me higher into the air.

The Vulture's voice was low and menacing, a twisted grin audible in his tone. "Think you can stop me now, Spider-Man? This is your only chance to save your little friend."

I could feel the pressure of his claws digging into my sides, threatening to pierce through my skin at any moment. 

But despite the danger, I remain calm.

As my body dangled in the air, I instinctively reached into the brown McDonald's bag I had been holding before the Vulture grabbed me. My fingers brushed the warm, crinkled paper, and I made sure to tuck the burger carefully inside before the wind could blow it away.

Even in the face of a life-threatening situation, some things felt too important to ignore. The burger. My small slice of normalcy amidst the chaos.

But I wasn't about to let this situation play out as the Vulture expected.

Without hesitation, I tightened my grip on the brown bag in one hand while my other shot up, seizing the Vulture's arm with an iron grip. His eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, I squeezed. Hard.

A sickening crunch reverberated through the air, followed by a bloodcurdling scream that echoed near the back of my head. The Vulture's talons faltered, and we dropped several feet as he struggled to regain control. But I wasn't done.

With a swift motion, I twisted around, grabbing his face with my free hand. His panicked cries turned into a desperate, choked gurgle as my fingers pressed against the metal of his helmet and the fragile bones beneath. His struggles grew weaker, his wings flailing erratically.

"Y-You're—what are you?!" he stammered, his voice quaking in disbelief.

I stared into his terrified eyes, my voice calm, detached, and unshaken. "You're done."

With one sharp motion, I crushed his face completely. The sound of shattering bone, splintering metal, and wet crunches blended into a grotesque symphony. His wings spasmed uselessly, his body convulsing as we began to plummet, spiraling downward like a broken kite caught in a storm.

The ground rushed up to meet us, but I wasn't done yet. As we neared impact, I shifted my grip, slamming the Vulture's head downward with all my strength.

BOOM!

His skull shattered upon impact, blood, flesh, and fragmented bone bursting outward in a gruesome display. The mechanical components of his suit cracked and exploded from the force, scattering debris in all directions. A crater formed beneath us, the asphalt groaning as it caved under the immense pressure. Dust and rubble rose in a thick cloud, shrouding the aftermath of the impact.

I stood in the center of the chaos, the lifeless, mangled remains of the Vulture beneath me, his once-menacing form now reduced to scraps of metal and broken flesh. The fractured ground radiated outward like the web of a spider, a testament to the sheer force of the strike.

Through the settling dust, I caught sight of Spider-Man, perched on the edge of a nearby rooftop, staring at me in stunned silence. His wide white eyes seemed to blink once in disbelief, then again in something approaching fear.

"What… the hell?" Spider-Man muttered, his voice almost a whisper. He shot a webline to swing down, landing on a lamppost a safe distance away. His posture was tense, uncertain.

"What have you done?" he finally called out, his tone a mix of suspicion and shock.

I ignored him, dusting off my jacket and checking the brown McDonald's bag in my hand. The burger was still intact. Good.

Spider-Man raised a hand as if to gesture, his voice sharper now. "Hey! I'm talking to you—"

A shrill laugh cut through the air, interrupting him. The Green Goblin.

"Bravo! Bravo!" the Goblin cackled, clapping mockingly as he hovered nearby on his glider. His sharp-toothed grin widened as he tilted his head at the sight of the crater. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting that. But now I'm curious—just what are you, boy?"

I looked up at him, my calm gaze locking with his manic, yellow eyes. He wasn't scared. Yet.

"You should've stayed out of it," I said flatly, my voice carrying across the street with unnerving clarity.

The Goblin's grin faltered, if only for a split second. Then he threw his head back and laughed again. "Oh, you think you're scary? Kid, I'm scary!" He reached for a pumpkin bomb from his belt, the orange orb glowing ominously. "Let me show you how it's done!"

Before he could throw it, I moved.

With a burst of strength, I leaped from the crater, my feet crushing the fractured concrete beneath me as I soared toward him. The Goblin's eyes widened, his grin finally disappearing as I reached him faster than he could react.

"No, no—stay back!" he yelled, fumbling with the bomb.

I grabbed his wrist mid-throw, the force of my grip cracking the fragile bones beneath his gauntlet. He screamed, the bomb tumbling harmlessly to the ground below before detonating in an orange explosion. The shockwave rippled upward, but it didn't faze me.

The Goblin swung wildly with his free hand, clawing at my face, but I caught his other arm with ease, twisting it backward until I heard the satisfying snap of dislocated joints. His screams grew louder, desperate.

"You talk too much," I said coldly, raising him higher by his shattered wrist. His legs dangled uselessly, his glider veering out of control without its master's commands.

Below, Spider-Man swung closer, his voice urgent and desperate. "Wait! Stop! Don't kill him!"

I glanced down at him, locking eyes with the wide white lenses of his mask. "Why not?"

"Because that's not how this works!" Spider-Man shouted, his voice strained with both anger and fear. "We don't kill. We stop them, we bring them to justice—but we don't kill!"

A wet, gurgling laugh escaped the Goblin's bloodied lips, his head lolling weakly to one side. Blood dripped from his mouth as he gasped out, "Listen to the boy scout… he thinks he's better than you… thinks you're the monster…"

I ignored Spider-Man and his desperate appeals. The world had no room for monsters like the Green Goblin.

With my free hand, I grabbed the Goblin's helmet and yanked it off in one sharp motion, exposing his pale, sweat-slicked face. His wide, bloodshot eyes glared at me, full of rage and a flicker of fear.

"Let's see who the real monster is," I muttered.

Reaching down to his belt, I plucked one of his pumpkin bombs and activated it. The orb pulsed with a menacing orange glow, the faint sound of its internal mechanism ticking like a countdown to doom.

"No, no! What are you doing?!" the Goblin screeched, thrashing weakly in my grip.

"You like bombs, don't you?" I said, my voice cold and unyielding.

Before he could react, I slammed the bomb into his mouth with brutal force. His jaw gave way with a sickening crack, the bone snapping like dry wood. Flesh tore as the corners of his mouth ripped apart, blood pouring from the ragged wounds and splattering across my arm. His throat spasmed as I forced the bomb deeper, ignoring his muffled screams and the desperate gurgles that followed.

The sharp edges of the bomb tore at the soft tissue of his throat as it slid further down. His bloodshot eyes bulged in horror, his hands flailing uselessly, unable to fight back against my overwhelming strength.

Spider-Man froze mid-swing, his voice trembling as he yelled, "Stop it! You're going to kill him!"

I turned my head slightly toward him, my expression unreadable. "He was already dead the moment he put innocent lives in danger."

The Goblin's body convulsed violently, his muffled screams fading into a wet, choking gurgle as the bomb lodged deeper in his throat. His bloodshot eyes bulged in terror, his limbs flailing weakly in futile resistance.

I released his shattered wrist, letting him fall like a discarded puppet. He plummeted toward the streets below, the orange glow of the bomb flickering ominously through his torn and bloodied mouth.

BOOM!

The explosion ripped through the air, a violent burst of fire and smoke. The shockwave rattled nearby windows as fragments of blood, bone, and scraps of the Goblin's green armor sprayed outward. A gruesome rain of gore painted the cracked asphalt. When the smoke cleared, a smoldering crater marked the spot where he had landed. His body—or what remained of it—was unrecognizable, reduced to nothing but charred debris.

Spider-Man landed on the edge of the crater, his movements shaky as he stared at the destruction in disbelief. His fists clenched tightly, his whole frame tense as he struggled to find words. When he finally spoke, his voice was a mixture of anger and sorrow. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

I jumped, landing gracefully next to him, the deactivated glider from the Green Goblin now in my grip. I brushed bits of blood and debris from my sleeve as though the carnage behind me was nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience. My voice was calm, detached. "He's not coming back to hurt anyone else. Isn't that the point?"

Spider-Man's masked eyes narrowed, his voice rising with barely contained rage. "That's not justice. That's murder! You don't get to decide who lives and who dies!"

I met his gaze, unflinching, my tone laced with mocking calmness. "Murder? No. It was self-defense."

"Self-defense?!" Spider-Man's voice cracked as he pointed to the crater, his hand trembling. "You shoved a bomb down his throat! You executed him like he was nothing!"

I tilted my head, feigning thoughtfulness, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. "Funny. I don't recall laws protecting terrorists. He was a threat—a maniac who endangered innocent lives. Eliminating him was the only logical choice. Or…" I stepped closer, lowering my voice into a cold whisper. "Are you suggesting I should've just let him kill me instead?"

Spider-Man's fists curled tightly at his sides, his voice trembling with frustration. "We stop them! We bring them in, so they can face justice in a court of law—not… this!"

I raised an eyebrow, leaning back with mock surprise. "What do you mean we?"

Spider-Man froze, his mouth opening slightly before closing again, clearly caught off guard.

I chuckled softly, shaking my head as though disappointed in him. "You're the hero here, remember? Me?" I gestured to myself, my smirk growing. "I'm just an innocent bystander—a victim, actually. I was minding my own business when your villains decided to take me hostage and, let's not forget, attempted to kill me."

I widened my eyes in exaggerated disbelief, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "And you're accusing me of murder? For defending myself?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Really, Spider-Man, maybe if you'd been faster, I wouldn't have had to save my own life."

The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, Spider-Man's posture stiffening as he tried to process what I'd just said. His jaw tightened, but for once, he had no immediate response.

I took a step closer, my tone dropping into something almost casual. "Look around you. Who's still standing? Me. Who's lying in pieces in that crater? Him." I pointed toward the carnage without even glancing at it. "I'd say I did your job for you. Maybe you should be thanking me instead of giving me a lecture."

Spider-Man's voice was barely above a whisper, strained with frustration and disbelief. "You… you don't understand what it means to be a hero."

I smirked, tossing the deactivated glider toward him. "Use this to upgrade your arsenal if you want. Improvise, do whatever you need." I turned, waving dismissively as I did. "You're right. I don't understand. But I understand survival." I glanced back at him over my shoulder, my expression unreadable. "And in the real world, Spider-Man, survival is the only thing that matters."

With that, I walked past him, leaving him standing in silence by the edge of the crater, the echoes of my words cutting through the aftermath of the chaos like a blade.

Then, it hit me.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, my pace halting abruptly.

Spider-Man's head snapped up, confusion replacing his anger. "What?"

I sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over my face as the realization sank in. "My burger," I said flatly, glancing at the McDonald's bag still in my grip, now crumpled and empty.

Spider-Man blinked, the intensity of the moment evaporating as he stared at me in stunned silence.

I shook my head, muttering to myself as I continued walking, the smell of smoke and ash in the air. "All that for a goddamn burger…"

A/N:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this 1 Shot Story! Your feedback and opinions are what drive this story forward and will be the catalyst for shaping it into something even better. Every comment, suggestion, or critique helps me grow as a writer and brings fresh ideas to the table. So, please don't hesitate to share what you think!

Thank you for reading, and I can't wait to see what insights you all have!