Manhattan

At the top of the Harper-Rise Tower in the middle of the day where the sun painted the city orange, Roy Flynn was training to be a stronger fighter for the future. The top room was a base. It had a giant computer that was integrated into the wall, gadgets that hung on the side, and a training room for sparring. Roy was practicing with someone who had given him the hardest time in his life. Another 19-year-old named Rosie.

A few punches thrown, Rosie had no problems blocking and dodging them. When Roy made a big swing, Rosie grabbed it dead in its tracks and then returned with a kick to the stomach. Roy stumbled as he dropped to the ground, only stopping himself with his left knee standing him up.

“Pathetic.” Rosie said.

“Hey, why don’t I put the suit and on and then we can go a few rounds?” Roy said.

“That suit is being wasted on you. The point of this is to get stronger so you can fight without it.”

“I’m inclined to agree.” Desmond said as he sat on the chair in front of the computer, turned backwards to watch the event.

“Dad, why are you even giving this suit to him?” Rosie said. “Why can’t I be the Night Spider, is it a boys only club or something?”

“We’ve already been through this. The suit isn’t meant for you.”

“It certainly isn’t meant for him.”

Rosie stepped out of the training room, moving to the table on the right end to drink a bottle of water. Roy got up to his feet, and approached Desmond. It’s been about a year since Desmond Harper, the original Night Spider and one of the founding members of the Protectors, made him his apprentice and the second Night Spider.

“Look at you, this is how you fight?” Desmond said. “I’d say you fight like a girl, but in this case that would be a compliment.”

“Oh, I don’t want to hear that. I’m a bonafide Protector, which is more than her. Why are you even having me do this?”

“It’s as she said, you need to learn how to fight without it.”

“For your info, I’ve won plenty of fights without it back in the streets of Pittsburgh. Something she would know nothing about.”

“Against who? Untrained punks, kids, a granny? You need to learn finesse, to be stronger. Rosie understands that well. After all, she won the Karate World Championship in Japan at just sixteen.”

Roy groaned. This type of praising for Rosie was really getting on his nerves. The last thing he needed was to hear about how much better she was than him.

“My daughter has more drive than you as well. All this fighting experience? She wanted it. I didn’t force it upon her, she took it upon herself to be a strong person. I would’ve thought you’d be more willing to become stronger. You said you wanted to atone for the past, correct?”

“I do… but goddammit she’s making it difficult for me.”

“It’s called being a teacher!” Rosie yelled.

“More like a drill sergeant.” Roy said.

Rosie put down the water, wiping off the sweat with a towel and throwing it to the ground before walking closer to the two men. She had her arms crossed, her bright golden hair was a contrast to the graying-dark hair of her father. Her expression was stern, as it always was when Roy was around. He got the sense she didn’t like her.

“You know, I like how you think a crook is a better fit for the suit than your own daughter. I really helps with my trust issues.”

“You can trust me.” Desmond said.

“Just like how I can ‘trust’ you to tell me how my mom really died?”

Desmond was silent.

“Exactly.”

“Hey, miss.” Roy said. “This is a little beyond you. Why don’t you show a little more respect?”

“I show respect when it’s deserved.”

Rosie left the room without saying another word. The door slammed shut behind her, clearly she wasn’t in a happy mood. Rosie had enough training Roy for the day, and had her own business to take care of. It was fine with Roy, he wasn’t in the mood for any more of her words.

“What about her mom? What happened.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“To her it does.”

“Roy, why don’t you go home I think our day is up for now. You got some big things coming ahead of you, best be ready.”

“Way to sidestep my question.” Roy said. “But yeah, I’ve been wanting to go home anyways.”

Roy slammed a bottle of water, the cool liquid being heaven after an intensive day of training. He took a shower courtesy of the base’s bathroom, and put on a fresh pair of clothes. The last thing Roy wanted was to return home all smelly and sweaty. Physically and mentally refreshed, Roy took the elevator down to the garage. His black Harley-Davidson was right there, waiting for him to go home.

The bike made thundering noises as Roy rode off into the streets. He knew Kristy would be home right around this time, so it was best he was home to. He knew he had disappointed her before, his hero life often getting in the way of their relationship, but she understood because of the responsibilities it held.

However, he wasn’t going to disappoint her today.

Roy rode his bike to his new home, a Manhattan apartment that stood in the middle of the building. It was nice, better than he would be able to afford without Protector money, and all expenses were paid by Desmond. It was part of the deal when Roy took the identity of the Night Spider.

After parking his bike, Roy took off his helmet and smiled as he walked to the elevator. He hadn’t told Kristy he would be there at this time, so it’ll be a nice surprise. The elevator rode up, and there was a ding! before he stepped out in the hallway. It wasn’t long until he reached the door to their place. He unlocked it, and there Kristy was, happily surprised.

“You’re home!”

“I am.”

Roy took a seat after grabbing a soda from the fridge. It was a stool on a bar counter, he let out a sigh of relief that he can actually relax for the first time today. Kristy walked up and kissed him. She sat down next to Roy, she looked so beautiful with her long black hair and brown eyes. Kristy Park was working as an intern at Harper-Rise while balancing out her career as a college student, which meant she was often busy. Not that Roy wasn’t busy himself as the new Night Spider.

“It’s so crazy how it’s all happened like this.” Kristy said. “We were just two kids in Pittsburgh a while ago, now we’re in Manhattan? Who would’ve thought.”

“Well, thankfully we made a friend out of a rich businessman who set us up with this nice place.” Roy said. “No way we would’ve been able to afford it without him.”

“Yeah, except he wants you to dress up in some costume and fight against people trying to kill you.”

“Minus the costume, this is something I’m used to growing up.”

“Not something I want you go back to, though.”

Roy took a drink of his soda. He knew she was worried about him, but felt that it was his job to worry about her. He’s the Protector here, and there’s no one more he needs to protect than Kristy. She placed her hand on his right shoulder, he smiled at her. Everything was going good. They had a place, Roy’s job was bringing in the money, and they had a bright future ahead of them.

“Trust me, I got this under control.” Roy said. “Just had a rough day, and I want nothing more than to sit back and relax.”

Roy got off the stool and plumped himself on the sofa, turning on Netflix and putting a show on. He exhaled, finally getting some relaxation time. Kristy joined him on the couch. A few moments later, she spoke again.

“So, what happened today?”

“Training at the tower with Desmond’s ‘lovely’ daughter Rosie. I think she takes her issues with her dad out on me.”

“That doesn’t sound fun.”

“She isn’t happy that she doesn’t get to be the Night Spider, and something about her mom dying. Not really sure what all the details are, and I don’t think it’s my place to ask.”

“Sounds like even these wealthy Protectors have family drama.”

“I guess. She calls me weak because I’m not some world-class karate champ like she is, but what I am is someone who risks everything so to make the world a better place while she sits in her fancy penthouse.”

“Just because they’re wealthy doesn’t mean they don’t have their own issues.”

“It helps.”

“Yeah, like I’m sure all that money filled an empty hole when Desmond’s parents died, or when his wife died, or when he had to give up his career because of a heart attack. The point is, he may not have money issues but he’s got plenty of others.”

“I’m not saying him and his family doesn’t have his own problems, but I got mine. Rosie thinks so little of me because I was a criminal, but she doesn’t know what it’s like to be poor trying to survive on the cold streets.”

“It may not be as bad you, but you shouldn’t invalidate them.”

Roy looked up for a moment, before looking at Kristy. He knew she was trying to make a point, she never could stand anyone getting insulted.

“If only Rosie wasn’t invalidating me.”

“What do you think you can do to get her to like you more?”

“I don’t know, stop existing? I don’t plan to do that, though.”

“You always have a quip, don’t you?”

“You know it. But seriously though, I think anything related to the suit would be like rubbing salt on the wound.”

“Why don’t you talk to her about her mother? Try to be understanding, girls love that. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it, and maybe stop taking her anger out on you in training.”

“I’ll see.”

They didn’t speak again until the show was finished. It was the perfect time to rest, and recuperate energy. Roy got up and stretched, he walked over to the kitchen to make something to eat. Just then, Kristy spoke up again.

“You know, you got to show me around sometime at the Young Protectors base, introduce me to your friends.”

“Kristy…”

“I can’t just be on the sidelines and worry about you all the time.”

“You can’t get involved in my life as a Protector. If something happened to you, I would never forgive myself.”

“Please don’t say that. I can take care of myself just fine, but I need to know more about your friends and work life.”

“It’s not that great. I don’t really consider them to be friends, just coworkers. They don’t need to get too involved in my life, either.”

“Maybe you should open some more doors then, you can’t just have everything shut both ways.”

Roy groaned. It was only a matter of time before it came to this. Of course Kristy would try to get involved in his Protector life. But, there wasn’t anything he could do in this situation, so he had to agree.

“Alright… alright. I’ll see what I can do later.” Roy said. “Why don’t we go out right now, just hit the city?”

“Sounds good, but you better remember that you can’t keep me sidelined.”

“I don’t think you’ll let me forget anyways.”

“Oh, and we’re taking my car. Better safe than sorry.”

“Fine.”

Kristy led the way to her car, a mid-sized blue sedan, and then they drove into New York. They had burgers and fries, an American classic that Roy always liked. He looked outside, it had only been just over a year since he arrived in New York City from Pittsburgh, and he still sees new things every day.

But really, things were just getting started.