Marvel’s Shadowed Knight

Wayne's acting was indeed on point, but it didn't completely erase Shadow Spider's doubts.

No ordinary person would go for a run in the middle of the night, let alone dare to approach a place that was obviously an ideal spot for committing a crime after hearing a noise.

However, Shadow Spider's immediate concern was how to conceal his identity.

The Spider-Man of this world was already dead. His public memorial had taken place in front of countless onlookers.

If he wasn't careful, he might accidentally turn this fallen hero into someone accused of deceiving the public.

"Oh no, no, no! I'm just a die-hard Spider-Man fan. I just made some personal modifications to his suit."

"Think about it—how could Spider-Man ever fall from a wall, right?"

"But sir, why are you out for a run so late at night?" Shadow Spider quickly shifted the conversation, seizing control of the situation.

He was confident that his question was perfectly reasonable.

"Insomnia," Wayne replied, rubbing his temples with a pained expression. "Lately, the stress has been too much. I thought maybe running might help me sleep better."

"Isn't it supposed to be that when people get tired, they sleep well? I don't want to take sleeping pills. If I keep them at home, I'm afraid that one day, in a moment of despair, I might just end it all."

His tone was filled with helpless frustration over his struggle with insomnia.

Shadow Spider hesitated, unsure how to respond. Back in his time, not many people relied on sleeping pills just to get some rest.

Now, despite the world being more technologically advanced, it seemed like people were even more exhausted than before.

For now, Shadow Spider decided to lower his guard slightly. He stepped forward and reached out to place a hand on Wayne's shoulder.

But something about the gesture felt a little off.

A man around 5'11" placing a hand on the shoulder of a 6'3" man—it just looked awkward.

Of course, Shadow Spider wasn't just doing this to offer comfort.

He wanted to see if Wayne would react defensively—whether he would resist such an abrupt action.

A person suffering from anxiety and insomnia would naturally be on edge if a stranger invaded their personal space.

Sure enough, Shadow Spider sensed Wayne's initial resistance, though it only lasted for a brief moment.

Wayne did show discomfort, so Shadow Spider immediately let go and offered an apology.

"Sorry, I have a habit of doing that when I talk to people," Shadow Spider said, pressing down on the brim of his hat, his tone apologetic.

"It's fine." Wayne's expression, however, was noticeably stiff.

"I hope you get a good night's sleep someday." Leaving those parting words, Shadow Spider walked out of the alley first.

Even as he left, he kept part of his attention on Wayne, watching for any reaction.

Yet everything Wayne did fit perfectly within Shadow Spider's positive assumptions.

All signs pointed to this man being nothing more than an insomniac, desperate enough to risk his life jogging in the dead of night.

"Looks like insomnia is scarier than death."

Shadow Spider had never experienced insomnia himself.

But seeing Wayne like this, he truly believed that insomnia was a terrifying thing.

If possible, he never wanted to experience it in his lifetime.

By the time Wayne stepped out of the alley, there was no trace of Shadow Spider left. Still, he visibly flinched, putting on a convincing act of being startled by the sudden disappearance.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and ran back the way he had come.

From a rooftop not far away, Shadow Spider watched this scene unfold before finally feeling at ease and leaving for good.

"What a cautious guy."

As Wayne ran home, even he couldn't help but admire Shadow Spider's level of caution.

Then again, considering the state of New York at that time, it made sense.

As a private detective, Shadow Spider had survived not just because of his superpowers but because of his extreme vigilance.

Otherwise, given how dangerous New York had been back then, he would have been dead long ago.

Even private detectives in present-day New York couldn't be certain whether they might meet an untimely and mysterious end one day.

But after tonight's encounter, Wayne's determination to deal with Kingpin only grew stronger.

The mere fact that going for a night run could put him under someone's scrutiny was unsettling.

Meanwhile, back at their hideout, Shadow Spider returned to find that Penny Parker, another Spider-Man, was still awake. She had been waiting quietly for his return.

"What happened?" Penny asked, her concern evident. She hadn't known Shadow Spider for long, but in this unfamiliar world, she worried something might happen to him.

If one Spider-Man could die, then a second one could too.

No matter who it was, Penny didn't want to see anyone else meet the same fate.

"Just a guy suffering from insomnia, hoping to run himself into exhaustion so he could fall asleep," Shadow Spider said honestly. Unlike with Wayne, he had no reason to put up a front with Penny.

Hearing this, Penny let out a sigh of relief.

"Figures. No matter when or where, insomnia is always miserable." She understood the struggle all too well.

Even in her own world, which was far more advanced, there was still no real solution to insomnia.

The best they could do was use medication to force people into sleep.

The wealthy had access to sleep pods that could artificially relieve fatigue, but those were luxuries that most people could never afford, not even in several lifetimes.

"Alright, go to bed now. Kids need their sleep," Shadow Spider said, gently pushing Penny toward her room.

"You should get some rest too."

She was still worried that Shadow Spider might sneak out again without telling them, heading off to investigate on his own.

That would be truly concerning.

"I know," Shadow Spider nodded.

He lay down on the couch, yawned exaggeratedly, and pretended to look drowsy.

Seeing him like this, Penny smiled and left, thinking he would probably fall asleep soon.

But the moment she was gone, Shadow Spider's exhaustion vanished. His large white eyes snapped wide open.

Something about his encounter with Wayne tonight felt… off.

Like he had missed something.

Something important.

"What exactly was it?"

He stared at the warm glow of the ceiling, lost in deep thought.

And then, it hit him.

Had he just gotten dragged into the terrifying world of insomnia?

Panic set in as he quickly shut his eyes, repeatedly telling himself to sleep.

But no matter how much he tried to will himself into slumber, sleep just wouldn't come.

It was unbearable.

Little did Wayne know, he had somehow succeeded in making a Spider-Man—who had never struggled with sleep—experience insomnia for the first time.

Meanwhile, Wayne was at home stretching, completely unaware.

He made sure to maintain his flexibility even after a workout.

Otherwise, his movements in battle could become stiff and difficult.

One wrong move, and he could put himself in serious danger.

(End of Chapter)

Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon

https://patreon.com/Glimmer09