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Nolan stood across the street, watching Jessica stagger toward her dingy little detective agency.
He needed to find the right moment to approach her. Grabbing her outright wasn't an option.
He wasn't even sure he could beat her in a fight right now. Sitting inside a coffee shop across the street, Nolan watched her office door, thinking it over. Then he got up and started walking toward it.
It hit him she's a detective. Why not just hire her? That would be the cleanest way to make contact.
He had just crossed the street when Jessica stepped out, locking the door behind her. Looked like she'd just woken up and was already calling it a day.
Seriously? Was business that good?
Nolan quickened his pace. Just as he was about to call out to her—
A massive explosion lit up the sky in the distance.
"Hahahahaha! Come on, Spider-boy! You'll never catch me!"
The skies echoed with manic laughter as a figure zipped through the air on a glider cackling like a goblin.
"Green Goblin! Stop right there!"
A flash of red and blue leaped between buildings in hot pursuit.
Nolan blinked. Great. Of all days to be out, he just had to bump into those two.
Spider-Man's presence meant Green Goblin was definitely the one who'd started this. Nolan quickly pulled out his phone and texted Klaue. Hopefully, this wasn't one of his screwups.
"Still chasing me? Maybe save the civilians instead!" the Goblin taunted, lobbing pumpkin-shaped bombs in every direction.
Explosions tore through the air. Rubble rained from buildings. Screams echoed down the block.
Peter's face tensed behind the mask. He fired webs like crazy, yanking debris aside and snatching people out of harm's way.
"Goblin! I said STOP!"
Green Goblin turned, saw how close Spidey had gotten again, and chucked more bombs in all directions.
Nolan looked up just in time to see red and green streaks past overhead. Classic, he thought. Spidey's rogues gallery really had a thing for green.
But then he saw it one of the bombs was heading straight for Jessica.
She was still disoriented, hungover from earlier, only just registering the chaos around her.
"Look out!" Nolan shouted, launching himself toward her.
Jessica turned her head, spotted someone diving at her, and reflexively threw a punch.
Her fist caught Nolan square in the gut.
Just then, the bomb hit.
Her office exploded behind her. Debris shot out like shrapnel, but Jessica instinctively shattered the rubble with a single swing of her arm.
Nolan, now gasping on the pavement and feeling like his organs had rearranged themselves, gritted through the pain. That… is the power I want.
He rolled over, coughing up his coffee, barely able to move.
"Oh crap…"
Jessica's expression shifted to panic. She'd realized what had just happened.
He wasn't attacking her he was saving her.
She had hit the guy who'd just saved her life.
'Goddammit,' she cursed inwardly.
Jessica had been through hell thanks to Kilgrave. Trusting people, especially men, wasn't easy.
But this… this man had saved her.
"You okay?" Peter landed beside her, noticing the telltale signs of super-strength. Her face was familiar, but he didn't say anything. "Can you help me get people out?"
"Just a sec!"
Jessica turned and sprinted toward the guy she'd punched. She knew how hard she could hit.
But Nolan was already sitting up, groaning and clutching his stomach.
"You're… strong," he wheezed. "Think you cracked my spleen…"
He was totally fine, of course, but no need to tell her that.
Peter blinked, confused by the exchange. "Okay, cool, you got this I'm out!" He fired a web line and slingshotted after the Goblin.
"I was actually here to see you, Jessica. Heard you're a hell of a private eye…"
Nolan clutched his side, playing the injured victim to perfection.
"You know me?"
Jessica sat awkwardly in the coffee shop, visibly uncomfortable. Coffee shops brought up bad memories.
Memories she'd rather not relive.
But Nolan had risked his life to save her. That counted for something.
"Of course. Why else would I come looking for you? Though I gotta admit, I didn't expect you to have that kind of strength. Are you… enhanced?"
"You know about people like us?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm one of them," Nolan whispered. "Otherwise, you'd have killed me back there. I thought you were just a normal PI —didn't expect someone superhuman."
"You think I'm a mutant?"
"No. My powers came from a lab accident. Fire. Burned up half my body when I was a kid. But after that, I started healing faster. Way faster. I call myself the Phoenix."
He shrugged. "Aren't we all supposed to have code names? What's yours?"
"Just… Jessica's fine."
She didn't look thrilled with the question.
Sensing her discomfort, Nolan shifted gears. "Right, sorry. I did come here for a reason. I need your help tracking someone down."
He slid a folder across the table.
Jessica flipped it open. The name jumped out at her: Ulysses Klaue.
"Who is this?"
Nolan's expression darkened.
"A trafficker. He kidnapped my brother years ago. I've been chasing him ever since. I just got word he might be in New York."
He leaned in slightly. "I don't know the city well, so… I'm hiring you."
Jessica scanned the file, her brows furrowed. "Alright. I'll take the case."
She stood. "And since you saved my ass earlier… no deposit needed. I'll contact you when I have something."
She was clearly ready to bolt.
"Wait—can I at least get your number?" Nolan asked quickly. "So I can stay in the loop?"
"Fine. But don't call at night. And if I don't answer, I'm probably passed out."
She slapped a card onto the table and turned to leave without another word.
Nolan smiled as he watched her go.
Step one: complete.
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