Meeting Spider-Man
Harry decided he was going to leave his cloak behind today. It was getting unreasonably difficult to navigate the streets without being seen, and today he was planning on going dumpster diving - an excursion on which he would rather not bring his priceless family heirloom.
He was hoping to find a mattress, blanket, or even cardboard boxes to sleep on - something other than the cold concrete. He couldn't exactly carry those under his invisibility cloak anyway. Which meant he couldn't steal them. Ergo, the dumpster diving.
So Harry draped his cloak over his bag, keeping his last belongings safe. He crept down the fire escape, and started searching for a dumpster.
He only managed to get five blocks over before he was cornered. He had gone down the alley, having spotted a promising looking dumpster, and didn't even realise there was already someone there.
So now he was getting beat up.
Which was, you know, great. Nothing he wasn't used to. The guy would tire soon, and leave him alone. Probably.
The guy delivered a somewhat painful kick to his already stinging back that made Harry cry out.
Not even thirty seconds later, the guy was pulled off of him. Harry looked up, confused, and saw him.
And now he was even more confused.
On the roof, there was a guy wearing a red and blue spandex. And on the wall, was his attacker.
Granted, he knew New York had its fair share of vigilantes, but he never expected to meet one. He did a little bit of research in the library computer at Surrey last summer, when he wanted to get out of the house. He started with quantum theory, and fell down an internet rabbit hole and ended up researching Superheroes in New York.
This one was Spider… something. Who operated in Queens, if he remembered correctly. Which meant Harry was in Queens. Lovely.
Spider-dude leapt off the roof, and landed in front of Harry.
“Hey kid,” The Spider-guy said quietly, sticking a hand out to help Harry up. “I'm Spider-man,”
“Lovely meeting you,” Harry murmured.
“First time in the city?” Spider-man asked, his head tilting with the question.
“What gave it away? The accent or the mugging?” Harry grumbled.
“Accent. But hey, now you're a true New Yorker - we all get mugged at least once,” Spider-man said, trying to lighten the mood. Harry appeased him, surrendering a small half-smile.
“Well I appreciate the help, nonetheless. I'm sure you've probably alerted the authorities or something, so I better head back to my hotel. My parents are probably worried sick - I snuck out,” Harry lied. “Wanted to see the city at night,”
“Can't say it's not a beautiful sight, but try to stay safe, okay?” Spider-man shot back, not even blinking at the bold faced lie Harry told.
Harry nodded, and Spider-man swung away.
Harry left to go back to his rooftop, trying to hide his limp.
And he still didn’t have a bloody mattress.
Lovely.