Vexillum

New York had never felt so united since the start of the flag project.

Of course there has been charity among the people, and help from the heroes and vigilantes but for the first time ever it felt like they were on the same level. 

Every person could help someone, may it be a superhero in need or your next door neighbour. 

For the first time it felt like the homeless people of New York were seen and helped, fed with free food from yellow flag homes, instead of being shunned from everyone’s sight. 

Injuries were helped more quickly and with clear reports for when EMTs arrived on the scene. 

More people are there for you than ever before when you are having a bad day. Either by professional help from a blue flag instalment or simply because the citizens from New York cared more. They started looking out for each other and truly realising that people had it rough sometimes, even if you can’t always see it from the outside. 

All these good deeds, started and continued by the dear people of New York. 

Since the initiation of the helping hands the city has been reformed. 

And Spider-Man plays a bigger role in it all than he might have realised before. 

 ***

A couple of days after a few pictures appeared on Twitter displaying a happy elderly couple with the masked vigilante, a few letters were delivered. 

A thank you to many, those who helped a red and blue clad hero in desperate times of needs. An honest gratitude for their help in effort, words and intentions.

A man who could miss a few dollars on food when Peter couldn’t receives one.

A mom who opened her home after her son left for college gets one. 

A crafty old lady shares the contents of a letter with her husband and grandchild. 

Three young but hard working college students get a shorter but still grateful one, with a recommendation to their professors included.

An older man with a smile that could light up a room opens one up as his wife comes home from their business downstairs. 

A non-profit charity organisation receives one for all the help and good deeds they have done. 

And lastly, the police force gets a long letter delivered to them. Thanking them for their efforts and everything else they can and will do. 

A short two weeks later, the rest of New York hears that same last letter. 

***

“Good day dear citizens of New York.” Officer Herman starts, “It’s been just a few weeks when I had the pleasure of announcing the helping hand project to the people of this city. We are very grateful for all you have done for each other and the hero’s that help us protect New York. In fact, I hold a handwritten thank you note from the masked hero himself.” 

He waves a piece of paper around for a moment, not revealing the contents of the letter yet.

The people around the city are practically stuck to the screen they’re watching the news on. 

Spider-Man has shown his gratitude many times and in many ways, but this felt different. Special. Perhaps even personal.

“I–Spider-Man– Want to thank the people of New York for all they have done these past few months. I believe to speak for everyone that we hope this benevolence will continue for many times to come. A great woman recently told me that if you help one person, you help everyone else in return. I have taken your words to heart and with the aid of some powerful people, I’d love to return it.” 

The screen zooms out, showing Officer Herman in the bottom right of the screen. The rest of the picture gets taken up by what appears to be an invitation. 

“This Saturday all people from New York are invited to the FEAST new FEAST facility on Time Square. For those who need help or offer it, and to those who might not need it now, but will some day. A thank you from Spider-Man to those who have thanked him first.”

The depiction of the time and location stays on screen for a few more moments before it disappears and focuses on Herman again. 

In a professional voice he talks about the specifications for the event. The security role the police force will play in it. The advanced food bank and other projects Spider-Man has pulled together for people. 

A food drive, a clothing donation point, a free hugs area. A service for professional help, for those who need anything from a listening ear to help in getting a home or stamps for the foodbank. The local artists that will be able to perform, setting the mood for the event with joyful music. And not to forget the community project to keep places like FEAST up and running, and to distribute more hours for people who have trouble working otherwise.

The people can't believe what they’re hearing. 

Honestly, they never did any of these things for a grant return like this. All they wanted was to lend a helping hand so to say, when they realised how much people might need them. 

When unbeatable hero’s became humans with their own struggles, that view translated to the rest of the world and warmed people’s hearts in a way the superheroes in question had never expected. 

And although they would have never asked for this, everyone cleared their plans. Ready to give Spidey support on his big day, and receive some from him in return. 

***

New York City had never looked more beautiful than on a special saturday.

Time Square, the place that's lit up all year round with huge billboards displaying vibrant advertisements had overnight been transformed into the largest party the world has ever seen. 

The masked wallcrawler was spotted putting up multiple long rows of bunting just before sunrise as workers started getting ready for their day. 

Not much later many window cleaners and crane operators assisted the decorating by using their machines, men and tools to put up the colourful rows of flags. 

As the sun rose, store owners and employees joined in to blow up balloons, set up tables and chairs and make some breakfast for the kind volunteers in this sudden project. 

Spider-Man had taken post up on the roof of the FEAST building, pointing out directions, or jumping in when people struggled–or just in his opinion needed to take a break. 

A large balloon arch was placed over the main street through Time Square, many lines of bunting hanging off of it, traveling up to the highest buildings of the city. 

It was absolutely breathtaking. And the fact that it was done together, in harmony without any reason but goodwill made it even more beautiful. 

Shortly before the start time of 10am, the police arrived and spread out along the ground, forming sort of a border around the safe space Spider-Man and the people of New York have created for themselves.

Invited people by Spider-Man and the forces started setting up their spaces, preparing for the days’ planned volunteering program. 

At exactly 10:00 that Saturday, all of New York came together. 

Everyone was so colourful. From the clothes they wore, to the expressions on their faces. 

A couple of freelance face painters had set up tables and chairs near the entrance and decorated people passing by with even more of the beautiful shades. 

The most popular choice, mostly among children but adults as well, was a Spider-Man mask face paint. 

Many local shops had lended their table out for the day, and thus a long custom made table decorated a large section of the road, transformed into a giant banquet. 

At entrance everyone received a stamp card to make sure the services today would be divided equally. Many people perused the many foods scattered on the long platform, choosing which foods to take home. 

Elderly couples reunited over their past favourite meals that neighbouring people had made and donated. 

College students bonded together and figured out the best meal plan to survive during their expensive studies. 

Mothers cried as they picked up enough food to feed them for a while, having more choice than from any other food bank before, while their children walked alongside them with their own special food stamp card for snacks and other little treats. 

At the end of the food bank stood a kind English man with a bit of a posh accent, bagging people’s hauls and adding a little extra something to each of them.

Not much further from the feast were many more stalls placed, heaped with piles of clothes. Donations that week had come from every direction and beneath the wooden table boards that were already sagging under all its weight were many more boxes of extra clothing items so nothing would run out. New coats, socks, jeans, everything was being handed out by the large feast team. 

Including their new volunteering addition, a kind grandma behind a sewing machine, a grandpa asking people which repairs they needed to get done, and a young grandson bustling around to help in any way he can.

Later the people not attending this event watch the news as they see Luke Cage and Danny Rand walk around, handing out year round coupons to all the organisations that were donating that day. They’re seen bickering around sometimes but make sure to never miss someone who needs something, even if it’s a little catch up with someone whose home they have also visited over the past few weeks.

In a corner many old, beat up couches sit, filled with people who needed a moment to breathe and relax from the bustle of people, or the overwhelming emotions of the day. 

A chipper man was also sitting on one of the couches, having created a sort of therapy circle. He spend his day talking to people, sharing many stories, and even sometimes calming down his sunshine personality to aid with breathing techniques and therapy processes. 

His wife was not far away with a team of her employees, bustling around and giving less wealthy people quick, free haircuts and in between handing out coupons for those who can’t cash them in at the moment. 

Spider-Man was watching all of this happen with the brightest smile ever hidden under his mask. 

His eyes were constantly tearing up but he couldn’t let the emotions betray his voice as he enthusiastically greeted another lovely citizen and posed with them and DareDevil for a picture.

Sometimes he received a little present, a drawing or a home made snack. Sometimes someone shared a story. One of danger but mostly of hope. The hope he gives. Sometimes he just gets a smile or a hug. 

It’s all perfect. Making him wonder if he could ever return all of it, eventhough to everyone else, this is what he was giving.

DareDevil smiled at him as Peter wrapped his arms around a college aged boy dressed fully in green. Peter in turn, hugged the kid just a little harder. 

The boy handed him a small bouquet before meeting up with his mother at the side of the meet and greet era. He watched as they compared pictures, one taken just then, the other a couple of weeks ago.

And he cried. 

Because it also just sunk in, how one good deed can carry you along for a lifetime. 

How the emotion of gratitude and happiness is one strongest when shared.

How it doesn’t diminish inside, but flows out to others, creating a brighter day together. 

He looked around, and saw a bunting of people. All connected together. 

New York, now it’s own Vexillum. 

The police, who in the end turned out to have not been much needed, for everyone was there for each other that day, and arguments that did appear settled among the people, join up with the heroes at the end of the day. 

Everyone thought this was it. The one time to see New York bond together has ended. Not being able to see into the future and know that it certainly isn’t the only time. 

The forces, volunteers, defenders and Spider-Man stood together. Handing out thank you cards with resources listed on the bottom to all citizens that spend their day receiving and giving kindness.

The little card was attached to a small stick, a long toothpick basically, adorned by a little gold flag. 

A little gold star for being who they are. For being there

A gold flag for everyone who cares in any shape or form. 

And so a sea of gold flags walked over the streets on their way home. Making the city of light even brighter. 

It was the first time Peter felt fully confident in his role as a superhero. As Spider-Man. As Queens’ protector. 

Because then he knew just how much he had to offer people. How much people needed it. 

But most important, how even if he didn’t manage to help, someone else in New York would. 

And now, exactly a year later, he wakes up with a smile on his face and shuts off his alarm. The sun has not even risen yet, but it’s okay. 

Soon the city will be the lightest it could ever be again.