Hello, AliciaRoseFantasy here. I hope you enjoy this little addition, and, if possible, that it cheers up your day :)

Morning peak hour in Queens. Cars hooted, chaos reigned, and one red and blue spider sat perched on the low railing out the front of "Greg's Coffee 'n' Pastry Shop", eating a remarkably delicious beef and cheese masterpiece. Sticky tomato coated his gloveless fingers, and a red-booted foot gently swayed back and forth as he savoured his morsel.

He'd been up early for a couple of hours of patrol, and figured it was well and truly past time for breakfast. Greg, the proud owner of the small store, had managed to figure that out, the sneaky chef. He'd followed the web-slinger's daily patterns for weeks, marking them diligently in a small diary, and one day, right on time, a small, still steaming, wrapped bundle turned up on the railing. But it wasn't that which immediately caught the webbed hero's eye, oh no. It was the giant, bright sign with "Spidey" written on it in capital letters, an arrow at the bottom pointed towards the snack. Since then, it had become a daily collaboration.

Spidey hummed happily around the meal that to him was definitely more than a snack, and gazed back inside the building. The Italian man, wearing a large apron, hands dusted in flower, was running to and fro: taking orders, cooking meals, and occasionally trying to hold the phone between his cheek and shoulder while a young, smiling, teenage employee made frothing, morning coffees and lattés. Business was definitely booming, and there was no doubt as to why.

Smirking into his pastry, Spidey took another large bite, cheese smearing his cheek.

There was the pitter patter of fast running feet behind him, before a force unexpectedly crashed into his back, wrapping around his belly.

Spidey grunted, eyes widening in shock, before he looked behind him.

A small kid was clinging to his spandex-clad form like his life depended on it, a determined look on his face.

"Ahh...hey there, kiddo. What's up?"

The child remained still for several more seconds, before opening one eye. He stepped back with a disappointed "oh", shoulders drooping.

"I was trying to make you purr." He looked up with wide, vulnerable blue eyes. "Why didn't you purr?"

Spidey started, shifting back. "Well, uhh..."

"Damn, Joey, I told you he couldn't purr. That's just a stupid lie the papers made up."

"But you promised!"

"Yeah, yeah, but that was only if he purred, and he didn't. Too bad, you lose." The second, cap-wearing kid proceeded to place his last coin in the vending machine, and remove a can of drink.

"But...but..."

"Go home, Joey. You suck."

The little blue-eyed kid sulked, before turning back to face the large bug lenses still watching him.

"Sorry, Spidey. Guess you're not as cool as I thought." He began to walk away.

Spidey sputtered.

"Hey, I'm cool. Totally cool. Wait, maybe we can try again!" Spidey hopped off the railing and sprung after the kid, landing in front of him and rising to his feet. He placed his hands on his hips. "You're not gonna let those bullies beat you, are you?" He cocked his head on one side questioningly.

The boy looked down at his feet.

"No, but they always win and I'm left out. That's the way it is. I'm too weird for them."

The web-slinger crouched on his haunches, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No one's so weird they should be left out. You being rejected's not normal—it's bullying. If the world was full of people like them it would be a very dull place. It needs variety. It needs people like you, Joey."

The little boy looked up, before turning his gaze to the side.

"But what if they're right and there really is something wrong with me? I'm no use to anyone then."

"Hey, where's this coming from? This can't be just about one group and a can of fruit juice."

Joey sighed and sniffed.

"No, it's everyone. No one wants me. I have no friends and even my parents call me a mistake."

"Kid! That's not true! You have something special to give the world. Sometimes the weirder you are the more significant that thing is. Look at me, do I exactly look normal?" Spidey asked, standing up and holding his hands out wide.

Blue eyes squinted. "No?"

"But do I let that get me down?"

The kid's eyes widened before he looked back at the ground guiltily.

"Every great person in history was at least a little weird." He placed a finger under the small chin and lifted it up. "And you're no different."

The small face split into a big grin.

"Thanks, Spidey!" he said, and reached up to give Spidey a big hug, the web-slinger crouching down to meet him.

A few seconds went by of Spidey being squeezed to death, before a soft vibration began to fill the air.

The boy's eyes widened.

"Ah! You do purr! I knew it!" he yelled, running around in a circle and fist pumping the air. He was grinning widely.

"You betcha," Spidey responded, and met him with a fist bump.

"So, do you still want that juice? I'm sure I have a spare coin lurking somewhere around in my boot..."

So as it was, child and hero walked side by side back into the busy store, talking wildly, as the sounds of the new day continued to serenade the streets of New York.

Reviews welcome :)