Peter lay across the backseat of Aunt May's car. Whatever she was telling him, Peter didn't hear a word it. He was so spaced out that he could barely understand her. With the mixture of his exhaustion and a pounding headache, he was surprised he hadn't passed out by now.
"Peter, you never told me who did this," May said, Peter focusing just enough to where he could make out her words.
But how could he explain? It wasn't particularly like the last time he'd fought a powerful villain. At least the Vulture had been human, and it's not like he had actual wings. But Peter had just faced a real live werewolf. No costume or robotics. Just strictly flesh that turned to fur. It was like the Hulk, but much, much weirder. Because instead of becoming a big green rage monster, the thief had become a big... wolf. He felt silly just thinking it, let alone saying it.
"Just some thugs, May," Peter lied, thinking she'd never believe him if he told her the truth. Even in a world full of superheroes with different powers, fighting a mythological creature seemed like a stretch.
The only one he could think to tell was Ned. He usually seemed to be on board with most of Peter's adventures. Besides, Ned enjoyed talking about Spiderman and his antics more than Peter did.
Maybe if he gave his best friend a call, and told him what happened, he would meet him at his apartment in the morning. Peter just really needed someone to talk to, as well as a good night's sleep.
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*Werewolf's pov*
After tossing the pesky superhero clear into the road, the lycan didn't wait for him to swing back. He jumped off the building, landing with a thud, and hightailed it as fast as possible. Making sure to stick to the shadows, he tried to be stealthy but as quick as possible at the same time.
He crossed a bridge, keeping to the railings that hung over the busy roads. He hoped nobody would see him from his place above the street. He remembered how easy it was to just take the bus to Coney Island, and he would've taken it back if that blasted Spiderman hadn't shown up and made everything difficult.
Brushing the thought away, he made it to the outskirts of Manhattan and climbed a building, avoiding the windows, and started jumping from roof to roof as he made his way through downtown. He was heading for one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city, rivaled only by the Avengers Tower.
He stopped at one of the neighboring buildings and looked up. The Oscorp building was particularly daunting at night, but most of the office lights were off. Except for the middle layer of windows, where the science labs were located. He had to climb that whole way, just like always, and hope that no night tour helicopters were out. He always thought that he'd be a sight to see during a tour.
The lycan adjusted the now-smaller backpack on his shoulders. He was impressed with the straps, surprised that they had held together so long. He'd have to write the company that made it a good review.
He crouched on all fours and gathered strength, eventually launching himself across the street and sidewalk. He landed on a window pane with a thud, and prayed he didn't create a crack. When he saw that he hadn't, since he had landed on steel siding, he was careful to strategically place his claws on the jutting-out steel beams that criss-crossed the building. Following his usual routine, he scaled the tower easily, his piercing blue eyes locked on the lit windows.
Eventually, the lycan reached a window, and saw that it was open slightly like always. He pushed it wide with a dainty paw, being dutiful to not scratch the glass. He lifted himself through the window and hopped inside the bare room, furnished with a solitary bench and a single lamp for light. He snorted and shook his head, some stray hairs flying off his thick black pelt. He looked to the bench and saw a white tee shirt and gray sweatpants, along with some shabby brown sandals and underwear. He had always had a back-up pair of clothes in this room if he ever needed them.
The lycan took a deep breath and felt himself relax, and he began to shrink as his wolf fur fell away. It shedded off him like an oversized snow coat, dissolving when it hit the ground. After a few moments, a well-built teenage boy, maybe sixteen or seventeen years of age, stood where an imposing wolf did seconds before, his hair dirty blond and some scruff on his cheeks.
Struggling to hold up his far-stretched pants, he set his backpack on the floor and quickly changed into his waiting clothes. Afterward, he closed the window and opened the door into the laboratory, taking his backpack to the main lab, where a scientist was hard at work.
The scientist, a middle-aged blond-haired man with one arm and glasses, turned as the teen entered.
"I see you used the Wolf Window, Mr.Russoff," the man said, looking back into his microscope and adjusting it, "I hope everything went accordingly."
"Yeah, just had a little run-in with a local vigilante," Jack replied, hating the fact the scientist insisted on using his real name, "but I took care of him, Connors."
Dr.Connors glanced up from his tool, giving his pupil a hard look.
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
"Of course not. The kid's too stubborn to die."
"Good. The last thing we need is the Avengers living up to their name and coming after us," Connors grunted, leaning against the metal table where all his instruments were laid out, "especially with your little stunt with the bus the other day."
"You know I had no choice, Connors," Jack stated firmly, his blue eyes flashing, "I wasn't about to let that thing run over innocent people."
"It wasn't your job."
"Doesn't matter. I did the right thing when Bug Boy wasn't there to."
"And you almost exposed yourself in the process."
"But I was careful, wasn't I?"
"Yes, now everyone's talking about the Hulk's triumphant return to hero work in New York," the doctor said, almost mockingly. He then sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "just don't do it again."
Jack frowned. He didn't know if he would ever have to. He just hoped Spiderman wouldn't slack off and make Jack do his job for him. He didn't want to be the next vigilante in a world of heroes. He could never fit in with those guys. Besides, he didn't know if he even wanted to. They had fended off universal attacks, some with massive civilian casualties. And that thing with Sokovia? Nah, Jack would rather keep his hands clean and stay out of it.
"But anyway, what did you get?" Connors said, straightening up and adjusting his glasses.
"Enough. They didn't empty the safe yet and there was easily $500 in it. Don't worry, I got it all," Jack reported, holding up the backpack proudly.
"That's not nearly enough. Our funding is so close to being cut, so we need to stock up as much as we can," the determined scientist said, pulling up a blue, hazy hologram of his progress. A depiction of a lycan-like tiger, lizard, and wolf appeared, looking around with small, lifeless eyes. Dr.Connors put a hand on Jack's shoulder, shaking him slightly.
"We're so close, Jacob. I can almost feel my hand again."
"Don't get too excited, Connors," Jack steadied, stepping away from his mentor when he heard his real first name, "we've still a long way to go."
"And the more money we have, the faster we'll get there," Connors pointed out, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, "with more money, we'll be able to create powers of strength and regeneration!"
"Yeah, money and my blood," Jack retorted with a smirk, "and I don't know if people would want to be lycans just so they'd have a limb back."
"Oh, of course Mr.Russoff, or Russell now, is it? But anyway, that's why we have your teeth and claws encased with metal to keep the more... venomous properties within you. Your blood, when it's broken down and reconstructed, is all we need. And this little thing," the scientist gestured to the holograms, "is my own little venture, for after we harness your regeneration and regrow legs and arms, we'll begin... more interesting projects."
"Whatever you say, Doc," the teen sighed with a roll of his eyes, thinking Dr.Connors little plan would never actually be put into effect. Create more lycans? The thought was nonexistent for him.
"Well, if that's it, get some sleep, Conman," Jack said, taking an iPod and earbuds out his backpack and walking back to his Wolf Window, "remember the field trip we've got on Monday."
"Don't they know I can only handle one teenager at a time?" Connors muttered when Jack was out of earshot.
When Jack returned to his room, he quickly stripped and returned to his wolf form with a grunt. He neatly folded his clothes back up and returned them to the bench, making a note to wash them tomorrow. Jack plugged in the earbuds to his iPod and retrieved the armband he kept next to his clothing. Setting the iPod inside the armband's handy phone holder, he selected a playlist and wrapped the band around his muscled upper arm. Fixing the earbuds in his triangular ears, he opened the window and slipped out, pressing play. As he clawed up the building, he unashamedly sang the words to some of his favorite songs.
For you I'd beg like a broke man, steal your heart if I got the chance, Jack sang in his head as he reached the roof,
I'd borrow every little thing I can. For you I'd beg, steal, borrow.
As Jack stared at the beautiful city in all it's shimmering nighttime glory, he almost didn't want to go home. He could sit and stare for hours. Nothing was better to look at.
Except maybe that girl he met at a bus stop not too long ago. He knew her from when he'd saved her in the alley a few nights before too. It had startled Jack somewhat, seeing her afterward. Frankly, he thought he'd never see her again. But he remembered how sneakily pretty she was, even though he could tell she tried to hide it. And those glittering hazel those eyes shone through the bangs across her face. He wondered where she was, and if he'd see her again. He couldn't even remember what her name was, and that bothered him to an extent.
He hastily shook the thought from his head. Best not to get distracted with such things, he told himself. He had more important stuff to think about. Like maybe how he should hit another deli store for dinner before bed. He swiped his tongue across his jaws at the idea. Hopefully he wouldn't make as big a mess of it like last time.
You know, I keep saying I won't update, but I always do, so I'm just gonna say I'll update whenever I can, because I got some great upcoming chapter ideas. And I know how annoying it is to wait a long time for updates, so know that I won't leave you (whoever's reading this) hanging for long. Leave a vote and/or holla at yours truly with a comment! :)
~Fargone5