Halloooo! I am so happy you guys seem to actually like this story! Sorry for the late update, but like I said, I was on holiday and there was no internet. Anyway, enjoy!
Reviews:
angelcarstairs4679: Oh hi! I'm so honored that my story was your first usm fic! Danny is my absolute favorite and I'm glad you like him!
TheRandGirl: Aw don't worry, you get a bit more information this chapter. But the real pieces begin to fit together at around the fifth chapter. ;) Enjoy!
TabbyCat: Ha, aww! I'm sure Danny appreciates his tea and blanket, and hugs. Thanks for reviewing! Enjoy the chapter!
Masked Revenge: I am so sorry, but I've had zero internet for the whole month of August. But hey, I'm finally back and I'll be doing regular uploads!
"What is this supposed to be Danny?"
"The Order calls it elixir, it is supposed to enhance one's power."
"We don't have to really drink it do we?"
"They will know if it is not used, but that does not mean we both have to do it. I can drink both."
"I thought that was dangerous…"
"Yeah. It is."
Peter walked into the med bay. Danny was in his room and the others had gone off to relax and talk things over. They all seemed to want to ignore everything that had happened.
But Peter was different. His mind wouldn't let him rest until he found out everything there was to know about Danny and that creepy kid. So now he slunk through the med bay, hoping to find the boy and get some answers.
Doctors and nurses gave him odd looks, some even trying to shoo him out. But Peter didn't care. He tore away every curtain and opened every door. Eventually he ran into Doctor Connors.
"Hey Spiderman, shouldn't you be with the others?"
"Doc! You haven't seen a little boy anywhere in here have you? Black hair? Pale?"
"Sorry, I barely even got to see him before they took him away. Only a few doctors are allowed to even know where he is. Fury's orders."
Peter's eyes widened. What did Fury want with this kid? Peter thanked Connors, then stalked out of the bay. He headed towards Fury's office.
I can't believe this!
Peter wondered if the boy even had parents, and if so, did Fury just kidnap him? Or were the parents part of this? Peter sighed, massaging his temples. He was nearly there when something ran past him, nearly tripping him.
Whoa…
Peter whirled around to see the kid sprinting down the corridor. He bared his wrists, firing twin webs at the boy's back and catapulting him backwards.
He caught the struggling kid in his arms.
"Hey," Peter yelled, "Hey it's me! I helped save you remember? Hey, look at me!"
The boy stopped moving, staring up at Peter. He was much cleaner than before, and dressed in a SHIELD hospital gown.
"I can't stay here," The boy whispered.
Peter nodded, humoring him. "What is your name?"
"Kaleb Johnson…that's my American name…"
"Okay Kaleb, why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Peter asked gently.
"I-"
Before he could answer, a group of frantic medics came crashing into the corridor. They spotted Kaleb immediately, whisking him away in a flurry of arms. Peter tried to keep his hold on the boy.
"Guys aren't you being a little rough?" He grunted, "He's just a kid!"
"Sorry Spiderman," A doctor crowed, then they left as quickly as they had come, taking Kaleb with them.
"Wait!" Peter called to an empty hallway. He clenched his jaw, frustrated. He threw his hands up with a low sigh. Then, because the universe is prone to adding insult to injury, the lights began to flash bright red.
Ugh, what now!?
Peter debated on whether to go find his team, or continue on his quest to interrogate Fury. But the obnoxious alarm buzzer wasn't making it easy to think. Peter groaned to himself, then took off back towards where the team was.
This better be important.
When he finally found them they were all in costume again. Peter noticed Iron Fist fidgeting with his hands at the back of the group, almost like he was in pain.
But there were other things to focus on.
"What's the emergency?" Peter asked.
"The alarm got triggered by some kind of shockwave residue," Tiger answered.
"So there was an explosion?"
"Yup, we're being sent to check it out," Powerman said. He opened up a hatch in the floor and began setting up the ropes.
The air that rushed in from the opening was clear, and perfectly breathable. Peter found this odd, considering there should be smoke or at least some ash.
But no one else mentioned it, so he stayed quiet.
"Hey I'll meet you guys down there," Peter said. He didn't wait for an answer, diving down into the sky. Up ahead of him he could see the outline of ruined buildings and streets. His heart sank.
Peter swung himself down below the skyline, then began making his way towards the damage. Even as he got closer he still couldn't see any smoke or anything in the air. But what he saw next made him miss his next web, and he went crashing to the ground.
Danny followed the others down the ropes. It was taking nearly all of his focus to keep his Chi from flaring red. So far, his friends hadn't mentioned the incident with the boy. In fact, they hadn't really said anything to him at all.
But soon they would. He knew they would.
And having his hands on fire probably wouldn't help his case.
"I think I see where the explosion happened!" White Tiger yelled. Danny didn't bother looking. He didn't think it was an explosion, the air was too clear for that, but something else entirely.
Maybe magic related.
Normally he might've pointed this out to the group, but he didn't want to call any more attention to himself. So he slid down to the ground in silence, then followed his friends as they ran. Nova was already flying ahead.
Danny bit his lip as the stinging in his hands began to swell as they neared the blast area.
So then it is of magical origin…I hope it's not them….
"Yo Web-He…." Nova trailed off, frozen in midair. Danny and the others finally caught up to see that both Nova and Spiderman, who was perched on the side of a nearby building, were staring stoically at the rubble before them.
Danny followed their gaze. Lines of burn damage zigzagged through the city in seemingly unconnected patterns. Some buildings in the center were perfectly fine, while others had strips of land and metal completely gone.
It looked as if some giant mole had dug its tunnels here, bulldozing straight through the roads and houses. And each line of destruction was burned a dull red, identical to the one that was trying so hard to erupt from Danny's skin.
He made a small sound in the back of his throat, clutching desperately at his hands.
"Sweet Christmas," Luke muttered, partially removing his sunglasses.
"That's not even the worst part," Spiderman called down. "Nova, take a picture!"
"G-got it," Nova stuttered. He flew up higher and took out his phone, snapping a picture of the rubble from above.
Danny felt lightheaded as Nova flew back down and scrolled through his camera roll.
"Here, look at this," He said quietly. White Tiger grabbed the phone and Danny and Powerman crowded around her.
Powerman took one look and jumped backwards, shaking his head.
Danny was frozen in place. He stared at the picture, willing it to disappear. It was slightly blurry, a product of Nova's shaking hands, but there was no mistaking the message.
This wasn't just disorganized chaos. It was words. A signature burned into the very city itself, only visible from a bird's eye view.
Devil King
Danny paled. Everyone stared at him, and he could feel their silent fear. Doubt. Accusations.
"No. Okay, no! NO! This is crazy! This is beyond crazy! I bet that kid did it! He's the bad guy here!" Powerman yelled.
"Kaleb," Spiderman said softly. "His name is Kaleb."
Danny blinked in surprise, "You spoke to him?"
"Yeah. I did."
"NO!" Powerman went on, "Everyone stop. Fury said he was going to brief us right? So we wait until that, and then we can form our opinions! And I'm telling you there's something weird with that kid, okay? This wasn't…This isn't…Danny didn't…"
Danny smiled sadly at his best friend. Then he couldn't withstand the pressure in his hands any longer, and they burst into flames.
The group jumped back.
"I knew it," He heard Spiderman whisper to himself.
"That doesn't mean anything! I've seen your Chi change color before!" Powerman argued, but his tone was more pleading than definitive.
"You have seen it dull before, my friend. You have never seen it change completely," Danny reminded him.
"SHUT UP DANNY! I'm trying to help you!"
Danny turned so that he was facing everyone at once. He bowed his head.
"This burn was made with a dark magic. My Chi becomes red when in the presence of that magic," He explained. It wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the complete truth either. He had, of course, neglected to mention that this only happened to people who also possessed that dark magic.
"See?" Powerman grinned. "What did I tell you!"
"We're not blaming you Fist…" Tiger said, "But we're concerned."
Danny heard the implication of her words. They were scared of him. Or of what he might represent.
It's understandable, Danny thought darkly, everyone else was scared too.
Bit of a longer chapter, just because there was a lot I wanted to get in. So I was wondering who's on team Danny and who's on team Peter, meaning do you think that Danny didn't do anything wrong or unjustified and is not the Devil King? Or are you suspicious and distrustful like Pete?
Tell me in the reviews!
Wolf Out…
