The Hunter
"Aki. Please, tell me." Jason pleaded with his friend. The two of them looked down to the red burned flesh on her wrist, it was a painfully apparent sign of abuse. He'd sometimes see some people with black eyes sitting on doorsteps with weeping faces back in Dragon Borough. Abuse is one of those things that Jason hasn't worked on before.
The girl let out a stifling sigh, "It's a bit of a long story. And that's not the reason I asked you here." she explained.
"Akiko. I'm more interested on the fact that you have a burn on your wrist the size of a hand than why I'm here." he stated. She could have called me at midnight and I would have come here, but I can't help her if she doesn't tell me what's wrong. he thought.
Akiko gave him a hard look as she pulled up her sleeve, "Jason...ok...I'll tell you. But not here...too many people." she said as she looked around the small coffee shop. Even if it was late at night, someone in Republic City was working.
"I got just the place." Jason said before he finished his cup of coffee.
…
"Isn't this a little much?" Akiko asked as they sat on the roof of a building. Jason pulled down a fire escape and reassured her that he'd show his press pass and lie if anyone caught them. The building was a three story tall one, no one would hear them down below.
Jason shrugged as he sat on the ledge while she stood against a chimney across from him, "It's private if anything. Now..." he gestured her to continue.
She looked down at her shoes, "When I was little...my dad and I got along great. We did all sorts of things together...went fishing at the docks, bought me all my painting supplies, dropped me off at school everyday...told me he loved me." she explained as she slid herself down to the ground.
"But?" Jason asked knowingly.
She drew her legs to her chest, "When I got older, he lost his job. We had money for a while and everything was still good, but when he couldn't stick a job...he just got madder and madder at the littlest things. One time, my mom wasn't home when he got there, when she got back, dad accused her of seeing someone so he hit her. Hard." she said as she buried her head in her legs.
"Then he started taking it out on me...and one time..." she choked down a sob. "He...tried to...I kicked him and ran out the door. I stayed out of the house until mom got home, I told her, and she filed for divorce." she finished, holding back the tears that came from the memory. "She remarried a few years later...my stepdad doesn't know about my dad so..."
Meanwhile Jason was using all his will not to crush the bricks his hands where on. He stood and walked beside Akiko, putting a hand on her shoulder, she jumped at the sudden touch, showing her tear stricken face. "Aki. What do you need me to do?" he asked with determination. If there's something I can do to help her, I'll do it.
She whipped the tears away with her sleeve, "Look. A few days ago, he came to me. Begging me and my mom to come back and leave my step dad. I said no, and...well you saw." she said, clutching the hidden wound on her wrist. "I went to the police station and told one guy, he laughed and said it wasn't his problem."
What do you need?" Jason asked.
"Spider-Man." she answered. What! No way she found out I'm- "He's not the police. And last time I tried them...I'm asking you because I trust you Jason. And you kinda know him, so I was hoping you could pass the word along." she explained. Oh thank god. Jason thought in relief when he realized his cover wasn't blown.
He smiled, "I'll inform the webhead...are you ok?" he asked, noting her sad state. She absentminded nodded but Jason didn't buy it, Oh please don't let her kill me for this. Jason thought as he wrapped a arm around her, his cheeks bright red. Akiko was surprised by the show of care, but when she saw her friend's face, she couldn't stop herself from giggling.
"Jason, your face is so red right now." she said, trying to control herself but failing miserably.
"Well excuse me miss...red tinted hair..." he tried weakly.
"I'll have you know that this is my actual hair color." she said quite proudly. Her hair was somewhat of a mystery to everyone, she was born with such a unique hair style that she was called little red until she turned into a teenager.
"Oh. Well comment withdrawn." Jason said, taking his arm away.
"Hey don't stop. I was using that." she said as she put his arm behind her head and used it as a headrest.
"Aki. Your a five year old." he said, making her stick her tongue out at him in response.
…
Jason walked to his home, thinking of the new info he heard about Akiko's father, Rozu. I got her number, address, and anything else that Spider-Man needs to find her. But what about when she really needs me? I can't just stay ontop of her house all sat if the guy goes there. And they won't have time to call the police...wait that's it! he thought.
My gauntlets are able to pick up police snd emergency scanner frequencies. So if I can make something that sends out a emergency frequency, I can give it to her and use it to get to her ASAP. He thought in realization.
I'm gonna be up all night. The teen thought as he diverted his course to the nearest place he could go get the supplies he needed to construct what he had in mind.
…
It actually took him two nights in a row to get the device he needed ready. Just for kicks, he decided to make it into the shape of a Spider. He called it his spider tracer, he also found out something new and exciting about his gauntlet, a red light comes on in the small circle on the gauntlets that points the way to the device.
Because of their tacking capabilities, he decided to call them Spider Tracers. They where small enough to put in a wallet, they where activated by pressing the button on their 'backs' down.
I wonder if Peter came up with something like this. Jason thought as he fiddled with the device on the roof of the school. He used the old 'go to the bathroom near the end of class' excuse to get into costume and get ready to meet up with Akiko.
As the bell rang, Jason put his mask on and webbed his backpack into a web sack with a single strap over his shoulder. The teen watched the crowd for the telltale trait of Akiko's black and red hair. When he saw her hair, he leapt over the streetlamps, fallowing the girl.
After a few blocks of fallowing her towards her home, the streets where barren and they where alone. Well she thought she was alone at least. Jason jumped to the streetlamp ahead of her, "You must be Akiko." Spider-Man said, making the girl jump back from the sound of the voice.
She looked up and her jaw flipped like a fish, "Holy crap." she said in awe at the sight of the young hero hanging upside down on the streetlamp. "Mr...Spider-Man. I don't know what Jason told you but...I.." Spider-Man descended through the air via web between his legs, "Ok yeah that is cool." Akiko said with a amazed smile.
"Thanks. And just Spidy will do. Mr. Spider- Man was my father. Jason told me your story, I'm really sorry about everything you've gone through Akiko." Spider-Man said with a smile under his mask.
Akiko blushed, I'm talking to a superhero. I am talking to Spider-Man! "Thank you...look I know that you can't really do much..."
"Actually I can do more than you think." Spider-Man said, pulling the Spider Tracer out from his belt. "I made this so I'm able to track down bad guys. If your dad does show up, I want you to press down on the button and I'll get to you ASAP." he said, handing her the device.
She looked at the small spider device in amazement, "Woah...no offense but I didn't think you where...umm..." she didn't want to insult the guy who was helping her in anyway.
"Tech savvy?" he supplied. Akiko nodded, that sounded about right. Spider-Man merely shrugged, "I get that all the time. Now look Akiko, do you remember the name of that officer you asked to help you?" he asked, wanting to see if his theory is correct.
Akiko's face turned thoughtful, "I think it was...XioLeng. He used to hang our with my dad a lot...it's one of the reasons I asked you for help." she explained. That confirms it, he has a friend on the force. Jason thought.
"Ok. That helps a lot Akiko. Now I want you to go to the hospital and get that burn of yours looked at. And tell your mother what happened." he said, pointing to her hands. She swallowed hard, seemingly shrinking. Spider-Man dropped to the ground, "Akiko. I understand your scared. I know what it's like keeping secrets from the ones you love, and it feels so much better when you get that weight off your shoulders." the teen explained, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder.
She looked at the black lenses for a moment before nodding, "Ok. I will...but when I press this you'll be there?" she asked, holding up the Spider Tracer.
"Yep. Believe it or not, Web Swinging is way faster than driving. I could get from one end of the city to the other in like 10 minutes if I push myself." he said reassuringly.
Akiko smiled before she wrapped the hero in a hug, "Thank you Spidy." she said, breaking the embrace and hurrying on her way, "I better see you in like ten seconds when I press this down or I'll kick your but next time I see ya!" she yelled over her shoulder.
Jason's face was red under his mask but was smiling nonetheless.
…
"And why do you need to know where this guy is?" Detective Wei asked the teen. Jason figured that if anyone could help him find XioLeng it would be Detective Wei. Turns out he may not get as far as he'd thought.
Jason felt a bit uncomfortable as he sink further into the booth at the Koi Fish restaurant. It was a chain that was all across Republic City, "Because my friend asked for help and this guy brushed her off. And I thought since your a police officer and all..." he trailed off, trying to get his point across.
"And what are you planning to do when you find this guy? " Wei asked, Jason looked down, "Look if he didn't report a incident, tell me, I'll report it to my boss and we'll do our own investigation. A name would be a good start." he said.
Jason sighed, Well if worst comes to worst I can just tail him as Spider-Man. the teen thought. "XioLeng. You know him?" he asked, making the man stop from sipping his drink.
"Shit..." he muttered.
"Language officer. So what's the bad news then?" Jason asked. Usually a response like that means bad news.
Wei sighed and looked at the teen, "This stays out of the papers. Understand?" he asked, pointing a finger at the teen. Jason nodded, "Ok. Look, XioLeng is one of our worst. He only looks into what his boss tells him to look into, that usually means he has to cover it up."
Jason raised a eye, "So what are you guys doing about it? Crooked cops get taken down all the time. What's so different about this guy?" the teen asked. He knew for a fact that Whitney had helped bust at least six cops that where crooked.
"Every time we try and get him on something, something just happens to go just his way." he said. Jason gave him a confused look, "Uh sorry. Like one time we got him beating on a perp, when we questioned the perp on it, he recanted and said another inmate did it." he explained.
"What do want with him anyway?" he asked. Jason looked down at the table. Wei sighed, "Look, if it means that much I won't report the problem. Is that better?" he suggested.
Not really, but it's better than leaving him in the dark. Jason thought, "A friend of mine was...assaulted...and she tried to get help from XioLeng. But he brushed them off because, at least I think, he was friends with the man who hurt them." he explained.
"Jason...look, if your friend comes forward and reports it, we could nail him." Wei explained.
Jason shook his head, "Look Wei, they trusted me not to tell anyone about it. And I'm already pushing that by asking you for help on this. All I need to know is where the guy who assaulted my friend is at so it can tell them and bring them a little peace of mind." Jason explained.
Wei sat in silence for a moment, "He's staking out a Red Monsoon hideout in the Financial Borough. It's a big where house in Cee Yui street. But you didn't hear it from me." he explained as he got up from the booth.
"Thank you Wei." Jason said as he walked with the man outside the Koi Fish.
The detective smirked, "Sure. Just don't get yourself hurt." he said as he waved him goodbye.
…
Jason sat against the wall of the building that XioLeng was in. "God I hate stakeouts." Jason said, holding his head in his hands as a car pulled up to the curb of the building. Out stepped a skinny man in a police uniform, You gotta be kidding me! I just sat here for three hours waiting for him to come out and he's not even here! the teen thought angrily.
What surprised him was that he walked to the building across the street, the Red Monsoon hideout. "The hell?" Jason asked aloud. The man entered the warehouse without any troubles, the teen pulled himself to the building with a web and crawled through one of the broken windows.
The teen jumped into the rafters and looked down below to the floor. There where about ten triad members all together behind one man, and in front of him was XioLeng. "So how's the take this week?" the cop asked the triads.
The man in front took out a roll of Yuans and handed it to the cop, "The Wasp is selling pretty good this week." Son of a bitch. Jason thought. Wasp is one of the biggest drugs in Republic City, it's obtained from the BuzzardWasp hives in the desert. It's a strong hallucinogen that gives the users a big high the larger the dose. It's pretty expensive given the risks involved in obtaining it as well.
Ok. Time to do what I do best, scare the crap out of bad guys. Jason thought as he dropped from his position in the rafters and in between the officer and triad members, "Whoops. I don't suppose this is the 'say no to drugs convention is it?" Spider-Man asked cheekily. The men looked at him in shock, not saying a word, "Isn't this the part when you say 'get him' or something?"
"GET HIM!"
"There we go." Spider-Man said before he sprayed the officer with webbing and onto a wall. Three of the triads tried to rush the teen but he was quick, he jumped towards them and knocked one aside with a well placed kick. He landed on his hands and pushed himself into the chest of another, knocking him to the floor. Jason jumped off him and in front of the third man, he ducked under a swipe of water and grabbed him by his leg and tossed him into two more men, webbing them to the ground.
The other five cane all at once. Jason jumped into the air and pulled himself to one of the men using his webs, landing on his chest, the other four closed in on him from all sides, Spider-Man threw his fists out to the two men on his sides, the webbed the faces of two other men before split kicking them.
Jason had been coming along well with his type of combat style. Since he had no former training on how to fight before it's been one of his goals to make his own type of fighting style. Something that uses his speed, agility, strength, and reflexes all together.
He calls it The Way of The Spider. But he still needs to perfect it.
Spider-Man walked to the webbed officer on the wall, ripping the webbing off his mouth, he wanted to smack that smirk off his face, "Well...you caught me." he said in mock defeat. Screw it. Jason thought before clocking the side of his face, knocked some teeth out.
"Shut it XioLeng. Your going to tell me what I want to know. If you don't I'll start breaking more than bones." he said, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.
The crooked cop sneered, "You think that I'm afraid of a little bug like you?" he asked. "The Kingpin ain't gonna let anything happen to me." he said confidently. His face morphed into one of fear, he let his boss's name slip.
The Kingpin?
"Well lucky for you I'm not after him now. Tell me about Rozu." he stated. I'll deal with this Kingpin guy later. I have to make sure Akiko is safe. Jason thought as the man's face seemed to relax.
"Oh Rozu. What about him?" he asked.
"Where is he? Where does he live?" Spider-Man questioned while letting his grip on the man loosen slightly.
XioLeng spilled everything that he knew about the man. He was in debt to the Red Monsoons, so he was part time hired muscle, he'd rough a guy up, torch something to make a point, kick in doors, that sorta thing. Jason knocked the man out and left a note explaining everything for the police.
Rozu lives practically nowhere near Akiko's home so she should be safe. Now who should tell her the good news? Jason O-rou or Spider-Man? the teen thought as he exited the warehouse with the drug payoff gone wrong behind him.
…
"XioLeng squealed." the thug said to the man in the large chair facing the window. The man in the chair drummed his fingers on the arms as he listened to what had occurred to his informant. He wouldn't turn on him just like that, with what he had on him he wouldn't dare.
"Who to?" the man asked.
"Spider-Man." The thug said simply.
The man in the chair let out a throaty laugh, making the thug jump at the sound of his boss's laugh. "Oh, for a minute I was worried." he said, settling himself down in his chair.
The thug gulped, "Sir...I know it's not my place to speak but..." his boss made a 'go on' gesture with his hand, "This man took down the Agni Kai in little over a month. And you can imagine that word is spreading fast, so the men are concerned as you can guess." he explained.
His boss seemed to think that over, "Mmmm. You make a point. Just to be safe, get Kraven on the line, tell him I have a new hunt lined up for him." the man said, deciding to be cautious.
"Of course Kingpin. I'll see that it's done."
…
Jason informed Akiko of the news about her father, she was incredibly relived at the fact that she was safe but he advised her to keep the Spider Tracer just to be safe. A few days later, Jason was reading a book when a noise from his door broke his concentration.
The knock at Jason's door took him by surprise, it was Saturday. Usually on weekends he spends some extra time as Spider-Man since he has nothing else to do during that time unless Xang calls and asks him if he wants to hang out with his friends. He went to the door and opened it to find someone he didn't expect, "Aki? What are you doing here?"
The red/black haired girl smiled as she pushed past him, "Oh darling don't you remember? Dancing!" she said dramatically while she took his sleeve and pulled him into the apartment. Oh god. Jason thought.
Akiko looked around the small apartment in surprise, "Man your parents must be super cool to let you live here." she said.
Jason felt like he was just slugged in the gut. He hated himself to say it, but he didn't think about his mother much since she died and he partially hated himself for thinking like that. Akiko turned and saw the look of sadness on his face, "Hey...you ok?" she asked, approaching the teen and putting a hand on his shoulder.
Jason rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "My parents aren't...in my life anymore." he said, trying to avoid saying what was true. Like he was fooling himself into thinking it wasn't true.
Akiko raised a eyebrow at his strange explanation, "What do ya mean? Did they like kick you out or something?" she asked. Jason almost chuckled at that idea, his mother loved him dearly, even when he was in a butload of trouble.
Jason let out a sigh, "My dad left when I was born and...my mom died a month or so back." he said sadly.
Akiko's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh my god...Jason I'm so sorry." she said, wrapping her arms around the boy and giving him a tight hug. I...umm...wha...Jason didn't have a clue what to do with himself while she hugged him. "You can hug me back Jason. Just keep your hands where they belong." she said with a mild but serious tone in her voice.
Jason raised his arms and hesitated, but wrapped his arms around her, barely touching her cloths, "You make it awkward you know that?" she asked as she pulled away with a amused look on her face.
"It's my specialty. Now come on, let's get this over with. I've already made a complete ass of myself today." he stated.
"Not a complete ass, still a ass though. But I am really sorry about your mom...I gotta say you hid it pretty well." she said as she walked over to the raisin in the corner of the room. She turned on the device and tuned it to a music station playing slow songs.
"You are cruel Akiko." Jason said as she approached him.
She grinned wickedly at him in response, "Stuff it O-rou. You asked for this. Just remember that." she said, sticking her finger at his chest.
"Well I was partially forced to do this actually." he said as Akiko grabbed his hands.
"Again, stuff it. Now listen up." she said, guiding his hands to her waist, making Jason freeze in his tracks. "Jeez you look like your gonna faint. Relax. It's just me." she said, trying to calm him down and crossing her arms on her chest while Jason's hands where frozen on her waist.
"And your a girl. I can't believe that your not grasping that fact." he said bluntly.
Akiko rolled her eyes, "Good god your like a squeamish girl right now. Man up dude!" she exclaimed , throwing her hands up in the air for emphasis.
"It's just...girls...they have...parts..." he blundered out with his face absolutely beat red. He really wished he had his Spider-Man costume on instead of under his clothes. Part of his job was to grab people and save them, having a mask so they can't see his face helps wonders with his confidence.
Akiko couldn't stop herself from laughing, "God you are just a little Boy Scout aren't you?" she asked with disbelief, taking his hands off her waist, much to his relief. "Ok, first thing we should do is work on your confidence." she explained. "Pretend I'm a girl you want to ask out."
Jason blushed red, "I...um...(gulp)...I...I think I'm not getting anywhere with this." Jason said, making the girl let out a groan.
"Ok you are the closet thing to a lost cause I've ever met. Let's take five." she said as she walked over to the couch and sat down. Jason sat right beside her, "Well you can sit by a girl. I call that progress."
Jason gave her a look, "Hey you don't hear me getting on your back about not having a guy...at least...never mind I'm just making a ass of myself again." he said once he saw Akiko's smile. "How are you so calm around the opposite gender?"
She shrugged, "I've always been a bit of a socialite. That and my big brother taught me not to be so shy." she explained as she kicked her feet up on the table along with Jason.
"You never mentioned a brother." Jason stated.
Akiko shrugged again, "Mainly because he's annoying sometimes. But I still love him." she said, she looked over and saw the sad look on his face. "Umm...is it ok if I ask how your mom died?" she asked cautiously.
Jason looked down on the floor between his legs and sighed, "One day I saw my neighbor's friends bring a can of gas into his apartment. Later that day I came home and found my apartment building on fire. I ran in, got my mom out and into a ambulance...she died at the hospital." he explained to Akiko's shock, "If I'd have done something...she would still be alive." he said depressingly.
Akiko looked at him with pure shock, His fault? Is that what he thinks? she inwardly questioned. Akiko stayed in her spot for a moment, she scooted over and buried her head in his shoulder, giving him a hug. "It's not your fault." she stated.
"Aki-"
"Shut up...you didn't do anything wrong Jason. So stop blaming yourself...alright?" she pleaded.
It is my fault...I could have stopped Dragon. I could have saved mom. I could have done a million different things. But I chose to do the one that made it worse. Jason thought. The teen felt the girl's grip on him tighten, But she doesn't know that, and she never can.
Jason wrapped his arms around her back and returned the hug, "Ok." he said.
Akiko pulled away and smiled, "Good...look at that. You got your hands around a girl and your not a bumbling idiot." she said, taking note of the lack of shyness the teen showed.
Jason felt heat rise to his cheeks, he and Akiko's faces where close together. Very close together, so much so that Jason could feel her breath on his chin, "So...what's the next step?" he asked nervously.
Before she could reply, the radio had a break in the music. 'We interrupt this program to bring you a special report. Triad members have taken hostages at First National Bank. We urge citizens near the bank to remain calm, the police are on their way.' the device said, snapping the two teen's out of their trance.
"I better go." Jason said, rising from the couch.
Akiko looked at him like he fell from the sky, "What the hell do you mean you gotta go?! You heard the same thing I did, stay away." she said as he got his coat on.
"Well a certain red and black superhero is going to show up and I'm the guy who writes his stories." he said. Akiko didn't look convinced. Jason walked over and put a hand on her shoulder, "Look, I've done this a few hundred times already. I'll be fine." he said, trying to put her at ease.
As he made his way to the door, he felt someone pat his shoulder, "Tell Spidy thanks when you see him okay? I owe him for the while thing with my dad." she explained.
The teen felt as though half his face was covered by the mask that he used to keep his identity a secret. "Sure thing. See ya later." he said as the two left his apartment building and headed their separate ways.
Jason looked over his shoulder until the girl disappeared down the street. He jumped into the air and into the side of a building and climbed to the roof and changed into Spider-Man.
The teen jumped through the air and shot a webline at a tall building and swung though the air towards the bank.
…
Wow...maybe these guys don't need me on this one. Jason thought as he looked down from the side of a blushing to see the strong police presence at the bank. "Well then again, I broke off my emotional dollar coaster to get here so I might as well do something." he said decisively before jumping off the building towards the bank.
"Ah! Here we go." Jason said as he pulled a air vent cover off it's hinges.
The teen attached a webline to the roof and quickly turned his body and gripping the web tight, pulling himself towards the roof. Spider-Man had been in a few hostage situations in his career, the police will try to talk the triads down while preparing a strike team to take them down.
But that takes way to long and is risky, with Jason going in he's able to take the men out quietly. He was surprised by how little the men didn't check the walls and ceilings.
After crawling through the vents for a good long while, Spider-Man slowly pushed a vent open and climbed onto the wall. The lobby was lush with shades of green, white, and gold. But what surprised the teen was that the place was deserted, no triads, no hostages, nothing. "Did I get here late or something?" Spider-Man questioned.
He didn't see the shuriken thorn at him until the last minute, the teen jumped down into the ground and landed on his hands. He then pushed himself off into the air and landed on another wall, "Hey! I'm trying to find out what's going on here and your trying to kill me! Let me think for a minute."
"What is going on Spider-Man, is that you are part of my hunt." a accented voice said from above. The teen looked up to see a man hanging on the top of the chandelier, he had black kaung fu pants on, a leaker print vest, a crossbow across his back, and two very big knives on his sides.
"Holy crap. Your Kraven!" Spider-Man exclaimed.
Kraven the hunter was a world wide celebrity of sorts. The stories of his legendary hunts where told all across the world, how he took down a moose lion with his bare hands was one that was the most widely told. The bearded man smirked, "Ah so you have heard of me."
Spider-Man shrugged, "Well more like all the things you've done. And what do you mean that I'm part if your hunt?" he asked a bit nervously.
The hunter grinned, "Man is not the most dangerous game. For you can achieve fears that no man can reach! You, who can cling to walls as though you walk on them, you who can lift a man with no trouble. You Spider-Man, will be my greatest hunt." Kraven said before drawing his blade and crossbow.
"Oh well that's just peachy." Jason muttered as Kraven shot his bolt at him. Jason jumped from the wall onto the floor, he looked up just in time to see Kraven's knives come down from above at great speeds.
The teen backflips out of the way, Kraven charged right after him swiping his blades, "Look Kraven, I don't want to fight you." he said before ducking under a swipe if the blade.
"That's good! The best prey does not want to fight either!" he said, making a X shape with his blades in a attempt to slice Spider-Man. Ok so your expecting me not to fight, good! Jason thought as he jumped backwards over a desk and kicked it towards the hunter.
He was quick to react and jumped ontop of the desk and then into the air, throwing more metal stats down at the teen, Holy crap. he thought as he shot webs at the stars, knocking them out of commission. When Kraven landed, Spider-Man pounced at the hunter.
Kraven smiled before smashing a smoke pellet to the floor. "Hey! No fair!" Spider-Man yelled out. Jason fired webs to the ceiling and pulled himself up to the ceiling. When the smoke cleared, Kraven was gone. "What the-where'd you go!" he called out.
Spider-Man looked around and saw the man zoom between marble columns near the front of the entrance. Damn he's fast! he thought as he lost sight of the man. He barely had enough time to react when the knife sliced his arm, "GAH!" he yelled as he fell to the floor.
"Come now Spider-Man! I know you can do better than that! I've seen your battles, you've walked away from bigger hits than that before!" Kraven boasted from the upper level of the bank. Jason rose from the ground and put a web over the wound, making a makeshift bandage.
"Ha ha! Good! That is what I like to see, ingenuity! Improvisation! This is what makes you the ultimate prey!" he exclaimed as he jumped down rushed Spider-Man, dogging the webs that he fired at him in the process.
The teen rushed towards the man, Ok, let's hope I can do this , time to channel the Spider O-rou! the teen thought. The two clashed, Kraven slashed with his knives but Jason sidestepped and delivered a hit to the man's jaw, knocking him back. Now's my chance! Jason leapt over with his legs outstretched.
Time seemed to slow as Kraven grabbed another smoke pellet, Crap he's going to do that again, and I'm going to have to either get attacked in the dark where I think he will be or on a wall or ceiling where he'll be expecting me! If only...that's it! Jason though as he pulled up the hem of his upper costume and pulled out a spider tracer.
As Kraven threw the pellet to the ground, Jason threw a spider tracer on his pant leg. Jason landed in the black smoke and looked down at his gauntlet, "Ah, you try a different approach this time." Kraven said in the darkness. The tracer was coming from directly behind him. Spider-Man threw his hands over his head and sprayed all the webbing that he had.
Just in time to see the knife stop in front of his face.
"Talk about a close shave." Jason said to his own amusement. The teen turned around and saw the hunter covered completely in webbing from head to toe. "Look I'm flattered that you think I'm that great and all, but you did make a false police report about hostages-"
"Who said that was a lie?" he asked with a grin. Jason stopped himself, "I knew you couldn't help yourself if people where at risk Spider-Man. It is as though police sirens are your hunting call." he explained, "Hostages where just the bait, and explosives just made them all the more juicer for you."
Bombs! Is this guy insane...ok yeah scratch that, he probably is. Spider-Man thought, "Kraven they have nothing to do with whatever you have against me. Let them go." Jason demanded.
The hunter let out a howl of laughter, "I'll make a deal with you Spider-Man. If you defeat me in hand to hand combat. I'll tell you how to let them go." he bargained. Yeah I'll trust the man who just tried to kill me...but I don't have much choice in the matter. the teen thought before he tore the webbing off the hunter.
To his surprise he didn't blitz him, instead he dropped all his weapons on the ground and raised his hands, ready to fight. "Come now Spider! Let us finish this!" he said enthusiastically.
Spider-Man readied himself, "Yep. You are crazy, aren't you?" he asked. Kraven didn't hear him as he pounced towards the teen. Spider-Man rolled under him while he went overhead. Kraven landed on his hand and pivoted so he was facing Spider-Man's back. He charged and brought his fist down onto Spider-Man's face, knocking him away.
Jason ducked under a sideways kick to his ribs and and delivered a uppercut, making the hunter stagger backwards before he jumped towards him only for Kraven to fall onto his back and kick Spider-Man over his head and into the desk he thrown at him earlier. The teen stood from the rubble just in time to jump out of the hunter's leg that crashed into the wood.
Jason pushed himself from the ground and spun in midair, delivering a strong kick to Kraven's jaw. I want to put more into this, but I may kill him if I do that. Jason thought as Kraven regained his footing and stood from the ground before charging at the young hero once again.
The teen hopped high enough to bring both his fists down onto the back of his head, sending his upper body to the ground. Jason backed away in case of a surprise attack but was actually surprised when Kraven started laughing, "Good! Yes! This is the hunt I've been waiting for." he said, trying to get up but faltering.
After a few more attempts at sitting up, he slouched to the ground. "You win. Spider-Man." he said in defeat.
Thank god! "Now tell me about-"
"They're set to go off in two days. A precaution I took in case the police took me. It will be more than enough time to disarm them...now. Kill me." Whoa wait what?!
"Kraven. I'm not a killer. That's not what I do." he stated firmly. It's Jason's number one rule, his only rule really. If he started acting a judge, jury, and executioner, then he wouldn't be any better than the people he puts away.
The man laughed, "Prison will not hold me Spider. This hunt shall go on for as long as you refuse to end my life." he stated. "And more and more lives will be put on the line each time you refuse to kill me. Or I kill you."
Jason looked down at the man before webbing him to the floor, "Yeah yeah. I get it, vengeance will be mine and all that. Say hi to Electro and Vulture when you see them." he said before walking away from the fallen hunter.
…
Is he right? Jason thought as he laid awake in bed. If more guys like Kraven keep coming out of the woodwork, then more people's lives will be put in harm's way. The teen thought, What if someone dies because they want to get to me? Or worse yet a bunch of people, or someone important!
The teen put his pillow over his brushed face, Kraven really did pack a punch. Then something came across his mind that scared him to his core.
What of they find out who I am. And then hit the school?
The idea of all the people there put at risk sent a chill down his spine. Should he have killed Kraven? No that wouldn't have solved anything, and even if he breaks out, I'll find a nice deep dark hole to spend the rest of his life in. Jason thought as he began to fell asleep.
…
Kraven had been found by the police later that day, after they freed the hostages, they arrested the hunter for a great deal of charges. But throughout all of it, Kraven didn't say a single word, that was until one of the unties put him the police van. "You almost had me fooled."
The driver smirked, "What gave it away? On second thought never mind, I'll figure it out for myself." he said as he turned the car around a corner. "Your job was to hold him off as long as you could. What happened?" he asked.
Kraven smiled, "He is a better predator than I first thought. He is young, but has much potential. It is a shame I have to kill him." Kraven said regrettably. Spider-Man was more deadlier than man, and yet he did not kill his captured prey, it was strange to Kraven.
"Don't worry Chameleon. Eventually the Spider will die."
AN: First off, child abuse is one of the worst things that I strongly stand against. I wasn't abused as a child or anything, but I find the act itself despicable. One minute , 24 people are ab abused, raped, or stalked by a intimate partner. But it doesn't need to be like that, if you know someone, or are someone who has been involved with abuse, I urge you to call the abuse hotline.
Now that I've gotten that out there, about the story.
Kraven is personally one of my favorite Spidy villains. All of his other bad guys have some sort of superpower but Kraven is the really only normal one that trained his body hard enough to taken on super heroes. So he's kind of the Batman of Marvel in a sense.
I'm sorry that I haven't put this up sooner. I found Sword Art Online and I haven't been able to get myself away from it. I can't wait until SAO II gets Dubbed.
Oh and if anyone is interested, one of my fav. authors, Wraith002, has suggested a challenge, a Spider-Man /Bioshock crossover. Of anyone is interested you can find him under my Fav. Authors and look at what his challenge is.
Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter, thank you for reading, and reviews are always welcome.
