Eight armed bandit
Jason stood in the doorway to his apartment. Pema was giving him a worried look, he hadn't moved at all in the last five minutes. He didn't even say a grunt or anything at all in the time and it was beginning to worry the woman greatly, "Are...are you ok?" she asked.
Jason seemed to snap out of it, "My...aunt...give me a minute, I'll be right out." he said before closing the door and running to his room to throw on his costume and clothes before returning to the door. "Ok, let's go." he said as he closed the door behind him and led Pema down the hall towards the stairs.
The woman raised a eye, "Where are we going?" she asked.
Jason began to walk down the flight of stairs, "Look lady, if by any chance this is in some way true, I'm going to need at least a few cups of coffee to deal with all this." he said as he rubbed his eyes.
Pema could only comply as the two exited the teen's apartment building. Jason needed a thing of coffee almost daily to compensate for his nights out on the town. Thankfully he found the perfect place between his home and school to stop at in between.
The two sat down in a booth looking out to the streets, Jason ordered the most energetic drink they had while Pema ordered only water, "So...your my aunt..." Jason stated. Pema could only nod, "Alright then, Prove it. What was my mother's middle name?" Jason asked as he sipped ok his coffee.
Ava had a really embarrassing middle name that she never told anyone but family, Jason only knew because she wanted to cheer him up after a depressing day at school. No way she could possibly guess-
"Poppy. Her middle name was Poppy." Pema said confidently. Jason nearly choked on his drink, What! How could she...unless...
"Oh holy crap it's true." Jason said in realization. His mother never mentioned any other family members. Ever! She talked about her mother and father of course, but Jason always assumed that she was a only child like him. Jason ran a hand over his shell shocked face, "I...how come she never told me?" Jason asked.
Pema looked down at her glass of water, "I left the family to go join the Air Nomads at Air Temple Island. My family was...close knit. When I left, they cut off contact with me." she explained sadly. "Me and my sister used to be so close when we where little. We used to do everything together..." she said said my as she recalled her childhood memories
Thousands of thoughts went through his mind at once, he settled on one, "I don't mean to sound rude at all but...how come it took you so long to find me?" the teen asked. Finding someone in Republic City is pretty hard unless their well known, as Spider-Man he has a easy time finding big triad guys that way and people to bug as a reporter.
Pema took a small drink, "Your mother's birthday was today. I only recently found out that she passed...and when I found the flower on her grave I thought a friend of hers put it there. I asked my husband to check to see if he could find them. And he found you." she explained.
The teen laid his elbows down on the table and put his hands on te back of his head, "God this is...this is just so messed up!" he exclaimed, getting a few patron's attention. Pema had a look of hurt on her face that Jason immediately saw, "No no! I mean...it's just after all this time with just my mom and me...it feels weird meeting another family member is all." he explained.
Pema seemed to brighten up at that, "Well it's not just me..." Oh crap she had kids with her! Jason thought in realization.
"I'm a cousin. Aren't I?" he asked. Making Pema nervously chuckle. Jason on the other hand was fairly excited by the news, "Well don't keep me in suspense! What are they like?" Jason asked, a smile on his face. The teen was a lonely child, he on more than one occasion asked for a little brother to play with but when his mother stated it could be a girl as well he shut up about it. Especially after her sex talk with him.
Pema smiled, "How would you like to meet them? You can come by the Air Temple the day after tomorrow if you can." she suggested. The idea sounded perfect to the teen.
"That'd be great. I can come in about 5:00." he stated. Pema gave the teen a heartwarming smile at the news.
"That would be great! I'll tell the acolytes to let you take the ferry over." she said as she got up. Jason and her exited the small shop, Jason with coffee in hand. The woman turned to the teen with a smile, "Jason...I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me...thank you." she said gratefully.
Jason returned her smile, "Same here."
he said as he watched the woman walk down the street and towards her home.
…
"I mean this is amazing! The fact that I even have family is just...just overwhelming!" Jason said in his Spider-Man costume. After a two hour nap back at his home, the teen was well rested enough to go on a patrol around the city.
But the fact that he was talking to a gargoyle gave the impression he hasn't gotten any sleep.
Jason dangled his legs of the ledge beside the stone figure, "I mean I'm a little...confused why my mom didn't tell me that she wasn't a only child. But then again I never directly asked that." Jason said in realization.
The teen looked at the stone face looking for any sign of agreement, "My god I really going crazy aren't I?" he asked the gargoyle. The silence was interrupted by his gauntlet coming to life, 'Attention, we have reports of a break in at Future Industries. Any units please respond.'
"Well that's my cue. See ya Bobo." he said to the gargoyle before jumping off the building and falling down towards the streets below. At the last moment, Spider-Man shot a webline at the side of a building and swung down the street.
Ok so who could be sealing from Future Industries of all places? All that's there is the materials to create products there. So either it's a dumb crook, or someone looking for something specific. Jason thought as he leapt off his webline.
…
The teen was close to the building. Jason fired another webline whole he held another in his other hand and pulled himself between two close buildings. On the other side was Future Industries. The teen kicked his feet into the air and and let go of the webs he had.
The young hero landed on the sde if the building and crawled along the wall for someway inside. The vigilante found his way in through the roof, with one of the glass windows already broken into, "So much for subtlety." Jason stated before jumping through the hole.
The teen front flipped as he passed through the glass, firing a web between his legs to the ceiling, the masked teen descended through the air towards the ground. I don't know why, but I just love doing this.
The teen lowered himself just above the ground, the area looked like a laboratory, it was utterly and completely trashed. Glass all over the floor along with metal instruments and what not.
Jason didn't notice the mechanical arm until his Spider Sense went off.
The teen stopped to the floor and back flipped away from the arm, "Gah! Probe!" Spider-Man fake shirked. The arm was silver and had three pincers on the end of it, "Ok. Not a probe...what the heck is that?" the teen questioned aloud as the device charged at him.
Jason jumped up onto a lab table nearby, the pincer changed it's course and got the teen right in the chest, knocking him off the table and onto the floor. The teen rubbed his chest as he stood, "Look pal, I don't think that little old you is the one who broke in here by yourself." he said, fallowing the 'arm' back down to it's base.
"No. They can't work properly without me."
They? Jason wondered as the arm retreated into the darkness as a man stepped out. He was on the heavy side, but not enough that he couldn't win a fight, he had a dark brown trench coat on, under that was a green and white lab suit with a thing of metal going over his waist. He wore a pair of silver glasses that covered his eyes, he also had brown hair. "Look man if you work here you should get out of here. There's someone...who...damnit it's you isn't it?" he asked.
The man smiled, "It took you long enough to find out. I must say though, I'm surprised to have Spider-Man of all people come here. I expected the police, not The Spider-Man." he explained, walking out of the darkness.
Jason's jaw dropped. The man had tentacles coming out of his back.
There where four tentacles coming from his sides. "What the hell?" Spider-Man asked aloud. He had never seen anything like this before in his entire life, and in the past few months he had seen some pretty strange things. "W-wha-what happened to you?"
The man readjusted his glasses, "Before you ask, no. I'm not a bender. This," he raised the arms, "is the work of pure genius. I found out that brain waves can be transferred into radio waves." he explained .
Jason's eyes widened under his mask, "I know you! Your theory about radio/brain wave transfer, your Otto Octavius!" Jason said in realization. The teen read about his theory for a school project involving new age technology.
Otto smirked, "Your smarter than I first believed you to be Spider-Man. Though my collages always called me Doctor Octopus. I must say I do like it more now." he said, thinking back to the office joke. He didn't like it, but he had grown to the title, especially since the people who called him it don't talk anymore.
Jason went into a fighting stance, "Look Doc, I may like your work but your still trying to rob this place. So I'm going to need to take you in." Jason warned.
Doc Ock laughed at that, "Go on and try." he taunted. The teen jumped towards the man as he raised his metal arms and shot them out towards the masked teen. One of them knocked the teen on the head while another grabbed his leg and slammed him onto the floor.
Ock walked forward as his two lower arms grabbed two tables on either side of him, the tentacles rose the desks above his head and slammed them down towards Spider-Man.
The vigilante rolled out of the way as the wood splintered on impact of the ground. Spider-Man pushed himself off the ground with his hands towards Doc Ock, only to be swiped aside by one of the metal arms and sent him into the wall.
The teen pulled himself out of the indent out of the wall with a groan of pain, "Is that all? I expected more from Spider-Man of all people." he said mockingly, clicking his arm's pincers as he walked over on two of the arms.
Spider-Man rolled his shoulder blade, "No wonder your so chubby! You just walk around on automatic stilts!" he said mockingly. The comment angered the former scientist and sent his two arms down to the costumed hero.
Spider-Man jumped as the metal embedded into the concrete, he shot a web to the man's torso and pulled the man towards him and threw his fist out to the man's chin, sending him back into a table full of glass beakers and test tubes, "What was that about -" Jason didn't see the tentacles from the ground grab his legs, "Gah!" he exclaimed as the other tentacles latched onto the teen's wrists.
Otto stood from the wreckage smiling, "I was saying that I expected more from you." he said as he pulled the costumed teen towards him. "I must say. I do like the suit, almost makes me wish I experimented with spiders." he said, looking over the suit.
"Just don't picture me naked dude. That's just creepy." Spider-Man stated, trying to wiggle free of Doc Ock's grasp, If I can angle my wrist just right, I could get out of this. Jasom thought, glancing up to his web shooter.
"The only thing that's going to be bare is your face." he said, reaching for the teen's mask.
He grabbed the fabric and yanked. It didn't move at all, "Stick 'em powers!" Spider-Man yelled, startling the man long enough to shoot his webbing into the man's glasses. Doc Ock dropped the teen while he tried to get the webbing off his glasses.
The masked teen uppercutted the man, sending him into the air, he then shot webbing to man's chest and then threw him across the room and towards the wall. Doc Ock's arms latched to the wall, "Hey! Wall crawling is my thing! Get down from there!" Jason shouted as the webbing was ripped off the man's glasses.
The tentacles dug into the wall and pulled out a large piece of it, "Oh come on..." Jason muttered as the rock was sent towards him. Jason shot two webs on either side of him and pulled them together. He let go, sending the webbing around the rock and stopping it from hitting him.
He shot to webs to the cradle he made and pulled back and let go, sending the rock towards the man. The man's arms pushed him off the wall and used his tentacles to climb to the window on the roof and climbing out the broken window.
The teen attached webs to either side of the window and pulled back on the weblines, shooting himself out the window. The teen landed on the rooftop, his spider sense went off on his right, Jason flipped back as a arm aimed for his head missed him. He landed on his hands and pushed himself away into the air, dogging a swipe from another attack.
Jason attached a webline to one of the four towers around the factory and swung around it to avoid Ock's attack. The teen rested on the side facing away from the building to catch his breath. When he peered out on the side, a chunk of roof was thrown at him. "You really think that your a hero!? " Otto yelled. "Your the reason for everything that's happened lately!" he pointed out.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Spider-Man asked as he reloaded his web shooters. If I keep him distracted I can get him when he least expects it.
The man rolled his eyes, "Since you showed up. The city has been flooded with more crime just to stop you. You are the reason for all the villains that have come here." he stated, making Jason stop what he was doing.
Is...is that true? Jason wondered. "That's-" he shouted as he looked onto the roof only to find Doc Ock gone, " -just my goddamn luck. Crap." Jason muttered as he jumped down to the rooftop. "I hate it when that happens!"
…
Jason sat at his desk in school while he finished writing up his exam. The teen was thinking back to what Otto said the day before, how it's his fault for all the super villains that have been coming to the city of late.
The Enforcers, Electro, Kraven, Sandman. They all came to try and kill me. And they did whatever they thought was needed to draw me outgo try and kill me. Including threatening people. Jason thought.
The teen sighed as he turned the page in his booklet, Maybe Spider-Man isn't the answer like I thought...maybe it's time for a little vacation. The teen thought as he wrote down his answer for the next question.
Jason was going to visit Akiko in the hospital after school. Since she was still out of commission after her entire ordeal, Jason wanted to make sure that she would be ready for testing when she went back to school
…
Knock Knock
"Come in." Akiko said, not looking up from her school book. The door opened to show Jason with a smile on his face.
"Holy crap it's the end of days." Jason said as Akiko sent him a small glare. "I'm just saying, it's nice to see you taking your schoolwork seriously is all." he chided as he sat down in the chair beside her bed. "And just for that, you deserve a reward." he said as he dug into his schoolbag.
Akiko's eyes widened when he pulled out a box of chocolate, "Have I told you that your amazing? Because you are amazing." she said as the teen handed him the teen handed her the chocolate.
As the girl munched on her treat, Jason looked over to the girl with a smile, "So how you holding up? Obviously there's no brain damage but I can't imagine you not having any headaches." he stated.
Akiko looked down at her bed sheets, "I'm fine...have you heard anything about Rozu?" she asked. "My mom and dad think that the less talked about it the better. But I at least want to know what happened to him." she explained as she took a bout of chocolate.
Jason nodded, "I get that...they said that he's being tried for kidnapping and the endangerment if a child."
"I'm not a child!"
"Well I gotta say I can't really say I don't agree." Jason joked, making Akiko lightly punch his arm.
She shrugged, "I'm just happy he's not in any position to hurt me again...could have been worse of Spider-Man didn't show up." she said. Jason had a small smile at that "When you see him, say thanks for me?" she asked.
Jason scratched the back of his head, "Well people keep saying that he's gonna quit." he sated, making Akiko stop eating her chocolate in mid bite.
She looked at him in complete shock, "He can't...Jason you gotta find him and tell him not to!" she said, grabbing the teen's shoulder and looking him seriously in the eye.
Jason looked at her calmly, "Aki...look, ever since he showed up, guys like Rhino and Electro have cons here trying to off the guy. He says that if he keeps this up, then people are going to get hurt." he explained to the girl.
She crossed her arms, thinking over what Jason had said. It was true that none of the freak shows showed up until after Spider-Man showed up, but that didn't make it his fault that they came to the city.
"Ok. Tell him this. Even if he wasn't around, those men would still be out in the world doing something wrong." she said. Jason took a moment to let that sink in, "And he didn't give them powers, or tell them what to do with them." she added. "So when you see that dork next time, tell him that. Would you?" she asked, flashing the boy a smile.
Jason smiled before nodding, "Sure...by the way. You won't believe what happened to me last night." Jason said, getting comfortable in the chair.
"Oh yeah? What happened?" she asked, popping a chocolate into her mouth.
"I met my long lost Aunt." he stated , making Akiko's eyes widen and mouth hang open.
"You have a aunt! And you just found out that you actually have a aunt!? How...I don't..." she blundered. The news was shocking to her maybe even more than Jason, "How is that possible!" she asked.
Well when a man and a woman are in love, or have a certain arrangement set up with each other-" Jason started. The boy was shut up when Aki smacked his ribs, "Well you wanted to know!" he said, trying to stop his laughing.
"I swear your spending too much time with Whitney. So who's this mystery aunt?" she asked.
Jason put a elbow on the bed, "Pema. She lives on Air Temple Island. In fact I'm heading there tomorrow to meet my apparent cousins." he explained as Akiko turned to face him.
"Oh good god your multiplying. How many?" she asked with a smile.
"Three I think...you know I always wanted little siblings." he said as he thought back to his childhood. "It's lonely growing up as a single kid." he explained. "I always thought that a little brother would be fun." he stated, making Akiko laugh, "What?" he questioned.
She smirked, "Brothers are assholes. Keito used to mix all my paints together to make mud colored paint for me to use." she explained, making the teen crack a smile.
"Do I even want to know what you did in retaliation?" he asked, partially a little scared to hear.
Akiko gestured him close, she leaned over to his ear, "I threw every white piece of cloth he owned and threw a red shirt of mine in the washing machine." she said, holding back a fit of giggles.
Jason chuckled at the image in his head, "Remind me to never, ever, mess with your paints." he commented, pulling his head away.
Akiko smirked, folding her arms over her hospital gown, "Don't worry. I've matured since then." she said confidently.
"Again. Little to no proof of that." Jason said, earning a chocolate to his forehead.
"You know, we've talked a lot about my childhood, but I don't remember hearing anything about yours." Akiko said accusingly.
The teen shrugged, "Honestly it wasn't extraordinary at all. It was just me and my mom. Dad walked out when I entered the picture." he explained when he saw Akiko's confused face.
"Oh...sorry I didn't-" she started.
Jason shrugged again, "It's no big deal. In fact, I think I'm better because he wasn't around. Makes it so I'm not like that." Jason explained.
Akiko smiled before she patted his shoulder, "You'd never be like that Jason. Even if he was around." she said, making the teen's face blush.
…
Jason stayed a while longer before he bid the girl fair well and exited the hospital. As the teen walked down the street he thought back to Akiko's words of encouragement. Otto was trying to just throw me off my game. It worked. But now, I'm gonna find him and show him back in the game. Jason thought as he turned into a deserted alleyway.
Jason changed I to his Spider-Man costume before he climbed the side of the building. "Ok what was he looking for? I know he used to work at Future Industries...maybe he's getting what's his." Jason guessed aloud.
Jason remembered reading about Otto being fired after some sort of mental breakdown. His mother passed away after he called off a engagement with a woman that Otto had preposed to a woman that he loved.
Jason almost felt bad for the guy. Almost.
Spider-Man fired a web to the side of a building, angling his swing arc so that he he flew over the rooftops of the buildings. The masked teen landed on a chimney, 'Attention all units, we have reports of a break in at Cabbage Corp. any unit please identify.'
"And there's the special someone I'm looking for...ok that sounded more menacing in my head." Jason said as he leapt off the brick chimney and out to the streets.
…
Spider-Man shot two webs on either side of him, just missing a car as he swung above the streets of Republic City. The vigilante pulled the webs begins him, increasing his altitude. He shot a web to a flagpole and swung down the street and quickly rounded a building and attached another web to a building, Cabbage Corp.
The young hero swung around the building, looking for a way inside that Ock managed to get into. The broken window in the front of the building was the most obvious place to start. The teen attached a webline right above the hole and swung inside the building.
Instead of lab tables there where cubicles this time, "Help! Please for Spirits sake!" A man yelled who was pinned under a large cabinet case, the teen ran over and lifted the metal up so he could slip out. "Oh thank you!" the man said gratefully as he crawled out of the space.
"I don't suppose a guy with for metal arms came through here by any chance?" Spider-Man asked as he helped the man up from the floor.
The man pointed to the path of destruction, "Crazy SOB when that way. Yelling about his work being stolen." he said.
Jason's eyes widened, "Thanks pal, now get yourself somewhere safe." he said as he ran towards the path that Doc went. So that's what he was after! The company gets the patent for the invention, Otto believes it's his and decides to trash the place so they can't make it. Jason thought as he jumped down into the lobby where Doc Ock had a man by his collar.
"Where is it! I want to hear you say it thief!" he yelled to the man. He was the owner of Cabbage Corp, as told by his incredibly frivolous clothing. He was also scared beyond belief.
The man sweated bullets, "I-I-I-I-I didn't know we even made it! I promise!" he shouted. Ock didn't like that answer, he raised his tentacle and drew it back as he was about to strike. Spider-Man shot a web to the man's chest and pulled him out of Ock's grasp.
"Now now Doc, I told you those toys where dangerous." The masked teen said mockingly as he caught the man and set him on the floor. "Now I'm afraid I'll gave to take your toys away."
Otto sneered at the costumed teen, "Stay out of my way! This has nothing to do with you! They set me up!" he said, pointing to the cowering CEO who was running towards the nearest exit.
Spider-Man tilted his head curiously, "How so?" he asked.
"They framed me! They set me up so it looked like I was the one spying on Future Industries! He can't hide it anymore! I'm going to-" he started before Spider-Man sprayed webs at his eyes but was blocked by the tentacles, "Nice try but I learn-" he said as he pulled the arms away, only to see a fist heading for his face.
Otto was sent to the floor, Spider-Man landed on his feet and sprung into the air and shot two webs on either side of Ock and pulled himself down towards the man with his outstretched feet.
Otto was quick and used his metal arms to grab the feet and toss him away. Jason shot a web to the ceiling and used the momentum to do a 360 turn on the web and land on the floor in front of Doc Ock. The scientist sent all four arms to the teen like before.
Spider-Man tried a different approach this time, he jumped forward snd grasped the upper tentacle and sung on it towards Ock. He knocked two others away with his feet, the fourth one headed for the costumed hero's chest, but he fried a web at the arm and pulled himself under it and slid across the floor.
Jason delivered a double kick to Doc's gut and sent him into the air. Like before, Jason attached two weblines to his chest, this time he took a page from Otto's book and slammed him into the floor and then into the wall. "I learn from my mistakes Doc. This time, your not getting away." Jason said as he ran towards the man.
Doc Ock tore out a slab of rock and tossed it at the teenager, Jason jumped in the air sideways and stuck a web to the rock as he spun in the air, wrapping the web around his arm. He landed on the ground and stuck to the ground firmly, he felt the webbing stretch out and he grabbed the line with both hands before pulling his hands down to the floor and launched it back at Doc.
The scientist blocked the rock with his arms, sending him crashing back into the wall. Spider-Man pressed down on his web shooters and stuck the man's metal tentacles to the wall.
Otto struggled to remove the webbing but wasn't fast enough to get them out in time before Spider-Man delivered a right hook to the face, dazing him while he webbed the rest of his body to the wall, along with sticking his mouth shut, "Next time you lose something Otto. Try the legal system . Something tells me your going to get real friendly with it pretty soon." Jason said as he walked away from the man.
Spider-Man pushed open the front doors and jumped into the air and shot a web to the building next to Cabbage Corp and swung away. Otto may have said I'm the reason for all the super villains, but I'm not the reason he turned rotten. That was all him.
…
"How...the...hell...are you related to Airbenders?" Xang asked. He and Jason stood at the ferry to Air Temple Island.
"It's complicated. You know for someone whose supposed to be morally supportive your kinda making me feel attacked here." Jason said, looking out to the island in the bay. Otto was taken in yesterday when the police found him in Cabbage Corp. and after a quick swing around the city, Jason was ready to meet his family.
Or he thought so at least, "Why did you bring me here of all people?" Xang asked.
"Aki's still in the hospital. And your my best friend besides her." Jason explained with a smile.
Xang put a arm around the smaller teen's shoulder, dispute Jason's super powers, he was still the same night and body build as when he didn't have his powers, "Thanks. By the way, what hospital is she staying at? I want to send her some flowers or something." he said.
"Central Receiving near Silk Road Bridge. And she likes chocolates as well...I learned that the hard way." Jason said, making the jock laugh.
The two stood in silence as the ferry came into sight, "Nervous?" Xang asked, giving the teen a sympathetic look.
Jason gave a small smile, "You have absolutely no idea. It's like...actually there is no way to tell you what this feels like." he stated.
Xang shrugged, "Look. They're family. One thing my parents taught me; family is forever. Don't sweat it man, I mean how bag could a bunch of monks be?" he asked, putting the teen at ease. The ferry docked at the harbor with a single Air Acolyte on with a welcoming look. "See ya man." Xang said, holding out a fist bump.
Jason smiled and lightly hit it before boarding the craft to the island. Xang waved to his friend until he was out if sight, "Goddamn since when can the pipsqueak hit hard?" he asked, running his stinging hand.
Jason was smirking at his little payback as he rode the ferry.
It was a fairly short ride on the ferry, Jadon didn't talk to the Air Acolyte mainly because he didn't exactly know what to say. Contrary to what their name says, Air Nomads just stay on the island nowadays.
The small ship docked at the base of the island, Jason gave the ferryman his thanks as he started on his way up the large flight of stairs towards the main complex. The stairs climbed the face of the Cliffside of the island, "Talk about the journey of a thousand steps." Jason muttered as he continued the climb the stairs towards the top.
After climbing one last flight of them, he came to a flat area with a fork in the road, and Pema standing at one of them with a welcoming smile, "I'm so glad you made it." the woman said as the teen approached her.
Jason smiled, "Of course...and can I jut say that stairs suck." he said as he raised and lowered his feet to get feeling back into them. Guess web swinging makes my feet kinda lazy.
Pema laughed, "Tell me about it. Try being pregnant and walking up and down them." she said, making the teen wince.
"You poor, poor, woman. So which way?" he asked, looking at both roads.
Pema pointed behind her, "This way, the other walkway leads to the training grounds." she said as the two began walking on the left walkway.
"Training? I thought that Air Acolytes where about peace and love." Jason said as the two walked side by side.
"Well most airbending forms can be mastered by almost anyone. They just can't airbend themselves." she explained as the blue temple rooftops came into view.
The temple was beautifully furnished, looking like it was just put up yesterday but had been standing for years, "Whoa...it's...it's amazing." Jason muttered as they walked by the wooden building.
Pema smiled at her nephew's fascination with her home, "Avatar Aang wanted to make this temple like his home from over a hundred years ago. To help preserve the old ways." she explained to Jason.
The two family members approached the main living quarters of the Airbending family, Jason slowed his pace as they approached the door. Pema took notice of this right away, "What's wrong?" she asked curiously.
The teen shook his head, "Just...nervous is all." he said. I'll fight a giant Rhino, take a ride a few miles into the sky, jump off of skyscrapers, and risk death on a daily basis, but I'm scared of my own flesh and blood? That is sad. Jason thought to himself.
Pema walked over to the teen and put her hands on his shoulders, "It's okay Jason. They're your family, just like I am. And besides, they've been dying to meet you." she said with a sweet smile as she led the teen to the paper door.
Pema grabbed the handle and looked at Jason. He took a deep breath and nodded.
Pema opened the door.
The interior of the building was richly decorated with colors of orange, yellow, red, and blue. The living room area consisted of four pillars soy rounding a low table, a set of couches on each side, as well as two chairs on the other sides.
Behind one of the couches was a man with formal Airbender robes, a pointed beard, and a shaved head with a light blue arrow tattoo that went over the head from his neck. Jason felt himself shrink in the man's presence dispute his welcoming look, "Jason, this is my husband, Tenzin." she said, pulling the teen towards her husband.
The man smiled at the nervous teenager, "It's nice to meet you Jason, welcome to my home." He said, bowing to the teen.
Jason returned the gesture by bowing himself, "It-it's a honor sir." Jason stuttered out.
Tenzin shook his head at the teen, "No formalities, your family Jason. Call me Tenzin." he said, giving the teen a smile.
Jason nodded with a small smirk, "Sure thing Tenzin."
The monk turned behind him, "Come on out, meet your cousin." he said. Two young girls in Airbender uniforms stepped out from behind those father , one with a single bun in her brown hair, and the other with two buns in her black hair. "This is Jinora and Ikki, my daughters." he said , introducing the young girls.
Jason timidly raised a hand, "Hi." he said.
Ikki rushed over to his feet faster than Jasom could register, "How old are you? What's your name? Why haven't I met you before? Where do you live? Do live on the island? Do you live in the city? Huh? Huh? HUH?" she bombarded, as she jumped up high enough to look him in the eye.
Pema gave her daughter a look, "Ikki, remember what we said?" she asked while Jason tried to remember what the first question was.
Ikki sighed, "Don't ask more than three questions at once." she said in a bored tone.
Jason smiled at the little girl, "My name is Jason O-rou. I'm 16 years old. I don't live on the island, I live in Dragon Flats Borough. And I haven't met you before because I haven't been to the island." he listed off.
Ikki grinned, "Yep! Thank you!" she said, hugging the teen's leg. Jason patted her head while Jinora stepped forward.
"My name is Jinora. It's really nice to meet you Jason." she said with a smile as she clasped her hands together and bowed.
Jason returned the gesture, "You as well Jinora. So...any questions?" he asked the room in entirety.
The family sat down on the couch while Jasin took the chair, "So Jason, you live alone?" Tenzin questioned, he knew that some of the city's youth is homeless but Jason didn't look the sort at all.
"Yeah, I got a job at the Daily Marvel to help pay the bills." he explained.
Jinora's eyes widened at that, "What do you write about?" she questioned, her curiosity peaking.
Jason smiled, "I write all the weird things, but mostly about Spider-Man." he said, making the parents children's eyes widen with surprise .
"Have you met him!" The girls asked at the same time.
Jason nodded, "Yeah, he's saved my but a few times too. I had to do this article on a gallery a few weeks back. Sandman showed up and Spidey saved me and my friend." he explained, making the children awe at their cousin.
Pema and Tenzin gave the teen a worried look, "Do you always have such...exciting articles?" Pema asked.
Jason scratched the back of his neck, "Not usually. I do get some pretty strange stuff to look at though." he said truthfully. Mostly he goes looking for trouble as Spider-Man, he uses the paper as a way to find leads. "But it's more of a a after school job if anything." he added.
Jinora's eyes seemed to sparkle, "School! Like collage?" she asked. Pema and Tenzin smiled at their daughter's fascination with her cousin. She had a sheltered lifestyle that prevented her from experiencing anything off the island.
Ten and Pema shared a look, "Girls we're going to get your brother. Cab you keep our guest entertained?" she asked, the two nodded and scooted over to the end with their cousin in the chair.
Jason answered the run of the mill questions, what's school like, what he wants to be when he grows up, but one question stood out, "Do you have a girlfriend?" Jinora asked with a playful smile.
Jason's mind flashed to Akiko and blushed red, "No, haven't had one yet."
"But you like someone!" Ikki said , pointing to the boy's blushing face and laughing. "What's her name?" she asked, leaning over the arm into the boy's face.
Jason tried to cover the blush, "It's nothing. She's just a friend."
"A girlfriend!" Jinora joined in.
Jason felt like dying right now. "She is just a friend." he said adamantly. Tenzin and Pema walked into the room and heard the girls talking.
"Leave the poor boy alone girls. Jason, come meet Meelo." she said, holding the baby in her hands, Jason stood from his seat and looked at the small baby.
"He's adorable." Jason said as he prided the boy's hand. The small hand clasped around the teen's finger, giving it a tight squeeze, "Healthy too." he said, taking note of the boy's strength.
Pema smiled, "Would you like to hold him?" she asked, holding the small boy out to the teenager. Jason was hesitant at first but he held his arms in a cradle, Pema smiled and gently put the boy in his arms.
Jason looked down at the small boy with a smile, "Hey there little guy." he said, gently swinging the baby in his arms. Tenzin put a hand on his wife's shoulder and smiled at the scene. "Heh...I always wanted a little brother." he said, looking down at the boy.
Ikki looked at him curiously, "Why don't you ask your mommy to get another brother from the Lemur King?" she questioned. Jason froze, he felt as all sting from the mommy comment but was more curious about the whole Lemur King business.
Pema winced at the mention of Ava, "Ummm, Jinora, Ikki, would go put Meelo in his crib?" she asked. The two girls nodded as Jason he handed the small child to his sisters, they hurried down to his room, leaving the teen and adults alone.
Pema turned to the teen, "Jason I'm so sorry about that." she apologized. "It's just...I don't know how to tell them that..." she shook her head.
Tenzin sighed, "When they find out that Ava passed...we don't know how they'll react...we don't even know how she passed." he said sadly. He loved his brother and inter dearly, but the idea of a slightly bigger family made him happy. But go lose a sister...he couldn't imagine the pain that Pema gone through.
Jason looked surprised, "I thought they told you guys." he said. The police keep all sorts of records on criminal related deaths, then again files do get misplaced, when Jason wants to do research on a criminal at the Marvel, the filing room is one of the messiest places ever.
"Do...you know how..." Pema tailed off, Tenzin eased her down onto the sofa, Jason sat across from her with a sympathetic look on his face.
The teen put his hands together, "A triad member wanted fake his death so he could take over the gang. The guy was my neighbor, so he set his apartment on fire...I got home early. When I saw it. I ran in to go help her. We made it to the hospital but..." he let out a sigh while Pema wiped the tears out of her eyes.
"It's my fault..." Jason muttered making Pena and Tenzin widen.
"Jason how on earth could it be your fault?" Pema asked unbelievingly.
"I saw one of my neighbor's friends take in a can of gasoline. I could have stopped him if I did...something..." Like use my powers to ram the guy into a wall. The teen thought.
Tenzin shook his head, "Jason that doesn't make it your fault. Those men who started the fire are responsible for her passing. Not you." he said softly to the troubled teen.
Jason ran a hand over his face, "That's what I keep hearing. It doesn't make me feel any better." he stated as he sat back in his couch.
Pema leaned over the table and took his hands, "Jason, you aren't to blame. You can't keep telling yourself that you are. It's not healthy." she said, making Jason hold back a laugh, You got no idea.
"Mom we got Meelo in bed!" Ikki said as she road a ball of air into the room, starling Jason.
"Holy crap..." Jason muttered. And I thought I had good balance.
…
"Thank you...for letting me meet them." Jason said to the woman. The two family members stood at the dock, the ferry getting ready to depart.
Pema smiled at the teen and hugged him, "No problem at all Jason. Your family. Your always welcome here." she said as Jason returned the embrace.
"Thank you Aunt Pema...I'll see you around." he said as he boarded the ferry. The woman waved fair well as the ferry pushed off and returned to the city.
Jason felt...at peace.
…
Zhu Li handed the report to her boss, "Here's the data from the Otto Octavius battle sir." she said as Verrick opened the file and read it over.
"Strength. Speed. Reflexes. And it's all natural, no special equipment. He's a regular super soldier." the man said as he looked at the photos that where collected. All of them showed Spider-Man in mid fight against Otto, "Guess planting that evidence to frame Otto was a good bet in the long one. Even if it didn't get rid of my competition. How is R&D going about replicating the abilities?" he asked.
Zhu Li looked down at her notes, turning a page over, "They say that the most effective means would be through chemical means. A injection wraps, but they still need to produce and test it for side effects." she explained.
Verrick thought for a moment, "Put a quarter of our resources on Project Spider. I want a prototype by the end of the summer." he said decisively.
AN: Otto isn't such a bad guy. After reading what he went through, I see him as a kid that got picked on a lot as a boy. In a way, he's like Peter.
Also what's up with the whole 'Pema has a dark past ' thing? She's a nice lady! Though I must say some of the suggestions I got from her backstory where pretty creative, Kudos people. kudos.
And yes, the gargoyle thing was from the 90's cartoon. I personally loved the Spectacular cartoon better though.
Anyway, thank you all for reading, I really appreciate all of you who read and enjoy my story, and I especially like it when you all leave reviews.
Again thank you all for reading and I'll get the next chapter up soon as I can.