So I'm about to bring home a puppy, so if chapters are a bit late or posting gets erratic, that's why. Her name is Lucy and she's adorable.

The Hulk and the Beast: Chapter Twelve

December 27, 2013

"Tony," Steve was so disappointed in him it drove him mad.

"What? He was getting sappy! I panicked!"

"Remus is a very emotional kid. If you panic every time he gets a little sniffly, you'll never be able to hold a meaningful conversation with him."

"We've bonded before," Tony insisted. "He likes Billy Joel. I even managed to talk about… both being orphans. I don't know… this time I panicked, alright? I hate it when kids cry and I shut him out."

"So his pain is only fine when you can relate to it?"

"No," Tony whined. "Okay, maybe. I tried, okay? I shouldn't have been the one who stayed behind, I get that now. Should have been you or Nat. Even Clint would have been better at that. Don't…"

"Tell Clint you said that?" Steve managed a laugh, despite how disappointed he was. "I know, it would be horrible if any of us thought you actually cared about anything."

"I've got a reputation."

"Is it really one you want to keep?"

"It's worked so far!" Tony balked.

"Has it?"

"Yes. Please change the subject."

"He said there were more kids from his world that might need somewhere to go?"

"Yeah," Tony said. "Then he started panicking about being a burden and he was tearing up so I panicked. Keep up, Cap."

"Tony," Steve sighed. "That was incredibly important information and…"

"And I blew it, get off my back. You're not my dad."

"You're acting like a child. You'll never get him to call you Tony if you keep pushing him away randomly."

"It's not… random…"

"It looks like it to him."

"He should learn to read me better."

"He's a child, it's your job to be there for him and listen to him when he needs you. Not the other way around. You're his guardian, he shouldn't have to tiptoe around you."

Tony grumbled something incoherent.

"I don't know what you were thinking when you adopted him. I honestly don't know what the rest of us were thinking when we let you adopt him. None of us are available to give him the time he needs to heal, Tony."

"There's always someone here to help him," Tony insisted. "I dropped the ball yesterday. Shit happens. You can't just throw in…"

"I'm not throwing in the towel, I'm telling you to step up your game…"

"I don't need to be lectured by a nonagenarian in spandex…"

"It's Kevlar and you should know that you designed…"

"I know what it is…"

January 2, 2014

New Year's was boring. No one let Remus stay up to watch the ball drop, not that he wanted too. They made him go to bed at nine! He wasn't a little kid. Even worse, he was in bed by eight the next day. The Hulk was responsible for that one. He wanted to make sure he was rested for school the next day and no one argued with the Hulk and won.

Remus felt less rested than usual. He slept too long, and now he was out of sorts. That made him nervous, because he did not want to fall asleep on his first day of class and turn into a monster.

"Please don't fly me to school," Remus mumbled over his bacon and eggs. "That would be embarrassing."

"You don't want people knowing where you live," Ms. Widow said. Remus really should ask her what her name was. It was getting a bit ridiculous.

"But anyone with an internet connection can look him up," Mr. Stark said.

"They can?" Remus squeaked.

"Kid, every tabloid last month was going nuts for you. You didn't notice?"

"I don't read tabloids!" Remus' voice cracked in his panic.

"You're more a National Geographic and New York Times," Mr. Stark gently poked Remus' forehead with his spoon. "I don't know how I keep forgetting how big a nerd you are, considering your fashion sense."

Remus turned very red and tried to get back to eating his cereal, "I'm not that big of a nerd."

"You are," Mr. Stark insisted.

"Well, I don't think you should fly anywhere hungover," Remus snapped back.

"I'm not… how… what…" Mr. Stark's mouth was flapping like a fish.

"You're wearing sunglasses, eating raw egg and tomato paste for breakfast, and if you smelled any more of whisky you'd be an open bottle," Remus snapped. "I'm going to take the subway!"

"Like hell you are," Mr. Stark stood up, then fell back into his seat.

Remus grabbed his bowl and stormed out of the room. He could still hear them, of course.

"Get back here… he's gone. Do I smell like whiskey? I could have sworn the new aftershave hid the smell."

"He has the same sense of smell as a wolf, Tony," Ms. Widow said. "Possibly stronger."

"Oh, yeah, forgot about that. Kid's too bookish for his own good. We should… get him up in spandex or something. I forget he's enhanced half the time."

"I'm very proud of him. He has mastered being perceived as unremarkable."

"That's mean."

"Despite being incredibly remarkable. You didn't let me finish."

Remus would have loved to say that Ms. Widow's vote of confidence gave him the hutzpah to be brave for his first day of muggle school since he was five years old. That would be a lie.

He was so nervous on the subway that the smell was unable to make him more nauseous. He really shouldn't have insisted on taking the subway, but he did not want to be driven to school by a chauffeur in a limo. Remus was supposed to be poor. He wasn't James, Meriam, or Sirius; he didn't have fancy, superfluous things. He didn't even have regular, new things like Lily. He had run down, practical things that were lovingly patched by his Mam, and his Dad's old texts books, with the margins full of musings and little notes of encouragement.

At least he was allowed to bring Gwyllgi to school. SHIELD let him train her as a psychiatric service animal, on account of his extreme anxiety disorder. That was a fun way to describe his new and improved version of lycanthropy. If he had a panic attack, he turned into a self-harming bloodthirsty monster, and he preferred not to think about that.

A dog trainer from SHIELD came to work with Gwyllgi every afternoon, and now she had her pretty red vest and knew to lick his hand and face if he started breathing too hard or growing hair too fast. She was very enthusiastic. They were working on getting her not to tackle him whenever he sneezed or hiccupped.

Columbus Circle was right next to Stark Tower. Penn Station, four stops down the line, was a two minute walk from Midtown High. Remus wanted to go alone, he was certainly more than capable and he had a tracker. But no one wanted to leave him unattended for a second. The difficulty of living with superheroes is they had to protect everyone at all times, especially him.

The compromise was Sam, whose identity still wasn't widely known, to walk him up to the front doors.

"You got everything?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Remus said.

Sam was pretty young, at seventeen. Remus didn't think the rest of the team knew how young Sam was, as they'd called it adult supervision. Sam didn't correct them, so Remus didn't say anything, either. He was still curious.

"Shouldn't you be in school?"

"I graduated early, remember?"

"Yeah, but Mr. Stark said it's not good to graduate early or skip grades."

"I graduated early so I could work for SHIELD. He went to a party college when he was fourteen. His experiences are tinted. Heavily."

"Hm," Remus grunted. "Party school's sound dumb. Why would anyone party in school when they've got homework?"

"I don't think Tony needs to worry about you," Sam laughed, patting Remus' head affectionately.

"I worry enough about myself," Remus frowned. "I know where it is from here."

"I'm supposed to get you to the front door."

"I'm almost thirteen! That's hardly too young to be left unattended for half a block. It's just over there!"

"You're embarrassed by me?" Sam mock pouted, "The coolest Avenger." Sam pulled Remus into a jesting armlock.

"I'm not going to dispute that!" Remus yelped. "I… I'm stronger than you!"

Gwyllgi yelped and grabbed her leash, thrashing it back and forth playfully.

"No, Gwyll!" Remus pulled. "I know you know better!"

"She's excited for her first day of school, aren't you?"

"No, just nauseous."

"I can bring you some paper bags by lunch."

"Yeah, thanks."

"You sure you don't want me to walk you all the way up?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, but I'm just going to fly overhead…"

"No!"

"Walk behind you from an acceptable, not embarrassing distance?"

"Okay," Remus huffed. "I just… at my last school I sort of… threw up on some other students and I just… everything has to be perfect because…"

"What happened with the students you threw up on?"

"They… well we made friends, but that was later…" Remus admitted. "But they're weird, okay! Normal kids don't want to be friends with me so I…"

"Remus, you are a normal kid, alright?"

"I'm not."

"You're normal and a bit extra," Sam ruffled his hair for a third infuriating time. "Compromise."

"Fine," Remus sighed. His stomach was feeling positively volcanic. "School is fun, there's books and homework and…"

Sam laughed. Remus turned red.

"Alright, you little nerd," Sam said. "What's the mission objective?"

"I'm supposed to go straight to the principal's office so I can get an orientation. It's in five minutes."

"Yeah, so we better stop standing around and go."

"Right! Bye, Sam!"

"I'm picking you up. We're taking the subway again. Don't want Tony driving up in his Bugatti. Or worse, flying over in his armor."

"Thanks, see you at three!"

Remus suspected that Sam was what it was like to have a big brother. It was a nice thought for an only child. Sam was really cool.

Principal Coulson looked very familiar, but Remus couldn't quite figure out why. His name was certainly familiar. Agent Coulson! Director Fury and Mr. Stark said there was someone called Agent Coulson in Midtown High. They really knew how to plant them. Remus would never think Principal Coulson was a Man in Black Super Spy.

He looked like a normal, socially awkward high school principal who was always the most enthusiastic participant in Spirit Week; the kind that tried to teach the kids dances from the 80s at Homecoming and Prom. Remus had seen a lot of rom coms and sit coms with Captain Rogers. Clint gave them homework to catch up on their skipped time. Remus and Captain Rogers both agreed that Ross was an idiot and neither of them liked Seinfeld, they were all too mean to everyone.

What Remus was trying to say, was that Principal Coulson looked like the friendliest, kindest person in New York City. He was dressed professionally, short graying brown hair, kind brown eyes.

Remus was still almost shaking he was so nervous. He had a lot of time to think about the Wizarding World's treatment of him. Professor Dumbledore had given him a place at Hogwarts, made him feel like he owed him everything. Or his Dad made it seem that way. Werewolves weren't human after all, it was a big risk letting a monster in among children.

Here, he had opportunities that didn't require another party to be charitable with him. SHIELD hadn't fudged his entrance exam, they let him earn things on his own merit. Sure, he was here early, but that was so they could keep an eye on him. He was a normal kid first and a little bit extra second. They weren't even the slightest concerned that Remus would hurt anyone.

"I'm sorry to make you wait, Mr. Lupin," Principal Coulson said.

"I… you can call me Remus," Remus mumbled.

"Ava's usually more punctual than this."

"Hey, Coulson!" A very loud, very not someone who could be named Ava burst into the office. "So… Ava's got a cold and asked me to fill in. Sorry I'm late."

He sounded very familiar. Even more importantly, he smelled familiar. Like several week old BO, unfortunate deodorant, and the distinctive weirdness off web-shooter fluid. Remus turned around in his chair. The boy was older than him but younger than Sam. He hunched over slightly, his clothes were baggy, and he had a very soft baby face. He looked even more unassuming than Principal Coulson.

"Let me guess, you didn't want to come?"

"Who, me? Never! This the new kid?" Definitely Spider-man patted Remus on the back. He was stronger than he looked. "I'm great at tours of the school."

Principal Coulson let out a very deep, very exasperated sigh, "Don't scare him, Mr. Parker."

"Me? I'm harmless. It's Flash he's got to look out for. Why is that knucklehead still in this school, anyway?"

"Football scholarship."

"Figures," Civies Spider-man practically pulled Remus out of his chair and directed him towards the door. "I'm Peter, I'm your guide because Ava's blowing snot everywhere, nice to meet you."

"I'm Remus."

"Cool!"

"Mr. Parker…"

"Not a scratch, I promise."

Peter led Remus out of the office and down the hall, pointing out various classes and which ones were new because Supervillains broke them last semester. He also pointed out every locker that Flash Thompson had locked him in. Remus knew it was a warning. Remus was small and kids like Flash liked that. Just like Avery and Mulciber back home, but he didn't have James or Sirius to watch his back anymore.

"Cute dog!"

"Thanks, she's a service animal," Remus said.

"She's working hard, got it."

"Well, hopefully she's just on standby."

When the bell went off, Peter informed him that they wouldn't be going to class until next period. Ava had given Peter a thick, color coded ring binder of everything he was supposed to go over, including a timetable of when. That meant they were finally alone, with no one to overhear them.

"I know you're Spider-man," Remus whispered, even though he knew no one could hear him but Peter.

"Ah, what, they're not supposed to tell you that," Peter frowned. "So I guess that means they told you about…"

"No!" Remus stopped him. "No, it's cause I can smell you and we met on the Tricarrier."

"Oh, right, the werewolf thing," Peter said. "So you've got enhanced smell, then? And you can teleport. I got bit by the wrong animal."

"Smell, hearing, and stuff," Remus shrugged, ignoring how casually Peter could bring up his own biting incident. Gwyllgi was supposed to be on standby, not active duty. "I thought you should know that… you've got a distinct smell…"

"It's the suit, I don't get enough time off to wash it properly. By the time I'm done with patrolling, it's homework, then I'm so exhausted…"

"Gross, dude," Remus shuddered. "I can smell it, but I don't need the background."

"It's not that bad…" Peter lifted up his arms to sniff himself.

Remus gagged very hard and very unintentionally, "Sorry, it is. It's just a heads up. Anyone you face who's got super smell will recognize you on scent from several blocks away, even if you've got your civies on."

"I will put in an order at SHIELD for super deodorant, guess the current stuff…"

"That's making it worse."

"I'm a teenage boy," Peter held his nose up. "If I don't smell like axe body spray I'm doing it wrong."

"That's wrong."

Remus, being only nearly thirteen, was the youngest student at the school by several years. He was also small and scrawny. This had the added effect of making him very popular with the ladies. And by that, he meant it made them want to baby him, which was actually annoying, but at least no one bullied him.

Peter warned him about Flash Thompson, but he hadn't met him yet. There was no way a muggle bully could be worse than a wizard bully. Flash couldn't make Remus break out into exploding boils for looking at him funny.

Remus liked muggle school. He got to do real maths like his Mam would do and no one would ever think he was a werewolf because werewolves weren't real. Only Peter knew, but Remus trusted him. Yes, Peter was pretty reckless and very over the top, but he was also genuine and he understood the code of silence better than anyone. He knew what it was like to be bitten by something that changed the course of his life entirely.

He also had fun friends.

Remus was having a nice time at lunch, making fun of Peter with his friends.

"Look out Peter, your top spot is in jeopardy," Harry joked.

"I lost that years ago," Peter snorted. "Ava's got it now. She's obsessed and very scary."

"She's nice," MJ insisted. "A little distant, but nice. You'll like her Remus."

"Okay," Remus agreed.

"So, Remy, kid, what are you in for?" Harry asked.

"What?"

"You know, you've got to be a prodigy if you skipped two grades. Shouldn't you be in seventh?"

"Yeah, but… I dunno, guess maths," Remus shrugged. "Mam was good at it, too."

"Why Midtown? There aren't any places in England?" MJ asked.

"I'm Welsh, actually," Remus snapped.

"What's… the difference?"

"Bloody yank," Remus grumbled under his breath. "England's twats, obviously. Wales is Celtic."

"I thought it was Ireland that didn't like England," Peter said.

"Nah, it's all the Celtic Nations, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, Isle of Man, and Brittany in France."

"I thought just Ireland and Scotland were Celtic," MJ said.

"England worked really hard to eradicate local Welsh culture. My grandparents were beaten for speaking Welsh in school."

"Oh, yikes!"

"S'all right, just made them speak more Welsh and less English. When we visited my Grandma, she would scold me if I said anything in English or French. I was pretty little when they died. Anyway, I… I don't have any relatives in Wales anymore."

"You're parents move for work?"

"Nah, home invasion gone wrong. Only family left lives on this side of the pond."

"Oh, I'm sorry, that's horrible. Moving this far after that must have been difficult."

Remus shrugged, "It happens." To be fair, getting kidnaped by HYDRA and then saved by the Avengers didn't happen every day, but MJ and Harry didn't have to know that.

"So, uh, you speak French?"

"Oui," Remus said. "My Dad's maternal grandma was French. He was half Welsh, but we got our name from a Brit, John Lupin. I'm three quarters, all added up. Welsh and English are my first languages. I used to speak a mixture and my grammar was a mess."

Americans liked talking about where their grandparents came from. Immigrant culture, and all that. Remus didn't mind.

"That's really cool that you speak two languages," MJ said.

"Four, actually," Remus said. "Dad taught me French and Latin when I was homeschooled. Mam did sciences, but Dad preferred I learn humanities. Guess I've ended up well rounded."

"That explains why you're in AP French III," Peter said, looking over Remus schedule. "And AP World History. And AP Calculus II. Man, you're gonna have a lot of homework."

"Yay," Remus said, only half joking.

"Wait, you're also taking History of America and New York, is World History an elective!"

"No, uh… the school said that History of New York was a requirement but I qualified for AP World History, so I'm taking both. I've also got catch up for last semester, but I've already done most of that."

"Only other class you've got that's actually freshman level is Intro to Biology."

"Yeah, I'm crap at Chem," Remus said. "I'm good on paper, but I'm shite in the labs. I'm quite clumsy and should not be let anything that might explode. Oh, and I've got hyperinosemia. The chemicals give me a headache."

SHIELD said that was an acceptable thing to say, in the event that he was ever overwhelmed by a scent and needed to remove himself from a situation with little fuss. He had to avoid saying how hyper his nosmia was.

"Oof, sorry you got stuck shadowing Pete," Harry laughed. "Even I can smell him half the time."

"It's not that bad!"

"Mate, you reek," Remus giggled.

"Really, Peter," MJ scolded. "I love you like a nerdy brother, but would it kill you to take a shower every once in a while?"

"It's not that bad," Peter sighed.

*To the tune of the Spider-Man Theme Song* Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Stinkiest Teen in New York. Is he clean? No he's not. He smells like... week old rot. Watch out! Here comes the Stinky-Man! *jazz hands*

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