CHAPTER 8: ELECTRO ROUND 2
-Brotherhood House-
Max Dillion was in his room itching for something to do, he had already finished the homework and oddly enough he was most likely the only person to actually do his. He wasn't a loser like the rest of them he wanted to actually finish high school. But now with Mystique gone who knows where and with Lance, Wanda and Tabitha leaving like they did things had pretty much gone down hill and the place was deteriorating. Max was thinking about just ditching them and going off to New York and find some opportunity there himself.
That was a city where he could really live it up and with his powers no one would stand in his way. He could take whatever he wanted and no one would know how he did it. He was just so sick and tired of this thing with them hiding their powers. He knew that at least Pietro felt somewhat the same about this, and Max wanted to get out there and just take what life owned him.
But first he'd save up, Mystique gave them a small 'allowance' of sorts when she had been here to keep them happy but with her no longer here well things were a bit more tiresome. He had however been hitting a few of the ATMs lately just zapping them with enough juice to pay off. He also made sure he went fully covered no sense in anyone knowing who he was and he wasn't greedy too much and the police would start to stake them out.
So he started a small accounts and only putting in a few hundred at a time every few weeks. The rest he kept hidden in his room. No real reason to share with the others he did however make sure that they had enough food and supplies. They didn't seem to care where they came from and with how Fred ate he was lucky to have any spare cash left. At the moment he was running a bit too low for his own comfort.
He figured it might be time for another withdraw. He found his green and yellow costume just in case he needed it and put it on. He wore a trench coat over it to hide it as night was falling. He kept the hood down and put on a hat over his head and kept his hands in his pockets. He went out of his room and down the stairs as he passed the living room on his way out.
Toad and Blob were watching the TV and laughing and making comments about some type of program. He didn't care what but then a blur was suddenly in front of him with Pietro right there. He wasn't sure but he bet Pietro was partially blaming him for that whole thing with them leaving. It wasn't his fault that Tabitha didn't know her place and he had to punish her at times. Lance was a fool anyway and personally his sister gave him the creeps anyway.
"So where do you think you're going?" Pietro asked him poking him in the chest. He never liked Max and lately he really didn't like him. Plus with Lance gone he was now as he saw it the new leader of the Brotherhood and he wanted to know what was going on.
"I'm just going out." Max told him coldly.
"Out where?"
"None of your business," He gritting his teeth this was getting annoying to him so he made a few electrical sparks making Pietro back off slightly. "Now get out of my face daddy's boy or we'll see how fast you really are."
Pietro glared at him, "You should learn your place here Max, or did you forget who is in charge here?"
Max only grinned at him when he said that knowing what he thought, "Oh you mean Mystique? Well she's not here." That caused the white haired mutant a bit angrier then before. But Max just ignored him as usual and went out the front door without another word.
Meanwhile at the mansion Peter was in the library with Kurt as they were finishing up their homework. Kitty was there tying to help out Lance as well although he looked a bit bored at the moment as she tried her best. It wasn't her fault he just never was really strong in certain parts like this trigonometry. The more simple stuff he could do but then again his strength was in cars anyway. Tell him to replace an engine and he could do it blindfolded.
"I just don't think I'll ever get this Kitty," He sighed to himself.
"Lance I think you can I mean I know it's like hard but I think you can do it," She told him although he didn't really believe some of that. For one thing Kitty was way smarter then her not to mention that he felt a bit stupid compare to some of the others. He saw Parker over there and hew knew there was no way he would be as smart as that guy seemed to be.
"Yeah well I just don't see how this will help me be a mechanic," He signed and leaned back.
"You want to be a mechanic?" She said surprised at that.
He looked at her a little insulted by her tone of voice, "There's nothing wrong with that Kitty, I like it and I'd rather do something I like rather then something I hate."
"Uh, well I didn't say there was it's just that…Well I thought that…" She bit her lower lip not sure what to say now. She kind of hoped he would have set his sights higher because she thought he could honestly do better then something like that. It was dirty work and she felt he could be something really great and maybe make an impact on the world.
Lance leaned forward now, "What? You think it's a waste of my time or something?"
"No! I didn't say that Lance." She said trying not to hurt his feelings and she knew that she should have just kept her mouth shut about this but it was too late now she feared.
"Well this isn't due until Wednesday so I'll see if I can figure it on my own or find someone else to help me with it," He said as he gathered up his things and left. She tried to say something she didn't mean for it to sound like she totally disagreed with what he wanted to do, but nothing came out. She knew that she had made a mistake and looked down at her stuff on the table.
Peter and Kurt tried not to overhear but it was kind of hard. They saw Kitty gather her stuff up and went through one of the walls most likely back to her room. Both boys gave each other a look that said they were sorry for them. "Vell zhat could have gone better," Kurt sighed to himself after seeing that sight.
"Yeah no kidding," Although personally he never saw what Kitty saw in Lance it wasn't that Lance was all bad to Peter it was just a weird pairing. But then again was he to talk? The class nerd going out with the class goth? Then there was Kurt and Amanda. Maybe it was the differences that made the relationship although from what he could figure Kurt and Amanda along with himself and Rogue had a few similar tastes to build on but so far Lance and Kitty's interests were radically different.
He did hope that they weren't heading to a crash and burn and that this was just one fight. Every couple fought now and then, even he and Rogue had a few arguments. "Well they'll pull through just give them time to cool off and come back fresh into it."
Kurt nodded his head, "Ja vell I hope so," He stretched out and closed up his books. They had just finished with their homework at the moment and he was thinking of calling Amanda, it wasn't too late to give her a call. "Vell I'm going to see if I can talk to mien girlfriend for a bit, what about you?"
"I think Rogue is trying to get a project done and out of the way, so I figured that I would…" He trailed off giving him a hint on what to do.
"Ah I see, staying in town zhis time?"
Peter shrugged, "Yeah I think so I'm king of hoping to find this Prowler guy again and see if this time I can get some reason through him. That and there's been a few vandals hitting ATMs lately as well as the usual crime you can find."
"Vell good hunting zhen," Kurt smiled as he ported out of the room. Peter smiled and he packed up his own things. He wasn't planning on taking a trip to New York tonight not with Logan having given them a long training session after school so he would need a bit more energy. Sure lately he had gone out as Spider-Man a few times now and then now instead of every night, that sure helped him not be so tired all the time. But he hated it when he felt he had to go out on days when Logan was going to make them train, sure it helped but damn he was wiped after it.
He sighed to himself as he climbed the stairs, 'Well whoever said that being a hero would be easy? Then again I don't see Batman or Superman having to deal with this kind of stuff.'
-Bayville-
Max was walking through the streets of Bayville as he looked around. No one was around, good he didn't want a few stupid people in his way. One time a gang of thugs thought it might be fun to rough him up for some cash. Max grinned at that memory he sure showed them just how big a stupid move that had been. Then he finally got to where he was going, it had taken him months to look them all up. He looked in every bank that had an ATM and looked around for any cameras around. He wasn't stupid he could fry the one in the ATM but if there were any other ones around he would take care of those first.
He hadn't gone to this one because of one camera at the intersection near it but he didn't want to hit the same one twice. He chose to walk up behind it so that he wasn't in frame. He placed his hand on the pole that it was on and sent energy into it frying the circuits. Although he put a bit too much into it and the street lights blew out in the intersection.
He just shrugged, "Oh well not like it's my problem."
Peter however was just enjoying the night air as he swing through the city. He had to admit Bayville was a nicer place to live then New York at times. It was quieter for one but there was just something about downtown Manhattan that was unique to the world and it was just really special. He remembered the first time Uncle Ben took him there, that was an amazing day for him. Everything was just so large and full of life to a little kid like him.
Unfortunately his little trip down memory lane was cut short as a loud bursting sound with lights and shattering glass happened not too far from him. He landed on a rooftop looking in that direction, "Okay that was weird, but I guess I better check it out."
He jumped off the building and headed to the area not sure of what to find. He hoped it wasn't the Brotherhood acting up, he didn't want to face them all alone. Then there was also the possibility of Magneto that little meeting with that guy hadn't been pleasant and Peter had been wondering what that guy was up to. There were others like Black Cat, she hadn't been seen since her escape from the police and he just knew that girl would show up again. 'Man since when did I get suck a large and varied list of people for an enemies list?' He wondered to himself. 'Normal folks most likely got guys like Flash Thomson and that new jerk Duncan Mathews. But me and the X-Men? We get people in costumes, some with superpowers and some with plans on world conquest. You know…I wonder if you could make a movie out of this?'
He let go of his web line and twisted just a bit for a turn. He fired another at the edge of a tall building and let the momentum carry him around the corner. 'Hmmm…Interesting idea but I doubt it. It would just be my luck if the X-Men get cool people playing them and I get stuck with a guy that looks like got beat up a lot…well…actually that might fight for me…' His thoughts on the subject were put aside as he saw some guy in a coat at an ATM that was spewing money.
'Ah so that's the creep, well time to go to work,' Peter landed on the wall close to him, "You better have on hell of an ATM card that can do that pal or you're in a lot of trouble."
"You!" The figure said raising a yellow glove as Peter's spider sense kicked in and told him to get the hell of the way. He did just that as he jumped as an electrical arc of power hit the spot in the wall where he had been.
"Oh great, you again!" Spider-Man shouted out as he swung with the help of a street light and landed a bit higher up on the building. Just what he needed, Max was out and by the looks of it had been doing some unlawful withdraws. He guessed he shouldn't have been too surprised. "You know Sparky I was kind of hoping to run into you again."
"Always the joker huh?" Max sneered at him. Max had a very good idea of who was behind that mask, as soon as Spider-Man showed up the X-Men get a spider powered mutant called Spider-X. They were too similar to be just a coincidence and then Parker was the only new guy that was around so he figured it had to be him. Now Max could have gone and leaked this kind of information to the press he was sure that Spider-Man had a nice long list of enemies, but then they would take a closer look into the mutants at the mansion and well he knew that both Magneto and Mystique wouldn't be too thrilled with him then.
There was another reason if that was Parker he wanted him for himself. Peter had gotten in his way a few times and was always head of the classes they had together and he was sick of it. This was the last straw he was going to enjoy frying him up. Electro pulled open his coat and threw it aside as he took off his had and pulled up his mask, "Okay insect time for you to fry!"
Peter did his best to avoid Electro's attacks but it wasn't easy, only his speed, agility, spider sense and luckily all that training he had been through was very helpful. He also had to be sure that he wasn't touching anything that was conductive as well since his electrical attacks would just travel through that and then through him. And he sure didn't feel like having a strong electrical current running through him anytime soon.
"You know Sparky you might want to think of a legal way to get some money," Spider-Man quipped as he flipped into the air dodging an electrical attack, "Like say a job."
"Now why should I work for some jerk and earn minimal wage when I can just take what I want!"
Peter should have known better as he jumped up to avoid Max slamming a fist to the ground making a giant electrical bolt trailing towards him. Max had done a lot of things as far as he was concerned and on the top of that list was what he did to Tabitha. He had heard all about how Max had hurt her during them dating and to him that was just sick. 'Maybe it's time to show Max what it feels like to have someone hit you.'
Peter jumped up onto a wall and kicked off it flying at Electro with great speed. He spun in the air and came out of it with a kick to Max's chest. Sure Max grunted and was kicked into the middle of the street but he was also charged up and Peter got a nasty electrical shock to his leg. Peter fell to the ground biting his lip from the pain in his leg, it was numb and yet it hurt like hell at the same time.
Electro picked himself up slowly feeling the pain in his chest from that kick. It hurt like hell but looked and saw Spider-Man there on the ground holding his leg. 'Ah good he's done, maybe now I can squash this annoying pest.'
Max rose up and grinned savagely at the hero on the ground. This was just too perfect for him and he was going to enjoy this. He outstretched his hand and felt the power flow through him lancing out and hitting Peter in the left ribs causing him to cry out in pain. Max only laughed at that, that sounded so much better then he had hoped he was so going to enjoy this.
Peter felt like a cattle prod had just slammed into his ribs. He was on one knee trying to get up and trying to breath not to mention fight the buzzing in his head from the pain. "Well how the mighty have fallen," Max declared standing over him and kicked him in the ribs.
Peter cried out from him hitting the burnt spot on his costume and he rolled over and landed on his front. He knew that he had to fight back before he was nothing more then just a burnt mark on the street but he needed some way to attack him without getting electrocuted. He looked around but there didn't seem to be anything he could use that didn't conduct electricity.
'Hold on…I do have something that isn't conductive,' He remembered how while in a training session with Spyder her electrical webbing and his own had accidentally crossed and for a minute he was surprised when the electrical current in her own organic webbing didn't shock him. He figured the formula he used for it might be the key but he never had the chance to test it out. 'Well now or never I guess.'
Max was of course gloating as usual but Peter was glad he was it was giving him more time. He put his right hand into a fist and with his body shielding his actions webbed up his hand. He looked up at Electro as he was charging up both hands going on and on about something or other. Personally Peter wasn't paying attention, "You know what? You really talk too much and that's coming from me."
He gave Max an uppercut right to the chin snapping his head back and lifted him off the ground and right onto his butt. Max shook his head trying to fight the stars in his vision as he got up on wobbly legs. "Max…You're a jerk," Peter said slamming his fist into his gut and then a right hook to his face making him land on the sidewalk in a heap. Peter watched him as he was trying to crawl off but then he heard the sounds of sirens and figured their little battle had caught the attention of a few people.
Peter looked down at him wondering what he should do. On the one hand he should web him up for the cops but then again it's not like they could hold him plus the fact he knew Max would use his powers they would then track him down to the Brotherhood house and that would lead to all sorts of trouble. He couldn't trust the Brotherhood to not use their powers if they suddenly found themselves with cops all over the place.
"Look here against my better judgment…I'm going to let you go," He saw Max glaring at him as he tried to stand, "But this is a one time thing. I see you doing this again and I'll make sure that when the cops find you they won't have any trouble putting your ass in a cell."
Peter hated doing this, it went against everything he stood for letting Max go but he had to protect mutants from anymore exposure. Add the fact that the police would only get hurt trying to arrest him was also a factor. 'Sometimes this hero thing just isn't as simple as you'd expect.'
He swung away and saw Max pick up his coat and hat and limp off too. He hung his head not sure if he had done the right thing or not.
-Xavier's Mansion-
Peter swung to his room and through the French door and closed it behind him. He pulled off the mask feeling a few of the aches and pains from his fight with Max. He knew that in the morning he'd have to tell Xavier what he found him doing but at the moment he was just too tired. He slowly started to shed his clothing and saw the damage to it. 'Great, this will take a while to repair. Oh well I bet Tabitha will like the fact I gave him a little beat down.'
He signed in frustration and threw it in the corner of his closet as he would get to it later. He put on his sleeping clothes and gently placed himself on his bed as he looked up at his ceiling. 'Why is it that whenever I go out for an easy night or just a simple one, things like this always happens to me?'
Peter just didn't know what it was sometimes. It just seemed that life never eased up; hell he was still having damn nightmares about that stupid suit too. Sure they weren't as bad but still it was pissing him off. Everyone kept telling him it wasn't his fault that it was messing with him so why couldn't he believe it?
'I hate this, this stupid guilt I always feel. All it does it make my life more miserable at times. God I just wanted to be a normal teen then that spider bite and all of this happens.' There were times he wished he never got that spider bite but then he thought about where he was now. He would never have met Spyder, Rogue or the others.
He thought about them and he guessed that there was something good after all. Maybe he was just tired of all this solo stuff. He might want to just cut back on it for like a week or something just to he didn't burn out. Or maybe it was the fact he fought Max and he let him get away. 'But then again maybe that was for the best too. He might have fried the cops, and with me out there the secret of mutants was close enough to being exposed with me out there as it is.'
'Well at least I keep out of the live news feeds now,' He joked to himself as he tried to get to sleep.
Outside the mansion though a figure in the shadows watched and had seen Peter swing to the mansion and sneak inside. But then again he knew all there was to Peter Parker and he was going to make him pay. He knew that he had to isolate Parker and get him nice and alone because his friends would only get in the way.
But he had been thinking on that, there were a few of them that actually might be useful and he wanted to make Parker pay for the things he had done. He wanted revenge and now he had the means to do it. All that training and all that work tracking him down, shadowing him all over the place it was al coming together. Once he had it all figured out then the real fun would begin. It was only a matter of time and time was definitely one his side. "Sleep well Parker…Because soon your life will become a living nightmare," The sinister figure in the shadows said to himself as he walked away from the mansion and headed to start his own little plans for Peter and those other freaks.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 9: NEW BLOOD