(18)
"Connor." Wanda said, her voice full of trepidation and uncertainty. One hand clutching his forearm, the other tightly wrapped around the 'oh shit' handle of the Ford Escape's passenger side. The large black SUV sped up, barely passing the car beside them with centimeters to spare. A pipe truck was directly in front of them, a red warning flag flapping freely from the protruding metal cylinders. Wanda's heart sped up as she pressed herself back into the seat, Connors eye's flicked in a triangle. Rearview, Driver side, passenger.
His hand Jerked fast and tight, almost imperceptible. The vehicle responded immediately. Darting smoothly into the other lane with a fluid and surprising movement.
"Connor!" Wanda screamed as the SUV performed its dynamic movement, Connor depressed the accelerator and shot forward as the car he had cut off blared its horn. Passing the pipe truck, Wanda's eyes were wide and terrified.
His face was like stone, eyes consistently working the mirrors and road before him. Wanda watched when she could, caught between sheer terror and pure fascination at his vehicular ballet. She could see his mind working faster than any others she had watched before. She could only watch the scene unfold in front of them as red released to green. He tapped his fore finger on the gear shift. Once, Twice.
In a blur, his hand grabbed the E- Brake and he gave it a sharp tug and Yanked the wheel sharply to the left. The multi-ton SUV's backside swung out on an arc as they drifted into the traffic and he pointed the nose toward the Hudson. As fast as it was pulled, Connor dropped the brake, powered through the drift and made off down third Avenue.
Streetlights rippled over the black paint; Zev seemed to be enjoying the rollercoaster ride as he panted away in the back, finally realizing laying down was the prudent thing to do. Several times Wanda had had to use her abilities to keep the precocious pup rooted firmly in place to prevent an accidental meeting of dog and door.
"Where are you going?" Wanda asked, her emerald green eyes wide and locked on Connor. "Do you know where you are going?"
She was amazed as he played hopscotch in four lanes of New York traffic. In and out of space's so fast, with so little room to maneuver, feats she herself would never dream of attempting or thought possible.
"The Verrazano" He replied, His eyes ever vigilant to the heavy traffic. "Fastest way off Staten Island from where we were."
Connors voice betrayed not a single hint of duress or fear.
"What? How are you sure? We aren't using the GPS," Wanda asked, turning in her seat and looking out of the back hatch and then through the moon roof. She half expected to see the swinging menace closing in on them. An irrational thought given Recluse wouldn't know what vehicle to follow or the impact of the DK round would wear off so fast as to allow him to orient onto their specific vehicle.
"Positive," Connor's eyes flicked in that wary triangular pattern. "I've planned several routed from various pointes for exfil if I ever needed them and better point," The vehicle jerked to the right in a swift deft motion, yet he never broke stride or cadence. "GPS means we are connected to a traceable system. I don't want that right now."
"I don't know the route to the X mansion from the ground." Wanda provided.
"Don't worry about it, you know the town. It's good enough for me. Right now, this is a high threat Security issue and combat situation and we are at a sever disadvantage."
Connor swung the SUV sharply to the right, skidding out along the feeder. Tires squealed and smoked, stuttering briefly on the pavement then gaining traction as he powered the vehicle through the maneuvered. The Hudson was five yards away and the Verrazano was just insight, burning brightly in the dark night.
"Explain, just talk to me" Wanda licked her lips nervously
"We don't control the high ground, at all considering Recluse can wall crawl and web sling. And whatever it was just took out our air support and heavy artillery in one strike."
"Tony and Rhodie?" Wanda asked with a slight inflection to her lit.
"Exactly. Cap knew it and understood it, hence why he split us up. Multiple trails, only one bad guy."
"The Quinn Jet?"
"To much prep time for takeoff. There's no way to know how long that round will keep him down. How resilient it will be."
They pulled onto the bridge and Connor veered around the traffic into the HUD lane. "It's a toll"
"I know. We have an Easy pass." Connor reached under the dashboard and flicked a switch
"We don't use ea- "Before she could finish her thought, strobing neon red and blue lights erupted and filled the shadows of the bridge. Ear splitting sirens blared alerting any drivers near by as he burst past the traffic at a standstill.
He pulled into the Emergency lane and blew through the toll points at ninety miles an hour.
"How'd you know that was there?" Wanda asked puzzled, her eyes locked on the man who seemed to be operating more like a machine than a human.
"This is a supped up Federal issue response vehicle. You can't just put the key in and start it. There's an activation or secondary ignition just below the dash and forward of the driver door, as well, in the back-cargo space under the carpeted floor panel. There is a hidden compartment with a hard case containing one of two systems or both. Personal defensive weapons, or an M48 rotary Grenade launcher and provisions. There are cameras mounted on all four points of the bumpers and it is up armoured." The SUV crossed over the bridge as Connor fixed his Bronzy blue eyes on her "I wasn't always a bum teaching self-defense."
"Who are you?" She wondered aloud
"I don't know"
(19)
Recluse gathered his senses. All the millions of connections feeding his brain a multitude of information and biological assessment. The symbiotes nano organisms immediately repairing the broken bones and internal damage to its host. Head still ringing, he cracked his neck to one side and then the next. The vertebrae straightening and correcting themselves. What would have been a severe rotation and straightening of the cervical lordosis, immediately altered, snapping and popping back into place with ease.
Gazing out the gaping hole he had come through, he knew no one would remain at Avengers tower. He had no concept of how long he had been down. The Kinetic impact had done a massive amount of damage to his internal host. Coming to the edge of the cinder block and brick portal he gazed down to the street below.
"Like cockroaches… "He growled "Welp, time to greet the peasants"
Spreading his arms wide, Recluse shouted "Friends, New Yorkers, Avengers! Lend me your ears…."
Stepping out into the air, the symbiote dropped fast. It took a full six seconds and Recluse landed with a loud cracking of concrete, a cratering fracture of concrete and shards blew into the air around his imposing form. Fishers sprang from the impact sight at the mass of the alien landing "Or your hearts, livers brains. For. I. Am. Hungry."
None of the three figures spaced out around him spoke or flinched. No humour was to be found in the banter. Only very serious very angry faces. Cap had anticipated an attack from Recluse and had set in motion this very contingency. His Iron curtains.
"I don't intend to loan you Shit, little man, except a beatin'" Juggernaut growled under his Helmut, taking a step forward simultaneously with his allies.
"Is not to late to surrender, Peter." Colossus added. Attempting to give the former Hero a way out of what was to come.
"Seriously, how many years in America and you still haven't lost that tiresome accent?" Recluse remarked "You sound like you should be strong arming some Vietnamese laundromat, not threatening little ol me. Right, Jolly Green?"
Hulk roared, shaking windows. The mass of green muscle charged headlong.
"Shit, you need a hulk sized tic tac." The stop sign sized fist drove downward at the black and tan monster. With impossible reflexes, Recluses hand caught the freight train coming his way, his heels dug into the concrete and the Hulk came to rest. That evil, twisting amorphous face grinned upward. "I don't know whether to get you a breath mint or toilet paper to wipe your mouth."
A fist of black, inky mass shot from Recluses chest and sent the one-thousand-pound Hulk tumbling across the street.
Juggernaut went to grab at the symbiote, but he dropped with speed. Diving through his legs. Twin lines of black fluid web lines struck his heels as he somersaulted. As he righted himself, coming out of the roll Recluse gave a vicious yank. The brute of a man smashed face first into the asphalt, his helmet creating a divet in the road with the force of impact.
Before he could react, Recluse was lifted off the ground by his feet and spun at impossible speed only to slam into a metallic body. The force jarred both host and symbiote. As Recluse collapsed to the ground, raining metal blows struck his body. Head, chest, back. The sound of the blows was sickening and echoed off the skyscrapers as both Colossus and Hulk beat the former Spider man into the pavement.
He was aware of his body being propelled up into the air, swung in an ark only to smash into the street once more. By a single ankle, Juggernaut began to play with the limp symbiote like a dog with a chew toy. To be swung like a bat, only to meet a mass of green flesh that arrested his movement and shattered his spine to dust. Then to be passed to the metal beast of a Russian.
As fast as he healed the damage, more was mounting. Then without mercy, he was thrown into the same building he had been shot into. For the second time tonight, he created a massive whole in the stone façade with his pulverized body.
The brief reprieve gave the symbiote time to heal its host. Stitching muscle and sinew back together, fixing bone back into place.
"Now I know how Karla Kush feels…" He growled "maybe after this, Vivid is a career option."
The three Titans reformed, stepping through the massive infiltration point hastily made.
"Gd, I usually have to pay a good three hundred dollars to a six-foot brunette in SoHo for punishment like that… Huge Bulgarian Bitch named Olga or Bratislava... Fuck if I know." Recluse drew into himself, and then threw his arms and chest out. The swirling mass of living shadow burst out and reformed as he grew in size to equal Juggernauts size. "My Turn boys."
(20)
Wanda glanced down in the soft ethereal glow of the dashboard's neon displays, Connors' hand was tightly wrapped around the gear shift and white as paper.
"What's wrong? Are you ok?" Wanda's eyes flicked up to his jaw line. She could see the tension held in his clenched jaw. Even in the dark night, the pulsing red and blue strobes long gone. He looked like a statue, set and on cruise control.
"Adrenaline," He said through gritted teeth. "I over produce in moments of stress, while I am calm on the outside, in my head, it heightens everything for me. Slows things down. But if I don't get it out, I get sick. My kidneys hurt and seize up. I get angry and I want to fight. Goes on to long, it's like I have the flu."
Quickly Wanda turned on the overhead light and dug in the glove box.
"Where's your shoes?" Connor asked in an attempt to distract himself and also out of concern.
"I didn't have time to grab them." She replied still rummaging through the trash heap that was the glove box. "Will Ibuprophen help?"
"I don't know," He half shrugged "I usually use scotch."
"Seems kind of self-defeating, yes?" Wanda soothingly said twisting off the top to a bottle of water stored in the door. She fed him two pills and held the water for him as he drank slowly.
They had been driving for two hours now. Connor had been quiet, trying to settle his body. Wanda had watched him and wondered how he experienced such stress, what that dump was like for him. What was the toll it was taking on his mind and body?
Zev had taken up a guarding position, perched on the centre consul, watching through the windshield as the night rushed by in voided blackness. The medium sized pup stretched to stand half in the back, his eyes locked on only his puppy senses knew. He had leaned his head on Wanda's shoulder and the familiarity and warmth flowed over her, she reached up and ran her fingers through his wavy tri coloured fur. Sometimes on curves, Zev would sway and bump into Connors shoulder and like a ping pong ball, sway back into her. The smile on her face was genuine and she loved the air that filled the cabin between the three of them.
"What is the over all prognosis?" Wanda asked quietly, eyes averted from him. Though she wanted to know, a part of her she couldn't recognize or want to admit to, didn't want to know.
"I get really sick." He replied dryly. His hand still a hard vice around the gear shit and wheel.
"When did it start?"
Connor was quiet for a long moment, eye's scanning the road and ditch line ahead of them. Searching every sign and billboard as they approached outer Albany, when suddenly the SUV veered off onto an off ramp.
"Where are we going?" She let the previous question die. Gathering her legs up and tucking them under her, Wanda turned in the seat to face him. Brushing her hair back over her ear, she let her emerald eyes take him in profile.
"Detour." Connor never looked at her. She watched as he brought the lumbering vehicle to a rolling stop. Turning his head in each direction, he scanned the T intersection. Left and right. Wanda could see the mental mathematics working in his mind and wished she could see it. Then, Connor turned right and set their course.
"So, when did it start?" Wanda's Slavic lit was music to his ears. He couldn't contain a smile any longer and felt the tight mischievous grin spread over his stoic face.
"Persistent?"
"Persistently Curious, let's say." Her voice, that accent was like honey to his soul.
"After the military."
"Army?"
"Something like that." He nodded "Ya byl v' Inteligencia"
"So, what happened?" This time she poked his arm with her crimson nail. "Road trips are good for knowing each other."
"Road trips while being pursued by a homicidal genius former superhero serial killer?"
"Of course, especially those ones." She laughed merrily, Zev giving her an enthusiastic puppy kiss as her melody filled the air and hearts around.
Then she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand and looked up at him. Finally, he glanced in her direction, catching her eye and her breath caught.
Damnit, she thought to herself. His eyes shine like polished sapphire. She waited for him, afraid to say another word because she might say the wrong thing. Or more likely, something she didn't want to say.
It began, I guess. When I didn't get sick for a year. Nothing could touch me or phase me. I came back really hyper aggressive, bad. I was a rage filled human being. Then after two months I started getting sick. Vicious stomach pains, I would try to claw my stomach open. Night sweats and sever nightmares. I wasn't the same. I became very sensitive to heat, like, I don't realize I'm overheating. If I don't pay attention, or someone does, I will overheat and seize up. Times like this, I am so angry, the adrenaline dump is so massive it spikes high and so does my T levels."
"T levels?"
"Testosterone." He replied, taking a gentle left-hand turn "I get stronger, faster. Time seems to slow down for me. I don't want to fight. I get scared initially because I don't want to be violent or be what they made me to be. Then, that dump, and I just want to, all I want to do, is fight and fight and destroy anything that stands in my way. To kill and to push harder and faster. I just push and push and fucking push." He grit his teeth so hard Wanda thought they might shatter.
"Who did this to you, what happens?"
"I don't know," He shook his head. "I can't really remember that part. If I don't, I get shakes, I begin to experience an Autistic meltdown, Sensory overloads so bad I stop functioning. I need my stims and if I can't execute them, then I lose it."
"I- "Before Wanda could finish, Connor Jerked the Edge into a vacant parking lot attached to a strip mall. With a practiced fluidity, he slammed the vehicle into park, told her to wait in the truck and was out his door in mere seconds. Confused Wanda watched his fading form in the night, as Zev decided now was his moment and filled the vacated driver's seat.
(21)
Recluse ripped a parking meter from its moorings and swung it in a vicious under hand.
"Fore!" He cried as the head found purchase with the Hulks chin and snapped his head back, the machine shattering into pieces, sending glittering and clattering silver pieces into the air.
"Fuck making it rain, bitches," He tossed the pole aside. "I came to make it hail."
Colossus waded in, raining blows that found no connection. Recluse dodged the strikes easily. Bobbing and weaving, then connected with the metal giants jaw in a strong over the top right cross.
"Float like a butterfly" The following left upper cut took the Russian off his feet, the sound echoing off the buildings. "Bite like a spider."
Juggernaut was too slow, believing he could catch the symbiotic monster off guard, he had come from behind. Recluse dropped to his back in a hard bicycle kick. The Aliens foot landed like Thors hammer on Cain's helmet and crushed it inward like a pop can. Juggernaut stumbled twice and using the momentum, Recluse dropped his legs and took the eight-hundred-pound man onto himself and then like a spring, launched the unconscious man far down the street and crashing into the Empire State buildings foundational structure.
Executing a fast kick up, the symbiotic senses instantly corrected, dropping him low and under a hammering green fist. Jumping into the air, Recluse executed a spinning triangle. His legs wrapping tightly around the Avengers head and shoulders. Using body weight, he pitched forward into a roll, taking the Hulk with him and releasing him.
"Force equals mass times acceleration," Recluse spotted as the weight of the Hulk smashed into one vehicle and then crushed three more behind it before coming to a halt.
A vicious spear caught Recluse in the side as Pietro rolled with him. Coming to his feet, Colossus threw him like a shot put. Recluse for a fifth time in one night was hurled through a building and destroyed the interior of the all to familiar Macy's.
The thundering Russian wasted no time, in hot pursuit. A sledgehammer of a fist struck the Symbiotes head, another it's solar plexus. Followed by a powerful thrust kick that drove Recluse into the back wall, shattering the brick and mortar.
"Do they teach science on those farms in Russia?" Recluse goaded the X- Men. Casting a web line to catch the overhead pipelines and ripped them open. Gallons of water began gushing out of the torn pipes and onto the store front floor.
In massive steps, Pietro closed the distance as Recluse hoped. Easily dodging the lumbering, unskilled blows. Recluse skipped to the left, feinted and edged back more and more, giving ground to the tin can in front of him.
It was the driving left that ended him, the lack of any situational awareness was his undoing. Recluse moved swiftly to his right and took the Russians wrist and forearm in his hands and helped quickly drive it into the four-hundred-and-eighty-volt electrical box hanging on the wall that was behind him.
With lighting quick reflexes, Recluse had released him and flipped upward and back, landing delicately on one of the remaining shelves. Watching the arcs and sparks. The bluish rings of electrical energy surround the mans convulsing body, as he stood ankle deep in gathering water.
"Metal, even living metal. Highly conductive, especially when immersed in dihydrogen monoxide."
The heavy roar behind him bothered him not, slowly he turned his gaze over his shoulder to see the Hulk gaining ground and a very toothy, needle like grin spread across the amorphous tan and black face.
(22)
The First Quinn jet was just touching down in the hanger bay next to the Blackbird, The huge Allison fans kicked up what loose dust and debris Forge couldn't collect with his modified Roomba's. Slowly and expertly, Clint gazed out the bubbled window to help guide his way down and with a creak, the landing gear touched ground. The whine and whir of the goliath fan driven engines began to die and slowly, the drop gate at the rear of the aircraft popped its hermetic seal with a hiss and lowered slowly.
In the lead, Captain America was followed by Hawkeye, Widow and Ant-Man. Meeting them at the bottom of the metal red carpet was Cyclops, Jean, Logan and Xavier who's hover chair moved forward and the regal Professor extended his hand.
"Steve, as always it is a pleasure and honor to see you." The two men shook hands tightly and warmly. "I just wish your visit was under better circumstances."
"Agreed, Professor." Steve smiled tightly and stoically in his military manner. The others had exchanged greetings and pleasantries. Logan walked right up to Caps Six-foot frame. The five-foot four Mutant may not have seemed like a match for the Star-Spangled Avenger, but Steve knew otherwise. Both men clasped hands out of a deep respect and friendship going back over eighty years.
"Logan."
"Steve." Wolverine spit out the side of his mouth. A plug of tobacco tucked tightly into his lip. "Been a long time."
"To long,"
"I don't mean to interrupt, but time is of the essence." Jean excused her directness, coming over to Caps side. "This mutant, we need to know everything we can about him from your perceptions and interactions."
"I am apt to agree with Jean," Charles stated "While it would be best to let you settle in, I am afraid we don't have that luxury. Knowing him by data, is not the same as interaction."
"He's a natural," Clint piped up. "Best damn fighter I ever saw."
Logan shot Clint a look. "Sorry, bub." Clint smiled "If he came into his own, I think even better than you."
"And he's smart." Widow seconded. "He doesn't make the fight seem easy; he eases the fight."
"Can you be more Specific?" Scott Summers asked, his ruby quartz sunglasses masking any emotion. It made him very eerie and intimidating. At six four and two hundred and fifty pounds, it was easy to see why and how the man could hold his own against Wolverine for a time. He screamed efficiency and lethality in both mind and body.
Widow licked her lips, then took a breath. "It's as if he is processing it all so fast, so quick, that time doesn't even exist for him. The calculations behind his eyes, like..." She searched for words.
"Like he's a quantum computer." Ant-man joked.
"Exactly like that," Clint seconded.
"He chooses the easiest and most efficient strategy and has the tools or improvises on the fly immediately to expedite the engagement." Natasha finished, rubbing at tired eyes.
Jean looked to Xavier. "Telekinesis?"
Charles pondered the question for a moment. "I don't think so, I have tried to reach out to his mind on several occasions to get a better picture of him. His thoughts are... Advanced. The connections between mind and body are like nothing I have encountered."
"What kind of mutation are we dealing with?" Steve asked
"A Co beneficial mutation. We won't know until we can meet him. But it seems the Autism and Mutant X gene, benefit and compliment." Jean added tying her long fiery mane back in a ponytail.
"We lost track of him," Clint said "He disabled the GPS as soon as we were attacked, and he went to ground. No idea who's with him."
"Smart to disable the tracking." Logan rubbed at his chin.
"It's just Wanda and him. With his puppy." Jean informed them. I used Cerebro to locate him and infer his condition. Both are fine and I am tracking their progress and how he operates."
"What if Recluse locates them. They won't stand a chance." Ant- Man argued.
"Between Wanda and Him," Steve said, "I think Recluse would have a run for his money."
"And, we have a rapid response team on standby should we need to intervene." Scott added. "Logan, Kurt, Storm and myself."
"I'd like to go as well." Steve requested.
"Of course." Cyclops added.
"For now, Jean will track them and you all, let's get you settled and comfortable." Charles extended his hand and moved himself aside, gesturing to the mansion inside.
(23)
Wanda was scratching under Zevi's chin. Cooing and speaking sweet little baby words in Sakovian to the rapidly panting pooch. His dichromatic stare was full of joy and wonder, as his hind leg beat a rhythm against the leather driver's seat.
"You're so pretty. Yes, you are. When this is all done, we should sit down and do our nails, huh?" She ruffled the great white mane around his neck. It made him look like a tiny lion dog, fierce but sweet. "I bet you'd look boss in black, huh? Punk rock, pooch. Mutley crew like."
Lost in her conversation and musings with her furry friend. Wanda had lost track of time, lost in those unique eyes and the comfort he provided. A release in these times, the stress and dying was forgotten as she relaxed. That's why when the passenger door was flung open. Wanda startled with a jump and high-pitched scream. Sitting up straight, she turned quickly in the seat. Her left hand was up and contained a swirling, angry crimson orb. Poised and ready to be released upon her assailant. Her vibrant green eyes fixed on Connor.
"Are you crazy?!"
"Debatable." He half shrugged. "Depends on which version of the DSM you consult."
"You have jokes, I see." She glared at the man in front of her.
"You should see my stand-up routine." He smiled and the anger drained from her face.
"Where have you been?"
"Shopping" He held up a good will bag filled. Opening it, Connor removed a pair of worn, black combat boots with a hand made goodwill price tag. Wanda looked to the boots and then back at him, then reluctantly to the thrift store bag and the dashboard clock.
"Please tell me you did not just rob a thrift store."
"Rob?" No there was no one inside and I left money on the counter and for the busted lock and alarm. So, it's more like B and E. Yeah, totally different Felony. Size six women's, right?" He plunked the boots down beside her feet. "So, All I found was a men's six, about the same. At least its something, not just socks."
"Why combat boots?" She asked smugly.
"Given your attire and we are on the run? Heels would stand out and not match, neither were sneakers. Standing out right now is a no no. So, combat boots"
"How did you know my size?" Wanda was genuinely curious now as she slipped on the boots.
"I saw your feet." He shrugged once more. Whistled once and Zev hoped out of the truck. "Go potty."
As Zevi trotted off, Wanda hopped out to stand beside Connor. "You saw my feet?"
"Yeah, in your socks, when I asked you why you didn't have shoes. I see lines and spaces, can do mental geometry easily. So, my spatial awareness is highly refined. I only need to see it once."
"So, like my foot into a boot?" She asked as a soft breeze carried a strong scent of an Arabian oil called Desert Rain, it was Connors scent and she breathed it in deeply.
"Depends on the show, because make is different in sneaker, boot, to heel or flat."
Wanda Maximoff and Connor Laughing cloud Stood in silence in the damp, humid air. The rustle of leaves filling the air from the small trees lining the parking lot. Zev worked back and forth scenting in a wide cone, trying to discern a good place to relieve himself.
"Thank you, Connor."
Connor only shrugged. "You needed shoes."
"Did you like the Army?" Cut right to it.
"I did. The routine and patterns, it is right in line with my special interest. I did." With a tight, short whistle, he recalled Zev. "Right up until they turned me into a living weapon and made me wake up hating myself every day for it."
They had traveled two more hours, in a back road, circular route. Connor had stopped at a truck stop and lifted a truckers twenty twenty road atlas. He had explained that if this thing was on them, knew what the Avengers were planning, then no matter how slight the chance, he would act accordingly and that meant not doing the expected or unexpected. But doing the random.
Connor had turned to the upstate New York map, laid it flat and flipped a dime. Letting it fall and land on the page. Then choose the town the nose pointed to. Explaining they would find a place to bed down along the way. Which true to his plan, they did. An abandoned hotel and resort outside Silver Springs, New York. The parking lot overgrown and abandoned. He had tucked the SUV in under the overhang of a tall oak, the nose pointing out toward the road for a speedy get away.
Connor let Zev roam around, the curious pup searching the grounds with his sensitive nose. Running to and fro for the sheer doggy fun of the exercise. He had moved to the rear hatch and had it opened. Connor had lifted the hidden floor and removed the two cases.
"Must have been Clint's truck." He called to her. Opening the longer of the cases, he had found a folded bow and several sets of arrows. Wanda watched as he extended the arms and it sprang to life.
She was about to mention she didn't think he could draw it, given what Clint's draw was, but he stood and with minor issue, drew the taught, one-hundred-and-fifty-pound bow back.
"Take some getting used to," he said. Then set it down to inspect the other cases.
Wanda crawled over the seats and began to lower the rear seats to flatten them out in order to sleep. As much as she tried, there was no perfect level, their heads would always be elevated. Looking behind her she watched Connor pull the slide back to a very mean looking pistol, inspect the chamber then with a loud click seat a magazine and release the slide. His eyes flicked to hers and they starred at each other for a long moment.
"Not all of us are magic." His tight smile was so sad and carried with it so much emotion and pain, Wanda's heart broke for him in a million pieces.
"I'm not magic." Wanda replied
"Say's you."
Connor helped her spread out the emergency blankets and inflate the instant pillows. She was enjoying the routine of preparing a bed for them and hid her smile and girlish foolishness. A loud whistle split the night as he called Zev back and the pup took a flying leap up and into the back of the long SUV. Finally, Connor piled in beside her and closed the rear hatch tightly and the light faded.
Not for long as Connor reached up and turned on the dome light. The two of them sat Indian style, both Wanda and Connor petting the pampered pooch.
"Can you hand me the wipes?" HE asked her and Wanda reached into the driver's seat and removed the anti-bacterial wipes they had discovered earlier.
"Ok, I have to ask." She said. "What is with the wipes?"
"Because puppy corn chip feet."
At first Wanda said nothing. Then cracked a small smile that turned into a rolling, jovial laugh in spite of the circumstances. "Did you just say, 'puppy corn chip feet'?"
Yes." He laughed along, the stress of the day draining away with her infectious laughter. "I'm serious."
Taking Zevi's forepaw, he held it for her. "Smells like puppy corn chip feet."
Still laughing, Wanda leaned over and took a quick sniff. An odd look crossed her face and she leaned back in for another sniff.
"Oh, my Gd, it does smell like corn chips!" She devolved into giggles "Bozhe moi."
"I told you!"
She was gasping from laughing so hard, she wiped away a tear. "I can not believe I did that." Wanda laughed harder. "That is so gross."
Connor's laughter was dying down. "That's why I wash his pads, build up of bacteria. Keeps puppy corn chip feet away."
"I still." She cried/laughed "You still said 'puppy corn chip feet'. Watching you handle a deranged symbiote serial killer and then just so easily say 'puppy corn chip' feet"
"I'm not living this one down, am I?" He grinned.
"No, not at all, golden boy." Her smile was radiant, and her eyes sparkled.
"Telling Cap?"
"Oh, and Natasha, Clint, really anyone available to listen."
Connor smiled and shook his head.
"What?" Her charm was amazing. "It is adorable and sweet."
"Never. Have I ever. Been accused of being quote-unquote, sweet before, Miss Maximoff."
Her Green eyes glittered, and her smile was soft. A change swept over her face. Her voice but a whisper among the breeze.
"Never. Has anyone thought I was magic, either?"
(23)
She knew she was in trouble. Bounding wall to wall, Spider Woman hit the roof line running. She had seen the outcomes, knew the score. Her training with the Hand and SHIELD told Jessica one thing and one thing only. Run.
High atop New York City, she tried to dodge her pursuer, knowing her trademark red and yellow suit was a bright neon sign, she needed to find a quick, quiet place to ditch it. Sticking and pivoting to her right she changed directions, Jessica could hear the hiss and rasp of that terrible monsters tormenting breathing. Those vicious red eyes and clawed fingers. The razor-sharp fangs.
With a slight pip, she vaulted over the parapet of an old red brick dropping gracefully below. Jessica landed with the soft grace of a gymnast and immediately took off down the alley way. As she approached the ninety degree at the end of the narrow confines, she spun on a heel and came face to face with a massive black web. Jessica didn't even think, only acted. Springing up and onto the adjacent wall, sticking she began to climb. The impact of the webbing on her back was soft, almost gentle, yet fear lanced through her.
Violently, she was ripped from the wall and smashed hard against the cold, unforgiving concrete. Wet with the evenings drizzle. Snapping her head backward from the momentum, her skull bounced off the concrete jungle floor with a sickening crack of bone. Jessica cried out and rolled to her side cradling her head. Slowly coming to her knees.
She could hear the sound of wet clapping, like two steaks being slapped together. Then he spoke.
"A position you are used to and well suited for." Recluse's voice was like gravely lava in her head.
"Pete," She moaned. Begging "Why are you doing this?"
Coming to her feet. Facing the monster that was Recluse. He was terrifying to behold. Thin and athletic, the jaw was grotesquely elongated. Teeth like millions of needles in twin rows. The tongue long and dripping in venom. Black twisting tribals moving over the brown body like two dimensional eels. Morphing and moving and changing shapes constantly.
"Why? Hmmm..." Recluse drew into him self. Looking off into the middle distance. A thin, razor sharp talon tapped at his chin. "Maybe, I guess because of my poor parents, lost at such a tender young age and then…" The symbiote stuttered "M-My uncle B-Ben.."
Recluse let out a tiny sob.
"Pete, I'm sorry, but th- "
"Nah, I'm just fucking with you." Recluse growled with a twisted smile. Quickly he sprang upon her. A web line struck Jessica's chest and yanked her off her feet and toward him. As she came into distance, Recluse let out a devastating straight and crashed his right fist into Jessica's face.
She could feel bone give way and blood fill her mouth as her lip split in two from the force of the impact. The fist driving her down and her head into the asphalt alley way. Then, he placed a well-directed kick into her ribs and the sound of her ribs snapping filled her head.
"There is no hero or villain anymore, Jessica. Don't you get it?" Recluse spit his words like venomous arrows. He covered her body with his own, pinning her hands above her head. That grotesque tongue roamed her body, tasting her and the sickly feeling filled her heart. "Only prey and predator"
"What are you talking about?" It was painful to breathe. "You're insane." She gasped
"Actually, quite the contrary. It's evolution. It's about survival of the strongest, prey and predator. Food Chains. You think Civilization is anything more than a fear reaction to mitigate your fears of being prey to the wild animals of the savanna or jungles? The fear of being just another animal?"
Recluse lowered his head, so they were eye to eye. A talonous tendril drifted lazily from his body and traced itself down her destroyed cheek.
"And you are prey, Jessica." He growled "Nothing more than nourishment for me, fuel to be processed and then shit out. That is all you are. Now, be useful little spider and tell me, where have the Avengers gone?"
Recluse squeezed his knees together, compressing her broken ribs and Jessica screamed into the night sky.
"Where will I find them, Jesse? Come on." He said, sitting up and putting his hands on his hips. "Don't make this harder; This hurts me more than it hurts you, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah… more useless colloquies." He waved his hand dismissively "Tell me, you useless, Cow!"
"No, I can't" She pleaded. Unease in her voice. Laced with pain, doubt and regret at her past life.
"I am sooo hungry, Jessica." Recluse cooed horrifically. "I think I will start with a breast."
His hand closed around her firm breast and then the sharp talons bit down, digging into her flesh and ripped the fatty tissue away with a rush of blood that peppered his twisting form. Jessica screamed an unholy song, as she simultaneously watched Recluses Jaw open wide and begin to devour her left breast. A part of her once, now food for this monstrous Symbiote.
She screamed for help, for mercy, for Gd.
Recluse covered her mouth and slammed her head against the concrete until she quitted and was dazed.
"Do you know something interesting about meal worms?" Recluse asked "Truly amazing, if one learns something and you then grind that meal worm up and feed it to another, it will learn what the other knew. It appears that it gains the others knowledge."
An oily glob of Symbiote emerged from Recluses body and covered her mouth, smothering her cries. It flowed up her nostrils and flowed sickeningly down her throat. Terror seized her heart and tears spilled from her eyes. Jessica tried to scream in terror, but the substance filled her mouth as she watched his jaw line stretch and the thick tongue open to reveal a very lamprey like end to the organ. Jessica tried to scream louder but was muffled as her mouth was filled. Her arms burned as she tried to fight, and her feet scrabbled to find any kind of purchase.
The tongue shot forward and attached to her forehead, her silent screams went unanswered as she felt the teeth of Recluses tongue begin to eat away at her skin and skull. Tears flowed from her eyes as she was aware of the pain and the fact that she was being eaten alive. The tongue worked as it broke through her thick frontal bone of her skull and hit her soft brain. Jessica's heels worked against the asphalt; white lights burst behind her eyes. When she thought the pain couldn't get any worse, the symbiotic fluid filling her throat began to churn and twist. It felt like barbs were ripping her apart on the inside, as if a drill had been activated deep in her body.
Her feet beat wildly against the ground, her eyes were wide in pain, shock and terror. Blood, froth and foam bubbled from her nose and from underneath the symbiotic fluid covering her mouth as it tried to escape. The Jessica went still, and the only sound left in the alley was that of a hungry predator feeding.
(24)
"Hold on." Connor said as Wanda settled back beside him, Zevi had found the passenger side wheel well to be most comfortable. Connor leaned up and flicked a switch. The moon roof activated with a soft whir and rolled back ward, revealing a million stars and the Perseus arm of the Milky way overhead between the swaying leaves and beyond their edges.
Wanda took it all in as millions of stars glittered like diamonds amidst a conglomeration of whites, blue and green gases stretched across the heavens like a fissure in the sky. She listened with rapt attention as Connor explained it all. Pointing out specific constellations. Explaining what star, which was and the one she found most fascinating, was Betelgeuse. A star in Orion which he informed her could go supernova any time. How it would light up our night sky like a full moon for months. As he spoke, shooting stars streaked across the void above filled with such awe-inspiring images and scientific and mythological explanations. The more Wanda listened, the more she smiled. Though she had some questions, she didn't dare to talk because she didn't want him to stop. She could fall asleep to the sound of his voice.
Connor pointed out the southern Cross' respective location, Polaris and how to navigate, tell time by lunar positioning and star location to within fifteen minutes.
Rolling onto her side. Wanda rested her head on her arm. Looking at him in the dim light. His Blue flecked eyes seemed to glow in the darkness surrounding them. His hands moved animatedly as he spoke about things, she had no idea of.
"Where did you learn all of this?" Her voice soft and full of wonder.
"I don't know." He shrugged. That very boyish, very charming half shrug she was coming to know and expect. "It's dumb."
"No. It's not at all." She pushed up on her forearm. "Please tell me. I'd love to know more."
"I just know things. I learn things, have learned. I guess. I just understand it, the universe. It's all language to me, I understand what it's all trying to say."
"What do you mean? Trying to say?" Wanda was intrigued and fascinated by him. Looking down into his eyes, those fiery orbs filled her with her own burning desire to understand him.
"Language. Spoken or unspoken, written. It's all energy. Energy and vibration. Music, whether sung, acoustic is vibrational pattern, energetic patterns. Light waves, sound waves, gravitational waves, all of it is energy. A bark, a chirp, a hiss, all of it sound energy that moves in waves. Peaks and lulls. That energy takes up space, whether the distance between two people, written down or the distance between galaxies. In that space or void, is also energy. Even in silence. I can hear it, I can feel it in every cell of my being, I can decipher it and read it, gather the information it contains, write it down, explain it and interpret it for others. I can track it." He sighed heavily. "I am sorry, it all sounds so dumb. No one gets me."
Connor shook his head and turned away.
With a slender finger, Wanda gently touched his chin and turned his head back to her. In the darkness she locked eyes with him and spoke intimately to him. "I want to, and it is not dumb or weird. If I can, I will understand you. If I can't, I won't judge you or call you. "Stupid' is the last word I would ever use to describe you."
Connor stared into her face, her lips, her eyes.
"Everyone talks of Autism; Savant and they think only Math or Art, or I don't know. Not language or universal language, but it is all language, Math is numbers and numbers are language. I can see that too. Angles, numbers, trajectories. I see it and speak it. What you say, write, doodle, the way you sit and build, I can read those actions because they all communicate a meaning, hold a message. I always know whether or not someone is lying to me or someone else, hiding something, their weaknesses. Mental, emotional or physical and it's maddening. I, for the life of me, can't understand people. Society, because I don't fit in, I can read it but not apply any of it because it seems so unnatural, so foreign to me.
"So many times, it gets overwhelming for me and I just shut the fuck down. I have so many languages in my head and I can hear one and sometimes not recognize a word. I get overloaded and I don't want touched, I get sensitive to light and sounds and I want to hide; sometimes I do. Everything is talking and I can't just not stop listening, I'm processing so much and so fast. Including myself, I am so aware of how I'm moving, where I am in relation to space time, I can just see where I am, need to be, how to translate a single movement into nonverbal expression because it is all a huge, big chess game. Gddamnit!" Connor cried and covered his eyes. His emotions had risen, and she knew it was a troubling thing for him. "It hurts, sometimes."
Wanda gently touched his hands and moved them, laying her hand on his cheek. Her thumb rubbing against his soft skin. "Tell me what you see in me?" She prompted.
He studied her closely. "Truth"
She shook her head. "I'm really good with weapons. You wouldn't believe it. Firearms, I'm ridiculous. My aim. I don't miss, rarely, with any weapon. Knives, batons, snow; I am aware, so painfully aware of where I am, where my opponent is and how to beat them because I can read them. It's their own body that betrays them, tells me their thoughts and secrets. How to beat them, to win and it scares me. And then they turned me into a weapon.
"I'm a Rubik's cube of death, an encyclopedia of war. My mind is always working. Strategy, tactics, assessing and planning." Connor's breathing became labored, tears spilled from his eyes. Sweat broke out on his brow. "They made me a killer, a weapon. A living, breathing Autistic weapon. They broke me, made me a killer, Wanda. I've killed so many people. Wanda." His voice was keening, so filled with pain. Her name like a prayer whispered upon his lips. "Wanda, help me."
And then, his tears poured over as if a dam had burst inside of him.
Wanda's heart shattered for the second time in one night. Her thumb stroked across his cheek and wiped away the fall of tears. They were hot and fevered.
"I hate me." He sobbed into the night. "I keep searching for something I never seem to find. I don't know how. How long I could keep pretending that this all could mean something to me. I gave my all, my sacrifice is gone by and they threw me away like a piece of trash and every night, it's not over, nothing is. I can't turn it off, only hide. I'm absent of hope, afraid to dream. His honest tears, his pain. Brought tears to her own eyes as he went on. "I look inside myself and try to find someone else. Someone better than me, but I never do. I know I'm a good person, I just can't be saved. I'm too far gone."
She couldn't take it, his agony and pain cut her deep, so far down to almost rival the loss of her brother. She wanted to save him and thus, did the only thing she could. Improvising, she began to sing to him. Her sweet voice melodic and soulful, the energy from her voice sent crimson energy trailing in the air like a private aurora borealis.
The song she chooses, was one of her favorites. Ashes of Eden by Breaking Benjamin. She had fallen in love with the music video and the idea of a love like that. Now, seemed like an appropriate time to sing her heart out.
The more she sung, the quieter he became. The gossamer crimson trails undulated and moved like water. Her thumb tracing his jaw line and lips.
"Are you with me after all" Her voice carried the beautiful tune.
"Stay with me, Don't let me go." Crimson rose petals emerged from the moon roof, floating and falling like snowflakes and the scent of flowers filled the cabin. "Stay with me, Don't let me go. Until the ashes of Eden fall."
Connors tears had ceased, and his eyes grew heavy. Wanda raised her hand and her fingertips traced tendrils of dark red energy.
"" Stay with me, take my hand. Shine until there's nothing left but you." His eyes closed as she finished her song "Shine until there's nothing left but you."
He was fast asleep. His breathing shallow and slow, lost in a deep slumber. Her spell had worked, and she had eased his pain for now.
Sitting up, she knew he would sleep deeply and until she commanded him from his sleep. Stripping out of her red leather jacket, she put it on her boots at the rear of the passenger seat, next went her skirt. She adjusted her boy shorts and then removed her knee-high socks. For a moment, she sat in the dark, hugging her knees. Afraid to feel, lost like Connor in a sea of grief and loss.
Tired, Wanda laid back and pulled the blanket over both of them. With a flit of finger, the moon roof began to close with it's soft electric whirring. Taking one last look at Connor. Peaceful now in sleep.
On a whim and impulsively, she leaned over and softly kissed his cheek. "Sleep well, for whatever you've done, you deserve some peace."
Settling in, Wanda closed her eyes and was soon asleep.