Shadow tensed as the person came closer slowly, carefully. For some odd reason, Shadow was glued to the ground. Maybe it was the size of this guy, he's huge.
"I-I-I-" Shadow stuttered, her tongue a heavy heap in her mouth. She was so screwed.
All of a sudden, out of seemingly nowhere, something leaped out of the trees and landed between Shadow and the large person. Shadow quickly realized it was Nebula protecting her. Her teeth were bared and she looked feral.
"W-wait! Isabelle?" The person said. Nebula switched off the attack mode and was just overwhelmed with confusion.
Shadow tensed more if possible. The light switched off and Shadow hissed, the pain increasing briefly and then disappearing. She looked through squinted eyes at the person and her eyes widened in utter shock.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, holding out his hand for her so she could stand.
Shadow took his hand and she was yanked to her feet with little to no effort from him. "I could ask you the same question, Hank." She hissed. "You scared the crap outta me, you know!" She growled.
"And you didn't frighten me?" He countered, putting a hand against his chest and giving a relieved sigh.
"Cough it up, Hank. What are you doin' here?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Is there a chance I could lie and you will go, leaving this alone?" He asked skeptically.
"Not a chance in hell, guy. Spit it out." She barked, going around him and walking to the shack's front entrance.
"No wait!" Hank hissed, following after her quickly.
Shadow opened the door and gasped. There were machines all around, test tubes all over the tables, liquid flowing through tubes, smoke rising from other contraptions.
"What is this?" Shadow whispered in shock.
"Just... something I've been working on. Nothing to make a big deal out of." He explained, walking past her and into the homemade lab.
"If you're sneaking out in the middle of the night and coming here to work on something; it's a big deal, Hank." Shadow said, walking in to snoop around. Whatever he was processing had a strong smell that made her nose sting. "What is it?"
"I-... I can't say." He mumbled, turning his back to her and marking some things on a clipboard.
Shadow slowly turned, looking all around the shack which was bigger on the inside than on the out. She noticed that the corner to the left, next to the door, was dimly lit and was trashed. She walked closer and her hand flew to her mouth to cover the gasp.
Hank heard her and felt her tense so he turned to look at her worriedly. He sighed, knowing she was wondering what happened there. He quietly walked over and stood slightly behind her, "Just some failed attempts." He said softly.
"What are you doing, Hank?" She whispered, turning to face him with watery eyes. She had a basic idea. He was creating something and testing it on himself. The steel table had large claw marks and the wooden chair was smashed, there were broken syringes scattered all over the floor.
"Just a little experiment-"
"You're testing it on yourself?!" She snapped, tears falling from her eyes.
Hank tensed, not exactly sure why she was so upset and crying. He assumed she was worried. He reached out to touch her arm, trying to comfort her.
"I can't put anyone else in the risk-"
"You can't do this to yourself! You could... you could-" She choked on her tears and trailed off.
"Nothing will happen to me-"
"And what the hell is this, Hank?!" She said, whipping her arm back and pointing at the wrecked area.
"Just some harmless side effects. I'm perfectly fine-"
"You're insane!" She shouted angrily.
"Please calm down and..." He sighed heavily. He saw that the only was she'd calm down if is she understood his reasons and intentions. "...I'll explain." He said softly. "Promise you'll be calm." He said seriously as he walked her to another chair and sat her down carefully. "Promise." He said again after he didn't get response from her.
"I-I promise I'll try." She said between hiccups from crying.
Hank sighed and pulled up a chair to sit across from her. He figured it would be best to start by explaining his reasons to begin with the experiment.
"I... I don't like my appearance." He admitted, staring down at his big feet with hate. "My mutation is a hideous one and I hate it." He said through clenched teeth. "The scared looks I get from people, the rejection. I have to hide... I've had to hide all my life. What I wouldn't give to be able to walk amongst the humans. Be normal. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't dream about being like them..." He said, his voice void of emotion.
He nearly gasped when he felt Shadow touch his hand. He looked at it and then up at her. More tears left her eyes and she tightened her grip on his hand, "I understand." She whispered. She absentmindedly reached up to her face, running her hand down the mutated features. "I wish I could be like them. See like them. See all of the beautiful things the world has to offer." She choked out, fighting back the tears. "I want to feel beautiful. Normal." She sobbed.
Hank sighed, overwhelmed by the feeling he had. Isabelle understood what it felt like to feel unwanted and disgusting like he did. He reached out and patted her hand on his.
"Your formula... does it work?" She whispered, now looking into his brown eyes.
"I've been working on it for months now." He explained, "It works fine at first. I feel great. Then it goes haywire, altering everything and I'm back... to this." He said with disgust. "I've been working on it for the past few weeks, making changes and- Hey, don't touch that!" He shouted, pointing out behind Shadow.
Shadow turned quickly and face palmed, watching Nebula sniffing at the broken syringes. "Neb, wait outside." She said, sniffling her runny nose. Nebula harrumphed and walked out of the shack reluctantly.
Hank sighed, "As I was saying..." He started, "I've been making a few changes and hopefully it works. I was... going to try it tonight." He said carefully.
"Tonight? It should be working fine?" She said in disbelief.
"Yes... just like every other time I've tried it." He mumbled to himself.
"Aren't you worried something will go horribly wrong?" She whispered.
"What can be worse than staying looking like this?" He grumbled.
"Dying." She said.
"I doubt that's going to happen." He said confidently.
"You never know, Hank. Who would be here to help you? No one knows you're out here." She scolded.
"I'm quite certain that everything will be fine." He assured, turning around to prepare the syringe for the new formula. "I think it's time you left-"
"No way. I'm staying and that's final." She said sternly, her face dead serious.
"Final, huh? Well, what you're about to see is rather disturbing but do not worry. I will be fine, I promise." He said, walking over to his wreckage corner.
"And if something does go wrong?" She asked worriedly.
Hank shrugged, "Wait it out and hope I'll be alright by morning." He said and before she could protest, he injected the glowing blue formula into his arm. Hank started to take deep breaths and his eyes closed tightly.
Shadow tensed as she watched nervously, praying to whatever god that would listen that Hank would be alright. "Hank?" She called out in disbelief as she watched him start to change. "Hank." She whispered worriedly, watching his pained expression, her stomach twisted and ran around doing loopy flips. "Oh my..."
Hank hissed as something seemed to burn, smoke rising off his fur. Soon his fur started to fall off in clumps. His body jerked around ever so slightly and Shadow couldn't believe her eyes. He started to shrink, losing his body mass rapidly. Hank grunted, falling against the remains of the table.
"Hank?!" Shadow called out frantically. She didn't move, not know what would happen if she got too close to him like this. Taking by the wreckage area, whatever happened wasn't good.
Hank growled and his giant hands shrunk. Shadow cringed all over her seat, hearing the bones in his body all crack as they shifted and changed. He snarled, his teeth all shrinking into his mouth and losing their sharp points.
He fell forward, onto his hands and knees, his back arching in pain. Shadow put her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming in fear and worry.
Suddenly Hank went weak and fell to the floor with a loud thud. "Hank!" Shadow gasped, abandoning her seat to run to him, kneeling down next to him. Without thinking, she carefully turned him over so he was facing the ceiling.
"Hank, are you okay? Talk to me, buddy." She whispered, her voice shaking, her eyes welling up.
Hank groaned heavily and tried to move his head. Shadow's breath caught in her throat and she frantically moved his now brown hair from over his eyes that were still closed. She observed him now. His skin was pale white and perfect, his lips rosy pink, his cheeks flushed. He had strong looking hands and despite him losing his mutant body mass, he was still beefy. Also, he looked no older than 22. He was... beautiful.
"Hank, talk to me." She whispered.
"This hurts." He groaned. Even his voice changed. It wasn't so intimidating. Just deep and masculine.
"I know it must hurt. Can you open your eyes for me, Hank?" She whispered softly.
"Think so." He breathed. His eyes fluttered open and his pupils adjusted to the lighting which was none. He could see anything but Shadow's outlined figure.
Shadow was breathless. He had the most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen. Truth be told, she hadn't seen many, but of those, Hank had breathtaking eyes.
"You're not changing." Shadow breathed through a relieved smile.
"I'm not." He agreed, also sounding relieved.
"Do you feel okay?" She asked, running her thumb over his smooth cheek.
"I feel fuzzy." He admitted. "But fine." He added.
"You're not fuzzy anymore, Hank." Shadow said with a giggle.
"Good." He said with a chuckle.
"Hank..." She said carefully.
"Yes?" He asked curiously.
"I need that formula." She said, standing to leave his side.
"No, no! We don't know the side effects yet, Isabelle. It's still very dangerous, it could be highly unstable." He warned, reaching out for her. Shadow hopped out of his reach and walked over to the table with the formula he had used.
"That didn't stop you, did it?" She said coldly.
"It's different with me! My mutation is stronger than yours and I've been through the process before and let me tell you, it's not fun." He warned.
"I don't care, Hank. I can handle it." She said.
"No, you can't! It could kill you, it's too potent." He growled.
"I'll add water." She hissed, putting water into a test tube with the formula with a dropper. She sucked the formula into the syringe and looked at the glowing liquid.
"That won't work. Please don't do this! This is ridiculous."
"Ridiculous would be not doing it. I'm sorry, Hank, but I'm doing this." She whispered.
"NO!" Hank said, jumping to his feet and stumbling to her, trying to snatch the syringe out of her hand.
"Hank, please! I want this as badly as you want it!" She begged, yanking it back towards her.
"This isn't safe for you, Isabelle." He snapped, yanking it away from her but she kept her grip.
"Hank!" She nearly screamed, pulling it back.
"You're gonna hurt someone with that!" Hank warned, trying to wiggle it out of her hold.
"Yeah, me!" She exclaimed. In a desperate act, she bought her arm up to the syringe and it stabbed her. Hank immediately let go, shocked at what she did. Shadow grinned and pushed the head, injecting the liquid into her veins.
"What have you done?" Hank whispered, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, Hank." She cried. "I just want to be normal!" She sobbed, falling to her knees.
"I don't have a serum to counter the formula! What if something goes wrong?!" He said frantically.
"Wait it out and hope I'll be alright by morning." She said with a weak smile. Hank was surprised she used his own words.
"How do you feel?" He asked quickly.
"Weird." She said, slightly swaying from side to side.
"That's normal, I guess." He mumbled. "Any pain?" He asked.
"Nah- Ah!" She grunted, doubling over and hugging herself.
"What do you feel?" He gasped, kneeling next to her, putting his hand on her back and shoulder for support.
"Pain!" She grunted.
"Specify please." He said, trying to be calm.
"Agh..." She groaned.
"Isabelle." He said, hoping she'd keep her consciousness. "Don't pass out, okay? You can't lose consciousness." He ordered.
"My head..." She mumbled, putting a hand against her temple.
Hank panicked, thinking that the formula was burning her brain cells and nerves away or the substance could be poisoning her blood or... he didn't know!
"I told you not to do it!" He scolded.
"Isn't... the time!" She said before screaming into her mouth.
"What's going on?!" Hank turned and panicked as a human-looking Nebula burst into the shack. "What did you do to her?!" She accused, running over and shoving him away from her, taking his place.
"I didn't do anything!" He shouted, trying to get off the floor but his new body was still weak. "She did that to herself!" He barked angrily.
"What's happening to her? What happened to you?" She then asked.
"Well..."
"Agh!" Shadow grunted, going limp in Nebula's hold.
"Help her, genius!" Nebula wailed in panic.
"I can't! I told her that but she wouldn't listen!" He said, his face twisting with anger.
"Of course she didn't." Nebula mumbled with a growled. "Well, what's happening?" Nebula asked again.
"She's mutating." Hank said awkwardly. It was strange to say a mutant was mutating but that's what it is. The DNA sequence is changing.
"Mutating?" Nebula said skeptically. "That's not right."
"Look at me. Tell me I'm not physically mutated!" He said.
Nebula glared at him and remained quiet, knowing she lost that battle.
"How?" She then asked.
"I made a formula that-"
"Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. Can you stop it?" She asked, holding her friend tightly as she grunted and growled in pain.
"No!" Shadow managed to say.
"What do you mean no? Shadow, you're-" Nebula tried reasoning.
"Fine." She said in a grunt.
"It's too late anyway." Hank said, climbing to his feet with the help of the table behind him.
Shadow swayed to the right and probably would have toppled over if Nebula wasn't holding her.
"Hank, my eyes burn." She said, her voice barely audible.
"The formula is quite possibly trying to correct that mutation." Hank said with a grunt, finally getting to his feet. He walked over to the lantern and switched it on, the flame lighting the small room.
Nebula carefully turned her over so she was facing the ceiling. She gasped, reeling away from her friend in fear. She was different. She had a human nose, her skin was clear of markings, her teeth weren't protruding from her mouth, her ears weren't pointed, no claws, no tail!
"Shadow?" Nebula called out carefully.
"Isabelle, are you alright? Talk to me." Hank said, carefully walking over to the two girls.
"Fine." She mumbled, trying to sit up. Nebula helped her sit up and held her in place. Shadow opened her eyes without thinking and hissed against the lighting but despite the sudden pain, she could see. "I can see." She breathed, "I can see!" She laughed.
"Incredible!" Hank said joyfully. "You can see fine?" He asked.
"Perfectly! I can see you," She pointed at him. "and I can see Nebula." She pointed at Nebula and grinned.
"Whoa, this is great!" Nebula gushed, hugging her friend tightly.
"Let's not get too excited. We don't know if she'll have any side effects yet." Hank warned, carefully watching Shadow.
"But you're fine." Shadow pointed out.
"For now. The effects will probably be different on us." He said.
"It's a miracle!" Nebula shouted happily.
"Noooooo. It's science." Hank corrected, leaning against the table.
"Ugh, whatever. She can see!" Nebula said, shaking her friend playfully.
"Feel any pain?" Hank asked, crossing his arms.
"Probably as much as you." She mumbled.
"Can you stand?" He asked.
"Sure." She said, quickly moving to stand. She didn't have nearly as much trouble as Hank did since her legs hadn't changed like his. Nebula steadied her and then she was standing on her own.
"You look amazing." Hank said, observing her carefully.
"Your not so bad yourself, Hank." Shadow teased, giving him a wink.
"N-No! I didn't mean it that way! I m-meant the transformation a-and..." He trailed off, looking away. The girls giggled and snickered.
"So... what now?" Shadow asked awkwardly.
"We could sleep on it, I guess. See what happens tomorrow." Hank said, not sure of what happens after the 'success'.
"We should get going then. Shall we?" She asked, walking to the door and waiting for him there. "You can walk, right?"
"Yes." He said. He switched everything off and then walked over to her, giving her a small smile.
"Wow, you have a nice smile. And did I mention your eyes are really gorgeous?" She said.
Hank rolled his eyes and chuckled, pushing her out the door and shutting the door. He locked it securely and turned around to face her. "Thanks." He breathed. "Let's go, the sun's about to rise." He said, leading the way back to the mansion.
Shadow walked behind him eagerly, butterflies racing all over her tummy. She was so overwhelmed with happiness that she finally looked normal. Although she knew it was possible it wouldn't last until morning, she would enjoy the feeling every second it did last.
A/N: Did you all expect that? Admit it, it was very unexpected! Heheheh. So, what will happen when they arrive at the mansion? I don't know, don't look at me! Stay tuned and be ready for the next chapter! Hopefully it won't take as long to update like this one did, sorry about that by the way. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was interesting to write. Sorry for any mistakes, I know it could have probably been better.
Please review! Reviews make me happy and want to update sooner! You know, motivation. Let me know what you thought and such. Thanks in advance! Lots of love, Mutinous Pirate ;)