Chapter Twenty-Five:
"Shit. Shit. Shitty shit," Tyron swore, holding onto the metal underside of the Brooklyn bridge for dear life. "Shit. Shit. Shit!"
He could still hear Tony shouting for him above. And Zion's men would notice if they didn't hear a splash. Tyron bit his lip, and looked down into the murky grey water. "Ugh..." He grumbled, then let go.
His arms flailed for several second before finally hitting the water. He held his breath, trying to get back to the surface. After trying desperately to get back to the surface, he finally made it, and gasped. He kicked his legs, trying to stay afloat, but he was dragged back under again.
He had to get to the bank, Tyron thought. The water made his mind get foggy. He hadn't been in a big body of water since his mutation. He didn't think he would feel rusty like he did in the rain, but the effects seemed much faster in the ocean.
Tyron moved, swimming - even though he couldn't swim - desperately, his head falling under several times, making him spit up water, and cough roughly.
It had taken him nearly twenty minutes, but Tyron finally made it. He coughed and hacked once he got to the bank, breathing in oxygen like it had been the last of it on earth.
Tyron fished in his pocket, pulling out a cellphone that was definitely not turning on again. Tyron sighed, leaning his head against the ground. "Guess... M'walkin' then..." He murmured, moving to stand.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
Tyron was still very damp when he entered the doors of Stark Tower. He was tired, and wanted to sleep. A part of him definitely wanted to crash on a bench for the night, but he decided against it at the last minute.
The lobby, that was usually busy with people, was primarily empty. A few men and woman were the main desks, but it had look like everyone had pretty much gone home for the night.
"Excuse me," a man said, holding onto Tyron's shoulder. He stopped, stiffening. "Is there a reason why you're in here?"
"I... Need to talk to Tony," Tyron said, pushing the man's large hand off his shoulder. Last time he was stopped in the lobby of the Tower by a security guard, he was beat up. He didn't have the energy for that again.
"And why-?"
"Let him go," A voice said from across he room. Tony was striding towards him. The man sputtered, trying to find an excuse, but Tony simply took Tyron's arm and dragged him away. "What were you thinking!?" He hissed, "Are you crazy!? Why would you jump off the bridge like that? I thought you were dead! Goddamn it, Tyron-"
"Did those men leave ya alone?" Tyron asked.
"Yes, but-"
"Don't worry 'bout it then," Tyron said, sighing. They walked into the elevator, and Tyron let something scan his face before it began to zoom upwards.
"Don't worry about it!? Tyron, you could have died!"
"But I didn't. And Zion's men ain't after you."
"What are you talking about?"
"Jus'... Don't worry 'bout it," Tyron said, his entire body aching. "I need to sleep."
Tony sighed and they were quiet for a minute. Before he said, "You know, you still have school in the morning." Tyron groaned.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
"Dude!" Ned said, rounding on him when he was at his locker. "Where have you been!?"
"I-" Tyron began to say, but Ned cut him off.
"You missed everything! Oh, my god! That big Avengers fight in Slovakia was sick man, and that huge robot that kept shooting people! And the city was flying! Dude, what have you been doing!? And, you missed a bunch'a classes! You're going to be drowning in work, man!"
"Yeah... I know," Tyron said, almost hesitantly. He didn't know if Ned had finished talking yet. "Where's Peter?"
"He's been out sick for the past couple days. I talked to him last night, though, and he said that he'd be in today. He's usually never late, so-Oh! There he is!" Ned turned down the hall, grinning as Peter sluggishly came through.
"What the fuck?" Tyron said, worrying. "You look like ass, man."
"I know," Peter sniffed. There were dark bags under his eyes and his face was redder than usual. His clothes were a bit bigger on his already scrawny body. Tyron pressed his lips together in worry.
"Have ya seen, like, a doctor yet, man?" Tyron frowned.
"Nah. May says it's just a cold, I'll be alright," Peter sniffed and then went to his locker.
"Oh, look!" Someone said from across the room, then began their way over. "It's Cookie Boy."
"What do ya want, Michelle?" Tyron growled, still upset with this girl.
"What I can't say hi to my favourite delinquent?" She teased, and Tyron pushed her away.
"No, but ya really might wanna finish what ya saying before ya don't have any teeth to do it," Tyron threatened.
Michelle laughed, but it was a bit nervous, and she wasn't quite smiling. "That's cold, Tyron. I'll catch up with you later. Maybe you can tell me all about Slovakia." Tyron's eyes went wide as Michelle turned and left.
"What was what about?" Ned asked, frowning. "What about Slovakia? Were you there?"
"No," he denied immediately. "I was at home. Watched it on TV, like everyone else."
Ned made kind of a noise of agreement, and then the bell rang. So, they caught up with Peter and made their way to class.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
"Quiet down," Their science teacher, Mrs. Glades commanded. "I know there's a lot to discuss from the past few weeks from the news, however, we must still continue class. So, hush and everyone turn to page 112 in your textbooks."
Everyone grumbled, but began to get their books out. "So, where were you?" Peter whispered as they got their books out.
"Sick," Tyron replied. "Pretty bad. Don't worry. What 'bout ya? Ya look horrible."
"We had a field trip last week," Peter explained. "To Oscorp Industries for a tour. I must have touched something or whatever because I got super sick the next day. But, I'm getting a bit better now."
"Damn," Tyron shook his head.
"What do you think of all the stuff happening in Slovakia?" Ned asked and Tyron shrugged.
"I dunno. The 'Vengers will deal wit' it. They always do," Tyron shrugged.
"I heard one of them died out there," Ned continued. "Got blown up by a robot. It must've crazy, blood everywhere. Tyron, who do you think was it? There was a new girl now, Scarlet Witch, apparently. Do you think she killed him?"
"No, she didn't!" Tyron snapped, making both of them look at him, confused. "I mean, ah, she couldn't have because I heard they were siblin's."
"Ooo! That makes sense," Ned nodded.
"I hope you boys are having a lot of fun discussing Galvanic cells," Mrs. Glades scolded, and the entire class sniggered.
"Sorry," the murmured in unison, listening quietly to the lesson.
Ten minutes later, he whispered again. "There was another new guy too. One made of metal. He looked hella cool!"
"Yeah?" Tyron rose an eyebrow, smirking.
"He wasn't that cool," Peter shrugged. "I heard he was a mutant."
"Wha's wrong wit' that?"
"Dude," Ned furrowed his eyebrows. "Mutants are everywhere. I mean, yeah, some are good, but have you seen some of them? Besides, I did some research. Remember that mutant from, what, a year or two ago? The one that killed all those people and was associated with that gang in Brooklyn? This guy has the same abilites as him. That's a bit sketchy to me. I mean, what if he's the one that killed that guy who died?"
Tyron closed his eyes, hia jaw clenched. They didn't know, he told himself. They didn't know, they didn't know.
"Tyron?" Peter rose an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, no, uhm," Tyron swallowed. "I... I just," Tyron turned to the teacher. "I gotta go. I just..." Tyron stood and began to walk away.
"Tyron? Where do you think you're-?" Tyron didn't answer, as he walked out of the classroom and closed the door.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
Tyron closed his eyes, leaning against the back school wall. Tears threatened his eyes, but he closed them, refusing to let them go.
Pietro's voice came to his head, "You are being silly over me," he would've said. "Do not cry, it is not a good look on such a handsome face."
"You alright?" A voice said, stepping forward from around the corner. It was Michelle.
Tyron's eyes narrowed, and he sniffed, trying to wipe at his eyes. "Wha' do ya want, Michelle?"
"A girl can't talk?" Michelle said, smirking, but Tyron was not laughing. She continued, "Why'd you walk out of class like that?"
"None of ya business," Tyron hissed.
"Fiesty," Michelle chuckled. "Something happen in Slovakia? That guy that died?"
"I don't know wha' ya talkin' about," Tyron grumbled.
"Don't be stupid. I saw you. You were the same as before. Same murderer, different friends." Tyron went stiff, looking at the sky. It as grey and cloudy. It might rain, soon.
"Which one were you?" Tyron whispered.
"You killed my best friend," Michelle accused. "You killed her entire family. I.. I didn't even..." Michelle inhaled. "I was staying at her house, for a sleepover. When I... I heard someone come in the house, we moved to hide. I was in the closet and she went under the bed. They dragged her out from underneath the bed and then you... You killed her!"
Tyron sighed, he remembered that. Baron lined them all up, and Tyron was supposed to kill them. He didn't have any other choice. He didn't.
"I'm sorry-"
"Sorry doesn't bring her back!" Michelle snapped. "You killed her, then you came here, acting like you had the right to be human. You're a mutant, an abomination! You're a murderer!"
"I'm sorry," Tyron snapped. "I'm sorry about your friends, but I didn't have any choice! I-"
"Stop fucking lying!" Michelle reached in her side, pulling out a knife. Tyron looked at it and his eyes widened. It was extremely sharp and made of glass.
"Put tha' away," Tyron warned. "Ya don't know wha' ya doin'."
"I know exactly what I'm doing. That guy wanted you dead or alive. And I'd rather see you dead." Michelle lunged, and Tyron sidestepped, his hand moving to push her knife hand away. She twirled it in her hand, slashing his finger and wrist. Blood began to pool out of it. It was a silvery colour, one Tyron actually hadn't seen in a long time.
"Michelle, please, listen to me," Tyron tried to reason, struggling with her to get the knife out of her hand.
"Listen to what!?" She hissed hysterically. "You killed so many people and you got to join the fucking Avengers for it!? My friend lost her entire family because of you! I had to watch them all be killed!" She stamped on his foot, and his hissed. Michelle tried to stab his torso with it, but he turned his body away, and she only manage to slice his skin open.
Tyron stumbled away, clutching his stomach, his discoloured blood staining his shirt. "Ah!" Tyron groaned, wincing.
"You think that's it?" Michelle hissed. Grabbing his arm, placing the knife at his wrist. Tyron tried to pull away, but that only caused the knife to dig in deeper. "If you stay here, I'm going to make your life a living hell. You leave, and I'll tell Zion that you're staying with the Avengers."
"What do ya want m'to do?" Tyron demanded.
"I want you to tell me her name," Michelle growled. "I'll give you until Friday. If you don't have her name by the end of the week, I'm going to tell everyone about you. They wouldn't want a murderer in our schools, much less a disgusting mutant."
Tyron stared at her in shock, "I can't-"
"Figure it out," she hissed, pulling away from him. Tyron stared at her, rubbing his wrist where she had cut it. Michelle looked at him for a long minute. "I don't understand how anyone could think you could be a good person."
"Ya don't understand," Tyron sighed.
"I understand plenty," Michelle snarled. "Murderers can't be human. And mutants never were." Then, she turned and left the way she came.
Tyron didn't try to go after her, but he certainly wanted to. He wanted to explain how he had no choice in killing those people. He wanted to tell her that Baron was always breathing down his neck, always keeping him on a tight leash, and it he even thought about disobeying him, the consequences were disastrous.
Tyron breathed, running a hand down his face. He needed to go to get cleaned up. So, he turned, and walked out of the school.
- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
Tyron rinsed his face in a local coffee shop. He had taken a few packs of ace bandages and a bottle of alcohol to wrap up his stomach. Tyron poured the alcohol on his wrist and hissed. He usually didn't have to clean his own wounds from fights, so this was a bit new. He opened the ace bandages and wrapped his wrist up. Then, he began taking off his sweater and shirt, to clean the one across his stomach.
As he was cleaning, he noticed that his chest bindings were getting dirty and worn. Tyron sighed, undoing those too, and using the new bandages to redo it.
Tyron watched himself in the mirror, brow furrowed. He remembered the first time he decided that he wasn't going to be a girl anymore. He had cut off all his hair that night. When he woke up and showed his mom and dad the next morning, they were so upset.
Tyron closed his eyes, trying to stop himself from drudging up sour memories. What he needed to do, was clean himself up and get as far away as possible. If Michelle let loose that he was living with the Avengers, then Tony could be completely ruined. Not to mention, if Baron knew he was with the Avengers, he'd have him killed.
Tyron sighed, breathing for a moment. He needed to calm down. Just... Calm down. He couldn't go back to Tony and he definitely needed a place to crash for the night.
Tyron's phone buzzed and he jumped, it surprising him. He usually didn't use his phone unless he needed it. Peter was calling him, so he answered. "Hello?"
"Tyron?" Peter's voice filtered through the phone. "Are you alright? You never came back to class."
"M'fine. Jus' didn't feel well. I went outside to, uhm, breathe. I decided to skip for the day." Tyron ran a hand through his hair, trying to think.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright? I mean, if you've been this sick, maybe you need to go to a hospital, or something..."
"Oh, nah, it's cool. Don't worry about it. Jus' a stomach ache," Tyron said quickly, the paused. "Hey... Do ya mind if I crash at ya place for the night?"
"Huh? Why? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, no, everythin's fine. My parents have been fightin' an'... I jus' can't stand another minute of it, ya know?" Tyron lied easily. "Jus' for tonight, an' I jus' need, like a couch. It's alright if ya can't, so-"
"No, that's-that's fine. That's perfectly fine. Let me just call my Aunt and get stuff sorted."
"Thanks a lot, man," Tyron sighed. "I owe ya one." He really did too. But, since Peter lived in the Queens area - the apartment complexes - Zion would be more unlikely to look for him there. Especially without hint or reason to. He's probably expect him in the projects, not in the richer area where he definitely couldn't afford.
"Don't worry about it. I'll text you my address, I just gotta get my last class for today and then we can both head over, alright?"
"Got it. I'll meet you at the school." Then, Tyron hung up.
He quickly gathered his stuff and headed back for the school. He had a week to set things right with Michelle. If he didn't, a civil war could start, and it'd be his fault.