Chapter 4: A Pretty Picture

Authors Note: Hey everybody, thank you for your feedback and your reviews I promise to do better in the long run. Here is the next chapter, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything avengers.

Miguel was in a bad spot and he knew it. He didn't know how he was gonna get out of it, but he knew that it was gonna end with him losing Meek or his life if he didn't play his next move smart. His mind was going a million miles a minute and he couldn't find a single idea on how he was gonna get out of this.

After he dropped Barron off at the police, he decided to swing by his apartment and check up on his mom. He was shocked to see multiple agents in the kitchen and a bald man in a black trench coat and an eye patch over his left eye was talking to his mother.

He wanted to go in and deal with them, but then he would only end up endangering his mother in the process. He could have gone to his friends, but for all he knew they were in the same predicament. If they didn't have agents in their house, they could have agents hiding out in their neighborhoods. This was a bad spot to be in.

So, he made his way to an old abandoned tenement building down in hell's kitchen to hide out there until he could think of a plan.

"What are we gonna do Meek?" Miguel asked.

"We should take the fight to them, your mother could be in danger, we must take action!" Meek snarled.

"Meek, you just can't go around eating and killing whoever you want. Those guys are government agents, not criminals. They were sent here to investigate us and report us if we become a threat. If we so much as lay a finger on one of them, we'll have an army patrolling these streets by morning."

"Damn, then what are we to do?" Meek asked. "Barron was barely any help and we are no closer to finding Darko."

"I don't know. I don't have a single idea in my head. I'm sorry Meek, but I got no creative juices." Miguel admitted as he slumped down in a nearby corner in defeat.

"Then how do we get you some juices?" Meek snapped.

Miguel let out a heavy sigh and looked around the filthy abandoned building. He really wished he could hold up some place nicer, but this was the best he could do under the circumstances. He spotted a bunch of tools and equipment around the room he was squatting in and noticed some paint cans piled up in the corner. That's when he got an idea.

"Hey Meek, have you ever painted before?"

"I think we both know the answer to that." Meek answered. Miguel walked over to the corner and started to look through the cans. "Why do you ask?"

"Painting is a great way to get ideas and inspiration and sometimes it helps you reflect on it. I was hoping to make a career out of it, but now, well I don't see that happening anytime soon."

"Because of me?" Meek asked.

"No, because of Barron and this Darko asshole." Miguel explained as he popped open a paint can lid, white paint, perfect for a started to splash the whole can on the wall and using one of the paint rollers he managed to spread it around on the brick wall. Next, he made his way to a can of red paint and that's when he had a stroke of inspiration.

"Meek, I want you to paint something." Miguel offered. He could feel his friend shift inside of him.

"I don't know how or even what I would paint." Meek admitted bashfully. Miguel thought it was funny how shy or even scared his friend was about painting. That's when another idea crossed his mind.

"Meek, I want you to paint what you are afraid of."

"Why would I do that?"

"It will help me get to know you." Miguel stated as he flexed his fingers. "Come on, we never really bonded like this. All I know about you is that you come from space, you were kicked off of the planet Ming-Mong and you want revenge against Darko for experimenting on you."

Both Meek and Miguel stood in front of the drying wall as neither one of them made an effort to paint. That's when Miguel felt Meek's slimy form cover both of his hands. Meek took control of his human host's hands and with a quickness he picked up the paint brush and started dunking it into the can before erratically splattering it all over the wall.

Miguel watched as Meek manipulated his hands and create the image that he was afraid of. It took a can and a half of red paint, but he was able to finish his painting. It looked like Meek, but its form was red and the white background made it look like it had slanted eyes and straight razor-sharp teeth.

"Is this what you're afraid of?" Miguel asked Meek.

"In a manner of speaking." Meek stated. "This is a red Klyntar. They are very rare and very dangerous."

"What makes them so dangerous?" Miguel asked.

"They are a creation from a Klyntar host's blood. If that blood were to come into contact with someone then that blood would merge into a new being of Klyntar. They are rumored to be stronger and more in synced with their host. They possess a wide array of weapons and power that make me look like a wounded dog. They are also what you would call cannibals. They feed on our race in order to survive, but I think they do it to satisfy their cravings."

"Geez, wait, rumored you mean you never met one?"

"No, we don't get many visitors on our planet for obvious reasons. Not that it matters anymore I along with the rest of those Klyntar have been exiled."

"Why were you exiled?"

"It's embarrassing, but I actually thought that we could co-exist with other species. We need a host in order to survive, but my species thrive on power and control. I tried to persuade my people, but they didn't want to listen, dubbed me as being weak and now I am here."

"That's why you are called, Meek." Miguel stated.

"Yes."

"Darko wants an army of these red ones, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he is insane. He believes he can actually control them." Meek stated, Miguel could actually hear the fear in his voice. "He wants to merge a Klyntar with a human host and then pump them dry of their tainted blood. Then there's something about injecting the blood into Hydra sleeper soldiers. That's how he plans on controlling them."

"Wait, how would Darko know about the red Klyntar?" Miguel asked. "How would he even get the idea to make a Klyntar army?"

The two were at a loss of words for a minute until a thought raced through Meek's head.

"Miguel, two years ago there was another one of my species known as, Payne. He was one of the most dominant of our race. He believed that we should be the rulers of the galaxy, but our current numbers were too few and weak. That's when he came up with the idea of allowing ourselves to create red Klyntar and force them to submit to our race. Our race couldn't allow a rabid species to exist so they exiled him by putting him on an alien ship that landed on our planet and sent him packing along with a few other exiled."

"Darko wants to create an army of these red symbiotic Klyntar just like Payne. That they both happen to have the same goal is too much of a coincidence." Miguel pondered.

"Yes, and how could Darko be so much of an expert on our race when no one on your planet has never even heard of us?"

"Because someone has been whispering in his ear about your race from your strengths and weaknesses to what you are and where you come from."

"Yes, there is no doubt in my mind. Darko and Payne have achieved symbiosis." Meek stated.

"We need to inform those agents about Darko. If he manages to create even one of those red bastards it will be hell for, New York."

"You were right, Miguel. Art really did give us new ideas."

(Meanwhile)

Darko watched as another one of his subjects failed to achieve symbiosis and was reduced to mush. He gritted his teeth and smashed his fist into the protective glass. He has lost count on how many failed subjects have lost their lives and he was seeing no end in sight.

Well, there was one subject who was still out there who could be the asset he's been searching for.

"Another failure?" A voice asked from behind. Darko turned to see a Hydra associate of his by the name of Lucas had approached him with a group of armed guards. "Well, no matter, I am afraid I have come to deliver some bad news. The project is canceled."

"Canceled," Darko sneered. "I never gave any authorization for any sort of cancelation."

"That's because we don't need it. You see, Von Strucker has seen nothing but failures and trouble from your project in the last year and we are starting draw attention. S.H.I.E.L.D agents have been spotted and now we have one of your subjects running amuck out in New York."

"Exactly, but here is the thing, that subject has achieved symbiosis. My men say that it has possessed a boy by the name of, Miguel Martinez. If we can capture both him and Meek, we can bleed him out and by the end of the week we will have a private force of enhanced super soldiers."

"You're not listening. The project is canceled, the subjects are scheduled for termination and as for you and your staff…"

Lucas pulled out his pistol and fired three rounds into Darko's chest. He watched his blood splatter all over the glass of the cell as Darko fell to the ground. Lucas turned to his men and issued orders for the test subjects to be incinerated and Miguel to be tracked down and destroyed.

Before anyone could do anything, Darko's body shot up from the floor and he started to twitch. Everyone watched as his eyes turned white and his veins turned into a dark orange color. Lucas ordered his men to open fire on Darko, but the man leaped forward and sliced through Lucas's men with his fingers, which were now two-foot-long blades. He impaled the men as bullets started flying all over the lab.

Lucas started to run as the monstrosity tore apart his men and if he wasn't quick, he would be next. A few more of his guards charged at Darko, armed with their assault rifles and opened fired on him. Their bullets did nothing as it wasn't Darko anymore, but Payne.

The bullets bounced off of its slimy flesh as it stomped towards the guards. Payne opened its dripping maw and bit down hard on the man's head, biting it clean off and soon the same thing to the other man. Both of its arms turned into cleaver blades as it buckled its knees and leaped through the hallway, slicing down every man in its path. Lucas was desperately trying to make his way back to the elevator, but it was no use as Payne's grotesque hand wrapped around Lucas's ankle and held him upside down over its dripping maw.

Its head unraveled revealing Darko's grinning face.

"So, what was that about canceling my project?" Darko said as he reached into Lucas's jacket pocket. He relieved him of his phone and looked up Miguel Martinez's file.

"You will fail. You have S.H.I.E.L.D and now Hydra after you!" Lucas shouted. "You won't last a week even with that thing inside of you!"

"Once I have Meek and this boy in my possession, I will have an unlimited supply of Klynthar blood at my disposal and with Hydra's brainwashing techniques I will have them all under my control. Not that you will live to see it."

Payne wrapped itself around Darko's head and brandished its razor-sharp teeth. Lucas screamed, but he was silenced instantly with one violent chomp around his head.

(Back at Miguel's apartment)

Sofia sat at her kitchen table with Fury and Natasha Romanoff across from her. A few other agents stood around her trying to intimidate her, but it was all for nothing. She didn't know where her son was and she wouldn't tell them even if she knew.

Fury let out a tired sigh and he was ready to try and reason with her again when they heard the door open. The agents all reached for their handguns, but didn't pull them out as Miguel walked in, followed by Otto and Kara.

"Jumpy?" Miguel asked, holding two bags of Burger King in his hands. "Otto, Kara, make yourselves comfortable in living room." His friends, who also had Burger King bags, walked into the living room. Miguel stared at the three agents and nodded his head for them to followed.

The agents looked at Fury, who gave them a dismissive wave and while hesitant they followed his friends into the living room.

"Otto has the ketchup." Miguel called out as he set the bags down on the kitchen table. He moved over to his mother and hugged her and she hugged back even tighter. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay." She snapped as tears started rolling down her cheeks. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

"It's more like what has gotten into me and the answer is even more horrifying." Miguel chuckled. He looked over at Fury and Romanoff. He rolled his eyes when recognized Romanoff. "Mrs. Webb, I thought your arrival was a little too suspicious."

"Not as suspicious as a young artist acting erratic and beating down a room full of bullies." Romanoff shot back with a raised eyebrow.

"Clever, you know what's not clever a bombshell of a woman being an assistant principle."

"Can we please get serious?" Fury asked. "Where have you been all this time?"

"Meek, you explain it to them." Miguel called out as his alien companion slithered out of his shoulder. His mother jumped back at his friend's vicious grin while Fury and Romanoff remained unfazed.

"Now, let me explain from the beginning." Meek stated as he explained everything from arriving on Earth to Darko and his plans. Miguel was expecting Fury and Romanoff to ignore what Meek had to say or greet it with skepticism, but they listened intently to every word he had to say.

"And that is why he wants to find a suitable host for his Klyntar subjects. He will have an unlimited supply of tainted blood and he will unleash an army of red ones."

"And he believes that he will be able to control these red ones?" Fury asked. "How?"

"Meek said that he overheard Darko and some Hydra agents talking about sleeper soldiers or something. I'm not entirely sure, but Darko and his Symbiote seem hell bent of creating this army."

"It makes no difference who the host is as long as the symbiote takes over the host will have no control over what the Symbiote wants."

"Ok, our priority is to keep the two of you away from Darko and this Payne and to do that I think the best course of action is to separate you two."

There it is.

"Yeah, you must think I am really stupid to believe that bullshit." Miguel chuckled. "You just want to separate us so you and your agents and dissect him and either find weaknesses or use him for your own personal arsenal."

"Despite what you may believe, Mr. Martinez we just can't let a young man run around with an alien that inhuman capabilities. We can't have a repeat of what happened in that cafeteria."

"No, we need a repeat of Harlem, right?" Miguel snapped back. "We need two more superfreaks slugging it out and endangering innocent lives. You can spare me the B.S. and threats because there is no way I am letting you use Meek for evil deeds."

Before Fury could get another word out, Dexter Stark hand swooped in through the open window. Miguel shot up from his seat as Meek had started to coat over his body, but the other Stark held up all six hands defensively.

"I'm not here to fight, but to warn you." He explained. "Several black vans have just pulled up around the building. I think they may be working for Darko."

"They're here for me." Miguel informed.

"We need to evacuate." Fury said as he stood up from his chair.

"No, we can't." Miguel stated. "Those guys are hunting Meek and they will use any means of force to get him. Even if it means killing civilians."

"He's right," Romanoff chipped in. "The last thing we need is a hallway of civilians getting caught in the crossfire."

"Then what do we do?" Sofia asked.

"We take them down, bit by bit." Dex stated. "I mean they'll be here in a few minutes and we can-GET DOWN!"

Dex covered Miguel and his mother while Romanoff and Fury both hit the floor. Miguel was confused for a split second, before his whole apartment was ripped to shreds by a fiery explosion.

Miguel was disoriented by the loud explosion and the heat from the fire. He heard noises that sounded like someone giving out evacuation instructions. He slowly staggered to his feet and though his vision blurry, he tried to search for his mother and friends. All he saw were flames and he couldn't get couldn't focus because Meek started to freak out.

"Miguel, we need to get out of here now!" Meek shouted. "This fire is bad, but the fire alarms are killing me!"

Miguel was wondering what was setting Meek off as he was going mad inside and out of his body. Through the pain, Miguel managed to see the opening through his apartment and made a beeline for the exit when he almost tripped over something, or more specifically someone.

Miguel was startled to see Dexter Stark laying on the ground in a broken bloody heap. His heart was racing as he didn't know what to do.

"We can't just leave him!" Miguel shouted at Meek.

"We can't move him either, he's too injured!" Meek explained through the pain. "As bad as he looks on the outside, he could have internal damage on the inside."

"Dammit, wait, you could heal him, right?" Miguel asked. "You've done it to me."

"True, but I'd have to be fast otherwise he could end up like your friend, Hank." Meek warned Miguel as his young host placed his hand on Dexter's chest. The host watched as Meek oozed out of Miguel's arm and into the injured man.

Miguel watched in amazement as the purple ooze started to realign the bones before closing the gaping wounds. His fingers were mended back into position, his cuts healed and before he knew it, Dexter had shot up gasping for air. He let out a few choked coughs as Miguel tried to help him.

But before he could assist the agent, Miguel felt something strike the back of his head. Dexter stood up and tried to fight back against the assailants, but he was quickly struck by a taser and brought to his knees, before being struck by the butt of a gun from one of the armed guards.

Darko's soldiers, cladded in black body armor and gas masks had their guns trained on Miguel and fired more stun darts into the boy. Miguel could do nothing as the guards gathered around him, lifted him onto a gurney and strapped him in tight. They placed a mask over his mouth and pumped him full of sedatives.

"Packaged acquired."

Was all Miguel heard, before passing out.