AN: A new fic! In the brainrot world that is Worm. Another SI that's not actually me as always. Gods know I won't be able to muster up the courage to do half the things they did. Enjoy.
Also, a little warning, there is some wincest at the end because I felt like writing it when I got to that point.
Hillside Mall, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Nathaniel "Nate" Ryder stared out at the busiest section of the mall. People bustled about, some window shopping, others moving between stores with arms full of bags. A group of teenagers huddled outside one store, laughing at something one of them had bought.
'Seventeen years,' Nate thought, slumping in his seat. 'Seventeen long years, and what do I have to show for it?'
It had been 17 years since he woke up in this world as a baby. 17 long years of trying and failing to gain power by forcing himself to trigger. The only thing he had managed to do was give himself some long-lasting injuries and a bunch of scars.
'Do I just not have the potential to trigger? If that's true, then why the hell am I here? What's the point of being reborn in a world with powers if I can't do anything with it? Am I destined to spend my life working minimum-wage jobs?' He sighed, running a hand through his short, dark hair.
'Maybe I can get Cauldron's attention and somehow snag a vial?' The thought crossed his mind more than once over the years and like before, he quickly dismissed it. 'With the way they're portrayed in Worm, they'd probably throw me in a dark cell, drain me dry for every scrap of information, and then wipe my memory.'
As he brooded over his powerlessness, a sudden shout snapped him from his thoughts. Turning toward the commotion, he saw the group of teenagers scatter, fleeing from something. Squinting, he spotted what had caused the panic—a group of armed men moving toward the center of the mall. They wore body armor, bulletproof vests, and helmets, each wielding an assault rifle. A black, stylized "C" was painted on their chest plates and helmets.
'The Chorus Gang? Shit! What are they doing here?'
Panic erupted as more people noticed the armed men. Screams echoed throughout the mall as shoppers fled in every direction. The gang, however, paid no attention to the fleeing civilians. Instead, they spread out, targeting specific stores, and breaking down doors and windows.
'Why the hell are they robbing a mall? Wait…' Nate's eyes darted to the store names. All of them were tech or hardware stores. 'So, the rumors about them recruiting a Tinker were true. That's just great. More people getting powers while I sit here with nothing... I should get out of here.'
Nate was about to leave when he noticed two of the teenagers from earlier hadn't fled. A blonde cheerleader type and a freckled brunette who looked like she belonged in a book club. The brunette was tugging on the blonde's arm, clearly trying to pull her away, but the blonde seemed ready to confront the gang.
He immediately recognized them. Everyone in this city did. Victoria Dallon—Glory Girl—and her sister, Amy Claire Dallon, also known as Panacea.
'Well, that changes things.' Nate leaned back in his seat. 'With Glory Girl here, there's nothing to worry about. The gang didn't bring their cape, so she should clean this up quickly.'
Despite his confidence, a nagging sense of dread gnawed at him. It felt like he was forgetting something important.
He watched as the sisters argued, eventually seeing Victoria order Amy to hide in a store before taking to the air. Glory Girl confronted the gang, words were exchanged, and then… shooting.
True to her reputation as "Collateral Damage Barbie," Victoria charged straight in. A flash of light followed, and the gang members were sent flying. Nate winced at the sound of shattering glass as bodies crashed through storefront windows.
Victoria smirked, confident she'd won—until her expression twisted in shock. A dark red stain began to spread across her stomach, and she started to fall.
"Fuck," Nate muttered, standing up.
"VICKY!" Amy screamed, running out to catch her sister as she collapsed.
'Her forcefield is strong but only takes one hit before resetting,' Nate remembered from reading Worm. 'It's good for most fights, but against an automatic rifle? That's a different story.'
A hulking man stepped out of one of the stores, wearing the same body armor as the others, but with a crimson "C" on his chest plate. Nate recognized him immediately.
The gang leader grinned. "Well, well, well. If it isn't little miss perfect. Looks like the golden girl's not so untouchable after all."
'That's their second in command. His name is-'
"Crusher," she growled. Blood seeped through Glory Girl's fingers as she pressed her hand to the wound, glaring at him.
Crusher wasn't a cape but he's built like a brick and knows how to fight. When most capes still have a normal human body, that's enough to make him dangerous.
"That's right. You didn't really think that you could stand up to the Chorus, did you?"
Nate felt like he needed to do something, that if he didn't move now what he wanted would be forever out of his reach.
'Fuck it.' He thought and rushed forward.
"Hey, asshole!" Nate shouted.
Crusher turned and spotted Nate, "Who the fuck are—"
Nate's fist connected with Crusher's face, knocking him back a step. Pain shot through Nate's hand.
'Metal mask? Really?' The mask wasn't plastic like he expected but painted metal.
Crusher groaned but recovered quickly.
"Not a bad punch," he said, cracking his neck. "But you're in over your head, kid."
"I know," Nate said, shaking out his stinging hand. "I just can't stand bullies. So, I'm going to have to ask you and your friends to leave."
"So, a boy fancyin' himself a hero?" Crusher's booming laughter filled the air. "Ahahaha, "I like your gut. Tell you what, if you can beat me in a fistfight, I and my boys will leave. How about that?"
"You can't—" Victoria tried to protest but broke into a fit of coughing. Blood stained her lips, and her breathing grew more labored. She looked pale, her strength fading fast.
"Vicky! Hold on, Vicky!" Amy cried, panicking as she pressed her hands to the wound.
Crusher smirked. "Let the grown-ups talk," he said, waving her off.
Nate glanced at the sisters, then back at Crusher. "Fine. Let's do this."
Everything he heard about Crusher points to the guy being a battle maniac. He didn't even join a gang because he wanted power, money, or fame. He joined because he wanted to fight so if Nate gave him a good fight, there was a chance he might keep his word.
Crusher's grin widened. "That's more like it! Come on, kid. Show me what you've got."
Nate didn't hesitate. He launched forward, throwing a quick jab followed by a curved punch. Crusher dodged the jab and caught Nate's wrist mid-punch.
"Is that all you've—gah!" Crusher's words were cut off as Nate used the hold as leverage, jumping up and slamming his knee into Crusher's chin. The blow forced the bigger man to release his grip.
Nate dropped to the ground and immediately followed up with a sharp elbow to the stomach and an uppercut to the jaw. He spun into a roundhouse kick, aiming for Crusher's head, but the larger man blocked it with his forearm, pushing Nate off balance.
"Hahaha! That's it!" Crusher said, his grin unfazed. He didn't even flinch at the hits. "Let's have some real fun!"
Nate's heart pounded. This was the first time he'd fought someone like this—a real opponent. Despite the fear and adrenaline, a strange thrill coursed through him. He wanted to charge in again, to keep attacking, but his training held him back.
'Patience is a virtue. Against a stronger opponent, patience will be your ally.' He thought. It was something he learned from various trainers over the years.
Crusher lunged forward, throwing a powerful punch. Nate sidestepped, thinking of countering, but stopped at the last moment. It was a feint. Crusher's leg swung up, a kick that would have caught Nate if he'd committed to his counter.
'If I take a hit, I might done for,' Nate thought grimly.
Crusher pressed the attack, his punches and kicks relentlessly. Nate dodged and deflected where he could, always keeping just out of reach.
"Come on, kid! Don't go all soft on me," Crusher growled, frustration creeping into his voice. "If you're gonna fight, fight like a man!"
'There!' Nate saw an opening and took it.
Crusher's frustration made him reckless, his swing wide and overextended. Nate ducked under the punch and grabbed his arm, using his momentum to flip the larger man over his shoulder. Crusher hit the ground with a resounding thud, and Nate stomped toward his throat. But before his foot connected, Crusher's massive hand shot up and yanked Nate's other leg, pulling him off balance.
Nate crashed to the floor, rolling quickly to his feet just as Crusher stood, unscathed.
"You've got moves, kid," Crusher said, cracking his neck. "Not bad. Not good enough, though."
Crusher charged again, faster this time. Nate braced himself, raising his arms to block the incoming strike. The punch slammed into his forearms, the force sending him flying back. He skidded across the marble floor, his body slamming into a food stand before coming to a stop.
'Shit… that hurt,' Nate thought, gasping for breath. Pain radiated through his side and his vision blurred as he struggled to stand.
Crusher approached him, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. "And you're still standing! Most people would've gone down after a hit like that but here you are. impressive."
"Thanks," Nate wheezed, forcing himself upright. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. "I try."
Crusher chuckled, then his expression turned serious. "Let's see how long you can last."
The gang leader rushed forward, fists raised. Nate couldn't dodge in time and decided to take the hit. He shifted just enough to let the blow land on his shoulder instead of his chest. Using the momentum, he spun and drove his fist into Crusher's elbow. A sickening crack followed, and Crusher roared in pain.
"You little shit!" Crusher snarled, but he didn't retreat. Instead, he swung wildly with his other arm.
Nate barely had time to react. The fist connected with his face, sending him sprawling across the floor. His vision swam, and the world spun.
'Is this it?' Nate thought as darkness crept in. 'After everything, am I going to die here?'
'No!' Nate's thoughts screamed as he fought against the encroaching darkness. 'I won't accept this! I'm not done yet!'
His body ached and his chest felt like it was on fire, but he forced himself to move. Slowly, shakily, he pushed himself to his knees and then to his feet. His vision was blurry, and his limbs trembled, but he stood tall, his fists raised.
"I'm not done," Nate said, his voice hoarse but steady.
Crusher stopped in his tracks, staring at Nate with an unreadable expression. Then, he threw his head back and laughed—a loud, booming sound that echoed through the chaotic mall.
"Hahaha! You've got spirit, boy!" Crusher said, his grin widening. "Tell you what, why don't you join us? I can always use more men like you on my team!"
Nate spat blood onto the floor, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Sorry, I'll have to pass."
Crusher's grin faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "Pity. Oh well, can't say I didn't offer." He rolled his shoulders and raised his fists. "Let's finish this."
Crusher lunged again, his movements quick despite his bulk. Nate barely had time to react, but he refused to back down. He stepped into Crusher's attack, dodging just enough for the punch to graze his side. With all the strength he could muster, Nate threw a punch of his own. It wasn't flashy or skillful, just a straightforward jab aimed at Crusher's stomach.
The blow landed, and for the first time, Crusher staggered back.
Nate pressed the advantage, ignoring the pain screaming through his body. He threw another jab, then a hook, following with another jab. Crusher stumbled with each hit, but the grin never left his face.
'Keep pushing. Don't give him a chance to recover,' Nate told himself.
Another jab. Another hook. His movements became slower, his punches weaker, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
Crusher finally regained his footing and swung his arm, catching Nate in the ribs. The force of the blow sent him flying back again, crashing into a nearby bench. Nate groaned, coughing up more blood as he tried to get up, but his body refused to cooperate.
Crusher approached him, shaking his head. "You fought well, kid. Better than most. But this is where it ends."
Nate's vision blurred again, the edges of his sight darkening. 'Is this it? Is this as far as I go?'
Despite his best efforts to get back up, his strength ran out. His body reached its limit.
'I don't want to die. I...'
His eyes closed and darkness took him.
-=====#####======-
"NO!" Amy shouted as the gangster's fist connected with the young man's face.
She had been watching the entire fight, holding her sister tightly. The boy who had come to their rescue was strong—there was no denying that—but he was no match for the vice leader of the Chorus Gang. If he lost, her sister and this brave stranger would both die.
'If only I could do something! Why?! Why am I so useless?!'
'Please! Someone, help!' Amy thought desperately as the massive man advanced toward the downed teen. She started to turn away, unable to bear the sight, but froze when she saw the boy suddenly rise to his feet.
"What?" she whispered, eyes wide. How is he still conscious?
The young man was swaying, unsteady on his feet. Despite his injuries and exhaustion, he forced himself upright and rejoined the fight.
Amy watched in awe as dodged Crusher's attack then countered with relentless determination. He was a whirlwind of fury and resolve, his blows landing with staggering force. Step by step, he pushed the massive man back, giving him no time to retaliate.
It felt like something out of a movie—a hopeless underdog refusing to give in, defying all odds. For a fleeting moment, hope blossomed in Amy's chest. 'Maybe... just maybe, he can win.'
And then it happened.
The boy slipped up and Crusher's arm crashed into his chest.
'No, no, no!' Tears blurred her vision. 'This can't be it! He can't lose now! Please, get up! If you don't, Vicky will... and I-I...!'
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
SOMEONE! HELP ME! PLEASE! Amy's mind screamed. She didn't want to see them hurt. She didn't want her sister to die. She didn't want to—
She didn't know what happened next.
It was like something inside her snapped. For an instant, a vision of a crystalline entity floating in the void flashed in her mind—only to vanish and be forgotten as quickly as it came. Suddenly, she understood Vicky's body in perfect, intricate detail: the way her muscles moved, how her cells worked, the precise flow of her blood. Amy saw her sister's wounds as if they were diagrams in her mind and instinctively knew how to heal them.
Her thoughts were clear and calm, like time itself had slowed. It was as if she were a spectator in her own body. She watched as Glory Girl's wounds mended, new tissue forming from biomass drawn from... somewhere. Victoria's strength returned as her metabolism surged.
"Vicky!" Amy cried out as her sister's wounds disappeared.
"What—?" Victoria stared at her in disbelief.
"I-I..." Amy began, but the sight of Crusher looming over the injured boy cut her off.
"We'll talk later. There's something I need to handle first," Victoria said, standing tall as though she hadn't just been on the verge of death.
Amy could only watch as her sister stepped forward, unshaken.
"Hey, you!" Vicky called out, her hands clenched into fists. "You made my sister cry! Get ready for the beatdown of your life!"
Crusher didn't even have a chance to respond before what could only be described as a golden missile slammed into him. The impact sent him flying, crashing through a wall with a thunderous bang.
I have to save him, Amy thought, her eyes darting back to the fallen boy. She rushed to his side, driven by an inexplicable need to act. Grabbing his arm, she focused, hoping to heal him as she had done for Vicky.
But something stopped her.
'What... what is this?' His body wasn't injured. It was in perfect condition. No, it's better than perfect. His physique was unreal, as if someone had taken the pinnacle of human anatomy and made it a reality. His muscles were a flawless balance of lean and compact, his skin smooth and unblemished, and his bones dense but perfectly suited for peak mobility.
She lost count of time as she checked... everything she could about his body.
'This isn't natural. It's not possible... he—'
"Ahem." A voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Amy looked up to see Vicky standing nearby, hands on her hips, smirking.
"Looks like someone's got a new crush," Vicky teased. "I don't blame you, though. He was like a knight in shining armor, swooping in to save the damsel in distress. If I wasn't dating Dean, I'd be all over him."
"N-no, that's not it!" Amy stammered, her cheeks flushing. "I was just trying to heal him. Nothing more."
"Sure you were."
"I was!" Amy protested. But in the back of her mind, a small voice disagreed. It whispered about how wonderful it would feel to touch his muscles, to be enveloped in his arms, to—
'No! Stop it! This isn't the time or place for this!' she berated herself, shaking the thoughts away.
The sound of sirens approaching broke the moment, pulling them both back to reality.
-=====#####======-
Unknown, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Nate slowly opened his eyes to see a white ceiling above him. He groaned as he sat up, expecting his body to ache after remembering what had happened at the mall. To his surprise, he felt fine. Better than fine, even—it was as if he had just woken up from the best sleep of his life.
'What the hell?' he thought, trying to recall the events. His fight with Crusher was a blur, but he clearly remembered standing up after the man landed what should have been the final blow. Everything after that was a chaotic swirl of colors.
'What happened?' He stared at the ceiling, frowning. 'This doesn't feel like a hospital.'
"Oh, you're awake."
Nate turned toward the voice and froze. The speaker looked exactly as she had yesterday, yet something about her made his heart race. He didn't remember feeling this way when he saw her before.
'Was I mastered?' The thought made him uneasy. 'No, that doesn't make sense... unless she awakened a different power somehow and has a complete personality change.'
"Yeah, uh..." He coughed awkwardly. "You're looking good today."
'Fuck! That's not what I meant to say!' Nate cursed himself internally.
She blinked at him, then looked away, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "T-thanks," she murmured, staring at her lap.
'At least I didn't scare her off.' Nate sighed in relief, grateful for the small mercy.
"I-uh..." Amy bit her lip nervously. "I just wanted to thank you. For stepping up to help us like that. If it weren't for you, Vicky and I would've..."
Nate chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I didn't do much. Just got my ass handed to me."
He was thankful for his foresight to train over the years. He'd always figured he might end up in the cape life eventually, so he'd taken steps to prepare. Too many unknown capes ended up disabled or dead because they didn't know what they were doing when their powers manifested.
"N-no, you did help," Amy insisted. "It's because of you I had time to heal Vicky."
'So she did awaken her usual power. Thank god. Looks like I haven't been mastered,' Nate thought, relieved.
"Oh, then did you heal me too? Thanks for that." He scratched his head awkwardly.
"You... don't know?" Amy tilted her head, confused. "You were already fully healed when I got to you. I thought you stepped up because you were a cape."
"I... have powers?" Nate asked, bewildered.
"Yeah. You've got a Corona Pollentia, and it's active. Similar to Vicky's," Amy explained. "I've seen a few people with inactive ones since I got my power, so I'm sure yours is active."
'That doesn't make sense. If I had powers, there's no way I wouldn't know. Unless...'
"I see. I must've Triggered at the end of the fight," Nate said, trying to sound confident despite his uncertainty. "I passed out and don't remember much after that."
"Triggered?" Amy frowned. "But you—"
"You mean you jumped into a fight with Crusher without powers?!" Amy suddenly shouted, making Nate flinch. She stood, glaring at him. "What were you thinking?! You could've died! Why didn't you call for help instead?"
Nate winced. 'Hindsight is 20/20.'
"I don't know. I just couldn't stand by and watch you and Glory Girl get hurt," he admitted. "I know it was stupid."
Amy looked away, shoulders slumping. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout." She sat back down, looking defeated. "It's just... I was worried."
"I... It's okay," Nate said gently.
They sat in silence for a moment before he cleared his throat. "Right, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Nathaniel Ryder, but you can call me Nate." He offered his hand.
"Amy Dallon," she replied, shaking his hand. "You can call me Amy." She gave him a small smile that made his heart skip a beat.
"It's nice to meet you, Amy," Nate said with a grin.
Their hands lingered as they stared at each other. For a moment, neither of them spoke, caught in the moment.
"Ahem."
They both flinched, realizing they were still holding hands. Turning, they saw Vicky smirking at them.
"I heard yelling, so I came to check what was going on," Vicky said, clearly enjoying their embarrassment.
Amy jumped to her feet, rubbing her hands on her pants. "We were just, uh, talking."
"It sure looked like it," Vicky teased.
Nate stood up quickly. "I, uh, think I should get going." He stopped. "Oh right, where are we, and how long was I out?"
"This is the Dallon house," Vicky explained. "You were only out for a few hours. Since you weren't hurt and we didn't know where you lived, we brought you here."
"Thanks," Nate said, turning to Amy. "It was nice talking to you."
"Y-yeah, same here," Amy stammered, blushing.
As Nate headed for the door, he paused. "Oh, Amy, do you... maybe want to grab coffee or dinner sometime? My treat."
Amy turned bright red, stumbling over her words. "W-what?! I-I don't—"
Before she could finish, Vicky cut in, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What she means is she'd love to. How does Friday sound?"
Amy froze like a deer in headlights but quickly recovered. "Vicky! I never said—"
"That'd be great but shouldn't-" Nate tried to let Amy speak for herself but Vicky interrupted him too.
"Great!" Vicky interrupted Nate before he could protest. "See you Friday, loverboy. Be here by 4." She winked and shoved him out the door, shutting it behind him.
-=====#####======-
For most of the day, Nate found himself in a daze. His heart raced, and his mind was a mess, but he couldn't stop smiling. He didn't know what had come over him. He had only just met her, so there was no reason for him to act this way. Then why did it feel like his heart was about to leap out of his chest whenever he thought about her?
'Is this a crush?' he wondered. 'But it feels different from any crush I've had before. It's like I've been in a dream all day.'
Before he realized it, Nate was already home. It was only then that he remembered, he had powers now.
'Right. I should figure that out before anything else,' he thought, taking off his jacket and shirt. 'Amy said I was fully healed, and she didn't even ask about my scars or limp.'
He examined his body carefully. There were no injuries or scars. In fact, his body looked incredible—better than it ever had before. He had always been toned, but now he looked as though he had been sculpted by a Greek god. His abs were perfectly chiseled, the muscles on his arms and shoulders more defined, and his skin was smooth and taut. When he flexed, the veins in his arms and chest became visible. Even his limp was gone.
'Amy denied that she healed me. That means this was all done by my own power,' he realized.
Heading to the kitchen, he grabbed a knife. He has an idea of what his power could be, a hunch that appeared ever since he learned that he has power.
With careful precision, he pricked his finger, just enough to draw blood. He expected some pain, but there was barely a sting. When he wiped away the blood, there was no cut, no trace of injury at all.
He decided to try again. This time, he ran the knife across his palm, leaving a deep cut. Pain flared briefly, but it vanished almost immediately after the blade moved away. Blood welled up, but when he wiped it away, the wound had already healed.
'A healing factor,' Nate thought, flexing his hand. 'One that's just as good, if not better, than comic book Wolverine's.'
Wolverine's healing factor was visible in real-time, but Nate's worked so fast he couldn't even see the process. Based on the feeling of pain or lack thereof, his hand healed the instant the knife cleared the wound. He had a feeling that he could regrow limbs too, though he wasn't eager to test that theory.
Nate frowned. 'But why do I feel like there's more to it than just regeneration?'
He closed his eyes and focused. His perception shifted. Suddenly, he could feel everything about his body. His heartbeat, blood coursing through his veins, chemicals flowing in his brain, and the tension in every muscle. He understood every detail about himself, inside and out.
More than that, he felt as though he could control it. Every aspect of his body, from his hair to his cells, was his to command. He opened his eyes and looked down at his hand, willing it to change.
First, his fingers elongated. Then, his nails hardened into sharp points. Finally, his skin turned gray and rock-like.
"Whoa," he whispered, staring in awe.
He willed his hand back to normal, and it shifted seamlessly.
His power wasn't just regeneration, it was on biological manipulation, except limited to only himself. He could change his body and its structure at will. The only apparent limits were his imagination and control. He could see every detail of his body and alter it in an instant, then return to his original form just as easily.
'Super regeneration and shapeshifting? Looks like I hit the jackpot!' Nate thought, grinning. It might not be the strongest power out there, but it was formidable in its own right when used correctly.
He spent the rest of the night and well into the morning testing the limits of his shapeshifting. He discovered that he was restricted to "human" forms but there was still a lot he could do. He could elongate his limbs, change his skin or hair color, thicken his skin for extra durability, and even make himself appear older or younger. However, he couldn't do things like transform his hand into a crab's claw or sprout wings.
By the time he was satisfied, his phone beeped, notifying him that it was already 7 a.m.
'Damn. Back to school, I guess.'
-=====#####======-
Winslow High, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Monday, May 24, 2010
Nate stepped out of his car and walked toward the entrance of Winslow High. He didn't think it was possible, but he felt even better than he had the previous night. Despite spending all night testing his powers, he felt no fatigue or hunger. If his theory about his regeneration was correct, it meant he no longer needed to eat or sleep, not that he planned to give those up entirely.
As he entered the school building, he noticed someone waiting for him.
"Morning, Taylor," he said, approaching her.
"Hey, Nate. Huh, did you get a haircut or something? You look a little different today," Taylor said, raising an eyebrow.
"Something like that," he replied with a grin.
The Taylor in front of him bore little resemblance to how she had been described at the start of Worm. She was still tall with long, curly hair, but gone were the thin frame, drab, baggy clothes, and downcast demeanor. Instead, she wore a plain T-shirt and skinny jeans that accentuated her curves. Her eyes were bright and alert, and her expression confident—not the nervous, scared look one would have expected from her before she gained her power.
'It's amazing what having a friend can do,' Nate thought.
He had moved to Brockton Bay earlier that year due to... complications at home involving his sister. He also hoped that the city's infamous "Brockton-ness" might push him to trigger. When he arrived, he had planned to transfer to Arcadia High, but since it was mid-school year, they weren't accepting new students. That left him with Winslow by default, as Immaculata High and Clarendon High were too far from where he lived.
On his first day at Winslow, he saw the trio harassing Taylor. Students and teachers walked by, ignoring the scene, and it infuriated him. He decided to step in. His help wasn't appreciated, by either side. The trio was annoyed he was interfering with their "fun" and Taylor was initially suspicious, already distrustful of everyone around her.
Still, Nate persisted. Once Taylor realized he wasn't sent by the trio to mess with her, or some equally ridiculous scheme, they became fast friends. Becoming friends wasn't even his goal, he just hated bullies with a passion.
Stopping the trio a few times didn't end the bullying entirely. They tried to intimidate him, warning him to leave Taylor alone. When that failed, they sent some jocks after him. That plan backfired spectacularly with the jocks getting their asses beat black and blue.
When it became clear Nate wasn't someone they could threaten or manipulate, especially since he was new and had no ties to exploit, the trio focused their efforts on bullying Taylor when he wasn't around.
When Nate found out, he was tempted to confront them physically, but cooler heads, and Taylor's insistence, prevailed. Instead, he hatched a different plan. He started taking pictures and videos of the trio—mostly Sophia—harassing others, ordering students around, and teachers blatantly ignoring their actions. Then, he anonymously posted the evidence online as a "concerned citizen," suggesting the trio's actions might indicate a Master using their powers to manipulate the school.
His angle was simple but effective: how could a random black girl openly boss people around and bully others in a school full of Empire 88 and ABB wannabes without any retaliation or disciplinary action? The implication of Master interference made the story go viral, with tens of thousands of views before the posts were taken down.
He received a stern warning not to pull a stunt like that again, as it could expose Capes' identities and put him in danger. He didn't mind, though. The fallout had the desired effect: Sophia, aka Shadow Stalker, was pulled from school for over a week, had her PRT handler replaced, and drastically dialed back her bullying upon returning. She didn't stop being a bitch, but with the PRT keeping a closer eye on her, her "reign of terror" was effectively over.
To his surprise, the posts caused a ripple effect: a few teachers were fired, and Principal Blackwell was replaced. Nate hadn't anticipated these consequences, but he considered them a bonus. If he was entirely honest, he half expected the ploy to do nothing with this being Earth Bet and all, or worse, somehow implicate him badly. Thankfully it didn't and worked out for the better.
Since then, the school has slowly but surely become a better environment for students. Taylor, too, had grown more confident. Under his encouragement, she adopted a healthier lifestyle, started hitting the gym with him, and even joined some of his self-defense classes.
This change meant Taylor might never trigger, but that didn't worry Nate. It wasn't as if Taylor's powers were the only solution to defeating Scion. Sure, she made his defeat easier, but the world wasn't doomed without her.
"So, anything exciting happened on your end this weekend?" Nate asked.
"No, nothing much," Taylor shrugged. "How about you?"
"I was at the mall during the attack yesterday. Did you know Glory Girl and her sister were there too? Her sister triggered, so now they're a full family of capes," Nate explained.
"You were?! You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" Taylor suddenly grabbed his hands and started checking them for injuries.
"I'm fine. I'm not hurt at all. Though, if you still want to check me out, we could always do that in private," Nate teased with a grin.
Taylor rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on the shoulder.
"Idiot," she muttered, shaking her head. She had long grown used to his teasing.
"Are you really not going to college after this?" Taylor asked, changing the subject.
"Nah. I'm already the CEO of my own company and made enough money to set me up for life. I think I'll just focus on my hobbies and updating my games."
Despite it being the 2010s, the tech on Earth Bet was comparable to the mid-2020s of Nate's previous Earth thanks to Tinkertech. While almost all Tinkertech was black-boxed and inaccessible to the public, enough of it had trickled down to push mundane technology years ahead of schedule, and it was still improving.
On the flip side, the Endbringers had crippled the entertainment industry, especially in Japan. This nearly wiped out the anime and manga industry and significantly slowed the gaming industry. Nate had capitalized on these gaps using his "otherworldly knowledge" to introduce Earth Bet to the "wonders" of mobile apps and gacha games. Since none of the games he released were slated to exist on Earth Aleph until 2011 or later, no one could accuse him of stealing.
The success of his games made Nate wealthier than a random teenager had any right to be and allowed him to become legally emancipated at 17. This was why he had his own car and house despite not being out of high school.
"Damn, I'm jealous. Can't I just quit school and work for your company?" Taylor joked, though her tone was only half-serious.
"Do you even know how to code?" Nate raised an eyebrow.
"Nope, but I could be your secretary or something. Every CEO needs their very own sexy secretary, right?" Taylor said, striking a playful, exaggerated pose and giving him a wink.
Nate chuckled. "Maybe after you graduate. My company requires at least a high school diploma or a G.E.D."
"Aww," Taylor pouted.
The two spent the morning joking around and chatting until classes started. They had to go their separate ways since Nate was a year ahead of Taylor.
"Do you have any plans for later?" Taylor asked before they parted.
"Do you need something?" Nate asked.
"Not really. I just figured we could hang out or something if you're free. You're going to be busy next week with graduation and all."
"Not tonight, but I have tomorrow free. I heard about this new sushi place that just opened. Want to check it out?" he offered.
He still wanted to mess around with his power some more and read up on everything he forgot about this world. He knew he wouldn't remember much of anything by the time he was ready to become a cape so he wrote everything he knew down and buried it in his yard. When he moved to Brockton Bay, he dug it up, brought it with him, and hid it in the floorboard of his house.
Was it dangerous to have done such a thing? Yes. But young, dumb, and freshly isekai'd Nate thought the worst thing that could happen was it causing him to trigger and then he would gain the power to fight back. It was dumb and risky but at least it paid off considering he isn't locked up or dead.
Taylor nodded. "That sounds good."
"Alright. See you later."
During class time, Nate spent most of the day doodling possible costume designs in his notebook. His art skills were decent, good enough for designing characters and assets for his games. Initially, he considered shifting his skin into bone armor for protection, intimidation, and an easy way to hide his identity. However, the designs made him look too much like a Marquis wannabe. Considering his plans to date or at least befriend Amy, he figured it was better not to risk triggering her adoptive mom's trauma.
None of the designs he sketched felt right. They were either too plain or overly elaborate for his tastes. By the time school ended, Nate hadn't settled on anything he liked, so he decided to shelve the idea for now and move on.
-=====#####======-
Docks South, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
"So, this is the sushi place you were talking about?" Taylor asked as she glanced around the restaurant.
The place was small, with only one floor and a modest number of customers. The decor had a traditional Japanese aesthetic: potted plants, bamboo accents along the walls, and a long wooden counter serving as the reception area.
"Yep, this is it," Nate nodded.
They approached the receptionist, who was a young woman with short black hair, dark skin, glasses, and a professional smile.
"Hi, welcome to Sushi Zanmai. How may I help you?" she greeted warmly.
"I heard this place has a sushi train, so we were hoping to try that out," Nate said.
"Of course! Right this way," the receptionist replied, standing to lead them.
She guided them into a hallway with a ceiling that slanted upward. At the far end was a sectioned-off platform where two chefs were working behind a counter, preparing fish on large plates.
"This is what you were talking about, right?" Taylor asked as she sat down at one of the tables along the side.
"Yep, the sushi train. You'll love it."
A few other customers sat nearby, watching the sushi as it moved along the conveyor belt.
They waited as the chefs prepared plates of sushi and loaded them onto the conveyor. The plates moved past the diners, who could pick whichever ones caught their eye.
Nate and Taylor chatted as they ate, occasionally picking out new sushi they hadn't tried before.
"Ooh, I think I'll take this one," Taylor said, selecting a slice of salmon sushi.
"I've always wanted to try raw sushi too," Nate said, reaching for a salmon roll.
As soon as Nate swallowed the sushi, he froze. His mind was bombarded with a rush of information: genetic codes, molecular structures, chemical composition; everything there was to know about the piece of salmon he'd just eaten.
'This... it seems my power is more versatile than I thought,' Nate thought, staring at his chopsticks.
"Is something wrong? Did you not like it?" Taylor asked, noticing his pause.
"No, it's good," Nate replied quickly, masking his surprise. "I just… wasn't expecting the taste. It's my first time trying raw fish."
"Huh. Well, try not to choke on it, then," Taylor teased with a giggle.
"Haha, yeah," Nate laughed awkwardly.
He felt as though his power had unlocked something new, and he wanted to test it. Focusing on the surge of knowledge from the salmon, he concentrated on changing the skin of his hand. Slowly, his skin took on the gray, soft, and squishy texture of salmon skin.
'So, it's not just limited to humans. My power can learn from what I eat,' Nate realized, grinning as he turned his hand back to normal before anyone noticed.
While they continued eating, Nate discreetly hid his hand under the table. He had a feeling he could do more with his power after eating that piece of raw salmon. Recalling the flood of information he had received, he focused and willed his skin to mimic salmon skin.
As expected, his hand transformed—his skin turned gray and soft, with the squishy texture characteristic of salmon skin.
'Looks like my power has more potential uses than I thought,' Nate mused, a small smile tugging at his lips. Satisfied with his experiment, he quickly reverted his hand to normal before anyone could notice.
'Since this never happened when I ate before, does it mean I need raw or unprocessed food for it to work?' Nate wonders.
Eager to explore further, he focused on grabbing as much sushi with raw fish as possible. When he noticed that the menu included ikizukuri, a live fish dish that came in many varieties. He ordered as many as he could including an octopus one too.
"I'm glad I came here with you, Taylor," Nate said with a bright smile. If he hadn't, he might never have discovered this new aspect of his power.
"W-what?" Taylor coughed, her cheeks flushing red as she misinterpreted his words. "W-where did that come from?"
"Huh?" Nate tilted his head, confused.
"Don't go saying stuff like that out of nowhere!" Taylor exclaimed, smacking his shoulder lightly.
Nate replayed his words in his mind.
'Oh.' Taylor was used to his teasing, but she was still weak to sincere compliments.
"It's true, though," he said earnestly. "I'm glad we get to hang out like this."
Taylor blushed harder, turned away, and muttered something under her breath that Nate couldn't quite hear.
"Though, I do wonder…" Nate mused, his tone turning mischievous. "Does this count as a date?"
"W-what?!" Taylor's head whipped back to face him. "It's not—it's not a date! We're not—this isn't—" She stammered, flustered, before taking a deep breath to compose herself. Now that Nate was teasing her "normally" again, she found it easier to handle.
"It's just two friends going out for a meal," she said firmly, though she still avoided his gaze. "Don't go saying stuff like that."
"As you wish, my lady," Nate said with an exaggerated wink.
Taylor responded with a well-aimed kick to his shin.
Nate winced but chuckled rubbing his leg. "Worth it."
-=====#####======-
Downtown Coast, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Nate stood on the beach in the southeast area of Downtown, staring out at the sea. He contemplated how to accomplish his plan and still return in time for his date. He wanted to "take a swim" and absorb as much biological information as he could but the more interesting fish and aquatic life are probably too far for him to reach within a few hours.
As he watched the waves roll in and out, the tide receded, exposing part of the seabed. His eyes landed on a starfish.
To be exact, he remembered watching a documentary about starfish—how they lack a brain but possess a complex nervous system, with bundles of nerves in each "arm" functioning like miniature brains. Inspiration struck. Nate grabbed the starfish and let his hand morph into the underside of an octopus, complete with a mouth. It swallowed the starfish for him, sparing him the unpleasant taste.
Just like before, knowledge of its biology flooded his mind, along with the ability to mimic its traits.
'Let's see if this works.'
Using the starfish's traits, he created a bundle of nerves in his arm. With precise control, he transformed those nerves into a fully functional brain, an exact replica of his own. His arm swelled to nearly double its size to accommodate the new organ, but since the change was temporary, he didn't mind.
"Whoa, this is trippy," he muttered.
Now equipped with two brains, Nate marveled at how seamlessly they worked together. Each operated independently, allowing him to think about two completely different topics simultaneously without losing track. Yet at the same time, both lines of thought felt as if they were one.
'I wonder if this is what Parallel Thought I read so much about in fiction feels like,' he mused.
He didn't dwell on it for long. After confirming that the second brain also contained a copy of his Corona Pollentia, he shaped his swollen arm into another head. Then, with a wince, he severed it.
The pain was sharp but manageable—less intense than he'd anticipated. His arm regenerated almost instantly. Meanwhile, the severed head began to change. For a moment, his Shard seemed to hesitate, as though processing the situation. Then, piece by piece, the disembodied head transformed: bones, organs, blood vessels, muscles, and finally skin regenerated, forming a full body.
Before him now stood an exact replica of himself, albeit without clothes.
"Trippy..." both bodies said in unison.
He could see, feel, and sense everything from the duplicate body as if it were still part of his own. It was like having one mind in two bodies. At the same time, each body could function independently thanks to its own brain.
"Unexpected..." his original body said.
"...but not unwanted," his second body finished.
Fascinated but pragmatic, Nate decided not to overthink the logistics, chalking it up to Shard nonsense.
"You know what to do," his original body said. He didn't need to voice the command since they shared one mind but he felt like doing so anyway.
"Of course. See you in... however long this takes," the second body replied. It walked toward the water, morphing into an octopus before slipping into the sea.
Nate watched the duplicate swim away.
'Now I feel both wet and dry at the same time,' he thought, trying to process the bizarre sensation. 'It's going to take some getting used to.'
-=====#####======-
Nate's House, Brockton Bay, NH, USA
Thursday, May 27, 2010
In just two days, Nate's second body had managed to absorb the biological information of countless sea creatures. It was a lot more than he expected. The influx of knowledge was so overwhelming that he had to create three additional brains to process it all.
One brain was relocated to his stomach after he reorganized his internal structure, shrinking or removing "unnecessary" organs. Another was housed in his arms, with the left hemisphere in his left arm and the right hemisphere in his right arm. The last one was distributed between his legs, following a similar split as the arms.
This restructuring did result in a slight decrease in physical strength, as he had to reduce muscle mass to make space for reinforced bones that served as protective casings for the new brains. However, Nate mitigated this loss by compacting his muscles, making them denser and more powerful.
To support the increased workload of having four brains, he also added more hearts and enhanced the capacity of his lungs. He now had three hearts in addition to four brains, two in each side of his chest and one near his stomach area below the central brain—and optimized lungs to handle the higher oxygen demand.
Once he adapted to the influx of information and found himself running low of unique sea creatures to consume, his second body created a third. The third body acted as bait, attracting a seagull that swooped down to attack. The bird was promptly captured, consumed, and mimicked, enabling Nate to begin hunting avian creatures.
It was during this transition from only fist to bird too that he discovered he had somehow reached Brazi after a day of non-stop swimming. With this realization, he sent his third body toward the Amazon Rainforest.
As for how he traveled such a vast distance so quickly, it was a result of combining traits from various sea creatures. Chief among them were the swordfish for speed and the hagfish, after he found out it could absorb nutrients through its skin provided a breakthrough. By mimicking the hagfish's unique adaptation, Nate discovered he could envelop a target and "absorb" it, gaining its biological information without the need to eat it conventionally. This drastically reduced the time required to assimilate new traits.
Back at his home, Nate was experimenting with different combinations of abilities to use in combat when a knock at the door interrupted him.
"One moment!" Nate called out, taking a second to revert his body to its "normal" appearance.
When he opened the door, he was greeted by a familiar face. Standing there was a young woman with bright blue eyes, short teal hair accented by two red streaks at the front, and fair skin. She wore a light blue sundress layered with a pink vest and had a backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Iris? Woah—"
"NATE!"
Before he could react, Iris flung her backpack past him and leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist. Instinctively, he held her up with his arms under her butt.
"Iris? How-" Nate started, only to be cut off as she pressed her lips to his in a kiss.
Stunned, he froze for a moment before responding. Their lips met, and soon her tongue traced his lips, coaxing him to open his mouth. He did, their tongues intertwining in a sensual dance. She nipped lightly at his lower lip before pulling away. She stared at him with tears of happiness in her eyes.
"I missed you," she said with a radiant smile that instantly reminded him of their childhood.
"I… missed you too," Nate managed, still overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events.
Looking past her, surprised to see their father standing in the distance, suitcase in hand. His expression wasn't angry, as Nate had expected, but a mix of sadness, disappointment, and resignation.
"Ah… hi, Dad," Nate said, clearing his throat. "Why don't you two come in?"
Iris slid off his waist, giving him a cheeky wink before sauntering into the house. Their father followed, casting Nate a final, heavy glance before stepping inside. Nate closed the door, a storm of emotions swirling in his mind. The last time he'd seen his parents, things had ended badly. His father had told him they never wanted to see him again, a memory that would have hurt deeply if not for the perspective his first life provided.
The three of them sat in awkward silence after Nate served them water. Iris, however, seemed entirely at ease, swinging her legs back and forth in her chair with a wide grin, looking as carefree as a child.
"So, uh... what brings you two to my humble abode?" Nate asked, deciding to cut straight to the point.
"Iris insisted we visit you," his father replied, his tone neutral but his expression guarded.
Nate raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is that so?"
He found it hard to believe. Given how things had ended between him and his parents, he assumed the last thing they'd want was for him and Iris to meet again.
His relationship with his family was complicated, to say the least. For starters, he'd never met his birth mother in this world; she had died during childbirth. It wasn't until he was three years old that his past-life memories returned, giving him a new perspective on his circumstances.
At that time, his father had been struggling to keep his life together and couldn't handle raising a child alone. Faced with limited options, he had put Nate up for adoption where an old couple with no children of their own took Nate in and raised him lovingly for two years.
When Nate was five, his father reentered the picture. By then, his father had managed to get his life on track. He had secured a well-paying job and met a new partner. His new wife, upon learning about Nate, insisted they try to bring him back into the family. The older couple who had adopted Nate were understanding and supported the idea, but the legal process was long and arduous. It took nearly a year before Nate was officially "readopted" by his father and stepmother.
That was when he met Iris, his younger "adopted" half-sister, who was almost two years his junior. Nate had never had siblings in his previous life, so he was quite excited to be a big brother. He spoiled Iris whenever he could, played with her tirelessly, and taught her everything he knew. Their bond grew quickly, becoming stronger than any relationship Nate had experienced—even in his past life.
But everything changed when puberty hit.
It was worse than the first time. Nate found himself in a whirlwind of hormones, often unreasonably aroused, and to his growing shame, he started having inappropriate thoughts about Iris. Horrified by his own feelings, he resolved to put distance between them, hoping it would help.
It didn't.
The more Nate pulled away, the clingier Iris became. She didn't understand why her big brother, who had always been her closest confidant, was suddenly avoiding her. This strained dynamic continued for months until Iris finally reached her breaking point and confronted him.
Seeing no other way, Nate confessed his attraction toward her as more than a sister, hoping she would be disgusted and push him away. Instead, Iris responded by kissing him. She told him that she didn't know if she felt the same but she didn't mind it and would gladly explore it if it meant not losing him. Things went back to normal at first but there was a noticeable shift in their dynamics.
It started with them being more carefree around each other, holding hands more often, sneaking in a kiss on the cheek or forehead, and being a little touchy in general. Then as the days passed, their touches grew more frequent, their kisses more daring, and soon they found themselves in an impromptu make-out session in the living room as their hands wandered under their clothing.
Things only escalated from there until they found themselves in bed, naked and joined. Once the dam broke, neither of them were able to stop. They would sneak into the other's room during the night, find abandoned places during the day, and eventually, they just started doing it wherever and whenever they thought they could get away with it.
For a while, it was good between them. They shared everything they could with each other, took every chance they could get to be intimate with each other, and did their best to hide their nightly activities from their parents.
Everything was great, until near the end of last year. Their parents announced they were going on a trip and left Nate and Iris in charge of the house.
With the house to themselves, they took full advantage of the situation. Unfortunately, while they were lost in their passion, their parents unexpectedly returned home to retrieve a forgotten suitcase.
Nate and Iris were caught with their pants down, literally in this case, with Iris bent over the table when their parents walked in.
It led to a lot of yelling, arguments, and Nate taking all the blame on himself before leaving the house. He managed to get emancipated and was subsequently disowned, eventually moving to Brockton Bay. Given how things had unfolded, he thought that would be the last he'd ever see of Iris. He never expected her to show up at his doorstep, with their dad in tow.
His father sighed.
"A lot has happened since you left," he began, choosing his words carefully. "Iris… she triggered shortly after you left-"
Nate's eyes went wide. "What? What happened?! Is she alright?"
Iris gave him a warm smile. "I'm fine, see? I even got a power!" she said cheerfully.
"You leaving is what happened." His father's tone was flat. "After you left, Iris… she had a panic attack and went into hysterics. She triggered shortly after and disappeared. She was missing for over a day before the authorities finally tracked her down at the old treehouse you two used to play in when you were little. She wouldn't speak, barely ate or drank, and refused to even look at us for days. It wasn't until we promised her she could see you again that she calmed down enough to talk."
Nate was speechless. He didn't know what to say.
"I..." He started to speak, but his throat felt dry, and the words wouldn't come.
His father sighed again. "Your mother and I talked it over. We've accepted- no, we've agreed to ignore whatever happened between the two of you," he said, giving Nate a pointed look. "She'll stay with you over the summer and return home when school starts to finish her education. Whatever happens between you two… whether you move on or… not… it doesn't concern us."
Nate swallowed hard. "I... I'm sorry," he finally said. It felt inadequate, but it was all he could manage.
"Like I said, it doesn't concern us. That doesn't mean I won't be mad if you hurt Iris or if she ends up pregnant before completing high school. I expect you to treat her well and protect her." His father's tone was firm but emotionless.
"I-I will. I promise," Nate nodded earnestly.
"Good."
His father stared at him for a few moments before rising to his feet.
"I should get going. Lily is waiting for me at home." He started toward the door.
"I—alright." There wasn't much else Nate could say or do.
"Bye, Dad! Be safe!" Iris called out.
For the first time since he'd arrived, his father smiled, if only briefly. "Take care of yourself, Iris. I'll see you when the summer ends."
With that, he left, and Nate was left alone with Iris.
"Soooo…" Iris broke the long, awkward silence. She grinned mischievously. "We've got a lot of time to make up for~."
Nate pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling utterly drained. Even his second and third bodies had paused their hunting as he tried to process everything that had just happened.
"Iris, I really don't think this is the time for that," Nate said with a weary sigh.
"But-"
"Iris." His tone softened but stayed firm. "Let's sit down and talk about this."
Iris pouted but relented. Once their father was gone, however, she didn't stay in her seat. Instead, she moved to sit on his lap.
"I guess we do have a lot to catch up on!" she said, lying down with her head resting on his lap while her legs swung back and forth playfully.
"Yes, we do," Nate admitted, his voice calmer now. "Dad said you triggered?"
"Yeah... I thought I'd never see you again." Her expression fell briefly into sadness, but she perked up almost immediately. "But that doesn't matter anymore! I get to see you now!"
"I suppose…" Nate exhaled silently, relieved that her trigger didn't seem to have left her with any severe trauma. He didn't know what he would do if it had.
"So, you have powers now?" he asked, steering the conversation.
"Yep!" she chirped. "I can teleport anywhere I've been before. Now that I've found you, no one can ever keep us apart again! I missed you, you know?"
Nate smiled despite himself and hugged her close. "I missed you too, sis," he whispered into her hair.
"I know. I can feel your love~," she replied, wiggling her hips playfully against him.
Despite not wanting to since he was still trying to process what happened, he felt his cock stirring and getting hard.
He cleared his throat, "Why don't you tell me how you've been doing? What's new? Have you been doing okay?"
"Umm... nothing much happened since you left. I've been doing fine but lonely. I guess you can say I've been homesick too," She said, looking up at him.
Nate raised an eyebrow, "Weren't you home all this time?"
"Nope," She turned around, straddling his hips and hugging him, "My home is right here. It doesn't feel right unless I'm with you."
Nate hugged her back and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you."
"It's okay. I understand why you did what you did. You're here now and that's what matters. Now... how about we catch up properly?" She moved her hand down to his crotch and started stroking his hard-on.
"Is that all you think about?" Nate couldn't help but ask.
"It is when you are involved," She said then kissed him before he could protest.
As they were making out, she shifted her hand from his cock to the button of his pants, fumbling with it until she got it undone. She slid her hand under the waistband of his boxers and gripped his shaft.
Nate gathered enough sense to stop her before she could do anything more.
"Wait a moment," Nate said as he caught her wrist, "We still need to talk first. I missed you too but it's been 10 months since we last saw each other and... well, I got a date tomorrow..."
Iris still.
"A... date?" She asked, her voice sounded small.
"Yeah," Nate nodded, "Amy, she... she's nice, not the most social kind of girl but I really like her and I know she feels the same too."
He reviewed his notes on this world and discovered the reason he had been so enamored with Amy when he woke up after the fight at the mall. He and Amy triggered at the same time, forming a cluster trigger with just the two of them. When a cluster trigger occurs, something called a "Kill/Kiss dynamic" can develop among the members of the group. There is a 50% chance of at least one attempted murder in a cluster and a 25% chance of at least one person forming a romantic partnership. He and Amy weren't lucky enough to escape the Kiss/Kill dynamic, but they were fortunate that it was the "Kiss" aspect of it rather than the "Kill."
"Oh... I see." Her voice sounded small. "So you have a date... and... you don't need me anymore."
"What? No! No matter what, I will never abandon you if I can help it." Nate said, cupping her cheek in his hand.
Iris leaned into his hand, a few tears falling from her eyes.
"Really? You'll always be with me?" She sniffed, wiping her tears.
"I promise," He nodded, "No matter what happens, you will always have a place in my heart."
"I... okay. I trust you," She nodded before her smile returned.
"I'm glad. But still, we need to talk. About... a lot of things," Nate said.
"Later. For now~" Iris moved her hand back to his crotch and started stroking his hard-on. "We have time to make up for."
"Didn't we just establish that I got a date?" Nate asked. He wondered how she could change subjects so fast.
"A date, a girlfriend, a wife. It doesn't matter. I already knew I couldn't marry you publically and had long come to terms with it. So as long as they are not stealing you away, I'm willing to share~" She said as she moved off his lap, pulling his pants and boxers down with her.
Nate's cock sprung up as soon as it was released from his clothing prison.
"Seriously..." He sighed.
"I just want to be with you, nothing else matters." Iris kissed his shaft and balls before licking her way up to the head.
"Fine," Nate groaned, his cock throbbing in excitement. "I'm going to need to tell her about us at some point though, are you sure you can handle that?"
Thanks to the whole Kiss/Kill dynamic, he has a decent chance of making things work between them.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Iris licked her way up from his balls, all the way up to the tip of his cock, and back down again, "I love you. Nothing will change that. Besides, I think it would be fun to watch as you enslave another woman to this dick~"
"My dick can't enslave people," Nate deadpan.
"Could have fooled me. I don't think I can live without a daily dose of your cock anymore~" She grinned before swallowing his shaft.
"Well then, I guess I'll have to take responsibility and make sure you are satisfied," Nate said as he grabbed her head and pushed her down until her nose was pressed against his abdomen.
"Um-hmm," Iris hummed in acknowledgment, taking his shaft down her throat without any problem.
"Ah..." Nate tightened his grip on her head, keeping it in place as he started thrusting. "God, I missed this."
Her eyes looked up into his, the love and lust in them was apparent.
"Hmmm..." Iris hummed in acknowledgment as she continued sucking on his cock, hollowing her cheeks and licking the head whenever he pulled out. Her mouth and tongue danced around his cock, using every bit of knowledge she had to maximize the pleasure for him.
"Shit... I'm going to cum!" Nate groaned.
"Mmmph- mphhh-hmmmm!" Iris made noises of approval as Nate continued to use her mouth.
She used her free hand to caress and massage his balls, knowing it would be the best way to push him over the edge. She could feel the head twitching inside her throat and knew she was almost at her goal. Her free hand started stroking him as her mouth and tongue continued working to get him off.
Nate groaned as his entire body tensed up. He pushed his hips forward, burying his cock down Iris's throat as he came. His cum gushed into her throat and she eagerly swallowed it down, not allowing a single drop to escape. She moaned in satisfaction, swallowing every drop he had to offer, licking his cockhead to get the last few drops of semen. Once she was done, she kissed his shaft before standing up.
"Tasty~ Just like I remembered~" She licked her lips as she looked into his eyes. "Just so you know, I'm not wearing anything underneath this dress," She grinned as she spun around, causing the dress to lift and reveal her bare ass for a brief moment.
And just like that, Nate is back to full mast again.
"Iris," Nate stood up, picking her up, causing her to yelp.
"Ah-ah! Careful, it's been a while~" She grinned.
"No can do. A little tease like you deserve to be taught a lesson." Nate smirked as he threw her on the couch before pouncing on her.
"Kyaa~" Iris squealed as he pinned her down. "Oh no, whatever will I do~?"
"Let's start with shutting your mouth," Nate said as he pressed his lips to hers.
"Mmph! Mmmm!" She moaned into his mouth as their tongues wrestled.
Her hands moved down and started stroking his cock while he pulled up her dress, exposing her crotch. He moved a finger down her slit before pressing it inside. She was soaked, more so than he had ever seen before.
"You're soaked."
"I've waited months for this."
"Then let's do something about that, shall we?" Nate pressed his cock against her crotch, rubbing it against her wetness.
"Ngggghhhh~" She bit her lower lip.
"You don't need to wait anymore. Have it all!" Nate said as he slammed into her.
"Ahhh!" Iris screamed as her pussy swallowed his shaft to the base.
"So tight." Nate groaned. He took a moment to savor the feeling of her wet, velvety pussy gripping his cock. Like Iris, he hadn't been with anyone since he left either.
"Ah~ I think I just came a little." Iris giggled.
Nate grabbed her legs and held them together, keeping her from moving as he started thrusting. He pulled out to the tip before slamming back into her, setting a steady rhythm.
"Hnngggghhh~ I missed this, I missed this so much! Ohhh." She moaned as he started pounding into her.
"Me too. I never thought we'd be able to do this again," He groaned.
"Kiss me~" Iris wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him closer.
He let go of her legs and bent down. He pressed his lips against hers, their tongues intertwining as they made out. She moved her hips in tandem with his, moaning into his mouth. His hands sneaked under her dress and started playing with her breasts. He squeezed and massaged the soft orbs, making Iris moan louder.
Nate plays her body like a fiddle. He knew exactly what buttons to push and how to touch her in just the right way to bring her pleasure. He rolled her nipples between his fingers as his mouth explored her neck and chest. She would let out small yelps as he teased and pinched her nipples while his mouth explored her body, leaving a trail of love bites from her neck to her tits.
Iris could barely keep up as he slammed his cock into her with such force it made her ass jiggle with every impact. She was close to an orgasm but she held off, and she wanted him to cum too. She wanted to feel his hot seed shoot inside her.
"Ahh- Nate~" Iris moaned. "I want it so bad. I want you to cum inside me."
Just as Nate knew her body so well, Iris knew his just as well. She knew that it was the right thing to say and just how to say it to get him off. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing his cock deeper into her as she let out a high-pitched moan of pleasure.
"Cum inside your little sister! Fill me up!" She moaned as her pussy clenched around him.
"Fuck, Iris-" Nate growled.
He grabbed her hips and started slamming in and out of her at a break-neck pace. Her pussy tightened and pulsed around his shaft as if trying to coax his seed from him.
"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!" Iris moaned with every thrust, feeling his cock throb and pulse inside her.
"I'm gonna-" Nate groaned as he felt his balls clenching, preparing to empty his load.
"Yes! Yes! Yeeeees!" Iris moaned, her entire body shuddering. "Cum inside me, Nate! Fill your little sister's womb with your seed!"
Nate grunted as he buried himself balls deep into her, pushing her up the couch.
"Here it comes!" He growled.
His cock pulsed and released a gush of cum into her womb.
"NATEE!" She screamed as she came at the same time he did. Her body convulsed with every burst of cum that filled her up. She felt his hot seed poured into her womb, flooding her pussy. The warmth of it made her shudder in pleasure. She moaned and whimpered with each pulse of cum that was deposited into her.
"Ahhhhhh~ I feel so warm," Iris moaned.
Once he finished cumming, Nate flipped her over so she was on her hands and knees. He grabbed her ass and started thrusting again.
"Nate~" Iris moaned. She felt her pussy twitch with excitement and more juice squirt out around his cock.
"We have a lot of missed time to make up for. I'm going to fuck you until your legs give out and then some."
"Ooohhh~ Yes please!" She moaned.
With that, he resumed thrusting into her. His fingers dug into her ass cheeks and pulled them apart as he thrust his cock in and out of her. She gripped the couch as his cock rammed into her.
They didn't talk much after that. They hadn't been with each other for months. They were both desperate, wanting to rekindle their bond, to reconnect again, a primal need to be one with each other again.
They made love well into the night until one of them couldn't handle it anymore.
A/N: And thus ended the wincest... for now.
P.S. For those that haven't figured it out, Nate is basically the Alex Mercer/Muzan Kibutsuji of Worm, only lewder. He's not exactly your most mentally sound person but he won't go full on villain of the week on people... or maybe he will, who knows. :D