Spider-Man: Duty and Loss Chapter 13: Mutant Part 1

(3 Weeks later)

Peter took a quick break in his patrol as he retrieved his civilian clothes. He may go on patrol these days for around 18 hours, but he did occasionally take breaks to eat dinner. Dolling out the small amount of money that his photos provided, Peter bought a pizza and made his way to the abandoned warehouse.

He had been visiting quite a lot recently and there was only one reason, that girl. Peter still hadn't learnt her name yet, she didn't really talk much, and Peter didn't want to pry. After their first meeting 3 weeks ago, Peter had returned 3 days later to check up on venom. You could never be too carefully with these sorts of things, and Peter didn't want anything to go wrong.

What truly surprised him at the time was that the girl was still there when he got back. Not much had changed about her except it looked like she got a new black tank top from somewhere; Peter really didn't want to know.

He didn't want to judge her for trying to live, even if the only way people like them could get clothes like that was, either from dumpsters, or stealing them, maybe getting them from a charity organization. But she didn't strike him as a person to go to a charity organization for clothes. Peter really didn't want to know which one it was. After meeting again, they were still standoffish. But unlike before she didn't mind when he walked close to her.

Maybe it was because of the food he gave her, Peter honestly wasn't sure. But seeing that the girl was still inside the warehouse with an open roof, he had decided to give her some food. He didn't see any scraps around the place and had no clue what she did when she got hungry.

And now 3 weeks later, they had become a bit closer. As mentioned before they didn't talk much, but she had said some words like "Thank you." She said those words for the first time last week when Peter once again gave her some food. Peter didn't have to spend more money to give her food; instead Peter just started eating less.

If he was starting to get skinny before, it was getting much worse now, inside Peters mind, he just though 'She deserves it more' Now there was a lot wrong with that thought, but that conversation is for a different time. But because he had those thoughts he had started to meet regularly with the girl in the abandoned warehouse.

Peter moved fast making sure not to grab any unwanted attention as he made his way over to the place. Opening the door quickly he closed it behind him and spoke softly. "Hey it's just me." Peter found out it was better to tell her it was him, just so she didn't freak out or hide. One time he had arrived and didn't say a word, and he thought she was gone, until he turned to leave and nearly jumped to the ceiling. She was quiet as an assassin with her movements. She had been standing right behind him, with a cold look that could pierce his soul; it scared the crap out of him.

The most vexing thing for Peter at that time was that his spider sense didn't go off; he knew that they had become somewhat friends, but damn he still thought she would set it off! From that day on, he decided he would announce himself; he didn't want that to happen again.

Waiting for a few seconds Peter finally saw the girl appear from the other side of the warehouse. She seemed to meld with the shadows around her. 'Seriously did ninjas train this girl? Maybe a league of assassins?' Peter started to contemplate this as she made her way closer.

Peter showed a bright smile as he raised the box in his hands. "I hope you like Pizza" After saying that he started walking to their usual spot, but he stopped for a second as he looked at the girls face. He was shocked for a second, before he squinted his eyes; finally he shook his head and moved on. He could have sworn he saw her flash a small smile at his words. Which compared to her ice cold look would be a miracle, but he decided he must be seeing things.

Placing the box down and sitting on the cold floor they both started to dig in. Peter cracked a joke or two to try and start an atmosphere but as usual the girl said nothing. Peter didn't mind and continued to talk about his adventures or more like, the adventures of Spider-Man. Coming up with a lie that he saw all of this while searching for the perfect photo; he regaled her with stories of Spider-Man.

Too bad he couldn't tell if she was interested in the stories, because she always kept the same look on her face. Finished with another small story of beating up thugs, Peter turned to look at the sky and determined that it was close to 7pm. He didn't want to take longer than an hour break from his patrol.

Getting up and taking the cleaned out pizza box with him, he said his goodbye. "See you. I'll bring something tasty next time." With his back to her, he didn't get to see the small smile that bloomed on her face as he walked out the door.

Peter had just left the warehouse and was looking for somewhere to recycle the pizza box when a group of hooligans rounded the corner. Peter didn't really pay them any mind as he didn't see a reason to. That was until they surrounded him and one grabbed his shoulder.

"Wha?" Peter let out a stupefied sound as he looked at the people surrounding him. Each was around the same height as him, and wearing better clothes. He could just slightly make out the small knifes each of them carried.

But even in such a situation Peter wasn't the slightest bit worried. His spider sense, that told him of any danger, wasn't going off. After facing the likes of the Lizard, Venom, Green Goblin and a few other super powered villains, thugs really didn't make him worried.

He actually almost felt sorry for these guys. They just had to pick him of all people to mug. Where they mugging him? He couldn't really tell what they wanted, and he didn't have anything of value for them to take? Did they just want to hurt him? He really hoped they weren't that depraved.

"Haha. Hey there little fella. Want to hand over all your valuables." Peter let out a small sigh of relief as he heard the words. At least they weren't just here to hurt him. Peter raised his hands slowly and tilted his head in a dumbfounded manner. "But I have nothing. I mean look at me."

While Peter started to talk to those around him in almost mock amusement, back at the warehouse the girls ear twitched. *Sniff* Her nose twitched as well as she turned in the direction that Peter went. A small frown slowly started to appear on her face and after a few short seconds he figure blurred as it ran towards the door.

Chapter end