CHAPTER 402 FIELD TRIP

CHAPTER 402 FIELD TRIP

I landed on the school without anyone noticing. At least I assumed no one noticed. I never heard someone yelling about a bird or plane so I was probably safe. A door on the flat roof it was locked but with a simple tug it opened up for me. Heading into the stairwell there was a couple making out.

“Hey, get out of here,” I said, shooing them away. The boy and girl couldn’t run away fast enough. Shaking my head I followed after them. The stairwell had been propped open by a doorstopper so I kicked it out of the way as I walked into the school.

It was good to see that not every school in this world was the hipster equivalent of a safe space like Xavier’s. This school was where life happened. Lockers lining the walls with graffiti on them, the ceiling tile yellow from when kids could smoke there 50 years ago, the grout of the floor tile so caked with gunk they were black. It even smelled like every school should, lemon floor scrubber.

Extending my Spiritual Energy out I had no idea where I was going so I hoped to find people based off the signature of their Haki. I was at Midtown High School. Home to Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. I was fairly certain they weren’t the type to skip classes. Since they were both the nerdy nerd type it was best to assume they didn’t want absences on their permanent record.

Whistling as I walked through the halls I was caught off guard as I noticed someone familiar ahead. I had seen her just yesterday, but she looked better already. No longer crying her eyes out I waved at Jessica Jones as she did the same to me.

“What are you doing here?” We asked as one.

“I go to school here,” she said. “Did you need something from me?”

“Uh no, I needed to see a couple of kids that go here,” I said. “You alright?”

“Uh yeah.” She frowned, her Haki was still in turmoil. “Thought it was better to busy myself than wallow in self pity.” Pushing her hair behind her ear she blushed but looked around slowly.

“You want Tabi?” I asked. “Sorry, I needed her for something, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind-”

“No, classes and all,” she said. “Thanks. I’m not sure I said it before. But thanks for what you did.” Another student heading down the hall, she pointed her head over to another door. We walked into an empty classroom that looked like it was used for art.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I don’t think I asked. Um the guy...”

“Killgrave?” I asked. She nodded, her fear spiking at the mention of his name. “He shouldn’t be a problem again.”

“Did you um...”

“Drop him from really high up breaking his limbs, then gave him to a group of people that I’m pretty sure wanted him dead? Yes,” I said.

She paused for a moment. Smiling, she asked, “Really?”

“Yeah. That’s what I did. He won’t be walking anytime soon, if he ever does again.”

A tear leaked out the side of her eye. “Am I awful? For being glad he’s hurting?” She began to wipe more tears away. I didn’t know how to make it better. Grabbing her shoulders I slowly moved her to me. She stiffened for a moment then let the hug happen. Sobbing, her shoulders shook as she let some of the pain out. It continued on and the sobs turned into screaming into my chest. I held her head there, letting her do whatever she wanted as she tried to release some of the tension built up in her.

It wasn’t until the bell rang that she got out of it. Breathing in and letting out shuddering breaths I rubbed her back slowly. She sniffled, pulling away as she said, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll have a few more of those.”

“Anything bad like...being controlled ever happened to you?” She asked out of the blue.

I thought back. There was dying. That was annoying. Being stuck on Cthulhu world sucked but I learned to enjoy it. But there was one event that I felt could kind of compare. “I was raped once.”

“What?” She asked, unsure if she heard me right.

“Yeah, it was an older girl. I blocked it out mostly, but I came to and she was doing what she wanted. I doubt it can compare to what you went though. Kind of stuck with me for a while. Would hit me randomly. Picturing it. I would squash the memory and forget it happened,” I said. “I don’t know. Maybe it doesn’t compare.”

“No, I’m sure it was bad,” she said. Her Energy said she went through something similar.

“Do you want me to kill him for sure?” I couldn’t help but ask. I had once felt bad for killing so many villains in My Hero Academia. Being near someone that was hurt by them always made me remember why I did it though.

“I...”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, reinforcing with myself that I had to end his life if the Hellfire Club didn’t. “How much school did you miss?”

“Few weeks,” she said. “Senior year too.”

“Ouch, I’m 17 too.”

“You are?” She asked, surprised.

“Yeah, I went the GED route though,” I said. I didn’t have a diploma, but the test Jean gave was good enough for me.

“I’m kind of considering that. Really don’t want to have to make up tests,” she said with a frown.

“Why me?” She asked, chewing her nail as she began to pace. Her Haki was all over the place as she thought furiously.

“You’re beautiful,” I said. She stopped in her tracks. “Among other reasons. You’re smart, I bet the valedictorian of your class, right?”

“There abouts,” she admitted. “Neck and neck with-fuck, Peter. What did you do to him?”

“I didn’t do anything,” I said with a frown.

“Well he said you threatened to kill his Uncle,” Gwen said, flashing me an angry glare.

“I said god would-nevermind. I’ll talk to him next. So yes or no? You want in on my business or what?”

“Terms?” She asked.

“Well I would be providing the gadgets. Things that work as is. You would be reverse engineering them and learning how to manufacture them on a massive scale. I would be supplying funds...60,” I said pointing at me. “40.” I pointed at her.

“I want it written up,” she said. “Legal documents. Locking in those rates unless more people are brought in.”

“Done. I will be trying to bring another scientist in for a private endeavour, but they will not be a part of this company,” I said.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“We are partners, just keeping you up to date,” I said.

“We aren’t partners yet,” she said, but I could feel her Haki glow with pride. She was enjoying this more than I thought she would. “What’s the company called?”

“Walker Technical Resources,” I blurted. It had the same initials as Walker Texas Ranger.

“Fine. I want documents before I agree to anything,” she said.

“Okay, need startup funds?” I asked.

“No, I need to wrap up some Oscorp work stuff first. I assume you’re planning to pay me an annual salary,” she said. “So I can quit my internship.”

“Whatever you need. I don’t have all my money yet, but should in the next few months.”

“Awesome,” she said, clapping excitedly. “This is so cool.”

“You were very convincing that I was inconveniencing you.”

“Sorry, just...I don’t know. Thought you were joking,” she said, blushing as she moved her blonde hair behind her ear.

“I’m very serious. These suits could help a lot of people. There will be a big push for exoskeleton armour here in the next few years. This would give us a leg up on the market,” I said.

“How can you know that?” She asked.

“I’m very intuitive. You heard it from me first. An Iron Man will be appearing soon enough,” I said. But before she could ask more questions I remembered. “Hey, I’ve been digging into something lately and ran across someone’s name. Do you know a man named Connors?”

“Doctor Connors? Of course. He is my boss at Oscorp, why?” She asked.

“What does he work on there?” I asked. “Is he doing anything...weird?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Haven’t seen him in a few weeks. He supposedly went on sabbatical for his own research. That was why Peter was cleaning the spider room, because he hadn’t been back in a while.”

“Of course,” I said. “You got a phone number or address for him? I need to talk to him.”

“About what?” Gwen asked, squinting.

I frowned, considering what to say. “I told you why I was at Oscorp, right?”

“Yeah...you were exposed to chemicals. Your uh...parents...” She left it at that.

“That’s right. I’m not sure if he is involved, but I think he might be,” I said. “I would appreciate some help finding him.”

“I can take you over to his place,” she admitted. “I don’t have work tonight.”

“I’d appreciate it...can we go now?” I asked.

“Hell no, I am not screwing up my perfect attendance,” she said, flashing me an angry look.

“Sorry, sorry,” I said. “Freakin nerd,” I whispered.

“What?” She asked.

“Freakin nerd,” I said, daring her to say something. “I should probably meet Peter again. You mind grabbing him?”

“Uh, yeah,” she said, catching herself. “I’ll bring him over.”