Abnormal

Mick sat alone, both the Bennet's and his mom going to get dinner, leaving Mick for the first time in days. His body aches had finally subsided, the pain in his neck was still there, but that was the most expected part. He did wonder what that Coulson guy meant by they did work to make the fang marks look like claws; perhaps that's what was making his neck hurt so bad? He started to reach for his Gameboy when flashes of the monstrous Arachnid holding him in the air clouded his vision. Mick struggled to shake the visions out of his head to no avail. As soon as Arachnid slammed his fangs down, Mick's body convulsed. He felt the searing pain all over again. He grabbed his neck, just to be sure he wasn't really being attack, screaming as the pain began to intensify. He could barely hear the machine's going crazy with alerts while his body began to convulse. He could feel the pounding of his heart in his eyes, and with each beat everything faded away, until he found himself back in the endless dark abyss. 

His eyes fluttered open, focus returned immediately. A few breaths, and he was surprised by how normal he felt. He slowly moved his body, just to be sure he wasn't paralyzed. He reached up to his neck, feeling the bandage, quite surprised that it wasn't tender at all. He looked around to see his mom curled up in the recliner with a small blanket thrown over her. That made him wonder what time it was, and if she saw him while he was in such horrible pain. She'd always worried about him, being that he was a pretty clumsy kid. Injuries were no stranger, and she was always there to nurse him back to normal. He couldn't imagine how she felt with this though. There was two light knocks on the door, before it eased open. Mick looked at the unfamiliar man in the doctor jacket as he passed the curtain. 

"Good morning Mr. Bellouve," he said politely, as Mick's mom began to stir. "You're looking a whole lot better than when I saw you yesterday." 

"Thanks, I think?" Mick said, surprised he didn't even sound hoarse. "I feel a whole lot better too." 

"I'm glad to hear that," Mick's mom, Lina, stated drawing both Mick and the doctor's attention. "Did you figure out why he had that episode yesterday evening?" 

"We did some blood analysis, and it appears there was some kind of infection, but we pumped several antibodies in, and now he's doing fine." 

"So we shouldn't have another episode like that?" Lina asked, both for concern and threatening which impressed Mick that her tone could be such a mix. 

"No, there shouldn't be," the doctor replied to an approving nod from Lina. "We'll monitor him throughout the day, and if everything is good, you can bring him home in the morning." 

"I like that idea," Mick said with a smirk. 

"Keep doing good, call us if you need anything," the doctor nodded before leaving. 

"You sure you're okay?" Lina looked at Mick compassionately. 

"Mom," Mick couldn't help but grin. "I'm fine, honestly. My biggest concern is having enough battery to last until tomorrow." He held up his Gameboy only for Lina to shake her head and smile. 

The ride home was so long and boring. His Gameboy had died at the hospital and his charger was in his bag in the Bennet's camper. So he had nothing but time to reflect on the events of the weekend. He did notice a strange twinge in his wrists when they stopped for breakfast. He looked at them in the privacy of the restroom, wondering where this odd silvery web mark could've come from. He rubbed his wrist, feeling the slight raises, and as he pulled his fingers away, he noticed a thing silver thread stuck to him. He quickly ripped it off, washing his hands frantically. "What the heck was that?" Mick gasped, then looked at his wrist, seeing the web mark shimmering in the light. "This is weird," Mick muttered as he dried his hands. 

Once they got home, he went straight to his room to avoid any questions that his dad or sisters would have. Thankfully his mom played defender for him, deflecting everyone's attention with her bag of doughnuts. Mick slipped into his room, so grateful to be home. He flipped his wrists over, staring at the web marks in disbelief. He tried to think back to Arachnid, maybe there was something special about him, at least until Coulson's odd comment about him being bit by a radioactive spider. Was he inheriting some of that odd infection? "Am I going to become a monster too?" Mick's heart began to race. Would he get fangs like that and desire human blood like a vampire? Would he become more spider like and grow extra arms? The thoughts terrified him. He fell backwards, catching himself on the bed, only for the top of his post to be crushed under his grip. "What the heck is going on?" Mick pulled his hand away, seeing the crushed wood were the decorative circular top once was. 

Suddenly his mind began to change. Excitement swelled over him. "Is this super powers?" He thought back to the stories he'd heard of Captain America and the Howling Commandos from school, was that how Captain Rodgers accomplished such incredible feats when taking down the Nazi's? Being a hero like Steve Rodgers intrigued him. He now wanted to test his powers, but how would he slip out? Maybe if they thought he was napping? That's what people did when they came home from the hospital, right? He quickly used the clothes he had left across his floor, and some blankets from his closet, molding them under the covers into a shape that resembled him, before carefully sliding his window open and jumping out. Thankfully he missed the rose bush that had grown in under his window, which meant getting back in without crushing it may be a challenge. He ducked under the large open window that was the feature of the living room, then grabbed his bike from the side of the house, and carefully walked it passed his neighbor's house to the road, then jumped on heading toward the woods in the back of the neighborhood. 

Once he was sure no one could see him, he tried to focus. "What should he test first? Can I fly like Superman?" He jumped, an admittedly terribly short jump. "Nope, no flying." He then cracked his knuckles, thinking back to the bed being crushed. "Strength then?" 

He walked over to a baby pine that was about as tall as he was. He wrapped his hands around as far as he could, then pulled. It popped and cracked in protest as Mick let go, falling on his butt. He looked at the tree, seeing the indentions of his hands crushed into it. Not quite what he'd consider super strength, but he was stronger for sure. He then looked at his wrist again, the webs shimmered in the sunlight. He wondered, if rubbing them caused that string to come out, could he actually throw them? 

He quickly began flicking his wrist readjusting his fingers with every swing, only for nothing to happen. Maybe he just needed to focus? Maybe it was meant to be something natural, like when a spider used it's spinnerets? He closed his eyes and took in a calming breath, hoping to center himself against his growing excitement. "Come on, please work." With a quick flick, he felt the webbing fly out of his wrist! His eyes flew open to see a long string of web flying deeper into the woods. His excitement exploded into cheers and jumping around. He looked up at the trees wondering if maybe he could scale the trees too. He deeply considered it, but the nerves of being up high got the better of him. 

He had to tell someone, but who would believe him? His mom would just think he's delusional from the medicine at the hospital. Then his mind focused on Jerren! Jerren saw the monster, surely he'd believe Mick had super powers too! He made his way back home, carefully slipping back into his room. No sooner than he sat on his bed, the door opened. "You're awake!" His little sister Andi cheered. 

"Yeah," Mick wiped the sweat from his forehead, only for the ten year old blonde to stare at him curiously. 

"Mom wanted you to know she's got lunch ready," she said as Mick nodded. "You might want to clean up before coming out here, or Mom'll know you snuck out." 

"That noticeable?" Mick asked as Andi nodded while rolling her eyes. "Don't rat me out, okay?" 

"We'll see," she teased as she closed the door. "He's gonna take a shower! Said he feels gross from being in the hospital so long." Mick smiled at how she covered for him. 

After spending the day in the woods, he walked back to his room, laying on his bed. Hopefully Jerren was home by now, being that they were supposed to come home today anyway. He dialed, a few rings and Jerren picked up. "Dude, you're never going to believe this." Mick then explained his afternoon of playing with his awesome powers. Jerren, while he believed Mick, was much more cautious about it than Mick was. Maybe he'd change his tune once Mick showed him them in person. 

After a rough week of band camp, hearing Jerren's constant urging to not show anyone his powers, he was ready to see everyone again. He stepped out of his mothers car, onto the high school property. His confidence was through the roof, at least until he reached Jerren, who stood waiting for him with his two other best friends, Davis and Patten. Davis, shorter than Mick, about as lean, dark brown hair, about as long as Mick's. Patten was taller, huskier, shorter and clean cut dark brown hair, quite intimidating if you didn't know him. Jerren stood as median of Davis and Pattten; tall and husky with short, curly black hair. 

Mick's grin couldn't be silenced by Jerren's uneasy expression when he met him a few foot away from Davis and Patten. "So they haven't gone away?" 

"Nope," Mick said happily, then flipped his wrist as Jerren looked at them in astonishment. 

"I mean, it's cool, but scary too," he said as Mick looked at him curiously. 

"What's scary about it?" Mick pondered. 

"Ever wonder why Superman and Batman keep their identities secret?" Jerren asked as Mick shook his head. 

"People are just dumb not seeing Superman is Clark Kent, but Batman," Mick frowned. 

"Not arguing Mick," Jerren said calmly. "It's just a good idea to keep this to ourselves instead of broadcasting it to everyone." 

"Why? Steve Rodgers is a hero because of his powers!" 

"We don't know that he actually had powers," Jerren scowled. "Besides, even if he did, where is he now?" 

"Dead," Mick sighed. He didn't want to admit Jerren was right, but maybe he should keep it a secret from the whole school. "Can I at least tell them?" 

"If you must," Jerren sighed as they joined the others. 

"Secrets don't make friends," Davis fussed as Mick smiled coyly. 

"Depends on the secret," Mick said as Patten nodded. "And a secret like the one I've got now, would make us extremely popular." 

"You have a popularity secret?" Davis teased in his skepticism. 

"I've got super powers," Mick leaned in and whispered, only for Davis and Patten to burst into laughter. "I'm serious!" 

"Yeah, living through a bear attack is pretty super, I guess," Patten shrugged. 

"I mean, it's a cool story, but it won't make you popular, just lucky!" Davis rolled his eyes. 

"Look," Mick flipped his wrist over, showing them the web marks as they both still seemed extremely skeptical. 

"Cool tattoo," Patten stated to Mick's frustration. 

"Don't," Jerren grabbed his arm before Mick could shoot a web. "You can show them at my house this afternoon. We'll all see it in action." 

"Fine," Mick grunted. 

"Let's go get our schedules before orientation starts so that all we have to do is grab our books and leave," Patten suggested with a curious look at Mick. 

Once they reached the Bennet house, they boys played a few rounds of Super Smash Bros. Melee before Mrs. Bennet left to run a few errands, leaving them completely alone in the house. "Want to show them now?" Jerren asked as Mick nodded gleefully. "Let's go outside, just so nothing gets broken." 

Once outside the boys gathered around Mick as he stood under the large oak tree outside Jerren's window. He closed his eyes, then pointed his hand up toward the trunk of the tree, then flicked his wrist, the silvery web shooting out and Mick catching the end. "What the f-" Mick jumped up, using the web to climb up the tree. He then sat on a thick branch with a mischievous grin. He then slammed his fist down into the branch as it cracked, then another punch, and it fell to the ground with a loud thud. 

"He wasn't lying," Patten said as he knelt down, examining the thickness of the branch. 

"How'd you really do that?" Davis was surprisingly skeptical. "Where did the ropes come from?" 

"I showed you already," Mick turned over his wrist, as Davis and Patten began to examine him. 

"So these are like spinnerets?" Patten poked at the silver webs on his wrists. 

"Guess so," Mick shrugged. 

"That's really cool," Davis smirked as Mick was a little relieved. 

"If you say so," Jerren grumbled. 

"Why are you being such a kill joy?" Davis snapped. 

"Because the thing that attacked Mick wasn't a hero, he was a monster!" Jerren barked. 

"And you're afraid Mick is going to turn into that?" Patten asked as Jerren nodded reluctantly. 

No sooner than they mentioned him, Mick pictured Arachnid, vivid pictures of the monster ripping at tearing at guards as he fought his way through concrete halls with the intention to finish what he started. Mick dropped to his knees as dread filled him. He was surprised to see Patten and Davis holding him up while Jerren was staring at him, each one wearing the same look of deep concerns. "You back with us, Buddy?" Davis asked as Mick nodded slowly.

"I need to call that Coulson guy," Mick breathed heavily. "I think the monster he caught has escaped and he's coming to find me."