C599 Misunderstanding
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Days rolled on in the unfamiliar universe, where Peter found himself embracing the role of a mentor to Ryan, guiding him through the intricacies of controlling his burgeoning powers.
As training sessions progressed, Ryan exhibited remarkable progress in gaining mastery over his abilities. The suburban upbringing may have shielded him, but Peter's guidance was proving instrumental in honing those latent powers.
Even Leo, despite the trauma of his past, joined their sessions and showcased an innate control, which Peter already knew about. After all, he saw all of the harsh tests that Vought put him through when he read his mind.
Other than training, Peter, MJ, and Leo formed an unconventional family, with Leo proving inseparable from Peter, refusing to stray far from his newfound protector.
Nights, however, presented an unexpected challenge for the newlyweds. Leo's insistence on sharing the same room disrupted any semblance of intimacy between Peter and MJ. The delicate dance of a young marriage was interrupted by the presence of a scared but clingy child. The bedroom became a sanctuary for comforting Leo's nightmares rather than the sanctuary of Peter and MJ's shared moments.
…
'This little bastard…' Peter thought right after Leo came barging into their room, completely c*ck-blocking him. "Sigh…" He let out an annoyed breath as he watched Leo snuggle up to MJ with a relieved smile on his face.
…
Peter couldn't shake the feeling that Ryan and Leo were part of some twisted experiment, two sides of a coin tested to see which life would yield the perfect weapon. The contrast in their upbringing, one surrounded by love and the other marred by cruelty, fueled suspicions that Vought had been manipulating them from the start. Questions lingered, but with Vought's demise, the answers didn't really matter anymore.
With each passing day, Leo's past, marred by experiments and neglect, was slowly replaced by a present where he was cared for, protected, and given the chance be to be a kid again.
The living room became a hub of activity, where Peter and Leo shared moments of laughter while watching cartoons. Despite everything, Peter felt a sense of responsibility for the boy. He began to realize that he couldn't abandon Leo, especially not after the past few days spent with him.
'Sigh… MJ is going to rub this in my face, isn't she?' Peter could already hear her voice, telling him 'I told you so' over and over again.
…
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, Peter knew it was time to bid farewell to this universe. But before doing so, he had two crucial tasks to complete.
But before that, Peter took Ryan aside for a final session of guidance, ensuring the young man was equipped to handle his powers responsibly. With Leo observing, a sense of camaraderie developed among the trio, an unspoken acknowledgment that they had become a family of sorts.
As the training session concluded, Peter watched with pride as Ryan exhibited mastery over his powers, passing the test he set up with flying colors. It was a moment of accomplishment, a testament to the guidance and effort put into honing the young man's abilities.
"Great job, Ryan," Peter commended, a genuine smile on his face. "Your control is impressive now. Your training is officially over. You've come a long way and I'm very proud of you."
Ryan, initially smiling in pride and accomplishment, suddenly realized what Peter just said, his face morphing into a mix of shock and sadness. "That's it?" he asked, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. "You won't train me anymore?"
Peter's smile turned bittersweet. "I wish I could, Ryan, but I'll be leaving soon. However, if you want to continue your training, I can leave behind some manuals and resources. You've got the hang of it, and I believe you can carry on without me. I'm sure your dad would love to teach you as well. After all, he used to be in the military."
The disappointment in Ryan's eyes was palpable. "You're leaving?" he questioned, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice.
Peter nodded solemnly. "Yeah, it's time for me to move on. But I have faith in you, Ryan. You can handle this."
Without another word, Ryan ran off, a whirlwind of emotions clouding his usually composed demeanor. Peter sighed, realizing the impact of his departure on the young man. But duty called, and he had other matters to attend to.
Turning to Leo, Peter gestured toward the house. "Leo, I need you to go check on Ryan. He might need someone right now, and I need to go out and deal with a couple things." Peter instructed, the weight of responsibility evident in his eyes.
Leo reluctantly nodded, hesitant to leave Peter's side, but willing to do as he's told. Of course, Leo didn't think for a second that Peter leaving would affect him. In his perspective, he would be leaving with Peter, as no other possibility could formulate in his young, dependent mind.
As Leo hurried off to find Ryan, Peter took a moment to reflect on the transient nature of his existence in this universe. The bonds he had formed with these individuals made parting difficult, yet it was a necessary step.
Entering the living room, Peter wrote up some training manuals for Ryan's continued training. His departure would leave a void, but empowering Ryan to navigate his abilities independently was the best Peter could offer.
Once he was done, Peter left the manuals on a table in the living room before opening a portal and disappearing from the house. 'Okay, it's time to fulfill my promise to Hughie…'
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Meanwhile, Leo found Ryan in his room, sitting on the edge of the bed, a mixture of sadness and frustration etched on his face. Without a word, Leo sat beside him, offering silent support. Ryan, unable to contain his emotions, looked at Leo, tears glistening in his eyes.
"I can't believe he's leaving," Ryan muttered, his voice a mix of frustration and sadness. "I thought he'd stay here with us forever..."
Leo, usually reserved, glanced at Ryan, a questioning expression in his eyes. Ryan, caught in the swirl of emotions, continued, "I mean, he taught us so much. And now he's just going to disappear."
Leo, still processing the situation, felt a wave of panic washing over him. "L-Leaving us?" Leo stuttered, Ryan's words unintentionally planting a seed of fear in his mind.
"Well, yeah, I guess," Ryan nodded sadly, not realizing how impactful his words are right now. "Maybe he'll come back and visit though?"
Leo, however, wasn't easily reassured. The fear of abandonment triggered a deep-rooted anxiety within him. His eyes widened, and he clutched onto Ryan's arm, his silent demeanor disrupted by an unspoken panic.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Ryan said, realizing what was happening as he attempted to soothe Leo's concerns. "Peter will come back. I'm sure we'll see him again."
Leo, still not entirely convinced, looked at Ryan with a mix of worry and uncertainty. In his limited vocabulary, he managed to utter a few words, "Peter... come back?"
Ryan nodded. "Yes, he'll come back… I think…" But he wasn't too sure, which Leo seemed to pick up on.
Ryan's attempt to reassure Leo instantly fell short as the young child, overwhelmed by the fear of abandonment, abruptly stood up and darted through the house. His small footsteps echoed all over the place as he desperately searched for Peter, his panicked cries filling the air.
"Leo, wait!" Ryan called out, chasing after him. But Leo's distress fueled his determination to find Peter, and he seemed oblivious to Ryan's pleas.
In the absence of their mentor, Leo's silent world unraveled. Tears streamed down his face as he frantically checked every room, calling out for Peter's name. His small hands gripped doorknobs, his eyes darting around, seeking a familiar face that had temporarily left his world. The living room, once a place of joy, became a maze of uncertainty for the distressed child.
As Leo rounded a corner, MJ, sensing the distress, emerged from another room. She saw Leo's tear-stained face and the evident panic in his eyes. Without hesitation, she rushed to his side, kneeling down to his level.
"Leo, what's wrong? What happened?" MJ asked, concern etched on her face. Leo, unable to articulate his feelings, could only sob in response. MJ pulled him into a comforting hug, whispering reassurances as she tried to decipher the cause of Leo's distress.
"Shh, it's okay, Leo. You're safe here," MJ murmured, gently rubbing his back. Leo, in the embrace of someone who cared, began to slowly calm down. His cries softened to sniffles as MJ held him close.
As Leo gradually composed himself, MJ continued to offer comfort. "Now, tell me, what happened? Why are you so upset?" she inquired, hoping to unravel the mystery behind Leo's sudden outburst.
Leo, still processing the overwhelming emotions, spoke, "Peter… Leaving?" His limited vocabulary couldn't convey the complexity of his feelings.
MJ, piecing together the situation, understood that Leo was looking for Peter, but nothing more than that. "Did Peter go out? You don't have to worry, he'll be back soon, I'm sure of it." She said, though her words didn't seem to help.
Suddenly, Ryan stepped forward. "Umm, I think, I can explain…"
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Meanwhile, Peter, unaware of the turmoil and chaos unfolding upon his departure from the Butcher residence, stepped out of a portal into a dark hospital room.
On the bed before him lay the familiar hero, A-Train, sleeping like a baby thanks to the painkillers and muscle relaxers they've given him. Both of his legs are broken in multiple places and bound in hard casts, leaving him trapped in this hospital bed ever since his encounter with Peter.
"Wakey Wakey…" Peter called out as he walked over to his bedside.
"…" A-Train stirred from his sleep and the first thing he saw was Peter standing over him, staring down at him with a demonic smile on his face. "!?"
A/N: 1700 words :)
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