Monstrous Hero Chapter 32- An Easy Summer (Ignoring Dormammu)

POV- Nathan Cross

To say the relationship between May and me changed, would be an understatement. Publicly and in front of Peter, we were the same as ever, but privately, the sweet, nurturing and self-sacrificing woman gave up total control. That wasn't to say we only fucked whenever we were alone. We went shopping, watched movies and all the other things kids generally do with their mothers, after all, she was more than JUST sex. Something I sometimes forgot when my eyes graced her curvaceous figure in the mornings or when I was a little too rough.

To my surprise, Peter had ended up spending more time with Shuri whenever she was in town, learning some of the tech skills I had no hope of ever understanding. Just like he had zero understanding of women in general, I didn't get science. I was confident I won out in that exchange.

Unfortunately for me, the feeding grounds I called home were providing fewer and fewer targets, which eventually became an issue after weeks of finding one to two people every few days. In Tokyo Ghoul, this would have been exorbitant but for me, with an enhanced body and incredibly active lifestyle, I was feeling peckish almost constantly. Which led me to make a request I never thought I'd have to. To preface this, I hate asking Steve for anything. And I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't a serious reason.

"Steve, I need a favour. Can I borrow a private jet every once in a while? Just so that I can hunt down people in Detroit and stock up for a while. It seems hunting in bulk is going to be easier than constantly riding up and back to random cities looking for food every couple of days."

While New York seemed to have a never-ending supply of issues, even Hell's Kitchen had dropped drastically in its crime rate and nighttime crimes were almost rare. Cities like Detroit and Portland, however, were filled with low-level human crime. None would be dangerous or provide any new abilities, but the sheer amount of crime outclassed even Hell's Kitchen. Detroit was basically Gotham but without the costumes.

Looking at Steve, who still felt uncomfortable hearing me discuss my diet, I knew I had it in the bag. I was proven right not even 2 minutes later when I explained the loss of sanity a starving ghoul experiences. At present, only Wanda and Tony are a real threat to me within the Avengers, since Thor is still off-world. Strange could…in time.

"Also, there was a thing that the Avengers offered when I started that seems to have stopped once Nat left on her…holiday. I know that the number of enhanced people is low, but perhaps I could take a peek through one of Shield's old prisons or whatever." While I doubted Steve would allow it, it would plant the idea in his head. 'On the other hand, if he refuses, I guess I could try asking Clint?'

"That's…fine, just make sure to book it a day or two in advance so we don't have a mixup. And about the prisoners," Steve said slowly, as if each word he said was costing him money. "I'll ask around for any death row inmates with abilities but that's as far as I'll go." Thanking him, I left before he could change his mind.

By Christmas, the team had gone on another few 'excursions,' as I liked to call them, hunting down slave traders, human traffickers and the like. Sharon had, for the most part, upheld her end of the deal, removing one of the largest locations for people trafficking in the world from the map and limiting access to high-end drugs. Assassinations and hits were still carried out but that was fine by me. Another thing that happened over this period, apart from a pregnancy scare that May thought would be funny, was the increasing time I was spending with Wanda outside of training. Not sexually, as I now had both May and Ophelia taking the edge off but instead just hanging out like friends do. 'Personally, I think the isolation and conditions of Sokovia had made her desperate for connection, which made her interested in Vision at first. A relationship doomed to fail due to his lack of…hardware.'

Sitting beside me on the large, plush couch she asked, "What are you going to be doing next year?"

"Probably not too much really. I've got school, of course, but there's no way I'll fail it. I considered going on a long trip, but wasn't sure I'd find anything that interesting."

"I think what's interesting for you would be calamitous for others," she laughed, brushing her hair back over her ear. "A trip to where? Europe?"

"I was thinking space, actually. There should be a lot of different things for my abilities to absorb." I watched as her eyes lost their shine, something that most would have missed unless they spent a long time with her.

"Good thing you can't go to space then," Wanda huffed, though I knew she was still pissed at something.

I rubbed her back with my hand, hoping to comfort her from whatever thought she was having. "Would you be sad if I left?" I teased, before realising my mistake. 'The only other people she has cared about were her mom and her brother, both of whom died, which is why she was spending time with Vision in the first place.' "That…It wouldn't be for more than a year." 'She's one of my best friends but I know the benefits that await me out there in space. Particularly if my plan to join Thor works out.'

She brushed my hand off and stormed out of the room, throwing one heated glare my way as she left.

"Why do I make friends with such troublesome people?" I groaned. I had considered the idea that she held feelings for me or at the very least was attached to me but I didn't want to foster her feelings unless it persisted. Her age was obviously not an issue and considering the benefits of magic, super-serums and other bullshit Marvel offered, the relationship could be fine. Nevertheless, I didn't want to be a replacement. It's one thing to comfort her and another to try and fill the gap her dead family left. 'She's 10000% my type but neither of us is ready for a relationship and until I return, I don't think we will be.'

~~~

Enjoying the nippy air that came with the last month of Winter, I made my way to the New York Sanctum, having heard…and watched, some of the events that occurred a week or so back in Hong Kong. The building was cool. Well hidden amongst the other buildings and made distinct only by the runic symbol that made up the circular window on the top level.

'177A Bleecker Street. Essentially a subway station for a group of people who can teleport.' Walking up to the door, I barely raised my hand to knock when it opened, leaving me stood like the fucking Statue of Liberty. Nobody was inside, though I suspected Strange wanted to appear mysterious in a way that satisfied his ego.

"The ghoul," came Steven's voice from a high-backed chair near a fireplace off in a side room. "Do come in." With the silvered sides of his hair, he was obviously in his mid-forties, yet there was an energy to him that seemed almost limitless. 'Though after Endgame he was basically dead on his feet if I recall.'

"Dr Strange."

His eyebrow lifted momentarily, "You know me?"

I laughed before revealing the truth of my mysterious knowledge, "Nah, Wong's a major gossip. Apparently, you annoy him almost constantly." A smirk pulled across his lips as he nodded.

"I prefer frustrated, but yes, that does seem like him…Anyway, I assume you came here for a reason and since Wong has told me about you, I'm more than willing to hear you out."

Pulling out a thermos of coffee, I addressed the unasked question. "I have plans to go hunting in space for my next meals and for that, I need you to grab me whenever Loki and Thor return to Earth."

"That's a lot to unpack. You want me to grab you and bring you here when Loki and Thor next come to Earth…so you can eat aliens?"

There was a pause as I took a drink, before my nod of affirmation caused him to groan, rubbing his head in his hands. "Do I have to bring them both here as well, or just you?"

I looked at him like he was asking whether I'd ever tried to eat normal food, which is to say, incredulously. "Uhh, yeah. It should be more than a few months, but I know what's out there and understand just how fucked we are currently. I need to get stronger and I can't think of a better way without just eating the Avengers."

He nodded, accepting the favour but asked a question I hadn't expected. "Do you have scans and lab results on how your body works because you are just… To regenerate limbs and organs in seconds and to have your entire digestive system and taste rewired so suddenly is fascinating." 'He may be magical, but I guess the old man still has an in-built curiosity for the human body.'

"I do, as does everyone at Stark's new compound. If you ever go there, say that Nathan Cross said you could have them. I'll note it down from my end too." Watching his usual cocky surety become animated excitement was rather amusing, like watching Pete talk about science or May, her dramas. Science and Magic were things for him to study and he loved them both. 'Oh my god, I don't have a thing. Does everyone have a thing? Is coffee my thing? No, too hipster. Cannibalism? Too unsociable. Apart from sex, books and being a heroic ghoul, I really didn't have much that interested me and none of them were acceptable except books, which were honestly almost a less sociable topic than sex and murder. At least they'll get a response.'

Steven woke me from my introspective chaos, promising to bring the three of us here when the two Asgardians arrived. If only to keep Loki from making more mess.

'That means I should start getting things ready for my trip I guess.'

The next few weeks were done doing just that, communicating with Ophelia that I needed her to spend some time with May and to reach out to Wanda while I was out. She rejected immediately, but I knew she was just as desperate for affection and connection as Wanda, yet as disciplined as May.

"Take me with you."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

The attempts were relentless, even during sex she would attempt to get me to agree. Asking at my most vulnerable moments after my release or by trying to bribe me. May was much easier and though worried for the year I would take off from school, understood that I was not in need of a diploma and if I needed to, could always sit a test next year to get moved back up into Peter's grade. 'Not like school's hard anyway.'

The team was of two minds, worried for my absence, yet somewhat jealous I would be going to explore the stars. It actually took Clint and I threatening to call Pepper to stop Tony trying to join me. It was mid-March when Strange opened a portal for me…and only moments after Wanda finally came around.

Looking at the burning ring of orange, I turned to look back at her and took the step to do something I'd wanted to do for months. Taking her jaw in my hand, I kissed her. The searing warmth from the kiss far beyond the warmth of the sparks yet was more painful than getting chopped by helicopter blades, something I can attest is not painless by any stretch.' Pulling back for air, I showed off a toothy grin, shared quickly by Wanda.

"You're such an asshole," she muttered through her smile, taking the edge out of her words and making her seem even more charming as she laughed quietly.

"One year Gorgeous." I kissed her again before I ducked through the portal, knowing damn well I was moments from scrapping the entire plan to go to space and to just enjoy my time with the sexy witch.

'This had better turn out to be worth it.'