13 Homeless

"Frost Giants are large humanoid creatures made of ice, having the appearance of blue-grey skin and blood red eyes. Frost Giants are said to be very aggressive and hostile in nature." I read out loud from the book trying to learn more about my heritage. 'Huh...thats why my clone was so mean.'

"Frost Giants are one of the many giant races that reside on Jotunheim. Said to be descendants of the immortal Ice Giant Ymir, capable of reforming itself with ice.." I kept reading about different Giants and the different realms of Norse Mythology wondering if all of this information is real or not.

I sighed deeply and left the library wandering the streets of New York. As the sun sets I look around to see the state of the city, beggars and homeless people waddle through the city.

I spot teenagers harassing an old homeless person and the good people of New York never bats an eye. "Idiots.." I muttered under my breath. Walking over I see a crowd forming around the teenagers harassing the old man.

"Get out of here trash!" Kid#1 shouted at the old man.

"You're stinking up the place!" Kid#2 insulted him, "Go back to the dump where you belong!"

I reached the crowd and work my way up the front, seeing the folks up front with their phones just recording the whole event I shake my head in disappointment.

Nudging the guy next to me I asked, "Hey you gonna stop them?"

He looks over with a surprised face, "What are you kidding me? Those to kids are jacked." He whispered back, "I'll just get my ass kicked."

I turned back to look at the kids clearly and he was right they were built, but it didn't matter to me. I strode forward with my hands in my pockets, walking past the berating kids and kneel next to the old man.

"Hey you ok old timer?" I asked with concern.

He turns his head up to look at me, his sad wrinkled face morphs into a bright expression. "I'm ok thank you kid."

I smile back, but suddenly I feel a tug from my hoodie bringing me back to my feet and making me face two hoodlums.

"Ay man what are you doing?" Kid #1 gets in my face.

Not wanting to deal with these idiots any longer I quickly knee him in the balls, making him keel over.

"OOOOOOOOO!!" The surrounding crowd shouts.

"Hey!" Kid #2 comes to defend his friend reaching out he tries to grab me, but I quickly grab his wrist and rotate his arm throwing him away. Sending him crashing to his friend.

"WORLDSTAR!" Some in the crowd shouted.

I go back to the fallen old man and help him up, walking away as the crowd claps and cheers at my display. Walking away I ask him why he isn't at a homeless shelter, he replies sadly that all of them are full.

I take him back to Central Park, talking the whole way there with me carrying him on my back sometimes if he gets too tired while he spews random but wise words.

I find a nice isolated bench next to a pond and set him down there, seeing him shivering I take off my hoodie and drape it around his fragile form.

"Sonny aren't you gonna get cold?" He asks me with concern.

I chuckle and smile dismissing his worries, "No I have a high tolerance gramps."

We sit in a comfortable silence looking up at the stars. "You know I used to be homeless." I said breaking the silence.

He looked surprised and motion for me to go on. I began telling him my past life since there was no harm in talking to an old man. "Yea, I was an orphan and after 18 years in an orphanage I was left all alone. No one wanted the sickly looking kid who was always bullied. So I was kicked out since I was technically an adult."

"I wandered the streets begging for money and food for 5 years, I almost froze to death one winter." I continued somberly, "But one day afternoon I was being beaten up by a couple of thugs, someone saved me."

My voice turned cheerful as I looked at the old man with an adoring smile, "He picked me up off the street, gave me food, some money and a general home for the needy. I asked him why he was doing all this for someone he doesn't know and he said 'Because I could.'.....hahahaha." Tears started to well up in my eyes as I laughed. "Because he could you believe that? What a guy.... after that my whole life turned around for the better until my untimely death, of course....Now I just want to do what he did and help others, but.."

I clenched my fists in frustration, "Nothing will change with just saving the day and capturing criminals that are just gonna break out and cause more pain and suffering." I started to rant. "I just don't know if I'm cut out to be a real hero."

The old man stayed quiet and listened throughout my whole life story just smiling and looking at me with pride.

"Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people's well-being and will go out of his or her way to help them – even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero." He reached into his worn out jacket to take out a pair of glasses and puts it on.

I stare at him in confusion, but my eyes widen at his familiar appearance. "W-WH-What T-the...-"

Stan Lee puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles, "Keep doing what you're doing kid, never back down. Life is never completely without any challenges." His body starts to glow, breaking apart into millions of tiny golden dust disappearing into the wind.

I sat there shocked at meeting a legend, a myth of the Marvel Universe. 'Damn, I should've gotten an autograph.'

Laying down on the bench, I look up at the stars and take in what Stan Lee told me.

"HEY!" A loud voice and shining lights alerted my attention to two cops walking through Central Park.

"You can't be here kid." Cop#1 said, "It's past 1 a.m. its illegal to be here."

"Oh sorry I'll go." I got up dusting off my worn clothes and grabbing my black hoodie Stan Lee left behind.

"Wait." Cop#2 stopped me and walked closer to examine me, "Blue eyes, Brown hair, about 5ft 8, wearing a black hoodie and plain blue shirt and jeans."

Cop#1's eyes widened at the familiar description came forward and took out his taser pointing it at me. "Don't move kid, you are under arrest!"

I immediately put my hands up in surrender, "What?!? For what!?" I asked as Cop#2 grabs my hands and slam me to the ground.

"For assaulting the chief's son." Cop#2 grunted out as I let him cuff me.

"Oh come on! That kid was a dick!" I said loudly.

"TASE HIM! He's resisting!" Cop#2 suddenly said ignoring the fact that I am handcuffed to the ground and did not resist arrest once.

"Argghhhh...." I grunted in pain as volts of electricity pass through my body.

They quickly took me to their squad car and back to a police station. "Dicks...." I muttered out.

I was being escorted through the station passing through multiple cops who were looking at me with disdain, but there was one pair of eyes that saw my familiar figure.

"HEY! STOP!" A man with blue eyes and greying hair stopped the cops from taking me to a cell. "Where are you taking this kid?"

"Jail. Until the Chief comes to deal with him." Cop#1 said.

The man sighed tiredly and rubbed his tired eyes. "Don't worry about it. I'm taking him."

The cops and my face turn in confusion at this random guy claiming me. "And who the hell are you." Cop#2 asked annoyed.

The experienced man took out his badge, "Fredrick Duncan, FBI. Kid is mine. Now move." Fred pushed them out of the way and took me out of handcuffs.

"Thanks." I said as we walked out the police station and to his car.

"C'mon kid you're staying with me for the night." He waved for me to get in.

I got in having no worries that he might be able to hurt me. "So how do you know who I am?" I asked curiously.

"Robert Drake, 15 years old, wandering New York, and too dangerous to be left alone." Fred Duncan spoke like he was very informed about me. "Xavier told me all about you kid. Plus I saved you once remember?" He tapped his head.

My eyes widen with surprise as we drove off into the night. 'Damn! Xavier is everywhere man.' Throughout the car ride I kept thinking about how to keep Xavier from getting out me head. Organic Ice would work, but I have no idea how to achieve it.

Arriving at a little apartment building in Manhattan, we entered his apartment. "So... how did Xavier contact you? Phone or with his mind?" I asked curiously.

Fred was rifling through the kitchen scrounging up some food for the both of us. "He called me and told me to speak privately." He grunted out.

"Privately?"

He pointed with his head to a janky looking headband on the table of his living room. "Psionic Headband, designed to transmit thoughts directly between both users."

I picked up the headband, turning it around in my hands. "Sooo it helps Xavier's telepathy?" He nodded, "Can it block it as well?"