Meat and Greet

POV- Nathan Cross

With the rest of the afternoon passing quietly, with the exception of a message stating me and Peter needed to be measured and that a new ability holder had been arrested for me. This time both Peter and Wanda came to watch me do it, Wanda due to her curiosity, and Peter to, as he put it, "Get used to you chomping down on criminals." And so, looking down at the Asian woman, who was able to create a seemingly endless amount of needles from her body, which she used to hunt down her cheating husband's mistresses and gauge out their eyes before littering their bodies with needles. This time under anesthetic, purely for Pete's wellbeing, I removed the meat from her arms, cutting them into bites, then eating them, however, the power did not show on my status. Removing the arms entirely, and crunching the bones didn't provide the ability either, but then I thought about the ability, recognising its power, I would have to consume more of her to develop the same skill. Killing her instantly in the moment Pete turned to check his phone, I remove her head, using superstrength to seperate and break bones as I feast on her using my hands like a savage. Finally gaining the skill after consuming about 50% of the woman, the rest is put into freezer bags for me to store here and eat during prolonged training.

Wiping my face and hands, still stained in blood, I lead the way to the training room, and begin drawing out needles. Unlike the woman's white needles, as thin as a cat's whisker, the needles produced were the same shade of red as the kagune, and as thick as a dagger, however, seemed to share the same excessive production rate as her own. Experimenting for over 15 minutes revealed that I can use my hands to summon them, to be used as jagged daggers, to stab or throw, or more spectacularly, I could use my kagune, producing spikes across the flailing tentacles or shooting them out with moderate accuracy over a much longer range than if I had thrown them myself.

Smiling at the beautiful redhead I thank her, "One day after I complain about our lack of long-ranged fighters and you go and find one for me, thank you." Giving her a tight hug in gratitude, which may have been held longer than originally intended, I leave to join Pete in getting measured. 'Did Peter get measured for his suit in Civil War? Or did the suit come with magic sensors telling itself when to stop constricting, except when stretching?' Standing on a platform similar to Stark's armour-equipping platform, holographic lights scan my body and record the measurements, and a note is taken to leave my palm and the small of my back bare, or adjustable so that I wouldn't rip a suit every time I used my new powers.

Getting a call just before dinner draws a groan from me. 'I'm so damn tired already, and if this is news of a villain attack, I'm letting them go.' "Thank you for calling, Busty Asian Beauties, we love you long time. When would you like to book a happy ending massage?"

"You are so lucky my kids are outside right now, and that my partner found it funny."

"Well that makes two of us, why'd you call?"

"You're having dinner with me."

"Are you introducing me to your hot daughter, I can't wait?" I can hear Clint's wife laughing in the background, him having just left it on speaker. "What am I eating? Most recipes don't accommodate my dietary requirements."

Seeing me skirt around the topic, Clint's wife spoke up from the background, "I know about your needs Mr Cross, and we will be having a barbeque, along with another guest."

"Kate?"

"Excellent deduction Mr Cross, and yes, we would love for you to meet our family, Clint here can't stop singing your praises."

"Of course ma'am, with his vision, he couldn't miss my spectacular nature, haha. But seeing as I have been invited by my new 'supervisor,' I must accept the invitation. Hey Clint, how am I getting there? Because I can't fly yet."

"I'm sending a car. Technically this is a formal introduction, so I may as well send a car for you."

Hopping in the car, leaving May and Peter, who turned down the invite to go hang out with Liz after I slipped him a bunch of 50 $ notes, knowing full well that Peter could blame our new Stark Internship for the extra cash, I start fidgeting with my phone, looking at the esky nervously. I'd removed anything that looked...human, but still I was a little worried. To ease my worry I pulled out a Sharpie, writing 'Cross' on the lid, marking it as mine, as I had the food container. Looking back to my phone I send Nat some of the pictures I'd been sent from the party, and Peter one of him and Liz kissing sweetly. 'Seeing as he should be with her now, that's gonna be one hell of a conversation starter.'

Coming up to the farmhouse I carry the esky, rather than wheel it through the dirt, knocking on the door despite knowing that I'd been seen through at least 5 different cameras so far. Mrs Barton opened the door, looking tired, but based on canon, she had a 1-year-old child, in addition to her older two kids, so that was to be expected. "And you must be Nathan, do you mind being called Nathan?"

"Sure, I'm not formal in the least, if you hadn't guessed." Gesturing to my leather combat boots, jeans and Falling in Reverse band t-shirt.

A glint shone in her eye, commenting, "From what I was told, you're a hoodie and mask away from your hero suit."

"Gosh no. I'd never risk one of my band shirts being torn or burnt away," I said pretending to be affronted at her comment, being very quickly seen through as she laughs. Taking me through to the back porch, where the barbeque sat, and Clint stood, chatting with his oldest 2 children. "Sup Clint, where am I putting mine?" Dumping it where he gestured I introduce myself to Cooper and Lila, who were about 14 and 12 respectively. Giving a severe side-eye to Clint as I drink Laura's freshly brewed coffee, "My age huh?"

"Well you're only 15, so yeah, THEY are pretty close."

Turning towards him I mouth at him, fully aware of how good he is at lip-reading, "You fucker, when I said do you have a hot daughter, I meant my age or older, not a literal child. You could have just said no!" The smirk on his and Laura's face, who I recalled being a Shield Agent, and could probably also read lips, was disheartening, but with a calming breath, I focus on the approaching car. "Your other guest is arriving." Laura, checking her phone, watched as the notification alerted her to the car. 'Hopefully, she's just like she was in the show, quirky, funny and gorgeous, and if I'm super lucky, Yelena will join too, being the hot older, European sister to Kate.'

'She's around 14, and from what I remember, rich as hell. I pray that she doesn't have some princess attitude.' Seeing her walk up to the house, guided by Clint, a bow in hand I nod approvingly. Being ready to show your abilities, whether for vanity or purpose, at any moment is a good lesson to learn. Her small build, wrapped in a purple leather jacket, black jeans and boots, was jittering nervously as she followed behind him, fully aware that she would be in a room full of strangers, eating with her idol. As she walked in and was introduced to Clint's family, I appraised her. Defined forearms, a broad set of shoulders and an added bonus of her being cute now, stunning later. "Hello, I'm Nathan, the one who will be leading the junior team under Clint's guidance, a pleasure to meet you."

Startled by my appearance, and curious as to my ability, as my frame while tall, did not tell of strength, she looked up into my eyes, not saying anything for a few moments, until Lila nudged her. "Ahh, I'm Kate Bishop, I'll be joining your team."

Looking at her stiff, professional greeting, I sigh, but am saved by Laura butting in, "Now that we've finished being formal, maybe we should get to know each other?" Recognising this as a command, I grab a chair for myself and Kate, leaving only Clint standing at the barbeque.

As Kate told us about her archery training, and her recently having been awarded the JOAD Olympian Achievement Award, just this year. She was super excited to learn about Clint from Laura, while Lila was more interested in hearing about Nat from me. Regaling her with stories about our training, the coffee trips we would have together, and the time I convinced her to change sides when the Avengers almost split up, including how she tried to tase me. Clint had actually already started cooking my food, which was surprising as hell, so I fetched him a beer as we talked about our everyday lives.

Eating people while chatting with other people was a weird experience, especially as the two people who knew were seemingly fine with it, having realised that I don't have a choice in the matter. There was only one moment of panic as both Lila and Kate went to grab from my tray, and quickly stopped with a swift swat of Laura's fork on their hands.

Pressing the issue, and knowing that Kate might react badly, I ask, "What's your opinion on aliens, like Thor?, or mutants?"

Despite a quick twitch of her hand, Kate looked up calmly. "As long as they are not a threat to humanity, I have no issue with aliens, or mutants really. One of the girls I go to school with is a mutant, not that you could tell by looking at her, but she's super sweet and really smart. If you're about to reveal that you're an alien or mutant that's fine."

"Technically, I'm neither, but my abilities are somewhat similar to both, as I'm not exactly human, but I don't have the X-gene. And I ask, because the team may find itself with members with mutant abilities, or potentially aliens, should allied ones come here."

"What are your abilities exactly?"

"I'm Leviathan. The one with the glowing red tentacles." Moving out into the large open space, I activate the kagune, then grow spikes from them, launching them into the dirt, then switching to the kakuja, demonstrating the speed possible in that form. "Leviathan, as in the tentacled dragon of the deep seas destined to eat the wicked." A knowing glance to Clint and I grin, "I thought it fit. Now miss archer, would you please demonstrate your skill?" Drawing her bow in a second, and firing within a fraction of another, an arrow lodged into the tree next to me, about a foot from my shoulder.

"Not bad huh?"

"Impressive Kate, now shoot me." Standing dead still I wait for her to draw. As she draws waiting to call my bluff, Clint encourages her, telling her not to worry.

*Thkk*

"Oh no, I thought you'd move. We need to call an ambulance." As Kate runs up in a panic I simply pull out the arrow, glad this one was a bullet point and not barbed, the wound in my chest healed the instant the arrow is out.

Looking at her stumped face I explain, "My powers aren't just cool tentacles and speed, but also superhuman strength, senses and regeneration. Even if this went into my brain, I would be fine."

"And you didn't tell me"

"I needed to know whether or not you could shoot me. If you couldn't or wouldn't, I would have rejected you from the team, as not every opportunity lets us simply incapacitate our enemy, despite what the news says." Seeing the thoughts behind her eyes and the silent nod, I smile, wrapping her in a hug. "Do you have a name yet, because I'm not calling you Hawkeye Jr, when there's a literal Hawkeye Jr right here? Isn't that right Lila?" A small grin in response, obviously unsure about the name.

"I can't think of any that don't sound boring or weird. Like Arrow is fine I guess, but it's a little masculine."

"Have you considered Artemis or Diana? both the Greek and Roman names for the same Goddess of the Hunt and of the moon, an expert archer and, most importantly...apparently, feminine. Or perhaps simply Robin, as in robin hood, and keeping with the bird thing Clint started." While I may have offered Artemis, I couldn't find myself liking it, 'Robin in this case is super seperate from Batman's Robin, but Artemis would feel like a knockoff. A really hot, funny knockoff with enough money to mooch off for a while.' (I'm just going to use a spin wheel to pick her new name so if you don't like it, too bad)

"I think I'll follow Clint with the Robin thing. Besides, most of my friends call me Robin Hood anyway."

Offering her my hand I greet her properly for the first time, "Good to meet to Robin, my name is Leviathan, the leader of our new squad. Welcome to the team, I hope we can be friends."

Seizing my hand with rapid speed, she shakes it, "Nice to meet you Leviathan, I hope we can too."