C591 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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Soldier Boy, still seething with anger from from last nights lose, and annoyed by Peter's taunting greeting, was on the verge of charging towards him when, in a blink, Peter appeared right in front of him. A hand casually landed on Soldier Boy's shoulder, and a sudden, overwhelming force pressed down on him, threatening to buckle his knees.
His muscles strained against the invisible burden as Soldier Boy found himself frozen in place, powerless to resist the weight that bore down on him. The intense pressure radiated from Peter's touch, leaving Soldier Boy gritting his teeth against the pain.
As Peter's face loomed in front of him, Soldier Boy could see that demonic grin etched across his features. It was a sinister smile that hinted at the agony promised if he dared to challenge the mysterious man before him. Peter leaned in, his voice dripping with a deceptive sweetness, "Best behavior, Soldier Boy, or you might find yourself in the company of Homelander, Translucent, and Stormfront in the afterlife."
Soldier Boy, unable to speak, shot a glare at Peter, his eyes conveying a mixture of defiance and understanding. Peter, satisfied that his point was made, withdrew his hand, relieving Soldier Boy of the crushing force. The worn out superhero slumped against the doorframe, gasping for breath, grateful to be released from Peter's oppressive hold.
Ignoring Soldier Boy's recovery, Peter pivoted and snapped his fingers, a gesture that erased the military-style obstacle course from existence. The backyard transformed, leaving no trace of the challenging trials that had just occupied the space moments ago.
Ryan, still standing beside Black Noir, watched in awe as the backyard returned to its serene state. The magical display left him wondering just how powerful his new teacher really was?
Calling Ryan over, Peter gestured toward Soldier Boy, who was still catching his breath. "Ryan, meet Soldier Boy, your grandfather."
The shock registered on Ryan's face as he stared up at Soldier Boy, realizing exactly who he was. After all, who didn’t know the very first American Superhero? “Y-You’re my grandpa?!”
Soldier Boy, just as shocked as his grandson, wanted to deny it and push the annoying kid away, but one look from Peter set him straight. "…yeah?” His voice carried a confused and reluctant tilt to it.
Peter, satisfied with Soldier Boys behavior this far, clapped Ryan on the back. "Go get cleaned up. Your grandpa and I will start on breakfast, so don’t take too long or he might eat it all."
“Okay!” Ryan replied happily as he rushed up to Soldier Boy, wrapping him up in a quick hug.
Soldier Boy stood robotically as his ‘grandson’ suddenly hugged him, a scowl clear to see on his face. However, before he could even think of complaining, Ryan squeezed him a bit harder than he expected. “Ugh!” He groaned under the pressure of Ryan’s uncontrolled power.
“See you soon, Grandpa!” Ryan yelled as he released Soldier Boy, rushing off into the house, unaware of the damage he did.
“How strong is that little sh*t?” Soldier Boy groaned as he held his midsection. “He almost broke my ribs…”
“Like I said, he’s your grandson. Of course he’ll be strong…” Peter said, which actually made Sodlier Boy wonder if Ryan was really was his Grandson.
…
As Ryan dashed inside the house with a newfound enthusiasm, Peter strolled past the confused looking Soldier Boy, headed straight toward the kitchen. Following in Peter's footsteps, Black Noir attempted to walk past Soldier Boy as well, but the seasoned superhero swiftly reached over, blocking the doorway with his arm.
Soldier Boy, his curiosity piqued, turned to Noir. "How the hell were you healed? Because I distinctly remember barbecuing that ugly mug of yours to a nice medium rare."
Noir's glare shot daggers at Soldier Boy, and with a menacing tone, he uttered one word, "Move."
A tense standoff ensued as Soldier Boy and Noir locked eyes, the air thick with unspoken threats. But before the confrontation could escalate, Peter's voice echoed from the kitchen, “Noir! Come set the table!”
Noir responded with a curt "Yes, sir," maintaining his gaze on Soldier Boy, waiting for him to relent. Soldier Boy, sensing the tension and the implied threat in Noir's expression, begrudgingly moved out of the doorway. After all, Peter told him to be on his best behavior, or else…
Seeing Soldier Boy's compliance, Noir smirked, realizing the extent of Soldier Boy's unease in the presence of Peter. Annoyed by the smug look Noir was giving him, Soldier Boy couldn't resist a parting jab. "Get going, Noir. Your new master’s calling you."
Suddenly, Peter's voice cut through the tension once more. "Soldier Boy! Help Noir set the table, and wash those dirty hands before touching anything. I don’t want you getting anyone sick… Who knows what strange Russian diseases you’ve brought back with you."
Soldier Boy seethed with rage at being ordered around, but before he could react, Noir walked past him, chuckling as he remarked, "Come on, your new master’s calling you."
As Noir headed inside, Soldier Boy reluctantly followed, contemplating whether or not he should just run away. Though something told him that wouldn’t be possible.
…
In the kitchen, Soldier Boy begrudgingly followed Noir's lead as they set the table under Peter's watchful eye. Scowling, Soldier Boy kept a wary gaze on Peter, determined not to provoke the enigmatic man who had displayed powers beyond his comprehension.
Meanwhile, Peter skillfully worked at the stove, cooking up eggs, bacon, waffles, and much more as the enticing aroma wafted through the kitchen.
As the table was set, Soldier Boy took a seat while Noir stood attentively by Peter's side, ready to assist in any way possible. Ever since Peter healed him the previous night, Noir had become Peter's devoted aide, carrying out tasks without a hint of hesitation.
Gratitude emanated from Noir towards Peter. Loyalty, once dedicated to Vought, had seamlessly shifted to the mysterious man who held power beyond any he had witnessed.
Originally, Noir had contemplated contacting Vought with information about Peter, but after the miraculous healing, his allegiance had shifted, and now he was like a servant, loyal to Peter even in the face of the unknown.
Soldier Boy observed Noir's odd behavior, realizing that Peter must have played a role in Noir's healed face, and ability to speak.
Seated at the table, Soldier Boy found himself with a lot more questions than answers. But sadly, he could t exactly demand answers with Peter around.
Glancing back at Soldier Boy, who was stewing in his seat, Peter took a moment to break the silence. He turned to Soldier Boy, his expression more serious than the usual mischievous grin. "Look, Soldier Boy, I suppose it's time for a little talk."
Soldier Boy eyed Peter cautiously, still wary of what he might do. Peter continued, "Let’s start with your new explosive disability. Do you know why you suddenly exploded last night?”
“No…” He answered, his hand gripping into fists. Not only was exploding like that not one of his powers, he also couldn’t seem to control it.
Peter nodded, expecting that answer. “Well, when you exploded like a very dangerous firework, I analyzed the energy that you were using. You’ve got a surplus of radioactive energy inside you, and it seems like your body has changed somehow to keep producing this energy."
As Peter detailed the potential dangers of his newfound ability, Soldier Boy listened, absorbing the information. A realization dawned on him, and he muttered under his breath, "Those damn Russian… they turned me into a walking nuke."
Peter nodded, acknowledging Soldier Boy's understanding. "Exactly. So, keep your emotions in check. Your little meltdown last night triggered the energy overload. As long as you can keep calm, you won’t have to worry about exploding. After all, we don't want you going off like a suicide bomber, do we?"
Soldier Boy processed the gravity of the situation, realizing the extent of the experimentation that had been inflicted upon him. The weight of his own existence now felt more burdensome, a ticking time bomb of radioactive energy.
“Can it be fixed?” He suddenly asks.
“What? You don’t want the power to blow up anyone who annoys you?” Peter asks back.
“No, I’d rather not risk blowing up in a crowded city…” Soldier Boy replied, frowning at Peter’s idiotic question.
Smiling, Peter liked the answer he got. ‘I guess he isn’t a complete lost cause… At least not yet.’ Thinking for a moment, Peter finally answered his question. “Sure, I can help you with the energy, but you’re going to have to work for it.”
“Fine…” Soldier Boy begrudgingly agreed. “What do you want?”
“You’re going to help me train your grandson.” Peter states, Hopi g to use this opportunity to change Soldier Boy for the better.
Reluctantly agreeing, Soldier Boy ventured to ask another pressing question. "What about that kid? Who is he really?"
Peter's expression shifted, his tone growing somber. "Ryan is Homelander's son. Homelander, being the piece of human trash that he was, r*ped Ryan's mother, Becca. And nine months later, Ryan was born." He explained before warning. “Of course, Ryan doesn’t know who his real father is, so you’ll have to keep that to yourself… or else…”
Soldier Boy's face twisted in a mixture of shock and disgust. Even for someone with his dubious past, the idea of r*ping someone crossed a line he couldn't fathom. "You know, I've done some pretty messed up sh•t in my time, but I've never forced myself on a woman. Even my old man wouldn’t have done that, and he was an even bigger a•shole than me..."
As Soldier Boy grappled with the disturbing revelation, the kitchen door suddenly swung open. Billy and Becca Butcher entered, their eyes widening as they laid eyes on Soldier Boy and Black Noir.
On pure instinct, Billy stepped in front of Becca, a pistol materializing from his pants. "What the hell are these cunts doing here!?"
A/N: 1672 words :)