Peter sat down heavily next to Big White, causing a noise. Aunt May, startled, glanced at him with mild annoyance before returning her attention to Big White.
Peter shrugged, feeling a bit helpless, but seeing Aunt May so happy, he decided not to disturb her. He even considered keeping the peculiar panda at home to keep her company.
However, the thought of Big White's unique status and insatiable appetite quickly dispelled that notion.
This is a panda, not a pet. Pandas are only native to China, the country's national treasure. Other nations can only borrow them as symbols of peaceful diplomacy.
With such a significant identity, any misstep could be disastrous. If not for Big White's persistence in following him—and the police close behind—Peter wouldn't have brought him home.
Big White had a monstrous appetite, having devoured everything in their house. Peter had even gone out to buy additional supplies.
---
Seemingly full, Big White dozed off on the sofa.
With a moment to herself, Aunt May turned to Peter.
"Peter, I think you need to explain this."
"Well... it's just a coincidence. As I was heading home, this panda suddenly jumped from a tree and latched onto me."
"It's the giant panda that went missing from the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington last night."
Peter scratched his head, explaining vaguely, eyebrows raised.
"Big White?" While engulfed in her own grief lately, Aunt May had heard about Big White's escapades on the news. His story was making waves in New York, broadcasted on every station.
However, she hadn't expected Peter to bring him home.
"Yes, I'll call the Smithsonian Zoo once he's asleep and have them come over," Peter assured her.
"That's good, but it seems different from the rumors. Don't pandas eat fresh bamboo?" Recalling the steak, chicken, and noodles Big White devoured, she was puzzled.
"Uh... this panda is a bit special. You'll understand after checking the news online. He's all over the forums," Peter said, realizing Aunt May might not believe him otherwise.
A panda capable of flying kicks defied conventional wisdom.
"Well, you should rest. You have school tomorrow," Aunt May nodded, pulling out her phone.
"Okay, good night!" Peter hugged her, then grabbed his bag and headed upstairs.
But just then, Big White, who had been dozing, suddenly hopped off the sofa and followed Peter upstairs.
"Oh, come back!" Aunt May called, concerned about disturbing Peter's rest, especially since she needed to contact the zoo.
"It's okay, Aunt May, he just likes me. He won't disrupt my school schedule," Peter reassured her with a smile.
"I didn't know you liked animals so much. Maybe after he's gone, we can consider getting a pet."
"We'll see. Good night!" Peter waved, heading to his room with Big White in tow.
---
"Bang!" Once inside, Big White stopped pretending, standing upright and exploring the room.
Soon, he discovered a small studio.
"Elastic material," he muttered, inspecting a mold containing something like red glue. Nearby was a set of web shooters, with a strand of webbing connected to a target on the wall.
Big White gave it a tug, testing its strength and elasticity.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Peter, having set his backpack down, hurried over and removed Big White's paw from the webbing.
"Forget it," Big White muttered, eyeing the drawings on the desk. His interest piqued, he climbed onto a chair, grabbed a drawing, and examined it.
The drawing depicted a red and blue costume, head to toe, with spider web patterns and a thin spider emblem on the chest and back, complete with black eye sockets on the hood.
"Please! Don't touch my drawings. Can you even understand them?" Peter hurried over, reclaiming the drawings.
Big White glanced at him, pointing to the drawings, then at himself.
"What? You want me to make you a suit too?" Peter asked, intrigued by Big White's gestures.
Big White nodded, then shook his head.
"Yes... or no?" Peter was puzzled.
Big White pondered, then jumped from the chair, performing a Shadow Boxing starting pose.
???
Peter was still at a loss.
Sighing, Big White placed his hands together, one in front of his chest and the other behind the midline.
"Fist Combat! That's Fist Combat, I know it!" Peter exclaimed as Big White struck the pose.
"Yeah." Breathing a sigh of relief, Big White pointed to the drawings again, then to himself, and struck the Fist Combat pose once more.
Peter furrowed his brow, contemplating.
"You want me to design a martial arts costume for you?"
Big White gazed at him, exasperated, pointing to his belly and soft fur.
"I'm so big, is a tight suit really suitable for me?"
"Come on, I don't get it! And I'm sending you back soon. If you want a souvenir, how about a small spider toy?" Peter sighed, feeling the futility of communicating through gestures alone.
"Roar!" Big White growled indignantly, unhappy with the idea of being sent back. He had just escaped, and now they wanted to return him?
"Okay, okay, I won't send you back, but we can't support you here! If you return, you'll have all sorts of delicious food, a nutritionist, and regular health checks."
"Outside, your diet won't be balanced, and you'll have no one to care for you if you fall ill."
"Isn't that right?" Peter tried to reason with him.
Ignoring him, Big White eyed the bed and leapt onto it, eager to see if he had enough points to unlock the ability to speak.
"Oh no! Get down! You're dirtying my bed! Aunt May will be upset," Peter fretted, rushing to remove Big White from the sheets now marked with paw prints.