(I'll be honest, this arc turned out to be way longer than I imagined. It was supposed to be like 4 chapters, but fortunately, the next chapter will be the last, it'll tie up all the loose ends. Once again though, remember to comment.)
===
Leo's POV
"Alright, let's test this out." With a tense thought, my body began to shift.
The Biomass that made up my body began to change, a red mass of blood, veins, fat, and everything else the human body is made out of began to wrap around me.
Which reminds me, once I get a proper lab I should really begin research into my own biology.
I'm literally made up of super slush that's capable of altering its density, biological, and molecular structure in seconds.
The only reason I'm not as strong as Alex, or James Heller, is because I'm basically the clean version, no self-evolving virus.
Since they were basically super viruses, they had the ability to evolve and adapt the more they consumed. Which is something I also can't do, but if I'm being honest, it's kind of a good thing I don't have the Blacklight virus, New York does not need a super plague.
Either way, I watched as my Biomass began to take shape. Shifting into shoes, jeans, and a shirt. The same clothes I had on earlier, it would be hard to explain if I was suddenly wearing a different set of clothing.
With some new threads, I stepped off the roof and into the alley below.
===
3rd Person POV
"Ben Urich here, reporting live for The Daily Bugle. Outside of F.E.A.S.T Community Center, where a chaotic scene has unfolded." Ben Urich began, his cameraman recording the chaotic scene behind him.
Ben Urich, an older African American man. Stubble on his chin, and upper lip. Dark, squared brim glasses, and a greying hairline.
Ben continued to report the scene. "Just moments ago, the people of New York witnessed an unexplainable event. Just moments ago, F.E.A.S.T was attacked by a group of heavily armed assailants."
"Hey, stay behind the line!" An officer yelled off camera.
"Not only that." Ben continued. "These so-called assailants, mechanical terrors of war." The camera zoomed in on a disembodied body of an Ultra Kriegstaffebot, wire sparking from its neck.
"Cut the feed." A Cop came into view as he tried to confiscate the camera.
"Fortunately, nobody was harmed as a group of believed to be mutants fought these mechanical terrors head on!" Ben yelled as the cameraman fought to keep the camera focused on him.
Gwen watched from a distance as Ben Urich, and his cameraman fought with the officer.
"What is he even trying to accomplish?" Leo asked as he wrapped an arm around Gwen. "Half a dozen people are already recording with their phones."
A crowd had already formed around the area, dozens of people trying to peek past the officer with their phones in the air.
Gwen pulled away, a blush on her face as she punched Leo in the shoulder.
"Just so you know, that doesn't hurt me at all." He told her.
Gwen just scowled. "What the heck was that? You ripped its head off, who were those guys with you? Why-" Leo placed a finger over her mouth, cutting her off.
"I'll explain later, in private." He explained, gesturing to the large crowd.
Gwen pushed his hand away. "Don't do that, I don't like it."
"Sorry, but I'd rather not talk about my 'condition' in public." He explained, using air quotes around the word condition.
Gwen began to examine his clothing. "Huh, where'd you get those?"
Leo just smirked, his clothing twitched and slithered. "Jealous? Let's just say, it's a new trick I picked up."
Gwen picked at his shirt, examining it. "How did you- did you make them, but out of what? They feel almost real, are these bio synthetic? How does that-"
"Later." He cut her off. "In private."
"Leo!" Ned yelled out as he ran towards them, MJ, and Harry right behind him.
"Have you seen Peter?!" MJ asked, worried.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking." Leo answered, sarcastically.
MJ just frowned, clearly not in a joking mood.
"Did somebody say my name?" Peter asked as he arrived, a small scrape on his cheek.
"Peter!" MJ pushed past Ned. "What happened?" Peter winced as MJ's hand grazed his scrape.
"It's alright, I just got knocked over in the panic." He answered. "Have you guys seen May?"
Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but-" He didn't finish his sentences as he gestured to an area nearby.
In the distance, Martine Li can be seen comforting May as the police closed off the entrance to F.E.A.S.T.
Leo let out a deep sigh, he's probably going to regret this.
===
Leo's POV
I've never really read the comic, so my impressions of May came from the movies and the Insomniac game.
Her death in the game broke me, thank god they didn't make it a choice. If it came down to it, I think we all would have chosen her over New York.
Either way, it hurt to see her upset. She genuinely just wants to help people, she doesn't deserve this.
With a deep breath, I let out a tired sigh. "Harry…give me your checkbook."
"Why?" Harry asked, suspicious.
"Just give it."
Harry handed me his checkbook, Peter followed me as I walked up to May and Mr. Li.
"May, I'm sorry." Peter apologized.
May waved it off. "It's okay, Peter. It's not your fault, none of us could have seen this coming."
"She's right." Mr. Li added with a frown. "This isn't the first time F.E.A.S.T has struggled, and it probably won't be the last. We'll rebuild, we always do." He explained.
"While courageous," I began to write the check. "Maybe this'll be of some help." With a smile, I handed May a check.
Her eyes widened in shock. "We can't accept this!" She tried to hand me the check back, but I pushed it back into her hands.
Peter leaned over her shoulder. "50,000 dollars?!" He yelled out in shock.
"What?!" Harry yelled from behind, phone in hand.
Apparently, he realized what I was up to and decided to record it for some PR.
"This is far too generous, we can't accept this." Mr. Li argued.
Harry grabbed me and whispered into my ear. "I thought we agreed on 10,000, not 50,000. You can't do this."
"It's okay." I told him.
"No, like you actually can't do this. You think you can just write a check and donate money? There's paperwork that goes into this, we have to reallocate funds from our corporate account."
"I know that, that's why it's from my own checking account ... the company can pay me back later." They better, that's a decent chunk out of Flappy Bird earnings.
May embraced me in a hug. Odd fact about me, I do not like being hugged out of nowhere. Either I initiate it, or it's not happening.
"Is there anything we can do to repay you?" May asked.
"It's alright, it's nothing." It's not, but there's nothing wrong about being modest.
"Still, take my card." Mr. Li handed me his business card. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."
"Maybe when Omni Work begins to expand, I'll give F.E.A.S.T a call. People willing to work and learn are hard to find, but you guys seem to have plenty of them."
Mr. Li and May just gave me a warm smile.
"What now?" Ned asked.
I just sighed. "I think we should just call it a day, let the police handle the clean up." And maybe get the hell out here before the military or S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up.
===
The group split up; Norman came to pick up Harry. Peter stayed with his aunt, and MJ stayed with Peter. Gwen, Ned, and I walked together for a bit until Ned eventually had to separate.
Despite Gwen living in the other direction, she decided to walk me home. Her dad probably won't be home for a while, since he's currently dealing with the aftermath of the Kriegstaffebots.
By the time we reached my home, it had become late noon.
"Huh?" Gwen let out a surprised noise.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"No, I just wasn't expecting your home to be… like this." She answered as nicely as possible, gesturing to the current state of my yard.
Wooden beams lined the walls, keeping them steady as they dried. Leftover construction material, the occasional piece of trash left over from when they probably had their lunch break.
"I'm doing some remodeling." I told her as we approached the front door. "Do you mind waiting for a moment outside, I just need a minute to clean up." AKA, hide Om Nom.
"It's okay, I don't mind a mess." She answered as I stuck my key into the knob.
As I opened the door, a small shallow wave of soapy water leaked out. Not a lot, just a centimeter's worth of water.
"Huh?" Gwen and I let out a confused sound in unison.
My mouth widened in confusion as I stepped inside, soapy water everywhere. Pillows, and blanket soaked to the brim. Bath toys everywhere, and a bottle of bubble soap that's been engulfed in its own bubble solution.
"What happened?" Gwen asked as she stepped inside.
Only to freeze as something grazed her foot, I turned my head. "Gwen, whatever you do. Don't look down,"
Gwen chose to ignore my warning, and looked down.
Clutching to her leg was Om Nom, soaking wet and covered in soap bubbles.
He blinked. "Nom?" And let out a confused noise.
".....AHHHHHHH!" Gwen screamed.
Om Nom let out a startled yelp as he ran off, a bad idea as he immediately slipped and slid across the floor. He slammed into a living room table, knocking over a leftover popcorn bin onto his head.
Gwen just stared at me in shock as Om Nom stumbled around.
".....I can explain."
===
"What… What is he?" Gwen asked as she sat on my bed, drying Om Nom off with a spare towel.
It took a moment to calm her down, but fortunately, Om Nom has a pretty lovable, and dopey face.
"I'm not sure." I answered as I drained the bathtub. "What I am sure of is that he's in very big trouble." I added with a glare.
Om Nom flinched as he leapt out of Gwen's arm, and hid behind her.
Somehow, in the span of one day. Om Nom learned how to work the bathroom faucet, decided to have a bath time, and then flooded the house.
"Where'd he come from?" Om Nom let out a coo as Gwen rubbed his face.
"I'm also not sure." That's actually not a lie, I actually have no idea where Om Nom is from.
According to The Cut the Rope games, Om Nom isn't an alien. He's some sort of creature called a Nommie, and they seemed to be natives to Earth.
Well, at least Om Nom's lineage is. In the time travel game, Om Nom had ancestors all throughout history. From the Stone Age, to the Renaissance.
"Well, how did you get-" she hesitated.
"His name is Om Nom, or Nom for short. Just don't call him Om."
Gwen just raised a brow. "Well, where did Om Nom come from?"
As much as I hate lying to her, I can't tell her the truth just yet. So, once again, it's time for me to bullshit.
"I think he was a gift."
"A gift?" She parroted in confusion.
"I'm not sure, one day out of nowhere. Somebody left a package at my front door, and inside was Om Nom." It's scary how good I am at lying, then again, I was a theater kid in my first life.
"That's it?"
"There was a note, it said his name was Om Nom. That he's a Nommie, and to feed him candy."
"Candy?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, he needs sugar like humans need Vitamin C." At least from what I've observed.
"....Leo, what's going on? Are you involved in something dangerous?"
I just sighed. "Not exactly, it's just…complicated. There's a lot of things going on, and it's hard to explain."
Gwen held Om Nom tight. "Well, I'm a good listener."
(Fun Fact: Originally, The Om Nom bath thing was going to be its own chapter. A little mini chapter dedicated to what Om Nom does when Leo isn't home, but I realized it was basically filler, so It's probably going to be a short bonus chapter after this arc.)