Recovering from the shock of seeing someone kiss the most dangerous person in the mansion and walk away completely unscathed, everyone turned their attention toward Rogue.
She was still frozen, clearly reeling from the sudden kiss.
Everyone present, except Logan, wondered the same thing.
How had he kissed Rogue and simply walked away?
But other thoughts were also beginning to surface.
Especially those belonging to a certain redhead who was inwardly furious after watching him kiss Rogue.
Ever since Jean had kissed and met the attractive young man with the white streak in his hair, she had been having increasingly vivid dreams.
And each day, they became worse.
On more than one occasion, she had been forced to excuse herself from class using some pathetic excuse just to deal with a certain problem she had developed under the guidance of her not so innocent friend.
Worse, for the past few days, she had started hearing a voice inside her head.
A voice ordering her to break up with Scott and go find the boy with the white streak in his hair.
And now, after seeing him kiss another woman, Jean felt something primal beginning to surface inside her.
Using what little self-control she still possessed, she forced herself to calm down before she caused a scene.
Finally, she made a decision.
She was going to break up with Scott.
Once Rogue recovered from the shock, her hands still trembling from the lingering warmth of the kiss, she slowly began opening the envelope.
The moment she pulled out its contents, her face turned so red that it would have put a tomato to shame.
Both Jean and Kitty immediately noticed the sudden change in their friend's expression.
Curious, they approached Rogue and looked over her shoulder to see what had surprised her.
Then they froze as well.
Rogue was holding a photograph of Jason in naked with only boxers on with his autograph.
That caused two things to happen.
First, the anger Jean had been feeling disappeared, replaced by something else entirely.
Something she had already been struggling with for days.
Only now, it was significantly worse.
And Jean was not the only one.
Kitty and Rogue were clearly experiencing something similar.
Second, both Jean and Kitty suddenly felt deeply envious because neither of them had received a similar gift.
"Ahem."
Rogue clutched the envelope and photograph tightly.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to use the ladies' room."
Then she quickly walked out of the room.
"I... I need to do my homework," Jean said abruptly. "It'll probably take me a few hours. Don't bother me!"
She hurried out of the room and headed toward her bedroom.
Everyone still present slowly turned toward Kitty.
Her expression was completely serious.
That alone surprised them, considering how sudden the change had been.
"I am going to study female anatomy in private. If you'll excuse me."
Then she left the room just as quickly as the other two girls.
Everyone stared at the door through which the girls had disappeared.
An awkward silence filled the room.
For several long seconds, no one said anything.
Then, little by little, everyone began leaving without a word.
....
Sitting in front of the cave's main computer, Peter studied a report Cortana had given him shortly after he finished delivering the last gifts.
One had been for Jessica.
He had given her a reinforced jacket along with a custom pistol modeled after Blue Rose, Nero's revolver from the Devil May Cry video game series.
For Colleen, he had prepared a suit similar to Katana's from DC Comics, though the mask was completely white and lacked the distinctive red marking.
He had not forgotten Wade either.
Peter had simply left his gift at one of the bars Wade frequently visited.
Once Peter returned to the cave, Cortana gave him a report on the Bifröst.
From what he could see, he would have to handle most of the work himself.
As the saying went, if you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself.
"Peter?" Cortana called.
"Hmm?"
"I found something incredibly strange regarding what you call Meta-Humans."
"And what would that be?" Peter asked without looking away from the report.
"Well, there is a legend of sorts in the United Kingdom. More specifically, in London."
Peter continued reading.
"It's about a creature."
"And why should I care about that right now?"
"Because this creature is somewhat similar to the Hulk, though considerably stranger, I must say."
That caught a small amount of his attention.
"And SHIELD lost several agents when they went looking for it."
Peter finally looked up from the report.
A chibi version of Cortana appeared on the computer screen before being replaced by several reports and blurry photographs of the creature she had described.
As Peter read through the files, his frown deepened.
Especially when he reached the list of crimes.
"Do you have a clearer picture of this creature?"
"One was taken by a civilian, but many people claim the image was edited, so I cannot confirm how authentic it is."
The screen changed.
"But I'll show it to you anyway."
A much clearer photograph appeared.
The moment Peter saw the creature, his eyes widened slightly and his brow furrowed.
"Do you think it's real or fictional?" Cortana asked.
Peter stared at the image for several seconds.
"Prepare the Web-Jet."
Cortana paused.
"So it is real."
She immediately began checking the systems.
"The Web-Jet is still undergoing its final upgrades, so it is unlikely to be airborne anytime soon. However, the Spider-Jet is ready for a ride."
I still can't figure out how he knows things I don't, Cortana thought.
"I'd use it if this were a mission for Spider-Man."
Peter stood.
"But matters outside New York fall under Red Hood's jurisdiction."
"Understood. Then you'll be happy to know that the Bat-Wing is ready for use."
"Perfect."
Peter suddenly remembered something.
"Also, change my previous order regarding the Carbunadium replacements. Only reinforce the walls of the house and the cave."
He glanced toward the reports.
"We don't have enough Adamantium to replace everything, and I doubt I'll get lucky enough to find another deposit."
"Noted. That was another matter I wanted to discuss, but it seems you beat me to it."
Peter nodded.
He walked toward a nearby wall and placed his hand against it.
Several hidden doors opened, revealing a concealed access point.
Stepping inside, Peter entered the elevator and descended toward the Underground.
When the doors opened, he stepped out just as another hidden hatch slid aside, revealing the compartment where he stored his classic Red Hood suit.
Peter changed into the suit and gathered everything he needed.
Then another hatch opened from the floor.
The Bat-Wing rose into view.
The aircraft he had been working on was finally complete.
Peter climbed inside and pressed several buttons.
A hatch ahead of him opened.
Taking control of the aircraft, he watched as a red interface appeared across the cockpit display.
Then he accelerated.
The Bat-Wing shot through the underground tunnel at high speed.
Peter pressed another button on his side.
A second tunnel opened.
He turned sharply and entered it.
For several seconds, he piloted through the passage until the exit hatch came into view.
Peter pressed another control.
Several hatches began closing behind him.
The one ahead opened.
A massive amount of water immediately flooded into the tunnel.
This conduit was connected to a body of water in a park only a few kilometers from the house.
Once the Bat-Wing exited the tunnel, Peter continued piloting underwater.
Only after reaching a considerable distance from any potential observers did he begin ascending.
The black aircraft broke through the surface like a dark shadow.
It immediately accelerated upward.
Within moments, it reached the clouds and disappeared from sight.
Peter set a course for London.
He was going hunting.
Thanks to the Bat-Wing's speed, the journey took far less time than expected.
....
Peter landed atop a building and left the Bat-Wing in stealth mode.
A marker appeared on his helmet's minimap, indicating the suspected location of the creature's lair.
He jumped from the rooftop.
Using his grappling hook, Peter moved rapidly across the buildings toward the location.
Then, only a few meters from his destination, his enhanced senses caught something.
A woman's scream.
Followed by a man's laughter in the distance.
Peter immediately changed direction.
He accelerated.
Because he already suspected who had caused that scream.
Reaching a tall building, Peter stopped.
Below him lay the body of a woman, probably in her early twenties.
"Cortana, contact the authorities. Anonymous report. Make sure they find the body."
"Understood."
Peter descended and began examining the corpse to determine the cause of death.
Using echolocation, he quickly discovered that there was more than one possibility.
The first was the massive number of broken ribs.
Several had pierced her internal organs, causing severe internal bleeding.
But Peter was more inclined toward the second possibility.
A fractured neck.
Then he noticed something nearby.
A nearly finished cigar.
Peter looked around and focused his enhanced senses.
The lingering scent formed a trail.
It led toward a Gothic cathedral.
Peter fired his grappling hook and began moving across the buildings.
Toward the cathedral.
....
He climbed until he landed on the rooftop.
Moving carefully, Peter followed the scent until it led him toward a door.
He opened it.
The interior was covered in dust.
An old bell dominated the chamber.
Peter moved past it and continued deeper inside.
Thanks to his enhanced senses, it did not take long to locate the subject.
"Grrr..."
Peter looked up.
The creature was hanging from the ceiling.
Its head was twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Good evening, sir," Peter said in a calm and serene tone.
Through the HUD, he saw Cortana make a disgusted face.
The creature stared down at him.
"You're very big."
Its voice was deep and gravelly.
"You'll be difficult to digest."
The creature removed the cigar from its mouth.
Peter remained completely calm.
"Sorry to be such a pain."
"Hahaha!"
The creature released its grip.
It performed a midair pirouette before landing perfectly on its feet.
Then it slowly straightened to its full height.
Nearly two meters tall.
"You're very far from home, aren't you?"
The creature took another drag from its cigar.
"What brings a man like you to the great and beautiful city of London?"
"I came to kill you because of certain problems," Peter answered honestly.
Cortana stared at him in disbelief through the HUD.
The creature merely laughed.
Despite its enormous size, it moved with remarkable speed, leaping upward and hanging from a wooden beam before taking another drag from its cigar.
"Doctor Jekyll, because of the—"
"Now I am Mr. Hyde."
Hyde performed another somersault and landed atop the wooden framework.
He dropped onto all fours and moved along the beam toward the opposite end with disturbing ease.
Peter watched him carefully.
"I came for you because of the crimes committed by this bizarre corruption of the Super-Soldier Serum."
His voice remained cold.
"Along with the murders of twelve men, ten government agents, seven women, and fou—"
"Four children, three goats, two pigs, and, of course, the massacre of the chickens," Hyde interrupted.
He leaped from one side of the chamber to the other.
Now they were face-to-face, though Hyde was still hanging above him.
A grin spread across the creature's face.
"I must admit, I'm surprised."
Hyde tilted his head.
"The demented sociopath who appeared on the news showing a recording of himself torturing someone has come looking for me."
Peter stared at him.
"And you're a disturbed cannibalistic psychopath."
Hyde dropped down.
He took another drag from his cigar.
Then he blew the smoke directly into Peter's face.
"Everyone has their little problems."
Hyde placed the cigar in his mouth.
Then he chewed it.
Swallowed it.
And burped directly in Peter's face.
Through the HUD, Cortana immediately covered her mouth and made a disgusted expression, as though she were about to be sick.
Peter stared at Hyde.
"I hope you've finished all your affairs in life."
His voice became colder.
"Because when I'm done with you, you'll be staring death in the face."
"Interesting."
Hyde touched his chin thoughtfully.
Then, without warning, he threw a punch.
Peter stepped backward.
The fist missed him by inches.
Hyde's grin widened.
"Impressive."
He lowered his stance.
"Let's see if you can entertain me."
Peter calmly raised his hands.
"With pleasure."