Oscorp Tower. The cafeteria.
Work.
Back to the daily schedule it was. Felix stared blankly at the sandwich on his tray. His mind wasn't on food—it was still stuck on the search for Kate Bishop. The hours of sifting through footage and texts with Yelena, Aaron, and Maria had led to nothing, and that hollow feeling of frustration settled deep in his chest. He sighed, pushing the sandwich aside. His appetite was non-existent, which was ironic considering how busy his thoughts were.
"Felix! You look like you've been run over by a train," a familiar voice chimed in.
He glanced up to see Kavita Rao, standing with her tray of food, giving him a concerned look. The Indian woman was always sharp, her dark hair tied back neatly, her lab coat impeccable despite it being lunch. Felix gave her a tired smile, motioning for her to sit.
"Yeah, I feel like it," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Long night."
Kavita sat down across from him, picking at her salad. "I get it. We're all tired. Bobbi and Maya are still combing through the data."
More data, more numbers, and more stress. Felix wanted to sigh.
"Great. So what's next?"
Project Rebirth II was technically done with animal testing, but they hadn't waited long enough to see if there were any long-term effects. That was the issue—they were pushing them more and more toward human testing. They couldn't delay it any longer. No more excuses, no more nothing. Human testing was going to happen and it wasn't going to happen sooner rather than later.
Kavita suddenly straightened, leaning in and speaking in a hush-hush tone. "Dr. Octavius just sent word. She's summoning us."
Felix blinked, snapping back to the present in whole. "Wait, Liv? Summoning us? Now?"
"Yeah, we need to head to her office," Kavita said, standing up and grabbing her tray. "Finish up your... whatever that is," she added, glancing at his barely-touched sandwich.
Felix shoved the tray aside entirely. "I'm done."
They made their way to the elevator and B3: Dr. Octavius' office. The elevator door slid open with a soft hiss, and Felix instantly noticed the tension in the air. Bobbi Morse and Maya Hansen were already seated. Liv stood by the window, her arms crossed.
"Felix, you're here." Liv smiled. "Great. Amazing." She clapped her hands and gestured for them to sit.
Felix exchanged a quick glance with Kavita before taking his seat. The room felt... off. Liv wasn't one to summon the entire team unless something significant was going on. Hopefully, it wasn't what he thought it was.
Once they were seated, Liv sat down on her leather chair. "So, big news! I've received approval for our first human test subject."
Felix felt his stomach drop.
Bobbi, their leader, crossed her arms. "You're really making us do this."
"My warnings weren't a joke, Bobbi," Liv replied. "What did you think was going to happen?"
"That you'd buy us some time," Kavita snarked. "I'm telling you, Dr. Octavius, this is not going to go well."
"Does it look like Oscorp cares? Our tower was attacked, our factory got blown, our PR is a total mess, and our stocks are on the verge of crashing! To top it all off, everyone is suspicious of us! Forget the government, the IRS is thinking about investigating us!"
Silence.
"The company has never been this humiliated in its life. If we don't do anything, everybody here will be laid off." Liv stood up and slammed her hands down. "It's now or never. So…for those that wish to be fired right here and now—you can leave."
Silence again. Thought so, she seemed to say. Her smile returned to her face and she sat back down.
"And not just that, we have a candidate," Liv continued. From her desk, she pulled out a file and tossed it over. Felix's breath caught in his throat the moment the name and face appeared.
Luke Cage.
Felix blinked, hiding the wave of shock that surged through him. He stared at the profile, the image of the cop who was not his friend but certainly an acquaintance. Someone he did not want dying.
Felix remembered their conversation a few weeks back. Luke had stopped by his apartment, casually bringing up his concerns about his ex-wife, Jessica Jones, and how he'd been thinking about her. Despite moving on and dating a nurse, there was always that undercurrent of something unresolved between Luke and Jessica. But what stood out was the cryptic way Luke had mentioned "something dangerous". Felix tried to search for it and found nothing. Whatever it had been, it wasn't in any database.
Because it was all physical and under the plan. All being secretly planned. All still going.
'This was it. This was the dangerous mission.'
Felix was going to have to administer the super soldier serum on him.
"This is all completely under wraps. The subject volunteered, but nothing is on the books. No records. This trial stays between us and a few key individuals within Oscorp."
'Norman Osborn knows. Hell, I bet this is planned between him and the NYPD commissioner. But…is Commissioner Karnic the type to do this? No, it doesn't fit her psychological profile. She probably knows but I doubt the order came from her. So who then?'
The mayor maybe? Or…no, was it an order from the president? Some top secret mission?
His Advanced Glasses kicked in and gave nothing. It wasn't in the Oscorp or NYPD databases.
"You'll be signing these papers to keep everything confidential." Envelops were directly handed to each scientist. Felix opened his as soon as he could.
His breath hitched.
'SHIELD.'
The symbol of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division was printed at the top left. This was a confidential agreement between Oscorp, the NYPD, and SHIELD.
'SHIELD is involved…just what the hell is going on here?'
"We'll be moving our equipment and setup down to B10—Oscorp's most secure floor."
Huh? B10?
'We have a B10?'
"It's completely isolated which is why you've never heard of it," Liv elaborated, reading their minds. "It's known only to myself and a select few. No one else is aware of its existence."
"Why B10?" Bobbi asked, frowning. "Isn't our current lab secure enough?"
Liv's eyes narrowed slightly. "B10 is equipped to handle the volatility of these trials. We need to take precautions."
"Precautions…" Felix squinted. "Sorry if this is too forward but I'm assuming you found something special in him if you think we should be testing so early."
Liv didn't say anything at first. "I planned to have you witness it for yourself but I suppose there's no hiding it. Actually, even if I tell you, you might not believe me. Let us just say that he has a mutation."
A mutation…
A mutant like Emma Frost? Was that it? Did he even know he had a mutation? Did he know what he was getting into?
"A mutation. I assume a healing factor or some kind of blood compatibility," Felix stated.
"Something like that. I prefer you to do the research yourself," Octavius said. "Another other questions?"
Felix pursed his lips and shook his head. "No... no questions."
Liv nodded, her sharp gaze lingering on him for a moment longer. "Good. Once you sign those papers, we will begin preparations immediately. I expect everyone to be ready by tomorrow. The equipment will be moved by then."
SHIELD, Oscorp, and the NYPD were pushing them towards an idea that wasn't fully fleshed out.
But what the hell else could they do when their jobs were on the line? Felix, Bobbi, Maya, and Kavita all signed.
***
The elevator doors opened. Inside was Alistair Smythe.
"Oh. Hey, man."
The man in the wheelchair softened upon seeing him. "Ah, Felix. Good to see you."
"You look happy."
"You can tell?"
The elevator door closed behind him as he entered and smiled. "You underestimate the power of youth."
"Ha. Ha." Alistair fake laughed. "I'm thinking of heading to that Black Cat concert tomorrow. Got tickets. It's supposed to be packed."
"No kidding? I didn't peg you for a concert guy. You know, with the loud music, crowded space, and people. Didn't you say you hate people?"
Alistair smirked. "I can roll right around the crowds. Perks of this thing." He patted the side of his wheelchair. "Plus, that's the only way to keep up with the youth these days, right?"
Felix chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretty sure one particular kid would lose his mind if he knew. He's obsessed with Black Cat."
"Of course he is," Alistair replied dryly. "Teenagers these days. Can't even tell if it's her music they're into or..." He trailed off, raising an eyebrow suggestively. Felix snickered, amused.
"You're not wrong," Felix admitted. "It's probably fifty-fifty."
Before Alistair could respond, the elevator dinged again. They were on the ground floor. That was sooner than he expected. Standing guard right in front of them, arms crossed and wearing a black security uniform, was Jessica Jones. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, though her eyes lit up the moment she saw Felix.
"Jessica?" Felix asked, more surprised than anything. "Since when does Oscorp have you stationed in front of elevators?"
Jessica smirked, her arms behind, straight and proper. "First time, actually. It's part of this new 'post-explosion security initiative.' Can't let anyone through without a good eye on them."
Security had noticeably ramped up since the factory explosion. It was no surprise to see measures like this, but it felt weird seeing Jessica posted like some kind of sentry.
"Right, makes sense."
Jessica shot him a mischievous smile. "Hm...you do seem different, Felix. Is it the glasses? The hair? Or..." Her eyes drifted down to his crotch. "Are you aching and full?"
Ah. Uh...
Alistair blinked, though his face remained as expressionless as ever. Felix wanted to face-palm, caught off guard by Jessica's bluntness. But this was Jessica, after all. She never danced around her words.
Felix shook his head, trying not to laugh. "As tempting as that is, I'm gonna have to pass."
Jessica grinned and gestured for them to go. "Your loss, Faeth. Offer stands."
"I'm, ah, good. I'll catch you later, Jones," he said, giving her a nod.
Jessica gave him a mock salute, her lips curled in a sly smile. "Later, Felix. Try not to be boring."
Felix and Alistair did just that and exited the building without another word. Rolling onto the sidewalk, Alistair glanced at Felix and asked, "She's joking, right?"
Felix waved him off with a chuckle. "Of course, she is. That's just her sense of humour."
"Right. As an older man with wealth, I can tell you that that young woman wanted to wring you dry, my friend."
"Trust me, man. She is total jokester."
Totally. Yep. Just joking.
But thinking of Jessica reminded him of Luke. His smile suddenly waned. The thought of experimenting on Luke Cage, Jessica's ex-husband, gnawed at him. HE couldn't say anything, not to her, not to anyone.
The Advanced Glasses had already called up a taxi for him. The cab pulled up, and Felix opened the door, glancing back at Alistair before getting in. "You enjoy that concert, alright?"
Alistair raised a hand in a casual wave. "Don't forget to tell your teenage friend about it. Might make his year."
Felix laughed as he slipped into the taxi, shutting the door behind him. The cab pulled away from Oscorp Tower and toward home.
Coming to his apartment complex after all that felt strange.
He fought as Felix Faeth, not Spider-Man, and risked exposing his identity.
And as Felix, he was going to have to experiment on Luke Cage who was a mutant of some kind.
Getting out of the cab, he immediately spotted Miles sitting on the doorstep, a basketball resting by his side. The kid was slumped over, absentmindedly dribbling the ball with one hand, looking deep in thought. Felix slowed his pace.
He had a pretty good idea what it was about. Between the FBI showing up at Rio's door last night and the news about Jefferson Davis, Miles' father, things were bound to feel off.
Felix paused in front of Miles, hands in his pockets. "You up for a game?" he asked casually, nodding toward the basketball.
"Huh? Oh, Felix." Miles looked up, blinking as if startled from his thoughts. He glanced down at the ball, then back at Felix, managing a small smile. "Yeah... sure."
A couple minutes later, they found themselves at the neighborhood court, the chain-link fence rattling slightly in the breeze. The court was empty, and Felix dribbled the ball a couple of times, getting a feel for it.
'When was the last time I played basketball? Gym class in middle school? Something like that anyway.'
Welp, time for his instincts to carry him.
"You should take off your glasses," Miles advised.
"Eh, I'm good."
"You sure?"
"Definitely."
"Alright then." Miles squared up as he positioned himself to defend Felix. His stance was solid and there was a spark of competitive fire in his eyes.
Felix grinned. "Okay, I see you."
Miles moved in, trying to flick the ball Felix right out of his hands. He must have sensed he was an amateur. Alas, to Felix, Miles moved in slow motion. He pivoted, jumped, and pulled off a smooth fadeaway jump shot. The ball soared through the air in a perfect arc before sinking into the basket with a satisfying swish.
Miles' eyes widened. "Yo, that was clean!" he said, giving Felix some props. "Didn't know you had a shot like that."
Felix caught the ball from him. "I do my best."
They continued their one-on-one, Miles throwing everything he had into defense, but Felix's spider-enhanced reflexes were too much. With a quick feint, Felix darted past him for a clean lay-up. He felt a little bad about showing off. Miles was quick for a kid but Felix was probably quicker than anyone in human history.
Miles groaned but laughed at the same time. "Man, I thought I had you there."
Felix shrugged, the grin never leaving his face. "You're not bad, kid, but I don't hold back in ball."
"Okay, old man, you're getting too cocky."
"Am I? It's two-zero right now. How much do we go up to?"
"Eleven."
"Alright then."
Another lay-up.
Swish.
A double clutch.
Swish.
A behind the back jumpshot.
Swish.
"Do you never miss?!?"
Felix just laughed when Miles threw the ball. "Ten points for me and zero for you. Old man, huh?"
"One percent chance, ninety-nine percent faith. I got a this. A comeback is—"
Felix's first dribble. Miles dropped into a defensive position but it was too late. Felix already found an opening and with one final burst of speed, Felix leapt. His leap was effortless, his body flying toward the hoop like it was second nature. The ball slammed through the net with authority, and Felix landed gracefully, brushing his hands together like it was nothing.
Miles stood there, stunned, mouth slightly agape. "Did you just fucking dunk!?"
"Language, man."
"Dude, you just dunked! I-I mean I can't dunk and I've been playing for years!"
"It's a height thing."
"You're five-eleven at best!"
"I got hops."
Miles shook his head in disbelief and sat down on the side, grabbing a water bottle to drink. "Man, you should come play street ball with me sometime. You'd wipe the floor with the guys I play against."
Felix laughed, sitting down on the edge of the court. Miles had another bottle ready for him. Felix denied it. This really was no sweat for him. "I'll think about it."
After a few minutes of Miles catching his breath, the teen finally spoke up. "So... I heard something."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"My dad... he got arrested."
Felix blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Rio to tell Miles yet. "Your mom told you?"
"Nah," Miles said, shaking his head. "I overheard some FBI agents talking when they came by. I was in my room and listened.."
Felix stayed quiet, letting Miles continue.
"I don't... I don't really remember what my dad looked like," Miles admitted, his voice dropping. "So, like, it doesn't bother me as much as it probably should. I feel like I should care more. But all I can think about is how miserable my mom's been."
Felix frowned. Miles was dealing with a lot more than a kid his age should have to, but the way he was handling it—trying to put his mom first—was something Felix admired.
"Every day, she gets up early and makes breakfast and packs lunch for me. Today though, she didn't. It was a little weird going hungry to school. I sometimes hated eating her sandwiches but today…I really missed it."
"She's been going through a lot," Felix said quietly, choosing his words carefully. "But she's tough. So are you."
His Advanced Glasses showed him a text sent by Maria to him.
< Maria Hill: Coming today?
He tapped the edge of his glasses. Herbie knew his answer.
Felix stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Listen, I've got some work to do this afternoon, but before I head out..." Felix reached into his pocket, pulling out some cash. "Why don't you get your mom some ice cream?"
Miles looked up, surprised, before grinning and taking the money. "Thanks, Felix. You're the best."
Felix flashed a smile. "Anytime, kid." Then another idea popped in his head. Something for both Miles and his mother. "Oh, and if you're available, I could hook you up with tickets to you-know-who."
Miles blinked, then sprung to his feet. "Y-y-you mean Black Cat? Her concert at the MetLife Stadium!?"
"VIP seats too," Felix said as Herbie browsed through the internet and bought three of the most expensive VIP seats. "In or out?"
Like it was a question for him.
"Count me in!"