Hawkeye ran.
It wasn't just any sprint. This was a full-speed, panic fueled sprint. 'For-your-life' kind of run. His boots pounded against the rooftop, every cell in his body screaming at him to move faster.
Behind him, the Lizard chased with terrifying speed, his claws scraping against the concrete, sending sparks into the air. His deep, guttural laugh echoed across the rooftop.
"I've got you at last, you annoying fly!"
Hawkeye barely had time to groan.
"Oh, crap."
He pushed harder, but the Lizard was closing in fast.
Peter, watched everything unfold from the front row seat. "Okay, this is bad."
Hawkeye was quick, but not Lizard level fast. Peter knew how this story ended if he didn't interfere. And it was something else bothering him.
Every time the Avengers had Hawkeye, they won. Every time they didn't, they lost.
Coincidence? Maybe.
But it was too funny not to test.
The Lizard swiped his claws, aiming straight for Hawkeye's neck. Peter fired a web ball, from the web shooters hidden under his tuxedo sleeves, hitting the exact moment the Lizard's foot almost left the ground. The sticky mess latched onto the rooftop, holding the Lizard's foot down for just a fraction of a second.
That was all it took. The Lizard tripped.
Instead of slicing Hawkeye's head clean off, his swing shifted, while in motion, turning into a clumsy forearm strike instead. The force of the hit still sent Hawkeye flying, but instead of a headless archer, now they just had an unconscious one.
"Okay, I'll take that as a win."
The Lizard growled in frustration, ripping his foot free from the webbing. His rage shifted back to Peter.
Peter's Spider-Sense screamed.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were almost at the rooftop. He didn't have much time.
If they get here now, I'll lose my chance to stop Connors without anyone connecting the dots back to me.
Peter moved first. With a quick jump, he drop-kicked the Lizard off the rooftop. The giant reptile roared, plummeting toward the alley below. Peter followed.
And when the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents finally arrived on the rooftop. All they saw was Hawkeye, out cold.
The moment Peter's feet connected with the Lizard's massive body, the monster let out a thunderous roar, flailing as he plunged into the alleyway below.
As Peter went down with him, his senses locking onto the Lizard's twisting body. The creature swiped wildly, trying to grab onto anything to slow his fall.
"No way I'm letting you recover, buddy." Peter's mind sharpened. Time slowed. He assessed everything instantaneously.
Phase One: Concussive Impact.
A full-force right hook to the snout.
• Estimated Damage: Broken nasal ridge, disoriented vision.
• Mental Effect: Temporary confusion, increased aggression.
• Reaction: A wild, unfocused counterattack.
Peter threw the punch. CRACK! The Lizard's head snapped sideways, eyes blinking sluggishly.
Phase Two: Thoracic Compression.
A hammer fist straight down onto the chest.
•Estimated Damage: Fractured sternum, momentary lung compression.
• Mental Effect: Panic due to sudden oxygen loss.
• Reaction: Reflexive limb thrashing.
BAAM!. The Lizard's body arched backward, his claws spasming midair. He wheezed, his mind struggling to catch up.
Phase Three: Neural Disruption.
A precise strike under the jaw.
• Estimated Damage: Brainstem shock, jaw dislocation possible.
• Mental Effect: Impaired motor function, slowed response time.
• Reaction: Full-body tremor, momentary submission.
Peter delivered the final strike. The Lizard's teeth clattered together, a choked grunt escaping his throat. His tail slackened, muscles momentarily unresponsive.
"Perfect. He's at least two seconds behind reality."
Peter angled his body just before impact-both feet driving into the Lizard's abdomen.
Phase Four: Kinetic Transfer.
• Estimated Damage: Internal bruising, possible organ displacement.
• Mental Effect: Overwhelming pain, body forced into shock.
• Reaction: Involuntary curl-up, full submission.
The Lizard hit the pavement with a boom, his head and limbs snapping upward from the force. Peter stood straight with arms crossed on the Lizard's abdomen.
"Diagnosis? Critical damage. Prognosis? He's not getting up anytime soon."
Now, back to the normal reality... A few moments earlier:
Peter flipped midair, positioning himself above the Lizard. Then he started swinging punches.
A right hook to the snout, a hammer fist down onto his chest and a precise shot under the jaw.
"IT HURTS!" the Lizard howled, his deep, guttural scream echoing through the alley.
Peter didn't care.
Just as they were about to crash, Peter angled his body so that his feet landed first. Right onto the Lizard's abdomen.
The impact was devastating. The Lizard's head, limbs, and tail all snapped upward from the force, his mouth opening in a silent scream before air finally rushed back into his lungs.
"Alright, that should keep you down for a few seconds."
Then, in one smooth motion, he ripped off his tuxedo, leaving only his mask and underpants. He tossed the UMF suit into a dumpster, giving AXIS the signal.
"AXIS, mimic me. Now."
["Understood."]
The UMF fabric shifted, its molecules rearranging to create a perfect copy of Peter Parker, lying unconscious inside the dumpster.
Peter grinned. "Damn, I love science. I love Kage bunshin even more!"
A loud groan from below snapped his focus back to the fight.
The Lizard twitched, his clawed fingers digging into the pavement, preparing to rise.
Peter sighed. "Nope."
Grabbing the Lizard's thick tail, Peter spun him once... twice... before launching him like a missile toward a nearby building wall.
CRASH!
The Lizard smashed through, disappearing into the building with an explosion of wood and glass.
Peter jumped in right after him, just as the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents leaned over the rooftop.
All they saw was an unconscious Peter Parker in a dumpster and masked lunatic in underpants diving into a wrecked building.
The radio crackled.
"Target lost. Deploying rappel lines. Secure the perimeter."
"Civilian casualty confirmed in the alleyway."
"Deploying rappel lines. Securing perimeter."
They started locking in ropes, preparing to drop down.
Peter smirked behind his mask. "Let's see them try to explain this one." With that, he rushed. He didn't have much time left.
Inside the building... A dining room lay in ruins.
A grumpy dad, a shocked mom, and two wide-eyed kids stared at the massive Lizard that had just crashed into their dinner table.
They screamed. Then Peter jumped through the window after it.
Still half naked. The parents' terror doubled.
"GET AWAY, YOU FREAK!" the dad yelled, shielding his family.
The two kids, however, were thrilled. "IT'S SPIDER-MAN!"
Peter sighed, adjusting his mask. "Relax. You'll be compensated for the damages."
Then he punched the Lizard across the room, shattering another wall. The parents screamed again.
Peter winced. "Uh... I'll cover that too."
The Lizard snarled, but Peter grabbed his tail and swung him through another wall, this time out onto the street.
A dead-end road. No cars. No crowd.
Perfect.
Peter cracked his knuckles. "Alright, big guy."
He took a stance. "Let's finish this."
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Bonus chapter. Thanks for the support, guys!
(~￣³￣)~♡