Marvel: Pay to Win Gambling 26

Chapter 26: Cats are Scary

—Peter Benjamin Parker ‘Spider-Man’—

Twice in one week. That’s how many times Spider-Man had run into this guy—and both times, it was during a total mess.

“Dodge!” he yelled, spotting the hulking metal mass leaping from a twelve-story building above them.

It wasn’t Daniel he was worried about. It was the girl.

He fired a web, trying to yank her out of the way, but he was too slow. The metal brute landed hard—right where she had been.

The impact was thunderous. A thousand pounds of steel crashing down like a wrecking ball.

Peter’s heart dropped. His stomach turned. He felt the nausea rise before he could even speak.

She should’ve been—

“Run, Daniel!” he shouted, his voice cracking with panic. Another casualty. Another innocent he couldn’t save.

Except Daniel didn’t even flinch.

“Gahaha! More collateral!” bellowed the Rhino, swinging a massive arm toward Daniel.

“You okay?” Daniel asked calmly, completely unfazed.

The blow never landed.

Spider-Man’s eyes darted to the wreckage. No blood. No body. No screaming.

Nothing.

He imagined the worst. Crushed. Gone. Vaporized.

But then—

“It stinks of motor oil,” a woman’s voice muttered, low and annoyed.

And just like that, she stepped through Rhino. Through him. As if he were fog.

Peter blinked. Rhino froze mid-swing.

“Huh?” the villain grunted, confused whether to be more horrified at the invisible force holding him or the very-much-alive girl who just ghosted through his torso.

“I don’t remember telling you about my powers,” she said to Daniel, eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you actually thought I’d die.”

Daniel shrugged, still ignoring the furious hunk of metal right beside him. “Bobby filled me in before we met.”

“What the hell are you two?” Rhino roared, struggling against whatever was holding him still.

“Just a bad match-up,” Daniel said. “And you seriously need to change your GPS settings, Spidey. You’ve got a knack for landing in disaster zones.”

I should be saying that to you, Peter thought, but all he could do was stare.

Last time, Daniel had summoned lightning and freaky black tentacles. Now he was freezing villains mid-attack with what looked like nothing. And the girl? She walked through Rhino like he was made of smoke.

“Let me go!” Rhino yelled again, jerking with no effect.

Instead of answering, Daniel turned to Spider-Man. “So, who’s this guy?”

Peter snapped back into gear, web-shooters aimed steady.

“Name’s Rhino. He’s part of a new crew—they’re calling themselves the Sinister Six.”

Daniel raised a brow. “And he’s what, their tank? Big armor, big attitude?”

Peter opened his mouth to defend that maybe armor alone didn’t disqualify someone from being dangerous—Tony wore armor too—but... yeah, no comparison. Tony was light-years ahead of this guy.

The girl—he still didn’t know her name—stepped closer, eyeing the suit.

“Looks tough,” she said. “But is it lightning-proof? Ice-proof? Laser-proof? Honestly, anyone from our team could take him down.”

Peter swallowed. What was she?

He didn’t recognize her. Not from the few files he'd skimmed. Not from the news. Then again, he hadn’t been doing this hero thing long. Outside of the Avengers, his knowledge was... patchy.

“What... are... you?” Rhino growled.

She smiled, mock-innocent. “Me? I’m just a girl~”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Here we go.”

She dropped the act and gave a real answer.

“Shadowcat. X-Men.”

And then she reached out—her hand slipping through the metal plating on Rhino’s chest like it wasn’t even there.

“If you don’t start talking, I’ll solidify my fingers right around your heart.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. Even he looked surprised.

Rhino coughed violently. “Don’t!”

“Hey!” Peter shouted, stepping forward. “Don’t kill him!”

Shadowcat smirked. “Relax. I won’t. But he is going to feel it.”

“R-Release me... freaks!” Rhino gasped.

Peter still couldn’t figure out how Daniel was restraining him. The guy hadn’t moved a muscle, and yet Rhino couldn’t budge an inch.

Then Daniel added, far too casually, “Don’t worry. Even if he bursts a blood vessel or two, I can heal him right up. No permanent damage. Just... prolonged agony.”

That made even Rhino pale.

Shadowcat tilted her head, her smile turning razor-sharp. “So~ why don’t you tell us what you’re really doing here?”

I should do something, Peter thought. But what?

“Come here, Spidey,” Daniel said, waving him over. “You’ve got a cut above your eye. Let me patch you up.”

Peter hesitated, then stepped closer. Despite everything, he knew this guy wasn’t an enemy. Just... unpredictable.

‘Has he gotten stronger since last time?’

Daniel held out a hand. A warm pulse wrapped around Peter—green-gold energy forming a faint sphere. His aching ribs loosened. Cuts sealed. The sting in his arm disappeared.

“Thanks,” Peter muttered, almost in disbelief.

Shadowcat, still watching Rhino, asked, “What’s your name?”

“Rhino…” the villain spat.

She frowned. “No, I mean your real name.”

Peter flinched.

That wasn’t something you asked. Not in this world. Heroes, villains—it didn’t matter. Real names were off-limits. It was sacred. Protective.

But she didn’t seem to care.

“A-Aleksei…” Rhino groaned, Shadowcat’s fingers ghosting around his heart. “Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich.”

“Good, Alek.” She tilted her head. “Mind if I call you that? I’m not great with long names.”

He couldn’t move, but his eyes gave a tired, reluctant nod.

“Great.” Her voice was chipper. Too chipper. “Now, where do you live? Age? Family situation?”

His eyes widened. Even for him, this was starting to feel more like a supervillain interrogation.

Peter glanced at Daniel. “Is this… normal?”

“Just watch.” Daniel crossed his arms. Even he looked a little unsure.

“I’m… thirty-nine,” Aleksei growled. “Don’t hurt my family.”

“I won’t,” Shadowcat replied smoothly. But even Peter didn’t fully believe her after that list of questions. “But I need names, Alek.”

He gritted his teeth, scanned the alley for any hope of escape—found none—and finally gave in.

“I’m a Russian immigrant. I… I agreed to experiments in exchange for getting my family to the U.S. Safe housing. Security.”

Peter blinked. ‘That… wasn’t in any of the villain dossiers.’

“I have a son. Lev. My wife… she passed. So did my parents.”

Tears welled in his eyes, pain and fear mixing. “Please. Don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t,” Shadowcat said. Her tone was calm—but her eyes? Ice cold.

“I live in the Iron Flats. 256 Varenka Avenue.” He hissed as another wave of pain hit. “Just… don’t touch my son.”

“I won’t touch him, Alek,” she said softly. “But now I know where to find you. So if I ever see you rampaging again? I’ll make sure your kid ends up in protective custody. And if I see you hurting someone innocent… deportation.”

Rhino paled. “No! Please, not Russia!”

Peter felt a chill run through him. ‘Something bad happened there.’

Daniel finally chimed in. “You using ‘science experiments’ as an excuse won’t hold up, even if it’s true. No paper trail, no proof.”

That truth hit hard. Peter knew it too. The world wasn’t fair. The powerful made their own rules—and people like Alek were just the fallout.

“So?” Shadowcat leaned in, voice sugar-sweet. “You gonna be a good boy now?”

“I— Guh—!”

“Relax.” She smiled. “There are people in this city way stronger than me. And a lot less patient. They don’t ask questions. They just make examples.”

As if on cue, Daniel increased the pressure. Rhino dropped to one knee, wheezing.

“See?” she said, glancing at her partner. “I just met this guy, and I still don’t know all his powers. And he can kill you without blinking. So maybe don’t test your luck with the rest of us.”

Finally, she pulled her hand out. Aleksei gasped, air flooding into his lungs. A minute later, Daniel released him too.

“Do yourself a favor, Alek,” she said, almost gently now. “Go home. For your son’s sake. And your own.”

Rhino didn’t argue. He just nodded, gulping air and fear, and stumbled out of the alley. His armor creaked with every step. Even that sounded defeated.

The three of them watched him go, spooking a couple pedestrians on the way.

“I do hope you’ll tell me your powers one day, Daniel~” Shadowcat smiled. To Peter, it was the scariest smile he’d ever seen.

“I’m good,” Daniel replied. “After what I just saw? I’ll keep my tricks to myself. You’re scarier than half the villains I’ve met.”

She shrugged. “I behave around the Professor. But pirates taught me how to deal with thugs. And threats beat begging any day.”

Daniel didn’t argue. “I won’t tell the Professor. But that makes you owe me one.”

“Thanks.” She meant it, even if the smile stuck around a little too long.

Peter just stood there, trying to make sense of them.

“So,” Daniel finally said, glancing over. “What dragged you into this? Or is your luck just that bad?”

Peter sighed. “Honestly? I think I’m cursed.”

“Want a beer?” Daniel asked.

Shadowcat gave him a look. “We’re already late for dinner.”

“I texted Jean we’d be skipping,” Daniel said. “So technically, we’re not late.”

She sighed. “Then we should eat something.”

Peter blinked. “Uh—am I invited?”

“We kinda just assumed,” Daniel said.

‘Thanks for the heads-up,’ Peter thought. ‘Sure, just hijack my night.’

“You even legal?” Shadowcat asked. “You sound pretty young.”

“I… am of age,” Peter lied. “But I’ll stick to soda. Family’s not a fan.”

The word “family” felt heavy after that whole interrogation.

“Mocktail it is.” She stretched. “I’m getting a drink.”

She looked at Daniel. “And you’re paying.”

“Why me?!”

“Because he’s younger,” she said, pointing at Peter. “And I’m a girl~ So… it’s on you.”

Daniel groaned, but didn’t argue. Just muttered something about injustice and taxes.

As for Peter? He sighed and pulled out his phone.

‘Better text Aunt May. This night just got longer.’