CHAPTER SEVEN: EYE OF THE TIGER
Wednesday
. . .
. . .
Peter Parker
"Dude, there's a peacock by your foot."
French fry half raised to my lips, I pause, glancing down. Sure enough, the large, sleek, blue bird is strutting by, his plumage draped like a train behind him.
"Huh."
"Offer it a fry."
"I'm good."
"Smile," says Aunt May, her phone aimed in my direction. I do so and give an awkward thumbs up as the peacock moves idly away, a gaggle of kids traipsing after it at a distance carefully maintained by their hovering parents.
"Damn." May frowns at her phone. She has a black baseball cap perched on her head with an elephant on the front and the words "BRONX ZOO" plastered underneath that she got at the gift shop. "I only got its tail."
The three of us have our own table in the seating area outside the Dancing Crane Cafe. Our classmates, teachers, and other chaperones occupy the rest of the tables around us, some of them overflowing back inside the cafe.
I glance at the fourth chair at our table, empty, and wish MJ was here.
We spent the morning led by our AP Bio II Teacher, Mr. Bidwell, and the designated educator provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society here at the zoo.
The conservation educator gave a long winded, overly rehearsed speech on the role of modern zoos and protecting wildlife, then took us in one of the zoo's classrooms to meet Sylvia the sloth and analyze data on genetics and how they inform zookeepers' care for animals.
Now we break for lunch, after which we're free to explore the zoo ourselves until the bus comes at four to pick us up and take us back to school.
Ned has a map of the zoo spread out on the only part of the table not covered in red plastic trays of food. He's leaning over it, chicken tender in hand, a glob of ketchup seconds away from splattering onto the brightly colored map.
"Ok, we only have a couple hours, people, so we have to prioritize. Peter, I know you really want to hit up the butterfly garden, but we have a lot of predators to see," says Ned.
I give him a quizzical look. "Dude, I don't care about the butterflies."
"Sure," Ned gives an exaggerated wink. May looks on, amused, and takes another bite of her sandwich.
"I want to see the bison," says Aunt May, peering down at the map. "That is, if you two are cool with me tagging along. I don't want to cramp your style or anything."
I snort. "Cramp our style?"
"I like Bison," agrees Ned. "I really want to check out the African animals. Giraffes are awesome. Also, we HAVE to hit up Tiger Mountain. Sounds so legit."
"Sounds good to me," I agree.
Behind May, Flash walks by carrying his trash laden tray. He catches me looking at him and raises his hand to flip me off with an exaggerated grin. May turns to see who I'm looking at, and he smoothly waves. "Hey Mrs. P!"
"Hi Flash. How's your mom doing?"
"Oh, she's doing great, thanks for asking!" Flash gives her an award winning smile and heads inside to dump his tray.
"I hate that guy," mutters Ned.
"We shouldn't hate anyone, Ned," May advises, pointing a fry at him. Then pauses. "Although I really can't stand his mother."
"How come?"
"She always pretends like she doesn't know me, like every time we see each other it's the first time. Ah well, what can you do?" she stretches.
Ned and I exchange a glance.
"So . . . bison?"
We finish our lunch, dump our trays, and let Ned navigate our way through the zoo, bypassing other small groups of our classmates, parents herding their kids in strollers and some even on leashes.
The day is pleasantly warm, a cool breeze breaking up the monotony of the sun, and I find myself relaxing as we explore, pausing at the major exhibits to check out the animals.
We quickly realize the bison are on the opposite end of the zoo, so Ned plans out a route that will wind through the major highlights and end our day by the bison before returning to the bus with our classmates.
We start with the World of Reptiles building, pausing in front of a burmese python enclosure, glass wall and everything, to make the appropriate Harry Potter joke. May is extra camera happy with her phone, claiming she doesn't take enough pictures anymore. So Ned and I indulge her, posing in front of nearly every frog, lizard, and snake in the entire place.
From there we go to check out the baboons, then the African plains, circling around so we can see the giraffes.
There's no sensation of being watched. No nerves sparking to panicked life, no uneasy feeling. Today feels normal. More normal than I've felt in . . . I don't know, years at this point. Today I'm just a teenager staring up at a giraffe with his best friend and his aunt.
It's nice. Really nice.
The only thing that would make it better would be if MJ was here. I miss her deadpan expression, morphing into a small, secret smile just for me. I miss her brutal honesty, her moments of sudden shyness that always catches me off guard and makes me feel even shyer.
"Peter, look!" laughs Ned. He holds out a handful of leafy branches that cost him fifteen dollars, and a large giraffe head slowly dips down, its long purple tongue slipping free to prod at the offering.
May is laughing too, snapping pics with her phone.
"Why can't biology class always be at the zoo?" Ned asks, grinning up at the animal happily munching the leaves.
"Because we'd never get any work done," I remind him, grinning myself.
Next are the Jungle World and Himalayan Highlands, and the day goes by in an easy blur. The three of us walk up a winding path, enclosed on either side by thick, jungle-like foliage. The air is denser here, the breeze unable to get through, and I start to sweat.
So does Ned, by the look of his forehead.
"Ooh nice, tigers are next!" he exclaims, map in hand.
May is busy taking a picture of a large decorative sign with a tiger silhouette, so she doesn't see when Flash strides by with his group of friends, knocking into my shoulder and smirking as he goes.
"Douche," mutters Ned.
We approach a wooden planked building, open on either side with wide entrances and exits for the flow of people to move smoothly through. Inside stand massive glass windows looking onto a small section of jungle. There are informative plaques everywhere, and a spot to measure yourself up against the image of a tiger standing on its hind legs.
"Hey Penis," calls Flash. "You'd only come up to, like, right here, wouldn't you?"
He holds his hand up to the three foot mark, sharing a laugh with his three buddies as they move on, plowing through the crowd.
"Dude, Peter is five foot eight," retorts Ned. "You're only like, two inches taller."
I pat Ned's shoulder. "Thanks, man."
"Do you see the tiger?" May finally catches up, putting her hands on our backs as she cranes her neck to look.
"There's one lying down in the corner over there," I point.
"Whoa, how the hell did you see that? It's practically invisible." May stops. Laughs. "What am I saying, of course you saw it."
She leans in and whispers, "Was it the spidey sense?"
"What? No. Everyone is literally pointing at it."
"Oh."
Ned stands on his tiptoes. "Hmm. We might be able to see it better from the next section. Or see if another one is closer maybe."
We follow the dirt trail to the "Tiger Ridge Pavilion", a secondary building with floor to ceiling windows. A good chunk of the view of one is under water, but beyond it is a grassy, tree scattered hill which drapes up to the back of the enclosure. Massive fish swim lazily in the pond, unperturbed that they are part of a tiger exhibit.
"Dang it, you can't see anything from here," says Ned.
He's right. There aren't any tigers in sight, and the one we could barely see in the first building is gone.
"Maybe it's feeding time?" I suggest.
"They usually make a show of it here," replies Ned, looking at the corner of the map that lists all animal shows, feeding times, and activities. "A trainer comes up to the window over there by the grass and opens part of the wall to slip meat through."
There's a slight vibration in my pocket. Pulling out my phone, MJ's picture fills up the screen, and my heart leaps.
"Uh, I gotta take this," I say, waving the back of my phone to Ned and May.
"Go ahead, kiddo. We'll try to find the tiger," says May.
Ned is still frowning at the map.
I sidle my way through the crowd, stepping past a pair of toddlers and their frazzled looking mother and out to the dirt path.
"MJ!" I say, phone to my ear. "Hi!"
It comes out too loud, too high pitched, and I clear my throat and try again. "Hey."
"Hey."
I traipse down the hill, the shade of the tall trees protecting me from the sun and offering a semblance of privacy.
"It's uh, it's been awhile," I swallow.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's been pretty nonstop over here."
"Protest still going strong?"
"Most definitely. Although mom and I are taking a break from the main rally to protest at some of the museums while we are here."
"Cool! That's cool. Um, so how are you?"
"Alright. Part of me is ready to be home. I miss school. And um, you know. You."
My ears flood with heat as my stomach does a little flip. "You do? I mean, yeah, I-I miss you too."
"Are you guys on the field trip today?" asks MJ after a beat of awkward silence.
"Yeah. Ned, May and I are checking out the tigers. It's pretty awesome! Wish you were here."
"I'm still mad at you, you know."
I find a bench and plop down on it, trying not to grip my phone too tight. "Yeah. I deserve that."
"You're still not going to tell me what really happened to you?" she asks.
"I am," I say quickly. "I want to. It's just-"
"Not over the phone."
"Right. Is that totally lame of me?"
"It is. But . . . I can also respect that. Not all conversations are appropriate via social media. In fact, most aren't."
"Exactly!" I say, running my fingers through my hair. "It's not that I don't want to talk about it and tell you . . . stuff. I just want to do it face to face. You deserve that much."
Silence, then- "Thanks, Peter."
"So . . . so maybe when you get back . . . " I swallow hard, suddenly super aware of how sweaty I am and how warm the phone feels against my face. "I could, you know, take you to dinner, or-uh, coffee or something, and we could . . . we could talk?"
I can't breathe, and I think I swallowed my tongue, and my stomach is wound up so tight it's about to burst and I will vomit up the tongue I swallowed and-
"That sounds really nice," MJ replies, her voice shyer and containing a trace of a smile.
"It . . . it does?"
Every hair on my body stands on end, warning needling into my skin in a sudden rush.
A scream rips the air.
I'm on my feet, phone still pressed to my ear as I whirl around.
Dozens of people are tearing down the hill from the tiger enclosure, a panicked mass all running into each other and stumbling over the uneven terrain. Parents have their kids clutched to their chests, even ones that are too big to be carried, and some people are sprinting while looking over their shoulders, phones aimed back toward the tiger enclosure.
The tiger enclosure.
"What the hell was that?!"
"I gotta go."
Without another word, I hang up and shove the phone in my pocket, running up the hill against the crowd of people.
"Move!" I try to dart around the panicked civilians, but there are too many of them, slowing me down, shoving me deeper into the throng. "MOVE!"
"You're going the wrong way, asshole!"
"OH GOD!"
"DID YOU SEE IT? DID YOU SEE IT!?"
I'm shoving people aside, hard enough to make an impact this time, and a screaming Flash suddenly barrels into me. He clutches me, steadying himself as I make sure he doesn't faceplant and get squished by the crowd.
"Where's May and Ned?" I demand.
He looks at me with wide eyes.
"Where are they?" I shake him a little, and he points toward the tiger pavilion.
I'm running, feeling the weight of my web shooters against my wrists, disguised as a watch and leather wristband, but loaded with collapsible tech that will spring into shape at the slide of a gear.
There are too many people, too many cameras.
But Ned. MAY.
I make it past the last of the stragglers as a deep, predatory snarl echoes from inside the pavilion. Loud and close and definitely not from behind glass.
Then I'm in the large doorway, chest heaving, barely taking in the jarring sight of the orange fur, the black stripes, the bared teeth-May in the corner, wielding pepper spray like it's a gun, her hat askew as she shields Ned with her own body-
"Peter!" shouts Ned, spotting me, and the sound jars the beast.
Its muscles ripple and tense, shoulders raising as it crouches low to the ground to pounce. I do the same, not bothering to waste precious time activating my web shooters, realizing in a split second that I'm about to tackle a freaking tiger.
I start to lunge-
A figure shoves its way between Aunt May and the beast, and a deep voice is suddenly barking in a language I don't understand.
Startled, I freeze.
The man, huge in stature with fresh looking scars cutting across his face, towers over the big cat. It snarls at him, swipes out with its paw. But the man stands his ground, still growling out foreign commands.
Then, to my shock, he leaps forward, his fingers seizing the animal by the back of its neck, and then man and beast are forehead to forehead.
I step forward, ready to yank him away, but the tiger goes still and rigid in the man's hold. His voice quiets to a low rumble, and I see the tension in the cat's body melt away. The man lets go, steps back, and the tiger simply lies down upon the cement floor, its tail flicking back and forth.
"Oh my god," breathes May, and I see the hand holding the pepper spray is shaking violently. Her other hand, I realize, is behind her, clutching Ned's arm.
"It's alright," says the man, the bass of his voice drawing the words out like he's soothing a wild animal. "Nadia won't hurt you now."
May's eyes are riveted on him, then seem to spot me over his shoulder. "Peter!"
Seeing me snaps her out of her shock, and she rushes forward, dragging Ned along with her. She pulls us into the tightest group hug I've ever experienced, her trembling rattling through us as she breathes out, "Oh thank god. Thank god."
My eyes are still locked on the stranger, who is crouching before the tiger and scratching it behind the ears. The snarling beast is reduced to nothing more than a lazy housecat under his touch and voice.
Feeling my gaze, the man looks up, and I quickly take in his dark hair and goatee, the small white scar going through one of his eyebrows, the redder scars going across his cheek, like he'd been clawed.
The guy is huge, muscles on muscles, encased by the uniformed navy polo and khaki pants that all zoo employees wear, and I notice the badge clipped to his shirt pocket, marking him as one of the animal handlers.
Our eyes lock, and my skin erupts into full body chills.
Danger.
Aunt May pulls away, blocking my view of him, and her shaking hands are patting Ned and I down. "You aren't hurt? You're both okay?"
"You faced down a tiger with pepper spray," gapes Ned, and then he's letting out a slightly hysterical laugh. "SO badass."
"I'm fine," I say quickly. "Are you okay?"
"A bottle of merlot and screaming into my pillow at home, and I'll be right as rain," says May, putting a hand to her forehead. I notice the other one still has a death grip on her pepper spray, so I carefully pry it from her fingers and slip it back into her purse.
"That was a brave thing you did, throwing yourself between the tiger and the boy," says a deep voice, and May turns to blink up at the trainer, who I hadn't even heard approach us.
I crane my neck to look past him, and I see that several security officers have entered the pavilion, along with nearly a dozen trainers, some of them wielding tranquilizers as they surround the docile tiger, who yawns widely at them.
"Oh," says May. "Maternal instinct, I guess. Or blind panic. It's all kind of a blur."
"You're in shock," says the man, and he places a large, scarred hand on her elbow. "Let me escort you to the medical center."
"I'm fine."
"My supervisors are going to insist you get looked over," he says apologetically. "Especially given they are undoubtedly going to be hit with several lawsuits. But I'd really like to make sure you aren't hurt."
May seems to realize, then, who exactly the man is, because she blurts out, "Oh my god! You stopped that tiger! You just-you-thank you."
"I'm going to make sure the idiot who forgot to lock the gate mechanisms gets fired," vows the stranger. "That kind of irresponsibility nearly got you and your son killed."
"I can't say I'll be visiting another zoo anytime soon," admits May. "I'm sorry, being face to face with that many teeth has completely gotten rid of my manners. I'm May Parker."
"Logan West."
"Thank you, Logan. Sincerely. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't intervened. How on earth did you do that?"
Logan's dark gaze seems to devour May, and I realize my hands are balled into tight fists. "The trick with beasts, May Parker, is to show them you are the dominant predator, and they the prey."
"Sort of a . . . reverse psychology tactic?"
"You could say that. Though you were doing excellently. Most people wouldn't have been so brave in the face of so many teeth."
"Oh, it was, well, I'd say it was nothing, but that would be a bold faced lie," May laughs.
"There can be no courage in the absence of fear. Now, can I please take you and your boys to the medical center? I really insist we get you looked over."
"I-yes, of course," smiles May, still pale and trembling and leaning slightly into the man's touch. "Lead the way."
Logan leads May from the pavilion, hand on her elbow.
Ned blinks. "Dude. Did he just . . . is he hitting on your aunt?"
I stare after the scarred man, easily two or three heads taller than May, and I hear her laugh at something he said.
"Peter, are you okay?"
"Yeah," I say, my knuckles popping. "I'm fine."
A/N:
DUN DUN DUN . . .
As usual, I am blown away by the responses I got on my last chapter! I shouldn't have been so surprised that so many of you have stuck around after so long, but I was! Thank you SO much to everyone who took the time to review, leave me a note, and be so supportive, encouraging, and understanding. Seriously have THE best review squad ever.
Special thanks to the superior PippinStrange, who this fic is dedicated to as the most belated birthday present in the world. lol. If you guys haven't read her work and need your Marvel fix, go there NOW! She has some of the best damn writing on this website, and you will not be disappointed!
Life is still absolutely bonkers, like I am positive it is for most, if not all of you. I'm working a lot, and spending a lot of time worrying about planning my wedding and distracting myself by playing mass amounts of video games. But occasionally I force myself to hunker down and write, and I always enjoy it when I do.
Speaking of writing, I started a new original book! I'm still working on getting RAVEN RISING published by querying agents, (yes I will keep you guys informed of my progress on that front!) but in the meantime, I started a new book, which I decided to post online on WattPad! So if any of you guys are interested, I have four chapters of my new novel THICKER THAN WATER. Here is the blurb:
A raid in the mountains leaves a coven of dark witches slaughtered and a young girl orphaned and traumatized. Soldiers bring her to a town where a grieving blacksmith, only two months a widow, seems like the last possible choice to take her in. Nora Carver knows steel and flame. She knows what it is to be broken and reforged and broken again. So when her friend beseeches her to take the quiet, mysterious girl orphaned by the raid, Nora reluctantly agrees. Together they learn to heal, to find a new meaning to the word "family", just before a man with eyes like the child's shows up and threatens everything. Nora learns just how far she will go to protect her daughter, even if that means standing against the broken laws of her country, and a soulless witch thirsty for blood.My username on Wattpad is crystaltyrigollen, so if you stop by to read, leave me a note! I'd love to hear from you!
Anywho, back to the CMFU. I seriously love and miss this universe. I think we are about halfway done with Hunted, it will be a shorter story than my others, unless my muse gets carried away, which it often does, and then it's on to the next fic, the one I've been writing for years and am SO BEYOND EXCITED to share with you, SOUND OF SILENCE. You guys have no idea what's coming, and I'm freaking out about it. lol! So hopefully time allows me to get all this writing done so I can keep sharing the CMFU with you lovely readers!
Also, I realized I started writing an edited/rewritten version of Paint it Black and posting it on Archive of Our Own, and I wonder how many of you would be interested for me to start posting the rewrite here? Comment below!
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COMING UP: CHAPTER EIGHT: SHERE KAHN
Was the tiger attack at the zoo merely a freak accident? Or something malicious and intentional? Given recent events, Peter Parker is inclined to believe the latter. And all of his instincts are warning him about the mysterious Logan West, who seems to be taking an interest in his Aunt May. Choosing to trust and confide in the adults in his life, Peter finds himself leaning on Ned for support as his suspicions grow, and he decides to take action on his own. Or, rather, with his Guy in the Chair.