7 The Bite

The world around Felix blurred as the searing pain from the gunshot wound engulfed him, his vision swimming in and out of focus. Unconsciousness loomed on the edges of his awareness as he lay bleeding out on the ground.

'My stomach…'

Weakly, he peered down. There was too much blood leaking out. Did his organs survive? 'Probably not…'

A wet liquid touched his hair. Reed…it was Reed's blood, mixed with his own. The blood of the dead.

His eyes fell. The strength in his body was gone. The strength to move his limbs was not a factor. His fingers were freezing, merely jerking in erratic bursts of strength.

This was it.

After all the work he put into leaving his home, away from his father and mother, this was his end. This was the amalgamation of his hard work. Of what he and Reed and everyone else at Oscorp did.

Death. Cruel, unfair death.

His heart, once so strong, began to fade. Felix closed his eyes for what should have been the very last time.

However, fate would not let Felix Faeth die. Not yet. Not today.

The radioactive spider that had escaped from the mercenaries crawled on him. Through the blood, through the cold body, it came upon Felix and sank its fangs into the back of his neck.

Two heartbeats later, a tiny, fly-shaped machine darted toward Felix. Alone, the spider-bite would not have been enough to restart his heart. But with the potent Extremis substance, even life could be defied. Without hesitation, the fly injected itself into the same spot on his neck, mingling with the effects of the spider's bite.

A surge of energy rippled through Felix's body, an otherworldly sensation coursing through his veins as the dual effects of the radioactive spider's bite and the Extremis injection began to intermingle within him.

Unconsciousness enveloped Felix, the world fading into darkness as his body underwent a transformation beyond comprehension. The convergence of these two disparate elements, the radioactive spider's bite and the Extremis injection, set in motion an inexplicable metamorphosis within him, altering his very being in ways yet to be understood.

Felix opened his eyes right on time to see the relieved eyes of emergency workers.

"He's alive, but he's lost a lot of blood. Get a medkit—pronto! We need pressure dressings and IV fluids, stat!"

Feeling like he was decaying from the stomach, Felix closed his eyes, thinking it would be his last.

***

A nauseating bitter smell woke him up. Felix didn't expect it and his expression twisted before his eyelids opened. A light burned his vision and he heaved himself up, eyes flashing open.

"Woah!" A woman who he assumed was a nurse came over to him. Felix wiped the sweat off his temple and glanced at her. The nurse touched his back as if to steady him. "You woke up fast. We haven't even extracted your blood yet—"

"What happened to everyone?"

He remembered bits and pieces—pieces that were slowly coming together to form a full picture. Men in black, guns, and—

The nurse hesitated to answer and instead gave a question in turn, "What do you remember?"

His head hurt. "Oscorp…we were done in the lower levels and we were…attacked. We…escaped and then…" His eyes went wide. "Reed! What happened to him!?"

He clung to the nurse, eyes searching for an answer. The nurse pursed her lips and shook her head.

"He's a teenager. Dark-skin, little side of grey hair…"

Every word caused his stomach to sink further and further. Every word made the nurse gnaw on her lip.

"I think I know who you're talking about." The nurse mustered up sympathy. "I'm sorry."

His world went blank. A tumult of darkness swirled within him—a profound sense of loss, a tinge of regret for things left unsaid, and an overwhelming ache for his best friend. His only friend, really.

The world seemed to blur as the realization sunk in. His heart rocked his ribcage.

'Reed…he used to have a family but they suddenly passed from sickness. He was alone, supported by the government because of his intellect. There was a social worker that came to check on him from time to time…what was her name? Bonita Juarez? Something like that?'

His thoughts attempted to return to normalcy. His thoughts attempted to keep calm. But despite his inner world, he didn't feel anything. It was like the world didn't matter. Bonita Juarez? Who gave a fuck. Reed was dead and so were his coworkers—

An hour must have gone by. The nurse tried to converse with him but his words came out in mumbles. He really didn't care. He just didn't.

Felix lay in his hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic mingling with the subdued hum of medical equipment. The events of the past days felt like a hazy dream, the trauma and chaos still fresh in his mind. His gaze drifted out the window, watching the soft rays of sunlight filter through the curtains, a gentle reminder of life outside the confines of the hospital.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Faiza Hossain entered, her presence a comforting sight amidst the clinical environment. Her warm smile, her cute scarf, and reassuring demeanor brought a glimmer of familiarity and reassurance to the sterile room.

"Hello, Felix," Faiza greeted, her voice carrying a sense of empathy and professionalism. "I've been assigned to watch over you, alongside Dr. Montesi. She runs this wing of the hospital."

"You're finally here," Felix stated. "Lucky."

Her gaze went downwards. "I…suppose."

He attempted to show a semblance of friendliness and offered a faint smile of acknowledgment. "It's good to see a friendly face around here," he replied, tone low and grave.

Faiza pulled up a chair beside his bed, her manner calm and attentive. "How are you feeling?" she inquired, her concern genuine as she assessed his condition.

"It's been a lot to process," Felix admitted, his voice tinged with weariness. "Losing Reed, the whole ordeal... It's been overwhelming."

"I'm sorry. I…wish I could do something—"

"What's done is done," Felix interrupted. "And you wouldn't have been able to change anything anyway. How is everyone? I assume I'm not the only survivor?"

"Amongst your department…only Reed didn't make it. He was shot in the head. Alistair is currently in the ER, recovering from a surgery done on his head."

That explosion…fuck, just how many people were hurt from it?

"Death toll?" he asked in a low murmur.

"...twelve." Faiza exhaled. "Two hundred injured."

Felix wasn't able to conjure a response. Twelve. Such a small number. In any other circumstance, it would have been a meaningless tragedy. He would feel sympathy and move on.

Felix wasn't sure if he could move on.

"I have to go," Felix muttered. "I can't stay here."

"Your injuries…" Faiza trailed off. "...are gone? I thought they said you were bleeding out."

He was—no, worse, he had been shot. How was he okay? It shouldn't have been possible. He checked his shirt. Sure enough, there was a small hole in the fabric, indicative of a bullet. 'What…? Then how am I…?'

The door to his room burst open and in came a woman in a trench coat. She was attractive, no question about it, but somehow he got the feeling she wasn't here for a physical examination. "Doctor, is he well enough to speak?" the stranger asked.

"Oh, um, detective," Faiza said, standing up, "you're not supposed to be here—"

"Doesn't matter," said the woman. She turned to Felix and extended a hand. "I'm Detective Maria Hill."

'Detective? Is she with the NYPD?'

Felix hesitantly shook her hand. Her hair was short and she wore black gloves. She definitely seemed to be on the stingy side.

"Excuse me, Detective Hill." Faiza turned stern. "I believe he is well enough for a brief discussion but nothing more. Please leave once you are done with your business"

Maria nodded, her demeanor professional as she directed her attention to Felix. "I need to ask you about the Oscorp attack. Any information you can provide will be helpful."

Felix, feeling a sense of suspicion gnawing at him, furrowed his brow. "Are you from the NYPD?" he inquired.

"I am—"

His eyes lasered in on her badge. "You clipped that badge on just before you came, didn't you?"

It was weird how quickly he caught onto her. Ordinarily, the world wasn't so…clear. So easy. So…

'...slow?'

Maria hesitated and he could see the tiniest shift in her facial muscles. She breathed for a moment before admitting, "You are right. I am a private detective, but nonetheless, I am here to ensure justice is served."

Felix's wariness grew, but before he could respond, Faiza gently interjected, her tone sympathetic. "Detective Hill, I understand the importance of your investigation. I let you in because I understand, but Felix has been through a lot recently. Keep it brief and stop with the lies."

Maria seemed to mull over her words. Obviously, she didn't think she'd get caught. Her expression softened momentarily as she spoke, her voice tinged with a touch of vulnerability. "My father passed away in the attack at Oscorp," she revealed. "I saw his body and came here as fast as I could to find witnesses. Did you see him? Ed Vernon?"

Felix's demeanor shifted, sympathy flickering across his features. "I'm truly sorry for your loss," he offered sincerely. "But I have never met an Ed Vernon."

Maria pressed on. "Do you have any clue who the attackers were? You are a part of Dr. Octavius' science group, correct?"

'She's letting on more than she's supposed to. Is she really here just for her father?'

Despite his suspicions, he was tempted to tell her about Crossbones and the mercenary. However, he felt a sharp gaze from Faiza and caution resurfaced. "I'm under a legal contract not to disclose any information," he explained.

"So they already got to you…" Maria's disappointment was palpable as she sighed, her gaze lingering on Felix for a moment longer before she turned to leave. "Thank you for your time," she said, her tone resigned, and she exited the room.

There was silence.

"I didn't tell you to keep quiet, yet you did," Faiza said. "Good."

"So that's why you were assigned; to tell the employees not to tell the police everything." Felix wanted to laugh. Oscorp…just what secrets were they hiding? "How much is the reimbursement?"

"Ten thousand."

"Make it thirty," Felix said. "I was down there, remember? I want my money's worth."

"Deal."

Faiza—she was a puppet, wasn't she? How disappointing. At least that was what he thought before he saw the lingering doubt as she got up.

'Man, my eyes…' He stared at the palm of his hands. 'It's weird. Why is everything so weird? And how come I feel so good?'

Ordinarily, he wouldn't have asked for such a request, yet he did. His mind was moving faster than ever before. It didn't make sense. His body should have been burned and bruised from the explosion—from the bullet wound Crossbones gave him.

It had been barely six hours since the incident. He wanted to leave but unfortunately he had to wait for Faiza to confirm his reimbursement. After that, he was free to do as he pleased.

The flickering light of the TV screen cast a soft glow across the hospital room, the sound of a news report murmuring in the background. Felix sat on the edge of his bed, his gaze fixed on the screen as images of the Oscorp incident played out, each detail a stark reminder of the chaos he had narrowly escaped.

'The explosion…'

Watching from a different point of view, it was a miracle he survived. Under all that fire, all those cars…

'God…Reed….'

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden entrance of NYPD officers into the room. Immediately, he recognized the leading man: Officer Grimm.

"It's you, officer." Felix put up a small smile. "Thank you for back then."

"Good to see that you're in good health," Office Grimm said, sending a smile back. "It really is unfortunate that I have to come on business again. I'm here to ask some questions."

Felix's heart skipped a beat, the unexpected visit catching him off guard. He glanced at the television screen and then at the officers. 'So that detective really was lying. She was a fraud.'

"I prefer not to," he replied cautiously.

Officer Grimm exchanged a brief glance with his friend before he continued, his tone insistent. "We need to gather all the information available. It's imperative that we understand what happened. You were done there. You went down the elevator, no?"

"I did. But I can't legally tell what was inside."

"Please, Felix." Officer Grimm went over and covered the television screen. "We need this. A lead, something—anything. Why would those mercenaries attack?"

"...I can't…" Felix sighed and rubbed his head. "Look, even if I told you, I doubt it would help."

"Try me."

"You want to find those guys, right? You think that they stole something? Well, hypothetically…"

"Hypothetically," Office Grimm urged on.

"...it's untrackable. They left with pretty much the same things they came with."

Office Grimm made eye contact with the other officer. "And that's all you can tell us?"

"My lips are sealed."

'Oscorp money is too good to pass on.' Felix eyed the camera in the corner of the room.

"Fine." Officer Grimm sighed and pulled something from his back pocket. "We didn't come here just to question. There's something else. Here. It's yours."

Felix's eyes widened in surprise as he took the phone, a sinking realization dawning upon him. It wasn't his phone; it was Reed's, recognizable by the distinct case and lock screen image.

'Why would they…oh.'

"It is yours, right? It was found close to you."

Felix nodded. He didn't have the voice to respond to the officer's inquiry. The screen was cracked, though not beyond repair. He could fix it in his off-time.

"I know Reed Richards was something of a brother to you." Officer Grimm's remark caught him off-guard. "That's what your coworkers have said. Reed was the only one who listened to you, but there's a bit of a hiccup regarding his personal property. He is minor and technically his items should be processed. However, because the NYPD is stretched thin, neither we nor the government is interested in taking his stuff."

Felix raised a brow. "Meaning…?"

"Empty his stuff," Officer Grimm said. "Take whatever is in his apartment. You may not see it again. Legally, it doesn't belong to you but given the circumstances we thought to give you a heads-up. You have his address, right?"

"I do," Felix replied, lips in a line. "Is that it?"

"Yes. Thank you. We might ask you to come in for further questions. We are aware of your contract but that won't stop our department from asking anyway."

Right, since the incident was still fresh. If the movies were anything to go by, the investigation would stretch along for weeks.

He switched back to the television and ignored the officers leaving. The door closing, the darkness loomed in. There was space for another bed in the room.

He glanced at it, fist clenching.

If only he was still here, maybe the loneliness that was creeping in his heart would disappear.

***

A day later, he discharged himself. Faiza was very much against it but there was nothing she could do after she confirmed the Oscorp reimbursement. He signed the paper, double-checking the clauses, and made doubly sure he would receive the thirty-thousand. Afterwards, he hit the streets.

Reed's phone was in his pocket. He kept his hands in his pockets to make sure it would stay there.

Reed's apartment was a classic brownstone building on a lively New York street close to Central Park, not too far off from Harlem. The worn steps led up to a red-bricked façade.

Inside, it was modest and neat. The living room had a comfy couch, a coffee table covered in science journals, and an old chair by the window. With no curtains, filled the space, making the wooden floors glow.

The kitchen was small but efficient, a tidy coffee machine standing out amid a few scattered mugs. In the bedroom, a well-made bed dominated the room, with just a bedside table holding a photo of the team working on Project Rebirth II: Reed, Felix, Bobbi, Maya, and Kavita.

Felix picked it up, eyes blank. 'I might not have had the best time but I never wanted it to go like this.'

Reed was dead and everyone else besides him was badly hurt. His heart felt like collapsing on itself.

Reed's workspace was a simple desk cluttered with scientific notes and a laptop. Felix decided to take the laptop and the photo with him.

A lone plant on the windowsill added a touch of life to the otherwise straightforward space. Reed's place was…

'Barren.'

Felix stood there, taking in the emptiness once more. The realization hit him like a wave crashing against a shore: Reed's apartment was not just bare, it was a canvas void of any personal strokes. It was as if Reed's existence disappeared after their shared work at Daxter Lab.

The absence of personal artifacts, traces of hobbies, or even mundane items that usually filled someone's living space struck Felix deeply. It wasn't just emptiness; it was the absence of a life lived beyond their joint endeavors. It hinted at a reality where Reed's world seemed confined to the time spent with Felix, and it left a pang of sorrow in his heart.

The bond they shared had always been strong, but Felix hadn't comprehended the extent to which it might have been the cornerstone of Reed's life. The realization that Reed might not have had much beyond their friendship tugged at Felix's emotions.

A profound sadness settled in as he understood that perhaps, in their pursuit of scientific breakthroughs and shared aspirations, Reed hadn't cultivated a life outside their partnership. The silence of the apartment seemed to echo the loneliness that Reed might have felt in moments of solitude.

Besides the laptop and the photo, there was nothing to take.

Nothing but loneliness.