EGOSON N.R

Four

The next day Marcus went straight to Natasha's house to check up on her.

He braced himself (anxiety) and knocked on the door, fiddilimg with his mothers ring he wore on his finger.

Alexei opened the door to a suprise seeing Marcus at the door "Oh hi Marc, whats up?" Marcus smiles nervously "I just came to check up on Natasha, she doing alright?" Alexei smiles at his words and care for his daughter.

"Oh yeah, she fine jus-" but he's cut off "I didnt know you were worried about me Marcus" Natasha says approaching the door limping a bit, bandadge wrapped around her leg. Marcus rolls his eyes with a tight smile seeimg shes okay. "Well considering I thought you hit your head with a concusion yeah I guess I was worried sunshine" he answers truthfully.

Natasha crosses her arms with a tight smile tapping her foot in the doorway. "Thanks, I guess" She wasnt used to the kind of behaviour, care.
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Around the next couple of weeks Marcus' behaviour changed around Natasha, he got softer, kinder, definitly more stubborn but today was her first day smce her ankle delayed it.

"Alright have a good day, be great, and no bullying the 1st graders" Jason said poimting his finger at the last part. "I got it Grandpa, i gotta go" He stepped off the porch and started walkimg away to get Natasha "And no taking those darn headphones Marc!" Jason yelled and Marcus sticked up two fingers "Got it pop!" But obviously he snuck it in his backpack along with his mother's soundtrack, Peter had the other one so he had been stuck with Vol. 2 for the past few years.

He got to Natasha's house just in time to see Melina and Alexei walking her out. "There he is" Alexei pointed out. Natasha turned to him then back to her parents. "Bye mom, dad" she said and they waved as the two stepped away.

"Okay how do we get there?" He looks at her from the corner of his eye "Just follow me" he says pulling out his headset and the soundtrack "Whats that?" She asks confused and Marcus turns to her looking at her as if she was crazy "A soundtrack? Headphones? What do you think it is?" He says sarcastically.

Natasha still had a confused look on her face, they hadnt had these thing in her first cycle of the red room. "Where did you get it from?" She asks and he shrugs "My mother gave it to me, I dont know where from" Marcus puts his headphones on but turns the music down ao he could still hear her. "Wheres your mom?" She asks amd he sighs looking amd pointing up at the sky.

Realization pours in "Oh, sorry" He nods but she still had one more question "Can I try?" She asks and Marcus sighs thinking, he hadnt shown anyone his soundtrack, let alone put them on besides his brother when they shared Vol. 1 and 2. He takes them off and puts them on her ears playing 'I want you back' by the Jackson 5.

Natasha's face turns into a smile as she starts dancing making Marcus laugh. "I like this!" She screams, guess the music was too loud. Marcus laughs even louder this time making Natasha hear.

She takes off the set and hands it back "I have to get me one of those" She points at it smiling "You're the only one allowed to put that on, got it?" She chuckles and nods.

The two get to the school and part ways when Marcus shows her where the third graders go. He walks to his own classroom and lays down his bag on the floor. "Marc, you know the drill, put it on the rack" his teacher says and he puts it on the rack. "I need to speak to you before lunch please" He nods and sits back down.

Before lunch the rest of the class goes outside while Marcus stays to talk to his teacher. "Do you know why we're talking?" he asks and Marcus shakes his head tiredly. "I think you do, your not trying Marcus. Your a smart kid and you have potential, I need you to at least try or i'll have no choice but to hold you back" He says and Marcus sighs nodding "I'll try" Marcus says and Mr. Frine smiles patting his back "Thank you, now go ahead to recess" Marcus smiles and walks outside only to find a big crowd of people in a circle.

He pushes forward to see the school bully Arnett standing over Natasha, whom was helpless. She was trying not to be scared but infront of all these people she couldn't help it. Marcus' eyes flicker blue as a storm cloud rolls over them.

He pushes Arnett off "Pick on someone your own size" He says not afraid, he remembers when Peter used to do this for him. "What like you? Your just a wimp both of you" He points between Marcus and Natasha. Marcus punches him in the face, his eyes becoming bright blue as he punches him over and over again.

But the cloud Over them starts to shoot lightning as all of the kids run inside, Marcus is pulled away and taken to the office. They call his grandpa who comes to the office disappointed.

"Your student beat another repeatedly, he shall be suspended for at least 14 days regardless-" "It's not my fault he was being a dick" Marc cuts the principal off and Jason covers his mouth "Not another word" He says apologizing to the principal amd taking Marcus to the car practically dragging him by his ear. "What did I tell you about getting into fights?!" He yells but Marcus doesn't move, just sighs "Grandpa he was bullying Natasha, you told me to help her so I did" Marcus says rolling his eyes on the last part of his sentence.

Jason notices he left out the part where Peter used to help him with bullies. "You used your power James, you could have killed him, I've tried my best to make you feel like a normal kid" He says but Marcus knows when Jason uses his actual name he's in big trouble. "Well I'm not a normal kid, what if Peter is out there with the same power? It all leads back to our father" He argues back.

"James, you know how much I loved your brother but he's gone, you have to accept that" He used the word 'loved' "It's love, I know he's still out there, he has to be" Jason closes his eyes for a split second Sadly but he didn't want to push the conversation any farther.

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