By Sunlight (P.P + M.J)

3. Upstate

It was dark when the Quinjet landed at the Avengers Facility, the sun almost complete with its downward descent. It was bitterly cold but there was no snow on the ground, which was still green and healthy. Tony did have a thing for lawn maintenance. The cargo hold door dropped open and Peter stood up. Jack leaned out, looking out over the huge white building.

Once the aircraft was close enough, Jack dropped out of the hold and hit the ground, somersaulting away as the Quinjet touched the landing pad. Peter then jumped off and went over to him. As the engines died down, Peter spied a familiar orange sports car driving up the dusty lane to the facility. A SHIELD agent, Agent Maria Hill, was approaching them as the pilot disembarked the jet. Hill came up to Jack and Peter first, they both gave her their full attention, straightening up.

"Hello, boys," Agent Hill greeted them with a friendly smile, "Stark will be in in a minute, so go on inside to get debriefed."

That really meant "turn back into a human" and "change from your suit to actual clothes". They obeyed, and the agent went over to the pilot to get a report, the two friends continuing on into the building. As they walked through the sliding doors, they headed toward a locker room where their normal clothes were kept.

Even for being around for two months, people still scurried out of Jack's way when he approached, his thumping footsteps slightly intimidating, his claws tending to click against the slick marble floor. Their initial fear of him was understandable, but Peter thought they would've warmed up to Jack by now. The werewolf had been around at the Avengers Facility for some time now, since he was always there for training and learning how to be an efficient hero, as well as developing his lycan form, discovering ways to became even more powerful. His healing abilities had become more enhanced, hence being able to withstand a full missile blast and still remain in one piece.

Peter and Jack entered the locker room and Jack pulled his charred armor off, fastening it on a display hook before transforming out of his werewolf form. They both changed back into their everyday clothes and Peter swiped Jack's black winter beanie. Being a good sport, Jack let him keep it. Peter went into a separate room to change, and stood in front of the room's full-body mirror. When his suit slid off, Peter paused, noticing the three pale lines that ran down his torso. They were past reminders of a torrential time, when he had fought a brainwashed Jack. The wounds had healed practically overnight, leaving the soft white lines in their wake. Peter thought they were cool, but whenever Jack saw them, he'd visibly cringe.

That torrential time was something Jack didn't want to remember.

After changing into his dark jeans and a black shirt with a winter coat, tied together with Jack's beanie, he walked out to see Jack stuffing his tactical pants his signature black backpack. He was wearing blue jeans and a gray-and-white flannel shirt with heavy brown hiking boots, topped with a heavy black North Face jacket. His hair no longer carried the vibrant orange, for as the weeks went on, his hair had changed into a dark red, almost like that of Wanda. But with every few transformations, a streak of orange would sometimes appear.

Peter gave his friend his suit, and Jack threw it into his backpack with his pants. They then exited the locker room, Jack fixing the backpack on his shoulders as they entered the hallway. They walked toward the lobby, where Tony Stark, wearing one of his classically expensive suits, was talking with Happy Hogan, his bodyguard.

When Mr.Stark saw them, he beckoned them over with a wave of his hand. The two boys complied and went over to him, their heads low. Peter was ready to receive a scolding or a grounding like when he failed before. But he was surprised to see that the billionaire Avenger was smiling as he took off his sunglasses and put them in his jacket pocket.