By Sunlight (P.P + M.J)

18. Walk on the Wild Side

It would be around eight when Peter and MJ left the apartment for the facility. Ned couldn't go because he had a test he wanted to study for, because "I actually care about my grades" he would quip to Peter. Per Peter's request, Happy has was there to drive them. He was grumpy about it, but he didn't say anything as the two climbed into the limo. Peter made sure to notify Aunt May, only saying that Tony needed him upstate. She didn't entirely know about Jack's wolfiness. She knew he was Werewolf, she just didn't know he went crazy now and then.

The car ride was quiet, the silence only breaking when Happy told them Mr.Stark wouldn't be there. Peter couldn't help but feel disappointed. Mr.Stark had expressed an interest in meeting MJ ever since he heard that Peter had decided to stay with her, and wanted to know what all the fuss was about. But now that was gone, it wouldn't be happening tonight.

Peter traced circles on the back of MJ's hand with his thumb. She still seemed excited about the idea of the whole thing, even if the billionaire superhero wouldn't be involved. She didn't care about him anyway. She had never been to the Avengers compound before, and she looked forward to perusing the halls that heroes walked. But for the time being, Peter and MJ passed the time with thumbs wars. Since he had super strength in his thumb, it was a little unfair, but she'd be damned if he ever let her win.

When they got to the facility, Happy parked the limo outside the door and walked them inside. Happy led them through the halls, their steps echoing and they passed a few workers, who waved to them. MJ marveled at everything they passed, from Tony's workshop to the sophisticated living room and the game room the billionaire had installed just for Peter. It was all very high-end.

Finally, they got to the cell block, where it was quiet and eery. Happy opened a door and it slid back to reveal a huge room with a glass cell within it, and within that, was a rather oversized wolf bouncing a tennis ball off the side of his cage's glass wall. Happy informed them that it was one-way glass, because apparently he wouldn't become aggressive if he couldn't see a target to attack. The glorified bodyguard waited at the door as Peter and MJ climbed up the steps to get a better look at their friend, whose blue eyes lit up when he saw them.

Even if it was one-way glass, he still somehow knew exactly where they were.

"Buddies, you came!" He called in his deep, wolffish voice, his ears pricking forward, "Happy doesn't seem to realize I can track heartbeats."

"As creepy as that information is, there was no way I was gonna miss this," MJ replied.

"I wanted to ask you, MJ; what's it like juggling three boyfriends?" Jack asked, an eyebrow raised suggestively as he approached the glass, tossing the ball between his paws, "must be hard to keep them all happy."

MJ rolled her eyes while Peter chuckled, "they're pretty easy actually. One just needs Star Wars to keep him entertained and the other only needs a bouncy ball."

"And the other you take on photography dates," the werewolf laughed as he turned to Peter, "why do I feel like we got the short end of the stick here?"

"So when you turning, Red?" MJ asked, switching the subject as he and Peter continued to snicker.

"A few minutes I'd say," Jack replied, "I'm already starting to feel...," he flexed his steel claws, "urges."

Peter instinctively took a step back, his arm wrapping around MJ. He couldn't help the flashbacks when he saw Jack go crazy the last time. As much as he believed it wouldn't happen again, his instinct told him to never assume. Jack must have noticed that his heartbeat had picked up a bit, and the werewolf chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'm not coming for you," he reassured them, and he knocked his fist against the glass, "this cage was built to hold something much bigger than me."

Suddenly, something changed in his gaze, and he looked straight out, over their heads and breaking eye contact. His ears laid flat against his head, and he took a few feet backward. He started to blink hard, his lip twitching as he shook his head. The fur on his shoulders bristled, his tail starting to thrash violently from side to side. He must've been turning, and as Peter went to glance at MJ, he saw that she had moved from his side to step closer so she could watch more intently.

Jack's turn was a violent one, and Peter couldn't help but cringe. His friend looked like he was suffering, clawing at his face and bumping against the glass walls. At one point, he deliberately smashed his head against one of the walls, and Peter thought it would break from the force. He felt a relief as Jack bounced right off it, falling onto his back.

It was when he got back up that Peter noticed something else was happening. Not only were Jack's eyes taking on a glowing red hue, but he was getting bigger. His shoulders grew broader and he rose at least two inches. When he finally completed the turn, Jack dropped onto all fours, his face stone-like. MJ watched with bated breath as he began to sniff around the cage, his nose coming across the tennis ball. He then proceeded to lay down and gnaw in it like a dog at a park.

"That was interesting," MJ finally spoke, and Peter's blood froze as Jack's head lifted at the sound of her voice. He left the ball behind to sniff at the wall between him and them. His red eyes were haunting to look at, his skin prickled as the werewolf scratched at the glass. He looked up, his gaze seemingly landing on Peter. Even if he couldn't actually see him, being stared at was an uncomfortable feeling for the web-slinger.

Jack then barked, causing Peter to flinch. MJ saw him and took his hand in hers as Jack started to bump his nose against the glass and snarl, his teeth bared. He barked again, and Peter once again flinched, and he felt short of breath as his friend proceeded to growl and yap.

"It's his reflection," MJ noted, her voice soft as she gave Peter's hand a soothing squeeze, "that's what he's barking at. Frickin' idiot."

Peter didn't believe her at first, his mind still reeling at the fact that Jack was out to kill him again. He only started to actually get what she said when he realized that the werewolf was no longer looking at Peter, but rather at himself. He moved along the wall, not knowing that he was just following his reflection. Peter had seen videos of dogs doing that very thing, and it almost made him laugh to see his friend doing such a stereotypically dog thing.

Then, the noise shut off. It still looked like he was barking, but there was no sound. Peter turned around and saw Happy standing at a control panel, his finger pressed down on a button.

"It's a little loud for me," the bodyguard said, and he stepped toward the cage, pointing to Jack as he pranced around, "Tony thinks he grows two inches whenever he's like this. We measured him at 7'0 foot when he came in today."

"Really?" Peter had seen him visibly grow larger, but he was surprised he hadn't noticed before.

"At least it hasn't affected his human height," MJ noted, "imagine having having a tree of a friend walking around school."

Peter gave her a pointed look. "Yes, I can imagine that."

The two left with Happy, but Peter stopped at the door when he heard a howl from the cell. He turned and saw the werewolf staring after him, his scarlet gaze locked on him. He felt a chill run up his spine, but MJ wouldn't allow him to linger. She pulled him away and the door slid shut, sealing Jack's wolf sounds inside.

"It's not that late," Peter said, looking  at the time on his phone, "wanna check out the game room?"

"You're such a nerd," MJ retorted, "and yes."

Wow, I'm so sorry this took so long. I'm in the last week of classes but I just couldn't let myself postpone this chapter anymore. So yeah, here's 18 finally! Let me know what you think with a comment or vote! :)

~Fargone5