Marvel & Multiverse with GACHA SYSTEM

Jason trudged across the dusty Texas landscape until he finally arrived at his other home a farmhouse.

This place had belonged to his grandparents, but they'd passed on, victims of the same tired clichés life seemed to throw at most fanfiction protagonists.

He got to the door and immediately frowned.

"Weird... it's locked from the inside," he muttered.

He looked around but didn't notice anything suspicious at first. Then his eyes fell to the ground, where fresh footprints trailed near the porch.

"Great, uninvited guests," he muttered as he scanned the area

This was meant to be his safe haven the one place where he could catch his breath and figure out his next move. Now, like everything else in his life lately, it was compromised.

Taking a deep breath, he mumbled, "Alright, let's see what kinda mess I'm dealing with now."

Jason's POV

I moved around the outside of the house, keeping my steps light, careful not to make any noise. First stop? The windows. I leaned in close to check them, one by one. Each one was shut tight, curtains drawn. No movement inside that I could see, but that didn't mean much.

The back door was locked, just like the front.

No signs of forced entry.

Whoever's in there? They're hiding. That's what it feels like. Probably just one person, though I can't rule out the chance there's more. I mean, there's always a chance, but my gut's telling me it's just one. Could be wrong, but I doubt it.

I needed more information before making a move.

Or so I thought until I heard the door creak open.

Without hesitation, I shifted to the side, slipping around the corner of the house. I pressed my back against the wall, staying in the shadows.

Then came the soft click of the door locking. I waited a few seconds before peeking out.

A hooded figure was walking away. Now, some might say this is the moment to strike, but not me. Not here.

This is Marvel. For all I know, that person could be a mutant, an Inhuman, a vampire, well not a vampire since it's still daylight, a werewolf, an alien, a super soldier. The possibilities are endless. And honestly, none of those scenarios sound fun right now.

It's smarter to wait. Nightfall is the better time for action.

That said, I still need to get a look inside the house.

Nighttime

Moving quietly across the farm, Jason made his way back to the house. Instead of going through the door, he headed for the side window he'd checked earlier. He'd left it unlocked just for this.

With practiced ease, he slid it open and slipped inside without a sound.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, pulling a knife from his pocket. "Time to see what this guy's about."

He moved carefully, keeping his steps light as he passed through the hall. The house was eerily silent, but his senses stayed sharp.

Finally, he reached the room where the "guest" had been staying. Why a boy? Simple Jason had spotted boys' clothes earlier. Nothing that belonged to a girl. That much he was sure of.

Not much had changed inside. Everything was still in its place, just as Jason remembered. It was like the boy had gone out of his way to only touch what he needed, careful not to disturb anything unnecessary.

It was oddly methodical, almost like the kid didn't want to leave a trace. That, or he was just overly cautious.

Jason slipped into the room, moving as quietly as possible. The boy lay there, stretched out on the bed, completely oblivious to his presence.

"Alright, keep it simple," Jason thought, pulling a chloroform soaked cloth from his pocket. He crept forward, each step deliberate, careful not to make a sound.

Reaching the bed, he pressed the cloth firmly against the boy's nose. The plan was straightforward , quick and easy.

But the boy's eyes snapped open, wide with instinctive alertness. Before Jason could even process what was happening, the kid's hand twitched a reflex more than a conscious act.

The next thing Jason knew, he was airborne. It felt like a freight train had slammed into him, throwing him across the room. He hit the wall hard, the breath knocked out of him as he slumped to the floor.

"What the hell " he muttered, shaking his head and trying to catch his breath. His back throbbed from the impact, but his attention shot back to the bed.

The boy was motionless again, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. The chloroform had apparently done its job after all.

"That... that was instinct," Jason realized, wiping the sweat off his face with a shaky hand. He wasn't dealing with an ordinary kid. This was a mutant.

Jason stayed on the floor for a few more seconds, watching the boy carefully, his mind racing. "Well," he muttered under his breath, "this just got a hell of a lot more complicated."