Chapter 23: I Seem to Have Pink Eye

One hundred push-ups a day seemed an impossible feat for young Peter Parker.

He was drenched in sweat after just thirty.

In truth, most people would struggle with that number. Peter, being quite slender, found even splitting 100 push-ups into several sets exhausting.

"One hundred push-ups a day, I've been doing it for two days. I'll get stronger soon, right?" Peter wondered to himself.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already past midnight.

"Darn, I need to sleep! I'm going to the Osborn Mansion with Jane tomorrow for a seminar!"

The next day, Batman's exploits dominated the news.

Leo Bright rose early to begin his workout. It was Saturday, meaning no classes today or tomorrow.

Rumor had it that Leo had once again set a new record for tardiness at school.

In recent weeks, he'd been late five days a week, except for the day he skipped entirely to visit S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

Well...

Not that he cared anymore.

Professor Will had probably given up on him. He didn't even bother sending a message when Leo missed class, nor did he chastise him for being late recently. Leo figured the professor had just thrown in the towel.

But it didn't matter; you win some, you lose some.

Leo wasn't just a student anymore. He was an unsung hero, a good citizen of New York, and maybe even a future consultant for a top-notch beauty salon.

With his current resources, starting a business would be a breeze.

Yet, he hesitated to take the plunge.

What once seemed like a dream now felt a bit childish.

But that was okay; people evolve, and dreams change. As a kid, he wanted to be an astronaut, only to realize he was too tall for the role.

Perhaps the dreams he had now would seem naïve in the future.

But who cares?

Leo took life one step at a time.

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Just like his powers, you never know what will happen tomorrow.

Right now, Leo firmly believed in this.

Because…

MMP's!

What he thought was a useless ability—'the bloody eye of a good friend of the Seventh Hokage'—had given him pink eye!

Pink eye!

What on earth was this?

Leo looked at the reddish world around him, where everything seemed to move in slow motion, and felt a pang of frustration.

The real kicker was that he didn't know how to turn it off!

Was his world destined to remain blood-red?

It was too annoying.

How would he know whether to cross the street if the traffic lights appeared red all the time?

Go or stop?

Leo was mentally wrestling with this dilemma when his phone vibrated.

Not his high-tech flip phone, but the S.H.I.E.L.D. phone Fury had given him.

Leo pulled out his phone and answered.

"Consultant Leo, or should I call you Batman?" Fury's playful voice came through the line.

"You'd better call me the Silencer," Leo replied, feeling irritable as he stared at the red-tinted world, his mood inexplicably sour.

"Can you mute me over the phone?" Fury retorted, crossing his legs and gazing out the window.

"Actually, I can. Today's phones have that feature. I can even record your voice," Leo quipped.

"That's called recording!" Fury snapped.

"What do you need? Is there a mission?" Leo asked.

"Not quite yet. Though you caused quite a stir last night, it's giving the government a headache trying to suppress the news."

"But who cares? Let them deal with it. The world needs a little change."

"Hiding things solves nothing," Fury scoffed.

"I appreciate your style, but staying only in Queens feels small. I hear there's a big event in Hell's Kitchen tonight, and your friend Daredevil is involved," Fury hinted.

"What's going on?" Leo asked.

"Kingpin has been stirring up trouble, smuggling in a large cache of arms through unknown channels. I've sent Hawkeye to investigate."

"According to Hawkeye, it's a massive operation. Hell's Kitchen is densely populated, so we can't afford a large-scale conflict."

"I need you to team up with Hawkeye, find the source of these weapons, and dismantle it," Fury explained.

"Hawkeye? The guy who's really handy with a bow?" Leo asked, recalling one of the legends Phil Coulson had mentioned.

"He's a sharpshooter! Don't make it sound so odd!" Fury sighed.

"Alright, but isn't this technically a mission?" Leo pressed.

"Uh... it's not officially in your purview. Oh... I get it, you want mission bonuses, huh?" Fury realized, chuckling.

"Boss, that's not it.

You said it wasn't within my responsibilities.

There should be some compensation.

I could volunteer for overtime, but if other agents find out, it might demoralize them."

Leo sounded genuine, as if he were looking out for S.H.I.E.L.D.

"I understand, I understand!"

"Once the mission's completed, I'll transfer a million to your account."

"Really, thanks to me, I got you special equipment."

"I didn't expect our friendship to be outweighed by money." Fury's tone feigned hurt.

"Why not offer a discount?" Leo teased, perking up at the mention of a million.

With this joy, the pink eye vanished instantly, and the world regained its normal colors.

"What kind of discount?" Fury perked up, sensing an opportunity to negotiate.

"How about 10% off?" Leo proposed, feeling a slight sting. A 10% discount was the best he could offer.

"Next time I see you, I'll give you a 10% discount on your leg," Fury grumbled.

"Never mind that, S.H.I.E.L.D. has plenty of funds. Just complete the mission well, and I'll add another million," Fury said, puffing on a cigar, his voice laden with the smell of money.

"Great! I love a director who gets right to business!"

"I'll make sure to shine next time we meet!"

Leo laughed, genuinely delighted.