Marvel Knight of Zodiac

James shrugged, "I seem to be awake, but why does it feel like I'm dreaming? Why am I in your house?"

"Don't you remember?" Gwen asked, concern etched across her face.

"..."

"Okay," Gwen sighed, putting down her breakfast. She began recounting the events of the previous night, how she had found him in distress and brought him back to her home.

"...You know, I was almost scared to death by you. You looked terrifying at the time. But when I got you here this morning, I found there were no scars on your body. Where did the blood come from?"

James lowered his gaze, realizing that the wounds that had once marred his skin were gone. The muscles in his arm and thigh felt strained from the fall last night, but the cosmic energy within him was still empty.

Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed from his stomach. Ignoring his manners, James wolfed down the breakfast Gwen had prepared for him.

After he finished, he contemplated spinning a lie to placate her. But before he could even think of a story, Gwen's piercing voice cut through his thoughts.

"James, you have a secret, don't you?"

"Huh?" James blinked in surprise, caught off guard. "You... why do you think that?"

"I'm not stupid," Gwen replied, spreading her hands in feigned innocence.

James sighed, recognizing her sharp intelligence. "Alright, you caught me. You're quite insightful."

"Don't worry," Gwen reassured him, patting him on the shoulder. "I won't pry. Everyone has their secrets, and I'm not one to invade someone's privacy. But if you ever want to talk, I'm here. I promise I'll listen."

James felt an uncomfortable tension in the air. Was she genuinely concerned for him, or was she just waiting for him to spill something he desperately wanted to keep hidden? The thought of her discovering the truth about his violent encounters sent a chill down his spine.

After James left the window, Gwen's father, George, returned home. He exchanged a few pleasantries with the family before heading straight to Gwen's room.

"There's been unrest in the city lately," he said, his tone serious. "Last night, I was at a scene where hundreds of gang members were killed. You need to stay indoors in the evenings. If you have plans, let me know, and I'll pick you up."

"Sure, Dad," Gwen nodded, trying to appear compliant.

As George left, he noticed an unusual odor lingering in the room. "What is that smell?" he thought to himself, frowning. "Maybe I'm just imagining things. She's growing up—she's an adult now." He shook his head, dismissing his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Gwen connected the dots of last night's chaos with James's unusual condition. "There was so much blood on him, but no wounds—clearly, it was someone else's."

After leaving Gwen's house, James quickly washed away the blood in a public restroom, putting on the clean clothes Gwen had given him before heading back to the orphanage. It was the weekend, so there was no school.

As he approached the orphanage, he spotted an Audi R8 parked by the curb. The sleek, red and yellow body was striking and bold.

Upon entering, he found a man lounging on the sofa—he was dressed in a sharp black suit, with brown sunglasses perched on his nose, exuding an air of arrogance.

Sitting beside him was a capable-looking woman in a professional skirt. When she noticed James, she stood up and smiled warmly.

"You're back," said Mother Hana, who was entertaining the guests. "Let me introduce you. This is James, one of Clarice's favorite brothers, and this is Miss Potts."

James recognized them immediately, even without Mother Hana's introduction. They were well-known figures from the media.

The man, Tony Stark, was here to deliver medicinal herbs to Mother Hana. After exchanging pleasantries with James, he settled back into a corner, sipping his tea.

The atmosphere shifted when Tony turned his attention to James. "Joseph, I don't think your decision is wise. You really should use those brain cells of yours. The place I grew up in was much more comfortable."

James felt his irritation rise. "Excuse me, Mr. Stark, are you planning to adopt Clarice?"

"Of course not," Tony replied dismissively.

"Then maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself," James retorted, surprising even himself with the sudden burst of courage.

Tony's demeanor changed instantly. "You just made a big mistake, kid. No one talks to me like that."

"Is that a threat?" James shrugged nonchalantly.

With a flick of his wrist, Tony pulled out a high-tech phone and displayed something to James. "Well, look at this. I've just purchased this orphanage, including the building. As the new owner, I hereby expel you, James."

Stunned silence fell over the room. Mother Hana was momentarily speechless, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Pepper Potts interjected, "Tony, you can't do this! He's just a child. If you really don't want to adopt Clarice, can't you at least reconsider this decision?"

Tony smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos. "I didn't do this for anyone. I just felt like doing a good deed, so I bought the orphanage. But only good kids are welcome here—not troubled ones."

James felt a fire ignite within him. This was not just about him anymore; it was about Clarice and the future of the orphanage. He wouldn't back down without a fight.