Unlikely G Man

Josh woke to muffled drum beats and Gwen's voice carrying through the apartment. She was rehearsing with her band in the music room again, her drumsticks tapping out a rhythmic beat that made her performances magnetic. Though she could play the guitar, her passion lay in the drums. It had been a week since Josh started staying at her apartment, waiting for Peter's reply. The sound brought a faint smile to his lips as he stretched out on the couch, the warmth of the sweater she had casually left for him still lingering.

The gesture had been small but thoughtful, and he couldn't help but notice how the faint scent of her perfume lingered on it, drawing his thoughts to the easy warmth of her smile and the spark in her eyes when she teased him. He shook the thought away, embarrassed by his mind's direction.

But as much as he enjoyed hearing her sing, Josh couldn't shake the restless energy building within him.

His thoughts churned with anticipation and uncertainty, wondering what his powers truly meant and whether he could rise to meet the challenges this new life demanded. A gnawing sense of obligation pushed him forward—not just to himself, but to prove to Gwen and Peter that he wasn't a burden. He had powers now—abilities he barely understood. Sitting around waiting for Peter to return to him wasn't an option. He had to learn what he could do, not just for himself but because staying idle felt like he was letting Gwen and Peter down.

Glancing toward the music room, he hesitated. It wasn't the first time he had slipped out over the past week. Each night, while Gwen was occupied, he'd quietly leave the apartment to practice and push the limits of his new abilities.

Gwen had been insistent about him lying low, and the look in her eyes when she told him that was enough to make him agree at the time. Still, he rationalized, she was busy with her band practice. If he slipped out now, she might not even notice.

Slipping into his newly acquired workout gear, which fit his upgraded physique much better than his old clothes, Josh quietly grabbed the apartment keys and headed out for what he knew would be his last night of practice before Gwen inevitably confronted him. The streets were alive with the usual bustle of New York City, but Josh kept his head down, trying not to draw attention to himself as he made his way toward the docks.

The warehouse was exactly what he had hoped for: forgotten and out of the way, its vast, dusty expanse bearing the scars of years of neglect.

Rusted machinery lay scattered like relics of a bygone era, and the faint smell of oil and mildew lingered in the air. Cracks in the walls let slivers of light pierce through, casting jagged shadows across the concrete floor. It was the perfect place for him to figure out the limits of his abilities, hidden from the prying eyes of the bustling city outside. Dusty beams of light filtered through cracked windows, illuminating the abandoned space in a hazy glow. Josh took a deep breath, steeling himself as he set his gym bag down and stretched.

"Status"

Name: Josh Carter

Power Origin: Bitten by Radioactive Squamata Oscorpeus (Oscorp lizard)

Abilities:

Enhanced Senses:

Improved vision: Grants gecko-like vision, allowing exceptional clarity in low-light environments and the ability to see vivid colors even at night, unlike most nocturnal creatures.

Improved Olfactory senses: Tracks pheromones and distinguishes myriad emotions.

Touch: Sticks to any surface using tiny hairs and adhesive secretions.

Danger Sense: An innate sense for detecting threats.

Enhanced Body:

Squamata Strength: Lifts up to 12 tons and runs up to 120 miles per hour.

Gu Constitution: This ability allows Josh to metabolize and recreate compounds from creatures he survives. After enduring bites or exposure to toxins, his body adapts, enabling him to secrete similar poisons, neurotoxins, or pheromones through his glands. This dangerous evolution mirrors the survival challenge of creating a 'living Gu' from deadly organisms.

Minor Shapeshifting: Morphs into lizard/man variations.

Camouflage: Blends into surroundings using color-changing pigments.

Healing Factor: Regenerates wounds and regrows limbs.

Hyper Condensed Fat Storage: Stores energy for shapeshifting or reserve use.

"Alright, G-Man," he muttered, using a nickname after realizing Geiko was the reason for his powers. "Not my most inspired work," he admitted with a self-deprecating chuckle. "But hey, coming from the guy who named his gecko Geiko, what can you expect?"

He started with the basics, testing his enhanced strength by stacking old crates and pallets into a makeshift obstacle course. The wooden crates groaned under their weight as he shifted them effortlessly, the sensation of his newfound strength thrilling yet strange. His fingers left faint impressions on the wood, a reminder of the power now coursing through his veins. Dust swirled in the sunlight as he leaped from one stack to another, the thud of his landing echoing through the cavernous space. The air smelled of aged wood and rust, grounding him in the moment as he pushed himself further. Lifting the heavy objects felt almost effortless, and he couldn't help but grin at the sheer power coursing through him. Next, he focused on his agility, leaping from one precarious stack to another. His movements were fluid, instinctual, and exhilarating.

While practicing, Josh noticed subtle changes when he pushed his shapeshifting ability. He realized he could alter his appearance—he could revert to his old, frail, unsuper body, shift into his superhuman form, or even take on hybrid forms of a lizard and human. His body was covered in durable, scale-like skin in these hybrids, enhancing his strength and speed even further. One form allowed flaps of skin between his arms and sides, enabling him to glide short distances like a flying lizard.

This discovery came with its quirks: the scale coverage meant his body became smooth and featureless in certain areas, resembling a "Ken doll," which was a blessing since he had to be effectively naked to fully utilize his color-changing pigments for camouflage. Despite the awkwardness of the transformations, Josh couldn't help but marvel at the sheer versatility of his powers.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the memory of the dimly lit room, willing his body to blend into the background. A strange tingling sensation spread across his skin, and his arm was nearly invisible when he opened his eyes. "Holy crap," he whispered, watching as the effect faded when he lost concentration.

Hours passed as Josh pushed himself, practicing climbing the metal beams and experimenting with the sticky grip on his hands and feet.

Sweat dripped from his brow, but the exhaustion felt good—earned.

By the time he returned to the apartment, the sun was beginning to set, painting the city in warm hues. Tonight felt different, though. There was no escaping the fact that Gwen was onto him.

Josh felt a twinge of guilt when he walked through the door and found Gwen leaning against the counter, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Her posture screamed, "I know what you've been doing," but the faint smirk tugging at her lips softened the accusation. She wasn't mad, but the look she gave him made it clear she knew he had been up to something.

"Long walk?" she asked casually, though her tone carried an undercurrent of curiosity.

Josh scratched the back of his neck, his mind scrambling for an excuse. "Yeah, just needed some air."

Gwen tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smirk. "Air, huh? So, how long were you planning on sneaking out before you finally got caught?"

Her teasing tone caught him off guard, and he chuckled nervously. "What gave it away?" She raised an eyebrow, a sly grin playing on her lips as she crossed her arms, leaning slightly against the counter. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, but there was a flicker of curiosity beneath it like she was silently daring him to explain himself. Josh noticed how the edge of her mouth twitched as though suppressing a laugh and how her fingers drummed lightly against her arm added an unspoken challenge to her playful demeanor.

She gestured toward his shirt, where faint traces of dust and sweat still clung despite his attempt to clean up. "You're not exactly subtle."

Josh sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "Alright, you caught me. I was training. I just... I need to figure out what I can do."

Gwen's smirk softened into something more understanding. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But you're lucky I didn't catch you sneaking out earlier."

He raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "And what would you have done? Grounded me?"

Her laugh was soft but genuine. "Maybe. Or dragged you to band practice as punishment."

Josh grinned, leaning slightly against the counter. "Oh no, anything but that. My singing's so bad it might break your eardrums. You wouldn't want to risk it, would you?"

Josh chuckled, the tension between them easing. For a moment, he found himself watching how her hair fell across her face and her eyes sparkled with mischief. He quickly shook himself out of it, not wanting to make things awkward.

"Thanks for not giving me too much grief," he said, his tone light. "But seriously, I didn't want to bother you. You've got enough on your plate without worrying about me."

Gwen studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You're not a bother, Josh. Just... don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

He nodded, offering her a genuine smile. "Deal."

Later that evening, Josh stepped out of the bathroom, steam billowing behind him as he adjusted the towel wrapped around his waist.

He felt the cool air hit his damp skin, starkly contrasting the shower's heat. His thoughts were still racing from his earlier training session—the exhilaration of discovering his powers and the nagging uncertainty of what came next. As he entered the hallway, his mind wandered to Gwen's earlier teasing. He'd been so focused on figuring out his abilities that he hadn't considered how much he appreciated her light-heartedness, even when it caught him off guard. He froze mid-step when he found Gwen in the hallway, her hand raised as though she had been about to knock.

Gwen's eyes widened, and she was clearly caught staring at his enhanced physique for a moment. "Uh—" she stammered, her face turning an impressive shade of red before she blurted out, "I'm attracted to women!"

Josh blinked, taken aback by the sudden declaration. "Uh, me too?" he replied instinctively, trying to process the awkwardness while keeping a straight face.

Realizing what she had just said, Gwen's hands shot up in an attempt to wave it off. "I mean—not that you're... I just—wow, okay, bye!" She spun around and hurried down the hallway, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process.

Josh stood momentarily, still clutching his towel as the absurdity sank in. He let out a breathless laugh, muttering, "What just happened?" His mind wandered briefly, wondering if his pheromone ability was unconsciously trying to attract Gwen. He shook his head, embarrassed at the thought—used to being an average-looking guy, the idea of his new physique having that effect on anyone felt surreal.

When he returned to the living room, Gwen was in the kitchen, her back to him as she pretended to focus intently on pouring a glass of water. Josh hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Hey, Gwen," he started cautiously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh, just wanted to say... Do you know what I mentioned earlier about my abilities? There's this one I haven't fully figured out yet—pheromones. They might influence people around me, even without me realizing it."

Gwen froze momentarily, then turned to face him, her expression neutral. "Are you saying your lizard mojo made me say... that?"

Josh flushed, waving his hands defensively. "No! Well, maybe? I don't know! I just—I mean, is it possible? But if that's the case, I'm really sorry. I swear I'm not doing it on purpose."

Gwen stared at him for a beat before her lips quirked into a sly smile. "Well, that's a convenient excuse for being hot, right?"

Josh's jaw dropped, and Gwen laughed, shaking her head as she returned to her glass. "Relax, Josh. I'll take your word for it. Just... try not to weaponize it, okay?"

"Weaponize it?" Josh echoed, a mix of mortification and amusement. "Trust me, I'm not exactly James Bond over here."

Gwen snorted, the tension between them dissipating as she grabbed her drink and sauntered off with a grin. Josh exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "Smooth, Carter. Real smooth."