3rd POV:
''We'll stay here,'' Wanda answered Pietros question after a few days.
''Huh?,'' Pietro turned around from his game boy.
''Your question or have you forgotten?,'' Wanda reminded him.
''Got it. So no revenge on Stark,'' Pietro nodded at her words.
''Well... I had my eyes opened so to speak. But no, we don't have to give up on revenge on Stark. It's just that revenge will take a back seat, it will no longer be a priority. If we ever find ourselves in a position or opportunity to kill Stark without anyone knowing or without harming anyone then we will take it. But till then? We built a new life and we know the people here, it would be a shame if we let Stark destroy our life a second time,'' Wanda explained her answer a little more in depth.
''Got it. Makes sense. So? Since we stay here, can I ... you know,'' Pietro shrugged.
''You're sweet on a girl?,'' Wanda teased.
Pietro cleared his throat.
''Who is it?,'' Wanda asked him surprised. Was she so distracted with her thoughts she didn't notice?
''Jubilee,'' Pietro replied.
''...We are both 20 and she is a minor. She is 17,'' Wanda told him.
''Hey, nothing is official. I just wanted to ask her on a date. Besides she will be 18 in November. No one cares about a two year difference and a few months,'' Pietro complained.
Wanda sighed.
''It will be your mess to deal with in case any problems arise. But if this relationship does go somewhere, please try to keep it firmly to kissing until she is 18. Otherwise your mess will only get bigger,'' Wanda told him.
''Hey. I'm not an idiot. Now, if you excuse me,'' Pietro ran to the bath, quickly washed his teeth and dressed himself nicely. Within two seconds (the water was a time loss, since it only moved so fast) and stood back before her.
''How do I look?,'' Pietro asked her.
''Like you are trying to hard,'' Wanda joked.
''Hahaha,'' Pietro sarcastically laughed and turned to walk away.
''Good luck, Pietro,'' Wanda called out to him, making him raise a hand above his shoulder.
Wanda sighed now that she was alone in their room. The thoughts in her head moving on their own.
She was glad that she made the choice she made. Pietro would have followed her, regardless of the fact that he had his own shit to deal with. Wanda didn't know that he was sweet on someone and reading his mind would have been to intrusive. Telepathically speaking was one thing, but invading his other thoughts something else.
Well, whatever the case, she was glad to have made that choice. It was just around the more beneficial path to walk, even if she only realized by now just how beneficial it was.
Still...with Pietro making googly eyes at someone, she would be left a little more alone to her own.
Hmm...
Although she started taking walks to clear her head, she came to rather like it just for the sort of peace or tranquility it gave her.
Maybe she could take another walk soon.
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''Where is the wrist band?,'' Katherine asked Rogue. Actually, why did she completely ditch her wardrobe? Now she was dressed in a full body suit with a green and yellow motif. She was wearing a belt around her waist, more for style than anything really and a jacket too.
(There were no 'X' symbols anywhere near her new looks. The 'X' would have pledged her allegiance to the X-Men or those with the X-Gene. And while she certainly wanted mutant and human coexistence and mutants to live without being prosecuted just for existing, her true allegiance was somewhere else. A party that also has mutant and human coexistence in mind, but with ambitions FAR beyond that.)
''It didn't take. It was nice, but even that didn't solve my problems...,'' Rogue looked like she wanted to say something more, but then just shrugged.
Katherine blinked.
So.... if it didn't take, then why was she not in a sour mood? If anything she looked pretty upbeat.
''Rogue, I'm so sorry,'' Katherine said.
''It's fine. As you can tell I ditched the mesh and, well, all my other clothes. What do you think of my new look?,'' Rogue asked her and posed a little by flexing her bicep.
''It...looks good,'' Katherine looked at her suspiciously.
A thought formed in Katherines mind. No one confirmed it, but she was pretty sure it was Bell that gave her the wrist band. Only... now it was no longer on her wrist. Did it 'malfunction'? Rogue was pretty happy that she could touch others, so Katherine expected that she would be devastated to have that gift ripped away from her.
Only, hmmm...
Oh.
Bell was a scumbag, Katherine concluded.
He leveraged that ability over Rogue and then took it away from her to make her desperate. And THEN he leveraged his own personal ability to be able to touch her with no consequences over her, to make her compliant to his demands. It is the only reason, Katherine was sure, why Rogue was not moody. Katherine knew that Rogue could endure her inability to touch others if she could only touch one person, even more so if that person was her significant other. She was sweet on him after all.
Still, she did not expect that from Bell of all people. After all he said he had a girlfriend and he didn't seem the kind of guy to cheat.
Then again in her original world, Scott had... an interesting love life, to put it kindly. So she was a little used to such things.
(Scotts love life was an absolute mess filled with drama.)
''So...I guess, Nexus will be pestered even more by you now. Huh? You should give the poor guy a break,'' Katherine told her a little jokingly.
''I guess you are right,'' Rogue countered, while blushing a little.
Katherine blinked.
Yeah, she was totally right in her deduction if that is how she acted.
(Katherine couldn't be further from the truth. At least she wasn't completely wrong and was right about there being multiple women. She just lacked context to understand the dynamics of the relationship.)
''Just...whatever you do, try to be careful. Alright?,'' Katherine asked her imploringly.
''Don't worry. I wouldn't do anything foolish,'' Rogue reassured her sincerely. After all she already did 'something foolish'. But if it was 'foolish' then why did it feel so right or make her so happy?
Katherine nodded, not really believing her. She would keep an eye on her and Bell so that he wouldn't take advantage of Rogue too much. It was better if he didn't take advantage at all, but she more then anyone knew how hard it was to stop a reality warper. She was so glad he was so reasonable, even if he clearly had his own faults and vices.
Guess, variants between universes truly were different people, after all. It was her mistake to expect this Bell to be the same as the Bell in her original world.
Oh, well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell was making leek soup with ground meat in Jeans apartment. A rather big pot too, since the number of people that will eat might be a little much.
''I just wrote my application to a few universities and sent it. And you have been distracting me with this delicious smell, tempting me to abandon my task. What are you making?,'' Jean came in the kitchen to ask him playfully.
''Leek Soup with Ground Meat,'' Bell replied and stirred the pot a little, the put the top on the pot, leaving a small opening for the steam.
''Sounds worse then it smells,'' Jean remarked playfully.
''Tastes better then your ears or nose might let on. You said you like Waffles? That's a dessert. I'm sure you will pick this as your new favorite food,'' Bell pointed at the stove.
''Confident, aren't we?,'' Jean asked him, chuckling a little.
''When it comes to drawing, playing music and cooking I'm always very confident,'' Bell told her and leaned sat on a chair. The food was practically done. He only needed to wait now.
''With cooking I can at least agree with you, but I haven't seen you play or draw anything,'' Jean told him and crossed her arms.
''Subtle. If you wanted me to play music, you need only ask,'' Bell reminded her. She knew he had a second YouTube channel dedicated to music to explain his money to his mother.
Jean just moved her head to indicate him to do so.
He summoned an acoustic guitar and after some thinking and Jean not expressing a wish for a particular song he began slightly pulling the strings till he made a decision. He began playing 'Take the Journey' and was singing the lyrics as well. It was a pleasant melody that was rather simple. But simple did not detract from value or impact.
''From where is it from? Did you write it?,'' Jean asked him after clapping a little and listening pleasantly.
A melancholic look crossed his features briefly. The year was 2013, Hoyoverse wouldn't release Honkai Star Rail for at least the next ten years. (If at all. As Raezen he only sought to dominate the market not create a monopoly, as that would rob people of jobs. Something that was against his interests, even if he was already doing it to some extent as he was dominating the market and some studios had to close. So why the fuck where video game industries, bar a few, creating slop anyways? At this point he was like Steam winning by doing nothing and letting the competition gut themselves. Only Live Action Entertainment and adult games were fully thriving as he was not a competitor in those markets.)
He stumbled accidentally on it when he was looking for songs to play himself and stumbled on someone named Anthony Lynch playing it.
''I can't take credit for writing this song. I just came upon it by pure happenstance, I was just replicating it,'' Bell told her, evading the question a little.
''I'm jealous. I wish I could play an instrument,'' Jean sighed.
''Nope. You're not jealous. You're envious. Jealous, is when you worry that someone will take what you have. Envy is wanting what someone else has,'' Bell couldn't help himself and quoted.
''OK. Grammar Nazi, forgive me for not being a walking dictionary,'' Jean bowed sarcastically, with a touch of playfulness.
''You want to try? Maybe you will like it?,'' Bell offered and held the acoustic guitar a little up.
Jean sighed.
''I don't know. I'm pretty busy. I have to study for psychology, have to train up on all the stuff I can do, at least I have Phoenix as an instructor so there is that and I also want to spend time with all of you every now and then. Whatever I will learn I will probably forget in between all the time I don't get to practice,'' Jean realistically analyzed.
''Then perhaps we will visit this in the future. With us there is no point in worrying about time,'' Bell tried to cheer her up a little.
''Exactly! In the meantime, I'm more then happy with the alternative,'' Jean smiled at him and came to lean on the counter, close to him.
''Yes? Pestering me to play you songs?,'' Bell flatly told her with a deadpan.
''Haven't you heard? Girls find it romantic when their partner plays a song for them. I'm sure you would like to make me happy. And if not? Well... I can think of some things that would entice you to play me a song or two,'' Jean walked around him and hugged him from behind, so that she could whisper in his ear.
Bell could have said that their relationship was not transactional. But they both were in, on the fact that they were being teasing and playful with each other.
''Yes?,'' Bell tilted his head a little to look at her.
''Hmmm,'' Jean put her index on her lower lip in a gesture of pretend thinking,'' Something like this...''
She leaned down and Bell tilted his head a little. Just when their lips where about to connect he whipped his head around and sprang from his chair.
''Is something wrong?,'' Jean asked him concerned.
''...Gwen is in another universe. I will have to go and look. Sorry,'' Bell turned back towards her. She nodded in understanding.
''Look, the food is almost done, just stir it every now and then, leave it on the stove for half an hour and then turn it off. I will manipulate the time dilation so that we will be back in a few hours,'' Bell instructed her and banished the acoustic guitar.
''Got it. Don't hesitate to call us, if you two need our help and you two stay safe. And come home,'' Jean demanded.
''Yes. I have ways to contact you, so don't worry. Have you dear,'' Bell pulled her towards him by the waist. The vibe may have been ruined, but there was still some time for this.
(He liked her, but it was still too early for him to say he loved her. Probably for her as well. But they were getting along well enough and Bell knew it was only a matter of time. 'Have you dear' was the compromise he settled on.)
He gave her a quick kiss, instead of the long one they would have shared otherwise and after giving her a reassuring smile disappeared from her sight.
Jean stood around a little and after a sigh of worry, pulled the chair near the stove to stir it as instructed by Bell. If all went well, then they should be back in a few hours and then they can all eat together.
---
Nexus teleported himself close to Gwens location, but he didn't immediately make contact with her and observed her as well as his surroundings and doing some reconnaissance.
''I'm telling you my spider sense is telling me where to go. We should go in this direction,'' Gwen2 pointed towards a random direction. The two were bickering over what course of actions they should take.
''That is nice, then go in that direction. I will go somewhere else,'' Ghost Spider told her.
Her spider sense was not tingling like Gwen2 described. And knowing what she knew about the spider sense thanks to Bell and how it was connected to the Web of Life, Elder Goddess Neith probably wanted Gwen2 to go in a specific direction or take a specific course of action.
Which was rather telling that Ghost Spider did not experience any tingling with her spider sense. Either she had no role to serve or Elder Goddess Neith trusted her enough to leave her to her own devices.
''What do you mean 'go in that direction'? We're both in this mess together. Shouldn't we stick together too and find a way back home together too?,'' Gwen2 asked her frustrated. She wanted to rip her hair out.
''No. I plan on investigating Spider-Mans death. You can follow up on that tingling that you experienced,'' Ghost Spider told her.
''You think his death is somehow linked to what to happened to bring us here? What could have possibly led you down this path of suspicion?,'' Gwen2 asked her with a huff.
Web of Life and all that. Not that Ghost Spider was gonna tell her that. She also didn't have any other card to play. If she was wrong, she would be a sitting duck, unless she came up with something new or Bell came to pick her up.
''The news of his death was the first thing I saw. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong. There is only one way to find out,'' Ghost Spider said.
''So you want to split? Then how will we contact each other in case we need to rendezvous?,'' Gwen2 asked her in frustration.
''Don't worry. I will find you,'' Ghost Spider told her reassuringly before shooting a web and swinging away. Gwen2 just starred after her for a bit then turned around and kicked the dust of the roof of the skyscraper in frustration.
''She is worse then I am,'' Gwen2 muttered in frustration and walked off in the direction that her spider sense told her too.
---
During one of her swings she glitched and she was forced to land on a roof to catch her breath.
''Do you want me to take care of that?,'' Nexus asked her and materialized, making her jerk a little nearly attacking him.
''You really need to stop sneaking up that way on everyone,'' Ghost Spider sighed in relief,''You are a little late.''
She joked, but she felt relief despite having been ready to tackle this situation herself.
''Not that late. I have been here for a bit and watching you two bicker, while I was gathering intel,'' Nexus explained to her.
She nodded in understanding.
''You said something about taking care of this ...glitching? You already figured out what it is?,'' Ghost Spider asked him.
''Yes. Quantum Harmonics. Imagine the universe like a body and the Quantum Harmonics like the DNA of the body. And you being a foreign body who didn't have their Quantum Harmonics adjusted... I think it happens automatically with powers, I never had to think about that even before I found out about Quantum Harmonics...,'' Nexus let the sentence hang.
''You suspect technology involved. One lacking...I guess... a stabilizer of some sorts. Hm. Oh! And about your previous question, yes I would appreciate you solving that issue for me,'' Ghost Spider requested. Both for her peace of mind as well as his. Who knows how much time she had.
Nexus just waved his hand.
''...You know, sometimes I forgot how anticlimatic your powers are. Thank you. So, how do you want to deal with this? Will you just take me home?,'' Ghost Spider asked him.
''Do YOU want to be taken home?,'' Nexus turned the question around.
''Not really. One of my variants was also dragged her and she probably suffers from the same issue. Maybe more will come, variants of me or otherwise, probably because the Web of Life is involved. Or maybe not. Either way, I want to help them,'' Ghost Spider answered and took a seat on the edge of the roof.
Nexus sat near her and hugged her sideways to him with her leaning into his shoulder.
''I must admit, I preferred this outcome. I'm already taking care of the time dilation so we can spend several days here and only a few hours will pass for us. I have taught you much in combat, but stealth and spying fell to the sidelines,'' Nexus told her.
She turned her head a little towards him.
''You want to use this opportunity for me to practice in those fields,'' Ghost Spider summarized.
''Yes. Do not worry I can make myself completely invisible and just watch you silently from the back or I can be your sidekick... But most of the heavy lifting I will leave to you,'' Nexus offered her. He technically already was, but the AI in her mask truly was an AI.
''You already find out everything as Raezen?,'' Ghost Spider asked him. By that she meant if he used his technomancy to connect to the local net.
''More or less. But not everything is confirmed,'' Nexus shrugged.
''Hmmm. Yes... I think I would like that,'' Ghost Spider took his offer. He was essentially offering her the chance to solve the matter herself, but with a safety net in case she fails.
(It would be a boost to her confidence, as that wouldn't make her feel like dead weight to Bell, since she will prove she could have gotten out of this situation by herself. She knew that there were situations, were she genuinely couldn't help him, like against universal threats, not as she was now. But him always coming to be her knight in shining armor could do more harm then good. And it really WAS a good opportunity for her to get better.)
''Gotcha. If you excuse me, I will now hide myself in your mask,'' Nexus gave her a brief squeeze of her hips and then disappeared.
'So, boss lady, what will be your first call?,'' she could hear Bells voice in her ear.
''Don't call me that,'' she told him flatly.
'My name will be Cipher, boss lady,' Bell, Cipher, carried on while ignoring her.
She dragged her hand across her face. He was gonna be unbearable wasn't he?
(She could play the exasperated girlfriend all she wanted. No one could deny her fond smile that she was trying to suppress.)
---
Alas, there would be no superhero and sidekick activity anytime soon.
Unfortunately, not all intel gathering occurrences are accompanied by tense music and high stakes. Turns out the movies lied to everyone.
Sometimes intel gathering is as simple as finding a computer and typing in key words. So they have been walking undisguised to a public library...until they stumbled upon an internet cafe. Bell attributed it to being in a different universe that one existed in Manhattan.
Well, at least Gwen and Bell turned this into an impromptu date, so there was that.
''Stop pouting,'' Gwen touched him with her elbow. Thank God for private booths or else people would have looked at them weirdly for Gwen sitting in his lap.
In his defense, she was the one that pointed out that 'there was only one seat'.
And there was indeed only 'one chair' so they had to find a solution to their plight.
''I wanted to take you sky diving next. Not... this,'' Bell huffed and leaned his head on the arm rest to see past hr body at the screen, but mostly at her face.
''Are you a person plagued by fixation now? You really dislike our date?,'' Gwen asked him with a teasing smile as she moved her butt in his lap to press it a little more against him.
''Meh, you are right. We can always do that later,'' Bell softly sighed as he used his other hand to rest it on her thigh, mostly to stop her movement. Nothing would come of this teasing, for they were on a mission, but Bell didn't want to get tortured and tempted by her or mess with his hormones with his powers to calm himself down.
She began typing away different key words and reading.
''Were you doing anything in particular when you came over?,'' Gwen asked him. She could multitask, simple conversation while reading.
''I was making Leek Soup with Ground Meat for all of us,'' Bell told her.
She briefly stopped her activity and turned towards him.
''The way Aunt Melina likes to make it?,'' Gwen asked with some excitement. Lasagne was her favorite food, but damn if there weren't dishes that were close competitors. This being one of them.
''Mostly. I added a personal touch of myself in there, by adding some more meat, but otherwise yeah,'' Bell replied and took a sip of his coffee and a bite of his biscuits.
''Well, I have something to look forward to then,'' Gwen declared and turned back around to resume her activity.
After a while she leaned back, her back pressed against his chest and crossed her arms over her chest.
''There is not a lot of information regarding Spider-Mans death,'' Gwen summarized with a huff.
''How peculiar,'' Bell drawled. She turned her head a little to smile at him in amusement.
''Oh, shut up. You once told me that sensationalism sells in media, like drama, catastrophes, shocking turn of events, etc. Sometimes they lie to embellish the information so that is sells better...if they don't outright lie.
And superheroes are kind of like celebrities. Nothing could be more sensational then a superheroes death. And while the news of his death and identity are being played everywhere, there is not a lot of detail about his death...,'' Gwen muttered.
''That is some good thinking. So then? What could be the suspicious detail on this matter? A thread for you to follow up on,'' Bell asked her.
''...The media has been bought out or was threatened into silence. Which means a corporation is interested in keeping things secret. And if not a corporation, then a spy agency, some rich criminal who had a secret facility or something along those lines,'' Gwen concluded.
''Yes, indeed. But you have no evidence to know which one of these is the culprit and depending on who it is, their response could be vastly different, so it does matter,'' Bell told her.
''True... I guess the next course of action would be to investigate the spot Spider-Man died in. At least the media didn't lie about that, though since the spot isn't specified I will probably have to look around in a general area,'' Gwen chose to see the silver lining. Her senses could help in that probably.
''Gwen, there are a LOT of people who have said that they experienced an 'earthquake', loud noises and the fact that Spider-Mans body was dug up in Brooklyn. The media would be an imbecile to lie about THAT, for there is no hiding that fact,'' Bell flatly told her.
The fact that that area was considered as a 'safety hazard' by the public and that access to it would be restricted was obvious and left unsaid.
''Right. Right. So, how much do you want to bet that the entrance is ...'crawling' with guards disguised as cleaners, safety inspectors, investigators and all that stuff,'' Gwen raised her eyebrows at the pun.
Bell chuckled, mostly because the pun was so bad it turned around to being good again.
''Well, if all those people there are crawling around, then you should feel right at home. Why don't you go and greet your people,'' Bell joked back.
''I think I will,'' Gwen told him while leaning further into his back. But for now...
''Hey!,'' Bell complained when she snatched the next biscuit out of his hand and ate it.
They could spend a few minutes eating and lounging.
''Sharing is caring,'' Gwen kissed his cheek, around the corner of his mouth and then took a sip of her own coffee.
Bell grumbled with fake annoyance into his fist.
---
Sneaking past the the security that were guarding the entrance, proved a challenge to be sure, for she was somewhat inexperienced in stealth. But she did take the opportunity to 'fly' past several guards or crawl past the others.
And it also helped that her powers gave her a huge advantage in stealth.
'No one ever looks up,'' Cipher said. And then there is also the fact that Spider-Man quite recently died, so they were a little lax in checking every corner or 'moving' shadow or some such.
All in all, a little stressful the experience, but experience that was now under her belt all the same and would serve her when Bell wasn't with her, bar his 'program'.
Once she made it past the guards in the abandoned railway and the entrance she was crawling on the walls and observing the scenery. There were, of course, people cleaning up.
''They don't look like your average Joe. You think they are hired goons or the like?,'' Ghost Spider whispered.
'That is your decision and conclusion to make. I'm just here to offer guidance when you absolutely need it or go in the completely wrong direction. So far you are doing good,'' Cipher replied in her earpiece.
Right. She was just trying to make conversation mostly. But he was probably thinking that they needed to be quiet and only talk when necessary.
Hmm.
Ghost Spider observed the scenery some more. Broken equipment, heavy machinery, dilapidated ceiling, signs of battle. She began crawling around a little on the ceiling to get a better view of the layout.
Eventually, she let herself drop down on some debris that was big enough to still keep her out of the light.
The room was huge. And from the looks of it, most of the cleaning was done, just the debris needed to be moved out... and maybe a few other things. She wasn't sure how the room looked originally after all.
''I think that is some sort of experimental tech. The machinery is not one I recognize. And the more I observe the workers the more I get the impression that they are trying to repair all this,'' Ghost Spider declared, when seeing some people inspect some equipment and others wield something together.
'Pity whoever the fool might be. Has their mother never told them that a criminal should never return to the scene of their crime,' Cipher mocked.
Mhm. So she was going in the right direction.
''I doubt their mother did a good job in raising them, if they turned to crime,'' she jokingly whispered and she heard Cipher snort softly. But she knew, that the subject was more complex then just 'people evil and bad'. Even if sometimes it was as simple as 'people evil and bad'.
Still, while investigating this spot did give her some insight, it still left many questions unanswered. Who killed Spider-Man? Who had an interest in this site? What was this site for?
But more importantly. What now? She didn't get anything that would lead her to next thread to follow up on.
Hmm.
Maybe some eavesdropping. But she already was her for some time and whoever hired them, picked them well or threatened them good enough that they all worked with minimal communication.
She took another look around. And then managed to spot something peculiar, buried among all the debris, barely able to be made out.
An observation room.
Ghost Spider smiled to herself. Observation rooms/ Control rooms had computers. Maybe she could find something.
She snuck past everyone, the notion of sneaking around getting easier and easier, far faster then she anticipated. Maybe it was because, like with something to some extent, the spider bite gave her the instincts to do the task more easily.
She crawled through a small gap and took a look around. She pressed some buttons, but nothing came off it.
'Did you seriously expect this to work?,' Cipher asked her.
''Why not? You never know,'' Ghost Spider whispered back.
'We are talking about an entire underground facility and experimental tech. Chances are, whoever is involved, is not a complete imbecile in the head,' Cipher told her.
'You're not against me using tools. Can't you hack it? The AI in my mask has an inbuilt function like this,'' Ghost Spider asked him.
'I could. I'm your humble HackerMan. The most powerful hacker of all time...
But the power supply has been cut off, for the workers to clean up safely. You know, the first step in securing a hazard zone before you start cleaning it. Sooo...,' Cipher trailed off.
Right. Ghost Spider blushed a little. In her defense, she was mostly focused on not making any noise and thus, in a way, distracted.
She could find the switch and turn on the power supply manually, but then everyone would be on high alert.
Ghost Spider thought about it a little and concluded that there was nothing more for her to find here. She got some information, but she needed to retreat and think about the next step.
She crawled out of the small opening again.
!!!
The debris wasn't stuck. But moving it would have made noise and would have been visible. Far easier to crawl through a small gap. The moment her spider sense flared up she grabbed the debris above her and threw it up. The figure dodging not managing to hit her, the debris landing a little away from them.
(All the noise from the cleaning and the humming and rattling of the machinery was loud. Someone who made the effort to sneak and with her being so focused on not making any noise, did cause her to not notice smaller noises.)
Ghost Spider moved to stand up and took in the figure for a moment. Purple motif with some technology around his arms and legs. Probably an exoskeleton. Maybe normal human. Though the exoskeleton might provide him with defenses.
Prowler did not give her a lot of time to observe her. Her moved. Incredible fast for a normal human and attacked her. She easily dodged him, almost seeming unbothered by it.
She ducked, weaved and almost danced around him.
Eventually she shot a web to his leg and pulled, but her was fast enough that he activated the thruster from his other leg and burned the web away. In the same movement he attempted to deliver a round house kick to her skull. She jumped back and he flew after her.
He attempted to claw at her head, but she shot two webs towards the ceiling and pulled while jumping away. The hexagon like plate falling down and forcing them both to disengage. Prowler switched to his thermal vision, immediately suspecting that she would use the dust to hide from him.
And he was right, she was nowhere to be seen after the dust settled, forcing him to spin around in anticipation.
He was not fast enough as he received a surprise kick to the head, cracking his headgear a little and forcing him to go almost cross eyed as his eyes were drawn in by the rip through his screen. He attempted to deliver a gash to her calf, but she already pulled herself back with her webs.
The kick was strong enough to force him from the earth, but he quickly stabilized himself, thought he overextended in his attempt to give her a retaliatory attack. It took him just a moment to correct himself in the air.
Time enough for Ghost Spider to quickly grab a pillar and swing it at him.
It hit him just when he managed to stabilize himself in the air and slammed him fiercely into the wall consisting of hexagon plates. Prowler felt the air get knocked out of his and before he caught his breath. He felt his heart leap out of his chest as the pillar embedded itself into the plate just centimeters away from his face.
He quickly turned around to swipe at Ghost Spider when two webs connected to the plate, but instead of pulling herself towards him, she stuck herself firmly to the ground with her stickiness and pulled. The plate getting undone and Prowler, having wasted time to swipe at her was pulled down under.
He managed to wiggle himself out form under the plate before it fully fell on him. And it was now that Ghost Spider slingshot herself forward to kick him into the wall behind the plates. Prowler felt his air get knocked out of him a second time and this time his exoskeletons defenses were not enough for he heard his bones crack.
She used his own buoyancy to show herself away from him.
When she moved to engage again, he desperately released a smoke bomb and fled for a few moments, then hid.
Ghost Spider was about to engage with him again. Now that she was no longer focused on sneaking around, she was fully aware of her other senses.
She could hear him.
The hammering of his heart, even if her forced his breathing to be steady.
She moved to engage again.
'Wait,' Cipher told her, making her pause.
'You don't always need to capture every prey. Sometimes, it is good to wound them and let them return to their territory to lick their wounds. Chances are, that they will lead you to a far bigger bounty,' he quickly explained.
Hmm.
Ghost Spider made sure to look around in 'confusion' and when she heard the guards finally closing in on their location she swung away.
Prowler stood there for an uncomfortable long time, in his hiding spot.
''Sir? Are you there?''
Finally he came out and looked at the guards. The guards looked at him expectantly.
Guess they didn't find her. Still, he took a quick peak around the room with his thermal vision. The rip in his screen still distracting.
''Send the word out to be on high alert. Spider-Man may be dead, but we are now dealing with another spider person. Resume the previous security measures we employed while he was still alive. Remember to check the ceilings, vents and be on high alert for any small noise. Keep count of your colleagues.
I'm going to call the boss and inform him of the newest development,'' the guard nodded at Prowlers instructions.
---
Aaron entered his apartment sweaty. Heart hammering in his ears. And his arm aching like hell.
Almost an hour passed since he left the Super Collider room. Anxious about being followed and her jumping out from any shadows. He only entered after he was sure, he was safe from being followed.
He crashed on his couch.
That... whoever she was, was ruthless. Not at all like Spider-Man.
She had form and technique.
She was fast.
She did not hold back. Not much, the longer the fight dragged on the more force she used.
Spider-Man had experience. Aaron studied up on him. And he also held back a lot. Nor did he use the environment much to his advantage, like swinging pillars like bats to absolutely pummel someone.
That was not the case with whoever she was.
Somebody trained her. Somebody trained her well.
Aaron could tell that much immediately.
She had him on the back foot during the entire fight.
Add in the fact that she probably had the 'preconception' ability like Spider-Man had...
Aaron sighed and pulled out his phone.
''Yes?''
''There was a woman around the site sneaking around. She was no ordinary woman as she possessed the same powers as Spider-Man. She managed to escape. What do you want me to do?,'' Aaron got to the point immediately.
''...Pay a visit to Ms.Parker and ask her if there is some sort of Spider Serum that gives them these powers. Also try to find out who she is,.''
''How far do you want me to go during the interrogation?,'' Aaron asked.
''I'll the matter to your discretion.''
The Boss hung up and Aaron moved the phone away from his ear to look at it. He sighed. Interrogating an old lady was... Personally Aaron doubted that she knew anything, but orders were orders.
He undressed from his exoskeleton and inspected his arm. He heard it crack, but after inspecting it probably had fractures in it, but it was not broken. But damn, if that was a bruise if he ever seen one.
He was not doing anything today anymore, not without having a good nights rest anyway, although there was still some daylight to burn before night sets in.
Aaron sighed again and leaned on the couch.
And his heart skipped a beat as he came face to face with that Spider-Woman on his ceiling.
For a moment both stood still.
Then both lunged.
One for his suit and her for his body.
---
High up in the sky Ghost Spider glued Aaron to a skyscraper.
''You have no idea with who you are messing with. You can still walk away from this,'' Aaron told her calmly.
(She may be more ruthless then Spider-Man, but he unconsciously categorized her the same as Spider-Man. At least in morals.)
''Let me guess. Big Bad Evil Mastermind, let's call him BBEM in true DnD fashion, is gonna do BBEM things and then lose to the good guys,'' Ghost Spider 'knelt' down on the windows on one knee to look in his eyes closer.
''You are laughing now, but he will do the same to you as he did with Spider-Man,'' Aaron told her a little amused that she was so casual about everything.
Ghost Spider made the 'blah blah blah' gesture with her hand and then shot a web over his nose and mouth.
''I literally know someone who can liquify your BBEM's bones, make him immortal and have him live the rest of his life as a slug and vegetable,'' Ghost Spider shrugged, applying the methods of interrogation she learned from Bell.
She was bluffing. And her mask and voice allowed her to sound confident, which was the most important thing.
She brought out his phone from his pocket and connected it with an USB to her utility belt. Sure Cipher could have hacked his phone in seconds, but in the end she asked him if she could use the AI in her mask for that.
She could have snuck in and out, but then Aunt May being interrogated changed her plans.
Aaron struggled and then slowly began to panic as he was beginning to burn through the oxygen in his lungs. He forced himself to calm down or he'll burn faster, but his heart was still hammering in his chest.
''Hmmm. Tadaa and we are done,'' Ghost Spider jovially declared and crushed his phone in front of his face. She now had her new lead and a new location.
But she still wanted some information.
''Mmmm. I reconsidered. I don't want you dead. You need to answer some questions for me,'' Ghost Spider ripped off the web from his face and he took a deep breath.
''Was that display supposed to - hmmg,'' Aaron grunted as her hand grabbed his face by the mouth.
''If you refuse to answer me then you are worthless. And right now the biggest mistake you can make is giving me the impression that you are worthless to me.
I could shoot web in your throat and then you'll slowly asphyxiate. Or I could put my hand on your face and pull, degloving your skin. I assure I can get really creative too.
So (*She puts her fingertips against each other*) What was that room? The one we fought in,'' Ghost Spider asked him.
Aaron was no longer so confident, but he refused to talk anyway.
''You may fear your BBEM, but he is not here. I am. You can worry about having pissed off your boss later,'' Ghost Spider explained to him.
There was a moment of silence. Aaron reasoned that even if she was, indeed, cruel enough to kill him, she was not gonna go after Miles or his brother, like Kingpin would have done to make an example of them.
After nearly two minutes she sighed.
''Urgh. I was hoping you would fall for that. Oh well,'' Ghost Spider shrugged and grabbed his arm after pulling him out of the cocoon. He dangled in the air by his shirt and was kicking with his feet a little.
Aarons brief relief turned into panic again as she applied some pressure.
Snap.
Aaron screamed as she broke his arm.
''I assure you I take no enjoyment in that, but the alternative is you going after Ms.Parker or you dying,'' Ghost Spider told him and snapped his other arm too.
She brought him back down in an alleyway and called the hospital, sticking long enough to watch them come get him.
''How much time do you think we have till his boss suspects his absence or is informed of it?,'' Ghost Spider asked him.
'Usually? Even a spy organization has some delay till information is shared, especially when it comes to hospitals. You did good not sending him to the police, not that you had anything to pin on him, though you now know that with the benefit of hindsight. You have been awake for nearly 18 hours. We should book a hotel and you should rest,'' Cipher told her. Of course he would gather evidence so that Aaron does do jail time.
So much to do in so short a time.
''I don't need to rest because of my powers. And resting would waste precious time to investigate and risk Ms.Parkers life,'' Ghost Spider told him.
'Yes. And under other circumstances you should proceed like that. But this is training for you in a controlled environment. I'm keeping an eye on things with my technomancy. Ms.Parker will be safe. Take a rest, Gwen. And maybe let's explore New York a little more. I mean we are in a different universe. Were is your sense of wonder?,' Cipher asked her.
''Do you promise she will be safe?,'' Ghost Spider fidgeted a little with her hands.
'I promise,' Cipher immediately replied.
Gwen knew that Bell operated by the philosophy that the only good enemy is a dead one. Something in his tone told him that he will ensure Ms.Parkers safety absolutely when all this is done.
''Okay,'' Ghost Spider said simply.
---
The two entered the room, after having it rented for the night. It was a modest hotel, but it was still New York so it was expensive. Not that that was a problem for Bell.
''Are you taking a bath? Do you want me to conjure you pyjamas or will you sleep in your clothes?,'' Bell called from the bed.
''Not now,'' Gwen replied and closed the door behind her. (But not locking it.)
Bell hummed and rubbed his chin. He laid down on the bed and stretched a little. He did conjure her a towel and shampoo and all that. Sure, the hotel provided them as well, but they were disgusting in Bells opinion.
...
Gwen came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her chest and her clothes neatly folded in her arms. By now, Bell switched into other clothes to sleep more comfortably.
''So, I guess you want me to conjure you some pyjam-,'' Bell stopped talking abruptly when Gwen let her towel fall and presented and he saw her in all her glory.
Bell took in a deep breath to calm himself, making her smile at eliciting such a response from him.
Again, nothing would come of it Gwen knew. For some reason he was adamant in waiting till she was an adult. She doubted it was too much because of her fathers demand of him.
''I will sleep naked,'' Gwen confidently replied. She was still embarrassed, of course, after all this was more skin then she showed when Bell nursed her after fighting The Lizard. But seeing Bell react to her body, evidently pleased, gave her a confidence boost.
''I... You...,'' Bell didn't know what to say so he just hummed in the end and then hummed again deeper this time.
She crawled from the end of the bed till she was beside him and laid down, trying to make it look sensual (though since she was inexperienced she felt uncertain and silly). Of course, Gwen couldn't resist herself and laid her cheek on his shoulder, hand on his chest, also allowing her to feel his heartbeat (nicely enough) and put on leg of hers over his.
Bell closed his eyes praying for strength or else he'll be forced to mess with his hormones and then put his arm on her back, hugging her to him.
''Do you think I was too ruthless?,'' Gwen asked him after a while.
''I anything you haven't been ruthless enough. You also should have pushed for more, during Aarons interrogation. You gave up too quick. You had his phone cracked open and should have looked through it for information to use against him,'' Bell rattled off his criticism.
Of course, torture was never going to be applied by her. And even Bell never used it in his first life, unless it was to give someone a grizzly death in the shadows. Torture was an unreliable interrogation device. Psychological terror or manipulation is where it's at.
''Sorry,'' Gwen winced.
Bell stopped and then sighed deeply.
''But I suppose that is not your style. Killing that is. I'm surprised you incorporated my suggestion to this extent in the first place. But then I guess you wouldn't be you anymore or the woman I fell in love with,'' Bell waved her apology off.
''Of course I did. You are terrified,'' Gwen simply said.
''So you noticed. I can make you a new body and put your soul in it, but I would REALLY rather not tempt the world. It's just... you have a kind heart.
But mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself and vice versa. And I would appreciate it if you returned home, so yes. I made that suggestion to you. I mean, even George sometimes had to shoot a criminal. I don't see you thinking less of your father for killing a few people,'' Bell talked.
''Bell, Bell. You're starting to ramble. But I get what you're trying to say. Maybe one day, I will get myself around to kill someone. Maybe. Until then I will come home to you. I promise,'' Gwen tried to reassure him.
That was not a promise she could realistically keep. Bell wanted to tie her up and keep her away from the world and safe, but, again, at that point she wouldn't be she anymore and not the woman he fell in love with.
(The idea that with her on the streets there was the potential that at least on more innocent would make it home, fell more on more to the side. Of course he didn't abandon his goals, but it was peculiar how his priorities shifted more and more when it came to family.
Then again. Was that really that surprising? Many would just care about their family and call it a day, so who was really going to criticize him? So long as he wouldn't turn completely complacent, Bell didn't care too much personally.)
He was in a conundrum.
''I guess. Rest up, Gwen. Tomorrow you have a BBEM to catch. Then we can wrap this DnD campaign up,'' Bell rubbed her back, both for himself and her.
''You know what we should do? Us and the girls playing a DnD campaign,'' Gwen suggested.
''Sure. Now rest. I know you are tired mentally, even if not in body,'' Bell told her. Even he was not exempt from that. Kind of cute, how she tried to pretend otherwise.
Gwen tilted her head a little to look in his eye and then, mischievously, trailed her hand from his chest down to his waist.
''What are you doing?,'' Bell asked faintly.
He tensed when her hand lingered at the rim of his pants for a little.
But then, mercifully, she slid her hand under his shirt and rubbed his abs a little, before moving her hand under his shirt again, till it rested on his chest again.
''Good night, Bell,'' Gwen raised her head to kiss him and then put it back on his shoulder, finally closing her eyes.. She also made sure to press herself a little more into him. She smiled, feeling proud, to have made Bells heart hammer in his chest again.
Bell starred at the ceiling in frustration and in concentration.
Succubus!
Seductress!
Temptress!
Gwen was devilish, if she wanted to be.
But so was Bell and he could hold a grudge. One day, he will make her walk jelly legged.
This he swore in his mind.
But first, he summoned a blanket over them to keep her warm and kissed her scalp gently.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miles, Jefferson and Rio entered the hospital room.
''Hey, buddy. How are you? Did you already apply my advise on one of the girls?,'' Aaron opened up the conversation.
''Uh, no,'' Miles awkwardly lied, before quickly shaking his head,''Wait, no! Uncle what happened to you? Are you alright''
Jefferson and Rio shared a brief look between exasperation and fondness.
''If you are messing around, you are probably fine. You gave the police men a description of those junkies?,'' Jefferson asked him.
''Yeah. Yeah. Don't grind my ass, Sheriff. I gave them the best description I could of them. Though it was a little blurry since I was thrown around,'' Aaron shrugged,'' It is what it is.''
''You knew them?,'' Miles asked curiously.
''No. They stole my money and fushhhh,'' Aaron blew his breath out. Gone with the wind.
''To think someone would go this far just for some money,'' Rio muttered.
''Then you underestimate crackheads. Their addiction... Well, I have to deal with them every now and then. They do a lot of things to be able to afford one more 'whiff' or whatever else they may call it. Brother, seriously, how are you?,'' Jefferson asked him concerned.
Aarons brave front slowly faded away and then he sighed.
''It is painful. But you know me, former professional athlete and all that. Broken bones are not a rare occurrence to me. The pain is manageable... But no seriously, did you apply my advise on a girl?,'' Aaron asked Miles.
''We had a test. You know the one, to see where we stand on an academic level and etc. We will get the results soon,'' Miles deflected casually.
''Oh, a ladies man,'' Jefferson teased him and hugged him while ruffling his head.
''A failed ladies man,'' Aaron added.
''He will get there. Let's not pretend you two were perfect. I know someone wasn't,'' Rio looked at Jefferson.
Jefferson and Aaron laughed lightly, while Miles grumbled.
Aaron spied someone who has been looking at them for a while. But he continued to entertain his family.
...
Tombstone entered the limo.
''My informant talked with Aaron after his family left. Nice family, good people,'' Tombstone chuckled mirthfully.
''The guy got sloppy. That Spider-Woman followed him home. Pretty sure she tracked your location down, since she took his phone and connected it to her USB device in her belt.
You want me to take care of him and his family?,'' Tombstone offered.
He was surrounded by idiots. Kingpin gave him an unimpressed stare.
''Why would I lose a valuable worker?,'' Kingpin asked him.
''He got his ass beat by a girl and then said something about her being much more ruthless. The guy is not all as hot as he likes to pretend to be and is trying to save face,'' Tombstone shrugged.
''And when has Spider-Man ever broken his enemies bones in a way the reports described? Bruises. Yes. But this? No. Relay his orders to the workers at the site to everyone else. Employ the safety measures specifically designed for Spider-Man again and kill that woman on sight if she snoops around at any of our facilities,'' Kingpin told him simply,'' And add additional guards to the Alchemax facility.''
That was the place he was at, last time he talked with Prowler.
''And that Parker woman?,'' Tombstone asked.
''Send some to ask her, since Prowler no longer can,'' The Boss said,'' But do not torture or threaten her. Not until Spider-Woman is dead.''
No reason to piss her off enough that she will cross the line and snap his neck in the dark or try to at least in case the two knew each other. But Kingpin had more important stuff to do then kill another Spider Person. Afterwards was always an option to ask Ms.Parker about the Spider Serum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghost Spider landed on a big twig and observed the industrial complex.
She sat down on the branch and pulled out two things from her utility belt. Peter and her built it in their spare time. After all sometimes you need ...something smaller.
''It seems they have turned up their security systems,'' Ghost Spider remarked as she flew the 'fly' through the lasers in the vents.
'Yup. They were lax and now they aren't,' Cipher told her.
''So, I fucked up, basically,'' Ghost Spider grumbled.
'There are only two and ONLY two ways to do stealth correctly. You kill everyone, so there is no one to tell the tale or you become a shadow. Chin up, boss, killing Prowler at his apartment would have done nothing. They spotted you at that site, so ...yeah,' Cipher replied.
Ghost Spider grumbled some more, but continued to operate the 'fly' with the remote and observed the layout.
She huffed.
''I'm new to this extent of sneaking around, but even I can tell that it's not gonna be easy. Maybe even impossible, with my current tools,'' she concluded.
'Not quite. Look at that truck,' Cipher told her and she watched as one truck came around some terrain and drove up to the checkpoint. Shortly afterward it continued to drive forward again.
''You want me to hide in the truck or under the truck?,'' Ghost Spider asked a little unsure about his idea. Doesn't seem a very smart thing to do. They will probably check under the truck again, as was procedure with how the other truck demonstrated.
'Wha-? NO! I want you to walk through the front door. If you get what I'm trying to say,' Cipher corrected the miscommunication.
''Espionage,'' Ghost Spider replied beginning to guide the 'fly' back.
'Yes! This is a huge part of stealth. Manners, clothes, gestures, accents, background, characteristics of your persona, etc. etc. etc. So? Where will you begin?,' Cipher asked her as she was folding the 'fly' and remote back into her belt.
''Well, I have an idea...,'' Ghost Spider said after some thinking.
---
Somewhere else someone had a similar idea.
---
Turns out that things would be more difficult then Ghost Spider imagined.
She needed to sneak somewhere else to hack the servers of Alchemax and create a file that said she worked there. Then she needed to procure an ID, though this time Cipher was gracious enough to help her and used his powers. Once in their own universe she will have to make it herself.
Then she had to procure make up to change her appearance. Again, Cipher helped.
Then she had to sneak somewhere else to replenish materials for her web fluid. And also to investigate a shady deal among two parties. She took pictures and then anonymously sent them to the police.
A bit of a detour that. Cipher called her goodie two shoes, but he meant it as a compliment.
Then they had another date.
Then she came back to Alchemax, because she wanted a better more in depth view of the layout. Cipher considered that unnecessary, but she was the boss.
Then.
Then.
And then a week passed.
Huh.
How time flies.
---
Ghost Spider swung and landed some meters away from the facility. She looked into her back pack to double check everything.
Yup. Everything checks.
Time to change then.
Huh. What's that noise?
She turned around and saw two people dressed like Spider-Man, while several people chased them.
Ugh. What?
She abandoned the back pack and swung after them.
---
Sneaking into Alchemax with their high and over the top security was ... not easy. But Peter B. Parker had years of experience.
He knew the one trick or two.
''They're shooting at us,'' Miles yelled out.
''Yeah. That's usually how these things turn out. Stop running. Shoot your webs,'' Spider-Man (B (Benjamin)) yelled out. The kid was keeping pace with him, but swinging was still faster then running.
''What do you think I have been trying to do?,'' Miles yelled out, running up a fallen tree and jumping to dodge the lasers.
''Press the button with your middle and index finger. It's a two switch release,'' Spider-Man (B) yelled out.
Well the kid finally did something right.
Though with Doc Oc hot on his heels, he pivoted around and punched her with a surprise attack to give the kid some breathing room.
''Look at me. Shoot, hold, release. Yes, yes like that,'' Spider-Man (B) praised him.
''I'm doing it!,'' Miles said. At first his swings were choppy, but quickly they turned half decent.
''Yes, you are. Maybe I cut for this coach stuff after all. You the student and me the teacher. We are both doing it. I'm proud of you Miles,'' Spider-Man (B) said.
Bad positioning and distraction caused them to get hit by one of Doc Ocs tentacles.
They both crashed into a twig and Miles managed to grab the PC by the cord, before it fell down.
Doc Oc was just about to grab the PC and Ghost Spider2 was about to engage in combat with her.
Until a person flew past them and snatched the PC first. She had to assume that the PC contained important information.
Doc Oc who never bought into the Spider Serum and reasoned that the Super Collider was responsible for a new Spider Person starred in giddy awe. She, too, was proof that the Collider was working, jut like the fat Peter Parker was.
''Let me guess. You suffer from unrealized potential trauma from your childhood? You wanted to become a zoologist, but your parents wanted you to become a scientist. For some reason hyper fixated on octopus and tried to make yourself into one?,'' Ghost Spider asked her. She hissed:'' I know the feeling. My condolences, girl, but we welcome you to the club.''
Aaaaaand of course she had a mouth on her like all of them.
Ghost Spider2 landed on another branch nearby, gathering all their attention.
Credit where credit was due, Doc Olivia Octavius could not be considered a coward and she moved to engage them after the novelty wore off.
Only...
She fell flat on her face, as the exoskeleton malfunctioned.
Ghost Spider hummed in content, having applied the lesson well. Talk to throw them off or to buy time.
When she whizzed past Doc Oc, she threw a small phial of thermite and stuck it with a web to her machine. Though it was more like a small grenade and like a grenade it needed some time to detonate. Not enough to utterly destroy something, but enough to destroy the circuits. With some patch up, her enemy could be ready to fight in just a few hours again, but by then she will be gone.
''Thermite. You are Doctor you should know what it does,'' Ghost Spider said before swinging off.
''OK. I wish that was me,'' Spider-Man swung after Ghost Spider. Miles sloppily following after her and then Ghost Spider2 shortly afterwards.
---
''So, we meet again,'' Ghost Spider2 to said when they all landed on a roof.
''You two know each other. That's cool, alright. Don't mind us,'' Spider-Man (B) said and leaned against the support of a water tank. Miles followed after him.
''Indeed. Not how I imagined our reunion,'' Ghost Spider replied. She wanted to scan the PC, but for that she needed power.
''You carry thermite with you? Is there anything your utility belt doesn't have?,'' Ghost Spider2 asked.
''A few things,'' Ghost Spider replied with a shrug.
Ghost Spider2 sighed and removed her mask.
''Gwenda?,'' Miles asked her surprised and moved his own mask off. Peter (B) followed them after a sigh. Guess they all will removing their masks.
''Oh, you two know each other? That's also cool,'' Peter (B) repeated.
''What happened to your hair? And Gwenda? Seriously?,'' Gwen asked her.
''An accident. Look I was bitten by a radioactive spider...,'' Gwen began tuning Gwens2 life story out and only listened again when, she heard something that interested her,''Remember when I said I will follow my spider sense, since it was tingling? Well, I spent the past week in an academy and it lead me to Miles. I don't know why. And then I got the idea of sneaking into Alchemax and stumbled upon these two idiots.''
''Hey. I was masterfully dealing with all that high security till Miles here screwed it all up,'' Peter (B) defended himself.
''Hey!,'' Miles protested weakly. Well, it was true somewhat.
''And then I followed after them. And then we met you,'' Gwen2 said.
''Well... Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle,'' Gwen replied. Take that Bell. He was not the only one that could throw quotes around.
''Game of Thrones!,'' Peter (B). He recognized that from when he...Well. He watched stuff while eating pizza. LOTS of pizza.
They all briefly looked at him weirdly and the returned to the conversation.
''How did you sneak into Alchemax?,'' Gwen asked her curiously. Mostly to see how good the two were in sneaking and espionage.
''I followed a scientist home, knocked him out, subbed his ID and then walked through the entrance. The guards don't personally check your ID, they make you scan it in a device,'' Gwen2 replied.
Gwen blinked.
''That seems like an incredible massive security oversight,'' Miles pointed out incredulously.
''Happens more often then you think, kid,'' Peter (B) replied with a shrug.
''How did you sneak in or plan on sneaking in,'' Gwen2 asked her.
Gwen replied honestly.
''Heh,'' Gwen2 gave her a smug smile making Gwen scowl.
''Guess your utility belt made you over complicate matters. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one,'' Peter (B) wisely told her.
In her defense, she did not expect someone to be this stupid.
Oh, well. It was not a complete loss. Simple solutions were good, but sometimes thing would be more difficult. In that case, she would have the necessary experience to do what she needed to do and do it well. So it was not a complete waste of time.
''Guys! The Super Collider! Possible end of the city, this dimension and maybe the multiverse. Look, Gwenda-
''Gwen.''
''We need that PC in your hands to make a drive with an antivirus to shut that Super Collider off. I promised my worlds Peter to do that,'' Miles firmly declared.
Super Collider, huh? She already suspected technology was involved, but it was always nice to have confirmation.
''Well, we need a workstation,'' Gwen said.
''I have an idea,'' Gwen2 said.
Peter (B) did not like her tone.
---
''I was a spider bitten by a radioactive ham,'' Spider-Ham declared.
...Well. At least on of them had a more original, if albeit absurd, origin story.
They all looked at Gwen.
They were in this worlds Spider-Man man cave. Not to be confused with this worlds Peter Parker man cave. Very distinctive differentiation.
Gwen sighed.
''I was bitten by a radioactive spider, in a few months I will hit my first anniversary as a super hero. I debuted by beating The Lizard, fell in love and had my feelings reciprocated and then a few moths ago my best friend Peter got bit by another radioactive spider and I have been mentoring him ever since,'' Gwen added some unnecessary details about her life here and there. That seem to be the MO around these guys.
They looked at her expectantly.
''What?''
''I mean, we all added some tragedy of our lives during our introduction. So...,'' Peter (B) said.
Aunt May shook her head in some disappointment. She wished they wouldn't have to suffer so much.
''But why? Being a superhero naturally implies that you will experience hardship one way or the other. And even if we all weren't a superhero, we would have other shit to deal with. Cancer, maybe. I don't know. Taxes definitely.
At least this way, we can fight back.
My life isn't perfect, but I'm more then content with where I am. And I also have experienced no tragedy, no death of a loved one. etc. Neither has my worlds Peter.
C'est la Vie.
The only thing we can do is try our best and hope for the best. And no matter how hard life punches us, to keep getting back up. And march on. To take the hits and keep moving forward.
Tragedy is not a prerequisite to being a Spider Person or a superhero. So, sorry if my life seems perfect compared to yours,'' Gwen told them. Although, halfway through her explanation she addressed Miles more then anyone else in the room.
He seemed so wet behind the ears and uncertain about how he should be a hero, that she just couldn't help but try to give him some words.
Miles looked down in contemplation.
''I'm incredible envious of your life, right now. Now! We really should get going to making that goober,'' Peter (B) said and clapped his hands once.
''My worlds Peter said that the drive would shut down the Collider, but that someone still need to destroy that Collider just in case,'' Miles told them.
''I can do that,'' they all declared.
''No, no, no, no. None of you seem to get it,'' Miles said.
''Get what?,'' Peni asked him. They all started glitching heavily and crashed on the ground in pain.
Miles was about to continue, but then he noticed that Gwen was fine.
''How are you fine?,'' he asked her and the others looked at her in confusion.
''Nepotism,'' Gwen shrugged.
''Wha-?,'' Miles shook his head,'' None of you, except her for some reason, can stay here. You are glitching and being dissolved by the universe. I'm gonna send you all home. I promised my worlds Peter that I will destroy the Collider, so I will do that too.''
Most except Gwen looked at him skeptical. Thought Peter (B) came to his rescue.
''No. Wait. He has some tricks up his sleeve. He can turn invisible. Show them,'' Peter (B) tried to hype him up.
''I mean... I can't do it on command.'' Miles awkwardly replied after visibly straining himself briefly.
''He can't do it on command. Show them that zippy thingy,'' Peters (B) voice sounded a little strained.
''I can't do it on command.''
''He can't do it on command. But is is cool and useful,'' Peter (B) sighed and hung his head a little.
The Spider Club gathered together (minus Gwen) and discussed among themselves the merits of letting Miles join on this dangerous mission.
''Hey! I'm right here. I have what it takes,'' Miles put on a brave face.
They all ganged up on him and asked him various questions. And for some reason beating him up.
''Hey!,'' Gwen stepped in front of them,'' Stop beating the guy up. Yes, he is wet as a noodle behind the ears, but I'm not gonna sit here and stomach the hypocrisy.
I noticed that none of you said anything about another Spider Person in your universe. So I have to assume you are the first and I am also sure that, like Miles, you also were wet as a noodle behind your ear at some time in your super hero career. I'm sure that didn't stop you from going out to fight.''
''The problem isn't him fighting crime, but the enormity of the enemy. We can't screw this up and lose because we're to busy protecting him,'' Peter (B) said.
''Exactly. I will stay back. I don't suffer from glitching, so I will just find another way home and destroy the Collider afterward,'' Gwen said.
''What? No!,'' Miles disagreed.
''Miles, they are right, even if they shouldn't have beaten you up... And you are too inexperienced,'' Gwen told him.
''Let me guess. Nepotism? Is that how you will get home? What? Is it your boyfriend? Can he cross dimensions all casual like?,'' Gwen2 scoffed a little sarcastic.
''You're joking,'' Gwen2 replied when she saw Gwens expression.
''Well, we have our sacrificial hero. Or maybe not so sacrificial. Now we just need to make the goober,'' Peter (B) tried to get the matter back on track.
Peter (B) turned back around towards Miles only to see him gone the elevator was going up with no one standing there.
''I will go have some words with him,'' Gwen said and swung herself on the platform before anyone could say anything.
---
''What do you want?,'' Miles grumbled and kicked a stone in Mays backyard.
''To talk,'' Gwen told him.
''Talk about what?,'' Miles asked her.
''That's for you to decide,'' she told him,''You have something to say. You should get it off your chest. Unrealized feelings for people like us... There are risks involved with what we do.''
''...None of you think I have what it takes to be Spider-Mans successor,'' Miles opened up a little.
''You're right. They don't think you have what it takes. I know you don't have what it takes,'' Gwen told him.
He gaped at her audacity.
''You're not Spider-Man. You will never be. So? (*She leaned forward a little, challenging him*). Why not be something else?,'' Gwen asked him.
''But...Everyone expects me to be Spider-Man,'' Miles told her, calming down a little as he realized she was meaning something else by her earlier words.
''And that matters why? There was no Spider-Man for me. I had to decide myself who I wanted to be. Even when I trained Peter, I only gave hims suggestions and pointers and I worked on his technique. But otherwise? I left him to his own devices,'' Gen told him.
''But then...,'' Miles trailed off.
''They mean well. But they are stuck in their ways, I guess in a way so am I. We have our way of doing things ... and you have yours,'' Gwen told him.
''...How will I know if I'm ready?,'' Miles asked her.
''You don't. You never will, until it...just hits you. It's a Leap of Faith. That's all it is, Miles. A Leap of Faith,'' she repeated the words she said to Peter some time ago.
She took the mask from his hands and looked at it for a bit, then gave it back.
''You should add your own personal touch to the suit,'' Gwen encouraged him.
''I want to come with you all. I promised him,'' Miles grimaced.
''...I don't like hypocrites. But I guess all beings are hypocrites to some extent. I debuted by beating The Lizard. I have no business lecturing you, like I'm some holier then thou paragon of moral grandstanding.
Are you aware of the dangers?,'' Gwen asked him after some thinking.
''Yes.''
''You could die. Are you aware of that as well?''
''Yes.''
''Your identity could be revealed. Just look at Aunt May and how it affected her life. Maybe some die when the attention on her dies down from the public someone will pay her a visit and kill her. Do you still wish to go, knowing how it could affect your family?.''
Here he hesitate for a while.
''..Yes.''
''Well, then it's settled. I'm not your mother. Do what you want, Miles. But let me give you one final piece of advise. One I already gave you. Don't bottle your feelings. Having two identities could make you drift apart from your loved ones. It is hard to keep track sometimes of who is who and which is which.
Time... You can only spend so much of it at a time and only for so long till it runs out.
Hold your loved ones close. And speak the words you've been afraid to speak. Live your life and live it well and live it full.
Now. Shoo, shoo. Go and sneak after us after you take care of your inventory if you still want to take this path,'' Gwen told him.
''I will. But... I mean, Peter wasn't exactly wrong. I should be able to use my powers. How will I do that?,'' Miles asked one final question.
''Instincts. It is the same reason, you don't need to calculate absolutely everything about your swings in an instant. Though knowing how to do that anyway, helps massively. You decide,'' Gwen replied.
Miles looked a little at the ground and then nodded at her in thanks. He bolted away from the area go to his house.
(Though he will come back later to pick up his suit and web shooters. He just wanted to say his parents that he loved them first before doing anything. He realizes that he gave them much grief in recent weeks and maybe the impression that he doesn't love them anymore.)
'You will be a good mother,' the devil on her shoulder whispered in her ear, making her jump a little, for once again sneaking up on her. She did not have her mask on.
Then after she realized what he said, she blushed fiercely.
''Well. Someone has to be. I experienced how you teach someone without experience,'' she made the weak comeback.
'Yeah. I guess I'm too much of a gauntlet guy. Seems, I need someone to by my velvet glove,' Cipher told her.
''Then I will be you velvet glove,'' Gwen said before thinking. And then promptly blushed again as she realized it was basically a proposal.
Mercifully, Bell did not tease her about that.
They both knew he would be the mother hen of the two of them. Even throwing someone to the wolves would be his way of making someone competent, meanwhile always ready to nuke the wolves in case something went wrong.
''I just regret you not sneaking around in that facility. It is different from sneaking around after goons high up on the roof tops,'' Bell said.
''Well, maybe if I didn't over complicate matters... Well. I still gained valuable experience. And there is always the next opportunity,'' Gwen shrugged. And hey, they spent a lot of time together. She enjoyed that too.
''True.''
---
There was no one following Miles back to Aunt Mays home. Not before Peni finished the drive and not when he came later when they all departed to get his suit and gadgets.
But that did raise Kingpins caution.
They couldn't get an answer from Ms.Parker.
They couldn't kill the Spider-Woman.
There was apparently now, at least, four of them.
They failed to retrieve the PC.
So he hired more guards and then some heavy hitters as well. Among all the others that already were under his employment.
Vulture.
Rhino.
Kraven too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell and Gwen entered their HQ and Jeans apartment.
''How much time did you say passed here?,'' Gwen asked him.
''3 and a half hours. The others should arrive soon for dinner,'' Gwen nodded at what he said and rolled her shoulder a little.
It was hard won battle. Though she couldn't claim sole credit.
Miles was left alone and forced to fight Kingpin himself.
...
''So, Jean told us that you were in a different dimension. What happened?,'' Rogue asked as she gave a thankful nod to Bell when he put soup in front of her. Laura as well.
''There is not really much to say. Someone made a machine, technology, that messed with the space time continuum. It risked blowing a hole wide open in the multiverse. I'm pretty sure someone pulled some strings, though I don't know if I should reveal their identity and 7 of us were pulled into that universe.
To save it, but also maybe to guide another one like us,'' Gwen shrugged and took a spoon to her mouth.
''Long story short. We battled a lot of guys in the end and won. Sent the other Spider People to their own home too and destroyed the Super Collider.
Honestly. most of the evil guys defeated each other. It was pure chaos in the end, with quantum physics going all whack,'' Gwen further explained.
''Oh,'' Rogue replied.
Yeah, sometimes life is just disappointing.
''You were right. The soup is really good... But I still like waffles more,'' Jean complimented after taking a few spoons.
''Fair enough,'' Bell nodded and handed Laura a second serving. She was positively ravenous with how good it tasted. Also, she was hungry since she trained a lot today.
''You know. I never did find out the motivation for using a Super Collider,'' Gwen grumbled and looked at Bell. Maybe she could have found out herself when investigating, but alas, here they were.
But Bell surely knew, with his telepathy and technomancy.
''Doctor Olivia Octavius wanted funding for her project. But first and foremost she has an ego and wanted to prove she simply could.
The imbecile that was her boss wanted to bring his wife and son back. I can't fault him for that, grief can make man do terrible things. But he was a leech,'' Bell shrugged.
Oh, no.
Gwen felt dread settle in her stomach.
He already hated leeches, but then those that endangered a lot of people (aka threatening the collapse of an entire universe) made him even angrier.
''What did you do to them?,'' she was almost too afraid to ask.
''For a man Kingpins size? I manifested 0.3 ml of dimethylmercury in his brain, before Miles 'sent' us back here. If he wants to see his wife and son so much, I'm more then ready to arrange that meeting,'' Bell replied.
His good deed for the day.
Wasn't he such a good samaritan?
''What is dimethylmercury?,'' Laura asked.
Gwen began to explain.
Her boyfriend could be so... cruel and petty sometimes.
If he had to kill someone evil, he should at least make it quick and clean.
Oh, well.
(A.N.: 13514 words. Buckle up kiddos, there is gonna be a lot happening in this arc with some serious repercussions in the end.
That said. Sorry, for releasing so late again. I knew what I want this arc to contain, it was just the progression that gave me some trouble and the way to start it. In the end I decided to just send it (mostly). I know this may seem like a copy paste of the movie, but things were changed and I'm gonna take some creative liberties with the second especially the third one.
Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers.)