Chapter 7: Chapter 7
"Where to now?" Wade asks, uncertainty lacing his words. "I don't even know where we are."
Peter offers him a small smile. "We're on an island in Pennsylvania. Specifically in Three Mile. We're near the nuclear reactor. However, how about we start by getting you some food? Then we'll figure out the rest along the way."
Wade nods before shaking his head. "I've got some contacts near. I don't know about you, but separating might be better. I don't think someone like you will like to see the places I frequent."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah," he says without further explanation. I'm not about to do something drastic, don't worry. But I don't think your morality will accept the place I need to go, and I don't want it to shut down either, as that will only bring me problems."
Peter hesitates at seeing Wade so resolutely, as he knows Wade is right. He's still a mercenary, after all. It's his job. And he's learned to ignore some things with time, even if Wade seems to hold him as a paragon of morality. He's become more Grey with his time traveling than the white he used to be when he started.
He sighs.
"Want me to give you a lift," he asks.
Wade clutches his chest dramatically with one hand, the other touching his forehead. "Don't make it harder than it is, Spidey. It's not you, it's me."
He laughs softly but nods nonetheless, knowing it is time to part ways. As he prepares to swing away, he turns to Wade one last time.
"You take care of yourself, okay? And remember, no more talk of murder. It's not the answer," Peter said firmly, hoping his words will resonate with Wade.
Wade salutes dramatically. "Aye-aye, Spidey! I have no murder on my agenda tonight. Besides, we all know murder's not the answer, but the question."
He tilts his head, confused, but still nods as Wade continues. "Now I'm gonna find my girl and see where the night takes me."
He wants to ask what's the answer to murder, but in the end, he gives a final wave and then shoots a web into the distance.
As the city lights cast a soft glow on the scene below, he decides to go to New York, where his roots are and where it all began.
"Edith, let me know what you found out."
"Understood, Peter. I've been analyzing the data and cross-referencing it with your original world and the others we've been through. I discovered that the timeline seems similar to the one you originated from in its broad aspects."
"What do you mean?"
"The mutants that your Earth did not have are included, though I've got to clarify that no civilian seems to know of their existence."
She stays silent, letting him process that. "Continue."
"We also don't know how the Fantastic Four appearing in this timeline will affect future events. I also have to remark that we don't know what's happening outside Earth."
He hums as he goes through that. "Think if we've managed to update you with some alien technology, we will get some of those answers?"
"Possible, but difficult to do so without said technology." She waits for a beat and then adds, "It'll be easy to hack some government agencies to get those answers, though."
"Or SHIELD."
"Going directly through SHIELD database will be easier, yes. However, while we can access some of their superficial data, we need to go to their direct server to get more of their secret information."
"Well, if the Avengers initiative is not a thing yet, we can attract their attention by doing some 'heroing', as Wade called it."
"Or we could wait for the Chitauri invasion to start and grab some technology from there."
He shakes his head. "We're not sure it'll happen, though."
"If what you have told me about it goes the same, then we will know about it in a week or two. You can do the 'heroing' to get their attention in the meantime. Maybe they will call you to be an Avenger if the invasion does happen."
His heartbeat increases. While he denied being an avenger in his original world, he's matured and is no longer opposed to being in the big leagues. He's learned from other Spideys that being on a team that focuses on the big picture doesn't mean he has to ignore the little guy. He can do both.
However, while the thought of being part of a team excites him, it also terrifies him. He doesn't want to be part of something that it will not last, doesn't want to be lulled into the comfort of being part of something just to later leave it. He cannot open himself entirely to others because of it and knows that would not make him a great team member material., and he knows that would not make him a great team member
"You can keep things professional, Peter," Edith says as if reading his thoughts.
"Yes," he whispers into the wind. "You're right. You always are."
He can try to keep things professional, but he doesn't know if he will be able to. It's true he's gotten used to the other Avengers thanks to his traveling and doesn't fanboy anymore about them. Though he still gets teary-eyed whenever he sees Tony or hears him talk, the mask has always helped him hide it well enough.
Taking a shaky breath, he thinks of the photos he's seen of Tony Stark. What he's seen of him is so similar to the man who once was his mentor, just younger.
He swings through the city, thinking about the potential future that awaits him. He knows he has much to offer, with his unique skills and experiences from traversing different timelines, but he also worries about fitting in and opening up to others. As he lands on a rooftop, he takes a moment to gaze at the sprawling city before him. He removes the mask and lets the cool night air ruffle his hair.
He's constantly tired, and he cannot help it. But can anyone blame him? He has spent almost three years traveling around, not staying more than a month and a half in each universe—more than twenty different worlds.
He wants to rest, but he cannot. If he stops... not only will he die, but he will also drag the universe he's in with him. And he cannot live (or die) with that hanging in his mind.
Uncle Ben always said, 'With great power comes great responsibility. ' He's followed those words as gospel for so long. Now, it's the only thing that still motivates him to keep going.
He's tried to continue being positive, but it's hard when the only thing that makes him wake up daily is the words, which sometimes feel like they're filled with lead. A weight constantly rests on his shoulders, one he can appease by helping others. What he used to do because it made him happy and fulfilled, he's now doing to take away some of the guilt he keeps feeling.
Interacting with other heroes distracts him, but it's not enough. It probably won't be enough until he finds a world that doesn't reject his mere existence as he once rejected his identity.
A sudden burst of energy crackles through the air as Peter stands on the rooftop, contemplating his past and uncertain future. Startled, he whirls around to see a swirling portal opening before him.
So it's that time, huh.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone