Chapter Text
The Avengers have disbanded. Tony was in a coma, Natashia is dead, Thor was off who knows where, Dr. Banner basically lost his arm, and Wanda was having a mental breakdown in a town called Westview (who could blame her though- after everything). Oh, and everyone else retired or is working for the government. (And who likes those guys?!?)
It was even raining! In summer! Rain is a classic symbol of sadness and hopelessness, which currently, describes Peter’s hopes for the future beautifully.
Peter was walking home from Ned's place. Ned, MJ, and Peter were talking about their plans for the future and doing homework. (As well as hacking into S.W.O.R.D. but they were suspicious! And they needed to know what they were up to!)
He sighed and checked his phone. Tony had left all Avengers related things to him in his absence, including the compound, all suits, armory, weapons, quin jets, and everything else. Peter assumes that Tony would want him to continue the Avengers while he was... unavailable.
And so, Peter, Ned, and MJ have been working on a plan to restart the Avengers.
They already have the means to contact most of them, and the government so far doesn't seem to be actively going after any heroes. The three have started making a list of candidates and as well plan to start rebuilding the team.
The plan would just be a simple first mission: Pull Wanda back into reality before something bad happens. Clint would talk her and get her to see that she, while not intentionally, was hurting people, and the rest of the team would make sure the residents were safe, healthy, and all accounted for.
The first people to be recruited were The Falcon, Dr. Strange, War Machine, The White Wolf (formerly known as the Winter Soldier), and Hawkeye (of course) first with the mission. This was to prove to everyone that, yes, the kid behind the Avengers knows what he is doing; Earth is not defenseless, and the Avengers will return. It also proves that some respected people already trust this team, so you don't have to worry about another blip.
Then after the first mission, The White Widow (Natasha’s sister) and Daredevil. People that might join the team if some other respected heroes joined.
Finally, after a few missions (and if the team looks like it could work), they would recruit some new faces including America Chavs, Kate Bishop, and Black Panther (Shiri).
Peters train of thought was interrupted with a ping from his phone. Aunt May texted him, she was worried he might be late for dinner. He slid the phone into his pocket and picked up his pace.
“Hey Karen?”
“Yes Peter?”
“Tell Aunt May that I’m running a little late. I will be home be 6:15.”
“Of course, is that all?”
“Yes- Wait! Play Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts please?”
“Done.”
“Thank you!”
The walk home was short, only around 20 or so minutes. Nothing someone with enhanced strength and speed couldn't handle at least.
“Living in the past-” Peter quietly sang along kicking a puddle that had formed in the rain.
"It's a new generation.” His head nodded up and down with the music.
“A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna d-”
Stop!
His senses went off just in time for a giant tentacle to smashed into the street and interrupted Peters mini concert.
“Welp.” Peter said, looking up. “This world has 100% gone to shit, no question now.”
“Want me to shift to more combat ready attire Peter?” Karen asked.
“Yes please! Also, can you please tell May that something came up, and it will actually be 6:40? Make sure to tell her not to worry, and there shouldn’t be any casualties, just your average New York stuff!”
“Sure thing. Sending message now.”
“You're a life saver, thank you!”
Peter hurried to the nearest alleyway. He took off his jacket; the nanotech shifted from headphones and his bracelets to his suit and was wrapping itself around his body. After the prosses was done Peter put his jacket back on and swung to the top of the building he was next to. Looks like your average multiverse hopper. Dr. Strange has already made his way over, so all Peter needs to do is help contain/send it home, sounds easy enough.
“Karen, can you scan for any weak points?”
“Already have mini-boss. Tying all its limbs together from the bottom seems most tactile. However, if you need something more forceful aim for the eye.”
“Righty-O”
Dr. Strange has started working his magic (hehe) and cut off two of its tentacles and its eye with his magic shields. Sadly Octo-friend here appears to have a regeneration ability as it almost intently regrew. Even the eye! Eh, tying up its limbs with webbing makes the ability to regrow them pointless.
“How has life been treating you?” Spider-man called from behind the doctor.
“Better than being dusted.” He called back. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed soon? This won't take too long.”
“It's only 6:07!” The spider pouted. “Anyways I sort of maybe need your help? Uh- first this thing. I’m going to tie it up, can you distract it for me?”
“Of course I can. Once you tie this thing up, I will help you with whatever your up to.” Strange agreed, looking slightly amused.
“Thanks Doc! I won't let you down!” He yells as he swings away.
‘Ok. Ok. You can do this Peter. No pressure.’ Peter thinks. Dr. Strange has already casted serval illusion of himself, and the octopus-thingy seemed to have forgotten about the vigilante swing down under it. Peter attaches a web to one of the tentacles. He swings to the next one and the next one until almost all of its oversized limbs are secure. Propelling himself upwards with the help of his webs, he loops around the last tentacle and moves back to the first one. The Octo-buddy roared in surprise as it fell, crashing onto the street. Thankfully, all the civilians fled by then.
Spider-man swung up on top of a lamp post. “Wow, that was easier than expected.”
Dr. Stange turned to the spider. “What did you need Spider-man?”
“Ok so, Wanda is having a mental breakdown in a town called Westview- and I was wondering if you could help me recruit a few people like Hawkeye to go talk to her? She has unintendedly, well I THINK unintendedly, taken a town hostage so you know.” He waved his hands in the air. “The Avengers are disbanded and there will always be threats so I was wondering if you could help me rebuild it? The Avengers, I mean. From the ground up?”
“Rebuilding the Avengers? Your like in what? Middle school?” Dr. Strange sighed. “Anyways, I was planning to go there after this. I felt chaos magic in that area. It felt unstable.”
“Well, I’m going to be an adult soon! I’m already 16! I was hoping to ask Hawkeye next, followed by Falcon and The White Wolf. Hawkeye is the closest to her now that Vison is gone, and Falcon and Whitewolf were both on team cap to.”
“Let me just portal this home. We will go tomorrow.”
“Great! I'll meet you at the Sanctum Sanctorum?”
“Sure kid.” Dr. Strange called back, floating to the octo-buddy preparing it to send it home.
Peter thought it went well. He already discussed going to Westview earlier in the week with May, and she seemed fine with it. It was a pretty low stakes mission compared to, I don't know, hopping on a spaceship and flying to a planet to fight a big purple alien. (He would have been grounded when he got home but after everything...). May was supportive of Westview, at least, so that's good. This is going well.
At least that’s what he thought till his spidery sense told him to look up, and low and behold five more those octo-creatures came thought, yet another portal. One of them sent Strange, from where he was trying to send the first one home, to the ground near Peter. Peter caught him before he reached the ground, saving hm from too much damage, unfortunately the doctor still looked a little out of it.
"Hey Karen, can you please alert the remanding avengers there is a possible level 3 threat in Queens? Dr. Strange and I can handle it but if you're in the area keep an eye out for any giant one-eyed wandering octopus in case they get away."
"Right away Peter."
So, new plan: They needed to get these new things home or kill them, depending on if they could get them home before more arrive. They also needed to save civilians and prevent property damage. If Dr. Strange put them all in the mirror dimension, no property would be destroyed; if also would prevent the civilians from being caught in the crossfire. Getting them home would be trickiest if Peter could help fight them in the mirror dimension Dr. Strange could open a really big portal and together, they could kick them through. If any more comes through, this might jump to a level 4...
“Hey umm Mr. Dr. Strange?” Spider-man asked as he dropped down beside the wizard. “Can you bring us to that mirror dimension thing? If those things get any farther, they could hurt people...”
“How about instead I take care of this, and you go home.” Dr. Strange brushed off, pulling himself up off the ground.
“I can handle this.” Peter argued.
“You are a kid.”
Pete put his hands on his hips. “You’re the one who almost got knocked out!”
“Once you’re old enough to vote then we’ll talk.” Dr. Strange scoffed.
‘It’s not even that big of a deal! Why it’s just some aliens, not the end of the world, they fought besides each other before on titian he knows he's skilled why won’t he let him fight?’
“You have control of the mirror realm, let's just do this! Then talk about this later!”
“No, I fight you just web them up and help me box them in. Remember to stay back” He spoke that last part with a hint of annoyance in his tone.
Octo #1 bellowed, and the two were snapped out of their fight.
"I'll stay back." Peter promised, webbing the building next to the octo-squad and pulling himself towards it.
Strange was already pulling them all into the mirror realm. "Great thinking kid.” he muttered
BEHIND YOU!
Peter ducked as Octo #4 swung its tentacle, narrowly avoiding being hit. Parker luck was not on his side. Strange only managed to pull 2/6 Octo-visitors back to their home, and he was running out of web-fluid. They have been fighting for almost 20 minutes. This wasn’t good. He just got word that there has been three more sightings of these things in New York alone. Italy and Russia have also been hit. Fury was calling a meeting set in a hour... He swung around the last tentacle bringing #4 down.
MOVE LEFT!
“You alright kid?” Dr. Strange asked, finishing #2 and sending both numbers #2 and #4 home.
“I should be, just a little-” Peter panted. “-out of breath.”
“Whatever Wanda is doing in Westview might have something to do with whatever is happening. I should have gone as soon as I felt the shift in magic.”
“So should I, well not the magic part but the ‘getting word of what’s happening’ part.”
“Tie the last two together.” Dr. Strange ordered. “I’ll open a portal and get them inside. Got it?”
“Copy that.”
The previous two were annoying; #3 and #5 were worse. They were by far the most powerful, slipping out of every web Peter tried to tie around them. Strange was cutting down some of the tentacles that peter wasn’t trying to tie up. Unfortunately, their regeneration was not getting any slower, and they looked like they would never run out of slime that would prevent his webs from sticking to them. Peter managed to tie up #5.
“I am opening up a portal-” Dr. Strange yelled to Spider-man. “-throw him in.”
“Ok Mr. Wizard!” Almost done, he couldn’t fuck it up now, right?
Peter webbed the giant hunk of seafood and swung it into the portal. Unfortunately for him, #3 snuck up behind him- his spider sense were too late, as Peter got thrown into the portal along with #5. He heard Dr. Strange yell something behind him and the sound of another portal opening before the world went black.
“Spider-Man. Are you alright” He heard a familiar voice saying.
“Owwwwwwww.” Peter groaned “My head...”
“Spider-Man are you able to hear me?” asked Karen. Right Karen, his AI, wait why was she asking him this?
Peter opened his eyes, bad move, it was really BRIGHT. It felt like something hit it REALLY hard- making him REALLY dizzy. Clutching his head, he looked around. Peter was in an alleyway. It was a nice alleyway, clean, almost no trash (except for an empty Fanta can), and it didn’t even smell bad! How unheard of! Peter squinted his eyes; it was surprisingly amount of sunlight for almost 7:00pm at night-
...wait
“Karen where am I?”
“I can’t seem to connect to any Stark towers or satellites. I was waiting for you to regain conciseness; it has been around 13 minutes since you accidently fell through the portal.”
Portal... The Octo fight with Dr. Strange...
“Can you turn the suit back into headphones and bracelets?” Peter asked
“Of course. You seem to be in a parallel universe without Tony Stark, I recommend finding a way to connect to the internet to find information about this universe. It’s a high probability that you will be in this universe for a while, or at least until Dr. Strange comes back. Let's hope there isn’t another Peter Parker walking around to cause confusion.”
Peter shivered. Wow, it was cold. It wasn’t too cold, it was sunny after all, but it didn’t feel like summer weather either. If Peter had to guess it was late fall to early winter. Could he have time traveled as well as dimension traveled?
“Thanks Karen-” Peter paused, realization hitting him.
“Is something wrong?”
“Would... What do you think is going to happen in our world?”
Peter could hear a soft hum from Karen before she spoke. “I am sure the other can handle it, Fury will call Captain Marvel as well as the Guardians if the situation escalates.”
“What about all of the Stark tech, and the plans to rebuild the Avengers?”
“A copy of my programing, with no contact with you deigned as a failsafe, would decide what to do with the plan for rebuilding the Avengers and all the Stark Tech. I would contact Director Fury and plan on what to do next. The thing you should focus on is getting home to help”
Peter picked himself off the ground and took a deep breath. It’s fine, it’s going to be fine. Peter could handle it like he always did. The world wasn’t ending; it was a very small 5th dimensional invasion. The world will manage.
“Do you want me to help you with some breathing exercises, Peter?”
Peter stiffened, pausing for a moment before answering. “No, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” She buzzed in his ear.
“Positive.”
Adjusting his jacket to fit comfortably below his headphones, he walked out of the alleyway and tried to blend into the crowded street. Head down trying not to attract attention.
The skyscrapers here are almost comically big, like really modern and advanced; they were even taller than the ones in New York! They were thin, tall, shiny, curved with no sharp edges, and Peter could spot quite a few arches. At least 50% of them were somewhat triangular at the top, and barely any of them had rooftops or flat roofs. Most of them had antennas at the top. He would have no trouble sticking or webbing around, but it was clearly better suited for flying.
It was really nice, Peter noted, the whole city smelled great, the most amount of trash he had seen was a crumpled-up piece of paper he saw flying past him and the empty can in the alley. It must be a richer area or something. No way, the whole city is as clean and perfect as this. Right? It was too sunny, too nice, and too colorful. ‘There is no way that the entire city is this clean.’
Peter looked around at the buildings, marveling at the architecture. Its not every day you see buildings like this, well except if you live in this city. ‘Wow, I really need to know this city's name and stop calling it ‘city.’’ He thinks.
“Doesn’t this place look beautiful Karen?” Peter asks
“Stunning.” Karen responded. “However, it doesn't look like the New York we know.”
“I wonder what caused such a difference in architecture. Could more criminals attack from the sky, making it more cost efficient for companies? So, it would be easy to get out of the way of a building if you're fighting in the sky?” Peter paused. “Or is it based on vibes of it?”
“I believe if there are mutants or aliens in this universe it would make sense for buildings to be built with them in mind.” Karen added. “How far back mutants or aliens appeared could also affect the architecture, it’s possible in that scenario for some older buildings to not incorporate newer ‘power proof’ techniques.”
MJ LOVES learning about how locations, values, and beliefs impact the way something is built. She would talk for hours about how the gothic architecture of the churches in Europe reflected the way they wanted to be preserved compared to the religious temples in Asia and other parts of the world. Peter wonders what she would think of this city and what she would say.
Peter took out his phone. “I think I’ll photograph this place while I’m here.”
“Want me to continue playing Bad Reputation?”
“Eh... This place is too nice to fit the vibe.”
Turning into another alleyway, Peter looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then he put up his hood and began scaling his way up to the top of the incredibly tall skyscraper that was half of the alley. Peter checked around to make sure no one saw him. He was on a 15-story building (wow these buildings are tall) so he’s sure no one can see him, but it’s always good to make sure.
Peter pulls out his phone. 37% battery, it wasn’t the worst- but not the best. He checked the time on his phone. It reads ‘7:14 pm’, it must not be up to sync with this world’s clock. Peter supposes that made sense. If Karen couldn’t connect to the internet, his phone wouldn’t either. Peter started taking photos of his surroundings.
Stark phones actually have an amazing camera quality! When Tony and Peter worked together in the lab, Peter sometimes worked on side projects like the stark phones. His photography hobby may or may not have made its way into the amount of work he put into the phone. (Aka Peter spent a lot more time working on the camera than coding). He defiantly worked on other things too, but most of it was coding.
Peter snapped a few photos. It was really calm, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the weather started getting warmer, even ticking presents tied to ballons were floating down from the sky. Wait-
Karen spoke. “Those balloons right there are explosives, barley a level 1 danger. Do you want me to suit up? Remember you are at 19% webbing capacity from your fight.”
Peter put his phone down. “People might get hurt.”
“I’ll suit up then.”
The balloons looked to be floating down from a blimp around 50 feet above Peter. If Peter swung to a taller building and built up enough momentum from his swings, he could make it and fight the people on the blimp. Would the mastermind be on the blimp? Would he leave behind clues?
Just as he fully suited up and finished putting on his jacket, his spider-sense went off.
LOOK UP! :D
Did his Spidey sense sound excited? No, That's impossible. Why would it-
Peter looked up to see a man with black hair, blue suit, red cap-, and was that underwear on the outside of his suit? The man had a red and yellow logo on his chest; he was too far away to see the details. Peter could tell he was strong, could fly, enhanced strength, and a good chance of enhanced speed and senses. Was he the vigilante of this city, or did he protect the whole world? At least the flying thing explained the weird building shapes.
The closest ballons were around 50 feet from the ground. The man in blue crushed it with his hands and flew to the next one. ‘This would make a good photo’, Peter thought as he snapped a picture of Superman flying around the next balloon to destroy it with his laser vision. (He has laser vision too?!?)
Superman took out the first few balloons at a rate of .5 present- ballons/second. For 100 present balloons it would take 200 seconds. They would reach the ground in around 100 seconds... Peter really should help.
Peter webbed the closest present-balloon to him and crashed it into another present. They exploded when in contact with something, most likely designed for when hitting the ground. Interesting...
“HEY!” The man yelled. “Who are you?”
His tone was surprisingly not accusing. It was loud and projected authority, but felt sort of soft? Like Captain America did. This guy was definitely a hero.
Spider-man realized it had been a few seconds and quickly replied. “Your friendly neighborhood Spider-man?”
“I have been in this neighborhood for a while, and I’ve never seen you before.” The man in blue yelled back.
‘Shit.’ He thought, as he permanently disarmed 3 more balloons; there were now 10 balloons left. ‘Act cool.’
“Well... I have never seen you before! Who are you!” Spider-man quipped back.
The man in blue lasered 4 more presents, then paused, his brow winkling in confusion. “Superman? You haven’t heard of me?”
‘Double shit.’ “Oh- of course I have... just didn't recognizes you?” ‘Fuck.’
“DID YOU LIKE THE APITIZER, SUPERMAN?!?” A robotic voice from the blimp bellowed.
“Give up Toyman!” The man in blue Superman shouted back.
“HAHAHAHA!” Toyman laughed. “I’ve only just begun. I hope you and your new sidekick last till the end!”
‘SIDEKICK?!?’ Peter thought angrily. ‘I’m nobody’s ‘sidekick’. I’m the main hero! Who does this bomb-dropping-dipshit think he is?’
Superman put his hand on his hips. “This is your last warning Toyman. It's almost Christmas- I don’t want you to ruin it. I will catch you today. If I don’t, then I’ll have to call Batman to help me.” (what are these names?!?)
‘So, it’s wintertime. I could have guessed that, around Chrismas probably within 2 weeks.’ Peter thought.
“Assuming there is a Metropolis to call him to!” 100 balloons pressed to be tossed out from the blimp, emanating the same ticking the first few did.
This ‘Superman’ can handle these, if any more show up- Superman can’t stop the blimp from releasing more ballons without possibly causing damage to the buildings. So, Spider-man needs to make sure no more bombs are thrown off the blimp. That’s an acceptable plan, right?
“I know you can hear me.” Spider-man murmured.
Superman nodded slightly, so he does have super heard. This would make this whole communication thing easier.
“I’m going to go on the blimp; can you handle these by yourself?”
“Yes” Superman murmured.
While Superman was distracting Spider-man made his way up to the Navigation room of the blimp. It was around 12ft by 70ft, so really long, and about 9ft in height. It was dark and damp with toys of all shapes, sizes, eras, and colors. It looked like a fever dream, very spooky. Not a lot of light coming from the window- wait, was that music? Spider-man tilted his head to the side. There was a music box with a puppet looking toy around 4 feet tall propped up on top. It was playing a carol of bells at the very end of the room.
“Awwwwwwwww you’re a small spider” Did- did that toy just talk? Like actually move his mouth talk- not a speaker. “I wanted to play with Superman today... I suppose Christmas miracles don’t happen after all...”
“So, you’re Toyman?” Spiderman asked, hands on his hips. “You’re much shorter in real life.”
Toyman hopped off the music box and started towards the vigilante. “And it took so long to set up... would Superman like a spider as a present this year-” He wondered out loud.
‘Seriously, what is with villains and the same old one-liners?’ Spider-man looked around to see if the was any traps onboard. There seemed to be nothing, good to go. ‘I mean come on bad guys! If you're going to be an asshole, at least be creative about it.’
“-You're talking to slowly” Spider-man declared. “And I am in quite the hurry, so I hope you don’t mind, I am going to restrain you and leave you for the cops.”
Toy man pulled out a blast gun “Not likely- DAM IT!” He yelped as Spider-man webbed his blaster and yanked it towards him; it fell to the ground with a thud.
Spider-man ran towards him, webbing him and pulling the tiny man to the ground. The man didn’t have enough time to fight back as he wrapped him up; and hung him upside down from the ceiling so that their eyes met.
“How do you stop the presents and the blimp?”
“Wha- Ho- Who even do you think you are?” Toyman sputtered out.
“I am Spider-man, with a hyphen. Now, how do you disarm all the balloons and how do you stop the ship”
Toyman squirmed. “Never going to tell you.” He sang happily.
Spider-man narrowed his eyes. He needed to connect Karen to this world's internet to get more info about this place. Then a slightly evil idea popped into his head.
"If I sink the ship then there would be no more bombs. You might not make it out, but it wouldn’t be too much of a lose-”
“NO!” Toyman swung around, the webbing didn't budge. “You wouldn’t! You’re a hero! You would become just as bad as me!”
Spider-man caught the web and pulled toyman closer to him, making sure to imitate someone who would kill someone. “And many more people will die if I don’t stop this blimp. Answers. Now.”
“On the console above us there is a keyhole!” Toyman jerked to the door to the side, supposedly the latter to the 2nd floor. “The key is in the music box. If you turn it, the blimp will slowly power off and begin descending towards the ground.”
“Good! Now, about the explosives...”
“I have to manually arm them and put them on the conveyer belt on the 2nd floor. I can’t do anything right now. Please don’t kill me.”
Spider-man let go of the man and picked up the key on the music box. “Stay put!” He called back. “Merry Christmas! I hope you spend it in jail!” He laughs.
Spider-man pulled open the door and ran up the stairs to the second story. Entering the upstairs control room, Spider-man ran over to the panel. It was cartoonishly big with a LOT of buttons and key holes. Running his fingers down the buttons, he stopped at a loose panel. Pushing it with his finger, it smoked and popped up, reveling a keyhole. ‘Perfect.’ He breathed.
Putting the key in made a whole lot of shuttering and clanking as the whole blimp shutter and clank as it slowly started to power down. He opened it and turned the key. Gears turn and creaked as the machine powered off- Spider-man steadied himself as, ever so slowly, the blimp descending to the streets of the city.
Backing up, he looked around for any more presents. There looked to be around 300 more next to what looked to be doors leading to the sky. Next to them was a conveyor with a red lever. Toyman wasn’t lying, there were no present on the conveyor, nor machine to activate them or/and put them on.
‘Time to get out of here.’ Peter thought as he backed up and ran into the glass. Using his super strength to break it and colliding with the glass into the sky.
Spinning midair, he webbed up to the nearest building and swung away. Turning back as he flipped to the next building, Spider-man saw Superman destroying the last present and fly to the blimp. He waved to him and booked it out of there.
Now, time to find some way to get home. I have had enough sightseeing.