C519 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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After making sure that the their ship was securely stashed away in Tony's lab and locked it up with an array of technological and magical security measures, Peter and Tony set out to show Batman and Superman around the Avengers tower.
The advanced architecture and technology that permeated the building were enough to leave both of their guests in awe. Based on their calculations, the Avengers seemed to be around 20 or 30 years ahead of them when it comes to tech.
As they walked through the tower's sleek corridors, Peter turned to both Superman and Batman. “Okay, before we begin, I ask that you keep my name to yourselves.” He says as he pulls on his mask. “My identity is a heavily kept secret that only a few people know, so let’s keep it that way, alright?”
Of course, Peter didn’t plan on bringing them here when he revealed his face and name back in their universe, so he didn’t think that he’d have to worry about it.
Batman sneered. “I would never reveal someone else’s identity. Breaching someone else’s privacy like that would be a horrible thing to do, don’t you think?” He looked Peter square in the eyes, sarcasm clear in his voice.
Peter looked at him, clearly apologetic. “Yeah, that might have been a little messed up… sorry about that.”
Batman raised a brow. “Only a little?”
Peter relented. “Okay, it was very messed up. I shouldn’t have revealed your identity like that.”
Once that awkward moment came to an end, Peter began to explain the origins of the Avengers and the way they handled things in their world. "The Avengers is similar to your Justice League. It was founded by me, Tony, and a few other individuals," Peter began, a sense of pride in his voice. "We came together to protect the Earth from a wide range of threats, both foreign and domestic."
Superman and Batman listened attentively as Peter described their mission. "We've faced everything from alien invasions, sent by a Mad Titan who sought to cull half of the universe's population, to hidden civilizations right here on our planet, similar to Atlantis in your world."
Batman raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of civilization is hidden on this Earth?"
Peter grinned, sharing the secrets of his universe. "Well, in our world, there are hidden societies with incredible technological advancements, such as Wakanda, home to the Black Panther. They have advanced technology and resources beyond most nations."
As they continued to explore the tower, Peter elaborated on the way the Avengers operated. "In our world, the Avengers have a public persona, led by our heroes, like Iron Man," he gestured toward Tony, who acknowledged with a nod, "and Spider-Man," he pointed at his own spider-themed suit. "We also have other heroes like Captain America, who’s the Director of the Avengers and leads the public side of the team."
Batman couldn't help but raise an incredulous eyebrow. "Captain America? That seems like a rather simple hero name…"
Peter chuckled at Batman's reaction. "Well, when you think about it, aren't you named after a flying rat? It's all a matter of perspective," he quipped, and even Superman couldn't help but laugh.
Peter continued to provide insight into the way the Avengers' public persona operated. "The public side of the Avengers are taught public relations and never kill in the public eye, unless it's in self-defense or in the defense of others. All lethal action is reserved for the more secretive side of our operations."
Batman remained attentive, intrigued by the duality of their approach. "Tell me more about this secretive side."
Peter obliged, revealing another layer of the Avengers. "Behind the public face of the Avengers are two separate divisions for covert operations, Nightingale and Shield. Shield is a covert spying agency that works to protect the world from the shadows. They handle anything from espionage to assassinations if necessary. It's led by Nick Fury, one of the other foundering members.”
Peter continues. “And as for Nightingale, it's what remains of a disbanded league of female assassins called Widows, led by the most famous Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff. They handle more discreet and morally complex missions, usually in tandem with Shield."
As Peter finished explaining a brief overview of the Avengers' operations, Batman took a moment to digest the information. He couldn't help but question, "You've outlined an organized system, but how does this convince me that your way is better? You talk about not killing in the public eye and these covert divisions, but it all seems to be under your control. How can I be sure that you don't misuse your power, and that your system truly keeps innocent lives safe?"
Peter nodded, understanding Batman's skepticism. "I get it, you're cautious, and that's a good thing. First, I want to clarify that the Avengers aren't a nation. We don't control any land or people. However, we do serve as a significant global influence. We have the most powerful individuals on Earth, or even the universe, among our ranks. Every nation wants to stay on our good side, which helps keep them in check."
Tony interjected, "To be fair, it wasn't always like that. When we first emerged, there was a learning period. Nations and leaders tested our limits, trying to figure out what the Avengers would tolerate. But we stopped wars, prevented atrocities, and used diplomacy to talk things out. It didn't take long for nations to realize the benefits of cooperation over conflict."
Superman was curious and hopeful, considering the potential of this approach. "So, you're saying that eventually, nations came together and found a way to live in peace?"
Tony nodded. "Exactly. We still face challenges, but when nations see the alternative, they tend to opt for peace. So, we're not here to enforce a specific agenda, but we've created an environment where nations are incentivized to do the right thing."
Peter chimed in again, adding another layer to their argument. "Crime has fallen dramatically too. By eliminating certain individuals who would undoubtedly cause trouble in the future, we've made significant progress. In fact, major cities around the world now have such incredibly low crime rates that It's gotten to the point where most police officers are basically decorations, who hand out the occasional ticket and other small offenses."
Despite the compelling explanations, Batman's skepticism remained evident. He had been unwavering in his beliefs for so long that it wasn't easy to sway him now. However, Peter wasn't about to give up.
He sighed and finally stated, "I understand that you might be skeptical, Batman, but seeing is believing. If you truly want to understand our approach and its impact, I encourage you to investigate for yourself. Go out into this world, talk to people, and see the results firsthand. You'll find that actions sometimes speak louder than words."
Batman considered Peter's words for a moment, his face shrouded in contemplation. He wasn't ready to admit any change of heart just yet, but he also couldn't deny the logic in Peter's argument. Perhaps a practical examination of this alternate world was necessary to truly understand the merits of their methods.
Without another word, Batman turned and headed toward the elevator, prepared to take Peter's advice and investigate this world further. He couldn't let go of his skepticism, but he was willing to explore a reality that challenged his beliefs.
As Batman made his way to the elevator, Superman, who had been listening to the conversation intently, called out, "Wait up!" His desire to explore this world was clear to see.
“Hey, Clark!” Peter called out, stopping Superman as he stood in the elevators door frame.
“?” Superman turned back just in time to catch a sleek Stark brand smart phone and a wad of cash.
“Call if you need anything. I already put our numbers in the contacts list.” Peter says as he gestures to Superman and Batman’s costumes. “And feel free to use the money for some normal clothes and any food that you’ll need.”
“Thank you.” Superman said gratefully as he stepped into the elevator alongside Batman, leaving both Peter and Tony behind.
As they leave, Peter turns to Tony. “Have Jarvis keep an eye on them.”
Tony nodded. “You hear that?” He called out.
“Yes sir.” Jarvis’s voice filled the hall. “I’ll keep an eye on our guests.”
As Jarvis finished speaking, unbeknownst to anyone, a panel in the towers rooftop opened up and a swarm of Tony drones came pouring out. They would keep an eye on Batman and Superman from a distance, especially in places without CCTV.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t have had them change? After all, Batman and Superman are pretty well known…” Tony asks worriedly.
Peter shrugged uncaringly. “I doubt anyone will believe that they’re actually comic book characters. Well, that’s unless Superman starts flying or shooting lasers for his eyes. And even then, people will probably just think he’s a meta-human who’s copying a fictional character.”
Tony nodded before bringing up another point. “But what if they find a comic shop or look themselves up?”
“Well, then they get to have an existential crisis, I guess…” Peter didn’t really care. It was too much work to try and hide it. ”If they get into any trouble, let me know.”
Waving his hand and opened a portal, Peter’s living room appearing before them. “I’m headed home for now.”
“Alright, I should probably go see Pepper as well…” Tony waves goodbye and walks off as Peter steps through the portal, which snaps shut behind him.
————
Peter returned to his home, the familiar surroundings of his living room comforting to him after a long travel. As he stepped through the portal, he couldn't help but let out a contented sigh, glad to be back in his own world again.
However, as he closed the portal behind him, he noticed something unusual. The sounds of laughter and chatter reached his ears, coming from the direction of the kitchen. Curious, Peter walked over to the kitchen door and peaked inside, finding a surprising scene.
His kitchen was bustling with activity. Around the dining table, there were about ten children, including his daughter Lily, who was at the center of the gathering. America Chavez, who was currently living with them, was also among the kids, engaged in the fun and laughter.
Peter froze for a moment, caught off guard as one of the kids, a particularly energetic one, suddenly ran in his direction. In a swift move, Peter leaped up, sticking to the ceiling, where he remained concealed from their view.
From his upside-down vantage point, Peter observed as the child looked around, clearly confused as he could have sworn that someone was there a minute ago. The kid shrugged it off and rejoined their friends, running off to play in another part of the house.
Patiently, Peter waited until he was certain that the children were sufficiently distracted before creating a portal right beneath him. Detaching from the ceiling, he landed on his feet in his bedroom, the portal closing behind him with a soft whooshing sound.
Taking a deep breath, Peter peeled off his mask and tossed it aside. He couldn't help but smile at the close call with the kids in the kitchen. ‘I didn’t know Lily had so many friends.’
Just as he was about to relax and reflect on the events of the day, the bathroom door, which was connected to his bedroom, creaked open. His fiancée, MJ, stepped out, completely naked, her entire body still damp from a shower.
She looked surprised to see Peter standing in the room, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other. It had been almost two months since Peter had left to deal with whoever was hunting America down, and MJ had been worried for his safety.
However, the initial shock quickly transformed into a wide smile as she realized that Peter had returned unharmed. Ignoring her nakedness, she rushed toward him, her embrace warm, inviting… and wet. But you wouldn’t hear him complaining.
“Hello, beautiful~” Peter wrapped his arms around her, allowing them to wander. After all, it’s been two months since they’ve seen each other. “Did you miss me?”
MJ looked up, pecking him on the lips. “Always.”
After their loving reunion, Peter and MJ shared a tender moment. The joy of being back together after his absence was undeniable. However, as they held each other close, Peter's heightened senses began to tingle, and he sensed something was amiss.
Before he could react, MJ suddenly withdrew from their embrace and wound her hand back, delivering a resounding slap across Peter's face. It was a sharp, stinging slap, and her expression held a mix of happiness and frustration. She was upset that he had been away for so long, leaving her worried and alone.
Peter could have easily dodged the slap with his spider-like reflexes or even stopped it altogether, but he chose not to. He knew that he deserved it. He had put MJ through a lot with his frequent disappearances and the danger that always seemed to follow him.
He took the slap without complaint, understanding that it was her way of expressing her feelings, a mixture of relief and pent-up frustration. After all, he had a lot of explaining to do about where he had been and the circumstances of his prolonged absence.
Once the sting of the slap began to fade, Peter looked at MJ with sincere eyes. "I'm sorry," he said, not just for being gone but for all the times he had to leave her behind. He knew it wasn't easy, but he hoped she could understand the reasons behind his actions.
MJ's anger seemed to ebb as well, replaced by understanding and concern. She sighed and touched his cheek gently. "You have a lot of explaining to do, Peter Parker," she said, her voice soft and filled with affection.
Peter nodded, knowing he had a lot to catch her up on. But for now, they held each other close, sharing a deep sense of relief and love, regardless of the challenges they faced.
A/N: 2374 words :)