Part 1
(New Orleans)
It's a simple plan. Kill one frame and the other. No one else will know the truth until it's too late.
KNOCK KNOCK
It's certainly easy to do when nobody knows what to look for.
"Who is it?"
"Daimon Hellstorm, it's Victoria Hand."
Possession has its perks after all. However, he can't be careless. Not if he wants revenge. And revenge is all he has now. Since everything else was taken from him.
"Victoria. It's good to see you."
His life.
"Good to see you too."
His brother.
"Are you okay?"
But he'll get his revenge.
"Never better. Why?"
It will be sweet and painful.
"You seem a little different."
Not for him though. No no.
"I can assure you I'm still me."
Doctor Strange will be the one who suffers.
(Avengers Mansion)
Spider-Man impatiently taps his finger on the large ten-top table in the dining room. The room is elegant and has a very warm ambiance. The walls have several art pieces that consist mostly of nature like wolves, and trees, and one with mountains and it hangs over a fireplace. The windows have maroon-colored drapes on them. And above the table are two chandeliers that light up the large room.
The Queens-born hero arrived on time for the meeting, just to find Wolverine was the only one in the room. He takes his seat next to the man at the corner of the table and waits for the others to arrive. But not very patiently.
He looks at his watch and glares a little at it as he goes back to tapping his finger. He went to bed last night very strung up and did not get an ounce of sleep. He thought about maybe just blowing off this meeting, but it did sound like Luke had some important announcement. As much as he wants to talk with MJ about everything, he can't ignore his duties to being on the Avengers team.
No matter how much he wants to.
"Stop tapping that finger or I'm taking it from you."
Spidey turns his attention to the only other occupant in the room, Logan. The man is currently reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee, Irish style, in his free hand.
"I'm kind of attached to it." He quips back to the man.
"Not if you keep tapping," Wolverine just grunts and then goes back to reading his paper. Peter notes the lack of a cigar in his mouth. The guy stopped smoking in the mansion when Luke and Jessica's baby was born. And that thought process makes Peter feel guilty about Logan's would-be relationship with Jean Grey had he not screwed it up.
'Oh yeah add more guilt to yourself, that'll fix everything.' He thinks to himself in frustration before he looks at his watch again, "It's two after eight."
Logan merely responds with, "Mmm-hm," and reads his paper while drinking his coffee.
"He said eight."
"Mmm-hm."
"Cap would've been here early."
"Mmm-hm."
"…"
"…"
"…it's three after eight."
Wolverine sighs, "Okay." He says as he places his paper down and looks at his friend, "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Logan knows the man in front of him well enough to know when he's this antsy, there's something going on in his personal life that he's trying to fix. Love life, family, or work. And as much as he'd like to let the hero deal with his own problems, Logan will not get any peace unless it's addressed.
Spider-Man hesitates, not really knowing what to say, before he blurts out, "Did you love Jean?"
Why did he ask that?! He wanted to approach the subject gently! Not bull rush it!
The mutant school teacher reels back as Spider-Man tries not to look shocked by his own question. The feral mutant looks at him in surprise, not expecting such a question, "Where's this coming from?"
"Uh." Come up with a believable lie you doofus, "Was just curious."
If it didn't make him seem like a weirdo, he'd punch himself in the face.
Logan gives him a look, "If you want to talk about your tragic love life, you don't need to ask about mine."
Spider-Man winces at the tone, "Sorry. It's just-" he says before he sighs, "I hurt her. At least I hope-I mean think I did."
Logan's eyes widen again at his slip, "What do you mean you hope?"
"I didn't mean-" he tries again and speaks quickly, "Look I did something stupid. That something stupid cost us both something. I didn't know it did but she did and she didn't tell me. And I don't know whether she didn't tell me because she's happy it happened because I hurt her so badly, or because of other reasons that my brain is just tormenting me over."
He breathes in after finishing in one breath, being as vague as possible. As much as he trusts Logan, he can't bring himself to tell him the whole story. Mainly because all it will do is hurt the man and make Peter feel better.
'And why didn't you do that with Mary Jane.' His conscience throws back at him. ''Cause there is also a good chance Logan will hate me and want to kill me.'
Logan just looks at him with a blank expression not saying anything. He'd like to tell the much younger man to stop beating around the bush and tell him the whole story, but he knows the guy is way too secretive. And while Logan knows the guy well enough to trust and respect him, whatever it is that's bothering him is something he doesn't want to reveal for reasons.
What those reasons are, he can only guess. So he'll just offer the best advice he can with what he's been given.
"Alright look," Logans starts as he looks his teammate in the eyes, "I'm probably the last person you should be talking to about relationship advice," Spidey concedes to that, "but if you want my opinion, take it slow."
"Take it slow?"
"You said you hurt her." The man reiterates the younger man's statement, making him wince a bit. "Or at least did something that should've, and she never told you about it. Her reasons are her own, but based on my own experiences, you broke her trust."
Spider-Man looks at him in surprise, clearly not expecting that.
Logan elaborates, "She couldn't confide in you, couldn't tell you what was hurting her or why. So the best course of action for you is to take it slow. Gain her trust again."
The Queens-born hero looks down in thought as he lets the other man's advice sink in. He is right, while Logan may not be aware of the full story, MJ's trust was something Peter lost. As much as trusts her, and that's a level he reserves for very few, she most likely doesn't reciprocate it. Why else would she not tell him about their marriage? It can't be because she is glad she is no longer with him. She agreed to meet him for coffee and stayed to listen to him about his death.The only explanation he could think of why she would not tell him about their previous life together, was because she no longer trusted him. Selling your marriage to the devil for an old woman's life, even if her death was because of him, would destroy that trust.
His shoulders sag as he sighs in some relief. The worst-case scenarios included one where she wanted to leave him and she finally got her wish when she was presented with a deal with Mephisto. To be free of Spider-man and Parker Luck. It is something that she hated and he himself loathes.
He still lost her trust and that's very important to him. So he will need to get out of here as soon as possible and talk with her. But Logan's advice helped him lose most of the tension he's had. He laughs a little at the ease he feels, it being so foreign to him.
He looks at the scruffy man with a small grateful smile, "Thanks, Logan."
"Don't mention it," he says as he opens his paper again and drinks his coffee.
They sit in silence once more and instead of tension, both are a little content.
"It's eight-ten now."
Well, the tension is gone at least.
(Miami)
Killing the son of Satan wasn't as hard as you'd expect. Killing Jennifer Kale, however, is. The woman is putting up a hell of a fight.
"Jennifer~."
He knew he'd meet some resistance.
"Jennfer~."
But still for this nobody to put up a fight like this is irritating.
"Are you still alive~?"
The payoff will be worth it, though. That's what matters.
"Wh-who 'glrck' are y-you?"
He still needs to do some more for it to be worthwhile.
"Isn't it obvious?"
As they say, patience is a virtue.
"I-I-Impossible."
SKNTCH
(AN: Sound effects are hard. I couldn't come up with anything that sounded like a blade made of magical energy stabbing someone.)
(Avengers Mansion)
More of their teammates eventually arrive at the mansion and enter the dining room to join them for breakfast. Some automated robots that help around the house have prepared food for them and placed it all on the table. The members to arrive consisted of The Thing, Mockingbird, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Doctor Strange.
Spidey points at his watch, "It's ten in the morning! Luke said eight!"
Iron first goes to grab a sandwich as he calmly responds, "He's not here yet."
Spider-Man crosses his arms like a child, "I know! Here I am on time, which is very weird for me, and yet the man who called this meeting isn't even here yet."
Doctor Strange takes his seat and says, "I'm sure he has his reasons."
Spider-Man would like to say he has his reasons to not be here too, but he refrains from doing so. His uncle's words on his life as Peter Parker still wring in his head, but he doesn't know how to follow the advice without completely ignoring his Spider-Man life.
'Wow, and I thought my life was complicated before,' he thinks to himself as he sits back in silence again.
Luke Cage and Jessica Jones with their babysitter Squirrel Girl enter the room and the Leader greets them, "Hey everyone."
Spidey points at him accusingly and comically says, "You said eight!"
"My bad," Luke says defensively, "Doreen got held up with something and we were waiting for her."
Before the web-slinger could go further, Jessica suddenly hugs him, "Thank god you're alive."
When he registers what she says he gently hugs her back and says, "I guess Luke told you?"
The strong woman lets him go and nods, "Yeah he did," she says with a concerned expression, "He also said you're not yourself."
Spidey past her and at the larger man curiously.
Cage raises an eyebrow back, "You forget you blew up on me about this meeting yesterday?"
The heroes who were present at the time nod in agreement and look at the Queens-born hero curiously, wondering why he was acting differently. Daredevil in particular looks at his fellow street hero and recalls the hushed conversation he had with a certain billionaire genius. What they are keeping between them is something Spider-Man doesn't want to share with anyone else. And though it sounded personal, it also sounded like a big deal.
Spidey realizes what he's referring to and rubs his head sheepishly, "Sorry about that. I'm going through some stuff and you guys getting attacked got in the way."
Luke scoffs as he walks to his seat at the head of the table, "Sorry saving us was an inconvenience for you."
"I didn't mean it like that," Spider-man says quickly says.
Luke crosses his arms as his wife sits next to him, "And what did you mean?"
Jessica places her hand on her husband's bicep as she looks at him, "C'mon, Luke. You know the kind of guy he is."
Cage looks at her and then at the webhead. He knows the guy is a good guy, hell one of the few that has the respect of both Wolverine and Captain America, but still, since he came back the guys felt a little different.
Then again, if the bulletproof man died and came back to life, he'd be wound up too.
"Luke," Spider-Man gets his attention, and though nobody can see his face his eyes somehow express an apologetic look, "I'm sorry if I'm being a jerk about coming to help you guys. I mean what's going on in my life is big and I need to deal with it," he shakes his head and refocuses, "But the fact is, I shouldn't be complaining about coming to save you guys. I came when you needed help. I could've stayed home, but I chose to come and help."
Luke looks at his teammate with a scrutinizing gaze before he rolls his eyes and sighs, "Alright, I guess we're cool. I mean you did come and help."
"Thanks," Spidey says sincerely, "And, again, I am sorry about the attitude."
"I know."
"Great," Logan interjects as he eats a sandwich, "Now that you girls are done talking about your feelings, can we get to why you called us here."
The two men give him a dull glare, and the only three women present give him a dirty one, before Luke says, "Fine, I'd rather wait until Carol is here, but let's just get this over with."
They all take their seats. Luke is at the head of the table with Jessica at his right. Bobbi Morse is sitting next to her with Stephen Strange by Morse and an empty seat by him. To Luke's left is his longtime friend Danny Rand followed by Daredevil, Logan, then Spider-Man, and Ben Grimm at the other end of the table. Doreen decided to stand in the corner since she was just the babysitter.
Since the majority of the team was here, excluding, Luke decided to make his announcement. And it was one nobody expected.
"You're quitting the team?!"
And Spidey voices everyone's thoughts.
Luke Cage doesn't so much as blink at Spider-Man's question. The man was expecting certain reactions like surprise, maybe some anger and resentment, but nevertheless he has his priorities straight. Being a husband and father comes first. Avenger comes second.
Well third if his plan after this works out.
He looks at his teammates with a serious expression, "You guys shouldn't be surprised by this."
"Well, we are," Mockingbird says as she looks back and forth between her leader and the woman sitting next to her, "I mean you guys are quitting? Just like that?"
"Of course not," Jones says but doesn't look up from her food, "We didn't make this decision lightly." She gets a small conflicted expression, "We discussed it at length and we decided this is the best course for our family."
"We don't want to raise our baby here with all this craziness," Luke adds.
Logan takes a bite from his sandwich and says, "Hey, I was raised like this and I turned out fine."
They all look at him with raised eyebrows, wondering if he is serious or if he doesn't know himself as well as he thinks.
Spider-Man decides to voice what they are all thinking, "You're a chainsmoking alcoholic caveman with serious anger issues."
Logan doesn't even flinch as he looks at his teammate and smoothly replies, "And you're an insecure neurotic chattering monkey with a guilt complex."
"And I was raised in a loving home." He jokes as he looks to the ceiling in a mock surprised manner before he looks at Jessica, "So to summarize, there is no guarantee that your kid will turn out alright no matter where you raise her."
She gives him a bland look, "Thanks. It's not like we weren't worried as it is."
Spidey points at her, "If you aren't worried about being a parent, then you are not doing it right."
Now everyone looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
"How is it that in one moment you can say something wise like that and in another, you say something that makes me want to strangle you?" Luke voices everyone's thoughts this time.
Spidey holds his head up proudly as he says, "It comes with being an idiot genius."
The heroes roll their eyes at him, though some smile at his admission, as Danny asks his friend, "What about the mansion? It's your home you know."
"Not really." Luke says dismissively, "I bought it off Stark for a dollar."
"I'll give you five for it." Iron Fist says as a joke and Luke smiles at his friend.
Spidey's eyes light up as he begins to dig around in his suit's inner pockets. Years of crime-fighting have taught him to keep some cash on him to buy some food while on patrol. As he does this, Carol Danvers walks in an outfit nobody has seen her in. It's red and blue with hints of yellow and a star on her chest. Her hair has also been cut shorter.
She takes a look around the room and sees her team's expressions, "What's going on?"
Spider-Man gestures to the leader of the Avengers with one hand as the other continues to dig around his inner pockets, "Luke and Jessica are leaving the team." He says before he pulls out some money and places them on the table, "And they're selling me the mansion for the high bid of thirteen dollars and…" he pauses to quickly count the change in a mutter, "...forty-seven cents."
Now all of his teammates smile and laugh at his goofy nature, happy to see he's back to his normal self, while Logan points out, "One of those is a Canadian nickel."
"Forty-two cents."
Luke gives him a bland look as he shakes his head at the offer.
(Mary Janes Apartment)
In a highrise apartment in New York City, Mary Jane Watson sits on her couch hugging her knees in silence. The apartment is relatively simple. The living room and kitchen are in the same room. Her bedroom and bathroom are connected. Her furniture just consists of a couch, coffee table, and television set. The bed is a queen size with a nightstand.
It's a simple apartment for a simple life. The life she wants. Or at least the life she tells herself she wants.
In truth, she hates the place. She doesn't spend much time in it. Most of her time she spends abroad doing photoshoots in Milan or Paris. Other times she spends doing movies in Los Angeles as she did with her ex Bobby Carr. And even when she's in the city, she spends most nights at clubs dancing the night away. She does all of this to live her life fully.
And all in a vain effort to fill the hole in her heart. The hole left by Peter Parker.
She holds herself tighter as she thinks about him. The man she married in another life. The life they agreed to trade for his aunt May to live. It tears her apart to think about it. The pain of remembering that life was unbearable and she tried to drown it with booze and partying. But all that did was numb the pain. And now that Peter knows about it, it hurts her even more.
She has tried to reconnect with him on so many occasions. Tried to maybe see if they can start again. But it always seemed like it was never a good time to do so. Personal life or not, it was always a bad time to be with him. Then again, it wasn't like their marriage was all sunshine and rainbows.
She doesn't know why that devil bastard made it so she remembers, but she does. She remembers the years they spent together, all the good and bad. She remembers sticking by him even when his life was getting worse and not better because she loved him. Because she couldn't lose him.
And she remembers how she felt one day at a movie shoot. Because she felt the same way the day she and he made the deal.
The supermodel looks at her phone on the coffee table and contemplates whether or not she should be the one to call him. They have so much to talk about. So much that needs to be said. The problem being is that he's most likely busy with his Spider-Man job.
The job she loathes.
She doesn't want to hate it. She knows he does so much good in the world. He saves so many lives every day he goes out there in his goofy outfit. Hell, he has saved the world more times than other more famous heroes have and he never once took credit for it. Because he's Spider-Man. He holds himself to an incredibly high standard. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders because of it. And that is what she hates.
She loves the man, but not the mask. She hates that part of herself.
She has never loved and wanted anyone else more than she has loved Peter Parker. And it breaks her a small bit every time she thinks about their lives. About how easy it is for her to lose the man in more ways than one. Him dying would almost hurt her as much as him realizing he could do better than her.
She's never been all that self-assured despite everything.
Does she have supermodel good looks? Duh, it's how she makes her career. But the guy can get girls like that easily. Felicia Hardy, Debra Whitman, and Gwen Stacy are just prime examples. MJ is not shallow enough to say she is better-looking than those girls.
Well, not anymore.
Is she the smartest girl? No. While she may not be the ditzy airhead she was when they were younger, she is not a science geek like he is. And Carlie Cooper, while maybe not on the same level as the guy, was definitely smarter than her. The woman was a forensic officer or something. And she could help Peter as Spider-Man when all MJ can mostly do is just sit at home and wait for him.
And that's something else. His heroic life. She can only be the woman waiting at home for him to come back. Hoping that he comes back in one piece. And while he never really mentioned any romantic interests with any of the women in the hero community, outside of Felicia, she has no doubt in her mind that there are a good number of women who are interested in him. Women that can fight beside him and be his equals. And all she ccan do is be at home waiting for him.
He could be with any woman he wants. And she could do the same with any man. But they want to be with each other. And that terrifies her to her very core.
How can they love each other when it doesn't make any sense to?
She looks at her phone again but this time reaches for it. She pulls it to her face, it turns on and the wallpaper is of her and him smiling at the camera with the sea in the city skyline in the background. She caresses it longingly.
It doesn't make any sense.
(Avengers Mansion)
In the garden of the Avengers mansion, where there are statues of men in kung-fu poses, bushes with roses, and a fountain of water, Doctor Strange and Iron Fist sit in a lotus position to meditate and clear their minds.
Unfortunately, they both have too much on their minds. Danny is concerned about his longtime friend's decision to leave the Avengers team to raise a family outside of it. And while it's an understandable reason, Danny is still worried about what this means for not only the team but his friendship with the man.
Power Man and Iron Fist. The dynamic duo of Heroes For Hire. That is what Danny always thinks about when it comes to him and Luke. A simpler time for a simpler life.
And he is exceedingly happy for his friend's good fortune. His marriage to Jessica Jones has been a long time coming and the two of them having a baby together is just icing on the cake. Danny is happy and proud that his longtime friend has gotten to this point in his life.
What bothers him, however, is how he feels like he's stayed the same. Yes, he has grown to be a better Iron Fist and hero in general, but as a person, as Danny Rand, he hasn't grown at all. His company is doing well, but in truth, he has very little to do with that. As far as relationships go, well it's just depressing to think about if he's honest.
Danny Rand hasn't moved forward in life, while Luke Cage has.
Meanwhile, Doctor Strange isn't concerning himself about the Harlem hero's decision to leave the team. He feels that is a necessary step for the man at this point in his life. No, his primary concern is of course Spider-Man and the problems surrounding him.
That young man is a magnet for trouble. He thought the trial for the world was a big enough issue, but throw in Spider-man, and guess what? The issue is now making sure the imbecile doesn't destroy the world if/when he loses control of the Phoenix Force. While the former Sorcerer Supreme has no doubt the younger man is capable of great feats, he does not believe he can handle the responsibility of being the host for the cosmic power.
Yes~, Spider-Man is all about great power and great responsibility and if Stephen had heard about this a month ago, then he'd have had more faith in him. But now that he knows about the deal with Mephistopheles, well his faith in the spider-powered hero is not as high as it used to be.
And that is another concern that is plaguing the magic user's mind. The deal with the devil that nobody knew about. How that is, he doesn't know. Julia said that the web didn't even reveal it after she was informed of its existence. When she went searching through Peter's history, she came up with nothing in regards to it. No signs of manipulation, strange deaths, or any demonic activity whatsoever.
Somehow that demon lord was able to do the impossible. He changed a piece of history and made it seem like he actually did nothing out of the ordinary. And what was it all for? Why did he do this? Mephisto has been known to be a master of lies and deceit. He is known for his craftiness that even Loki, the god of mischief, can't match.
All for one purpose, to corrupt and destroy.
So why did he do this? There has to be a massive reason. A direct involvement with a spider totem, the champion of the web at that, is not something that is overlooked and ignored. Especially when it was hidden somehow. There will be a reckoning and the devil will pay. And Mephisto would know this, so why risk it?
What was it all for?
"I can't believe he's leaving."
Strange comes out of his thoughts when Danny decides to voice his. The sorcerer opens one eye to look at the champion of K'un Lun and sees he is somewhat despondent.
He closes his eye and says, "It's a natural part of life to move forward Daniel. There is nothing wrong with that."
"I know that," he says, "But still, this team- I mean it's only because of him were all here. In a way at least."
"Danny," Strange says patiently, "I know this bothers you, but this is meditation time. This will help you. You know this as well as I do. Just clear your mind."
Danny takes a breath and refocuses.
They both go back to being silent and try to clear their minds.
"If he leaves, does that mean the team disbands?"
Strange sighs and says, "Alright, it's clear what is really bothering you isn't so much Luke leaving as what will you do when he does."
Danny stays silent as he doesn't deny the claim and listens to what the doctor has to say.
"You and Luke have been friends for a long time," Strange says, "That will not change no matter what."
"He's a husband and father now," Danny points out.
"Yes he is," Strange nods, "And what that means for the two of you, is that you have someone else to protect." At that the kungfu user raises his eyebrow in question, "Luke is like a brother to you, so it stands to reason that that little girl will see you as her uncle."
Danny hadn't thought of it that way. That tidbit of information makes him smile at the prospect. And it warms his heart to think of how that little girl could come to him when she needs advice.
He gives his meditation partner a grateful smile, "Thank you, Doctor."
Stephen nods and closes his eyes, "My pleasure."
They both go back to meditating. One of them is more content than he was a moment ago. The other is still tense.
"I'm going to buy a Lamborghini."
"Sounds nice," Strange says sincerely.
"Do you want one?"
"Yes," he says a bit excitedly.
While the two of them are meditating outside, inside the Avengers Mansion, Jessica Jones is in her and her husband's bedroom and is packing their things with Carol Danvers in the room playing with her baby. All the while Jessica has a downtrodden expression on her face. Carol pulls her attention away from the very cute baby and sees her friend's look.
"What's wrong?" Carol asks.
Jessica sighs as she places her husband's clothes in another box, "Everyone hates me."
"Nobody hates you," Carol quickly reassures her.
"Really?" Jones asks with a scoff, "I'm the wife that's making her husband choose between his job and her. I'm now the typical middle-class white woman."
"That's not true," Carol reassures her sincerely before her tone changes to a joking nature, "You're not middle class. If anything, you're more low class since you're not gonna be living in a mansion anymore."
Jessica gives her an unamused look as she says, "You've been hanging out with Peter too much."
Carol silently scoffs, "If only," she says as she looks at the baby in her arms.
Jessica gives a look to her friend that is mostly understanding and a bit of pity. It is not a well-known secret that Carol Danvers has had a thing for Peter Parker for a while now. After he died, Carol talked to Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, and told her some things. Jones doesn't know the full story, but apparently, Peter kind of extorted a date out of Captain Marvel, then known as , and while it didn't go well it did bring them closer somehow. At least from what Drew told her.
The Spider-Woman also mentioned how during the siege on Asgard, before this team was formed, Carol was possessed by the Venom symbiote and it revealed her feelings to the guy. They never really discussed it, especially when the guy was already in a relationship with another woman, but it is evident that her friend wants to talk to him.
So being a good friend, Jones decides to pry.
"How's that going by the way?" Jessica asks.
The blond heroine's eyes do not leave the baby's, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Carol, seriously?" Jones continues with her hand on her hip, "You give him the same look I do when I look at Luke."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she reiterates.
Jessica rolls her eyes and sighs, "Alright fine, play dumb," she says before placing a hand on her friend's shoulder, "But here's some advice that you need to listen to," Carol gives Jones her full attention, "Don't waste too much time. You've seen what a great guy he is. There's gonna be other women that see it if there aren't already. So if you want your chance with him, don't let it slip away.".
Carol doesn't say anything in return and just looks at the baby she is holding. She knows it's good advice, and it's advice she wants to take, but my god does the prospect of dating Peter scare her. She doesn't know why. She's faced godlike beings and never sweated. But the thought of her and that lovable goof being a couple makes her all clammy.
"This is such a cute baby," Carol says to change the subject.
Jessica rolls her eyes, but still smiles, "Thanks."
Carol plays with the baby some more as she says, "You know Luke made the right decision and nobody blames either of you."
Jessica has a little conflicted look as she goes back to packing, "I guess."
Carol stands and stands next to her, "Come on Jess, it took him a minute to figure it out but you let him instead of just telling him. That's more than I can say about other women out there. You two are doing alright in my and everyone else's eyes."
Jessica smiles gratefully at her friend's words, "Thanks," she then decides to ask a question that she had for the last few hours, "By the way, I've been meaning to ask but what's with the outfit?"
Carol smiles proudly as she poses for her friend while still holding the baby, "It's my new look. You like? Because I love."
"Well, I love it too," Jessica says sincerely.
Carol nods in thanks and then goes back to making faces at the baby as she says, "I'm also going by Captain Marvel now."
She came up with the name when she decided to pay homage to both Mar-Vell and her military background.
"That is so much better than ."
Carol rolls her eyes, "Yeah, I know. You hated that name."
Jessica gives her a playful look, "Well, it wasn't very creative."
The blonde gives the brunette a dull look, "Yeah, 'cause Jewel was so much cooler and creative."
Jessica gives a playful affronted look, "Hey, I was young and didn't know better. You on the other hand…"
Carol slightly sticks her tongue out. Showing how mature she is. The baby in her arms giggles.
"You know~," oh that tone and teasing look is not one Carol likes, "I bet Peter will miss the old outfit," Carol tries not to blush as she looks at the baby and not the smirking mother, "The leotard with the thigh-high boots and luscious blond hair billowing in the wind."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Back outside the mansion at the front doors where there are several boxes at the entrance, the soon-to-be former owner Luke cage is carrying a box labeled kitchen on his shoulder to a moving van he rented.
'They're not gonna miss a few plates,' he thinks to himself with a small sheepish look.
When he gets to the gate entrance he sees a familiar face.
"Victoria Hand," he greets the liaison for his team.
" ," she greets back cordially, which prompts him to raise an eyebrow curiously since she and he are usually friendlier to each other, "What's going on here?"
She is referring to the box on his shoulder, but he decides to address her sudden appearance first, "Where you been?"
"Captain America had me on another assignment," she responds, and he again raises an eyebrow at her, she's definitely acting weird, "Is someone moving out?"
"Me and my family," Luke tells her as he walks past her and places the box on the Uhaul truck, "Bout time too."
He honestly should have moved out the moment he found out Jessica was pregnant. But it took the baby being born and a good friend of theirs dying for him to realize his priorities.
"I thought this was your house?" Hand asks with a hint of irritation in her voice as she stands at the gate, "Have you told Captain America yet?"
Luke looks at her a bit curiously but not all that surprised. He figured this woman might be upset with his hasty decision, but nothing is going to change his mind. Still, he's going to try and placate her.
"I just told my team an hour ago," he tells her as he again walks by her to the mansion, "Figureed they should know first. And I was respecting you since you're the liaison for this team or whatever."
The irritation leaks into her voice as she follows after him, "But you are making this decision without discussing it with anyone. Not Captain America, Iron Man, or me."
He stops and looks back at her with an odd expression, "You don't get a vote, and Stark and Rogers will understand," he then picks up another box, this one labeled baby clothes, "And if they don't then, no disrespect, oh well."
As he walks past her, she looks like she is trying to find a solution that he will like, "You don't have to be on the team to live here."
He looks at her and wonders why she is trying so hard to convince him to stay. Again, he expected some resistance, but she sounds kind of desperate to keep him here. He feels like there are others that could lead the team. Danny could do it. Doc Strange is good and Danvers is a Captain so that has to count for something.
Before he can voice his thoughts, he hears the familiar sound of sirens and he sees several dozen law enforcement vehicles surrounding the entrance.
"Well, this can't be good."
On the rooftop of the mansion, Spider-Man is sitting on the edge of the side of the building that is overlooking the garden and patiently waits for Doctor Strange to finish his session of meditation so he can talk to him. Specifically, he wants to talk about his spider-sense giving him a vision of his friends getting attacked hours before it happened and Mary Jane remembering their marriage when he doesn't.
That last one is especially worrisome. He knows he should be more concerned with his visions, but he can't help himself. MJ is a very important person in his life, hell they were married. He may not remember it, but she does. And he has every intention of getting out of here and going to talk with her about it.
What is he going to say? He doesn't know. But he does know he will do whatever it takes to fix this mess. To help her. It's his nature. He always puts other people's problems before his. And the vision thing is just that, his problem.
But nevertheless, he will bring it up with Strange first. He knows the man won't think the issue with MJ is as much a priority as his spider-sense.
"SPIDER-SENSE"
Speaking of which, he feels the familiar tingle and before he can fully register it, he no longer sees the two spiritual men meditating but instead he sees himself getting beat up by his teammates. He sees Red Hulk throws him through the mansion with a smile, Luke punches him with a smile, Logan stabs him with a smile, and he sees Thor hit him with his hammer but not smiling.
That last one knocks him out of his vision.
"Gah!" Spidey shouts as he gets physically knocked on his butt and grabs his head in pain, "Sunova-"
He lies on the floor for a few moments more and rubs his head to alleviate the pain. Groaning as the pain fades away and then sets in the knowledge of what he saw.
He sits up with a groan, "Great," he says sarcastically, "So now not only am I gonna get beat up by my friends for some reason but now every time my spider-sense triggers it's gonna hurt."
And the sad part is he just got it back not too long ago.
He stands up off the floor of the roof and decides it's best to talk with Strange now before something else happens. He looks over to where he saw him meditating only to find that he and Iron Fist are no longer there. The two wouldn't leave their session unless-
"Why do I get the feeling something is happening right now?" Spider-Man asks himself before he tries to find his magic user teammate.
He quickly jumps to the highest of the roof and sees the man and some of his teammates, Luke, Daredevil, Thing, and Carol, at the front gate. With an army of law enforcement blocking the exit.
"Uh-oh, that can't be good."
He jumps down and lands at the entrance of the mansion just as Logan comes out. The other man doesn't even so much as twitch at his sudden appearance.
He looks at the feral mutant and asks, "What's going on?"
Logan doesn't look away as he lets his keen hearing pick up what they're saying, "The FBI is here to arrest Victoria Hand."
Spider-Man is slightly shocked to hear this, "Seriously?"
"Well, they're saying they want to question her-"
"But we all know that means handcuffed in a small dark room while good cop bad cop routine plays out," Spidey finishes for him, not really having been through much of those himself, he's seen enough cop drama shows to be well informed.
"Was actually thinking more along the lines of a secret organization making a plan to kidnap her," Wolverine says as he walks to the gate.
The webhead thinks about his words for a second before he follows along, "How sad is it that scenario is the most plausible one?"
"Very."
They get to the group in time for them to hear an agent say, "...the disappearance of a miss Jennifer Kale."
"Kale?" Strange says in surprise, obviously knowing who the woman is.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!"
They hear a female voice shout from above and everyone turns their attention to the sky and see Maria Hill flying down on a jet pack.
"I'm Maria Hill, Director of SHIELD," She announces as she lands in between the heroes and the lead FBI agent at the gate, "The FBI was told to stand down," she says with authority as she steps up to the mans face, "In fact, you were told specifically to stand down so that SHIELD could investigate this matter internally."
And while the two agents bicker over who is supposed to do what, Spider-Man feels another tingle again. And for a second he is worried that he is about to experience another painful vision right in front of everyone, that worry leaves when his danger sense feels more like it's directing him. Like it's telling him something is not right in a certain direction.
He lets it guide him to whatever it is it's warning him of and he ends up looking at Victoria Hand, who starts becoming a little twitchy. He observes her to see why his spider-sense is telling him to be wary of her. He knows he doesn't have the best history with this woman, she used to work for his archnemesis after all, but Captain America and other heroes all say she's good now.
Well, mostly.
As he continues to watch her, Hand turns her attention to Carol who suggests that everyone should go back inside the mansion.
"Carol?" Hand says perplexed as she blinks repeatedly at the woman, "What is-AAGGHH!"
Her scream of pain gets the two law enforcement agents to stop bickering and look at her with concern. The heroes kind of freak out at her sudden screams and merely watch as she thrashes at the air.
"What is happening!?" Hand shouts as she grabs her head in pain, "Why am I-!"
"You need to calm down, ma'am!"
"Calm yourself first, agent!"
"Da heck is goin' on!?"
As everyone else shouts, Carol steps closer to her friend and gently calls out to her, "Victoria. Victoria, it's me. It's Carol. You're with friends."
"No!" Hand shouts before she suddenly jerks as if someone had shot her, "NOOOO!"
She collapses and everyone is shocked into silence. The Avengers that are present go over to check on her. They surround her as Doctor Strange kneels by her to check her vitals.
"Dat waz weird right?" Thing asks his friends as he looks down at the woman, "I mean weird even fer us."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Spider-Man says as he crouches by her, "I mean we've seen and been through weirder on this team. Individually I'm guessing even worse. But I'd say this falls in the category-"
"Would you please?" Strange says with an annoyed tone as he gives the arachnid-themed hero a look before he stands and says, "Can one of you carry her inside?"
Carol raises her hand immediately, "I'll do it," she says before picking up her friend, fireman style.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man watches on, wondering why his Spider-Sense was warning him of Victoria. It didn't seem like she was the danger as much as she was in danger. If he had to guess it seemed like a psychic attack of some kind. But as he watches Carol carry the woman away, he notices his sixth sense is still warning him to be wary of her.
He doesn't see this ending anytime soon.
'So much for talking with MJ today,' he thinks to himself sadly.
He can't catch a break.
As Danvers walks away to the mansion carrying the unconscious form of Victoria, nobody notices a malicious smile form on her face.