Interlude
A shattering of glass "No! Stop him! NO!"
"What does it look like I'm trying to do?!" Miles stared in fear as the figure of Miguel was suddenly leaping the gap between them. Time seemed to slow as he grew higher. From the darkness behind him, two strands of webbing zipped towards the airborne man. Moments before he could crash onto the colourful shapes the Go-Home machine was making, they stuck fast to his shoulder blades. Miguel found himself pulled back towards the control deck. A pair of feet dug into his back as he was used as a spring board to cover the distance. Gwen and Peter B. Parker charged into the room, their calls for him to stop dying on their lips. More of the Spider people charged into the room as Miguel crashed to the floor. Still airborne, the newcomer twisted in the air. Landing just in front of the ever growing orb, he stood glaring at the crowd forming.
"Spiderbyte, don't you dare touch that console anymore, the kid is going home," Green eyes glared through their goggles as fingerless gloved hands lifted to pull the hood down. "And none of you are stopping him,"
"You!"
"Yeah, me, what of it dicknips?" The goggles were put to rest on his chest.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"Do you? DO ANY OF YOU?!" He roared to the room, "And here I thought you were supposed to be the Spider-society, well, looks more like the Coward-crew to me! The moment you agreed with the fake here, you should've hung your masks, or better yet yourselves!" The machine completed the process behind him, sending Miles far away, almost to safety. "Willing to let a person die? How fucking pathetic can you be?!"
"We can't," One of them began,
"Change what's already happened, but you can certainly change what will!"
"You can't change-!" Miguel was silenced when a wad of webbing covered his mouth.
"When I want your bullshit," Midoriyachnid spoke venomously, "I will go to the nearest nursery and ask the screaming toddlers for it! Canon events aren't a fucking thing! It's just a convenient little excuse you made up so that you could make the rest of these dumbfucks suffer like you did! You're not even a real Spider-Man you failed lab rat! Now I might not be able to save the people I lost, but that doesn't mean I'll let him lose his people, his family is still ALIVE!! I won't let any of you stop him!" Pulling the goggles and hood back up, he raised his fists "Even if it means fighting all of you, I'll do it,"
"And he won't do it alone!" A voice yelled as two figures landed either side of him a spiderwoman in pink, black and white took a muay thai stance. "Sakura Spider, nice to meet you Midoriyachnid,"
"Now it's a party," The other figure, also a spiderwoman, but clad in white gold spoke. She took a wu shu stance, "Spinneret, pleasure," Something in his gut churned as he recognised both voices.
"As much as I'd like to see that," Another voice interrupted, a green flash filling the room. "Such fighting will not be necessary," Time and Jade stood in the air between the two parties. "Midoriyachnid, your job is to help Miles save his dad, the three of you are going to him now, we'll deal with the traitors, Hobie's already gone home,"
"Sounds like the punk anarchist,"
"Yeah well, he went rogue to the end, so we might have a fight on our hands later, nothing you guys can't handle, first though," Jade snapped his fingers and they found themselves thrown through space and time. "Miguel O'Hara, trust us when we say your attempts to play god aren't going unnoticed and your little club is nothing more than a bad attempt at making a follower base," The two Midoriyas shared a look, "Perhaps we should take a page from our alternate's book?"
"You mean slowly dissolve his support by showing them he is a charlatan and a sociopath?"
"Spot,"
"Ohnn is no issue, not to us," Time dismissed him, "We'll leave you now to explain why you're hellbent on forcing a teenager to let his father die, despite the fact it hasn't happened yet, and while you're at it, you can explain to Pavitr why Miles saving Inspector Singh didn't cause any problems for his timeline at all,"
"Except it,"
"No, Spot, Ohnn caused the issues with the particle collider, let's not forget that if Spot wasn't there in the first place Singh wouldn't have needed saving at all, never mind why it was only Miles that did anything to save the poor man," Time folded his arms, "But we've said enough, perhaps it's time you spilt your secrets O'Hara, I'm sensing the crowd would like some answers, ciao!" They were gone in a flash of green light.
"M-Mister Stark? Is, is it you? Really you?"
"I.."
"You're alive," Tony found himself wrapped in a tight hug, "H-how are you," Peter suddenly stepped back, "You should be... you died, how are you,"
"Have we met?"
"Y-you recruited me, to... to stop Cap, the accords,"
"You mean the... what did he call them FRIDAY?"
"Bunch of shit, utter crap and a fucking joke sir," The digitized voice of his VI spoke up.
"I read through them, properly, even asked the legal team to do the same, he was right, glorified lap dogs,"
"Y-you mean we haven't, and you don't, the airport, the spaceship, the Guardians, Titan, Thanos, they, haven't happened yet? None of it's happened yet?"
"Perhaps I can help explain," They both turned to see a greenette, waving gently, "Izuku Midoriya but you can call me Jade,"
"How did you,"
"Get in here?" He waved his hand around, gesturing to the room of the compound they stood in. "Simple really I just walked in while it was being constructed and waited,"
"Waited?"
"Well, in a sense, I sort of... stepped out of time, and stepped back in when I knew you two would be here, any minute now we should have," The rest of the Avengers began to enter the room. A flash of green and even more people were in the room. Peter gasped as Pater-Two and Peter-Three were in there. Both of them looked around, saw each other and clocked him.
"Kid," Peter-Two went wide-eyed. Peter-Three looked close to tears. The three all grouped into a hug, "I-I thought,"
"B-but,"
"It's a bit harder to explain," The greenette spoke again, "My name is Izuku Midoriya, but you can call me Jade, there will be a man that looks like me, his name is Izuku Midoriya, he is the Izuku of this world, this timeline and.. due to certain circumstances, he agree to give you refuge here, your timelines were in serious danger so he volunteered his own to save them, my associate should be getting the rest of the crowd to join us," A hand waved, "Before you move Stephen, you might want to consult the time stone on your chest there,"
"Mister-?" Pater turned to look at the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Doctor," The salt and pepper haired man corrected
"Mister Doctor?" Tony questioned
"It's Strange," He sighed,
"Maybe," Peter-Two shrugged, "Who are we to judge?" He paused, "Wait, is this the band you were on about? The At Enders?"
"Yeah, the.... uh, All Benders?" Peter-Three tacked on.
"The Avengers," Peter corrected with a smile, "Yeah, but..."
"You three have overlapped before, it was advantageous for us to collect you from that instance and enlist your help to make sure everyone can adjust properly, everyone else we had to collect from a point in time wherein they would be able to best adapt to the circumstances," Another green flash, three Iron-man esque figures were in the room. They formed a triangle around the only unarmoured woman. Immediately the Avengers were battle ready, the Peters all took fighting stances. The mark XLVI flew in, opening at the front for Tony to step backwards in to. "Tony, both of you stand down, in fact all of you stand down, now,"
"Tell them to cool it first," Hawkeye, Clint Barton, quipped from his corner, arrow notched to fly.
"Stark, Rhodes and Potts, the three of you cool your jets, none of you, including Stane are in any danger,"
"Explain what's going on first!"
"I will, in time, but first we're still waiting on a few to show up," Another green flash, everyone looked to the source.
"Pietro?" Someone gasped, a silver haired man looked around the room. Slowly he lowered his spread arms, straightening his back.
"How did... I get, the last thing I was doing was,"
"Covering Barton from a hail of bullets, trust me all will be explained in time, but just, be patient for a moment," Izuku nodded, the Scarlet Witch moved to envelope her previously deceased brother in a tight hug. There was another flash and even more people were in the room.
"Bruce, Thor!" Several Avengers called as they ran over to the injured figures. The Asgardian heaved tiredly, looking up to Izuku.
"We... lost, H-Heimdall,"
"No, you didn't," Izuku grinned snapping his fingers, "See we handled that,"
"The deal,"
"Was made to make you agreeable, sorry for the smoke and mirrors but we needed you here, much easier to explain things once to the lot of you, I already have to do it another few dozen times," He waved his hands about in a show, "Your people are safe, I have a friend sorting them all out, in a minute he's going to be here while I go deal with something and grab our last guest," Another flashing of green, the room was beginning to get crowded.
"Natasha," A blonde woman walked over to her, hugging her tightly, "Y-you're supposed to be,"
"I will explain soon Miss Belova, please sit tight, with Miss Bishop, Mister Barton I'm sure you recognise her,"
"How," Hawkeye had relaxed, putting his arrow away. "I mean she's vaguely, deja vu kind of familiar but... I'm guessing information is coming,"
"Post haste, Miss Walters perhaps you'd also like to take a seat?" Once more people shielded their eyes "Ah, wonderful, Miss Khan, Miss Rambeau I promise there will be an explanation coming, now everybody this is my friend, Izuku Midoriya, you can call him Time, he's going to help everyone make introductions, I'm just stepping out for a moment,"
"It's a bit ironic isn't it? Everything you did was for a throne, tricking Thor, attacking New York, your actions were selfishly searching for a place to belong, then you find the TVA, go on a soul-searching adventure that changes your ways, you give up on a throne, even declaring that you don't want one anymore, trying to find a way to save everyone, then... you have to sit here, sacrifice it all, to sit atop a throne of stone, alone forevermore, literally forever," He was too stunned to even speak as the man walked around him. "You saved so many timelines, alternates, without ever realising you yourself were becoming one too,"
"What?"
"You don't think that you're the only version of Loki to make this sacrifice do you? Close your eyes, feel time flow, feel the... hum of, of Something,"
"I,"
"You did a good job Loki, a great one even, your TVA is brilliant, they've actually been a brilliant help identifying those most at risk, helping us deconstruct Kang's versions of Time-Erasers and you can go back to them,"
"But the,"
"You don't need to be here any longer Loki, after the Loom went bang the timelines were left tangled, that was the issue, you know how threads get knotted and tied up? They were too tangled, getting too mixed up together, like how ivy will wrap around and kill any plant, the timelines were wrapping around and killing each other, you've intervening stopped that, healed that, now you can come back,"
"The TVA,"
"You'll be there, I swear it, but for the moment Loki you should come with me, I think your brother would really like to see you," Loki hesitated, showing the fear in his eyes.
"I... I can, let go? Just, like that,"
"Yes, just relax, deep breath... and go," His pale hands released the woven ropes of time. They hung in the air, gently moving as all time did. It was like an ice cold plunge as he found himself free of the constraints. "Wonderful, you did a marvellous job," The man spoke softly "Now God of Stories, shall we see where yours takes you?" A hand was slowly accepted and they were gone in a flash of green, leaving an empty throne, floating in the Something.
"And we're here," Most of the room were on guard as the two appeared.
"Loki," Thor gasped as the other Avengers readied their weapons again. "You, but...." He crossed the room, picking his brother up by the collar. "Did you really, you faked it? Why, what, was it just to hurt me again?!"
"Thor, I... I assure you," Loki raised his hands, "I am just as.... surprised as you are, I never..." A pause, "I died, didn't I?"
"Did you? Who are,"
"Mother, she's,"
"That one is difficult," Jade interrupted lifting a finger, "Allow me to explain, Thor, there exists a timeline where none of this happens, where Loki dies and you lose against Thanos, Tony later invents time travel, it results in a version of Loki escaping with the tesseract before you take him to Asgard after the battle of New York, this is that Loki, he... he saw how his alternate acted, what his alternate did,"
"I... know you have no basis to believe me, but I... I'm, I'm Loki, and you are my brother Thor,"
"We will be stealing him back for a little while, his help will be invaluable to the two of us, but we felt that allowing you to see, speak to each other would be good for the both of you, however before any of that, I did tell you there was an explanation coming and you better get comfortable, it is one hell of a physics lesson,"
Barry shuddered, eyes shutting for a moment as a cold feeling travelled down his spine. Opening his eyes, he was back in STAR Labs. He looked around, Hunter Zolomon was stood beside Caitlin, trying to make Velocity... nine? Cisco was having another back-and-forth with Harry over equations and tech. "Barry," Whipping around he came face to face with Iris. "Are you okay?"
"I, uh, yeah..." He tried to act nonchalant, "Tense is all,"
"Perhaps I can help Mister Allen?" A voice interrupted, everyone looked over to see a greenette walking into the room. "Stand down, I mean no harm, Mister Allen is simply experiencing a temporal shift, he's from about a year and a day in the future, much like," A purple streak of lightning charged into the room. "Miss Nora here, from a few more than a half dozen years in the future, by the way, that means you fail Zolomon," Barry inhaled sharply as Hunter began to move. Three different colours of lightning began crackling. There was a snapping of fingers before they were all stilled. "Now that won't do, let's try and be civil, we'll speak later Mister Zolomon," And like that Zoom was gone in a shimmer. "Now I understand you're all probably very confused, however I would appreciate if you could just come with me, I'll explain everything, oh and Mister Allen, if you could call Mister Queen, Team Arrow also need to attend," He paused, "Oh and Kara, if you can contact Keystone City, but if not it's no issue,"
"Uh, who are,"
"Me? I'm Izuku Midoriya, but please call me Time, I'll be back in a minute, just need to grab a few more,"
The small room was filled with a brilliant green flash. "Ah Mister Wayne,"
"Can I help you?"
"Well, no but, well, I'm here to help you," A hand was extended "Izuku Midoriya, call me Time, now you probably don't really understand,"
"From what the other guy said before I was chucked in here, there were versions of me, that broke a few laws fighting their rogues,"
"Yes, however we've also done the math, the reputation you are bringing into this world is one of goodwill, follow the law, a much more redemption oriented man, not some dark and dour antisocial sociopath that just puts thugs in the hospital, you've kept you Wayne Enterprises private, no dividends due there, you avoid property damage but you have different subsidiaries that deal with repairs, you sponsor several orphanages, try and give to your community and since there are no other Waynes running around anymore, we can call the problem solved and send you on your way, but I do need you to come with me only for a short time,"
"Really?"
"Well yes, you're a smart man Bruce, it'd be helpful if you could join in, help make sure everybody understands thoroughly,"
"The Justice League?"
"They'll be there, with a few others," His fingers snapped.
"Robin?"
"Yup, with Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Signal, Batwoman, Batgirl, Spoiler, the lot, you'll recognize them over time," He smiled, "There's also going to be versions of the Flash you haven't met, Supergirl and Green Arrow too, but you know the majority of them, Wonder Woman might seem different too,"
"Alright, anything else I need to know?"
"Just that my friend and I do know what we're on about, so if you don't understand just ask the questions,"
"Got it, let's go," As he reached a hand out, Izuku held up a finger,
"Oh, actually one more thing, there's going to be a man named Terry Boot there, he'll probably call you Sir or Dad depending on his mood, don't worry that too will be explained,"
"I should hope so,"
"Right, let's go then," And they were gone in green.
"So does anyone else know what's going on or?" Kara spoke from her seat, gathered in a large audience. They sat inside what amounted to an empty aircraft hangar. Barry and Oliver were here too, brought by the same green haired man. Something about him seemed different, almost odd. Oliver didn't like him, but he didn't like a lot of people so... Barry trusted the guy apparently after he ended up back in STAR labs Zoom had reappeared and Izuku, or Time as he called himself, sent the man somewhere with a wave of his hand. There was a massive green flash, everyone shielded their eyes from the light. After a moment Kara blinked away the spots and looked towards whatever gave off the light. "Uh," She began to speak, "Why... how did the Wave rider get here?" The time machine of the Legends hovered over their heads.
"I brought it in," Everyone startled as Time's voice came from behind the crowd. In a few moments the time machine had landed, allowing the team to disembark. "Wonderful, can anybody think of a missing person worth bringing in?"
"What disaster do we need to divert this time?" Leonard Snart snorted,
"And what's Moss-top got to do with it?" His accomplice Mick Rory Grunted, flicking his head towards Time. "More importantly, who's he with? Red?" Barry shook his head, "Robinhood?"
"No,"
"He's not with Skirt, otherwise she wouldn't ask stupid questions,"
"You heard that?"
"No, but at least you know it was stupid," A green flash caught their attention, revealing Barry had gone to speak with Time. Another burst of green light and he was back. Four figures were with him that Barry quickly moved to. Kara frowned as two of them looked identical, "You guys, thank God,"
"What did you do this time sport?" One of the identical men spoke.
"I did nothing," Barry began defending himself, "At least I don't think I did,"
"Barry," Kara recognized Wally West, Kid Flash, speaking in disbelief
"What?" The other man spoke, garnering a look from those that Kara knew in the room.
"Mister Allen advised me it was best I brought the three of you to this meeting, if Mister Allen and Mister Allen could stand in close proximity for a moment, it will help me decide if having them both is dangerous," Everyone was confused as Barry went to stand next to the older looking man, also named Barry. Younger Barry offered a hand that Older Barry shook. "Wonderful your parallel existences are different enough that you can be treated as individuals by the overarching timeline, now I'm aware some in this room, Mister Palmer you might understand easier than most but please save all questions until the end,"
"I, uh, sure,"
"Wonderful now I feel the need to preface this, in no way is the situation caused by Mister Allen, Mister West their cohorts or indeed any other speedster, including Miss Quicke here nor Mister Allen over there," The room followed his gesture to see another man in a flash costume. "Your rogues should make an appearance at some point, however I'm trying to put that off for as long as possible to allow you all time to adjust, Mister Hunter will probably also understand easier now I think about it," A whiteboard was suddenly beside him, "What does everyone know about quantum mechanics?"
"Now why would I do that?" His double practically whispered at him. A sudden thwip and the gauntlet covered arm was pulled to the side. Uncle Aaron went to move but found himself caught in a giant web splatter against the window.
"Because Morales," Miles recognised the voice as a figure hung upside down from the ceiling. Goggles reflected the light, giving the figure entirely white eyes as they descended. They were eye level with his double, "It's just a nice thing to do," He fell to the floor as the chains around him suddenly went slack. "Now Morales, this one has already lost his Aaron, and you're happy to let him lose his dad too?" Something was thrown, shattering the window behind Aaron. A single line of webbing caught him by the torso as he began tilting backwards. "Maybe I should let your Aaron die too, call it even?"
"Midoriyachnid," A voice behind Miles warned,
"Leave it Sakura Spider, well Prowler," The name fell from his lips mockingly, "Are you cool with the trade? Neither of you get a father or uncle, seems fair to me, just say the word, I'll let him go right now,"
"Mido," Another voice warned,
"Spinneret, stay out of it," There was an angry edge to his voice, "Make the choice Prowler, or I drop him regardless," One finger of the fist holding the web lifted. "Hurry up," A second finger,
"You wouldn't," Morales accused. Midoriyachnid lifted his goggles onto his forehead.
"You think that? Kid I lost everybody I cared for, I killed a man by punching his jaw clean off and popping the rest of his head like a grape, I killed his teacher too, in a fit of rage, you think I won't easily let your murderer of an uncle go splat? Hell you tell me you've killed I'll throw you off with him," The green man towered over Morales, "Let me tell you kid, I might not kill the bad guys, but that doesn't mean I have to save them instead," By now it was just his index finger and thumb, pinching the web-line.
"Fine, fine, you win," Morales stepped backwards away from Midoriyachnid. "Let him go,"
"Oh, poor choice of words," Aaron yelled as he was falling backwards. Two different strands caught him and pulled him forward again. Midoriyachnid put the goggles back in place. "I'm out of goodwill for the arrogant and the egoists, if you think yourself above law, remember human rights are part of the law, how eager are you to disregard them?"
"Izuku that's enough!"
"I'd argue otherwise," He snapped, "This little prick knows how it feels to lose something and yet here he is, ready and willing to let someone else go through the same pain, actively stopping them from trying, imagine how he'd feel know he could've saved his own father, but someone else stopped him?" Morales was punched across the face. "You fucks think you know pain, think you've been through loss, I went through lost, I lost everybody I ever loved!" He was punched again, "And yet you can't get your fucking head out your own pissing ass, you can't stop feeling sorry for yourself, no, everybody has to hurt like you did! You can't look at the hurt and go never again, never again will I let somebody go through this, you know nothing of responsibility and that pisses me OFF!" Morales gasped as he was punched in the gut.
"The only responsibility we got is looking after ourselves," Aaron snapped, "You think being nice gets you anything around here?"
"Midoriyachnid," Miles began, "This, this universe, it... it doesn't have a Spider-Man, the spider,"
"Bit you in your universe instead, I'm aware, but did you know that my universe doesn't have a Peter Parker, or a Miles Morales? There's still a Spider-Man equivalent, me," Snarling down at the winded Morales, he frowned, "Even if nobody was bitten, somebody should've stepped up, somebody with the power should've accepted the responsibility but all I see are cowards,"
"Izuku, what did you.... how much have you,"
"I wasn't kidding when I said I lost everyone I loved Melissa, you, you died in my arms, Ochako, I lost her too, I lost my friends, my mother, all of them, but I still fought on, because it was the right thing to do, all I see here are cowards," Sighing he rolled his neck. "I take it without a Spider to keep them in check the Sinister Six ran amok,"
"They run the city, we can't,"
"Doc Ock, Rhino, Vulture, Electro, Green Goblin and Shocker am I far off?" He walked over to the broken window.
"Uh, no that's... that's them,"
"Great, Miles mask on, Morales suit up, Aaron I'm sure you got a costume that still fits, get it on,"
"What you aren't suggesting we,"
"Fight them? Uh yeah, I am, six of them, six of us, I'd take them on myself but we're on a bit of a time crunch,"
"What does that mean?" Morales looked to Midoriyachnid,
"Universes are merging, safely, I have some associates that are making sure things are done right, however they've asked us, or well, me to get a few timelines cleared up so there's less mess to clear up on the other side,"
"And we're going to the other side?"
"You can do like you do and I'll do like me," He nodded, "But only after we get there, you lot are helping me clean this city up and then I don't know I'll buy you ice cream or something," His posture suddenly stiffened and he leant out the window to look around. Without a word he'd jumped out and began swinging away.
"Izuku!" The two Spider-women shouted before running after him. "You two better come with," Sakura Spider warned Morales and his Uncle, "C'mon Miles, we gotta go!" Pulling his mask on he followed the two without hesitation. Swinging a short way, they saw Izuku on another rooftop. Miles recognized the other combatants as the green Spider laid into them. Noir was webbed to a wall, hat stuck on his face with more webbing. Ham was webbed up hanging form a satellite pole. Pavitr was tangled up in his own webbing, his Bangle webbed against his forehead, clearly used to knock the user out. Penni and her mech had been taken out too. The girl was webbed up to a ripped off robot arm as it had all other joints filled with web fluid. May Parker was unhurt, wiggling around in a web cocoon away from the fighting as both Peter and Gwen were on the floor restrained completely and utterly. "God Izuku, what did you,"
"I have no time for backstabbers or traitors," He snapped, "Now I need to sock Hobie one for being a prick too,"
"Hobie, what did he do?"
"Simple I asked him one thing, make life for the Society as difficult as he could get away with and keep them far away from me for their own safety,"
"We're here for," Peter began,
"I don't care what you're here for," Izuku snapped at him, shutting him up quickly, "As I just said, I have no time for backstabbers or traitors,"
"We didn't," Gwen began,
"Yeah, yeah you did," Miles realized it was his voice as the words began tumbling from his lips. "You... you knew about what Miguel was doing, you knew my dad was gonna die, you all decided to let him, and when I wanted to save him, you all tried to stop me, from saving my own father," Though there were no visual aides around, he pointed his thumbs and fingers in the air. "You all saw me when my Uncle died, you know how that one hurt, Peter you told me about your Uncle Ben, Gwen you told me about your Peter, you all had your teachable moments and.... and Uncle Aaron was mine," His anger grew steadier as he went on, "You saw, you knew how hurt I was, how bad it effected me, but you all behind my back decided I needed to go through it again, it wasn't enough that I needed to learn sometimes saving the world is saving one person," Peter looked away in shame, stoking the fire in Miles' gut. "But now I have to learn the opposite too? No, no dice, no game... nothing," Gwen's eye were misty, while his were just cold. "Like I said before, Miguel was right, you shouldn't of visited me,"
"Miles I,"
"Don't talk Stacey," Izuku interrupted harshly, "Or you Parker, or any of you for that matter, you all not only knew about an event that could kill his dad, you were willing to let the man die and conspired to stop Miles from saving him, not to mention hunted him down as he actively defied you like some vengeful deities," An arm swiped the air, "And now you come back, to what? Try and earn his trust again? Apologies and move on? You were willing to let his father die, you were actively preventing him from saving his father, how the ever living FUCK do you expect him to trust you again? You can't even feel a little ashamed, otherwise you wouldn't be here immediately trying to be all buddy buddy again," Miles felt his Spidey Sense go off as Izuku suddenly leapt into the air. "YOU!" The greenette screamed as an orange holographic like web splat against the roof. Looking up he saw Izuku contort in mid air. Miguel was pulled towards Midoriyachnid, where he was sent down by an axe kick. A web attached either side of the blue clad Spider-Man as Izuku pulled himself down into Miguel's back. Heels dug into spine as he moved faster than gravity would make him alone. Miguel's hands were webbed along with his feet as Izuku knelt on his back and grabbed his head with both hands. "If I had it my way, I'd snap your neck right now, but Time and Jade want a word with you about your abysmal attempts at playing God,"
"I was,"
"I didn't say you could talk," Izuku hissed.
"Alright, Izuku, that is enough!" Spinneret snapped, "You are not this bad,"
"My better half," He paused for a deep breath, "My better halves died, everyone that tried grounding me, that helped me keep my morals, they are all dead because I couldn't do what was necessary the first time, I won't let Miles suffer because I'm too soft to do it again, even if it means killing the faker here and now,"
"Izuku this isn't you, you know this isn't,"
"Maybe at one point," He stood up, "But my Melissa died, my Ochako died, my mom... my mom died, they all were taken from me and I won't, I won't let someone else go through the same if I can help it, I lost everyone, I'll be damned if I let Miles go through it too,"
"I am your Melissa doofus, and you're my,"
"No we aren't," He turned to face her, "You are an alternate, a different version of her that lived that fucking survived! Just like I'm another version of yours that,"
"Mine didn't have powers, he never got bitten, the spider landed on me instead," She retorted, "And yeah okay I didn't lose half as many people as you did, Dad was able to create create enough tech to heal Uncle All Might and gave us a fighting chance, but I lost the only person in the world that actually understood me, I lost the man that made the dark feel less lonely, and he was a bright man, a happy man,"
"And he is dead!"
"HE IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" Izuku paused, "But he's afraid and he's hurt and he doesn't know what else to do so he lashes out at people! O'Hara and his lot are dicks, you won't find me arguing that, they are cowards and bastards and all manner of names but you are better than them, I know you are,"
"They don't get to be happy and stop Miles from being the same!"
"And I'm not arguing against you Izuku, but you're about three seconds from going too far, he hasn't killed anyone yet,"
"But he was going to let somebody die, trying to stop Miles from saving his father,"
"Weren't you the one that just threatened somebody by saying you don't have to kill them, you just have to not save them,"
"Villains, not save villains! Not an innocent, not somebody that hasn't done something wrong,"
"Miguel hasn't killed Miles' dad,"
"He might as well have, considering he's not just inactive, but actively sabotaging Miles' attempt to, especially when Spiders have a responsibility to save everyone or at least give their all trying to,"
"Look," Sakura Spider began, "Bridges are burnt, true colours are on show, let's all take a deep breath, move on and get to cleaning up the city,"
"You can't,"
"KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTH SHUT!" Izuku kicked Miguel in the head, knocking him out. His eyes closed as he took several moments to breath. "Miles, Melissa, Haruka, let's go find Morales and Aaron, if any of you are smart you'll stay the fuck away from us,"
"Wait!"
"I don't think they should, to be honest," Izuku perked up as his voice came from a different direction. "I mean did none of you really listen to us earlier? Gwendolyn, you were about to say something right? Something about how you want to help Miles now? Or how you're sorry about letting it happen? Perhaps you should also tell Miles what event triggered such a change of heart?" Miles looked over to see a second Izuku slowly walking over. "Or in the interest of saving time, since these guys are actually in a rush, I can summarize," There was a sinking feeling lodged in Miles' gut as the newcomer faced him. "Miles, it wasn't your conversations, or any sudden growth of morality, or indeed a backbone that caused her to come to your aid, no when she returned to her own timeline Gwendolyn discovered that she could avoid her father's death, because Captain Stacey had quit the force, he was no longer a police officer let alone a captain, it was because Gwen got to keep her own father that she decided to help you save yours,"
"That's not, Gwen you didn't," To her credit she at least had the decency to look away in shame.
"I.. I thought it was, I couldn't, but then he... and now,"
"Oh so because you got to keep your dad, it's alright that I want to save mine, but when you thought your dad was gonna die, oh no, I just gotta lose mine too!" Anger and hurt filled his chest as he felt the tears welling up. "I... I shouldn't have trusted you, I can't believe I waited so long to see you and you've done nothing but lie to me the whole time, forget the Spider Society, forget you, I... I'm out," Turning away he fired a web and pulled himself into the air. The two Spider-women joined him as Izuku hung back for a moment.
"That pain in your chest Gwen?" He spoke softly, "That's guilt and it's going to eat you alive because you made your decisions, now you have to live with the consequences,"
"Why are you doing this? What does it,"
"Because Miles deserves to know that he actually does have people supporting him, that people will help him, even when it's not convenient for them, maybe when you finally understand that, you can try and be friends again, or maybe you'll just have to live with screwing up so badly he doesn't want anything to do with you, it's not my decision but no matter what he picks, at least he'll know somebody will be there for him,"
"I hate you," She spat,
"That makes two of us, Jade can you?"
"I'll get them out of here along with any other uninvited guests,"
"Thanks, I'll see you when the Spiders and I are done here," He swung off after the other three.
"You've been staring at that picture the last five minutes," She startled at the voice, "Everything okay?" Looking over, she saw a familiar face sitting down next to her.
"Yeah Ben, I'm... fine, I just," He took her phone out of her hand, looking at it himself.
"This is the guy Grampa Max went to meet isn't it? That, oh, what's his name?"
"Midoriya, King Midoriya,"
"King? Weird name,"
"Not his name, his title, Grampa Max did a bunch of research after meeting the man,"
"Well the Plumbers are no stranger to weird,"
"It's not weird though, meeting future versions of us, that wasn't weird, that still felt, it felt like,"
"A disconnect," Ben nodded as he gave her phone back, "I know Gwen, all the worlds we've been to, none of them felt... it all felt off, and that... that gut feeling,"
"We aren't on our earth anymore,"
"Bellwood is still here Grampa Max and Kevin, Doctor Animo, Vilgax, Charmcaster they're all here," Despite his words, Ben was still tense, "But I understand what you mean, something doesn't... doesn't fit," His chin flicked to her phone, "Think he's got something to do with it?"
"He... I don't know, everything I can find about him... it tells a story and a good one at that, he doesn't seem like another Morningstar, if anything he's like the complete opposite, his entire story is public, there's even videogames about him and his wives, apparently it's a very bad idea to attack his family, of the three that did two are dead and the last one is locked away in the lowest level of Tartarus, which is apparently one of the most secure prison on the planet,"
"What?"
"And supposedly he's a disgraced hero, the other two were terrorists he colluded with to try and kill this guy," She sighed glaring at the picture again.
"But that's not what's bothering you is it?"
"No, I just," She sighed, "Is it me or does he seriously seem familiar? Even his name, Izuku Midoriya, it, it feels like,"
"We've heard it before, I get it, something feels... off but at the same time,"
"It's not wrong," Gwen finished, "Just that we don't have all the information," Ben sighed before grinning.
"Guess we better start learning Japanese then,"
"Figures I'd find you here," She looked around to see him slowly descending the tight area. "You doing alright? I noticed you're being rather quiet since we got back from Ostania,"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," A hand waved dismissively, "You should go and join them all getting ready,"
"So should you," He countered softly, his arm gently snaked around her, pulling her into a hug. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I've been having dreams recently,"
"Hm?"
"They're... strange,"
"Dreams normally are, it's nothing to distance yourself over Cereza,"
"More than average," She shook her head, resting it against his chest. "I... well obviously Jeanne is there but, so, so are you or, well a version of you,"
"Okay,"
"It's, you're a Lumen Sage, the Heavenly version of an Umbran Witch, polar opposite,"
"I take it their order is all men then?"
"Yeah, except, you're the, you're the last Sage and instead of being enemies, we... we work together,"
"That is interesting,"
"I, I don't know,"
"Well," Izuku began softly, "We are at a point where many timelines are coming together, perhaps these are the thoughts or memories of another version of you, where I was a Lumen Sage, and we did work together,"
"The last time I fell asleep, I saw that version of you die, from some sort of spike, it, it broke my heart, I woke up in the middle of the night, barely avoided screaming your name,"
"No matter what I am going to say, you will worry, it is human nature," He soothed her gently, "But you needn't worry too much, especially if that version of me loved you as much as I love you,"
"Izuku,"
"Because any timeline I meet you in, I will love you Cereza and I can say with certainty, Jeanne too, all of my Queens, whatever version of them I meet I will adore," Wrapping his other arm around her, he rest his chin on her head. "You don't need to worry about me dying, getting hurt, perhaps, burning dinner if I get adequately distracted, hell I might even be late time to time but only when Murphy's law is in full force, that or my gorgeous wives require my attention more than I am led to believe," She chuckled quietly, "Cereza I promise you that I am not going anywhere without you all, I'm sorry I got so angry today, but I... I just worried, okay?"
"I know, I, I do and I'm sorry for ignoring you and jumping down the chasm," He gently kissed the top of her head. "However I do remember somebody saying something about needed to.... 'discipline' me?" Her body started to slide against his. "I've been very naughty,"
"Yes, I think you have," He murmured lightly, letting his hands begin to wonder. Their clothes were slowly removed, "Though I think whatever I have in mind, you'll enjoy,"
"You won't know until you try," She teased lightly, pulling his chin down. "And if it doesn't work, you'll just have to try harder,"
"Oh don't you worry honey," His grin was met with a sultry gaze. "I'll try my hardest, over and over again,"