I Think We Can Help You Out
Peter stared up at the Xavier Institute. The last time he had seen it, it had been an abandoned, dilapidated building.
It was almost strange to see it in it's prime state again.
"Come on. I'm sure Charles is already waiting on us."
Peter nodded, falling into step alongside Matt. Everything was so different, yet still the same. The immaculately kept grounds. Young mutants laughing with friends as they bustled about, some practicing their powers.
As they reached the door, it opened to reveal Scott Summers.
The man looked Peter over with a slightly tilted head before holding out his hand.
"Charles told us you were coming. I have to admit, I'm very curious to hear more about you."
Peter smiled slightly. While he had gotten along fine with Scott in his own world, there had been the rather tense atmosphere that developed between them once he had started dating Emma Frost. Well, it was a tense atmosphere between him and everyone so, Peter didn't feel to bad about it.
Still, this was a different Scott, and he had no reason to judge him for anything without getting to know him.
"Well, if it's any consolation, this is just as weird for me as it is you." Peter said, shaking his hand.
"I imagine." he chuckled. "Come on in, Charles is waiting in his office."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Anything?" Steve asked, looking over Tony's shoulder.
"Nothing exciting." he sighed. "It's definitely Doom. I'll let Reed and his motley crew handle it. They can call if they need us."
"How nice of you."
"It really is, isn't it?"
Steve chuckled, shaking his head.
"So......any word from....."
"Not even a hint." Steve sighed.
"I really thought we'd hear something. He seemed so intent not to let me have this thing. You'd think he'd want to follow up."
"I think he's avoiding us for a different reason."
Tony sighed, laying his head on the back of his chair.
"God, he smelt so good."
"He clearly thought we, or since you were the closest, you smelt good as well. He reacted."
"Anyone talked to Karen?"
"Nat called her. She's pretty closed lipped right now. She said he's 'getting some help'. That was it before she hung up." Steve frowned.
"So, she gave you nothing."
"If anything, she left us with more questions. I'm beginning to lose hope. What we never earn his trust? I mean, we're competing against years of abuse at the hands of our other selves."
Tony frowned, looking up at the ceiling.
"Well, I think seeking out Karen's help was a good start. We've backed off being around him. We already know his omega recognizes us as his alphas, even if his mind refuses to . Maybe she'll be open to talking again after Peter gets back from wherever he is."
"I'd like to know what kind of 'help' he's getting." Steve frowned.
"And from who." Tony nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's nice to meet you, Peter." Charles smiled, shaking Peter's hand. "It's rare we ever see Mr. Murdock."
"I'm on babysitting duty for this one." Matt smirked, throwing his thumb up at Peter.
"I usually like you, but I don't today. You're a terrible person."
Charles chuckled before turning to Peter.
"I've been told you'd like to speak to some of our other omegas, since this is all new to you. I would however, like to talk more with you about your old world and how you got here after you talk to the others."
"Sure. It'll be nice to talk with you again." Peter smiled, then winced. "Or...for the first time? I'm not really sure how this all works since I've actually met a version of all of you before."
"It might be interesting for you to see if there's any differences."
"There already are." Peter sighed. "All of you are a lot more relaxed than what you were the last few years before you......."
Peter faded off, not wanting to tell more than what he was already sure Charles could see in his mind if he wanted.
"Well, you came here for a reason. Jean? Why don't you take Mr. Parker and we'll all meet after you're done."
Jean smiled as she looked at Peter.
"Come on Peter, I've already gathered everyone."
Peter grimaced, positive he had never been more uncomfortable and embarrassed as he followed behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter recanted his previous thoughts. In a room, surrounded by women he held great respect for, and had even had a few racy fantasies about, his embarrassment reached its absolute peak.
"It's not that bad, Peter." Jean smiled warmly at him.
Peter's cheeks flushed as he realized she had probably been open to his surface thoughts to make things easier for him.
"Well, let's just get things started, sugar." Rouge grinned. "You apparently know all of us, but we don't know much more about you than the fact you're not from here."
"Yeah...." Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I uh.....I was pretty close with my X-Men."
"How close?"
Peter blushed as he looked up at the ceiling.
"Not...not that close..." he winced, risking a quick glance over to where Kitty Pryde stood.
The women in the room caught his glance though and smirked.
"Anyway," Peter jumped in. "You already know I'm not from here, so I'm gonna assume you also know I'm Spider-Man as well."
"We've seen you on TV. Nice work by the way." Angelica grinned.
"Thanks. It's been.....it's been interesting to get back to my low level crime roots. I missed it."
He was quiet for a moment, remembering what his vigilante life had started out as, and what it had ended in.
"We were told you had some questions for us?" Storm smiled at him, allowing him an out to move the conversation along.
"Yeah.....this is incredibly embarrassing, so if we could do this quickly, I'd appreciate it."
"It's alright Peter," Jean encouraged. "We know your world didn't have these second genders. Everything is new for you. Tack on your enhancements that, as wonderful as she is, Karen can't help you with."
Peter closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Ehhhhhh........" Peter swallowed, dreading his question. "the slick?"
Everyone gave him full attention.
"It's umm......it's...it's inconvenient."
"All omegas produce slick, sugar. You're gonna have to give more details."
"I can't control it!" Peter groaned.
"I've been around.....my alphas," he growled in disgust at having to refer to the Avengers that way, but he wasn't about to acknowledge them as such out loud. "And I've slicked at their smell. It's embarrassing because anyone around knows. Luckily there's never been anyone but the-my alphas and Matt, Jess, Danny and Luke."
"So.....what are you asking?" Kitty asked.
Peter blushed slightly before turning from her gaze.
"How can I....stop it?"
"You can't 'stop it', Peter." Angelica replied.
"But Karen said she doesn't do it just from smelling Matt. She said it's only during her.....heat or....I'd rather not get to far into her and Matt's love life. Point is, I shouldn't be having this trouble!" Peter huffed.
"Lots of 'normal' omegas don't." Jubilee shrugged. "I knew a few and they didn't have near the trouble with their omega side as I do."
"Our enhancements tend to cause us to experience things a little more.......intensely than those that don't have any." Storm explained.
"I've had trouble with slick.....even without having an alpha." Kitty blushed.
"We had an omega who gave birth a few months ago. She was a mess during her pregnancy. Her powers were nearly uncontrollable at times. Not every mutant or enhanced omega experience things exactly the same, though. I could get pregnant and sail through my pregnancy with only slick troubles and severe hormones. Some just get super horny. The symptoms may very, but they're all a little more than 'normal' omegas." Angelica shrugged.
"Basically, Peter," Jean started. "We all have more extreme omega related troubles. There's nothing wrong with you. Omegas like us are just more physically sensitive to things. Believe me, we've all had extremely embarrassing moments. Some of us have even had to be pulled off the field until we got a better handle on ourselves. It's just something you have to learn to work around."
"How?" Peter shouted, throwing his hands up.
"Well, these can help with the slick." Jubilee smiled, walking to a closet and pulling a pack of something out .
"These are enhanced slick pads." she smiled, handing Peter the pack. "They're made especially for us. It'll keep you from ruining your clothes as well as hide the smell."
"Seriously?" he asked, taking the offering.
"Oh yeah." she grinned. "We all use them out on the field. It isn't uncommon for an alpha villain to try and use your second gender against you. It's why we're careful where we send newbies for field training. Like Jean said, they need to learn control but we can't have them going into just any situation to test themselves. It's dangerous for themselves and the team. If you're not strong willed, it makes you the most vulnerable you'll ever be. You seem pretty strong willed though. I mean, yeah you may have had a slight issue, but it was to your alphas. I mean, you've been fighting around other alphas and battles are when we all tend to release the most pheromones without realizing it. I wouldn't even consider the slick a big deal in that case. Not since you now have those."
"You don't seem to be having any trouble keeping your second gender from being an issue when fighting either." Rouge smirked. "We had no idea you were actually an omega until the professor told us you were coming. You're very alpha on the field from what we've heard."
"I've got really good scent blockers. Which aren't easy to get. I'm basically using Matt, Danny, and Luke to get them. I'm also learning it's easier to do what I do when no one knows what I am. It's annoying how often I have to get them though. My smell bleeds through them faster than normal apparently."
"We can help with that too!" Kitty grinned, rushing back to the cabinet. "We have special scent blockers since we all tend to be a good bit stronger on the scent side."
She smiled as she placed a few boxes of blockers in his hands.
"Wow. Any chance your magic cabinet can help me make things easier on Karen?" Peter sighed. "She's trying so hard. I love her, but she's trying to help me embrace my omega instead of fighting against it. Truth is, I'm not fighting against it. I don't have to. I don't even feel it most of the time. It's only an issue around the Aven-my alphas!"
The room froze as everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
"Did you....did you say the Avengers? Peter, is your alpha an Avenger?" Angelica asked.
Peter looked everywhere that didn't cause him to make eye contact.
"No."
"There are only five alphas on the Avengers, so which one is it?" Rouge grinned, crossing her arms and ignoring his denial.
"I-I didn't say it was the Avengers!" Peter denied.
"Oh it's definitely an Avenger!" Kitty laughed.
"Oh come on, Peter!" Jubilee whined. "Tell us who it is!"
"No, tell us who they are." Angelica grinned. "You said alphas earlier.As in, more than one. I don't think you even realized it. So come on Peter, spill."
"Is it Steve?" Kitty asked.
Peter's cheeks tinted.
"It's Steve!" she clapped her hands. "He's one!"
"Thats not enough of a blush." Angelica hummed. "It is Tony?"
Peter's cheeks tinted darker.
"Hmmm....let's keep going." Rouge studied him. "Barnes?"
Pinker.
"Thor?"
Darker.
"Natasha?"
Darkest.
"All five?" Jean raised both eyebrows.
Peter dropped his head into his hands miserably.
"All five!" the girls all yelled.
"Wow. Way to go, Peter!" Angelica laughed
"No!" Peter growled. "Not 'way to go'. That's the whole reason of coming here! The stupid slick, that I can't seem to control, is giving off the wrong impression! I don't want them!"
There was silence among the group before Jean asked softly.
"Why not, Peter? The Avengers are well loved and respected. Given your enhancements, they would be perfectly good to and for you."
"Oh come, Jean." Peter glared. "Use that gift of yours and figure it out."
"Peter, I don't just dig into the deep parts of someone's mind."
"I'm telling you to."
The two stared each other down before Jean finally sighed and agreed.
Peter closed his eyes, opening his mind to allow her to look around. He could feel her powers reaching out, soft caresses to the memories in his mind. He allowed her to see the ruined parts of his home. The deaths of his friends and family. He especially forced the last moments of his time in his world. He showed her every second of the Avengers killing the last of those he cared about. He made sure she felt just how heartbroken and angry he was.
"Oh, Peter." she gasped, covering her mouth. Her eyes were wet as she looked at him. "I'm so sorry."
Everyone looked between the two, unaware of what Jean had seen, but understanding it must have been awful.
"It's not your fault." he said, looking away. "Look, I just want to get things under control and avoid embarrassing situations. My mind and body are on two different wave lengths. I don't want to be victim to bodily reactions anymore. I want control. I need control."
"Well, it's harder to control things against your alpha." Angelica started softly. "I mean, our omegas are field trained to not respond to random alphas. We haven't really worked on stopping responses to their actual alpha. None of them have ever wanted to." she tapered off quietly.
"Well, I do." Peter replied, crossing his arms.
"Peter, have you had a heat yet?" Storm asked, her brows furrowed. "That could be a problem for your omega as well. Maybe you're getting close to one. Other than the slick and intense smell, have you notice a change in anything else about you?"
"No to both." Peter shrugged.
"How long have you been here?"
"I haven't been keeping track really. I...umm.....I wasn't even sure what day it was when I was sent here. Time lost a lot of meaning after a while where I'm from."
"Are you sure you haven't notice anything different from when you first arrived then?" Jean frowned, not wanting to push about his old world.
"No. My sense of smell has always been strong, which you already answered that. The....you know, had been an issue from the beginning. Nothing else has changed. Karen keeps warning me about a 'heat', but she also has Matt.....sniff me occasionally. Something about getting an 'alpha's perspective'." Peter rolled his eyes.
"I can't say I smell anything on him either." Rouge shrugged.
"No. There's nothing there. Well, Peter is different, so we shouldn't count out the fact that he could never have a heat." Jean nodded.
"That would be great." Peter grinned at the prospect.
"I can't say I'd complain either." Kitty smirked.
"Well, what about anything else?" Angelica asked, leaning in. "I know Karen's probably gone over usual omega traits, do you display any of them outside the battlefield?"
"Well, I'm excited for her and Matt having a baby.....but I don't see where that's just an omega trait. I was excited when people I knew back on my world had kids. I enjoy cooking....when I have the time or desire. I don't see how that's just an omega thing."
"You're the most un-omega omega I've ever met." Jubilee shook her head with a wry smile.
"So I keep hearing." Peter huffed.
"Well, I don't know if we could really be any more help to you." Jean sighed. "I hope we were at least some help."
"Actually, you were. These will definitely come in handy." Peter said, nudging the bag of pads. "It's also nice to know why I seem to be more sensitive than Karen. It doesn't change the fact that it sucks, but at least I'm not weird."
"Peter. Sugar. In your case, everything about you is weird." Rouge grinned.
"I've gathered." Peter shook his head with a chuckle before motioning towards the pads and blockers. "Any way can I get a steady supply of these?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter smiled as he sat down across from Charles. He had always enjoyed the man's company, taking his death in his own world quite personally. Charles had been extremely supportive of Peter learning to fully accept and understand his new abilities. The man was able to help his understand the mutate side of himself that Matt couldn't.
His lessons had been extremely important as the Avengers threat level rose.
"I can honestly say this is a little out of my league." Charles chuckled. "I've dealt with mutants and mutates of all kinds, but a multiverse hopper is new."
"What at Deadpool?"
"I've never met him. He doesn't tend to stick around long, nor do I think he would be straight forward with answers to my questions."
"I'll answer at best I can professor, but I'm not really sure how I got here. I can tell you about what happened right before I got here, but that's about it." Peter frowned at his own lack of understanding.
"There may be no real answer, Peter. Sometimes things just happen without explanation."
"I can't deny I'd like one."
"Pete," Matt said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I gotta get back. I promised Karen I'd go with her to pick up more furniture. Logan's gonna give me a ride back. Charles has offered a room for you tonight unless you want to come with me."
Peter looked back at Charles, then shook his head.
"I think I'll stay. I'd like to talk some more."
Charles gave a pleased smile as Matt nodded and followed Logan out.
"I'm glad you decided to stay."
"I can't really say when the next time I'd be able to come would be. Besides, I really do miss our conversations." Peter smiled. "Being here has felt like being home again. I spent a lot of time training with Matt in the city, but this was where I came to further study my abilities. I was here off and on a good bit. Especially after the Avengers began to turn. Matt and Karen were both killed pretty early. I was there to see it. I can't say I handled it well since he was kind of my vigilante mentor."
"I must say, I'm sorry I was unable to know you in this time. Mr. Murdock told me the fate of your counterpart here. I'm sorry."
"I'm not really who you should be apologizing to. I never knew the version of myself here. It's...it's hard to feel anything for someone you've never met. It's not myself I think about. I think about my aunt and uncle. They're alive here and I can't even go see them." Peter frowned, looking over out the window.
Charles followed his eyes, silent as he gathered his words.
"You knew us all in your own world, so I can't imagine there's anything I could tell you that you don't already know. Still, most of the young ones we have here can't go and see their loved ones either. Their families have cast them out with no desire to ever see them again. It doesn't really matter, because it doesn't matter to them either. The story is the same, but the individuals are not. They can all agree on the grief, but the levels are a different thing all together."
Peter looked back to the man.
"Everyone's feelings are valid, Peter. It doesn't matter what they are, just that they are. No, you and they will never fully relate to each other, but at least you know you're not the only one without family to go to, even though they're still there."
Peter looked down at the floor, thinking over the words. He had gotten to know many of the students at the Xavier's. He knew most of their stories, and their struggles. Up until the Avengers turned, he couldn't really understand them. Having Ben and May made it impossible to connect on that level.
Now though, now he got it.
"Although, I will admit it must be hard to have no real identity here....or at least one that's your own. Peter Parker can't really exist anymore. I can't imagine losing an identity along with everything else."
"I'm managing better than I probably should be. Maybe I've just seen to much."
"I don't ever think we really see to much. I'm constantly being surprised." Charles smirked.
"No one would know better than you, I guess." Peter grinned back.
"Peter, I want you to know that you'll be welcome here any time. We may not know each other well in this world, but I believe we can get to."
"Thanks, Professor."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You left him?" Karen asked, grabbing her purse.
"I gave him a choice. He wanted to talk to Xavier."
"Well, I guess that's good. Get him away for a bit and around people closer to his.......what would you classify him as? Is he a mutant?"
"No." Matt answered, following her down to the car. "He's a mutate. He wasn't born with his powers."
"Radioactive spider bite at 15. Mutate, not mutant. Got it."
"He's fine there, Karen. He knew them in his world. Besides, you're the one who said I should take him." Matt smirked.
"I didn't say to leave him!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Peter?"
Peter looked up as Jean cracked the door to his room open and peered in. Charles had made sure to have one made available after Peter agreed to stay.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"I'm assuming this is about what you saw?" Peter asked, motioning for her to come in.
"I wasn't sure if I should to be honest."
"It's.......I don't know. It's hard. It's hard to come from a place where everything and everyone I loved was gone, only to show up here at have it all back....but not really be a part of it."
Jean frowned as she sat down on the edge of his bed.
"Just because you weren't born here, doesn't mean you arn't apart of it. You're here now. You're not going anywhere. This is your home now, and you are gathering quite a family I hear."
Peter chuckled up at the ceiling before looking back at her.
"You all weren't this close in my world. At least, not before the Avengers started slipping up. It started slow, slow enough the public couldn't see it, but we all did. That's when I started coming here. Matt would actually make me come when he wasn't training me. We all came together because of a common enemy. Here though, here you're all on good terms without any outside influence."
"We find it beneficial for all of us to have respect for each other. Our world has faced some pretty heavy outside forces and working together has saved us more than once."
"Sounds nice. Maybe if we had all felt the same, we could have stood up to the Avengers sooner." Peter sighed.
The two were quiet a moment before Jean spoke again.
"What you went through.....I can't get it out of my head. I keep seeing your memories play out before my eyes. I understand why you're so reluctant to accept the Avengers as your alphas."
"You gonna try to convince me how they're not like the ones from my world, again?" Peter snorted.
"I wouldn't have said that to you if I had known." Jean narrowed her eyes, then sighed.
"No, Peter. I'm not going to try to talk up the Avengers to you. Not after what I saw. What I am here to say, is that you do need to listen to Karen's advice about keeping a heat in mind. You may not have had one, but you still need to be prepared. We can accommodate you here should you decide to forego your alpha's assistance."
"You can do that?" Peter asked, eyes wide. "I've kind of been given the impression that wasn't an option."
"Well....." Jean grimaced. "It won't be....pleasant. Heats can be painful without an alpha and their scent. The first one is definitely the worst to manage. You can make it through alone, but it will be hard because you'll never really feel better at any point during your time. With an alpha, you can get full relief for a time after being....after completion." she winced.
"I'm pretty durable to pain."
"You've never had a heat. You can't prepare for how this will make you feel."
"You just said to be prepared for it!"
"I meant a plan!" Jean groaned. "You need a safe place to be if you're going to ride it out alone. That's why I'm telling you that you can come here. We have specially designed heat rooms. You'll be safe and provided for. During a heat you won't be able to leave the room, and you won't feel like it either. You'll need to stay hydrated and fed and the rooms are outfitted with everything you'll need."
"Is there a reason I couldn't stay at Matt and Karen's? I mean, I've almost got my own apartment bu-"
"No." Jean said, eyes hard. "You cannot stay there. Peter, you can't hide your scent during a heat. It will be thick and it calls to alphas. Matt being mated will lessen the effect to almost nothing on him, but his whole apartment will smell like you and there's no telling how secure or insecure his apartment is as far as ways for it to escape."
"What about when Karen goes into a heat?"
"Karen is mated. It's not the same."
"Great." Peter huffed, rolling his eyes.
"Just plan on coming back here the minute you feel off or Karen and Matt tell you they think you're going into one."
"Guess it's my best option."
"If you're insistent on avoiding your alphas, you have another, but I'm not going to recommend it." Jean said, looking off to the side.
"What is it?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I just said I wasn't going to recommend it." Jean deadpanned.
"Recommend it anyway." Peter rolled his eyes.
"You could have a stand in."
"A what?"
"An alpha stand in. An alpha who will come in and spend your heat with you without any commitment."
Peter blinked at her.
"Like a one-night stand?"
"More like a week long sex escapade."
"No."
"I didn't think so. A lot of omegas are averse to it. It makes them feel...cheap they say."
"What about you? What do you do?" Peter asked before blushing at his bluntness. "You don't have to answer that."
"No, it's fine." she giggled. "I spend my heats with my alpha."
"Scott?"
"Scott? No! Was I with him in your world?" Jean asked curiously.
"For a time, yeah. Who are you with here?"
"Logan."
"Wow. At least one version of him got you." Peter smiled. "You three kind of had a love triangle going on."
"Well, I'm with Logan here." she smiled. "Scott and Emma Frost have been together for a while."
"Emma Frost is an omega? Huh. I would have taken her for alpha material."
"Oh, if she were here and not out on a mission, she'd be all over you. She also has a tendency to display alpha characteristics. She'd love to meet another omega like herself."
"How's that working out for Scott?" Peter grinned.
"Depends on the day." Jean returned the smirk. "But they make it work."
"It really is good to see you all alive and happy." Peter gave a small smile. "Back home went to shit pretty quickly once the Avengers fully outed themselves."
"Can I.....can I see the scar on your back? I saw what happened."
"Yeah."
Peter nodded, turning his back to her and lifting his shirt. Jean ran her fingers along the puckered flesh, a sad look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Peter."
"Like I told the professor earlier, no one here owes me an apology. For anything really. None of you had anything to do with what happened to me." he shrugged, pulling his shirt back down and turning to face her.
"Still, you deserve one, even if we're not the ones who owe it."
"Thanks Jean."
"You're welcome." she smiled, before her eyes glinted in mischief. "Now, tell me about you and Kitty."
"Get out." Peter said, throwing his pillow at her.
"Inquiring minds want to know, Parker!"
"I bet they do."
"How serious was it? You might as well go ahead and spill. You're stuck here till tomorrow. Don't make me get the others in here."
"Fine!" Peter groaned. "We dated!"
"Go on."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow, Stark. Real generous." Johnny deadpanned as he took the bot head from Tony. "I'm sure Reed will send his thanks."
"I'll be waiting with bated breath."
"I'm sure you will." he huffed before leaving.
"Do you just enjoy riling him up?" Natasha asked, joining him.
"It's far to easy. He's such a hot head." Tony grinned.
"Don't quit your day job."
"I'm hilarious."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"I'll tell you what would help me sleep," Tony said, stretching his sore muscles. "Making real headway with Peter. Have we figured out where he went?"
"No, and we're not trying."
"Good plan. It'll look good on us. The not stalking thing."
Natasha rolled her eyes as the two made their way into the common room.
"Has anyone heard from Sam, Clint and Bruce?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. Clint said they'd be coming back tomorrow."
"Can't believe they just up and left without us." Tony huffed, crossing his arms.
"Would you have left?" Bucky asked, looking over from his place on the couch.
"I cannot say I would have left the city myself." Thor shook his head.
"Boss, there is an incoming call from Reed Richards."
"That was fast." Tony chuckled. "Let him through FRI."
There was a click before Reed's voice filled the air.
"Stark, we need you all down here now! Normally we could handle Doom, but he's got extra backup this time and we have a lot of civilians down here!"
"We're on our way!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Karen, stay down!" Matt ordered, flipping a crib and moving her underneath it.
"I beginning to think me going out is a bad sign. I've been here before." Karen rolled her eyes. "You know, if this thing holds up, maybe we should swap out the one we have."
"Sounds like a plan."
"I'll call Jess and the others" Karen said, pulling out her phone. "You got the suit on under there, right?"
"Never take it off with you being pregnant."
"Good. Here's your helmet and gloves." she said, pulling the items out her purse. "Go get 'em."
"I'm regretting my choice to leave Peter with Xavier." Matt grumbled, pulling the helmet and gloves on.
"No sense in worrying about it now."
"Right."
Karen watched as Matt ran off and she dialed Jessica's number.
"We're already on our way, Karen." Jessica answered the phone. "We'll be there in just a few."
"Great. Matt's already out there."
"Of course he is."
Karen heard the eye roll before the phone call dropped. Taking a breath, Karen pulled up another contact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let's go, kid."
Jean and Peter looked up as Logan stomped into the room.
"We got a situation back in the city. Your people are involved."
Peter jumped up, hopping towards the door as he slipped his shoes on.
"What's happening?"
"Apparently your little run-in with Doom left a bad taste in his mouth. Looks like you all get a rematch."
"Great. Some guys just can't take no for an answer."
Logan looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut-up." Peter grumbled, following him to his car. "Will we even make it there in time to do any good?"
"That sounds like an awful lot of faith in your friends."
"I learned the hard way how important trust and faith can be. Sometimes, it's the only thing that will keep you alive.....given you put both into the right people."
Logan nodded with a grunt, not offering anything more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where's Spidey?" Jessica grunted as she picked herself up off the concrete.
"Xavier's." Matt gave a short reply.
"Why the hell is he way out there?" Luke growled, slamming his fist into a bot, not doing as much damage as last time. "These bots are stronger than last time. We could really use those webs of his!"
"We need to get the remaining civilians out of here!" Danny shouted.
"We got you!"
The three looked over as Captain America's shield tore through one of the bots.
"We're moving out the remaining civilians now!"
"Perfect." Jessica grinned. "Cut loose everyone!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"See, this is why you have to have faith." Peter smirk over at Logan as they took in the smoking remains of all the Doom Bots.
He could see Matt, Jess, Danny and Luke gathering over to one side, but it was the sight of Reed Richards and the rest of the Four that really got him.
"I take it you were in good with them too?"
"Yeah.....Johnny and I were really good friends. I was really close to the whole group."
"Well, nothing for me to do here. You coming back or staying?"
Peter looked over at the Four, eager to talk to them.
"I think I'm just gonna stay. I'd be coming back tomorrow anyway."
Logan shrugged in agreement and turned to head back to where he had left his car.
"Hey, Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"Uh...congrats on your life in this world."
Logan stared at him before nodding in thanks and walking off.
"Nice of you to show up Web-head." Luke grinned, slapping Peter on the back as the joined them.
"Well, I can't always be here to bail you guys out."
"Yeah, sure." Danny rolled his eyes with a chuckle.
"Sorry your time at Xavier's was cut short." Matt said, kicking a piece of scrap out of the way.
"It's fine. I'm...I'm actually glad I'm here. I didn't realize Reed and his family were in town. I'm gonna go talk to them."
"Watch out for Johnny." Jessica smirked. "He's not one for boundaries when it comes to anyone cute."
"You think I'm cute, Jess? I'm flattered!"
"Get lost."
Peter laughed, making his way slowly across the littered area towards the Four. His heart hammered the closer he got. The Four were the first supers he had really gotten to know, but they were on and off world so much that Matt had become the one he spent the most time with.
"Dr. Richards?"
Reed turned to take in the young man before him with surprise.
"You really shouldn't be here. It's a dangerous area-"
"I can assure you I'm fine. I would have been here sooner but I was coming from Xavier's." Peter smiled.
"Are you a new mutant to the school?" Sue asked, looking him over.
"Uh, no. I was just visiting with some......friends?"
How was he supposed to label people he knew in his old world and reconnected with here?
"Who cares where you were," Johnny smirked sliding up to Peter. "The real question is where are you going?"
"Nowhere with you flame brain." Peter shot back, falling into old banter without thinking.
No one said anything, just looking at Peter.
"Umm...I mean..."
A booming laugh came from behind Johnny as Ben walked up to them.
"I like this one!"
Peter grinned up Ben's gleeful face.
"I missed you big guy." Peter laughed, once again causing a silence among the group.
"Do we....do we know you? Have we met you somewhere before?" Reed asked, studying him.
"It's kind of a long story. I know you, but you don't know me. Well, actually....I know a version of you."
"What do you mean?" Sue asked, moving closer.
"I'm not...I'm not exactly from this world."
"I knew it!" Johnny shouted. "We've dated and you've hunted me down because you're obsessed with me."
"Do you hear the words that come out of your mouth?" Peter asked, looking at him blankly.
"Oh I can think of something fun we can do involving my mou-"
"Nice try." Peter smirked, pushing Johnny back by his face.
"You said you weren't from this world?" Reed directed, not bothering to hide his curiosity. "We've met lots of being from other worlds, but I can't say I've-"
"I mean reality."
There was a pause from the group before Reed continued.
"Reality?"
"An alternate reality, universe, dimension, whatever you want to call it. Point is, I, me specifically, never existed here."
"Who are you?" Sue asked.
"My name is Peter Parker, well, by birth it is." Peter frowned.
"What does that mean?" Johnny huffed.
"It's......."
"Perhaps this isn't the best place to discuss this." Sue interrupted, taking a look around.
"Yes!" Reed quickly agreed. "How about you come back with us and we can talk further."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The alpha Avengers snapped to attention at the sight of Peter making his way across the bot riddled street and towards the Fantastic Four. His face with lit up in excitement and eagerness, emotions they were trying to keep faith that they would soon be on the receiving end off.
Wherever he had been, he must have returned from at the end of the fight since he wasn't dressed in his Spider-Man suit.
They watched as Peter smiled easily with the members of the team, relieved to see him openly rebuff the advances of Johnny Storm. It would be a lie though, to say they didn't want to tear the youngest member of the Four apart. Peter, unmated or not, was still their omega.
"Of course he'd be friends with Richards." Tony huffed. "There's nothing special about that guy."
"Except his brain." Natasha smirked.
"That's our omega chumming it up over there in case you're forgetting."
"You're the one getting uptight over Peter talking to Reed Richards."
"Well, I'm way smarter and cooler than Richards! Not to mention better looking." Tony pouted, watching Peter smile widely at Reed.
"Should we go talk to him?" Steve asked, joining the two alongside Bucky and Thor.
"No, you should most certainly not."
The five turned sharply to see Karen Page walking up to them.
"Do you see his face? Don't ruin this for him. Wait and let him see you not doing anything. That'll make a bigger impact than rushing over there like the hard headed alphas you are."
The alphas looked back at Peter, watching him put his hand over Johnny's face and shove him away.
"Can we at least ask where he was?" Bucky asked.
"He was at the Xavier Institute. I knew them from his world."
"It seems our omega was friends with many of our companions, perhaps even more than we've seen." Thor noted, watching Peter carefully.
The group was getting ready to leave when Peter suddenly looked over their way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We can continue our conversation over supper. I'll cook." Sue smiled.
"That sounds great! I better go check in with Dared-"
"It's ok, Peter. We know who he is and there's no one around to hear it." Reed assured.
"Well, I'm currently staying with Matt and Karen until I get my own place. So I'll let them know where I'll be. Karen's been a bit more mindful of my whereabouts since being pregnant."
"I assume you know how to get to the Baxter Building?"
"I'll be there after I take care of some things." Peter nodded.
"Great!" Johnny grinned. "Give us a chance to get better acquainted in this timeline."
"Again, do you hear what comes out of your mouth? I literally told you we were friends."
"For now....." he grinned with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Peter huffed in good nature, watching a Sue grabbed Johnny by the arm and started pulling him away.
He watched them leave before the feeling of being watched finally set in. Turning, he finally caught sight of the five alpha Avengers, who he could only assume had been there the whole time. The usual feelings of fear and anger reared up in him, but a tiny flicker of something else emerged as well at the withered look on their faces.
A flicker of......was that guilt?
No.
The Avengers didn't deserve anything other than hatred.
Right?
Peter shook his head, desperate to rid himself of the unwanted feeling and prepare himself to fight.....was that Karen?
Peter's eyes widened as Karen moved closer to them, speaking calmly to them, unafraid of the threat before her. Peter made to run to help her before a hand yanked him back by his arm.
"Does she really look like she's in danger, Pete?" Matt asked him. "She seems pretty safe and comfortable to me. They don't seem to be threatening her either."
"It could be a trick. Get us to lower our defenses by playing nice." Peter said, narrowing his eyes and trying to deny Matt's words.
"You've been here months, Peter, and we've been here longer. If the Avengers were going to hurt us, it would have already happened."
"Sure it would." Peter growled. "Like they were so quick to out themselves in my world. Want to see evidence of their ruthlessness? I can show you. I'm a walking canvas of their art."
"How long were they together before they turned, Peter?"
"Four years."
"It's been seven here."
Peter swallowed.
Seven years? The Avengers had been together seven years here?
"Go on to the Baxter Building, Pete. We'll handle things here. SHIELD has a cleanup crew for this."
"But,"
"No. I'll get Karen and tell her where you are. You go. You know I don't think the Avengers are a danger, but I'm not gonna tell you what to think or do. I sent you away the last time we ran into them and nothing happened, nothing is going to happen this time either."
Peter frowned, catching Bucky's eye.
The two stared at each other, a river of emotions between them.
Peter missed Bucky.
He missed him a lot.
He could have Bucky back in his life. He was right there.
No!
Peter shook his head, breaking eye contact. That was not his Bucky and he needed to remember it.
This Bucky had interests in him that weren't brotherly.
"Just go, Pete. It's fine."
"Yeah....right....." Peter struggled, afraid to leave them, but finding it hard to shrug off the matter of his, once again, silent spider-sense.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Making his way towards the Baxter Building, Peter sulked.
He was tired of his spider-sense. It had never failed him before, and now it was failing him constantly. Every time the Avengers showed up, it didn't even take note. It left him completely vulnerable to attack!
It was beyond frustrating!
It was also terrifying in a way that had nothing to do with the thought of the Avengers being dangerous.
His silent Spider-Sense gave to much credit to the assurance these Avengers weren't evil.......and that maybe they really were the alphas to his omega.
Peter trembled.
He couldn't look at them and not remember his home. The people he lost. The pain he endured both physically and mentally.
Yet.....this wasn't his world, was it?
They weren't those Avengers.
Peter shook his head, pushing away the thoughts.
He was going to see the Four, friends he hadn't been able to talk to in years. No time to dwell on thoughts he didn't even want to have.