3rd POV:
The trio was were in Bells man cave. Gwen and Peter were working on trying to come up with some more web combinations, maybe some gadgets as well if the creativity strikes them for it.
Bell on the other hand was just going through his phone and watching videos. In others words,he was just vibing.
''What if you add lots of adhesive and create a web grenade? One that is sticky enough to tie a whole ass man to the wall? I'm sure it will have other uses besides the example I gave,'' Bell offered from his bean bag.
''Maybe. Something to consider for later, but right now we are working on this,'' Gwen replied. Peter nodded a little absentminded as he was with his head elsewhere.
Suddenly he stopped and perked. Then he turned slowly towards Bell as an idea came to mind.
''Couldn't you have created a telekinetic construct that resembles a mouth and then applied the lipstick to it and had it kiss me?,'' Peter asked a very logical question.
''...''
''...''
''...''
''In my defense I was really angry,'' Bell sank into his bean bad further and dropped his head back.
''Somehow that doesn't make me feel better,'' Peter sighed.
''Me neither.''
''Make that three, since I could have pointed that out too, but didn't,'' Gwen groaned.
''Look, just... Let us pretend that the kiss NEVER happened alright. I'm still a completely innocent, naive and inexperienced bunny,'' Peter put his foot down and tried to somewhat emotionally recover from his trauma.
''Let's.'' 2x
Peter nodded and turned back around to the table.
Meanwhile with Bell:
FUCK!
FUCKEDY FUCKING FUCK!
WHAT THE HELL DID HE HAVE ENHANCED PROCESSING POWER FOR IF HE DIDN'T FUCKING USE IT!?
FUCK!
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Bell put a white board in Jeans room. It was after school, so the both of them were in her apartment. She was watching him from the kitchen as she was making a simple dish.
Bell took a marker and began writing stuff on it.
In the middle he wrote 'Chaos Magic' in somewhat big letters.
Then he wrote some more words around these two words.
'Reality Warping'.
'How it functions?'
'Control, emotion based or both?'
' Chaos MAGIC. Truly magic?'
He stepped back and locked at, while tapping his lips with the marker. It was around this time that Gwen entered through the door. She was making a round... or two and decided to take a short break before resuming her patrol.
For now, it was better to let Peter rest and not engage him in training or patrols, so that some of the scrutiny around him died down. After all, he couldn't always hang out with Hunter if he wasn't with them. And even so, eventually he would have to say that 'they didn't click and broke things off'. Knowing Uncle Ben and Aunt May, they would ask questions when they would meet her, so it was just better to do away with the lie sooner or later. It served its primary function anyway.
''Gwen,'' Jean waved at her. Gwen made her way over to the kitchen and raised an eyebrow at what Bell was doing.
''Yo. I hope you don't mind me dropping by. But I wanted to briefly have a snack, before resuming my patrol,'' Gwen explained.
Jean frowned slightly in confusion.
''Of course not. The apartment may be rented in my name, but its really Bells. He gave you a key so that you can enter any time, so let yourself in at any time if you need. But do knock at my door, please. It would only be polite,'' Jean replied to her.
Gwen nodded, feeling a little silly. They may get along, unlike Phoenix and Gwen, but there was still some awkwardness in the air.
''So, what is he doing? And what are you making?,'' Gwen changed the subject, while she made her way over to the fridge to look inside.
''I'm making rice with some curry, nothing too fancy. Do you want me to make some for you as well?,'' Jean asked her.
''No. Like I said, it's just a brief stop. I'll make myself some sandwiches,'' Gwen replied and began taking out a few ingredients. More specifically a Panini Sandwich.
Jean nodded.
''As for Bell? He is investigating Wanda and Chaos Magic,'' Jean informed her.
So he is having fun, Gwen determined. After all, he was clearly taking his time. And Jean told her, that if it was urgent Phoenix would have filled him in, so she was not going to ruin his fun.
She nodded and the two trailed off with some small talk.
...
Bell wasn't ignorant to Gwens presence, but he was too deep in thought to want to break his thought process off, in order to talk with the two of them for a little.
Once is a happenstance, twice is a coincidence and trice is an enemy pattern.
That is the thought that slowly manifested itself in his head, the more he pondered on the matter.
He himself had his reailty warping from ROB, as well as the void aspect. Jean was the host for Phoenix and while Bell was sure that any telekinetic could be a (weaker) reality warper, Phoenix enhanced Jeans already powerful abilities by a magnitude. In other words, he still counted Jean as an example.
Hmm.
Bell wiped off 'Chaos MAGIC. Truly magic?' and replaced it with 'Source?'.
Despite having no concrete answer, aka Wanda as his third example for 'enemy pattern', he was sure that humans, by themselves, didn't get access to reality warping.
He doubted anyone could ever be born with reality warping for that matter.
At least that is what the evidence suggested till now. That humans had to acquire reality warping a different way.
Whether Chaos Magic was really magic or not, didn't really matter. After all, every power could be considered magic or specialized/ niche magic, so it was a rather pointless question to ask.
What really mattered was from where Wanda got Chaos Magic from. Was she born with it? Probably not, since she didn't have the X-Gene. Or was she involved in a 1 in a trillion freak accident and got access to it? Or did someone grant it to her? Was she, like him (probably), involved in a grander scheme by a higher entity? Was the entity evil, neutral or good?
This are the real important questions.
The source and how Chaos Magic functions.
Hmmm.
Well, it seems that his previous decision to talk and interact more with Wanda and pay closer attention to her has just been reinforced.
He waved his hand and transported the white board into his pocket dimension. He would get it out later and add anything new he would find.
He made his way over to the kitchen.
''You done?,'' Gwen asked after chewing.
''For now. I would need to investigate some matters for anything more concrete. I didn't want to waste too much time on speculating. With reality warping you will never see the end of it. You need concrete facts,'' Bell replied and thanked Jean when she put a plate of food in front of him.
''I doubt it will take you too long to figure out the truth. If you need help for anything, simply tell me,'' Gwen offered and Jean nodded at that. Also worst case scenario, Phoenix will just tell him if the need arises.
So things should be rather simple, Gwen reasoned.
Bell nodded and the three began eating while making some small talk.
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Nexus, Jean, Laura and Katherine were on a leisure walk around the mansion when they stumbled upon Logan beginning to bring his motorcycle out of the mansions garage. Bucky followed after him with two helmets in his hands.
''Is that a Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650? Hmm, not quite. Did you make some modifications to it?,'' Nexus greeted them.
Logan shoved his motorcycle a little further and then deployed the support, so that he can turn around towards them.
He looked him up and down.
''I didn't know you were a connaisseur,'' Logan remarked surprised.
''I'm not,'' Nexus replied, offering nothing more and confusing all except Jean and Laura. Probably Raezen.
''I didn't know you had a motorcycle,'' Laura remarked and stepped close to it in wonder. She gently trailed her fingers on the cold metal. Logan wanted to grumble, not really liking it when someone touched his bike without his permission, but Laura was his quasi daughter and so he was a little more lenient.
God, even after a little less then a year, this was still a shock to him. He still didn't know how to interact with her even if he did try every now and then to help her or give her advice.
''We did. But you only recently joined and he doesn't really bring his bike out until summer break. He is quite proud of it,'' Katherine replied, noting how Logan didn't blow on Laura touching his bike. He certainly blew up on her once.
Tough to be fair, it was not quite summer break yet, but no one really cared. Not much gets done, at east in school, when people are 1 or two weeks away from summer break.
''Oh,'' Laura nodded and stepped back still looking at the motorcycle.
''Are you going somewhere?,'' Jean asked them.
''Yes. You kids don't need us too much right now, so we thought it would be a good idea for us to go hang out with Steve somewhere. Maybe a bar, maybe not,'' Bucky replied.
''Then don't let us keep you. Have fun,'' Nexus told them.
''Don't worry, bub. We plan on it,'' Logan replied and put on his helmet. Bucky sat behind him on the motorcycle and hugged him around the waist for support. The four of them watched them speed off into the distance.
''You said it is modified? Is it a good bike?,'' Laura asked Nexus.
''Yeah, he tinkers on it every now and then during the school year. By the way, what's up with that? How could you tell immediately that it was modified?,'' Katherine confirmed and then turned to Nexus to ask him.
(Katherine knows he is a reality warper and that he has plans, but not much else besides.)
''You seemed to have liked the bike,'' Nexus remarked and turned to Laura. She looked a little embarrassed. Katherine huffed at not having her question answered.
''Is it a good bike?,'' Laura asked him.
''Mmmmm. All vehicles are more or less good...and have their own issues. It is honestly mostly a matter of preference and purpose and quality,'' Nexus offered diplomatically.
Laura nodded. She... kind of likes the motorbike. Maybe not exactly the same, but something along these lines. Up till now she only considered vehicles as a way of transportation, but Logan seemed to treat it as more then just that. He took pride in it.
Honestly. It was about time she found her own path as well. She was two years away from being an adult and needed to think about her future. Jean had her psychology, Gwen her genetics and Bell his CEO, maybe she could ... become a mechanic? Not only would it allow her to make money and buy her own bike, but then she would have the experience to modify it too, like Logan did with his.
Yes, she liked the sound of that.
Nexus observed her reactions and noted them for later.
''Well, anyway. Where were we?,'' Jean asked them.
''We were talking about...,'' Nexus reminded her.
---
''I'm just saying. Breaking Bad would have never worked out in Europe.
I means this is how the story would have gone over there:
'Mr.White, you have cancer. Chemo-Therapy is expensive, but I'm sure your health care insurance would take care of the costs. When do you feel comfortable beginning?'
There, end of the story. No debts, no motivation for Walter to leave money for his family or something,'' Katherine argued passionately.
''Is healthcare really that expensive?,'' Laura asked.
By now, they were sitting on a bank near the mansion. Only Nexus summoned a dull blade, made it float and sat on it, since there was no more room on the bank.
''...Answering that question would take us ages. BUT, very basically, the hospital gives you a bill. Let us say, 100.000 dollars. Your insurance, if it can be bothered to take over the cost, pays 20.000. Now, you would think that you are now left with a 80.000 bill. Except, you can't be reasonable be expected to pay 80.000 out of the blue, so the hospital writes it off as a loss. And when the taxman comes, the hospitals have to pay 80.000 less in taxes,'' Nexus explained and paused to give Laura a short break to digest everything.
''Isn't that... insurance fraud or tax evasion or something?,'' Laura asked slowly, a little unsure.
''Yes! Yes!
The entire system operates under inflated numbers so that people can pocket money without having the IRS breathe down their neck. The bill, most likely, WAS 20.000 dollars. And even then it was probably inflated. I mean, just look at the prices in other countries for treatment and compare them to Americas.
I mean, what? Does the American Chemo-Therapy give me wings, does it cure age? Why is it so expensive?
But wait! There is more.
The hospital may write the money of as a loss. The 80.000, I mean. But 20.000$? It is the insurances companies loss. The 20.000 come out of their pocket.
So they have pushed to adopt a practice. It is called 'Delay, Deny, Defend'.
All in the name of saving the payers money, of course. Cutting of waste spending, making spending more efficient and all that other asinine shit.
They look at individual cases of patients and then do everything in their power to delay the claim process. Then they try to deny the insurance claim by defending, in court or otherwise through legal means or loopholes, their argument that the patient doesn't really need the insurance claim.
That broken bone you have? Walk it off. Lung Cancer? No, what you actually have is a small case of the flu. Etc.Etc.
Honestly. These healthcare insurers should do the doctors job in their stead. They seem much more equipped in determining and diagnosing what troubles the patient,'' Nexus explained the healthcare system in the USA VERY briefly.
''...Very basically,'' Laura parroted his words back to him sarcastically after digesting the information.
''It may not sound like it, but yes. I left out a lot, most importantly the difference between public and private sector and how it is the middle class that gets screwed over the most. Poor and rich people are not really as screwed over. Rich people pay their own bills and poor people are so poor that private insurance is outside the possibility, so it is the public sector, like Medicare or Medicaid that foots their bill,'' Nexus informed her.
''Wait. Then why doesn't the middle class move over to public insurance/ sector, if private insurance/ sector screws them over so much? It sound like a scam. I'm giving you my money so that I can support others in need and likewise others support me in need. If you are taking my money and not using it for the intended purposes then what do I give you my money for?,'' Laura asked.
''That's because it is a scam. You are right,'' Jean replied. Katherine nodded alongside her.
''To me it seems like a recipe that will eventually lead to someone dying,'' Laura speculated.
''Ha! 340 million people live in the USA. The chances off someone, just one person, killing off a CEO or board director or someone else high up in the hierarchy, because they got screwed over and have nothing more to lose, is precisely 100%. Sooner or later someone will shoot someone and there is gonna be a whole circus being performed by the media and the government and certain people will try to push their agenda,'' Nexus chuckled mirthfully.
And of course, the WHY of the matter would be ignored. The motive for the murder and how heath insurance companies actually killed far more people.
How did the saying go? One death is a tragedy, two deaths a statistic.
''You didn't know all that?,'' Katherine asked her.
''No. I don't have any insurance, because of my healing powers, so it would be a waste of money. Why does no one do something against this? How could this have been allowed to happen?,'' Laura asked perplexed.
''Several reasons.
The government sold out to the lobbyist and corporations interests., being the primary one.
And why were they allowed to do so? It may have escaped your notice a little... or not. But economy and finances aren't really taught in school. Even Xaviers School doesn't teach these subjects. So it is not like the people can hold the government accountable.
You grow up and then are suddenly expected to know how money works as an adult,'' Katherine explained.
''And that is by design,'' Jean added.
''Yes. I was getting to that,'' Katherine quickly interrupted her, in case she wanted to continue. She knew a thing or two too and wanted to show off like Nexus.
''Sorry,'' Jean apologized.
''No worries. But Jean is right, it is by design. This design is decades in the making. But basically lobbyist and corporations pushed their agenda to cut funding to the Department of Education. After all, it is easier to convince a fool to part with his money then to take money from someone who is wise with his spending,'' Katherine continued.
''To be fair Health insurance is a serious problem in the USA compared to other Western Countries. But what Kitty just described? It is a problem across the entire globe. No one really teaches economics and finances for everyday life to anyone. Makes you think, doesn't it?,'' Nexus spoke and rubbed his fingers against each other in annoyance.
''At least we know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Right?,'' Laura joked, causing Nexus to burst out in laughter. She smiled to herself proud for accomplishing that. She knew she was not a particularly funny person.
''There are many things wrong with the world and certainly we can't stay ignorant to that. But neither can we lose sight of all that is good in the world as well, thanks to only focusing on the bad. What I'm trying to say is that we should all strive to make the world a better place without being naive to the evil of the world,'' Jean argued passionately.
''Well said,'' Nexus put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed while giving her a nod. She gave him an appreciative smile.
Just when they were about to talk about some other stuff they hear a voice call out to them.
''Sugar! Sugar!,'' Rogue called out and ran over to them.
''Rogue, what's up?,'' Nexus greeted and gave her a short wave. She didn't look distressed so there was no reason to panic.
''Sugar, I wanted to... I wanted to ask if you will be around for our graduation ceremony?,'' Rogue quickly changed the actual question she wanted to ask.
''Ach. I don't know,'' Nexus sighed,''Sure, I may have trained you by forcing you to apply Logans and Bucky teachings in the heat of battle and taught you some things myself, but I doubt any of you actually want me around.''
''On the contrary. I asked the others and it would really mean a lot to us, if you would be there,'' Rogue revealed to him.
No, she didn't.
'No, she didn't', Nexus thought and suppressed a mirthful chuckle.
'No, she didn't', Jean and Katherine thought.
''Well... I guess I can make a brief appearance. It's on a Friday, right? (*Rogue nods*) Well, in that case I can be around for a bit, but then I'll dip. Busy person and all that,'' Nexus offered her diplomatically. She didn't ask, but maybe she wasn't too wrong in her claim.
Rogue looked a little disappointed, but she quickly beamed at him anyway and nodded.
''That's great, Sugar. Oh, one more thing. I made you another sandwiches again. Here, I put them in a box, since you didn't get around to eating them last time,'' Rogue moved her hands into her backpack.
She presented the box to him. It was made of translucent plastic, so he could see the sandwiches inside. Even without tasting them, they looked delicious. She even made the effort of half wrapping them in paper this time, probably so that he could hold them better.
''Here. Tell me, what you think of them next time we meet. Unfortunately I have to go. Bye you all,'' Rogue turned around and sprinted away after pressing the box in his hands, clearly not willing to accept a refusal, heart hammering in her chest with a plethora of emotions.
Nexus took a calming breath and put the box in his pocket dimension after cutting a portal open.
He was about to complain in his mind about how she still pursued him, despite giving her what she wanted and knowing that he had 'a girlfriend'.
But honestly?
He was starting to sound like a whiny little bitch.
It is what it is. And there was nothing he could do.
Well, not without compromising his morals and philosophy.
Katherine snorted, at the dichotomy between the Bell she knew and this one.
''You know. You said you had a girlfriend. I wonder, who is this special someone that managed to melt the icy exterior of the great...,'' Katherine caught herself snapping her mouth shut just before she was about to say Bells name. There is teasing and there is pissing someone off by revealing a secret.
''Hmm. I wasn't aware that that was how I came across. Since I am so 'icy' maybe Is should act accordingly tomorrow during training. What do you say?,'' Nexus joked.
''Oh, don't tease the poor girl. I too am curious,'' Jean played along.
''Well (*Nexus shrugged theatrically*) I guess it will remain a mystery for the ages,'' Nexus said and stood up.
''A pity,'' Laura blandly said, before said his good byes.
---
''Buh!,'' Nexus snuck up on Wanda from behind and whispered in her ear.
She yelped, having been distracted by being deep in thought and blasted him with the intent to kill away. He disappeared deeply into the forest and came back by flying and banishing his sword wings. Then he sat down on the bench, a polite distance between them.
They were a little far away from the mansion. Wanda wanted some solitude to get her head in order. Nexus didn't have much trouble finding her anyway, even if no one else did. After all it's not like he asked anyone for her location.
''I'm not apologizing,'' Wanda told him flatly. She didn't find his prank funny and considering the circumstances (alone in a forest), she judged her reaction perfectly appropriate.
''Nor do I expect you too. How are you doing?,'' Nexus asked her.
She narrowed her eyes a little at him.
''Did my brother put you up to this and send you?,'' Wanda asked him. She didn't tell him where she would go.
''No. I just noticed, that I stumbled less and less upon you two together or even apart, for that matter, after the spars. I usually pass by everyone at least once. Mostly the kitchen. Is everything alright? Do you need help?,'' Nexus asked her. He was sincere in his worry, but it was also his means on starting a conversation with her, without things turning awkward.
Living here, with the X-Men and being almost like a family, kind of...
Almost a year ago she told Pietro that they would stay here till they are sufficiently more powerful, that they would exploit the X-Mens, Xaviers and even Nexus as a resource to become more powerful. Powerful enough to be able to challenge all the Avengers and kill Stark. She didn't care about the others, but they would get in their way and pose a challenge. (Minus Nexus. Everyone knew or suspected that he wasn't TRULY a member of The Avengers.)
Pietro agreed.
Only...
Time passed and she grew content.
Happy.
It was not the same as her real family, but...
She knew once they killed Stark, they would no longer be welcomed back under Xaviers roof. Most of the X-Men would shun them.
She ignored this fact until Pietro, one day, decided to confront her.
Honestly, despite being younger then her by a few minutes he always acted like the bigger sibling and sought to protect her. AND despite the fact that she was stronger of the two of them.
Unlike her, he didn't want revenge on Stark, not to the same extent as her at least. His primary concern was that she would be healthy and happy.
He asked her if she was content being here and giving up revenge on Stark. He made it clear that he didn't care either way (trying not to influence her decision) and that he just wanted clarification from her. To communicate on the matter, so that he knew how CLOSE he could allow himself to grow to the people around them.
Frankly, Wanda would have been content to never open up the subject, to procrastinate on the matter, till it was no longer relevant whatsoever. But with Pietro opening up the can of worms, she started spending the last few weeks in deep thought, trying to come up with a decision.
To do or not to do, that is the question.
''Say... Have you ever hated someone so much, that it made your blood boil? I'm not talking about preferences, like 'Oh, I hate rice' and nor am I talking about hating from afar, like... Hitler. A lot of people hate Hitler, despite most of todays people being born after his death.
I'm talking about intimate hatred. The kind you experience only from being personally wronged or harmed by someone or something very deeply.
Do you?,'' Wanda decided to open up to him. Two things could be true at once. Yes, she was going to use Nexus as a resource so that they might grow more powerful. But at the same time, she genuinely liked him. He saved her and Pietro, taught them a lot, killed HYDRA (which she hated too) and all around most people just liked him. Nexus was like able.
And he killed and had no issues with killing.
All that, made her open up to him. Depending on how the conversation goes, she would reveal more or less to him.
Nexus released a sigh and turned to sit sideways on the bank facing her, his arm leaning against the back rest of the bank. Wanda turned a little too, to show him that he had her full attention.
Nexus considered how he should answer.
''...Yes. I know the type of hatred you speak off. Why do you ask?,'' he asked her.
''Could you tell me what made you hate someone that much?,'' Wanda asked curiously.
Nexus looked at his hand and clenched it a little as memories resurfaced.
Blood, dead friends, dead civilians, dead enemies, gun fire, intestines, fire, shrapnel, torture, almost drowning, leeches playing at war at the cost of everyone else.
Death.
Death.
Death.
Death...
Nexus released a calming breath and opened up his hand to stare at it again. He was not about to lie. But if he was going to share part of the truth, if at all, he needed to chose his words carefully.
''I suppose...,'' Nexus began after a while,'' I saw something that uprooted, my entire life. A realization hit me, that forced my entire world view to shift. In that moment, something was stolen from me.''
''Not literally,'' Nexus quickly elaborated,'' But something...fundamental. Something so integral to my Ego, the ancient greek definition of Ego, that upon it being taken from me I died. Not in body, but in spirit.
I died and I was born a different man for it. Seeing the world, through a different lens.
A crueler man. One filled with visceral hatred for the ones responsible.''
''Not your loved ones?,'' Wanda asked after listening attentively. If there was one thing most X-Men knew about Nexus, it was that he was a rather private person. He didn't mention specifics, which disappointed her a little, but the fact that he was wiling to tell her that much anyway was huge.
Others may have scoffed at his vague statement, but she caught the brief shift in tone when recounting his 'death'. There is no faking that amount of hatred.
''No. In a way, I was rather fortunate. When I 'died', my loved ones were far away,'' Nexus told her.
It was technically the truth. The best kind of truth. In his first universe all his loved ones were already dead and 'far away'. And even here his loved ones were 'far away' from his death, both fundamental and literal.
If anyone interpreted that as them being safe, well... that is not his fault.
Wanda was a little jealous. Perhaps she was jumping the gun a little, especially since she didn't have all the specifics, but she would have preferred his suffering over hers. At least he had his loved ones still, even if things were no longer the same between them. Probably.
''...It was a day like any other. Pietro and I were watching cartoons on a shabby TV. Sokovia is not a rich country, but we made do and were content with what we had. It was my turn to choose what we would watch and I chose some channel that constantly played an episode of some cartoon series. I don't even remember what cartoon it was. I was a sunny day. (*Wanda closed her eyes, recounting the memories*) The birds were chirping, the smog of the city came a little through the window, at the edge of the city as we were. The noise too.
While we were watching, mom and our stepdad were making dinner. The smell of the food flowing through the living room and parts of it going outside through the open window...,'' Wanda trailed off, basking a little in the fond memories.
''Stepdad?,'' Nexus asked after a while.
Wanda opened her eyes to look at him.
''My mother once met a man on her travels. She was part of a carnaval and left a good impression on her. The two had a fling, though at that time my mother thought the two of them would stay together.
Turns out he was just a bum and some deadbeat loser who left her with no warning for whatever reason. She never cursed him, for she had us, she used to tell us.Time passed and she eventually found a new man and us a new father. It was a little awkward at first, but he was a good man...
Anyway.
The good mood didn't last. Before we knew it, we were under rubble, me and Pietro and despite calling out to mom and our stepdad we received no answer. We later found out they were dead, but we wouldn't find that out for a while.
We we forced to wait in dreadful anticipation for rescuers. Not to far away from us, the source of what demolished our house and buried us under it. A rocket that malfunctioned and failed to detonate. I sat so innocently in front of us with an inscription...
We waited for ...
Well, we waited for it to kill us,'' Wanda danced around the subject.
''I'm guessing you must have thought to yourself 'Please don't kill us' or 'Please don't explode' the entire time,'' Nexus took the opportunity.
Wanda softly snorted.
''You can't imagine it,'' she sighed, defeated.
Well, it gave him some insight into his investigation. Emotion definitely plays a role in how she uses her powers. He doubted she knew or was aware, at that time, of her powers.
''After you killed HYDRA...Were you happy with your revenge?,'' Wanda asked him.
''HYDRA was clean. Surgical. I personally hunted all bases present in cities and those that would prove more troblesome and reduced innocent casualties, to pretty much non-existence. The Triskelion took care of the rest.
Besides, HYDRA was just a job. They needed away with and so they were done away with,'' Nexus shurgged.
''So no personal stakes then? Since you are telling me about the procedure...I'm guessing the one you actually hated, when you went after them, it was not as clean?,'' Wanda asked him.
''My hatred...When I went after them, I did not think my actions through. My hatred blinded me and I did a few things that I now regret more or less...
Even if I would have done everything right, in a way that I would not feel regret, I still did not feel satisfaction. I just felt... empty. Empty and regretful,'' Nexus told her.
''But... surely getting revenge would be satisfying. This is not some stupid movie, where the hero learns that revenge isn't worth it and then stops at killing the head or source of all their pain. Especially after killing all their henchmen throughout the movie to get to the 'head','' Wanda scoffed in disbelief.
''Art imitates life and life imitates art,'' Nexus shrugged.
''You misunderstood me. If you want revenge, then do that. But do not seek revenge expecting satisfaction or to get what you lost back. And do try not to shave off too many 'pieces' of yourself in your efforts to get your revenge or else you will find yourself a far worse person in character then the one you hunted down. And if not a worse person then at least someone that you won't recognize when you look at yourself in the mirror.
At that point someone will try to kill you and the cycle will never end,'' Nexus shrugged.
Wanda looked down, contemplating his words with a frown.
''You're confusing. Are you trying to get me to get my revenge or are you trying to talk me off of it?,'' Wanda asked a little unsure.
''Why not both? Both is good.
The choice is entirely yours. I'm just trying to get you to make an informed decision, make you consider all avenues and all risks and consequences,'' Nexus stood up and stretched a little then looked at her again.
Also, make her not make the same mistake he did. He knew Wanda. She was a good person. Even if a little apathetic to others at times. But there was nothing wrong with that. Hell, he was the same technically.
''Wanda, whenever one door closes another opens and vice versa. No one can walk every path at once. And if they can, then all their experience will be shallow.
But it I may say one more thing...
A pillow was designed to offer comfort during sleep. Any yet far too often some people use it for asphyxiation. Will you blame the seamstress or the murderer?
Consider all that, if you really wish to go after Stark,'' Nexus said, speaking a little louder, as he began making his way away from her.
Wanda widened her eyes a little in surprise as she watched him go and hastily stood up.
How did he know?
Her and Pietro told no one. Not even HYDRA.
And she didn't feel a telepathic attack.
Still...
She watched him walk away, once again deep in thought.
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It was more of a ...personal talk, instead of an informative one. But even a little piece of the puzzle can reveal much.
By now he brought out his whiteboard again and tapped his lips with the marker in contemplation.
''How long has he been at this?,'' Laura asked. She was the last to use her wrist band to teleport here. It was a little late in the day, but upon having an excuse to 'stay in their room' they all made their way here.
''A few minutes. Around the time I started cooking. So not that long,'' Jean replied and Laura nodded.
''Can I also help?,'' Laura asked. Gwen was cutting the tamatoes, onions and everything else for the salad. They were making dinner.
''Sure. You can cut up this meat, while I prepare the sauce,'' Jean told her.
''Say... Bell told me about your adamantium claws. How do they work?,'' Gwen asked her curiously.
Laura released her claws as a demonstration.
''HYDRA tried to create a clone of Weapon-X. Unfortunately or fortunately, most of the adamantium they used to coat his bones. They only had enough for my claws. Feet and hands. Through, sometimes I call them talons. They are a little longer then Logans and I only have two in my hands and one in my feet,'' Laura shortly explained.
''Why unfortunately ...or fortunately?,'' Gwen asked.
''Mother suspects that the amount of adamantium is poisoning him. But with our healing factor it is hard to tell. I have the best of both worlds, she says, since I have less adamantium in me,'' Laura told her and cut the meat... this time not with her adamantium claws. Enough of the X-Men told her that even if she washed it, it was fucking disgusting.
Pussies. Bell didn't complain and neither did her mother.
Gwen frowned in thought.
''When bones are put under stress and fractures a little, the body begins the healing process by sending several types of cells to induce the regeneration process. It is a little more complicated, but I won't bore you with the details. The end result is that a harder shell and bone forms.
Wolf's Law basically.
The problem is that most people regenerate too slowly to truly reap the benefits of this process, but with you and I...,'' Gwen trailed a little off and cast a side eye at Bell as realization hit her.
So that was why he was so brutal with her during her training and punched her hard enough to nearly break her bones.
And here she thought him a sadist.
Perhaps she needed to change some things during Peters training, in this case.
''The point is, that you could theoretically have bones sharper and denser then adamantium,'' Gwen continued.
'I will give bitch that, she has brains. She is entirely correct,' Phoenix muttered to Jean.
'Should I tell her you complimented her?,' Jean asked her a little teasingly.
'Do not tell the bitch anything, or she'll grow an ego. That is the last thing I need,' Phoenix spat. Jean rolled her eyes, when her back was turned to the others.
Laura brought out the claws again. Hmm. She could consult mother and Bell what to do. Though... it would take some time till she could get rid of the adamantium without raising questions.
It would also be nice if that could...
''Say, does it hurt?,'' Gwen asked, looking at the claws again and interrupting Lauras thoughts.
''Every time. I don't remember a time I didn't have adamantium claws. I only know different because of mother,'' Laura replied making Gwen grimace in pity. Frankly Laura wanted to do without pity, but whatever.
Maybe with bones it will be less painful since it is natural.
She...liked the thought of that.
...
Bell continued to tap his marker again. Once more, he was not complete ignorant to what was going on around him, but he tuned them out so that they could bond a little more. Them getting along would mean less drama for him.
Anyway...
Since talking to Wanda and adding 'Evidence so far suggests more emotion based control, but rational control is not to be excluded' to the whiteboard he has been plagued by a creeping thought that just wouldn't leave him. Many thoughts ran through his head, but this one was just persistent.
Chaos Magic.
Chaos Magic.
Chaos...
Surely, it wasn't named this for shits and giggles.
Chaos and Order.
Chance and Design?
He stopped tapping his lips with the marker and tentatively wrote the words on the whiteboard with a question mark.
Happenstance and blueprint...
Serendipity and fate...
Probability and will...
If there was Chaos Magic then was there... Order Magic? Or something?
If that was how it worked, then it may also give him insight into how exactly her powers functioned. He did pay attention to how her powers manifested during todays spar. It wasn't all that different from Madelynes or Jeans from what he has seen so far.
Theory: 'She influenced the probability around her surroundings to impose her will on the world. She wanted it so the world just 'happened' to give it to her. Like with the bomb 'malfunctioning'.'
If that was the case, then her magic was subtle in its workings. He didn't feel reality fracture, but it worked a little similar to his.
But if she were to get better and push...
Hmm.
Did that mean that her reality warping was indeed stronger then his? Chaos ignored laws of physics, if anything, enough Chaos made the laws of physics since it eventually settled into a sort of Order.
Bell frowned and shook his head.
All this was just speculation. But he wanted FACTS. Maybe he was right in his speculation or maybe he was wrong.
But until he had more evidence all these thoughts were rather pointless, even if it did him an idea what next to look for.
He wiped 'Chance and Design?' from the board. If any new evidence comes up that supports this theory he would just put it back on, but for now he wanted to only put facts or questions on it.
Not speculations or theories. It was just a matter of how he liked doing things.
(Phoenix dropped her jaw a little in disbelief. She knew Bell was usually quick on the uptake, but this was ridiculous. He was so close...
...
...
Probably for the better. For some reason, him finding out so quickly would have deeply annoyed her.)
''Bell, dinner is ready,'' Gwen called out.
Bell pursed his lips and banished the whiteboard back to his pocket dimension and made his way over to the table.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''So? How did you like my sandwiches?,'' Rogue got all up in his face the next day.
Nexus leaned a little back and cut open a portal above them. The empty box landing in his hands and he gently but firmly put it in hers while moving her a little back to distance her from him.
''They were good,'' he told her.
''Do you want me to make some more? I could learn to cook something else for you if you want,'' Rogue beamed at him.
Nexus sighed softly in frustration.
''You do not need to trouble yourself. You can use your time for yourself. 'Sides, my girlfriend usually cooks for me, so you are just wasting your time,'' Nexus told her. There, he reminded her again that he had a girlfriend just in case she forgot SOMEHOW.
Rogue just continued to beam at him. Her faces slightly twitching.
''Well, you are such an active and big guy. Surely you consume a lot of energy and need more food in your belly,'' Rogue stepped in his face again.
WILL HE EVER FUCKING UNDERSTAND WOMEN IN HIS GOD DAMN FUCKING LIFE!!!
WHAT DOES SHE WANT FROM HIM??? SHE CAN TOUCH OTHERS!!!
HOW??? HOW??? HO-
Oh screw this. He really was a whiny bitch.
''I will see you in one hour in the training room for the spar,'' Nexus told her blandly and stepped around her before she could say anything.
---
''Aren't you going to ask me to borrow my powers?,'' Katherine asked Rogue.
''Hmm? Oh, no. There is no need for that, but thank you. I still have them from last time I borrowed them,'' Rogue told her a little distracted.
Katherine raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Huh.
''Say, do you know how the wrist band works?,'' Katherine asked her carefully.
''No. I never got the chance to ask, Nexus. He dipped before I could and it hasn't come up since. Why?,'' Rogue asked.
''Nothing... Just wondering,'' Katherine relied dismissively.
''You think I should ask him?,'' Rogue asked her, giving her her full attention.
''Well... I would like to know how something I wear 24/7 affects me very throughoutly, side effects and all, but that's just me,'' Katherine shrugged.
Rogue pursed her lips and slowly nodded. Perhaps she was not entirely wrong.
''By the way, you do know Nexus has a girlfriend. Right? Why do you pine for him anyway?,'' Katherine asked her.
''I can only touch others because of him. He made it at all possible and I'm... very thankful for that,'' Rogue smiled.
''...Suit yourself. YOU will be the one involved in the drama and/ or the heartbreak. Don't come to me when this all blows in your face,'' Katherine flatly told her.
---
''Sugar!,'' Rogue called out to him and ran over, when she stumbled upon him in the hallway.
Can't this women leave him alone for five minutes.
''Rogue, how can I help you?,'' Nexus asked her.
''We need to talk,'' Rogue told him.
...
Rogue closed the door to her room.
''So, what is it?,'' Nexus asked her.
''Say, how does my wrist band work?,'' Rogue asked him.
''Huh? Kind of weird that you ask me that after all this time. I thought you didn't care. But anyway. First you need to understand my thought process.
Hank and I talked about the types of X-Gene manifesting in people, when we were making that Suppression Collar for you with the Arc Reactor.
And while we were talking he said that the Suppression Collar may suppress his powers, but not his appearance. Neither with Kurt, Leech or Herman. Their appearance changed to much at a fundamentally biological level. But he hasn't found a concrete answer yet,'' Nexus began.
''But I'm normal aside form my power,'' Rogue told him confused.
No, she wasn't actually. She had INSANELY small energy tendrils all over her skin. They needed a better microscope then an Electron Microscope if they wanted to see them with the scientific method.
''Well...maybe. But that is not the point. It got me thinking. So I tried to find a solution my summoning different swords, until I stumbled upon that one,'' Nexus points at her wrist,''And in a way it functions like Kurts watch. Only instead of creating a barrier around him that reflects light it creates a very thing energy over your skin that prevents energy seeping through it o either side. Of course only till you want to absorb powers, then it recedes,'' Nexus explained politely.
(RecordKeeper: Poor fella. You really need to stop torturing that boy *sips coffee*
The Great Design: All part of the plan, my friend. All part of the plan. It is a necessity as you will eventually find out. Now, please keep recording *sips some otherwordly liquid*
RecordKeeper: *Grumbles, but resumes his work. At least he didn't have to record every moment of Bells life.*)
''Thin layer...?,'' Rogue asked slowly.
''Well, yeah. But the layer is so thin, it is genuinely negligible,'' Nexus told her reassuringly.
''But not skin to skin, right?,'' Rogue asked, while dropping her her head.
''...Are you deaf? The layer is so thing, it LITERALLY is negligible,'' Nexus told her in disbelief.
Rogue threw her head back and laughed in despair as she fell to her knees.
Of course...
Of course.
Why did she think otherwise?
Her laughter turned deranged and agonizing.
That she could ever touch anyone.
!!
Her laughter abruptly stopped.
No. That wasn't quite true was it?
Nexus stepped back from her a little unsure what to do. Perhaps he underestimated her fixation and obsession with her desire. To experience skin to skin contact just the way she imagined.
He watched her carefully as she picked herself up and just looked at him. She tinkered with her hand a little on her wrist and then threw the wrist band at his feet.
''Dump her,'' Rogue told him tonelessly.
''No,'' Nexus told her flatly.
Nexus quickly turned around when she ripped her clothes from her body and stood naked in front of him.
''Turn around,'' she told him.
''No,'' Nexus replied.
''Do not come any closer. Put some clothes on so that we can talk like civilized people or I'll leave,'' Nexus also told her, when he felt her creeping closer.
''Do you find me repulsive?,'' Rogue asked him.
''No. But you are not in the right mind. Clearly. And I have a girlfriend,'' Nexus told her.
''Fuck your girlfriend. Whoever the fuck she is, she can't give you what I can,'' Rogue spat venemously.
''And what can you give me?,'' he asked her amused.
''Everything. I will worship you. I will devote myself to you-,'' she was creeping closer as she whispered.
''Stay back,'' Nexus instructed her again, making her stop once more. Did he have eyes in the back of his head or something? There were no swords around that created an area of effect for him to feel anything, like he did during the spars.
''You can do whatever you want with me,so long as you make me yours and love me and touch me and hold me bare to the bone,'' Rogue fervently promised him.
''Oh, really? And if I don't like some character trait of yours,'' Nexus scoffed.
''I'll change. I'll change everything about me to suit your needs,'' Rogue assured him quickly.
That sounded incredible toxic.
''Really? Everything? Every last minute detail until I'm satisfied perfectly?,'' Nexus made his voice sound tempted.
''Yes!,'' Rogue happily told him, when she noticed him faltering.
Nexus turned around and Rogue ran forward to hug him, thinking she had succeeded. Only, Nexus grabbed her by the throat and pushed her back until they hit the wall and he leaned down to speak in her ear.
''What If I throw you on the bed and rail you till your legs are jelly? If I tell you that I wanted to engage in all kinds of depraved and degrading acts?,'' Nexus asked her.
''...I would do that,'' Rogue blushed a little.
''Hm. Guess you are not completely gone off the deep end. You hesitated,'' Nexus sighed.
So she still had some dignity and self respect left. She was just desperate. And he knew very well how desperation could make people act. He was once the same after all.
Rogue was confused. So, it was a good thing she hesitated or not?
''You are clearly just saying all this, because you are desperate-,'' Nexus began.
''Yes, I am desperate. But that doesn't mean I don't mean it. Maybe I would have still made the same offer to you if you were a stranger, but not to the same extent.
Nexus, I...I like you and we get along and I find you very attractive,'' Rogue confessed to him desperately.
''You didn't see my face. You can't find me attractive,'' Nexus scoffed.
''Maybe. But I hugged your body. And well...,'' she blushed more,''I'm sure you face is not that different. Sugar, please, I'm begging you.''
Nexus released a deep sigh and stepped back.
''I'm sorry, Rogue,'' Nexus told her and began walking away.
Rogue starred after him briefly, but then began sliding down the wall and and starred off in the distance with a hollow look. Like a puppet cut of its strings she slacked there.
Nexus, who was about to touch wrist band, turned around and looked at her briefly.
He was all too familiar with those eyes.
...
...
...
...
...
God damn it.
''Put on some clothes. Tonight, I will come to pick you up,'' Nexus told her and left after picking up the wrist band.
---
''I understand that you wanted her...ignorant, but did you really have to...,'' Gwen rotated her index in Rogues direction.
Rogue was tied up. Only they way she was tied up made it all seem kinky. A blindfold over her eyes, a towel tied around her mouth, caskets over her ears, hands tied behind her back and she was kneeling.
''She was waiting for me like this. I didn't tie her. But I did check everything and reinforced them where necessary. She is completely blind and deaf to us,'' Bell told her and rubbed his face. He only planned on putting a blindfold around her eyes and putting on some caskets around her ears.
Besides he didn't plan on always doing things this way, but with her mental state not being alright, he did want to take any chances.
''She tied herself up? How?,'' Jean asked.
They were all in the living room in her/their apartment.
''Hell if I know. I'm more perplexed how she interpreted my instruction like this. At least she is wearing clothes,'' Bell sighed.
''Does it matter? You saw her naked you told us,'' Gwen teased him a little.
''In my periphery. I barely paid her a glance,'' Bell defended himself.
''Sooo, what will we do about her?,'' Jean asked.
''Should we call for a vote?,'' Laura offered.
They turned to look at Bell. He spent one more brief moment to consider if he couldn't help Rogue out a different way.
Unfortunately, everything he could do would compromise his morals or philosophy.
Rogue wasn't an enemy, even if she stressed him out right now, so already most of the stuff he could do was out. No memory wipe, no DNA manipulation to delete her powers since that was meant to be a punishment first and foremost, no killing her and a thousand other stuff besides.
Now, if she were an enemy...
Well, they wouldn't be here in the first place.
''Sure. Let us call a vote,'' Bell told them. His vote was automatic a yes or otherwise there wouldn't be a vote in the firs place.
''I don't mind,'' Laura said simply.
''Me neither. After all we get along quite well,'' Jean replied.
''I have to admit I don't know her that well, only from hearsay. Do you all think I will get along with her?,'' Gwen asked.
''Yes,'' Laura said.
''She is not a mean person and I guess she will not make trouble. After all 'she would do anything for him','' Jean teased him a little.
Gwen thought about it for a bit.
''Yes too,'' Gwen replied.
Jeans eyes changed color to amber and Phoenix moved her fingers through her hair.
She was a little annoyed. Yes, it was true that Rogue would find her happiness in most worlds. ...But then there is always the other part and the third part. No happy end and bad end.
She could say no and she knew for Bell the matter would be over.
But evidence suggested Rogue, in this universe, was only going to go one way with how erratic and desperate she behaved.
If Bell was the one that said no without calling for a vote, the sole blame would fall on his shoulders. But now the blame would fall on all of them.
Frankly she had no interest in Bell growing bitter towards her because some idiot took their own life.
''You really had to help her and get involved with her? If I wouldn't know any better then I would accuse you of planning out all this,'' Phoenix told him.
''I assure the world is somehow conspiring against me,'' Bell told her sincerely.
''Yes, yes, the big bad world needs you to have a harem. You must be under so much pain, I'm sure,'' Phoenix mocked him a little. She rubbed her thumb against her middle finger and inspected the nail.
''At least this one will know her place more then the rest. Sure she can join,'' Phoenix told him annoyed.
''You don't need to-,'' Bell starred at her incredulously, along with Laura and Gwen.
''I said she can join, my dear. Do no make me repeat these distasteful words. Now, bring this thing somewhere else and ask her if she minds being in a harem,'' Phoenix waved her hand dismissively towards Rogue and then gave control back to Jean.
''Right,'' Bell said confused.
---
''Yes!,'' Rogue replied to Nexus, when he brought her to one of the guest rooms and removed all bindings and explained some stuff to her.
''You have no issues-,''Nexus tried to ask her.
''Absolutely not. So long as I am together with you, I don't care. Now, let me see your face,'' Rogue asked him.
For a moment he felt tempted to change his appearance to someone very ugly, just to mess with her a little. Maybe even make her reconsider.
But he was in too deep.
He moved his hand, but instead of him removing it it was Rogue who sprang on him and ripped the mask off his face. Barely sparring his face any thought she slammed her lips to his and tried smothering him.
Bell felt a little weird doing this with no date, but he supposed they knew each other for nearly a year and they got along well enough. Now it was just a matter of cultivating that like into love.
Shouldn't be too hard as he was doing that with Jean and Phoenix too. Laura was a bit of an outlier since he had the most love for her aside from Gwen.
''There are a few things I need to inform you off, before we do anything else,'' Bell told her when they parted. A string of saliva connected their lips and Rogue was clearly red in the face.
''Later,'' she kissed him again.
''But-,'' Bell tried.
''Later. I promise you I just want kisses for now,'' Rogue whispered and resumed her activity.
Fine. He can catch her up on most things later.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Summer Break, yuhuuu,'' Bell spun around as they were walking out of Midtown High.
''Hey. Don't you want to compare grades?,'' Peter asked incredulously.
''Grades? You two are geniuses. We all have full marks, except maybe in sport,'' still Bell brought out his Grade Sheet from his back pack.
''You mean the three of us are geniuses,'' Peter corrected and took his paper.
''Yes, yes,'' Bell waved off causing Gwen to roll her eyes.
She didn't understand what his obsession was with not calling himself a genius despite clearly being smart as well. So what if he 'cheated' by using his powers to enhance his brain processing things. A moron was still a moron and would not make any use of that. If anything, they will just use that ability to get themselves quicker into trouble.
But they had that discussion do many times that she got tired of it. It will be a while till she will try to change his mind again.
''Peter, if I were a D&D character then all my stats would be in wisdom-''
That is debate able, Gwen thought to herself. She loved him, but man, he was not good at interacting with women, she noticed. At least not in saying no, that is. Seducing them on the other hand or somehow getting them in his harem...
She didn't mind. Really. But she needed to talk with the others again, because clearly, just voting is not enough. They needed to add criterias, before things escalated. She meant it half jokingly half seriously when she set the limit at 10.
''-and you two would have all your stat points dumped in intelligence,'' Bell told them.
''...Then you just have a different form of intelligence. Understanding humans, I guess or something,'' Peter said a little distracted while comparing,''Man we really have all the same grades.''
''Except in sport,'' Gwen reminded him.
''Well, yeah. Irregularities in sport performance and all that would raise question, so we have to perform as before ...everything,'' Peter muttered and gave Bell his sheet back.
''You guys wanna eat a pizza? It is the best Pizzeria in town. It's called Papi's Pizzeria,'' Bell offered.
''Oh, yes! It has been a while since we ate at Stans place,'' Gwen smiled.
''You know the guy by name?,'' Peter asked.
''Yeah. And WE may not have visited him in a while, but I did every now and then since he is my friend,'' Bell replied.
''Your friend? AND the best Pizzeria in town? Let's go then,'' Peter demanded.
---
Nexus leaned against the wall and watched the party go off. Parties were wild, he already knew back form his college years while he was studying to become a software engineer, but clearly witnessing a mutant party was something else.
Jubilee was constantly creating small fireworks to the grove of the music while she was dancing.
Gambit was doing some card tricks.
Kurt was teleporting everywhere creating his own colorful sparks high above the room.
Bobby was making ice cubes for everyone, while vibing himself.
And so on and so forth.
Honestly?
There was beauty in all this chaos, in all these explosions of color.
He said his greetings to a few of the students as they passed him by.
Nexus hummed to himself and then pushed himself of the wall.
He did promise one, well, two people a dance during their graduation ceremony.
In the end he settled for wearing most of his attire and remove his mask. He would bend light around his head to make it so that he would still 'wear' the mask. And small compulsion by Jean for no one to pay any mind to them as the three of them danced near the wall away from most.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghost Spider landed on the edge of a rooftop and stretched a little to pop a joint.
Now with the Summer Break here, she would have more time to patrol or time for many other activities for that matter as well.
She crouched ready to listen a little to the hustle and bustle of the city. Then she decided to jump and swing, keeping her ears sharp for anyone calling for help.
It was during one of her swings that her hand ...Glitched? It briefly changed into different colors and slightly changed its shape as well.
Uh, what?
Before she could spend too much time wondering what happened she felt herself getting pulled somewhere.
She quickly judged it to be a portal/ wormhole as the lights flashed across her eyes. But a portal to where?
...
She was unceremoniously dumped high in the air at high speed out. More specifically towards a billboard. She shot to web and landed gently on the bill board.
Looking around to see where she was she noticed something that surprised her.
'Peter Parker Dead! Revealed as Spider-Man!' the news across the billboards came.
Impossible. Bell wouldn't let any of them die.
Sooo...
She was not in Kansas anymore? Huh?
It was in that moment that a figure shot out of another portal and she stepped slightly aside as...a person dressed like her landed on the billboard too. Only, unlike her who landed with her knees slightly bent, this person landed in a 'crouch'.
''...!'' she visibly acted surprised when she looked at her.
She stood up and pointed at her. Ghost Spider pointed at her too, since the person wanted to be rude.
She strongly shook her head and ripped her mask off. It was her face just with a different hair style. And she still had that barbell in her eyebrow that Gwen did away with.
''Who are you? Where are we?,'' Gwen2 asked.
''Me? I'm Ghost Spider. And if you are a variant of me, you would keep that mask on. It would be the smart thing to do. Also, judging by the evidence We are not in out original universe anymore,'' Ghost Spider pointed towards the billboard.
Gwen2 gaped at that. But not for the reasons Ghost Spider thought.
In her world Peter died as The Lizard.
''We are not in Kansas anymore, huh?,'' Gwen2 asked making Ghost Spider snort.
''Nope. I guess we need to find out what happened and what we are dealing with. And maybe find a way home,'' Ghost Spider logically thought.
Most likely, sooner or later Bell would drop by. But she always maintained that she wanted to pull her own weight and not be a burden to him, so for now she would act as if he wouldn't come to rescue her.
''Well, then... ME or NOT ME or ... whatever. Where do you suggest we begin?,'' Gwen2 asked her.
''Well...''
(A.N.: 10775 words. Before you ask Gwen/ Ghost Spider is out Gwen. Gwen2/ Ghost Spider2 is anyone else but our Gwen. Same with any other character and their variant. But I will always give a reminder every time, so no worries.
Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers.)