- I've been rereading some of my old Marvel comic books, namely the original Civil War storyline and the Secret Invasion. It caught me by surprise when I realized those major events in the 616 universe are almost a decade old now. Civil War was introduced around 2005 while the whole Secret Invasion started at the end of 2007...I think. It's 2020 now but sometimes it feels like those storylines just happened recently.
But I know you're not here to read about my trip down memory lane. Odds are some of you may not even know what I'm talking about. Please enjoy the story.
...
Their journey trip back to Earth was a quiet one. Nobody had the heart to say anything after they left the mad Titan's planet. Killing Thanos was the only thing that they accomplished and even then it didn't make their defeat any less bearable. With the Infinity Stones destroyed, there was no way to bring back all the people who were erased from existence.
The time was a little past midnight when they arrived home. Rocket landed the Benatar in the grass field south of the Avengers Compound. The team sullenly exited the ship one by one until Spider-Man and the Black Widow were the only ones left. Natasha hadn't let go of Peter's hand for the entire trip...his presence was the only thing that kept her from breaking down again.
"Nat?" He whispered, pulling her up from her seat. "Let's go inside."
The Black Widow nodded in silence and leaned her head on Peter's shoulder as he led the way. They walked past the infirmary, where he saw Rhodey speaking with Pepper and a bedridden Tony. He was presumably telling them the details of what happened at the Garden and the cold harsh fact that nothing could be done to save the ones who were erased. Spidey didn't envy that task...but he'd have to do it himself when it came time to tell Darcy tomorrow.
When they finally reached her quarters, she went to her drawer and pulled some clothes out to change into. He tried to leave to give her some privacy but she grabbed him by the arm.
"Please...stay." Natasha whispered before she pressed her lips against Peter's.
The young Spider gave a small smile once they pulled apart and he closed the door behind him. His suit retracted back into the web-shooters. Natasha changed into a comfortable shirt and pair of shorts before she climbed into her bed. Peter removed his web-shooters and set them down on her dresser. Taking off his jeans, he slipped beneath the blankets and laid down beside her.
She moved over and rested her head on Peter's chest. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes again as she thought of Wanda and Maria. She felt like a fool for believing things would be fixed so easily...nothing in their lives had ever gone so smoothly.
Why the hell did she think this time would be any different?
"Nat...it wasn't your fault." He whispered, sliding his arm around her waist.
She let out a humorless chuckle. "It isn't? I told Steve that everything would turn out okay...but look at us now. We still failed. I ended up raising our hopes for nothing."
"We were all hoping for the best. There's nothing wrong with that."
"...None of our team deserved to die at the hands of that bastard."
Peter kissed the top of her head. "I know. At the very least, Thor killed him."
"It doesn't really help the situation on Earth though. You're telling Darcy about what happened tomorrow, right?"
"There's no point in hiding it from her. I don't think she'll take this well though."
"No...but we'll be there for her." She whispered.
That went without saying. He made a promise to check on Carol too. She looked utterly devastated when they learned about the destruction of the Infinity Stones. It was fair to believe she would be mourning for Maria and Monica Rambeau again tonight. The single mother and her daughter were the only loved ones she had left on Earth and now there was no chance of bringing them back.
Natasha caressed the side of Peter's face with her left hand. "I'm glad you're still with me."
"I always will be. Whatever comes next...we'll face it together."
…
Four years later...
It took a long time but the world was able to eventually move on. Life returned to normal for most people...although there were a few noticeable differences. With half of the population still missing, the streets of a lot of major cities were eerily quieter than ever before and New York was no exception. Empty vehicles still littered some of the roads. Surrounding the Statue of Liberty were dozens of abandoned ships and boats. With no one to maintain them, the metal on some of the ships were rusting away.
Public schools and private institutions were in disarray for almost a year but the government was eventually able to get things back on track. A memorial had been erected in Central Park to honour the many who died so suddenly. So many names were carved into the stone and it still scared some people to know that there was once something out there capable of eradicating lives on such a grand scale.
The general public decided to call this tragedy the 'Decimation'...which seemed appropriate given how half of all life was erased in an instant.
There were some people who blamed the Avengers and other superhumans for the Decimation. These individuals were the same folks who had never held them in the highest regard to begin with. Very few took the haters seriously though and the latter ended up looking like fools. Most didn't believe the superhero team to be responsible while some just decided actual evidence was needed to back up such outrageous claims.
The Avengers had changed a lot too. Captain America decided to step down from being the leader of the team temporarily. For the past three years, he and Bucky helped to counsel those who were still traumatized by the major tragedy in weekly group therapy sessions. Tony Stark retired from active service as Ironman so he could focus on being a loving husband/father to Pepper and their young daughter, Morgan.
Pepper gave birth to a beautiful little girl about a year after the battle of Wakanda. Oddly enough, Tony decided to name his daughter after Pepper's alleged eccentric uncle. Pepper only allowed it because Morgan was a beautiful name that actually suited their child. The newborn Stark was a cute bundle of joy and everyone immediately grew attached to her.
Dr. Banner also took some time off to resume his old career as a scientist. Miraculously, he learned how to gain control of his Hulk form by shutting himself in a gamma lab for eighteen months. Now Bruce not only possessed the strength of the Hulk but he also retained his intelligence and sense of calm. War Machine on the other hand continued to serve as an Avenger and he was often sent to take down criminals making trouble in other nations.
The Black Widow was now the interim leader of the Avengers and coordinated the team's movements from the Compound. She didn't work in the field as much anymore and while it felt odd for her at first to be the one giving out orders, Natasha eventually grew used to it. Carol was able to help the Avengers on Earth more often now, thanks to Rocket and Nebula assisting her in protecting other planets.
As for Spider-Man...he spent a lot of time in New Asgard, helping the Asgardians adjust to their new lives on Earth. Thor still sat on the throne...but he hadn't been doing a very good job of being their King. The God of Thunder was still deeply depressed about their loss against Thanos and he spent most of his days wallowing in pity while trying to drown out his sorrows. Valkyrie stepped up as the unofficial leader in his stead and she proved to be a surprisingly effective ruler.
Hela worked with her closely to guide their people despite their uneasy relationship with each other. The irony was not lost on either of them but they understood the future of their race was more important than their petty grievances.
Peter was currently in New Asgard now, fixing the outboard engine of a fishing boat in the harbour. He took out a couple of broken drive belts and replaced them with some new ones.
"Alright, give it a crank!" He yelled.
Bjorn nodded before he turned on the ignition again. Instead of the failing sputter noises the engine was making earlier, it now roared smoothly like it just came back to life. The Asgardian fisherman grinned and gave Spidey a thumbs up.
"We got it!"
Peter returned the gesture and wiped his hands with a rag before he stepped off the boat. Bjorn left the driver's seat and joined him on the dock.
"Thanks for your help. My boat has been acting up for the last couple of days but I couldn't figure out why."
"Ah, it was no trouble at all. Is there anything else that needs fixing?"
Bjorn shook his head. "No. I'll let Helga know that our boat is repaired. Thank you again."
Spidey waved goodbye to the former soldier. The few surviving Asgardian soldiers that were left had retired from active duty. Bjorn was just one of the many who took up fishing as a new profession. They still kept up with their training though to honour their proud warrior traditions. It hadn't been easy for the Asgardians to adjust to their new lives on Earth but their drive to succeed and pure stubbornness helped them learn quickly.
Hefting his tool bag behind his shoulder, Peter left the harbour and headed in the direction of Thor's house. The sound of guns firing could be heard as he got to the front door...Korg was probably playing Fortnite again online. The rock giant was surprisingly a good gamer.
"Thor? You there?" Peter called out, entering the house.
Korg paused the game and waved at the webslinger. "Hey, Peter. Thor's asleep over there."
Spidey looked over at the couch on the other side of the small living room and found the God of Thunder snoring away. There were bread crumbs in his messy beard and in his left hand held a half full can of beer. Miek was standing at the small table beside the couch, laying out some aspirin and a glass of water. They were presumably for Thor after he woke up and his hangover got to him.
Peter bumped fists with the insectoid alien. "What's up, Miek?"
Miek just shrugged before he pointed at Thor and chattered away with a tone of exasperation in his voice. It seemed like he was a little annoyed about having to deal with Thor's drunken antics on a daily basis.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Jane will give him a good scolding. Where is she anyways?"
"Oh, She left with Darcy to buy some food for lunch." Korg said. "You want to wait here? They'll be back soon."
Peter nodded and set his bag of tools down on the table. The rock giant gave him an extra controller so he could play the game too. Spidey wasn't really a fan of Fortnite but he joined in anyways to help pass the time. The second he grabbed the controller, the game dropped them into a match and they quickly moved their player characters to cover.
For about ten minutes, they scored numerous kills on the opposing players but both of them got shot down a few times too. Korg cheered whenever Peter killed a player called Noobmaster69. Apparently, there was some sort of rivalry between him and this individual. Jane and Darcy returned just as their session ended and the young Spider got up to help them with their bags.
"Hi, Peter. When did you get here?" Jane asked, handing him a bag full of chicken sandwiches.
"About fifteen minutes ago. I came by to check on Thor."
Darcy removed her jacket and put it on the coat rack. "Well, he hasn't changed much since yesterday or ever really."
Her boss just sighed before she and Peter placed the sandwiches onto two large plates. Darcy grabbed three cups of hot coffee from the bag in her hands and set them down on the counter.
"Alright, time to eat. Just don't make a mess and leave bits of food all over the floor...that means you, Miek." Jane gave him a stern look.
The insectoid gladiator had the decency to look ashamed...somehow. Peter took a few sandwiches for himself before he and Darcy sat down together to eat. Jane went over to Thor and tried to wake him up by shaking his shoulder gently. When that didn't work, she went with plan B...and promptly brought her ex-boyfriend out of the land of dreams by slapping his face.
"W-what's going on?" He slurred out. Jane backed up a little as she covered her nose...his breath reeked of alcohol. "Are we under attack?"
"No. We're waking you up because it's time to eat."
Thor yawned as he stood up. His once muscular physique had deteriorated due to his non-stop drinking and lack of physical activity. Now he had a funny beer belly that seemed to grow rounder everyday. If Volstagg were still here, he'd probably be proud of his old friend. Unfortunately, the portly Asgardian and his family were one of the many victims that got erased from existence four years ago.
"Young Parker? It's so good to see you again, my friend." He said cheerfully, lifting Spidey from his seat to give him a giant bear hug.
Darcy just laughed as she watched her boyfriend squirm. "Thor, you saw me just two days ago."
"I did?"
"Yeah. Jane and I took away your drinks after you had too much again and then you started crying...remember?"
The God of Thunder tried to recall said incident but his head hurt too much for him to think properly. "Not really. I can't remember much of anything that's happened in the last week."
"That's not surprising." Jane muttered. "Now put Peter down and eat your lunch. Afterwards, you're going out for a walk. I'm not going to let you mope around in this house all day."
Thor grumbled but obediently listened to her and wandered off to the kitchen to eat with Miek and Korg. The astrophysicist had been staying in New Asgard for the past three years to help take care of him. Despite her best efforts, not even she was able to snap the King of Asgard out of his depression. Peter sat back down next to Darcy and they resumed eating their chicken sandwiches.
Jane took a seat in the chair across from them. "So how was your day, Peter?"
"Not bad. I just finished helping Bjorn fix his fishing boat."
"That's good. We're still going back to the Compound by the end of this week, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Morgan will be happy to see you again."
Jane smiled at the thought of the adorable girl. "I'll be glad to see her too. I can't believe Morgan's four already."
Darcy laid her head down on her boyfriend's shoulder. "Kids grow fast these days. I mean just look at Amora...the first time we saw her, she was this cute little teenage girl. Now she looks better than most supermodels."
The young Spider couldn't help but agree with that. The kind natured blonde had grown to be an attractive young lady. He was certain Amora would be breaking quite a few hearts once she matured into an adult. Her sister, Lorelei, was no longer a shy child. She had grown to be a lot more confident and playful.
"Are you jealous of Amora?" Jane jokingly asked.
"No. Well...maybe a little. I wished I had looked that good when I was eighteen."
Peter leaned in closer to her ear. "You're always beautiful to me, Darcy."
Her cheeks turned a tinge of pink as she lovingly pressed her lips against Peter's. Jane just watched the young couple with an amused smile on her face...but a twinge of envy also struck her heart. While it wasn't known to anyone, she still held some unresolved feelings for Thor. There were days when she missed the relationship they once shared.
Part of her held a small sense of hope that they would be able to start over again. There were only two problems though...one of which was that she needed Thor to stop wallowing in his self pity. The other was the fact that he and Lady Sif had gotten together before her untimely death. Four years may have passed but the God of Thunder still missed her terribly. Trying to get together with Thor while he was still mourning would've made her look like an opportunistic bitch.
…
"Any luck with finding Hawkeye?"
"Not yet. All we've found so far are murdered corpses of drug dealers, sex traffickers, and child molesters in different parts of the world. Hawkeye's last killing spree was in Italy and it happened about three days ago."
Peter frowned on his end of the line. "...So nothing's changed then. How's Natasha doing?"
Jessica glanced over at the Black Widow, who was reading over some local police reports of the killings in Italy at her desk. "Working hard as always. Don't worry though, I've made sure your girlfriend rests every now and then so she doesn't overexert herself."
"I heard that." Natasha said without looking away from the papers in her hands.
The young Spider chuckled. "Thanks, Jessica. I owe you one."
"Just make me some chocolate chip pancakes once you get back and we'll call it even. Your dating life is really interesting though...I still don't know how you manage to get yourself in such a weird relationship."
"It's a long story."
"You'll have to tell me about it sometime because I'm dying to know. See you all back here on Monday."
"Of course. Take care of yourselves."
"You too." Jessica said before she hung up.
Peter hung up too and tucked his phone back into his pockets. With the Avengers scattered all over the place these days, he was glad Jessica was there to help out Natasha with her workload. The private detective tried to hide it most of the time but he knew she was giddy about being able to work with the Black Widow in a official capacity.
Spidey rested his arms on the overhang and admired the view of the town below. Many of the Asgardians were out in the streets, spending quality time with their friends or family on this nice quiet evening. It was always cloudy around here but there was no rain tonight luckily.
"Enjoying the night air?"
Hela approached from behind with a couple of drinks in her hands, one of which was fruit juice as she knew the young Spider didn't like the taste of alcohol. The Goddess of Death didn't really change much in the last four years. One notable difference though was the fact that the Asgardians weren't afraid to be around her anymore. She had worked hard to build them a new home alongside Thor and even helped Valkyrie lead them through the first few years of living on Earth. While it didn't erase the atrocities that she committed on Asgard, most of the Asgardians had learned to forgive her and move on.
"Hi, Hela." He said, taking the cup of fruit juice.
Fenris was right behind her and she greeted him with a happy bark. Peter grinned as he reached down to pet the wolf on her head.
"Good to see you too, Fenris. How are you both?"
"We're well, thank you."
The Goddess of Death went to stand beside him on the overhang. Seeing her fellow Asgardians in such good spirits brought a small smile to her face. After everything that they've suffered through in the past few years, her people deserved to be happy. Hela still felt some regret for her past transgressions against them and while they would hardly be blamed for bearing a grudge against her...most found the strength to grant her forgiveness instead.
That couldn't have been an easy decision to make and it was very humbling for her to say the least. The Goddess of Death gazed at Spider-Man with fondness in her eyes...none of this would've been possible if she hadn't taken his words to heart.
Peter was drinking some of his fruit juice when a soft pair of lips suddenly pressed a kiss on his left cheek. "W-whoa, Hela?"
She couldn't help but chuckle at how flustered he looked. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to give you my thanks."
"For what?"
"...You believed I could be more than just a simple-minded warmonger. Had it not been for you, I probably never would've understood the importance of earning my people's respect the right way."
"You alone made the effort to change for the better. All I did was push you in the right direction."
"It was a push that was long overdue for thousands of years...thank you."
Peter smiled before he slid his arm around the Goddess of Death and held her close. Hela leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, savouring the warmth the young Spider provided.
…
- I've played Fortnite a couple of times to see what it was like but I'm not a fan of the game. I prefer Apex Legends or Overwatch when it comes to the Battle Royale genre of video games.
- It doesn't make much of a difference but I just set the time skip to be four years later. Peter's twenty two now in case anyone was wondering. Till next time, folks.