Chapter 3: Friend or Foe?
"Who the hell do you think you are!?!"
A very angry Tony Stark had pinned "Quentin" to a wall, a repulsor stuck in the latters face.
"Look, Antoni-Tony, I have a lot to explain."
The eye slits on the iron man mask darkened.
"You're supposed to be dead 'Beck'. I know who you are Daniel Burkhart. I know what you did. It takes a lot of gall to walk back in hear."
The man struggled against the grip of the Iron Man suit.
"Stark...just let me explain."
The iron man mask retracted, revealing a very angry looking Tony Stark.
"I think I already have enough explanation. You stole my tech, framed a teenager for murder, attempted to KILL MILLIONS IN EUROPE-"
A green blast of energy sent Tony flying across the room.
In an instant the other Avengers were battle ready.
"I didn't want to have to do that..." 'Quentin' said, dusting himself off.
He turned to the other Avengers.
"Please people, you need to listen to me."
"And why should we?" I asked.
He turned to me.
"Because Mr. Parker, I need to clarify a lot with you folks."
'Quentin' raised his hands in the air.
"I come in peace, and I promise that this is no illusion."
Sam scoffed.
"Promises don't mean shit coming from a guy who lies as a profession."
Rhodes had multiple guns trained on the man in his War Machine suit, and Sam had his shield.
"Move and you're dead, start talking." He said, looking to Tony.
"Speak dome-head." Tony added.
"Ok, thank you. My name is Quentin Beck, I come from Earth -1479. I was brought to your universe when Tony snapped, and yes my Earth was destroyed, but not by 'Elementals'-" Beck said. "It was destroyed by Thanos. On my Earth, you failed to take the stones from him. He snapped, and decimated our universe."
We all looked at each other, unsure whether to believe him or not.
Quentin continued.
"Some of us were decimated, some, like myself, were scattered across the multiverse. The 'Mysterio' you know, Daniel Burkhart, is my doppelgänger from this Earth. You each had one on my Earth too."
Tony cocked his head.
"How the hell do you expect us to believe you?"
Quentin sighed.
"I don't, I really don't. All I have is a recording from your counterpart in my world Tony. His name was Antonio Stark, and he's the reason I'm alive."
A suit suddenly materialized around 'Beck' in a cloud of green smoke, the suit identical to the one Mysterio wore.
A video projection appeared from his right gauntlet, and he held it up for everyone to see.
The face of a man incredibly similar to Tony's appeared.
"My name is Antonio Stark. A few days ago, a hole was torn in my dimension and strange things have been coming through. This on top of Thanos and Lady Death has proven to be too much. We're losing. I've created this video as a precaution for any hostilities for the brave people who volunteered to go through the hole..."
I looked to Tony, but he looked deep in thought.
"...we are desperate. Some of us need to survive. Give them a chance if they survive. We need-"
A loud explosion rocked the video.
"Shit! J.A.R.V.I.S. close the video."
Antonio suited up into strange looking armour and flew off before the video cut.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y.? Any illusions?"
"None at all boss."
Quentin lowered his arm.
"I was a hero on my Earth. Your ex-employee, Daniel Burkhart, stole my identity, copied my suit and my powers and used your tech to take advantage of what Thanos did to your Earth. I'm not the same man he was."
I crossed my arms.
"If you weren't him, how do you know my name?"
'Quentin' sighed.
"I've seen the footage. I've got a lot I need to do to clear my name, and I need to amend what my doppelgänger did. I'm sorry that he used me to hurt you Peter."
"Happy, come escort our 'friend' to a cell and keep him there until we can fact check his story."
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Tony had his head in his lap when Happy and I entered his lab.
"Mr. Stark? Is everything ok?"
Tony sighed and turned around to face us.
"His story checks out."
Happy nodded.
"Daniel Burkhart was a former employee of Stark Industries, and was in fact the man you fought kid."
My eyes widened.
"How do you know Mr. Stark?"
Tony stood up and rested his hand on my shoulder.
"I've been researching his story all day. A hole was opened in our dimension after my snap. Daniel found Quentin and used him to make himself a hero. He tormented you as a way of getting back at me. It's Daniel that died in London fighting you, and Beck was imprisoned by the rest of his team."
Tony patted my shoulder.
"This one is good, I think."
I felt a huge weight get lifted off my shoulders.
No one but MJ knew about what Quent-, Daniel, tormented me with in his illusions, and I was glad there was a possibility I wouldn't need to deal with them again.
Tony started to lead me and Happy out of the room.
"Let's go pay old chrome dome a visit."
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"Happy, unlock the door."
"You sure about this Tony?"
"What have I told you about questioning me? I'm the genius."
The door rattled open in front of us and inside was Beck, his full costume on, save the helmet.
"You could've broken out if you wanted, why didn't you?" I asked.
"I needed to earn at least some of your trust."
Tony entered the cell and patted him on the back.
"Your story checks out Cloud 9, yeah I think that's what I'll call you, you're free to go."
Beck looked confused.
"You're letting me go? After everything Daniel did?"
Tony raised a finger.
"There's a few...strings attached. We'll be monitoring you, looking for any other people from your dimension, stuff like that."
Tony made a gesture for him to follow him, and Beck did.
"You'll need to keep in contact with us here at the compound. If you decide to take up the Mysterio mantle, or reclaim it i suppose, let someone here know."
Quentin smiled softly.
"Thank you Stark."
Tony just patted his back and walked off.
Quentin turned to me and his face hardened.
"Peter, I get it if you don't trust me, but know I'm not like Burkhart. I want to protect this world unlike my own. We failed my Earth, but I won't fail yours."
I smiled weakly at Beck.
He stuck his hand out, and reluctantly I took it.
"I'll be seeing you around Peter."
And with that, Quentin Beck left the room.
I left, feeling my chest tighten.
I walked as fast as I could towards the guest room across the hall from my quarters.
Knocking on the door, it opened almost instantly, and I was pulled into a hug.
"Peter, you're ok. It's ok you dork."
I squeezed MJ as hard as I could.
"Peter...stop...too...tight..."
I immediately stopped hugging her.
"Oh my god MJ I'm so sorry."
She smiled and pulled me into the room.
"It's ok, I know you're stressed. I saw who you and Stark had to deal with all day."
I sighed and sat down on her bed.
"My 'Peter Tingle' wasn't going off, and Mr. Stark fact checked everything. He's not the same guy who tried to kill us-"
"-but he still makes you afraid. I know." MJ finished my sentence.
MJ sat down beside me and rested her head on my shoulder.
"If he tries anything, I'll beat him with that mace I'm 'borrowing' from the queens vault."
I smiled and wrapped my arm around her.
"Thanks MJ, I'm sorry for making your life infinitely more complicated."
"I'm here by choice you idiot."
MJ stood up and I groaned in protest.
"Let's go for a walk Peter, I think we both need some fresh air."