"So, let's see what else the creep is up to." Sersi growled. This Beck guy sounded like he would be a real piece of work, she was only sad that they couldn't do anything to him, even if their purpose had been a lie, he was still a human, and they had to protect them only. Though from what she had gathered from the others, this Beck had already been dealt with.
They got into the hotel, seeing it was a five star upgrade, as Harrington plugged the festival of lights that was happening at the time, Peter received a call from Hill, telling him they only had hours left and it was time to prepare. Ned begged Peter to fix it, as Peter looked at the class in worry, the scene jumped to show Fury telling Parker to get ready, as Mysterio told Fury that Peter was just worried as they had kidnapped him.
"You mean you kidnapped him by guilt tripping him into this." Matt stated.
"I'm such an idiot, not focusing on what's up with him." Ned sighed.
"No, you're just worried, that's fine, you're there for Peter, he knows that." Spider-Man 2 reassured him.
"Yeah, he appreciates you, man." Spider-Man 3 said, flashing a smile at Spider-Man 2 and Ned. Both nodded back at him.
"I'm gonna punch Beck when we get back, heist or no heist." Tony vowed.
"I'm helping." Natasha told him.
Peter went through the plan, calling him "Mr Beck" to which he replied that his name was Mysterio, with a raised eyebrow to Peter who grinned. Mysterio then told him that they had to keep it from metal, if it grew too big, it would be unstoppable, and that civilian casualties were to be avoided if possible but were acceptable if necessary.
"He's trying to win Peter over, he's definitely after E.D.I.T.H." Bruce stated.
"It's working too, poor kid, lost alot of role models in his life, now one literally drops from the sky and takes an interest and liking in him, of course he's falling for it." Natasha sighed sadly.
"Civilian casualties are never acceptable if they can be avoided." Wanda growled.
"Beck cares only for himself and how he's viewed, he's an egomaniac." Clint scowled. "The more dead the better if it helps make him look good, I'm sure."
Fury laid into Peter, saying he had been given a multi billion dollar defence network and tried to kill his friends with it, that Peter wasn't ready for the responsibility of being a hero. The scene then changed to him sat at the bell tower, Mysterio flying up to speak to him, saying Fury felt bad.
"I have to say, this fake Fury does nail all the right beats." Steve stated.
"Are we sure he really is fake and just isn't off his game? I mean, he may not have contacted Strange as he didn't have a contact for him?" Flash asked.
"No, the wizard is right. I don't know Fury well, but I do know the mortal is smart enough not to fall for these cheap tricks." Thor told him. "Whoever this is, or whatever this is, it's not Fury."
"He's an absolute idiot, Peter's doing his best, he hasn't tried to kill anyone on purpose, and he saved Brad's life!" MJ railed.
"Well he doesn't know Peter like we clearly do...did...do?" Ned asked. "I hate magic sometimes."
"Why is he saying Fury feels bad?" Betty asked. "Also, no you don't Ned."
Peter asked "Really?" and Mysterio asked "You guys do have sarcasm on this Earth, right?"
"There's the other world thing again. Really trying to appeal to Peter's sense of scientific discovery." Eddie noted.
"HE IS SMART. HIS BRAIN WILL TASTE DELICIOUS." Venom stated with vindictive glee as he came out again to the wider room.
"What the fuck." Kingo said, looking at the Symbiote properly for the first time. "Have we ever seen anything like that before?"
"I think it's a Symbiote." Spider-Man 2 told him quietly. "Just ignore it and don't provoke it."
"How would you know what that thing is?" Kingo asked him.
"We're acquainted, in a sense." He said grimly.
Mysterio asked how he was, Peter explained he had a plan with this girl he liked and didn't think he would have to save the world that summer, that he could have a normal experience. Mysterio explains he isn't bad for wanting a normal life, that part of him wishes he could tell Peter to run, but the rest of him knows what they're against, that he needs the help and is glad Peter is there.
"He's really laying it on thick to try manipulate Peter, isn't he?" MJ growled.
"He's a master at it." Tony agreed, scowling. "At least Pete likes you, huh?"
"I mean, I don't get why. I doubt we even got together." MJ blushed, trying to hide it.
"I wouldn't be too sure." Happy teased.
"We don't, do we?" MJ asked. It sucked that Happy seemed to fully remember Peter and she only had bits of it, it was her that Peter liked, wasn't it? Why couldn't she remember more?
Mysterio jokes if they survive, Peter will have all summer to kill Brad as the two smile at each other. Peter then jumps down and gets E.D.I.T.H to get opera tickets for his class to keep them indoors whilst he fights the fire Elemental.
"Well I don't think Peter plans to ever try kill anyone again." Scott remarked.
"Opera? Good choice of a distraction, would keep them busy for a few hours, odds are Beck will target a busier area, the opera won't be that busy, compared to other parts of the city." Natasha noted.
The class complained about the Opera as Peter got Ned to rally them saying how it would be a good experience as Mr Harrington led them through the Festival of light crowds and to the Opera. Peter and MJ spoke at the Opera, both saying the other looked pretty and MJ saying she would save Peter a seat until he was called away by Nick and Hill and left the rest of the class behind, claiming illness and fuming as Brad swore at him and sat down. MJ, Betty and Ned rose from their seats to follow Peter to escape the Opera.
"Well I wouldn't want anything to do with him anyway, Brad's a prick." MJ stated.
"I used to like Brad, he was dreamy, but yeah, that's just the move of a jerk." Betty agreed.
"Ned with the great saves." Abe laughed.
"Why are you all following him? You don't want to get caught in Beck's crossfire." Bruce said.
"We have to see what our friend is upto." Betty insisted, as the others nodded. Peter would need their help, even if they didn't remember doing this or helping him.
Fury asked how the suit was as Peter complained it was tight, before it cut to Ned and Betty boarding the Ferris wheel, MJ looking through the crowd for Peter before a nearby statue began to bubble, the fire elemental breaking out of it and devouring the statue as people began to panic, Peter called for Mysterio who flew in, saying Peter had the lead.
"Couldn't Fury get the measurements right?" Scott joked.
"Damn, that certainly looks real." Abe stated.
"Meh, I've seen better illusions." Sprite shrugged.
"Giving Peter the lead? Why?" Steve asked.
"Trying to manipulate Peter into thinking he cares about him." Yelena noted, eyes narrowing.
Peter and Mysterio fought around the elemental as it grew bigger, feeding on the metallic structures of the playground, Betty and Ned panicked in the wheel, Betty asked if the black suited hero was Spider-Man, Ned explained it was a European ripoff named Night Monkey, as the two of them began to call for Night Monkey to save them.
"How did I fall for that?" Betty groaned, putting her head in her hands.
"Well I'm an incredible liar." Ned teased, grinning.
"That must have been a terrifying thing for you, are you both alright?" Kate asked them.
"It seems to have been a common thing before all of this, D.C, The Blip, Prague, London, we clearly had alot." Betty said. "I just wish I remembered it all better."
Mysterio saved Peter from an attack and called for Plan B, throwing rocks and other materials it couldn't absorb at it, sealing them in with Mysterio's energy, hurting it, Mysterio called for Peter to keep his distance and to stop it reaching the Ferris Wheel, as it went towards it, Mysterio slowed it with his energy beams.
"You know if this was a real threat, I'd be impressed." Rhodey remarked.
"He's definitely good at the theatrics of it all, probably studied the Avengers for years." Clint nodded.
"Well why isn't Peter realising his attacks aren't doing any real damage to it, you'd think he'd see that?" Kingo asked.
"Heat of the battle, you never really notice that if you're in a team until going over it after the action." Thor told them. "Surely you'd know that, Eternals?"
"What's an Eternal?" The Avengers and Midtown group asked.
"A story for another time." Thena spoke up.
"Agreed, we should really find out what Beck was up to and if it factors into all of why we can't remember Peter, bar a handful of us now." Matt stated. "Personally, I'm hoping my interactions with him are far less stressful than all of the fighting."
"You're a really good lawyer." Happy said, chuckling to himself as he remembered the exchange at the flat after the trials. He did wonder though, how had Murdoch caught that brick when it was behind him and he's blind?
Peter shot a web towards the wheel, being confused as something went flying away, it landed in a side street as MJ noticed it. Mysterio and Peter then continued to fight the elemental, which was growing more and more, Mysterio worrying as it got even bigger, before declaring
it was too late to stop it as Hill said it was too late.
"What was that?" Druig asked.
"A way to end this." MJ said, thinking back on how she had shown Spider-Man the drone parts. Well, showed Peter she guessed, it was still foggy in her mind was that interaction.
"So going for the grand finale, saying they can't stop it before some miraculous way to do it?" Rocket asked.
"Yeah this isn't Hill, Hill wouldn't buy this BS." Natasha said. "Why is Beck projecting Fury and Hill though when they're not with him?"
Beck told Peter whatever happened, he was glad they met, saying he was gonna do what he should have on his world, drawing his own power into him, he charged into the Elemental, as it exploded, Beck landed on the floor in a heap as Peter rushed to his side. Beck opened his eyes as Peter helped him up. Betty telling Ned she would kiss him if she hadn't just thrown up as Ned said he had a mint.
"God, he's pretty good at all of this. If I didn't know he was a fraud, I'd probably think he was a massive hero, I mean, at the time, I did." Kate admitted. "He's definitely good at playing it up and manipulating it all."
"He's really trying to channel me, saying he's glad he met Peter, how he would make the sacrifice play like I clearly do, he's good." Tony growled, thinking of all the ways he was going to rip Quentin Beck apart.
"I mean, I would have kissed you still." Ned told Betty, blushing, as she blushed too.
"Well...Maybe you still can?" Betty asked as Ned grinned, leaning in to press his lips to hers as everyone else turned back to the screen.
Fury said that wasn't the last threat Earth would ever face, saying he was having a meeting in Berlin in a few days to discuss forming a new Avengers, and that he wanted Beck and Spider-Man there. Beck said he would, Fury told Peter that maybe Stark was wrong about Peter, that the world needed him to step up now, but would he do it?
Beck patted Peter and said "Let's get a drink." as they headed to a local bar together.
"Yeah it wouldn't be, if it were real, but a new Avengers? We still exist, even if we've not really had a need to come together since Thanos." Rhodey frowned.
"If Beck had been in a new Avengers, I'd have resigned." Scott said.
"Are you even an Avenger, Tic Tac?" Sam joked.
"I'd say anyone who fought Thanos deserves to be recognised as an Avenger." Steve stated. "That includes everyone who fought him in here."
"I've been wrong about many things in my life, just blindly trusting the Accords and the good of the government was one of them. But there's definitely one thing I was never wrong about, and that was how Peter was far better than me, and that he was the future. I would have never been wrong about him." Tony insisted.
"Peter shouldn't be drinking, he's just seventeen." Hope frowned.
"He's a warrior!" Thor exclaimed. "A man who has earned it!"
"Exactly, the Man Spider is a hero." Drax concurred.