Pam, Pete, and Harley

by Wiggles-n-stuff

Good ol' Parker Luck. Peter Parker is living with two very attractive ladies. Both are strong, intelligent... and villains. Oh boy. Spidey is sucked into the DC verse by accident, and immediately stumbles upon the two women. How will the web-head deal with this new world, and what's the goal of the Sirens in keeping him under thumb? Cover Art by Comfort Love and Adam Withers

10. The Powers That Be

Chapter 10: The Powers That Be

KEY: 'Words' = Peter 4th Wall-ing

'Words' = Peter's Thoughts (Not 4th Wall-ing it)

X X X X

- Dec. 27th / Late Morning / Present -

The Loft

"Seriously?" Peter asks utterly astounded.

"Seriously." Harley replies, smiling ear to ear.

"You can't be serious." He asks again, shaking the cobwebs from his head.

"I am serious." Harls nods, taking a seat.

"This... this is too much. Bubbles I... I'm at a loss here. I... I... I don't know what to say." Peter rambles, his eyes looking about to tear up. He beams a shaky genuine smile at her.

"Ya don't have to say a thing, Petey. Just promise me that you'll take care of her." Harleen runs her hand over the fabric in small circles.

"Of course! It's just... I never expected... I promise I'll take the best care of her I can. Harls I'll treasure her forever." Peter sniffs, and quickly closes the distance between them. With outstretched arms he picks her up off the seat and pulls her into a big hug.

"Aww Petey, I know you will." Harley squeezes him tight in their hug, before pulling away.

"Can I...?" Parker trails off meekly.

"Nothing would make me happier." She nods ecstatically. Quinn watches with baited breath as Peter brings his hand up and closes the distance again. Gently he runs it against the fabric.

"ARRGH!" Livewire shouts in frustration, throwing her arms in the air. "God, you'd think you two were having a freaking kid! It's just a motorcycle." She gestures to the black and red Kawasaki Ninja, Peter was running his hand over.

The three of them are in the underground parking garage of the building where the Sirens and Peter live. Harleen was rather eager this morning to show Peter something, and rushed him out the door in his pj's. He barely had time to wake up, none the less start a pot of coffee. A curious Leslie followed them, since she was the only other one up at the time.

With Peter sworn to keep his eyes closed, the three headed down to the garage. A short blind walk from the lift later, and Harleen tossed off a covering sheet to reveal his final Christmas present. Needless to say Peter was stunned.

"Way ta ruin a moment, Sparkles." Harley pouts with puffed out cheeks, hands on her hips.

"I'm gonna treat her like she is my own child, so yeah, she kinda is." Peter says, adding to the electrically powered hero's annoyance.

"Yer just jealous." Quinzel smirks, crossing her arms over chest. Leslie stares hard at her friend, obviously trying to come up with some sort of retort. After a moment she just gives in and lets out a "tch" while looking back to the bike.

"It's not that cool." She murmurs. Harley's smirk grows triumphant, as she turns back to Peter.

"So, know how ta ride one of these? Cause I'm more than happy ta show ya... how ta ride, that is." The blond asks suggestively, before seeing Peter easily and properly mount the vehicle. He expertly checks the gauges, and tests the peddles and handles. Both women blink owlishly at him.

Peter's smile grows, and he sits back on the bike. "No worries, I can. Been a while though, college I think, but yeah I used to have one. Most of the time I just get the occasional refresher course from a mugger or thief." 'You wouldn't believe how many criminals think that having a motorcycle means they can outrun heroes. Sure the chase is a bit more interesting, but I almost always get my man. Mind you there are times when things got a whole lot more interesting.'

"That's... actually pretty surprising." Leslie mentions, still skeptical of what he just said. "I know we haven't known each other long, but you just don't seem the type."

Pete just chuckles and turns to her. "I don't doubt it. More often than not I just web sling where I need to go, or walk otherwise. Still, nerd doesn't usually sit in the same sentence as sweet ride. Every once in a while us brainy types surprise though." He explains, to which Harley slips up next to Peter and presses herself up against him. Her hands run over his chest and then into a loose side hug.

"And what ah surprise when I found out that this nerd is also ah sweet ride." She purrs seductively, as she slides herself onto the bike and side saddle onto Peter's lap. Her hand comes up to rub his right cheek. Both he and his fellow hero flush violently, in their respective hues, at the blatant innuendo.

"Ahhh...umm... yeh...eh heh heh... So this... err that explains the jacket you got me." Peter badly stumbles over his words, in between laughing nervously and thinking of a change of subject. 'Seriously Bubbles, that's kinda personal need-to-know only information. And I'm pretty sure Leslie doesn't need to know.'

"Jeezus, that is not something I needed to hear. Tee em eye!" 'See.' Leslie said with an obvious cringe.

"C'mon Harls, that's kinda personal isn't it?" Peter whispers embarrassed to the woman in his lap. Harley leans away as she intertwines her hands behind his neck to hang off him.

'Harleen and I have been intimate, I won't deny it. Not often, but we have. I'm a grown up after all, and Harls is rather open about her physical attraction to me. There have been a few times where stress or situation had gotten to us, and it just ended up happening. As a willingly consenting adult I was not about to turn down another consenting adult, especially when she's insisting. I've had a shirt or two ripped because of her insisting, if that helps explain.'

'We've never just been together because we wanted to though. Something had always spurred us on. I love Bubbles, not platonic but not romantically either. There has always been a gap there that has stopped us from something more. Lately though... I'm not entirely sure that's the case.'

"Yeah, but I can't help it if I like ta brag." Quinzel smiles cutely.

"Can we get off this subject now, its creepy." Leslie rolls her eyes, and crosses her arms. 'Hey!'

"I think yer eyes just turned green, Hun." Harley grins at her friend. The blue woman stares at her with pursed lips and furrowed brows. 'Annnnd this wont end well...'

"Harls..." Peter's tone is cautionary, but he's cut off by Livewire.

"Oh yeah?" Leslie's pupils fade away under the glow of blue energy. There are distinct crackling sounds in the air, and Peter feel his hair start to stand on end. "And what color are they now, blondie?" Willis grins menacingly, daring her to go on.

"The same, but with a healthy glow." Harley says playfully right back, not relenting her spot on Parker. The guy in question sighs heavily.

Peter clears his throat loudly, breaking the stare down. "That's enough of that, dontcha ya think?" Before Harley could respond Peter slips his left arm under both her knees. He picks her up effortlessly in one arm. Quinn let's out a "Whoa!" as she suddenly finds herself horizontal. She latches onto him tighter and giggles happily at the sudden position shift. 'Question, what's the best way to get Bubbles off of an uncomfortable subject or situation? Answer, do something unexpected.'

Parker swings his leg over and steps off his last Christmas present, as if the woman on his arm weighed nothing. Then he brings her back down so her feet land on the cement. She lets go and rocks back on her heels, snickering the whole time. He manages to catch Leslie's expression of surprise.

"Wheeee! Do it again, do it again!" Harleen bounces in place stretching her arms out to him.

"Maybe later, Bubbles..." He says the first part with a tap of his finger on her nose. She scrunches her nose and follows up with a big smile. Then he realizes Livewire is still staring at him. "...What?" She shakes her head a bit, spiky blue hair shaking with it.

"I forgot you were actually Spider-Man for a second. Not used to seeing strength like that outside of a suit, ya know?" Leslie says looking only slightly embarrassed by being caught staring.

"Yeah, I try to not make it a habit. But sometimes I just gotta be monkey bars to this one." Peter says while placing a hand on Harley's head.

"Way too short attention span, don't I know it." Leslie agrees, as both give each other a sympathetic nod.

"But he has all my attention when that strength is used in the bedroom. Heh heh." Harley says dreamily, even a slight bit of drool starting to slide out the corner of her mouth.

"HARLEY!" Peter shouts in horror.

X X X X

A couple hours later Peter Parker and Wanda Maximoff are walking down a lightly snow covered sidewalk. Their destination, S.T.A.R. Labs Gotham Branch, not more than a good thirty minute walk from the loft. It was something Peter found very convenient, and probably a reason Pam and Harleen lived where they did.

They lived right in Uptown on the edge of Otisburg District near Aparo Park. The apartment overlooks where Sprang River connects to Gotham River. Arkham Asylum could literally be seen from their second story windows, and the Giordano Botanical Gardens were just a hop, skip, and a jump away. 'Conveniently located indeed. Almost as if it was planned. Hmmm.'

After Harley, Leslie, and he returned to the loft, he went about making breakfast. There was a bit of a flare up with Pam, when she learned Harley already showed Peter his secret Christmas present. She wanted to be there when it happened. Parker pulled Isley aside and thanked her profusely for it, which did help get Harls out of the frying pan for the moment.

After making sure bellies were full, Peter convinced his roomies and their parole officer to let him and Wanda leave for a while. The pretense was to show her around, and get her some supplies. In actuality it was that and to introduce her to the Birds, and see what could be done about living arrangements.

It was fought 'Boy was it fought.' by Harley, but he managed to placate her by promising spending the entirety of tomorrow with her. Even taking her on the christening ride of his new motorcycle. Still didn't stop the blond bombshell from basically marking Peter as her territory.

Wanda was begrudgingly lent a hip-hugger pair of jeans and red sweatshirt from Harley too. Again at the Peter's behest, and the promise of making tomorrow a date instead of an outing. He was in his usual white t-shirt and blue jeans. However both were bundled in their respective coats. She in her large red parka, and he in his brown leather jacket.

Together they made casual progress to their first stop. Since they left it seemed like both were at a bit of a loss of conversation starters. It really didn't help that Wanda was staying rather quiet and lost in her own thoughts. So Peter just pointed out sights, and listed off more that he'd show her later.

"You okay?" Peter finally asks, a few blocks from his and Pam's place of employment. Wanda pauses mid stride, and looks to him. This in turn stops Peter.

"Not entirely." She says simply, blinking and turning her gaze up to the sky. Peter follows her example, observing the partly clouded sky.

"Glad you're being honest... but that doesn't really tell me much. " Peter jokes, grinning at her as they look to one another again. Her expression is apprehensive, and it slightly worries him.

"I'm worried about my position with Ms. Isley and Ms. Quinzel. They don't seem to approve of my presence, especially around you." Wanda says after a pause to collect her thoughts. It's a rather blunt statement, and one Peter totally understands.

'Not surprising. Blossom and Bubbles are ten times better now that they were before this little spider showed up. That doesn't mean that they'll be throwing dinner parties and inviting the neighbors to game night any time soon. I noticed the hostility back in the Watchtower. Could they really be that intimidated by a female friend of mine?'

"Well they are just going to have to get used to you. We're friends, and I'm not going to abandon you just because my roommates cant handle another hero around." Peter says full of conviction, and big smile on his face. Wanda returns the smile, less enthusiastically, but she does. Just before she sighs and shakes her head though.

"I truly appreciate that Peter. More than you may realize, but I am rather certain there is more to it than that." She says in a slightly exhausted tone.

"Really? The only thing I can think of would be that they think you'll take me away from..." The brown haired man pauses, his face falling into realization. He visibly gulps, before making eye contact with his companion again. Wanda looks curiously at him, searching for a reason to his sudden shift in demeanor.

"Peter?" She asks cautiously.

"Wanda... it's been so long since I've thought about it, but... now that you are here can... can we go home?" 'Damn... I totally spaced it. I pretty much just fell into a comfortable hero routine after a while. With no news of Wanda, I just pretty much gave up on finding a way home. After all I wasn't going to leave without her, if she was here. And then the thing with Pam and Harls...' His expression changes into one of hesitance. Both his heart and mind search themselves for an answer to the conundrum of leaving or staying.

"I..." The Scarlet Witch pauses, blinking as her mind seems to race too.

"I am not certain if we can." She finally answers after some time. Parker is brought from his own worries when she says this. He blinks his question at her, and the mutant continues. "My magics brought us both here, and one would think we could return the same way. However, it was Phantasia's machinations that created the portal to this dimension. As is my affinity, this destination was randomly chosen, a shot in the dark if you will. In all honesty we were lucky to not be torn asunder in some void, and even more so to end up on the same planet and time." She explains, as her eyes relay that her mind is coming up with many possibilities.

"Anything I know about hocus pocus I gleaned from Strange, and it's shoty at best. But I did pick up a few things. You need a focal point for magic on the reality bending scale to work how you want it, right?" Peter queries crossing his arms and tilting his head. His mind is racing along with hers, trying to figure out if leaving is even an option. He'd worry about the choice after.

"True, and the link between this dimension and our own has long since come and gone. That and from what you have told me, and I have seen for myself, this world holds similarities but no definitive connection with our own. We have both dealt with alternate realities and parallel worlds, but this is something entirely different. I fear if we were to simply try and return we may end up in the same or worse predicament." Wanda stated, a forlorn look about her. She held herself in her own arms, likely not from the cold. Her companion let out a sigh, and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him in a side hug.

"We just found each other again, so I'd rather not. Besides you still owe me a winter coat, remember. I'm not letting you send us on a whirlwind multi-verse tour without it." He said trying to lighten the mood. He was rewarded by feeling Wanda rest her head against his shoulder, with a tiny smile on her lips.

"You have got me there, Peter. Besides..." Her voice quieted at the last word, but Peter still caught it.

"Besides?"

"It may not be too bad staying here a while more." Wanda finished contentedly. Peter grew a goofy grin, and nodded.

"Yeah." He said softly too, and they resumed their walk towards S.T.A.R. Labs.

"Back to the original topic. If you are that worried about my roomies, I'm sure the Birds might be able to set you up with something." Peter added, attempting to set her mind at ease.

- Dec. 19th / 8:57pm / One Year Ago -

Gotham City - Top of Wayne Tower

A red and blue figure rapidly climbed the side of the mostly dark skyscraper. He didn't want to be late to his first group get together with the local hero team. That however didn't stop him from playing it cautious, hence climbing instead of swinging.

"Boy I hope Wingman got that good word in with them about me." He said to himself, as the vigilante bypassed a lit window of the structure. 'This meeting was already a bazillion times less worrisome then my original meet-n-greet with Batman. So far Oracle and the rest weren't trying to get my attention by cutting my web-line mid death defying stunt. That and I had a meeting place and time. Actually now that I think about it it kinda had the feeling of a job interview. I had the same butterflies in my stomach as the day before.'

Reaching the precipice of the tower, Spidey stealthily poked his head up over the ledge. The roof was predictably heavily shadowed, with the snow being no help in the clouded sky. The only light sources were some softly blinking helipad lights, and two overhead lights above the roof access. Needless to say Peter was totally expecting to be jump scared once again.

He spent a minute checking the roof for places that could hide a person or two. 'I am not paranoid. I just don't like being spooked, is all.' Willing his costume to open at his right wrist Peter checked his watch.

8:59 PM

Letting the suit reform over his wrist, Peter inhaled deeply. 'Well if I'm getting jump scared, at least I'm gonna give them a good earful of scream.' He thought, before climbing and hand standing over the edge of the roof, to land on his feet in a crouch. Silence was all that greeted him, as he stood to his full height. The lenses on his mask alternated rising as he looked to each side.

"Oh come on, I even wore cologne for this little soriee. The least you could do is be on time." Peter said in a mock huff. Putting his fists on his hips, he looked around again. SPIDER-SENSE! As Spidey's early warning system instantly put him on guard, a dark violet mass appeared on the helipad. It sprouted up from the ground in a form resembling a bird. Spider-Man reeled back slightly, his mask eyes shooting open fully.

The shadow bird's 'wings' spread open and three individuals stepped out of the inky darkness. The Wall-Crawler recognized two of them, Nightwing and Huntress. The third and one in the middle of the two vigilantes was a young woman, around his age, but maybe a few years younger. Her hair was brilliant red just-past-the-shoulder, and framed her face wonderfully. The soft baby blue eyes behind her glasses immediately locked onto Spider-Man. She was dressed for winter weather in a brown coat and gloves. What caught Parker by surprise was that she was in a wheelchair. 'There's no real need to introduce Babs, is there? I mean the gal pretty much speaks for herself. What an entrance though.'

When the trio came to a stop out of the ethereal bird, it shrunk down to human size and even took on the form of one. The dark violet energy took a solid form, and jumped the spectrum into white. A moment later another woman and newcomer stepped forward. The last remnants of the energy fading off of her. The woman wore a white hooded, gray lined winter cape. The hood currently darkening most of her face. A singular red broach clasped the cape together on her right side. Under that was a matching white coat, and gloves, with form fitted ski pants. Hanging to one side on her hips was a belt made of several similar broaches as the cape clasp.

"Yo Spidey, been a while man." Nightwing grinned, bringing his hand up to mock salute him. Peter shook his head a bit, before letting out a breath.

"You coulda let me know you were gonna be at this party. I almost thought Violet there had set me up." Spider-Man replied jokingly, pointing an upturned finger at Huntress. He visibly relaxed as he started walking toward the group.

"Violet? You little..." 'It's always been fun to pick on Vie.' The Huntress growled narrowing her eyes, and tightening her grip on her collapsed bo staff. Nightwing chuckled and hopped off the helipad. The two met halfway with a handshake.

"Well we did kinda make a big entrance. Precautions and all that, you know." Nightwing explained jovially. They dropped the shake, and the former Batman apprentice turned and patted Spidey on the back, before leading him to the rest of the group.

"You were watching me the whole time, weren't you?" Peter sighed, figuring his stealthy approach failed miserably.

"Yup, but that's because we care about our girl Oracle. She's also why we brought in backup." Nightwing smirked gesturing to the white caped woman, whom Peter still couldn't see the face of. "In your defense it took a while to spot one red and blue pajama'ed man climbing up the side of a building." He jabbed at the Web-Head as they walked up the pad's steps. Peter cringed slightly at the stab at his own stealthiness. 'And that one comment got me starting work on my stealth mode. Tactful as Dick's comment was, it got me thinking about how much I wanted to actually try to scare these guys for a change. That's right kiddos, innovation comes from the desire to see great things accomplished, not childish revenge... Okay sometimes childish revenge.'

"And I told you I didn't need it. Stop being such a mother hen." The red headed woman, revealed to be Oracle, said in an annoyed tone. She watched Spider-Man with rapt attention as he approached. Something Huntress and the other woman did as well. 'Wasn't quite feeling the love from the opposite gender. What else is new, am I right?'

Spidey snorted at Oracle's comment, and looked to the guy next to him. Doing his best to hold in his chuckles. 'Failing epicly, mind you'. "Hehhehhehheh mother hen... Nightwing."

"Don't make me hit you." Nightwing grumbled, which earned a snicker from Oracle and even a mouth twitch from Huntress. The other woman actually cracked a smile, from what Peter could see of her face.

"Sorry, sorry, couldn't help it." Spidey replied with a wide smile, but at least he managed to stop chuckling. He pretended to wipe away a tear from under a lens, as they stopped in front of the three women.

"Whatever." Nightwing rolled his eyes behind his domino mask. "Spider-Man let me introduce you to the leader of the Birds of Prey..." He began before Oracle interrupted by rolling up to the spider-themed hero, and extended her hand. This action caught Spidey by surprise, as he just gawked at the gesture while she spoke up.

"Oracle, a pleasure to meet you Spider-Man." Oracle said confidently, as she held out her hand. Parker blinked behind his mask, still struck by the simple offering of the woman's hand. 'Okay when every other hero you've met has rebuffed your hand shake, you'd be surprised too.' A silent moment passed between them, before she eyed him curiously. "Is something the matter?"

"Uh... oh no, nothing's the matter. It's just your the first person in a while to actually offer me something besides a cold glare on first meetings. Sorry, yes..." Spider-Man quickly took her hand in his own. He bowed down as he turned her hand over, and lightly touched his mask's mouth area to the back of her gloved hand. She was a bit taken aback by the sudden action, but quickly grew a smile. "... and the pleasure is all mine, Oracle."

"Well, quite the charmer aren't you. Unlike somebody else I know." Her gaze fell to Nightwing at her side. 'And here is where my super observational skills of other people's relationships kicks in.' Spider-Man's head turned slightly to look at him too. A smile formed under the fabric of his mask. Nightwing crossed his arms and huffed quietly.

"I try to make my first impressions count." Peter said as he straitened up.

"If mine was any indication you fail most of the time." Huntress guffawed, glaring at the newest Gotham vigilante. Spidey's lenses narrowed and he pointed an accusing finger at the purple clad woman.

"Hello Kettle, I'm Pot. Least I try to be friendly, which is more that I can say about you." He turns to the rest of the group as he continues. "She sneaks up on me, knocks out my baddie, doesn't wanna shake my hand, then leaves me with the clean-up. Yeah some first impression, Vie." Peter chides, placing his hands on his hips.

"You better back that attitude up, unless you're looking for an ass kicking." The Huntress challenged with a glare, taking a menacing step toward him. The Web-Slinger turns and steps up to her. The tension in the air grew thick. Oracle turned to share a look with Nightwing. The white clad woman watched in silence.

"Nice to see you too Huntress. Hope we can work well together from now on" Spider-Man said pleasantly, no hint of hostility, as he held out a hand to her again. And just like that the tension vanished, replaced with a collective of sighs.

"Fat chance." Helena growled, but this time she took his hand and squeezed it hard. Peter barely felt anything from the intimidation attempt. 'And being the adult I am, I let bygones be bygones.'

"Well I'll try to change that." He said cheerfully, before squeezing her hand back. Her face twitched slightly as his grip tightened. With his point proven, Spidey let go of her hand after a shake. He turned back to Oracle. A "Hmph" came from Huntress as she turned away from him, grumbling and rubbing out her hand. Doing her best to just play it off as annoyance.

"Huh, okay then. I guess that just leaves Raven. Spider-Man this is Raven. She's a part of my team, the Titans." Nightwing directed Spider-Man's attention to woman in the white cloak. Raven reached up with both hands and pulled back her hood. She had snow white skin, violet eyes, and black hair. Most noticeable was the red gem on her forehead. She gave the superhero a polite head nod.

"Greetings Spider-Man." Raven said simply. Peter, a bit unsure by her formal greeting, returned the nod, before rubbing the back of his head. He extended his free hand to her, just to be polite.

"Nice to meet you Raven." Parker replied, and much to his surprise Raven shook his hand gently. She quickly returned to her slightly stoic appearance though.

"Yeah Raven here is a bit shy around new people, so you'll have to forgive her." Nightwing joked, gaining a cautionary look from the woman in question.

'Raven is a nice gal, she's just a little hard to get to know. We haven't had much interaction outside of work, so I don't know to much about her background. I do know her father was in inter-dimension demon of sorts, and she was supposedly his vessel or something. Actually when I met her, they had recently stopped him, and she was free of his influence. I was told that was why she was wearing white. A symbol of sorts.'

'Which I can totally relate too. Switching from the Black Suit to the trusty Red and Blues was and still is symbolic for me. Anyways, Raven is a magic user, with a wide variety of powers. Teleportation being one of them. She has this incantation she uses for her spells, which honestly just sounds like gibberish made up of cool sounding words. Then again most magic spells sound that way to me.'

'I'm sad to say that it was a few months after this that I heard something happened to her and she turned evil. The Titans stopped her, but she became a wandering spirit or something of the sort. It wasn't too long ago that I heard that her spirit was given a new body, but it was part of some evil scheme.'

'She's fine now, and younger than before. Which is good, I guess? Some people get all the luck. I mean if you consider going back to high school lucky. I haven't had a chance to meet the new Raven, but I was kept in the loop by Grayson.'

"No worries." Spider-Man looked around at the group before focusing on Oracle once again. "So, seeing as this is, I'm guessing, an interview of sorts, you'll want to know a little about me and why I'm here?"

"Precisely. We got the abridged version from Batman and Nightwing, but personally I like to size a person up face to face. I feel it helps get a better idea of who they are." Oracle smiled reassuringly. 'Needless to say I liked Hot Wheels from the start. Not only was she actually friendly toward me, she didn't find my presence irritable.'

"Okay. I hope you don't plan on going anywhere for a bit. It's kind of a long story." Spider-Man started.

"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind taking this conversation indoors." Oracle smiled kindly, and turned to Raven. "Raven would you mind terribly taking us back to headquarters?" She asked the Titan politely. Raven nodded, and reached for her hood, before Helena spoke up.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? We still don't if this... guy, is on the up an up." 'At least Helena chose to call me something less demeaning.' Huntress looked incredulously to her leader. "Just you meeting him here is a risk." She added sending a glare Spidey's way. 'Ah distrust, sweet sweet music to my ears.'

"True, we don't know anything about him. That is what I hope to rectify. Besides, my intuition is telling me that he's one of us." Oracle said without any hint of distrust. 'God I love this girl.' Raven covered her head once again, and turned around to the center of the heli-pad.

'Azarath Metrion Zinthos.' Raven chanted, as a new shadow bird portal formed there.

"Finally, someone throws a bone Spidey's way." Spider-Man whooped. "Thanks Oracle." Peter smiled happily under his mask, and the red head returned the smile. However it grew way too sweet looking, way to quick.

"Of course you are going to have to tell us why you are after Black Mask's operations." She added, before spinning the chair around and heading to the portal with Huntress in toe.

"There's always a catch. Figures a pretty girl just wouldn't want to chat." Spidey shook his head, shoulders slumping for dramatic effect.

'My first visit to the Clock Tower was actually pretty pleasant, all in all. Sure I had to deal with Helena's sourpuss attitude and death stares. Also Dick's machismo acted up whenever Barbara and I got anything close to flirty. But it wasn't nearly the interrogation I expected. We talked in length about how I got to this world, and what my current circumstances were. I pretty much had everybody's undivided attention for that part. I swear I must be blessed when it comes to forced experiences in other worlds, realities, or time lines. Since most of them were just dumbstruck about some of the stuff I've gone through.'

'Luckily the Powerpuff Girls already came up with an alibi for the whole Black Mask vendetta of mine. Selina decided to take some of the blame, and threw herself in front of the proverbial bus. Spider-Man met Catwoman on one of his early patrols, and she was running from some of Mask's goon squad. She played the part of Robin Hood, and convinced me to help put a stop to Black Mask and his tyranny of Gotham's less fortunate. My unnamed host family were a part of those less fortunate under Mask's highly polished shoes, so of course I was happy to help.'

'Selina had a detailed list of Mask's current operations, and together we started taking them out. See, half truth. Of course I got the warning about the Sirens, and that Kyle was probably playing me, but that didn't subtract from the good I was doing. So the Birds decided to let me keep doing it. They wanted to be kept in the loop though, and would let me know about more dangerous threats when they arose. I also asked Oracle if she could keep an eye out for Wanda, just in case.'

Dec. 27th / Afternoon / Present

Gotham City Streets

After a few hours the two heroes were back on the streets. Both in a considerably better mood than before they arrived. They had talked in length about home, and ideas on how they might be able to get back. Neither came up with any viable way unfortunately.

There was discussion on living arrangements, and future plans after that. Peter managed to get a hold of Barbara, and set up a meeting between the Birds and Wanda that night. Many topics passed between Wanda and Peter, but mostly the morning's awkwardness had vanished, which both were thankful for.

"So Scott picks the ant up and is playing with it like a puppy, when suddenly hundreds of them pile on him. He's screaming like a little kid before he hits the enlarging button and bursts out of the ground. Oh man, I wish I coulda been there, that woulda been priceless." Peter laughs, as he holds the door open for Wanda. She laughs jovially along with him, as she exits the coffee shop. The two step out into the cold weather, a warm latte gracing one of both their hands. A plastic bag with a box inside is also slung over Peter's shoulder.

"The poor man." Wanda chuckles, shaking her head. Together they start down the street. The afternoon sun hung over head, doing little to warm the winter chill around them. Their current destination was the Clock Tower on the south side of Gotham. They had just entered the Upper East Side via the Sprange Bridge, and had a way to go.

As much as Peter would have enjoyed another day to relax and wander around, he knew that he had to get back to patrolling. The entire world saw or heard about the depower of their heroes. And even though the League issued a statement with the world press about the situation having been undone, it didn't mean criminals would believe it. Spidey needed to make an appearance to remind them that they needed think again. So after reaching the mid way point on Gotham's main island, the two heroes would take to the skies. He wouldn't admit it but he was actually itching for a patrol. He'd gone way to long without being able to web-sling.

"Well just imagine a similar situation only with millions of spiders." Peter shuddered noticeably, remembering his run in with his Other. "I may be themed after them, but that still creeps me out."

"That... is a terrifying image." Wanda added, wide eyed at the idea of it.

"Worse when it happens, trust me." He said giving her a side grin.

"I told you to back off creep! What part of leave us the fuck alone don't you get?" A young woman's angry shout catches their attention. The voice echoed from the alley that was coming up.

A slap could be heard followed quickly by a feminine grunt, and the same woman cursing profusely. That caught the civilian heroes' attentions. Peter looked around, and unfortunately the sidewalks held a few people. Slipping into costume wasn't an option. That wouldn't stop him, though. Peter turned to Wanda and both nodded, before they proceeded toward the alley.

When they round the corner he finds a dead end alley with five occupants. There are two women, a red head with short hair on the ground holding her face, and a taller woman with pink dyed hair and glasses kneeling next to her. Then there are three men, one standing over the two women, and the other two watching the alley entrance. Needless to say his and Ms. Maximoff's element of surprise had been removed instantly.

"Hey man, we got witnesses." One of the lookouts said, as the muscular thug turned around to see the intruders.

"If you know what's good for you, you'd keep walking." The 'leader' says threateningly. 'Well well, what do we have here. Typical dirt-bag posse, one shark and two lamprey. All thick muscles and pushy attitude. Cliched as they come and basically all bark and no bite, but to the general population a pain in the ass. Boy I love righting their wrongs. Maybe it has something to do with getting bullied back when I was a kid.'

"You heard him, scat." The last of the trio add for effect.

"Scat? Really? Couldn't come up with a more threatening word? Like maybe, shoo or skedaddle?" Peter jokes, completely unfazed by the intimidation attempt. In fact after the quip his eyes narrowed as he stares down the men. The two closest begin to close in on them. Peter sets his latte and bag on the ground and steps up to meet the first one.

"What are you doing? Get out of here, call the cops!" The taller woman behind the men shouts in a panic. Peter glances past them to see the red head staring intently at them, she looked to be analyzing the situation. 'Hmmm.'

"Too late." The first goon said as he cracked his knuckles in his hands right in front of Peter. "Thanks for bringing a third lady to the party. Nice even numbers now." Peter's eyes narrowed at the guy who made the comment.

"Better make the first hit count, cause that's all your gonna get bub." Parker says seriously, channeling his inner Logan. Wanda smirks slightly as the second lamprey advances on her.

With a shout the first man throws a right hook at Peter's head. The Wall-Crawler almost lazily leans his torso back just far enough for the punch to swipe the air in front of him. Rocking back forward his right arm blurs a strait jab into the man's face, holding his strength waaay back.

The goon falls backward to the ground, out cold. The second guy, who was nearing Wanda stopped, gawking at his down and out buddy. Peter spun backwards without missing a beat, and kicked the second guy in the side, sending him into the alley wall. His head smacked hard against the brick and he slid to the ground unconscious.

Peter skillfully slipped back into a relaxed stance. His hands slipped into his coat pockets as if just taking down two grown men never happened. Glancing at Wanda, she looked genuinely surprised at the ruthlessly efficient take downs Spider-Man just pulled off. 'Not a surprise, I did just basically break any image of Peter Parker she had. I'll explain my reasons after, that should help.'

The shark stared owlishly at the man who single handedly dropped his friends faster than he could register. The men were close to twice this guy's size in build. Peter smirked at the man. "You've got two choices: Surrender peacefully and you go to jail without a beating. Or you try to..."

"Back off or the bitch gets it!" The frightened man shouts, as he grabs the woman with purple hair and glasses. Wrapping her in a choke hold, he backs away from the other woman and the two at the alley entrance.

"...take a hostage, get beaten, and then go to jail." Peter finishes in a huff. Pursing his lips he turns to Wanda, and asked her a question with his eyes. The Scarlet Witch nods, and the left hand at her side makes a gesture. A wisp of pink energy flits off her fingers, unseen by the nameless thug.

"I saiGAH!" His demand was silenced as potted plant falls from the sky and breaks over his head. His body goes limp, letting his hostage get away as he falls face first onto the unforgiving ground. Everyone left conscious in the alley, minus Wanda, are shocked silent by the random turn of events.

Wanda actually brings her right hand up to cover her embarrassed expression. 'ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME! That's the oldest gag in the freaking book! That's hilarious! Wanda you wonderful witch you!' Peter gawks at his companion, a big smile splitting his face.

"Wow..." He starts, trying to hide his chuckles. "... what are the odds." When Wanda's deadpan eye peaks through her fingers at him, he loses it. Peter breaks out laughing right there. It didn't take long for his laughter to infect Wanda. However she was lady-like and just snickered.

"Um excuse me..." The red head spoke up as she and her friend approached their giggling saviors.

"Oh yeah, sorry." Peter replies as he catches his breath. "Are you okay?" He asks seeing the bruise forming on the right side of the smaller woman's face.

"Yeah, don't worry bout it, I've had worse. And thanks for the save an all, but what the hell?" The red head asked slightly indignant. The heroes blink a few times, not expecting that kind of response.

"You're welcome?" Peter says confused, looking between the two victims. The smaller girl was practically glaring at him, while the glasses girl still looked shaken and unsure.

"Why didn't you just go get the cops? This had nothing to do with you, and for all you knew they could have had guns." She spouts as she gets right up in Parker's business, aiming a finger at his face. The height difference was rather comical, but Peter still reeled back slightly.

"I'm... sorry?" His answer is uncertain, as he looks to Wanda for answers. She just shrugs, not knowing why he was getting the fifth degree either. "But everything turned out okay in the end, right?"

"C'mon Holly, they did help us, there's no need..." The purplenette began, leaning down to talk over her friend's shoulder.

"No, they could have gotten themselves hurt. I had everything handled." The apparent Holly says obstinately.

"Do not worry, Miss. We were in no danger, trust me. We just wished to help." Wanda interjects, trying to help Peter out of the line of fire from this Holly girl.

"And how do you..." Holly starts again only to be interrupted when by a loud voice coming from outside the alley.

"Holly! Karon! Where'd you get to?" A woman's voice calls. 'Hey I know that voice.'

He and Wanda turn around just in time to see Selina Kyle spot them in the alley. "Peter?" Catwoman asks, surprised to see him. That surprise changes to curiosity when she observes the scene behind him.

"Hey Selina, been a while." Peter smiles to her and raises his right hand in greeting. "I'm guessing these two are with you?" He hooks that thumb back to the women in behind him. The two who just slipped past him and Wanda to stand by the infamous cat burglar.

"You know this guy?" A confused Holly asks Kyle, after she was safely by her side and out of the alley.

"Yup, he's a friend." Selina reassured the red head and her friend. The two women seemed to calm down considerably, even if Holly was suddenly eyeing him again. 'There it is again. Do I have a latte-stache or something?'

"Sorry introductions were kinda delayed." Peter chuckles retrieving his drink and bag. "Peter, Peter Parker, and this lovely lady is Wanda." He says gesturing to Wanda, after turning back to the three woman. The Scarlet Witch grew a slight redness to her cheeks at the comment.

"A pleasure to meet you." Wanda says politely, nodding to them.

"Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. I'm Selina." Kyle said with a smirk and glint in her eyes, as she held out a hand to Wanda. 'Oh I don't like that look. It usually means trouble for somebody.'

"I'm Karon, thanks for saving us." The tall glasses wearing woman said politely.

"Yeah... thanks for that. I'm Holly." Holly says reluctantly.

"No worries ladies. I'm just glad we got here before anything really bad happened." Peter smiles at the two previous victims. He turned to Wanda next. "Selina here is a friend and work buddy of my roomies."

"I coulda handled it." He heard Holly mutter, before the cat burglar elbowed her in the arm.

"We don't always get along, but yeah we're something like that. Soooo, what brings you to this side of the city?" Selina asks, with that little smile she does.

"Just showing an old friend around town, and grabbing a last minute Christmas present for a guest." He explains.

"You mean Leslie? Yeah I saw her the other day when I checked up on Blondie. So you're telling me you ran out to get her a present after Christmas? How much more of a nice guy can you be?" Kyle jabbed, shaking her head for effect.

"Well I did just help these ladies." He fired back playfully.

"Touche'." Selina relented with a smirk. Just then Holly's face lit up in realization, and she looked up to her friend wide-eyed.

"Selina... is he the same guy you told me about?" She asks shocked. Selina just grew a feline smirk, as Peter and Wanda turned curiously to the raven haired thief. Suddenly Peter's eyes widened. 'You didn't.'

"Yup, he's the one I told you to get a hold of if I end up in trouble." Kyle said nonchalantly, but the glint in her eyes made Parker want to face palm. 'Oh come ooon. Seriously?!'

"No way... him?" Holly asks with an incredible amount of skepticism. 'Ouch. I don't know what I should more worried about, that arrow to my pride, or Buttercup letting others know my secrets.' It seemed Wanda caught on and brought a hand up to cover her mouth as she looked between Selina and her friend.

"Glad to know Buttercup likes to talk about me." He shoots the third Siren a quick glare. "Anyways, what say we find a warmer place to talk? As much as I like being outside, it is still winter outside." Peter plays off the sudden revelation, as he pulls out his cell phone. "Let me just get these guys a ride home."

A quick call to the cops, and the group set off. Peter and Wanda walked Selina, Holly, and Karon back to Holly's apartment complex. It appeared that Karon was the only one not in the know about Peter's other occupation. And to his relief Kyle and her red headed friend kept tight lipped about it.

The two secret heroes split off from the three women there. They still had a distance to go before reaching the Bird's headquarters. And now that evening was settling in they decided to do some patrolling. An alley and quick costume change later, and they were flying above the streets in their respective methods.

"Well Ms. Kyle seems nice, if not rather mischievous." The Scarlet Witch flies next to Spider-Man, who just released another web line from his wrist.

'It feels so natural and unnatural at the same time. Webslinging with my internal webbing is a whole new experience, but not. It's kinda like reenacting a dream, but knowing it's real. I understand the whole Hauser/Quaid thing so much more now.'

"Tell me about it. She's so getting a strongly worded text from me later." Peter says above the rushing wind. The streets below were alive with the busy night life Gotham tended to have. However Peter was loving every second of it. Being back here, knowing Wanda was safe and flying beside him, and just having a good old fashion web swing, it was relaxing. Every worry he had over the past week just blew away with the first passing breeze.

Wanda snickered a bit, easily kept pace with him. "Considering how well you took her telling another of your secret identity, you must have a good deal of trust in her."

"More like faith than trust, but she's a good girl under it all... more or less. There are a surprising amount of perks afforded to us for not originally existing in this world, if you'll believe it. I guess me knowing her secret helps too." He chuckles.

"I can believe it." Wanda pauses, like she is trying to figure out the next thing she'll say. "It may be wrong of me to say this, but it is quite the freeing feeling knowing that this world doesn't know who I am. What I mean is..."

"No one here knows our mistakes." Peter finishes for her, knowing exactly what she meant. "We basically have a clean slate, and a free pass to start over again. Trust me, I know exactly what you're talking about." Spider-Man said mindfully, his lenses resting on his companion. She grew a solemn smile, and nodded to him.

"Is it wrong of me to find serenity in this knowledge?" She asks after a moment of staring back at him.

"If it is then at least you aren't alone SW." Spidey acknowledges, before releasing another web line.

"Than... thank you, Spider-Man." She says softly, barely audible over the wind. Peter still managed to hear it though.

"Before we get to far into the philosophical aspects of being anomalies, why don't we see about getting you set up with the right crowd first. The last thing you need is to turning that pristine slate over to the wrong hands like me." The Wall-Crawler laughed, as they sped toward the clock tower.

- Dec. 20th / Evening / One Year Ago -

Undisclosed Nightclub

"Huh?" Peter looked up from the driver's seat of their stolen car. The vibrant music pounding building looked much like most of Gotham, brick and mortal with a old world design. However the neon and huge line of party people indicated that it was probably modernized inside.

The new-to-the-scene villain was dressed in a black monkey suit tux, minus a neck tie of any sort. He had Ray Ban shades covering his eyes and good portion of his face. What's more he had a black fedora on too. 'Honestly I couldn't stand how much I felt like a mafia goon in that. Considering the circumstances, and how much Gotham refuses to change from it's prohibition era motif, I think I was justified. At least I can take solace in the fact that I made the whole thing look gooood. To make myself feel better I just pretended to be one of the Blues Brothers. I think I could pull off a pretty good Elwood.'

"What is it now?" Pamela asked shortly from the back seat of the four door car. Poison Ivy was mostly unrecognizable in her own disguise. Adorned in a satin green open back cocktail dress, with one sleeve on the left side, open shoulder on the right, and that ended just above the knees. For the first time since he met her her eyes looked normal, outside of the beautiful emerald green iris's. She even changed the pigment of her skin to a ever so slightly sun kissed tan. The only thing that stayed the same was her vibrant crimson hair. 'It's the kind of disguise that just makes you wanna howl and hit your head with a mallet. I coulda too. There was one in the trunk. Bubbles left it there. Just sayin, I coulda.'

"Usually when one thinks of a bad guy secret meeting local, you think abandoned warehouse, meat packing warehouse, on the docks warehouse... *SPIDER-SENSE* OWW!" Spidey's body locked up briefly as pain coursed through him. His grip on the steering wheel literally bent it. Then as quick as the pain came most of it receded.

"You are forgetting what part you play." Ivy scolded coldly, definitely unwilling to deal with his antics right now. She looked out her side window too, scowling at the idea of even entering the building. Peter looks back at the woman, while rubbing the back of his throbbing neck.

"You sure you want to go in there? I know we got all dolled up to go out, but this reeks of trap. And I don't need my Spider-Sense to tell me that either." He asked actually concerned about the situation. Ivy just let out an annoyed sigh and put her hand on the door handle.

"That is why I am putting up with you. You are here to make sure that I am not harmed, even at the cost of your life." She stated bluntly, shooting him a side glance. "Roman offered Harley and I a truce, on the grounds that I attend this meeting and accept his proposition. While you have been an annoying thorn in the proverbial lion's paw, if I can put this whole ordeal to rest tonight I'll sleep all the better." Ivy explained to him as if he were what he was pretending to be, hired muscle.

"You really just want to be left alone with Harls, don't you?" He carefully probed.

Ivy didn't answer, but the very tiny very fast smirk told him all he needed to know. 'I doubted either would stop doing the who villainess thing. You know the occasional jewelry heist, or taking over the city bit, but at least I knew where Blossom's loyalties lay. I couldn't and still can't fault her for them either, even if the approach could be handled differently. You know I often wondered why they didn't just leave Gotham and live somewhere else. They made enough to leave the country, even through back channels.'

'I got my answer sooner than I expected.'

"Alrighty then, lets be bad guys." Spidey said with a smile, before he exited the car. Instantly he changed his demeanor to that of the bodyguard. He opened the door for his body to guard, and offered her a hand. She took his gesture without hesitation, and glided seductively out of into the open world. Ivy's persona changed just as fast as his. She would be playing the stunning socialite who was on the prowl for a party night as hers.

Boy did she play her part. Almost as soon as she stepped from the vehicle almost all male eyes were on her, even a decent helping of the female variety too. Peter felt privileged to just have her hand in his for that brief second. The attention she was grabbing was downright criminal. 'Heh, good one Spidey.'

Bodyguard Parker escorted Socialite Isley to the burly bouncer in front of the door, and long line of awaiting party goers. All she had to do was wink at him, and he was butter in her hands. Without a second thought he pulled the velvet rope for her, and Peter held open the door for her.

Inside the club the music was deafening. Spider-Man's ears actually hurt. His enhanced senses picking up on the bass deeper than a normal person's, and the licks almost made him flinch. 'How in the world are these people not deaf after going to one of these? I mean even Johnny's parties didn't hurt my ears nearly as much as this, and he's almost literally partying all the time.'

They weren't here to enjoy the atmosphere though, and so the two took off toward the back of the club. Peter channeled everything he knew about bodyguarding from TV and movies then. He stood as a break and buffer for his employer. Moving people out of the way, warding off would be advances from brave men and women. That surprised and made him a bit uncomfortable, while leading them to their destination.

One particularly drunk young man obstinately stood in front of them, just before they reached the door they wanted.

"I gotta say you are quite the rose among dandelions, lady." 'Okay I had to give props to him for that one. Even drunk that was pretty good, and accurate.' He said with a slight slur, as he stepped between Pam and Peter.

"Well aren't you sweet." Pam gave him a sly smile, humoring the poor lad.

"Would you like to join me for a drink?" He asked thinking his pick up line worked. His answer came in the form of a surprisingly strong hand on his shoulder. Peter turned the guy around to face him.

"You got my cheeze whiz boy?" Peter asked in a threatening voice. The guy just blinked at him perplexed.

"Uhhh... what?"

"If you don't got it, then best back off the lady." Peter finished as he moved the man by the shoulder out from in front of Ivy. So utterly confused and dumbstruck the guy just stood there as they walked away and through the crowd to the door. In front of the door, which was once again had velvet cording it off, there stood another bouncer. This guy looked much like Peter, at least in attire. He, despite being smaller than the outside bouncer, had a much more hostile air about him. They were at the right place alright.

"Private party. Invite only." He grunted, staring them down. This guy had at least a foot on Parker, and was probably very well trained. The way he carried himself, despite the suit, meant he was a top level goon. 'I could take him, no problem.'

"Pamela Isley." Ivy said sweetly, practically batting her eyes up at the tall man. Peter found himself actually finding something sickening in Pam's act. 'Despite how attractive I found her at the moment, that girly act just made me want to cringe. It was so unnatural for her. Then again all I knew at this point was the dangerous, deadly version of Blossom.' She followed up the playfulness by reaching up and running a painted nail along his chiseled jaw line. The guy melted right there.

Poison Ivy was using the toxins in her skin as a sort of love potion on him. Peter knew exactly how it felt to be under their influence too.

"Ah, yeah here you are Miss Isley. Please go in. Follow the hall to the elevator, and down to the basement." The guard dreamily moved the rope, and once again Peter opened the door for her.

Once inside there was a long hall with many doors, and at the very end an elevator. A silent walk later and they stepped into the elevator. Once inside, and the door closed, Poison Ivy let out a long frustrated sigh. "Blues Brother's, really?" She griped, staring at him.

Peter refrained from talking, knowing he wasn't allowed to. It amazed him she knew the reference, but he knew better than to react. So he shrugged his shoulders in response. 'Wow Princess Bride, now Blues Brothers. Damn Pam.'

She looked around the elevator spotting a camera orb above them. Glancing to her bodyguard she nodded up, and he takes off his fedora. Raising it above them, the fedora covers the cam.

A moment's concentration and his Future Foundation suit spreads out over his body, from it's t-shirt form under his clothing. When his face was covered in the black material, he took the hat away. Next he began stripping his monkey suit, revealing his utility belt under the jacket.

Ivy herself lets her illusion dissipate, as her skin returns to it's pale green hue. Her sclera bleed black, and iris's color changes to gold. Without caring that her thrall was in the elevator with her, she slides her dress slowly down her body. Revealing that she too had her usual attire underneath her outfit.

'To my credit I only stared for a few seconds. A personal best at this point. But the way she swayed taking that dress off... *shudders* Tell ya what, it's my favorite elevator memory.'

When the elevator doors open, Poison Ivy and Tenebrea step out. T carried their clothing in his arms as the two of them enter the room. Armed guards stand by, guns trained on them, while a black haired woman in a smart looking business suit and glasses waits for them.

"We've been expecting you Ms. Ivy. I'm Ms. Li, the meeting has already started. Please follow me." Ms. Li said professionally waving a hand to the side, indicating the direction. Ivy and Tenebrea follow her guidance to a little side room in the poorly lit basement.

Ms. Li opened the door, allowing the two of them passage. "Be a dear and take our clothing for us, would you?" Ivy said with an air of superiority. Ms. Li didn't flinch or react in any noticeable way, but took the clothes when Tenebrea silently offered them to her. Peter had to really fight the urge to thank the woman. Tenebrea followed Poison Ivy into the room.

"Ah Ms. Isley, good of you to join us. Please take a seat." A masked man smirked at the far end of the large conference table, filled with the who's who of Gotham's underworld. All eyes were immediately on them as soon as they entered.

Ivy just frowned slightly and moved to the chair furthest from the crime lord. Without saying a word Tenebrea pulled out her chair and offered her the seat. For this he got a look, but then a nod and a ghost of a smile.

With everyone situated Black Mask started business.

"It's not often we all get together, and I hope we can put our differences aside for at least tonight." The man in a sterling white business suit and black skull mask, says over the large table. Directing the last part to one red headed individual in particular sitting at the far end.

"I'm not up for your soap box pandering Roman, what do you want?" Another man in a business suit gripes, his half scarred face twisting further into impatience, if the coin being flipped in the air faster was any indication.

"Yes, I'm hosting a gala tonight, and would very much like to get back to it. I do try to make it my mission to appear at my legitimate events." A portly, long nosed, penguin suited man agrees.

"Heh, must be hard keeping such a big nose clean, eh Penguin?" A third man chortles, his oversize green top hat, swaying slightly on his head.

"Mock my entrepreneurial enterprises all you want you Tetch, but at least I have them. I'm not in the gutter begging for work like you." The man dubbed Penguin snipes back, a toothy grin on his face. The green hatted man jumps up from his seat, ready to pounce, when one of the two women at the table clears her throat.

"I'm not here to listen to the bickering of your poor egos. Can we return to the reason we were called together?" The woman with long jet black hair, and a trench coat demands.

"Agreed." Poison Ivy's tone was venomous. Her eyes never left the man who called this meeting, understandably suspicious of his invitation.

"If I may, why are you even here, my dear? I thought you despised the cold?" Cobblepot asked his tone more demure, attempting to be a gentleman of high standard. Ivy's withering gaze rested on him, and he shrunk slightly in his seat. His gaze turned to the cross armed figure standing directly behind her. Tenebrea's blank black masked face turned ever so slightly to focus on the smaller well dressed man. A bead of sweat formed on the Penguin's forehead.

"She's here because we have prior dealings to discuss, and I'm offering her an olive branch." Black Mask explained, earning a chuckle from both the scarred man and Tetch. Mask's gaze rested on Tenebrea, whom faced him too. The stare down went on for a tense moment. 'I won of course. Because my mask doesn't have eyes.'

"What I called you here for is I'm placing a bounty out on Spider-Man, and the offer is extended to you and your organizations. This comic book reject is putting my operations down left and right, and my men in prison faster than I can bail them out. Somehow he knows where to hit me, and I want him stopped." Again Mask's eyes fall on Ivy, and they harden slightly.

"Batman is enough to deal with without a super kicking down my doors." Roman slams his fist on the table, every word he utters seemingly pissing him off more. 'Temper temper Masky.' Suddenly the door to the room burst open.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Temper temper Masky, my boy.Don't take it out on the defenseless decor. I'm sure we all understand the annoyance the Arachnid brings to us." A voice which made most in the room tense, announced. The Joker, followed by a scarecrow looking character, entered the room wagging his finger at the mob boss. 'I remember a spike of panic shooting through me at this point. This lunatic knew Spider-Man saved Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, and could easily out them to the group. Pam's rocky truce would most likely be shattered. We could've been made right there and then.'

The Clown Prince of Crime casually sauntered into the room. Upon seeing Poison Ivy he flashed a large amount of teeth and stepped toward her. He was stopped about five feet from her when Tenebrea immediately got between them. T's arms were at his sides and hands balled into fists. The psychopath's disturbing smile split ear to ear, his eyes reflecting the nondescript black mask.

"Well well welly well well, you must be the infamous Tenebrea." Joker paused stepping up to Peter, putting his face inches from his mask, green eyes boring into black fabric unblinkingly. "I've heard so many wonderful things about you, though I thought you'd be taller. Oh well." The madman thrust his hand out in between them in an offer, but Tenebrea stayed still. 'A mild Spider-Sense buzzed. I'm guessing it was the joy buzzer in his hand.' Joker's hand was held out to shake an inch from T's sternum.

"Welcome to the club." The clown sneered sinisterly, as if he was hiding something behind the greeting. After a long moment of tense silence, Joker just shrugged and ignored the refused offer. "Strong silent type eh? I can respect that, but it certainly kills the mood. Tip for the future T." The Joker continued unfazed as he looked over Tenebrea's shoulder to Ivy. Something about the way he said "T" set Parker more on edge than he was.

"Pamela my dear, how are you doing? I see you are recovering well from our last encounter, I hope you won't hold that against me. I just missed my Harley Girrrl sooo much you see, and you're such a prude about letting me see her." His voice was sickly in it's attempt at sounding hurt. It really didn't help that his smile somehow grew wider and creepier.

A spike of panic shot through Peter. If the clown wanted to he could easily bring that little fact that Spidey helped Ivy, putting Ivy on the spot. Bringing up that line of questioning would inevitably lead to who her new bodyguard was. They had to play along and close to the vest for now. The ball was officially in the Joker's court.

"Keep your distance from both Harley and I you sick sack of wasted flesh. That is your one and only warning." Poison Ivy warned venomously. Joker's grin faded just a bit, but grew back even larger after a moment. 'Yeah, real close to the vest there Pam.' Unfazed the Clown Prince of Crime just nodded and turned away from the two.

"You can't keep love down my dear. Eventually she'll come back to good old Uncle J." He looks over his shoulder at the two of them, his eyes shining with mischief.

"So Roman old boy, you want Gotham's newest spandex wearing wacko off the streets, huh?" Joker moved to an unused chair on their end of the table, before spinning it around and sitting on it saddle-like. He rested his chin on his purple sleeved arms. The scarecrow looking guy moved to stand behind Joker, but stayed standing.

"Yes, I'm offering a bounty of a million to the man or organization that brings him to me. Dead or alive doesn't matter. Simple as that. It's an open contract and first come first served." Mask said quickly summarizing the long and short of the meeting. 'With a bounty like that I was tempted to just turn myself in. You know, if it didn't mean I'd get a bullet to the head and all.'

There was a general murmur in the room among the assorted villain, aside from Ivy, Tenebrea, and the Joker. Joker just smiled while sneaking a glance at Ivy and T. Something about those green eyes made Peter want to deck the him. They seemed to be mocking them, as if he knew something.

"If your men can't stop this costumed freak, what makes you think ours will fair any better?" Two-Face asked after some contemplation. 'Two-Face apparently used to be the Attorney General in Gotham, before a series of events that led him to being disfigured and psychotic. He has his own cut and dry but twisted brand of justice. Heads or Tails. The coin he has is judge, jury, and executioner.'

"Dent brings up a good point, Roman. The Bat is trouble enough without superpowers in the mix. This wanker has strength, speed, and agility well above average. Plus the ability to climb buildings and even shoot bloody webbing. How are our hench's supposed to deal with that?" Penguin added to Harvey's 'Oh Harvey is Two-Face's first name FYI.' valid observation. 'Love you too, Pengy. Penguin or Oswald Cobblepot used to be part of a wealthy family in Gotham. I guess they rivaled the Wayne's. Anyway family went bankrupt or something, and the Wayne's helped or something, then Pengy grew one hell of a grudge against the Wayne's... or something. Now he's a semi-legit crime lord, or something. Anyway guy looks like a monocled penguin in a tux. 'Nuff said.'

"Bunch of prissy patty's this group. Geeze, it's just one guy?" Tetch said looking bemused at the other two men's worries. 'This guy calls himself the Mad Hatter, dresses like it too. Short and sweet of it, he uses mind controlling hats. Other than that, he's crazy, and pretty underestimated usually.'

"Shut it sewer rat!" Penguin jumped form his chair grabbing his umbrella at his side. 'Yeah that is anything but a normal umbrella, just so you know.' Before a fight could break out Black Mask slammed his palms on the table, effectively silencing everyone.

"Batman is just one man, and look what he's done to us. If you are too weak willed to try then just leave. I'll find someone more capable for the job. But don't start squabbling like children in front of me." Mask shouted shooting a glare between Tetch and Cobblepot. 'This is why it's hard to create long lasting friendships in villainy. Everyone's got an ego a few miles long and think only for themselves. Not saying the hero community doesn't, but we tend to think of others before ourselves. Nice to know I can cause this kind of discord at a name drop.'

"The Spider is a threat to all of us. What happens if he ends up taking me down? He'll be on to the rest of you next. What's more what if he ends up working with the Bat? We have to take him from the game now." Roman adds, looking around the room. 'Boy if he knew my track record with Fisk, he'd be a lot less worried. It's really only thanks to Buttercup I'm doing so well.'

"Agreed." The woman in the trench coat says finally. "The League finds this Spider-Man to be a potential threat to their designs. This bud should be cut before sprouting." 'Lady's called Lady Shiva, and works for the League of Assassins. That's pretty much all I know, besides that her organization becomes really annoying for me. It's like the Hand all over again. It's those days that I miss Wolverine as my team-up buddy.'

Tenebrea glanced over to the clown themed villain. He'd been oddly quite since his introduction. Peter was glad that his own face was hidden behind a mostly unreadable mask, because he found piercing green eyes staring right back at him. Joker's gaze was unnervingly focused on him. T managed to keep composure though.

"Despite showing up uninvited, what about you two Joker, Crane?" Mask asked the two party crashers. The Scarecrow, standing next to Joker, raised up his left hand revealing a device strapped to it and four syringes strapped to the back each of his fingers. A glowing yellowish liquid filled each needle.

"I've been wanting to test a strain of my toxin designed for metahumans. I wonder just what a man like that fears." Scarecrow said in a gravely voice, his sewn mask mouth stretching with his words. 'Cockroaches. They hiss and can live through nuclear winter. Creepy little buggers.'

"I'm more of a winged rodent enthusiast myself, you all know that. But..." The clown stood with a flourish from his chair, sliding the seat to the side. His teeth showed from his way to wide smile. "... anyone who interrupts my playtime, certainly deserves a bit of it themselves. Don't you worry Masky, old Uncle J has already been whipping something special up for the arachnid." Joker said cheerily, grabbing his jacket lapels in both hands, and straitened them as he puffed out his chest proudly.

"Fine. I don't care how, just get it done. This meeting is over." Black Mask said irritated, but looked directly at Ivy. "Miss Isley we have something to discuss, please stay." He tried to sound civil, as chairs clattered. The big bads of Gotham started to file out of the room, either talking amongst themselves, or staying silent. Ivy continued to sit in her chair shooting glares a whomever decided to look her way. Tenebrea was at her side, carefully watching the rest leave.

Spider-Sense!

A hand slapped down on his right shoulder, causing him to look at it's own. Joker was once again in his personal space, and all Spidey wanted to do was knock his lights out. If for nothing more than to stop that creepy smile of his.

"It was a thrill to finally meet you, T. I do hope we'll get to see more of each other in the future." The hand on Tenebrea's shoulder lifted then patted him hard on his back. Both Peter and Ivy kept a very wary eye on him. "And since I know your little titular titanum there wont, can you pass along a message for my poor snookums? Let her know Mr. J is counting the days till I see her again." Joker said playing the sorrowful boyfriend bit.

Ivy looked about ready to jump from her seat, before Tenebrea turned and batted away Joker's arm. Peter dearly wanted to lay into the man, but he knew better. 'I really really REALLY wanted to wipe that smile off his face. I swear the muscles in my arms were coiled tighter than the shocks in the Blob's car.'

"Harley is no longer yours to manipulate clown. Leave! Or I'll stop being civil." Ivy's voice strained to keep a level tone. It was obvious to everyone in the room that Ivy meant it, but the Joker just smirked, his arms behind his back.

"Joker." Black Mask spoke up, a tone of finality in his voice.

"Boy this turned into a bag of drowning cats fast, and not in the fun way either. Fine, I know when to exit the stage." He shrugged, and turned on his heels. "Keep your peepers on the headlines Mask. I'll be sure to leave a nice big spider smear there for you." He locked onto Peter's covered eyes. Peter could have sworn he saw both mirth and malice in them. "See ya around new kid." Joker began laughing, which rose into ear sickeningly loud before he shut the door behind him.

Tenebrea resisted the chill that went up his spine, but almost seized up when delicate fingers rested on his back for a moment. Poison Ivy's hand moved away not more than a moment later, a playing card now in her hand. T looked down at it, noticing it had a piece of tape on it.

She turned the joker card over, and on the back was a message written in red. 'She's mine. -J.' Ivy immediately crushed the card in her fist, her knuckles nearly white.

"Ehem." Roman cleared his throat, gaining their attention. Pam took a long breath and let it out slow.

"Yes?" She asked impatiently. After everything that just happened she was in no mood to be here anymore than Parker.

"Now that we have a moment alone, you and I have something to discuss." Black Mask eyed the two from his chair, his hands in a steeple on the table.

Back in the moving stolen car, Pam stared out the window, her cheek resting on her fist. Her expression was pretty much unreadable, at least from the glimpses Peter caught of her in the rear view.

"Are we really going to turn Selina over to him?" He asked, decked out in his Blues Brothers suit again.

Ivy's eyes rolled up under her eyelids, and she sighed once again. "And why not? She's the one who brought all this down upon us. It's a small price to pay for our peace of mind." Pam's words reflected little to no remorse. She was dead serious about it. And that seriously worried Peter.

"Isn't she your partner, a part of the Sirens?" Peter asked trying to keep a steady tone of voice.

"When it's convenient, yes. As a group we can accomplish much more than separate, but considering her propensity for siding with the Bat, I see her more of a liability. An expendable one." Ivy explained in the same no nonsense way.

"So your just gonna cut her off, throw her to the wolves? Hasn't she been there for you and Harley? In fact what would Harley think about this?" Peter said trying to find some emotion underneath all that ice. Ivy's camouflaged emerald eyes turned to him in the rear view.

"Ah the bleeding heart hero emerges. Haven't you learned by now that your rules don't apply in our world?" A small challenging smirk formed on her face.

"Oh they still apply, I just have to adapt. And if I'm good at anything it's adapting." Peter shot back as he turned the car onto the bridge leading back to the loft.

"And just how do you plan to do that?" Pamela asked skeptically, amused by his attempt.

"By doing what I always have. Fighting to protect the people I care about, and yes that means you too." He said concretely, actually drawing Ivy from her cold into a brief look of curiosity. It didn't last long as she barked out a cynical laugh.

"And what if those that you chose to protect end up being the ones you fight? Remember I'm suppose to help end the menace that is Spider-Man." 'Man it's been a while since I've been called that. Brings up all sorts of fluffy memories of JJ.' Ivy stared hard at him in the rear view mirror. Her bemused little smile slightly grating on his nerves.

"If it comes to that then I'll just have to fight harder. I'm doing this to keep you three safe and sound. You'll just have to bring your A game." He challenged right back. SPIDER-SENSE! A sudden firm twinge ran down his spine and made his eye twitch in pain. It wasn't enough to cause him to lock up, but it certainly wasn't pleasant.

"What's stopping me from turning you over right now? I could be free of you, turn over Kyle, and return to my peaceful life with Harley. All in one... fell... swoop." The last part was said slowly and sweetly. Accentuating her point by applying slightly more unbearable pressure with each word. Peter's hands locked onto the already bending wheel, and somehow he managed to get across the bridge without incident. He pulled over at the soonest chance.

Fighting his burning nerves with white knuckled fists. "Rgh...the Joker." Peter forces between pained breaths. Ivy's eyebrow raises, her grip on his nerve cluster loosening.

"What about that disgusting waste of a human?" She asked three parts curious, amused, and disgusted by Parker's feeble attempt to sway her.

"Yeh you heard him. He's not going to stop until Harley is back with him... one way or another." the Web-Head breaths out, as the pain subsides enough to not send his sixth sense into war drums.

"He can try. I wont allow Harley to be hurt by him ever again. He will fertilize the soil of ten different gardens of my children before he tries again." She practically spat out the bad tasting words.

"To be honest I don't think even that would stop him. Your children would probably grow up mutated by his blood or something. Trust me I've see weird stuff like that happen, way more often then I like to admit. Next thing you know you'd have Joker plant clones corrupting your babies." Peter cringed at the thought of what that might be like. "Guh. Joker plant zombies. That's potent nightmare fuel right there." 'Still is. One of the several nightmares I've been having since being here. I used to think Venom and Gobby were the worst I could have.'

Poison Ivy's eye's widened, obviously imagining the scenario. She too cringed, then shook her head. "And how does this save you from me killing you right now?"

"Hear me out okay. I know you don't like her being all chummy with me. I get it, I'm intruding and a potential risk. But am I a worse attachment than Pennywise? At least with me I'm staying where you can keep an eye on me, under your control, and not Steven King level crazy." He asked taking off his sunglasses, to make sure she could read the honesty in his features. Pamela studied him for a moment, weighing her options most likely.

"As loathsome as it is to say, you do have a point." Her left hand came up to cover her mouth in a contemplative gesture.

"That aside, I am, as you described my job title, your personal hero. Despite whatever you may think of me, I am one and that wont change. I will protect Harls, you, and Kitty. Besides, I don't trust how the clown was acting back there, and I don't need my danger sense to tell me he knew something more than he was telling. He saw me saving you two, and I think he's just insane enough to connect some dots. I want to be here to help you with whatever he's got up his sleeve."

"Even out of costume you run your mouth incessantly." She says after a moment, her contemplative gesture turns into holding her head. Still she sighs, and any pressing pain leaves Spidey's spine. He's left with a dull ache, but his Spider-Sense stops, and that's usually a good thing. 'Or a Symbiote is about to attack.'

"Just... get us back home." It sounded like she wanted to say something else, but Peter wasn't complaining.

'I'm so proud of that speech. It's second on my "Convincing the Bad Guys Not To Kill Me" list. The first definitely had to be talking Colossus and Magik into beating the snot out of each other, while I watched pretty much inches from death's doorstep. That is a Spidey highlight if I've ever had one. Right up there with punching out a cosmic guy made of fire, and taking down beating a monster named Morlun by dropping him into a nuclear reactor.'

'Pretty sure I won some brownie points with Pam there too.'

"Right away madam."

X X X X

- Dec. 27th / Evening / Present -

Gotham Clock Tower

"May I ask you something, Spider-Man?" Wanda queries as they pass over the busy streets of Gotham. The patrol has been mostly uneventful. The biggest incident being a van almost sliding into a river because of ice. Nothing a few webs and well placed magic couldn't handle. Now they were within sight of the Bird's nest.

"Sure, what's on your mind SW?" Peter says cheerfully. This has been one of the best patrols he's been on since coming to this world. The two of them worked incredibly well together. Knowing each others strengths and powers, and trusting one another implicitly made for a fun and nostalgic jaunt.

"Earlier today when we saved the two women in the alley, you seemed a bit more... ferocious than usual in handling their attackers. It may be none of my business, but why was that?" Wanda didn't sound concerned, but Peter caught a hint of it in how she asked. 'Oh yeah, I was kinda to the point with them wasn't I.'

Spider-Man arced out of a long swing, and vaults over the roof of the clock tower. He lands easily and effortlessly like a gymnast on the building's top. Wanda follows shortly floating to a stop next to him, and landing gracefully.

"To be honest I hadn't really noticed, but now that you bring it up... I guess I was." Spidey's right hand came up to rub his chin, as he thinks back on the incident earlier. "I think my time here has changed how I handle things. Nothing big, but I've learned to take fights much more seriously. Work toward ending the fight quicker, if that makes sense. Well that, and I hate seeing woman and young people hurt for no reason." He did his best to explain his motivations.

Wanda's lips curved up into a small genuine smile. Obviously she liked his answer. "Well it is not a terrible change. I actually admire that mentality Spider-Man."

"Aww shucks SW, you're making me blu..." A golden flash of light blinds the two on the roof.

!SPIDER-SENSE!

"An admirable trait indeed Totem. I relish in seeing how you apply that against me." A large man falls from the golden portal, landing on the roof with a thud. Spider-Man's whole body tenses dangerously, as he gawks wide lensed at the terror before him.

"Morlun."

CHAPTER 10 END

Chapter 11 Preview

Spider-Man felt his very life draining away as Morlun bit into him.

"Dammit!" Spidey shouted, stuck in the car compressor bear hug that the Inheritor had him in. The ripped portion of his mask tore further as the wind whipped up around them. Out of nowhere Peter felt a well of power surge forth, his eyes burned and his vision turned red.

The next thing he knew his head drove forward and his teeth tore into the vampire's neck. His draining life supplement with a sudden infusion of power coming into him. Morlun's mouth reeled back from Spider-Man's neck, as he let out a howl of pain. His arms loosening their hold on the hero.

Taking the opportunity and using the strength gained, Spider-Man managed to push himself free with his arms. He plants his feet on the tower man, and back flips off him sending his right heel into Morlun's chin. The Inheritor staggers back as Spidey hits the ground in a weary crouch.

SPIDER-SENSE!

The Web-Head's hear stands on end as the static in he air becomes visible. Following the trails of energy leads to finding Leslie floating in the air behind Morlun. Eye and lens wide he stares up at the brilliantly shining Leaguer.

"EAT THIS, YOU OPERA REJECT!" Livewire shouted, tearing Morlun's attention from the weakened Wall-Crawler. Streams of electricity struck her from every building, sign, and downed power line nearby. She unleashed everything she had in one titanic blinding bolt of lightning.

Spider-Man managed to close his eyes and turn his head as the blast struck it's target and detonated.

A/N: So I really have no good excuse for how long this took. Honestly just none. I am sorry. Stuff just kept getting in my way. Besides that, and I know I've said this before, but I feel like this was a filler chapter. Anyway whining and groaning over.

Meet-n-greets all over the place. A bunch of new characters introduced, plots being thickened, long time curiosities answered, and of course my (not really) patented cliff hanger. I hope you liked this chapter, I really do. But if you didn't the next should be back to status quo. I'm talking action, tie-in references, and good old brawling through the streets. What I have in mind for next chapter will probably be somewhere between the "No More Superheroes" fight and the Batman v Tenebrea battle. Look forward to it.

Anywhosits, Sorry for the wait again, but I am not dead nor will I be ending this fic anytime soon. You're stuck with me for the long haul. Thanks for reading everyone.

~ Wiggles

MElee Smasher: Superior huh? Well, I wasn't really a fan of that who shenanigan of an arc, but you never know.

feral creature: Yeah neither was I.

hollowichigo12: Thank you for your kinds words HI12. Yeah the gifts all took some considerable time to come up with. That was the hardest part of the whole chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and I hope this one doesn't disappoint. Thanks for reading.

Cererbus13: The thing with Peter is that he isn't really trying to either. It's just his natural kindness. Oh yeah the Joker is gonna be one hell of a headache for our hero. I can guarantee you that.

EroSlackerMicha: I hope it didn't disappoint. Thanks for reading.

Jebest4781: Well I know it probably wasn't what you were hoping, but soon we'll see T in action again. As much as many of us want to see Spidey get that lucky, life rarely is that kind. Still you never know.

HaywireEagle: Sorry it took so long for this one. I just wish life gave me more opportunity to write more. Still I hope you liked this update.

swartzvald: Not anything, but if you do it right pretty dang close.

xbox432: *Splashes you with a bucket of water* You okay? I didn't mean to set you on fire. Yeah I can totally see Petey ending up like that. And if this were an anime I might just go with it, but this is an attempt at realism, so it most likely wont. I know I honestly didn't expect my own writing to make Harley so damn adorable either. Makes the whole thing much more complicated.

Mayhem296: Sorry to make you wait Mayhem. Hopefully I didn't disappoint.

Kiwifan7: Flatterer. Thanks Kiwi, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And I really hope this chapter keeps that trend up. Thanks for reading man.

Vahn: Wow glad you like my story enough for several read throughs. Yeah that is the biggest debate among my reviewers and myself is how the relationships will end up. Heck even I keep second guessing my choices. And I realize nothing is normal in this world, and Wanda certainly has the power to change that, but will she. I guess we'll just have to see how things progress, right? Thanks for reading Vahn.

RebukeX7: HEY REBS! Yeah I know, but it's Spidey man, how can he not ramble on? We've both been found guilty of the wall of Spider prattle. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter just as much.

ShepardisaBoss: Glad you liked it.

im ur misconception: That it does, that it does. And this was probably my longest update time to date. Sorry about that. Hopefully you like this chapter just as much. Yup I gots the cliffhanger fever, and I loves it.

Vatsyayana69: Probably.

Bael92: I know I could, and I do have a direct line to Rebuke's office. That being said, it is a lot more complicated than most think especially with the girls. I won't go into detail, but I doubt Ivy is the sharing type. Food for thought.

Paperman0: Heh...heh heeeeeh. Sorry to make you wait so freaking long, really I am. Yeah I wanted the chapter to reintroduce Wanda. She's a marvelous character... heh heh pun intended, and deserves it. The flashbacks resume, but then life makes them grind to a halt. We'll get back to them soon enough though. As for the symbol, nope I did my own research to come up with it. Any similarities are totally coincidental.

Devil Rebel: And thank you for reading. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Chaos-Guard: Well then I guess I'll just have to oblige.

The Hero named Villan: It's a possibility.

Cashagon: Well the preview turned out to be a set up for another flashback, but totally expect some Bat appearances soon.

FateBurn: Sorry for the wait, here you go.

RoninS636: Well it could happen now that it has been established that this is Universe 6116. Especially with the cliffhanger.

JoWashington: Well the League probably wont do anything unless Pete asks them, but I wouldn't be surprised if the MU side of things are working some magic.

BlackRoseFire: Sorry to make you wait so long. Here's more.

Angel of Atonement: Yeah I know when we need to acclimate, but dangit if Spidey's luck isn't a fickle mistress.

Blue Soki: Hmmm now there's an idea.

Yeshua25: Thank you, that means a lot.

TheWickedTruth89: You're toying with my emotions Wicked. Please say something more Senpai!

Mashot Tito: I've started to drive myself down that road haven't I. I can say this, if I do head that way it would only be those three girls guaranteed.

Guest #1: I wasn't planning on it, but no one really stays dead in comics, you know that.

Galeiam: Because Joke Butt is the Butt of the Joke. Ba dum chh.

Rakjo: I'm so very sorry this took so long.

griezz: Cool I'm glad you could find me in such a way. Thanks for the props. Yeah I knew right off that bat that a person like Pam, who uses men, and rarely trusts any meat bags, would take a time to warm up to. Can't just do the Disney thing and love at first sight, cause that wouldn't happen. I'm happy you like the slow and steady pace. Here soon there will be more hints of Pam starting to warm up to Peter in the flashbacks.

The Book of Eli: Glad you are, and here you go.

myulander: Thanks.

The Black Mage Phantasm: I felt it was a bit of filler myself, but not so much as this chapter. When introducing characters and their meetings I have to abridge many of them. I would basically have to have a chapter churned out each week to cover all his meeting otherwise. Besides Supes isn't really a pivotal part of this story hence why I made it a quick explanation. As for Helena, I read that she was at one point, but they never really mention what she does outside the cape after that. I just figured I'd roll with it and keep that as her job.

Cashagon #2: Maybe. And I didn't know that, but wouldn't be surprised if it happened.

: Hey Language... lol. Age of Ultron reference. Well it's still a ways off till the incident, that is all I can say, since in the Flashback timeline it happened only weeks before the story started. And we are still in the second month of him being there currently. Please bear with me, and thanks for reading.

fuiopu98: Glad you enjoyed it, I hope this one was worth it too.

Yeshua25 #2: Sweet.

Nick: Here's more.

Anonymous (All): Thank you kindly for the reviews, but please you do not need to have so many.