The first thing I noticed was the buildings and skyscrapers that looked like they were touching the sky. Sure, Gotham had Wayne tower, but that was one building just over a thousand feet. Every building here seemed to be that tall.
"Woah. Well, I ain't back in Gotham. So where am I?" I questioned out loud, finally noticing the crowds of people who didn't seem bothered by the costumed stranger who'd just appeared around them.
Okay, well, I needed to find local heroes. Maybe I was on my earth but just not back where I disappeared.
Using a tree nearby, I called out to anyone who could possibly be connected to the green, no one saying anything. I guess the fact that there were no parademons in a crowded city should have been my first sign.
"Man, and just when I thought New York couldn't get any weirder." A voice called out, and I looked up and seeing a guy in a red and blue spandex standing on the side of a building, a very simple spider logo on his chest, his suit looking pretty snappy for a hero who's voice, while muffled, still cracked when he spoke. But I'd seen the MCU movies, I read the comics, and played my Waynestation. I knew who he was. This definitely wasn't my earth.
"You menace! Stop bothering this young man!" An old woman yelled, hitting him with her purse.
"Wanna talk about this somewhere else?" I asked, trying not to laugh at the sight.
"I guess." He replied, getting hit in the head with the purse again, and I lifted off the ground, floating as he held out his wrist, leading the way by swinging off.
"I'm a hero from another Earth. Do you know about the multiverse?" I asked, following him up to the roof of a nearby building.
"Well, sometimes other spider people like me team up to beat up vampire people who want to eat us, but other than that, not really. I'm usually just the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."
"I know. On my earth, you're a fictional character. We have a spider person on our earth, too, but he's not a hero like you." I told him excitedly, taking off my mask and revealing my face to him.
"You're Izuku Midoriya. You're Deku! Holy crap, you're an anime charecter here! Wait, but why are you green?"
For a moment, we geeked out over each other, and I had a dozen questions before I remembered that I still wasn't home, which was being attacked.
"I gotta get home, and soon. Darkseid is attacking my world, and I have to get back and help!" I told him, electricity cackling off of me as I accidentally powered up.
"I know a guy." Spider-Man told me, and my worry seemed to disappear. If there was any hero I could trust, it was Spider-Man.
"Let's go."
He led me to a tower with a blue four logo inside of a blue circle, and I recognized the symbol as the Fantastic Four, landing on the roof and listening to an automated system warn us we'd be contained until someone could come and verify our identities, a cage popping up and holding us. It was probably safer to not try and escape.
"Cool, so, do we play spades until they get here, or like, do they have an N64 for us to use?" I joked with the arachnid hero, who was looking at me like I had two heads or something.
"Usually, Reed gets here pretty quickly, but like, can I ask a few questions? Mainly, who's Darkseid? I don't remember reading about any villain with that name." He told me, crossing his arms and looking at me.
"Oh, uh, an alien warlord god who wants to rule the entire universe." I replied as the lenses of his mask narrowed.
"Okay, your earth and my comics don't line up. Do you go to U.A. at least?"
"Yeah, I transferred after the JSU incident, but before that, I lived in Gotham City, New Jersey." I told him with a smile, proud of my home.
"Gotham City? Like Gotham from Batman comics?"
Well, that added up. It was really cool to know that just when I got back to my universe, I'd still be able to see Spider-Man and vice versa.
"Yeah. My parents moved there when I was younger. Hey, if I'm a manga charecter, can you tell me who the traitor is? Is it that blonde guy from 1-B?" I asked, the both of us interested in the others' worlds.
Before he could answer, a hatch on the roof opened, a man with brown hair and raying edges and a friendly smile on his face.
"Spider-Man, I assume this isn't a friendly visit?" He asked, his voice full of curiosity and wisdom as he looked at us.
"Afraid not Reed. My friend here is a little lost." The web head answered before I pleaded my case.
"I'm from another Earth, and Spider-Man said you might be able to get me home."
His curiosity only seemed to grow, and he rubbed his chin. "Well, it's certainly possible, but it could be some time before I can do it. The first step is to run some tests." He told me, waving the two of us over.
"May I ask about your world as we walk?" Reed asked, and I shrugged, but I didn't mind.
"Sure. Ask away."
"Well, if you don't mind my asking, why are you green? Is it your natural pigmentation, or is this caused by a power or mutation?" He asked me, and I laughed. It was a fair question.
"Oh, that's easy. I have what's known as a meta gene. Roughly twelve percent of people have a meta gene, which usually develops in response to traumatic events. Mine came when I fell off a roof after saving my adopted mother. Many heroes have a meta gene, but definitely not all. I can turn into helium, absorb other gasses, fly, and make myself invisible thanks to my meta gene. I said it's easy, but I haven't even gotten to why my skin is green." I told him quickly, laughing a little bit before I continued.
"That came when I ate fruit made from a woman who controls plants. It was just supposed to make me immune to poisons and toxins, but I ate the entire fruit, and my DNA literally changed to rewrite and become more like hers. With her powers, I can control plants and make very powerful pheromones that control people. Oh, and I can make living plant creatures. They don't have true sentience, but they're my cute little babies. Uh, let's see... oh, and when my meta gene developed, I got enhanced strength, speed, durability, ect, ect. The usual superhero package. Plus, I have a quirk given to me from a hero that boosts both my meta powers and my plant powers and gives me super strength, speed, and durability, too." I told him, putting my arms behind my head. Man, I was exhausted mentally. I wondered if he could really get me home.
"Interesting. And what exactly is a quirk?" He questioned, leading me to a chamber and shutting the door while he went to a giant super computer.
"Humanity evolved to have unique abilities. About three out of four people have one, and as far as I know, my quirk is the only one that can be given away to another user. It's a power stockpiling quirk, and I'm the ninth users."
Reed nodded and had Spider-Man hand him a tool, which he used to measure something before letting me out of the chamber.
"Fascinating. It seems like your world developed mutants before our own and, as such, became much more accepting." The scientist mumbled, looking at readings on his screen.
"Oh, we have mutant quirks, too. My friend Tokoyami has a crow head and a sentient shadow creature that lives inside him."
"A crows head? Like the bird?" Spider-Man asked, and I nodded.
"I'm glad you skipped over the sentient shadow creature part of that. Most people don't develop sentient beings as part of their quirks. It's wicked powerful, and it looks cool."
Our conversation was cut short by a beautiful blonde woman and even more beautiful blonde man walking in, their eyes a piercing blue that made me wonder if they knew what I was thinking until I saw the person behind them, a giant man man of orange stone.
"Hey Spidey, who's the new kid?" The man asked, and I couldn't remember his name. If I got back home, I was definitely picking up more comics.
"He's a visitor from another Earth, and I figured if anyone could get him home, it was Reed." The webbed hero told him while I tried to remember his name.
"Sorry, I don't know your names. I don't read many comics, but everyone on my earth knows Spider-Man."
The four of them looked at each other a little strangely, and Spider-Man explained since I didn't elaborate.
"We're comic characters on his earth, just like he's a manga charecter here."
"Speaking of, you didn't answer. Who's the traitor?" I asked Spider-Man, and he rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"Ah, well, no one knows yet. The latest chapter that came out has you rescuing Bakugou from the League of Villains."
"God damn it. I've already done that and gotten my provisional license." I complained, rubbing my temples.
"Yeah, well, you're from a different universe from the book, so it's not a guarantee it'd be the same."
Well, if that was the case, I couldn't worry too much. Besides, I needed to get home and survive the invasion before I could worry about the traitor.
An explosion from outside the building got all of our attention, my feet moving towards a window before even knowing what was going on, the window not breaking as I crashed into it.
"They're designed to withstand attacks from Thor and the Hulk." Reed explained, pushing a button to open the window, a flash of red and blue jumping as I flew out the window, putting my mask on.
A green and red man on a flying glider, wearing what looked like a Renaissance festival reject and a blue and yellow man on a glider with an orange cloak were fighting, throwing explosives and sharp looking weapons at each other.
"Hey, the zoo was looking for a couple of missing butt-ugly flying jackasses. You two wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" I called to them, solidifying and crashing into the yellow and blue one, focusing on the feeling of power and charging up One-For-All.
"Dude, that's pretty good. But next time, don't forget to mention that their mothers are even uglier." Spider-Man instructed, and I was over the moon. How often could I get tips on quipping from Spider-Man?
"Gotham..." I paused to move, still building power in my body before I flew at the yellow goblin, getting close. "SMASH!"
My fist connected with his flying board, breaking it, and he began to fall.
"Spidey, web him up!" I yelled, turning my attention to the other, more notable villain.
"Green Goblin. Norman Osborn? Or are you Harry?" I asked him, my arm burning from the force of my attack. How long until I could use it in full force without hurting myself?
His eyes narrowed, and whoever was under the mask, they didn't seem to care.
"I'll tear down your life brick by brick, make you watch as I kill your friends and family. The goblin is coming, and I'll revel in your despair, in the madness and ruin I'll bring!" The villain bragged, not noticing the tree branches that grew up to us, wrapping his limbs up individually, webbing helping to solidify his prison, the Fantastic Four arriving a little late to the party, a strange device in Reeds hand.
"Quick and efficient. The sooner we can take someone off the streets, the better." Spider-Man told me as we waited for the police to arrive, both goblins doing their best to escape. As soon as SHIELD showed up to take the supervillains, we bounced, heading back up to the Fantastic Fours tower.
"Fighting with the Spectacular Spider-Man. I just got to fulfill a childhood dream." I told him, offering my fist to him.
"Yeah, but the Bugle is bound to make you out to be a supervillian." He joked, fist bumping me, the thought not scaring me.
"I wear it as a badge of honor." I told him seriously, flying into the window we'd jumped from earlier.
"Good work, you two. You kept property damage to a minimum and got those looney tunes locked up." The rock guy spoke, and I realized I still hadn't learned his name.
"Thanks, Mr... uh, whoever you are."
The rock man laughed and pulled out a cigar, not yet lighting it.
"Ben."
"And I'm Susan Storm-Richards." The beautiful woman introduced herself as well, and it took a second to understand what it meant.
"You pulled her!? How?" I questioned the scientist, Reed looking confused.
"Our marriage hasn't always been easy, but it's been worth every second. I couldn't ask for a better wife or mother to our children." He told me, not explaining much, but that was fair. I could always read about them when I got home.
"Speaking of not easy, I've gotten a lock on your interdimensional signature. Getting to see your powers in action revealed something unique about you." He told me before a scoff came from the blonde man.
"Hey! What about me? No one cares about the one and only Human Torch?" He asked us, the rock guy rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.
"Johnny Storm." The blonde introduced, his head lighting on fire before he extinguished it.
"Cool trick. I'm Izuku Midoriya." I waved and turned back to Reed.
"Unique about me? How so?" I questioned the scientist, looking at readings on the screen I didn't understand.
"Well, it would seem you're a bit unique. Normally, I could lock onto your universe and specific timeline, but your signature isn't normal. It fluctuates, changing the variables around itself, almost like where you're supposed to be is constantly shifting."
His eyes never once left the screen, his hands typing as quickly as he could, trying to do something.
"I've locked in a timeline, but there's a margin of error here that implies it isn't your own. Sending you through it could mean sending you somewhere you don't belong."
"Like I am right now? Doc, if you can get me closer back home, that's all I need." I replied, and he turned from his screens.
"Listen, son, you may be willing to risk it, but in the best case scenario, you end up back home. Worst case, you get sent even further from where you're supposed to be or dead. That's a big risk, one I'm not willing to take with your life."
"It's one I'm willing to take to get home. My earth is fighting for survival as we speak, I can't risk waiting any longer because I might be the needle that tips the scale in our favor. So if you can't help me, Doc, then someone else surely can."
Reed held his chin, rubbing it as he thought about something, and after a moment, he got an idea.
"Spider-Man, would you stop by 177A Bleecker Street? I'm afraid this may require the help of a multiverse expert." He decided, Spider-Man giving him a mock salute and jumping out the window, swinging away.
"So, who's up for Uno?" I joked with the fantastic family, floating around and watching Reed work. I didn't understand any of it, but how often did anyone get to see a comic superhero working?
"Hey, Stretch. I'm headin' out." Ben told Reed, who didn't seem to hear him, too engrossed in his work, Johnny and Sue giving Reed company and help, respectively.
"So, what's the deal with your powers? If you don't have quirks, how'd you get superfied?" I questioned the remaining heroes, Sue explaining while Reed cursed his machines for being so slow. They were producing words faster than I could read. How could it be slow?
"We were exposed to cosmic rays on a space flight."
Weirder things happened, I mean Wonder Woman was a goddess or something, and Martian Manhunter was a Martian. Plus, the Lantern Corps were emotional space police. I guess cosmic rays were tame in comparison.
"I can't wait until a mission takes me to the stars. Earth from space is supposed to be the best reminder of what being a hero means." I committed as I started daydreaming about the possibility.
"There's nothing else like it." Johnny told me, serious as he spoke, a comfortable silence falling over us until an orange portal opened, a man in a cloak and robes that made him look like a cult leader walked through, Spider-Man stepping through behind him.
"Reed." Doctor Strange greeted the stretchy hero, and I was annoyed with the MCU. This man looked like a wizard version of Cesar Romero.
"Steven. Good to see you again." Reed told him, prying his gaze away from his screens to look at the other doctor.
"Woah. Man, I've watched the entire MCU, and you're nothing like Benedict Cumberbatch." I managed to tell him, trying not to let my excitement show.
"I can see it. The people and events of our world leave footprints, little recordings, retellings. Of course, the same seems to be true in reverse. Spider-Man told me of how your world and its people are fictional, like we are to yours." Strange told me, looking at me and casting a spell.
"Fascinating. Your timeline is constantly shifting, changing to fit a narrative not yet completed yet. Well, let's send you back, shall we? The longer you're here, the more chance of this universe rejecting you, sending you somewhere else." The doctor told me and held out my hand to Spider-Man.
"Does everyone here know your identity?" I asked him, and he nodded.
"You're the number one fictional hero in my world. You influence the real heroes, and you give thousands of people hope. Meeting you, it reminded me of the kind of hero I want to be. Thank you, Peter Parker. I hope you know that even if your New York doesn't love you, my earth always will."
He shook my hand, something passed into my palm, and I held it close, looking at a small, pressurized container.
"You said you were fighting when you left. Maybe this can even the odds a little." He told me, and I nodded.
"Thank you all for your help." I told them, Doctor Stranges hands glowing as he spoke in a language I didn't understand before I felt myself falling, ready for the rage of war.