Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all fantastic. We are still in the gamma timeline. Honestly, we are going to be here for a while. This is where all the chaos is happening. Beta timeline Steve and Tony are just chilling, watching movies together right now, as the gamma timeline does all the dirty work. (I really want artwork of this.)
Please note that Ned's text messages to Peter in the first part of this chapter happen over an extensive period. There are long gaps between some of the messages. Also, there will be a second set of messages that will be a little out of sequence. Hopefully, I explained everything in the narrative.
Conversation 72: Apologies for These out-of-sequence Messages
Message to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Spider
Early morning, March 30, 2018
BITC: I'm sorry I left school early yesterday, and we couldn't hang out after school like planned. Mom freaked out and checked me out even though she was not supposed to on Dad's weeks. There was a big blow-up yesterday involving her breaking my phone. I'm so glad I have my Avenger line and my backup phone. However, I did not activate it until morning.
BITC: Okay, that happened because I was so exhausted and just went straight to sleep once it was all over. I'm trying to understand her perspective because of what happened in the other timeline, but it's tough. She needs professional help. I'm worried, but there's nothing I can do to help her.
BITC: Dad has an emergency meeting with the lawyers because of yesterday's fiasco. I want to go, but he doesn't want me to go to school late. He's afraid someone will tip off Mom. We think one of our neighbors is already. They always liked Mom more and were angry that Dad got to keep the house. It was his family house. Why shouldn't he get to keep it?
BITC: Because of Dad's lawyer meeting, can I get a ride to school? He can't take me, and I hate taking the bus.
BITC: The bus arrives in two minutes, and I haven't heard from you. I guess I'm taking the bus. Please tell me you're not too busy making out with Flash to respond to my text messages. I expect an explanation at the lockers. If you're too busy making out with somebody, please be MJ.
BITC: You weren't at your locker, which has me concerned. Flash is also conspicuously missing. I hope I was joking about the making out thing.
BITC: MJ was also missing from homeroom, and I haven't seen Purple Princess yet.
BITC: I just tried to call MJ during break and got voicemail. I am concerned.
BITC: I just tried Afia, too, and no response. The only time she doesn't respond is when I'm with my mom, and this is not a mom week. I'm trying not to freak out, but I'm worried. Primarily because nobody has texted me back. I'm like 30 seconds from texting Flash.
BITC: CM is not in class either. What's going on?
BITC: Was there a call to assemble that I missed where my mom was being evil? Although you usually still text me on the encrypted line. Which is why I'm texting here?
BITC: I'm trying the princess.
Xxxx
BITC: Do you know why none of my friends are at school today and nobody is responding to my text messages? I'm super concerned.
Genius Princess: They might still be asleep. Yesterday was rough. Their plane arrived at my home very early your time. I'm currently en route from San Francisco and will join the others soon. I had to secure a scientist to help us.
Genius Princess: Your FBI is very inefficient and corrupt. My cousin's cousin almost hit somebody, but Agent H. Leopold held her back. She is annoyed that she must remain undercover because of the corruption.
BITC: I have several questions. Which cousin's cousin? Why was yesterday rough? Is everybody already in Wakanda? I thought they weren't leaving until after classes tonight. Did something happen?
Genius Princess: Yes, a lot. They flew to DC last night for a mission briefing and left for my house from there. Did Afia get to speak to you after class? I told her about DC before that point. Or Agent Fitzsimmons, for that matter? She was supposed to drive you home to talk to your dad for me. I made arrangements.
BITC: No. I got pulled out of class early. Mom was angry. She added you to my list of people I'm not allowed to talk to. She really doesn't want me to visit.
Genius Princess: Obviously, you're ignoring that.
BITC: She broke my other phone. I'm happy Agent Fitzsimmons gave me a backup on Tuesday.
Genius Princess: I am, too. I think I may have been the one who triggered her rash actions. I was trying to convince both of your parents to let you come to Wakanda. The answer is no if I'm on the banned list. If the custody situation is that complicated, I doubt your father will let you visit against her wishes.
BITC: I'm pretty sure the lawyers will advise him not to. We're trying to keep our heads down. However, yesterday is making that hard.
Purple Princess: I'm so sorry about that.
BITC: It's okay. I'm trying to remind myself that it could be so much worse. Beta timeline Ned is going to go through a lot if we manage to get him back.
Purple Princess: We will. We had a breakthrough in the last 24 hours. We might be able to move forward as early as this weekend. I'm sending you some things through encrypted channels.
BITC: Thank you. I hate being left out because everybody else gets to go to Wakanda, and I can't. I feel like I missed something big.
Purple Princess: Can you do a video call?
BITC: Yep, it's lunch. I am sitting with CO. But I can go to the decathlon study room. It's usually empty at this time.
BITC: Flash isn't returning her text messages either, and they're like best friends. However, she did know about the trip to DC. She was told his foster father had a work emergency and thought it would be safer if Flash came with him. This was why she was so concerned about the lack of text messages.
Purple Princess: Good cover.
BITC: The best covers are almost true. I just got a bunch of backlog text messages from the BFF from yesterday evening, including one telling me about DC.
Purple Princess: Flash is probably still sleeping. I just had to add you back to the Young Avengers group manually. This is why you're getting a backlog of messages. Ana may have kept them from transmitting since she knew your phone was destroyed.
BITC: That seems like something she would do.
Purple Princess: I will call you in a minute. Bring your friend with you. She should be there for the first part of the call, too.
BITC: Will do.
Xxxxx
TMNS: I heard from Flash that your mom picked you up early. He heard you guys arguing outside of his class. That's weird. Are you okay? The Purple Princess is letting your lawyer know.
TMNS: We are on our way to DC for a debrief. All I know so far is that we will not be in class tomorrow. Please take notes. The Princess told her cousin that much. Although with it being spring break the next day, I hope all the teachers are just showing films.
TMNS: I'm a little worried about the lack of response. Especially because Ana just told us your phone was destroyed. She just had to self-destruct your SIM card. The Purple Princess is calling your attorney. If she doesn't confirm you are safe, you'll get ambushed by whatever Shield agents are still at HQ.
BITC: Obviously, my lawyer confirmed I was safe. My mom was really offended by the offer to go to Wakanda for spring break and overreacted—Dad's filing for an emergency change of custody. So, I'm not having a good day, but I know yours is worse.
BITC: I just got those messages from last night. This is evident from all my other text messages this morning.
BITC: Also, I just talked to the princess. I am so sorry about May.
BITC: Agent May, not your Aunt May. That would be much worse, although losing Agent America is bad enough. I am so sorry for your loss. I know you were close to her. I only knew her as the good gym teacher that didn't make me hate exercise and helped me with my new fitness routine.
TMNS: Yes, we were close. She trained me on how to drive last summer. Well, the combat version of driving. Aunt May taught me normal driving.
TMNS: I'm sorry I didn't text you back earlier. When we got here, we crashed, and now we're making our way to the lab. We're trying to see if we can convince Tony to take a break.
BITC: Good luck with that. How is he doing?
TMNS: I'm not sure. He is still bruised. Tony hasn't slept in the last two days, and his boyfriend is worse.
BITC: That makes sense because Agent America was his friend.
TMNS: More than friends. They were even married in the gamma timeline.
BITC: I have questions but won't ask them right now. How are the others?
TMNS: Better that we know you're okay. The lawyers told us you were okay, but hearing from you is good.
BITC: Sorry, I should have texted from the other phone when I got back, but I just crashed when I got here. I was emotionally drained by it all.
TMNS: It's okay. I don't think we would've responded for a while. Yesterday was a disaster. Afia cried. Flash has gone to two virtual AA meetings. MJ is worried because May is practically her cousin's mom. She's afraid Daisy's going to break and be extra reckless. She heard stories of what Daisy did after her boyfriend was KIA back in 2016. It wasn't good. She disappeared for like six months.
BITC: Does Agent Johnson know yet?
TMNS: I don't know. I overheard Tony dictating his text messages to Natasha last night. She's supposed to go to Daisy and tell her what happened sometime today. But because we're so far away, we're not getting regular updates. And it might be safer that way because of the purple monster.
TMNS: Oh, Daisy and team survived Asgard. Ana is going to be sending you some stuff. I'm surprised she didn't tell you what happened.
Avenger Ana: I was not authorized to, especially in light of having to destroy your SIM card yesterday. That's also why I could not inform you that the others were unavailable. The Princess gave the authorization for me to communicate with you again.
BITC: I understand, Ana. I just hate being on the outside. Especially because I feel like you could use your best friend right now. Or have you been cuddling with Flash?
TMNS: And MJ. Silk has mostly been hanging out with Afia.
BITC: Well, at least it's both of them.
TMNS: Flash isn't going to replace you. Our relationship is different.
BITC: Yes, you don't want to have sex with me.
BITC: You don't want to have sex with me, right?
TMNS: You're the brother I always wanted. I love you, but not that way.
BITC: Thank you for clarifying. I feel the same way.
TMNS: I wish you were here too. At the same time, you're safer in New York.
TMNS: Well, from purple psychopaths, not your mother.
BITC: This is going to be bad, isn't it? I know what happened in the other timeline, but it could happen here. We've already lost somebody.
TMNS: I hope she's the last.
BITC: I hope so, too.
To be continued…