Marvel: From the Void and Back Again, Part 3
Chapter 25: The Next Component
…
J. Jonah Jameson leaned back in his chair, exhaling as the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled his office. His mug, hovering in midair, was being filled just the way he liked it, the steaming liquid pouring effortlessly from the sentient coffee dispenser attached to the far wall.
It gave an almost content gurgle before retracting its tendrils and settling back into idle mode.
"Thanks, Java," Jameson muttered, taking the mug and sipping deeply.
These days, everything was alive, his coffee machine, his desk, his damn cellphone, a quantum-powered, multitasking Swiss Army knife of a device that could transcribe articles, edit footage, act as a screwdriver, and, if he wanted, probably cook him breakfast.
This was the new normal.
Earth-616, once a battleground of crises and apocalyptic threats, was now the most advanced world in the galaxy.
Trade hubs across the solar system connected humanity to civilizations once thought unreachable. The remnants of six dead Celestials, whose corpses Peter-Knull had helped take down months ago, had become the backbone of interstellar industry. Mining colonies, scientific outposts, and entire floating metropolises were now stationed around them, drawing in trade, innovation, and money.
Hell, half the headlines these days barely seemed real.
Jameson scrolled through his personalized holo-feed, skimming through today's top stories.
…
Pollution levels hit an all-time low as the Pacific garbage patch was fully converted into usable fuels and chemicals by a specialized symbiote engineered by Peter-Knull. Space industries were celebrating their newfound limitless fuel supply.
The Son and Daughter of a Mistress Death variant and a Spider-Man variant, known as 'Death-Spider', turn one year old. There were a lot of guests.
Grey-Sym expands diplomatic relations with Andromeda Quadrant.
An alien delegation requests a meeting with Earth regarding joint military operations.
…
Jameson shook his head.
This was his life now. These were the daily headlines.
Gone were the days of simple political scandals or corporate fraud. Now, he reported on intergalactic trade agreements, reality-warping hybrid children, and terraforming projects on worlds like Pluto like they were standard city council meetings.
It was… a lot.
And yet?
For the first time in his career, Jameson wasn't angry.
Sure, he still had plenty to complain about. But deep down, he knew the world was better now. The chaos had been replaced with progress.
Taking another sip of coffee, he turned to his newsroom, Grey-Sym symbiotes moving efficiently between desks, their ink-like forms shifting as they typed, edited, and processed footage with inhuman speed.
A few other symbiotic beings, with various colors and patterns of organic armor, mingled among them, cracking jokes or debating today's editorial.
Jameson smirked.
This was just another day.
And honestly?
He could live with that.
…
Jameson rubbed his temples as he scanned the latest intelligence report from Soul Society, sipping his now-lukewarm coffee.
The reality beyond the Void, where Peter-Knull had been displaced not too long ago, was becoming increasingly relevant in his daily reports.
A whole world, no, a whole separate multiversal structure, that operated outside the hierarchy of the known multiverse.
No cosmic abstracts overseeing it. No Time Variance Authority meddling in its affairs. No Beyonders or Tribunal nonsense dictating its structure.
And the strangest part?
It had a version of Earth, but instead of superheroes and cosmic entities, it had Soul Reapers, Hollows, Zanpakutō spirits, and Quincy.
Jameson scrolled down, reading over the latest developments.
"Several systematic problems in Soul Society are being resolved at an accelerated rate due to Peter-Knull's intervention."
Of course, they were.
It didn't matter what world he ended up in, Peter-Knull had a habit of changing the landscape wherever he went.
Before Jameson could fully digest the implications, he turned to the Grey-Sym correspondent perched on the nearby desk, its liquid-like body shifting slightly in the soft newsroom lighting.
He waved his hand vaguely at the report. "Alright, tell me, how's that world doing?"
The Grey-Sym tilted its head, as if it was accessing a data stream from across the multiversal divide, then simply replied:
"Well? Lupin, Logan's son, and a Soul Reaper named Nemu recently got married and are finishing up celebrations here before heading back to Soul Society."
Jameson raised an eyebrow. "That so?"
The Grey-Sym nodded. "Also, Nemu's having pups."
Jameson blinked.
Slowly.
Then, without a single word, he set his coffee down, turned in his chair, and stared blankly at his news feed.
Of all the headlines he'd written in his lifetime, this one might just take the cake.
…
One hour later…
Jameson sat at his desk, staring at the report that had just been dropped onto his terminal.
The anonymous tip had come in early this morning, flagged by one of the Grey-Sym information analysts. It wasn't urgent, not yet, at least, but it was weird. And weird things usually meant trouble in this new era.
Leaning forward, he skimmed the details:
A shipment of unusual cargo recently entered Earth's orbit.
The cargo originated from a sector in the former Kree Empire.
The Kree, still recovering from the chaos left behind by a rogue Sinister clone that took over their last emperor, have been fortifying their territories and avoiding unnecessary exports.
Shipments from the former empire had only been going outward, not inward, until now.
Jameson scowled. "So why the hell is it coming here?"
The Grey-Sym assigned to his office, stepped into the room then right beside Jameson. Handing him a datapad.
"There's another problem," it said, its voice a blend of modulated tones. "The authorities checked the cargo. The boxes were empty."
Jameson frowned. "Empty?"
The Grey-Sym nodded. "Nothing inside. Just crates. Metal containers with no listed purpose."
Jameson exhaled, tapping a finger against his desk. "Alright. That's strange, yeah—but it's not illegal. Not yet. You think it's worth looking into?"
The Grey-Sym hesitated for only a second before answering. "Yes."
Jameson glanced at it, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"
The Grey-Sym pulled up another file, this one from a deeper analysis of the shipment's records. It flicked its fingers, and a holographic map appeared in the air, showing the shipping routes for the past six months. The patterns were clear, everything had been leaving 'towards' Kree space. Until now.
The Grey-Sym tapped on a specific point in the data, highlighting a connection Jameson had not yet noticed.
"The last time we saw significant activity in this sector, it was when Mr. Sinister had been running an underground genetic lab beneath old Kree structures."
Jameson's breath hitched just slightly.
That incident.
He remembered it too well, when Victoria Creed and her Peter Parker variant had six of their children kidnapped while they were displaced here.
That event had spiraled into a crisis.
The Kree Emperor had been assassinated and replaced with a Sinister clone, which, unsurprisingly, led to absolute chaos across their empire.
Since then, Kree leadership had fractured into several system-wide factions, each of them scrambling to fortify their sectors against infiltration.
No one trusted centralized rule anymore.
The last thing they wanted was another hidden lab, another infiltration, another coup.
Jameson leaned back, his instincts starting to buzz.
"Alright… so what's your angle?" he asked, watching the Grey-Sym closely.
The being's shifting form tensed slightly, as if carefully choosing its words.
"This could be nothing," it admitted. "But given the Kree's paranoia over their borders, the fact that shipments are coming here now, to Earth, of all places, is unusual."
Jameson tapped a finger on his desk again, thinking.
"And you're saying the Kree themselves don't know about it?"
"There's no formal documentation from any of the newly established Kree leadership factions."
Jameson exhaled sharply. "Alright. What else?"
The Grey-Sym's form shifted subtly, its gleaming black eyes narrowing as if processing something new. "Several Geo-Shade and Iron-Fang symbiotes had the same hunch," it said. "They're working with the crime labs now, running deeper scans on the containers."
Jameson's brow furrowed. "So, they think the boxes ain't just boxes?"
The Grey-Sym inclined its head slightly. "Appearances can be deceiving. We should receive an update any moment n-."
BZZZT.
Jameson's symbiote-tech phone vibrated violently in his pocket, the interface shifting in real-time as he pulled it out and it projected a holographic data stream in front of him.
At the exact same moment, the Grey-Sym's liquid-like body went rigid, its obsidian eyes widening slightly.
Jameson answered the call, his voice sharper now. "Talk to me."
The voice on the other end, a field agent embedded in the crime division, spoke quickly, but his tone was steady.
"We cracked it. The crates aren't just crates."
Jameson's grip on the phone tightened. "Go on."
"The 'empty' metal containers? They're lead-lined shells with hidden compartments inside. Each one is designed to store genetic material."
Jameson gritted his teeth. "So what the hell are they carrying?"
"Right now? Nothing."
Jameson blinked. "Come again?"
"The data we extracted indicates the compartments are empty now, but that's not their purpose. They're being used for extraction."
Jameson's stomach twisted. "Extraction of what?"
The agent didn't hesitate.
"Genetic samples."
A heavy silence settled over the office.
Jameson exhaled through his nose, running a hand through his hair. "Son of a bitch…"
The Grey-Sym's voice came next, quiet but weighted with something deep and dangerous.
"There's more."
Jameson looked at it sharply. "Spit it out."
The Grey-Sym's hands twitched, data streams flickering between its fingertips as it manipulated the data on the hologram.
"The boxes contain data chips, highly encrypted, but we managed to intercept a partial transmission. The contents were meant to be handed off to a contact somewhere in the city."
Jameson's expression darkened. "Who's the contact?"
The Grey-Sym hesitated. Then, in a tone that suggested it didn't like the answer any more than he would, it said:
"Cletus Kasady."
Jameson stilled.
For a moment, the room felt heavier.
"…Kasady's dead," he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
The Grey-Sym shook its head. "Not anymore."
Jameson felt a familiar, cold anger settle into his bones.
Cletus Kasady, the maniacal butcher, the mad dog of chaos, the walking nightmare once bonded to Carnage, was back.
But that shouldn't be possible.
Because Peter-Knull had consumed the original Knull of this universe.
And with that?
Carnage died.
Jameson exhaled, his fingers curling into a tight fist. "He's got no symbiote," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
The Grey-Sym nodded. "That doesn't mean he's powerless. Kasady is still Kasady. And apparently? He's looking for payback."
Jameson turned back to his holo-screen, scanning the encrypted message the Grey-Sym had just decoded.
"Retrieve the data. Secure the samples. The blood of Logan's son will be the key."
Jameson's pulse spiked.
His voice dropped lower, filled with something dark.
"They're after Lupin."
…
Logan sat back on the couch in Avengers Tower, a half-empty beer bottle resting on the table beside him. His eyes idly scanned the datapad in his hand, but his attention was split between approving trade agreements with the former Russian republics that have long since declared independence since the government split all at once after Peter-Knull's intervention in eastern Europe and the chaotic warmth of the room around him.
He wasn't alone, not by a long shot.
Across from him, Laura was sprawled out in a chair, flipping through her own stack of trade reports, her expression unreadable. Normally, she'd complain about diplomatic work, but surprisingly? She hadn't. Maybe because this was real progress, the kind of thing that actually mattered.
Between the trade routes stabilizing and Wild-Claw and Gabriella adjusting to parenthood, things were actually… good.
And Logan wasn't complaining.
In the open play area nearby, Leon, Fang, and Luna were doing their own thing.
Leon, still getting the hang of walking, wobbled determinedly across the floor, Gabriella hovering close by just in case. He wasn't quite stable yet, but he was trying his damn hardest—his golden mane of fur slightly puffed out in sheer concentration.
Meanwhile, Fang was hopping around on all fours, completely at ease in his wolf-like stance, while Luna crawled after him, giggling.
Jocasta and her daughter Cybelle were watching from the side, their robotic forms whirring softly as Cybelle analyzed the cubs' movements with childlike fascination.
On the opposite end of the room, Kamala Khan's daughter, Zara, was gleefully bouncing around in her salamander-like form, her iridescent skin shimmering under the soft tower lights. She was engaged in a playful chase following Fang and Zara both of them zipping between furniture and tumbling over each other.
Kamala, standing off to the side, rested a hand on her stomach, she was pregnant again, which, under normal circumstances, would've been surprising. But given the nature of her children's time-displaced origins, it made perfect sense that Feras and Rehan Khan, her salamander-like twins from the future, would be born soon.
Dazzler, Toon-Shade, and their son Sonic-Shade were off doing a charity concert tour in London, and Spider-Man Blue-A2 and his Mystique variant were lounging in the living room area, their one-year-old son, Gabriel, resting peacefully in his mother's arms as she leaned against her Peter.
It was… peaceful.
Which was almost creepy.
Logan took a swig of his beer, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"This is the longest I've seen world peace hold," he muttered.
Laura glanced up from her reports, raising an eyebrow. "That a bad thing?"
Logan exhaled. "Not bad. Just… weird. Real weird."
Because this wasn't just peace, this was unprecedented.
It had been months of stability. Not just for Earth, but the entire quadrant of the universe.
Crime was at an all-time low, since, like, …ever.
Wars had cooled off due to everyone getting a piece of the pie so to speak, and no-one wanted to cut off their source of income and their business partners.
Even intergalactic trade was thriving.
And a huge part of that?
Peter-Knull.
Logan scratched his beard, shaking his head slightly. "That symbiote bastard came into this world a wreck—barely held together, barely trustin' anybody." He let out a low chuckle. "Now look at him."
Laura smirked slightly. "He made this world his home."
Logan nodded.
That was the biggest thing about Peter-Knull.
He didn't just show up and fix things.
He stayed.
He invested everything into Earth, into their people, into their future.
And because of that?
When they died, when they eventually moved on, they had somewhere to go.
The Seraphis symbiotes had crafted an afterlife, a place where those who chose it could live beyond death, free of suffering, free of the cycle of loss.
Peter-Knull didn't just give them peace.
He gave them hope.
Logan took another sip of beer.
Yeah.
Things were good.
Maybe even too good.
And he wasn't sure whether that was comforting… or just plain creepy, … 'creepier', that is?
…
Logan exhaled, swirling the beer bottle in his hand as he settled deeper into his seat, trying to shake off the creeping sense of unease that came with things going too damn well.
Then his phone buzzed.
He fished it out of his jacket, eyes narrowing as Gambit's name flashed across the screen.
"What do ya want, Cajun?" Logan muttered, pressing the call button.
Gambit's easy-going drawl came through, but there was an edge to it.
"Got a little somethin' ya might wanna hear, mon ami. Cletus Kasady's back."
Logan sat up instantly, his eyes narrowing. "The hell did you just say?"
"Yeah. Crazy bastard was holed up in the city's industrial district. Cap, Captain Marvel, and a team of SHIELD agents swooped in and took him down."
Logan let out a slow breath, running a hand down his face. "No symbiote?"
"None," Gambit confirmed. "Just pure, unfiltered Kasady crazy. He still put up a fight, but without Carnage? Not as much of a problem."
Logan huffed, shaking his head. "Figures. Still, that bastard shouldn't even be here."
"Yeah, well, he ain't the only problem."
Logan frowned. "Spit it out."
Gambit sighed, and Logan could practically hear him lighting a cigarette on the other end.
"Two more developments. First one? The Knulls and Aizen just made a move."
Logan's brow furrowed. "Which Knulls?"
"All of 'em."
Logan's grip on his beer bottle tightened.
"They're workin' with two Sinisters, Logan. And their target? Lupin."
A cold silence filled the space between them.
"They need a vial of his blood for some kinda binding ritual. Apparently, they wanna tie Peter-Knull's essence to Hell in that neighboring reality."
Logan's jaw clenched.
If they bound Peter-Knull to Hell, he wouldn't just be stuck there. He'd be claimed.
Logan exhaled sharply. "How bad is it?"
"We caught it early. Police and Peter-Knull's symbiotes intercepted the method of transporting the blood out. But this ain't over."
Logan nodded to himself, already mentally preparing to call Peter-Knull and SHIELD. "And the second development?"
Gambit let out a low chuckle, but it wasn't amused.
"Two Peter Parker variants showed up."
Logan raised an eyebrow at that. "Where?"
"One was found in Central Park. And get this, his lover is Emma Frost."
Logan blinked. "You gotta be shittin' me."
"Wish I was."
Logan rubbed his temple, already feeling a headache forming. "And the other?"
Gambit's tone changed, quieter now.
"Second one was not too far away. And this one? He's together with his world's Laura."
Logan froze.
His grip tightened around the phone as Gambit continued.
"And Logan? That one's from the first Earth Peter-Knull visited. The one where he lost his first lover. That world's Gwen Stacy."
Logan let out a long, slow breath.
"…Shit."
Gambit exhaled through the receiver, and Logan could hear the flick of a lighter as he lit his cigarette.
"Look, mon ami, I ain't callin' to tell ya what to do. Just thought you should know."
Logan rubbed his temple, already feeling the tension coil in his shoulders. "Yeah. Appreciate the heads-up."
"Good. 'Cause I mean it, Logan, Lupin needs to be watched. At all times."
Logan exhaled sharply. "Already on it."
Gambit chuckled dryly.
"See that ya are. Last thing we need? Some Sinister bastard makin' off with his blood."
Logan's eyes darkened. "That ain't gonna happen."
"Glad to hear it. Keep yer claws sharp, old man."
And with that, the line clicked off.
Logan lowered the phone, tapping it against his knee as he processed everything.
They were coming for Lupin.
And Logan?
They'd have to go through him first.
…
The air in Central Park was thick with humidity, the scent of alien flora mingling with the fresh earth. The once-urbanized landscape had been reborn, transformed into a lush greenhouse jungle, a direct result of the massive ecological restoration project that had started years ago.
Now, it was a sanctuary, not just for humans, but for the displaced alien species whose homeworlds had been lost. Massive trees with glowing, bioluminescent petals loomed over the walkways, while hanging vines and towering ferns formed natural corridors through the park.
Laura, Daken, Spider-Man (this world's Peter Parker), She-Hulk, and Maria Hill stepped out onto one of the main paths, moving with purpose.
Logan had decided to stay behind, keeping an eye on Lupin and Nemu, which, honestly? No one blamed him for. With two Sinisters and the Knulls targeting Lupin's blood, he wasn't about to let anyone get close.
This, however?
This was their job.
Ahead of them, Gambit and Rogue were already on the scene, waiting near a stone pathway lined with massive alien blooms that pulsed softly in the dim afternoon light.
Gambit was the first to spot them, flicking the end of his cigarette to the ground and crushing it beneath his boot.
"Took ya long enough," he muttered, pushing his coat back. "Been standin' here feelin' like I'm in some kinda space jungle."
Rogue smirked. "Ya are in some kinda space jungle, sugah."
Laura ignored the banter, her sharp eyes scanning ahead, and sure enough, there they were.
Two Spider-Men.
The first?
He was standing in front of them, wearing a brown and yellow suit, his design and color scheme eerily reminiscent of her own classic uniform.
And next to him?
A Laura Kinney.
Her stance was rigid, her muscles tight as she took in the sight of her counterparts, her expression guarded, sharp, on edge, until her eyes landed on Daken.
Something shifted in them.
It was quick, almost imperceptible, but Daken caught it instantly.
Because this Laura?
The last time she had seen her world's Daken… He was in pieces.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, her breathing just slightly uneven, her claws pressing against her palms. She tried to hide it, masking her emotions under that same hard exterior she had always relied on.
But Daken saw right through it.
For a moment, he just stared at her. No quips. No sharp words. Just understanding.
And maybe, a flicker of something else.
A few feet away, the second Spider-Man sat on a bench, looking entirely at ease in his pristine white suit.
And sitting right in his lap?
An alternate version of Emma Frost.
Wearing her usual smug, unreadable expression, she casually examined her nails as if she had better places to be.
Daken finally spoke, his voice lower than usual.
"...You alright?"
The other Laura tensed, her gaze snapping back to him.
For a split second, she looked like she might say something, something that had been buried deep for too long.
Then?
She just exhaled.
Daken held his sister's gaze, watching as her posture stiffened, as if she were debating whether to say what was really on her mind.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"In my world…"
She hesitated, then clenched her fists.
"Most of the X-Men are dead. Gone. No one's seen Kitty since that incident with Logan."
Daken's expression didn't change, but something in his eyes shifted.
Laura's voice was steady, but there was something underneath it—something raw.
"She phased her arm through his head," she continued, her eyes flickering downward. "Paralyzed him. But she… she lost her arm in the process."
Daken's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything.
"That world was a mess," Laura said, voice growing colder. "Before we were displaced here? Everything was already falling apart."
Her breath hitched, barely noticeable, but Daken caught it.
"And it was… it was…"
She swallowed, shoulders tensing further.
"It was all Logan's fault."
The words echoed in everyone's minds, heavier than anything else that had been said.
Daken didn't move. Didn't even blink.
Laura's hands trembled slightly before she curled them into tight fists, her claws nearly piercing her palms.
"He knew what he was doing, Daken. He didn't care."
The weight behind her voice wasn't just anger.
It was betrayal.
"He killed you," she said, quieter now. "He killed Gabby. He killed Jean, Magneto… everyone he could."
She exhaled sharply, trying to keep herself steady.
"Even Cap. And so many more…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper for the next part, "He nearly killed my Peter."
Her gaze darkened, her expression flickering between something haunted and furious.
"He nearly killed me. And the worst part?"
The thing that kept her awake at night, even now?
"He knew what he was doing."
She shook her head, laughing bitterly. "He knew. And he still did it."
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Daken just stood there, staring at her.
Then, after a beat, he inhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly.
"That… doesn't sound like our old man."
Daken took a slow breath, running a hand through his hair before crossing his arms. He held his sister's gaze, making sure she was listening before he spoke.
"Look, I ain't gonna sit here and tell ya our Logan's perfect. He's made mistakes. Hell, plenty of 'em."
His voice was calm, but there was a firmness behind it.
"But he's tryin' to do better. And not just him, all the Logans that ended up here? They're all tryin' to be better."
Laura's expression twitched, her claws still pressing into her palms, but she wasn't arguing.
"I get it," Daken continued. "Whatever happened in your world, he ain't that guy here. And I can promise you, the Logans that live here? They'd rather die than hurt their families like that."
Laura's shoulders tensed again, and for a second, she looked like she wanted to believe him.
But Daken wasn't done yet.
"And… about Kitty?" He sighed, rubbing his temples. "We ran into the version of her you described a while ago."
Laura's brows furrowed slightly.
"She got displaced here along with a ton of other variants," Daken explained, "most of 'em were sent here to take down Peter-Knull."
Her jaw tightened at the mention of the name, but she stayed silent.
Daken leaned forward slightly, his tone darker now.
"But she ain't here to fight Peter anymore."
Laura's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
Daken exhaled, shaking his head.
"She blames all Logans for what happened to her. Convinced herself that the whole Wolverine family is tainted."
Laura's breathing hitched slightly, but she didn't react otherwise.
"She snapped. We had to lock her up after she shot a Peter Parker variant."
Laura's eyes widened slightly, but Daken continued.
"She wasn't even tryin' to hit him. She was aiming for his lover."
There was a long pause.
Then, Laura finally spoke.
"Who?"
Daken met her gaze.
"A female version of Victor Creed. Victoria Creed."
Laura stiffened completely, her mind racing to process that sentence.
Daken shrugged.
"We managed to repair the damage, but that version of Kitty? She was too unstable. We had to lock her up in the Raft."
Laura was silent, but Daken could tell, she was trying to figure out how to feel about all this.
Finally, she exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair.
"...Shit."
Daken chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Yeah."
He let the silence sit for a second before tilting his head slightly.
"Still think our Logan's the same as yours?"
Laura hesitated.
Then, quietly, "I don't know."
But this time? She wasn't so sure anymore.
…
While they were talking off to the side with her counterpart, this worlds Laura folded her arms, glancing toward the pristine white-suited Spider-Man She'd fought alongside plenty of Peter Parkers, had met several versions of him across different realities. But this one? This one was different. And not just because of the way he carried himself, or how at ease he seemed despite being surrounded by people who clearly weren't his own.
It was her.
Emma Frost, curled up against him like they'd been together forever.
That was what had her curious.
"How exactly does that work?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "You and her?"
The other Laura, still standing beside her own Peter, turned her attention toward the white-suited Spider-Man as well, clearly interested in hearing the answer.
The alternate Emma smirked before shifting closer to her Peter, resting against him like it was the most natural thing in the world. "It didn't happen overnight," she admitted, her voice as smooth as ever. "But if I had to put a pin in it? I'd say it all started a little while before our world's Krakoa launched."
She ran a hand along Peter's chest absently, her fingers light against the fabric of his suit, though there was something thoughtful in her expression. "I'm guessing it didn't last long here either?"
Spider-Man (this world's Peter) exhaled through his nose. "Not really."
Emma chuckled softly. "No, I didn't think so. Much like our world, then." She shifted slightly, sitting up more as she regarded the others. "When Xavier and Magneto extended their oh-so-generous offer for me to join their island paradise, I turned them down flat."
Laura raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"
Emma's smirk faded slightly. "Krakoa made something very clear to me, even before it had fully taken off. They didn't value life. They only valued control. When you start treating life as something that can be replaced, that's when you lose the very thing you're fighting for."
Her fingers curled slightly against Peter's suit. "I couldn't do it. I wouldn't."
Peter, the one in the white suit, finally spoke, his voice calm, steady. "She wasn't alone."
Emma glanced up at him, her expression softening slightly, as if remembering something distant. "No. I wasn't. My Peter was there. He stood by me when no one else did."
She exhaled, shaking her head. "And then? Peter-Knull showed up."
That got everyone's attention.
Daken's expression darkened slightly, while Rogue's eyebrows lifted. The other Laura narrowed her eyes just a bit, listening closely.
Emma's lips curled into something almost amused. "He was a mess back then, I'll admit. But even then, he helped us, helped expose what I already knew about Krakoa, about the flaws in their so-called 'utopia.'"
Her fingers idly traced patterns against Peter's chest. "And after that? He helped us deal with our own Knull problem. Permanently."
Laura straightened slightly. "He consumed that worlds Knull didn't he?"
Emma nodded, her expression serious now. "Gone. All of them. The symbiotes in our world? Eradicated. No hive. No resurrection. No Knull ever again."
She watched as that information sank in, before smirking slightly. "I can assume he's done the same here?"
Spider-Man (this world's Peter) let out a small laugh. "You could say that."
Daken shrugged. "Yeah, well, he's still here. So I guess that means he figured out how to fix things beyond the Krakoa and Knull situations."
Emma hummed softly, considering that. "Perhaps. Or maybe he just finally found a place he wanted to stay."
Laura looked back at the other her, watching as she kept stealing glances at Daken, her guard slowly lowering just a fraction.
Yeah.
This was going to take some time.
Emma Frost had been speaking with an air of confidence, comfortably nestled against her Peter, but something caught her attention.
Gambit and Rogue were avoiding her gaze.
Not in a way that was obvious to most, but Emma? She had been reading people for a long time.
The subtle shifts in their expressions, the slight tightness in their shoulders, the way their eyes flickered toward each other but never quite landed on her—it was all telling.
Something had happened.
And they were hiding it.
Her fingers, still lightly tracing Peter's suit, paused. Her ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly, studying them both before she finally asked,
"Alright… what happened here?"
Gambit stiffened ever so slightly, his easy-going demeanor flickering. Rogue's fingers twitched against her jacket.
Emma's tone was light, but sharp beneath the surface.
"Why are you two acting so uncomfortable around me?"
Gambit sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ain't got nothin' to do with you, chère."
Emma tilted her head, expression unreadable. "Then who?"
Rogue glanced at Gambit before finally exhaling. "It's… our Emma."
Emma's face didn't change, but Peter, beneath her, felt the way her muscles tensed.
"…Go on."
Rogue hesitated. Then, finally, she spoke.
"She joined Krakoa. Like the rest of us."
Emma's eyes darkened slightly. Of course her counterpart did, some variants were bound to be entrapped in the lie like so many others.
"And when it all fell apart…" Rogue shook her head. "She couldn't handle it."
Emma's gaze was cold now, sharp. "Couldn't handle it how?"
Gambit looked away, clearly uncomfortable. Rogue's expression was tight, her voice lower now.
"She joined up with a group of villains, rogue mutants. Ones who refused to let Krakoa die."
Emma's jaw tightened.
"They started cloning babies."
A chill settled over the group.
Emma's expression didn't change, but the way her fingers curled against Peter's suit was all he needed to know about how she was feeling.
Rogue swallowed. "They set up biomes in the Negative Zone. Places where they could raise the clones, try to build the perfect Krakoa."
Emma's voice was quiet.
"Even though she knew it was all a lie?"
Rogue nodded grimly. "She knew. And she still went along with it."
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Then, Rogue sighed, rubbing her arms. "It got bad, Emma. Real bad."
"Some of those babies… they died in the tanks they were shut down when we moved in to rescue them and the kids."
Emma's lips parted slightly, something flickering in her usually stoic expression.
Gambit's voice was softer now. "And Peter-Knull? He witnessed it all."
The weight behind that statement was immense.
Emma exhaled slowly, composing herself, though her mind was already racing. "And what did he do?"
Gambit shook his head. "He went in personally. Extracted her and her associates."
Rogue swallowed. "Ripped her arm off in the process."
Emma's stomach twisted at that part, Peter-Knull had been merciful compared to what she imagined he wanted to do in that situation.
Rogue spoke next. "She shut down after that. Became a shell of her former self."
Emma sat very still, absorbing all of it. "Where is she now?"
Gambit hesitated, then finally admitted,
"In the Raft. Same place as the last of Phoebe's sisters."
Emma didn't say anything at first.
She just exhaled, long and slow, before shifting her weight slightly against Peter.
Her gaze flickered toward Rogue, then Gambit, then away, as if trying to decide if she wanted to feel anger, disappointment, or pity.
"…I see…, it seems I made the right choice then. One I don't regret."
…
Later, at Avenger's Tower…
Avengers Tower had long since adapted to multiversal logistics, but even so, the arrival of two more Peter Parker variants and their respective lovers meant more paperwork, more designations, and more organization.
A system was already in place, designed to keep track of every Parker, their worlds, and their relationships, but even that had its limits.
As the two newest arrivals stood near the main records hub, a sleek holographic interface displayed rows upon rows of designation IDs, a testament to just how many variants had made this world their home.
The white-suited Peter Parker, still lounging comfortably with his Emma Frost, received his assignment first.
Designation: Peter Diamond-A12
Emma Frost: Emma Diamond-A12
The other Peter, clad in brown and orange, exchanged a look with his Laura Kinney, who was still adjusting to the sheer number of Parkers present.
Designation: Peter Brown/Orange-B1
Laura Kinney: Laura Brown/Orange-B1
One of the tower's AI attendants, a designed for administration, flickered into view beside them, its liquid-like form morphing between humanoid and digital projections.
"Welcome to Earth-616-PKN. You have been assigned designation cards for identification and clearance purposes. Please ensure these remain on your person at all times."
Laura glanced at her card, flipping it between her fingers. "You guys really had to build a system for this?"
Spider-Man (this world's Peter) chuckled, standing near a large projection displaying other designations. "Yeah, it got complicated real fast. They had to create a system where the letters reset after every 12 rolls."
Peter Diamond-A12 raised an eyebrow. "Twelve?"
Emma Diamond-A12 smirked. "I assume that means there's already been an A1 through A11?"
The Grey-Sym assistant nodded.
"Correct. Current roster includes—"
A holographic list expanded, showcasing some of the more notable Parker variants still residing here.
Peter Red-A3 (paired with an alternate Wanda Maximoff who had once been zombified before he helped cure her).
Peter Blue-A1 (partnered with his world's Mystique, currently caring for their one-year-old son, Gabriel) and has three other kids with her.
Peter Black-A4 (who had recently had twins with his consort, Mistress Death).
Peter Purple-A6 (paired with Proxima Midnight, who was currently off-world assisting Thanos in mediating resource distribution across alien territories).
And then there was one of the more recent cases.
Peter Green-A7, who was currently awaiting the birth of his son with his world's Queen Goblin.
In the corner of the room, Jocasta stood alongside Sage and Quentin Quire, the infernal spider-man, known as hell-spider, monitoring Queen Goblin's status as she rested nearby, nearing labor.
Victoreana, a Victorian-inspired, spider-lady-like symbiote Peter-Knull made along with the countless others, silently observing the process, her many delicate, spider-like limbs on her back shifting gracefully as she processed medical data in real-time.
Laura Brown/Orange-B1 exhaled, rubbing her temple. "This is… a lot."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 chuckled, resting an arm on her shoulder. "Yeah. It'll take me a while to get used to it, too."
Peter Diamond-A12 crossed his arms, watching as more names continued to populate the display. "Looks like Peter-Knull's Earth is more than just a safe haven."
Emma Diamond-A12 hummed thoughtfully, leaning into him. "Yes… it's a foundation."
The medical wing of Avengers Tower was as advanced as it was efficient, outfitted with cutting-edge symbiotic technology, AI monitoring systems, and a small team of telepaths and medical specialists who handled the unique biological and genetic variances among the multiversal arrivals.
Seated side by side, Laura Brown/Orange-B1 and Emma Diamond-A12 were currently undergoing their check-ups, monitored by Phoebe and Quentin Quire.
Quentin leaned back slightly, arms crossed, watching the floating diagnostic screens with a smirk. "Well, this is interesting."
Phoebe, standing beside him, adjusted a few of the bio-readouts, her expression unreadable as she scanned over Laura's vitals first.
"Well? You're a week along."
Laura blinked. "A week?"
Phoebe nodded. "Congratulations. It's a girl."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1, who had been quietly sitting nearby, suddenly straightened in his chair. "A… what?"
Phoebe chuckled. "You heard me."
Laura blinked again, processing the words before letting out a long exhale, rubbing the back of her neck. "Huh. Didn't expect that."
Peter, for his part, still looked like he was buffering. "Wait… I, we're already-?"
Quentin smirked, glancing at the other scan. "Oh, don't worry, buddy. You're not alone."
He flicked his fingers, pulling up Emma Diamond-A12's readout. "Looks like you and your Emma are expecting, too."
Emma's eyebrows lifted slightly, though she showed no visible shock. "Is that so?"
Phoebe confirmed, "It's a boy."
Peter Diamond-A12 let out a slow breath, processing that before chuckling under his breath. "Huh. Guess I can live with that."
Phoebe grinned. "Well, that's somehow not nearly as awkward as that one variant who got together with Wanda Wilson."
Quentin snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah, that one's still hilarious."
The room fell silent.
Both Peter variants immediately turned toward them, as did their Laura and Emma.
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 tilted his head. "Wait. What?"
Peter Diamond-A12 narrowed his eyes. "You're telling me there's a variant of me out there who got together with the female counterpart of Deadpool?"
Phoebe smirked. "Yep."
Laura Brown/Orange-B1 glanced between them. "Oh, this I have to hear."
Emma Diamond-A12, ever composed, arched an eyebrow. "Do elaborate."
Quentin grinned, leaning forward. "So, Wanda Wilson, y'know, Deadpool but with even less self-preservation, somehow convinced a Peter Parker to fall for her. And they? Are chaos incarnate."
Phoebe shook her head. "Total. Disaster. Couple."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 ran a hand down his face. "Oh god, there's no way that ends well."
Quentin snickered. "Oh no, they're fine. It's just that they have twins now."
Peter Diamond-A12 groaned, shaking his head. "That poor guy."
Emma hummed thoughtfully, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You say that, but let's be honest… he knew exactly what he was getting into."
Laura chuckled. "Oh yeah. He did."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Okay, but what's worse? That, or the guy who ended up with Queen Goblin?"
Quentin smirked. "Oh, that guy? He's in the next room waiting for his kid to be born."
Peter Diamond-A12 groaned again. "I take it back. That's worse."
Emma just smiled, clearly enjoying every second of this.
Phoebe leaned against the console, a mischievous smirk creeping onto her face as she watched both Peter variants try to process everything they had just learned.
Then, casually, she decided to drop the final bombshell.
"Oh, and if you think that Peter and Lady Deadpool couple is unusual… Wanda Wilson went through seven months of pregnancy in just one day."
Dead. Silence.
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 and Peter Diamond-A12 just stared at her.
Laura Brown/Orange-B1 blinked. "I'm sorry. What?"
Emma Diamond-A12 narrowed her eyes. "You mean to tell me-?"
Phoebe nodded, clearly enjoying their reactions.
"Yeah. Apparently, that's what happens when the kids inherit a Deadpool-tier healing factor."
Quentin snorted, shaking his head. "Poor guy didn't even get twenty-four hours once they hit the two month mark to prepare. One second, his girlfriend's fine, the next? Boom. Full-term pregnancy. Twins."
Peter Diamond-A12 leaned both hands on his knees, exhaling sharply. "Nope. Nope. That's not okay."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 rubbed his temples. "I, how is he still sane?"
Phoebe grinned. "I mean, sanity's relative when Deadpool's involved."
Laura snorted. "That poor bastard."
Emma hummed thoughtfully, tapping a manicured finger against her lips. "Well. That explains a lot."
Peter Brown/Orange-B1 shook his head, clearly disturbed by the mental image. "You know what? I think I'll stop asking questions."
Peter Diamond-A12 groaned. "Yeah. Good call."
…
Avengers Tower – Logan's Perspective
Logan sat on the balcony overlooking the city, his keen eyes scanning the skyline. He wasn't relaxing. Not really. He was keeping watch, ensuring that no one got close to Lupin, Nemu, or their unborn pups.
The threat wasn't just an external one. With Sinister variants, the Knulls, and Aizen all making moves, Logan knew that an attack could come from anywhere, at any time.
That's why he wasn't alone.
Daken stood near the entrance, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he kept a sharp eye on their surroundings.
Wild-Claw was beside him, his massive frame looming like a sentinel, claws flexing every so often. The fur-covered, wolf/cat-like symbiote
was practically vibrating with alertness, his enhanced senses scanning for anything out of place.
And then there were the Parker-Darkholm kids.
Aurora Parker-Darkholm had taken a perch on a rooftop nearby while the building itself was setting up a living network with the symbiote matter to give live feeds, while Aurora was using her enhanced vision to keep aerial surveillance of the area. Her brother Damian Parker-Darkholm stood near her, shifting his natural shapeshifting body armor and bulletproof vest on his chest, ready to move at a moment's notice.
Logan leaned against the railing, his beer forgotten beside him as he observed the scene.
Everything was secure. For now.
But something else caught his attention.
His gaze drifted toward Luna Parker-Darkholm, the second youngest of the Parker-Darkholm siblings, who was around Daken's age like her two older siblings the son and daughter of Peter Blue-A1 and Mystique.
And more importantly?
He saw the way she was looking at Daken.
Or rather, the way she was trying not to look at him too obviously.
Logan had seen this before. The quick glances. The subtle blushes. The way she tilted her head slightly when he spoke, the way her demeanor softened around him.
And Daken?
For all his usual brashness and arrogance, Logan had been watching closely.
Daken was gentler around Luna. Not in an obvious way, but in the way he spoke to her, in the way his body language shifted when she was near.
That wasn't nothing.
Logan exhaled slowly, watching as Luna moved a little closer to Daken, pretending to focus on something else.
Daken glanced at her, smirking slightly, but he didn't tease her like he normally would. Instead, he just shook his head, as if amused.
That was confirmation enough.
Logan leaned back slightly, shaking his head.
Well, damn.
It seemed like something was brewing.
And honestly? He was fine with that.
Minutes later, an incident happened at ground level…
The arrival was sudden.
One moment, Avengers Tower was calm, organized, secure—the next?
A breach.
Alarms blared, and the security systems flared to life as a group of mutants from Earth-M-179 materialized in the main atrium, their energy signatures lighting up the sensors like a Christmas tree.
They weren't here to talk.
At the head of the group stood a battle-worn version of Cyclops, his visor slightly cracked but still gleaming with raw power. Beside him, a severely scarred Nightcrawler clutched the hilt of a sword, his yellow eyes full of righteous fury. A towering Colossus, his organic steel body marked with unfamiliar sigils, flanked them, his stance like a coiled spring ready to unleash destruction at a moment's notice.
And at the very front?
A woman with streaks of silver in her dark hair, her stance rigid with barely contained rage.
Storm.
But not this world's Storm.
She took a single step forward, her eyes flashing with raw elemental fury as she raised her voice.
"Logan. Peter-Knull. We are here to hold you accountable."
A heavy silence settled over the hall as everyone turned toward them.
Logan, standing near the transport bay, narrowed his eyes, already sensing this wasn't right.
Peter-Knull, who had been monitoring Lupin and Nemu's departure, slowly turned toward them, his expression unreadable.
He glanced at Logan. Logan glanced back.
Neither of them had any idea what the hell she was talking about.
Peter-Knull folded his arms, his voice calm but edged. "…Accountable for what, exactly?"
Storm's lips curled into a snarl. "For the murder of Senator Jameson. For the slaughter of three SHIELD operatives. For the massacre of mutants on Earth-M-179."
Logan's face darkened immediately. "The hell are you talkin' about?"
Cyclops stepped forward, his visor glowing ominously. "We have the evidence. We saw the footage, Logan. We saw you, both of you, killing them."
Peter-Knull's stomach dropped.
Shit.
His mind worked at lightning speed, recalling every mission, every engagement, every operation—and none of what they were saying lined up.
He wasn't there.
Neither was Logan.
This was a setup.
Before Peter-Knull could respond, one of his Grey-Sym operatives turned sharply toward him, their inky-black body shifting in agitation.
Another Iron-Fang symbiote, a sleek armored variant with razor-sharp plating, suddenly snapped to attention, his glowing silver eyes widening.
Something was wrong.
And then Peter-Knull felt it.
A shift. A tug in the hive-mind.
Something was happening at the transport bay.
And that's when it clicked.
His head snapped back toward the exit, and his entire body tensed.
"Shit. THEY SET US UP! IT'S A DISTRACTION!"
Peter-Knull took off like a bullet.
The force of his launch sent a shockwave through the hall, glass panels rattling violently as he blurred out of sight, racing toward Avengers Tower's exterior at impossible speeds.
Logan was right behind him.
Lupin and Nemu had just stepped toward the gateway to Soul Society, their forms outlined by the shimmering light of the dimensional portal.
Daken, Wild-Claw, and the Parker-Darkholm siblings were still on edge, their instincts screaming that something was off.
And then the power fluctuated.
Not enough to shut everything down—just enough to make the automated security sensors flicker.
The air grew heavy.
A thunderous boom erupted from the far end of the bay as a massive armored figure burst through the reinforced walls, sending debris flying.
Juggernaut.
But not their Juggernaut.
This one was bigger, nastier, and wearing an unfamiliar set of war-torn armor, runes etched into the plating like some kind of twisted enhancement.
At the same time, a blur of movement came from the side, claws ripping through the air as a massive form lunged toward Lupin.
Sabretooth.
And from the other side—
Another Sabretooth.
Two of them.
Coming from different angles, their claws aimed straight for Lupin.
Wild-Claw roared, intercepting the first one, his symbiotic claws colliding mid-air with a vicious snarl.
Daken moved instantly, stepping between the second Sabretooth and Lupin, claws extending as he met the attack head-on.
Luna Parker-Darkholm was already moving, her reflexes snapping into action as she launched herself forward, intercepting Juggernaut's first strike with a concussive blast of energy-charged webbing.
But it wasn't enough to stop him.
The attack had already begun.
And Lupin?
He was the target.
Peter-Knull could see it already, the breach in the security grid, the collapsing gateway, the blur of motion that was Juggernaut tearing through the transport bay.
He poured everything he had into his speed, the city lights blurring around him as he cut through the skyline like a meteor.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SON!" Logan's roar came from behind, filled with pure, unfiltered rage.
The *moment Juggernaut saw the incoming shockwaves from Peter-Knull and Logan, he knew they had seconds, at best.
They had what they came for. Now they just needed to get out before this turned into a bloodbath they couldn't win.
So he rushed forward like a battering ram, his massive boots cracking the ground beneath him as he charged straight toward Nemu.
"MOVE!" Daken roared, already sprinting toward them, but he wasn't fast enough.
Juggernaut's fist swung forward, his spiked-knuckle gauntlet aimed to pummel Nemu into the ground.
But he never got the chance.
Because Lupin didn't hesitate.
He moved with pure instinct, shoving Nemu out of the way with all his strength—just as Juggernaut's fist crashed into his chest.
CRUNCH!
The sound was sickening.
The impact sent a shockwave through the air, Lupin's body slamming into the reinforced walls of the transport bay, cracking metal and stone on impact.
Blood splattered against the ground.
And that's when they saw it.
The spikes on Juggernaut's gauntlet were coated in Lupin's blood.
It had worked.
They had what they needed.
Juggernaut didn't waste a second.
He pressed a switch on his belt, his body already flickering with a teleportation signature as he barked into his comms.
"ALRIGHT, WE GOT IT! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"
The two Sabretooth variants didn't hesitate, activating their own teleporters and vanishing in a blink of light.
Just as Peter-Knull and Logan finally arrived.
Then Lupin moved.
His body slumped forward, his bone-like knuckles twitching against the ground as he flexed his hand, blood still dripping from the gaping hole in his chest.
For a moment, Nemu didn't breathe.
Then she was at his side instantly, catching him before he could fully collapse.
He was alive thanks to his advanced healing factor. His breathing was ragged, his chest still gaping open, but already, his enhanced healing factor was at work.
The wound was closing, his internal bone membranes shifting into place, helping reduce what should have been a mortal injury.
But it wasn't instant.
Lupin gasped as his lungs struggled to reinflate, his body still catching up to the damage.
Nemu's hands pressed against his chest, helping support him, her eyes flickering with emotion she rarely showed.
Wild-Claw let out a growl, his claws flexing as he looked toward the space where their attackers had disappeared.
Logan stood frozen for a moment, eyes locked onto his son.
Then his expression hardened.
Peter-Knull clenched his fists, his symbiotic material shifting violently around him.
They had taken the blood.
The Knulls had what they needed.
…
A few minutes later in the avengers tower atrium…
The newly arrived mutant variants stood their ground, their eyes hard and unyielding, still convinced they had justice to serve.
Logan, his breathing heavy with raw fury, stomped forward, his gaze locked onto the alternate Storm, Cyclops, and Nightcrawler, the so-called leaders of this 'vengeance task force'.
He was done playing nice.
"You were played."
His words were sharp, cutting through the weight of the moment like an adamantium blade.
The alternate Cyclops tensed, his visor still glowing ominously. "Excuse me?"
Logan took another step, his claws halfway unsheathed, his body still running on the pure adrenaline of battle.
"You heard me. Sinister played you. Both of 'em did. While you were here, standing on my soil, accusing me, Peter-Knull, and everyone else in this damn alliance of crimes we didn't commit-." Logan pointed a clawed hand toward the exit, where Lupin had just been attacked, where his son's blood had just been stolen.
"-they were out there taking my son's blood."
The alternate Storm's expression flickered, but she didn't move. "What are you saying?"
Logan snarled. "I'm saying while we were distracted with your damn accusations, Juggernaut and both Sabretooth variants used the opening to take what they came for."
The weight of what he was saying hit them instantly.
The alternate Nightcrawler flinched slightly, his tail flicking behind him. "They… stole his blood? But why?"
Peter-Knull, still seething, his void-layer shifting violently around him, finally spoke, his voice lower than before, but somehow more terrifying.
"Because it's a component."
Cyclops narrowed his eyes. "A component… for what?"
Peter-Knull's hands curled into fists, his symbiote tendrils writhing in agitation.
"A ritual."
The alternate Storm's jaw tightened. "What kind of ritual?"
Logan exhaled sharply, his teeth grinding together.
"One designed to bind Peter-Knull to another reality's Hell."
That made everyone freeze.
Logan continued, though now he had an edge to his tone.
"When Shaman-Knull, one of the Knulls still walking around out there, gets enough components, he's gonna use 'em to trap Peter in that Hell permanently."
Storm's expression shifted. It wasn't quite regret, but it was uneasy now.
For the first time since this whole confrontation started, the alternate mutants looked at each other, realizing the truth.
They had been used.
Their anger, their grief, their rage over what they had lost? It had been manipulated.
And in their blind pursuit of vengeance…
They had played right into Sinister's hands
…
The aftermath of the ambush was still being felt, but for Lupin, none of it mattered right now.
Not the attack.
Not the blood they stole.
Not even the danger looming over them.
The only thing he cared about was her.
His wife.
And the pups she carried.
Nemu had nearly been hit back there. Had he not reacted in time, had he been a second too slow, she could have…
Lupin exhaled slowly, pushing the thought away as he pulled her close, his arms wrapping protectively around her. His hands, steady and strong, instinctively moved to her stomach, resting gently over the small but growing baby bump.
Nemu's own hands covered his, guiding them.
She tilted her head up slightly, her expression as calm as always, but her eyes held something softer. Something that was just for him.
"They're alright," she murmured, pressing his hands more firmly against her stomach.
And then he felt it.
The steady, rhythmic pulse.
Two of them.
Their twins' heartbeats.
Lupin closed his eyes, letting himself just… breathe.
He wasn't a man who needed many things. He had spent a lifetime wandering, surviving weapon-x's observations and imprisonment, but this?
This was his responsibility now.
His grip on Nemu tightened slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "I was so focused on the fight… on them coming after me…" His voice dropped lower, raw. "I almost lost you."
Nemu shook her head. "I am still here."
Lupin huffed out a breath, half relief, half exhaustion. "Yeah. You are, and I'm hoping to keep it that way."
And so were their pups.
He didn't need anything else right now.
Not rest. Not answers.
Just the quiet proof that their children were alive and safe.
His thumbs brushed slow, soothing circles against her stomach, his breathing finally settling as the rhythmic pulse of their twins' heartbeats anchored him back to what mattered most.