Allen breathed in the air of NYC; he already missed the bustling noise and pollution everywhere.
He was dressed in a shirt, tie, vest, and a trench coat. During his time at Hogwarts, due to the location and era, he had grown accustomed to dressing like a businessman from the nineties.
It was something that stood out amidst the extravagant NYC, with rappers and mascots around the Big Apple.
"Home sweet home," Allen said, breathing in the air, but immediately grimaced and regretted it. Like any big metropolis, the air was poisonous.
A rat scurried between Allen's legs, a cookie in its mouth. A bald man in dark glasses chased after the rat, shouting profanities.
Allen had a bead of sweat on his forehead but decided to ignore what he had just seen; the coexistence of humans and rats was common here.
"Wait, little motherf**," the man shouted.
Allen sidestepped and let the jungle of concrete continue its course.
...
"What's up, man, interested in some souvenirs?!"
As Allen walked down the avenue, a man called out to him, selling the classic "I ❤️ NYC" T-shirts beloved by tourists.
Allen was annoyed. "Do I look like a tourist?!" he cursed. "Sell that sh*t to the Chinese!"
"Hey, F*ck you, man!" the man retorted. "If you ain't buying, f*ck off!"
"Quit bothering with your second-hand sh*t, you motherf*cker," Allen didn't let himself be insulted and responded.
Allen and the man insulted each other a while longer before Allen walked away, gesturing with his hand.
"As I was saying, home sweet home..." Allen said with a smile before taking the subway.
"This city seems fun, hahaha," Rebecca said, appearing and kicking the guy who fought with Allen in the groin before disappearing. She also grabbed one of the T-shirts.
Artoria sighed and left some dollars to pay for the T-shirt, though it didn't help the man who lay on the ground holding his younger brother.
...
Arriving at his apartment, Allen sighed. He could fly or teleport, but that wouldn't bring back the nostalgia of seeing his city again.
As he entered the building, he saw his neighbor. She was a cantankerous old lady from Ireland or something like that.
"Good afternoon-"
"Bah just don't make noise at night Walker!"
The grumpy grandmother shook her head and walked away, she muttered things like beast and pervert.
Allen froze and thought for a moment, he decided to create an isolating barrier. He won't tell the girls that the neighbor overheard them their privacy or he would embarrass them, though maybe only Gwen would be embarrassed.
Allen wasn't surprised; that woman already treated him like a nuisance, especially now with his unstable relationships(Harem). She must see him as a sexual beast or something.
Allen took the elevator. There was a strange feeling as if he were a man returning from a business trip. Technically, being a content creator was his job, so it wasn't entirely inaccurate.
Allen looked at his reflection in one of the elevator mirrors. He never understood why some elevators had them. Physically, he hadn't changed much; after all, it had been about a year and a half since he embarked on his journey into the world's madness.
Allen shook his head. At his age, he should already be in university, but even though he physically was nineteen years old, in this world he had just turned eighteen a couple of months ago.
"Have you changed?" Allen asked his reflection. Many people mistakenly believe that being of legal age makes you an adult, but the reality is that there's no specific date or age to become one.
As the years go by, responsibilities increase, and you can only assume them. Perhaps at some point, your way of acting changes, and slowly, your way of thinking follows.
Allen could see and feel that the guy in front of him had several things different from his previous version.
"..."
Allen reached his floor and the elevator door opened. In this building, the apartments were very large, so Allen's floor only had three, but they had never been occupied by anyone.
Before, he hadn't paid attention to that, but after meeting Fury, he suspected that this building was under Shield's control, which is why Allen was able to buy such a cheap apartment.
Allen walked down the familiar hallway and reached his door. Before entering, Allen paused and smiled brightly.
Unexpectedly a familiar face crossed his mind....
—"Son... unlike women, men often have to hide their emotions with a smile..."
—"Life isn't always good, and there are people who depend on us; that's why you always see me with a smile..."
Allen stopped. He constantly remembered his mother but not his father.
His mother was an American pianist and painter who traveled the world. On one of those trips, she met Allen's father.
Allen's father was a hardworking man, reserved and quiet, but he always came home with a smile.
'My father was a reserved man and an introverted gentleman, my mother was the biggest influence in my life, but he was always by our side as if he were watching over us.'
'There was a time when I thought his smile was forced, and maybe sometimes it was, but it never felt fake. I guess I didn't know him well enough...'
[Host]
"hahaha"
Allen opened the door and was greeted by two things: a scarlet meteorite that wrapped her legs and arms around him and the sweet aroma of homemade food.
Allen hugged the trembling girl in his arms.
"I'm back..."
"W-welcome," MJ said between sobs. She had been fine until a moment ago. The girls talked to Allen every day, and due to the time difference, he practically streamed live all day and night.
There was no reason for her to feel lonely, or so she thought, but feeling his presence and seeing him open the door, she couldn't help but run into his arms and cry.
Allen remembered his father used to say that women were made of water. He smiled, causing the scarlet girl to look at him.
"Here I am, and I always will be," Allen said softly as his fingers wiped MJ's cheeks.
MJ felt more at ease and smiled...
'Is this what you mean?' Allen thought, remembering his father's words. For her, it had only been a couple of weeks, so she shouldn't feel as nostalgic as he did, but it was Allen who had to console her.
"Allen!"
Gwen appeared in the hallway; she was amazed at Allen's arrival and dropped a tray she had been holding. Allen levitated it with magic, averting a disaster.
MJ let go of Allen and smiled at him, urging him to go to the shocked Gwen. Allen kissed the forehead of the adorable redhead and walked towards Gwen.
She was still in a state of surprise and didn't move. Allen noticed she was wearing oven gloves and an apron. They must have anticipated his return with a special dinner.
Allen stopped in front of Gwen.
"Your hair has grown," she said.
"That's right," Allen replied. "And you are more beautiful than before."
Allen had a small ponytail, and it was true he hadn't cut his hair in a while.
Gwen smiled with a slight blush. "Have you grown?"
"Maybe an inch..."
Allen wasn't tall; his height was average, but indeed he had grown a bit, considering that height growth ends at twenty-one. He may never be Michael Jordan, but he still has a little more height to grow into.
"It's true," Gwen replied, trying not to let tears fall from her eyes.
At that moment, Allen realized the reason for MJ's tears and now Gwen's. He had thought they shouldn't be sad since for them, it had only been a couple of weeks. However, for him, it had been a year, and yet he arrived with a smile.
They cried for him...
Allen stopped smiling and hugged Gwen.
"I missed you, really," Allen said softly. "Can you console me?"
Gwen smiled relieved and lovingly, "As many times as you want... welcome..."
Allen felt a warm sensation upon arriving at this apartment. This place was his home and had been for years, but nothing would happen if he didn't make it happen.
Nothing was cooked if he didn't do it...
Nothing was cleaned if he didn't do it...
There was no one at home if he wasn't there...
Only occasionally was Natasha there, but this time, he felt like his home wasn't just his... and far from being uncomfortable, that feeling was satisfying as a man and a person.
The three had a long chat, and then Natasha arrived, jumping on Allen and showering him with kisses.
Then it was Felicia with a bag of gifts; Allen took her by the waist and lifted her. She laughed, and without caring that her tough girl image was shattered, she hugged him amid tears.
Diana entered through one of the doors leading to DC. She was in her Wonder Woman outfit and covered in dirt. It seemed she had fought a supervillain.
Allen went to her to hug her, but she refused, saying she was dirty and asking for a moment. Allen didn't mind getting covered in mud and hugged her, then kissed her.
Dinner was wonderful and quiet. Allen asked Artoria, Rebecca, and 2B to join them; he knew the girls had given him space for the reunion, but he wouldn't leave them out—they were also part of this home.
Artoria didn't hesitate to remove her armor and sit at the table. Rebecca boldly sat on Allen's lap, and 2B looked at this with annoyance or perhaps envy.
Allen allowed the android to sit on his lap next to Rebecca, although due to 2B's height, she ended up embarrassed as Allen's face was very close.
The laughter never ceased as Allen recounted many things that hadn't happened on stream.
...
After finishing and taking a bath, Allen lay down on the large bed in his mansion in DC. Little by little, this mansion was also becoming his home.
The reason for choosing the mansion to sleep in was that it had a Sultan bed designed for many people.
So Allen was surrounded by women who wanted to sleep with him. Nothing erotic, just sleep. Allen didn't believe it, but to demonstrate sincerity, the women wore regular pajamas, not lingerie.
Gwen, Felicia, MJ, and Natasha played a game of cards to determine who would take the positions next to Allen.
Diana didn't vie for a spot as she had already bathed with Allen an hour ago and was satisfied with the level of intimacy for now.
...
Allen was flooded with calls and messages and took the opportunity to respond to all the girls who tried to contact him. Emma and Megan were out of the country for work and couldn't come. More women lamented not being able to be there.
Among them, Artemis of Themyscira, Ruby, and Donna were the most vocal.
The night grew deeper, and Allen slept with Gwen and Natasha clinging to his arms. Felicia snuggled against his chest, MJ lay dissatisfied to Gwen's right, and Diana smiled playfully to Natasha's left.
...
Allen enjoyed a couple of quiet days, ignoring the fact that Tearju-sensei called him, annoyed with the many overdue tasks he needed to complete.
Allen felt strange because he had been a teacher for so long and now he was back to being a student taking exams. Sure, he had taken exams at Hogwarts, but since it was the second time he didn't feel them as such.
Tearju-sensei pursed her lips, wanting to say something but hesitated. Allen noticed her downcast mood and decided to give her a gift.
Things were going well for Allen; he surrounded himself with love and his loved ones throughout the following week, but he couldn't help but feel that troubles were lurking.
A week later, a new doll arrived, and at the same time, the doll that was sleeping began to awaken.
*SHIKA.*
Allen was leaving school after completing his final exams; now all that remained was the prom and then university.
*SHIKA*
"Huh?!"
Allen stopped, catching the attention of the redhead and blonde beside him.
"Allen?" Gwen asked with concern, paying attention as she tried to sense danger with her spider-sense.
"Is something wrong?"
MJ also became alert and annoyed because she didn't want her time with Allen to be interrupted.
"I think I heard something..." Allen said, looking around, unsure why he had the feeling that chaos would unfold in an unprecedented manner.
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