Before now, I hadn't truly decided what I wanted to be, how I wanted to live in this world, or which path I should follow. But after failing to save those mutants, I finally understand. I know what I want to be and what I will strive to become. A traditional hero? No, that's not me—not in the way people think of Spider-Man or the Avengers. They may seem free, but they're bound by rules. Spider-Man refuses to kill; the Avengers can't act against the people they're sworn to protect.
As for being labeled a villain—perhaps that's how some will see me. But after witnessing those young mutants die, a spark ignited within me. I want to save them and those like them. I've read the comics about how mutants were treated, but experiencing it firsthand—feeling their pain—well, that's a different story. Even fanfictions capture only glimpses of their suffering and alienation. But it's not just mutants I want to help; I want to protect anyone who needs it, even ordinary humans—the people who become collateral damage in battles they never chose.
Wars are coming. The Chitauri, Thanos, the Kree, Celestials, demons… Earth will be drawn into conflicts, each one more dangerous than the last, ensnared in some grand cosmic scheme beyond anyone's control. If I'm going to survive in this world, I need to be ready—to fight, to endure, to do whatever it takes. I can't leave my fate in someone else's hands—not after witnessing what happens when good people die because of a moment's hesitation.
But I can't do this alone. I need allies, an organization—a network of people with the same resolve. I need control.
Now I think I understand how Batman feels, why he's always prepared for anything and everything.
As I look out the window at the chaos of Hell's Kitchen, I make a promise to myself: I will take revenge, and I will protect other mutants. I will not hesitate again.
Then I turn my gaze to the HP traveling card in my hand. The time I can spend there is a year, though the timeline is uncertain. Since it's an alternate universe, I expect some dark variations, likely controlled by dark wizards. There, I can find powerful spells and train myself before taking on my hero—or maybe anti-hero—role here. Since I can transform into others, I'll exploit that skill to its fullest extent. Perhaps eventually people will figure it out. But until then, I can use multiple identities for different purposes.
That's for after I return, though, which might be uncertain. Maybe I'll die there, but I will not hesitate anymore. I'm going to live this life, seize this opportunity, and do what I can—what I want.
I immediately used the card, and in the next second, I felt changes in my surroundings.
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SHIELD Headquarters
Maria knocked on the door and waited for the green indicator light to flash. Once it did, she stepped inside, knowing she had permission.
"What happened, Maria?" Fury asked, his tone sharp as he looked at her. He was in a foul mood. They hadn't found anything about the octopus who called himself human. No records, no history, nothing. If it hadn't appeared, they wouldn't even know such a creature existed. Fury was certain that the attack on the mutants had been orchestrated by Hydra. He knew it, thanks to intelligence from Skrull refugees who shared information no one else had. Fury had been aware of Hydra's presence long before becoming the director of SHIELD. Since then, he had pursued any hint of Hydra activity, though it was clear Hydra already knew someone was after them.
"Sir, we still haven't found any leads regarding Subject Z2," Maria said. Z2 was the name given to David in his octopus form.
"How's Coulson?" Fury interrupted, a flicker of frustration in his gaze. The lack of progress gnawed at him. After the blast, Z2 had vanished, but Fury didn't believe it was dead—not after Z2 hinted at its resilience and speed. If even a fraction of its claims were true, Z2 was alive and free from their oversight.
Maria responded calmly, "Better than expected, though he'll need at least a week to fully recover before resuming active duty."
Coulson's team had been ambushed after escaping the forest; all collected data and evidence had been destroyed—bodies, equipment, everything. Coulson himself had been badly injured, injuries that would typically take a month to heal. But SHIELD wasn't a top agency in name only. With their technology, advanced medicine, and secret resources—like the device that could protect Coulson's mind from telepaths like Jean Grey—Coulson would be back on his feet within a week.
Fury's irritation simmered. Hydra's influence needed to be uprooted, especially the Hydra agents hiding within SHIELD itself.
Sighing, he shifted to another topic. "Any news on this Spider-Man?"
Maria answered, "After multiple analyses, we believe he's a teenager, around 16 to 20, local to Queens since he's most active in that area. He has superhuman strength, speed, and his response time is top-notch. He's inexperienced, like someone who's just gained their powers."
Nick questioned again, "Is he a mutant?"
"Maybe," Maria replied. "Multiple abilities aren't rare, like with Wolverine. Other than his healing factor and claws, his senses are sharper than most. We still haven't confirmed whether he's a mutant or the result of some experiment, though the former seems more likely."
Nick wants to create a team to protect Earth, and Spider-Man is the perfect candidate. However, if he turns out to be a mutant, it could complicate things.
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Author's pov
Timeline?
What type of au should it be?
Characters he should bring with him?
Whose loyalty he should get? Female.