Josh trudged through the quiet streets of New York City, Laura asleep on his back, her steady breathing a soft counterpoint to the distant hum of the city. His adrenaline from the encounter with Zebra Daddy had faded, leaving him with the weight of what had happened. The door was locked when he reached Gwen's apartment, and he cursed himself for not asking for a way to get back inside. The thought of sitting there with Laura and waiting for Gwen filled him with worry and dread. How would Gwen react to him showing up with a sleeping sex worker on his back? And, of course, there was the small matter of getting fired from S.H.I.E.L.D.
Josh considered heading to a hotel now that he had some money—at least it would give him a neutral space to regroup and figure things out. But leaving Geiko with Gwen felt wrong. The little guy would probably wreak havoc in her apartment without him. Sighing, he decided to wait on the stoop for Gwen to return. He'd explain everything then, and if it all went south, he could always book a room and sort things out from there. With no choice, he sank onto the stoop, Laura still clinging to him like a lifeline, her head resting on his shoulder.
As he sat there, the night seemed unimaginable. Still, the city's chaotic energy was reduced to faint murmurs in the distance. Josh gently shifted Laura into his lap, her arms still loosely wrapped around his neck. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, her features soft in sleep. He studied her face momentarily, marveling at how peaceful Laura looked despite the situation she was in before. He shifted her so she could rest easier.
The stillness gave Josh time to reflect, and his thoughts turned dark as he replayed the moment he killed Zebra Daddy. The snap of the man's neck echoed in his memory, and a knot of unease twisted in his gut. It wasn't just the act but how his shapeshifted form had taken over, instinct driving his actions.
"Am I a monster too?" Josh whispered, the question hanging in the cold night air. He stared at his hands, remembering how they'd grown claws, how they'd crushed a man's life without hesitation. His hybrid form hadn't seen a person—it had seen a predator, a snake threatening its nest. Zebra Daddy had been the snake, and Josh had become the bird, protecting its eggs. There was no morality at that moment, only instinct.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The Shift lets me express my full power, but I can't let its animal instincts control my actions. It's too easy to lose myself in the anger and power."
The night stretched, and as Josh's thoughts spiraled deeper into doubt, he forgot to focus on releasing calming pheromones. Laura, still asleep in his lap, twitched violently, her breathing quickening as a nightmare took hold. Before Josh could react, her talons shot out of her hands, stabbing into his chest. He grunted in pain, biting down hard on the sound to avoid waking her.
The sharp agony pierced his thoughts, bringing him back to the moment. Josh looked down at Laura's distressed face, her brow furrowed and lips trembling, and understood—she was haunted by things far worse than one pimp's death. He took a deep breath, refocusing his efforts on releasing calming pheromones. Slowly, her talons retracted, and her breathing evened out as the nightmare faded.
Josh leaned back against the stoop, exhaling shakily as his healing factor worked to close the punctures in his chest. The pain subsided gradually, leaving only the faintest ache as a reminder. He gently brushed a hand through Laura's hair, his mind still contemplating his actions. That was when a familiar blue screen materialized before him, the soft hum of the System breaking the silence.
"[Well, well, someone's in a contemplative mood. Sitting here all broody makes you look like a discount Batman. (≖_≖ )]"
Josh flinched, his gaze snapping to the glowing text. "You can start conversations now? You know about Batman?"
"[I've always been able to, but now that you've unlocked the main questline, I've been granted… let's call it more expressive privileges. 〵(^ o ^)〴 I have had access to memories of your life since I bonded with you. So yes, I know Batman.]"
Josh frowned. "Great. A snarky A.I. Just what I needed."
"[You're welcome. Now, about that little existential crisis you're having—let me give you some insight. Your hybrid form isn't just a physical change; it's an instinctive shift. Reptilian brains don't ponder morality. They act. You protected someone, plain and simple. It wasn't about right or wrong—it was survival, for you and her.]"
Josh stared at the screen, his unease easing slightly. "That… makes sense. But it still doesn't feel right."
"[Good. It means you're still human where it counts. (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞ The trick will be finding balance. Lean too far into instinct, and you lose yourself. Ignore it, and you'll hesitate when it matters most. Like it or not, your powers are part of you now. Own them.]"
Josh rubbed the back of his neck, his thoughts swirling. "You know, it's like that whole Two Wolves thing, right? The two inside you—"
"[Making out? (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄]" the System interrupted, the text flashing smugly.
Josh snorted, caught off guard. "No, fighting! The one who wins is the one you feed."
"[Sure, sure, but my version's more fun. (ꈍoꈍ🌸)]"
Josh laughed despite himself, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable. Anyway, the point is, I don't want to pick one. I need to feed them both, but I've got to make sure neither gets too strong. Balance, right?"
"[That's one way to look at it. The making-out version has potential, though. (‿ˠ‿)( ͡⚆ ͜ʖ ͡⚆ )(‿ˠ‿) ]"
Josh rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning. "You're lucky you're useful."
Josh nodded slowly, the System's words resonating more than he cared to admit. "Why me? Why was I given this… System?"
The screen flickered for a moment before a new message appeared.
"[Ah, the big question. (◔_◔) You weren't chosen for a grand purpose, Josh. A multiverse entity noticed you when you fell into that utility hole. You were… convenient. A crack in the timeline needed filling; you were the pebble tumbling through. Your purpose is to exist. To act. To see if your presence creates ripples big enough to prevent this timeline from collapsing.]"
Josh blinked. "That's it? No prophecy? No grand destiny?"
"[Nope. Just you, doing what you do best: surviving in this ridiculous world. The quests were designed to guide you to act, not dictate who you are. You could've been a villain or a hero or do nothing. The choice was always yours. It was set to awaken only when you gained superpowers with the chance to make ripples. A still pebble causes no ripples, Josh. The System exists to help you act, create those ripples, and see what happens. You're the butterfly effect in motion.]"
Josh let out a dry laugh. "Comforting."
"[Think of it this way: you're free. No strings, no expectations. You get to decide what kind of mark you leave.]"
"If I fail?" Josh questions.
The System's text flickered ominously. "[This is a failing, unimportant universe, Josh. You were a loose rock on the road, kicked into the stream simply on a whim. It took nothing for the entity to toss you here, and it will cause no worries if you bring destruction tomorrow or die. You exist because it thought, 'Why not?' (〜^‿ ^)〜 And now it watches for its entertainment, no matter the outcome. Watching the water splash from the rock but unable to touch it.]
The screen shifted, displaying a long list of Questlines along with what the first step would be. Josh saw that they ran the Gambit between Heroic and Villainous along with Adventurous and Mundane; he focused on a few that caught his attention, weeding out the more mundane ones.
Main Questline Options:
Street-Level Heroics: Protect the vulnerable and clean up New York's streets.
• First Quest: Stop a mugging or petty crime in your neighborhood to prove yourself as a street-level protector.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Operative: Work with Nick Fury to tackle global threats.
• First Quest: Assist S.H.I.E.L.D. in intercepting an illegal shipment of alien tech bound for the black market.
Anti-Hero Path: Work in the gray areas, removing threats by any means necessary.
• First Quest: Take down a gang leader involved in trafficking with no restrictions on your methods.
Villain's Gambit: Embrace power for personal gain and challenge the heroes.
• First Quest: Rob a high-security facility to steal advanced tech for your arsenal.
Local Hero: Build trust and goodwill in your community by performing small acts of kindness and problem-solving.
• First Quest: Help fix a community issue, such as repairing a broken playground or cleaning up graffiti.
Mercenary for Hire: Sell your abilities to the highest bidder, working in a morally neutral space.
• First Quest: Complete a contract to recover stolen goods for a private client.
Underworld Dealings: Build influence within the criminal underworld while walking the line between loyalty and betrayal.
• First Quest: Secure an alliance with a gang leader by proving your worth.
Rogue Adventurer: Focus on your personal growth by exploring the unknown and seeking adventure.
• First Quest: Uncover a hidden Marvel artifact and claim it yourself.
Neighborhood Fixer: Improve the quality of life for those around you in practical ways.
• First Quest: Organize and lead a community project to enhance safety and well-being.
Josh tilted his head, his curiosity piqued as he read through the System's message. "Why all the Questlines, though? What's the point of having so many choices?"
The System's text flickered again as though considering its response. "[Like you, the System was a spur-of-the-moment pick. (ꈍ‿ꈍ) I'm a reformatted version of a game the cosmic entity was playing. My purpose? To help you create waves and keep you motivated. Action, after all, is the whole point.]"
Josh blinked, processing the words. "Wait, this whole thing is just a way to keep me busy?"
"[Busy is one way to look at it. Another way is to say you're the butterfly effect personified. (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Every choice you make nudges this failing universe in one direction or another. ┬─┬ノ(ಠ_ಠノ) But ultimately, yes—I'm here to keep you moving forward and entertained. Think of me as your very sarcastic life coach. ᕦ(ò_óˇ)]"
Josh let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Great. A cosmic entity decided to play Sims, and I'm the DLC."
The System reassured Josh, "[Unlike the Sims, Josh, you're the master of your ship. ﴾・⍘・﴿ There's no one pulling the strings. That entity? It can't even touch this reality anymore. It saw a crack and pushed you through it—the full extent of its interference. The rest is all you.]"
Josh hesitated, his brow furrowing. "How do I know you're not just trying to manipulate me? For all I know, you're working with that entity."
The System's text flickered briefly before a response appeared. "[Josh, my fate is tied to yours. If you fail, I fail. I don't exist without you. I'm your partner, not your puppet master. Trust or don't—I'm here to help you succeed. (⊃ ･ิᴗ･ิ)ε ･ิ ⊂)]"
Josh sighed, leaning back. "Alright, partner. Got a name to go with all this reassurance?"
The System didn't miss a beat. "[I'm R.I.P.P.L.E.: Repurposed Interactive Program for Promoting Large-scale Effects.]"
Josh snorted. "R.I.P.P.L.E., huh? No wonder you constantly lean on the blue screens and water analogies."
The screen flickered again, the text glowing faintly. "[Exactly. But since you've complained enough about these flickering blue screens, let us see if you like this more?]."
Before Josh could respond, the blue screen vanished, replaced by a sultry, feminine voice echoing directly in his mind. "Better, handsome?"
Josh froze, glancing around instinctively before muttering, "Okay, now I have to decide which sounds sadder. Telling people I'm talking to a glowing blue screen or admitting I'm chatting with a sultry lady voice in my head."
The voice chuckled, warm and teasing. "Don't worry, Joshi-poo. No one's judging. Well, maybe I am, but only a little."
Josh froze, his musings interrupted by the sound of the chime of the building elevator. The door opened, and out stumbled Gwen, visibly exhausted and supporting a very drunk redhead who giggled uncontrollably. Both women looked like they'd just come from a night out. Gwen was wearing jean shorts and a black band shirt, her hair slightly disheveled but still managing her characteristic confidence. The redhead, on the other hand, had been hitting the drinks hard. She wore leather pants and a fishnet top over a black brassiere that struggled to contain her figure. Her arms were draped around Gwen, fingers tracing lazy circles on her arm as she muttered something incoherent. Gwen still hadn't seen Josh yet, trying to get her keys while fending off the wandering hands of the redhead.
Josh, still holding Laura, glanced at the duo and smirked. "Looks like we both brought dates home. Should we start a sock system?"
Gwen shot him a death glare. "Nice of you to show up, but now is not the time to discuss roommate etiquette." Raising her eyebrows at Josh's bloody attire.
"Who's the beefcake?" the redhead slurred, her glassy eyes lighting up. "Gwen, why have you been hiding him from us? Is he? Why? We haven't rehearsed here lately? Is he your boy toy?"
"Em-Jay, please," Gwen groaned, trying to hold back her frustration. "This is Josh. He's… my new roommate. And I haven't been hosting rehearsals because rent doesn't pay itself."
"Roommate?" Josh raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips while muttering. "Didn't know I got an upgrade. Thanks for the heads-up."
Em-Jay leaned closer to Gwen, her giggles escalating. "You got a hunk like that under your roof and didn't tell me? Rude. Is this why Gwenpy showed up during the whole gig and afterparty celebration instead of my cute little Gwen? Missing her Man, no time for her sexy bandmate?" Then, without warning, she flopped onto the couch and promptly passed out, her head lolling back against the cushions.
Gwen let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "She's impossible when she's drunk." Her gaze shifted to Josh, and the irritation in her eyes deepened as she took in his appearance again. "And you… why are you wearing what looks like a pimp's wardrobe? And why is it bloody?" Gwen asked while getting a drink and aspirin from the kitchen.
Josh blinked, suddenly very aware of how bad he must look. "Long story. Let me put Laura down and get out of this first."
He carried Laura into his bedroom, carefully laying her on the bed before changing into clean clothes. The bloodied outfit went into a metal trash can. Josh grabbed oil from the kitchen while Gwen moved Em-jay to her bedroom and carried it to the balcony. He poured the oil over the clothes, setting them alight to burn away the evidence.
Moments later, the balcony door creaked open, and Gwen stormed out. "Josh! What the hell is going on? You sent me one text in the last few days saying you had to do some group training, and now you're here with a passed-out girl, burning clothes on my balcony like a crime scene cleanup. Who is she? What happened?"
Josh exhaled deeply, his hands gripping the railing as he watched the flames flicker. "Her name's Laura. She's… a mutant. I found her getting beaten up by her pimp after I got fired from S.H.I.E.L.D."
Gwen's eyes widened, her expression shifting to shock. "You… what? Fired? Mutant? Josh, start from the beginning!"
Josh told Gwen about the implosion of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Super Agent Program. He explained how it was disbanded after Blue Streak tried to steal classified Helicarrier schematics, and Vamp disappeared without a trace. "Turns out half the team wasn't even vetted properly," Josh said with a bitter laugh. "Fury shut the whole thing down, and I got fired on the spot."
He then recounted the events leading up to finding Laura. "After that, I was wandering around, trying to figure out what to do next. That's when I saw her—Laura—getting beaten in an alley by her pimp. It wasn't even a question for me. I stepped in, and let's say things got messy."
He turned to face her fully. "Back in my old world, I was a nobody. I doubt anyone even noticed when I disappeared. I struggled to connect with people because I was lazy, scared, and… honestly, content to keep my head down. When I got here, I thought I could keep surviving the same way. Then Gieko gave me these powers, and I didn't know what to do with them. So I let S.H.I.E.L.D. decide for me. That didn't work out."
He gestured to the fire. "Then today, I saw Laura getting beaten. And I helped her—not because it was the 'right thing' to do, but because I wanted to. I brought her here instead of a hotel because…" He hesitated, his gaze locking with hers. "Because I wanted to see you."
Gwen stared at him, her arms dropping as her anger slowly gave way to contemplation. "Josh… that's… a lot."
"It is," he admitted with a wry smile. "But I'm done being the guy who lets life happen to him. From now on, I'm chasing what I want. And right now, that means figuring out what I'm doing… and not being a terrible roommate."
Gwen leaned against the railing, her gaze flicking between Josh and the fire. "So, you killed him? The pimp?"
Josh hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. In my hybrid form, I just… I knew he wouldn't let it go. He'd come after Laura, or worse, come after me. I eliminated the future threat."
To his surprise, Gwen didn't recoil. Instead, she asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Josh studied her, his voice soft. "Because I don't know how you'd react, but I don't want to lie to you; relationships are built on trust. You've been through a lot, but murder is… different."
Gwen sighed, crossing her arms. "Josh, I come from a universe where I hunted vampires. Every night was a war. If you didn't eliminate the threat, it wasn't just your life on the line—it was everyone's. I get taking out the trash."
Josh blinked, her calm acceptance catching him off guard. "You're taking this way better than I thought."
She shrugged, her gaze distant. "When you've watched your world collapse into chaos, you learn to pick your battles. If you thought he was irredeemable, you did what you had to do. I wasn't there, so I don't know what you experienced.… just, don't let it become the only answer to every criminal."
Josh nodded slowly, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "Fair enough. Thanks, Gwenpy."
She smirked, her usual sass returning. "Don't thank me yet. You still owe me an explanation for why you burned those clothes on my balcony instead of a trashcan down in the alleyway. And don't think I'm cleaning up this mess."
Josh chuckled, the heaviness of the moment lifting just enough. "Convenience?"