3rd POV:
''Please just give him him what he wants. He has been insufferable the whole day,'' Peter pleaded to Gwen during lunch break.
Gwen took a bite out of her sandwich stubbornly refusing to acknowledge Bell or Peter. Bell had the smuggest look they had ever seen. Frankly it was creepy. Peter wanted him back to his usual self.
''Please, Gwen. You know how stubborn he is, he is gonna keep this up till old age if you don't do it,'' Peter tried again.
Gwen closed her eyes, continuing to chew. No way was she gonna ever live this down if she did and she was not gonna add gasoline to the fire. Peter gave a huff and looked at Bell. He cringed and immediately looked down at his plate. Humans really were creatures of habit, it seems. Sure, Bell displayed all kinds of emotions, but he usually wore a laid back expression. Seeing him smirk the whole day, triggered uncanny valley vibes in him. He also refused to talk, so there was that as well.
Gwen dropped her head. Did the News really have to report so quickly? Couldn't they have waited until evening, so that at least one uneventful day would pass, after last night.
''You were somewhat right, Bell. Happy? Can you stop smirking now,'' Gwen told him. She hated how he could be so stubborn sometimes. She also hated herself a bit for finding it endearing. So, fine, she will be the bigger person of the two of them.
Bell raised an eyebrow while still smirking like a fox.
''Please do it properly, Gwen. You know it's the only way,'' Peter said rubbing his eyes.
Gwen closed her eyes in frustration, before opening them again and gritting:'' You were completely right with your speculations. And I was in the wrong. I'm also sorry for getting prissy with you two yesterday.''
Bell nodded and took out a pair of sun glasses from the pocket of his hoodie, before putting them on, no longer having that smug expression. He leaned back into the chair and propped his elbows on the neighboring chairs.
''Did you carry the sun glasses around with you the whole day just for this moment?,'' Peter deadpanned. Gwens eye twitched. Great. Exactly what she had feared. Now he is gonna be unbearable.
''Yup,'' Bell said.
''For Christ's sake, Bell. What are you? 3? Why do you have to make such a big deal out of this anyway,'' Gwen bit out.
Bell lowered his sun glasses and starred at her over the rim of his glasses, before speaking in wonder:''Hold up a second? You think this is what this is about? Hell, no!''
''Then what is this about?,'' Peter asked.
''Today marks the day where I, a boy, have won an argument against Gwen, a woman. The prophesied day has arrived brother. We have finally broken the curse of women always winning in an argument. Men can now rise against the injustice and suppression from women. No more sleeping on the couch!,'' Bell passionately recited, for extra measure slamming his fist against his chest.
''Excuse me?,'' Gwen asked accusingly, not liking what she heard. Peter rubbed his mouth, hiding a smile behind his hand.
''Peter, that sounded sexist to me. You don't agree with this, do you?,'' Gwen asked turning around, trying to have some support from him. Upon noticing the upwards corner of his mouth she narrowed her eyes. She looked at Bell. She looked at Peter. Then at Bell. And back to Peter again.
She had been pranked.
''I hate you guys. Did you two seriously set this whole thing up just to prank me?,'' Gwen huffed.
Peter and Bell bumped their fist and Bell took his glasses off.
''To be fair, what you said yesterday was really ... mean. You kind of deserved it,'' Peter explained.
''I really am sorry for losing my temper yesterday and about what I said,'' Gwen let her shoulders drop.
''It's fine. It happens to the best of us. All water under the bridge,'' Bell assured, Peter nodded.
''Friends?,'' Gwen asked.
Peter and Bell and starred at her incredulously. They shared a look.
''Ok, that is just straight up insulting,'' Peter bit out.
Bell nodded.
''Like what? We had a little spat and now we are no longer friends?,'' Peter hissed.
Bell nodded.
''You consider our friendship so brittle?,'' Peter accused.
Bell nodded.
''What? No! That is not what I meant. I meant if we can put this behind usss...?,'' Gwen shook her and then trailed of at the end. She narrowed her eyes. 'Water under the bridge' she recounted. She closed her eyes.
''Did you just prank me again?,'' Gwen defeatedly asked opening her eyes.
Bell and Peter shared another fist bump.
''What is this? The prank Gwen day? Can we PLEASE move on?,'' Gwen bit out.
''Fine. Peter stop bullying poor Gwen. You're just being mean now,'' Bell said making Peter cast him the stinky eyes.
''There is actually something I wanted to talk with you about Peter. Tutorship. I'm willing to pay you good money,'' Bell revealed. It was over. He could no longer make any progress in science by himself. He spent weeks trying to understand space and wormholes, but he just wasn't making any progress. Worst thing was the headaches.
Gwen and Peter shared a look. Was this happening? Was this really happening? Was Bell going to join their study sessions? Was he going to fix up his act?
''Bell, you don't need to pay me. You can join our study sessions for free,'' Peter explained. Sure money was always tight for the Parkers, but the O'Quinns were only a single income family. They were probably financially worse of then him, he couldn't make their situation worse. What kind of friend would that make him?
''I don't want to join your study sessions. I only want to learn one thing every now and again. Whatever strikes my fancy, if you will. And you are getting paid. No negotiating,'' Bell elaborated.
Peter and Gwen shared another look. Ok, that was not suspicious or weird at all.
''Okaaaay? Why don't you want me to be part of your sessions. I thought we made up. Why am I excluded?,'' Gwen demanded to know.
''Who says your excluded? You can tag along if you want. I'm just trying to make it clear that this are NOT study session for school. I want to learn what strikes my fancy. I will give you an advance, so that you can study the subject if you don't already know about it and then you will feed me the knowledge, like a mother duck with her ducklings,'' Bell explained.
''Ok. First off, I really did not need that image in my head,'' Peter made a face of disgust,'' Secondly, why would you need this? Hell, you can just study by yourself if you could be bothered to stop being lazy. You're a genius for Christ's sake,''
Bell looked confused and spoke:'' What do you mean I'm a genius? What gave you that impression?''
''Oh I don't know. The fact you made us skip 3rd and 4th grade,'' Gwen began.
''The fact that you are third best in the entire school, despite never bothering to take notes or study,'' Peter continued.
''The fact you always seem to understand what could motivate a human. Exhibit, yesterday,'' Gwen took over again.
''The fact you always seem to pull a skill out of your ass, when circumstances demand. Like, for example, lockpicking,'' Peter added.
''He can lockpick?,'' Gwen asked surprised.
''Yeah. I saw it with my own eyes. He is good at it too,'' Peter revealed. They both looked at Bell, having finished their reasoning.
Bells head moved from Peter to Gwen several times. Ok. If nothing else he now understands how they came to this misunderstanding. He knew some of his behavior would be registered as suspicious, but he never imagined THIS.
Bell shook his head, and counter argued:'' It is heartwarming you think so highly of me. But I assure you I'm NOT a genius. Alright? How long have you been thinking this anyway?''
''The past six years, give or take,'' Peter shared making Gwen nod.
Bells eyes widened and he shook his head:'' Ok. I didn't know that. Wow, ok. There is a lot to unpack here. I reiterate I'm not a genius. I DO study. You just don't see me do that. You know how some people study better together. Well, I study better alone. This is nothing against you, it is just a matter of preference. I still can study all school material by myself. But I just want to expand my horizon beyond that, study what strikes my fancy so to speak. Because, no offense, school is kind of boring. You get that? If something takes my fancy I study it. But sometimes I have a legitimate reason. I told you, I'm not paying 700$ for lockpicking services.
Unfortunately, I'm kind of hitting the wall on that front. I was hoping you could help me out there. But if you don't want to, it's fine. I will find someone else.''
''Sooooo .... You mean to tell me, whenever I called you lazy, I actually...,'' Peter slowly asked dreading the answer.
''Yup,'' Bell popped the p, causing Peter to wince. ''Sorry,'' he murmured. Bell waved that apology away.
''Fine, you're not a genius. I get that. But I still don't get some things. How did you get us to skip 2 grades and how do you study so well despite never taking notes,'' Gwen asked.
''My fathers side of the family had a tradition, to begin teaching children as early as possible. Do not ask me why or how that tradition started. My mother only knows of the tradition and nothing else and I doubt we will ever know on account that he is dead. As for never taking notes? Photographic memory for the win baby,'' Bell boasted, putting his sun glasses back on and pointing with his thumbs at himself.
Both teenagers starred at him for a bit with wide eyes at that bomb drop.
''So, you mean to say...?,'' Peter asked dreadfully.
''Yup''
''And you remember...?,'' Gwen hollowly asked.
''In pristine detail, baby,'' Bell teased. He lowered his sun glasses a bit and gave her a wink over the rim of his glasses. Gwen turned bright red.
Bell let the realization sink in for a bit. He made sure to take in their reaction. This is exactly why he waited so long to share this with them.
''But, no seriously. Will you indulge me, Peter? You're the only super genius I know,'' Bell redirected the conversation back.
''Hey what am I? Chopped liver?,'' Gwen bit out over Peters 'I'm not a super genius.'
''No Gwen. You are a genius too, no offense. But off the three of us you are the busiest AND you don't really need the money compared to Peter. I doubt you could find a slot for my indulgences in your busy schedule, without taking time away from hanging out with us,'' Bell reasoned.
Gwen was about to say that she would always find time for him, but then she thought about her upcoming spider gig and she couldn't really find a way to manage her time between the two things. She wanted to help the little guys and Bell didn't really NEED her specifically, unless Peter doesn't help him. She reluctantly nodded.
Both looked at Peter.
''I can help you. But you really don't need to pay me, Bell. You need the money just as much as I,'' Peter replied accepting the arrangement.
''I'm paying. End of discussion. If you are really adamant on refusing, I will take the money and burn it,'' Bell retorted.
''That is a federal crime,'' Gwen reminded Bell. Ever the Girl Scout even with her new changes.
Bell simply raised an eyebrow over the rim of his sun glasses.
''Fine! What do you want to learn first?,'' Peter quickly intervened, else he'll risk another hiccup. He didn't really want after they just made up.
''Wormholes, Dimensions and Space,'' Bell explained.
''That is certainly a massive subject to tackle. I hope you are aware that most of the stuff is only theoretical and hasn't been proven yet. Yes?,'' Peter asked his friend.
Bell nodded.
Peter sighed and answered:'' Alright then. I need to read up on some of this stuff. Give me a week.''
Give me a week, he says. Bell suppressed an eye twitch.
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Bell came back from the sewers having trained some more with his magic.
''Wooooohoooohoho,'' came the elated cry of someone very familiar to him. He looked up spotting Ghost Spider swinging through the skies. Bell shook his head with some amusement. Ever since Tuesday where they had that talk in the cafeteria she has been going out and about with her hero gig. She was trending on Twitter.
She helped cats from trees, caught kids balloons from flying away. Helped old ladies cross the street and helped them carry groceries. The people quickly warmed up to her. And of course she stopped a few robberies, webbed cars in car chases and all that other jazz.
The authorities didn't hate her, but they don't like her either. And of course Triple J really made his love for her known. Note the sarcasm. So on that front nothing else is new.
Bell making his way home again. He walked a few blocks, unlike the other people, who looked at their phones, he was looking around. Taking in the sights. He never really saw the appeal of walking with your nose in your phone. Pay attention to the road or take in the sights or whatever. Eh, fuck it. It is their life they are wasting. Not his problem.
He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, causing someone to walk into him.
In typical New Yorker fashion he was insulted, the man not being able to accept his own blame.
Bell ignored him and crossed the street entering an establishment. He sat at the counter and waited for the man to come to him.
After dealing with some of his customers, he noticed a new face and went to take his orde.
An elderly man, with grey hair that was combed back, greeted Bell. He had a grey moustache and wore rose tinted aviators.
''Welcome to Papi's Pizzeria. May I have your order, young sir?,'' the man asked.
''When do you close?,'' Bell asked instead.
The man looked at his watch before answering:''We are closing in one hour and 20 minutes.''
Bell nodded and answered: ''Serve me one kind of every pizza. Start from the top and work yourself down. If I'm done before the shop closes start from the top again and so on and so forth.''
''Alright. But that could get expensive, we work quick. Are you sure you can even it so much?,'' The old man questioned with a twinkle in his eyes.
''I'm sure,'' Bell merely replied with his own twinkle.
Time passed. Some customers were starring but otherwise nothing eventful happened. Soon enough the time came to close and the customers began leaving. Only Bell remained. The man went and turned the open sign on the door to signify he was closed.
''Don't bother moving to pay. I transferred the money from your account to mine,'' The man said moving behind the counter and began cleaning the glasses by hand.
''Just out of curiosity. How much was it?,'' Bell asked.
''1.254,67$. So! Bell O'Quinn,'' the man confronted.
''Stan Lee. One-Above-All. God. Which one do you prefer?,'' Bell engaged the confrontation.
''Stan Lee. In case it was not glaringly obvious, I'm not trying to advertise who I am. And I'd rather keep this persona. It has endeared itself to me,'' explained Stan.
Bell nodded.
''You are not surprised I know of you?,'' Stan asked.
''No. The first thing I noticed when I drapped my magic over the entire earth and felt every human was that blank spots stick out like a sore thumb. And you are omniscient and omnipotent. I'm guessing to you that applies for the entire universe,'' Bell said.
''The entire multiverse-cluster I reside over, actually. But yes. A mind you can't read sticks out like a sore thumb,'' Stan said, lifting the glass to inspect it.
''Huh, funny I suppose. Or more like ironic. The same security that was meant to protect me, screwed me over from the very beginning,'' Bell chuckled.
''I'm guessing whatever gave you that power was a greater entity than I. I sometimes wondered what comes after me. Guess I have my answer now. So that is how humans feel sometimes. Just another way how this persona endeared itself to me,'' Stan wondered.
''I guess we can cross the theory about infinities within infinities within infinities as true. Huzzah! I'm sure one day that guy will also find someone who is above him,'' Bell mirthfully replied.
A comfortable silence reigned for a bit.
''I'm surprised you haven't evaporated me,'' Bell continued.
''I'm surprised your not shivering in your boots,'' Stan bantered.
''Yeah, sorry. I'm kind of numb to death or fates worse than death. I'm pretty sure I have a few screws loose,'' Bell explained.
Stan couldn't tell if he was telling the truth. Or if he was that much of a good actor.
''That depends on you. What do you want to do?,'' Stan asked beginning to dry the glasses.
''For now my short term plan is amusement. Troll people, put on a show. That kind of thing. Afterwards.... I don't know,'' Bell explained.
''Do you want my spot?,'' Stan offered.
''Hell no! I had enough rulership to last me my lifetime. Besides I doubt I could even take the chair from you,'' Bell immediately shot down. He had nearly unlimited magic, not unlimited. At worst he would become the second strongest, at best he will match him for a while but lose in a battle of attrition.
''You know it is really fascinating talking to someone from out of my multiverse-cluster. I'm guessing you were a ruler in your old world. You mind telling me a bit about it?,'' Stan asked fascinated.
''What is there to talk about? Normal guy leads normal life. Politicians do their thing, war starts. Normal guy gets conscripted into war. He is a coward, struggling with killing others. Whole platoon dies and he hides among their corpses. He gets rageful. He starts killing, every pull of trigger feeling lighter on his heart. His innocence is tarnished and he gets bitter. He starts distinguishing himself and gets more and more responsibilities. He does more and more unthinkable stuff to keep his men alive. The war ends. And then massive reveal. The ones who started the war made a deal behind closed doors, a slap on the wrist for the perpetrators. Tensions are rising. War is about to resume. He leads a black ops division to deactivate the Dead Hand protocol. He drops 2 Tsar bombs on their bunker to kill them and kills millions in the process. War is avoided and peace attained. His reward for his abominable evil? Rulership over the newly consolidated empire. He rules as just as he can, but falls into the trap of abusing his authority every now and then. He tries alcohol, drugs and sex to distract from his guilt. Nothing works. He turns to amusement, voila, it works. He dies.
There. Story of his life. As you can see, it is nothing you probably haven't seen or heard before,'' Bell indulged his question. Hiding his growing agitation.
''Not seen or heard. But know of, certainly. I'm guessing you still feel guilty if you still disassociate,'' Stan began putting the glasses in the drawers.
''OF COURSE I FEEL GUILTY!,'' Bell screamed and slammed his fist down destroying the counter.
''Shit, sorry,'' Bell apologized, turning his head in shame.
Stan merely waved his hand, repairing the counter and took out a glass. He quickly fixed some coffee and put it in front off the boy, who thanked him reluctantly.
''You want to talk about it some more?,'' Stan offered.
''What is this? A free therapy session?,'' Bell propped his head on his arm and began nursing the glass.
''If you want it to be. I told you it is refreshing to talk to you. Someone who's mind i can't read or who doesn't behave differently despite knowing who I am. It is... intellectually stimulating, if you will,'' Stan informed.
''Now you sound as if you are offering me friendship,'' Bell joked.
''If you want,'' Stan coyly let hang.
''Those are a lot of 'If you wants' Stan,'' Bell pointed out.
Stan chuckled and shrugged.
''Fine. I'll make sure not to abuse this friendship of ours,'' Bell jested.
''I wasn't gonna let you anyway. But I do have one question. How did you recognize me? I never reveal myself and if I do, it is never in this persona,'' Stan wanted to know.
''Remember that infinity within infinity theory? Where I am from there are hundreds of worlds and universes in the form comics. This *gestures around them* is one such world. The author, Stan Lee, of this universe looks exactly like you, or you look exactly like him, and he jokingly puts himself sometimes in the world as a cameo, And since he is the author of the universe he is also jokingly called god by the fans,'' Bell explained taking a few sips of the coffee. It was damn good coffee.
Stan blinked a few times and starred ahead.
''See what I mean. You evoked existential dread in me. I never considered this possibility,'' Stan eventually settled for.
''Aren't you omniscient? Surely there must be some sort of theory going on in some of the parallel universes that could have prepared you for this,'' Bell argued.
''No. Can you imagine knowing everything about anything at every time in every second. I would go mad. Imagine it like a search engine with most of the heavy lifting done by a programm...,'' Stan began explaining.
''The Living Tribunal correct?,'' Bell interrupted.
''Yes, exactly. I'm glad you get it,'' Stan replied.
Another comfortable silence settled in the room. Bell taking a sip every now and then. His shoulders relaxing. Stan continued to clean and put the chairs back under the table. He went behind an open wall and began cleaning the kitchen. Bell observed him doing his job.
''Is there something you want to prohibit me from doing? Just so that we remain on good terms, relatively speaking,'' Bell asked after a while.
''With some of the people that I allow to roam around? Go crazy. Do whatever you want. While I won't interfere you still have to understand that all your actions will have consequences. Just be ready to bear them, whenever you make a decision. Oh! But whatever you do, don't make a deal with One-Below-All,'' Stan told him, speaking a little louder in order to be heard.
''In that case, you needn't worry. I never planned on doing that anyway,'' Bell assured. He wasn't an idiot.
Bell finished his drink.
''I do have one more question. That radioactive spider currently sitting in my room. If it bites Peter, will he get spider powers? I kind of feel bad for him being the only one in our group that doesn't have powers,'' Bell questioned.
Stan perked and stopped what he was doing. He came around back to the counter.
''Before I answer the question, indulge me a little. What do YOU think the answer is?,'' Stan turned the question around. He will answer the question for his new friend, but he wanted to see more of his thought process. Or hear, would be more accurate.
''Well the author from my old world, Stan Lee, said one aspect of Spider-Man is that it could have been anyone, that was bitten. That anyone could, and is invited, to imagine themselves behind the mask. That is one major reason Spider-Man is so beloved. He is a hero OF the people not for the people. The baker down the left street. The biology teacher. A 15 year old orphan next door. Spider-Man is those people. Not those larger than life entity that was unapproachable. He is the little guy.
Whenever the spider didn't die by the slap, it went around biting people till it died. Most people put on the mask and carried Spider-Mans legacy.
I have strong suspicion that Peter will get spider powers. But strong suspicion is not certainty. And I didn't want to risk my friends life with a gamble. But since I already am here, I might as well ask you and receive a certain answer,'' Bell shared his theory.
''I could lie,'' Stan wanted to test the waters.
Bell sighed and returned:'' I hope you won't. But if you do and I don't catch that, then his death will be on me.''
Stan smiled at the answer being pleased with it. How utterly engaging, this young man was.
''Then you are in luck, for I won't lie. You are right in most of your assumptions. When I created those spiders I did consider the possibility that they won't be killed by the slap. So I also made it so that the spider seeks out good people. People just like you described until it eventually dies. Were this the Original Peter then the radioactive spider would have never bitten him. But now? It will bite him and it will give him spider powers. Just like Gwen,'' Stan confirmed.
Bell had a happy expression before it was replaced by confusion.
''Wait original Peter? What do you mean by that?,'' Bell asked in confusion.
''Are you sure you want to know? What could have been, will never come to pass. All that matters is the now,'' Stan questioned.
''Yes, please,'' Bell said.
''Imagine this world as if you were not here. Peter and Gwen would have still become friends. Peter would have fallen for Gwen. One day MJ and Gwen become friends. Gwen gets into music. She plays practice and MJ brings another friend over. Harry Osborn. For a few years all four of them are good friends all the way until sophomore year. Then Gwen gets bitten as you know. Peter finds out after a while. His love no longer healthy, but obsessive. His friends slowly pull away and the bullying intensifies. Then Harry tells him he plans on asking Gwen out. Peter sees it as betrayal. in his head, he reason that if he also has super powers Gwen will pick him over Harry. He injects the lizard serum, turns into it and dies in a fight against Gwen.
But you needn't worry about that. None of that will come to pass. This Peter has the foundation of strong relationships to keep him up. Foundations that shaped him into a far better and healthier person,'' Stan shared.
So he was in that universe. Then again, there seems to be enough of a difference that it might as well have been a variant of that universe.
''Sooo... You telling me I defeated fate. That I avoided a sort of prophesied future. Shouldn't there be consequences to that?,'' Bell asked surprised.
''Good me! No. No such thing as fate exists. Something can likely happen but nothing is written in stone. Excelsior! Excelsior I say! Be better and be yourself my children,'' Stan exclaimed jovially. Then he began chuckling to himself.
'Got it,' Bell thought. So fate does not exist, but something can likely occur. In that case it is on you to let it come to pass or fight for a better future, as you desire for your own self and true to yourself. But in no way is the future writ in stone. Bell really understood what Stan was saying.
Bell nodded and saluted:''Thank you, Stan. In that case I'm gonna excuse myself and go do some things.''
''Come by every now and again,'' Stan called after him. Bell turned around and gave a gave a thumbs up, before pushing the door open with his back and exiting.
Stan sighed an shook his head.
''Youngsters these days,'' he murmured.
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Jesus, how can May and Ben sleep in this house. This guy snores like a drill.
Bell let himself into their house. After all, the Parkers did tell him that he was always welcome.
Bell pulled the covers a little away and put the radioactive spider on his hand.
Voila.
Peters arm twitched a bit, but other wise remained sleeping like a dead corpse.
Bell grabbed the spider and made his way back home.
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Bell slammed his head on the table. Peter giving him a pitying look. They were at it for 4 hours and made no progress.
''Look. I don't know why you want to learn this things so quickly, you said it is just a passing fancy. If it is a money issue, I told you, you don't need to pay me,'' said Peter, biting down his frustration. He didn't mind teaching, but sitting on the same subject for multiple hours on end was grating.
Bell turned his head around and looked at Peter. He pushed himself up.
''By the way, did you get contact lenses?,'' Bell asked casually.
''Oh, oh yeah. I did,'' Peter quickly replied.
Bell raised his eyebrows:''I'm surprised. I heard they are expensive.''
''I know. Right? That is what I believed too. But no, they are reasonably cheap,'' Peter agreed.
''Oh, Ok then. Anyway let's try again. I have an idea. Let's just ignore the theoretical equations for a bit and try again. But this time we'll focus on models that attempt to explain how these things function.
( ( (A.N.: I'm just gonna come out and say it. I'm not a scientist. Do NOT take anything scientific here at face value. Do your own research. I'm gonna take some creative liberties for the sake of writing a plot. And whatever you do:
Don't do drugs kids. Stay cool) ) )
Peter though for a bit, before standing up. He made his bed and puffed his blanket up a bit.
''All space inside our dimension is represented by this blanket. Alright? Now, watch what happens, when I put this ball on the blanket,'' Peter began. He took a small ball from his desk and slowly put it on the blanket.
The weight of the ball slightly curved it, compared to the other parts of the blanket which were still flat.
''And now watch what happens when I take a bigger ball,'' Peter did exactly as he said, the curvature being bigger this time.
So far Bell could follow. That was essentially how gravity worked. Bigger objects caused more curvature and object came inside this gravitational pull, like a ball down a slope. A heavily simplified version, Bell knew, but that was good enough for his purposes. Now came the part he struggled with.
''Remember that. It is gonna be important in a sec,'' Peter put the balls back and took a paper.
'' Now imagine this paper as space. If you want to create wormholes, then you need to find two points you want to connect,'' Peter folded the paper and took a pencil,'' And then you need to connect them'' Peter pierce both halves of the paper with the pencil.
Bell slowly nodded following so far, even if starting to struggle a bit.
''Ok. So far so good. But can we just apply this quickly in real life? Let's ignore the question of how to connect them and focus on how to fold space. Say I want to go from here, to the Empire State Building. How do I fold the whole universe to connect those points?,'' Bell wanted to know.
Peter widened his eyes and jumped.
''Whoaaa! Slow down there a second. I think you have the wrong idea of space. This *gestures at the blanket and paper* are just models. They are only here to help us visualize something. In real life space is more complicated,'' Peter quickly explained.
He grabbed the biggest ball he owned and another paper. He put the ball in his lap and held the paper straight.
''Watch and try to imagine the paper inside the ball,'' Peter commanded.
He put the paper on one side with the sharp edge, he turned it around in 360 degrees. He put it on another part of the ball turning in 360 degrees again. He did this again and again in various position and from various sides.
Bell focused on the presentation not quite getting it at first. But slowly an inkling started to form his eyes widening more and more. Peter seeing this began nodding, encouraging him to speak.
''So space is everywhere. Right? It is not just a single sheet of paper. It is millions, billions, trillions of sheets of paper all in different sizes flying around in the galaxy operating by the same rules,'' Bell theorized.
''Yes!,'' Peter affirmed, before nodding, gesturing him to try and answer his own previous question.
''Which means that if I want a wormhole from here to the Empire State Building, I don't need to fold the universe in half, I just need to find a sheet of paper that goes through both points so to speak and then fold it to connect them,'' Bell continued more confidently.
''Yes!!,''Peter yelled. The boys high fived each other strongly and smashed their chests together.
''Ok. Finally! Woooo. That took long enough. Now, the other question. How do I connect them. What can I do to punch a hole through space and time?,'' Bell asked, focusing back on the task at hand
''Oh right, right. If you want to do that then all you need to do is remember what happens when an object is put in space,'' Peter trailed of gesturing Bell to pick. If they came this far then just a little extra push was needed to for that answer. Peter knew Bell could figure out the answer himself.
Object in space. Object in space....
Bell ripped his eyes open and slapped his head at beiing so oblivious.
''Curvature! Of course! Find a heavy enough object that creates a big enough curvature and boom you punched a hole through space,'' Bell realised.
Peter nodded enthusiastically and affirmed:'' Exactly! And those are called Einstein Rosen Bridges.''
''Wait a second. Wouldn't that imply that at the middle of the wormhole would be a black hole. And wouldn't that also mean that because of the event horizon you wouldn't be able to leave?,'' Bell wondered.
''That is what we thought for the longest time as well, but recently there were new discoveries that suggested otherwise. You don't need to increase an objects density till it becomes a black hole. We recently found out more about quantum effects. Quantums make out space. And all you would need to do is find a heavy enough object and push it strong enough, that then will create enough friction and enough heat to create a wormhole. Thus bypassing the issue of a black hole,'' Peter explained
''Got it. Now that I understand this, doing the equations should be a piece of cake. Let's go through them quickly,'' Bell demanded impatiently.
1 hour later:
Bell slacked in the chair and Peter threw himself into his bed.
''Are you sure you are not a genius? You made insanely good progress,'' Peter groaned loudly into his pillow, being utterly beat.
''Nah, man. Like I told you. I'm just a hard worker. Besides I would have never made so much progress in so little time without you. Thanks Pete. You are an amazing teacher,'' Bell groaned as well, slacking further into the chair.
They were both mentally drained from the past 6 hours. It was well into the night.
''You're overestimating me, Bell,'' Peter said.
''And you are underestimating yourself. You go be a science wiz and I will be a ... peoples wiz,'' Bell finished lamely before strongly adding,'' My word triumphs yours.''
Peter bursts out laughing.
Bell picked himself up and huffed:'' Anyway it's *checks phone* almost 22 o'clock. I bothered you enough and I don't want to overstay my welcome. Stand up so I can pay you.''
''I told you. You don't need to pay me, Bell,'' Peter repeated. Waving his hand up back and forth.
No answer came. Silence reigned.
Peter bolted up and locked around in his room. He noticed money on his drawer. He grabbed it and sprinted downstairs. He stopped at the door, not wanting to dirty his socks.
''Bell!,'' Peter yelled. A running Bell, turned to run backwards and showed Peter a middle finger and the stinky eye. He turned around continuing to run.
Peter frustratingly closed the door and gave a huff. He unfolded the money and widened his eyes. He looked at 2x 500$ bills.
''Did you two have fun?,'' Aunt May called from the kitchen.
Peter quickly stuffed the money in his pockets hiding it from aunt May. If Bell REALLY insisted then he will take his damn money. Besides he needed to buy some things.
''Yes, Aunt May. He played just a stupid prank on me at the end there,'' Peter lied making his way to the kitchen.
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Days came and went, which turned into a week. And New York had a new hero. Another wall crawling menace, as someone would like anyone to believe.
Spider-Man
Honestly there was not that much of a difference between the two spider themed heroes the populace noted. Except that one was male the other female and that they were never seen together.
And of course he wasn't liked by the police either.
Spider-Man crawled along the wall witnessing an attempted robbery in progress. He was just about to shoot a web line and pull them up when another web line was shot first.
''Shit, It's Ghost Spider,'' one of them yelled. Spider-Man gave a quick look around not seeing the other heroine.
He web zipped himself down, landed on a person and webbed him down on the ground.
''Oh nevermind It is just Spider-Man,'' another robber exclaimed, relaxing.
Another figure slammed into another robber and webbed him down on the ground.
The robbers locked to the white clad heroine. Then to the red one. Back and forth. Back and forth.
They threw their weapons down and laid on the ground in surrender. They were all webbed down on the ground.
Spider-Man was about to call for the cops but Ghost Spider told him:'' Let me.''
After a quick call she gestured him to follow her. He landed on a rooftop having lost track of her.
''Let me guess. Bitten by a radioactive spider?,'' he heard. He turned around coming face to face with Ghost Spider.
He cleared his throat and replied:'' I suspect so yeah. I was sleeping and then when I woke up I had all these powers. Honestly the only reason I could even begin to narrow the source of my powers down, was because of you. I have all skills you displayed as well.''
She looked at him for a bit before asking:'' And do you also have that sixth sense in the back of your head warning you of danger?''
''Yes actually! Though I don't know what to call it,'' Spider-Man said.
''I call it spider sense. It is unintuitiv, I know, but it is good enough I suppose. Let me also guess. Those webs aren't organic. You made them yourself,'' she asked.
Spider-Man nodded.
''How long did you have those powers?,'' she asked.
''Two weeks,'' he revealed.
''Two weeks!? I had mine one and a half month and I trained for the first one. You telling me you trained one week? Are you insane?,'' Ghost Spider spat.
Spider-Man rubbed his head:''Well, that is what I was kind of hoping for. Find you and ask for pointers but then someone needed my help and then another and I just forgot. Sorry.''
Ghost Spider rubbed her face through her mask before finally asking:''Why are you doing this anyway? This hero gig?''
''There are things the police just can't do. Either because they lack the manpower or were not been trained for it. When bad things happen and you have the power to stop it but you don't they happen because of you. You sure don't point the gun or pull the trigger, but you still take part of the blame. And I don't want innocent people on my conscience,'' Spider-Man explained.
Ghost Spider nodded reluctantly. Not quiet the same as her reasons, but still good enough she supposed.
''Alright. Follow me. It is still early. There is enough time to give you a crash course. Whenever we encounter each other I'll give you some more tips,'' Ghost Spider ordered.
''Wait! Shouldn't we share each others number or something like that?,'' Spider-Man called out.
''I have a boyfriend,'' she huffed. This makes the second hero that hit on her. Now that she thinks about it, she hasn't seen or heard of Nexus since the Lizard incident.
''What? No, no, no! I wasn't trying to hit on you. I was just trying to... Forget it,'' Spider-Man dropped his head.
''Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, I still wouldn't share any personal information with other people. I take my secret seriously. Anything I share, even bread crumbs, could jeopardize it,'' she decided to throw the guy a bone at his sad puppy look. There. A completely reasonable explanation that will let him know it's nothing personal.
Spider-Man perked up and nodded absorbing the knowledge.
''Now come,'' Ghost Spider web zipped away. Spider-Man after her.
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Now with both of his friends preoccupied he had much more time to dedicate himself to advancing his magic. He caught himself salivating sometimes at all the things he could do with his portals. They were just so fucking op with some creativity. Someone shoots you? If your reaction and reflexes are good enough, just open portals in front of the bullets path and open the other end at the back of your enemies skull.
Open smaller portals and punch through them. Use them defensive or offensively in melee combat. Though why you want to engaged in this form of melee combat eludes him. Still it is a possibility.
Open bigger portals and let something drop through. But only halfway then close it. Boom. Pseudo blade.
He can combine different kinds of magic. Hell he wasn't limited to portals only after all.
With the understanding he got now, he can fold space and create pocket dimensions. Fill the pocket dimension with weapons and propel them through the portal at mach speed.
A certain someone would call him faker.
He would reply that imitation was the highest form of flattery.
He could even theoretically travel through dimensions with this knowledge.
And so on and so forth.
Bells hand began trembling with anticipatory childish giddiness. He balled his fists and forced himself to calm down. This mustn't register on an emotional level. This was a time for rationale. He released a breath.
For the past week, since the tutorship Bell has been practicing his magic whenever he was alone.
In his room. In the sewers. Hell, in the WC of the school.
And while he now fully understands the theory. Applying it was a little more difficult.
Aka, no portals yet.
Come on, Bell
Close your eyes.
Feel the magic. Send it out. Pick a space plate. Wrap it with magic. Bend it. Create a curvature....
Damn it!
Again.
Feel the magic. Send it out. Pick a space plate. Wrap it with magic. Bend it. Create a curvature....
A felt small flicker appearing for less than a second in the air.
Bell snapped his eyes open, before closing them back again. No time for emotions! Go back down memory lane and grasp that feeling.
Feel the magic. Send it out. Pick a space plate. Wrap it with magic. Bend it. Create a curvature. Maintain the energy flow with your magic.
A small hole opened closing back again.
Again!
A bigger hole formed. It collapsed.
Again!
He forced himself to calm down a bit.
A fist sized hole opened. It didn't close.
Bell slowly opened his eyes, remaining calm.
He saw himself from the side. He took a pencil and threw it through hitting himself in the cheek. He unfocused looking at the pencil near his thigh. He was sitting on his bed. The portal closed. That was fine, he remembered the feeling.
The pencil looked fine, not distortions.
Again!
Harder!
Again!
Better!
Again!
Faster!
Again!
Stronger!
Again!
More cost effective!
Again!
Bigger!
Again!
Again!
Again!
Like a dance he practiced it. At first you struggle to do the movements, but then muscle memory start kicking in.
Bell closed and opened again and again and again training this feeling. Memorizing it. Ingraining it into his brain.
Before he knew it he starred at a human sized portal.
His growing felt so exponential. Slow at first but then quicker and quicker. And this was just the beginning. Pocket dimensions and dimension travel was to follow.
Now only one thing remained.
Human testing.
Bell had be honest. He was both giddy and a little uncertain. Sure he trusted his own capabilities but there was always the small voice. Whispering.
Bell resolved himself.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.
He closed his eyes and stepped through closing the portal behind him.
He opened his eyes finding himself in the sewers where he usually trains. He patted and inspected himself finding nothing amiss.
He created another portal finding himself at the tip of the Empire State Building. He stuck to the tip observing the skyline and the city below him.
He jumped off. Feet first and landed on the head of the Liberty Statue.
Time to really push the range to the limit. He thought for a bit, about where he wanted to go. Actually, why settle for one?
Berlin, Branden Burger Tor.
Japan, Mount Fuji.
Brazil, Christ the Redeemer.
Italy, Rom's Colosseum.
Antarctica, South Pole.
He cast some quick protective magic.
He looked up.
DAAYUUUM!
The earth was absolutely stunning. And honestly even that description was doing it injustice. It was .... indescribable beauty that was reflected in his eyes.
Bell relaxed taking the earth in.
From up here, humanity looked sooo.... insignificant.
From up here, all of their petty little squabbles seemed so utterly banal. All are reduced to the same dust. So small there is no distinguishing factor. No Color. No Race. No Politics. Nothing.
In spite of his magic it was humbling.
Bell looked around. The eternal silence and the vastness of the dark space felt like a maw about to devour him.
Yes, humanity. Having a different color, opinion or who supports which policies is the real important part here. Not uniting against THIS.
Oblivion.
Bell released a breath.
Since he was already here, he might as well fulfill a childish wish. He began hopping around and descending slowly doing various aerial movements.
He was contemplating something.
...
...
...
Screw this he was gonna try it.
He closed his eyes focusing and molded his magic and stepped through the portal.
He opened his eyes.
Primal fear gripped him, his heart rate immediately spiking and blood pressure increasing.
He KNEW there was nothing dangerous here. But humanity has always feared the darkness.
He looked up. The sun looking like a candle from her. But in no way weak. Even from here it illuminated the surface of Pluto.
Weakly. True.
But it was in no way abandoned by the Lifegiver.
He looked down. The nitrogen ice was melting and condensing. He was on the day side of this dwarf planet after all.
That was it. There was all there was too see.
No Uranus. No Neptune, Saturn or Jupiter. And definitely none of the planets past that point.
Nothing.
Just the sun and Pluto.
A celestial body appeared. Oh right. Pluto had a moon. Guess it was here too, whatever its name was.
Profound loneliness settled in him.
He took a breath and noticed that the air inside his protective layer began to run out.
He created a portal back the moon and quickly got rid of any nitrogen and other particles. Then he stepped back into his room. He looked at the time 16:57.
40 minutes after he learned how to create a portal he went to Pluto and back.
Yeaaaaah. He may be a bit of an overachiever.
He chuckled. The sound increasing in volume. It turned into a laughter. Then belly laughter. And then finally full blown maniacal laughter with elation and jubilation.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.
He stopped abruptly when getting a message and read it.
Peter: Bruh, whatchu doing? I can hear you from my room. you laugh like Frankenstein when he created his monster.
For a second Bell was tempted to point out that his walls were soundproofed. That there was no way he could hear him unless he had enhanced hearing. Tease him a little.
He didn't. He was far too proud of himself to care
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
It lives! IT LIVES!!!