Chapter 271: Guardians of The Multiverse (1)

[Third Person's PoV] 

Peter sighed at the Watcher's declaration. "When you say I've been chosen, do you mean I alone was selected? Or was it more of a 'you' that includes my team—since, you know, we're kind of a united front?"

The others smiled at Peter's question before turning their curious gazes toward the Watcher, waiting for his response.

"It was only you," the Watcher confirmed. "I have chosen other beings across the Multiverse for this special task."

"Sorry, but I must decline," Peter said, crossing his arms.

"What—?" The Watcher exclaimed in surprise. Of all people, Peter was the last one he expected to refuse. In fact, he had been the most confident that Peter would be a guaranteed recruit, given his heroic nature.

The others, including the Ancient One, stared at Peter in shock.

"What do you mean you decline!?" the Watcher demanded, his voice rising in disbelief. "The safety of the Multiverse is at stake here!"

Peter shrugged. "Sorry, but I come as a package deal. If you want me, you're going to have to take everyone else too."

Felicia slipped behind Peter and peeked over his shoulder. "Yeah, what he said!"

"All for one and one for all!" Harry added, raising his fist.

The Watcher opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, Gwen stepped forward. "Why do you look so reluctant to get extra hands on deck? We all know the Multiverse is facing a crisis now. You seriously don't expect us to sit this one out, do you? We all want to help—and more help means better chances against this 'Ultron' guy."

The Watcher studied Gwen's words carefully. He glanced at the group and saw the determination in their eyes. With a resigned sigh, his shoulders slumped slightly. "Very well then…"

A cheer erupted from the team as they pumped their fists in celebration. The Watcher, regaining his composure, spoke in his usual mystical tone. "Members of the Spider Family, you have all been chosen! The Multiverse needs your assistance!"

"Wait!" Peter interjected, raising a finger.

The Watcher's eye twitched. "What now!?" he asked, exasperated, while the Ancient One chuckled softly.

"You said the Spider Family has been chosen. That means we're missing someone!"

The Watcher stared at Peter, visibly irritated, but before he could respond, Peter glanced at his watch.

"Luckily, he should be back at the base by now… I'll be right back." With that, Peter opened a golden portal and stepped through.

His voice echoed through the gateway. "YO, BRUCE! WE'RE GOING ON A MULTIVERSE ADVENTURE! YOU COMING OR WHAT?!"

The portal closed behind him, leaving everyone awkwardly staring at the Watcher.

A few minutes later, another portal opened. Peter reemerged, now carrying extra gear, with Bruce following closely behind, an excited grin on his face.

"We're going to be saving the Multiverse…" Bruce muttered, before suddenly freezing as he locked eyes with the Watcher's galaxy-like gaze.

"Oh god, I'm in way over my head…" Bruce whispered, then abruptly turned around. "You know what? You guys don't need me. You've been doing perfectly fine without my assistance—"

Peter grabbed Bruce by the collar and yanked him back just as the portal closed. "Mask on, everyone!"

With just a thought, their masks materialized. Peter's reappeared over his face, while MJ's domino mask formed, featuring eight distinct eye holes that protected her glowing pink eyes.

Spider-Man turned to Bruce and sent a quick jolt of electricity through his suit's unstable molecules. The pulse of energy shifted the electrons in Bruce's clothing, instantly transforming them into a fitted purple and white uniform.

Bruce sighed. "Fine. I agreed to this anyway…"

"Here." Spider-Man tossed a pair of escrima sticks to Harry.

Nightwing caught them effortlessly, crossing them over his back in one fluid motion.

Once everyone was equipped and ready, Spider-Man turned to the Watcher and gave a firm nod. "Alright. We're all set. Let's go save the goddamn Multiverse."

The Watcher smirked. Suddenly, the space around them stretched, and he began to grow in size. He reached down with his massive hands, cupping them like a dome around the team, as if capturing a group of fireflies.

Darkness enveloped them for a moment. Then, almost immediately, the hands withdrew—and they found themselves inside a dimly lit pub, surrounded by six other individuals looking around in confusion.

Peter scanned the room, his eyes widening in recognition. He knew every single one of them… but something about each of them felt distinctly different.

One Peter recognized as Carter, Captain America's supposed love interest. However she was wearing a suit with a British Flag and a round shield behind her back. 

There was also Gamora wearing golden armor, Killmonger, a sunken Doctor Strange, Thor, and T'challa. 

Carter looked around the pub in surprise as she said, "I-I recognized this place…" she looked towards the side to see an image of a skinny Steve Rogers. 

And Stephen Strange behind the counter of the bar said, "Yes, I chose the meeting place to look like this based on your biography which I read." 

Stephen then looked towards Peter and all the others in confusion before looking at The Watcher, "This is more than what we agreed" 

"We come as a package deal, so deal with it Mister!" Peter said as he sat by the bar and slammed his hand down before saying, "Give a whiskey on the rock." 

Stephen looked at Spider-Man and scoffed, "Nice try I know how old you really are Peter Parker," 

"Dude!! Do you not know the concept of a mask?! Hello!? Secret identity~" Peter said motioning towards his mask. 

Thor then walked up and placed the head of an Ultron sentinel on the bar table and said, "Aw man will there really be no beer?" 

Stephen sighed as she conjured up a Gigantic class and placed it in front of him. 

"Yay! Beer!!" Thor excitedly said as he began chugging it. 

Peter clicked his tongue and Stephen conjured a glass of milk for him sliding it over. 

Peter's lenses twitched as if they were malfunctioning. 

However the Watcher cleared his throat gathering all of their attention. 

"You have all been chosen…" The Watcher began. 

Harry sat next to Peter and mumbled, "How many times is he going to say that"

"...For a mission that's highly dangerous and absolutely necessary for the continuation of Life as we know it" The Watcher said grimly. 

Those around them tensed at his words, narrowing their eyes in both caution and suspicion. 

"At first, I scoured eternally for one true hero…" The Watcher continued, "But then I saw the bigger picture. This mission requires a team, the perfect combination of skills and experience that alone will triumph." 

Carter took a step forwards as she asked, "So let me get this straight, you kidnapped us across the galaxy—" 

"It's not kidnapping if we came here willingly!" Felicia said, raising a hand.

"–So what exactly could we do, what?" Carter continued undeterred. 

"Save the universe?" Gamora finished Carter's thought sassily. 

The Watcher shook his head, "Not exactly, it's more complicated than that…" 

Stephen Strange joined in as he said, "You just aren't our hope to save one universe." 

"You are all my last hope to save all of them" Watcher finished. 

Then in his usual mystical tone he announced, "You are all… The Guardian of the Multiverse!" 

"Did anyone else just hear dramatic background music when he said that?" Peter asked as he lifted the mask to his nose and began sipping on the milk. 

T'challa, along with Peter's friends stifled a laugh at his words, while the others looked at him disapprovingly. 

!!!

"Phttt!!" Peter spit out his drink as he said, "Dude what the hell, this is Lukewarm! That's disgusting!! Why the hell would you serve me this?!" 

"I didn't think you would actually drink it," Stephen sighed as he took the glass away from Peter. 

Thor meanwhile finished chugging his beer as he said, "I know what this is, Loki put you up to this joke. Listen, I do not have the time for his pranks today." 

Thor headed towards the door of the bar. 

"No, No, stop, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Stephen tried to warn. 

However Thor, ignoring him as he said, "My lady Jane needs me. So I'll be going. Enjoy yoursel—AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" 

Thor cried out as he opened the door and was suddenly pulled by an overpowering suction. 

MJ flicked her wrist and shot a web quickly towards Thor and another one towards the Door, she pulled Thor back in and shut the door right after. 

Thor was on the ground on all fours while panting, while the others were looking at MJ with a hint of curiosity, mostly about her abilities. 

Carter took the lead once more as she said, "We're in. Mind telling us what we're up against?" 

"The others haven't even said anything yet? How do you know they're in?" Lizzy asked in confusion as she looked towards the other members. 

Carter blinked as she said, "Well I just assumed…" 

"Yeah, don't make any assumptions for me" Gamora said with an eye roll, "But I'm in as well" 

"Saving worlds around the universe is something I do constantly. It won't be any different from what I do everyday, so count me in as well" T'challa said in a thick wakandan accent. 

Felicia raised her hand once more as she said, "As I said before we call came here willingly, unlike some of you it seems, so there not much for us to say" 

Gwen, MJ, and Lizzy nodded in agreement. 

There were no words needed for Stephen Strange as he had long since agreed. 

Killmonger meanwhile narrowed his eyes slightly, "I will decide whether I'm in or out depending on the severity of what we're up against. So I'm somewhat undecided" 

Peter's eyebrows furrowed silently as he looked at Killmonger from the peripheral of his eyes, 'An undecided member is much more worrisome than someone that out right declines.' 

Thor meanwhile didn't really have a chance on the matter. 

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