In the MCU/Marvel with the Omnitrix/Ultimatrix

Peter's Pov:

A week after White Queen's rooftop visit, and here I am, following her directions to a meeting spot far from the usual tourist areas. My hands are definitely not shaking as I land. Nope. Totally calm.

He's already there, looking completely recovered from whatever happened at that gala - though the news said he needed more rest. Smart move, not letting criminals know if you're actually injured or not.

The white hair catches the evening light, and those red eyes... way more intense in person than on TV.

"So," he says with an easy confidence that makes me wonder if he was ever really hurt, "you're the spider guy everyone's talking about."

"Spiderman," I correct automatically, then want to web myself in the face. Real smooth introduction there, Parker.

But he just grins, and somehow that's more intimidating than if he'd been serious. "Spiderman it is. Nice work with the web fluid, by the way. The tensile strength is impressive."

I nearly fall off my perch. "You analyzed my webs?"

"Stark did," he shrugs. "Wouldn't shut up about the chemical composition for days. Said whoever designed it has serious potential."

Oh god. Tony Stark analyzed my web fluid. Tony Stark talked about my work. Don't freak out, Parker. Act cool.

"The web formula," he continues examining one of my web-shooters from a distance. "You designed it yourself?"

"Yeah," I nod, trying not to sound too eager. "Took a few tries to get the tensile strength right. First batch dissolved after an hour - which, uh, led to some awkward situations."

He actually laughs at that. "Trust me, I know about embaressing moments caused by powers. Try explaining to your girlfriend why you froze the dinner table with icy breath.."

The casual mention of such a specific incident makes me relax slightly. Maybe even heroes with universe-shaking powers have their faulty moments.

"You know," he continues, his tone shifting to something more serious, "most people with new powers try to prove themselves with big gestures.

Taking down major criminals, stopping disasters... but you started with helping people cross streets and giving directions to lost tourists."

"Someone has to," I shrug, surprised by my own boldness. "I mean, yeah, saving the world is important, but so is making sure that kid finds his mom, or that elderly couple doesn't get mugged on their evening walk."

His red eyes study me with new interest. "Exactly. Though I have to ask - what's with all the quips during fights?"

"The quips?" I rub the back of my neck through my mask. "Honestly? It helps with the nerves. Plus, it's kind of hard to be scared of someone who was just made a terrible pun about their criminal career choices."

"Psychological warfare through dad jokes," he nods, looking genuinely amused. "That's... actually pretty brilliant."

"Says the guy who turns into dinosaurs," I counter before I can stop myself. "I mean, not that that's not cool - it's super cool, actually, and I probably shouldn't have brought it up like that-"

"Relax," he cuts off my rambling with a wave. "The dinosaur thing is pretty cool. Though try explaining to the city council why their new fountain got crushed by a giant alien lizard."

A comfortable silence falls between us. Below, New York continues its evening routine, unaware of two teenage heroes having a rooftop chat.

"So," he says finally, "I've got a proposition for you. Nothing formal, but... maybe we could help each other out sometimes? Your web-slinging would work pretty well with some of my transformations."

My heart nearly stops. Is he suggesting...?

"That would be amazing!" I try not to sound too excited, then remember something. "Hey, don't you have a spider fused with monkey form? We could probably coordinate some pretty cool moves with-"

I stop as his expression shifts, something like discomfort crossing his features. "That form's... unavailable at the moment. Along with a few others."

The implications hit me like a ton of bricks. Whatever happened at that gala, whatever force they fought... it was big enough to affect his actual transformations.

Big enough to hurt someone who could go toe-to-toe - possibly even beat, there are a lot of online debates about that - with Thor.

A chill runs down my spine. There's something out there powerful enough to damage the world's strongest hero that badly. And nobody even knows what it was.

"But hey," he continues, clearly trying to move past the moment, "I've got some new forms that could work even better for team-ups. Ever thought about what your webs could do with a crystal giant?"

I let him change the subject, but my mind keeps circling back to that brief flash of vulnerability. To the realization that even the mightiest heroes can be hurt.

Maybe that's why he's reaching out to smaller heroes like me. Building connections, preparing for... whatever's out there.

"So what exactly are you thinking?" I ask, pushing aside the unsettling thoughts about unknown threats. "For the team-ups, I mean."

"Start small," he replies, and I catch something in his tone - like he's seen too many people rush into things they weren't ready for.

"Joint patrols maybe. Getting used to each other's fighting styles. Plus," his grin returns, "I'd love to see the look on criminals' faces when they realize they have to deal with both of us."

The idea of actually working with Shift... it's like every superhero daydream I've had since getting my powers, but real.

"Though fair warning," he adds, "working with me tends to attract... interesting situations."

"Define interesting," I say, trying to sound casual while internally freaking out about the fact that this is actually happening.

"Let's just say life's never boring when you're swinging around with someone who can transform into various aliens." He stands, stretching slightly. "Think you're up for it?"

"Up for it?" I try to keep my voice steady. "Yeah, definitely. Though, uh, how exactly would this work? Do I just wait for you to signal or...?"

"Here," he tosses me something small - my reflexes catch it before I even see what it is. A communicator, sleek and definitely more advanced than my cobbled-together police scanner.

"Stark and Fisk tech," he explains. "Secure channel, direct line to me and the team if you need backup. Though," his expression turns slightly serious, "no pressure to jump into anything big. Your neighborhood stuff is just as important."

I turn the communicator over in my hands, still processing that this is real. That I'm actually going to be working with-

A series of explosions rocks the downtown area, interrupting my thoughts. Shift's already on his feet, scanning the horizon.

"Want to test out that team-up now?" he asks, though his tone suggests he'd understand if I said no.

But come on. Like I'm going to pass up this opportunity.

"Race you there?" I shoot a web line, ready to swing.

His grin is answer enough.

The swing to downtown is... surreal. I've never seen this new form of his in action before - some kind of red alien that flies with incredible speed, keeping perfect pace with my web-swinging.

He must have been practicing with these new transformations during his "recovery" time.

We reach the source of the explosions in record time - some guys in high-tech armor trying to break into a research facility.

"Looks like someone raided the discount villain warehouse," I quip, landing on a streetlight. "Those suits are definitely last season."

Shift lands beside me, transforming into what looks like a being made of living crystal - the one he was probably talking about earlier. "Want to show me what those webs can do in a real fight?"

The next few minutes are like a dance we've somehow rehearsed. My webs pin their weapons while his crystal projectiles disable their armor. When one tries to flank us, I swing around and web him up while Shift provides cover.

"You know," I call out, dodging a badly aimed laser blast, "for discount villains, they've got some pretty expensive toys!"

"Welcome to New York," Shift replies, deflecting another blast. "Where even the C-list criminals have laser guns."

Working together feels... natural. Like we've been doing this for years instead of minutes.

It's awesome!

The fight wraps up pretty quickly too - between my webs and his crystal shards, these guys never really stood a chance. The police are already on their way, sirens getting closer.

"Not bad for a first team-up," Shift says as we secure the last guy. His crystal form catches the streetlights, making the whole scene look like something out of a movie. "Your web control is impressive."

"Says the guy who just turned into living crystal," I reply, still trying to process how cool this whole situation is. "That's a new one, right? Haven't seen it on the news before."

He nods, though something flickers across his expression - like he's remembering why he has these new forms in the first place

The police cars round the corner, and Shift transforms back to human form. "Same time tomorrow night? Patrol the area between your usual spots and mine?"

"Yeah," I manage, trying not to sound too eager. "Yeah, that'd be... that'd be great."

As we both make our exits - him transforming into that red flying form again, me swinging away - I can't help but again think: this is really happening. I'm actually working with Shift.

Though I still can't shake that nagging worry about what could have been powerful enough to force him to get new forms and lose older ones in the first place...

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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!

I'm thinking of developing a friendship between Samael and Peter, since they are each others greatest inspirations to becoming heroes.

Also, just to say, a lot of what spidey was questioned, Samael already knew, it was just to keep up appearances.

The reason why their dynamic felt so natural was because Samael already ran some strategies with Brainstorm based on what he knew Spidey would be like in battle.

So yeah, do tell me how you found their dynamic and I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)