Begin Again - Dawn

"Anything else, Boss?"

Walt smiled and shook his head at the young blond as he got changed into the Mk5. "No, Captain Eclipse. That will be all. This will likely take most of the day. Stay close to the ship but relax."

The smartly dressed young woman saluted him. "Yes, Boss!"

Walt returned it but saw her still standing there. He smiled. "At ease and speak freely, Juno."

She did and smirked. "Do you... require assistance, Boss?"

Walt sighed then nodded. "If you don't mind that'd be a big help. I had just gotten the last one nicely broken in. These things are definitely a bit of a struggle when they're newly issued."

Juno Eclipse smiled and nodded helping the legendary Boss battle a most difficult opponent... slipping into the form-fitting 3SIODMG2S Mk5. "It's... rather snug... isn't it sir?"

Walt nodded. "It is... this one has... stealth and... camouflage capabilities! There! That's done it!"

Juno watched him pick up his coat and hat and put them on. "And what stealth or mobility benefits do those give you?"

Walt blinked. "The hat keeps the rain of my head and the sun out of my eyes. The coat makes me feel like I'm covered up just a little more in public and not wearing some skintight suit."

She chuckled and stepped back. "Oh? Let's see it?"

Walt sighed and hit the configuration he'd already selected. Sure enough the "camo" did it's job and it adopted the look of realistic cloth and fabric. However...

Juno nodded. "Impressive Sir. From a bit of distance or if one squints you look like you're wearing a painted on shirt and the worlds tightest pair of jeans."

Walt nodded. "Apparently there's a function that uses the stealth to make seem a bit more "full" but I haven't figured thst part out just yet." He shrugged. "Part time Boss, full time test subject. But in active camo mode..." he engaged active Camouflage and when he grabbed her arm his hand perfectly blended into the color and texture of her uniform while his body started to take on the color and texture of the inside of the coat like his body was disappearing into it.

"That is pretty nifty," she said. "And the other functions are equaly impressive?" She saw him nod and nodded as well. "I suppose some might consider that worth the trade off of looking nearly indecent in public."

Walt groaned and turned it back off. "Thank you, Juno. I'll see you later."

Dave shook his head upon Walter's arrival. "Today you showed up only moments after I did! You're hopeless... you'll never change. Like a dog with a bone you won't let go of."

Walt chuckled. "That's how you know it's me. Accept no substitutes. Where we at?"

Dave sighed. "We have just a few agents in the load order ahead of you so you'll be up in just a couple minutes." He sighed.

Walt raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"

Dave nodded. "Custom order."

Walt blinked. "That's not good. You guys don't do those here at this particular facility except when it's a big deal. What's the order?"

Dave shrugged and passed him the info. "Here's the manifest. Go ahead and give it a looksy."

Walt read and stared. "Oh boy howdy... well either someone's got very "particular" tastes or... they're trying suicide by character. Sadako, Slender Woman, Hasshaku-sama, The Crawler... everything's horror characters and creepy pastas. "Female Sonic.exe"? Hell that's a new one on me. Yeah... this list is going to be a pain to assemble. Who is this... oh. Sorry."

Dave looked at him and nodded. "Yep... they're your's... well someone at 3S ordered them for some business?"

Walt sighed and nodded looking at Emma's name. "Yeah... we're diversifying a bit into some other ventures. One being proposed is a horror one. Guess I should have looked that one over a little more closely. Sorry for the large troublesome order."

Dave laughed. "It's fine... are you sure they're not for you?" He nudged him with his elbow. "You could collect them yourself!"

Walt shook his head. "Definitely not... you know that ain't something I like doing... and I don't even know some of these on the list. Leave it to whoever specializes in it. Besides I got my hands full."

Dave nods. "I figured that'd be your response but... I recognized a collar capture signal in your old Marvel so I wondered if maybe you changed your mind. Must have been a-"

Walt sighed. "I collared Gwen."

"Hot damn!" Dave said excitedly then cleared his throat. "I mean very unprofessional of you Walter... what were you thinking?"

Walt rolled his eyes. "I wasn't thinking what you were when you collared Harls, if that's what you're thinking! I'd planned for it to just be a onetime thing for ensuring her compliance inside."

Dave started to grin. "Wait you "planned"? Does that past tense mean what I think it does?"

Walt glared at him. "Shut it! Plans change sometimes is all. I gave Gwen a choice. It's up to her and before you start up my girls already gave the business about me NOT bringing her home so save it. Friday and the lawyers are hashing it out with RDHQ for my compensation. I told them to prioritize purchasing some of the already affected worlds my characters come from. If the others are as fucked up as Marvel they're pretty damaged." He sees his scheduled departure is coming up next. "If Gwen decides to come with that's fine. It won't be nearly as big a deal as the mess you and Harls made!"

Dave chuckled and nodded. "You still went to bat for us though."

Walt checked his gear out of habit and smirked. "I never leave a partner behind. You know that."

Dave nodded thinking that was exactly why he figured Walt wouldn't be leaving alone when it was all said and done. His friend had changed... for the better. Good had become great. "So we dropping you in when Gwen gets out of her college classes again?"

Walt paused a moment. "No."

Dave quirked an eyebrow smiling again. "No?"

Walt gave him a look and nodded. "Send me back in sometime shortly after I left. Around the 15 minute mark should suffice. I... don't want to keep her waiting." He started heading to the ready zone as they input the correct time and spatial coordinates.

"Dummy!" Gwen hissed.

Walt winced. "Sorry Gwen. I didn't think you'd get so upset. I left you a note..."

Gwen snorted and held up the note to quietly yell at him some more. "Yeah I got it. "Gwen. Just stepping out for a litte bit. Be right back. -W". That's an acceptable note if you were running out to get milk. Not going home. FYI if you're going home, a girl would like it if you just said that more than trying to brush it off as "no big deal", understand?"

Walt sighed but nodded. "Yes, Gwen. I should've told you I was going home for a bit. I'm sorry I upset you. That was the opposite of my intention."

Gwen sighed. Her anger was already fading. He'd been gone only a short while her time. And he looked rested a bit. She was only mad on principle... and he did look sorry. Still... she fought to keep from smiling as she kept her arms crossed. "How are you going to make it up to me?"

Walt blinked. "I... uhh..." he did some quick mental figuring and shrugged. He might as well try to kill two birds with one stone. "I need to pick up some things... can I take you shopping or out to eat?"

Gwen tried not to let her excitement show. "Alright, it's a date."

Walt nodded then stopped. "It is? *ahem* I meant it is! A date! Of course, it is."

Gwen nodded and smiled putting her hands behind her back as they stared at each other for a moment. Finally she said, "Walt."

"Yes, Gwen?" He asked.

She smiled. "You can wait outside... so I can get changed..."

Walt nodded. "Of course!... of course..." he went back out the window.

Gwen giggled. When he was like that it was hard to picture him as "older".

"What is it?" Gwen asked.

Walt shook his head looking around the little dinner. "Nothing," he said. There were no strange gimmicks, odd characters wandering around or weird things being sold to the customers. It was a normal diner... which made it usual for him. "It's a nice place." He looked at the menu.

Gwen smiled but shrugged. "I like it. It's near the campus so it's a convenient place to grab some food."

Their waitress returned with their beverages and takes their orders. Three eggs, toast, bacon and home fries for Gwen and the same for Walt... and an omelet, a stack of pancakes, steak and eggs, a grapefruit, a couple of sandwiches "to go" and a piece- no, two pieces of pie!

Gwen snorts. "How do you not weigh 500lbs? That's the real mystery."

Walt laughs. "Actually I was trying to order light. I didn't want to freak them out."

Gwen shakes her head. "Near miss."

Walt shrugged. "My metabolic rate is supercharged. I have to feed it. It makes mealtime a bit embaressing and makes getting intoxicated extremely problematic if not impossible but the benefits are worth it... plus it's been awhile since I've gone out for breakfast."

Gwen smiles. "You're excited by something as simple as that?"

Walt chuckled. "I guess I am. It's a novelty. I-We cook a lot at home."

Gwen smiles. "That sounds nice. We don't sad to say. Dad and I lead such busy lives. It's hard to find a time when we'd both be home. He used to make breakfasts though when I was a kid. I liked that... and when I was young I was always imvited next-door and ate with the Parkers. I think as much as I was Peter's friend they always treated me with kindness and made Harry and I feel welcome... like part of the family."

Walt smiled and could imagine how delighted May Parker must have been to have a young Gwen to mother occasionally. Good folks. "Well my grandmother was always cooking and my grandfather too. In those days, though it wasn't as prosperous as it once was, the ranch still had a lot of mouths to feed and not just four-legged ones. As tight as things got they didn't skimp on food if they could. "Need proper food. Can't get work done if your collapsing from hunger," they'd say. It might not have been the fanciest food but it was nourishing, tasted great and they always made too much... it wasn't until later I realized it was a way of expressing their values. Food nourishing not just the body but the soul. Give generously. Care for others."

Gwen smiled. "They sound like wonderful people."

Walt nodded. "They were."

"So after class you want to go shopping?" She asked.

Walt nodded again and thanked the waitress as she started bringing their food and refilled their cups. "I do. It'd be good to have somethings for the longhaul here. Some spare clothes and stuff if we're going to be working out of the Graymalkin Homestead. We could use some transportation too. I thought maybe you might need some stuff and could help me with that?"

Gwen smiled. He had his flaws but he was thoughtful like that. She also could be thoughtful. "Maybe we should invite Jubilee?"

Walt unfolded his napkin but then froze hearing that. "Do... you think so?"

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "I mean she might need stuff too, right? It's best if we figure out what we have there to work with and then get what we need."

Walt sighed. "You're probably right... well, I suppose it's a good thing I'm not hurting for currency. Just time. Try to keep her focused."

Gwen giggled. "I take it she likes shopping?"

Walt thought about shopping with the mall rat when she was younger. "Not especially. But she liked to hang around those places... a lot. The other X-Ladies loved shopping for stuff so they'd usually take her with. Logan and I... not so much. He dragged me along once saying he needed help. The help he needed was company to drink beer with in the parking lot."

Gwen giggled and started cutting into her food. "Maybe she's changed?"

Walt hoped so.

Walt killed time waiting for Gwen to get out of class. He found himself thinking about not just his problems but ways to help Gwen. He thought about her a lot actually!

And that's why he was outside George Stacy's room. Using Friday to hack into the hospital he knew he was going to be discharged soon... he also knew George Stacy's had a tendancy of dying if they stayed working for the police. In most Spiderverses a police captain usually ended up dying in a Spider-persons arms. Gwen had asked him to help her father. Walt wasn't going to leave a job half finished.

He knocked on the window and went in.

George Stacy looked up at him in surprise but then immediately got ready to defend himself. "Who are you?"

Walt took off his hat. "Apologies for the intrusion, Sir. I mean you no harm. I'm a friend of Gwen's."

George blinked. "You! Your's was the voice I heard before I recovered." He lowered his fists but didn't unclench them. "How do you know Gwen? Are you-"

Walt held up a finger and locked the door then pulled out a device. "This will keep anyone from listening in on our discussion. Intentional or otherwise. I'm a cautious person especially with secrets not my own. I'm a friend of Gwen and also "Spider-Woman" and I'd like to be a friend to you as well, Captain Stacy."

George narrowed his eyes. "Prove it."

Walt shrugged and drew his revolver causing George to tense up but flipped it around and offered it to him. "Go ahead. Take it."

George took the large gun in his hand and Walt took his sheathed knife out too and tossed it to him. "There. I'm at your mercy Sir. I have restraints if you wish or-"

"No," George checked. The weapon was definitely loaded. "I don't think that'll be necessary. It would be poor repayment to shoot the man who saved my life." He lowered the pistol.

Walt shook his head. "I didn't. I healed you but it wasn't your time to die. Don't ask me how but I knew you would survive your injuries at the hands of the Rhino but you'd live what was left of your life feeling them slow you down and hamper you. Just like I know how you've changed your stance on "Spider-Woman" upon learning her identity. How proud you are of her. How much her words meant to you. She's... special that way."

George chuckled. "She is... you're the "Masked Man" that's been working with her. You're... older than I expected."

Walt chuckled. "I get that a fair bit. I'm old and old-fashioned... which is why I've come to you today, Sir. I know you were considering quiting the police department." Walt took in a breath. This universe was already on a different track... but how much. "Sir, if I may ask is that still your intention?"

George Stacy looked at the revolver in his hand and then set it down. "It is. Even healed and my reputation restored I've realized how my daughter pursued her path, inspired by me to help people. She didn't need a badge to do it."

He sighed. "The badge... the badge kept us apart... probably when she needed me most as her father and only parent. Then it made me hunt down my own daughter. I also realize I'll never get support from the mayor's office let alone Jameson... and I wouldn't want it if it was offered! I want to help people... but I'll do it without a badge. Like my daughter does. She can fight crime... and maybe I can be a private detective."

Walt breathed a small sigh of relief. That much was good to hear and likely cleared him of "death flags". "Sir, I respect and support your decision. You're a man of honor and integrity in a world that desperately needs it and I'd like to help."

He passed him a card with info on it he'd prepared. "You'll find that bank account has been set up in your name. It's a fair bit of money and all of it completely legal. If you'd like to retire completely that's up to you and I'll support it..."

Walt stood his hat in his hands. "...but Sir, if you're seriously considering the private detective route, I think you can start a business with that capital and can choose your client's. Client's who might not be able to afford your services but desperately need them. As a former police captain you can do those kinds of people, and this city, a world of good."

George Stacy looked up at him for a long moment before eventually smiling. "You really are a friend of my Gwen. I can tell." He looked at the card. "You saved me for her, didn't you? What's the catch?"

Walt nodded and retrived his weapons. "There's only two things I'd ask. One... be a positive influence on this city by being the exceptional person you are. And second..." he looked him in the eye. "Keep yourself safe... for Gwen's sake. She really is special. The hardest part of this job is that you can't save everyone no matter how hard we try. She's lost too many of the important people around her already. I don't want that to be you someday. Deal?" He offered his hand.

George Stacy nodded solemnly and took his hand firmly. "Agreed... I want to ask you to keep her safe too... but I wont... that would be unfair to her. This is her time, her fight... not mine... but stay by her side? For me?"

Walt shook his hand. "Agreed. I swear it."

George watched him leave. He smiled softly. He had a good feeling about this for some reason. "Who was that Masked Man?" He wondered. He shrugged looking at his hand he'd shook. "A friend, that's who."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida and Gwenom

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Begin Again

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