Day 2 Part 2

May stared after Emma, Peter, Natasha, and Ava as they entered the elevator, headed towards the Shop.

"Felicia?" May asked. "Do you mind if we talked?"

"Sure!" Felicia said. "Where do you wanna..."

"There's a coffee nook on this floor," May said. "Let's sit there and talk. Anne, MJ, Olivia, you're free to join us."

"I... Need to take my own time," Olivia said. "I'm still kind of reeling from the memories of that other life."

"Take your time, dear," May said. "Just come to us if you need help, ok?"

"Of course, Mrs. Parker," Olivia said, taking the elevator to her bedroom.

"Take a seat, ladies," May said as she began preparing the coffee. "How would you like your coffee?"

"I'll go with cream and three sugars," Felicia said.

"Cream and one sugar for me," MJ said. "I've always had to watch my intake, I don't think I can stop now."

"I'll take it black," Anne said.

"Perfect," May said. "First off, Felicia, I've noticed that you're used to calling your version of me that I look like "Aunt May." Feel free to do so as you like. But for my question, you know Peter better than the rest of us, could you tell us about him?"

"I think Emma knows him better than me by now," Felicia said. "She did read his mind, and they have some sort of mental connection. Anyways, what do you want to know?"

"My Peter is very different from May's Peter," MJ said. "Similarly, the Peter here is different from ours. You could tell us about him the most. I guess start with what you know about his childhood, and move forward? A biography of sorts."

May set down everyone's coffees in front of them.

Felicia took a small sip of hers. "Thank you, Aunt May. Peter never really told me how it happened, but he lost both of his parents at a very young age, and then, his Aunt May and Uncle Ben took him in. He got bit by a radioactive spider, and then what happened next is his story to tell, but Uncle Ben died. Six months later, Iron Man takes him to Germany, Peter fights the Winter Soldier and The Falcon at the same time, he takes down GiAnt Man, then he comes back home. Ned figures out he's Spider-Man, he starts dating Liz Toomes, he finds out her dad's the Vulture, her dad finds out he's Spider-Man, they fight, Liz and Peter break up, her dad's in jail. I find out he's Spider-Man because I saw him jump into the dumpster. Before then, I wasn't a close friend of his, but we knew each other, we were on the Decathlon team together. So, we became close, then Thanos happened. I distracted everyone, Peter jumped out of the bus and fought one of Thanos' minions, Peter got sucked into space, Peter died in space. —"

"But he's here now," MJ said in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Your guys never had the Blip?" Felicia asked. When everyone looked at her in confusion, Felicia sighed. "Oh, boy. I don't know what Thanos was doing in your worlds, but in ours, he wanted to destroy half the world's population to stop scarcity. To make it happen across the universe, he needed the Infinity Stones, these stones of creation or something. Few of them were on Earth. Thanos was able to get all six, then he snapped, and half the world's population just Blipped away, Peter included. Five years later, whatever was left of the Avengers somehow brought everyone back, and then they fought Thanos again, and Iron Man died. Back to Peter's story, Peter comes back to life, but I became the Black Cat during the Blip. Peter meets me during a heist, I just tell him my identity, he goes to Europe, and he gets tricked by SHIELD agents. I'm not sure exactly why or how, but some dude that worked with SHIELD told the world Peter's identity. After that, everything was dangerous for us, and then something happened, then there were three Peter Parkers, then there wasn't any Peter Parker?"

"The spell he was talking about," Anne said.

"Yeah," Felicia said. "I mean, I understand why he did it, now that I can remember the sky on fire, I just wish it wasn't us that got affected."

The four women sat silently as they drank their coffee.

---

Natasha drank a sip of water as she sat on the bench in the gym.

She had just left Peter, Ava, and Emma, and now she was about to start working off her anger and feelings.

The elevator doors opened, and Ava walked in.

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you're not doing great."

"This place is fucking perverted," Ava raged.

"No shit," Natasha said. "Let's get some stretches in, then we can spar."

"How are you dealing with it?" Ava asked in confusion as they stretched. "I mean, I know that's the essence of the Transformation that you no longer care about... Wait, what?"

"What?" Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hold on," Ava said. "Edith, can you put up the description for Natasha's latest Transformation on the nearest screen?"

"Certainly, Miss Ayala," Edith said.

For The Vibes: As the Audience beyond the Fourth Wall is aware, Natasha Romanoff is a throw pick. Now, she'll no longer be concerned about winning at the Harem Hotel.

"Ok, I don't get the first part, but that's not really my concern," Ava said. "The second part says you'll no longer be concerned about winning, so why aren't you worried about survival?"

"What survival?" Natasha asked. "I'm not at any risk of ****."

"B-b-but you're not going to be the same!" Ava said.

"Ava, for as long as I've lived, I haven't been able to have children," Natasha said. "No matter what, the person that leaves this Hotel will be different from who I was when I came in. What's the hold up?"

"Ok, now I'm confused," Ava said, spreading her hands in confusion. "If you've accepted this reality, why are you beefing with Emma?"

Natasha wrapped some cloth around her hands, then she tossed the ball of cloth to Ava. "Wrap your hands, then let's spar."

Ava wrapped her hands, then they started circling each other on the mat.

"Look," Natasha began as they started lightly grappling. "It's not that I've accepted this place so it's fine. I think that after this whole shit show is over, I'm gonna find those two Directors, and beat them up. I don't know how, but I know it."

"I'll help you," Ava said.

"I'll take everything I can get," Natasha said. "But for now, I'm livid at Emma. I was once an experiment for the Red Room, where they did whatever they wanted to me. Never again. I don't care about anything, Emma broke my rules."

"So why are you fine with getting that Share The Love Transformation?" Ava asked.

"It's the best possible outcome," Natasha admitted. "I understand why Emma did what she did, honestly, I'm just angry because it was me."

So you're a hypocrite, Ava thought to herself. Can't blame you though, if it's about yourself your morals change, and I guess it makes sense for a spy.

"Makes sense," Ava said. "Meanwhile I'm struggling to wear clothes, and I have to have sex to get a proper pair of underwear and pants."

"Can't you just cut it yourself?" Natasha asked.

"Should Miss Ayala attempt to change her clothes herself, her clothing will have a 75% chance of turning into scratched up rags," Edith said.

"I didn't even know that," Ava said. "One more reason to hate the Directors."

"Well, I will say that you have a plethora of new combat opportunities with your tail," Natasha said. "Why don't we try that out?"

"Sure," Ava said. "What are you thinking?"

---

At 5:45 P.M., Peter was making sure his bowtie was on correctly.

He was wearing a white dress shirt with a red bowtie and a black blazer, along with black pants and black Oxford's.

"Well, I think I'm ready," Peter said as he pressed the elevator button.

Talking to yourself or to me? Emma's amused voice rang through his mind.

This is simultaneously irritating and a blessing, Peter thought. But I was speaking to myself.

Ah, Emma said, sounding somewhere between amused and displeased. Well, enjoy your date.

Before Peter could think of a response, the elevator doors opened.

Peter got in the elevator and pressed the button for the Date Floor.

As he went down, he telepathically spoke to Emma. Listen, Emma, —

Peter, Emma cut through his thoughts. You know that there's no reason to have this discussion. Yes, I am... Awed by you, having read your story in its totality. Yes, this Transformation makes us understand each other to such a level that we can have... Something for each other. But my displeasure at you having other partners is foolish, considering where we are. Let's just go through tonight without worrying about that, yeah?

Peter took a deep breath. Agree to disagree.

The elevator doors opened, and Peter walked into a restaurant dimly lit with candle lights.

Someone took his right arm, and Peter's jaw dropped as he saw Natasha in all her splendor.

"You look... Beautiful, Miss Romanoff," Peter said once he regained his wits.

"How about we stick to Nat," Natasha suggested, bringing her body close to him. "After all, we'd both rather you say Nat than Miss Romanoff tonight, wouldn't we?"

Peter's blood pressure rose slightly.

Natasha laughed. "Well, let's take a seat, why don't we?"

"Sure, Nat," Peter said, testing the nickname out.

They took a seat, and the food appeared. A slice of steak, along with some bread, mashed potatoes, and some greens.

"It's funny," Peter said. "Even though this is the exact opposite of a typical date, I have a question that most people ask on a typical date."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"What do you want from this date?" Peter asked, and he laughed a bit. "See, for everyone else here, they have a set goal, make it out alive, win, etc. But you? That's not your goal. So what is?"

Natasha took a sip of her wine. "That's something you're mistaken about. I do plan on getting out of this alive. Even if I'm eliminated, I'd still live. Anyhow, my set goal from this date might just be to meet the father of my future children."

"What?" Peter asked.

"Sorry, that might've been a little too forward," Natasha said. "Let's backtrack. Ever since I got here, I've been putting a lot of thought into what my new perspective future could be. Now, the way I see it, there's a few options. What's most probable is that I lose, get an Elimination Transformation, get a demeaning role in your Harem. I'd still have kids with you, and you'd still be a major part of raising them. The very improbable option is that I somehow win, which I don't even feel like it's necessary. I'd still change from who I was two days ago, I'd still be part of your Harem, and I'd still have your kids."

"So... This whole thing is about acceptance?" Peter asked.

"Yes," Natasha said. "I told Edith to give us some steak, but I never imagined she'd make such good food."

"It is good," Peter admitted. "I have one... Concern."

"Lay it on me," Natasha said.

"Yesterday, under the Dome of Honesty, you admitted that you'd have sabotaged had you been able to," Peter said. "Why?"

Natasha bit her lips. "It's not as much of sabotage, but more like I would have rigged the game. I'll be very frank and tell you what plans I was cooking up to win, but you have to understand all of that just doesn't interest me any longer."

"Sure," Peter said, worried slightly.

"Well, first of all, I was going to find ways to make sure May got Eliminated by the end of this week," Natasha said. "Like Emma realized earlier today, we're on a timeline, and the faster that you get the perfect 12, the better. Next, I was going to pit Ava against Felicia, but not like making them sabotage each other, I just wanted them to compete for your love. I wanted Emma to be out so that I wouldn't have to deal with her craftiness too much, but that backfired. For MJ, I don't have enough of a read on her, but it seems like she'll have big problems about the polyamory, especially considering that she had problems with her Peter Parker being Spider-Man. Anne and Olivia are also wastes of positions, Anne less so, but I wanted them out by the end of this week as well."

"Let me get this straight," Peter said. "You wanted to sabotage them so that they would lose so that the replacements could be people more likely to win?"

"Yeah," Natasha said. "I mean, they won't die through Elimination, from what we're told."

Peter cradled his head in his hands.

"If it helps, I'm no longer invested in winning myself," Natasha said. "However, I am invested in you winning, because that's the only way we live. So, you need to realize that what you do can make or break the game. Choose who to have a budding relationship with, don't waste your time on everyone."

Natasha received an alert on her SWING, but she dismissed it.

1 Web Earned: Push Peter Parker 1 step forward to accepting the reality of the Show!

"That isn't me, that isn't supposed to be me," Peter said. "Spider-Man saves everyone."

"And this is the way to save everyone, Peter," Natasha said. "Don't do this, and everyone gets fucked. That's what the Mephisto wants, for us to lose, then join him in his hell or whatever. Choose who to do more for now, and you save all of us."

"More than just all of us," Peter admitted. "Mephisto said something about a child of mine being his fated killer."

"Well, that changes things, by a lot," Natasha said. "So he needs us to lose."

"Yeah," Peter said. "And Anansi needs us to win."

"Fuck," Natasha said. "Peter, like I said, I don't care about me winning, but I care about you winning, now it's even more important for me. I won't target anyone unless you ask, but... I think you need to decide who needs to make it to the next Season and who doesn't, and you need to decide soon."

Peter solemnly ate his steak.

After a moment, he made eye contact with Natasha. "You know, I appreciate the frankness, but it's worrying."

"Why?" Natasha asked with a smile.

"Cuz it makes me feel like you... knew your world's Peter Parker, and more than you'd want to admit."

Natasha looked away, her smile dropping. "It... Wasn't real."

"What wasn't?" Peter asked softly.

(A.N.: What I'm about to put here is noncanon to Marvel comics lore fully. I'm just mixing up two different actual black widow stories from the comics and making something up.)

"Some of my enemies kidnapped and brainwashed me and Peter," Natasha admitted. "I don't know whether or not they got him while he was Spider-Man, or while he was out of the mask, and I couldn't ever bring myself to ask. They used our DNA to create our daughter, Melina. For three months, Peter, Mel, and I lived in Long Island, not knowing who we actually were. Your name was Pierce Peterson, and I was Nancy Rushman. After three months, we found out that it wasn't real."

"It's ok if you don't tell me what happened next," Peter said.

"No, I have to finish the story," Natasha said. "We defeated my ex-husband and the cabal that kidnapped us. After, Peter wanted me to stay with him and Mel, but I... Couldn't."

"Hey," Peter hugged her softly. "I'm sure the other me understood why, to some extent. But, I do have to ask, why do you want children now, if you... Didn't then?"

"That was 20 years ago," Natasha said. "I... Didn't understand enough back then. Every few weeks, I'd stand at a rooftop and watch my daughter and her father. Peter would always somehow know I was there, but he never did anything. Even when we met to fight whoever was doing something, he never mentioned her. I'm sure Peter thought I was too prideful, but I was just too scared."

Natasha's SWING gave her a notification.

300 Dollars Earned: Patrol Completed: Tell Peter Parker your hidden story with your world's Peter Parker.

(A.N.: I just wanted to explain how much each story was true, as in based off of canon. In 2020, A black widow arc happened where her and a random guy were kidnapped, brainwashed, and their DNA combined to make a genetically engineered son. Natasha was under the impression that she birthed said child, until Bucky and Hawkeye found her, then they defeated the cabal of Black Widow villains. Throughout the fight, they faked the **** of the child and Natasha's "husband," allowing them to live a hidden life without the dangers of Natasha's life. Natasha would no longer see her son or husband. In 1979, Hydra tortured Natasha until her mind regressed and created an alternate personality, Nancy Rushman. Spider-Man found her, took her in as Peter Parker, they developed a romance, until Nancy remembered her true life as Natasha, and she left Peter.)

"I don't think Peter thought bad of you, Nat," Peter said sincerely. "I mean, it's understandable, honestly. Sometimes, life deals us shitty hands. It's up to us to make the best of it."

"What was your shitty hand?" Natasha asked, curious.

"Honestly, I dealt my own shitty hand," Peter admitted. "I wasn't secretive enough about my identity, and a villain that SHIELD trusted got my identity. He died while trying to kill me, but he made a doctored video go out that blamed me for what happened while we worked together, before I knew he was a villain. Because of that, my life along with my friends and family was ruined, so I went to Dr. Strange to make everyone forget I, Peter Parker, was Spider-Man. Long story short, I fucked up the spell, and then other universes were about to destroy mine. The only way to save the universe was to make sure Peter Parker no longer existed."

"But... You lived?" Natasha asked, confused.

Peter smiled sadly. "Yeah, but there's nothing to suggest Peter Parker was even a thing. I go to Aunt May's grave, and people think I'm just another random soul she saved, not her nephew. Happy doesn't remember me, MJ, Ned, even Stephen doesn't remember anything beyond having fought Thanos with me."

Natasha's eyes were wide in horror. "That's... Scary."

Peter shrugged. "I made it work in the end, we'll see if we can make this place work as well, won't we?"

Natasha nodded.

"Our time is running out, Nat," Peter said after a moment. "Let's meet up with Emma and discuss everything in my room."

"We have enough Dollars," Natasha revealed. "I finished a Patrol by telling you my story."

Peter thought for a second. "Even then, I'd still like for all three of us to talk."

Natasha's brow furrowed, confused as to why Peter would want them to go to his bedroom if the threesome was no longer necessary.

"Just trust me, Nat, please," Peter said.

Natasha nodded wordlessly, and they entered the elevator.