Marvel’s Spider-Man: Across the Multiverse

"Please show your invitation."

Peter and his companions were stopped at the entrance of Fisk Tower's first floor by two burly security guards dressed in black suits and sunglasses.

Judging from their intimidating demeanor, it was clear these two likely had "hidden identities," probably enforcers for Kingpin's underground organization.

Peter pulled out the invitation and slapped it onto the guard's hand. "Can we go in now?"

The burly guard pointed at the Spider-Mech and said, "You can go in, but that can't."

"Oh, why not? We're special guests of Mr. Fisk. Are you sure you want to block us?" Peter emphasized the words special guests with a playful smirk as he looked at the guard.

The burly guard's expression didn't change, and he replied stiffly, "Rules are rules. No vehicles allowed inside."

Peter chuckled and said, "Then I'll talk to Mr. Fisk personally. Consider this my greetings to him..."

"Let them in."

Before Peter could finish, a familiar voice came through the earpiece of the burly guard.

Gwen-Spider snickered and leaned toward Peter, whispering, "Kingpin really is petty, isn't he?"

Peter nodded in agreement.

If he had invited them, he might as well let them in openly. They could have a proper fight and settle things—it didn't make sense to play these petty tricks.

This only made them look down on Kingpin a bit more.

Then again, this might have been Kingpin's deliberate strategy to lower their psychological defenses.

Too bad—it wasn't going to work.

They pushed open the door and stepped into the hall, where a wave of noise immediately washed over them.

Peter's enhanced senses, courtesy of the spider gene, made his head buzz for a moment.

"Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and the noise will fade," Gwen-Spider's voice sounded in his ear.

Peter took a deep breath, and the chaotic sounds gradually dulled.

The other three didn't seem as affected as Peter.

It was evident they were already used to this kind of environment.

Scanning the surroundings, Peter murmured, still a little shaken, "I never thought I'd one day feel overwhelmed by a crowd. It's like the feeling I had as a kid watching horror movies."

"Ha! That just means you haven't been through enough. You'll get used to it, trust me, buddy," quipped middle-aged Peter-Spider with a laugh.

Peni spoke softly, "The Spider-Mech has already scanned a 3D layout of the building. Based on the analysis, there's an elevator at the end of the hallway to the left rear of the hall. It should lead to the underground particle collider."

Her voice came through their earpieces.

After the events that afternoon, Peter had suggested that Peni and middle-aged Peter-Spider work together to quickly add communication devices to everyone's suits. This would make it easier for them to coordinate.

Even if this feature might only be used this one time, it improved their teamwork and served as a meaningful keepsake.

"Should we head straight there?" Gwen-Spider suggested.

"Let's go directly. Delays could complicate things," Peter nodded in agreement. "But Peni, can you scan the hallway for any high-energy materials?"

Peni asked, "You think Kingpin might have planted explosives in the passage?"

"Exactly. There are two types of people you should never trust in this world. One of them is Kingpin."

"And the other?" Peni asked curiously.

"Half-spoken words," Peter replied. "Hmm? Mr. Parker, what's wrong?"

While the three of them were talking, middle-aged Peter suddenly started moving toward a corner of the hall.

However, he didn't respond to Peter and just kept walking, almost trance-like.

Gwen pointed toward a table. "Look, isn't that Mary Jane?"

"Mary Jane?" Peter followed Gwen's gesture and spotted a familiar figure.

She was wearing an elegant black off-shoulder gown, her wine-red hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face looked pained, her eyes slightly swollen and red—captivatingly beautiful despite the sorrow in her expression.

It was Mary Jane from this universe.

Ultimate Spider-Man's love.

Peter quickened his pace, grabbing middle-aged Peter's arm. "Mr. Parker, she's not your Mary Jane! We've got more important things to do right now!"

But middle-aged Peter kept moving, his steps growing firmer, forcing Peter to increase his own strength to hold him back.

The two of them began a quiet, physical struggle, each trying to overpower the other.

"Oh, come on. I don't think we're in that much of a hurry. Let me just go over and take a look—just a glance, I swear," middle-aged Peter pleaded, resorting to words since brute force wasn't working.

Peter shook his head firmly and gestured for Gwen to help.

Gwen quickly stepped in front of middle-aged Peter. "Hey, focus! Trust me, I've been there. But you have to move forward!"

"Just—just for a moment, really. I just want to talk to her..." Middle-aged Peter's voice sounded almost like a plea.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing?"

A sultry voice interrupted them.

All three turned simultaneously to find Mary Jane standing nearby.

It seemed their actions had caught her attention.

"H-Hello..." Middle-aged Peter stammered, looking at her. Even though he knew she wasn't the Mary Jane he longed for, he was too nervous to speak clearly.

Peter and Gwen exchanged glances and stepped back slightly, staying close enough to intervene if things got out of hand.

Mary Jane waited for him to continue, but nothing came.

She finally asked, "Um, could you... bring some bread to table 12?"

It turned out she had mistaken middle-aged Peter for a waiter—unsurprising, given that all the servers in the hall were dressed like Spider-Man.

Middle-aged Peter took a deep breath and said, "I... I'm really sorry."

Mary Jane looked puzzled. "It's just bread. No need to apologize."

"When you needed me, I wasn't there. I didn't even try hard enough," he said, his voice heavy with regret as he spiraled into his own world of pain.

Mary Jane, clearly uncomfortable, replied awkwardly, "It's fine. But I think I should get going now."

"I know I could've done better. If I had another chance, I'd..." Middle-aged Peter continued, lost in his remorse.

A loud cough echoed through his earpiece, snapping him back to reality.

He quickly corrected himself. "...I'd bring you the bread you deserve."

"Are you okay?" Mary Jane asked, clearly unnerved by the odd waiter and his strange remarks.

At that moment, Peter stepped forward, grabbed middle-aged Peter by the arm, and said, "Alright, alright. Go get the bread already."

Without waiting for a response, Peter dragged him away.

This time, middle-aged Peter didn't resist.

(End of Chapter)

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