"... Care to repeat that? Slowly, this time. And with context."
"Yes, please, Spidey. I probably heard wrong because I don't think the invasion you mentioned before was this kind of invasion."
He doesn't know how Daredevil manages to glare with his eyes covered, but he does, and Johnny wilts. He then turns to him. "Context, Spider-man."
"Context, right. So, uh, the Asgardians are a race of aliens that have Earth, or Midgard as they call it, under their protection. Thor, one of the princes, came to some place in Mexico a couple of months ago and fought with his brother, Loki. Anyway, I think he swore vengeance or something to his family, and because Thor likes Earth, Loki hates it and wants to conquer it, I think. Anyway, he's got a bone to pick with this planet."
He lets out an explosive sigh as he looks between Daredevil and Johnny. "So enough context, I think. The thing is, Loki appeared on Earth a couple of hours back, and I've got enough information to deduce he's planning to invade Earth."
Daredevil is silent for a long while, enough for Peter to sweat. Johnny seems to be still processing. Anyway, when he speaks, Peter almost doesn't hear him because he is nervous.
"I don't think I can travel out of Earth, Spider-Man," he says slowly. "I cannot escape."
"You believe me?" He can't help but blurt out. And can anyone blame him? What he's just said sounds crazy. Daredevil can't know if he's telling lies, so he feels touched.
Daredevil nods. "As farfetched as it sounds, I believe you."
Right in the feels.
Use words now, Parker. Though before he can, Johnny quickly interrupts by grabbing him by the shoulders. "I believe you, too, Spidey."
"Er...Thank you, guys. And don't worry! I'm not asking you to leave Earth," Peter blushes at how high his voice came out. He coughs, trying to make his throat work from the knot it formed. In a graver voice, he adds, "Though if you can keep away from New York for at least a week until this problem is resolved, that would be awesome. And if a bald man with an eyepatch tries to contact you, it's probably about that, just so you know."
Johnny mouths 'eyepatch' next to them, but Daredevil nods solemnly as if Peter hasn't said some seriously crazy stuff.
"I get what you mean now about the panic this can cause."
Johnny moves forward. "Also, how sure are you about the invasion happening? I mean, I believe you, but Loki is only one alien, right?" He doesn't know how to say that the head honcho of this Earth's version of Hogwarts has pretty much confirmed it. And considering she can see the future, he's pretty darn sure. Johnny seems to see it even through his mask because he claps his hands. "Oh, right! That magic place! Do they know about it?"
"Some of them do," he says, before turning to Daredevil. "I'm staying at a place where sorcerers gather to study magic. Some of them can see the future."
Daredevil nods, not asking for an explanation about that, which is weird and makes his heart race a bit too loud. "Are they planning to help out?"
He winces. "Not really."
"Why can't they help? Are they not human and part of this planet? I didn't see much of it, but it looked big, so there must be lots of people there," Johnny says with a glare.
"It's not just because they worry more about interdimensional threats than intergalactic ones, but while I cannot explain it, they do have a good reason, believe me. Also, I'm very sure it will happen. The only thing is that I don't know if it'll happen in two or three days. It all depends on how fast Loki wants to do this."
Daredevil nods. He seems lost in thought as he gazes into the night sky. "Thank you. For telling me."
He can hear the honesty in his voice, and Peter's heart, minutes ago filled with dread and anxiety, can finally calm and beat normally—or as normal as it can be with how touched he feels. The weight of the impending alien invasion hangs heavily on his shoulders and has been for a while. Knowing he can save at least two people is enough.
It needs to be enough.
The shared burden that neither can fully comprehend fills the air with a strange sense of solidarity.
However, after a moment of contemplative silence, Daredevil turns to Peter with a sense of determination in his posture. "We need to be prepared for whatever comes our way. If what you say is true and it's only a couple of days away, we can't afford to underestimate this threat."
Peter looks up so fast he doesn't know how he hasn't got a whiplash. "What?"
Daredevil tilts his head incredulously. His eyes are covered by the black bandana he wears, but Peter is sure he's rolling his eyes at him at this moment.
"Did you really think I was going to just run away from something as serious as this?"
Peter's tongue was tied because he wasn't really thinking when he decided to share the information. "Err..."
"You really thought about it, huh."
"No! I didn't, I really didn't. I wasn't thinking of anything, to be honest."
Daredevil stays silent for a long second. "You're telling the truth."
Not asking how he knows, he asks, unsurely, "Do you really want to be part of this?"
At the resolute nod he receives, Peter deflates. Though Johnny is quick to point out how he also wants to help, which Peter answers by shaking his head. "You can't even use your powers well, Johnny. Please sit this one out, or you'll get hurt."
"No, sorry, but at least I have the power to defend myself. What about others who don't even have that? Also, give me your cheap phone. I need to make a call."
He scratches his head as he sighs through his nose but gives Johnny the phone. "Better to give you something more than just the cliff notes then. Believe me when I say it's a meager amount compared to what's happening."
At Daredevil and Johnny's nod, Peter can't help but feel grateful for their belief in him and their readiness to face the unknown. It's soothing to know they're on the same side, fighting against a threat that transcends ordinary crime.
Though now that he thinks about it, if more people are helping out, it'll be better. He cannot ask the X-Men because, for some reason, no one knows about mutants. Or, well, the normal civilians don't know about it. He's sure only the ones in power know, like some governments and a couple of rich people, as Edith has found some highly edited information that hints about the fights between Magneto's Brotherhood and the X-Men going at it behind the scenes.
It smells fishy if he thinks really hard about it, but if for some reason they managed to hide themselves, Peter doesn't want to be the one to put them into the spotlight if they don't wanna be there.
Now that he thinks about mutants, he can't help but think of Wade. Maybe he would like to help, too. He vaguely knows where he is, thanks to Edith following his movements. Peter himself doesn't know about it as it would be too creepy and voyeuristic of him if he did so, but if he's asked Edith to keep tabs on him, well, that's different.
"What are you thinking about?" Daredevil asks, letting him know he's been too deep in his thoughts and that Johnny is still on the phone.
"Sorry. I was thinking about who else to call. An agency is already calling a couple of people to help, but even if we're not recruited, we can still help, right?" He thinks about the logistics of it, already making a plan. "In the meantime, you can let your loved ones know that going on a vacation trip at this time of the year is nice?"
Daredevil stares at him, or at least it looks like it. Hard to know with the mask covering his eyes.
"How do I contact you?" He looks at Johnny. "Do I get your phone number?"
He blushes. He has never been so glad to have it. The internet was slower than anything he's tried, but it's perfect for receiving calls and messages.
So he gives him that number before swinging away, promising to meet up later to explain everything better.
"Edith, tell me, where is Wade?" He quickly says that when he sees Johnny approaching from his phone call,
"He's staying in a mercenary-only bar called 'Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Girls'. It seems he's friends with the current owner."
Right, of course she has said that out loud. Johnny perks up. "Are we going to a bar now?"
He shakes his head. "I'll be going there. You're going back to my room. I'll try to ask around to see if anyone can give you some help with your powers."
"Well, it's not the same as going to a bar but I'd like to learn how to control my firepower better if I'm going to help you with this invasion. Also, Sue and the others will be here in a couple of hours, so be prepared to explain better, as I only told them I offered to help you with something."
He sighs. However, it is better to concentrate on the present, like how he is going to enter the bar. He's often been told that he has a baby face and an innocent air about him, which makes people underestimate him.
With another sigh, he returns to Kamar-Taj. He hopes his talk with the Ancient One will go better.
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Also, if you want to support me and read chapters ahead, go to my p@treon: JorieDS