author's note: if you've been reading revelations consistently up to this point, you know that I've messed with the timeline a couple times because 1) marvel doesn't make it clear how much time actually passes within the universe and 2) I don't care enough about making the ages accurate as they are in the movies - as obvious by how I made the 5 year blip become around 2 years.
so I mention Peter turning eighteen in this fic (at some point I forgot the chapter lol) because as my timeline goes, that's how it is. I know he's not eighteen in the mcu yet! and I know most 18 year olds are graduated already, but I actually had quite a few friends that turned 18 before their senior year, so this just makes sense to me more than trying to rewrite my own messed up timeline lol. in my mind y/n was younger than peter before the snap, just by maybe six months or something, so he would be turning 18 while she's still 19 if that makes sense?
anyway, hope you guys enjoy, we're finally getting back into some actual plot lol
warnings: language, jake gyllenhaal 🤢
The quinjet got you to Europe way faster than normal. You remembered being in them just a few times with Natasha on smaller missions she wanted you on during your first months of college. The memories of those brought a bad taste to your mouth, so you shoved them away as you followed Hill into the base.
"I'm pretty sure Nick should've gotten Peter by now," she said as she walked at a quick pace in front of you, "He should be able to catch you both up."
"There was plenty of time for that on the flight," you muttered, ignoring her look.
"It would be easier if you met Quentin first and got all the details from there."
You had no idea who that was, but since questioning didn't seem to get you anywhere, you just decided to wait until someone told you. She finally led you into the main room after about five minutes of walking, and you still couldn't relax.
You glanced around at the warehouse she seemed to have brought you to, not liking the amount of people that were seeing you unmasked. The only thing keeping you from putting it on anyway was her statement that everyone here already knew your identity.
Nick Fury was in the middle of the room, gesturing to a holographic table in the middle. The man from the footage earlier, the one they were calling Mysterio, was also there - but he wasn't wearing his helmet, either. Identities didn't seem to matter here, clearly.
And of course, your boyfriend was standing with them, mask off, his eyebrows knit together as he looked at the figures on the table. It only took a second for him to glance up, doing a double take when he realized you were there with Maria.
Of course no one told him you were coming.
"O-oh, hey babe, baby, hi," he stuttered, and your frown deepened while the man next to Fury looked amused. "What-what are you doing here?"
"No one's really told me yet, at least not clearly," you couldn't help but relax a little despite the circumstances, feeling that weight almost life off your shoulders as you walked up to join him. You always felt better when you were around him.
"Why did you go get her?" Peter asked Fury with wide eyes, and you gave him a dirty look. "That's, I mean, I'm so glad you're here! I just...you were supposed to be taking a break, and..."
He trailed off, and you knew he was talking about the therapy thing and the nightmares. You were glad he didn't say that specifically in front of others, though.
"I needed her help," Fury inserted, "Might I remind you, Parker, L/N has technically been an Avenger longer than you have."
"I wouldn't be if he hadn't been blipped," you said defensively, "I wouldn't even be an Avenger without him.."
"Fine," Fury threw his hands up, "I don't care about specifics. Point is, the more the merrier, and I don't have anyone else."
You couldn't help but be a little peeved about his commentary. Tony didn't tend to share nice things about Fury, and neither did Nat, for the most part. It was clear she respected him while Tony didn't, but there were some things you heard about him that you didn't exactly warm up to.
It didn't help that he was at Tony's funeral all those months ago, giving you and Peter both a look that gave you the feeling he would try to involve you both in some kind of mess at some point. And here you were, at a mess.
Peter seemed to notice how tense you were, and you felt his hand slip into yours, squeezing it. He met your eyes with a tight smile, and you took a breath, squeezing his hand back.
"L/N, this is Mr. Beck," Fury nodded to Mysterio, and you shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you," he nodded with a grin.
"Likewise," you forced a smile. "So, what the hell is going on?"
Fury tapped the hologram again, and you watched as imaginary figures similar to that of the water monster showed up. You tried to pay attention as he described the attacks - the one that already happened, the one that just happened here in Venice, and the ones that were to come.
Beck took over from there, informing you that he was from another universe and had fought these before, which had you exchanging a glance with Peter.
"The multiverse theory is real?" You questioned doubtfully, and Fury sighed.
"Yes. As I've explained to Parker, the infinity stones seemed to have opened pocket dimensions. The elemental creatures that destroyed Beck's universe have crawled through, and they're now threatening our planet in the same way. We can't let them win."
"I won't let what happened on my Earth happen on yours," Beck promised, looking both you and Peter in the eye, "But I'll need your help. I had a whole battalion on my universe, and it wasn't enough. We need to be really strategic."
You exchanged another look with Peter, his eyes almost unreadable. You could tell he didn't like the sound of this, either.
"This sounds like a Carol or Thor job," you muttered, and Fury gave you a hard look.
"That's what your boyfriend said. But they're off world. I tried to contact you, Parker, multiple times before I had to interfere with your little field trip. With half the Avengers dead, I don't have many options."
You tensed at that statement, and you could tell it bothered Peter too. He said that like they were just tools that he couldn't use anymore, and not real people. That didn't exactly make you feel good about either of you being here. Not to mention that he had been trying to get in touch with Peter, and you weren't told about it from either party.
"You could've said that in a way that didn't make this sound like a suicide mission and insulted their old teammates," Beck told Fury, and he just rolled his eyes.
"Fine. It won't be a suicide mission if you both help. I don't care if you're both so-called 'neighborhood heroes' - that ended as soon as you both went to space and became Avengers. I need you."
"Well what about the fact that Peter is on a school trip with a bunch of kids who don't know he's Spider-Man?" You questioned, "And how Spider-Man and Shadow are both New York heroes, and randomly showing up in Europe? Our identities remaining a secret is important."
"We can assure they won't get out," Beck said firmly, glancing at Peter, "I can imagine how horrible it would be if the wrong person found out who you were."
"I've got stealth suits for you both," Hill finally joined in, "And we've taken over the travel agency that Peter's school is using. It'll be easy to make it seem like you were never here, Y/N, and like Peter never strayed from the field trip."
You sighed, finally looking at Peter, "You're more at risk than I am. Are you sure you want to do this?"
He seemed hesitant, but he nodded, "I think I have to."
"Great," Fury said flatly, standing up, "Hang around a bit while our team gets the travel to Prague figured out. I can get your suit to you tomorrow on the way, Peter."
"Cool," he mumbled, obviously not sounding excited about it. Beck gave you both a nod before following Hill, talking about some kind of fighting strategy.
"Hey," you nudged your boyfriend, trying to smile. He immediately hugged you.
"Hi," Peter relaxed against you, his head leaning against your shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for," you pressed a kiss to his cheek, meeting his tired eyes when he moved back up, "Kind of bullshit that you can't enjoy your vacation, though."
"I don't care much about that," he muttered, "I'm just sorry you can't catch a break."
"Yeah, well, I chose this life before I met you, Parker. I knew what I was getting into."
"Before you met Spider-Man," he corrected, a smug grin rising on his face. You rolled your eyes, lightly pushing his shoulder.
"Yeah, whatever."
You dropped your smile and suddenly gave your boyfriend a stern look, "You didn't tell me Nick Fury was contacting you. You're not quite off the hook for that."
"I-I didn't, I wanted-" he threw his hands up, "You were having so many nightmares and I finally got to talking to you about seeing a therapist, I didn't want us to have to deal with Fury on top of that. You would've pushed it to the side, I know you."
You sighed, knowing he was right, "Well, it doesn't matter now. We've got this."
You tapped your fist against his, and he smiled. "I'm sorry about this. I was really hoping we could get a break."
"Me too," you shrugged, "I don't think people like us get breaks, though."
"Right," he sighed, "But we will get one. A real vacation, maybe before I go to college. Promise."
You liked the sound of that.
"You should probably get back to your classmates," Beck's voice interrupted you both, and Peter sighed. "Y/N, we've got a room for you, too."
"Wait, she can't come with me?" Peter asked, frowning, and you tried not to laugh.
"Peter, it would be very weird for me to show up in another country on your class field trip," you pointed out, ignoring his frown, "It's one night, and I'll see you in Prague tomorrow."
He didn't seem to like that, and neither did you if you were being honest; but, you had plenty of time to see him after this mess was over. You gave him a quick kiss, telling him to say hi to Ned and MJ for you, before he finally left, looking a little depressed. Beck gave you a wink before following him out, and you hoped he was going to talk to him.
"We'll leave in the morning," Fury's voice brought you out of the relaxed feeling you had around Peter. "One of my guys will be driving the bus Peter and his classmates will be in. We're going to have another team follow in a van, but the rest of us will be flying straight to Prague. I think it might be best if you flew with us so you can have more prep time. If Peter didn't care so much about what his classmates think, he'd have more time, too, but clearly we'll have to adjust."
"You're lucky he even agreed to help," you said before you could stop yourself, but Fury didn't seem phased.
"Here's your hotel card, it's across the street from Peter's, and we'll be in nearby rooms. Can you make it to your hotel by yourself?" He asked, which made you roll your eyes.
"Yes, I've managed on my own for a while, thanks. I think I can figure out how to get to a hotel," you took the keycard from him, not bothering to hide your annoyance.
"I know you don't like me, L/N," Fury said sternly, almost like he was reprimanding you, "But you need to understand that whatever Stark and Romanoff told you, was maybe just misguided anger. And despite whatever you think my intentions are, the fact of the matter is - if these elementals are left alone, everyone on earth will die. I don't think either of us want that."
"Is that why you tried to contact Peter instead of me?" You asked sourly, "You knew I wouldn't listen to you."
"If Peter joined me first, then I knew you would, too," he shrugged, "I needed you both. That was my only way to go about it."
He left you sitting by the table, and you felt like throwing something. Maybe Natasha and Tony had only chosen to tell you bad things, but you couldn't see how it mattered. Tony had always preferred to keep to himself, and you were sure his life would've been easier if he hadn't joined the Avengers. And maybe Nat was given a second chance after the Red Room with Fury and Clint, but she was just exchanging one hard life for a different one. She might've been better off on her own, too - and she would probably still be alive. They both would be.
"I think, despite his clearly negative attitude, he actually does care. I'm sure the last thing he wants is to involve two teenagers, especially two that don't seem to care for him"
You glanced up at Beck as he sat next to you, and you attempted a smile. "Yeah, I'll believe that when hell freezes over. But thanks for trying."
He just shrugged. "I got a little cynical myself after losing so many times. I'm sure it hurt his ego after what happened on your planet, with Thanos. Maybe he blamed himself for not acting sooner."
You unintentionally tensed at that, "Yeah, well. We all had to go through it, not just him. Some of us had to deal with the outcome."
"Peter mentioned that," he hummed, "I talked with him after he left, since Fury kind of unnecessarily ragged on you both, I figured he needed a little pep talk. He seemed pretty upset that you had to get involved, considering you were both meant to be taking a break after all the Thanos stuff. He said you were one of the survivors...and that he wasn't."
"I had to live without him longer than I've even been with him," you sighed, shutting your eyes, "It's still affecting me. And he's been back for months now."
Beck sighed with you, "I understand. I've lived without my family so long...that's why we need to stop these monsters. Before they take Peter away from you again. Or vice versa."
You nodded, ignoring the fear in your chest at those words. "That's why I came to Europe. I won't let that happen. I'm sorry it happened on your world."
"I've been able to move on," he said with a tight smile, patting your shoulder. "Let's do our best to ensure that doesn't happen to you guys, deal?"
"Deal."