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Chapter Six

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This was most definitely Norman Strange, not Green Goblin. You could see it in his eyes, the confusion and fright were genuine. May was also calm, though there was tension in her frame. You didn't blame her. Green Goblin had almost killed her and your mom during his reign of terror.

"Hey, there they are! Norman, this is my nephew and his partner."

"We thought you were..."

Norman spoke up then, much gentler and more soft-spoken than he had ever been in your universe, "I saw Spider-Man and another hero in an ad for this place, and I thought they could help me. But you're not him."

"You... want our help?" That was the last thing you were expecting.

"He just wandered in," May explained.

"I didn't know where else to go. When I went home the security was different, and my son looked at me like I was a ghost- he spoke to me like I was one too. Sometimes I'm not myself. I'm... someone else. And, every time he's in control, I can't remember. And now, I'm here, in this place, in this city, and I don't know what's going on with me."

The three of you listened sympathetically, and when he was finished May pulled the two of you aside, "He's lost. And I don't mean just in the cosmos. I mean in his mind. We didn't really see this side of our Norman. It's easier to sympathize with him when he isn't trying to kill me. Are they all like this?"

You nodded, "Most villains begin with noble intentions, these villains seem to be the same way. They all need help."

"Yes, and I think the two of you are perfect for the job."

Peter looked at the two of you in shock, "No, this isn't our problem."

"Not your problem?" May raised a brow.

"May, their chance of getting help is way better back where they came from. Sending them home is the best thing we can do for them."

"For them? Or for yourself? Look around you. This is what we do. We help people. This is what's best, for them. Trust me."

Clearly unable to win against the force that was May Parker, Peter turned to you for help instead, "(Y/n), these aren't our villains, the other versions of me can handle them."

"We can help them, Peter, isn't it our job to try?"

"Why do you want to help them so badly?" Peter hissed as May went back to speak to Norman again.

"Because I remember what it was like! I remember being the villain and needing someone to help me! I was just like them Peter, and the Avengers saved me. Why can't we try to save them?"

Peter's lips thinned in frustration, and you could tell he was trying to come up with a valid argument to counter yours, though you knew it would be difficult.

Oftentimes when you faced a villain you couldn't help but wonder what had driven them to that point. Some of them were truly just power-hungry or monsters, but there were times when good people were driven to the brink and pushed over the edge. They were always the hardest battles because you knew you had been in their shoes once, and it was society that had led them to that point.

Finally, he let out a sigh and reached out to gently grasp your arms, "(Y/n), the best chance they have is back home with their own Spider-Man. We don't know the potential consequences of them staying here. Multiversal travel hasn't been studied at all. For all we know it could destroy all of our universes."

Reluctantly, you understood and nodded. As much as you wanted to help them there were too many unknowns, and they truly might be better off back home where they had an actual place.

"Fine. We can send them back home. Go give your suit to May so she can clean it, I'll stay here and watch over Osborn."

"Will you be okay?" Peter sent a wary look at the innocently sitting Osborn.

"I'll be fine, it doesn't look like he's much of a danger to us right now. Just be sure to hurry, okay?"

Nodding, Peter ushered May away to one of the back rooms so they could work on cleaning his suit in private. You sat down across from Norman at the other end of the table. He had donuts stuffed in his pockets, it was so comical you had to hold back a laugh. The formidable Norman Osborn, once a business tycoon turned supervillain, was stealing donuts from a food shelter.

Watching him carefully, you remembered what he said when all of you saw each other for the first time, "Norman, you said that when you visited Harry he looked at you like you were a ghost. Did he say anything to you?"

"He told me to go away. He didn't want me there because he said everything was working."

"Did he say what was working?"

Norman shook his head, "No, he didn't. I'm sorry. Am I dead here?"

"Ah... I don't really know how to answer that without sending you into a crisis - whether it's a yes or no answer."

Norman nodded in what seemed to be understanding, and he carried on eating one of the donuts he had stuffed into his pockets. He seemed so normal here. Even when you had interacted with him before he went insane. He was always strict and severe. It was clear this version of him was just... scared and broken. You weren't sure how to feel about that, especially considering how much harm he had caused Harry.

Sending an update to MJ and Ned to assure them that everything was alright and that there hadn't been any need for a fight, you began to relax. Norman wasn't setting off any of your honed instincts, and he had yet to give you any reason to be wary aside from his universal counterpart. He was willing to admit something was wrong with him and reached out for help, which was more than this universe' Norman, so perhaps there was actually some hope there.

A few minutes later May and Peter emerged to reveal Peter's now clean suit, which you were thankful for. While you liked the black and gold look, all the exposed wiring made you nervous that it would cause a hard-to-fix suit malfunction.

May offered to drive all of you to the Sanctum to avoid potential confrontations with the press or civilians and the two of you were more than happy to take her up on her offer. It was a tight squeeze with the four of you but luckily it was a quick and easy drive to the Sanctum.

"Thanks, May. Hope to see you again," Norman told May sincerely before hopping out of the truck. You followed and directed Norman inside, "Wow, this is wonderful architecture. Did you say that this place was magic too? How does that work?"

"I'm not entirely sure honestly, it just sort of happens?"

"Huh."

Peter hovered behind you as you led Norman to the basement, tense and waiting for an attack you knew wasn't going to come. You hadn't dealt with the brunt of Norman's attacks when he was operating as Green Goblin, and you hadn't been there when he died either so you didn't truly understand what Peter was feeling but you understood his hesitance.

"Guys, this is Mr. Osborn-"

"It's Doctor."

"Doctor, sorry." Your Norman had never emphasized the difference, more focused on business than his own interests, "Dr. Osborn, these are my friends, Ned and MJ."

"Mary Jane?" There was a faint hint of recognition there, for the name and nothing else.

"It's Michelle Jones, actually," MJ and Ned were both tense, having been victims of Green Goblin themselves - they actually went to your therapist for a while after the attack because of the trauma they experienced. Seeing Norman again was likely dredging up some terrible memories.

"Fascinating."

Ned seemed to recover more quickly, or at least he pretended like he did and asked, "Do you think there are other Ned Leedses?"

"I mean there has to be right? An infinite number of yous for an infinite number of universes," you offered, "I doubt you're a Lone Being too, Doctor Strange made it sound like it was really rare."

"Octavius?"

"Osborn?"

"What... what happened to you?"

"What happened to- you're the walking corpse!"

Sending Peter an alarmed look, you debated whether or not you should intervene.

"What do you mean?"

"You died, Norman. Years ago."

Norman let out a nervous laugh, "You're insane."

"God, I love it here," the electricity-based man chuckled.

Quickly losing hope that things had been better in other universes, Peter spoke up, "What are you talking about? He's standing right there. He can't be-"

"Dead," the Sandman confirmed your worst fear, "They both died fighting Spider-Man. It was all over the news. Green Goblin? Impaled by the glider he flew around on. And a couple of years later, you, Doc Ock, drowned in the river with your machine."

Doctor Octavius scoffed, "That's nonsense. Spider-Man was trying to stop my fusion reactor. So I stopped him. I had him, by the throat and then I... and then I was here."

"Oh, please. Let me tell you something. I was whooping Spider-Man's ass. He'll tell you. And then he caused an overload. I was stuck in the grid, absorbing data. I was about to turn into pure energy, and then... and then... oh, shit. I was about to die."

The lizard then chimed in, "Max, do you know? Do I die?"

You had a horrible feeling in your gut. Every villain here had died facing Spider-man, you just knew it. That was the reason they had all been transported here, and you had agreed to send them all home at the moment of their death. Sending Peter a pleading look, he nodded slightly, causing you to let out a breath of relief.

Before Max - you now had a name for the electricity man - could answer, Doctor Strange popped in, "Oh, great. You caught another one."

Neither of you argued when he transported Norman inside the last cell, even if he was harmless at the moment. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Noticing the strange box Strange was carrying, you asked, "What is that?"

"It's an ancient relic. The Machinati Codamus. I trapped your corrupted spell inside, once you've finished the proper ritual, will reverse the spell. And send these guys back to their universes."

"And then what? We perish?"

"Nah. No thanks, I'll pass on that."

"Let me out of here. Peter! (Y/n)!"

Grimacing at the sight of their fear, you said, "We can't send them back, not yet. Not when we can help them. They're gonna die."

"(L/n), it's their fate."

"Come on, Strange. Have a heart," Peter all but begged.

"In the grand calculus of the multiverse, their sacrifice means infinitely more than their lives," you bit your tongue to hold back your comment about Tony and his life, knowing it would only make Strange angry with you, "I'm sorry, kids. If they die, they die."

Sending Peter one last look, you lifted his hand and shot a web at the container. Strange looked up and warned, "Don't!"

When Peter yanked the box out of Strange's hand you shot out a blast of water with the special gauntlet Strange had gifted you, locking him in one of the cells.

"Dude, what are you doing?"

"You gotta go. Go!"

The two of you sprinted out of the Undercroft and out of the Sanctum, with no idea where you were going to go to escape the almost-Sorcerer Supreme. The two of you made it out onto the street and Peter picked you up to swing you away before you ended up in the same place.

"What the-"

A slight buzzing noise came from under you. You looked down and saw a growing ring of orange sparks, "Shit, Peter I think-"

You fell through the ring and ended up back in the Undercroft. Groaning when you landed on your shoulder, you swore at Strange under your breath and you brushed yourself off.

"(Y/n) are you alright?"

"I realize that was embarrassing for you but it was also one of the coolest things I've ever seen," Ned admitted shamelessly.

Rolling your eyes, you turned around and ran back up the stairs, only to find that both Peter and Doctor Strange were gone when you got back to the street. Throwing your hands up in frustration you yelled, "Are you kidding me?"

Grumbling the whole way back to the basement of the Sanctum, you were greeted by an annoyed MJ and a sheepish Ned who was rubbing his arm as if something - or someone - had hit it. Reminding yourself to thank her later, you sunk down into the closest chair and crossed your arms over your chest. You were not pouting, no you were not.

A few minutes later another portal opened in the Undercroft and Peter jumped through with the container in hand, "I'm sorry sir, but I have to try."

"What happened?"

"I just had a fight with Doctor Strange and I totally won!" Peter cheered, and you were impressed but not surprised. What he lacked in experience he made up for in raw genius that would allow him to outsmart nearly an opponent if he could focus and come up with a solid enough plan, "Look, and I stole his ring thing. I was swinging through the city, and then I went through this... massive mirror thing- and then I was back."

"Where is he? Where is he?"

"He's trapped, but... I'm not sure for how long."

Stepping up, you wrapped your arms around Peter in a tight hug, pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek, "Thank you."

"Of course, (Y/n), I would do anything to make you happy."

"You could've just left us to die. Why didn't you?"

"Because that's not who they are," MJ announced with one of her small, but infinitely meaningful smiles.

Looking around at each of the villains you admitted, "I was where you were once, it was less of a choice and more of a brainwashing situation but I still know what it's like to be the bad guy, and we think that we can help you. If we can fix what happened to you then when you're sent back things might be different and you won't die fighting your Spider-Man."

"What do you mean 'fix us'?"

"Our technology is advanced, and beyond that, we have magic and mutants. We can help you," Peter explained.

"You know, I'm something of a scientist myself," Norman stated, and you couldn't explain it but something seemed a bit off there. Like something had shifted. It reminded you of the moods Harry entered sometimes, "Octavius knows what I can do."

Rather than supporting Norman, Doctor Octavius chose to be offended, "Fix? You mean like a dog? I refuse."

Well when he put it that way it sounded terrible, "Not like that, it seems like none of you are properly interacting or handling your enhancements which is causing mental instabilities. We've seen it with mutants before."

"We can't promise you anything, but at least this way, you actually get to have a chance. A second chance. Isn't that worth trying?"

"Trust me, Peter... When you try to fix people, there are always consequences."

"I mean, you don't have to come. I also didn't know that you could talk. But if you stay here... you're gonna have to deal with the wizard."

"So, we go along, or die. Not much of a choice, is it?"

"I just wanna go home."

"Well, I myself don't wanna be killed, especially by a guy dressed like Dungeons & Dragons, so... What's your plan?"

"I have it all under control," Peter pulled all of you away for a huddle, "What are we gonna do about this thing?"

Face palming, you whispered, "Oh my god. I have a plan, don't worry. You'd be running in circles without me, honestly."