With a faint whir of hydraulics, Bumblebee descended toward the helicarrier's upper deck, his landing struts pressing against the steel with a soft metallic thud.
Inside his neural circuits, something felt… off.
As a purely technological lifeform, Bumblebee didn't get "gut feelings" in the human sense, but he did have protocols for anomalies, processes that flagged events his databanks couldn't explain. And right now, his systems were flashing quiet warnings.
The jump they'd just made, it wasn't just fast. It was impossible.
No wormhole generator, no tachyon arrays, no stabilizers. Just a ripple, so faint it was like a single drop falling into an endless ocean.
By everything in his database, a spatial transition like that should require enormous preparation: vast machines, calibrated coordinates, colossal amounts of power. The Space Stone could do it, sure, and so could the most advanced alien tech, like Kree shuttles, but even those came with noise, light, and the signature pulse of extreme energy expenditure.
But this? This had been silent, and way too effortless, almost casual.
Bumblebee's processors looped through possibilities, but before he could finish compiling them, his gaze flicked to the deck.
Doggo had already bounded away, stubby legs wobbling as he made a beeline for Wanda, tail wagging shamelessly, degrading himself to acting cute just for a few headpats. Riot, still compressed in Luke's grip, twitched feebly but didn't resist.
Luke stepped out of the driver's seat, greeting Wanda and Sharon with an easy nod as they discussed the progress on the helicarrier's newly built swimming pool. He exchanged a few casual words, then excused himself and disappeared into his quarters.
Inside, Luke's eyes gleamed with anticipation. His heartbeat was steady, but his mind buzzed with the same restless energy a child has when unwrapping a long-awaited present.
Only this "toy" was nothing like a normal one, it was terrifying, unpredictable, and utterly intoxicating.
He shut his door, silver symbiote still firmly in his palm, and closed his eyes. In his mind's eye, the second-floor bedroom of his grocery store materialized, the familiar walls, familiar window, familiar bedspread.
A cheerful chime from the system followed immediately.
[Ding~ The space in front of the host, aware of the host's thoughts, actively dedicated its first mutation to connect to the bedroom on the second floor of the grocery store, hoping that the host can travel happily.]
Luke took a slow step forward. His Extremis-enhanced senses prickled as his skin brushed through something unseen, like passing through a veil of cool mist. He could feel the temperature change instantly, the air shifting from the helicarrier's crisp breeze to the faintly dusty warmth of the store's interior.
When he opened his eyes, he was standing in his old bedroom. Technically, Red Braid's bedroom now, but that wasn't the point.
The point was that it worked just as intended.
He let out a low whistle, grinning like a man who'd just discovered a free code for a premium pornsite. Back when he'd first arrived in the Marvel world, he'd seriously considered hunting down the Infinity Stones. The Space Stone in particular had always been the crown jewel, a key to anywhere.
But now? Forget the stones. Forget the universe's supposed "greatest treasures."
The system was definitely better.
Still holding the limp, squirming Riot, Luke strolled downstairs. Morning light slanted through the store's front windows. Red Braid was bustling about, rearranging stock, sweeping the floor, routine opening prep.
When he spotted Luke descending from the second floor, his broom froze mid-sweep.
"Boss? When did you…" He cut himself off, eyes narrowing in confusion. "Wait, how did you…?"
Then his gaze landed on the silver slime writhing in Luke's hand.
Red Braid's expression twisted. "Ugh… what is that thing?!"
Luke only smiled, deliberately ignoring the question. "Just keep working. I came to drop this thing off…" He trailed off as he noticed the way Red Braid's eyes lingered, not on him, but on Riot.
An idea flickered. Selling the symbiote here could fetch an astronomical price, but everything in this store could. Thus selling it felt a bit… boring.
His grin widened.
"Hey," he said casually, stepping closer. "ever wanted to be a superhero?"
Red Braid blinked. "…What?"
The question hung in the air.
Since the Battle of New York, "superhero" had become the single most important word in America. People idolized Captain America's nobility, Iron Man's genius, Thor's godlike power, the Hulk's unstoppable strength. Everyone, kids, teens, and even adults, had at some point imagined themselves soaring through the skies, smashing villains, saving the world.
But that was just a fantasy. In reality, you needed obscene wealth, alien bloodlines, or the kind of miracle-slash-nightmare experiment that practically rewrote your DNA. Ordinary people didn't just "become" superheroes.
Red Braid hesitated, then gave a sheepish little nod. "Boss… I know it's childish. But yeah. I've always dreamed about it."
Luke chuckled, the sound warm but edged with mischief. "Dreams aren't childish. After all, people's dreams never end!"
Riot squirmed in his palm. Luke glanced down at the symbiote and spoke in a calm but commanding tone: "I'll find you a new host. You'll merge with him, and you'll listen to him. Understand?"
A tendril extended from Riot, giving something like a tiny, nervous salute. He didn't dare argue.
Luke turned back to Red Braid, eyes glinting. "Alright. Hold out your hand."
Red Braid froze. "…Wait, you're not…"
"Go on."
Cautiously, Red Braid extended a single finger. The moment it brushed Riot's surface, the symbiote surged forward, flowing over his skin like quicksilver and diving beneath it.
Red Braid yelped, jerking back and shaking his arm wildly. "What the hell… get it off, get it off!"
But there was nothing to get off. Riot had already disappeared inside him.
Luke considered explaining, but then decided against it. Watching Red Braid's panicked expression was far too entertaining.
He strode toward the door, raising a hand in farewell. "Don't worry," he said over his shoulder, voice light. "You're already a superhero."
…