Chapter 106: Super Duper Heroes
Starlight dances across Ellie's skin in the midnight darkness of my dorm room, casting her in silver and shadow as she stretches beside me.
"So," she says, rolling onto her side to face me, her blue eyes gleaming with curiosity in the dim light. "Who was your favorite superhero from your old world? Before all this?" She gestures vaguely at the space between us, encompassing everything.
The question catches me off-guard, pulling me from the comfortable silence we'd been sharing.
"Well!" I prop myself up on one elbow, feeling that familiar rush of excitement that comes whenever I get to talk about comics. "Spider-Man easily tops the list."
"Spider-Man?" Ellie repeats, her brow furrowing slightly. "Not Woman?"
I let out a nervous laugh, suddenly realizing I've never really explained this particular aspect of my world to her. "Oh boy..."
Ellie shifts closer, her interest clearly piqued by my reaction.
"Well, you see, in my world, everything's flipped around," I say, gesturing with my hands. "Men are like the women here, and women are like the men here. The whole social structure is completely reversed."
Ellie's eyes widen as she processes this information, then she bursts into laughter, the sound filling the small dorm room. The symbiote across her shoulders seems to vibrate with her amusement.
"Wait, wait," she says between laughs, "You're such a sub, Shane. Wouldn't that make you kind of weird in your world?"
I feel heat rush to my face. "I mean, I didn't really get to explore stuff like that... I was mostly focused on getting through college without losing my mind."
She scoots closer, resting her head on my chest. "Damn, this is wild. So the whole world was just... opposite?"
"Kind of. And the craziest part? No superheroes at all." I shake my head, still amazed by the difference. "Comics were just fiction. No real Spider-Woman, no Avengers, nothing."
"That sounds boring as hell," she murmurs, her fingers tracing patterns on my skin.
"It was! Which is why I got so into superheroes in the first place."
"Alright back to my favorite heroes! Number two, Batman. He's an absolute classic. Dark, brooding, billionaire with gadgets and a tragic backstory. Can't beat it."
Ellie nods, seemingly entertained by my enthusiasm. "Who else?"
"I love the Fantastic Four, but that's more author-dependent. Some writers like Hickman really get them, others totally miss the point." I count off on my fingers. "I also love Invincible. He's this amazing character who…"
"Who?" Ellie interrupts.
"Oh, he wouldn't be in this world as a hero," I explain quickly. "He's from an indie comic."
"Alright," she says, nodding her understanding.
"When we get to the MCU though," I continue, my words picking up speed with excitement, "Iron Man takes the cake by a long shot. Then Thor, and Dr. Strange... I mean, there's so many great choices. Captain America's arc is incredible, I mean hell even the winter soldier is fucking sick!"
Ellie watches me with a soft expression that makes my heart flutter. "Wow, so you really love superheroes, huh?"
I pause, suddenly aware of how much I've been rambling. "Yeah," I say, my voice quieter now. "It was a nice escape from the incredibly dull life I had after my parents died. They gave me something to look forward to, you know? A world where people could actually make a difference."
Ellie's expression softens, and she reaches up to stroke my cheek. "And now you're living it," she says, her voice gentle in a way few people ever get to hear from her. "You're actually a superhero in this world."
"Yeah," I smile, my throat tightening with emotion. "And I met you. No matter all the bad that's happened since I got here, this has easily been the best year of my entire life so far."
Ellie laughs softly as she pulls me closer, squeezing me against her warm body.
"So do you know everything that’s going to happen in the future?" she asks, her voice playful but with an undercurrent of genuine curiosity.
I sigh, running my fingers through her short blonde hair. "Things are happening out of order, and nothing's one-to-one. It all seems to be just adaptations at best, or even pure chaos."
"Hmm," she murmurs thoughtfully, her blue eyes searching mine in the darkness. After a moment's hesitation, she asks, "Do you know anything concerning about my future?"
My brain immediately jumps to Knull, the God of the Symbiotes. Images flash through my mind, the darkness, the dragon, the terrible power that could tear Ellie and her symbiote apart. My stomach clenches with anxiety.
"Uhhh..." I stammer, unsure how to respond.
"What?" she presses, her body tensing against mine.
I take a deep breath. "It's complicated, like most things. But I think if I bring it up, it could make it happen sooner, or it could possibly make things worse. And it also might not even exist here."
She stares at me, her expression unreadable in the half-light. "Am I in danger?"
"Everyone in a world full of gods is in constant danger," I say softly, pulling her closer. "But I promise, if it happens, I won't let you face it alone."
She smiles and leans in to kiss me, her lips warm against mine.
"Alright," she whispers against my mouth. "I trust you."
I shake my head, amazed at her response. "If I were you, I'd be begging me to tell me about my future."
She traces a finger along my jaw, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "I prefer to live in the now."
I lean forward and press my lips against hers. When we break apart, Ellie's eyes are bright with curiosity.
"So in your comic books," she asks, tracing a finger down my chest, "what was my name?"
"Eddie Brock," I reply, watching her reaction carefully.
She tilts her head, a mischievous smile playing at her lips. "Was I a hot guy?"
Something uncomfortable twists in my stomach. Eddie Brock in the comics is usually all rippling muscles, chiseled jaw, and intimidating presence. The guy was built like a linebacker, practically the physical opposite of my lanky frame.
"Yeah," I admit, trying to keep my voice casual even as a pang of jealousy shoots through me. "You were pretty jacked."
Ellie's grin turns wolfish as she takes my wrists, guiding my hands to her stomach. The firm muscles beneath my fingertips make my breath catch. Even without the symbiote's enhancement, her abs feel like they're carved from stone.
"Just like I am now?" she asks, a hint of pride in her voice as she flexes beneath my touch.
"Pretty much," I admit, tracing the defined ridges with my fingers. The comparison to comic Eddie is unavoidable, but there's something infinitely more attractive about Ellie's strength. Maybe because it's real, tangible beneath my hands, not just ink on a page.
She smiles, clearly pleased with my answer. The confidence in her expression is intoxicating, making my heart race in that familiar way that only she can trigger. Then suddenly, she yawns widely, stretching her arms above her head like a satisfied cat.
"So, Prof X next week?" she asks, settling back against my pillows, her eyelids looking heavy.
I hesitate, remembering my conversation with Susan. "Susan said it could be two weeks."
"Should we try to find a different way to fix Piper sooner?" There's no real concern in her voice for Piper herself, just the practical consideration of the timeline.
"I honestly think Professor X will be able to fix it the best," I say, shifting to face her more directly. "But also, she can read minds and figure out I'm not lying, so it'll cover all my bases."
She nods, accepting my logic without question. "Alright then," she says simply, trust evident in her voice.
"We'll have to make sure to stay friendly with Piper," I add, already dreading the prospect of maintaining pleasantries with Doc Ock's superior attitude. "We’ll need to bring her along with us when the X-Women are ready."
Ellie's face darkens immediately. "But I hate her guts," she growls, the symbiote momentarily flashing across her eyes.
"You'll hate this one even more."