To Be Human

[Bosillic]

I jolted awake, my mind racing wildly. The flood of memories and knowledge, overwhelming me all at once, had been beyond my wildest imaginings. In one moment, I was a college student, wrongfully accused of something and brutally attacked. In the next, I was a being beyond human form—an original cosmic entity known as Unuvios.

The transition was jarring. My cylindrical, blue-hued head was quite opposite in shape to my white, humanoid lower half. I was encased in armor of all shades of blue. I felt awesome power within me, and yet, a sense of great loss overcame me.

"What is this?" I wondered aloud, my voice echoing across the vastness of space. "How am I here? In…Marvel?"

The realization hit me like a cosmic shockwave. I was standing in a universe that I once believed existed solely for the purposes of fiction. A world of superheroes and supervillains, cosmic entities, and multiversal threats. And now, somehow, I was one of them.

The role of Guardian of Cosmic Balance now became abundantly clear to me. I could bend reality on a multiversal scale, creating or destroying whole universes. It was exhilarating and equally terrifying knowledge.

"With great power comes great responsibility," I muttered ironically, chuckling at the situation I was in, quoting some Marvel character.

My laughter was soon cuddled by the memory of my demise. Anger rose in me like a bud and almost ate up my freshly brewed cosmic consciousness.

"They murdered me," I growled again as my form pulsated with energy. "For something I didn't do!"

I funneled my anger into the work, arbitrating conflicts between cosmic beings with a barely contained fury. I mediated disputes between celestial entities, my verdicts harsh and unforgiving.

Time was different in this form. What to me was an eternity could have been only a few seconds of the multiverse tapestry. My anger did eventually burn itself out, and I was left hollow, bereft of purpose.

I met The One Above All in that empty state.

Before me materialized the being, constantly shifting in form, never really settling on any one appearance. "Unuvios," he spoke, his voice resounding in my very essence. "I've been waiting to meet you."

"You have?" I replied, surprised. "Why?"

"You intrigue me," The One Above All replied, "I have tpower that dwarfs yours, yet I can not discern your origins. It's... unusual."

I had nothing to say. The comfort that even this being, who must have been omniscient, could not breach the mystery of my existence was soothing and unsettling.

"Did you ever believe in god?" the One Above All asked.

I was taken aback by the question. "I did," I admitted. "But that seems… hollow now."

"Faith often evolves in the face of new realities," The One Above All opined. "What is important is how you choose to move forward."

He and I went on and discussed numerous cosmic matters. I was very careful not to reveal anything about my past life, or the nature of Marvel in my original world. The implications could be catastrophic.

Before he left, The One Above All had these final words for me: "You have a unique perspective, Unuvios. Use it wisely in fulfilling your role."

These words burned within me, reigniting my purpose. I knew then that the time had come for me to view the Marvel universe from a totally different perspective: that of Earth-616.
I shape-shifted into a human avatar. My new body was tall and muscular, with striking blue eyes and well-placed white hair. On my body, I wore a blue and white superhero suit, complete with a flowing white cape.

"Unuman," I said, trying out the sound of my new superhero name. "Time to go see what Earth-616 has to offer."

I dropped to Earth, landing in New York City. The city was overwhelming after the immense area of space. I spent my first few moments centering myself, watching the busy road traffic and the masses of people moving through the streets.

"Uh, excuse me," someone called out from my left. I turned to find a middle-aged lady standing in shock, her eyes fairly wide. "Are you… a new superhero?"

I beamed, trying to look as warm and friendly as possible. "I am. The name's Unuman. Here to help."

Word got out pretty quick. By the hour mark, there were news choppers buzzing through the skies and people gathered trying to get a glimpse of the new hero in town.

I decided to introduce myself by halting a bank robbery in progress. By using my powers of super-speed, I disarmed the robbers and secured them before the police even arrived at the scene.

"That's unbelievable!" the onlooker shouted. "How did you move like that?"

"I am here to help," I insisted, trying not to respond in depth. I didn't want to give away too much about my real nature.

It wasn't long before I built up a reputation in New York as a leading hero. People were rescued from burning buildings; trains were saved from careening out of control; an invasion attempt by aliens was foiled.

Still, something was lacking. I wanted to see more of this world—its banalities included. Thus, it was to be that I decided to attend high school.

I used my powers to create a new identity for myself as Noah Fisher, a transfer student. My simple mission was to meet and befriend one Peter Parker.

Walking into my homeroom class on my first day at Midtown High, I went through faces until I found him—Peter Parker, just as I had imagined.

"Class, we've got a new student joining us today," the teacher announced. "Noah Fisher, please introduce yourself."

I rose to my feet, feeling oddly nervous despite my cosmic powers. "Hi, I'm Noah. I just moved here from… out of state. Looking forward to getting to know everyone."

Peter looked up from his notebook, flashed me a friendly smile. I returned it, knowing this was only the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

"Hey, Noah," Peter said when class ended. "Welcome to Midtown. Need any help finding your next class?"

"That would be great, thanks," I replied, falling into step beside him.

* * *

I woke up, well, not really, to the beeping of my alarm, with the weight of living a double life bearing down on me. Being Noah Fisher, high school student by day and cosmic entity by night, was a tight-wire act. I rolled out of bed and began the process of getting ready for another day at Midtown High as my mind spun from the possibilities that would surface later on today.
I walked into school and saw Peter Parker standing beside his locker. We had become fast friends ever since my arrival, and I could not help but feel a twinge of protectiveness toward him. Here in this timeline, Peter was a loner, and I was going to change that.

"Hey, Pete!" I called out as I walked towards him. "Ready for another day full of excitement up and down the halls of academic excellence?"

Peter beamed, his eyes sparkling. "Noah! Yeah, I guess so. Although I'm more excited about the new robotics project we're starting in the club today."

I nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds awesome. Mind if I tag along? I've got some ideas that might help."

"Really? That'd be great!" Peter was clearly excited.

Our conversation was cut off by a group of popular kids, as Flash Thompson put his massive hand on my shoulder.

"Noah, my man! We missed you at practice yesterday… Are you coming to the party this weekend?"

I put on my best charming smile. "Wouldn't miss it, Flash. Just had some family stuff to take care of."

Flash nodded, then glanced over to Peter with a smirk. "Parker, you're not invited. This is for cool people only."

Feeling Peter tense beside me, I hastened to interrupt. "Actually, Flash, Peter's my guest. We're both coming."

He looked surprised but shrugged. "Whatever, man. Your call."

The bell rang, and we made our way to class. I couldn't help, knowing that through the day Gwen Stacy was having little glances at me. Her crush was becoming obvious, and really, I didn't know how to approach it. In my past life, I would have been elated at this, but now everything was different.

Slipping into the suit of Unuman after school, I patrolled the city, stopping a large bank heist, saving some hostages, and apprehending some criminals. Even for a cosmic being like me, this rush was greatly exciting.

I floated above the city, looking down on it with a decision made. "Time to take this to the next level," I muttered to myself.

I made Unuman's social media accounts, hiding my digital footprint as much as possible. In a few hours I had millions of followers. The next day at school everybody was talking about it.

"Did you see Unuman's Instagram?" I heard a girl saying. "He is so dreamy!"

Peter approached me with a beaming expression. "Noah, have you followed the news about Unuman? Unbelievable!"

I nodded, trying to look impressed. "Yeah, he sounds pretty awesome. Wonder who he really is."

Just then, our conversation was cut short by the entrance of the new teacher. She strode in, and instantly every male student within sight sat a little straighter.

"Good morning, class," she greeted, her voice smooth and confident. "I'm Ms. Rushman, your substitute teacher."

I froze. Her face was instantly recognizable. Natalie Rushman, or rather Natasha Romanoff. The Black Widow herself. My mind raced. What was she doing here? Was S.H.I.E.L.D. investigating Unuman? Or were they keeping tabs on Peter?

Through the class, I caught Ms. Rushman's gaze lingering several times on both Peter and me. I had to be very careful.

After class, Peter was all but bouncing. "Wow, Ms. Rushman is amazing! Did you see how she broke down that complex theory?"

I nodded, distracted. "Yeah, she's… something else."

"Hey, Noah," came Gwen's voice, cutting through my thoughts. "A bunch of us are going to the coffee shop after school. Want to join?"

I turned to Peter, who was desperately trying to conceal his disappointed expression. "Thanks, Gwen, but I already made plans with Peter. Maybe next time?"

Gwen's smile faltered for a moment before she nodded. "Sure, no problem."

Peter turned to me, his eyes wide with surprise. "We have plans?"

I grinned. "We do now. Come on, let's go work on that robotics project of yours."

We spent the whole afternoon at his place working on his project. I fed him ideas, things that were advanced but not suspiciously so. It was, if anything, a very delicate balance to be maintained: try to help him but not give too much away.

"This is incredible, Noah," Peter said, his eyes wide as he stared at our progress. "How do you know so much about this stuff?"

I shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. "I just read a lot, I guess."

My phone buzzed with an alert just as Peter was getting ready to pepper me with more questions. A hostage situation downtown.

"Sorry, Pete," I said, standing. "I just remembered I have to help my aunt with something. Mind if we continue this another time?"

Peter looked disappointed but nodded. "Sure, no problem. See you tomorrow?"

I smiled. "Definitely."

Racing out of Peter's house, I ducked into an alley and went through the change to Unuman. Here we go again, saving the day while keeping my secret safe from my new friend and those ever-watchful eyes of S.H.I.E.L.D.

For the next two weeks, a sense of routinemaking started to sneak up on me. By day, I'd cruise through high school's complex social scene—my friendship with Peter, attention from popular kids, and Gwen's budding crush on me. At night, in my Unuman suit, I cruised around, stopping crimes and saving people.

One of the more challenging nights, I remember saving several people from a burning building. The flames had gone out of control and were blocking many families on the upper floors. I flew through the flames, using my cosmic powers to create protective shields around the trapped civilians as I carried them to safety.

They cheered as I came out of the building with the last of the survivors. I could clearly hear people chanting, "Unuman! Unuman!" as I flew off into the night. It was nice, the adoration and all, but it also made me uneasy. The more popular I became, the more attention I would attract-and not all of it would be positive.

The next day at school, everyone was talking about Unuman's newest heroic act. I did my best to be surprised and impressed as Peter showed me the news footage on his phone.

"Can you believe it?" Peter said, his eyes wide with excitement. "The way he just flew through those flames. it's like nothing can hurt him!"

I nodded with false enthusiasm. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing. I wonder what his limits are."

Flash came over to our table, interrupting our conversation, beaming from ear to ear.

"Did you guys hear?" he asked, practically bouncing on his feet. "The Avengers are coming to New York! They're doing a charity event downtown!"

Peter's eyes lit up. "Really? That is awesome! I wonder if we'll get to see them up close."

Gwen, who was sitting nearby, joined the conversation. "I heard that it's really going to be a big event. They are even setting up a meet-and-greet area."

A knot started to form in my stomach. The Avengers coming to town would mean a heap of trouble for Unuman. I'd managed to stay off their radar so far, but that could all change with a little face time.

Flash kept rambling on, completely ignoring my inner turmoil. "We should all go together! It'll be epic!"

Gwen turned to me with a hopeful look in her eyes. "That does sound fun. What do you think, Noah?"

I forced myself to smile. "Sure, why not? It could be interesting."

Peter nodded enthusiastically. "Great! Maybe we can get some pictures for the school paper."

Just at that moment, Ms. Rushman passed by our table, overhearing the tail of our conversation. She stopped, looking at us with a small smile.

"The Avengers event does sound interesting," she said, her eyes going around our faces. "Just remember to be safe and take all precautions from the security."

I met her gaze, trying to make my expression as flat as possible. "Of course, Ms. Rushman. We'll be careful."

She nodded and walked away. But I just had this feeling she was going to be there, too, watching the event closely—that is, us.

The group continued babbling excitedly about the upcoming event, but I was somewhere else. How should I deal with this situation? Should Unuman make an appearance and probably be hunted down by the Avengers, or should I just lay low and go only as Noah, missing probably really important details?

The lunchtime bell went off, and we started to pack up. Then I made my decision. I would attend the function as Noah, but I would be ready to do a quick-change act into Unuman if that became necessary. That would be very dangerous-but also an opportunity to gain some knowledge about the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.

"This is going to be awesome," Peter said as we walked to our next class. "I can't wait to see the Avengers up close!"

I smiled at my friend's enthusiasm, even as I felt the weight of my secret identity pressing down on me. "Yeah, Pete. It's going to be quite an event."

Later that afternoon, we entered a bustling event center with the animated chattering of our classmates from Midtown High. The Avengers Charity Event was at full swing: there were crowds of people milling about, their eyes wide with anticipation. Beside me, Peter practically vibrated with excitement.

"Can you believe we're really here, Noah?" Peter said, his eyes cast this way and that around the room. "Look, there's Captain America!"

I nodded, viewing the scene with a calculated expression. To these students, it was the event of a lifetime. To me, it was just another Tuesday. I'd seen far grander, across the cosmos.

"It's pretty impressive," I said, trying to meet Peter's level of enthusiasm. "Let's see if we can get closer to the stage."

We pushed our way through the crowd; Peter snapped photos for the school paper. My senses were on overdrive, watching out for potential danger. The last thing I needed was trouble at an event crawling with superheroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

It had suddenly quietened down; Tony Stark had taken the stage with his charismatic grin lighting up the room.

"Welcome, everyone!" Tony announced. "We're so stoked to have you all here behind such a great cause. Now, who's ready to meet some superheroes?"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Peter turned to me, his eyes shining. "This is amazing, Noah! I cannot wait to meet them!"

I smiled at my friend's excitement. "It'll be great, Pete. Just remember to breathe when you talk to them, okay?"

The meet-and-greet began, and we slowly waded our way through the line. When we finally reached Tony Stark, Peter was all but speechless.

"Mr. Stark, it's an honor to meet you," Peter managed to stammer out. "I'm a huge fan of your work in clean energy and robotics."

Tony grinned. "Always good to meet a fan of science. And you are?"

"Peter Parker, sir. And this is my friend, Noah Fisher."

Tony turned his attention towards me, and the wheels began to turn in his mind. "Noah Fisher, right? I've heard about you. Top of your class at Midtown, correct?"

I nodded politely and smiled. "That's right, Mr. Stark. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"So, Noah," Tony said, glinting an eye, "what's your take on the latest advancements in quantum computing?"

I heard the challenge in his voice. He was testing me. Well, two could play at that game.

"Fascinating field," I replied. "Though I think the real breakthrough will come when we can harness quantum entanglement for instantaneous data transfer across vast distances. The implications for space exploration alone would be revolutionary."

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Interesting theory. But how would you account for quantum decoherence over such distances?"

It was an intellectual sparring match that Tony and I went on for the next few minutes. What proved astounding to the rest of the Avengers and guests nearby was what ensued. I modulated my responses to show advanced knowledge without revealing anything humanly impossible.

Finally, Tony laughed, clapping me on the shoulder. "I've got to hand it to you, kid. You've got a hell of a brain in that head of yours. How'd you like an internship at Stark Industries?"

I gasped, feigning surprise. "Really? That would be amazing, Mr. Stark. But…" I turned to Peter, doing his best not to look devastated. "Could Peter come along as well? He's genius level with robotics and stuff like that."

Tony thought for a second, then shrugged. "Why not? We'll have to do some more vetting, but I'm always scouting for new talent. What do you say, Parker?"

Peter's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yes! I mean, thank you, Mr. Stark! You won't regret it!"

Tony smiled. "Great. My assistant will be in touch with both of you to set things up. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got more adoring fans to meet."

We stepped back from the Avengers as Peter just stood there in his reverie of excitement. I saw Gwen in the crowd and had an idea. It was time to address the elephant in the room.

"Pete, why don't you go check out the tech display? I need to talk to Gwen for a minute."

Still beaming, Peter nodded. I went over to Gwen, who smiled diffidently as I neared her.

"Hey Noah, isn't this event amazing?"

Ignoring what she said, I cleared my throat. "Gwen, could we talk for a second? Somewhere a little quieter?"

We found some sort of secluded corner. In Gwen's eyes, hope and nerves were at odds.

"Gwen, I. .. I've known you've had a crush on me for a while now," I said, watching her cheeks flush red. "And I want you to know that I like you too. I think I'm ready to turn this into a real relationship if you are."

Gwen's eyes went wide, a smile blooming on her face. "Really? Noah, I... yes, I'd love that!"

Just as I was about to reply, Gwen came forward and kissed me. It was sweet and gentle, and for one moment I could let myself forget the convolutions of my cosmic nature. Perhaps I no longer experienced relationships just as humans did, but whatever the case, I could appreciate a connection when it happened.

Screams from the main event hall broke our moment. Gwen and I broke apart, rushing back to see what happened.

The scene before us was pure pandemonium. Guests had fled in terror from a towering, crackling-with-energy figure—one of Spider-Man's most dangerous foes: Electro. Bolts of electricity were being hurled everywhere by the madman.

"Where is Spider-Man?" Electro roared. "Come out and face me, wall crawler!"

I cursed under my breath. This was exactly what I'd been hoping to avoid. The Avengers sprang into action but were really at a disadvantage against Electro's powers except for Thor.

"Gwen, find Peter and get to safety," I urged. "I'll try to find some help."

Gwen nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "Be careful, Noah!"

I slipped away to a secluded area to change into Unuman. At the same time, I could feel Peter change into Spider-Man some ways away from me. This was going to be quite some task of keeping my secret identity from him and the Avengers.

I flew into the main hall, creating a forcefield in order to protect civilians from Electro's attacks. Spider-Man swung in moments later, quipping as he dodged Electro's attacks with lightning bolts.

"Hey, Sparkplug! Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to crash a party?"

Electro snarled, focusing his attacks on Spider-Man. "There you are, insect! Time to fry!"

I wanted to keep my powers low-key, but Electro's relentless assault forced my hand. I channeled cosmic energy, creating a vortex that began to drain Electro's electricity.

"What... what are you doing?" Electro screamed, his power visibly diminishing.

The Avengers could only watch in awe as I neutralized the Electro monolithically. Captain America approached when Electro fell, powerless.

"That was amazing work, son," he said with wonder in his voice. "I don't think we've had the pleasure. I'm-"

"Captain America," I said, filling my voice with more bass. "Pleasure meeting you all. I'm Unuman."

Iron Man alighted beside us, faceplate retracting to show Tony Stark's fascinated expression. "Unuman, huh? That was some impressive energy manipulation. Care to explain how you did that?"

I could feel Black Widow's scrutinizing gaze on me, her mind no doubt trying to connect Noah Fisher with Unuman. I would have to be extra careful from now on.

"Trade secret, I'm afraid," I said, smiling at them. "Now, if you will, I really should check up on the civilians."

I flew off before they could make any more inquiries, my mind racing. Internship at Stark Industries, Gwen, now this business with the Avengers being interested in Unuman. Life was becoming seriously complicated.

The next morning at Midtown High, the excitement still lingered from yesterday's Avengers Charity Event. Students huddled together, describing their close calls with superhero fame. Peter was at his locker, literally bouncing on his heels when he saw me come up to him.

"Noah! There you are!" Peter continued, now with excitedly opened eyes. "Can you believe what happened yesterday? Electro showed up and tried to wreck everything!"

I feigned surprise. "Wow, really? I must have missed all the action. What happened?"

He plunged immediately into a blow-by-blow of the fight, using his hands to dramatize. "It was insane! Spider-Man was there of course, but then Unuman appeared. He just rammed right through Electro like he was nothing!"

I nodded, trying to look properly awed. "That's amazing, Pete. I'm sorry I wasn't there for it. I was, uh, helping some people find safe exits when everything went nuts."

It took some of the excitement out of Peter. "Oh, well, that makes sense, I guess. I just wish you could have seen it. Where did you end up?"

Before I could answer, I saw Natalie Rushman walking down the hall toward me, with her eyes locked to mine with a calculating intensity. I could almost feel the weight of her suspicion.

"I-I ended up outside," I hastily continued, turning back to Peter. "But hey, tell me more about Unuman. Did it match up to the papers?"

With that, Peter started another long, excited description that my mind only half followed. It was around three-fourths more taken up by frantically racing thoughts about how to thread my way through this increasingly nightmarish web of identities and secrets.

A tamasha broke out at the entrance to the classroom. There was a new student, and she was attracting every eye in the corridor. Her free-flowing red hair seemed to have a life of its own, catching the light in every room.

"Who's that?" I asked, although I already knew the answer.

Peter's jaw had dropped slightly. "I… I don't know," he managed to stammer out.

The new girl beamed at us. "Hi! I'm Mary Jane Watson. Just transferred here. Could one of you point me towards Mr. Warren's biology class?"

Peter seemed to be tongue-tied, so I saved the day. "That's actually our next class. I'm Noah Fisher, and this is Peter Parker. We'd be happy to show you the way."

Mary Jane smiled broadly. "Thanks, that'd be great!"

I watched Peter's face like a hawk, accompanying Mary Jane, trying not to miss a single detail. The oddest of feelings crept through me—something like. Perhaps concern or nostalgia? I knew the emotional ride that Peter was about to be taken on with Mary Jane. Part of me began to wonder if my presence might alter that journey for better or worse.

The rest of the day was jumbled into a blur of classes with strategically placed shots from Peter, whose eyes kept meeting with Mary Jane's. When school was finally out, I found Gwen waiting by my locker.

"Hey," she said, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee or something?"

I smiled back and banished worries of the cosmic into the back of my mind for just a second. "Yes, very much. In fact, what do you say we go over to my place? It's not a very long walk, and, really, the view is quite spectacular."

Gwen's eye brightened. "That sounds awesome."

We turned a corner and shortly found ourselves in front of my apartment, still talking a bit about classes and the rush from yesterday. Upon entering, Gwen's jaw dropped.

"Noah, this is, like, amazing," she breathed as she took in the view of the much larger living area, complete with the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Central Park. "Are you secretly rich or something?"

I chuckled and went to the kitchen to make us some coffee. "Let's just say I've got some good investments."

Gwen followed me into the kitchen and propped herself against the counter. "You're quite a mystery, Noah Fisher. Just when I think I've got you all figured out, bam."

I handed her a steaming mug. "Part of my charm, maybe?"

Gwen laughed, taking a sip. "Definitely. So, about yesterday… are we officially.?"

"Dating?" I finished for her. "I'd like that if you would."

She smiled and set the mug down before she grabbed me around the neck. "I would love that."

That was how the rest of the evening passed: we conversed, then chuckled, eventually snuggling on the couch facing out to where the sun was setting over Central Park. I tried to immerse myself in that tendency to the fullest, in the warmth of human contact, but it was impossible. A larger part of me was always going to remain distant, facing.

This life in the Marvel universe had fulfilled everything I had dreamed of in my youth: it was exciting, filled with extraordinary people and events, but there was something basically empty in the whole thing. None of this was truly my experiences, my relationships. I was playing a script and it was of my choosing.

She slept in my arms, the soft and steady hiss of her breathing in my ear. I looked down at her, the tangle of many emotions within my chest. Yes, it certainly was affection, but it was a thing bemused, seen through the lens of my cosmic nature.

I slowly detached myself from the couch and stood next to the window. Down below, millions of lives formed a series of patterns so highly complex. Peter must be out there somewhere, still thinking about Mary Jane. The Avengers were probably talking about whatever mystery Unuman was involved in, and here I was, in-between different worlds, different identities.

* * *

I stepped out of my last class for the day, already with my mind in the weekend plans I have with Peter and Gwen. Everybody talked at once in the hallways, lockers slamming and sneakers squeaking on the polished floors. I was almost to the exit gate when a voice called from behind.

"Noah Fisher? Do you have a moment?"

I turned to see Ms. Rushman, the teacher who had half the boys in school tripping over themselves. Her red hair was pulled in to a neat bun, her green eyes sharp and calculating.

"Sure, Ms. Rushman. What's up?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

She gave me a thin smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I was thinking that maybe working in the government would interest you. There are excellent opportunities for people like you, you know, with your abilities."

I arched an eyebrow. The innuendo behind her statement was not lost on me. "That's all very flattering, Ms. Rushman, but to be frank, right now I'm just trying to find my place in the world. Know how it is to be a person my age."

Her smile broadened. "Drop the act, Noah. We all know you're Unuman now."

I laughed and tried to make it seem genuine. "Unuman? Ms. Rushman, I'm pretty sure you have me mixed up. I try to be just a normal high school kid."

Before she could respond, a deep voice cut through our conversation. "I think we're past the point of pretending, Mr. Fisher."

I started to turn and saw a tall, imposing man with an eyepatch now striding towards me. Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. My heart sank: this was not how I planned for my Friday afternoon to go.

He propped a tablet up in front of him, scrolling through the screen as I could see snippets of footage matching surveillance, cell phone videos matched with data charts. "We have more than enough to place you at the scenes. So why don't we skip the denials and just have an honest conversation?"

I exhaled an audible sigh, shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. You got me. What do you want?"

He nodded, apparently pleased. "First things first, I need to tell you what S.H.I.E.L.D. is, since the public doesn't know we exist."

I nodded dutifully while he explained, but inside I was just biting my tongue to not burst into giggles. If he only knew.

"We'd like to offer you the opportunity to work with us," Fury continued. "To make that offer official, and to help protect the world on a global scale. Your abilities could be invaluable to our organization."

I chose my words carefully. "That's... a lot to take in, Mr. Fury. I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure if that's the path I want to take right now."

Ms. Rushman—or rather, Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow—stepped forward. "Think about all the good you could do, Noah. The lives you could save."

I locked eyes with her, wondering if she knew that I'd known her true identity all along. "All right," I said at last. "I'll think about it. But I can't make you any promises."

Fury nodded. "That's fair. We'll give you some time to consider. Agent Romanoff will continue her assignment here at Midtown to keep an eye on stuff."

"And by stuff, you mean me," I said, deadpan.

Natasha smirked. "Smart kid."

They left shortly after that, thus leaving me alone in the corridor. I could have easily used my cosmic awareness to find out the truth of why Romanoff was still here as I wasn't satisfied with their answer, but I let it slide. Sometimes, it was better to let the cards fall as they may.

I wore my Unuman persona later that evening and spread my wings for the skies. Below me, the entire city sprawled with the tapestry of lights and shadows. From above, I witnessed a mugging and swooped in to intervene.

"Hey! Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not nice to take things that don't belong to you?" I called out, landing between the mugger and his victim.

He took one glance at me, and he took off. I was just going to follow him when a familiar figure in red and blue swung onto the scene.

"Whoa! You're Unuman!" Spider-Man said, its eyes bulging unnaturally beneath the mask. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you! You're, like, the coolest superhero ever!"

I chuckled at that, feeling amused and mortified at the same time. "Thanks, Spider-Man. But really, I think you are more cool. Your webs alone are something out of the ordinary."

"You've got to be kidding! You can fly and manipulate energy! That's way cooler than sticky webs," he insisted.

We went around for about an hour talking in between stops, trying to stop various crimes. It was surreal in a sense, knowing this was really Peter underneath the mask, and he fanboyed over me, when in reality, the kid was someone I looked up to.

"You know," I said finally, "I think you're a better hero than I am, Spider-Man. You do this because it's right—not because you have incredible powers."

He looked at me in a rather confused manner. "Wow, that's… thanks, Unuman. That means a lot coming from you."

We said our goodbyes, and I went off to Stark Industries for my internship. Tony was in rare form, cracking jokes and showing off his latest inventions.

"So, kid," he said, lobbing me a prototype gauntlet. "What do you think? Too flashy?"

I spun it around in my hand, the sleek design impressive. "For you? Not flashy enough."

He let out a bark of laughter. "I like you, Fisher. You've got spunk."

The door to the laboratory burst open as Peter burst in, looking a little flustered. "Sorry I'm late, Mr. Stark! There was a… um, a thing with my aunt."

Tony waved him off. "No worries, kid. Come help us test this new targeting system."

Eventually we stepped out of Stark Industries, and I had a thick envelope of cash in my hand. Tony's dramatic flair didn't stop at payment. For Peter, this meant everything. For me, it was just paper. But I smiled and pocketed it all the same.

"Can you believe this, Noah?" Peter's eyes were so wide with excitement. "We're actually getting paid to work with Tony Stark!"

I chuckled. "It's pretty surreal, isn't it?"

"Surreal doesn't even begin to cover it," Peter grinned. "No more sweating to make ends meet with Bugle photos. This is… this is life-changing."

I felt a warm satisfaction knowing Peter wouldn't have to deal with Jameson's abuse anymore. He deserved better than that.

We took our leave and I started walking back home. The city buzzed around me, quite alive with Friday night. I was about halfway home to my apartment when I could feel it, a rent in the cosmic fabric, reality coming undone. Something big was happening.

I ducked into an alley, quickly shifting into an Unuman form. In moments, I was in the sky above the cityscape, following my sense of chaos. It didn't take very long to recognize the source.

Doctor Doom, in all of his glorious armor, fighting the Fantastic Four. Energy blasts were firing across the night sky, and concrete shattered to dust in the streets.

I swooped down, landing next to Mr. Fantastic. "Need a hand?"

Reed Richards' eyes widened in recognition. "Unuman! Your assistance would be greatly appreciated."

I nodded and turned my attention to Doom. In the mask, there was no flicker of emotion, but beneath, there was no doubt he was working overtime in that calculating mind of his.

"Ah, the cosmic upstart joins in," Doom's metallic voice rang out. "You're out of your depth, boy."

I smirked. "We'll see about that."

I dissipated the energy field Doom was with a wave of my hand. A moment later, his armor began to disassemble itself.

"What… what is this?!" Doom bellowed, struggling against failing technology.

"Just evening the odds," I replied calmly.

The entire fight had lasted no more than a few minutes. Poor Doom, sans all his usual tech, was hardly a match for the combined might of the Fantastic Four and myself. How quiet the world seemed for that moment!

"That was impressive," muttered Susan Storm, and her force field dropped.

Johnny Storm landed at my side; the Human Torch himself flashed out. "Dude, you just took down Doom like it was nothing! That was awesome!"

I shrugged, downplaying my actions. "You had it under control. I just sped things up a bit."

Ben Grimm, the Thing, clapped me on the back with his rocky hand. "Don't be modest, kid. You done good."

Reed approached, his eyes alight with scientific curiosity. "Unuman, I'd be very interested in studying your abilities. Would you consider coming to the Baxter Building with us?"

I hesitated. I mean, Reed Richards was brilliant—too brilliant, and there was a risk that he might know more than I was willing to reveal. But curiosity overcame me.

"Sure. Why not?" I asked in return.

The trip to the Baxter Building was surreally mind-bending. I had seen it from the outside so many times, but being inside was taking it to the next level. Reed's lab was like a candy store for a little kid: cutting-edge technology had been used for all sorts of bizarre-looking experiments.

"This is fascinating," Reed muttered, eyeing readouts from various scanners. "Your energy signature is unlike anything I've ever seen."

I just stood there, letting him run his tests. Sue brought me a glass of water, her nice smile reminding me of… someone. Someone from before. My mother.

"So, Unuman," Johnny piped up, "where you from? How'd you get your powers?"

I gave him a mysterious smile. "It's a long story."

"Aw, come on!" Johnny moaned. "You can't leave us hanging like that!"

Ben chuckled. "Leave the kid alone, Matchstick. He's entitled to his secrets."

Time went by, and it was well after midnight before I realized it.

"Oh my," Sue said, glancing at the clock. "We've kept you here so late. You're welcome to stay the night if you'd like."

I just considered it for a moment. It would have been impolite not to accept anyway, and besides, I was curious about this place. "That would be great, thank you."

I was given a guest room that looked more beautiful than any hotel room I had ever been in. The view of the city was breath-taking.

I lay on the bed, not really needing sleep but going through the motions. My mind wandered back to my old life, my old family. The Fantastic Four was welcoming, kind even, but it wasn't the same. It could never be the same.

I was a cosmic entity now or essentially God. It was just a pretense of being human. The intrinsic connection which I felt towards them—towards all human beings—was terribly elusive. From me to them there existed a void of power and meaning.

The morning light and, with it, pancakes, were wafting through. I went down to the kitchen to find the group sitting around a large round table.

"Morning, sleeping beauty!" Johnny greeted me. "I hope you like blueberry pancakes."

I smiled and sat. "Who doesn't?"

The domesticity of the scene was almost overwhelming. They bickered and joked like any family, passing syrup and stealing bites from each other's plates. For a moment, I could almost forget who and what I was.

"So, Unuman," Reed said between bites, "I was hoping we could run a few more tests today. Your power levels are off the charts, and I'd love to understand more about how they work."

I nodded, knowing I had to be cautious. "Sure, but maybe not too many? I got… other responsibilities."

Sue gave Reed a look. "Don't overwhelm our guest, dear. He's not one of your experiments."

"Yeah, of course," Reed replied, a shade sheepishly.

I spent another hour in Reed's lab again. I let him get a few readings, but I was careful not to let anything too cosmic out. It was quite a tightrope to walk.

At last, I managed to leave. They all came to see me off.

"Anytime you want to drop by, Unuman," Sue said warmly.

"Yeah, come back soon!" Johnny added. "Maybe next time we can have a race!"

Ben shook my hand. "Take care of yourself, kid."

Reed nodded, obviously still bursting with questions. "Thank you for your time. The data you've provided will keep me busy for months."

I smiled at them all, feeling both warm and melancholy. "Thanks for the hospitality. I'll see you around."

And with that I took off into the sky, shooting for the highest heavens, leaving the inky black below and the Baxter Building behind me. Outstretched before me, the city of millions' sprawl, each dealing with their own stories of struggle and work – here I was, an astral-entity playing at being one of them.
First, in Queens, I found the fire first.

"Thank yeh, Unuman!" a young boy said, wide-eyed.

I withdrew to his level. "Stay safe, kid. And always listen to the firefighters, okay?"

The boy smiled enthusiastically, clutching his action figure—Ironically, a Spiderman toy.

The rest of the morning went by in a blur of rescues, crime-stopping, and community service. By noon, I found myself in Times Square, where people were pushing one another, all begging for pictures and autographs.

"Unuman! Can I get a selfie?" a teenager asked, her phone already out.

I smiled. "Of course."

We posed and I even used a touch of my power, making sure the photo would come out just right. Social media was abuzz with Unuman sightings, and I made sure to help build the legend online between heroic acts.

Later on in the afternoon, my phone buzzed with a text from Gwen Stacy.

"Hey, want to meet up? I've got some news!"

I replied back in a flash. "Sure. Where?"

"Central Park, by the fountain. 30 minutes?"

"See you there."

I wrapped up what I was doing at the time- assistance in finding an elderly woman's lost cat, amazingly stuck up a tree- and headed into the park.

Gwen was waiting by the time I got there. Her blonde hair shined in the sunlight as she waved enthusiastically at me.

"Noah! Over here!"

I jogged over, putting on my best 'normal human' act. "Hey, Gwen. What's the big news?"

Her smile was radiant. "I got it! The internship at Oscorp!"

My heart did a little flip. On one hand, I was genuinely happy for her. On the other hand, I knew the dangers that lurked within Oscorp's walls.

"That's fantastic, Gwen!" I managed, forcing enthusiasm into my voice. "Congratulations!"

She threw her arms around me, and I tentatively squeezed her back, keen not to choke her.

"I'm so excited," she bubbled. "It really could be my big break into the world of scientific research!"

I nodded still grinning. "You're going to do great things, Gwen. I know it."

We moved through the park, Gwen chatting almost nonstop about what she would be doing in the future. I listened, trying to encourage her here and there, while my mind raced among possible scenarios and dangers.

"Oh," Gwen abruptly said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Wanna come over to my place? My parents are out of town, and I have some celebratory ice cream with our names on it."

I hesitated for a moment before agreeing. "Sure, why not?"

Gwen's place was homey, but nothing in comparison to my Central Park penthouse. Yet, at the same time, something about the room made it warm and inviting compared to the cold feel of my place.

We sat down on the couch, me with the two bowls of ice cream. Gwen cuddled next to me, her warmth in sharp contrast to my naturally cooler body temperature.

"You know," she said, looking up at me, "I'm really glad you're here, Noah."

I met her gaze and saw the affection in the very depths of her eyes. It's in vain situations like this that the yawning gulf between us—between her and me—becomes so acutely apparent, not only in terms of power but in the nature of our very existences.

"I'm glad too, Gwen," I answered softly.

She leaned in, and I didn't stop her. Our lips met, and for one moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the sensation. It was nice, in a distant sort of way, like appreciating a beautiful painting.

Quickly, things continued to spiral from there. The clothes came off, and now we were in her room. I didn't become emotionally close, though our bodies touched intimately. It isn't that I didn't care about Gwen; I did, in my own way. The depth of human emotion—the raw passion and connection—was something I could only pretend at, never feel.

Later on, we were laying in her room, my chest under Gwen's head. She could not hear my heartbeat - it did not exist.

"That was." she started.

"Nice," I supplied for her, and gave a little smile.

She pushed up on an elbow so she could look at me. "You're always so peaceful, Noah. So. in control. Sometimes I really do wonder what you're thinking in there."

If only she knew. "Just thinking about how happy I am for you," I deflected. "The Oscorp internship is a big deal."

At the mention of her feat, her face lit up again. "I know! I can't wait to start. Who knows? Maybe I'll even get to meet Norman Osborn himself!"

At the mention of the name, I tensed a bit but relaxed just as fast. "Maybe. Just.. be careful, okay? Big corporations can be cutthroat."

Gwen laughed. "Always the worrier. Don't worry, I can handle myself."

I knew she could, under normal circumstances. But Oscorp was far from normal.

"I know you can," I said, pulling her close. "You're one of the smartest people I know."

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing. Still, Gwen shared her hopes and dreams for the future, and I lent an encouraging ear where I could. All the while, a part of me was still planning, strategizing how I might keep her safe without giving away my nature.

As evening began to fall, I made my excuses to leave. Gwen walked me to the door, gave me a final, lingering kiss.

"Thank you so much for this, Noah. I really appreciate it."

I grinned. "Of course, Gwen. You know you can always count on me."

* * *

Yesterday's events remained etched in my mind concerning Gwen, but I shook the thoughts away. Today was business, or more specifically, my internship under Tony Stark.

I came into Stark Tower, its sleek spire dominating the New York skyline. The security guards nodded at me; I had been through this ritual enough times now. I made my way onto Tony's personal lab, where I found the genius billionaire hard at work.

"Morning, kid," he greeted me without looking up from the holographic display. "Ready to make some magic?"

I grinned. "Always, Mr. Stark. What are we working on today?"

Finally, Tony looked up, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Suit upgrades. I've got a few things I want to run by you."

The next several hours we were lost in a world of tech and innovation. Even to me, a cosmic entity, the way Tony's mind worked was nothing short of a wonder. He'd kick out an idea, I'd put some shine on it, and, well… the results were sure to be something special.

"You know, Noah," Tony said, as he took a moment to rest, "I've got to say, having you here makes all the difference. The suit's coming along better than I ever thought possible."

I felt a surge of pride. "Thanks, Mr. Stark. It's an honor to work with you."

Tony waved his hand. "Please, call me Tony. Mr. Stark was my father."

I nodded, and inside, I was gawking at the man in front of me. This was a human capable of making a suit that might hopefully rival cosmic powers. Impressive and concerning.

"So," Tony said, segueing to another topic, "where's the other intern today? Peter, right?"

I paused for a moment before settling on the truth. "He's out with a girl. Mary Jane. He's been trying to get her attention for a while now."

Tony arched an eyebrow. "Good for him. Just remind him this isn't going to be a habitual thing. Stark Industries internships are reserved for a reason."

"I'll be sure to remind him of that," I said.

We went back to our work, the lab filled with the mechanical and holographic sounds that were the norm. All at once, an alarm blared through the building.

"FRIDAY, what's going on?" Tony said.

The room was filled with the AI's voice. "Boss, we have an intruder. It appears to be Whiplash. He is asking for you."

Tony let slip a curse. "Noah, get yourself secured. I'll deal with this."

Before I could comprehend any of that, the door of the lab crashed open. And a man, up in some high-tech suit, electrically crackling, stood there in the doorway.

"Stark!" he roared. "Face me!"

Tony stepped forward, his own suit assembling around him. "I have told you, Ivan, you cannot keep visiting unexpectedly, ja? This is improper."

Whiplash's eyes dropped to me. "Who's this? Little protege of yours?"

With a speed that belied his bulk, he had me, an electrified whip about my neck. I could easily have broken free, but I could not afford to show that I am Unuman.

"Cut him loose, Ivan," Tony said in a dangerous, low voice. "This is between you and me."

So the next few minutes had me putting on the act of a helpless hostage, watching Tony go into action against Whiplash. I could end this in seconds, so I felt frustrated; however, I needed to keep up the charade to keep my cover safe.

Finally, Tony disabled Whiplash's suit, and the villain collapsed unconscious.

"Noah, you okay?" Tony asked, his faceplate retracting.

I nodded, pretending to be shaken. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Mr. Tony."

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment."

I knew this was my way out. As Tony was distracted, securing Whiplash, I slipped away, transforming into Unuman. I returned just in time to see Whiplash breaking loose from his restraints.

"Need a hand?" I called out, hovering above them.

Tony's head jerked up, surprise lighting on his face. "Unuman? What are you doing here?"

I didn't reply but turned my attention to Whiplash. My cosmic powers made subduing him like child's play.

Tony's security team arrived to take Whiplash into custody. I landed beside Tony, who looked from me to Whiplash with gratitude and suspicion.

"Thanks for the assist," he said. "But how'd you know to come here?"

I shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood. It's what I do."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "Right. And where's Noah? My intern who was just here?"

I realized my mistake too late. Tony Stark, genius that he was, had put the pieces together.

"He's safe," I said carefully. "I made sure of that before coming here."

Tony stepped closer, his voice lowering with every word. "Cut the act, kid. I know it's you."

I was about to deny it for a second, but looking into Tony's eyes, I figured it was pointless. I sighed, and my Unuman act disappeared, with Noah coming into view.

"How long have you known?" I asked.

Tony smirked. "About thirty seconds, but I've had my suspicions for a while. You're good, kid, but not that good."

"I underestimated you, Tony."

"Most people do." He winked. "So, want to tell me how an intern at Stark Industries is also the most powerful superhero in New York?"

I needed a millisecond to get it. "It's… complicated."

Tony slapped me on the shoulder. "I bet it is. Your secret's safe with me, but really, I do expect quite a few good explanations from you eventually."

I nodded, suddenly relieved. "Thanks, Tony. I appreciate that."

"Don't mention it. Now, how about we get back to work on that suit? I've got some ideas I think even Unuman might find interesting."

I smiled slightly and followed Tony back into the lab. Sure, this day was a little different than I thought it would go, but then again, maybe different had its advantages. An ally such as Tony Stark could be useful in the future.

The rest of the day was a blur of innovation and friendly repartee. Tony showered me with questions about my powers, which naturally I answered as vaguely as I could. Despite his curiosity, he respected my privacy, focusing instead on how we could incorporate some of my abilities into his suit designs.

Finally, when the sun had begun to set, we relented and stopped working. Tony walked me to the elevator, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You know, Noah," he said, "I have experienced many extraordinary things in my time. But you… you are something else."

I smiled, not knowing what to say.

Tony added, "So, whatever your story, or whatever brought you here, I'm happy you're on our side and happy to have you as my intern."

That felt real, and the warmth was disarming; it was almost… human.

"Thanks, Tony," I said softly. "Means a lot."

The elevator doors slid open, and I went in. Tony gave me a mock salute.

"See you tomorrow, Unuman. Try not to save the world before your shift starts."

I laughed. "No promises."

The doors closed, and I leaned against the wall, letting out a deep sigh. Today had been full of twists I'd never expected, but it was ending up better than I ever could have hoped. Now Tony Stark was an ally with my secret, not a potential threat.

* * *

Today was the day that Susan Storm and Reed Richards got married. I was excited and didn't care. My human half wanted to party, while my cosmic entity side was detached from the event. I donned my Unuman uniform and went with the flow to the venue.

The scene was a sight to see, combing the efforts of heroes from every corner of the Marvel universe; some in costume, others in civvies—there I was, standing, as Spider-Man swung by. I figured I might as well say hello.

"Hey, Spidey!" called out, beckoning to him.

He landed quite gracefully next to me. "Hey, Unuman! Good seeing you, man. Can you believe this turnout?"

I laughed. "It's definitely on the larger side. Listen, there's something I really need to talk to you about."

Spider-Man cocked his head to the side in curiosity. "Oh? What's up?"

I took a deep breath and said, "I think it's time you knew who I am. My real name is Noah Fisher."

I could see him going into shock, masked face or not. "Wait, what? Noah? But… how. Why are you telling me this?"

I smiled. "Because you're my best friend, Peter. And yes, I know you're Spider-Man too."

Peter stumbled back a little. "How did you… Never mind. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You always seem to know everything."

"Not everything," I said, concealing the full scope of my cosmic nature. "So, how's it going with Mary Jane?"

Peter's body language immediately shifted to flustered. "Oh, uh, it's going well, I think. She… she seems to like me a lot."

I nodded, subtly using my cosmic awareness to check that if Peter asked Mary Jane out she'd agree. "That's great, Peter. You really should ask her out soon."

"You think so?" Peter asked, hope in his voice.

"Absolutely," I assured him. "Now, go mingle. I'm sure there are plenty of people you want to catch up with."

Peter nodded and swung off to join a group of other heroes. I turned my attention toward a group I had neglected quite a bit, basically from the moment I'd arrived - those known as the X-Men.

I approached them, trying to put on my most charming smile. "Hello, everyone. I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Unuman."

Cyclops stepped forward, extending his hand. "Scott Summers. We've heard a lot about you."

I shook his hand, feeling a small fraction of tension in his grip. "All good things, I hope?"

"Mostly," he replied with a wry smile.

Jean Grey moved closer, green eyes glinting with interest. "I'm Jean. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Unuman. Your powers are... intriguing."

I had attracted her in ways that were yielding stronger emotions than I'd expected. Just subtly using my cosmic awareness, I could tell it was not just Jean's natural attraction to me; the Phoenix Force within her was drawn to my cosmic energy.

"Thanks, Jean," I responded, taking an almost unnoticeable step back. "Your powers are pretty impressive too."

I felt Cyclops tense for a moment at our interaction. Not wanting to make a scene, I bid the group goodbye.

"It was nice meeting you all," I said. "But I really should get around. Enjoy the wedding!"

I turned away, and could feel Jean's eyes upon me as I left. The ceremony was beautiful, that rare moment of peace and happiness we all seem to look forward to in our everyday lives of craziness. I spotted Reed across the crowded reception and he motioned me to come over.

"Unuman! I'm so glad you could make it," he said exuberantly. "Ever since you left, I've been wanting to talk to you more about your powers. And perhaps we could engage in some more intellectual discourse?"

I just nodded politely. "That'll be interesting, Reed. We'll have to set something up after your honeymoon."

Susan joined us, radiant in her wedding gown. "Don't tell me you're already talking about work, Reed," she chided playfully.

"You know me, dear," Reed replied with a sheepish grin.

I congratulated the happy couple and moved on, allowing them their special day. The rest of the event I tried to mingle and chat, playing my role to a T, friendly neighborhood cosmic hero.

Yet underneath it all, I felt the familiar sense of detachment. These people, these heroes, were my friends and allies. Still, they were so… human. Their joys and sufferings, their loves and fears—these things were all so very fleeting against the vast backdrop of the universe.

The music swelled and couples took to the dance floor, champagne flowing freely. I was on the outer fringe of everything, just a silent witness to this part of human life. Not for the first time, I wondered if I was ever going to find my place in this world.

The sun was setting and light shone upon the celebration. Heroes had started bidding other heroes goodbye, leaving for the protection of their environments and territories. I saw them off, feeling wonderment at their dedication despite knowing the vastness of the threats that lay beyond Earth.

I was among the last to leave. I found myself standing alone, looking out over the city as night fell. The lights of New York began to twinkle, a pale imitation of the starscape that I knew lay beyond.

"Quite a view, isn't it?" a voice said behind me. I turned to see Tony Stark, nursing a glass of scotch.

"It really is," I agreed. "Sometimes I almost forget how beautiful it is."

Tony beamed a smile back at me. "Right. You talk like you're not from around here, really."

I smiled mysteriously. "Maybe I'm not."

He laughed. "You know, most people would be freaked out by that. But after everything I've seen? It barely registers on the weird scale."

We stood there silently for a moment, in a moment of friendly silence.

"Have you ever thought about it, Noah?" Tony suddenly asked. "What it all means, all this? Why do we risk our lives, put on these suits?"

I treaded carefully in formulating my answer. "I think… it's because you believe in something bigger than yourselves. You see the potential of humanity and you want to shield it, nurture it."

The slow nod of Tony's head. "And you? What do you believe?"

I turned away to face the starlit sky. "Yeah, well, I believe in the infinite potentials of the universe, Mr. Stark. And right now, that means a better future for Earth."

Tony slapped me on the shoulder. "Strong words there, kid. How about we go back in? I hear—there's an after-party."

I chuckled, letting him lead me back into the warmth and light of the party. For now, I would leave the cosmic part of me outside and just be Noah Fisher, friend and fellow hero.

Author's Notes: Something I've been working on for a while. Let me know what you guys think.

Remember to support my Patreon.

Bosillic | First Story centered around Kizaru | Patreon

 

[Bosillic]

Stepping into the Baxter Building has become almost routine now. Seeing the machinery and smelling what was so familiar to me now in the building, did make me feel at home. It was months after Reed and Susan's wedding, and this had become my second home other then my Penthouse at Grand Central.

"What's up, Newman!" I heard Johnny's voice as soon as I was leaving the elevator door. They did live near the top of the Baxter Building, so it was kind of a challenge to get there without flight. The Baxter Building was way busier here then it was in comics. Johnny's enthusiasm never failed to make me smile, and that spoke a lot.

"Hello buddy," I said back, stretching a bit in my white and blue costume. I really would have accepted any other hero persona, and yet I chose Superman. It made sense, I had the archetype to be just like Superman, and I liked him.

Reed's power was on full display as he stretched to greet me. His face lit up as soon as he saw me, the man could always expect an adventure whenever I was around. "Great timing, son! I've adjusted the quantum resonator. You want to see?"

I followed Reed Richards into his lab, and it looked like an honest to god mess to the untrained eye. Machines of all kinds, holograms, and the like. His Lab was sci-fi and almost incomprehensible to humans except for people like Tony Stark, and of course, Reed. To those kinds of people, this lab was an instrument of science.

"So, what are you guys doing all day?" I asked, making sure not to trip over a tangled mess of wires.

Reed had all the excitement in the world contained in his figure. "Well, I've been looking at the last set of tests about you. The results are… astounding."

I could've used my cosmic awareness to realize how close Reed Richards was to uncovering the truth, but I didn't. Either one day he'll tell me that he found out that I was God or not. I still did feel a nervousness, just a tiny bit whenever this man talked about tests and data. Just how close was he?

"And?" My voice was even. "What did you find?"

Reed began to explain incredible detail, which was flying over my head and that was only because I was thinking about my Patrols and my duties at Unuvios. Still this man was incredibly smart, and required focus. After all, wasn't he the dude that went toe to toe with Galactus before?

My workings with Spiderman was becoming less and less important. The foes he faced were not a challenge to me and Spiderman as well, if he knew what he was doing. For the most part, being Spiderman wasn't just about responsibility, it was also the thrill. My presence with Peter was taking the fun out of being Spiderman which Peter would not admit. Besides the Fantastic Four, faced tougher opponents, world-ending threats, it was a given that I would end up working closely with them and if not them, the Avengers.

I didn't work with The Avengers thought, as they were working with Shield, and I'd be seen as basically signing up with Shield. Still, I was a part timer to them, and a bigger part timer to The Fantastic Four.

"Newman?" Sue's sweet voice was like cold water on me. "Are you alright? You look lost."

I just gave her a winning smile. "Just thinking about how I became a part-timer with The Fantastic Four. You still remember when I started working with the FF."

Ben chortled, his laugh easily booming and managing to sound gruff at the same time within his form. "Now, how could we forget? The way you appeared out of the blue, stoppin' that crime like it was nothin'."

"And that rapper gave you the new name 'Newman'," Johnny reminded, his enthusiasm never wavering. "The way it took the world by storm."

I laughed, not forgetting how easily the superhero name Newman replaced Unuman. It didn't take much as Unuman held no significance to the public, meanwhile Newman represented a new kind of hero, young, brash, and powerful, and alluded to my consistent presence with The Fantastic Four.

I added, "The ring does fit better, doesn't it?"

"Speaking of rings," Reed entered. "There's a new communication device that I've been working on, and I want you to take a look at it, pretty please?"

By helping him out, meant that I was soon flying over New York City, feeling the city air against my face. The city was a puzzle of lights, and people. From up here, it would be easy to forget any problems below but it was too bad that even from up here, I had problems from above. But that I was why I was here? So that I could forget about my problems from way up above, and so far it was working to an extent.

Hearing the crackle in my ear, alerted me to a message that was incoming. "Newman, we've got a situation downtown," I immediately knew the owner of that voice and it was Sue. "Some kind of energy disturbance."

"On it," I said sharply, following the location she provided and mostly just following the energy disturbance by my own strength.

When I arrived on the scene, it looked like I was staring at a Star System. There was a vortex in the middle of Time Square and what was floating around it was debris and cars.

"What in the world?" I spoke lowly, already knowing what to do as soon my eyes were laid on the vortex.

"Newman!" Reed verbally reached my ears as I faced him. The Fantastic Four were all arriving on the scene that showed off each of their own powers. Reed showed up by stretching around the corner of a building. Sue showed up thanks to her force field which showed invisibility. Johnny appeared by flames, which he left a trail as he flew in from the sky and Ben... Well, Ben just dropped from the sky, the concrete and cement shaking as he landed.

"Any ideas what we're dealing with?" I asked Reed, pretending to play aloof, despite already knowing what to do.

The man just simply turned his side by side, obviously not knowing what to do, his faced showed focus on the task at hand. "Not yet. But the energy readings are off the charts. We need to contain it before it grows any larger."

I nodded, trying to go with the best possible way to end this problem. This was why I hung out with The Fantastic Four more. The difficulties, the brainy battles I had with Reed, the dangers we faced, all of it was exhilarating despite being Unuvios.

"Sue," I messaged her, "can you create a force field around it?"

She nodded, her face beginning to contort in concentration. A bubble that was shimmering formed around the vortex, but she was obviously struggling to contain the vortex.

"Johnny, Ben," Reed ordered, "evacuate the area. We don't know how stable this thing is."

I floated closer to the vortex, needing to play the part of figuring out how to stop this vortex, and finally when I felt as if I had acted enough, I was ready to end this problem.

"Reed," I called out, "I think I can stabilize it. But I'll need to get closer."

He looked at me, concern in his eyes. "Are you sure? We don't know what effect it could have on you."

I grinned, my real self glinting through a little. "Trust me. I can handle it."

With that, I plunged into the vortex. The energy tumbled around me, through me, promising to rip me limb from limb. But I was more than just a guy in a cape. I was Newman-a Cosmic Entity playing at being human.

I reached out with my mind, sensing the flow of the energy. It was like a song, discordant, chaotic, but there was a melody buried beneath it. I just needed to find the right frequency, the right rhythm… And it didn't take long.

It hooked into my mind, my very being resonating with the energy. Slowly, carefully, I began to harmonize with it, easing it back into a stable pattern.

I can still hear the gasps and oaths of the Fantastic Four from where I lay outside. I could only imagine what they were actually seeing-their friend, aglow with cosmic energy, controlling the vortex.

At last, there came a deafening thunderclap sound as the vortex collapsed in upon itself. I floated there, in the middle of Times Square, bathed in a resplendent shower of sparkling energy which must have finally slowly begun to die out.

"Newman!" Johnny exclaimed, his voice bursting through the silence. "That was awesome! How did you do that?"

I landed gently on the ground, the eyes of my teammates-my friends-on me. "I… I'm not quite sure," I lied, hated the deception but so well aware it was needed. "It just felt... right."

Reed approached me, his scientific curiosity barely contained. "The readings I got from that event. Newman, they're unlike anything I've ever seen. We need to run more tests to understand what happened."

I nodded, recognizing that with every test, Reed came closer to the truth. For the time being, I was content being Newman, part-time member of the Fantastic Four, protector of Earth.

"Sure thing, Reed," I said, smiling. "But first, who's up for some shawarma? Saving the world always makes me hungry."

Needless to say, I can still enjoy food.

* * *

Shawarma scents wafted through the air, along with my goodbye. Ahead of me rose the glinting facade of the Baxter Building-the sure sign of scientific wonderland in downtown New York City. Time to discard the Newman skin and return to the Noah Fisher persona at Midtown High, top student and boyfriend of genius Gwen Stacy.

I felt the cool breeze ruffle my hair as I soared through the night sky, with the lights of the city twinkling below like so many stars. The myriad scents of this teeming metropolis wafted on the breeze. It was moments such as these that made me keenly aware of my double identity.

I landed in a narrow alley, letting my suit shimmer and dissolve, revealing a pair of civilian clothes that belonged to Noah Fisher. It had always felt weird, like stepping across some threshold from one world into another.

"Noah!" a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Gwen hurrying towards me, her blonde hair catching the glow of the streetlights. "Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for hours!"

Guilt twisted in my stomach. "Sorry, Gwen. I was... studying at the library. Lost track of time."

She frowned, her green eyes searching my face. "The library closed ages ago, Noah. What's really going on?"

I sighed, despising the lies that seemed to trip off my tongue so easily lately. The worst part was that even with my cosmic awareness no amount of lying could cover up the fact that I was Newman whenever I disappeared whenever I was out with Gwen. "I… I was helping Peter with a project. You know how he gets when he's focused on something."

Gwen's frown deepened. "Peter? He told me he was helping his Aunt May tonight."

My heart was racing, a very human reaction to being caught in a lie. "Did I say Peter? I meant. Ned. Yeah, Ned and I were studying."

Gwen's shoulders sagged, her eyes filling with a mix of hurt and suspicion. "Noah, what's going on with you lately? You're always disappearing, always distracted. If I didn't know better, I'd think..."

"Think what?" I asked, perhaps too quickly.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Never mind. Can we talk? Your place?"

I nodded, fishing my keys out of my pocket. The walk home was silent, the air between us weighted with unsaid things. We stepped into my room and I couldn't help but notice the awkward juxtaposition of Gwen among my scattered textbooks and half-finished science projects.

"Noah," she began, seated on the edge of my bed, "I need some answers. Are you... seeing someone behind my back?"

It came out of left field as though the rhetoric was striking me with a bolt of cosmic energy. This is what happens when I'm navigating life here without Cosmic Awareness. "What? No! Gwen, how could you even think that?"

She stared up at me, her eyes glimmering unshed. "What am I supposed to think? You're always running off, always making excuses. And when you are here, it's like… like you're not really here."

I sat beside her, taking her hands in mine. They were so small, so fragile. A stark reminder of how different we truly were. "Gwen, I swear to you, I'm not cheating. It's just… there's a lot going on right now. With school, and… other things."

"What other things?" she pressed. "Noah, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?"

I looked into her eyes, and saw the trust there. The love. And for a moment, I was taken. Tempted to tell her all. About Newman, the Fantastic Four, about being a cosmic entity. But I knew I couldn't. Not only for my sake but for hers.

"I know," I said quietly. "And I wish I could explain it all. But… I can't. Not right now. Can you trust me on that?"

Gwen was silent for a long moment, her eyes never leaving mine. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. I trust you, Noah. But promise me, when you can tell me… will you tell me?"

"I promise," I said, the words feeling like lead in my mouth.

She leaned in, pressing her lips against mine. I kissed her back, trying to pour into the act of lips and tongues all the emotions I couldn't say. When we parted, she smiled gloomily. "I should go," she said. "It's getting late."

I walked her to the door, watched her vanish into the night. The weight of my secrets settled heavier than ever.

I flopped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The events of that day replayed over and over in my head. The Times Square energy vortex. Reed's probing questions. Gwen's suspicions. How long could I juggle these various lives? How long before something had to give?

My phone buzzed, jerking me out of my reverie. A text from Peter. "Hey man, everything okay? Gwen called earlier, sounded worried."

I exhaled, my thumbs darting across the on-screen keyboard. "All good. Just a misunderstanding. Talk tomorrow?"

"Sure thing. Night, Noah."

I set the phone down, my mind drifting to the energy vortex. The sensation it had left-a hum in the air that was like my own cosmic heartbeat. It had been intoxicating, the energy coursing through me. Yet terrifying, too. What if I lost control? What if I were not capable of maintaining this fragile balance between my life on Earth as a human and what was the real me?

Swirling vortexes of energy, Reed's probing questions, Gwen's tear-filled eyes-all swirled together in a maddening dance as I sank into sleep. And in that sleep, I was floating above it all, watching my different lives collide and shatter like glass.

I awoke with a start; the first rays of dawn peeked into my window. Another day. Another balancing act. I got up and got dressed, and was mentally racing before I'd even left my room: test in Advanced Physics, lunch with Gwen, and whatever cosmic threats might pop up? I mean on Earth.

The walk to school was a muddle of familiar scenes and sounds: the honking of impatient drivers, the chatter of students hurrying to beat the bell, the aroma of fresh bagels wafting from the corner deli. Everything seemed so… ordinary. So distant from the cosmic battles and scientific wonders that filled my other life.

"Noah!" Peter's voice cut through my reverie. I turned and saw him jogging toward me, his knapsack bobbing up and down with every step. "Hey, man, you okay? You looked pretty out of it there."

I forced a smile onto my face. "Yeah, just... didn't sleep well. You know how it is."

Peter nodded, an understanding glint in his eye. Sometimes I wondered if he suspected something. Of anyone who'd understand what a secret identity could do to a guy, it'd be Peter Parker. "I hear you. Hey, you ready for that physics test?"

We swung into step, discussing the relative merits of equations and theories as we trudged toward Midtown High. For a moment there, I almost forgot Newman existed, forgot the Fantastic Four, forgot the cosmic entity sitting like a pressure wave inside my skin.

Then I saw Gwen waiting by my locker, smiling, but not quite, and it all came crashing back. The seesaw balance of my double life see-sawed on the edge of a knife, and I couldn't help but wonder how long that would last.

The closer I came to Gwen, the more I steeled myself for another day of half-truths and evasions. Another day of playing the role of Noah Fisher, star pupil and committed boyfriend, when the power of the universe thrummed through my bones. Another day of wondering if it was maybe time to have the talk with her.

But for now, I just smiled, leaned in for a kiss, and prepared myself to face another day in the life of Noah Fisher.

* * *

The final bell sounded, another school day over at Midtown High. I gathered my books, my mind already treading into the conversation to come. Peter caught my eye across the classroom, nodding towards the door. We had planned this talk, but that didn't make it any easier.

We stepped out into the hall, teeming with the din of students. Peter and I walked toward our place-a quiet nook on the school grounds screened by ancient oaken trees. The late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, making dappled shadows on the grass.

"So," Peter began, settling onto a weathered bench. "Want to tell me what's really going on with you and Gwen?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's complicated, Pete. She's. she's starting to suspect something."

Peter's eyes widened. "You don't think she knows about…" He made a vague gesture, mimicking web-shooting.

I shook my head. "No, not that. She thinks I'm cheating on her."

"What?" Peter exclaimed. "That's ridiculous! You'd never-,

"I know," I cut him off. "But from her perspective. I'm always disappearing, always making excuses. What else is she supposed to think?"

Peter leaned back, his brow furrowed in thought. "Man, I never even considered that. Do you think…" He trailed off, but I knew where his mind had gone.

"Mary Jane?" I supplied. He nodded, looking troubled. "It's possible, Pete. We're in the same boat here."

We sat in the silence for a moment, the weight of our dual lives weighing down upon us. I could feel the cosmic energy humming beneath my skin, a constant reminder of the responsibilities which came with being Newman.

"Maybe." Peter said hesitantly. "Maybe we need to come up with better excuses. Something believable, you know?"

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Like what? 'Sorry, Gwen, I had to go fight an interdimensional energy vortex in Times Square'?"

Peter cracked a smile. "Okay, maybe not that specific. But there's got to be something."

I closed my eyes, reaching out with my cosmic awareness. Surely, in the great vault of universal knowledge, there was a solution. But again, frustration-I found nothing. It was almost as if the Marvel Universe itself was conspiring against me and deliberately hiding that one piece of information I needed.

I opened my eyes and met Peter's expectant gaze. "I've got nothing, Pete. There's no excuse that could possibly cover all the times we have to run off."

Peter's shoulders slumped. "So what do we do?"

I took a deep breath, knowing the words I was about to say would change everything. "I think... I think I need to tell her the truth."

"What?" Peter's voice was little more than a murmur. "Noah, are you sure?"

I nodded, peculiarly composed. "I am. It's the only way, Pete. I can't keep lying to her."

For a long moment, Peter said nothing, his eyes glazing over as he weighed the pros and cons. Finally, he spoke. "Do you really think it's the right thing to do?"

"I am," I said, firm. Comic book panels danced behind my eyes: Gwen Stacy standing by Peter Parker's side, keeping his secret. My cosmic awareness hummed in agreement. The right path.

Peter ran a hand through his hair; we were well-matched in that respect, it was one of my own habits when stressed. "Man, if you're doing this… should I tell MJ?"

I wanted to say yes to him, to prod him into coming clean with his secret to Mary Jane. I bit my tongue, though. I didn't want to let him know exactly how much I did know. I shrugged instead. "That's something you'll have to decide on your own, Pete. But. I think Gwen can handle it. And maybe MJ can too."

Peter nodded slowly. "Yeah, maybe. I'll… I'll think about it."

We stood to leave, the setting sun casting an energetic array of oranges and pinks across the sky, I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. This road ahead of me would be nowhere close to easy, but at least now I had a direction.

"Hey, Noah," Peter called as they continued to part ways. "Good luck, man. Let me know how it goes."

I gave him a thumbs-up and then turned towards home. This would've been the moment where I would've felt unsure about myself asking questions like… Should I show her my powers? Change into Newman right before her very eyes? Or would that be too much? But I was a god, and gods are not unsure.

And the city teemed as I walked. Some kids played basketball in the nearby park and their shouts and laughter carried with an evening breeze. A couple strolled along, hand in hand, lost in a world of their own. And high above, barely discernible against the darkening sky, a figure swung between buildings. Spider-Man, out on patrol.

I smiled to myself, feeling much for the most part a connection with my best friend even as he swung far above me; we were both carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, trying to balance out the normal with the extraordinary.

Reaching my building, I took a deep breath before heading inside. Tomorrow, everything was going to change. Tomorrow, I was going to tell the truth to Gwen. And maybe-just maybe-I could finally stop living a double life… but I knew I was kidding myself. I may be able to stop living the double life as Newman but not as Unuvios.

That night, I fell asleep with my dreams, a turmoil of cosmic energy and Gwen's face. In the dream, I told her everything not just as Newman but as Unuvios and she smiled as she accepted me for what I really was. I could only pray reality would be that benign.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, a perfect New York summer day. I went through my usual routine on autopilot.

I approached Midtown High, I saw her waiting by the front steps, her blonde hair shining in the morning sun. My heart skipped a beat, a very human reaction to the sight of her.

"Noah!" she called, beckoning me over. "I was hoping to catch you before class."

I took a deep breath, sensing that it was time. This was it. The moment of truth.

"Gwen," I said, taking her hand in mine. "There's something I need to tell you. Something important."

She looked at me, her green eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What is it, Noah?

I opened my mouth, ready to spill. But before words could spill from my lips, a deafening explosion rocked the street behind us. We turned to see a plume of smoke billowing from a building not far away, screams filling the air.

I instinctively pushed Gwen towards the school. "Get inside! I'll. I'll go get help!"

I ran toward the commotion the instant I did, tugging off my civilian garments to show a Newman costume underneath; an angry laugh escaped my lips. Even the universe was chiming in on keeping this secret a little bit longer.

The city lay stretched out beneath me, a tapestry of concrete and steel bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. It was easy to propel through the air, my cosmic powers carrying me effortlessly. The wind whipped past my face, carrying the faint sounds of chaos erupting below. Drawing a deep breath as I approached, I steeled myself for what was about to unfold.

I landed on pavement with a calculated descent, my arrival timed to perfection. Anyone who happened to be watching would have thought that Newman had just arrived, not Noah Fisher, average high school student, who had just changed midflight. It was a subterfuge, a little white lie to keep my loved ones safe.

"What's going on here?" I bellowed above the cacophony of terrified civilians and blaring car alarms left and right.

A palefaced police officer standing nearby turned to me. "God Almighty you're here, Newman! Some sort of… monster! Half-man, half-lizard!"

I nodded, placing a look of feigned surprise on my face. "I see. Everybody, back away, please. I can take care of this."

I strode forward, my eyes overlooking the scene. Overturned cars clogged the street, their alarms blaring in cacophonous chorus. Panicked civilians scurried for cover, their faces etched with fear. And there in the middle, stood that figure that made my heart leap.

The Lizard. His big, scaled form loomed over the wreckage, his reptilian eyes scanning the surroundings with predatory intent. I knew instantly why he was here. Spiderman.

"Hey, Scales!" I called out, my voice carrying over the chaos. "I think you took a wrong turn at the swamp. The zoo's that way!"

The Lizard's head whipped toward me, and a low growl rumbled up from his throat. "Newman," he snarled, his voice low and guttural. "This doesn't concern you. I'm here for the Spider."

I crossed my arms over my chest, falling into a casual pose. "Sorry, big guy, but I'm afraid Spidey's got better things to do than play some lame game of tag with an overgrown iguana. How about you and I just have a nice chat instead?

With a roar of rage, the Lizard charged. His huge tail whipped through the air, demolishing a nearby streetlight. I sidestepped easily; my cosmic awareness let me stay one step ahead of him, and if not, my speed.

"Come on, Doc," I taunted, dancing just out of his reach. "I thought you were supposed to be smart. This is just embarrassing."

The Lizard's attacks grew more frantic, his claws slashing through the air with deadly intent. Yet, for all his strength and speed, he might as well have been moving in slow motion to my senses.

"Alright," I sighed, deciding it was time to end this little game. "I was planning a hot date tonight, and I'd hate to keep the lady waiting."

I focused my stellar energy, and the by-now-familiar tingling began behind my eyes. An instant later, twin beams of brilliant, blue light shot out, striking the Lizard square in the chest. The force of the blast sent him flying backward, crashing into the side of an abandoned bus.

Sirens wailed, splitting the air, their keen growing louder by the second. Like clockwork, I thought. Time for the cleanup crew.

My eyes scanned the faces of the crowd for any particular one. There, near the back, she was: Gwen. Her blonde hair was mussed by the bedlam, her green eyes wide with terror and wonder. I made a low, beckoning gesture with my head, imploring her toward me.

We stepped into a side alleyway, out of the way of peering eyes and nosy gawkers.

"Gwen," I said, my voice softer now, more familiar. "There's something I need to tell you."

She looked at me, confusion etched across her features. "Newman? What's going on? Why did you bring me here?"

I took a deep breath to steel myself for what I was about to face. In my mind, I let my cosmic energies shift and change my appearance. The slick costume of Newman melted away and in its place came the familiar denim jeans and plain t-shirt of Noah Fisher.

Gwen's eyes went wide with shock, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. "Noah?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You're… you're Newman?"

I nodded sheepishly. "Surprise?"

For a second or two, Gwen just stood there, her mind reeling with the revelation. Then, without warning, she launched herself into my arms, where she burst into tears.

"Oh, Noah," she whimpered against my chest. "I thought... I was so scared. I thought you were..."

"Cheat on you?" I finished, wrapping my arms around her. "Never. I'm so sorry, Gwen. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. Scared of putting you in danger, scared of how you'd react."

Gwen pulled back, shining eyes looking up at me. "I understand," she said softly. "And I promise, your secret is safe with me. Always."

And before I could utter a word, she flung me into a furious kiss. The world seemed to melt away, and there was only the two of us at that point in time. When we finally pulled away, breathless, I couldn't help but smile.

"So," I said, hinting just a little bit of mischief in my voice. "Tonight? Want to go on a date?

Gwen laughed, her voice like music to my ears. "Absolutely," she said. "Though I think we might have much to talk about."

A pang of guilt pulled at my heart. There was still so much she didn't know, so much I couldn't tell her. The truth of my existence, my true nature-unuvios, a cosmic entity masquerading as a high school student. But for now, this would have to do. One step at a time, one truth at a time.

"Noah?" Gwen's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Are you okay?"

I smiled, ushering the guilt out. "Never better. Come on, let's get out of here before someone comes looking for Newman."

We stepped out into the alley, hands in hands as my powers subtly re-altered my appearance once more into my civilian guise, thank you very much. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and vibrant hues of orange and pink painted the sky. Another day saved, another secret revealed.

"So," Gwen said, the hint of a playful lilt to her tone. "Any other superpowers I should know about? Can you read minds? Turn invisible?"

I laughed, the sound echoing off the nearby buildings. "Well, I can fly, but I think that might draw a bit too much attention right now. How about we stick to walking for now?"

Gwen nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. "Fair enough. But I expect a full demonstration later, mister."

Author's Notes:

The last scene was inspired by Homelander when arrived and lasered Marie Monreau in Gen V.

Support my Patreon. Broke College student here.

Bosillic | First Story centered around Kizaru | Patreon

 

[Bosillic]

The final bell rang, signaling the end of another day at Midtown High. I collected my books, pushing them haphazardly into my backpack. The classroom was a swarm of chatter, friends amongst friends and acquaintances, ready to be set free from the clutches of academia.

"Mr. Fisher," Ms. Rushman's voice cut through the noise. "A moment, please?"

I froze, my hand halfway to zipping up my bag. Gwen, waiting for me by the door, shot me a questioning look. I gave a small shrug and a reassuring smile.

"I'll catch up with you in a bit," I called out to her. She nodded, hesitating an instant before moving out into the stream of students flowing into the hallway.

The other students were gone in record time, leaving me well and truly alone with Ms. Rushman-or rather, Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. And we both knew each other's secrets, an uncomfortable balance of knowledge and power.

"Noah," Natasha started, her voice losing much of its teacher-like quality. "I really do appreciate you staying behind."

I nodded, leaning against a nearby desk. "No problem. Though I have to admit, I'm kinda curious about what this is about. Another 'exciting opportunity' with SHIELD?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across Natasha's face. "Not quite. This is.. personal."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. I could have tapped into my cosmic awareness easily enough, peering into her mind to see what she wanted. But I didn't. Sometimes, the human experience of uncertainty and discovery was worth preserving.

Natasha took a deep breath; for the first time, she seemed to falter from her usual poise. "I've been thinking about why I agreed to this assignment, to pose undercover at Midtown."

"I assumed it was to keep an eye on me," I said lightly. "Make sure I'm not using my powers to cheat on tests or anything."

She shook her head. "That was SHIELD's motivation, yes. But mine… mine was different."

I said nothing. Waited for her to continue. Outside, the muffled sounds of students leaving the building filtered in through the closed door.

"The Red Room," Natasha whispered, her eyes glossing over. "The place where I was… made. They did things to me, Noah. Things that can't be undone."

A pang of sympathy riveted within me. Of course, I knew about the Red Room; my cosmic knowledge extends to so much more than any human mind could even conceive. Yet, in that instant, from her, and from the sheer pain contorted onto her features, well, it was different-real and raw.

"What kind of things?" I asked softly.

Natasha's gaze snapped back to me, her eyes, like two green stones, boring into my soul. "They altered me, body and mind. Accelerated reflexes, retardation of the aging process... and they made me sterile."

The words hung heavy in the air between us. I said nothing; instinctively, I knew there was more.

"But you, Noah," she went on, a touch of hope creeping into her voice. "Your powers. I've seen what you can do. I thought, maybe."

Understanding pricked in my brain. "You think I could undo what they did to you."

She nodded, a wistfulness in her face I had never seen before. "I know it's so much to ask. And I understand if you can't or won't. But I just had to try."

I gestured, mind racing. Because the truth was, I could help her. My powers as a cosmic entity could easily undo the damage done by the Red Room. But revealing that level of ability would raise questions I wasn't prepared to answer.

"Natasha," I said carefully. "I… I'm not sure what I can do. But I promise I'll think about it, okay?"

Relief washed over her features. "That's all I ask, Noah. Thank you."

I nodded, shouldering my backpack. "I really should go. Gwen's waiting on me."

Natasha's professional mask slid back into place. "Of course, Mr. Fisher. Have a good afternoon."

I stepped out into the hall, my head reeling from the implications of our conversation. Gwen was waiting by my locker, blonde hair glowing in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Everything okay?" she asked when I came to her.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just some questions about the last assignment."

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Must have been some assignment to keep you after class."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "You know how Ms. Rushman is. Thorough to a fault."

We emerged from the school, joining the sea of students surging out to start their afternoon. Late spring was in the air, warm and heavy with the promise of summer.

"So," Gwen said once we'd walked away from the crowd. "Have you got any exciting plans for the weekend? Any... Newman activities?"

I laughed now, grateful the subject had changed. "Not that I know of. Though trouble has a way of finding me, doesn't it?"

Gwen laughed, hooking her arm through mine. "That it does. But that's part of why I love you."

My heart swelled at the words, but then deflated. The cosmic entity masquerading human student, the Guardian of Cosmic Balance. But for now, this was enough. Noah Fisher, high school student and part-time superhero.

We walked for a while in easy silence, the bustling streets of New York providing a kind of familiar background noise: street vendors hawking their wares, taxis honking impatiently, the ever-present hum of conversation surrounding us.

"Oh!" Gwen exclaimed suddenly. "I almost forgot. There's a new exhibit opening at the Museum of Natural History this weekend. Want to check it out?"

I grinned. "I kind of had my own ideas for a date."

Gwen beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Great! I'll be counting on you."
We reached the corner where we usually parted ways. Gwen lived in the opposite direction from me, though 'lived' was a relative term when it came to my true nature.
"See you tomorrow?" Gwen asked, standing on her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss.
I nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

I watched her walk away, the mix of love and guilt churning in my chest. So much I could never tell her, so many secrets I would have to keep.

* * *

Standing outside Gwen's apartment building, I watched as the setting sun splashed across the New York skyline like a watercolorist working with colors of orange and pink. I straightened my collar and ran a hand through my hair, chuckling at the ironical nature of a cosmic being primping up.

And then the door did open, and she was there, this vision in this plain blue dress that made her eyes sparkle sapphire. "Noah," Gwen breathed, lighting up. "You look amazing."

I smiled back at her, taking a deep breath of her in. "You're one to talk," I replied, offering her my arm. "Shall we?"

We strolled through New York's bustling streets, the city alive with Friday night's energies. Street performers filled the air with music, the aroma of food carts danced around passersby, and the constant hum of traffic and chatter created a symphony uniquely New York.

"So, where are we headed?" Gwen asked, her hand warm in mine.

I grinned mischievously. "It's a surprise. But I promise you'll love it."

We turned a corner, and Gwen gasped. Before us rose the beautiful façade of the New York Public Library, stone lions guarding its steps. Tonight, however, those steps were lined with hundreds of twinkling lights and a tiny table set for two.
"Noah," Gwen breathed, her eyes wide. "How did you…?"

I shrugged, trying to look casual. "I know a guy who knows a guy. Plus, I remember how you waxed poetic about this place."

We walked up the stairs, and I pulled out Gwen's chair. A waiter was there in an instant, pouring champagne and placing our first course in front of us.

We talked and laughed through dinner, the conversation easy as champagne. I just couldn't believe at times how funny, quick-witted Gwen was-the fire that seemed to burn inside her infectious.

Yet, part of me remained detached, observing from behind this mask. This wasn't real, not truly. I was Unuvios, a creature of the cosmos playing at being human. But oh, the way I wanted it to be real.

"Noah?" Gwen's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Where did you go just now?"

I smiled, shrugging off the melancholy. "Sorry, just got lost in your eyes for a moment there."

Gwen laughed, a sound that sent warmth spreading through my chest. "Smooth talker. But seriously, is everything okay?"

I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. "Everything's perfect. I'm just… really happy to be here with you."

The rest of the night was a fog of laughter, stolen glances, and moments that I wanted to last forever. But before I knew it, we were once again at Gwen's front door.

"Thank you for tonight, Noah," she whispered, her eyes alight. "It was magical."

I leaned in, pressing my lips gently against hers. "The pleasure was all mine."

We said goodnights, and I watched until Gwen was safely inside before I turned away. The second the door had closed behind her, my smile disappeared. Time for Newman to introduce himself to the world.

In a flash of light, my clothes glimmered and changed, replaced by the spandex costume of my superhero guise. I launched into the skies high above the city I'd vowed to protect.

Trouble didn't take long to find. My acute senses picked up the sounds of a scuffle in an otherwise darkened alley. I descended silently, landing on a fire escape above the scene.

Below, a group of men were involved in what was unmistakably a drug deal gone wrong. Guns were drawn, voices raised in anger and fear.

"Gentlemen," I called out, my voice carrying easily in the small space. "I hate to interrupt, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to take your business elsewhere. Preferably to the nearest police station."

Chaos erupted. Guns fired, their reports echoing off the brick walls. But the bullets might as well have been raindrops for all the harm they did me. With a thought, I disabled their weapons, the metal twisting and warping in their hands.

It was over in moments. The dealers lay groaning on the ground, their illicit goods scattered around them.

"You have no idea what you've done," one of them spat, staring up at me with hatred in his eyes. "The boss… he'll come for you."

I crouched down, matching his glare. "I look forward to it. In the meantime, why don't you tell me who this boss of yours is?"

But the man just laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "You'll find out soon enough, hero."

Sirens wailed in the distance, their shrill cries growing louder by the second. I stood and scanned the scene a final time. So many possibilities, so many potential masterminds behind this operation. But I had promised myself that I wasn't going to use my Cosmic Awareness to solve every problem. Some things did need to unfold naturally.

I waited until the first police cars rounded the corner before taking to the sky once more. The media would be here in short order, hungry for a statement from the city's most powerful hero.

Sure enough, in a matter of minutes, reporters and camera crews swarmed the area. I touched down, immediately engulfed in a sea of microphones and flashing cameras.

"Newman! Can you tell us what happened here?"

"Is it true you single-handedly took down a major drug operation?"

"Are you working with the Avengers?

I raised my hands for silence. "Citizens of New York," I said, the words carrying without difficulty above the din. "Tonight, we've dealt a blow to those that would poison our streets and threaten our children. But tonight is only the beginning. Together, we have the possibility of making the city safer for everyone.

I went on in this way for a few more minutes, promising and spouting flowery phrases that I knew would play nice for the evening news. Then, with one last wave, I took to the air again.

The penthouse swung into view, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering an amazing view of Grand Central and the city beyond. I landed soundlessly upon the balcony, my costume flashing and shifting to casual clothes once more.

I went inside, poured myself a drink I didn't need and stared out at the glittering lights of the city. Dawn was still hours off, but sleep was an extravagance I didn't need. My mind turned instead to Natasha, and the decision I'd been dithering on for a while.
It was time.

* * *

I saw her in the classroom, cleaning up after a long day of teaching, Natalie Rushman, substitute teacher extraordinaire. The sight of her made me smile, knowing what I was about to do.

"Ms. Rushman?" I called, keeping up the pretense for any lingering ears. "Do you have a moment?"

Natasha looked up; emerald eyes locked with mine. A spark of recognition danced between us, a silent understanding.

"Of course, Noah," she replied, her tone hinting at curiosity. "What can I do for you?"

I stepped into the classroom, closing the door behind me. The air seemed to thicken in anticipation.

"Actually," I started, before my voice lowered in tone. "I think it's more about what I can do for you, Natasha."

Her eyebrows hiked slightly, the only outward indication of her surprise. "Oh? And what might that be?"

I steeled myself against what was to come and took a deep breath. "I've made a decision: I'm going to cure you."

For a moment, Natasha stood absolutely still, her face an impassive mask. Then, as though the sun had broken through storm clouds, a smile spread across her features. A smile unlike any I'd ever seen before-open, vulnerable, full of hope.
"Y-y-you can do that?" she stammered, her voice caught in emotion.

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at her reaction. "I can. And I will. Right now, if you're ready."

Natasha's eyes glazed over with unshed tears. She nodded, unable to form words.

I lifted my hand, focusing my cosmic energy into it. The air around us started to shimmer, like heat rising from sunbaked asphalt. A soft, otherworldly glow oozed out of my palm, growing brighter by the second.

"This may feel a little strange," I warned her in soothing tones.

I swished my hand delicately, and forth cascaded the energy. It enveloped Natasha in a cloak of radiant, pulsating light. She gasped, and her eyes widened in astonishment as the brightness did its magic, weaving an iridescent dance across her skin.

There was no sound in the room for some long moments except the soft hum of cosmic power at work. I watched closely, monitoring every aspect of the change. And slowly, I could feel it taking hold. The tension she always carried in her shoulders was easing, and the haunted look that often lurked behind her eyes was beginning to fade.

The light began to dim, and Natasha took a deep, shuddering breath. She looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers experimentally.

"I... I feel different," she murmured, wonder coloring her voice. "Lighter somehow. Like a weight I've been carrying for so long has just… vanished."

I smiled, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. "It worked. The Red Room's alterations, the sterility. It's all gone. You're whole again, Natasha."

Her eyes met mine, shining with an outrageous amount of joyful surprise. "Noah, I... I don't know how to thank you."

Before I could utter a word, before I could react at all, Natasha surged forward, bridging the distance between us, and flung her arms tightly around me in a fierce hug. The sudden contact sent a jolt of electricity through my human form. The warmth of her, her scent, the press of her body against mine-was intoxicatingly human.

I sank into the embrace, basked in this honest, simple expression of gratitude. Then, in a flash, reality reasserted itself. I was Unuvios, a cosmic entity far beyond petty human concerns. This nearness, this tenderness… not for such beings as I, and yet there I was masquerading as human.

I moved slowly away from the arms that had held me so tightly, took a little step back. "You're welcome," I replied softly. "I'm just glad I was able to help."

Natasha's eyes searched my face and were burning with an intensity that hadn't been there before. "What happens now?" she asked.

I shrugged, trying to keep things light. "That's entirely up to you. What do you want to do?

A slow smile crept across her face, one that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. "I think," she said, her voice low and full of promise, "I'm going to be watching you more closely from now on, Noah Fisher."

There was something in the way she said it, something in the lingering of her eyes on me, that spoke of more than just gratitude. If I didn't know better, I'd say there was something akin to desire there. But I decided not to push the idea too much and not make things awkward.

"Well," I said, forcing a chuckle, "I hope I can live up to the scrutiny."

Natasha's smile broadened, a predatory edge to it now. "Oh, I'm sure you will."

I parted ways with her not long after that, my head spinning with the implications of what had just occurred. The cure had worked, yes, but it seemed to have awakened something in Natasha - something I wasn't entirely sure how to handle.

* * *

The next morning in Midtown, Natalie Rushman was standing in an animated discussion with Gwen Stacy. A chill ran down my spine at the very sight of them standing together. It was less than a day since I had used my cosmic powers to cure Natasha of her Red Room-induced sterility, and already, the consequences of that action had begun to take shape.

I watched them closely, observing the easy laughter, the conspiratorial whispers-the unmistakable leaning in, a shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie that seemed to unfold with uncommon rapidity. Clearly, here was a friendship taking hold. But still, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that this sudden bond had everything to do with my intervention.

This was creating in me the urge to connect with my Cosmic Awareness, actually peering into the very fabric of reality to discern what was really being communicated between the two. But I resisted. I'd decided to live this human life as fully as possible and that meant setting some limits on my use of my cosmic abilities. Still, I couldn't help myself-I caught the subtle change in body language, knowing glances exchanged.

My reverie was suddenly shattered by the shrill ring of the school bell. Students scattered in all directions, their haste to get to the next classes palpable. I saw Gwen wave goodbye to Natalie and head my way.

"Hey, Noah!" she called brightly, her infectious smile in place. "Ready for Chemistry?"

I nodded, falling into step beside her. "Yeah, sure," I replied-the attempt at a casual tone sounded utterly contrived to my ears. "I saw you talking with Ms. Rushman. You two seem to be getting along well."

Gwen's eyes flashed brightly. "Oh, Natalie? Yeah, she's great! We were just chatting about, you know, girl stuff."

I raised an eyebrow. "Girl stuff?"

She laughed and playfully swatted my arm. "Nothing you'd be interested in, trust me. Just normal, everyday things."

I hummed noncommittally, my mind racing. On the surface, there was nothing alarming about their conversation. Natasha was, after all, one of the good guys. A hero. An Avenger. I had cured her, given her back something that had been cruelly taken from her. Surely, there couldn't be any sinister motive behind her sudden interest in Gwen.

And yet.

I couldn't erase from my mind the memory of Natasha's eyes following the healing-that intense stare burning right through me. The way she promised she'd be watching me closer. The taunt of something more than gratitude in her voice.

"Noah? Earth to Noah!" Gwen's voice snapped me back to reality as we stopped in front of the chemistry lab entrance. She regarded me with an expression half tinged with amusement and half tainted with concern. "You okay? You seemed a million miles away."

I attempted an almost forced smile. "Sorry, just… thinking about the test next week."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Of course you are. Come on, Mr. Genius, let's get to our seats before Mr. Warren has a fit."
The chemistry lab was a cacophony of bubbling beakers and the acrid smell of chemicals. I sat down beside Gwen, my mind racing with the options, possible consequences. Mr. Warren started talking; his voice was a distant buzz in the background of my head.

I knew I couldn't tell Gwen to stay away from Natalie. I had no concrete evidence of any wrongdoing, just some cosmic entity's intuition and an overall vague sense of unease. How could I explain that to her without revealing my true nature?

The rest of the class was a blur. I took notes, answered questions, all the while my mind racing with potential consequences: Had I inadvertently set something in motion by healing Natasha? Was I overthinking this whole situation?

The bell had rung, dismissing class, and students had begun to pack up their bags-noise of the room littered with the screeching of chairs and the zipper of backpacks. I mechanically gathered my things, being lost in thought.

"Noah?" Gwen's voice brought me back into the now. She was standing by my desk, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting weird all class."

Sighing, I responded. "I'm fine, Gwen. Really. Just… a lot on my mind, I guess."

She watched me a second, then nodded. "Okay. But you know you can talk to me if something's bothering you, right?"

I smiled, genuinely touched by her concern. "I know. Thanks, Gwen."

We left the classroom together and merged ourselves into the crowd of students in the hallways. I noticed Natalie at the far end of the corridor, and our eyes aligned for a brief moment. Intense or with power, the same power in her eyes seemed to jump across, like the time before this, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"There's Natalie!" Gwen exclaimed, waving vigorously. "I said I'd catch up with her after class. Mind if I…?"

I shook my head, a forced smile. "No, go ahead. I'll catch you later."

I watched as Gwen hurried over to Natalie-the two slid smoothly into conversation. A sight to fill me with a confusing mix of concern and curiosity and a slowly building sense of unease.

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