Peter Parker stumbled out of the portal and crashed onto the floor of what appeared to be a living room.
The sudden arrival immediately drew everyone's attention. Ned and MJ turned toward the newcomer while the Peter Parker of this universe instinctively stepped forward.
Standing nearby were two older Spider-Men wearing different versions of the suit, both looking just as surprised as everyone else.
Peter slowly got back to his feet and looked around. Ned. MJ. Another Peter Parker. Then another. Then another. His brain stopped working. For several seconds he simply stared at the three Spider-Men in front of him.
The local Peter wasn't doing much better — the newest arrival looked exactly like him. Same face.
The silence grew increasingly awkward.
Eventually Peter rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ummm... hello. My name is Peter Parker."
Ned pointed around the room. "I don't think that's helping." He pointed toward the local Spider-Man.
"Peter Parker." Then Andrew. "Peter Parker." Then Tobey. "Also Peter Parker." Finally back at the newcomer.
"And apparently Peter Parker."
Peter looked around again. Four Peter Parkers. One room. One increasingly stressed Ned. One exhausted MJ. And absolutely nobody seemed surprised anymore.
He took a deep breath and looked at the local Peter. "You look exactly like me."
The local Peter closed his eyes. "Yes."
Peter pointed at Andrew and Tobey. "But they don't."
Andrew turned away to hide a smile while Tobey folded his arms, oddly entertained. MJ just looked tired.
"Trust me," the local Peter said, "we've already had this conversation."
Peter looked between the three of them before something occurred to him. "Ummm... doesn't your universe have someone named Luke?"
The local Peter frowned, trying to remember. After several seconds he shook his head. "No. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone named Luke."
That genuinely surprised Peter. "You don't?"
"Should I?"
Ned spoke up. "Is he somebody important?"
Peter didn't even know how to answer that.
"Important?" He laughed shortly.
"Yes, he's important. He's probably the most powerful person on Earth in my universe. Calling him important is an understatement."
Ned looked skeptical. MJ raised an eyebrow. The local Peter just looked more confused.
"Ummm... no. We definitely don't have anyone like that."
Before Peter could explain further, all four Spider-Men felt their spider-sense activate at once.
The local Peter stepped forward. Andrew straightened. Tobey's eyes narrowed. Peter instinctively spun around.
Standing directly behind him was Luke.
Nobody had seen him arrive. Nobody had sensed him approaching. One moment the space behind Peter had been empty. The next, Luke was there with his hands in his pockets.
The room went quiet.
Luke looked toward the local Peter. "I'm not present in every universe. There is only one version of me." His gaze shifted to Peter. "And you."
The local Peter looked completely lost. Ned looked worse. MJ just stared, trying to understand how someone could appear in the middle of a room without making a sound.
Luke looked at the local Peter. "Stop using magic to solve normal problems."
The local Peter looked instantly guilty.
"People keep treating magic like some convenient shortcut. Then something goes wrong and suddenly reality starts falling apart."
Nobody could argue with that.
"Mr. Luke," Peter began.
Luke gave him a karate chop on the head.
"Ow!"
"Stop talking when grown-ups are talking."
Andrew looked away. Tobey suddenly found the wall very interesting. MJ pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
Luke ignored all of it. "I already cleaned up the spell damage and sending the multiversal visitors back to their own worlds." He pointed at the local Peter.
"As for this mess, solve it yourself."
The local Peter looked embarrassed.
Peter raised his hand. "Ummm, Mr. Luke, are you taking me back with you?"
"No."
Peter blinked.
Luke pointed at the local Peter again. "That guy started this mess." Then vaguely toward the Sanctum. "If he can't send you back himself, ask Doctor Strange to do it. I'm not your nanny."
Peter looked disappointed. Luke ignored him completely.
The next moment he disappeared.
Silence filled the room. Everyone stared at the empty space where he'd been.
Eventually MJ broke it, looking toward Peter. "So... was that the person you were talking about?"
"Yes."
***
Luke appeared inside his house and immediately dropped onto the sofa.
The moment he sat down, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Today had been exhausting.
There had been problems involving the multiverse, Spider-Men from different universes, damaged spells, witches, and a dozen other things he no longer wanted to think about. For the first time all day he intended to do absolutely nothing.
Unfortunately, the universe seemed determined not to allow him even that much.
The moment he closed his eyes he sensed several familiar presences surrounding him.
Nine women stood around the sofa, every one of them looking directly at him.
Luke felt another headache forming.
"Can we talk about this marriage thing another day?" He rubbed his forehead. "I'm exhausted. I spent the entire day dealing with other people's disasters and I would really like at least one evening without having to make life-changing decisions."
The women exchanged glances. Not a single one looked convinced.
Then, as if they had practiced it beforehand, all nine answered at exactly the same time.
"No. We need to talk about when the wedding is going to happen."
Luke stared at them. The synchronized response was somehow more terrifying than if they had started arguing.
He slowly looked around the circle surrounding the sofa.
*****
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