Finishing The Fight And Making It (Kinda) On Time

(A/n - Just in case people are confused, the MC is constantly superhuman. OFA is constantly running it's energy and power through his body empowering it and him.)

Catching up to the flying Abomination before he hit any buildings or people wasn't hard and I grabbed him by his throat and threw him up into the air. The air pressure around me went wild as I did so but I ignored it and flexed my legs before rushing up after him.

After all, up in the air...I didn't have to hold back nearly as much as I did on the ground.

Coming up to the slowing down Abomination, I began the action of repeating a move All Might had created. I mean, the memories are there and I have the exact same powers as him...so why wouldn't I use the same moves?

Anyway, I flipped my body into a somersault, building up centrifugal force as I felt OFA and it's energy filling my right arm up even more than usual. My muscles were pulled taut and the power filling them was filled to the brim. As I reached Abomination, I forcibly stopped my spinning and came face to face with the dazed yet ugly visage of the green creature in front of me.

Smiling, I took in some air before bellowing out, "CALIFORNIA SMASH!" just as I threw the punch. Why did I yell that out? Because I want people to know that whenever that's said, it's me. I want people to be put at ease when they hear those words said. I want people to know they're safe as long as they hear those words.

Being a hero isn't just taking out the villain. Being a hero is making people feel safe and protected. Being a hero...is more like being a symbol. An ideal. I want people to feel safe when they walk the streets at night. I want people to know that if they're ever in trouble, I'll be there.

Because, like I said, a hero isn't just someone who takes out the villain. A hero is someone who protects civilians.

All Might's memories and hence his feelings on the subject have been passed down to me, and I know I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't try and at least be as big a symbol as he was at his peak. Even without his sentiment, I'd still want to be a hero like this. One who helps people and makes them feel safe.

Because it's the right thing to do with a power like mine.

The punch hit Abomination squarely on the face and he was blasted even further up into the air, bones cracking and skin splitting from the force of the punch - so much force that even his superhuman physiology couldn't handle it. But I wasn't done just yet and I thrust both of my feet down, the air pressure created flinging me after Abomination who I quickly caught up to.

Grabbing him by the top of his distended ribcage, I pulled back my free fist and began to wail in on him. Devastating blows that shook the air around us and crunched away at the bones in his face and head. I was glad I was wearing protective gloves - who knew if I'd get some form of radiation poisoning from his blood. My physiology has been enhanced drastically by OFA but it never hurts to play it safe.

As I continued to punch Abomination, we began falling back down. Not that it mattered too much with my heightened perception of time and speed - I got off dozens and dozens of powerful punches off before we hit the ground again. I could've got off more but why do that when I only needed so many.

By the time we landed, Abomination was unconscious and out like a light. Even now his wounds were healing.

...What an envious healing factor.

I took the force of the fall, making sure to limit the damage to the ground as much as possible. Once we'd landed, I dropped Abomination to the ground and reached around to the back of my waist into a compartment I kept there for certain things. I pulled out two syringes - one was empty, the second was filled with a viscous red liquid.

The empty syringe was easy enough to explain - I wanted a sample of Abominations blood. Which was easy enough to gather due to the gashes and cuts on his face. Drawing enough blood that I knew I'd be able to research his powers, I put the syringe back into the compartment.

Taking the second syringe, I stabbed it into Abomination's neck. The syringe had a bit of trouble breaking through but with my strength backing it, it broke through in the end.

Injecting the contents of the syringe, Abomination suddenly convulsed, whipping back and forth even in his unconscious state. His muscles twisted, his bones cracked and his joints began popping. What was happening to him? He was changing back. The contents of that syringe? A cleanser I'd created that can pump out toxic substances and outside influences out of people's bodies.

It took a lot of work, a load of sleepless nights and a whole bunch of my newly gained wealth...but I'd created it. This liquid could cleanse newly given superpowers.

Of course it had limits. If you didn't get it to them within the first year they gained the powers, it wouldn't work. It also only works on mutated humans. Not Mutants. Mutated. So Spider-Man, my cousin, would be effected by this liquid. Same goes for Scorpion, Rhino, any of the other Spider-related heroes. This means it can't work for people who've gained their powers through mystical means or people who were born with their powers but it's a start.

After all, some people just don't deserve powers. Abomination, or Emil Blonsky now, is the perfect example of such a case.

Before long, he was back to looking human, every little bit of power flushed out of his system like it was never there in the first place. Now it was the governments job to sort him out, though don't think I'm forgetting about HYDRA being in there. I'll be coming for them soon, those Nazi bastards.

Turning, I left Emil alone and began making my way back toward where I'd left Hulk. He was still there, roaring and gesturing violently at the military personnel who were approaching him.

In a burst of speed, I appeared next to him and caused a push of air pressure to appear as I waved my hand in the direction of the soldiers. They were pushed back and the Hulk glowered down at me, his eyes alight with a neon green glow. I took the bottom half of my face mask off and smiled at him, "How you doing, big guy?" I asked and for a second, the Hulk looked confused.

Probably because I wasn't scared of him or trying to fight him. I was probably the first person to speak to him like this who wasn't his love interest or whatever.

He soon snapped out of his confusion and roared at me, arms raised high and to his side as if to make himself look bigger. I didn't flinch no move away from him. Instead I just kept looking up at him with a smile until he stopped, "Got that out of your system?" I asked and he grunted in what I assumed was affirmation, "Good. Now, you need to run before they start shooting at us," I gestured to the quickly recovering soldiers and the Hulk spared them a glance before he began growling.

He looked back to me, looking me up and down before he spoke, "Blond man...good. Help Hulk?" he asked in his deep, gravelly voice, as he twitched back and forth on the balls of his feet like a kid who'd had too much sugar.

Looking down at my watch, I looked back up to Hulk with a smile, "Sure, I've got time to help you out, big guy," I said and Hulk flashed a savage smile before looking like he was about to leap at the soldiers. Hurriedly, I grabbed and held him back, "Hulk, you need to go. I can keep their attention but not if you attack them. Escape while you can, okay?"

Hulk showed reluctance as he looked back at me, turning back to the soldiers as they pointed their weapons at us before he huffed and turned away, leaping away.

I let out a sigh of relief. Now I could do this without anyone getting unnecessarily hurt.

He - Hulk - means well at times but he can be a bit...heavy-handed. Especially against people shooting at him, which is fair, but the last thing he needs is another kill under his name.

Before the first soldier could shoot, I blurred and began going from soldier to soldier with my immense speed, taking their guns apart and emptying their persons of any ammo they were carry. I took the wheels off their vehicles and unattached the mounted machine guns. For good measure, I took their knives and grenades away from them as well.

"Using guns is bad, okay?" I said, appearing in front of the now confused soldiers as their hands were empty and their guns were disassembled at their feet, "Try to use your words, next time," I flashed them a smile before rushing around the immediate area, putting out fires and rescuing people from the rubble the earlier fight and destruction had caused.

With that done, I was off back to my apartment with a mixture of leaping, running and travelling through the sewers to avoid being followed. I'd been doing this for years and you pick up a few tricks after a while, not to mention All Might's memories helping me.

...Is it bad that I feel like a dinner party is harder to deal with than stopping a fight between two angry green giants, stopping the military without harming them physically and then saving a few dozen civilians from fires and rubble? Because it kinda feels bad that I feel so averse to a simple dinner party and not doing hero stuff.

Oh well, food for thought I guess.

. . .

Skidding to a halt, I felt the bottom of my dress shoes struggling for traction as I hurriedly did up my bow tie - super speed isn't helping me here. How did that stupid tutorial say to do it again? Goddammit, I knew I should've asked mom for help.

Regardless, I was here, in New York, outside a fancy building and about to enter it.

No doubt I was one of the last people to enter and for good reason too as I was about a minute late. How was I late? Did you forget all the hero stuff I just did? I overestimated how much time I had, obviously. Nevertheless, it's better late than never, right?

After finishing my struggle with the bow tie, I had it done in an acceptable (and right) way. Entering the building, I slicked my blond locks back and tucked what I could behind my ears. Putting on a dashing smile, I entered the building's reception and pulled out my invitation. The person standing behind a podium with a roster on it, obviously the host for the establishment, greeted me with a professional smile and held out a hand for my invitation - though I did briefly wonder why one of his cheeks was red and slightly inflamed.

Thoughts pushed aside, I gave the slip of paper to him and after a few seconds of checking, he looked back up at me and smiled, "Mr. Parker, we were beginning to think we wouldn't see you tonight. I'm glad that isn't the case. If you'd follow me, I'll show you to the ballroom Mr. Stark has rented out for the night."

If I was the type of person to do it, I'd correct him by saying it's Dr. Parker but hey, tomato tomato.

Nodding, I followed the man and he led me further into the building that was basically empty. I reckon that Stark hadn't just rented the ballroom but the entire building for the night. Hell, he might even own it knowing the money he has in his very deep pockets.

I could hear the dinner party from here with my enhanced hearing and I mentally hyped myself up so I could deal with it all. I wasn't introverted per se but I wasn't extroverted either.

Just a normal guy, I guess. If you ignore the superpowers and wealth, anyway.

Anyway, we soon made it to where the party was being held and the host held the door open for me, "Thank you," I said as I stepped through into the room. It surely was fancy...but a little gaudy for my tastes. Too much gold and gold colouring. Nonetheless, I walked further into the ballroom and looked for an empty table for myself to sit.

The tables were set up so they were five people per table, and most of them were full by now. All except one table which had four people on it near the front of the stage where Tony would be making his entrance.

The people at the table...well, they weren't getting a lot of friendly looks from the surrounding people. One in particular was getting a lot of disdainful stares or fearful ones.

...I should've known these guys would've been here.

This world was the MCU, sure, but I'd long known it wasn't just the MCU. The history books were filled with examples of Mutants - especially the attempt on Nixon's life - and a few years ago, four particular people went to space and came back changed. Mutated. They were the Fantastic Four. I'd had run-ins with them before, especially when Doom did his whole shtick after getting his powers.

Looking around, I looked for any other empty spaces on other tables but found none. Relenting to my fate, I just hoped none of them would figure out who I was.

After all, like I said, we'd had more than a few run-ins with each other. We'd even helped each other at times. I'm just glad that I'm wearing glasses - maybe I'll get lucky like good ol' Supes? Besides, I speak in a much softer voice outside of Hero work. OFA enhances everything and everything includes my lungs, diaphragm and vocal cords, meaning when I really want to my voice comes out booming and very, very loud.

Let's hope that's enough difference to stop them from linking the two me's. But if they do find out, I'll have to make sure they don't tell anyone. They know I'm a decent guy, so they wouldn't just out me like that, right? Besides, I've done my research on all of them. None of them are secret HYDRA spies, so I know I can trust them to a limited extent.

Doesn't mean I'll come clean on my own accord, though.

Composing myself, I made my way over to the table and politely coughed to get their attention. Once they were looking at me, I gestured to the empty chair, "Is this chair taken, perchance?"

A tall man with brown hair that was white at his temples and brown, inquisitive eyes that scanned over me in an analytical and complex way. His physique was lean and slender, like you'd expect to see on a scholar, and despite his odd way he looked over me, he smiled and nodded as he gestured at the seat, "By all means, take it. No one else seems to want to sit with us," he joked, earning him a chuckle, a scoff and a snort off of his three compatriots.

These were, respective to their response, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm and Benjamin Grimm.

The last of which seemed surprised when I sat down next to him without making a fuss, "You blind or something, pal?" he asked, his own suit stretched over his rocky exterior and looking on the verge of ripping because of his bulk.

"No?" I questioned with a smile, "Why would you ask that?" I countered and he smiled, showcasing his bright white teeth.

"Because nobody who can see would sit next to me without at least thinking about it first. Hell, I doubt anyone else here would willing sit next to me even after thinking about it," he grunted, trying to make light of the situation but it no doubt being an obvious sore spot for him. I shrugged in return, which probably wasn't the answer he was expecting.

"I mean," I started, grabbing one of the glasses of champagne and taking a swig before continuing, "Just because you look different doesn't mean you ain't human. Besides, I've seen you save a bunch of people on the TV, so you're alright in my books," I flashed him a smile and he seemed genuinely taken aback with surprise.

One of the others spoke up at this, "I'm glad at least someone in this place has a brain and common sense," the only woman at the table, Susan Storm, huffed in annoyance. Catching a look from her obvious sibling, Johnny, she glared at him, "What? I know Ben looks all rough on the outside but you'd think they'd at least treat him with some decency."

"You get some trouble on the way in?" I looked over at Ben who just smirked and nodded.

"Host thought I was some sorta monster - rock Gorilla or something," he banged a fist against his chest, joking about it, "Sue nearly took his head off with a slap," he chortled and I nearly spat out some of the champagne I was drinking.

Smiling, I gave a nod of realization, "So that's why the host's cheek was so red," I said aloud, obviously to make light of it, and gave Susan a thumbs up, "Good work. He seemed like a bit of snob."

Susan went a bit red from embarrassment but returned the smile while Reed watched on with a smile. Johnny, however, chose now to speak up.

"So, uh, who are you and why are you here?" he bluntly asked before catching a look from his sister and quickly adding on, "I mean, why are you here at Stark's dinner party. Not why are you here at our table. What?" he asked seeing that Susan's look hadn't stopped even after the last thing he said. Before he got a telling off from her, I answered him.

"Dr. James Parker. It's a pleasure to meet the Fantastic Four," I said before gesturing to the room around us, "I'm here because I'm a big shareholder of Stark Industries. I assumed that would be obvious."

"Heh," Ben snorted, "Don't assume when it comes to hothead over there. His sister got all the brains."

"Oh yeah, landslide? At least I'm good-looking," Johnny retorted.

"At least I ain't got a small pecker like you," Ben countered, carefully lifting his glass to take a sip as Johnny began to go red in the face. He stood up but soon after he was pushed down by an invisible force as Susan gave him a death glare. She said some whispered words to him and I did them the courtesy of not listening in.

Whatever was said, however, shut Johnny up and had him looking to the side like a sulking and pouty child. Well, you can see who wears the pants in this little family of superheroes.

...Honestly, tonight might not be so bad if I get to spend it with these four.