Chapter Five: A New Life

Marshall blinked up at the face hovering over him, trying to process what was happening. The woman holding him had warm brown skin, soft curls framing her face, and tired yet kind eyes that sparkled with love. She smiled down at him, her voice soft and soothing.

"You've got a big future ahead of you, my little man," she whispered, cradling him close. "I can feel it."

Marshall stared at her, his mind racing. Okay, take stock. I'm a baby. Again. My parents seem great. But I'm in the MCU, so life is probably going to get wild. Don't panic. Yet.

Somewhere nearby, another voice chimed in—a deep, steady baritone. "Already making predictions, huh? You barely know him."

The man stepped into view, tall and broad-shouldered, with a warm smile that softened his sharp features. He kissed the woman's forehead before peering down at Marshall with a mix of pride and curiosity.

"Well, he's got my nose," the man said. "But he's definitely got your glare."

Elaine laughed, shaking her head. "Let's hope he doesn't get your sense of humor. I don't think I could handle two of you."

Marshall groaned internally. Great. My mom's a teacher, my dad's a cop, and I'm stuck in a sitcom. Fantastic.

Over the years, Marshall adjusted to his new life, slowly piecing together who his parents were and where he'd landed. His mother, Elaine Phillips, was a high school English teacher with a sharp wit and an ironclad sense of fairness. She was the kind of person who didn't just command respect—she inspired it.

His father, Darren Phillips, was a sergeant with the NYPD. Despite his stoic demeanor in uniform, Darren was a loving father and husband who had a knack for turning even the worst situations into a joke. Marshall often found himself laughing at his dad's corny one-liners, despite himself.

The Phillips family lived in a cozy apartment in Brooklyn, surrounded by the sounds of a bustling city that never slept. It was a good life—stable, loving, and filled with the kind of warmth Marshall had never truly appreciated before.

By the time Marshall turned five, his enhanced intelligence was already making itself known. He could read books well beyond his grade level and had a knack for solving puzzles that left his parents scratching their heads. By eight, he was tinkering with electronics, taking apart radios, and putting them back together just to see if he could.

His healing factor, too, had started to show. Scraped knees and bruises disappeared within hours, and he rarely got sick. Darren joked that his son had the immune system of Captain America, a comment that always made Marshall laugh nervously.

Living in an apartment complex meant plenty of opportunities to meet other kids, but most of them came and went without leaving much of an impression on Marshall. That changed when he met Peter Parker.

Peter was two years younger than him, a shy but curious kid with messy brown hair and a slightly oversized backpack that always seemed to weigh him down. They met in the lobby one afternoon when Peter tripped over his shoelaces and sent a pile of Justice League comics spilling across the floor.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no," Peter muttered, scrambling to gather them up.

Marshall, who had been heading out to meet his dad, paused and bent down to help. "Dude, chill. It's just comics."

Peter froze, looking up at Marshall with wide eyes. "But they're—these are special editions! If they get creased…"

Marshall raised an eyebrow, picking up a pristine issue of Justice League: Crisis Point. "Okay, fair point. You've got good taste."

"You read Justice League?" Peter asked, his voice suddenly filled with excitement.

"Of course," Marshall said with a grin. "Batman's the best. Who doesn't love a guy with no powers who still kicks everyone's ass?"

Peter's face lit up, his nervousness melting away. "Right?! And Superman! I mean, what would the League even do without him?"

From that moment on, they were inseparable. Despite their age difference, Peter and Marshall bonded over their shared love of superheroes, science, and tinkering. Peter was constantly asking questions—how things worked, why things happened, what Marshall thought about the latest issue of World's Finest. And Marshall, who had always felt a bit out of place with other kids, found Peter's enthusiasm refreshing.

Elaine and Darren quickly grew fond of Peter, often inviting him to stay for dinner when his Aunt May was busy working late shifts. May, in turn, was endlessly grateful for the Phillips family, always bringing over baked goods and insisting they were lifesavers.

"Peter talks about you all the time," May said one evening, ruffling her nephew's hair. "I think you've got yourself a lifelong fan."

Marshall smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Can't blame him. I'm pretty awesome."

Peter rolled his eyes but grinned. "One day, I'm gonna be smarter than you. Just watch."

When Marshall was nine, the world changed.

He was sitting on the couch with Peter, munching on a bowl of cereal, when the TV blared with breaking news. Elaine walked in just as the anchor began speaking, her tone electric with excitement.

"Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark has been rescued after three months in captivity. Stark reportedly escaped using technology he built himself, though details remain unclear. Stark Industries has announced a press conference later today…"

Marshall froze, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Whoa," Peter said, nearly choking on a mouthful of cereal. "He's alive? How did he do that?"

Elaine frowned, sitting down beside them. "Isn't that the guy who's always on magazine covers? The weapons guy?"

"Yeah," Darren said, walking in with a cup of coffee. "And now he's Houdini. Escaping terrorists? I don't even want to know what kind of tech he built to pull that off."

Peter nudged Marshall. "He's definitely building something crazy right now, right? Like some secret project?"

Marshall smirked. "Let's hope it doesn't explode. Dude doesn't exactly have a track record of being careful."

They laughed, but Marshall's mind was elsewhere. This is it, he thought. The beginning.

A few weeks later, for his 10th birthday, Marshall's parents surprised him and Peter with a camping trip. Darren insisted that every kid needed to experience the great outdoors at least once, while Elaine wanted a break from the city. Peter tagged along, his excitement infectious.

By the second night, they'd settled into a small clearing surrounded by towering trees. The crackle of the campfire filled the quiet evening as Darren told an exaggerated story about his rookie days on the force. Peter hung on every word, but Marshall was distracted by a faint hum that seemed to pulse through the forest.

"Marshall, you good?" Darren asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've barely touched your s'mores."

"Yeah, just tired," Marshall said quickly, though his eyes kept darting toward the woods.

Peter leaned in. "Do you hear that? It's like… a buzzing sound."

Marshall nodded. "I'm gonna check it out."

"Be careful," Elaine said, her tone only half-serious.

Marshall motioned for Peter to stay, then disappeared into the trees. The hum grew louder with every step until he stumbled into a small clearing and froze.

A glowing green object lay in a crater, its light casting eerie shadows across the ground. Marshall's breath caught as he stepped closer, his heart pounding.

"No way," he whispered. "It can't be."

As he reached out, the object sprang to life, and a watch-like device launched itself onto his wrist. He stumbled back, shouting in surprise.

"Happy birthday, kid," came a familiar voice.

Marshall spun around to see Rob leaning casually against a tree, grinning. "Bet you didn't think I'd make it this dramatic, huh?"

"What the hell, Rob?!" Marshall shouted, holding up his arm. "It just attacked me!"

Rob laughed, spreading his hands. "I call it flair. You'll thank me later."

"This isn't flair! It's borderline assault!" Marshall snapped, staring at the glowing watch.

"Details," Rob said with a shrug. "Anyway, enjoy your present. Try not to break anything too important." With a smug wave, he vanished.

Marshall returned to the campsite in a daze. He said nothing as he slipped into his tent, Peter following close behind.

Inside, Marshall stared at the Omnitrix. "What is it?" Peter whispered.

Marshall didn't answer. With a deep breath, he pressed the glowing hourglass. The watch face sprang up, showing alien silhouettes. Without thinking, Marshall pushed the dial down.

The tent filled with a blinding green flash.

End of Chapter Five

Any ideas what his ten should be?