Robert couldn't deny that his impression of Wade was deeply imprinted, even though he hadn't yet learned the reasons from Clark. At this moment, Robert had no desire to head towards the base, primarily because he just didn't want to see Wade.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot," Clark started, responding to Robert's reluctance. "Wade's waiting for you at the Avengers' base. Before you dealt with the mastermind behind the Spider problem, he got bitten too. However, instead of being controlled, he turned into an anomaly. His presence caused those Spider-People and the little spiders to malfunction. Thanks to him, we managed to contain so many Spider-People so quickly…" Clark explained, recalling the series of events that led to the current situation.
Had the inter-dimensional issues not distracted him, Clark would have remembered to tell Robert about Wade's involvement immediately. However, with his focus diverted, Wade's situation fell by the wayside, understandably taking a back seat to more pressing concerns.
"He actually managed to do something useful?" Robert raised an eyebrow in disbelief. His brief encounter with Wade had left him convinced of Wade's unreliability. In Robert's eyes, Wade's incompetence was as ingrained as Constantine's knack for troublemaking.
Wade and Constantine differed in two significant ways: Constantine's schemes always aimed to profit or escape trouble, and he had a certain respect for truly powerful individuals. Wade, on the other hand, lacked both traits. Robert could tell Wade's mind worked differently from ordinary people's. Coupled with Wade's irritating mouth, his unwelcome status shot through the roof.
Robert mused that silencing Wade, either by poisoning or sewing his mouth shut, might make him less annoying. Unfortunately, Wade's powerful regenerative abilities rendered such measures ineffective.
"Don't be too harsh," Clark smiled wryly, defending Wade a bit. "Stark spent a lot of money, but to him, financial problems are hardly real problems. Besides, Wade's willingness to sacrifice himself showed he contributed significantly this time."
Robert looked thoughtful, remembering his earlier encounter with Wade, and hesitated. "Did he say anything weird to you when you saw him?" he asked Clark. Robert had been perplexed by Wade's insistence on calling him 'dad' during their previous meeting. Though Robert wasn't particularly powerful at the time, Wade's behavior suggested he either knew something unusual or had some peculiar habits. He wanted to know if Clark had experienced anything similar.
Clark's expression became slightly awkward. He was aware of Wade calling Robert 'dad.' Initially, Clark thought he would be immune to such shamelessness, but Wade had insisted on calling him 'godfather' as well. Clark never agreed to this, but that didn't stop Wade from doing it, even in front of the Avengers. Wade seemed almost proud, flaunting the title as if it was a badge of honor, much to Clark's chagrin.
Robert's eyes lit up at Clark's reaction. People often feel uneasy when something awkward happens to them, but they relish knowing others have shared similar experiences. Robert sensed that Clark might have gone through something similar, making him suspect Wade had a specific quirky habit.
"I have no idea why he insists on calling me 'godfather,'" Clark sighed. "If he hadn't explained it to me, I would have thought he made up the term…"
"So he calls me 'dad' and you 'godfather'? What's this guy's deal?" Robert rolled his eyes, baffled by Wade's behavior. Yet, considering Wade's erratic mind, Robert dismissed it. Who could reason with a lunatic?
"Let's go see what antics this guy is up to now," Robert shrugged, deciding to visit the base despite his earlier reluctance.
Before long, Robert and Clark reached the Avengers' base at their usual brisk pace. Clark's sudden disappearance had puzzled the Avengers, especially since Robert hadn't returned either. They wondered if something had gone wrong with Robert's mission.
Tony Stark and the others had limited information, but Peter Parker knew the connection between Robert and Clark. They had contacted Kara, who was outside gathering intelligence. Just as she arrived, she saw Robert and Clark returning.
"Dad! I missed you!" Wade's voice rang out loudly before Kara could approach Robert. Wade moved faster than her, shouting out as if eager for everyone to know his relationship with Robert.
The Avengers, hearing Wade's cry, felt a collective discomfort, their toes curling in secondhand embarrassment. Robert's face stiffened, his expression growing unnatural.
But Wade remained unfazed, perfectly embodying the adage, "If I don't feel embarrassed, then others will." Tears or perhaps disguised spit flowed dramatically from under his mask. Given Wade's unpredictable behavior, Robert wasn't inclined to let Wade touch him. Even if there weren't mysterious fluids involved, Robert wasn't keen on hugging Wade. They weren't that close.
With a resounding "Bang!" Robert kicked Wade away, sending him flying out the base's window in a graceful arc, landing outside the Avengers' base.
Robert's kick was controlled but not entirely restrained. He knew Wade's strength and healing abilities made him hard to kill. Unless Robert transformed into his primal form with 'Great Ape Power: Fury,' he couldn't hope to permanently put Wade down. Wade's vitality rivaled those dimensional entities' avatars.
Of course, Wade's combat abilities paled compared to the versatile dimensional beings. He couldn't match Robert's level and probably couldn't even best someone like Steve Rogers.
"You alright? Why did Superman suddenly disappear? We thought something happened to you…" Kara asked Robert with concern after watching him kick Wade away.
"Some issues cropped up between dimensions, but before we could investigate, it resolved itself. We're not sure what happened exactly…" Robert replied with a light-hearted shrug. "It might have something to do with the Ancient One. We'll ask her next time we see her; no need for a special trip."
"As long as you're okay. Did you get hurt fighting that spider monster?" Kara continued, relieved but still worried.
During the fight with Naxi, Kara hadn't been present. After Robert left to find Constantine, Kara didn't stay at the Avengers' base. When Tony Stark and the others went to rescue Peter Parker, Kara wasn't immediately informed.
Had she been there, Kara might have dealt with the small spiders before Robert arrived. The spiders were hiding in the dark, not yet spreading across the city and merging with Earth's spiders.
However, Kara's presence might have drawn Naxi's attention. Given her strength, Kara couldn't defeat Naxi, but her interference could have disrupted Naxi's plans, possibly prompting a direct attack on the Avengers and leading to a different chain of events.
"That spider monster was no match for me… Oh, right, Peter," Robert turned to Peter Parker, suddenly remembering something. "The consciousness of the Earthling host was already gone when I fought him. His genes and flesh were also completely obliterated when he first lost. His powers consumed them…"
Robert realized the connection between Naxi's host and Peter Parker and wanted to clarify. During the battle, Robert hadn't focused on this aspect. Even with his strength, Robert couldn't save Richard Parker from Naxi, just as he couldn't separate Al Simmons from the Hell Lord's control.
Once a human's body was transformed into a vessel for a dimensional entity, their original consciousness and soul were essentially gone, leaving only a faint remnant, an irreversible process without extreme intervention.
"It's fine," Peter Parker shook his head slowly, a calm expression on his face. "I knew his fate the moment he chose that path. I just wish… it had been me or Harry who ended it."
Peter wasn't visibly distressed. He had mentally prepared for this outcome. Richard Parker had been a distant figure in his life, almost a stranger compared to Ben Parker, who had truly fulfilled the father role.
"I'm glad you understand," Robert sighed. "You've lost some power without Mjolnir, but unfortunately, I can only guide you to use your abilities in battle, not teach you how to become stronger…"
Robert lamented the unique paths each of them took. Their abilities differed vastly from his own, and they had to discover their own ways to grow stronger.
"Especially you, Peter. After gaining the power of thunder, your spider abilities diverged. Your journey ahead will be even more challenging…"
"I won't give up," Peter declared with a determined look. "I don't want to be a bystander again or lose control of my body…"
His eyes shone with resolve, ready to face the difficult path ahead.
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