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Something was off.
The energy in K’un-Lun felt electric, like a storm waiting to split open the sky. Lin Lie could feel it crackling beneath his skin as he moved through his forms, chi surging through him with each controlled breath. Even the monks training alongside him in the courtyard seemed uneasy, their movements just a fraction too stiff, their focus beginning to fray at the edges.
Lin Lie exhaled, attempting to center himself. He repeated the same taught mantra — balance, focus, discipline — over and over to will away the nerves he felt in the pit of his stomach, but to no avail.
When he had arrived on the shores of K’un-Lun only a year ago on the brink of death, Shou-Lao granted him the power of the Iron Fist purely on a whim. While he was grateful for being considered worthy of such a title, and of course a second chance at life, many were not. There wasn’t a day where he didn’t hear a snide comment comparing him to past Iron Fists, that he was too young, too inexperienced, the power would be better suited in the hands of one of their own.
Despite the doubts of his peers, he embodied the necessary call of his title, defending the gate to the mystic city, overseeing the shifts of the realms, standing in the face of adversity at every turn.
Even so, this was different. And the longer it took to finally show itself to him, the more his resolve began to falter.
A strong wind blew through the courtyard, pausing Lie’s thoughts. The pulse sent shivers down his spine, the energy in the city shifting the most since it had begun. The monks around him paused mid-form, sensing the change, too. Time seemed to slow as the ground began to tremble, the jagged mountains around them vibrating with a force beyond his comprehension. Lightning struck the edge of the courtyard nearest to him, the light swallowing the space that was once his reality. Left in its wake was a rift, golden and jagged, swirling with hues of purple and red. The monks around him staggered back, their voices rising in alarm, but Lie stood frozen, transfixed by the swirling abyss in front of him.
He barely had time to react before the rift pulled him in.
The force hit him like a tidal wave, yanking him through the very fabric of existence. Time and space twisted around him, his body weightless yet hurtling forward at impossible speeds. The voices of the monks, the peaks of K’un-Lun, all of what he was used to faded away, replaced by a rushing blur of millions of worlds collided.
And then — impact.
Lin Lie crashed onto cold, unforgiving asphalt. A car horn blared, followed by tires screeching and voices shouting in concern. He gasped, rolling onto his hands and knees, the world around him spinning. The acrid scent of gasoline and hot metal burned his nose. Neon lights and flashing signs flickered in his periphery, towering buildings stretching endlessly into the sky.
A city?
It didn’t feel like any city he knew, and the air around him was still pulsing with that very same energy he felt in K’un-Lun. He pushed himself to his feet, his legs unsteady as his heart pounded loudly in his ears.
A crowd had begun to form around him.
“Yo, did he just fall from nowhere?” a man muttered, beginning to pull out his phone to record.
“It’s gotta be some kind of stunt, right?” another asked, eyes wide.
Lie ignored them, senses straining for something deeper. He channeled his chi to his fists, prepared for whatever may come in this strange test K’un-Lun threw his way.
But he felt nothing besides the usual sting of the shards embedded in his arms.
He tried again but nothing came, the chi barely a flicker of what it once was.
Lie barely had time to process the sheer panic building up in him before a voice from above called out.
“Hey, uh…you okay down there, buddy?”
His head snapped upwards.
A figure perched on the edge of a towering billboard, casually crouched as if gravity was just a suggestion. The red and blue suit was instantly recognizable, but it was incredibly different from the stories he had been told. The glowing white eyes, the sleeker form-fitting design, the hum of technology woven through the fabric — this was not the Spider-Man he had heard stories about.
The masked hero flipped down, landing with effortless grace a few feet away.
Lie raised his fists, prepared for confrontation.
“Whoa, easy,” Spider-Man quickly said, putting his hands up in front of him in surrender. “I’m not here to fight you.”
Lie didn’t move.
“Okay.” A sigh. “Let me guess,” Spider-Man started, folding his arms across his chest as he inspected Lie. “You came through some weird glowing portal, fell into the middle of traffic, and now you’re just as confused as everyone else?”
Lie’s muscles tensed. “How do you–”
“Because, buddy,” Spider-Man drawled out as he gestured to the bewildered crowd still lingering at a distance, “those things have been causing issues all over town today, and I highly doubt you’re going to be the last.”
Lie exhaled sharply. “Where am I?”
“New York City,” Spider-Man answered easily, then paused. “Well, kind of.” He tilted his head. “Depending on where… when …you came from, this probably isn’t the New York you would know.”
Lie glanced around again, stomach tightening. The billboards glowed with images he couldn’t place, the cars hovered off the ground, and the skyline–while familiar–was somehow more advanced than it should have been.
A long silence stretched between them before Spider-Man broke it with a casual shrug. “Look, I can’t tell if you’re freaking out internally, or maybe you just have the world’s best poker face, but how about we, oh I don’t know, take this conversation somewhere that isn’t the middle of the street?”
Lie hesitated. He didn’t trust this place, and he wasn’t even sure if he could trust the person in front of him. But the masked stranger was right. Standing here in the middle of traffic wouldn’t net him any answers. “Right. Yeah. Lead the way.”
“Sweet,” Spider-Man said, shooting a web up to a nearby building then holding out his hand. “Come here.”
“I’m sorry?”
A laugh. “Are you going to scale the wall by yourself?”
Without the use of his chi, such a task would be impossible. “I could ,” Lie muttered, taking the hand offered to him.
“Aw, but then you’d miss out on the VIP express route.”
Before Lie Lin could reconsider, Spider-Man threw him onto his back and launched them into the air with a flick of his web shooter. The city blurred past them in a dizzying rush of motion before Spider-Man swung them onto the rooftop. The masked hero effortlessly landed lightly on his feet while Lie twisted just enough to land in a controlled crouch, only releasing Spider-Man’s hand once his boots met solid ground.
“Not bad,” Spidey mused, leaning against a wall. “Didn’t really stick the landing. 7 out of 10.”
Lie rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t trying to.”
“Yeah, yeah, excuses.” Spider-Man waved a hand before turning to look out at the vast cityscape below them. Lie was able to see just how different the city was from up here—the streets glowed with neon strips, drones zipped through the air, even the digital billboards flashed moving holograms that seemed to shift as if aware of their presence.
It was taking all of his willpower to not come unglued at the sight of it.
As if sensing the impending doom, Spider-man tilted his head toward him. “So…what’s your deal?”
Lie steadied himself, turning his focus to the masked stranger beside him. “ My deal?”
“Yeah. Like, who are you? I mean, I’ve gathered the whole potential time traveler thing, but who are you?”
Lie hesitated. “Why does that matter?”
“It matters because I would like to help you, and I can only do that if you help me.”
Lie sighed, fixing his gaze back on the city below. The stories of Spider-Man told him that the stranger could be trusted, even if this one happened to be from a time he wasn’t familiar with. “My name is Lin Lie,” he started, voice soft. “I come from a place called K’un-Lun, a mystical city that exists between worlds. I washed upon the shore there after being gravely injured, and a mystical dragon gave me the power of the immortal Iron Fist to save my life. I was training in the courtyard of the temple I lived in when that rift pulled me into it. Now I’m here.”
Spider-Man let out a low whistle. “Wow. That is not what I was expecting.”
Lie ignored the jab, instead opting to search for answers in the horizon for how he could possibly make it back home. Instead he found nothing, just the unfamiliar hum of a city that didn’t belong to him.
Spider-Man must have noticed the look on his face because his tone softened. “Look, I can’t exactly explain why you’re here, but I do know a guy who might. You’re the first person that has come through those portals, so maybe you’re also a key component in solving this puzzle. We’ll just have to figure it out.”
Lie hummed, crossing his arms. “Has this guy you know dealt with something like this before?”
Spider-Man nodded. “Oh, yeah. Portals, timelines, magical headaches. It’s kind of his whole deal. He’s a bit of a grump, but if anyone can figure out what’s happening, it would be him.”
Lie exhaled slowly. He doesn’t exactly have any other options. “Alright,” he said after a beat. “Take me to him.”
“Whoa, big guy, slow your roll. Do you have any idea what time it is? I would prefer not to get on his bad side before helping you out.”
Lie frowned, glancing around at the glowing skyline. “Does time really matter in a place like this?”
Spider-Man snorted. “Oh, it matters, trust me. Waking that guy up at the wrong hour is like poking a sleeping dragon, except instead of fire, he throws you in a pocket dimension for ‘just a moment’ that turns out to be two weeks. ” Spider-Man stretched with a yawn. “Look, I’ll take you to him first thing in the morning, but until then, you need a place to lay low. You’re kind of… noticeable. ”
Lie looked down at his clothes. He was still wearing his traditional martial arts robes that were customary to his training back in K’un-Lun, the fabric slightly tattered by the pull of the rift. In a city filled with sleek and futuristic fashion, Spidey was right. He stuck out like a sore thumb.
“Good point,” he agreed. “Where should I go?”
Spider-Man clapped his hands together, the grin evident beneath the mask. “Lucky for you, I know just the place. No weird portals, no bad guys. Unless someone broke in. Again. But it should just be a quiet place to crash.”
Lie gave him a skeptical look. “And what exactly is this place?”
Spider-Man waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, you know, just a cozy little apartment with a totally normal roommate in a rather quiet part of town.”
“That doesn’t seem promising.”
“Do you have any better options?”
He sighed, crossing his arms. “Fine.”
“I knew you’d come around.” Spider-Man held out his hand. “Alright, come on. VIP web travel, round two, via yours truly.”
Lie took his hand and the masked stranger threw him onto his back again before taking off through the buildings of New York without much warning. The city blurred underneath them in streaks of neon and headlights, and before he could dwell on the differences between here and home they landed on the fire escape of an unassuming apartment building. Spider-Man nudged open a window and gestured inside. “After you.”
Lie nodded, stepping into the dimly lit room. It was small but had a certain charm to it, a stark difference to the barren, disciplined halls of the temple. A warm glow of a floor lamp cast shadows along the exposed brick, where mismatched shelves held overflowing books, trinkets, and even a couple of framed photos. The air carried the scent of fresh coffee and something sweet he couldn’t place, making the space feel more lived in than expected of a superhero.
“You brought home another stray?”
His eyes landed on a woman leaning in the doorway to the small living area, scrolling through a futuristic tablet. Her silver-white hair cascaded over her shoulders, and golden eyes flicked towards him in mild amusement.
Spider-Man sighed dramatically. “Felicia, please. He is hardly a stray.”
Felicia arched an eyebrow in his direction. “Tell that to the last guy you dragged in here.” She threw the tablet somewhere behind her before making her way over to him. Lie stood completely still as she approached, her gaze sweeping over him with slow and deliberate interest. Her lips were curled in faint amusement, as if she already knew something he didn’t.
“Can you please not do whatever it is you’re doing right now?” Spider-Man warned.
She ignored him entirely, tilting her head as she studied Lie, her gaze sharp and assessing. Then, as if reaching a silent conclusion, she let out a playful hum. “He’s cute. Good build. Not entirely sure about the fashion sense, but it’s something we can work on,” she mused, trailing a finger along the edge of Lie’s sleeve before letting her hand drop. “Better taste than usual, Pete. I’ll allow it.”
Lie felt Spider-Man stiffen beside him at the comment.
“ Felicia, ” he groaned, putting his palm to his face. “This is not what you think it is.”
Felicia grinned, entirely pleased with herself. “Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that.”
“ Stop. I’m helping him. You know. Because I’m the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man? Like, my whole thing?”
Her mouth formed the shape of a small ‘o’ at the comment. “I see. So why exactly did we bring the cutie home then?”
“He sorta fell into traffic after being sucked into a time travelling portal? I couldn’t just leave him there. And stop calling him cutie, he has a name.”
“Lin Lie,” he offered, as a way to help ease some of the awkward tension between the two.
Felicia tapped a finger against her chin, feigning deep contemplation. “So, let me get this straight. You just happened to stumble upon a handsome, brooding martial artist, by the looks of it anyway, from another dimension and instead of dropping him off on Strange’s doorstep to deal with it, you decided to personally take him in.”
“I am doing him a favor by not taking him to that madman’s home in the middle of the night and you know that.” Spider-Man let out a frustrated groan. “You act like this isn’t something that happens regularly. Leave me alone.”
Felicia laughed, sauntering back to the doorway off the living room. “Well, whatever your reasoning, I approve. He looks like he could actually keep up with you rather than drag you down. Refreshing.”
Lie watched as Spider-Man threw his hands up in exasperation, mumbling something under his breath as he stormed off to what was presumably his bedroom.
Felicia chuckled before turning her attention back to Lie. “A portal, huh?”
Lie nodded, unsure of what to say.
Felicia gave him another once over, an apologetic smile faintly appearing on her lips. “Well, I can tell you that Peter is probably the best person to help you in this situation. Consider yourself lucky he’s the one who found you.” She glanced back towards Spider-Man’s door before letting out a dramatic sigh. “I hope you find your way back home, Lin Lie. Have a good night.”
Lie offered her a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks.”
Felicia gave him one last knowing glance before disappearing into the room, the soft click of the door signaling her exit.
Now, with the apartment quiet, Lie took the opportunity to take a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as he tried processing the sheer chaos of the night. Across the room, the door Spider-Man disappeared behind remained closed. For a moment, he considered knocking — maybe to ask more questions, maybe just to talk — but instead opted to take a seat on the couch next to him. He exhaled as he sunk into the plush fabric, letting the tension in his muscle slowly unwind.
A click of a door opening paused his makeshift meditation and Lie turned his head to the direction of the sound.
Spider-Man emerged from his room, running a hand through his tousled brown hair, making it even messier than before. Without the mask, he looked different — softer, more human. His sharp jawline was dusted ever so lightly with stubble, evidence of a series of long days, and the faintest dark circles lingered beneath the sharp, intelligent eyes. They were such a deep shade of brown that they looked black in the soft lighting, but still carried an unmistakable warmth to them. He was dressed in a fitted gray t-shirt that hugged every curve of his athletic frame and a dark pair of sweatpants, and despite the exciting series of events, he looked effortlessly at ease. Though, Lie could notice an underlying tension, as if he would be ready to spring into action at any moment. Fitting of New York’s favorite superhero.
Spider-Man held up a neatly folded set of clothes — an old hoodie and some sweatpants that looked infinitely more comfortable than the gear Lie had been stuck in. “I brought you something to change into,” he said before adding, almost as an afterthought, “I’m Peter, by the way.”
Lie took the clothes from him with a small, appreciative nod. “Thank you.”
Peter took a seat next to him on the couch, stretching his arms high above his head before letting out a deep exhale. “The bathroom is right between our rooms. Can’t miss it.”
Lie nodded, gripping the fabric of the clothes a little harder as he stood up. He gently shut the door to the bathroom, studying himself in the mirror before getting dressed. He didn’t look any different than he had before stepping through the portal–the same sharp features, the same dark eyes, the same warrior’s frame built over the years of training. At least there was some familiarity in knowing he hadn’t changed.
He let out a sigh, pulling on the hoodie Peter had given him. It was just slightly oversized, the sleeves hanging just a bit past his palms, and the fabric had worn soft with time. It smelled faintly of that sweet scent from earlier, and Lie wondered if that was just something very distinctly Peter.
He ran a hand through his hair before stepping out of the bathroom, padding his way back to his previous spot on the couch next to Peter. He glanced up as Lie approached, eyes briefly flicking over the way the hoodie hung on him before he smirked.
“Not bad,” Peter said with a nod of approval. “You wear that better than I do.”
Lie scoffed, shaking his head as he dropped back onto the couch. “Doubtful.”
“Nah, it was like it was made for you.” Peter playfully nudged his side with his elbow before leaning back against the cushions. “So…you’re the Iron Fist, huh?”
“The newest one, anyway.”
Peter hummed. “I’ve met another Iron Fist once — Danny, nice guy. Really big on the whole ‘chi’ thing.”
Lie exhaled sharply, a hint of frustration in his voice. “He’s the one I’m most compared to.”
Peter chuckled. “No pressure or anything.”
Lie snorted. “None at all.”
A comfortable silence stretched between them, the sounds of the city humming softly through the window.
“So…is Felicia always like that?” he asked quietly, breaking the silence.
Peter groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I was hoping you’d forget that even happened.”
“Nope,” he quipped back with a smile. “I haven’t been called ‘cutie’ since I was little. I won’t forget that.”
“Unfortunately, yes, she is always like that. It’s like she lives for it.” Peter grumbled something under his breath, shaking his head. “She’s got this thing where she acts like she knows everything, and sometimes she does, which makes it even worse.”
“She’s interesting, I’ll give you that,” Lie chuckled.
“That’s a word for it, sure.” Peter glanced at him, eyes glinting with amusement. “You seemed to handle her pretty well, though. Most people just get flustered.”
“Including you?”
Peter hesitated for a half a second before scoffing. “I–what? No. I am immune to her antics at this point.”
“Uh-huh.”
Peter narrowed his eyes, a small pout forming on his lips. “You know what, maybe I should give you to Strange. Let’s see how you enjoy the pocket dimension.”
Lie crossed his arms over his chest. “You wouldn’t.”
Peter huffed, leaning his head back against the couch. “No, I wouldn’t. But only because I’m nice.”
“Generous, really.”
Peter turned his head towards Lie, his expression torn between amusement and exasperation. “I don’t know how I feel about you being this quick at comebacks. You’re picking up on her bad habits already.”
Lie shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. “I’ve learned to adapt pretty well.”
Peter shook his head with a sigh. “I can tell.” His voice was softer now, the teasing edge fading just slightly. “You’re really taking this whole ‘ripped from your world and dumped into New York’ thing in stride.”
Lie exhaled, gaze turning to the glittering lights of the city outside the window. “I don’t exactly have much of a choice.”
“Well,” Peter started, nudging him again, “for what it’s worth, you’re handling it significantly better than I would.”
Lie turned back to him, his eyes meeting Peter’s. There was something about the earnesty of the comment, like he truly meant it. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, leaning his head back onto the couch to let the moment settle between them.
Peter was still watching him, that quiet warmth in his gaze, before he suddenly stretched his hands over his head with a yawn. “Alright, Lie. You should probably get some rest. Big day tomorrow.”
“You’re already calling it a night?”
Peter shot him a look. “I have been swinging around the city dealing with thieves, muggers, and…oh what was it…oh yeah, a portal opening up out of nowhere and dropping you into my lap.” He stood from the couch, gently scratching the back of his head. “I think I have earned a few hours of sleep.”
Lie hummed, shifting to get more comfortable on the couch. “Fair enough.”
“Blankets and pillows are in the basket by the television. If you need water, there’s a pitcher in the fridge and glasses just to the right of it. Anything else, my room is just right there.”
“Thank you, Peter.”
“No problem.” There was something unreadable in Peter’s expression before he turned away with a tired sigh. “Goodnight, Lie.”
Lie watched as Peter disappeared into his room, the door clicking shut behind him.
The apartment was quiet again. The city still hummed outside, but here, surrounded by the lingering warmth of the shared banter and unexpected companionship between them, was starting to feel at ease.
He exhaled, standing to grab a plush blanket and pillow before settling fully down for sleep. The exhaustion tugged at him, but his mind remained restless. His fingers idly traced the fabric of the borrowed clothes, the warmth still lingering from Peter’s casual, almost thoughtless generosity.
Lie had been ready to fight the second he crashed into the asphalt, ready to defend himself from whatever came his way. Instead, he was offered a place to rest, given a moment to breathe and collect himself. It was unfamiliar, that easy sort of trust.
His eyes flicked over to Peter’s closed door. He had heard stories of Spider-Man back home, both in his time as the Sword Master and in his training as Iron Fist, but none of them quite matched the man he had met tonight. The stories painted him as one of New York’s saviors, a relentless fighter with both a sharp tongue and unshakeable will.
Yet, here behind closed doors, he was all of that but more. A tired but unwavering presence, someone who truly seemed to want help the city he lived in and the people who occupied it. Someone who cared. An unexpected kindness in a world always hellbent on shattering around them.
Maybe Felicia was right — Peter would be just the person to help him with this predicament.
—
Lie woke up to the smell of coffee and the now louder hum of the city outside. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting long golden streaks across the apartment floor. For a second, he almost forgot where he was, until he heard Peter grumbling in the kitchen about burning his tongue.
Dragging himself off the couch, Lie stretched, rolling out the stiffness from sleeping in an unfamiliar place. He made his way towards the sound, spotting Peter hunched over the counter in a loose hoodie and jeans, one hand gripping a steaming mug and the other scrolling through something on his phone.
Peter looked up as Lie approached. “Morning, sleeping beauty. Hope you like coffee.”
Lie rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he accepted the mug Peter pushed toward him. He took a cautious sip, finding the coffee just a bit too strong and slightly too sweet but not awful. “I’ve had worse.”
“High praise.” Peter finished his own coffee, setting the mug down in the sink. “I set out a change of clothes and towels in the bathroom for you if you’d like to get cleaned up.”
Lie nodded, setting down the half finished mug. “Thanks,” he whispered before making his way to the bathroom.
The warm shower did wonders to shake off the rest of the exhaustion, the steady stream easing off all of the tension from the night before. He took his time, letting the steam cloud around him before finally stepping out and pulling on the fresh clothes Peter had left — a simple dark t-shirt and comfortable jeans. It was odd looking at himself in the mirror as he fixed his hair, looking so casual after a year of training robes, but it was a welcome change.
When he stepped back into the living area, Peter was lazing across the couch still scrolling through his phone. Peter glanced up when he heard Lie’s footsteps, his lips turning into a smirk as he took in the sight. “You clean up nice.”
Lie rolled his eyes but couldn’t completely ignore the way Peter’s gaze lingered, scanning him like he was committing the sight to memory.
“Anyway,” Peter continued, standing from the couch and tossing Lie a jacket. “You’re going to want this. New York mornings are freezing.”
Lie caught it easily, the fabric soft and slightly worn in his hands. He slipped it on, the sleeves falling just past his wrists and the unmistakable scent of Peter washing over him. It was warm. Comfortable. Grounding, even.
He chose not to think too hard about that.
“Now that you’re officially dressed for the occasion, let’s go see the wizard.”
Lie nodded, mentally preparing himself to swing through the city on a brisk morning, but his thoughts were interrupted by a jingle of keys. “What, no VIP web travel round 3?” he joked.
“And mess up the one good hair day I’ve had in months? No chance.”
Peter spun the keys around his finger as Lie followed him down the stairs to a beat-up but clearly well-loved car just parked outside the building. It was an older model, nothing flashy, but felt very distinctly Peter.
Peter unlocked the doors with a quick press of a button, opening Lie’s door and motioning inside. Lie slid into the passenger seat, taking in the interior. A pair of sunglasses rested haphazardly in the cupholder, a few errant snack wrappers dusted the floors, but it was shockingly clean.
Peter climbed in, adjusting the seat with a practiced motion before turning the ignition.
“Is it really about the hair?” Lie teased as he buckled himself in.
“Oh.” Peter tapped his fingers against the wheel with a chuckle. “No. I couldn’t tame this if I tried. I’m mostly trying to make it easier on you.”
“I can handle myself,” Lie scoffed, shaking his head.
“And risk you getting sick all over my suit first thing in the morning? I don’t think so. Besides,” he started, shifting the gear and pulling onto the street, “sometimes a guy just wants to sit in traffic and suffer like everyone else.”
As if on cue, a horn blared behind them, and Peter raised a hand in half-hearted apology before turning onto a busier road. The morning rush was in full swing, with pedestrians weaving through crosswalks and cyclists darting between cars.
Lie smirked, leaning back in the seat as he watched the organized chaos unfold outside. “Didn’t peg you as the ‘enjoys traffic’ type.”
“I most definitely don’t,” Peter admitted, getting more comfortable in his seat as they stopped at a red light. “But sometimes it’s nice to remind myself that I’m a normal guy, y’know? No swinging, no dodging explosions, just me and my car against the universal evil that is taxi drivers.”
Lie huffed out a laugh. “Right. Very normal.”
The light turned green, and Peter eased forward, seamlessly merging onto a more open stretch of road. The cityscape shifted around them as they made their way to Peter’s friend, towering buildings casting long shadows in the crisp morning light. This New York felt more familiar without all the neon and holograms about, reminding him of the times spent before becoming Iron Fist.
“Do you have a Doctor Strange in your world?” Peter asked, interrupting the silence.
“I think so,” Lie answered after a moment. “I’ve heard the name before, but I’ve never met him.”
Peter hummed, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Consider yourself lucky. He’s a great guy, he can just be…a lot. He has that whole ‘weight of the entire universe on his shoulders’ vibe. Makes him a little, uh, testy.”
“I can’t say I would blame him.”
“Oh, no, neither can I.” Peter shot him a quick glance before returning his focus back onto the road. “But even with him being a potential stick in the mud, I know he’s the only person who has a chance of figuring out how to get you home.”
Lie exhaled, his fingers tapping idly against his knee. The thought of going home should have brought him some form of relief, but instead he felt that same worry in his gut before arriving here. “And you trust him?”
Peter made a so-so motion with his hand. “Mostly. He’s saved my life more than once, but he also has a bad habit of messing with things when he shouldn’t. Who knows, maybe he’s the whole reason you’re in this mess.”
Lie wasn’t entirely reassured. The thought of this very person being the reason for stripping away his power honestly made his worry curl tighter, but if Peter trusted him, Lie could at least make an attempt.
The car slowed as Peter pulled up in front of a grand, ancient-looking building nestled between the more modern structures. “Alright,” Peter started, climbing out of the vehicle, “welcome to the Sanctum Sanctorum. Please keep all appendages inside the ride at all times.”
Lie smirked at the comment, tilting his head up to take in the full scope of the building before him as he stepped out of the car. It had an air of quiet power, the kind that settled into your bones rather than announced itself outright. The massive circular window loomed above them, intricate designs carved into the ancient wood of the doorway.
“This is…” Lie trailed off.
“A lot? I know.” Peter shot him a grin before bounding up the front steps. “That window only becomes a swirling vortex of interdimensional chaos occasionally. No big deal.”
“Is that your idea of reassurance?”
Peter only laughed as he knocked on the door. A beat passed, then another, and just as Lie was about to ask if they should just let themselves in, the door creaked open on its own.
“Seems like he was expecting us,” Peter commented dryly.
They stepped inside into a massive foyer, the dim lighting and towering bookshelves lining every wall giving the space an eerie, otherworldly feeling. Candles flickered despite there being no visible source of wind, and the faint scent of incense hung in the air.
Before either of them could take another step, a voice echoed from above.
“You’re late.”
Doctor Strange stood at the top of the massive staircase, arms crossed over his chest, his cloak billowing ever so slightly as if it had its own will. His piercing gaze flickered between them before settling on Lie with clear intrigue.
“Stephen,” Peter drawled out with a wry smile. “Didn’t even know you were expecting us.”
The doctor ignored him. “You are not where you’re supposed to be.”
Lie tensed under Strange’s scrutiny, but met the sorcerer’s gaze head-on. “Yeah, no kidding.”
“Alright,” Peter started, clapping his hands together. “Let’s get the awkward introductions out of the way. Strange, this is Lin Lie, also known as the Iron Fist. He’s from another world and needs your help to not be stuck here forever. Lie, this is Doctor Stephen Strange, sorcerer supreme, occasional dimension breaker, and the guy who can hopefully fix this.”
Strange’s expression barely shifted as he studied Lie with sharp, calculating eyes. “Iron Fist,” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His fingers twitched slightly, and the air around them seemed to hum with energy. “But…something is off.”
Lie’s jaw tightened. “You aren’t wrong.”
Strange stepped closer, tilting his head slightly, as if he could see something Lie couldn’t. “Your chi. It’s fragmented. Severed from the source.”
Lie frowned. “You’re able to see that?”
Strange let out a low hum. “I can sense it.” He turned to Peter with a raised brow. “And you thought bringing him here was a good idea?”
Peter huffed, throwing up his hands. “Oh, I’m sorry, was I just supposed to leave him on the street to figure it out alone? My bad, I forgot you have more important things to deal with than literal time travelers. ”
Strange exhaled through his nose, clearly unimpressed. He turned his attention back to Lie. “Tell me everything. How you got here, when you lost your power. Every detail matters.”
Lie crossed his arms. “And what? You’re going to magically fix it?”
Strange gave a slow, knowing smirk. “If magic were that simple, Spider-Man wouldn’t need to waste my time.”
Peter let out an offended scoff. “Wow. Really love the appreciation, doc.”
Strange ignored him, his focus unwavering on Lie. “Start from the beginning.”
Lie exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts. “I was training. The energy in K’un Lun had shifted immensely, and the elders ordered me to train harder to hopefully prepare me for whatever was coming. Then, the energy pulsed like never before, followed by a flash of light, and before I could react, I was falling through a rift.”
Strange’s gaze darkened as he listened, fingers tapping his arm in forethought. “And then?”
Lie only shook his head. “When I landed, I was here. I mentally prepared myself for whatever might have happened, only to start to panic when I couldn’t channel my power.”
Peter whistled low. “I didn’t know it was that bad, man.”
Strange ignored the comment, his expression unreadable as he turned away, pacing slowly through the Sanctum. “A dimensional displacement paired with a chi severance.” His voice was quiet, contemplative. “I do not believe this to be random.”
Lie stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Strange faced him again, his eyes sharp with certainty. “Dimensional crossings are unstable at best, but for your power to be severed at the same time? That’s not coincidence. That’s design.”
Lie clenched his jaw. He had wondered as much, the series of events feeling too convenient, but hearing it confirmed made the situation feel even heavier. “Then how do I fix it?”
Strange was silent for a moment before speaking. “I do not believe your chi to be gone. More as if it was…locked away. If you’re able to break through that lock and channel it, even for the briefest of moments, I should be able to track the energy signature through the realms.”
He forced himself to stay cautious. “And if you can?”
Strange’s lips quirked slightly. “Then we pull the thread and see where it leads.”
Peter clapped his hands together. “So, good news? We actually might be able to fix this?”
Strange exhaled. “Might. I need much more to work with.” His gaze steadied on Lie, preparing for the search. “You need to try and reach your chi. Even if it’s distant, it is still a part of you. If you can connect to it, I will be able to track it.”
Lie inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. He had spent countless hours back home honing this very technique, mediating and connecting to that energy within him. It should have been second nature.
But no matter how deeply he searched, he found nothing.
It was like staring into a void, an empty space where something vital used to be.
Peter shifted awkwardly in the silence, casting a glance at Strange, who studied Lie with an unreadable expression.
After what felt like an eternity, Lie exhaled sharply and opened his eyes, staring down at his bandaged arms, finding only the usual pain of the shards. “It’s not there.”
Strange studied him for a moment longer before nodding. “I suspected as much.”
Lie’s frustration simmered beneath his usual calm exterior. “Then what now?”
Strange let out a wistful sigh. “For now? We wait.”
Lie bristled, his frustration now threatening to boil over. “Wait? I can’t just sit around and–”
“Whatever happened to you isn’t just some rogue sorcerer meddling with forces they don’t understand,” Strange interrupted, turning his back to him. “We’re dealing with something — or someone — nearly as powerful as I am.”
“But,” Lie protested, but he was silenced by Strange lifting his hand in pause.
“You don’t have a choice.” Strange’s voice was firm, but not unkind. “This isn’t something we can rush. I will need time to unravel what was done to you, but before that, I need to learn exactly what we’re dealing with. If I act too soon, I could end up making things worse.”
Lie clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, the pain in his hands nearly matching the rage burning beneath. He hated this feeling — the same suffocating helplessness he had felt back at the temple, standing under the weight of expectations he would never be able to meet. Even so, he knew lashing out wouldn’t change anything. He forced himself to take a slow, steady breath, an attempt to calm the rage inside.
Again, as if Peter could sense what he was feeling, Lie felt the other snake an arm across his shoulder and pulled him into a half embrace. “Hey, it could be worse. At least you’re stuck with me.”
Lie huffed a quiet laugh as the rage began to melt away, shaking his head. “That’s your idea of comfort?”
Peter gave him a signature grin, squeezing his shoulder in reassurance. “I’m very comforting, no?”
Strange sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if their presence alone was giving him a headache. “I will contact Peter when I have more answers. For now, I would lay low, Lie. We have no idea what we’re dealing with, and more importantly, what it has to do with you. Please stay out of trouble.”
Lie exhaled slowly. “I’ll do my best.”
Strange didn’t look convinced, but he ascended the stairs already lost in thought.
Peter lifted his arm from his shoulder, tilting his head toward the front entrance. “Well, I guess we’re on New York time now. Breakfast?”
Lie cast one last glance at the stairs, Strange no longer able to be seen. “Yeah,” he replied after a beat. “That sounds nice.”
—
The car ride to wherever Peter was taking them for food was a silent one, the weight of Strange’s words still lingering in Lie’s mind. He stared out the window, the city rushing past in a blur, his thoughts caught between frustration and uncertainty.
Peter, for the first time since he arrived, didn’t attempt to fill the silence with his usual quips. He just drummed his fingers against the wheel to the beat of whatever song was playing on the radio, occasionally glancing over at Lie as he drove.
They eventually made it to a small diner located at the bottom of a towering skyscraper. Peter parked the car and shut off the engine, stretching his arms over his head before nodding towards the entrance. “Alright, come on; nothing like sugar and grease to ease the feeling of pure existential dread.”
Lie huffed out a quiet breath, the corner of his lips twitching, but that weight still heavy in his chest. He followed Peter inside, the scent of coffee and frying bacon greeting them as they stepped into the warmly lit space. It was small but comfortable, the kind of place that felt like a familiar hideaway from the world outside.
They slid into a booth near the window, and Peter wasted no time flipping through the menu, though Lie had the distinct impression that he already knew exactly what he was getting. A waitress appeared moments later, an older woman with a tired but kind smile.
“Good morning, Pete,” she greeted, pulling a notepad from her apron. “The usual?”
“You know me so well, Annie,” he grinned, handing her his menu. “And whatever my friend wants here. He’s had a rough couple of days, so can you have it made with extra love?”
Lie hesitated before ordering something simple. The moment the waitress walked away, Peter leaned back into the booth, stretching out his legs. One brushed just slightly against his own, the sudden touch jolting him from his thoughts. He stared at Peter, who only stared back, an awkward silence stretching out for what felt like an eternity.
“So,” Peter started, voice hesitant. “What’s your opinion on pancakes?”
“My opinion on pancakes,” Lie repeated. “What is this?”
“A distraction,” Peter said casually. “That’s what this is.” He paused, eyes trained on something in the distance before returning focus to Lie. “Well, that and I’m starving, but, y’know. Mostly the distraction thing.”
Lie sighed, opting to focus on anything but Peter. “I don’t need a distraction.”
“Okay, well, I think you do.” Peter nudged him again with his leg, a silent ask for his attention. Once Lie’s eyes were back on his, he continued. “You haven’t stopped brooding since we left Strange’s.”
Lie scoffed. “I do not brood.”
“You were literally brooding in the car just now.”
“I was thinking. ”
“Right,” Peter said, drawing out the word with a teasing lilt. “Because the whole thousand-yard stare with a frown the size of Texas on your face is just thinking .”
Lie chose not to argue.
Peter’s expression softened when he wasn’t met with a quip back. “Listen, believe it or not, I completely understand how you’re feeling. But dwelling on those thoughts isn’t going to change anything right now.”
Lie exhaled sharply, his eyes boring holes into the table. “I doubt it.”
Peter didn’t flinch, didn’t crack a joke or even deflect like Lie expected him to. Instead, he tilted his head, considering his words before he spoke again. “Yeah,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah, I do.”
The sudden solemness in his words completely stopped Lie’s train of thought.
“I’ve been there,” Peter continued. “More times than I would like to admit. Losing people, losing my powers, losing…myself. It makes you question everything, makes you wonder if–” he paused, shaking his head. “If you’re even worth anything without it.”
“Peter, I’m sorry. I wasn’t–”
“Don’t be,” he interrupted as their food was set down in front of him. Peter stabbed at a piece of his stack of pancakes but didn’t eat it right away. He toyed with it, as if lost in a memory. “I had to learn the hard way that being who I am wasn’t about the powers. It’s about what I do, what I choose to be, even if I feel powerless.”
“I can’t be much of an Iron Fist without the powers, though.”
“And I can’t be much of a Spider-Man without sticking to walls.” Peter finally popped the bite into his mouth, making a noise of satisfaction. “But, I still found a way.”
The words settled over Lie slowly, sinking past the frustration and self-doubt that weighed on him since all of this began. Part of him wanted to argue, to push Peter away, to insist that it wasn’t the same — that Peter had everything he didn’t. Recognition. Stability. A place to truly call his own.
And yet, hearing New York’s favorite superhero tell him that he was still worthy, still something beyond the power he had lost, sparked something in him that he couldn’t quite explain.
“I’m not asking you to believe me right now,” Peter mumbled between bites, “but you should definitely try believing in yourself.”
Lie swallowed, his gaze flickering up to meet Peter’s. The morning light amplified the sincerity of his expression, the deep brown eyes filled with warmth and determination, and for just a split second, his heart skipped a beat.
—
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. There had been no real answer from Doctor Strange, only vague nothings and requests for more time. Even so, life carried on. The city never stopped moving, meaning that neither did Peter, and somehow, despite himself, he was found swept into the rhythm of it all.
It started off small–early morning coffee runs where Peter would insist on trying every pastry on the menu and make Lie rank them in order of preference, training sessions on the rooftop that always started serious but somehow ended with one of them doubled over in laughter, and late-night swings across the city, where the world felt weightless and free, even if only for a little while.
But then, something shifted.
Maybe it was the way that Peter always made sure to grab his coffee exactly how he liked it, despite claiming that it was way too bitter for his tastes. Maybe it was the way that his stupid, lopsided grin could effortlessly disarm the rage boiling beneath while trying to unlock his chi with Strange. Or maybe it was in the small, fleeting touches — Peter’s fingers brushing against his when handing him something, the warmth of his palm resting between his shoulder blades when guiding him through crowds, the way their legs would press together when they sat side by side, neither of them bothering to move away.
Lie told himself it was nothing. It was just Peter being Peter — careless, easygoing, friendly in a way that it was impossible not to be drawn in. But then there were the nights in the calm of the apartment, where the world outside felt distant. The ones where they’d sit together on the couch, the glow of the television casting soft shadow’s across Peter’s features, neither of them really paying attention to what was playing.
And in those moments, when the noise of the day had faded and there was nothing left but the quiet breathing and warmth of the man sitting next to him, Lie would catch him looking. It was just for a moment, but just long enough to send something sharp and unfamiliar curling in his chest. Something he didn’t quite know what to do with, and something too terrifying to ever mention.
On a particularly cold and silent night, the two of them sat outside on the fire escape to Peter’s apartment, the city glowing beneath them as the two talked about everything and nothing all at once.
Peter stretched his legs out, knocking his knee against Lie’s, that same casual touch that had become all too familiar over the last few months. Lie didn’t move away.
“You know,” Peter mused, gaze fixed on the skyline “you’ve made yourself quite comfortable here.”
Lie scoffed, leaning his head back on the window. “You act like you haven’t been the one dragging me into everything.”
Peter turned his head slightly, watching him with an expression that was softer than usual, quieter. “I guess,” he whispered, “but that doesn’t mean you have to stay.”
Lie’s breath hitched for just a moment, but he masked it with a slow exhale, watching the puff of air disappear into the cold night. Peter was right, there was no reason for him to necessarily stay at his side during all of this. Peter got him to Strange and that should have been that, but this ridiculous fast-paced city and the equally ridiculous man beside him had started to feel the closest he had ever been to home.
“No,” he settled on for an answer. “No, it doesn’t.”
Peter’s lips parted slightly, as if he was about to speak, but instead chose to make a small, noncommittal noise.
“Are you wanting me to leave, Peter?” Lie asked after a moment, an attempt to gauge what the other was thinking.
“What? That’s not —” A pause, followed by a frustrated sigh. “Of course not.”
“Then why the sudden talk of me being here?”
Peter opened and closed his mouth a few times, a common action for when he wasn’t sure of how to word what he truly wanted to say. It was funny watching the usual quick-witted, never-shuts-up superhero be at a complete loss for words, but something about this particular conversation was enough to make Lie’s heart race just a little bit faster.
Finally, Peter let out a shaky breath, raking a hand through his already messy hair. “Because,” he started, then hesitated again. “The whole point of this was to get you home. That’s still the goal, right? You going home?”
“Right,” Lie confirmed, trying to hide the hint of his own hesitation present in his voice.
“Well…” Peter’s voice trailed off, his fingers tapping nervously against his forearm. Lie watched as Peter furrowed his brow in struggle before letting out a sigh. “Screw it. When I first saw you get thrown into traffic, that’s exactly what I expected, too. Help him and continue on. It’s what I do. But, somewhere along the way, I guess that changed.”
Lie swallowed hard. “And?” he prompted.
Peter dragged a hand down his face before turning to meet Lie’s gaze. “And then you just… fit .” His voice was quieter now, like he was just now realizing the weight of what he was saying. “You fit into my life like you were always supposed to be here, like I had only been spending my time waiting for you to show up without me even knowing it.”
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in frustration. “And now, the thought of you leaving? Of things going right back to how they were before you crashed into my world?” He exhaled sharply, fingers curled tightly around his wrist. “It sucks. It really, really sucks.”
There was no sarcasm in his voice, no deflection, no humor. Just the honest truth laid bare between them. Peter wasn’t trying to make light of how he felt, wasn’t pretending that this was just another something he could blow off and forget about.
It mattered to him.
Lie mattered to him.
Lie let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, shifting closer to Peter. The answer to the unspoken question was right there in front of him, something so simple he was amazed he hadn’t come to the conclusion before.
He had spent so much of his life chasing some sort of purpose only to find it here, in the quiet weight of Peter’s confession, in the warmth of a presence he hadn’t realized that he needed so desperately.
Slowly, hesitantly, he reached for Peter’s hand, letting his fingers brush against the soft skin before curling around it, grounding himself in the touch. “Then I’ll stay,” he decided, voice barely above a whisper.
Peter let out a soft gasp, followed by a nervous laugh. His fingers twitched beneath Lie’s touch before intertwining them with his own. He didn’t say anything right away, just stared at their joined hands like he couldn’t believe it was real. Like he couldn’t believe that Lie had chosen to stay.
The city continued outside as it always did, the distant hum of cars passing and sirens, but at this moment none of that mattered. It was only the two of them, suspended in the quiet space between what once was and what now could be, neither of them brave enough to put it into words.
Peter’s gaze landed on him, flickering down to his lips for just a moment before he looked back up, something unreadable swirling in his eyes. Lie felt his heartbeat stutter, anticipation curling in his chest.
Peter hesitated, giving him a chance to pull away, to change his mind and take it all back.
So Lie took it upon himself to close the distance.
The kiss was soft, tentative, as if testing the waters, but the moment Peter responded — leaning in, pressing just a bit closer — Lie melted into him as if this had been what he had been waiting for all along. His free hand came up to cup Peter’s face, pulling him deeper into the shared action.
Lie sighed as Peter matched his want, his need , fingers gently curling into the fabric located on his chest as if anchoring himself in the moment. The world around them faded into nothing, the only importance being the unspoken answer between the two of them. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, the realization that they were no longer lingering on the edge of something. It was definitive, the final say on a decision that Lie never considered until now.
Peter was the first to pull away, just barely, his forehead resting against Lie’s as he let out a breathless laugh. “That’s one way to answer a question I didn’t even ask.”
Lie hummed in amusement, his thumb brushing over the sharp line of Peter’s jaw. “You were taking too long.”
Peter grinned, eyes alight with something softer, something sure. “Yeah, well, I’m known to make things complicated.”
“Oh my god, ” came Felicia’s unmistakable voice, brimming with absolute delight. “Finally!”
The two of them practically jumped out of their skin, nearly knocking each other out in the process. Neither of them must have heard her arrive during their shared kiss, Lie flushing in mild embarrassment under her self-satisfied smirk at the end of the hallway.
“Felicia, what the hell?!” Peter let out a frustrated groan before burying himself into Lie’s neck. “You’re not even supposed to be home yet!”
Lie shared a look with the woman, the two of them bubbling into laughter.
“I’m just so excited that my favorite slow-burn disaster duo finally figured it out,” she said after composing herself. “Took you two long enough.”
Lie only let out a mild noise of amusement at the comment. “You’ve just been waiting for this to happen?”
“I’ve known that it’d happen since he brought you here, Lie. Girl’s intuition.” She laughed again, clearly enjoying herself, before waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll let you two get back to whatever you’re doing. Just warn me if I need to put headphones in, ‘kay?”
Peter let out a muffled scream into Lie’s shoulder as Felicia shut the door to her room with a click. Lie chuckled, his hand instinctively coming up to rest against Peter’s back as the other melted into him in sheer mortification. “You’re never going to live this down,” he mused, gently resting his head on the other’s.
“I hate her so much right now.”
Lie snorted, knowing the statement to be so far from the truth. The two of them continued to sit there, his fingers lightly tracing circles against Peter’s back and he could feel the tension ease away with each movement. Peter eventually looked up at him, his lips tugging into something between a smile and a pout. “Can I ask you something?” he whispered.
“Of course.”
“What made you change your mind?”
Lie hummed, his fingers stilling as he considered how to put it into words. “There’s nothing tethering me to that world anymore. Sure, I was supposed to be their hero, but that’s the nature of the power of the Iron Fist. It can be anyone’s. It’s not like they really enjoyed my presence, anyway.” He huffed out a laugh. “Everything I was training to be doesn’t exactly matter anymore. I don’t belong there, I never did.”
Peter’s expression softened, his hands coming to rest gently against Lie’s sides.
Lie exhaled with the touch, continuing. “But you . You, Peter Parker, feel like home in a way I’ve never experienced. I have learned more from you than they could have ever taught me, enjoyed myself in ways I never imagined. Being here has made me feel like I am so much more than a tool, and that I don’t have to constantly prove myself to just exist. Why would I want to leave that?”
Peter’s eyes widened as the words settled into his chest, his hand tightening on Lie’s sides as if he was afraid to let go, as if this moment would slip through his fingers.
Lie didn’t give him a chance to scramble for a response. Instead, he leaned down, closing the space between them in a kiss that held everything he couldn’t put into words. It was slow, deliberate. It was his choice. It was his answer.
It was everything.
Peter pulled away after a long moment, curling himself into Lie’s lap. “So, what now?”
“We figure it out,” Lie mused, using Peter’s own words. “There’s still some apex level threat out there, according to Strange. Let’s figure me out and then we’ll defeat it.”
“Together?”
Lie planted a small kiss on Peter’s temple. “Together.”