Chapter Text
Peter was a little embarrassed about showing another vigilante a spongebob episode. Maybe he’d gotten a bit too comfortable talking about the show with Daredevil? Maybe cause both of them had a red helmety thing going on?
Regardless, Peter had made his bed and now he had to lie in it.
Before the episode could play any further, Betty had sent him a message. With a blink Peter opened it to find a video. Sensing an eyebrow raise from the very literal Red Hood, Peter smiled helplessly before pressing play.
The video opens to Betty beaming at the camera and making a peace sign before something catches her eye off screen and she squints before gasping and flipping the phone around to catch Peter falling out of a star in the middle of the sky. Betty and a few others shriek off screen as Peter falls a good three stories into the middle of the basketball court. The video cuts as Betty and the others rush over to Peter's lying form.
There's a moment of silence between Peter and Red Hood as they both quietly process what they've seen.
“Hm.” The Red Hood reaches up a hand to rub at the back of his neck as he lets out a deep sigh. His shoulders sag in a way reminiscent of aunt May when Peter mentions making brownies for the umpteenth time.
Peter sends a quick thank you to Betty for the video. When asked if he got to see Red Hood yet he opens the camera feature and hesitantly turns to look up at the vigilante.
“Uhm- Red Hood is it okay if I take a photo with you for my friend? She's asking if I got to meet you yet.”
If his body language could get more tired Peter would have to start lending him the blanket he was using and tuck him in.
“Sure. Make sure you get my good side.” Red hood squats slightly when Peter holds up the camera beaming as Red Hood does a double peace sign.
Betty sends a number of different emojis and punctuation marks in her shock and Peter giggles at the barrage of shock. Peter turns back to the vigilante in red and smiles.
“Do you believe me about my universe jumping now?” Peter wasn't sure what more evidence he could provide honestly. Spongebob or the video were perfe–.
“You should've led with the video instead of that little yellow guy, what's his face you showed me.” Red Hood waves his arm dismissively. Peter squawks in outrage. “But yes I believe you.”
“First, I’m real glad you believe me. Second, his name is Spongebob Squarepants! Not some yellow whatever.” Peter
swears
he sees a small tremor in Red Hood's shoulders and the faintest sound of a modulated snort. “I never! He's big news where I'm from I’ll have you know! He’s been in parades and has his own theme park!”
“Sure sure.” Red Hood places his hands up in a placating manner as he continues, much to Peter's chagrin, to laugh in a crinkly way due to his modulator. “What's your name kid?”
“My names Peter.” He grins before frowning slightly. “Say Mr Red Hood, I know my friends told me you'd be the one to ask about getting me back home, but is there really a way for me to get bacK? What I know about universes is…that they arent exactly easy to get to let alone cross into another one. So I…” Peter felt his eyes water at the very thought of not getting back home. He brings his shoulders up to his ears and he rubs the sleeve of his sweater against his eye catching the quietly falling tears. Just when Peter thought he’d stop crying today. It was get frustrating now. What a stupid day. He thought bitterly. Just when he was coming to terms with mourning. Just when he was finally calming down.
A gloved hand is hesitantly placed on Peter's shoulder and he jerks his gaze up.
“I know lots of people who specialize in weird stuff like this Peter. Your friends made the right call sendin’ you to me. I can guarantee that, ‘kay?” When Peter offers a hesitant nod Red Hood continues. “I can promise that me and the people I know will do everything we can to help you.”
Peter takes a shaky breath.
“Do you promise?” Peter asked.
“I promise, Peter.”
Peter felt the ache in his chest sharpen. He glanced down at his feet and gripped tightly at the sleeves of his sweater. It was scary. Terrifying to rely on a strange new hero. But hearing that they would try to help him? When he was some stranger himself?
Peter felt a sob wretch from his throat.
“Shit.” Red Hood startled. “Kid- hey. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure everyone can help you get back ho-“
Peter rushed and pulled Red Hood into a tight hug. Red Hood tensed minutely before patting Peter on the head. He heard a small modulated chuckle.
Peter knew it was dangerous to hold out hope. Knew it was scary to wish for things.
But dammit, he's going to hope and wish with everything he’s got that he can get back home. Back to his aunt May.
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“Alright kid. Let’s get you to the Bat Cave.” Red Hood pauses at Peter’s confused look. “Ah- right. Not familiar with the tacky wording. It’s where Batman keeps all his cool stuff.”
Peter’s eyes light up at that.
“A secret base?” The small fry hops up and down with pure unadulterated joy.
“Yeah…where all the bats and birds gather together. So-“ Peters comment cuts him off.
“And hoods?” Peter tilts his gaze up to his helmet.
….Punk.
“..Yes. And hoods. Now I’m going to have to put a blind fold on you kid so we can get to the cave. I’ll make a quick call to the Scooby doo gang to let them know ‘bout you ‘kay?”
Peter hums and nods.
“Is it alright if I tell my friends that I got to meet you? I don’t want them to worry if I just vanish. And Mr. Red Hood I need to give their blanket back!” Peter puts his back pack over his shoulders and tucks his teddy bear into his overalls before he dusts off the large blanket. After a moment he pauses and turns back to Red Hood.
“What’s up squirt?” Peter bristles at this and squints up at Red Hood. After a moment he pipes up.
“Can you help me fold the blanket please?” Red hood pauses before nodding and helping Peter fold the large blanket. With a beaming smile Peter thanks him before climbing down the fire escape into their room to give his friends their blanket.
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As Peter climbs down the fire escape Red Hood quickly turns on his comm.
“Oracle. Guys. We’ve got a dimensional stowaway in the shape of a small adorable kid. He’s shown me some proof but I think we need B or the league to check in on this.”
“I’m not even going to pretend to be disappointed here Hood.” Oracle sighs over the comm. “Nightwing head south.”
“J. I fucking knew you weren’t reading your damn texts. What the fuck man?” A frustrated Tim angrily screeches into his comm.
“Roger! And seriously guys it’s J. All of us knew he wasn’t going to see those texts till hours later. I should’ve bet on it.” Dick adds.
“Erm.” Jason whips out his phone to find that low and behold he has 16 missed messages and 3 missed calls. Whoops.
Opening his messages Jason finds that this kid he just met actually sent an email to the Justice League asking for help back home. He didn’t even know they accepted emails. He laughs when he reads the ridiculous email. That explains the missed calls, Peter had literally told them that he’d be seeking out Jason and here he was trying to inform the already informed.
“Oops.”
“Are you shitting me J?!” Tim screeched again. He was really earning the name Red Robin. The sounds of computer keys aggressively being clicked did not help the wince Jason made at the sounds.
“Hood I am in disbelief. Do try to keep informed, it’s disappointing otherwise.” Damien tsked.
“Don’t talk to me about disappointment, kid! You literally ignored all of us when you went to look for a stray cat the other night. We will hear none of it.” Jason said.
“Tt.”
“That’s what I thought. Just- everyone be ready for the kid to be at the cave within 30.” Jason clicked off his comm when everyone made an affirmative sound.
As soon as the comm clicked off the kid popped his head up over the side of the roof.
“Um. Mr Red Hood? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble could you say hi to my friends please?”
“…Sure kid.”
The kid beamed before gesturing for him to follow.
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The ride to the cave is rather uneventful for Peter. Looking at the Red Hood's awesome bike was cool enough. He hadn’t seen any of the heroes back home have specifically designed transportation. He’d have to ask them about it. Being blindfolded though? And then putting on a big old helmet? Not as fun.
Still sort of fun?
Peter digresses.
….
Were those bat sounds he was hearing?
Was the Bat cave a literal fricken cave??