Chapter Text
“Listen I can explain!” Peter said, still perched on the ceiling.
“Kid, what the hell?! How are you doing that?!” Tony cried in confusion.
“Damn it I should have known this was going to fall apart!” Peter said to himself. Peter then did a graceful flip onto the floor causing Tony to let out a very manly scream in concern of his son’s safety.
“I’ll explain everything I promise and I have an idea on how to explain it. Just give me one second to get something,” Peter said running to his bedroom.
Tony felt numb, did he really see what he just saw? Did his own son just stick onto the ceiling like a-
Spider.
It was at that moment that Peter walked in awkwardly holding a red ball of fabric in his fist. Peter tossed it to Tony and sat as far as he could from Tony on the couch.
“I’m sure you’ll recognize it,” Peter said, pulling his knees to his chest. Tony looked down at the red ball of fabric and opened it- It was Spider-Man’s mask.
Then memories of last night came back to him.
“The only way you would believe me is if I told you my identity,”
“And why is that?”
“Because you know my alternate self, and believe me, we are vastly different people, for starters, he doesn’t have spider-powers like I do,”
“What’s so bad about me finding out about your identity? Do I strongly dislike your alternate self?”
“It’s complicated.”
This Peter sitting on the couch wasn’t his Peter, no, this was a Peter from a different universe entirely. But, that brings up an even more worrying thought. Where the fuck was his Peter?
“My son, my real son? Where is he?” Tony shouted in hysterics. Peter scrunched up his face in what looked like pain but Tony didn’t know why.
Peter didn’t appreciate the loud noises that just assaulted his heightened hearing but answered his question the best he could.
“Your Peter is fine, when I traveled here, I temporarily took his place, so when I leave then he will resume his place as your Peter,” Peter said, hugging his knees tightly.
Tony breathed a huge sigh of relief. When he exhaled a whole new set of questions had formed in his head and he wanted answers to all of them. But then another memory came to his brain.
“Wait you don’t have parents!?” Tony asked, looking at Peter in shock. Peter gave an awkward smile.
“My parents died in a plane crash, that's why I grew up with my aunt and uncle, though my uncle died a few years ago” Peter responded but then quickly added “Uh in my universe we aren’t biologically related, you’re my mentor.”
Tony had made sure to shield his son from the worst pain, of course he knew Peter would learn about the pain of the world eventually but looking at this Peter, who looks exactly like his son who has seen too much death for his short years of life. It made his heart break in two.
Tony got up from the couch and moved close to Peter. Peter looked up at Tony with an air of nervousness. Tony grabbed Peter’s shoulders and made him stand up so he was looking at Tony.
Tony then brought Peter in for the tightest hug he could imagine. Peter was stiff at first but then he practically melted into the hug.
Even if this wasn’t his biological son this was still Peter, alternate universe or not. This Peter seemed he wasn’t dealt the best cards in life but at least his alternate universe self was in his life.
“Hey kid can I ask another question?” Tony asked. Peter nodded into his shoulder.
“In your universe, am I good to you? Like are you glad I’m part of your life?”
Peter pulled away slightly so he could look in Tony’s eyes.
“Of course Mr. Stark! I mean before I met you I was swinging around queens in sweatpants, you gave me the Spider-Man suit so I was safer! I mean, our relationship was rocky at the start but then you warmed up to me and now we have weekly lab time where we just hang out!” Peter said cheerily. Peter then blushed and looked away from Tony.
“I see you as my father figure but I don’t think you see me the same way, but that's okay!”
Tony pulled Peter back into the hug and rested his chin on Peter’s head.
“Kid I have a feeling that he sees you the same but doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t want to scare you off. You’re an amazing kid,” Tony said.
“Thank you.”
“How about we finish that watch and get you home okay? I’m assuming you miss your home,” Tony said, ruffling Peter’s hair who let out an indignant squawk.
“I do, no offence to you Mr. Stark!” Peter said looking at Tony. Tony gave an air laugh and pat Peter on the back.
“Go get your stuff kid and meet me in the lab,” Tony said. Peter smiled and ran off to get his things.
-Line Break-
Peter walked into the lab wearing his spidey suit, when he traveled back he had no idea where- or when he was going to appear so it’s probably best he had it on.
Tony was diligently working on the watch and didn’t even notice Peter’s arrival. Peter stood there for a moment before announcing his presence.
“Hey there Mr. Stark!” Peter said. Peter could of sworn that Tony jumped 6 feet into the air.
“Kid, you scared the crap out of me! My Peter is never that silent when he walks in, you’re like a phantom” Tony exclaimed. Peter smiled a bit at that.
“I’m probably more silent because of my spider powers,” Peter said, sitting across Tony.
“Oh yeah speaking of powers, what kind of powers do you have?” Tony asked.
“Super strength and agility, I can stick to walls, and I have like a sixth sense that alerts me of any danger,” Peter said.
“Wow that’s crazy,” Tony said. Peter smiled and watched as Tony continued working on the watch.
A few hours later and the watch was complete.
“Okay so in theory, when you press this button it should take you back to your universe the moment you left, or just a few days after you left,” Tony noted handing the watch over to Peter as he took it delicately.
Peter smiled and looked at Tony.
“Thank you for everything Mr. Stark.”
Tony smiled and pulled Peter into a bone crushing hug in which Peter returned.
“Anything for you kid, now skiddaddle there young buck you’ve got a neighborhood to protect,” Tony smirked. Peter smiled and pulled on his mask. He tapped the watch and it began the 10 second countdown.
“That's why I’m the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, goodbye Mr. Stark!” Peter said happily.
“Bye kiddo!” Tony said, waving to Peter.
With that, Peter Parker disappeared. A few minutes later Tony got a call from Peter. His Peter!
“Hey kiddo, where are you?”
“At school, I think? I don’t know I must have passed out in the bathrooms or something because I think I missed the entire school day!” Peter exclaimed.
“I think I know why kid, let me pick you up and I’ll explain everything,” Tony said.
“Okay, I’ll be outside the school. Love you dad!”
“Love you too son.”
-Line Break-
“Shit how did this happen?!” Peter said falling from the sky. The buildings were getting closer so Peter was able to shoot a web towards a building to make sure he didn’t become a pancake on the pavement.
“I hope I never travel to alternate universes again if it means I randomly skydive,” Peter said, swinging to another building.
“Well good news Peter,” Karen said. “This seems to be our universe and a few minutes before you travel to an alternate universe.”
“Woah thats crazy!” Peter said, swinging towards the street that captain blaster would be on. Sure enough Peter saw his past self banging the watch on the ground before disappearing into thin air.
“Kid!” Tony exclaimed in anguish. His Tony!
“He’s in the void now Stark, so there will be no intervening from him ever again,” Captain Blaster spoke, walking towards Tony.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that Captain loser!” Peter shouted, jumping onto Captain Blaster. Captain Blaster let out a shout of surprise. Peter webbed Blaster onto the pavement and pulled off all of his guns.
“How is this possible? I saw you disappear!” Blaster shouted angrily.
“Your tech is easy to fix, you lose, Blaster,” Peter said snapping his gun in half.
Blaster gave a loud angry yell and struggled against the webs. The webs held strong and eventually Blaster gave up. He had lost.
Peter ran over to Tony and lifted him up. The suit was just powering back up again.
“Kid, I thought I lost you!” Tony said. Peter smiled through his mask and hugged Tony. Tony hugged back even though it was difficult through the metal armor.
“I’m here, and trust me, I don’t think traveling to alternate realities is going to be my hobby,” Peter said.
“So you did travel to a different universe?” Tony asked. Peter hummed in response and took the watch off his wrist.
“Yeah, but I had help to get back.”
“How was the alternate universe?”
“I mean it was cool but I missed my universe more, it wasn’t the same.”
“Well I have plenty more questions but how about we put that on the back burner and instead watch a movie tonight,” Tony said, placing a hand on Peter’s shoulder. Peter smiled and leaned into Tony’s side.
“I’d like that a lot”