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Tony’s head snapped up dangerously.
<< You what? >>
<< Deleted their memories of me. Of Peter Parker, actually, not of Spider-man. People still remember Spider-man, for some reason. >> Peter noticed Mr. Stark’s glare and managed to refocus on the matter at hand. << It seemed like a good idea, even Mr. Strange… well, he agreed and cast a spell and it kinda worked, like all the breaches in the multiverse seemed to patch up. >>
<< Except they didn’t. >>
<< Yeah, it started breaching up again, and Mr. Strange doesn’t remember about me and Mr. Fury doesn’t remember about me, not even Happy, and we didn’t know what to do, so I thought… >>
<< Wait, who’s we? >>
Tony looked at Peter’s mouth gaping for a millisecond.
<< No, I said ‘I thought…’ >>
<< No no, before that, you said ‘we’. >>
One thing was learning that the concept of the multiverse was something more than science-fiction, that another, better version of him had actually managed to travel in time and save Peter along with the universe and then just die for it, and that after that the damn wizard had somehow screwed everything up with his magic tricks not once but twice breaching the forementioned multiverse and leaving the kid alone to deal with all this – well, that was a lot, but he could take it. What he couldn’t take was Peter hiding something more after this.
Tony noticed Peter’s eyes run guiltily at the window behind his back and followed that trail.
Two idiotic faces looked back at him with interest, one of them upside down.
<< Hello… >> they said in a perfectly tuned murmuring choir.
<< Peter, who are these people? >>
Whoever they were, they’d managed to breach his security system, reach for the house and climb up to the second story of the building with Friday giving out no alarm. In short: they were a threat.
<< Uhm… you know how you’re a different version of you, I mean, different from the Mr. Stark I know… >>
<< The one who died horribly fighting an alien fleet. >>
A low blow. The kid gulped noticeably.
<< Well, they are… me. >>
Tony looked back at the two faces behind the window.
<< Peter Parker? >>
The two faces smiled friendly.
<< Well, we decided to call ourselves just Peter-one, Peter-two, and three. >> offered the one upside down, pointing at the three of them respectively, a big chunk of hair spreading in all directions.
<< We’re honoured to meet you, Mr. Stark. >> confirmed the other one with big, blue eyes. << And Peter told us everything about your research with nanotech and AIs. We’ve got nothing like that where I come from. >>
<< Yeah, and the way you helped him. You guys have fought actual aliens in space… >>
<< Don’t start with that again… >>
<< I just want to say I think that’s pretty cool… >>
Tony decided to just ignore everything he just heard and looked back at Peter, his Peter, standing all awkward and embarrassed fidgeting with the home-sewn mask of his home-made non-waterproof non-nanotech non-anything brand new suit.
‘I need a drink.’ he thought to himself.
He gave a quick scan of the whole room.
<< Okay, we need to get to the lab. You, >> and he pointed at Peter. << you come with me. And you two out there, >> he raised his voice to stop the on-going bantering. << you get down and wait for me at the front door, like civilized people, alright? And you, >> he turned to the suspicious crack of the door he had certainly closed at the beginning of all this madness << you go straight to bed, Little Miss, and no de-tours. >>
A little face all awe and mischief emerged from the darkness and kept staring at the strangers from behind her father’s back as he picked her up and shove her over his shoulder. Her little hand waved shily to the faces beyond the window and they waved back cheerfully before they jumped back and disappeared.
<< Daddy, who are these people? >>
<< A nuisance. >> Tony said flatly.
<< They can fly! Do they have an Iron Man suit like yours? >>
Tony glared once more at the home ec’s assignment Peter was wearing.
<< Nothing like that. >>
<< Hey, you’re Morgan, right? You know, we’ve actually met, in my universe… >> Peter attempt to make conversation derailed the moment he realized it had happened at her father’s funeral.
<< You’re Peter. >>
Morgan was studying him carefully while munching her tiny and rosy hand.
<< Daddy said you were gone somewhere. I thought you were dead, like the others, with the Blip. >> she considered the thought for a while. << Is everybody coming back now? >>
<< It’s… a little complicated… >> Peter raked through his brain for an easy way to explain it. << They have, in my universe… and they might… But… >>
The front bell and a loud knock at the door rang simultaneously only an instant before the alarm finally kicked in wailing.
Tony rolled his eyes and headed for the door, Morgan still happily hanging from his shoulder and enjoying the mess.
<< Intruders detected in the patio. >> informed him Friday. << Should I activate the standard defensive protocol? >>
<< I doubt it would work. Call it off, >> he caught an early glimpse of his beloved wife raising from the realm of Morpheus, her eyes still blinded by the light and her hair arranged in the usual sleeping mess. << put on some coffee instead. >>
<< What’s going on? >> Pepper asked, rubbing her face.
<< Hello, Miss Potts, I guess we haven’t formally met, well I did meet you, technically, but still… >> Peter fretted amicably and offered his hand. << I’m Peter, Peter Parker, it’s an honour to finally meet you. >>
Pepper got startled and furiously blinked the last crumbles of sleep away from her eyes.
<< Peter? >> she managed to mumble. << That Peter? >>
<< Rule number one of multiverse travelling: stop giving people a heart-attack when they think you’re long dead. >>
<< What’s going on, Tony? >>
<< Mommy, Peter’s back! They’re all coming back! >> Morgan blurted happily, wriggling dangerously from her father’s grip. << They were in another universe! >>
<< Tony, what did you do? >>
<< Why do you...? I didn’t do any… >>
<< No, it’s not his fault… >> Peter and Tony both tried to explain as the bell gave a second shrill ring and a melodious ‘hello’ came from outside.
<< Who’s at the door? >>
<< The walking proof that wizardry shouldn’t be allowed. >>
<< It’s me, madam. I mean, the other me…’s. >>
<< Exactly. >>
<< What? >>
Tony strode toward the door and opened it.
<< Peter Parker, >> he said pointing at Peter on the staircase. << Peter Parker, and Peter Parker. >> he added pointing at the two older versions cladded in blue and red tights.
<< We call ourselves Peter-two and Peter-three… >> offered the younger one.
<< Yeah, I think they got that. >> ushed him the other.
Pepper stared.
Morgan reached for the closest suit and pinched it.
<< Can you fly with this? >> she asked, ignoring the eldest Peter’s faint ‘ouch’.
<< I think I need something to drink. >> said Pepper, slowly climbing out of her shock.
<< Coffee is ready in the kitchen, Mrs Stark. >>
Tony noticed the surprised look on Peter’s face as he pointed and whispered: << Did you two…? >>
<< Not now, kid. >> he mouthed quickly.
<< Thanks, Friday. >>
It was only after several coffees and even more questions – many of which prompted by Morgan and mainly regarding flying suits, magical web fluids, coming back from death and possibly a cross-universe zombie invasion – that the sun finally dawned on the house by the lake.
Tony carried Morgan upstairs as her eyes were finally starting to give up and her head had repeatedly dozed off on the table. He had just finished to tuck the sheets of the bed overloaded with toys when…
<< Are the Peters staying with us? >> he heard her say.
He scratched his head. They’d come to no solution to the problem of the multiverse breaching out.
<< I don’t know. >>
<< I like them. I want them to stay. >>
<< Yeah? >> he asked brushing a wisp of hair away from her face.
Her body had finally given up, her eyes were closed. She was asleep.
He lingered in the semi-darkness of the room just a bit longer.
<< I’d like that too. >>