Chapter Text
Ding . The little bell on the cafe door rang as Peter walked through it. Instantly, he was hit with the smell of donuts, hot chocolate and gingerbread. He saw Ned and MJ, his former best friend and girlfriend, talking to each other about something. Probably MIT. MJ turned towards the door as Peter made his way to the counter, she nodded at him and asked a question, “The usual?”.
“Yeah, and add another donut please, cinnamon.” Peter replied. MJ nodded as she hurried to grab Peter’s order and ring him up so that she could continue her conversation with Ned. While Peter had made progress talking to the two of them, it was only as a regular. Would it be weird if I asked MJ out? Very, don’t do that. It’s been a year since Stephen’s spell, I didn’t even get to say I love you back to her-
“$12.57, cash or card?” Peter was snapped out of his train of thought, looking at the girl of his dreams as she looked back awkwardly. He apologises, and scrambles while grabbing out his card to pay for everything. Thanking her, he turned around to leave, the door ringing again as he exits the building. He wishes he could stay and eat his food there, but alas, Stephen- er- Dr Strange needed Spider-man. Peter isn’t so sure as to why Dr Strange could possibly need the arachnid vigilante, but he’s happy to see an old friend.
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The buzzing of the cars, footsteps on the ground, the conversation of civilians on the balcony two floors below him; Spider-Man could hear it all. None of that mattered to him though as he kept kicking his feet and humming a little tune from an ad he’s seen one too many times. Peter took another sip of his coffee, the bitter taste overwhelming the previous taste of the sweet iced donut he had earlier. His warm breath contrasted greatly to the cold, winter’s air. His mask was hiked up to his nose to allow him to eat and drink his coffee, and his face was starting to feel a bit numb from it. He wondered absentmindedly when Dr Strange was going to show up, sure, there were still a few minutes left until he was officially late but still.
“It’s good to see you, Spider-Man.” Peter’s head whips around as he quickly pulls down his mask. It’s not like Dr Strange hasn’t seen Peter’s face before, it’s just that he’s forgotten it. Peter lights up at the sight of his friend. They haven’t seen each other since the spell Dr Strange did to erase everyone’s memory of Peter Parker (ignoring a few days ago Strange found Spider-Man to ask to meet up today).
“Dr Strange! It’s been so long. Donut?” Peter askes, jumping up off the ledge and then holding out the donut for Stephen. Strange is slightly taken aback, but grabs the brown paper bag containing the donut anyway. He checks the contents, and nods in silent approval before teleporting the bag away, seemingly to his home. Hopefully anyway, I paid good money on that donut .
“I need your help with a mission.” Dr Strange explains, turning back towards Peter.
“Lead the way.” Peter replies. He was starting to feel excited. Well, he was before but now it felt so… real. Strange shakes his head, “No, the mission is here.”
“It’s here?”
“Yes.” Peter, or, more precisely, Spider-Man looks at Dr Strange, clearly confused behind his mask. Was the mission in the building?
“Okay… so… what do we uh, do exactly?” Spider-Man asks the Dr, looking around the area. His spider-sense wasn’t going off anywhere. There didn’t seem to be any danger. What mission is Strange taking me on?
“Just wait, the time will come and your mission will start.” Dr Strange looks at a watch on his wrist, leaving Peter even more confused. My mission? I thought Strange and I were doing this together! He decided it would be just better to ask than to be confused any longer. Communication was important to a successful mission after all.
“I’m sorry Dr Stranger Sir, but what exactly do you mean by my mission? I thought this was a team-” His questions were cut off by a hexagonal, purple and orange glowing portal. Peter yelped in surprise as the portal tried to suck him in. He quickly shot out a web towards the ledge of the building he was previously sitting at. Peter struggled to pull himself away from the portal, as he felt his body being pulled more and more in. He turned his head towards Dr Strange, wondering if the magical wizard was struggling against this powerful entity as well. Strange simply looked at Peter, watching him struggle and making no effort to help. He wasn’t being sucked into the portal, and that confused Peter even more.
“Dr Strange? What’s going on? What is this? Can you stop it?” Peter yells questions at Strange, a guilty look now present on the doctor’s face. That did not make Peter feel good, and distracted him as his web snapped. With his spider-sense and his non-human reaction speed, he managed to shoot another web out towards the ledge, but he was much closer to the portal than he was before.
“I’m sorry Spider-Man. I could not change your fate. I can, however, try my best to protect you. Wear this so that universe won’t harm you.” Dr Strange spoke as he chucked what seemed to be a bracelet towards Peter. Peter caught it with one hand, but quickly returned that hand to holding onto the web. Change my fate? What fate? How is this (whatever it is) going to protect me? Actually, Strange is a wizard. I should probably listen to him and his ominous warnings. It’s kind of a wizard's whole thing.
“Strange? What fate? Why can’t you change it? Strange?” Peter’s cries for help got more and more desperate as he felt the web he was desperately clinging onto be closer to snapping. He tries reaching his hand out towards the floor, he’s sticky, he should be able to do this. But, the portal trying to beam him up to another plane of reality left him out of reach. Snap. His spidey-sense spiked as it alerted him of his (now) broken web. Peter scrambled in the air, trying to grab anything to stop him. He tried shooting a web at the ground but the portal seemed to grow stronger as it broke the web instantly. Flying towards and now through the portal, Peter took one last look at Dr Strange. With his panic rising he yelled one last thing before the portal closed behind him.
“STEPHEN-”
Dr Strange looked at the spot where Spider-Man once was in surprise. When did Spider-Man learn his name? He only gave it out to people he knew and he did not know of Spider-Man’s secret identity despite them saving the world together. Thinking of Spider-Man’s identity only gave him a headache anyway, and besides, he managed to help the arachnid in his own, confusing, way. After he learned of the vigilante’s fate to traverse the multiverse (and that there was no way around it), Stephen himself went out of his way to find any way he could to protect his fellow hero. Since the portal was being made with science and not magic, Strange wasn’t able to use any of his go-to ways of protection. He just hoped this ‘day-pass’ he stole would be enough to help the Spider not have his atoms slowly disintegrate until he dies a painful death. Sighing, Dr Strange turned around and opened his own portal back to his place. He had a donut to eat.
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“Ah-FUCK!” Peter cries out in pain and agony as he crashes head (or nose) first into the hard concrete floor. The adrenaline of going through a portal at such high speeds quickly wears off as his nerves and muscles cry out, sending signals to his brain that something is broken. He groans as slowly picks himself up enough to roll onto his back. Yanking his mask off his face, his eyes adjust to the night sky. Night? I swear it was only 2… Checking his watch, it confirmed his suspicion. Quickly sitting up, Peter looks around very confused. Why is it night? Where am I? This doesn’t look like Queens.
Peter was right, this didn’t look like Queens. The gothic architecture, the different buildings and skyscrapers that resemble a city, but not his own. The moon is hidden behind some clouds, leading only the artificial light of the city to illuminate the city. Even with the lack of natural light, the artificial one shines brightly enough to tell that this isn’t the greatest city to be in. There was broken glass everywhere (even on the rooftop Peter was on) and a very distinct smell of blood. The wind howled against Peter’s face as he looked down towards the civilians walking down on the streets, the cars driving by and the couple that was loudly fighting in front of what seemed to be a restaurant.
Where is this place? Am I even in America anymore? I need to call Happy- or someone or- right… my nose. Peter’s panic was cut short as he was hit with a wave of pain as his nose tried to heal itself, with little success. Peter put both his hands on either side of his nose as he mentally prepared himself to shift it back into place. Come on, what’s a little more pain? Peter bit down on his mask as he muffled his scream. His nose, now back in place, felt mostly normal so he left it alone.
All of this did little to clear Peter’s panic as he looked around at the dark and dreary world around him. How could a city look so depressing? The gothic architecture did little to ease his worry as Peter’s heart rate picked up. Everything felt so imposing, his senses were completely overwhelmed and Peter just felt completely out of place. He felt around for his phone, his breathing quickening as he kept thinking of what ifs. What if I’m in a different state? What if I’m in a different country? Like Canada- or worse, the UK or Australia or New Zealand? How am I supposed to get home? Where’s my phone? Did I even bring it here?
Peter’s fingers finally found something on the rooftop-floor. It was the metal bracelet Dr Strange gave him before he went into the portal. Picking it up, he looked at it, inspecting it closely in the limited light that made its way up towards the top of the building. It seemed to be blue, with some accent colours Peter can’t exactly make out. It doesn’t matter in the end and he puts it around his wrist as he calms down. Strange said it was a protection charm, right? Even if it wasn’t, it was still something he should keep. Strange gave it to him for a reason.
Now thinking clearly (or as clearly as a possible concussion could give you), Peter decides to swing around the city a bit to get a better grasp as to where he could be. Putting on his mask, he stands up as he moves towards the edge of the building. Taking a deep breath, he jumps off the building with the confidence that he can catch himself before he falls. And he does. Peter hears a familiar thwip as he shoots out a web towards a building on the opposite side of the street. Picking a random direction, he starts heading that way as he explores this mysterious city.
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Peter swings around, familiarising himself with the city. He doesn’t know how long he’ll be here for, and who knows, this place could be in need of another Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man. Peter’s spider-senses tingle as he moves out of the way of someone who is also swinging through the air. Strange… from Peter’s knowledge he’s the only vigilante who swings across buildings to get to places. Maybe things are different here? Peter sticks to the side of a building, looking at whoever swung by him. He can’t tell if they’ve noticed him or not, but if they did, they’re in too much of a hurry to care. The vigilante in question seems to have a two-toned suit ( probably black and blue ), with what seemed to be a bird shape thing ( definitely a bird, or maybe a bat ) on the front of their suit, and a black and white mask that only really covers the eyes ( kinda defeats the whole point of the mask, but I didn’t get to see his face so… ).
Just when Peter intends to follow this vigilante ( maybe become friends, hang out, figure out where I am, you know, normal stuff ), his spider-sense goes off, alerting him of someone in danger nearby. Bluebird can wait, I have to help this person. Peter thinks as he swings away towards whoever might need his help. His spider-sense takes him to a pretty bad looking part of the city, it doesn’t surprise him that much but he still feels bad that people live here. He swings into an alleyway, where he can see a standard shakedown between two criminals holding guns and an innocent civilian.
Thwip, thwip. Both of the criminals’ guns are now webbed to the side of the wall in the alleyway next to Spider-Man. The two men look around confused, wondering where their guns went, and what took them.
“Y’know, one of the rules of gun safety is to never point it at people.” Spider-Man says as he jumps down from the side of the wall and lands behind the criminals. They looked shocked, and a little confused, but that is quickly thrown aside as their emotions turn to anger. One of them (the taller one), tries to punch Spider-Man, but is quickly webbed to the wall. The other one looks back in shock, before doing the same, and ending up in the same fate.
“Who are you? Get me out of here!” The taller one yells, struggling to escape against the webs. Peter quickly webs up both of their mouths, not really wanting to listen to the threats of two criminals he could defeat in his sleep. Their punches were lousy, clearly they weren’t trained in any kind of way. Peter steps forward towards them, looking for any phones that might be in reach.
“I’m your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, nice to meet you. Can I borrow your phone? Say nothing if the answer is yes.” After a beat of silence (from Spidey, both the criminals were making as much noise as they could), Peter grabs the shorter criminal's phone and dials 9-1-1.
“Hi, yes, I have two criminals who just tried to rob someone at gunpoint. They’re both tied up, their weapons are nearby, I was just wondering if you could pick them up? … Mhm … Yes, two … Address? Hang on, wait a second please.” Peter covered the phone so the 9-1-1 operator couldn’t hear him and turned to the civilian who was held at gunpoint roughly five minutes ago.
“Where are we?”
“... Crime Alley.” The woman answers Peter’s question, still shaken up from everything that has occurred.
“Thank you- hang on, Crime Alley? They named this place Crime Alley?”
“Uh… technically it’s called Park Row but everyone calls it Crime Alley…”
Peter nods, trying to show that he understands. He doesn’t understand. Who calls a place Crime Alley? How bad are the crimes? Peter uncovers the receiver of the phone and speaks again to the 9-1-1 operator.
“Park Row? … Okay seven minutes? … Yeah I’ll be here … Okay thank you, bye.” The phone clicks and Peter unceremoniously shoves it back into the criminal’s pocket. He didn’t really do much, but if he could save someone from being shot it was worth it. Peter turns to the woman, who looks to have come back to her senses. She looked at Peter with awe, one that he’s seen a million times, but still manages to make him happy every time.
“You okay ma’am?” Peter asks, moving towards the woman. She nods back, smiling at Peter.
“Yes, I am. Thank you so much for saving me Mr Spider-Man.”
“It was nothing. Just doing my job. Uh- hey can you do me a favour?”
“Of course, what is it?”
“Would you mind telling me where I am? What city I mean…”
By the time the police finally arrive, Peter has learned some valuable things from the woman he spoke to, who’s name he learnt is Samantha. He’s now swinging across different buildings and listing all the information he’s gathered. Okay so, I’m in a city called Gotham. It is notorious for having many supervillains such as the Joker, Harley, a scarecrow…. A riddle guy and probably some others I forgot about. There are vigilantes like myself such as Batman, Robin, Red Robin, Nightwing… is there a blue robin? Anyway- this place seems to be ‘infected with crime’ (Samantha’s words, not mine) and it could apparently use all the help it can get. But also this Batman guy seems to have a ‘no meta’ rule whatever that means. Also there’s a superman guy? This is too much information.
Peter perched atop a building. There was so much information he was struggling to keep up. What he can say for certain is that the Avengers don’t exist, the blip never happened, and he doesn’t exist. As Spider-Man or as Peter Parker. Well, he’s not sure if Peter Parker exists or not, but if an alternative reality version of him did exist in this universe, he doesn’t seem to be bit by a radioactive spider. And would probably be older than Peter because of… well… the blip.
Peter sighs, he really needs to find somewhere to stay. Maybe I could go back to that Crime Alley place? A lot of the buildings there look abandoned so I could probably find somewhere that people aren’t staying at.
Debating a bit more with himself, he decided that living in Crime Alley was the best way to go. He could protect Crime Alley as well. It looked like it needed extra help anyway. Before he could start swinging towards Crime Alley, his stomach growled. Loudly. Right, he still needed food and water. This whole situation reminded him of after Dr Strange finished the spell, and everyone forgot who he was. He was homeless for quite some time, hungry too. That’ll have to be tomorrow him’s problem though. For now, he needs to find somewhere to stay. And some clothes for tomorrow. He can’t exactly go swinging around all the time. And the swinging, he needs to find a lab – or a school he could go to and make some more webs. Wow, okay, he has a lot to do. First, a place to stay.
Now a lot more self conscious of his lack of access to make more webfluid, Peter takes to running atop of building rooftops to find his new home. It didn’t take long. Like Peter expected, there were a multitude of buildings completely abandoned that he could choose from. Seriously, why was this place so abandoned? Peter eventually settled on one that seemed like it used to be a cafe with an apartment above it. A bonus, some of the furniture was still there. Sure, the mattress has springs sticking out of it, but it’s not something he hasn’t dealt with before.
Peter made sure to close all the windows to the best of his abilities, bordering them up if needed. He also bordered up the staircase down to the cafe area so that nobody could come in uninvited without making too much noise. Sure, he has his spidey-sense, but you can never be too prepared. Like his universe, it was winter over here and so Peter had to take extra precaution to not die from hypothermia overnight. He desperately wishes he had the Iron Spider suit. Either way, after some scavenging outside and around the abandoned apartment, Peter found some bed sheets he could use as blankets. Yeah it’s not the best, but considering it’s free he’s willing to take it.
Finally settling into his makeshift bed, he bundled up and decided to plan out his day tomorrow. He had $78 on him, and a card that probably didn’t work. With that, he could find someplace to get some food and buy some water in bulk. Afterwards, library. He needs access to a computer that has internet access to not only figure out what is up with this universe but to also make sure he officially exists. Not only that but also to be able to look for any jobs that he can get. If there’s anything equivalent to Stark Industries in this universe, he might try to apply there. Of course he could just forge some documents saying that he graduated from Midtown (he basically did), it’s not like he hadn’t done that before. Back when Dr Strange cast that spell. The spell that made Peter Parker not exist. The spell that changed everything.
That stupid spell. Why did he have to ask Dr Strange to cast it? He had other options. If he didn’t cast that spell, he wouldn’t have to act like he was a stranger to Ned and MJ. If the spell wasn’t cast, he wouldn’t have to fight the other Peter’s villains. He wouldn’t know of the other villains. He wouldn’t have to watch Aunt May die. He wouldn’t have to believe her – hold onto some sort of hope – that she was just sitting down. Nothing more. But of course, that wasn’t the case. He had to watch as the light died from her eyes, the same way Tony saw the light die from his all those years ago.
If he didn’t practically beg Dr Strange to cast that spell, he wouldn’t have had to say goodbye to his friends. Much like May, he wouldn’t have made promises he couldn’t keep. He wouldn’t be crying about it now, while he’s all alone in a completely different city; possibly a different universe.
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“There’s nothing I can do. But it’ll be okay.” Peter promised, his two closest friends not believing him. They wanted to believe him. They wanted to believe him desperately. But deep down in their hearts, they knew he was lying. Even if he didn’t know it. Still, they indulged him. Let themselves believe, let themselves hope that everything was going to be ok.
“You promise?” Ned asks Peter. Ned prayed that there was a way he could hold Peter to this promise. Logically, he knew there wasn’t. But he could try.
“Yeah, I promise.” Peter responses. Ned nods wistfully, but holds his hand out so Peter and him could do their signature handshake one last time. They end it with a hug, a tight hug from both parties as they subconsciously come to terms with the very real possibility of them never becoming friends again.
“I’ll come find you okay?”
“I know you will.” Ned’s voice breaks, letting his mask slip ever so slightly to portray his true emotions.
“Okay.” Both Ned and Peter speak, feeling successful in their goodbyes. There’s not much they can do, with so little time, but at least they get to spend the remaining moments before the spell closes together.
“You better. If you don’t I’m just gonna figure it out. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.” MJ’s voice breaks as well, allowing her emotions to show through her normally misanthropic demeanour. Peter looks at her, his emotions clear on his face. He was never good at hiding his emotions, his thoughts, his feelings. Now isn’t the time to start.
“I promise I’ll fix this.”
“I really hate magic.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“I love you.”
“I love-” MJ cuts him off, not allowing him to finish that sentence.
“Just wait, wait and tell me when you see me again.”
“Sure.” Peter knows what she’s doing. What they're both doing. Leaving him with unfinished goodbyes and promises he has to keep if he doesn’t want it to eat him up inside. He would do the same if he was in their situation. Doesn’t make it any better. Him and MJ share one last kiss. Their final one before the spell is finished.
Peter looks to both of his friends, the memories of all the time they’ve spent together flashing through his mind before he swings away towards somewhere. Anywhere that isn’t here. He won’t exist in this universe. There will be no evidence of Peter Parker’s existence after today. It’ll be like he just showed up out of nowhere.
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Peter’s face is covered in tears. The memories of last year replayed through his mind. When I get back, I’m going to keep my promises. Wishful thinking. He knows it. There is nothing he can do while he’s here. And he knows, when he gets back he’s probably just going to do what he did before. Lie to himself. Say that he’s going to do something about it while he sits back and does absolutely nothing about his broken promises, his unfinished goodbyes.
Sighing, he turns to his side. He needed to go to sleep. No point in crying about the past now.