Chapter Text
Peter Parker is a strong kid, Dr Strange knew that since the war he knew it since he was snapped back into existence. He knew as he heard the kids desperate beg to be forgotten to let the world be better off without him, Strange knew there was no disputing this boy who grew too fast from the horrors and grief he had endured in his short life when his eyes made contact with stubborn desperate depth to the kid's brown eyes, so he began preparing the spell already pushing to his limit as he held the multiverse in a tight thread grip. His voice was rough with emotion as he spoke.
"Peter, are you sure, I can't take this back? You will be erased from this reality entirely. Everything you have ever done will never happen, you will vanish." Strange asked, staring at Peter, his spider suit was trashed and covered in blood, and the reality of a child being the one to make this choice to leave his world behind to be forgotten by his remaining loved ones.
" Yes, do it Dr Strange, before it's too late. " Peter said with a steel voice that no teenager should have had to develop.
"Peter, no you can't do this, please!" MJ yelled, making Peter look over to her and Ned: his friends, his only remaining family. Strange refused to look at them as he stared at Peter's face.
" Say your goodbyes, Peter, quickly I can't hold this for much longer," Strange said, closing his eyes, his throat tight as the teenagers said their tearful and mournful goodbyes.
"I'm ready for Dr Strange," Peter said and stared at Strange with tears tracking down his dirty face.
" Stephan, call me Stephan," Strange said as he felt the magic sparking at his fingertips a white dense fog began creeping around Peter.
" Goodbye Stephan, thank you for everything." Peter choked out Strange letting out a wet chuckle.
" Still weird, goodbye Peter." Strange choked out as the fog consumed Peter. The boy's mournful laugh was the last thing that rang in his ears as everything stopped. He was back in his mansion crumbling down to his knees as his hands shook almost as they did after the crash.
Peter Parker was gone, Spider-Man was gone. Gone from this reality, the sob that wrecked through Strange's body was painful.
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His body was weightless, his mind fuzzy, Peter for a brief moment wondered if he was dead until the pulverizing pain that covered his entire body flared all around him. He groaned as he rolled onto his side on the cold wet pavement. Pavement? Peter slowly opened his eyes fighting his one-ton eyelids as he finally registered he was on top of a building laying on its cement roof as rain pelted him. He groaned again and struggled to push himself up and once he did his heart sank and then shot to his throat. He was staring at a dim city skyline. He didn't recognize his stomach churning and suddenly saliva filled his mouth before he heaved over and threw up the contents of his stomach, barely stopping himself from falling into his sickness. His breaths came quick even as they tasted of putrid stomach acid. His eyes flicked around as he ran to the edge of the building. He was about 12 stories up his confusion as he struggled to remember how he got there hurt his head so he felt around for his phone and found he couldn't find it in its place was a piece of paper Peter quickly pulled it out using his body shield it from the rain. The words in the note both scared and calmed him
"You are in another reality, you don't exist in our reality, please be safe, trust your instinct, and accept help.
Dr Strange "
Peter's eyes stung as he quickly stuffed the note back into his pocket realizing he wasn't in his spider suit but instead what he was wearing earlier that day, a light jacket with worn jeans and his scuffled-up sneakers. He took a deep breath and looked out at the strange new city skyline.
" Okay Peter you can make this workout, first let's get off this building next find someplace somewhat suitable, and next. God why am I talking to myself !" Peter groaned, rubbing at his face, taking another deep breath as he squatted down putting his hand on the cool stone surface of the building's edge, and feeling his hand stick he smiled. He still had his powers and this for now grounded him as he began to sneakily climb down the building shivering from the intense cold, seriously he was going to need to get warmer and soon his body would shut down.
Once he reached the sidewalk he looked for anywhere that was open, he doubted there wouldn't be much due to him not knowing what time it even was, but his hope grew when saw the warm lights of a small Mexican restaurant like an oasis in a desert. This desert was very cold and wet and the oasis was warm and filled with good smells unlike the streets that surrounded him so he quickly ran over. He got to the door just as a light-skinned woman with dark coiled curls that were up into thick ponytails stray curls framing her shocked wrinkled round face. She was wearing an apron that had the restaurant's name on it. "Mama Roxi's". Peter felt a lump in his throat as he noticed the key in her hand, he stared unsure what to say and she seemed in a similar state till she properly took Peter in.
" Oh you poor boy, you're soaked to the bone, come in warm-up." The woman said her voice was soft and warm like butter and it violently reminded Peter of his aunt. The image of her crushed in their apartment rubble flashed into his mind before he shoved it away nodding jerkily at the woman as she let him in.
" Thank you, Ma'am," Peter said in a small quiet voice and the woman hummed.
" Oh it's no problem dear, I'm Roxianna but you can call me Miss Roxi, now please have a seat. I'll have my son Luis get the kitchen up and running and we will get you some food. " Roxianna or Miss Roxi said as she led Peter to a worn cushy leather booth. Peter turned his head to her quickly.
" I don't have any money." He said quickly as he chewed his lip and to his absolute mortification, his stomach chose this time to announce it was empty with a loud rumble. Peter's face went redder than his suit as Miss Roxi chuckled.
"Don't worry child, it's in the house- let me get you some dry clothes, me and my son live just upstairs," Peter nodded his head as Roxi turned hers.
"Luis, can you please get the kitchen ready? We have a guest!" She called out her voice loud but sweet. A tall man with the same thick black curly hair and light-skinned complexion as Miss Roxi popped his head out his eyes immediately landing on Peter, Peter awkwardly attempted a half wave, then flicked back to his mother's face before he nodded.
"On it Ma, I'll get the kid some horchata ready too. " Luis called from the kitchen, making Miss Roxi smile.
" Okay dear I'll be right back with some warmer clothes, make yourself at home," Miss Roxi said and Peter nodded looking over to the kitchen as Miss Roxi went upstairs. Eventually, his eyes flipped over to the front window staring at the large drops that battered the glass the sound making his mind come unfocused and it was then he realized how utterly exhausted he was his eyelids drooped as time passed until Luis came out of the kitchen with a steaming plate of food, as Luis placed it on the table Peter realized it was enchiladas with beans and rice and the horchata drink along with some water.
" Eat up kid, you're scary scrawny." Luis hummed as he slid into the booth across from Peter/ Peter didn't like being called a kid but given the time of night and the fact that Luis reopened the kitchen for him, Peter let it slide for now. Luis stared at him and Peter stared back as he slowly began to eat but his attention was quickly shifted to the amazing food in front of him. Luis noticed Peter's complete approval of his food because he cracked a smile and relaxed a bit.
" It's my mama's recipe. It's the best one of my favorites here. " Luis hummed and Peter nodded.
" I can see why it's delicious - it's the best thing I've eaten, maybe. Probably." Peter said, making Luis chuckle.
" Good I'm glad, Mama will probably let you stay the night so don't worry about going out in the rain – what's your name?" Luis asked and Peter paused mid-chair before he swallowed.
"Uh, it's Peter, Peter Parker. " Peter said with a small smile on his face.
" Well, Peter Parker don't you dare go out in that rain. " Miss Roxi said as she turned into the booth holding an armful of blankets and pillows with soft-looking clothes at the top of the pile. A big warm smile on her face as she set the pile on a neighboring table.
" Eat quick then you can get changed into these pjs in the bathroom, they are from when Luis was about your age so they should fit okay. " Miss Roxi hummed and Luis chuckled.
"Looks like you'll be rocking my old Batman pj pants ." Luis smiled at Roxi, rolling her eyes fondly.
" You are such a fanboy" She teased good-naturedly making Louis laugh, the way they interacted warmed Peter more than the food or the delicious god-given gift that was the horchata.
Soon Peter was fed and in warm clean clothes, he put the note from Dr Strange in the pants pocket of his borrowed pj pants, while he was changing Roxi had set up a cot in the back room for him, and Peter was immensely grateful for it as he sat his aching body down on the soft bedding. Miss Roxi stood by the doorway, Luis had already retired to bed earlier.
" If you need me, Peter, I'm just upstairs, okay, get some rest and I'll make breakfast in the morning, sleep well," She said softly, turning out the light and starting to leave but Peter stopped her with his voice.
"Thank you for everything, really," Peter said his voice getting choked up, making Miss Roxi's expression soften.
" Of course, Peter, Gotham, and her people take care of each other" Miss Roxi hummed as she gently shut the door.
Peter's eyes burned with tears for the fiftieth time tonight as he laid back, his brain muddled with emotion and exhaustion, it didn't take long for Peter to give into the former.