“Peter! Wait up!” Steph called out just as Peter was readying to hop the fence and leave the high school campus.
Gotham Prep was a lot like Midtown; full of snobby rich kids too smart for anyone’s good. Though, this school seemed to be a bit sketchier than his last one. Well, everything in Gotham seemed sketchier than anything in New York.
He had gotten used to it over the last few months, however. It had been hard, no doubt about that. Gotham wasn’t a kind city and he hadn’t exactly been expecting to end up in an entire different universe, so he hadn’t had the chance to pack.
Making a life for yourself out of nothing? Surprisingly easy when you had a brain like Peter’s. It hadn’t taken long for him to have a secure identity in this universe, complete with a birth certificate, a social security card, and a newly issued New Jersey ID.
Not to mention the bank account, which had enough for him to live on once he’d started doing odd jobs around the city.
He’d begun to make a name for himself as someone who could do almost any job as long as it was legal. Becoming especially known for his innate ability to fix anything that was thrown at him. Didn’t hurt that he had enhanced strength to help.
That was the only thing he was using his enhanced strength for. That was the one rule he set for himself; no Spider-Man in a world he didn’t know. It might have been months since he’d been unceremoniously dropped into this cesspool of a city but he didn’t feel comfortable yet. He didn’t want to admit that he hadn’t been able to touch the suit since everything happened. Since he lost everything.
Spinning around, he smiled at his friend. “Hey!” He greeted warmly.
On either side of the blonde girl was Tim and Duke, smiles on all of their faces. The three had made it their mission to befriend Peter since the second he’d shown up at the school all those months ago. Since then, Peter liked to think they were true friends. They were still rich and a little snobby, but overall kind and funny. Peter enjoyed their company and they seemed to enjoy his, so he thought: why not?
“Do you want to come to Bat Burger with us? Our treat.” Duke asked cheerfully, a bright grin on his face.
Peter bit his lip, thinking for a moment before he nodded. “Sounds good.”
Tim smirked. “Come on, I’m starving.”
Peter’s stomach tightened at the words, his own hunger gnawing at him. He could afford food. Really! He could! It was just… he needed to eat a lot more than the average human being. But he also needed to keep a roof over his head. So, eating about six thousand less calories than he should’ve been. That’s where he was at. Turning down free food? Yeah, not something he could currently afford.
Before everything, Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner had figured out exactly how much food he needed to eat every day. Which ended up being a whopping ten thousand calories. It had been hard for May to afford enough food for him so he was used to eating a little less than he needed. But god, did he miss his Stark Calorie Bars.
He rubbed a hand over his abdomen, freezing when Tim’s eyes tracked the movement. His friend was uncomfortably observant at times. Actually, all of them were to some degree.
Sometimes, a part of him felt like maybe the three of them knew how hungry he was, about the cramps in his gut and the empty feeling that haunted his insides. They offered to buy him food rather often, so they were either really nice or they were suspicious he wasn’t eating. Peter didn’t really care one way or another.
They chatted idly about their classes as they walked towards the Bat Burger. Peter had walked this path dozens of times over the last few months, had combed through the streets more times than he could count, but for the first time, his eyes caught on a building with a crooked lit up sign on the front.
Stark Repairs
What were the chances? Peter’s steps stuttered to an abrupt halt, leaving his three friends to look back at him and with confusion written across their faces. His eyes trailed over the shop windows almost hungrily, searching for a single face in the glass.
“Peter?” Tim’s voice called distantly.
A sliver of hope built up in his chest for a beat and his mouth fell open, breaths picking up. He hadn’t spotted him yet but… he could be here. It sounded like something he would do if he ended up in another universe, open a mechanic shop. Harley would’ve laughed.
“Dude, are you good?” Steph said, sounding closer than Tim had.
Peter didn’t pay them any mind, he couldn’t: Tears built in his eyes and a choked breath left his mouth when he saw him. Mr. Stark.
Now the question was if this was his Mr. Stark. genius, billionaire, philanthropist, superhero. His Tony; the one who spent time with him in the lab, taught him everything he knew about… well everything, the one who had supported Peter at every turn, cared for him, loved him even. Could it be true? Would his luck finally give him a break?
He stepped forward robotically, not giving a second thought to his friends trailing confusedly behind him. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably and as he got closer, his steps grew faster.
Before he knew it he was pushing the door open, a little bell ringing in his ears as he froze in the doorway, watching with bated breath as Tony looked up from where he’d been shuffling papers at the front desk.
Tony’s eyes went wide, tears filling them in milliseconds. His posture slumped, all of his breath visibly leaving him. His mouth flopped open and closed, like he couldn’t find the words to fill the tense space between them.
Lucky for him, Peter had never had trouble finding ways of filling uncomfortable silences. He could feel Tim, Steph, and Duke at his shoulders. He knew they were confused but he didn’t have the mind to explain anything to them right now.
“M-Mr. Stark. Is- is that you?” Peter whispered, voice shaking as it cut through the air.
Tony’s face crumpled even further, tears spilling over his cheeks now too. He pressed a hand to his chest, taking deep breaths as he stared at Peter with desperation. His chest, glowing blue with the light of the arc reactor. He… he looked younger.
Was this his Tony?
The man who may or may not be Tony’s eyes flicked over to the three teenagers standing behind Peter and narrowed slightly. Then his gaze swept back to Peter, he sniffed once, a familiar behavior that hade hope stirring in Peter’s gut once more.
“Underoos.” Tony breathed out, stepping out from behind the desk. He looked dazed still. Peter could understand that feeling, especially now when it felt like all of the air had been pulled from his lungs, like the floor had been ripped from under him.
He was actually here. He had been here the whole time and Peter had never noticed. God, he wanted to smack himself for being so unaware of his surroundings.
Peter’s lip wobbled. “Mr. Stark, h-how are you here?”
Tony’s lips quirked into a smirk and he raised a sardonic brow. The look was less effective than it usually would have been, what with the snot wnd tears running down the man’s face at the same time.
“How am I here? Kid, the question should be how are you here.” Tony said, rolling his eyes. Then he softened. “You know how I got here, kid, as much as I do anyway.”
Dying, Peter thought, the Infinity Stones.
“I-I-“ Peter stuttered, feeling more tears spring up in his eyes.
Tony smiled softly, stepping even closer. His hands were held open, waiting patiently for Peter to make the next move.
Exhaling shakily, he dove forward, sinking into the familiar comfort of his- of Tony’s arms.
“I got you, kid.” Tony murmured, smoothing a hand through Peter’s hair.
“Tony.” Peter cried out, emotions finally getting the better of him.
He had missed Tony like missing a limb and it was only worse after he ended up in Gotham, away from anyone who ever knew him the same way Peter did. Away from anyone who ever knew him at all.
But somehow, he was here. Peter wouldn’t be alone anymore. He knew there was no way Tony would ever let him live how he’d been living, no matter his current lack of billions. Or so Peter assumed.
Peter stayed in the embrace, soaking up the warmth, the familiar smell of motor oil and expensive cologne. His whole body shook as he tried to stifle his cries.
“Tony.” Peter repeated desperately. “You’re here. You’re here.”
“I’m here, kiddo.” Tony nodded, pulling back and wrapping an arm around Peter’s shoulder.
“I missed you so much.” Peter’s croaked, voice choked with emotion.
Tony smiled sadly, somewhat bitterly as he took in Peter’s aged appearance closely. “I missed you too, Pete.”
“Okay, I hate to be the one to ruin the moment but what the hell is going on?” Steph cut in incredulously and Peter spun to see Steph, Duke, Tim, and… when had Cass joined them? Anyway they were looking at him and Tony with various emotions across their faces.
Steph looked a little distrustful and a lot confused about this turn of events. Duke just looked concerned, eyes narrowing when he looked at Tony’s arm around Peter. Tim was full on suspicious, glaring murderously while Cass was fully amused, giving Peter a thumbs up when he caught her eye.
Peter smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “You remember how I told you I kinda had an internship with a tech genius?”
He laughed nervously as they Steph and Tim shot him deadpan looks.
Peter shrugged, pointing to a smug looking Tony. “Tech genius.” He whispered, fighting a hysterical giggle at the situation.