Statue of no more life, liberty, or freedom
The world was cracking. It was a messed up purple streak. It looked like the galaxies he had once traveled through last year, and technically 5 years ago. It was beautiful in a ‘the world is ending’ way. Maybe this would be a good way to go. Seeing that pretty purple. He felt as if he could see May again through those purple clouds, he saw faces. Faces of villains, of peters. Tearing his eyes away he looked back at what was important.
Getting rid of the Purple. The only way to get rid of it was for everyone to forget him. That he was a person, with a life, family-well not anymore-and friends. Like he was some toy to be played with. He felt like a wooden doll on strings, and the puppeteer was the universe, with their purple hands, covered in stars like the galaxies. The hands that ripped Tony from his body, and him from them with it.
Dr. Strange was on top of the once reconstructed statue of liberty, a symbol of peace and freedom, holding Captain America's shield. But he didnt save them all, Tony did. All Steve did was go back in time and stay there, he was an old man and maybe even dead. Maybe he was still getting over the death of essentially his father. He wished he could have told him that.
He ran to say goodbye to the Peters. Standing there, on the underside of the copper shield, where he almost killed Norman. They were just standing there, like the world wasn't ending. It wasn't anyway, just his. No one but him and Dr. Strange knew what was happening. He didn't have the heart to tell Ned and MJ.
“Thank you guys.” he said earnestly, hugging them tight. He stumbled slightly as they disappeared into gold tendrils, it felt like another persona lost. Because it was always his fault. His parents, Ben, Tony, Mysterio, May. they were all his, and how he's losing his best friends. Sucking it up he put on a happy carefree smile. He needed them to think nothing was wrong.
He could break down later.
Swinging over to the base of the statue there stood Ned and MJ. Essentially unharmed. His fake smile turned a little less at the sight of them. Dropping in front of them he cheered with them, celebrated. They were celebrating a victory, he was having a goodbye party without them knowing. He and Ned did their too-many-step handshake they made in 3rd grade, he kissed MJ. to them it was celebratory. To him it was the last one.
He knew when the spell was taken into effect. Their eyes glazed over, expressions of joy turning blank. It was creepy. He put his mask back on before their eyes went back to normal, confusion and relief crossing their faces this time. Confusion at what happened and why, but relief they were both there, that Spider-man had saved them. They ran off quickly, thanks yelled over their shoulders.
“Thank you, Spider-man.” Dr. Strange spoke from behind,Peter just turned around blankly to look at the man sporting a knowing smile on his face. He was glad his mask was metal, the fabric would have been soaked by now. Nodding he swung off, the doctor heading in a different direction, most likely back to the sanctum. It was barely dawn but Peter felt dead on his feet.
Swinging through the city didn't give him the usual rush of adrenaline. No matter how long he patrolled, he didn't feel a part of his body. Like he was an observer in a video game on a cut scene. He found himself looking up, trying to find the swirling purple clouds of stars. The breaking of his universe. But all he saw was the afternoon sun, it steadily slid down, casting oranges and reds across the sky.
He was still patrolling, swinging through the city, the moon had risen to its peak. It was now early hours of the morning. Peter still found himself looking for the purple, it almost comforted him till he saw there was none. It had disappeared. Just as the Peters did in his arms, just as the last of his family did in his arms. It was always his arms.
He found a hoodie and sweatpants in a dumpster. He slipped them on, willing the mask and gloves to disappear. Leaving the boots on. Karen and Edith had conjoined to one device. At least they still knew him. They were silent in his ear, nanites made into a headphone for him if needed. He hated the silence. There was nothing to fill it but thoughts of the purple and the sounds of the insomniac city.
He found himself in central park. Dawn just peaking over the trees. He found himself sat at the bench he used to sit on with his parents, then later with May and Ben. It was in a secluded area, quieter than was usual for New York. as he crumpled into the bench, willing away the tears he felt his eyes droop. He hadn't slept in a long while. Maybe he should. This place wasn't half bad.
He dreamt of the purple. Of its hands taking him away. Lifting him up and leading him to another’s. The purple was replaced by gray, gray sky, gray stars, and gray hands. They set him down like Tony did that one time he fell asleep in the lab, that was how he found out about his room at the tower. These Hands were softer, kinder, like a woman’s. They felt nicer than the purple, which was scratchy and calloused, the purple felt like Tony, the gray like May. it felt like her running her hands through his hair as they watched tv on the couch, they even smelled like her cooking.
The hands set him down, waking him with a start. He was still in the park. But this one was grayer. Like the sun never shone on it, yet the flowers bloomed. Reds and pinks littered around him, their scents lingered in his nose. It made him want to fall back asleep. He was still on a park bench, it just wasn't central park. Maybe he should go back to sleep.
Finally that thought broke through his sleepy haze and he sat up, catching his bearing he heard Edith and Karen, they were yelling at him to get out of there. He noticed how dark it was, it must be night. Getting up he noticed not too far away a slightly pink fog drifted towards him. The closer it got the stronger it smelled, it was what made him want to sleep. Looking around the plants seemed to thrive under the fog, blooming despite the chill in the air.
Grabbing his phone that fell out of his pocket and onto the bench, he booked it. As in he leisurely walked away from it. Finding the sidewalk that goes through the park he followed it. The trees got thicker before they evened out, not too long ago he started hearing the sounds of a fight. He strolled past a woman with green skin and red hair using plants, fighting a man with a large black cape and a small red, yellow, and black child. Edna would disapprove.
Watching for a second he frowned and shook his head, he had no clue who these people were. Sending a web and catching the green woman he walked away, webbing the other two to the woman. He continued walking, ignoring the offended shouts, hands in his pockets. Good thing they didn't see him.
He reached the entrance as soon as the sun was fully up, looking around he saw a few businessmen moseying about with a cup of coffee. A few cars passed, definitely breaking traffic laws. It was close enough to New York. he shrugged and walked off, maybe he could find something to tell him where he was.
It was another two hours later, the sun had risen through the smog, highlighting the gothic design of the city he was in. It wasn't like the sleek modern buildings that made up New York. There were gargoyles and detailed arches. When he went out as Spider-man it would make climbing and swinging easier. The spider in him wanted to find a dark area to spend the rest of his life, he promptly ignored it, like he usually did.
He found the oldest building in the city. The ‘Gotham Library’ was a tall, dark, and imposing building. With stone spikes on the roof and more gargoyles than half the city. It had large steps leading up to the oak door. A statue of a lion sat in the middle of the steps, splitting it in half.
Opening the door he noted how light it was, even without using his strength. It must've been hollowed out for easier entry. Warm light enveloped his vision, two grand staircases framed a large desk, behind that were rows upon rows of bookshelves. He assumed upstairs were more. Behind the desk was a red haired woman, she was typing on her computer furiously, too distracted to notice his quiet footsteps on the carpeted floors.
“Excuse me,” he asked, once in front of the desk. She seemed to startle, looking up and switching out of her tab, odd.
“Oh yes dear? What could I do for you?” she asked, a kind and genuine smile gracing her features. Up close Peter noticed the wheelchair she was in.
“I was wondering where your computers are, and how you log into one.” he responded, tone lifting from exhaustion to how he talked with Nat. She trained him for a few months. That's who this librarian reminded him off. The quiet strength that you know is there, but ignorant enough you would meet your fatal end. He smiled at her as she explained where they were upstairs and how to get in. He bid her goodbye, agreeing to talk with her before he leaves.
His research was quick. He was in a city called Gotham and all the people he knew didn't exist. He's in another universe. He asked Karen and Edith to work on making him exist as he looked into schools. He needed to redo his senior year, and he’s probably gonna be here for a while. A long while.
It was only about two hours later and he was done, he needed to find food and shelter. He put in the date of the entrance exam for some fancy prep school. It was in about a week. Walking around he found an abandoned apartment complex. It seems everyone just left. Leaving everything behind. The food went bad ages ago, but the clothing and beds were goof, he looted what he wanted from a few of the apartments, finding an MIT hoodie and a science pun shirt. The hoodie was the wrong color, a bright purple instead of deep red like Tony’s. And it was too clean. It was his favorite article of clothing.
___________
The entrance exam was in an hour. He was currently darting through the streets, using his senses to not run into anyone. He made it with 10 minutes to spare, that's the best he’s ever done. Showing the lady at his desk his I.D. he went to the room and waited, his backpack of everything he owns at his feet. He hoped this didn't go too terribly.
It was a quick test, he felt like he was in and out. There were sections for every subject. His worst was definitely history, as he was new to this world, not exactly understanding some of the things that happened. He walked back to his apartment building to find a crane in front of it, they had torn it down. Miley Cyrus style.
He turned around walking for a while, it felt aimless. It was dark out when he found an abandoned building that wasn't inhabited or falling apart. It was a church, the back rooms where the nuns and priest stayed were relatively nice, he just had to dust and wash the bedding. Setting down his backpack he sat on the bed. From under it came a small meow.
Checking under the bed he saw a small black cat, it immediately came out, crawling into his lap. He set his hand on its soft fur, petting it while it purred. He passed out on the bed with a cat on his chest. At Least he has a friend here now.