When the Scarlet Witch came to him for help, he'd already given up being the hero. Can you blame him for wanting- no, needing his life back. He needed May, he needed MJ and Ned and god, he needed mr. Stark back.
So when the scarlet witch promised him all that, and all he had to do was capture one single girl, how could he say no? No one knew who he was anyway, and when he got out of this godforsaken universe, he could have everything he wanted again. He could turn his shit fucked life around, he could love again and he could be loved again. Oh how he desired to be held again.
So yeah, fuck that girl and her stupid powers keeping it all for herself. He would get his life back, whatever it takes.
---
"Climbs walls, shoot webs.."
"Yeah bingo."
"Out of his butt!?"
Before Stephen and Wong could answer, glass shattered around them and Spiderman landed in the cafe, crouching as he tilted his head up.
"No." He said shortly, referring to America's question. "Is this him? Doesn't seem so friendly." America cocked her head toward Stephen, who shared a look with Wong before focusing on the vigilante again.
"Probably because I'm not." Spiderman responded coolly, before shooting webs at both Strange's and Wong's hands in a matter of milliseconds before standing upright. Stephen and Wong immediately began yanking on the webs, which only made them stickier. America stood up quickly, chair falling on the ground from the sudden movement.
She looked at Stephen's and Wong's tied hands and then back to Spiderman, who slowly approaching, flexing his wrists. "Sorry about this, Strange. I'll take the girl and after this you'll never see me again." America's eyes narrowed and she looked at Stephen, who nodded and mouthed 'run'.
Before she could even take a step, spiderman shot out a hand and just like that she was trapped in a web. "Come after me and I won't hesitate to hurt you." He hissed at the two sorcerers. He scooped America's webbed body up, who was screaming by now, and swung away.
"Since when is he some sort of lunatic? Didn't he help fight against Thanos and shit?" Wong grumbled. Stephen shook his head, thinking of everything he knew about the vigilante, but nothing came up. Wong called the cafe owner, who helped cut them free.
"We have to go after them. I- I think Wanda's behind this." Stephen mumbled, still lost in thought. "What? The Scarlet Witch? Strange, I don't think we can-" Wong began, but Stephen cut him of sharply.
"Maybe we can't, but she's planning something. Her and Spiderman. We have to stop them. Summon the sorcerers in Kamar-Taj."
"No. We'll do this alone. I won't let our sorcerers get killed."
Strange's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. And then he was gone, stepping through a portal which closed behind him quickly.
Wong sighed dramatically.
"I'm way too old for this shit."
---
Peter's clad feet landed in soft grass. He was surrounded by beautiful apple blossoms and in the distance he could make out a small cottage. Before he could start moving, he almost dropped the girl slung over his shoulder from shock when Wanda appeared from out of nowhere.
"Spiderman, you have the girl?" Her gaze flicked greedily toward the girl he was holding. He dropped America carefully. "Yes. Strange and his sorcerers are probably coming though, we should hurry." Peter explained and Wanda smiled at him as she walked towards him.
"That won't be necessary. With your strength and my power we can take them easily." She looked down at the girl at her feet before changing their surroundings with a flick of her wrist. The apple blossoms died, turning into ugly dead trees, the cloudless, blue sky faded into a red sea and the soft grass turned dead and gray.
"We need to go to mount Wundagore, come on." She turned around, and Peter took that as a sign that he had to carry America, but the girl was lifted by red magic, following Wanda into a red hole which appeared out of nowhere.
Peter followed hesitantly, it felt like he stepped into a portal to hell but the feeling didn't last long, because he was suddenly freezing cold. They stood before a temple. There were old ruins carved into the rough stone walls and huge statues filled the room. In the middle of it all stood some sort of podium, behind it was a woman carved into the wall. It looked an awful lot like Wanda.
"Is this some sort of cult?" Peter joked, but it was half serious. Wanda didn't respond as she lifted her hand and watched as America's body was laid down on the podium. There was something in Wanda's eyes that Peter couldn't lay his finger on. It looked like hunger, possessiveness, greed.
Wanda looked up and they locked eyes. She smiled at him before looking at something behind him. "They are here. Kill them if you must." She spoke, before going to stand behind the podium, at America's head.
"Aren't you helping?" Peter questioned. Wanda shook her head. "No." She whispered, not looking up from America. Multiple things then happened at once.
Wanda raised her hands and America's body lifted from the podium, blue flares of some sort of energy leaving her energy in a rapid speed. At the same time, Strange and Wong climbed over the edge of the temple.
Peter locked eyes with them. The lenses of his mask narrowing as flexed his wrists slightly. Strange's gaze flickered down to his wrists, noticing his movement. "Wanda. Spiderman. Give us the girl. You don't have to do this."
"I told you that if you follow us, I won't be afraid to hurt you." Peter hissed, his voice quiet, but Stephen and Wong heard. They exchanged a look before they lashed out. Peter was quicker. He shot out a web but the sorcerers, heaving learned from their past mistakes, immediately jumped out of the way.
Wong shot out some sort of yellow sparkly rope, which lashed Peter's leg. It only made him more pissed.
It went on like that for a short time, no one really winning. Peter was already familiar with the magic from his fight with Strange some months ago, luckily. Eventually, Wong finally managed to get him in some sort of magic cage, which burned him as he touched it. He still fought, because god he couldn't lose this. He needed to win.
Wanda needed to stop her ritual because of Strange now surging toward her. As they battled, peter finally got free and lunged towards Wong. He shot a web at the sorcerer, covering him in the sticky substance.
Peter turned his attention towards Wanda and Strange. Wanda lay on the ground, slowly getting up and seeming a little out of it. Strange was whispering something in America's ear. Peter ran forward and America's eyes widened, yelling 'look out!' but Peter already tackled strange to the ground.
Strange's eyes widened a bit but he quickly rolled over and send some weird magic shit to Peter. Peter dodged, but before he could attack again, Wanda attacked Strange from behind, throwing him to the ground roughly. The wizard was unconcsious, but Peter still covered him in webs to be sure.
Wanda was breathing heavily, that strange look back in her eyes. Peter was beginning to feel a feeling of dread and regret settling in his stomach, but he swallowed it down.
They both turned to America, who was sitting on the podium. Wanda went to attack, but America fought back. Her fist glowed blue as she punched Wanda back with force. Peter's eyes narrowed and he lunged toward her too. He avoided her first punch, but the second one hit him hard and he too flew back.
Wanda had already gotten up and was holding America by the collar of her shirt. But before she could do anything, a huge portal in the form of a blue star opened. Peter looked into it. It was a homely house, two boys were sitting on a couch, who's eyes widened at the sight before them.
They started screaming, and Peter watched in shock at how the situation unfolded. It ended with Wanda being comforted by.. Wanda? It was confusing.
"What is this?" He whispered, voice hoarse. "It's another universe." America answered. "Why would you show her this?" Peter whispered, voice tight with anger, because Wanda turned to them, a defeated look in her eyes. She made locked gazes with Peter and shook her head.
"No. NO. no.. Wanda, please. I need- I need this, please-" He sobbed, but the hopelessness turned into anger as he realized he was about to lose everything again. He stood up slowly, then lunged toward America. But instead of tackling her, he fell onto a cold, smooth floor.
He looked up, startled. His heart started beating faster. Panic rose in his chest, tears brimmed his eyes and a choking-like noise escaped his throat.
Before him stood Tony Stark.
"Kid?"
And Peter broke.
He yanked of his mask, stood up and stumbled towards Tony. "M-Mister Stark?" Tony's brows furrowed in concern. "Kid- What? Is- Is everyone back?" Peter tensed. "What?" He whispered.
"From- From the blip?" Tony was simply not believing his eyes. Peter was dead. Died in his arms. Turned to dust. Dead. Gone.
"N-No. I-I'm from another universe. You're- You're gone in mine." Peter choked out, and suddenly, two strong arms encased him. After tensing, Peter melted. God he had needed this.
Behind him, Stephen and Wong (who had gotten free) shared a look of confusion. Wanda's eyes were wide, filling with tears.
"You can't stay here, spiderman. I showed you this so you snap out of this. I know you're good, that this shit that went down wasn't what you wanted. You have to come back to yourself." America whispered. Peter only pressed his nose deeper into Tony's shirt.
"Peter, what's going on? Don't go, kiddo." Peter backed away. He sniffed and wiped tears from his cheeks. "I- I have to. You'll get me back. You can do it. I love you." Tony looked heartbroken as Peter stepped back, turning around to face his own universe.
"I love you too kid."
Only Peter's super hearing picked it up.
The portal closed behind him and he looked down at the ground in shame.
"Peter.. Why does that sound so familiar.... Peter.. Parker? Fuck. What the fuck-" Stephen gripped his head, loads of memories suddenly flashing back in seconds. When it was over, he looked up, mouth slightly open.
"Peter, fuck. You okay, kid? I- I remember, I'm sorry, I'm-" Strange rambled as Peter stared in shock. When he snapped out of it, he quickly interrupted Stephen. "It's fine, dr. Strange. I'm sorry. For.. For this. And you too America. I don't know what I was thinking-"
"Me too. It's no excuse, but the darkhold-" Wanda's voice was thick with emotion. She didn't finish her sentence.
"Let's.. Let's forget all this shit ever happened. We destroy the darkhold and whatever happened with you spiderman, we'll find a way to fix it." America said. "And I want to learn magic!" She added. Strange snorted, opening a portal. "Yeah, yeah. Let's not think too far ahead."
As everyone walked through the portal, Peter passed Stephen.
"And call me Stephen, kid."
---