Parker Luck
It's his first Christmas without May. His first Christmas alone. Normally he would have spent it with May, trying to make a good meal for once, but always ending up ordering Thai Food. Which Peter loved, don't get him wrong. He loved that it had become a Tradition. May would laugh when she ruined the food, turning to him and see him smirking at her. The Christmas lights they hung up would shine from behind, and she would have looked as beautiful as always.
A sneeze echoes through the small flat, and a few seconds later a cough follows. It's a stormy winter night and the wind howls, slamming against his shabby windows. For a second he thinks the windows may break from the blasting, but they don't, thankfully. His Apartment is cold, and he is almost certain that he will freeze to death if it's not getting warmer anytime soon.
It's a sad Christmas, and he can't even get himself to stand up to eat the leftovers, even though his stomach is rumbling like crazy. He hides his face even more in the thin blanket, the old lady from flat 56 gave him as a present for moving in.
"It's going to be a cold winter, Darling. I knitted it for my son, but he doesn't really like the color red, and I think you need it more than me." She had said.
First, he wanted to refuse, for not being able to get her something in return, but she just waved her hand telling him that if she needed help, she would just go to him as a favor.
Now he was glad that he had taken the red blanket because, without it, he would freeze to death even faster.
His Hands rub against each other to create some warmth. He had called the landlord a week ago to tell him the heater wasn't working properly, but it's not like he could really complain.
Peter had gotten the flat for a really low price and not much Question, while he was a minor, and it wasn't legal.
A sigh escaped his lips and he stared blankly at the wall in front of him.
MJ would have yelled at him for being so friendly and Ned would gladly make him the offer to stay over till it's fixed, but they were no Ned and MJ anymore.
After visiting the two in the coffee shop, and seeing how happy they were, Peter knew he couldn't risk taking that away. Not after everything they had done for him.
Peter wanted to be selfish and tell them everything, but he knew it was pointless, MJ didn't recognize him and neither did Ned. What was he supposed to say?
"Hey, I know you don't remember me, but we guys are best friends, and I'm Spider-Man and some wizard took all your memories, so you don't remember me, but if we didn't erase every trace of my existence the universe would have fallen to pieces, but yeah here I am. Not lying at all."
Yeah, no, that would go terribly wrong, and they would think that he was a psycho.
So he decided to let them go, no more Parker Luck for them.
He wished that May was here, filling the room with warmness and her laughter, but she wasn't, and it was entirely his fault.
Tears gathered in his eyes thinking of May. May in his Arms, May getting heavier in his arms, May dying in his arms.
He shakes his head violently, stopping himself from reliving the memory again. A sudden burst of anger explodes, and he stands up.
Peter needs a distraction. His eyes roam around when they finally land on the red and blue clothing.
"You have a gift."
Her Voice sounds so alive and clear in his head that he trembles.
"You have power."
He moves without a second thought and grabs the suit he made, which took him hours of dumpster diving and sewing.
The Memories of her and Peter together hurt now. It feels like something was ripped out of his chest and the warm cozy feeling was replaced with a cold bitterness.
But he knows he has to make May proud.
"And with great power, there must also come great responsibility."
Peter is out of the windows, swinging through New York City, looking for any kind of crime.
The Moment the portal opened; Peter knew he was fucked.
Doctor Strange wasn't aware of Peter Parker's existence, but that didn't mean he didn't know that Spider-Man existed.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Doctor Strange?"
The wizard looked exhausted, not the slightest bit better than Peter under his Mask. Dark bags were under his eyes, and he looked like he aged at least 5 Years from the last time they saw each other.
Peter had hoped that at least the Wizard would remember him. He was the one that did the spell, so the tiny hope that Strange still knew him never really left. Till now, because there was no recognition in Stephen's eyes.
"Well Spider-Man, I happen to be in a little crisis and last time I checked, I helped you out at the Statue of Liberty so come to think, you owe me a favor."
Peter wanted to cry. He knew Strange didn't know "how" he helped out, but it seemed just so unfair.
Acting like everything worked out because that’s what Stephen remembers now.
"Really depends on what Job you got for me. Avenger-level thread or friendly neighborhood Spider-Man thread, Mr. Wizard, Sir."
Peter's voice trembled a little, which made Strange look at him weirdly, rubbing his eyes.
"I would have called one of the avengers, but as far as I'm aware they are all busy, which brings me to you. I know it's a lot to ask, but I need a helping hand, and from what I recall, you seem decent at fighting."
"Decent? I'm a little offended, Stephen-"
"Doctor Strange." he interrupted Peter.
A wave of sadness washed over him, and he simply stares at the floor, beneath him.
Of course.
"Right," he says. "What can I help you with?"
"Well, I know we already made the experience with the Multi versus, so I thought you were one of the best options. Wanda is out of control and is trying to kill an innocent girl because she has the power to travel through different universes."
"That's a thing?" Peter exclaimed. He certainly was done with the Multiverse, but he must say the power seemed pretty impressive.
"Apparently."
Peter looked up at the Man. Wanda was a powerful woman. Peter saw it with his own eyes, how she almost killed Thanos. It definitely wouldn't be an easy mission.
"Okay, so what's the Plan?"
The Plan never goes as planned; Peter had to learn that pretty early in his life. First, the plane crashes and kills his Parents. Second, The Robber kills his uncle and Peter does nothing. Thirdly, Mr. Stark dies because he wanted Peter back, and lastly his aunt. Dying because Peter was fucking careless.
Everything always ends up being Peter's fault, and now this.
He knew the mission wouldn't be easy, but he didn't think that he would be thrown around, getting sucked into a star-shaped portal, and ending up on a roof in a city that looked the same as his but wasn't somehow.
One second, he was trying to tie Wanda to the ground with some webs, and the next he gets blasted to America was scared shitless and opened a portal at the exact same moment.
Peter must say traveling through Universes must be the most disturbing thing he ever had to live through, and he felt kind of bad for the other Peters for going through this just because of him.
It felt like being ripped to pieces and getting back together. It reminded him of being dusted, and he didn't like that at all.
After his body hit the ground, his stomach gave a warning growl, and not a second later he was throwing up the Cheeseburger Stephen had bought for him when they discussed the Plan.
A Pity.
Peter picked up the mask that he had thrown off before emptying his stomach and taking a real look at his surroundings. The city looked exactly the same, and he almost didn’t believe that he traveled through universes, but his Spider Senses assured him that he wasn’t in his Universe. Which meant he was stuck in a Universe that he knew nothing about.
Frustrated, he goes through his messy hair.
He did the exact thing Stephen told him not to do.
“If you go through a portal, it’s over, I can’t find you. You’re on your own! So be careful.”
Well fuck.
What was he supposed to do?
It probably didn't make much difference, right?
It’s not like he got anything left in his Universe, but May was there, and now the only thing he has left is this old picture of them.
Tears begin to fill his eyes, and it doesn’t take long, and they are wetting his face. What should he do? Find this Stephen? Was there even a Stephen here? Doctor Strange has told him that he visited a few other Universes and that he was dead in one.
What if he couldn’t go back? What if this Strange was dead or not, Doctor Strange yet? His breaths got faster and he looked around. Maybe he could go to himself? Asking this Peter's Universe for help.
He wiped his tears away.
Peter couldn’t give up now, he promised May, so he would just suck it up.
May…
What if May was still alive here? What if he could save her here?
A new hope bubbles up in him, and as fast as he can, he is on his feet, jumping from the building to swing through the city. What if May still lived in their apartment?
He wasn’t far from Queens, but it felt like hours reaching his old flat where he lived with May.
When he reached the Block where his old Apartment used to be, he froze.
Where his old Apartment was supposed to be, there is now nothing more than ruins. The building was burned to the ground, pieces laying in the ashes of what he had called once home.
Maybe this Universe was worse than his own.