Mr. Stark and Aunt May were pissed.
Like, really, really pissed.
And Peter knows that he is the reason why they are pissed.
Granted, he can just blame it on his spider-sense and call it a day, get the minimum scolding but he was trying to act mature and responsible here. Especially after the encounter with Alternate Peter.
True to Mr. Stark words, the moment he got back, he was grounded. With other teenagers, being grounded included no phone, no hang out stuff like that. But Peter is not like other teenagers! His grounding meant no patrol, no labs, and no poking at machines!!! Which is- in Peter's opinion- was not fair!! And well, his punishment only lasted for two weeks and a half (17 days to be exact), but Peter was dying to meet with Alt-Peter again, he made a promise after all.
After Mr. Stark and May announced that his punishment is over, Peter spent 47 hours in his labs- despite taking risk of being grounded again- creating a multiverse communication device.
Granted, Peter was using Mr. Stark codes he put in the time travel machine (the one to help bring him back) to make the device, but Peter was excited. He is buzzing with enthusiasm, spring in his step, bouncing to Mr. Stark labs. Peter would presented the device to Mr. Stark, he would ask what is it, then Peter would told him it purposed, when he would ask Mr. Stark to us the time travel machine again, to get in touch with Alt-Peter and Mr. Stark would say-
“No!”
“What?” Peter was stunned.
“I said no Pete.” Mr. Stark shrugs, still working on his suit.
“B-But…Why?” Peter dumbfounded, it was not the reaction he thought he would receive.
Sign, Mr. Stark looks up, facing Peter.
“The last incident is- well, an incident!” Mr. Stark shrugs again. “The machine was only in a testing phase, what happened to you is pure luck Peter. If I start the machine again, who knows where it will take you this time?” Turning back to his suite, Mr. Stark said. “I don't want to risk it kids.”
And Peter deflated like a balloon, all the excitement had left his body. Dropping the device on his desk, Peter sat on the spinning chair and definitely not sulked. Surprised by the lack of communication from him, Mr. Stark looks up to see him spin his chair around the labs, chuckling. Mr. Stark stands up, walks over to his table, and holds up the device, dissecting it with his eyes.
Then Mr. Stark looks at Peter again, and obviously the bags under his eye. “When is the last time you sleep?”
Peter pouted, snark back. “When is the last time you sleep?” Mr. Stark barks out laughing.
“I just woke up actually. FRIDAY can prove that.” he smirks, and Peter returns to sulking again.
Peter knows he is acting like a brat, but he just wants to see the other Peter again.
“And why do you wanna see this Alternate version of yourself so bad?”
Did he say it outloud? Oops!
“Yes, you did say it outloud, maybe you should sleep. Then we'll talk.”
He did it again, dammit! Maybe a nap would be great. Peter thinks, as he gets closer to la la land.
***
Waking up in his bed, Peter was now recharge of energy. After a quick lunner (lunch+dinner), it was 10:30PM and Peter was sure he wasn't going to sleep any time soon, so he went on his adventure looking for Mr. Stark.
With FRIDAY help, he wanders into the lobby room, where the time travel machine is, and Mr. Stark was there, along with Dr. Banner (stop fanboying, dammit.)
Mr. Stark looks up to see him from the entrance, he signals Peter to come closer.
“Hey, kiddo! Do you have enough sleep?”
“Hey, Mr. Stark. What ya doing?” Ignoring the question, Peter went straight in as mr. Stark ruffled his hair.
“Well, obviously, Brucie Bear here is also curious about multiverse travel. We have been poking it for a few hours now. And of course, trying to figure out a safe way to travel between dimensions.” As the mention of his name Dr. Banner looked up, nodded at Peter then went back to his work. “But I'm not sure for how long tho, Brucie Bear needs his daily beauty sleep or else Jolly Green gonna come out.” Dr. Banner rolled his eyes as the nickname while Mr. Stark snickered.
But Peter couldn't care less, the moment where mention of the machine working, Peter was thrilled.
“Oh my god! Can I help? Can I help?” A pause, then. “Do you know when it will be ready Mr. Stark?”
Chuckling, Mr. Stark's answer. “Hmm, probably Friday-” Peter's face lit up, then not anymore. “-of some week in July.”
Peter's mood turns sour, and Mr. Stark laughs again.
“Sorry, kiddo. But it was for safety.”
Peter knows that, but he doesn't want to wait for almost 2 months to see Alt-Peter, he made a promise after all. So think, think Peter, think. Got it!
“How about Dr. Strange?”
“What does the wizard have to do with this?” Mr. Stark arch his eye brown.
“Like, maybe we can ask Dr. Strange for-like- a protection spell!! O-Or a tracking spell, that can track me in the alternate universe.” Peter explains, this can help him to make things goes faster, also ease out Mr. Stark worries. Sure, Mr. Stark didn't show it, but Peter knew he cared.
“Hmm, good idea.” Dr. Banner said, listening to the conversation. “You two should figure it out, I need to go to bed. FRIDAY, what time is it?”
“It was 11:17PM Dr. Banner.” Come the reply, Peter didn't know that much time had passed.
“Thanks, FRIDAY. Goodnight Tony, goodnight Peter.” And with that, he left.
“We will brainstorm this later. For now, why don't you go out, doing your Spider-Maning things huh? Get rid of that extra energy you have.”
It is very rare when Mr. Stark encourages him to go patrol. The only thing that stops the man from wrapping Peter in bubble wrap is they have tried it one but it ends up with Peter almost breaking his nose, if his spider ability doesn't step in to help. But the blip just got reversed a few months ago, the world still trying to cope with it. There is still crime, yes, but not as much as before.
“Ok! Bye Mr. Stark, Goodnight! Tell Morgan I said hi.”
“K, just make sure you come back before 2 or else May would kill me.” Mr. Stark calls after him. “And it's Tony, kid!”
***
They do talk with Dr. Strange and that was a smart move. Good job, Peter! (Is it normal to compliment yourself? Peter feels like a hypocrite.) Dr. Strange manages to create a spell that can track Peter, protect him, but also can create a portal if he is in danger and needs to be back. And the man was definitely a genius in magic work or something, because Mr. Stark and Peter were brainstorming with the man and he said: ‘Give me a few days.’ and disappeared and 3 days later, he came and said the spell is ready!
And during that 3 days of waiting, Peter managed to make more devices, he now has a total of 7 multiverse travel communication, that was a mouth full, let's call it MTC. While Mr. Stark rechecked the stability of the machine, and well, it was very stable.
It was finally that day. For some reason all the Avengers were in the room with him, even Mr. Barton, who already retired. Wearing his Iron Spider suit (Mr. Stark said it was designed as a spacesuit, also a traveling suit.) Peter waves at them, standing in the middle of the machine, feeling awkward. Mr. Stark, Dr. Strange and Dr. Banner were at the control panel, setting things up.
“Why is the kid allowed to go but not me?” Mr. Falcon whines.
“Because the only universe we have discovered so far, we don't exist.” Peter can hear the eyes roll in Mr. Barnes' voice.
“Yeah! Why do we not exist in that universe but the brat did?”
“I don't know, Sam! Why don't you shut up?”
“Boys! Boys!” Interrupted Ms. Natasha. “Behave!” And that does the trick. She then turns to Peter.
“Be careful, Little Spider! Tony's gonna cry if something happens to you.”
Instead of protesting, Mr. Stark just nodded.
“Yup!” Popping the ‘p’, he continued without looking up. “Not only me, but Morgan will cry too. She likes you alot.” Peter understands the underlying message here: ‘Don't get in trouble.’ He can do that!
“Okay, kid!” Mr. Stark calls out. “I keep one of the dividers, so keep me intouch. You have 2 days, if it passes two days I pull the strings.”
‘The string’ here is Dr. Strange, how the spell works is like a thread with two ends, Dr. Strange can pull him from the alternate universe and Peter can open the portal to his universe on his own using the spell. At least that's what Dr. Strange told him.
Peter nodded, put his thumbs up. Mr. Stark hit some buttons and Peter was gone.
***
Unlike the last time, he was landing under the Manhattan bridge. This time, due to Dr. Strange's help, Petey manages to land inside Peter's house. What he does not prepare for is Peter with the alternate version of his frenemy- Flash, eating each other face off on the couch in the living room.
Petey screeched, started the other two, covered his eyes up with his hand.
God, why don't you take away my ability to see at this moment?
_______________________
It has been almost 3 weeks since Petey visited. Honestly, Peter did not expect much.
His relationship with Flash has stepped up, they are now officially dating.
After he told Petey about his struggle about being Spider-Man, Flash was very openly supportive of him. It included a lot of sleepless nights, a few dates and kissing involved, but Peter believes he is doing pretty okay now.
It is not like he didn't before, but the death of Ben, Captain Stacy and Gwen alway haunted him. In some sort of way, Peter was trying to do better, that is why he applied for a scientist job at Oscorp, but he also believes that he doesn't deserve to be better.
Peter was self-destructive in some sort of way: stop caring about his health and safety in the labs and at home, stop caring how people view Spider-Man, that is why he stopped pulling his punches. But after meeting Petey, it kinda changed. Petey reminds him so much of who he truly wants to be, who Uncle Ben hoped that he would become. In a few hours, little Petey managed to let him see the pureness of the world. Something Peter worth fighting for.
Peter remembers why he put on the suit after Uncle Ben died. He remembers swearing by Ben grave to not let what happened to him happen to anyone else. Peter remembers the smile on the lost kid's lip when he helped them find their parents, the old lady he helped cross the street, Max when he said he was glad that Spider-Man is his friend, the construction worker helping him reach Dr. Connor to cure him, ect.
It all comes down to one reason: Peter wants to help people. Spider-Man wants to help people. As Uncle Ben said.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Peter stare at his suite, he want to help peoples again, to be someone kids can look up to, to be someone that can help, without discrimination of race, color, gender,... Peter wants the people of New York to trust him again, and can proudly say “We have someone to protect us.” and well, that is a process Peter tries to work on. Since, you know, the public still hates him.
If Peter can make a wish, he will wish to see Petey again. The kid on his own was a ball of sunshine, a radiant of positive energy that can make anyone smile just by looking at him. Judging by Petey's fighting style, Peter can tell that he has become Spider-Man for a while now, and the story Petey tells him about fighting a purple alien (It was insane! Like, aliens? Space?) The kids have been through alot. But Petey still manages to see the good in people, still believes in justice and second chances (something that Peter has lost.) and Peter wants to make sure Petey will stay like that forever, at least until Petey is ready. And Peter believes the Stark guys think so too.
“I can tell it's pretty crowded up there, mind if I clear it up a bit?” Flash passed him a hot chocolate, with a peck on his lip. Peter realizes he has zoned out again.
“Sorry, been thinking of Petey!” Peter takes a sip of the hot chocolate, he likes warm drinks, no matter what time of the year.
Flash nods, then hums in acknowledgement while sipping on his lemonade, ice lemonade. Peter made a face in disgust. His boy friend obviously saw that, and laughed softly.
“Yeah! I missed the kids too. He is obviously better in the kitchen than someone I know.” Peter should be offended, but he is not because it is true. He is horrible in the kitchen. But it doesn't stop him from snark back.
“Excuse me?? I'm perfectly fine in the kitchen, thank you very much! I can keep myself alive way before you move in!!”
“Sure!” Flash shrug. “If making ramen everyday a week, two meal a day minus breakfast is keeping you alive, go for it.” Cocking his eyebrow. “Honestly, I feel like your healing factor is carrying your health until I move in.”
Making a weird sound in the back of his throat, Peter groans.
“I feel very attacked right now!! Ain't you supposed to love me?” He pouted.
Flash snicker, before he even says anything, Peter redirects the conversation away from him.
“Anyway, Aunt May will come Friday next week.”
Flash went silent, and Peter felt bad to bring it up, but he rather do it now or wait until later. It sounded pretty out of context when he said it like that. Flash doesn't hate Aunt May, that’s a fact. Peter was confident that Flash wanted to see Aunt May, but he knew what an existential crisis is and how to spot it. And it was something Flash experienced right now.
Due to Flash missing legs (Peter already has plans on that, maybe a mechanical replacement?) His boy friend has a lot of difficulty finding jobs and accepting that Peter does love him not because of pitiness. Flash alway scared that Peter will leave him (which he won't) scared that he is not enough, not deserve Peter's love. Due to that thought, Flash alway treats Peter like he is a stain glass that can break or an illusion that can disappear. And Peter knows that, and he tries his best to make sure Flash knows he was here and does love him.
That is why Peter brought up Aunt May.
Peter alway considers Aunt May to be his mother, the only parental figures he has left in his life. Peter thinks, if Flash meets with Aunt May and talks with her, some part of his worry can disappear. Because it is Aunt May's superpower and she is just amazing like that. Peter hopes that Aunt May can meet Petey too, they will be a great duo.
“Yeah! I kinda freak out about that!”
“Come on, she is not gonna eat you.”
“I know, just…you know!” Flash shrug.
Peter pouted, leaving his mug on the table and cup Flash face in his hands.
“Listen here you idiot, you’re amazing and I love you!” Looking directly in Flash eye, Peter said it word by word.
“Ugh….”
“Said it! Repeat after me or I won't let you go!!”
“Fine!” He sighs, a soft smile forms on his lip. “I am amazing and you love me.” Peter beamed. “And I love you too, Peter!” forehead touching, Peter tries to calm his heart beating loudly in his chest.
“May I kiss you?” Flash asks, and Peter smiles.
“You know you don't have to ask.” and lean in.
“Yeah! I just want to.”
And they kissed. It was soft and sweet. Peter just melted into the touch of Flash.
Unknowingly, the soft and tender kiss becomes heated and tense, drap his arm around Flash's neck, Peter tries to deepen the kiss while the other arm starts stroking Flash's arm.
In that moment, Peter spider-toddler-sense acted up again. Followed by the loud screeching sound and a bunch of apologies later, Peter looks up from his possession on the couch to a very red face, embarrassing Petey in full suit standing in the middle of his living room.
Well, Fucks!
_____________________________
It was awkward!
Wait! That was an understatement!
It was extremely awkward!!
Turns out, seeing your alternated version of you kissing an alternated version of your frenemy is not bad enough. What happened after that is even worse!
Petey, Peter and Flash now settle on the couch in the living room, where Peter and Flash sit together on the bigger couch and Petey takes the whole arm chair to himself.
“I wish Gods could just take away my ability to see just a few moments ago?”
“Gods?” Flash seemed interested.
“Yeah, I would say God, but I'm living with two of them on the weekend. Seems a bit unfair if I only mention one.”
“You live with two gods?” This time it was Peter, he seemed very intrigued.
“Yeah, and I wish Loki can erase my memories.” Petey groaned again. Since that moment, the imagery of him and his universe Flash kissing just dancing around in his head and refusing to get out. Petey thinks he has the right to act on it, so he voices it outloud.
“Wait, Loki as in The God Of Mischief? From Mythology?”
“Petey nods. “Yeah, and the other one is Thor. I believe I told you that before.” Which he did, but only in a quick throw away line.
“Anyway, let's set that aside.” Petey grinds, trying his best to shove the mental image of him and Flash aside. “I have permission to stay here for 3 days. And this!!” Petey holds up the MTC device. “I made this divide that can let us talk or text, it is like a burn phone but only works for multiverse communication.”
Peter quickly grabs it, and examines it under his eyes along with Flash. Then he said, “Well then, I also have something for you.” Peter stood up and motioned Petey and Flash to follow him, Flash shook his head.
“You show the kid your labs, Ms. Sandra promises pies if I help her make it.” Petey doesn't know who this Ms. Sandra person is, but whoever can make good pies is very high in his good people list.
“K, Bye babe! Don't burn down her kitchen, k? She is the only sweet source I have around here.” Then Peter bent down and gave Flash a peck on his lip. Great now the image he tries to push out returns again, and Petey makes sure the lovebird knows it.
“Ewwwwwww. Please, for my sanity, at least wait till I turn around.” Peter grinds, Flash looks sheepish. “Sorry kids, not promises it won't happen again tho.”
“Ughhhhh! I don't need to know that!” Petey huff, crossing his arm. Flash shakes his head and walks out.
“See you later! Have fun!!”
“Let go, kids. I have something to tell him.” Petey nods, hurrying after Peter.
***
“This is awesome!!” Petey claimed, holding a smaller device and a projector in his hands.
“Right?” Peter grinds. “I have been working on it since you left, it's like an incomplete version of what you just showed me.”
“This looks so coooool!!”
“I know, Petey. It's because I'm cool too.” He grinds again. “Wanna help me upgrade it?”
“YES!!”
*****
They work in the labs for the next several hours, they work on everythings, and by everything, it means everythings. The device, labs work, Oscorp research, project, labs test, etc. Peter believes they have completed everything that needs to be done for the next three month. Turns out, having another cuter, younger, smarter, more awkward version of you in the labs is awesome. The kids are extremely fast, not just physically fast, mentally too.
When he voices his thoughts out loud, the kid grinds and says it probably because he was working with Stark and Dr. Banner. Peter was unfamiliar with the name but he was interested.
His interest is followed by an hour reading Stark and Banner research on clean energy, artificial intelligence, and grammar radiation. Petey claimed that the grammar radiation and other Banner work helped him figure out his spider power when he got bitten, Peter wished he was that lucky, but Peter is also glad the kid doesnt when through the amount of identical crisis Peter went through.
Then Petey introduced him to KAREN, the kid's own AI (!!) and have her permission to look into her coding.
They got interrupted mid way by Flash knocking on the glass. Peter got up, came over, and gave Flash another peck, it was his favorite thing to do recently. He saw Petey fake gagging in the corner of his eye, Peter chuckling.
“ You back! Does Ms. Sandra kick you out?”
Flash raises his eyebrow.
“Why would you say that?”
“Well, apparently, there is no pie.” Peter said like it makes sense, and Petey giggled.
“Well, sorry for disappointing you then. It is already 8 Peter, you and the kids need to put something in your stomach.” With that, Flash shoo both of them out of the lab and into the kitchen.
This time, they (Petey and Flash) were making fish. Petey claimed that he knew how to make this very good pad thai with tilapia and Flash would make seared catfish. While Peter, help cutting the ingredient. (He offers to help but Flash quickly shoots him down and threatens to kick him out, Peter pouts.)
On his way cutting the parsley, Peter looked over and saw the kid look like a master chef, butchering the fish.
“How did you do that?” Peter pout, still struggling to cut the parsley.
“Huh?” Both Petey and Flash look up.
“That!” Peter pointed his knife at the fish. “How did you do that!!!” Then point at the parsley. “Why does it look easier to cut up that fish compared to parsley?”
Petey laughed. “Practice I guess. That what they said: ‘Practice make perfect.’' Then Petey grinds. “You should see me do it with my eyes closed, almost giving Mr. Stark a heart attack.”
It already gave Peter a heart attack just by imagining it. Feeling sympathy for Stark, Peter asks.
“Do you cook a lot?”
“Yup!” Petey is now done with the fish, he now prepares tomato and pineapple. “And bake too.”
“How so?” Flash asks.
“It's just chemistry you know?” No, Nor Flash neither Peter knows. Peter pouted again as the kid answered, he was good at chemistry too. How come he never successfully baked anything?
“I don't think it's that simple of a kid.” Flash makes a face. “The last time I tried to bake cookies, it came out spicy.” Petey choked on his own spit, Flash continued. “And the man over there-” he pointed at Peter. “Burn down the kitchen when he tries to make muffin, we have to call the fire department.”
Petey looked very baffling, furrowing his brow.
“That can't be possible.” Giving Peter a look. “You must be joking.”
“Nope!” Popping the ‘p’, Flash looked at him with seriousness. Petey making a strange noise.
“I'm gonna teach you how to bake later, after this!” Then prepare the sauce for his dish.
“It smells amazing! I guess May doesn't cook a lot in your universe?”
Petey looks like Peter just told a very funny joke.
“Nah-ah!! Nope!! Never!!” Shaking his head. “Aunt May can't cook to save life, and I meant it! Her ‘special’ Lemon Chicken recipe is a ticket to the hospital, let me tell you.” Flash chuckle. Petey thinks for a bit, then continues.
“Normally, Ben is the one who does the cooking. But two years after I moved in with them, Ben passed away in a car accident.” Peter went silent at the mention of Ben. “We can live on take out so much until I need to pick up some skills before both of us are starving to death.” Petey joke. The kid looks like he doesn't want to talk about Ben, so Peter let it slide.
“So Petey. Do you have a girlfriend?” Peter grinds, already knowing what the kids reaction would be.
Petey's face turns cherry red at the question, tries (and fails) to stumble out an answer.
***
True to the kid word, the dish is delicious.
“It's better with some spice but I know it would kill both of us if any chili is involved so I left it out.”
“Petey.” The kid looked up as the mention of his name. “You’re a blessing.”
“I agree.” Flash said, nodding along.
***
After dinner, Peter is cleaning the dishes, Petey insists on help but both Flash and Peter push him into the living room, watching TV. The dishes are more than normal today, so Flash stays back to help Peter clean it, still chatting with the kid from there.
The kid is definitely exhausted from all the traveling stuff, and it was pretty late too. Peter offers him his guest room for the kid and pulls Flash in his room. There are still 2 more available rooms but of course he won't let his human heater get away.
Flash away so warm during the night and after he has discord it after falling asleep on Flash during a movie night, Peter finds every chance he can to let Flash move in his room.
“Please, for the sake of my sanity, please don't do anything tonight.” Petey said. “I have enhanced hearing too, you know?”
Flash was confused for a second, then barked out a laugh while Peter was slightly blushing. Flash ruff Petey hair and the kid let out a noise of protest, trying to fix it back.
“Goodnight to you too kid, sweet dream.”
***
Peter the next day started out with Petey teaching both him and Flash how to bake after breakfast. Gladly, only one fire was involved. Not so gladly, Peter cookies are the cause of that fire.
The result of this impromptu baking class is very interesting. It White Chocolate Chips Almond Cookies, Petey recipe. With the same ingredient, same instruction, and Petey very closely watching over. Peter and Flash still manage to fail. Flash cookies, while edible, are harder than rock, even with the help of warm wilk, it is still harder than rock. Peter cookies are burned to a script, not even one survives. Petey cookies are a gift from heaven, they're soft, chewy and delicious. And Peter and Flash inhaled the whole batch in less than 5 minutes.
They spend the next hours watching Petey make 10 more batches of cookies and stock it up in the jar.
Petey would be back today, Peter thought they should spend the afternoon outside. So he does just that.
They have lunch in this Italian restaurant, then spend the rest of the time exploring the city, comparing between two universes.
Before the kid went back to his universe, he gave Peter and Flash the MTC device and promised to keep in contact. Petey steps inside the portal and Peter can't wait till their next encounter.