Old Faces
“Before creation itself, there were six singularities. Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots... Infinity Stones.”
Blue, red, orange, green, yellow, and purple. Power, reality, soul, time, mind, and space. Power unique to each. Each with their own purpose to serve the universe. Each containing power beyond man’s imagination.
“ These stones, it seems, can only be brandished by beings of extraordinary strength. These carriers can use the stone to mow down entire civilizations like wheat in a field. Once, for a moment, a group was able to share the energy amongst themselves, but even they were quickly destroyed by it. ”
Dozens of chosen people, very few survive. All erased from the world they lived in. He can see them, wielding the power of their dreams and dying at the hands of it. Their greatest power became their inevitable downfall. Like a sick poem writing itself.
Peter could see himself at the center of it all. His body standing still, arm extended out showcasing the pure power in his hand. All six stones in his palm. He could hear them. Their thoughts plugged into his mind like a radio center.
The kid’s eyes were glowing a fiery orange and his face was blank. The image of the stones faded, and in his palms no longer laid the stone but the world. Or worlds. Each universe interwoven in a web of life. All of it connected in ways Peter could feel. Every single droplet of life coursing through him.
All of it in the palm of his hand with world at his fingertips….
Peter stood alone.
His eyes off somewhere in the distance, watching the rain pour over the lonely city. Cars speed past him, ignoring the world turn around them. The people walked past him, heads buried in their own business, too distracted to care. Newspapers laid scattered at his feet, their front page taunting him.
Dozens of People Return After the Dusting!
Zombies Around the Globe?
What Happens Now?
Televisions in the an electronic store played news stations, blaring their reports everywhere he turned.
“After five years of being real gone, dozens of people around the world return home…”
“Families express their thankfulness towards the Avengers and Iron Man for bringing their loved ones home…”
“Survivors speak out…”
“Dozens of unemployed after returning and millions placed in the foster system…”
“What happens next?”
‘ Cross now. ’
Peter blinked. He looked up at the blinking light telling him to cross. He pushed his foot forward, forcing himself to go forward. He walked, staring at the otherside, his face blank. He couldn’t stand to listen to the world anymore.
Peter stopped by a small flower shop, slowly searching the shop for a specific flower. He ended up having to go to two different shops until he found the right ones. White carnations to be exact. Ben’s favorite flowers. He got him some every time he’d visit and hoped the spirit of his Uncle got them.
He held the umbrella, gripping it tightly. He found himself at another crosswalk. If he crossed, he would end up back home to his aunt like a coward unable to face his Uncle but if he went straight he’d find himself on a familiar route to the cemetery.
Hesitant, the teen looked down both routes before making a choice. Taking a deep breath, He went forward. The kid treked through the streets, passing dozens of people until he made it to a familiar gate. He stood in front of the gate, staring at the entrance for a moment. He considered running away. How could he stand at his Uncle’s grave after five years? He abandoned the man, there was an excuse for that. Afterall it was his fault his Uncle wasn't home with his aunt. Peter stepped forward, not stopping until he noticed a guard standing the the front. The man didn’t stop him from walking in, barley even hesitating to let him through. He knew the guard, he must’ve recognized him he thought.
Peter walked through the wet grass, passing a few wallowing people. He kept walking until a familiar plaque came into view.
In Loving Memory of
Benjamin Parker
May his soul finally rest in the mansion of heaven.
“Hey Uncle Ben,” He greeted in a hushed voice. He stared at the flowers, his eyes growing misty. It had been five years since he visited his Uncle. He still missed the man gravely, always regretting his actions that day. He wished the man was here to comfort him. To tell him what to do now. Slowly the teen lowered the flowers, eyes distant.
“I-I’m sorry f-for not coming for five years,” Peter told his Uncle. “I-I kinda died for bit...” The was no response to his one sided conversation. “I wish you were here Uncle Ben. You’d know what to do. You always did.” The teen inhaled, trying his best to prevent the tears.
“I failed Ben...I failed to watch over May. I-I wasn’t there for here and worst part is I don’t even remember it. Everyone else did though. They grieved and moved on…without me” Peter shook his head, thinking of Morgan for a split second. His jealousy flaring up. Though he found the kid quite fun to be around he could shake the horrible feeling he got around her. She was Stark’s real child. She was everything he wasn’t. She was a reminder of everything he lost. She had the life he could never have. It was stupid to be mad at a child for that, he realized that but couldn’t shake the feeling.
“They forgot about me…and now that I’m back. Now they have to deal with this burden of taking care of me.” He thought of May who had to sleep with him at night for a few days when he returned. She couldn’t let him go and kept him close then would panic when he was away. “N-Nothing is the same Ben...it’s like some weird dream yah know. L-Like I’m gonna wake up any second and things will be the same and head to school to tell Ned about this crazy dream and laugh about it.”
Peter’s eyes fell onto his feet, unable to look at his Uncle’s name any longer. His heart grew heavy as something wet dripped down his cheek, tears.
“I thought coming back would be easy but it feels like I don’t know who I am anymore...like I’ve changed. I can’t explain it. It’s like after Mister Stark snapped his fingers I’m not the same person anymore. Like the old me is still in space waiting to be saved and somebody new took my place.” Peter bit his lip, hating the silence in the air. He wished his Uncle would say something. He wished he would just walk up to him out of nowhere and tell him he was wrong.
“I-I’m sorry to drop this on you. I failed you again Uncle Ben. I didn’t watch over Aunt May for five years . I must be the worst nephew in the world. First I take your life and now all this.” Peter bit his lip, feeling a cold breeze hit his face.
“What should I do Uncle Ben? I-I don’t know what to do now. I’m stuck in this stupid future world and I’m all alone. I feel like I should be doing something else. I can’t shake it. Feeling like the universe is pulling at me. Like I’m destined to do something greater...sounds pretty crazy huh?” Nobody who wasn’t dusted themselves could understand what he was feeling. He’s not even sure if the dusted could understand. The wish for the old life they had merely weeks ago. The pull from the universe. The feeling that something bigger was waiting for him. Nobody could fathom losing five years of life. Everyone else still had those five years which was spent forgetting them and moving on. He didn’t get to move on. He still had to deal with the sudden change. He had to find away to cope with losing everything. So did half the universe.
The teen stood there for another five minutes, hoping for a sign. He knew there wasn’t gonna be some miraculous sign but he still waited. It was the only thing he could do that felt right.
“Thank you for listening Ben….I knew I could count on you.” Peter felt a strange warmth on his shoulder. He could feel his Uncle close by, standing next to him like he was actually there. He soaked in the strange feeling, holding it close to his heart.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
May was in the kitchen, nervously sitting on the table on the phone. Ever since Peter’s return she had been hesitant to let the boy out, however she found herself increasingly worrying about the kid not leaving but distancing himself from life. He hardly paid attention about anything current day and only really spoke to her if it had anything to do with the past.
Two nights ago Peter had asked May where her old glasses was. She hadn’t worn those in three years, changing them after the others broke. The kid had shut down for the rest of the day. Refusing to speak or leave his room.
May had grown worried for the boy and called Tony, the only man she’s known to get through to Peter when she couldn’t. The man had already had daily texts asking for updates, wondering why the kid was radio silent and not returning his texts.
“Tony, I don’t know what to do,” She talked into the phone, her voice cracking. “He’s refusing to eat, he barely talks, and won’t come out of his room.” She was desperate for help. She need somebody to help support her through it all. Like what Ben did for her.
“ I’m sure he’ll be better in no time. The kid is practically an angel. He won’t be this way for long, he just needs time to adjust.” May shook her head. As nice as the thought was, she had a gut feeling that that wasn’t the case here. This felt like more than some just teen angst.
“What if he doesn’t? What if he’s never the same?” She couldn’t bare the thought of not having her nephew geek out about Star Wars ever again or talk her ear of with memes she most of the time didn’t understand.
There was silence on the other end. She knew Stark hated the thought too.
May sighed, sniffling. God she hated feeling so emotional. It made her feel so small.
“Maybe I should prepare for the worse. That Peter won’t come back to us. That no amount of therapy can bring him back,” She told herself, sighing.
“ Don’t say that, he has to come back. This is Peter we’re talking about. He always will find a way back.” May could hear the anxiety behind the older man’s voice. She knew how deeply Stark cared for Peter and how much he loved him. The thought of losing Peter again was scary to him.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe he will come back,” She said carefully, trying to calm the man on the other line down. “But for now we wait I guess.”
Stark exhaled.
“We still on for Friday?” May was grateful for the sudden tangent.
“Yeah, I’m sure Peter will love to have you guys come over. Might help having people he’s familiar with around,” She said, giving a strained smile.
“Great. Morgan’s excited to finally get to spend time with her big brother.”
May let out a quick small laugh. She had became very familiar with the young Stark and knew just how much she admired her nephew. All she had ever wanted to do was meet the boy in the picture. Every time they came over May would tell her stories about Peter from when he was younger, afraid that the Spider-Man stories would be too much. Heck it was too much for her when she first heard them from Peter.
“Tell her Aunt May and Peter send their love. See you guys Friday.”
“I will. Bye May.”
“Bye Tony.”
The line clicked off and May was left sat alone in the far too quiet home.
“So, I found this group online,” May treaded carefully, watching her nephew pick at his food, “It’s an organization for...survivors like you.” She couldn’t bring herself to to say ‘ for the dusted ’. It would only have reminded her of five years alone. The five years without her little sunshine. “They host group therapy down at that rec center on third avenue. I was thinking maybe we,” you , “could stop by and check the place out.”
May watched her nephew like a hawk, waiting for a signal to tell her what her nephew was thinking. She noticed the boy tense a little at the mention of therapy but said nothing. She wanted to hear her nephew speak.
There was five minutes of silence before she heard her nephews small voice speak up.
“Sure, got nothing better to do.”
Progress. It was progress. She can work with that. May smiled, brushing the curls off her nephews face.
Maybe this was the beginning of getting back their lives.
All of it in the palm of his hand with world at his fingertips….
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Peter was now home. Sitting in his bedroom, eyes puffy with tears, his body significantly smaller than his teenage body. He looked to be the age of seven maybe even eight. His soul projection being the small kid he once was.
The kids body shook, clutching the edges of his blanket, sobbing. By his side sat a familiar face, Uncle Ben.
“Things may be scary right now, and nothing will make sense. Life is often that way.” The teen clutched onto the older man by his side, gripping Ben’s jacket tightly. “Someday you’ll learn though that the universe has a plan for each soul it creates out there.” Ben wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder, giving him a tight squeeze. His heart radiating with love and affection of the smaller boy telling him it was okay. “You just haven’t fully discovered yours yet. It’s gonna be a long painful journey but...” The child buried his face into his Uncle chest, savoring the moment the best he could. Afraid of the moment he’d open his eyes the man would be gone.“I know if anybody is destined for greatness, it’s you son. It was always you. You owe the world your gifts. You just have to figure out how to use them. And wherever that takes you, we’ll always be here,” Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Mister Stark-home, “You’re my hero Pete and I love you.”
The smaller version of Peter shook his tiny head. Tears falling rapidly. His eyes full of disbelief and self doubt.
“This is a dream,” The boy whispered. His eyes dripping droplets sadly. “This is all in my head. You’re dead.” His voice trembled. His mind unable to believe that this was happening, that his Uncle could love him after everything.
“You’ve got it all wrong. You need me Peter. You called to me and I came.” The body shook his head. “In time you’ll see that life is more than just what you see. You’ll see things you might not understand or discover something about yourself that’ll change your life. It won’t be easy and choices will be made that’ll change the course of history as you know it. Though if anybody can get through it all it’s Spider-Man.” Spider-Man. He was Spider-Man. The hero was a part of him that nobody could take from him. He was brave, courageous, strong-everything Peter Parker was not. Peter was the brains, the witty, and the hero. Together they could do anything, that was what his Uncle was telling him.
“It’s time Peter.” A bomb went off inside Peter. The tiny fists on his arms grasped tighter onto his uncle. The kid shook his head, tears now pouring out uncontrollably. “Don’t leave me Uncle Ben,” The child whispered desperately, his voice cracking.
“It’s alright sport. You don’t have to worry Pete. I’ll always be with you. You just gotta call and I’ll be there.”
“Please don’t leave me again! Please don’t go! I can’t live without you! I’ll behave-please! A-Aunt May needs you-I need you!”
“Shhh…,” Ben stared straight into the younger boy’s eyes, “It’s alright. You’re gonna be okay. You always are.”
“I love you Uncle Ben…” Peter told the man, realizing he was slipping quickly.
“I love you too Pete…” The older gentlemen smiled warmly, filling the kid with safety and security.
Peter held on tighter feeling a familiar tug on his conscious. He tried to hold on tighter to avoid being sucked away but not even his super strength could keep him with his Uncle. His body was ripped away in the never ending darkness, leaving his Uncle Ben in the same room alone.
Peter woke with a start, his body covered in sweat and his hair stood up in different places. His eyes wet, and body slumped. The world around him feeling like a strange dream as his brain caught up with reality. Taking deep breaths, in out, in out, in out.
It was just a dream he assured himself. It had to be. His Uncle….
Nothing more than a bad dream he reminded himself harshly. Trying to forget the boy laid back down, staring at the ceiling. Just a dream, just a dream, just a dream….
Right?