Discovery
Traveling to the universe belonging to Peter Benjamin Parker, or Noir as the ones he called the Spider-Family named him, was always disorienting. The black and white world was hard to traverse, even harder when they had to hide their bright color.
“I hope he’s alright.” Peni Parker sighed after a few hours had passed. The Spider-Family had traveled to the world after not having heard from Noir for over a week.
“Hey, Noir can always handle himself.” Peter B. assured her, swinging alongside the large mech as they followed the coordinates from Noir’s wristband. She only let out a sigh, her worry evident as they finally narrowed in on an unassuming brick building. Thankfully the streets were empty, Gwen swinging down to read the lists of plaques, eyes landing on the one declaring Private Eye.
“Fourth floor.” She murmured into her communicator, the group easily and quickly making their way to the said floor. Most of the office spaces sat empty, which seemed for the best as bullet holes could be seen all over various walls, leading up to an office at the end of the hallway.
SPIDERMAN, PRIVATE EYE
With a look, Gwen reached for the handle, only for the door to open without effort.
“Doesn’t look forced.” She muttered, Peter beside her frowning as the four entered the office cautiously. The stench of vomit hit them first, Peni recoiling while Miles coughed. Peter just steeled himself, Porker on his shoulder seeming nonplussed by the smell.
“Spread out and search.” Peter shook his head, heading with Porker to a room to the right. Peni followed Gwen and Miles to the left, the various rooms they came across in states of disarray.
“Found him!” Peter called out from his side, the younger spiders quickly hurrying to his side. Noir was passed out cold in a bathtub that had seen better days, some leftover vomit surrounding the drain. The man was shaking, his face almost snow white when Porker pulled off the rest of his mask, cheeks a dark grey from fever undoubtedly.
“Shit, we need to get him out of here.” Peter cursed, Porker moving over to SP//DR and Peter B. could lift the unconscious detective up and out of the tub. “Someone get a portal open.” Gwen had a portal up and running in seconds, Miles fretting beside her as Noir was carried through quickly. Aunt May’s home was mere feet away, Porker bounding up to the door and knocking quickly.
“Yes yes, give me a moment, I’ll be right...oh my god what happened?” May’s jaw went slack, not expecting to see a very pale and unconscious Noir being carried by Peni and Peter. B. She ushered them inside quickly, not even flinching when Noir seemed to come to, only to vomit heavily all over the front entryway.
“Oh that is nasty.” Porker groaned, Noir letting out a dazed noise as he weakly forced his eyes open.
“No no sweetheart, don’t force yourself.” May soothed, running a hand through Noir’s black hair. This seemed to satisfy the man, grey eyes sliding shut as he was taken to be showered. He showed signs of malnutrition and dehydration, cheeks still flushed after he was dried off and dressed in some spare clothes.
“I can get my mom to help us out.” Miles offered, May nodding as she could only treat so much. The youngest Spiderman was gone out of the window in moments, Gwen accompanying him as May tried to get Noir to drink something.
“Come on dear, it will help you I promise.” She murmured, watching as it seemed to take all of Noir’s strength to open his mouth. “There you are.” He only took a few sips before closing his mouth, mumbling something before falling back asleep. Miles’ mother, having grown accustomed to seeing the other Spiders’, went about treating Noir immediately, her gloves making the man shiver at each touch. An IV was hooked up, giving him some fluids while she checked the rest of his vitals.
“I cannot say for sure, but he seems to have pneumonia or at least the tail end of it.” She shook her head, the others looking at each other worriedly. “You may want to go and see if you have been infected.”
“Later, will he be alright?” Gwen asked, crossing her arms. “I’ve never seen him so...weak.”
“He will live, but he cannot return to his...home until he is fully healed. I will see about getting him a vaccine, as he is very lucky he did not die.” She explained, her gaze softening at the looks of guilt she could see pass their faces. “You couldn’t have known..”
“We went a whole week without checking in on him.” Porker frowned, which was uncharacteristic for the cartoonish pig.
“You still couldn’t have known.” The doctor repeated, awkwardly yet gently placing her hand on his head. Porker sighed but knew she was right, the doctor leaving after an hour with a promise to return.
Why wasn’t he dead?
Peter Benjamin knew death was on his doorstep when he woke up sick a week ago. Pneumonia, it had been going around and he had tried to stay clear of it. Yet, despite his efforts, he failed. In two days he was sluggish, barely able to fight battles and save those who needed it. In four he was unable to get out of the office without stumbling, barely able to breathe and see straight. By six he was unconscious, knowing he was going to die in his bathroom alone. Die in a monochrome world without those he considered family. He wanted to reach them, he really did, but his wristband had taken some damage and stopped working. So he dreamed of colors, of lively worlds with his lively family, knowing he would die eventually.
He did not expect to wake up in a soft bed, the sun shining into a room that was covered in soft yellows.
Ah, Aunt May’s house.
Something beeped beside him, Noir squinting as he saw some sort of strange device attached to a tube in his arm. His first instinct was to rip it out, but Noir found his arms weighed a ton each. Admitting defeat he fell back onto his pillow, wondering what had happened.
“Noir? Are you awake?” The soft voice roused Noir, who didn’t even realize his eyes had closed. Peni was by his side by the time he opened his eyes, big eyes shining with worry and hope.
“M here…” He slurred weakly, feeling her take his hand and give it a squeeze. Ah, she was just too innocent.
“I thought you were never going to wake up.” She gushed, some tears gathering at the edge of her eyes. “Why didn’t you call us?”
“Tried...didn’ want ta...go alone…” He muttered, wanting nothing more in the world than to comfort her. Peni frowned, using her free hand to retrieve his wristband. It only took a look to see that it was indeed broken, the girl letting out a choked sound.
“Oh my gosh, you could have…” Peter wasn’t expecting the crushing hug, letting out a weak cough as he felt some tears staining his shirt. “I’m so so sorry!”
“Not..yer fault…” He sighed, forcing his arms to loosely drape around the girl. “Just…got sick is...is all.”
“You were really sick!” She insisted, carefully sitting up to give him some space to breathe. “We should have been there for you!”
“You are now...sweet thing.” He smiled softly, a genuine smile despite the pain he was still in. Peni couldn’t help but return the gesture, knowing Peter almost never smiled. It was much easier for Noir to drift off a few minutes later, Peni now securely tucked into his side as he rested. It appeared to have been some time when he woke next, the room dark save for the lamp in the far corner. Peter Porker, mainly referred to by Ham, was reading an oversized book. He seemed to sense Peter had awoken, lowering the book with a wave.
“Hey pal, how ya feeling?” The pig watched as Noir took a look around, slowly sitting upright.
“Better.” He sighed, voice still raspy. A weight on his side revealed Peni, the Japenese girl fast asleep while hugging his left arm close to her.
“Kid has barely left your side.” Ham shook his head, a small smile on his face. Ham and Noir had come to a sort of understanding. While technically Noir was the most out of reach when it came to anything more advanced than the thirties, Ham’s world was a mix of both the past and the future. The old-timey comedy never failed to get a faint grin or soft chuckle from Noir. In return, Noir taught Ham when it was time to joke, and when it was time to hold back and remain silent. Not once did either think they would make friends of each other, yet now it was hard to imagine.
“A heart like that is what you see on a sunrise, nothing more.” Noir gently tucked some hair from the sleeping girls face, Ham tilting his head in confusion.
“What the heck does that mean?”
“Nothing...it means nothing.” The detective shook his head, his friend just giving him a look.
“You gotta lighten up, we’re all here for ya.” Peter coughed slightly, reaching for the glasses on his bedside table. The room coming into sharp focus made him wince at first, Ham taking the opportunity to move closer to the sick man.
“I know you are, yet…” His shoulders slumped, gaze cast solely on Peni. “I can’t get attached, the city has no soul for man nor child.”
“Come on bud, Peni is a tough fighter.”
“She is still a child...I have had too many children die in my arms.” Ham felt his blood run cold, Noir’s voice flat and emotionless. “I am afraid that everytime you all visit my home, she may not leave it. Or Miles. Or Gwen.”
“Jesus, how long have you been keeping this to yourself?” Ham blinked, realizing very quickly this was entering territory he had no clue how to handle.
“That’s why my wristband broke...I broke it.” Peter didn’t realize how much the simple confession would make him feel, though that was replaced with guilt. He felt the familiar weight of Ham on his leg, the one he called friend giving him a pitying look.
“Bud...you have to tell us this stuff.” Porker pat Peter’s exposed hand like it was made of glass. “Did you get sick on purpose?”
“No, I tried my best not to.” He shook his head. “If I’m leaving this world, it’ll be with the moon screaming and the gunfire blazing.”
“Right...still, this isn’t healthy.”
“I suppose not,” Peter replied simply. “Then again, I’ve never had someone else to show me there are other ways, not until…”
“We met.” Noir nodded, Peni muttering something as she shifted in her sleep. The adoration and love for a child he barely knew, yet knew her more than anyone else, was plain to see in those grey eyes.
“Get some sleep Peter, we’ll have a lot to talk about.” Ham gently urged, surprised at how easily Peter complied with him. ‘Trust me, she is in the safest place in any multiverse.”
“That I wouldn’t doubt.” Peter nodded, letting out a short chuckle as he lay back down. His heavy eyelids closed, and soon he was fast asleep, gently drawing Peni close.
“Aw jeeze Peter…” Ham shook his head, turning the lamp off before leaving the room. It was going to be a very long couple of weeks...