Chapter Text
“A different dimension?” Peter gulped, his nerves closer to frying than they’d ever been before. Dr. Strange nodded.
“Everyone here will forget you when I finish the spell. You’ll likely have a few hours to gather supplies, but once the spell settles on a dimension you don’t exist in, it will send you there without warning,” he explained, straining while he prolonged the magic.
“A dimension I don’t exist in?” Peter questioned, struggling to understand the multiverse after his very short experience with it.
“Think of it like a forest. Each tree has branches, like timelines with the same roots. You might need a far away branch for Peter Parker to not exist, but more likely you will need a different tree." Peter looked more confused than before. Dr. Strange sighed.
"Multidimensional magic is complicated. You’re not meant to be able to travel at will. I can add stipulations, but not choose a destination. Ideally, your new world will still be somewhat familiar, but it’s likely to have different roots,” Dr. Strange explained as quickly as he could. He could tell Peter was gearing up for more questions, but he had no more time to explain. “You don’t have long, but I can hold it off while you say goodbye.”
Peter stood frozen until he heard the word goodbye. Multidimensional travel was hardly on his bucket list, but clearly his questions would simply not get answered. Goodbyes were more important. Would it be better to not say anything? No, he deserved some closure. And so did Ned and MJ, even if they wouldn’t remember it. He turned back toward his friends, but Ned spoke before he could utter a word.
“Peter… no. There’s got to be another way!” Ned refused to believe this was it.
He nodded along emphatically when MJ added, “We can figure something out, just-“
“There’s no time. I wish it wasn’t like this, but that’s Parker luck for ya.” Peter tried to joke, but even his ability to make sarcastic quips in the worst of times couldn’t lighten the mood. “I’m gonna miss you guys.” Suddenly the three of them were hugging, hanging on to the last few minutes of their trio.
“Ned, you’re the best friend a guy could ask for. And the best guy in the chair too,” Peter choked out, his hand shaking as they did their secret handshake.
Ned smiled, or at least tried to. His eyes were watering, voice shaking when he said “I love you, man.”
“I love you too,” Peter hugged his best friend for the last time before turning toward MJ, uncharacteristic tears in her eyes. Her expression clearly showed her mood- guess there really is a first time for everything then. “MJ, I-”
“No. It’s not fair. You can’t go,” she choked out, voice breaking when Peter hugged her.
“You’re right. It’s not fair,” Peter continued to hold her as he spoke. “But it’s my responsibility. I lov-“
“No. You promise me you’ll fix this. Fix it and find me and tell me then that you love me too.” MJ stubbornly shook her head, still hoping against the odds that this could all be undone.
He could have lied to her, pretended like he could fix this. But a different dimension… and if he came back here, would he undo the spell holding the fabric of his own universe together? “I don’t think I can fix this one. You might not remember it, but I don’t want my last words to you to be a lie.”
“Peter,” she started, but he cut her off.
“I… I love you, MJ,” Peter cried just as Doctor Strange called, “Time’s up, good luck kid.”
-
Peter thought the spell would feel like something. He thought the bright lights that emanated from the box would knock him over or at least push him back. Instead, he stood stock still as the rest of the world shifted. It was almost as if everyone froze as the spell took effect, slowly moving things into place without them noticing.
It started small, with just the sun shifting out from behind a cloud. He felt his mask cover his face, and then the the people in front of him started moving. Ned first, sliding back a few feet- a much more respectable distance from a stranger. MJ was next, shifting closer to Ned. Their movements weren’t at all natural. They weren't walking but just sliding into place, as if they were always meant to be there instead. Dr. Strange didn’t shift, already far enough away to appear normal.
Once the spell deemed everything correct, everyone snapped back to life.
“Spider-Man, thank you for the assist,” Strange started, looking mildly confused for the slightest fraction of a second before the spell fully took effect. “You should be sent home soon.” Home? Peter wondered what exactly the spell made Strange think was going on. “Try not to mess with magic too much in the future and hopefully you’ll stay there,” he continued, not registering Peter’s confusion that was now hidden behind his mask. He turned toward Ned and MJ when Peter simply nodded. “You two, any injuries?”
Nobody looked towards Peter after that. It seemed Strange’s spell erased Peter Parker and Spider-Man from this reality. It made sense really, otherwise the city would have to mourn the loss of Spider-Man. or forget him entirely. He was almost more upset about Spider-Man’s identity being erased though. He knew Peter Parker would be gone but Spider-Man was unexpected. Spider-Man was a hometown hero, but now his hometown no longer recognized either of his personalities. It was so jarring he merely stood there until Strange addressed him again.
“Do you need to collect anything for the trip back? The battle was quite broad,” Strange didn’t even grimace as he spoke of the property damage. “It’s not clear exactly how long you’ll remain in this universe, but I wouldn’t wait.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Peter finally choked out after a tense moment of silence. “I’ll go grab what I need,” he hesitated. This was truly the last time he would see MJ and Ned. Should he address them or just go? He already had his emotional goodbye… would it hurt more to say something and have them not recognize his voice? He was still wavering when Ned made the choice for him.
“Do you need help collecting anything? I can help you find where the other heroes are, just in case you need to fix something!” Ned excitedly rambled, his hero worship showing. MJ stared critically next to him, much like the first time Peter talked to her.
He shook his head, throat tight when he answered. “I appreciate the offer, but-” it would hurt too much to spend time with you. Nope, he couldn’t say that. “You all look like you could use some rest. I know my way around well enough… goodbye.” He nearly broke down on that last word, practically running away before he was done talking. He barely managed to wave one last time as he started swinging, desperate to get the vision of their expressions changing from distressed to neutral as the spell took effect out of his mind.
He threw himself into collecting as many tools and supplies as he could for his new life in this mystery dimension Dr. Strange seemed to think he was from. Maybe it won’t be so bad. A version of New York with no Peter Parker… did that mean there would be nobody he recognized? No Parkers at all? No Ned… No MJ… No Mr. Stark? Would it even be New York?
He shook the thoughts away as best he could - which is to say not well given that he was currently collecting everything Mr. Stark had ever given him. His mind was like a whirlpool of memories fighting for dominance against the rational, practical side telling him to get moving. Should he grab the sentimental items or the things that would likely be the most useful in his new life? He refused to let himself freeze when he packed the E.D.I.T.H. glasses safely in his bag. Would they even work in a different world? He supposed it depended on if there was a Stark network or something equivalent they could connect to. Maybe-
Peter shook his head, refusing to start spiraling when he had things to do. He quickly packed up as much of his own stuff as he could- clothes, electronics and their charges, toiletries, his IDs, even though they likely wouldn’t be helpful. Typical that other people’s basic necessities were his last priority.
When he finished in his apartment, he swung by Happy’s for anything small he'd left there. Then, he set out for one last goodbye. Maybe two if he had the time. Three even, if he could be lucky just this once.
-
It didn’t take long for him to find the morgue they brought May’s body to. It took even less time for him to break in. He was weirdly grateful for how easy it was to break the law, especially carrying two massive duffles around with him. He simply didn’t know how long he had before he would be gone from this world forever. He wouldn’t get to help bury her right next to Ben. He wouldn’t get to visit them in their graves together.
He froze when he finally made it to the right room, his hands shaking. He didn’t have the time to second guess this, but seeing her again after everything that happened… it made it all feel more permanent. With one small tug, the drawer pulled out and she was there. He lost track of time as he stared silently at her too still, too pale face. She'd been dead a matter of hours, but she already looked so different.
“Hi May,” the tears fell swift and strong. “I wish it was different.” He choked on the words, unsure if he what he was saying would really be worthwhile. “You deserved better than this. You and Ben both.” Peter felt like he was on the precipice of destruction. He could burrow further inside himself, close himself off from the world- refuse to let anyone else die for him.
The option was tantalizing. Never having to feel this hurt again was definitely a nice thought, but he could hear May- and even Ben and Tony, his friends, maybe even his parents- in his head, wishing for better for him. They all wanted the best for him, and a solo existence where he slowly withdrew more and more wasn’t it. Instead he focused his energy on living up to their expectations.
“You were the best person in the world, and I know you said I have a great responsibility, but I’m so tired… I won’t disappoint you though. I’m bringing my suit with me. Maybe wherever I end up, maybe they’ll need a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” He broke down further remembering their last conversation, but he couldn’t let her down. Not again. “I’ll be the Peter you raised me to be.”
He stood there with her, just crying for as long as he was willing to risk it.
-
He swung to Queens Cemetery next, the bags barely slowing him down. It didn’t take long to find the Parkers' graves. It shouldn’t have surprised him, but the revised inscriptions on the stones nearly knocked him over, feeling much more like a physical blow than simple, missing words.
He clung to his bags, needing something to hold onto when he broke down once again. When the tears cleared enough for him to see, he noticed a new mural on the building just outside of the cemetery. The split face of Tony Stark and Iron Man stared down on him as he wept at his parents' and uncle’s graves. It seemed he would get all three goodbyes after all.
He ran his fingers over the smooth surface where “Loving Parents” and “Beloved Uncle” used to be etched in stone. It didn’t feel right to take that away from them. From Peter, sure. He caused this mess, or at least he felt like he did. But his parents and Ben deserved to be remembered for the good they did- the work they put into raising him, even if it wasn’t known anymore. He considered trying to fix it himself, but knew, in the back of his mind, May’s gravestone wouldn’t match. That thought broke him just that little bit further apart.
Instead of doing anything, he sat with the three graves and the mural, too worn out to find the words beyond a simple, “I love you, and I’ll miss you.” His gaze flickered back and forth, trying to memorize everything he knew he would never be able to visit again.
-
Peter thought being transported to a new dimension would feel like something. A push, or a shove, or even just a firm pressure. However, much like the spell erasing his existence from this reality, there was no big flash into a new world. He simply blinked and opened his eyes to different surroundings.
He startled at the brick walls surrounding him. His tears fell heavier when he realized that was truly his last time seeing his home. The last time visiting Ben and his parents. The last time seeing May’s face. All of those had already happened. It wasn’t some distant future problem. The grief was here now. Only, he had no time to feel it. At least, not before finding somewhere safe.
He looked around through the tears, finding himself in an alley hidden by a dumpster. He couldn’t help but scoff at the spell. It felt like the magic was mocking him. He was still in his suit, though, so he could at least use the dumpster to hide behind while he changed his clothes.
But first- “Karen, do you have any idea where we are?” Peter asked, hoping against the odds that his friendly AI was already connected to the internet. He waited with bated breath, eager for something to go his way.
“My GPS is offline, Peter. I can’t find the Stark satellite. Would you like me to run diagnostics?” Karen asked helpfully. Although it wasn’t what he wanted to hear, Peter was grateful the suit still functioned in this universe. He would have to make a miniature arc reactor to keep the power charged, but he’d brought the supplies to do so with him.
“Please, although don’t worry about the internet for now. Just check what parts of the suit need maintenance. Something tells me we won’t be connecting to a Stark satellite ever again,” Peter sighed, beginning to remove the suit only after Karen responded in the affirmative. When one more idea popped into his head he asked, “Karen, can you connect to any internet source?”
“Of course, Peter,” her soothing voice responded. “I have pre-programmed internet protocols to first connect to the Stark satellite. If not available, I will connect to nearby public wifi until the satellite, or different permanent source, can be reached.”
“Huh, something to think about. Any public wifi nearby?” Peter asked, feeling marginally more hopeful than before.
“Negative, mini boss.” The nickname stung more than than Peter expected, fresh tears pooling in his eyes. He didn’t want to wander around town in the suit with no idea where to go. It wouldn’t serve him to be so conspicuous, even if he might stumble across a public wifi network.
“Of course not, back to suit diagnostics then please.” He once again started removing the suit, quickly stuffing it into the sturdier of the two duffle bags he would have to drag around for now.
What he needed to do was try to blend in until he could get his bearings. Although it would be helpful if he could get a bird's-eye view, it wasn’t worth the risk of outing himself right away. With one last scrub of his sleeves against his face to rid himself of any lingering tear tracks, he stepped out of the alleyway into his first real view of his new home.
-
The city was reminiscent of New York, but immediately it didn’t feel as busy. Peter had never been to Chicago, but he could see that comparison making more sense - at least based on his knowledge of pop culture references to Chicago. Or maybe something in New England. The buildings were more gothic in style, gargoyles littered about the shorter rooftops he could see before the dense fog obscured his view. Everything was a bit duller than back home. It could just be the fog, but it was almost like a slightly gritty filter was covering everything.
Now that he’d finally stopped crying and actually started walking around, Peter could feel his spidey sense humming at the lowest of levels. Without no signs of immediate danger, he decided to wander around and hope there’d be a sign for something useful.
His first landmark was a massive clock tower. It was practically staring him in the face when he turned left out of the alley. He could hear far more electricity than one would expect from an old clock, but hey, maybe it ran on clean energy or something. The city did smell much less like gas than New York. Maybe this world was farther ahead in the clean energy industry.
The clock did allow him to correct the time on his watch since he couldn't use the sun to tell the time right now, not unless the fog lifted. He felt his heart clench as he spun the mechanism, the gift from Mr. Stark staring him in the face. It was only two hours off, but just his luck, it was now two hours later than he thought. He had two hours fewer of daylight to figure everything out.
From the tower he kept wondering around, mentally noting the biggest buildings and what they might be. A massive building called Wayne Tower reminded him a bit of home, but it felt familiar in a different way. The answer was just out of reach, so he kept walking, unsure if it was truly a random direction or if his enhanced senses were leading him somewhere. The name Wayne kept popping up, only serving to grate more and more on his nerves when he couldn’t remember why it seemed so familiar.
None of Mr. Stark’s “business associates,” as he would refer to them, were named Wayne. There’s that actor from the really, really old movies but that didn’t feel quite right. Why did it feel like the answer was staring him in the face?
Peter was so stuck in his head that he was barely noting the important buildings anymore. He was three avenues past the police department before he registered the name of the city. Gotham Police Department. He would’ve double backed to confirm, but the next corner over showed First National Bank of Gotham.
The answers he was so desperate for a few seconds ago, he now wished would go away. It couldn’t possibly be that Gotham. There was no way the Batman comics he'd read before Iron Man existed could translate to this world. It had to be a coincidence. It was far too outlandish that the dimension that stupid spell would send him to would be a different superhero universe.
Or was it? Dr. Strange did say it would likely be familiar in someway… Peter could feel his heart rate rising as he thought about the dangers of his new city. Batman villains were always escaping prison to wreak more havoc. It suddenly felt more important than ever for Peter to find somewhere to sit down and research this new world. He put his faith in his senses to lead him to a library or somewhere equally useful, wondering further and further from the alley he arrived in.
Just his luck, when the Gotham Public Library finally came into view, a building just down the street exploded.