Chapter Text
After Tony's death, Peter had sought ways to revert time to the way it was. The time where his mentor was alive, the time where Mrs. Pepper Pots held her mischievous smile, the time when Peter could still fool around with Tony in his lab.
However, after multiple attempts, theories, plans. Peter couldn't bring himself to actually do it. He knows what the consequences would be and the risk was too big. The lives that Tony saved with that snap, and the life that their friends and family are currently living would change... some for the better or some for the worse. This stable world would collapse and rebuild itself from its save point.
Peter couldn't do it.
So he scratched all of his ideas, everything was all for nought... And he continued with his life.
He went to school, fell in love, and was happy for a moment. He never would have thought that Happy would become his step-uncle, he couldn't be more proud.
Of course, he also lived as Spider-Man. Peter found relief and good in being the friendly neighborhood hero. Swinging from one building to another was his short found freedom. He stopped some muggers here and there, fought some bad guys, made other hero friends and was still in contact with the Avengers.
Life was going smoothly... Until
"Spider-menace, also revealed to be Peter Parker by our great hero Beck or better known as Mysterio after a last attempt of informing us about this hidden threat before he died in-" The news blared on the TV, almost every damn channel was talking about him. Peter was in a loss for words, legal court proceedings were underway.
Peter wanted to erase that moment in history, that footage that didn't even last a minute had turned his life upside down. His family, his friends, and he himself could no longer live normal lives. He wanted it gone!
And he did
But with a price.
Once again, his life changed. May had died, MJ and Ned did not know him anymore, and he couldn't even face Happy. He felt like he didn't deserve to, not after failing to protect Aunt May.
Dr. Strange erased the existence of "Peter Parker" in the world, Nobody knows that he is Spider-Man anymore. Now, Peter is just an unknown guy who lives in his cramped New York apartment beginning his college life... Alone.
A few months into college, he could say that he was doing well Academically. He was never one to slack off when it comes to his favorite subjects, especially those topics that he shared with Tony. He could never forget those, they were too precious... Even more so now.
Peter was rearranging his room, y'know to get his mind off of things. He opened up an old dusty box, it was one of the few belongings that survived the explosion. Surprised, he held out a few dusty notebooks, their labels brought Peter a wave of sadness with a hint of regret.
"How to get Stark back?" Was crossed in red ink on the covers.
Right, he did that... Years ago. But he stopped because it was– because it was– risky.
'But what about now? What's so risky about trying it now?' Peter thought to himself.
It was not like he could lose anymore than he already lost. Something in his mind clicked, his tingles ran through his neck, it was telling Peter that this was a dangerous thought and that he shouldn't continue. Yes, it could bring back Stark but he didn't know what it would cost him, what it would cost the world... But one thing was on Peter's mind that had him on a chokehold.
"It can bring back May"
...
There is nothing more dangerous than a desperate man with nothing to lose.
Peter tinkered in his lab, his appearance suggests that he had been in there for months. His eyes saggy with bags that could be used as a coin purse, hair long and disheveled, and fuzz that was the only part of his face that could be considered "trimmed". He wore his his old dirty and dusty spider suit beneath his lab coat.
Karen had been assisting him in whatever fucked up plan he was cooking up. Although advising against it, the AI did not have the authority to refuse Peter's request after being modified by the man himself.
Peter had been tinkering with some sort of device. Something similar to what the Avengers used when they went back in time, but this one- this one was more complete, more dangerous. Even Peter admitted to himself that he had no idea how to use this machine, it was capable of dangerous things. Peter had to modify his lab just so the avengers, specifically Captain Marvel and Dr. Strange, couldn't detect what he was doing.
Of course, the precaution didn't last long...
Peter poked at the portal in front of him, it felt like jello fabric. The machine had finally been completed, it was set to destroy itself after he enters the portal. He knew the risks, he knew that he could potentially be stuck in an interdimensional wormhole forever if his machine had any miscalculation. But he did so anyway. One: so that it doesn't fall to the wrong hands, and two: so that no one could come after him.
...
Peter shaved his beard, he trimmed his hair, and he washed his face. He looked in the mirror and saw a golden sparkling ring behind him open to a different place. He already knew who was gonna come out, he had sensed it.
Strange looked at Peter Parker, confused with a set of familiarity.
"Do I know you?" He asked.
Peter felt a wave of nostalgia and sorrow, his eyes reflected memories that confused the Doctor... Peter broke out a pained smile, his brows pushed up like he was seeing a long lost friend.
"I don't believe we met officially, Dr. Strange, sir. But it's kind of hard not to recognize an Avenger, right?" His smile changed into an innocent one.
Strange looked at Peter, perplexed. He swore he had seen this young man before, but no memories would come to mind.
"Did you know that you're messing with the timeline, kid? That thing you're building is extremely dangerous" Dr. Strange paused... Kid? He thought.
The man in front of him is clearly an adult, why did that word came out so smoothly? Nevertheless, he paid no further heed and focused on Peter's response. But it was odd-
...
"Kid" this word echoed inside Peter's mind. It was something that both Stark and Strange and many of the other Avengers had called him. He missed that nickname. He missed it so much.
His chest ached, probably due to the hundreds of red bull he had to take in order to stay awake and make the machine. Nevertheless, that sad ball of locked feelings were slowly bursting out, he held his chest and a slow chuckle escaped his chords.
"I haven't heard that in a long time" Peter chuckled.
Strange noticed a deep sadness in his remark, but he could care less about some mad scientist in New York, he just need this man to show him where the device was and then stop it. He could care less... Right?
"Come on, I'll show you where the device is" Peter wiped a tear, he was in a good mood as he led Strange to the next room where the device was.
Strange, who didn't expect for the scientist to easily comply, dropped his magic circled as he went to the next room with a confused face.
The device was powered off, there was a couch beside it that looked like it was lived in by a troll. Next to that couch was boxes of empty red bull cans and a mini fridge. For a mad scientist, he didn't seem to be... Well kept. Strange had the urge to slap himself in the forehead but urged to refrain. Again... It was strange how his body seem to instinctively do these action within the presence of the scientist.
"I would tell you that I'm not a villain but seeing the situation, I doubt you'd believe me. No one does, actually" Peter sporadically said.
"Tell me, why are you making this device? It can potentially alter the sacred timeline putting everyone including those you love, in danger"
"I know" Peter said as he sat sheepishly in front of the device. There was a long stool chair that was put into place by peter there so that he could use it as a step to reach the upper part of the machine. He wasn't exactly a tall person so he had to make do with what he had.
"It not like anyone remembers me... Do you remember me, Dr. Strange?" He asked, innocently smiling.
Seeing the boy smile, a sudden headache attacked Strange, he flinched from the pain, his vision going blurry. He couldn't help but deduce that the kid had something to do with his headache. The pain was getting to him but it wasn't too hard to notice that the scientist in front of him had activated the machine.
Despite the skull cracking headache, Strange conjured his magic circle. Ready to fight the scientist. But it was odd, his blurred vision started to clear up, he looked at the person sitting on the metal stool chair. His mind was clearing up, his memories—
"Peter..." Strange uttered in disbelief.
"Hello, Dr. Strange. It was nice meeting you again" Peter smiled gleefully.
"Peter, don't do something stupid!"
The machine wirred an odd noise, Strange tried to stop him. He tried to stop Peter from doing something stupid again... Again? His headache and confusion got to him. Strange could only wallow in regret as the scene unfolded in front of him.
The stool fell back... It fell back together with Peter.
"NO! No no no no no no" Strange shouted. Memories flooding back.
The machine virred to a close. It shut down and sparked everywhere. It didn't explode, but smoke was coming out as most of the circuits Peter made were fried. In other words, the machine couldn't be activated anymore.
...
In a universe, somewhere.
A city filled with smog and smell of gunpowder shook as a giant monster made of clay rampaged throughout the town. His attacks masked the real earthquake happening nearby as a certain boy appeared seemingly out of thin air. His body unconscious revealing multiple bloody wounds, he was wearing a red and blue semi-mechanical spandex suit with a black spider marked on his chest.
It was Peter.