Work Text:
Duke Thomas could see ghost for as long as he could remember
But this ability to see them could vary from time to time(even after years,he still didn't know how it actually worked).the ability comes and goes unpredictably. One second he could see them and the next he couldn't.(Sometimes he could see them fully,but most of the time,he could only see some kind of blob of light in different colour floating around)
Growing up with the ability to see something that wasn't visible to other people, Duke learned to keep a straight face and ignore them
He learned to not show any reaction to them because it is better to not let them know he could see them(trust him,it wasn't fun)
“Peter will be joining our class” Tim said while not even looking up from whatever he was focused on his phone,
Duke turned to look at him “ That kid Barbra Told us to look out for?” How can the kid get into Gotham prep? As far as he remember,the kid is most likely homeless even though he said he wasn't
“yeah,that Peter Murdock,he got in through scholarship program and damm,look at his results”
Tim lifted up his phone and shoved it to duke's face
The kid passed with flying colours
“I know he was smart,but not THIS smart”
Peter was a boy that came to the library in bruises as if someone had hurled a brick at his face then choked him. Barbara couldn't see his whole face because of the hood of his oversized hoodie he wore blocked her from seeing his whole face
Barbara told the batfam to look out for him and they did,but everytime they see him while patrolling,they always lost him while tailing him,it's as if the kid knows that he was being followed
Which they come to conclusion that peter might be a meta or that he was trained because of how easily he lost them and avoided the cameras
And….he also look like Dick
Like- like he was a carbon copy of him but just with different colour front
He could be a clone that was created by mixing Dick's DNA and someone's else
Or he could be his son for the less sinister option,but there's no way he could've slept with someone because he would've been around 11 or 12 when peter was conceive
So then,the most likely answer is that,he is a clone
But why was he created? Did the person create him with Richard or Nightwing in his mind? The mystery keep on piling up,so B told us to observe him first before anything else,because we can't risk anything
“You know what?” Steph who had just arrived at the dining table said while sitting down
“What?” Tim lifted his face and looked at Steph
“He has dicks face,just a different colour front, a little bit of Jason's mannerism and maybe a little bit of his attitude too and….” she dragged out her words “your intelligence…” she pointed at Tim
“What if it's not just Dick's DNA that-”
“Dude! Shut your mouth please! I don't need to overthink more than I already did these past few days!” Tim look like he was about to faint from the stress
She shrugged “ I'm just saying,we don't know who's DNA he was made of other than Dick's”
“You don't need to say anything, just— you shut up okay?”
“Alright,if that what you want”
The topic was dropped and everyone else on the table enjoyed the food Alfred made
“My name is Peter Murdock,nice to meet everyone”
Today is peter first day of school,his appearance is better than when they would see him on the street(though not that good he just look a little cleaner than before)
While he looked “normal” to other people, Duke could see something else that others couldn't see
There is some kind of human shaped(not really but close enough) light floating around him,it looked a little fuzzy?
It was only there for a few seconds before it was gone. Could the boy be haunted by some kind of ghost,duke asked himself
But he decided to put it at the back of his mind and observe more first before doing anything
He probably need to tell others,but that can be for later
“So how was he?” Steph asked
“Who?” Lifted his head up from the table looking confused
“Y'know,peter”
“Ah right,him,he looked normal throughout all of our classes,we tried to invite him to join us at lunch but he refused”
Cass clapped her hand to get all of their attention
“What is it Cass?”
“He's impatient, like he can't stand being here, sensitive hearing probably” cass signed
Tim started mumbling under his breath“Hmm,that might be how he can detect us…or maybe not, because he can even “hear” Cass”
“And…I think he might be haunted” duke said after contemplating for a moment,he decided to tell them now of what he can see
“What?” all three of them turned to look at him
“Yeah haunted as in the supernatural sense, there's this human shaped light floating around him,I could only see it for a few second before it was gone though”
“No way…are you being for real” Steph asked and she sounded like want to laugh or she's just in disbelief
Before they could finish their discussion, the bell rang, indicating that lunch time has end
The three of them got up from their seat and went to their respective classes
Duke was on his way back to the manor after visiting babs at the library to give her the food Alfred made and read some book
It was supposed to be Dick but he got injured and are resting in one of his safe house,so he decided to volunteer as he had to find and read some book for his English homework that his teacher assigned him
Alfred offered to drive him there,but he refused because he felt like walking
As he was walking down the road,he saw something weirdly human shaped floating around someone,he turned to look
It was peter and—
HOLY FUCK— IS THAT DICK?!?!
what in the holy motherduckimg frick is this???
Duke rubbed his eyes trying to make sure he wasn't seeing thing and NO,he is in fact not seeing thing
There it was,floating around peter, Dick's ghost,or is it not dick,but it looked like Dick
Does Peter know he was being haunted? Can Peter see the ghost,from what he can see, Peter could probably see it and even hear it because of the annoyed look he had on his face
What the fuuuccckkk…. first,peter looked like Dick and now— Peter is being haunted by a ghost that look like dick-
The ghost who was having fun messing with peter seem like he suddenly realized something
It looked up.It.Looked.Up
They made eye contact
Duke just made eye contact with…a ghost that looked like Dick
The ghost widened his eyes and paled(is that even possible) and the only thing duke could think of in this moment is
Shit
He immediately pretended not to see the ghost and went his way,he frantically took out his phone and dialed dick number
“C'mon dickie,answer the damn phone-”
Beep “hello?”
Instead of Dick's voice,it was Tim's
“Dick,where is dick?!” He said in a low frantic voice
“Woah,what's up duke-”
“Timothy Drake-wayne,Where is dick— oh god,tell me he's still alive please,he's alive right??”
“Well- yeah, of course he is ,he's in the toilet,what is wrong with you duke?”
“Oh god…I don't think you would believe what I just saw..” Tim stayed quiet on the phone line
“What did you see?” He asked slowly
After the no way home event, peter who had no one else was taken in by Matt Murdock,a lawyer that had once helped him after his identity was revealed and he was accused of Mysterio’s death(but of course that man did not remember him)
Matt found him after he collapsed from the lack of food, Matt gave him a job as an intern when he heard that he was looking for a job(he didn't know why Matt did that for him)
Matt helped him learn about law and things close to it and he helped Matt around his work(because he's an intern,duh,that's why he has to help)
Peter stopped being Spider-Man for almost half a year before he returned
He started befriending Daredevil and Deadpool
They got closer as they started going on a mission together more and more
And thus, Team Red was born(it was Wade's idea)
Peter found new people,new friends,new purpose and new everything but of course,he still couldn't let go of his old life but he's at least building something in his life again after losing it
It's been 4 years since no way home event,he's 22 year old now(27 if you count the 5 years he was blipped)
A lot has happened in those 4 years,and some of them are: the creation of team red,matt finding out he was spiderman,and peter finding out matt was daredevil. Yes,matt is daredevil and he found out peter was spiderman (and of course that man only revealed that fact after he found out who matt is,it was fucking mortifying)
So Matt took him under his wing, not as in taking Peter under Matt's wing, as in taking Spider-Man under daredevil wing(even though Devil doesn't have wing) the devil of hell's kitchen.
But of course nothing would last forever for him. He was aware of that fact long ago before he even hit puberty
Nothing would ever last because he was a parker, even if his name had been changed legally to Peter Murdock(yes,Murdock let him use his last name),he was born as a parker, parker luck could never leave alone because that's just how it is
Years past by,the spell casted by Stephen had weakened, the fabric of space and time is being torn apart again because of him
This time,the same spell can't be used twice…
So Peter made a choice, and that is to exile himself from his own universeStephan would send him to a different universe so that he couldn't be found
Then what would happen to queens if he leaves? What would happen to his neighborhood if he was gone?
It'll be fine,even if this Spider-Man,peter parke,is gone,there is still another Spider-Man to take care of them and that Spider-Man have a lot of people that could help him(like double D or DP)
Miles morales
He is more than just miles,he is
Spider-Man mentee
Spider-Man Jr
Spider-Man protege
Spider-Man
And…Peter's son…
Unlike him,Miles is different,he made sure of it,he made sure Miles would never be like him,just like how tony tried to
“Pete! Is there no other way?” Miles voice cracked
“No spidey,I have to do this..”
“W-we can find other ways,I'm sure we can!” Miles desperately didn't want his dad mentor to go,he's sure that there is a different way they could use to fix this
“No,M, listen…there's no other way…and this is the only way to save this universe” peter tried to remain calm,but his voice still cracked at the end
It'll be a lie if he wasn't sad,he is,he really is sad and unwilling to go,but he had too
“Dad…” Peter froze,he tried his best to hide the fact that he was trembling from miles,but miles could still see it
He pulled Peter into a tight hug,a hug that could crush someone's bones with all the strength he was using,but Peter is fine,he's a superhuman after all
“We don't have much time Spider-Man” Dr strange interrupted them,reminding peter the predicament they're in at this moment
Peter grabbed both of miles shoulder
“Listen miles,you are Spider-Man,but even if you are you're not alone,you have other people by your side,don't hesitate to ask for help,you can ask double D for help,even wade,heck you can even ask Felicia for help if need to” miles nodded weakly
“Taking care of a whole city is a lot for a 16 year old,but you don't have to shoulder all the burden alone (such a hypocrite right?peter parker Murdock) you have other people to rely on and when you fall—”
“Always get back up, because Spider-Man never give up,I know”
“Goodgoodgood,I'm sorry miles…I'm sorry”
Peter turned to look at Dr strange whose face was filled with sadness,a look that said he doesn't want to do this“I'm ready” he said with a trembling voice
Dr strange nodded and started casting the spell, peter looked at miles one more time
A portal was opened,and Peter walked into it with a last glance for miles And everything went dark
That was over a month ago,he's been living in Gotham for over a month now
There are pros and cons in this situation
Pros: the fabric of time and space won't be ripped apart anymore,not in his universe nor his current one because they can't find him here
Cons:he got dropped in a crime ridden city called Gotham in his FOURTEEN YEAR OLD BODY. All thanks to that freaking wizard and Gotham is in NEW JERSEY
Fuck his life
But,mental breakdown later,shelter,food and water then create some identity for himself
And he did just that,as soon as he found a shelter for himself that is an abandoned building,he immediately went to the library to create an identity for himself(thank you to Ned and miss Natasha we all said),the librarian girl is weird tho
and oh! He also took the placement exam in Gotham prep(through scholarship of course, because that's a private school and the amount of money needed just to stay there is just downright atrocious,might as well be a broad daylight robbery but it's a school for the rich,what can you expect )
Everything is fine,he is doing pretty good except…he's being fucking stalked by a bunch of furry in their costume
The bats and the birds(that's what people call them)
Honestly,what exactly is their problem with him? What did I do?? Why are they stalking this poor and homeless boy, what did he actually do to warrant such thing from them
Like- why???
But at least he wasn't alone(even though that person,not exactly a person though,is annoying some time) at least he has someone from his old universe
“Peter”
“Pete”
“Petey!”
‘Spider-Man!”
“Dad,can you shut up for a moment please”
That's right
“Peter,that guy is staring at us,I think he can see me”
“What—”peter head snapped toward his transparent (he's a ghost after all) father so fast with a speed that it could break his neck
His dead father is here with him
“No— I'm pretty sure he can see me!”
“What do you mean by that?!”