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miserablemuffin · 16 days ago

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Demons posted all around me, I can’t beat them on my own

Summary: No War. Jiang finds out he’s Rin’s dad, cue him trying his best but he’s had a rough few years so he’s a bit rusty. Rinezha also.

AKA: 5 times Rin didn’t know why Jiang was acting strange and the 1 time she knew why.

Thoughts: Fic Title: I Smoked Away My Brain by ASAP Rocky, Imogen Heal and Clams Casino

HI! I just finished this trilogy and someone fucking console me. I couldn’t find any fics that address her as Jiang’s daughter so badda bing badda boom I made this!

ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO R.F KUANG THAT AMAZING WOMAN

ALSO FANART THAT INSPIRED THIS WAS ON TUMBLR BY @lilly-townshend IT WAS AMAZING

ALSO ON TIKTOK THEYRE THESE TWO AMAZING PEOPLE WITH POPPY WAR FANART

@roryvalorie

@opillume

PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT!

Ehhh, don’t like don’t read!

Hope you enjoy!

Rin was fucking pissed. She was fucking furious. Over her course at Sinegard she had learnt to adapt to the unexpected.

Sring Venka being nice to her was one of the biggest things she had to adapt to. No, Yin Fucking Nezha being nice to her was the biggest thing she had to get used to at Sinegard.

A year ago with the brink of a war with the Mugenesse on the horizon, petty feuds were soon forgotten about. The whole war blew over thanks to their empresses sweet silver tongue and promises Rin didn’t even want to think about.

However bonds were forged in the build up to the war and things such as where you fell on the food chain seemed to no longer matter.

So a friendship with Venka had formed and something had formed with Nezha also. Both bonds equally strange in their own right.

Venka’s as now Rin had her first ever female friend which is weird. It means she has someone in her corner, someone who knows what it’s like to be a female at Sinegard, which means they both have to work a bit harder than the other two of their group. Those factors made it hard to hold onto a grudge against the Sinegardian princess.

Nezha’s and her relationship was tentative in the beginning. Nezha was everything Rin would never be. He represented every person who looked down on her all because of her skin, he was the figurehead as one day he would lead them all. Of course he has Jinzha in front of him but between Rin and Kitay that fool will make a mistake that even daddy’s money can’t cover up.

But soon they found their footing and began their trek through this confusing friendship. However recently it’s took a turn.

A turn that frustrates Rin to no end, the fool has been bringing her gifts and he’s been getting these…notions! Notions that him and Rin could be something more. Rin, for the sake of her sanity refuses to acknowledge it.

Kitay and Venka have been doing everything but brush it under the rug. Elbowing each other and giggling like little school girls when rose petals fall out of Rin’s bag.

That’s not what’s pissing her off however, now what’s pissing her off is Master Jiang. Master Jiang is a lunatic, an absolute nutter, the joke of the school.

He always has a far away look on his face, his eyes seem misty even without opium and his hair goes wherever it pleases.

Rin knew this version of her Lore Master very well. There was a comforting familiarity of his ludicrousness. She knew how to handle that.

She didn’t know how to handle this…sober Jiang. Ever since Empress Su Daniel came to Sinegard, Jiang has been acting strange, he’s been acting normal.

He now seems to take care of his appearance, he takes care of what he says and what he asks of Rin.

His always misty eyes now only gleam under the influence of opium. His hair which was once a tangled mess is tamed. His clothes have lost their drabness and instead have taken on a finer colour scheme, one a royal would wear.

He still acts the fool in front of crowds. He still throws gardening tools at her, makes her do nonsense trips and still has an opium garden.

But when they’re alone he drops that act, he still teases her and still has his infuriating teaching methods but he drops the act.

He stares at her longer. He suddenly cares about her, and not just whether she lives or dies. He watches her in the mess hall. Asks questions about her friends and stupid trivial things like is she happy?

Who gave him the fucking audacity.

The worst thing about this revelation was that Rin now hated being near him. It wasn’t that she felt he was going to pounce her or anything like that. No, the problem was she felt unsafe with him as she didn’t know what he was going to do and Rin hated not knowing more than anything.

So Rin may be fucking pissed but since he wasn’t doing any actual bodily harm to her she couldn’t exactly complain. She was still fucking pissed though.

Rin decided then and there to let it play out and see where it goes.

1.) Growing Pains

“Pardon.”

“I asked if you’ve started your period yet.”

Rin could only stare at her supposed Lore Master who had a complete deadpan face.

They were both in the gardens. Rin in a swan stance and Jiang is throwing rotten sunflower seeds at her.

She then remembers that this is a lesson in concentration. He’s trying to distract.

“Oh ha fucking ha. I get it now.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re trying to distract me.”

“By throwing seeds at you yes—“

He chucks one at her and it lands at the corner of her eye. Her eye twitches not from the seed.

“—but the question is one of genuine curiosity.”

She wants to say sure but she didn’t know how attitude with this new Jiang will blow over. A few minutes go by each seed pissing Rin off more and more but she stood still and repeated each song Jiang wanted to hear.

“You still haven’t answered my question?”

Rin internally rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.

“What?”

“Have you got your period yet? Yes or no. Simple question, simple answer.”

“Yes.” She said through gritted teeth and began to chant the song louder.

“Tell me about it.”

“That’s none of your fucking business.”

Past Jiang would have laughed and let this ridiculous questioning stop, Present Jiang is a loose canon and she doesn’t know what to expect.

“Fine, but you can’t get out of that stance until you tell me something.”

Rin knows he’s bluffing but as she quickly peeks at him she realises that he is not, in fact, bluffing.

She shuts that eye quickly and resumes her pretentious chanting.

Jiang continues throwing his seeds. Then he blows dandelion fluff at her face. Soon he resorts to spraying her with the hose and making sure she uncomfortably shivers in the cold.

It was his last resort but if Rin stayed out here any longer she’d fucking freeze. She wanted to be stubborn, she could out stubborn Jiang but she knew that if she came back half frozen she’d have a mother hen fretting over her. She did not need a fretting Nezha today.

Kitay knew exactly what to do when Rin was sick, or high or anything really. Nezha was slowly learning but he felt suffocating. Venka somehow was a mix of both, surprisingly.

“Fine fucking fine you old spanner, the first time it hurt like a bitch

“And now it doesn’t.”

“And now I wouldn’t know as I don’t fucking get them anymore. Can I move now?”

“Switch legs. How do you not get them?”

Rin changes position so she’s now balancing on her right leg instead of her left.

“I mean they’re no longer a problem.”

“How?”

If she could she would call the fire right now.

“My womb no longer exists.”

“What.”

Rin fell. Not from exhaustion or the cold, although she was feeling the full force of both of those things, no, she fell from the pure unmasked terror in Jiang’s voice.

He helps her up and keeps a firm grip on her hand, keeping her in place so she has no other choice but to look him in the eyes.

She refuses to feel shame. She did what she did and she doesn’t regret it. She will not pretend to otherwise.

“Who?”

If she could describe the tone of his voice she would say rage. Rage was all that tone had room for and she didn’t know how to feel about it.

“I did it myself in first year. Is this really necessary.”

“Why?”

Suddenly Jiang could only form one solid word instead of the useless stream of babble he used to produce to answer her questions.

“Because it was another weakness and I already had plenty.”

“You aren’t weak Rin.”

She didn’t reply. He pushed.

“You’re not.”

Rin thought how fucking hypocritical that man was. He once told her she was weak because she couldn’t move a boulder that could’ve been a mini mountain and now he’s saying she wasn’t.

“Master Jiang I will miss my dinner.”

It seemed to knock him out of whatever trance he was in. He was looking at her like she was figment of his imagination, like she was something he thought would never ever take shape.

“Hmm. Go then if you must.”

Rin wasn’t a coward but she all but ran back to her dorms. As she shut the door behind her the bang echoed in the dorm.

Venka looked up at her with a suspicious face.

“What the fuck bit you on the ass.”

Rin couldn’t answer, she just flopped on her bed. What was up with Jiang. Her period of all things. He wanted to know about her period.

Venka sighed as she realised Rin would be no fun this evening. She stretched as she moved from her bed to their shared bathroom. Niang was out and about, somewhere Rin didn’t care to know.

“By the way Nezha was totally staring at your ass while you were pretending to be a bird today.”

“I hope you fucking drown.”

“Love you too.”

“Slowly.”

Venka cackled as she closed the door. Rin groaned and rubbed her eyes furiously. It might’ve been a blip. Jiang wouldn’t be like this again. It would all blow over soon.

2.)Eating Habits

Jiang’s weird questions about her period stopped and started on the same day. He decided to drop it. Rin was internally grateful but his new line of questioning was somehow more invasive that the last.

It all started when Jiang began to realise that Rin didn’t eat breakfast.

Back in Tikany she didn’t get breakfast. Times were hard and Rin did not fall in the people who deserved a breakfast. She was so used to the sludge Aunty Fang gave her for lunch and dinner that by the time she came to Sinegard she was filled by lunch and dinner, the sludge paling and withering in comparison to Sinegardian meals.

When she stayed at Kitay’s estate she began to realise that breakfast was an open option. Kitay didn’t know how she doesn’t have breakfast still but she knows deep down she doesn’t because she hasn’t earned it.

She’s done nothing to deserve a breakfast. In her world, breakfast is reserved for the spoilt and the rich, none of which she is. It was reserved for soldiers, generals, kings, pretty girls with porcelain faces and a husband, fat, over indulged and greedy people. It was reserved for people who did nothing to deserve it.

So Rin never ate breakfast. Nezha had tried once. Key word once. She singed half his eyebrow off with a match stick. He still looked devastatingly, stupidly, handsome without it but Rin would never tell that prick.

Speaking off the fool he was now becoming clingy. He began to follow her to and from class. He offered to help wherever he saw necessary which meant all the time. He now began to be braver with his gifts.

One day Nezha had left a bracelet on her bedside table. It was woven intricately and the pattern was Speerly. She didn’t know how that buffoon got his hands on the bracelet but she couldn’t help her small smile.

The small smile then quickly vanished from her face. No, she would not give him hope, let him set his sights on a tangible suitor instead of an exotic one.

She nearly burnt that bracelet but she didn’t. That was her mistake. As Venka saw her try the bracelet on along with Rin’s reddened cheeks. She then promptly told Nezha because she was a gossip, a bitch and his childhood friend.

This amplified Nezha’s attempt to woo her but she brushed him off each time with a fiery glare. Literally. She was on opium. He didn’t need any hope or the fool would never stop.

So Nezha dropped her off at Lore early one morning. Too early. Rin never came this early because the students were still supposed to be eating. Nezha knew this and he’s been sacrificing his breakfast to make sure Rin was walked to class.

Rin only allowed him to do it in the mornings because of two things. One, no one would see and two, she secretly loved it.

This has been going on for a week, Nezha hasn’t been spotted by Jiang because he’s usually testing his luck with Jun or he’s high and slept in. Jiang is coming to these things less and less high as of recent.

When Rin walks into the garden she isn’t expecting to see Jiang, nevermind a sober Jiang.

“Good morning Master.”

Jiang who was currently meditating cracks one eye open and looks surprised.

“Rin you’re up early, you’re missing breakfast.”

Then Rin will say a cursed sentence that she should never have said.

“It doesn’t matter I don’t even eat breakfast. Are we going to the cave today.”

Rin was impatient but she was promised last week to go up into the caves and it never happened. She wanted to call forth the Phoenix again because of a revelation.

For some time now the Pantheon has been trying to show her something or more importantly someone. Rin knows this someone is important to the Phoenix and herself. She needs to speak with this person and she wants to speak to them now.

“You don’t eat breakfast.”

“No never have, waste of time. Cave please.”

She finally looks up at him and she realises she made a mistake. Jiang’s face looks broken. Rin doesn’t understand why. He needs to stop this foolish behaviour now.

Jiang’s face then changes to a ‘I know you won’t like this but…’ face. Rin hates that face on him. She knows it’s nothing but trouble for her.

“Go back inside, eat breakfast and then we can go to the cave.”

“Are you shitting me?!”

“Watch it. You got to eat Rin.”

She stands there with her mouth gaping and fury curling in her veins.

“Ok.”

She spins on her heel hard enough that ground is dug up. She marches back into the halls until she’s all the way to her dormitory. She then grabs her pillow, presses it to her mouth and screams. She then tosses it on the floor.

Out of the corner of her eye she swears she sees a mouse but in the blink of an eye it disappear. Maybe the smoke is getting to her.

She then retracts her steps and makes her way to the library. She manages to climb up onto the circular window high above the shelves. Here she knows she won’t be spotted.

She busies herself with Master Irjah essay and finds the time ticking by. She doesn’t know why she’s so frustrated with Jiang. He probably doesn’t want his only student getting frail on him. It infuriates her to no end this new caring Jiang, she wants the comfort of Old Jiang with his predictability and sometimes cruelty.

She swears she sees the shadows move around her but she blames it on paranoia that somehow Jiang is watching her. Which he can’t possibly be. Soon other students begin to trickle in and Rin thinks that’s ample time for her to have eaten a good, hearty breakfast.

When she arrives in the garden a banana is thrown in her face. Jiang is sitting down beside a steaming bowl of something. It smells lovely.

“I personally wouldn’t scream in a pillow to let my anger out but I suppose meditating isn’t for everyone.”

“Where you fucking spying on me!?”

“Me? No. Polly? Yes.”

He raised his hand in a fist and as it unfurls a misty, shadowy mouse can be seen.

Rin felt like she could collapse. This is the first time Jiang has showed any indication of still having his powers.

“Polly’s owner is a piece of shit.”

“Polly says that’s not nice.”

Polly disintegrates and only ash is left in his hand. He blows it at her.

“For that stunt you pulled we will not be going to the cave today. Drop and give me 111 one armed push ups. Don’t fight me on this Rin.”

Rin grits her teeth but does as she’s told. She’s furious. She’s confused. She doesn’t know which one she hates herself more for feeling.

Their lesson continues like this until Jiang decides parting word are in order.

“Since you won’t dine in the hall come here at your usual time and we will have breakfast.”

Rin complied easily. Jiang would sleep in or get high, either way he would forget. He would forget and Rin wouldn’t remind him.

Except he didn’t forget. Two weeks later and Jiang has kept his promise up. Each morning Rin came to the gardens and her and Jiang would share breakfast. She thought that if he did keep his promise the breakfast wouldn’t be anything special.

She was wrong.

She was wrong about Jiang a lot these days.

The breakfast was filling and Rin wasn’t used to a breakfast, never mind a good one. It made her feel sick so she didn’t eat lunch.

Rin wasn’t accustomed to this much food and she was afraid she would become fat. She also knew that at any moment this privilege of food could be stripped away along with her Sinegard position.

So Rin skipped lunch. Jiang didn’t realise that until a month after.

While other students were at lunch Rin decided to get her essay for Lore started. Jiang wanted ten pages on which God should be feared the most.

Rin knew he was expecting her to say the Phoenix but Rin knew the answer he wanted was a short summary on each God.

She was walking to the library when she crossed paths with him. He looks as surprised to her as she is to see him.

“Rin aren’t you supposed to be at lunch?”

Rin didn’t even have to say anything for Jiang to know. She thought she saved her hide but something in her expression tipped him off. He somehow knew.

Suddenly a bigger, uglier version of Polly was at her feet and began to nip at her ankles.

“Polly, be a dear and show Rin the lunch hall, she seems to be having a hard time finding it.”

Polly began to nip aggressively and Rin had no choice but to make her way to the dining hall and eat lunch.

Having Polly follow her at meal times became her new norm. Polly reverted back to her cuter self and followed her everywhere. Polly always made sure she ate a reasonable dinner and lunch. Rin soon found herself becoming accustomed to her new norm.

One day she realised how bizarre this was and skipped out on lunch. She was in the dining hall still so Polly had no reason to bite her ankles.

Jiang showed up towards the end of lunch where it was just Rin and a couple of skitterish first years.

He promptly plonked himself down beside her and shoved a plate of food that emerged from no where under her nose.

He didn’t say anything but that look on his eyes Rin was beginning to learn meant there was no getting out of it.

Shame and embarrassment were coursing through her veins as she felt the first years pointed stares at her back.

She flung a spoonful of the paste at his face before taking a bite.

It hit him square in the face and Rin tried not to laugh. She began to scamper her lunch into her and refused to look up.

“You have something on your face Master.”

Jiang wiped it off slowly and stared at her before slowly breaking into a laugh.

“That warrants ten laps up the mountain.”

“No it doesn’t.” She was feeling bold.

“No it doesn’t.” He sighed resigned to his fate. What his fate was, she wasn’t sure.

Meal times became a regular thing with Rin and Jiang got Polly to stop following her. If her friends picked up on her sudden change of heart on her meals they didn’t ask.

3.) Looks

Rin knew that Master Jiang’s spectacle would cause a stir with the first years but seriously it was getting too far.

She was walking to the wash house when she heard a pair of giggles behind her as she passed. As the two girls continued on their walk Rin did her best to eavesdrop as she changed her course.

“I can’t believe Master Jiang allowed the Speerly girl to get away with that.”

“Oh Diedie you can’t see it, can you?”

“See what?”

“It’s obvious why she got away without punishment.”

“Cause she’s his only student?”

“No. Don’t you think they look alike?”

Rin nearly fell face first. What a ridiculous statement. They looked nothing alike.

“Uh no?”

“Somethings are deeper than skin. Look at their noses and eyes next time, they’re exactly the same.”

“OH!”

Then they both turned the corner and Rin couldn’t follow them as she was frozen on the spot.

It was utter none sense. They didn’t look alike. With her dirt mud skin and his pristine porcelain complexion they couldn’t be anymore different.

Somethings are deeper than skin.

Rin then realised she was in need of a wash and all but ran to the bathhouse.

While she was in there all she could do was stare at her reflection. They didn’t look alike. The couldn’t look alike, because if they did…. She didn’t even know what would happen if they did look alike. What were the girls insinuating with their idle gossip.

Her time in the bathhouse passed and her temper had died down slightly. It all but soared going into Lore the next day.

She couldn’t let it get the better of her, they were going high up in the mountains today and nothing would ruin that for her.

Jiang and her made the climbs and he made her do these useless exercises as usual. She was itching to get her hands on the opium and see that woman again.

However after the mediation he didn’t hand her opium. Instead he sat across from her.

“Spit it out.”

“What?”

“You’re like a sour cat put in a bath. What’s got your nickers in a twist?”

She could say a lie but she felt he’d somehow know. Jiang somehow knows when she’s lying now. It was just like Aunty Fang with Kesegi, she always knew when he was lying.

She also wanted the opium so she cut this shit show short.

“Two girls were gossiping about me?”

Jiang’s eyes sharpened.

“What were they saying.”

He said it casually, too casually. It made Rin be on her guard for something.

“Actually it was about you too.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah?”

Silence encases the cavern and Rin can’t help but feel awkward.

“Can we start.”

“What did they say.”

They both spoke at the same time but Rin had her answer to her question. Jiang wouldn’t start until he knew more.

“They said we looked alike, which is ridiculous I mean come on.”

But Jiang looks like he’s seen a ghost. Rin realises he’s shaking. Jiang is shaking. Is he about to call forth his God? Rin watches apprehensively. What called for such a reaction? Surely not that idle gossip.

Was he disgusted that his name was being tarnished or that two school girls were insinuating something that was so clearly not there.

“Master?”

“Don’t you think we look alike?”

Rin suppressed the urge to snort.

“Yeah, it’s not like we’re different colours or anything. Oh wait.”

“Somethings are deeper than skin.”

Now what the fuck was he insinuating?

“Can we please start?”

Still looking a bit shaken he tosses the bag of opium to her. She plonks herself down and tears into the bag with a feverish hunger.

She’s out in a minutes and the Phoenix leads her towards the woman again.

She call out to the woman cautiously.

The woman turns her head and the breath from Rin’s lungs is knocked from her. Now this woman she looked like. Their necks, their chins, even their hair looked the same except for their lengths.

Then the woman began to thrash around the place and Rin was pulled viciously from this world.

When she awoke she had Jiang by his side. There was a ringing in her ear.

“You/not/mediate.”

“Huh.”

Her hearing began to return slowly and suddenly Jiang’s voice could be heard clearer.

“You were not supposed to meditate. You were supposed to take a nugget for a kickstart and then call the Phoenix, not take eight and pass out.”

Rin knew that…or well she should’ve known that but when Jiang said she was going back to the mountains she kinda cut him out and didn’t catch the rest of his lesson. Too busy preoccupied with the possibilities that awaited her in the spiritual world.

“Are you alright.”

Rin was breathing heavily, her ear now began to leak blood and she was shaken but she had just seen her mother. She was more than alright.

She nodded.

“Yeah.”

Jiang pursed his lips and tilted his head to one side contemplating. New Jiang was a worry wart.

Before he even opened his mouth Rin knew what he was going to say. They would have to leave the mountain.

Rin didn’t mind, her mission was successful. She did mind when Jiang made her go see the physician.

“Why the fuck?”

“Uh darling you were foaming at the fucking mouth.”

“So?”

Jiang stayed for the whole appointment. Rin was fuming. She was so mad she called the fire for the first time since her fight with Nezha without the help of opium.

She burnt Jiang’s favourite olive tree and then began to jump and down. She did it, she fucking did it.

All the rage flowing through her hit a dam and Rin sagged onto the floor. Yes, fucking yes.

She did it.

Jiang would be proud.

Rin then nearly set herself on fire with the heat radiating off her cheeks. Where the fuck did that come from.

She banished her thought to the back of her head in locked box. She pretty much skipped back to her dorm and she told Venka, ecstatically, what happened.

At breakfast she told Kitay. He was delighted for her and gave her half his grapes. Chen Kitay did not share his grapes. Ever. Rin could’ve cried and then scolded herself for thinking she could cry.

At the library two weeks later she told Nezha. He had only came back from an excursion that Jun took his class on. It was done in halves so Venka would be leaving come next week. He was excited, a little too excited and he fucking kissed her.

What the fuck.

4.) Young Love

Yin Nezha, Rin has decided, is a lovesick fool. A fool who doesn’t see that their differences is too big to overcome.

Does Rin regrets her kiss with Nezha?

Yes. It gave him hope that his advances were being well received, when they were not. It gave him hope that they could be something more and even worse, they gave her hope that they could be something more.

But they simply couldn’t. Nezha would one day marry a pretty pearl of a girl where as Rin would be lucky if anyone looked at her that way again. Would Rin even liked to be married?

She would be tied down. She would not be an equal and Rin would hate herself.

You would be Nezha’s equal. He’d bow to you.

A terrible, completely untrue voice whispered traitorously in her ear.

She all but scampered back to her room afterwards and refused to tell Venka what happened. Somehow the bicth knew and she cackled mercilessly at Rin for half and hour before asking her to rate it out of a scale of one to ten.

Rin burnt her second favourite shoe.

When morning came Rin realised Nezha would want to walk her to class. So she got up extra early. She knew this could get her in trouble but she’d rather that than face Nezha.

She climbed the boy’s tower and watched as Nezha left. Two of the other boys left and once they did she began to tap furiously at the window.

Kitay leaped from the bed and stared at her incredulously.

“Rin what’s wrong?”

“I kissed Nezha.”

“Woah. I owe Venka so much money.”

She smacked him on the arm. Hard.

“You bet on us.”

“Of course. I’m surprised you got your head out your ass this quickly. Are you sure you kissed him.”

“Well he kissed me first I was only being polite…does that sound like a believable excise?”

“No because you’ve never been polite in your life.”

“Yeah as if you’ve got any table manners.”

Chen Kitay ate like one of the pigs back at Tikany during exam season.

“Wait why are you here.”

“So you can walk me to Lore.”

“Can’t you walk yourself.”

“No.”

“Why.”

“Cause Nezha will follow.”

Kitay’s face split into a grin.

“Ohhh. So you’re scared.”

“What! I am not.”

“Mhm. The great Speerly is scared of Nezha.”

“Oh shut up. Will you walk me to class yes or no.”

“Hmmm. Say please.”

“Kitay.”

“That doesn’t sound like a please.”

“Chen Kitay.”

“Fang Runin.”

“Will you please walk me to class.”

“I’ll see.”

“You fucking pri—“

Then the boys door opened and Rin froze.

Yin Nezha walked in.

“Kitay, do you think Rin will…Oh.”

His voice cracked at the end when he saw that Rin was in the room.

“Oh Rin. I was just, um I was just wonder-“

Rin launched herself out that window.

•••

Rin was wielding the fire today easily as she had enough shame and anger in her to do so. Much more shame than anger however.

If Jiang picked up on it he didn’t say.

“It smells like the gods did a shit.”

“What.”

He didn’t care to elaborate on that astounding statement. He just slowly hummed and watched as Rin went through precarious movements. She had to bend the fire into different shapes. Each shape Jiang picked apart mercilessly.

“A circle has no points.”

“You asked me to make triangle.”

“Yes but I was thinking of a circle.”

“I’m not a mind reader.”

“You should be.”

“That sword isn’t balanced.”

“You asked in no uncertain terms for a bent out of shape sword.”

“Trick question my dear.”

“It was a stupid trick question.”

“All trick questions are stupid. Lesson of the day. Welp, I think we’re finished here.”

Rin can only nod as all the fire exerts from her body. She stretches all her aches and pains away and soon sees Kitay walking through the hedges.

He looks a little lost which is to be expected. Master Jiang has becomes awfully fond of mazes and the once neat enough garden has now turned into something out of Ijrah’s puzzles.

She calls him over and he begins to walk over to them. However Jiang blocks his path before he can reach her. He eyes Kiaty with such distaste Rin thought Kitay might’ve done something to him.

But Kitay hasn’t done anything to Jiang that he could possibly know of. Maybe in first year Kitay, drunk out of his mind, pissed on Jiang’s rose bush. In all fairness, Jiang also pissed in that same flower bush a day before hand.

The rose bush was well fertilised that week.

“Who are you?”

Kitay bowed and tried not to ogle. Oh yeah, she hasn’t told them Jiang was no longer off his rocker=no longer crazy.

“Chen Kitay.”

“Hmph.”

Jiang was unimpressed with Kitay which was unthinkable. It was Kitay. When did Jiang get so prickly.

“Master we were just about to leave.”

Jiang ignores her.

“Are you one of my students?”

“No sir.”

“So why are you in my classroom?”

It was a public garden but suddenly Jiang was feeling protective of it.

“Rin asked me to meet her here.”

“Why. Am I interrupting a date?”

He said it with such venom Rin would laugh about it later. Her and Kitay, never in a million years.

“Master!”

“No Master Jiang, but I am preventing one.”

Kitay had a look on his face when he’s finally figured out a confusing puzzle. He’s now smiling at both of them and looks back and forth as if noticing something so obvious.

“Oh? And who may you be preventing for going on a date with my Rin?”

My Rin. She ignored whatever feeling that dragged up.

“Nezha has a crush.”

“He does not!” Rin cried in outrage.

“Yin Nezha, Jun’s student.”

“The one and only.”

“You are such a prick Kitay.”

He sticks out a tongue at her.

“Huh. Rin you’re dismissed, you and Kittie are free to go.”

“It’s Kitay, Jiang.”

“Is that not what I said Ketay?”

“It’s close enough Master.” Kitay responded solemnly before Rin all but dragged him away from the gardens.

“You are such a prick.”

“Yeah yeah. I thought he was off his rocker, he seems pretty stable there.”

“Yeah, that’s the new Jiang for you.”

“When did be behave semi-normal.”

“I don’t know how you can call that semi-normal, after Su Daji came to visit him.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“What what.”

“I know that face. Tell me now.”

“Is that Nezha.” Kitay exclaimed and Rin whipped her head to side, effectively closing that conversation.

“I will burn you.”

“No you would never, who would eat your radish.”

“Fuck you.”

“You wish.”

She chases him with a flaming hand.

•••

They don’t see Nezha until dinner time. He strides into the dining hall and he looks pale. He may also be shaking.

He plonks himself down beside Rin and crumples on the table.

“What the fuck crawled up your ass.” Venka asked, which means she’s very concerned about her childhood best friend.

He doesn’t answer her but instead turns on Rin.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me Jiang was the Gatekeeper?” Nezha whispered furiously.

Suddenly all four of their heads are pressed together.

“Uh cause I didn’t fucking know!”

But it made perfect sense, it made so much sense that Rin wish she saw it sooner. He never mentioned his God before but Rin knew it was powerful.

Rin then remembered Polly and how back at Tikany she was once told a story of how the Gatekeeper leveled a mountain with just a mouse. Rin’s dinner began to do a dangerous swirl.

“How do you know for sure?” Kitay accused but he too saw the truth behind the claim.

“He threatened me about Rin! I was walking back from teaching the first years sword fighting when all of a sudden I’m lifted into the fucking air and put onto the roof and Jiang’s just standing there with these beasts and he just threatens me about you. Rin is Jiang some sort of a…”

Nezha trailed of unsure. A quick swift kick from Kitay made Nezha sure of his decision, he would not be finishing his question.

Rin was fuming. How dare he, he had no right.

“Um Rin?”

“Yes.”

“You’re melting the fork.”

She dropped what ever goop she now held onto the table.

Venka whistled. “You do not play about Nezha do you?”

Both her and Nezha flamed. Thankfully before either of them could answer, Jiang walked into the hall.

When he saw all four of them looking at him he gave them a wink.

Smoke fizzled out of her ears. She grasped Nezha by his arm and hauled him out of the hall with ferocious steps. She needed to hit something or more like someone.

Soon they found themselves down at the floor of Sinegard where a river flowed so harshly it would be hard for anyone to eavesdrop.

“What did he say. Why would he threaten you. I don’t understand.”

Nezha was going a furious shade of crimson.

“I don’t know why he threatened me but I know why he did.”

“That makes no fucking sense.”

Nezha sighed and tried to take a deep breath.

“I think it’s clear on what grounds he was threatening me on.”

“I don’t not understand.”

“We both know you’re not that thick Rin.”

“You thought so back in first year.”

“You’re deflecting and again I’m sorry. You know that.”

She did know that, and now she felt a bit bad.

“Come on Rin you know why.”

When she continued to stare blankly at him he began to steady himself.

Please, she begged silently. Do not make me acknowledge this, I don’t think we can survive the fall out.

He grasped her by her shoulders and made her look at him.

“Fang Runin, I love you. I know it’s crazy to say but I do, do you?”

Rin is left there to gape when slow clapping fills the space. Jiang steps out and looks like he’s ready to murder Nezha.

“Touching, that was very touching Yin.”

Rin saw red.

“You want to see something touching?” Rin roared. She spun around, yanked Nezha down and kissed him for all she had.

It was like calling the Phoenix, it was electrifying and terrifying all at once. She then remembered Jiang was watching so she broke away and glared at him.

Jiang looked like he was traumatised, he looked like he could cry. Nezha looked to be in the same state also. Rin was cackling.

“You’re too young to be kissing!” Jiang cried out. He was traumatised.

“And you’re too old to be threatening people!”

“You don’t even know him!”

“Oh I know him pretty well.”

Jiang looks like he could get sick.

“Tell me you didn’t.”

Rin waggles her eyebrows. Nezha shakes his head furiously.

“We didn’t, right Rin.”

Rin makes her hand disappear behind Nezha’s back and it travels lower.

“Right Rin?” Nezha croaks out

Jiang calls ugly Polly. She darts forward but she suspended in the air by an invisible wall. No not invisible, transparent. The wall is made of water.

The wall is made of water that fucking Yin Nezha called.

“What the fuck.”

5.) Mistakes

Rin knew objectively this was stupid. It was really stupid but she didn’t care. She been giving Jiang and Nezha both the cold shoulder for this past week, which meant Nezha would look at her like a lost puppy and Jiang would also look at her like a lost puppy but wouldn’t let her call the fire.

So maybe raiding his opium supply isn’t her smartest idea but she needs it. She needs to see that lady again and if Jiang won’t help her she will just have to help herself.

So when she knows Jiang won’t be in his room she sneaks in there through a window.

This could get her expelled but she’s sure she won’t get caught.

His room has nothing out of the ordinary. His herbal collection sits on the window, his clothes are surprisingly all in the closet and his bag of opium is surprisingly not on his bedside table.

She opens his locker and his bag is there. She’s about to close it when something catches her eye. It’s a drawing of a Speerly, more importantly a drawing of her Speerly. The Speerly she’s about to visit.

She shoves the drawer close with more force that necessary which knocks over his glass. It spills and shatters all over the floor, just like Rin.

She doesn’t let herself think never mind breathe. She needs answers and she needs them now. She runs, faster than she ever has before, back to her dorms. She locks the door and sits in the middle. She swallows a nugget and let it do the rest.

The woman is bound by fire. She trashes around. She’s rage, she’s anger, she’s everything that the her God loves.

She chants over and over again. Rin gets the picture. Speer, the children, the trifecta, the children, Speer, Jiang, the children, Speer, betrayal, heartbreak, death, Speer, Speer, Speer.

She gets called every name, she’s told she’s a failure, a bitch, a cunt, a traitor to her race. She’s also called these lovely things that Rin doesn’t know the name of. Then she realises with startling clarity, she’s calling out her name. Her mother is calling out her name.

It’s pained and heartbroken. She’s sobbing she’s in hysterics. Rin doesn’t ask her anything, she heard all she needs.

When her mother reaches out her hand towards her, Rin grabs it. Her mistake. All of sudden Rin is in agony. She’s screaming she’s rolling around she can’t get up, she can’t get up, she can’t get up.

She doesn’t know how long it takes for her to wake up in the infirmary. When she does she’s gasping for air. A voice is telling her what to do and she hooks onto it and begins to slowly fill her lungs up with much needed air.

Once she’s settled down she’s staring at the face of her Master and she knows she’s truly and utterly fucked.

6.) Bridging

Jiang Ziya knew he had fucked up. His mind was lost within time and space. He had brief periods of lucidity where he would be aware he was acting the fool but they were often short and left him feeling exhausted.

When he went to sleep at night his mind plagued him of horrors that aren’t so easy to forget. He remembers his loves, his gifts, his curse and his demise. But more often he dreams of his student, Rin.

Rin who was nothing like Altan but yet similar. Rin who looked so familiar yet he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Slowly but surely he pushed his boundaries and his lucidity slowly decreased. Soon he remembered more and could stay in the material world longer. He remembered more. He remembers what happened to him and he can feel it loose its power.

When Su Daji comes to visit him after the brink of a war the seal, as he comes to call it, disintegrates for goods. Daji weeps in his arms and they speak till sunrise to sunset about everything.

With his mind now his own he can’t escape the grief. So he heads down to the garden to help himself forget. Except he forgot about Rin in more ways than one.

“Master?” He looks up at her and his world is forever changed. How could he not have recognised it. How could he forget.

Rin looked exactly like Hanelia except for the bits that looked like him. He could keel over. He knew Rin’s story. Orphan girl, nearly sold to a loveless, illegal marriage, bullied here at Sinegard and one of the two last living Speerlies.

She experienced all of that while her father was high out of his mind. She would not be let down again. He would not let himself down again.

But he didn’t know where to begin. How did he shape himself up to be someone she can trust.

He had no one else but Daji to help him so she gave him a rundown of everything he should know.

We all know you’re not squeamish Ziya so let her know that whatever questions she might have you can be for there for her to answer them.

Make sure she eats enough, she’s your daughter not one of your creatures, real food that she likes.

Do not insinuate anything between you two until a year bare minimum. She will flee knowing that child. Take it slow.

Ask about her friends, her interests and don’t make it weird Ziya, I know you don’t give me that look.

If she fucks up respond accordingly. Don’t hit, don’t shout, don’t do anything rash. Cool off and think. This is your second chance with her. Don’t blow it.

Too late. He’s pretty sure he fucked it up at every turn. She’s been giving him the cold shoulder and it’s been eating him up inside.

Was he rash with the way he acted with Nezha…. No he wasn’t. That boy needed to be put in his place. No one on this earth was good enough for his Rin and if one day there was, it certainly wasn’t going to be a descendant of Riga’s.

Unfortunately because of his actions Rin wouldn’t speak to him except for saying either “Yes Master.” or “No Master.” It killed him inside when she called him Master. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.

He all but trudged himself up to his room after he couldn’t find Rin. With the advice from Daji he was out to apologise. The first thing he noticed when he entered was that someone was in here, someone who stole his opium and knocked over a glass.

Rin.

He marched through the halls until he found the limp thing. He knew the boy knew, he was too smart for his own good.

“Where’s my Rin?”

Ketay seemed shocked to see him but not shocked at his wording.

“She’s in her dorm Master Jiang. Is everything ok.”

“Show me.” Was all he instructed and soon Kitey began to weave his way around the crowd.

“Rin.” The boy shouted but not a stir.

“Rin come on I need you.”

Jiang heard something behind the door, he pressed his ear to the door and he heard gagging.

“Rin you have ten seconds to open this door.” He commanded, he tried to out a threatening tone on but he knew it was more of a ‘I’m worried sick.’

Rin didn’t respond so Jiang did the only sane thing he could think of in that moment. He broke down the door.

There was his Rin. Thrashing and foaming at the mouth. Giggling and screaming and going insane.

He froze. Kitay did not and rushed towards her. He placed both hands on her shoulder.

“Rin, Rin can you hear me?”

Rin didn’t respond with words, instead she lept for Kitay and had him on his back. Fire began to slowly move up her arms.

“Rin.” Kitay choked out. “Rin you’re hurting me.”

That sprung Jiang into action. He got Rin off of Kitay and she went limp in his arms. He then sped off towards the infirmary and prayed to each and every sixty four Gods to keep his Rin safe.

Three hours later Rin woke up gasping for breath. He calmed her down as much as he could and once she was settled he knew she knew.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I’m sure you don’t want the details.”

“I’m cruel.”

“So am I.”

“I have a temper.”

“I know.”

“I’m rash.”

“So was Hanelai.”

She goes quiet after that.

“How does this change us?”

“I guess we’ll have to figure that out.”

“We?”

She sounded so hopeful even though she tried her best to hide it. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Together.”

She was apprehensive and said it like a promise. In a way it was. It was a promise that he wouldn’t let her down again.

Extra Thoughts: Scale of one to ten are we feeling this or are we not.

It was hard writing this fic cause R.F Kuang is literally an amazing author and I found the characters hard to capture. I hope I did a half decent job but whatcha ya gonna do.

Also I hope you liked the regular show reference.

My AO3 is Crankycake and kudos, comments and constructive criticism are always welcome

#poppy war #jiang ziya #ao3 fanfic #fang runin #rinezha #yin nezha #father-daughter bond #Jiang Ziya is Fang Runin’s biological father #hurt/comfort #angst #fluff #sring venka #chen kitay

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miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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GUYS AFTER SEEING THIS FANART I NEED TO MAKE A FOC ABOUT HIM BEING HER BIO DAD

can you tell who my favorite characters are

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miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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LIKE WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW GOOD THIS VISION IS

You know my guilty pleasure is?, bruce wayne is peter parker bio dad. BUT peter doesn't know that his bio dad. The best part bruce is is so envy at tony and peter relationship because he cannot have that type of relationship with his son, Tony stark is something bruce wanted to be as a father, but because he was bad at his feelings he cannot give the emotional? Support that he wanted to give peter like tony.

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miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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I AM DONE MY PROOFREADING AND CHAPTER 13 IS ON THE WAY! THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE

You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 12: That’s Life

Summary: “I think we shouldn’t mess with oceans. I’d love to go down there but I think we should keep the peace at the same time.”

“Yesss. Like I wouldn’t wake up some dinosaur that got lucky and lived but I would take lots of photos with it.” Steph agreed.

Thoughts: OML. I’m never going to say when I’m updating again because then I don’t until a month 😔. Like let me be publicly shamed.

Last you saw me, shits happened. My life had been turned upside down and then back together again. Also fainted in the midst of it. Also played Marvel Rivals for the first time, addicted.

Also I can’t believe this has reached 30k, I’m actually gobsmacked.

Enough of my yammering. Let’s get on to the real stuff.

Chapter Title: That’s Life by Frank Sinatra

WARNINGS

EMPHASIS ON THE WARNINGS CAUSE YEAH

Rape is mentioned by two different characters. NOT PETER. Not explicit but I didn’t beat round the bush either.

Swearing

Violence

Abuse

Just all round good stuff

Now please read with caution. You have been warned.

After Peter had successfully managed to convince Bee that the road trip was a good idea he couldn’t stop smiling. He pretty much skipped into Wayne Manor. He was delighted.

It was late enough when he got back. Late enough that all curtains had been drawn in the kitchen and the leftovers were put away. Alfred had a strict schedule, he tried to be in bed by eight if possible. Of course when Bruce was out on patrol you could see him pacing around the kitchen three hours after he said he was going to bed.

Peter had told Alfred he wouldn’t be back for dinner. Alfred told him he’d set aside a plate and true to his word he did. Apparently Alfred didn’t believe in microwaves so Peter had to turn on the oven to warm his food.

He didn’t mind. As he waited his thoughts swirled. If all went successful he could have the key to getting home. This trip could make or break it. Peter’s chest felt like it could explode. From excitement or anxiousness he couldn’t tell.

For the first time he got here he felt hope that he could go back to his reality, but then he got this curdling feeling in his throat and his eyes begin to burn. Leaving this place behind, could he do it?

The Bats, the people of Gotham who so badly need his help. Could he leave them all behind, could he be so selfish. Peter kinda skims over that part when he goes over the plan. If he thinks about it for too long….

Peter shakes his head before tucking into his food. He couldn’t believe Bee had agreed. It was a ridiculous idea. He was praying on everything Bee was dying for a holiday and that it would be the perfect timing for her and apparently it was.

Luck for once was on his side, who would’ve thought. Peter had told Bee all his plans. Everything was meticulously planned out. It was so thorough that Bee had actually looked impressed. When she saw the type of strike they were going to participate in she looked like she regretted ever saying yes.

“The things I do for you dimples….”

But she had agreed none the less. She also agreed to catch up with an old friend while she was there. It was perfect, during that time Peter would go to the museum to visit the scary monsters and Bee could have a nice tea and coffee.

Peters nearly finished his meal when he hears footsteps approaching. Duke in his striking Signal get up, strides into the room.

He does their elaborate handshake, that involved a bird, a bunny and a lot of twisting, before he makes a bee line towards his secret stash.

“Hey Peter. What’s got you so smiley.”

“Bee and I are going to Metropolis to get some rare fabric.”

He wasn’t going to tell them his actual reason. They might want to go with him and Peter couldn’t risk it. He’s lost enough family members Peter reasoned to himself. His luck was going to run out eventually and then kaboom. No more bats.

Duke nodded impressed. “That’s a long way, a way for some fabric. Must be gold or some shit. Surprised Dick will let you out of his sights. How long is it for?”

Peter opens his mouth and then leaves it open. In all his plans and thinking he never even considered Dick wouldn’t let him go. More importantly he hadn’t even thought about having to ask Dick. Now that Duke said it, it’s all he can think about it.

Dick has been protective of Peter since his little fainting incident. Would he let Peter out of his sights for a weekend? A weekend to a place where highly dangerous unknown species are being transported?

Peter hopes had now done a spectacular plummet. His chances were looking slim.

Duke upon seeing his stricken face starts laughing. “Oh man. You didn’t forget did you?”

“Ehm. I may have forgot to mention it to Dick?”

Duke snickers before throwing three gummy bears into his mouth.

“I’m sure he’ll say yes.”

Peter brought his plate over to the sink.

“Do you think so?”

Duke hymned and hawed before promptly saying “Nah.”

Peter sprayed the hose in his face before skedaddling.

Ok. Ok ok.

So Dick may not be the biggest fan of his plan but he’d convince him. He’d have to. He’s going upstairs and marches his arse up to Dicks door. He raises his hand up to knock before freezing. It’s a paralysing fear and he can’t move.

For whatever reason knocking on that door is acknowledging Dick as his……caretaker. He settles on caretaker. They never really addressed it before. Both too scared. Every time Dick broached the topic of school Peter shut him down. Peter never talked about Tony, another one who Peter didn’t know where there relationship stood until it was too late.

On one sense their need to define their relationship was never really presented. Or it was quickly brushed over. The only time it was really acknowledged was when Peter accidentally called Dick Dad when he was half asleep. Dick didn’t hear him, thank god.

So in other words Peter wasn’t ready to put a label on their relationship. If he did it was just another reason why Peter shouldn’t go back. He was torn enough as it was. He didn’t need any more reasons.

He’s then reminded painfully of the first time he asked to hang out with Ned when he moved to the tower.

Mister Stark and him were both in the lab. Peter tried not to fidget too much. Ned had asked him to come to his house this weekend. To watch a movie and maybe build some legos.

Peter had immediately agreed until he realised he was living with Mister Stark. He would ultimately need his permission. Question is, would he give it.

Peter promised he would ask him. Ned was over the moon.

That encounter was on Monday. It was now Thursday. Peter knew he had been acting strangely this week. Vision and Mrs Potts and even mentioned it to him. Mister Stark didn’t though. Although he kept a closer eye on him. If that was possible.

Peter was contemplating whether he would be able to sneak out or not when Mister Stark placed the robot arm he was working on down sharply. He winced.

“Sorry kid but I need you to come out with it.”

He was looking at Peter with a ‘let’s cut the shit face’.

”What? What could you mea-mean. I’m not hiding anything!”

”How you managed to keep your identity a secret is beyond me.”

He still hasn’t told that Ned knows and he is pretty sure MJ does well. He hasn’t even told Mister Stark about Johnny.

”That’s not very nice.”

”Now you’re avoiding my question.”

”No I’m not.”

”Mhm. Sure you aren’t. Take it from the master avoider, you are.”

”Really Mister Stark I’m not.”

”Try again Underoos.”

By the look on Mister Starks face he wasn’t getting out of this one. Oh well. Come on Parker, you can do it.

He takes one deep breath before promptly rushing it all out.

“NedaskedmetogotohishouseonfridayandIwaswonderingkfIcouldgo.”

Mister Stark looked like he just had a stroke.

“Come again.”

”Could I got to Ned’s house on Friday, please.”

”Wait let get this straight. You’ve been off this week because of trying to ask me to go to Teds house.”

”It’s Ned but yeah.”

”Can I ask why?”

Tony was looking at his kid and wondering how. How on earth could he manage to overthink this.

Peter was looking at Mister Stark sheepishly.

“I’m not used of asking for permission.”

Mister Stark sighed and threw his arm around Peter.

“Yes you can go and be a nerd with your friend.”

”I can go! Really?”

”Yes Mister Parker you can go. Now let’s go order from that Thai place Pepper likes.”

”Your the best Mister Stark.”

”Yeah your not to bad yourself kid.”

He was so focused on the door that he didn’t hear the other one open from across the hall.

“Dicks not here you know.”

Peter whipped around and came face to face with Stephanie. With a slimy green face mask on and her hair tied up in a messy mop. It was kinda of a look.

“Oh. Do you know where he is?”

“Yeah he’s on patrol with B.” She hummed out.

She then narrowed her eyes at him before grinning. “Can you braid hair?”

“Yeah I can braid hair.” He answered a bit confusedly.

Stephanie clapped her hands and beamed.

“Brilliant!”

She then grasps Peter’s arm before pulling him to her bedroom.

“Now tell me what’s troubling you my dear Peterino.”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

An hour later Peter has his hair in a scraggly pigtail and no face mask as it contained pepper mint.

Between the two of them they had demolished a packet of cookies that Steph had stashed away. Steph had also downed three cups of coffee before Peter had came in which resulted in a caffeine infused sugar rush.

Steph was now coming down for her high and her breathing was slowing. Sleep was on the horizon for both of them when Steph said so quietly Peter nearly missed it.

“Do you miss your Tony.”

Peter has to blink the sleep away before answering.

“Yeah, yeah I do.” He says quietly.

Steph hums before waving her hand up in the air. “I don’t know how you do it Peter. I just….”

She let out a sigh as she leaves her sentence hanging in the air. He feels a bit morbid saying he’s used to it so he just takes a swig of 7up.

Silence settles between them. Peter stares idly up at the ceiling before a thought strikes him out of nowhere.

“How many Robins were there?”

“Oh hmmm 5? Dick, Jason, Tim, Me the best and then Damian. Duke was for a small bit with his pals but not really official.”

Peter lets that information sink in. “You became Spoiler then?”

Steph gets a dreamy smile on her face. “Not as easy as that. I was given the Robin mantle to spite Tim in a way. That whole shit show is another story for another day. Some stuff happened to me before I became Spoiler.”

“You gave up Robin for Spoiler because of Tim.”

“No. Unfortunately not.”

Steph got a glassy look on her face.

“A bad man called Black Mask took me and tortured me when I was 15. Psychologically and physically. In the end he got locked up and some mysterious man killed him. Not before he managed to knock me up though.”

She said it in a it doesn’t matter tone but Peter was sick to his stomach.

“After that I gave the baby up to a family in Star City. It was the right choice you know. After the whole ordeal I stoped being Robin. I just couldn’t. Robin was supposed to be a light in the darkness. Something pure in this city. After what happened I felt tainted, I felt like if I put on that costume again it wouldn’t feel right. I wouldn’t be right.”

She took a deep breath and Peter kept silent letting her get through this. He wouldn’t push.

“I took a year out, didn’t talk to Bruce or to Tim or to anyone. Then one day I came home and Bruce was there. He told me he fucked up big time with me. Told me that he didn’t do right by me when I was Robin and that if I let him he would try and be a better mentor I suppose. I’m not like the others, I love Bruce to bits but I’m not really one of his actual kids just likes he’s not exactly my father. We have our own special relationship which means as much to me as anything.”

“I stayed at the manor most days. My Dad was a Villian called Cluemaster. He was a bad guy, a real bad guy but even towards the end of his life, a really teensy tiny part of me loved him. Everyone saw him as a mass murderer. I did too, I knew he was awful. But there was times when I saw him as the guy who taught me how to ride a bike and pick a lock. Times I’d see him as a dad. But then I’d blink and he’d be gone. Standing in his place would be this man who was a stranger who had done so much bad and that needed to be stopped. That’s when I came to Bruce two weeks after he showed up in my apartment and I told him that I wanted to become my own hero and on my own terms.”

“So I became Spoiler to outweigh all the bad that my dad and Black Mask had done. I did it to make sure that no one would have to go through what I had to go through ever again. I’ve been trying my best. So far I think I’ve been doing pretty ok.”

She then takes a big gulp of air before deflating. Peter takes this as his cue to speak up.

“I’m so, so sorry. I can’t even…I’m just…. You’re an incredible person Steph. I hope you know that right. To go through all that and still be happy and to go out there and do good. I hope you know that you never were or are tainted.”

If Steph wiped a tear from her eye Peter didn’t see it.

“Thanks Peter…I’ll miss you.”

“Miss me?”

“When you go back. I’ll miss you. We’ll all miss you. I hope you know that we won’t just forget you.”

She rolls on her side and Peter mimics her. He doesn’t know what to say to that so he just says quiet.

“Tell me what’s it’s like back in your universe.”

Peter complies easily. He tells her about Queens, the Avengers, Ned and MJ. He skips over any family detail but she doesn’t seem to mind.

“What about space and the grape looking alien?”

“Thanos, Space was really cool, seeing everything up close was amazing. The pictures we take pale in comparison to the real thing.”

Even though space was a shit show Peter still loved thinking about it. He could talk about this topic for days on end.

“Space freaks me out.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, what if you don’t come back down and you’re just stuck there.”

Peter didn’t know what was happening. He couldn’t focus on what the others were talking about. All he knew was that there was a searing pain rushing through him at an alarming rate. His vision starts to go a bit wishy washy. He looks up in time to see Drax turn to dust. Fucking dust. He nearly falls to the floor in shock.

His spider senses are blaring at him, screaming in his head wrong, wrong, wrong. He gets the feeling that they didn’t exactly win this fight.

Something is wrong with him. Then he see’s Other Peter blow away and with a gut clenching feeling he knows whats happening. Peter was never afraid of dying, not in the cult, not with Skip or when he was out on the street.

It’s a different story when you have someone worth living for. Then your fucking terrified of the unknown.

He can feel himself give away slowly. He can feel himself desperately trying to mend himself back together and it hurts. It hurts so bad he can’t breathe. He may die from lack of oxygen before the dust gets him. In his last few moments he wants comfort and in his last few moments he needs it.

“Mister Stark.” He croaks out.

Mister Stark turns towards him slowly. The look on his face is pained and his eyes go wide upon seeing Peter.

”I don’t feel so good.” At that moment reality strikes and fear crashes into him.

”You’re alright.” He didn’t know if he was trying to convince himself or Peter of that fact.

”I don’t know, I don’t what’s happening, I don’t.” He crashes into Mister Starks chest and he holds onto dear life. This is it. This is it.

”I don’t wanna go, I don’t wanna go, sir please. Please I don’t want to go, please.”

His legs give out on him. He’s now in agonising pain. His body is fighting against the effects a little too much and it burns.

Mister Stark lays him down on the rocky karst surface, he knows there’s no stopping it. He thinks of the night where Tony and him fought. After Peter went missing for three weeks.

“And if you died. I’d feel like that’s on me.”

Peter looks up at Mister Stark and his pained expression. The lost look on his face. His time is at an end but he can do this. His final breath leave his lungs and it forms the words “I’m sorry.” before he can feel himself finally die.

At least Peter died with Tony beside him. He wasn’t left up there with a complete stranger.

“Yeah I can see where you’re coming from.”

“Mhm.” Steph nodded.

“I’m telling you there’s more cons than pros. The ocean on the other hand. I’d dive into that head first. Whether I lived or died.”

“I think we shouldn’t mess with oceans. I’d love to go down there but I think we should keep the peace at the same time.”

“Yesss. Like I wouldn’t wake up some dinosaur that got lucky and lived but I would take lots of photos with it.” Steph agreed.

They chat like this up until the early hour of the night before Peter gets up and wanders back into the guest room. He’ll ask Dick tomorrow about the trip.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter did not ask Dick about the trip the day after…or the day after that. No no no. Peter had left it till the last week.

Him and Bee were supposed to leave this Friday and he still hasn’t asked yet. Steph and Bee have been on to him about it but he just can’t. In his defence Dick has been really busy these past few weeks. Getting ready for the transfer as well as travelling back and forth from Bludhaven.

When he does try to ask Dick about it his throat clogs up and his senses blare at him. He ends up stumbling into a different line of conversation, something that Dick hasn’t picked up yet thank god.

Peter’s currently in the dining room with the rest of the bats. He fears that if he chews his food any longer his teeth will start to disintegrate. Damian gives him a funny look so he stops it and tries to act normal.

He focuses in on Cass who’s talking about her new production. It’s on the Friday after next so Peter will thankfully not miss it. He thinks he does a pretty good job at acting normal at the rest of the dinner. Nodding and smiling where it seems polite.

Afterwards Peter insists he’ll do the dishes while the others gear up for patrol. Alfred only allows him as he starting to come down with some sickness. Poor Alfred.

Peters humming away while he scrubs the dishes when Jason approaches him. Peter turns to look at him in surprise.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on patrol?”

Jason hops up on the counter besides Peter. “Eh I’m going to give it a miss.”

Peter eyes him suspiciously. Jason’s not one to miss patrol. Peter misses patrol. Really misses it. Dick told him that as soon as he gets his stuff sorted in Bludhaven him and Peter could go on patrol together and Dick would be able to show him the ropes. Peter did counter that he was patrolling Gotham before he moved in with the bats. Dick said it would give him peace of mind so Peter let the subject drop for now.

Peter wondered how much peace of mind Dick would have if he knew what he was planning to do this weekend.

Jason huffed out a sigh. “Ok let’s cut the crap. Something has been bothering you.”

Peter eyes widen, maybe he was chewing his food far too hard this evening. Dam it.

Before Peter can open his mouth Jason’s going full steam ahead.

“Are you mad at Dick cause he’s in Bludhaven all the time. I promised Dick I wouldn’t tell you but he’s really worried about you Peter. He says you start a sentence like you’re about to say something and then completely change it. Or is it something one of us have done.”

And here Peter was thinking he was being discreet about changing his topic of subject. Peter pursed his lips before pretty much spilling out an explanation as to why.

At the end of it Jason had this confused look on his face.

“Are you afraid he’ll say no.”

“No not afraid he’ll say no.”

If Dick says no he’ll find a way around it. It’s the thing that the bond that they have going on between them will finally be acknowledged. That Peter and Dick are father and son. And that terrifies Peter to his core.

Somehow Jason becomes a telepath and his eyes do a blinking motion a couple of time.

“Oh.”

“It’s stupid.”

“No it’s not. I was the same with B. I know it’s hard and scary but one day you’re going to have to have a conversation about your relationship, why not now.”

Then Peter says the thing that frightens him the most.

“What if I mess everything up. I usually do.”

Jason tugs him into his side. “No you won’t Peter. Dick adores you. Of course you won’t mess this up. Ask him when he gets back from patrol. Baby steps. Dick won’t even have that conversation with you until you initiate it, he won’t say anything until then.”

Peter nods weakly but he doesn’t feel so confident. “Ok I’ll ask. Thanks Jason.”

“No problem kid, I’ll finish up the pots for you.”

“Dam. You must really love me.”

“Yeah yeah. Now scram before I change my mind.”

Peter grins and makes his way up the stairs. He’ll ask Dick when he gets back. Everything will be fine. Parker Luck won’t strike him down.

On his way down the hall he scoops up Duchess. It’s an unusual sight to see her without her kittens. Peter hasn’t had the heart to give them away. Although Harley has been hinting pretty hard that she would take one.

She purrs contently in Peters arms before they make their way down to the guest room. He places her gently on the bed before opening his laptop. He’s about to pull up some new suit designs when his hands freeze over the keyboard.

January 27th.

The fifth anniversary of May Parker.

And he had forgotten.

Peter didn’t know why someone would hurt his aunt. May was loving and kind and caring and good. Maybe she was too good. The police officer had explained it to Peter very poorly that a bad person had hurt his good aunt..

May was coming back from her night shift when some old lady had been begging for her help. Told her she had lost her keys in the alley while she was taking out the trash. May had gone over to help her find them with her flash. May never made it out of that alley.

The security camera wasn’t close enough to see what was going on. They found her body in a warehouse. They told him she had drowned which was a nice way of putting it. They had told him they were sorry for his loss. Peter couldn’t say anything back.

His fault. All his fault. If he hadn’t killed Ben then May wouldn’t have had to pick up more shifts. He was so incredibly stupid and selfish and Peter cries himself to sleep that night. And the next. And the next.

Mass was held and Peter sat up the front with May’s family. They had cut contact long ago. May’s sister Melissa screeched at him, told him he didn’t deserve to cry, called him a demon child. Nobody corrected her. Peter couldn’t bring in it himself to be mad. She wasn’t wrong exactly.

Afterwards a strange lady came up to him. Peter remembers thinking she was strange. Not in a bad way. But in a way that made her stand out in the crowd.

Her eyes were smokey white. Her fair nearly touched the ground it was that long and orange was embellished throughout her outfit. She struck her hand out. Told him that the stuff in May’s and Ben’s apartment would be kept with her until he was old enough to understand.

It was weird. Peter looked behind him and when he turned around she was gone. He never saw her again. The next few hours were a blur until he was standing outside his new home.

His social work was a smiling woman named Vanessa.

“Now remember we smile and act polite. You should be grateful the Wescotts were willing to take you in.”

Peter could barely talk anymore. He didn’t have the energy. Peter walked in the door and the smell of smoke was so pungent he began to cough immediately.

Peter was then introduced to his new mum and dad. Archie looked dead inside. Her hair was a mess, eye bags that could rival craters and she only nodded at Peter before locking herself in the bathroom.

Skip was a big man. Big. His top was dirty and he had a grin on him that screamed scumbag. Vanessa only pushed him closer towards Skip. Badda bing badda boom Vanessa left.

(Peter would find out later that Vanessa was one of the ring leaders for a human trafficking group, aka the cult. He was actually supposed to be picked up that day by a woman named Veronica. A half hearted search was out for him but he was ultimately claimed dead.)

Thats when the first blow landed on his cheek. Then the next and the next. Skip told him this was his introduction. Archie only watched him from the stairs before disappearing. Skip soon chased after her.

Peter was settled on the porch when Archie came out. Different bruises from the ones Peter was sporting. She lit a cigarette and held it shakily between her fingers.

”Is he usually like this?”

”No. He’s usually much worse.”

She took a long drag of her cigarette before turning to face Peter.

”I remember when I first came here. Absolute shit show. Wife just left him. He’s gotten better.”

”You’re not his wife.”

“Nope. I’m his supposed foster daughter.”

Peters stomach turned to ice. After his introduction with Skip he had hammered upstairs after Archie. The noises they made ones of pain and one sided pleasure had Peter scrambling outside.

”You gonna squeal kid.”

Peter thought of his options. He couldn’t leave. Not yet. He couldn’t leave Archie all alone. Couldn’t leave her to face Skips wraith all on her own when the social services were eventually called.

”Nah.”

”Good. It’s better this way. Tell ya what. You take the beatings and I’ll take the other shit. We gotta deal.”

She stuck out her hand. Peter took it and shook firmly. From then on out that was it. They scraped by day to day. Peter learnt Archie didnt go to school which meant Peter didn’t either. They both went to the local library together though.

They had to share the same room. Peter always slept on his own though as Archie was in Skips bed. Skip never laid a hand on Peter that way.

Soon him and Archie developed a friendship. Archie would crawl back into bed in the late hours of the night. Always saying the same thing.

“I’ll get us out. Soon it will all be better.”

Peter didn’t know if he really believed her. He always nodded and agreed, for whose sake he didn’t know.

Then Peter got bit.

Then Archie got sick.

Both of them made it out of Skips house but only one made it out alive.

If anyone else was in the room with Peter you could hear his heart shatter. How could he forget. Every vulgar thing Melissa had shouted at him came back full force. He needed out. He needed out now.

Peter couldn’t believe it. He forgot. He actually forgot about May’s anniversary. He stumbles down the stairs two at a time. He opens the door and runs. He’s sprinting down the drive way faster than he’s ever run before. He misses May. He’s awful and he wants May. His head feels like it’s about to crack open. He wants May. He wants to run away from his mind but unfortunately he can’t.

Peters half ways down the drive when he falls. He skids to a halt and he tumbles to the floor. His hands brace out in front of him and ouch. When he’s on the floor he sobs uncontrollably. When he braces himself up he has no tears to cry.

He then sees that he ran into Alfred prized rose bush. He holds his hand out to the bush. They haven’t bloomed yet. Peter left an indent of himself in the bush. He huffs before holding out his hand towards the bush trying to rearrange it to look less broken.

As his hands reach the bush he wishes that it would just go back to normal, so he wouldn’t feel like such an idiot and had to explain to poor Alfred, who wouldn’t be mad but would be silently sad. Then a red swirl appears from his fingers tips before straggling into the bush.

Then like magic the indent disappears. The bush looks as good as new. Peters gobsmacked. His mouth hangs open and he feels like he could faint. Holy Fuck. The magic doesn’t stop there. Oh no, no, no. The bush begins to fucking bloom. Beautiful roses. It’s the fucking end of January.

He then notices that there’s a light glow coming from behind. He looks behind him and then jumps and whips his hand up to his face. His scar is now glowing red and green. He then also realise with a start that there’s a orange tinge illuminating from his chest.

If Peter wasn’t so drained he’d be panicking but he is so very drained. So he walks back to the manor. He creeps quietly back inside. He must look a mess and he still hasn’t stopped glowing. He prays that Jason is still struggling with those pots.

He opens his bedroom door before leaning against it.

Ehm.

His eyes snap open and he comes face to face with a red misty woman. She grins at him and her teeth are deadly. Who on earth is this thing.

“Found you.”

Peter shoots a web at her which goes through her.

“Nice trick.”

Her eyes trail his glow hungrily.

“Master will be pleased with your use of powers.”

“Reality’s your master?”

“Well who else. My names Elsie by the way. Now you have been very hard to track son of Parker. Now let me give you your task. When you go to visit the Shrikes take this with you.”

She holds out a tiny vial with a green liquid.

“Pour this on their tongues and your part of the bargain will be completed. Got it. Do not upset my master or your life will be ceased.”

Peter tires to respond but she just turns into mist and flys away. Peter can’t even question it at the moment. It’s all too much.

He stuffs the vial away. How does Reality know he’s going to the shrikes? What’s an Elsie. Would it be better if he just gave up. Then he pictures Tony and his friends. He can’t give up. He has to make it work.

He’s staring out the window when a knock sounds out from the door.

“Can I come in?”

Peter gives no answer. He doesn’t think he can physically talk right now. Dick peeks his head through the door.

“Hellooooo. Oh! There you are. Is everything ok?”

Peter looks at Dick. Is everything ok. No. No it’s not. And everything was ok for a little while and now shits hit the fan yet again.

Peter must look a mess. Dick only smiles at him. That’s what breaks Peter. He throws himself at Dick before he begins to cry. Dick barely catches him.

“Hey, hey it’s ok. I’ve got you.”

Peter lets it all out. “I miss May. I mi- miss my home but I lo’e this place. I’m sca-scared Dick I’m going to mess every-eve-everything up and get everyone hurt. I just want to stop messing everything up. And I can’t even ask you to-to go on a tr-trip without messing it up.”

“Woah. Slow down bug. Hey hey look at me. You haven’t messed up anything. Hey shh shh. I know I know. It’s ok. I’ve got you. I love you Peter. I love you ok. I don’t care if you miss your other home. That’s fine, that’s completely normal. I’m not upset about that ok.”

Peters breathing has slowed down. He’s now tucked underneath Dicks arm, their backs against the wall.

“Now. Tell me where’d this all come from?” His eyes were roaming all over his face like he knew something had tipped him over the edge.

“It’s May’s anniversary.”

Dicks eyes softened.

“And I forgot.”

His voice cracks at the end and he hates himself a little more for it.

“Oh bug. That’s no fault of your own. How could you have known the date. Your life is pretty weird right now. We only have one calendar in the manor. And you barely even look at your phone or laptop.

“But I should’ve known.”

“Peter your days are long. You’ve been cooped up in the manor for too long. My fault. I should be the one who’s sorry. It’s just with this case in Bludhaven it’s all over the place.”

“I haven’t been cooped up in the manor.”

Peter was allowed to leave, just not yet for patrol. He worked in Bees, hung out with the others outside of the manor. Visited Harley and Ivy every Tuesday. Met Babs at the library. Went to the orphanage often. Dropped Lindy and Charlie to and from school when he was working with Bee. He often minded Lindy now as well, an hour after he drops Charlie off. Her poor dad passed away quite recently. It was hitting their whole family pretty hard. Killed and dumped. It was terrible.

In other words Peter was not cooped up.

Dick smiles sadly at him. “But I should be here for you Peter. And I will be.”

“You are there for me.”

Dick has been bending over backwards to put Peter before Bludhaven, patrol and his whole life in general.

Dick hums. “Do you wanna talk about May?”

“Not today.”

“Ok. What about this trip. Is that what you’ve been meaning to ask me.”

Peter goes red. “Yeah.”

Then he explains his whole trip and how he was scared of telling Dick.

Silence filled after.

“You’re scared Peter, so am I. We’re going to figure this out together, this whole father-son thing.”

Peter nods. “Since you’re going with Bee of course you can go with her to the trip. It’s only a weekend. Don’t do anything crazy and we’re good.”

Peter feels like the worst…son?…ever when he nods.

Dick grins. “That’s my boy. Now come on, let’s watch a movie.”

Dicks on Peter bed watching Empire Strikes back with him cuddled firmly into his side when he wonders how on earth he got so lucky.

Dick knew something was up with Peter. He was happy but he kept trying to say something to Dick these past few weeks before changing subjects. He’d confided in Wally and Jason, both who hadn’t noticed this difference with Peter.

Dick felt like, well a dick. He was stretched thin these days. A mysterious red mist woman has been appearing all over Bludhaven. Never harming. Just whispering some weird spell and turning the odd man into a chameleon. They turn back after several hours but this behaviour needs to be stopped. The lady was untraceable. Didn’t show up on camera. Didn’t t leave fingerprints. She really was mist.

He’s been so preoccupied with this case, the ones with the other monsters and the dread that they’re all connected to Peter.

Peter who’s been going through his own struggles and Dick not being there enough. Well enough is enough. That changes today. Dicks going to call some back up on this case while Peters away for the weekend. The he’ll move to the manor semi permanently. Maybe he’ll look into buying his own house.

“This is my friends MJ favourite Star Wars movie.”

“Oh. Same as Wally then. Your lucky he’s not here or he’d start doing voice overs.”

“If MJ was also here she’d brain him.”

Dick snorts and looks down at Peter. From the few bits he’s heard of this MJ he can tell Peter may have teeny weeny bit of a crush. Dick grins. He would ask about it another day.

”Dick?”

”Yeah?”

”Thanks.”

”For what?”

”Everything.”

Dick smiles at him. “I should be really thanking you.”

Peter furrows his eyebrows at him. “For what?”

”Just for being an amazing son.”

“Now you’re just being mushy.”

”You’re one to talk Mr Thanks for every thing.”

”I don’t remember saying that.”

”Huh. That’s funny. Could’ve sworn you did.”

”Must be your old age getting to you.”

”Oh you’re such a shit.”

Peter lets out a laugh and Dick wishes they could stay in this moment. Peter falls asleep shortly and Dick has to do a tango with his trousers before he gets his phone free.

It took a couple of minutes before he could send a text he was full satisfied with.

The Oldies

Are you guys up for a game of catch?

🕸️🕷️🕸️

”Have you packed enough under wear?”

”BEE!”

“Never be caught out dimples.”

“I’m sure Peter has packed ample underwear.”

“Oh stuff it Damian.”

”Master Parker!”

“Sorry Mister Alfred.”

Alfred somehow heard that but completely missed the rude face Damian pulled at him.

Peter was leaving for his trip and saying goodbye had turned into a difficult affair. He could tell Dick was a bit nervous but he was still all smiles.

Damian, Alfred and Dick were here to see him off. Peter said his goodbyes.

Hugging Damian was like hugging a cat.

Alfred had discreetly slipped a hundred in his pocket while he said goodbye.

Dick hugged Peter extra tight. Then Bee started to beep the car like no man’s business.

“Be good!” Dick called out. Peter waved him off.

Bee and her mini clown car pulled away. “Metropolis here we come.”

“Lord have mercy on my soul.”

“Come on Bee we’re going to have fun.”

“Yeah whatever. Ooo turn this up.”

Peter cranked the volume up to twelve. They pulled away from the manor with Franks Sinatra singing ‘That’s Life’ and Peter couldn’t help but grin. No matter what happens, Peter is going to enjoy how ever long he has left in Gotham.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

”The Shrikes will tear him limb from limb.”

Reality let out a sharp laugh. “If he is all you talk him up to be, he will manage.”

”And if he doesn’t.” Soul asked her sister.

”I suppose you will have to have your bets on someone else.”

Soul gazed into the distance. The gloomy air suffocating her. She wishes she could make something out of this wasteland but she can’t. Her power is no longer her own. Neither are her sisters. A thing that grates on Power to no end.

”Shouldn’t you be more concerned about Ordour. You don’t want precious Peter facing his wraith.”

When Reality said his name the land shook and Soul closed her eyes. She could only fight him off for only so long but when he gained control her sisters were no longer safe.

“If he ever gets his hands on him.” Reality spoke with a serious note.

”I know. I know.”

“The shrikes are his creatures. Elsie said he has accessed his powers. That will give him a fighting chance when he visits the creatures.”

”I truly hope so.”

Reality gets up from her rock and walks over.

“One day my dear. One day. But until then I believe a chat with our dear sister Mind is in need. To see if she found the way to get that vermin out of your head.”

Soul doesn’t say it but she knows that there is no way she will get Ordour out of her head. Not now, not before, not ever.

”I suppose so.”

Extra Thoughts: So…what do we think???

A lot has happened. Firstly Steph. I love Steph. I did a twist on her back story with Bruce but the other things I hoped were close enough to cannon. Please tell me if I write something outrageously wrong or even tiny bit wrong that’s crucial. Also I’ve never wrote SA before so if your like no no you did this arse ways. Please tell me. I won’t be offended.

I adore Archie. I’d do a separate fic of just her and Peter. Her character can literally be summed up with the song You can’t catch me now by Olivia Rodrigo. I adore that song and the character pretty much revolves around that song.

Couple of bonding moment sprinkled in. I swear I will move pass this trip 😭😭😭. The writing block recently has been hitting hard.

I’ve literally have three different unfinished versions of this chapter. It took me that long until I was finally happy enough. Proof reading nearly finished me. I should re read my old chapters but I just can’t 😞. I find mistakes and wonder why people keep clicking this fic 😔.

End of it get a little convo between the stones. Love them aswell. Could write a whole fic about them also.

That’s pretty much all I’ve got to say. Regular updates are not looking like they’re going to happen for awhile but I’ll try my best. Hang in there. Let me know if you want more or less, any characters you want me to bring in. Let me know any suggestions as well or anything that needs to be fixed.

Hope ye all enjoy the rest of your week! And I hope to update before the end of the month…watch me update in like fucking November.

Day this was Wrote: 10/03/25

AND THAT LADIES AND GENTS AND EVERYONE ELSES IS MY PROOFREADING DONE!!!

IF YOU COULDN’T CATCH THE VIBE IM CURRENTLY RUBBING MY HANDS TOGETHER LIKE A FLY, I CANT WAIT TO FINISH CHAPTER 13 AND GET THIS FIC ROLLING AGAIN

WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A LOVELY WEEK AND IT GETS BETTER, IT JUST TAKES AWHILE

UNTIL NEXT TIME XXX

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miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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OMG OMG OMG

...♡

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miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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THIS IS FREAKING FANTASTIC

selfishly, just once.

17K notes · View notes

miserablemuffin · 19 days ago

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Honestly about time

I was not expecting to wake up to this...

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miserablemuffin · 20 days ago

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You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 11: Me and the Devil

Summary: She stalks up closer and stretches out her hand. “Deal or no deal.”

Thoughts: Sooooooo. Turns out the next update was not going to be the 5th… Hello! So in the times I’ve updated last my school closed for a week because of snow, I got sick, writers block hit, a storm hit, one of the worst we’ve seen in a while and knocked out both water and power out!

To top that all off I’ve got like ten tests lined up for me in the next week starting tomorrow and ending next Thursday!!! Woo woo. So if you read that spiel fair play now back to the story.

Chapter title: Me and the Devil by Soap&Skin

WARNINGS:

Ugly creatures that hopefully sound scary

This chapter is short because of all the shit that went down so next chapter the story will pick up and be better…we hope.

This chapter was updated on the 29th but I forgot to change the year…😭

Enjoy!

Peter was at the airport with tear tracks running down his cheeks. His parents were leaving for two whole weeks! That was like a bajillion years. They had to go on one last trip with their old company before being able to move on with their new jobs. They promised that after this they would have a lot more free time to spend with him.

Everything was finally looking up for the Parkers. They had a new house, new jobs and a new kid on the way. Richard and Mary hadn’t told anyone the news yet. Peter had always wanted a baby brother or sister and they never wanted Peter to be lonely. Mary was an only child growing up and despised it. Richard wanted Peter to have someone like he had with Ben. They were dying to tell him.

“It’s not forever bug. We’ll be back. You can count on it.” His Dad had promised him before they left.

He tapped him on the nose before passing him onto his mother who gave him one last squeeze.

She leans in close and hides them away from his Dad, whispering to him loudly. “When we get back, we’ll see about getting a pet, the new house could do it with one, don’t you agree?”

Peter immediately brightened up. A pet! He had asked for one for Christmas but Santa had left him a note telling him their house was too small. Peter was a bit disappointed but he knew Santa was right. They had a little box apartment. It had one bedroom and one bathroom. The kitchen and sitting room were conjoined and there was one built in closet, aka, Peters temporary bedroom.

His parents felt terrible about the closet being Peter’s bedroom but he loved it. Ben had been reading Peter Harry Potter whenever he was around their place. Peter loved his bedroom, he felt like Harry. He felt special.

But now his mum and dad have a new house! With lots of room. Maybe he could get a dog or a cat or a turtle or a bird or a spider!…maybe not a spider. Too many legs. Gives him the heebie jeebies

Maybe he could even get a stork! When he asked his Aunt May where babies came from she only spluttered and told him the stork gave them. Maybe he could get a stork that would then give him a baby!

Peter nods his head in agreement. His mum only looks at him fondly before whispering dramatically. “Just don’t tell your dad.”

Peter puts his hand in his heart like his Uncle Ben does sometimes when he’s talking to May.

”I swear I did not read to Peter past 10.”

Ben had protested as Peter’s face fell into his toast. It was worth loosing sleep if they could finish the book in his opinion but he was still sent to have a nap.

”I swear your cooking is good.”

Ben was the first to try Mays new recipe. It was some kind of vegetable soup with a twist. Ben had to chew more than he had to sip.

”I swear I haven’t swore in front of Peter.”

Peter had dropped an f bomb one day in front of both them. May had then pinned the blame on Ben. May may or not have been the one to say fuck but May never swears and Ben has a potty mouth. Ben now had to use words like sugar on it when Peters in the room.

Peter gets passed onto Ben and May as his parents leave for their flight.

“I lobe you!” Peter called out. He could never pronounce love right for whatever reason. His parents found it cute.

“We lobe you too!”

We lobe you too

We…lobe you…too

We…

A high pitched laughed plucked Peter from dream land and threw him into cold, cold water. Time was standing there laughing with her hands on her knees.

“I lobe you! What amazing last words to say to your parents. Really kid, that must keep you up at night.”

Peter was a bit disoriented from his dream and only stared at her blearily. With Peter’s lack of enthusiasm she grasped him by the arm and marched him forwards.

Once Peter got his balance back he could see to where they were heading, the little cave Loki had led him to last time. However, this time a faint torchlight could be seen shining from the entrance of the cave.

Remembering Loki, he also remembered his warning. Before he could even make a dash Time was quickening her pace.

“That bumbling fool knows nothing child. We must make haste. If you try and run you will only delay us.”

Somehow she had read his mind which is totally not creepy. With that statement Peter has no choice but to enter the cave, he could fight against her hold but he’s curious. Inside the cave there’s some statue. Upon further inspection he realises that’s the monster that had chased him in here last time.

If you asked Peter to describe the monster in one word he would say brutal. Fangs galore, sharp horns emerging from her head. Her eyes were a misty white colour and her mouth had red goo coating each tooth. Her clothes were rags that progressed into mist the further you went down. She was frozen mid air and her arms were poised.

There was no mistake about it. She was going in for the kill.

”Amazing creature. A speciality if you could call it that. Shrikes we call them. Ever met one before. They’re crawling around the place. Your lucky Soul pulled you out of its reach in time.”

Peter went pale. “There’s more?”

Time nodded enthusiastically seemingly oblivious to or completely ignoring his distress.

“Three different species. They don’t just chase anyone you know. He must have sent one after you. I wouldn’t put it past that weasel.”

“Him?” He asked.

She waved her hand before grasping the Shrikes head in between her hands and snapping it off. A sickening crunch reverberated through the cave.

“Huh. Haven’t done that for a while.”

”You do that often?”

”More than you’d know.”

She drops the head on the ground and gives it a kick. It rolls away further into the cave.

“If I didn’t do that then she’d come back to life and trust me, no one wants that. Look at the time!”

She grasps onto a chain that hangs down from her neck. It’s has a small clock chained to it and its tick is so quiet that most wouldn’t hear it. She holds out her free hand and Peter apprehensively takes it. She closes her eyes before a cloud of smoke unfurls from their feet. A small noise, his vision goes black and then they land beside the base off the mountain Peter was trying to climb last time.

Time straightens up.

“I see you were talking to Loki.”

”So?”

”We have a history, I wouldn’t trust him. Wouldn’t trust any soul you come across here. Anyway. Why I summoned you here in the first place.”

She tugs his hand towards her and pulls up the sleeve.

”Just like I suspected.” She tuts as she drops his hand.

”What? What’s wrong? ”

His spider senses scream at him.

Take the clock. Take the clock. Take the clock.

Times eyes suddenly go white. Before she disappears to smoke she whispers.

“Good luck.”

Peter lurches out in record time and manages to swipe her necklace off her. He can’t determine was her final expression one of anger or pride.

His senses had screamed at him to take it. He thought it was only fair after her abrupt departure. From this strange encounter with Time he’s learnt two things.

One, there’s really fucking scary creatures out there that are seemingly in no short supply. Two, as soon as he thinks he’s closer to getting home another curve ball enters the game.

His eyes roam over the necklace. The clock has several different hands but no numbers, just weird symbols. He closes his eyes and tries to replicate Times stance. He thinks of New York, Queens, New York, Queens, New York, Queens. He squeezes his eyes and hopes something will spark. He thinks of Tony, Tony, Tony. A tingling sensation begins to buzz in his fingers. Holy shit….

Then he thinks about Dick and it’s like his brain shatters into to two halves. He can feel his right fingers begin to slowly duplicate. It’s not painful. It’s like his being is being spilt into two and forced to make one. One half wants Gotham and the other half wants Queens. With his mind in two he knows there no chance he’ll be able to focus.

When he opens his eyes he’s just in time to see a small curl of smoke come from his empty hand.

“Woah….”

He’s so caught up in the smoke that he doesn’t sense the figure looming behind him.

”Playing with fire will burn you eventually little one.”

He hops up in the air and gears himself into a fighting stance.

It’s another woman, this one is all about the red colour scheme. His senses scream looking at her and he has to slightly cover his eyes to see her. She’s sharp and harsh. She’s a mess but also very clean.

”Reality.”

She smirks.

“You would be correct.”

She looks down at the watch and raises an eyebrow.

“Not many have attempted that sticky fingers. I’m impressed.”

”Thank you…?”

She snaps her fingers and the clock appears into her hands.

“Hey!” He’s getting sick of these stone people and their lack of ethics. He’s begin to miss Soul, she was at least nice.

”I’ll strike you a deal. You do a favour for me and I’ll do a favour for you.”

”Will I get that back?”

He was so close to getting back home. He could feel it. He needs that clock, he needs to use it before Time gets to it.

”No child. You do not need this for whatever trick you were trying to preform back there.”

”Not to sound rude or anything but how do you know.”

She stalks up closer and stretches out her hand.

“Deal or no deal.”

She now has the necklace secured around her neck. He doubts he’ll get that lucky stealing it again. He bites his lip and goes through his thoughts.

Is it worth the risk. This way he can say goodbye to Gotham before he leaves to go back to his home. Say goodbye to the bats. To Dick. It’s the best shot he has.

He clasps her hand.

“Deal.”

Suddenly red mist winds up his arm, the same one that did the snap, the same one that’s had nasty scarring with a fifth of it tinted green from Time and now another fifth of the scars being tinted by red.

He doesn’t know why his scar has all of sudden decided to go rainbow or if the colours have any effects. ‘It’s a bit weird how Soul didn’t inject her colour’ was all he could think as the red swept upwards.

The red mist swirls all around him now and he begins to feel drowsy. Peters conked out when she begins to speak.

”Child, you do not need that clock to access time. You have it in your veins. Rest now, I will find you when you’re ready. ”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter had the strangest dreams last night. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He hadn’t dreamt of his mum and dad since he landed into Gotham. Reality had joined the game which is good and bad. He hasn’t decided which one yet. He groans slightly and begins the painful process of blinking his eyes open,

Once he can actually have both eyes open at the same time he becomes aware of another presence in the room. He quietly moves his head to the side and comes face to face with a sleeping Jason. He furrows his eyebrows before remembering last night.

He’d snuck out, the Wayne’s were at a Gala, Jason came back and went to his old room as one does. He found Peter, went into bed beside him and then Dick came in. He can vaguely remember saying something to Dick before he fell asleep.

…

FUCK HE HAD CALLED DICK DAD.

The only thing that stopped him from leaping off the bed was Jason’s heavy arm thrown over him. He stares up at the ceiling barely breathing.

Oh no no no no. This was so not good.

Ok. Ok.

He’s done worse. It’s not factually incorrect calling him…’dad’. He was technically his dad from another universe but no one has actually really outright said it to Dick. Madge said it in Batburger but that was before all the blood tests and shit was done.

Think positives Parker. What’s the actual chance he remembered. Very unlikely. Very… he hopes. The ancient alarm clock told him that the time was 3 am. Too early to be getting up. At least the Gala noise had stopped.

Peter closes his eyes and squeezes them tightly. Peter decided he’d never slip up like that again. Never again. Dick probably didn’t hear him. If he did he’s probably disgusted. I mean who would want to be a father to him. Poor Parker. It was a fact. He was only going to mess things up eventually. He always does.

Peter falls asleep eventually with tear tracks running down his face.

Across the hall from them Dick Grayson couldn’t stop smiling. He was just laying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Peter may have just slipped up, he may never call Dick dad again but he didn’t care. He would treasure that moment forever.

The Gala had been the usual stuff. It was mostly pretty boring. It was dying down when Dick came to check up on Peter. Dick was surprised to see Jason in his old room. Jason looked surprised to see Peter in his bed.

Dick was dying to know what had kept Jason. It was supposed to be an easy mission, nothing too taxing. He was chasing a case that was associated with the Joker.

Some of his henchmen had to get some tech to point A to point B and Jason was there to intervene. Suddenly three weeks go by and the only contact they get from him is ‘I’m ok.’

He had went over to say goodnight to Jason, as much as Jason likes to believe it’s not true, Dick loves him. He was worried sick these past weeks.

He had then went over to Peter and he had said two words that would shadow him forever.

“Goodnight Dad.”

Dick couldn’t believe it. He wonders sometimes if he deserves it, if he deserves to be Peter’s dad. His kid is a little shit ray of sunshine who’s gone through so much, too much. His kid also has another life waiting for him, which one day he’ll have to go back to.

Dick falls asleep with his mind in two. One half fucking delighted with this turn of events. The second half was one whole black scribble with the thoughts of Peter leaving and never coming back.

Dick would never force Peter to stay if he wasn’t happy, he’d rather loose him and Peter be happy…Dick would like to keep onto him for a while though…just a little longer.

A little longer and it would be enough.

Dick tried to sleep but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it would never be enough. With a sinking feeling he knew that no matter what, it would never be enough.

It would never be enough…

What the absolute fuck was going to happen?

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Jason had the weirdest dream last night. He was saying goodbye to Dick and this random woman at the airport. He was holding a little Peter and then he went home with this random woman and little Peter.

He was seriously creeped out. He woke up with a start at 7 am with his phone ringing his hear off. A muffled “turn it off” came from the person beside him.

“Good call.” He mumbled.

Without looking at the contact he hit decline before burrowing back into his bed.

It was weird, Roy was like a bloody furnace, why was he all of sudden freezing. He then remembers Roy’s in Star city with Lian visiting Ollie and Dinah…who the absolute fuck is in the bed beside him. He sits up straight and stares at the pile.

The phone starts blaring again but Jason’s got bigger issues. Who’s in his bed. He’s trying to remember last night but his mind is always foggy in the mornings.

The pile turns over and he’s met with the bleary annoyed eyes of a bigger Peter Parker.

“Dude, you’re gonna have to answer the phone.”

Seeing Peter made his heart still and he let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. The contact is Bruce. He hits answers, tell him not so kindly “I’m in my room, it’s six in the morning for fucks sake!” before promptly hanging up.

He falls back into bed and mimics Peter’s movements. Last night is becoming more clear, crawling into his window, seeing Peter in his bed.

It made his heart still. He had hated his old room. Jason looked at his old room like he’d look at his grave. Desolate and unattached. His room was a reminder of the person he’d once been and now would never be again.

Looking around the room it looked more homely. He didn’t know how Peter had got placed in his room but he didn’t mind. Maybe he would’ve a couple years ago, thinking Dick or Bruce was replacing him but he couldn’t bring himself to muster up any of that pent up anger. It no longer came as easy to him as it once had.

He couldn’t be mad at the kid. Looking around the room the most noticeable change was there was no longer dust present.

The second was the two pillowie things. One of Nightwing and one of Flash were placed on Jason’s old reading chair. Knowing the kid, he probably didn’t want to intrude and probably had to be convinced to leave them there.

It was pure instinct on how he managed to crawl back into his bedroom. Back then when he was Peters age, he had an escape route for each room of the house and had them memorised off by heart.

Back to the present Peter was looking at him intently.

“How was the mission.”

He grimaced at that question. What was supposed to be an easy chase led to a shit show and some discoveries.

“I was chasing down some of Jokers men and one thing led to another we found some secret stash that needed to be safely contained.”

“Are you hurt?” Peter asked quietly.

“No, no I’m not.” Jason whispered back. “I should be asking you that question. How’s the leg healed?”

Peter shrugs. “I’ve had worse, it was nothing.”

“I bet Dick didn’t agree with you on that one.”

“I don’t know why…my leg didn’t even look that bad!”

“Kid it looked like a zigzag.”

Peter huffs. “That’s an exaggeration if I ever did hear one.”

Jason shook his head fondly. That’s how Jason spent the rest of his morning, quietly whispering to Peter about everything and anything that came to mind.

The kid got quiet when his other home was brought up and avoided the answers like the plague. Jason wasn’t the most nosey person of the Bats but that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious about Peter’s past life. With Peter’s avoidance to his family questions Jason thought it was best to keep his weird dream to himself.

Jason could feel his eyes begin to shut. He really was wrecked from his trip. As sleep finds him he hears a whispered “Sleep tight.” and soft foot falls padding out the room.

Peter peeks at Jason one more time, deeming the man to be in a stable condition before he shuffles out. He closes the door with a soft click before beginning his descent down the hall. It was only early hours. He knows none of them will be up soon, the party always tires everyone out.

Obviously this rule didn’t apply to Dick who was walking towards Peter with a smile too big for the morning. Peter stomach drops and he prays to whatever higher power that Dick didn’t hear him last night. For once, they listen. Dick only says.

“We have matching hair.”

He wasn’t wrong. Dick might have worse bed hair than him. It was sticking up at odd angles and looked like a small tornado had circled Dicks head. Peter’s probably looked similar.

Peter lets out a small laugh which Dick takes as encouragement to wrap one arm across Peters shoulders and lead them towards the large staircase.

“So pancakes or waffles?”

Peter was sure Dicks cooking skills could’ve rivalled Mays and Alfred might kill them but….

“Waffles please.”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Later that night…

“What did you say the liquid was again?”

Tim asked for the umpteenth time. Cass rolled her eyes. Tim was nothing but thorough.

They were having a family meeting about Jason’s mission.

“Timbers, for the love of god, I don’t fucking know.”

Jason had bags under his eyes and looked worse for wear. Bruce placed a careful hand on Jason back and rubbed it cautiously.

Patrol tonight was eventful. Like everyone in Gotham wanted some action. All petty crimes but you can’t be everywhere at once. Damian and Peter were upstairs, deemed too little to be of help. Damian was outraged and Peter looked a little hurt. Damian then marched them upstairs throwing daggers at the lot of them.

“Just tell me one last time.” Tim pleaded, logging all the info into the computer.

Jason sighed. “There were three tanks filled with clear goo, not Joker shit. Inside the tanks were three creatures. Like…demons or some shit. Horns and a lot of claws. Never seen em before.”

Cass wasn’t scared about those creatures. She was scared of the look on Jason’s face when he talked about them.

“Tests are being done on them in Metrapolis. Then they’ll be moving to the Justice League HQ.”

Bruce nods. “I was informed about it last night. Clark has a feeling he knows where they come from but the scientists won’t let him see them yet. Need to make sure they’re dead.”

“When are they moving?” Dick asks. Out of everyone he looks the least put out. Maybe he’s just used to all the alien crap by now.

“Three weeks and they’ll move.”

The room goes into silence. “What did the Joker want with them.” Duke whispers.

Cass can only imagine what that psycho would want with them. The Joker made her skin crawl. When she was little she always had a fear of clowns. Like everything, she got over it. But imagining the Joker in her mind makes her skin crawl.

Steph grabs her hand and that’s all Cass needs to feel calm. She knows how much Cass hates clowns and not once has she made fun of her. God she loves her.

A pinprick feeling travels up her back and neck. She straightens and glances up towards the ceiling of the cave. It was weird. She shrugs it off to just being paranoid. None of the others noticed it.

They all chat for another few minutes before rounding up the post patrol meeting. Again a that feeling. She has to say something this time.

“Does anyone hear that?” The whole cave goes quiet, everyone straining their ears.

“I can hear something, it’s very small.” Selina says.

After Cass she’d have the next best hearing.

“Might be a bat?” She suggests.

The noise continues and then it stops.

“Should we be worried or…?” Steph trails off.

Bruce sighs. “I’ll look into it.”

With that everyone cautiously makes their way upstairs. Cass goes to her room. She’s going to visit Babs tonight, fill her in with Jason and also what’s been happening in her own life.

As she passes the hall she sees a light shine under a spare guest room. Now that Jason’s back it seems Peter has moved. She knocks on the door and “Come in!”

Peters sitting crossed legged on the bed with a battered laptop in front of him.

“You good?” She asks.

Cass had an awful bad habit. At least thats what she called it. When she didn’t know the person or trust them she said barely two words to them. If she didn’t trust them she just couldn’t form long sentences. She found it weird but also helpful.

At the beginning she trusted Peter but she trusted him with her silence. She felt no need to speak a lot with him. At the beginning she only spoke two or three words answers with him and now they can chat forever and a day.

Sometimes on a bad day she wouldn’t talk at all, she’d barely breathes never mind actually talk to anyone. Those don’t happen as often as they used to.

“Yeah, just finishing something for Bee. Some exotic customer wants some real fancy design.”

Peter replied as he shut down his laptop.

Cass nods as she looks down at his bed. A note pad is tossed to the side and different threads are sitting in a basket next to him. She hopes one day Peter will teach her to sew. She’s always wanted to make her own clothes or vary them in her own way.

“Cool. I’m going to head to Babs, you wanna come?”

“Nah I’m good.” Peter smiles.

“Lunch tomorrow on the roof?”

She’s missed their hang outs on the roof top.

Peter stomach grumbles and Cass can’t suppress her grin.

“Please don’t tell anyone or else Mister Alfred will have a five star meal cooked in two minutes flat. Also I’d love lunch.”

She mimics zipping her lips before walking out the room.

Cass gets to Babs in record time. She’s always liked Babs apartment it’s very nice and homely.

In her sitting room she has one low blue couch with a chunk taken out of it. She has quilts and blankets out on every surface available. She has a tiny kitchen but Babs didn’t care, she hated cooking. Over in the corner was her at home set up. Just a few monitors that were heavily protected, no info getting leaked on her watch.

Babs then rolls in with two steaming mugs of coffee.

“Hiya Cass. You said you have to tell me something?”

Cass nods as she sits criss cross on the couch. She tells Babs everything they know. From the monsters to the arms deal that nearly went down and the weird clicking she heard in the cave.”

“That’s really fucking weird. Monsters plus Joker has disaster written all over it.”

Cass can’t help but agree.

“I’ve got a bad feeling.”

Cass just knew something was coming, something bad and she has a feeling it’s got to do with this.

“I’ll monitor Gotham more carefully, let you know if I find anything out of the ordinary.”

Silence swallows the small room.

“You don’t think this has anything to do with Peter?” Babs asks, her face twisted into her detective mode.

“What?” Cass replies.

Somehow in her mind terrifying monsters and Peter Parker just don’t have a link.

Babs sighs and begins to clean her glasses absentmindedly.

“I don’t know, it’s just a theory. Just give it some thought.”

Cass sucks in her checks in consideration. Peters never mentioned any monsters before…could they be after him? Trying to bring him back to his universe? Maybe they should ask him about it.

“But enough of that monster talk. Tell me about your next recital.”

Cass smiles widely before launching into a rant about her next big show. When she landed a spot in the Gotham Academy for Young Dancers she couldn’t believe it. The instructors had been blown away by her acceptance performance. Dance was something she genuinely enjoyed doing and she loved being able to share it with other people who understood.

Her next big production is called Le Lamb and she’s going to be one of the lead dancers.

Soon they both loose track of time and Cass ends up staying the night. Cass was on the brink of sleep when she realised that the sound in the cave almost sounded like a spider. The thought swirled around in her head a few times before dismissing it.

A spider couldn’t make that noise, maybe if it was made of metal or something but not a regular one. She let the thought go as she fell asleep.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter was freaking out. Should he have sent Little Legs into the cave to spy:no. Did he regret it: also no.

Holy shit. The Shrikes had followed him to Gotham! He was pretty sure they were Shrikes. They sure matched the description.

Peter had to do something. He tried his best to go back into the soul stone but no luck. Guess conferring with one of the Stone Ladies was out of the window.

He took out his laptop and began typing furiously away for further information on where these monsters were being kept.

He searched into his browser: Metropolis Labs

Images and a website popped up. This lab was massive and was home to various species. Here at the lab they tried to come up with renewable ways to help the planet and the people on it. What they don’t mention is that any strange creature found that needs to be tested is brought here as well.

Granges Laboratory of Exploration is open 24/7 for anyone and everyone. Peter bites his lip.

The bus from Gotham to Metropolis only runs once a month. Peter could get that bus and begin his new life where he can’t harm anyone else. If Peter somehow manages to disappear and start fresh there, he’s sure in his bones that Parker luck will strike and someone will find him. Especially since the Justice League will be on high alert when these are being transferred….

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Maybe if Peter could be at the right place in the right time he could see the monsters and decide where they were Shrikes or not. Maybe these could be the answers to leading him home. Maybe Realities favour was to get those monsters back to where they came from.

Peter did a bit more digging, a few illegal actions and he had the whole the place mapped out in a matter of seconds. He had blue prints, IDs, guard changes, additional information on all their tourist exhibits etc.

With all of this he knew he’d be able to get into the lab. Hopefully come across the tests the scientists are doing on the monsters.

This was all good and well but how was he going to get there. If he went with any of the bats he wouldn’t be able to shake them, Ivy and Harley would ask a lot of questions. So who…?

“Let me get this straight dimples. You want us to drive to Metropolis to go to a pro superman strike.”

Bee was looking at him like he had lost his mind. Maybe he had but he was desperate.

What if in the labs they had info that could be the key to him getting home. It seemed stupid and it probably was but Peter was clutching this tiny bit of hope and he refused to let go.

He knew he couldn’t drag Bee all the way to Metropolis for nothing so he hoped that her love for Superman would trump all. It was perfect, they could go to the rally and then the lab. It was going to be a fun day with Bee.

“It could be a bonding trip!”

Bee levelled him with a steely glare. “How long away is this rally thing?”

“It’s in three weeks…so?” He asks hopefully.

Bee sighed before giving him a smile. “The things I do for you dimples.”

Peter could have jumped up in the air he was that happy. He just had to convince Dick and then three weeks later him and Bee are going to Metropolis! Woo woo.

Seriously, what could wrong?

Extra Thoughts: Not gonna lie…it’s not me best work.

Moving past that the chapters really a bit of a filler to get the story going. I know I could’ve wrote more but I’m afraid I have to study 😭

Reality has joined the game. Bee and Peter road trip anyone.

Dick and Peter will have more bonding next time. Promise.

If you by any chance saw this get updated during the week…no you didn’t. I’m trying to reread all my work and correct spelling which is painful so I’m barely past chapter two and I’m making notes along the way want I need to include so that’s what I kinda posted.

Update schedule is like my life now, one big mess. So I’m going to aim for an update on the 16th???? We can only hope.

I hope everyone has a lovely week and I’ll see you on the 16th possibly :)

Day this was Wrote: 01/02/25

6 notes · View notes

miserablemuffin · 22 days ago

Text

OMG! THREE IN ONE DAY! WHILE IM ON HOLIDAYS? Also, got sunburnt on my chest today and I now have a Nightwing logo looking sunburnt on it. Dedication to that character is insane.

Your Gonna Go Far

Chapter 10: I can’t do well, when I think you’re gonna leave me

Summary: “Duck.”

“Squatting!”

“Mowing the lawn…?”

Dick might be the worst person at charades and he’s played with Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.

Thoughts: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope everyone has enjoyed their Christmas x I wanted to post this chapter today as it’s Christmas themed. You might be a bit sick of it but oh well.

No update this Sunday cause half the week is nearly gone and Christmas is a busy time. I’ll be rereading and doing more proofreading of this work between this update and the next. To remind myself of a few things and because there’s still mistakes in the writing.

Next Chapter will hopefully be 5 January.

ANYWAY. After that spiel, Chapter Title: We Are The People by Empire of the Sun

Guys this Chapters pretty much has no warnings except for mentions of the cult but I’m not sure should I count that as a warning? I will just in case.

Enjoy xxx

Peter floated around in the water aimlessly looking around at everything. His eyes couldn’t keep still. This was a lair! And a secret one at that from the looks of it.

He didn’t particularly care that he was getting drenched or that he doesn’t know where he is, there’s a freaking dinosaur and is that a giant penny!

He then remembers that most of his family have tragedies with water and he quickly and frantically swims to the edge. It must of been weird for any onlooker to see Peter relaxed and then flailing about in the cave water. Maybe that’s why a splash lands beside Peter and begins to swim over.

Calm. Friend.

Arms wrap round tightly round his waist, he appreciates the help but still, who’s this guy. A shaggy mop of red hair and wide green eyes stare at him. He breathes in sharply like he’s just ran a marathon trying to get to Peter.

Peter laughs, probably sounding a bit manic giving the situation.

“Wally I didn’t know you were into the whole secret lair thing.”

Wally breathes sharply as if he can’t believe him and like he’s trying to hold in a laugh.

“This isn’t mine, trust me my decorating skills are far more superior.”

Peters scrunches his eyebrows together. “So whose house are we currently crashing.”

“Your Grandads.”

“I don’t have a grand-oh no I do.”

It takes Peter a minute to get used of this world again. Looking around Peter goes completely still. In his frenzy he hadn’t noticed the bats hanging from the high ceiling. Cool. Now that he focuses really hard he can count the tiny heartbeats above him.

Wally and him reach the edge before they climb up. There’s a massive computer off to the far right. Some suits are kept in cylinder like tubes and gadgets line the walls. It’s all very overwhelming and so freaking cool.

Off to a secluded part of the room is a medical wing. There’s a figure hunched over a chair by Peter’s previous resting place he assumes. The hunched figure is Dick who has drool coming out of his mouth and is completely out for the count.

He looks at Wally who shrugs, Peter doesn’t miss the fond look in his eye.

“He was worried about you. We all were.”

Peter tries not to squirm under Wallys gaze. “How long was I out.”

“About a day and a bit and HOLY SHIT YOUR LEG.”

There’s a reason they’re called the Flash Peter thought, as in a whirl of colours he was magically in his bed, covers tucked up to his chin. His knee might not be gammy (maybe just a bit) anymore but that doesn’t mean his stomach can handle it.

You’d think the sound of puke would wake Dick up but nope. If anything he began to snore louder. Wally rubs his back sympathetically before Peter shrugs him off.

“My knees fine. Look!”

His knee might still be a little sore but that all. He sticks his leg out but Wally quickly shoves it back gently.

“Sorry but I’m afraid of your dad and if he knew I let you walk about I’d be taking a second trip into those water. Why did you even jump into those in the first place.”

Peter turned a bit red.

So basically I’m kinda stuck in this orange rock and I had a run in with time and then the Norse God of Mischief came to say hello. No Wally I’m not insane. Please don’t call the asylum.

He’s not going to freak him out so he says instead “I thought I was being kidnapped.”

Wally nods in understanding which is kinda of surreal. Maybe he should tell him about his run in with Gods.

He then looks down at Dick and feels a knife twist in his heart.

‘You’re nothing but a bad smell Parker. That’s why your parents are dead and why your aunt and uncle are next.’

The kid who said that was cruel but he wasn’t wrong, no matter how much Peter wished he was.

“Should we wake him up?”

Wally looks carefully at Dick. “Does your leg hurt.”

“Nope.” Only a little.

“Do you feel like throwing up again?”

“As long as you don’t run with me I’ll be fine.”

“Are you hungry.”

His stomach rumbling was answer enough. Peter didn’t know how Dick woke up from that sound out of all the ruckus he’s caused while waking up. Dick gasps likes he was the one in the water before patting the bed searching for something frantically.

“Hey Dick, WOAH.” Peter tires to calm him down.

Dicks head snaps to him and Peters pretty much bodied into the mattress by Dick.

“You’re ali-awake.” Dick rushes out crushing Peters windpipes.

“Not if this hug goes on for any longer.”

Dick pulls back and his eyes zoom everywhere across him. “Why are you soaked?”

Peter smiles sheepishly. “I may or may not have thought I was being kidnapped and then I kinda jumped in the water. Also this place is so cool!”

“Why did you get back into bed.” Before he had even finished his sentence Dick’s head whipped to the side, eyes glaring into Wally.

“I panicked! He was in bed and then in the water and then I brought him to bed cause if you saw him standing you’d kill me! Don’t kill me please!” Wally cried dramatically. Peter let out a laugh and Dick defused.

“Ok, ok, ok. I’m sorry love. I’m just tense. Peter here let’s get you up to the manor.”

Love. Peter looks at Wally who’s gone a bit red and widens his eyes dramatically before grinning. Wally looks like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

Before Dick or Wally can try and help him Peter lept off the bed. He wobbles to the elevator but Dick grabs him by the side and holds him up in case you know Peter faints or something just as drastic. Which in all fairness is a valid concern for the circumstances Peter has put him through.

From the cave to the manor Dick doesn’t let go. If anything he holds on tighter. He’s just reminded of how big the manor is when everyone is asleep. It’s so docile. Quiet. Wally went to the kitchen to cook up breakfast while Dick leads Peter to his room.

Dick’s room is covered in dark blue with posters and photos everywhere. Clothes litter the floor and an empty cup is on the bedside. Peter carefully lowers himself down on the bed and ignores Dick who’s watching him like a hawk.

Once Dick deems that Peters alright he goes in search of some clothes. He digs through his drawers while humming as Peter fiddles with his hands.

He feels like a little kid. This wasn’t the plan, he’s supposed to push them away not let them in. He stares at Dicks back and he knows he’s not going anywhere soon, he’s going to have to be fit and healthy. His healing should’ve done its job now but since going to Gotham his diet has been all over the place. At the mention of food his stomach grumbles so loudly that it’s has Dick turning to look at him.

He turns bright red and refuses to look at him. “Sorry…” Dick smiles at him before handing him a pile of clothes.

“Don’t worry about it. You get changed in here and I’ll help Wally with breakfast, I’ll send Damian up to get you. He’s an early riser.”

Peter just nods his head watching Dick leave. As soon as he closes the door Peter hobbles over and locks it. He slides himself down the floor and puts his head in his hands. He takes three deep breaths before getting up. You can do this.

He gets changed into a blue hoodie, jeans and neon yellow socks. Interesting choice for an interesting man. He waits ten minutes but there’s no sign of Damian coming to get him. He unlocks the door and peers outside but the hall is empty.

He makes his way through the corridor when he sees a door narrowly opened. Maybe Damian got confused on the direction Dick sent him on. He knocks on the door slightly but with his super strength it’s stronger than he intended and the door opens up wider.

“Damian…?” He trails off questioningly.

He peaks his head in through the door and takes a wide sweep of the room. This has to belong to one of the Wayne’s, it’s the family floor. Dust coasts each surface. The room looks like it belongs to someone Peter’s age.

Books line the wall, posters ranging from he thinks her name is Wonder Woman to a circus poster. There’s a massive window with blinds which have been drawn.

Peter takes a closer look into the room.

A half filled cup of water is on the bedside table. It’s has a thick sheet of dust layered on top. A battered copy of some book lies on the table, the cover is torn off of it but it’s looks well loved.

Who’s is this room. Tim, Dukes, Cass? He can’t imagine it being Damian’s. After his encounter with time this room makes him feel… off. It’s like it’s stuck in time. His heart drops, please don’t let this be a side effect of time. No, no he’s not thinking straight. This room hasn’t been touched for years by the looks of it, it’s not some illusion Time is playing on him.

Peter sits down on the side of the bed before lying down and huffing out a breath. He curls in on his side and ignores the tickling in his nose. He’ll just rest for 10 minutes and then he’ll go down, yeah. Damian will find him. It’s not that big of a manor.

Turns out that 10 minutes had turned into longer. He doesn’t know how long as he’s just woke up. He was awoken by the shouts of his name. He gets out of the bed and scampers into the hallway. Damian is shouting his name from the west wing. He’s frantically banging on each door.

“Damian over here…” He mumbles still half asleep, maybe that’s why his senses don’t alert him to the body that launches into him. Damian tackles him to the ground before his eyes roam over his body assessing any damage.

“Where were you?!?!” He looks frazzled but in all fairness Peter probably looks a state aswell.

“I was sleeping? Is food ready? Answer the second part first.”

Damian slumps down before smacking Peter on the shoulder.

“Ow! What was that for!”

“We all thought you ran away again!”

Peter with the help of Damian gets to his feet and tries to hide his wince. His knee still hasn’t fully healed yet. Maybe after he gets food it will speed up the process.

“Yeah well and—what do you mean again.”

They’re walking down the grand staircase that Peter still can’t get over, maybe once he’s better he can slide down it like in the movies. That would be so cool.

“You’ve run away before. Have you forgotten? Did you hit you’re head?”

“No I didn’t hit my head thank you very much. Running away would imply I lived here which I don’t and didn’t. I was simply leaving like any guest would.”

“In the middle of the night without telling anyone. That’s an awfully rude guest don’t you think?”

“Well that was one time.” Mutters Peter. The look Damian’s giving him tells him exactly what he thinks of his escapes.

They’re heading in the direction of the kitchen and Peter can smell the food before they even enter. If that isn’t a good sign he doesn’t know what is. Two heartbeats reside in the kitchen, one more frantic from the other.

Inside the lighting is dim and from looking outside the window it seems to be dark. Shit. How long was he out for.

“Alfred where could he be!” Dicks pulling his hair in every direction leaning against the counter.

“I don’t know maybe check the rooms.” Replies Peter as he sits on one of the stools.

He sits because (a) he’s hungry and (b) he fears Dick might crush his windpipes with his hugs if he were to stay standing.

Dicks eyes widen and he’s left gaping. Damian pulls out another stool and plonks himself down.

“Where…where…where.” Is all Dick can manage to squeeze out while grasping the counter. Alfred piles a plate full with pasta and meatballs and places it in-front of Peter.

“Master Peter I am most grateful to see you. You gave us quite the shock. Drink?”

“No thank you Mister Alfred this is plenty. Didn’t mean to scare you I was just asleep in one of the rooms.”

“Which room. I swear I checked them all!” Dicks looks like he’s mentally berating himself.

“It’s on the family floor. Looks….”

What can he say. Dusty, abandoned, hasn’t seen daylight in around 9 years? He settles for something far more pleasant.

“…like someone’s a big fan of Wonder Woman.”

Dick furrows his eyebrows but Alfred’s eyes have a spark to them.

“Ah you were in Master Jason’s old room.”

Dick freezes and Damian stops his glass from reaching his mouth. He’d think this was a trick with Time but he can hears everyone’s heartbeat still drumming away.

“Oh sorry. I didn’t realise it was off limits.”

“Something like that.” Alfred says. Out of everyone he didn’t expect Alfred to have the best ominous voice.

Dick finally shakes himself up. “I need to call the rest and tell them he’s was just sleeping.”

He’d expect Dick to be mad but he isn’t just ruffles his hair and smiles softly at him before he leaves.

Alfred takes Peter’s dish once he’s done and insists on giving him more but Peter tells him that if he does it will be a round two of the peppermint fiasco.

“Now Peter looking at your knee you will need to stay at the manor for three weeks.”

Peter who was just drinking his juice begins to cough. Three weeks!!! He’s not supposed to be here with them for three minutes never mind three weeks. He’s supposed to be going to metropolis to not impose his Parker luck on them. Before he can even protest with he’s fine on his own and his leg isn’t even that bad Alfred’s sped off on his doctor’s report.

“You see you’ve managed to shatter….and really if you put too much pressure on it you’re lungs could deflate…no I know you’re teeth are perfect but…now, you see why you must stay here.”

Alfred had talked for over half an hour about Peter’s knee and why he needs to stay at the manor. Damian had left halfway through, nearly falling asleep. It was either the greatest load of shit he’s ever heard or he’s actually done some serious damage. Either way the bottom line is Peters staying at the manor for the next three weeks whether he likes it or not.

A little bit dazed and confused Peter makes his way upstairs. It’s 10ish at night and even though he’s been sleeping a lot lately he’s still so tired. He’s got his bearings though. It’s early December, once he’s released it will be around News Years. Meaning Peter will be staying for Christmas. It fills him with joy and dread at the same time.

As he makes his way upstairs he hears a meow come from Jason’s old room. From the reaction he got from the Wayne occupants he should keep a distance from the room but he needs to see Duchess.

The doors slightly ajar when he opens it with light streaming through the crack. The sight surprises him. He never knew Batman was a fan of cats.

Bruce is sitting on Jason’s bed petting Duchess as she’s curled around her kittens. Noticing a presence Bruce whips his head to the side spotting Peter.

“Hi champ, how are you feeling.”

Peter makes his way over to the bed. As soon as Duchess spots him she removed her head from Bruce’s hand and starts rubbing it against the sheet waiting for Peter.

“I’ve been worse.”

He doesn’t know how much Bruce knows. Does he know Peters not from here, that he’s Spider-Man, that Dick and Jason are dead in his universe.

Bruce somehow conveys that he knows all of this by nodding his head and then keeping still. The room is engulfed by silence but not the really awkward kind and Peter is well versed in the really awkward kind.

“You want to talk about it.”

Bruce doesn’t look at him while he says it, keeping his eyes trained on Duchess and her kittens. He says it in a tone that sounds like he would rather not talk about it but will as he cares. At least that’s the vibe Peters getting.

“Nah not really.” Peter takes pity on him but also he doesn’t want to talk about any of it.

He settles of his stomach and keeps his head up by his hand. He never knew his grandparents.

His dad’s because…you know and his mum’s were long gone before he was born as well. Dying young seems to be a tradition in his family. It’s a bit weird to think of Bruce as a Grandfather.

He thinks of Ned’s grandparent. White haired and lined with wrinkles. His granny Nona who made the best food known to man only that Peter sometimes had to drink a gallon of milk when she added in her special spice. As soon as she heard about Peters sob story of a life she had sent Ned back with ten jumpers for him.

Ned’s Granddad Eddie was hunched and his dentures were always falling out. He makes Ned all his shelves for his Legos and even made the coolest desk ever. Peter’s met him a handful of times. Mister Sta- no.

Tony, he should call him Tony now. It feels weird to stay but he thinks Tony’s the right thing to call him now. He’s going to convince the Bats that Tony is his family and Mister Stark is not a name you call anyone that you’re close to. He’d seen Dicks face when he mentioned Tony. He didn’t trust he was good enough for Peter. He was just going to have to convince him.. Tony huh.

Anyway after Tony had deemed it safe enough for Peter to go places without the Avengers trailing behind him he went with Ned’s to his grandparents house. Nona was a sweetheart. Eddie spoke in grunts but at the end of the visit he hugged Peter so he must’ve done something right.

Bruce is not old nor he doesn’t have white hair. He’s one of the most famous hero’s in the world and his basement is a massive cave with water tunnels. He could also rival Tony’s wealth. He’s got maybe three grey hairs and that’s it. He’s got more scars than wrinkles and he’s doesn’t think Bruce has any back problems.

Maybe Bruce finds this whole ordeal weird as well. Maybe he doesn’t even want a grandchild. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Someone has to reach out first and Bruce looks constipated looking for something to say. Looks like it’s left up to Peter.

“So you have any siblings?”

“No my parents just had me.”

Silnence.

Think Parker think.

Then it hits him.

“Tell me how Batman came about.”

Bruce actually makes eye contact with him and he looks sceptical. “You wanna know about that…stuff?”

“Yeah. What drives you, why bats, where did Alfred come from. You know the works.”

Bruce clears his throat a couple of times before starting his story. Peter listens intently before his eyelids become heavy. There about to get to the part where he made his first batarang.

(“Are you sure you wanna know about this?” Bruce asks hesitant. “Everything. I wanna know about everything.” Was Peters easy reply.)

Peters dozing off when he hears the lamp being clipped off. Bruce lays a careful hand in Peter hair before whispering. “Goodnight chum.”

Peter hums back what he hopes sounds like a Goodnight but with Duchess and the kittens beside him he’s out like a light and his speech slurs.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

DAY 6 OF PETER’S ‘RECOVERY’

SUBJECT OF THE DAY: GAMES NIGHT

“EVERY WAYNE MUST PARTICIPATE, THIS INCLUDES YOU PETER” ~DAMIAN WAYNE.

“Duck.”

“Squatting!”

“Mowing the lawn…?”

Dick might be the worst person at charades and he’s played with Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. Dick keeps wiggling his hips in the air like that’s going to help him.

“It was swimming!” Dick cried out.

The silence in the room shows him just how badly of a job he was doing at portraying ‘swimming’ if you could call it that.

“That was embarrassing. My turn.” Steph exclaims.

Cass hands her a card and gives her a thumbs up. Steph looks completely serious before she breaks out into…? Steph might be the second worst charade player.

She’s spinning in a circle while flailing her hands about and imitating squawking without making a sound. It’s quite creepy.

“Eh a bird?” Duke, the brave would, hazards a guess.

She shakes her head furiously at Duke.

“It’s something that flies, yes.” Bruce enquires.

Steph jumps up and down before waving and pointing at Bruce like he’s the answer…

“BAT!” Bruce and Selina shouts out at the same time.

“DING DING DING!!!” Stephs shouts before high fiving both of them. Selina laughs before taking a sip of her wine.

“My turn.”she purrs as she picks up a card.

“What kind of bat does that.” Bruce asks disgruntled.

A sick one

“A perfectly normal one, now shush it’s Selinas turn.” Steph said haughtily before turning her back on him.

Selina does the best ballet routine for her prompt ballet. Then with some shouts Cass goes up to join her. Music is turned on and charades is put on hold as they dance. They’re both amazing and Peter claps the loudest once they’re done.

Tim gets a robot and does a decent job.

Duke gets a king and he deserves a right crown after that performance.

Damian gets to do love at first sight. Peter wished he had a camera for that Oscar worthy performance.

Bruce somehow gets bird and surprisily he’s not bad.

Alfred won’t join but looks off fondly from a distance. Jason’s had an impromptu mission pop up and promised that he’d be back soon. He did get to spend some time with Lian and Roy though before he left. He’d been told they visited him while he was sick and he made a mental note to pay them a visit or something.

Wally won’t participate as he isn’t officially a Wayne. Peter in solidarity won’t join in either. He sits on the couch with him, laughing away and giving each other looks when Dick goes up and tries his best.

Dicks in the middle of the Haka from what it looks like from their perspective. Could be food for all they know. Wally and Peter stare at each other, both thinking how could anyone like Dick be this bad at charades.

“He’s your dad.”

”From a different universe.”

”That still counts.”

”Not when the mad man is doing charades.”

”Fair enough.”

”I mean it’s worse for you.”

”How come.”

”He’s your husband.”

”If I was his husband I’d be mortified and I’d be a Grayson-Wayne. I’m only one of those things right now.”

Wally sends a cutting glance to Dick who’s currently staring at the betrayal between two of the most important people to him.

”Is that a hint.” Peter whispers dramatically leaning in close to make it looks like their conspiring.

Wally nods before speaking loudly. “You’re right Peter, your Dad should definitely retire from charades.”

With that comment laughs erupt from the room, some trying to disguise it as coughs.

“I’m not that bad.”

“Love.” Wally sighs like Dicks physically paining him. He’s definitely mentally paining him for sure.

Wally grabs Peters wrist and Peter lets him easily.

“Come on Peter, I’ve got something to show you.”

Peter follows Wally up the stairs trying to makes sense of Wally millions miles per hour speech.

“I’msureyourdadwilllikeitbutiwantyoureopinioncauseyouknowyouarehisson”

“Yeah ok no problem.” Peter replies with a thumbs up.

Wally shows Peter the gift that has him gaping.

“They make Spider-Man merch here!”

Wally is holding out a Spider-man plush in the same style as his Nightwing bird.

Wally nods and grins at Peters shock.

“They love you here. Some are wondering where you’ve been lately. They adore ya kid. Just like Dick will adore this.”

“He’s going to love it!” Then Peters stops. He’s going to have to buy gifts for the Wayne’s! What’s he going to buy for them and money. He needs money.

“Andigotthisforyoucauseyouknow.”

He throws Peter a gift that squishes. His eyes widen and he smiles.

“Thank you so much.”

It’s all he can say. He wants to deny the gift. To say he shouldn’t have spent any money on him or any thought for that matter, but he doesn’t, cause the nervousness of Wally makes hims have pity. Wallys eyes fly all over Peters face for any sign he may not like it.

“Please open it cause I can’t take it much more.”

Peter doesn’t need to be told twice. A part of him feels giddy inside and tears the wrapping paper off with fervour. The other parts inside of him screams at him to pay Wally back.

Both side battle it out as Peter stares down at his goods. It’s a Flash plush but it’s Wally and not the other dude, he thinks his name is Barry? It’s a matching one to his Nightwing bird. Whereas Dick’s is a blue coloured bird ‘s is a pale orange. A blanket is wrapped around the bird and three bars of chocolate are inside.

Peter stares and stares.

“It’s um ok if you don’t-WOAH.” Wally stutters before Peter bashes himself into Wally.

Peter’s wary of touch at the beginning of a relationship but soon warms up. Wally has only known him for a short while and he’s done more than most of what his past ‘adults’ ever did for him.

The hug lasts about three seconds before Peter launches himself backwards with red cheeks.

“Thank you.” He whispers.

“You’re welcome kid. Now we better get going before you’re dad gets jealous of our bonding time.”

They make their way out of Dick’s and Wally’s room. They walk down the hall when Peter spots the light shining from Jason’s room.

He says goodnight to Wally and walks over to the room.

It’s becomes a routine of sorts. Peter sees a light on and he goes in the room to Bruce and the cats. Duchess and Co have decided that Jason’s room is the shit and have settled down there.

Peter hopes Jason doesn’t mind him sleeping in his old room while he’s away. Once he comes back Peter will go back to his room but until then he prefers sleeping in Jason’s room. For some reason he’s attached to it, well not him but every time he goes past it a green glow surrounds his vision and it’s like he’s hypnotised to go in.

Peters theory is that Time is at play. Whenever he’s in the room he looses track of time. Sometimes it feels like he’s been in there for a minute and other times it’s feels like he’s been there for hours.

Bruce is there with a kitten curled up next to his leg.

“Look what I got.”

Bruce looks up in time to catch the Flash plush.

“Early Christmas present?”

“Yup. Cool isn’t it.”

“Very.”

Peter sits the chair beside the bed and throws the blanket in front of him.

He places his new addition to his plush collection while Bruce holds the Nightwing themed one.

“So are you going to tell me about how you got you’re foot stuck in a pipe.”

“Only if you don’t laugh.”

“I won’t. Scouts honour.”

“Are you even a scout.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Continue anyway.”

Bruce then talks quietly and Peter hangs onto every word.

Bruce tells his stories. He knows Bruce is skipping some bits and won’t even tell him other bits but Peter doesn’t care. He likes listening to his stories. He knows Bruce wants to hear Peter’s story and he’ll tell Bruce. After Bruce has done telling his tale first.

Peter passes out at the point where Bruce says he was going to a circus. He falls asleep in the chair but wakes up in the bed. Bit strange.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

DAY 15 OF PETERS ‘RECOVERY’

EVENT OF THE DAY: DECORATING

When Peter was little all he remembered about Christmas was the lights that were hung precariously throughout his house. He was fascinated about them.

When he got older living with Ben and May he loved their tree. It was bent left and right and had only a few pines left. Peter loved it anyway. The baubles had no rhythm or rhyme to it. May let Peter hang up three blue ornaments in a row if he so wished. May loved Tinsel or she as liked to say, Tinsel loved her. Ben hated it but he never said that to May. The apartment was decorated in Peter’s Christmas drawings and the windows had any sticker they could find plastered onto them.

Skips house was barren during Christmas, pretty much all year round. He didn’t even have a tree. Archie was long gone by then. Peter left in the New Year.

On the street he made his own tree. It was mostly metal that he sold the day after on 26 December but it’s the thought that counts. He even managed to find the scraggliest piece of tinsel ever and he treasured it like it was gold. It blew away in January.

In the Cult of Luna a whisper of Christmas means you were thrown in the slammer for a week. They were jolly like that.

Tony went all out. He thinks he just makes the effort for Peter. The entirety of the Avengers helped out. Peter didn’t have to go out to any of the party’s Pepper and Tony were made to attend. His first year there were piles of presents that made Peter faint. Literally. He was sick for the rest of the day thinking about how much money was spent on him. Tony had felt terrible but in the end Peter took the presents. Six months after Christmas he had finished unwrapping the lot.

The Wayne’s much like the Starks went all out.

“Perfect Peter! Imagine their faces when they come back.” Babs exclaimed as she pointed to the place that needs more tinsel. He was happy to see her again and promised her he would come by the library more often.

Barbra needed help with the decorations in the library and Peter had volunteered going a bit stir crazy in the house. Steph and Cass had come as well but they’d gone to the supermarket to get some lights as Babs old ones were shit.

Turns out the shop was getting mugged so they had to do their thing and they’re now delayed by talking to the police. Peters not complaining, happy to hang from questionable places without the two tattle tales. Being in the manor for so long with everyone acting like you were glass was wearing thin on his patience.

He nearly snapped at poor Dick yesterday. The whole family was a bit stressed right now. Jason is still not back from his secret mission that Peters not allowed to hear about. He’s totally fine with that. Yep…totally cool.

The library was now decorated and looked like a Winter Wonderland.

“That looks like a mall festive thing. You know what I mean? Wait till the girls come back.”

“Yeah it looks so cool in here. Hey, you know how Bees lives like a block or two down?”

“Yes.” Babs asked amusedly, already knowing where this story was going.

“Well I was wondering if I could go visit her since you’ve got Oracle business to attend to?”

“Is Dick smothering you.”

“A little but I miss Bee as well.” Peter had. He missed her grumpiness and her hatred towards Batman. He missed working for her and their sewing sessions. He’s kept in touch with her over the phone but it’s not the same.

“Mmm. Well take this and you stay there. Once the girls come back I’ll send them your way.”

She gives him a suspicious bracelet that may or may not be a tracker but who cares. He gets to see Bee.

“Thank you so much! I’ll see you soon yeah?”

“Yeah I’ll be over at the manor soon. See ya mini Dick.”

“Alright mini Comissioner.”

Peter practically runs to Bees shop. The sign says closed but he can see the light on.

“BEE YOU IN THERE.” He shouts as he knocks the door a couple of times.

“Parker?” Comes a surprised voice.

Bee opens the door. She looks a bit worse for wear. He’s sure he could wrangle a few working hours out in the week with the bats.

“Surprise!”

He does Jazz hands for added effect. She stares at him for a few seconds before she slowly hugs him. She not the hugging type.

Peter freezes but hugs her back but it only last three seconds before she shrugs him off.

“Look you’ve turned me into a sap. Shame on you.”

She still opens the door wide and gestures for him to follow. Fifteen minutes later they’re sat inside with two cups of tea. Peter doesn’t like tea, makes him feel a bit sick with the caffeine. After their first encounter Peter had told her this and now she only buys decaf.

“Burly boy told me you injured yourself repeatedly?” Bee enquires while she stirs her tea. She must be on about Jason.

“Well I wouldn’t say repeatedly exactly.”

He only gets a hmph form Bee.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t pop in sooner, I’ve been held under tight security.”

She snorts at that. “I knew pretty boy would be protective. I don’t blame him, not with you.”

He gasps in outrage. “What’s that supposed to mean!”

She rolls her eyes. “You know full well what that means Bambi.”

“Have you got any plans for the holding.”

As far as he knows Bee has no living family. He’d love to see her and Bruce interact, he’d have to get her going on her rants about Batman.

“My husbands side of the family had asked me over for dinner.”

“Oh that’s nice.”

This is the first time she mentioned having a husband. He tries not to let his shock show. Her ring is nowhere in sight on her finger though. Maybe they’re divorced?

“HA! Those rotten Fitzpatrick only want my soul. Only thing that made them bearable was my Michael. How he came from that crackhead of a family I’ll never know.”

“Sounds rough. I didn’t know you had a husband?”

“Yeah. My Micheal…anyway before you make me more emotional I’ll tell you he only died of old age. My daughter Mary was heartbroken. You remind me a lot of her you know. Self-sacrificing idiots the lot of you. Same colour hair. She would’ve adored you.”

Before Peter can reply Steph and Cass burst through the door.

“YOUR FAVOURITE GIRLS HAVE ARRIVED!”

“Hello, nice jacket.” Bee seems to puff up with the compliment from Cass.

“Why thank you. At least someone noticed.”

She cut Peter a death glare and he only rolls his eyes.

She pushes the three of them out of the door.

“Goodbye you hooligans. Peter come back soon I do miss your insecent chatting. Girls lovely to see you. Goodbye, Merry Christmas or not.”

Peter was delighted he got to see Bee as he was shoved out the door. It was only for a half an hour but still.

“I love her.” Steph declared as they began to walk away and towards Alfred who had come to collect them.

“Me too.” Cass agrees as Peter nods his head in agreement.

They get back to the manor 20 minutes later and decorations are in full swing. In the living room Peter helps Tim put baubles on one of twenty Christmas trees. He’s happy his leg is better but it’s lefts a scar. A scar. Peter, after the spider bite, does not get scarred easily. This means he only has four scars.

1.)Spider bite

2.)Thanos and the snap

3.)One long one from the cult at his back

4.) Now from this stupid knee.

His healing factor had slowed down at shocking rates and he had a feeling it had something to do with Time. Ever since encountering her everything had been off. It’s so weird. He feels like he keeps mentioning Time in his thoughts. Freaky.

Anyway, he was soon deemed to be fully fit by Alfred which meant he could help with decorations.

They were having a competition on who could make the best tree.

Cass and Damian’s tree was immaculate, all colour coordinated and was perfect for the main banquet hall that would hold the Wayne’s infamous Christmas gala, which would be held on Christmas Eve. An event Peter did not have to attend. The tree scored a total of 61/70

Steph had invited Harper who was a good friend, it turns out, to help her out with the decorating. Their tree was the one in the corner of the dining room. It was colourful and bright and any decoration was thrown on it. It would be a tree May would love. It scored 62/70.

Dick and Dukes tree was in the kitchen beside the breakfast table. The theme of the tree was superhero’s and little baubles and decorations of various superhero’s and their logos were put on it. Duke also made their lights shine extra bright when it was being assessed which gave them a few bonus points. It scored 60/70.

Bruce and Alfred’s tree were up next. The tree would stand in the foyer and it would be the first thing the guests would see. The tree was colourful and just your typical Christmas movie tree, it was perfect. Not a single bauble was out of place, all evenly placed and everything. Peter was impressed. 65/70 for them.

Last but not least was Peters and Tim’s. Peters a humble lad but he has to say theirs took the win. With the direction of Tim, Peter had weaved the webs to look like snow on the tree, however these would stick till at least the end of Christmas, he can always top them up when the branches get bare. Their star glows and sings which is courtesy of Tim. He also made the baubles light up and spin. Spiders made of webs and Robins made of webs also hung from the branches, each wearing a different costume.

They won the competition with a score of 67/70.

Peter knows that this will be one of the nights he will remember when he’s back in Queens. As he looks over the dinner table he tells himself to just enjoy the moment and let the shit show come later.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

DAY 21 OF PETERS ‘RECOVERY’

EVENT OF THE DAY: SPIDEY SANTA

It was Christmas Eve. Guests were showing up at the Wayne Manor which meant the whole family would be busy with the guests. So busy that no one would know Peter had snuck out.

So, it was 11pm and Peter was standing on Wayne Enterprises with his sack and his Santa costume. He had a list to do today. He didn’t have to worry about the Bats watching him either since they were all occupied sans Jason.

So Spidey Santa struck. First he went to Bees and dropped off his gift. A knitted blanket in red, blue and yellow. He knew she needed one, she rarely ever turned the heat on. Cost of living crisis. He also got her a warmer blanket, a hot water bottle and a bag of her favourite sweets.

He secured her presents under the tree with a note before off he leapt. Next was Harley’s and Ivy’s. He knew they were out tonight, Harley had called him a few days ago and said they were going to be gone for Christmas but as soon as they got back they needed to meet up and continue their Tuesday tea parties.

He had gotten Harley a porcelain figurine for her collection along with a painting set, as she said she wanted to take up art. It was a cute little cat with a green hat on. Harley got welly boots and gloves for her gardening. He left the gifts under the tree and flew into the night.

Peter had stopped whatever crime he saw. Giving each Grinch or Scrooge, whatever you’d like to call the crooks on Christmas, a warning. It was only petty theft which wasn’t too bad. Some looked like they needed the stuff so Peter paid for it, curtsey of the mob bosses card he nicked, and let them go.

Next he went to the apartments where Lindy and Charlie live. He got Charlie a modle of the solar system. He’s proud to say he built it himself. Lindy got a starter sewing kit that was Bee approved. He also left a box of chocolate for each respective parent. He’d heard Lindy’s Dad had died. He had sent over some flowers for them earlier in the week through Bee. It was going to be a tough Christmas for most.

Then he reached his final destination for the night. He hadn’t forgotten those kids Bruce and him had saved from trafficking. He had visited the foster care building and visited the street kids as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker.

As Peter Parker he had installed a freaking playground under the guise of volunteer work. Now it was all made out of junk and it was shabby but it was sturdy and the kids loved it. He hadn’t been able to see them in forever because of his recovery but he wanted them to know they weren’t forgotten.

Now he knocked on the door and waited for a reply. He had counted all the kids in the orphanage and as Peter he had asked them what they wanted for Christmas. He then told them their good friend Spidey would bring them their presents.

(Special shout out to mob boss who got caught by Spider-Man and payed for all these expenses.)

A shuffling of feet and Sweet Miss Lowe opened the door.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS LOWE!!!” Peter shouted at the top of his lungs before swinging away. By the look on her face he knew she’d appreciate the gifts.

You may be thinking where did Peter get all his money because the mobster must have frozen his card eventually?

Clark Kent had given him $200 for his inside pov of the biological scare. Dick had given him money to spend on gifts that Peters not even going to say how much it cost. Never mind what Bruce gave him. Damian was tasked to make sure Peter spent some of the money. So he did, the rest is going to charity. They need it more than him.

Peter had made it back to the manor in record time. He’d lost his sack and given his Santa Costume to a homeless man who had asked for it. Peter stretched himself out. He was always tired now a days. It was weird. He can still hear the party going on downstairs. It was only close friends and business friends who came the party. Not every Tom Dick and Harry was invited like their usual shin digs.

He pulls back the covers of the bed and hops in. He doesn’t bother taking off his suit. It seems to be only five minutes later when a body hops into the bed beside him. He heard some shuffling and a few sniffs.

His senses don’t do anything just hum in content. Not a criminal then. He’s too tired for this shit. He turns over and “JESUS CHRIST!” Shouts the body.

“Jason that you?” He mumbles reaching out a hand in the dark.

“Oh god it’s just you Peter.”

He hears a gun being shuffled back to its holster.

“What are you doing here?”

“Alfred said I could sleep here until you came back. Something about bringing life back or it giving you peace of mind. I don’t know. I’m too tired.”

He remembers the conversation betweeen Bruce and Alfred. It was during his first few days. He had gone down to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

“Having Master Peter in the room will give it back its life. Master Jason will no longer walk past that door quicker and with down cast eyes. He will look at it with closure or hope.” Alfred had sighed.

”Are you sure?” Asked Bruce. He didn’t want to drive his son away by giving the impression he was replacing him.

”It will end in tears. Happy/Angry/Sad. That part has yet to be decided.”

”If you’re sure.”

Peter had then walked in as least suspiciously as possible and grabbed a glass of water and made a note to push a little about this room to try and found out about the history of it.

”Oh ok.” Jason seemed to breathe out.

“You don’t mind do you?”

He’s quiet for a few moments before he slips in beside him. “No I don’t mind.”

“Good cause I’m too tired to move. You’d have to carry me.”

Peters close to falling asleep when a new heartbeat enters the room.

“It’s alright Dickhead.” Jason says in the darkness, sounding a bit annoyed. As if Dick doesn’t trust him or something. He’s tired, give him a break.

“I knew you were listening.”

“I just wanna say goodnight to Peter and you ya big lump.” Dick protested as he made his way over he gave Jason an exaggerated kiss on the cheek. Peters eyes were closing shut when Dick ruffled his hair. “Night Peter.”

Maybe it was sheer exhaustion that made Peter’s filter leave this universe.

“Night Dad.”

Peter was out like a light before he could hear Dicks reply.

Extra Thoughts: Okie dokie. What do we think.

I don’t know if that was the right move to have Peter sleep in Jason’s bed but uh it’s done now. I don’t know if I’m characterizing these characters correctly but we move and we research and we try our best.

This chapter is a whole bunch of fluff and I’m running on like 3 hours of sleep so the whole story might be higgilty piggilty but that’s a tomorrow problem. I’m not built for that, like my bedtime is 10 to 11. Anyway I’m doing pointless talking now so let’s move on.

Let me know if there’s anything that needs to be tweaked or any suggestions. Hope yee all enjoy the rest of your week x

Day this was Wrote: 25/12/25

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miserablemuffin · 22 days ago

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jaybin was so cute in justice unlimited i had to draw him

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miserablemuffin · 22 days ago

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Re reading over these chapters makes me realise that the latest ones was when all the shit went down in my life regarding my family so imma blame the tragicer grammar and writing on that ☺️☺️☺️! Also thanks for the support and love, two in one day again, might be a third!!!

You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 9: I wonder how I managed to end up in this place, where I couldn’t get away

Summary: Peter just shrugs before Damian shouts over his shoulder.

“RICHARD YOUR SON IS IN NEED.”

Peters been betrayed before but god does this one sting. He gapes at Damian in absolute betrayal.

“Your bone is sticking out.” Damian points out as if that’s a valid reason.

Thoughts: Chapter Title: Borderline by Tame Impala

Hi so I missed last weeks update cause a lot of things happened. Got a storm, power went out and water went but the internet did first so I was writing a good chunk of the story when the internet went out and my mobile data has run out so it got deleted!!! 😭😭😭 It was out for three days and then I got sick and worst of all I was on my period 😞. It’s been rough week so the chapters a bit short.

Anyway after that long paragraph time for the warnings. Also 15k :)

WARNINGS:

Blood

Cuts

Funny looking knee

Passing out

Guns and bullets

Hope you enjoy!

Peter probably should’ve done a quick tidy before he brought them all up here but in his defence he wasn’t expecting guests. I mean there’s no mice thanks to Duchess, small mercy’s at least.

“You’ve lived here for…” Jason trails off, his gaze being flung around to every nook and cranny of Peter’s home.

“Two months I’ve been here. Not too bad ey.”

They’ve reached the top floor where he’s currently been living. Peter looks at his surroundings and refuses to feel embarrassed. He’s done ok, better than most in Gotham.

He claps his hands together which gets everyone’s attention. He can’t dissect their reactions right now.

Disgust, pity, sadness, anger?

“Ok. So down there is the toilets, multiple I know, fancy.”

He then walks further into the room and spreads his arms out.

“There’s my bed and that’s my wardrobe, that’s my food and…where’s my cat?”

She should be here. He calls out her name and ignores the looks they’re all giving each other. Yeah maybe he should have done a quick clean or maybe lead them to a nice apartment and pretend it’s where he lives.

“DUCHESS!”

A meow sounds from the spider web beneath the dome. He spots her there, kittens and all.

“Make yourself at home, I have to feed Duchess.”

He walks off with a tin of cat food in his hand, trying not to feel their eyes burning into his back.

Peter had to make three more webs on top of the original one so Duchess’ kittens wouldn’t fall through. She’s flat out on her stomach and meows when Peter comes over.

“Hiya Duchess, aww look at them.”

He swears one kitten is drooling.

“You did not tell me Duchess had kittens.”

Damian had crept up behind him, testing the weight of the web by swaying a little bit. Once he deemed it sturdy he crept closer.

“Had them a few days ago, cute aren’t they.”

Damian nods in earnest and sits besides Peter. He reaches out to pet Duchess but then retracts his hand looking unsure.

“Am…I allowed to pet her?” Peter smiles and waves him on.

“She won’t mind.”

Her purring gets louder and Damian’s smile grows. He then looks at his kittens and he can’t believe he’s saying this, Damian has a soft look on his face, it’s a nice change.

He then looks at Peter and then behind them.

“Would you like to have your room next to mine at the manor?” Damian asks it casually but he can tell this question has weight to it. Like asking someone to be your friend for the first time.

“That sounds great. We can go on patrol together!”

“If Dick let’s you out his sight.”

Mutters Damian before saying at a normal volume.

“I’ll have to introduce you to Jon.”

That peaked Peters interest. “Who’s Jon?”

Damian spares him a glance before answering. “He’s my best friend, son of superman.”

Peters eyebrows raise above his hair. He thought Superman and Batman were like mortal enemies, wanted nothing to do with each other, guess that’s not the case. Maybe he shouldn’t trust everything Bee says. He doesn’t think he has the heart to tell her Batman is actually good friends with Superman. Bee loves Superman, only because she thinks Batman hates him. Maybe he should inquire why she has such a vendetta against Batman.

“Oh that’s cool. Can’t wait to meet him.”

Damian hums before cutting Peter a sly look.

“He’s also told me something…interesting the other day?”

“Don’t tell me he’s a big fan of Spider-

Man?”

Peter kinda hopes he is. He’d think it’d be hilarious if one of Damian’s friend was a fan.

Damian scowls. “He’d never stoop so low, at least I think Hayseed wouldn’t. Anyways, he said his dad was in Gotham.”

He busies himself with petting Duchess, not meeting Damian’s eye.

“Oh, I thought Metas weren’t welcome in Gotham.”

Damian gives him a look but continues. “He was in his secret identity, one no one’s been able to crack in 40 or so years? Until a scrawny, in need of bath teenager comes up to him and calls him out.”

Peters trying not to laugh and by the way Damian’s looking at him he’s failing.

“I think you’re being too harsh on the teen, he’s going through puberty and could have a bad financial situation!”

“Maybe that kid also had a rich family he could’ve relied on but chose to ignore them.”

Peter begins to laugh and Damian pushes him over. Now, Peters no stranger to pain. That’s why he was able to walk from the warehouse to here with a bit of a broken leg. Maybe it was the adrenaline or just him pushing his luck that let him get this far without consequences.

Now as he fell over he let out a whimper and Damian was on him like a hot shot. His eyes flew over his body before they fell to Peter’s leg.

In his opinion he’s had worse, far worse. Damian does not share the same opinion and eyes his leg with disgust.

“What happened.”

It’s not a question it’s a demand.

“Bits of ice and roof fell on me. No biggie.”

Damian looks at him likes he’s gone mad, maybe he has.

“No biggie.”

He repeats slowly to see if he heard Peter right.

Peter just shrugs before Damian shouts over his shoulder.

“RICHARD YOUR SON IS IN NEED.”

Peters been betrayed before but god does this one sting. He gapes at Damian in absolute betrayal.

“Your bone is sticking out.” Damian points out as if that’s a valid reason.

“With what? Is everything ok?” Dick calls out walking towards them.

Peter’s back is facing Dick. He stands up and oof, nope. His bone definitely shouldn’t look like that.

He points an accusing finger at Damian.

“You s-s-snitch….”

Peter definitely shouldn’t be swaying this much. Some voice whispers in his ears to rest, it’s been a long day. If that’s isn’t a compelling argument he doesn’t know what is.

He tries his best to fight whatever voice keeps swishing round in his head but it’s a futile attempt. Thank God I’m on a soft web was his last thought before he hit said soft web.

That and he was never going to be able to leave Wayne Manor after this.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peters used of this whole rigma roll by now. However, this time he’s closer to the looming mountain than the spot where he usually wakes up at.

It topples over him and casts a dark shadow all around the landscape. Weird. He hobbles over to the rock and lays his hand down over it.

He’s prepared for the freezing bite of the rock this time but it still makes him retract his hand. He looks up at the mountain and contemplates his actions. He could climb it, the question is should he.

He waits around for a few minutes but nothing or should he say nobody has come to greet him. Well if that’s the case…. He begins his climb.

The higher he goes the rougher the terrain is. The rocks are almost like spikes. His hands get cut far too easily and his breaths come in short puffs.

How long will he be here he doesn’t know. Longest ever was a couple of hours. Does it get longer each visit. He’s already freaked out the Wayne’s enough today, imagine if he doesn’t wake up!

He has to take a break and goes over to a slim ledge. He hauls himself up and lies down, gulping in breathes of air far too slowly for his liking.

He’s up there for 5…10…15 minutes and his chest is still heaving. Somethings not right. His spider senses scream at him and so does his scar from the gauntlet. A bright light flashes around him and he’s being lifted.

When he opens his eyes he’s right at the very start of the mountain. He stands up slowly when he sees a mysterious green figure balancing precariously on a rock that’s jutted out.

It’s not his usual stone woman. No this one is taller, slimmer and has pin straight black hair. Just like the soul stone lady, she has got long hair that floats around her but hers is more straight than wavy. Her outfit is intricate with many clocks hanging off of her. She also has an hourglass in her hand that she’s shaking back and forth.

Her eyes are sharp and and her smile is chilling. She jumps down from her ledge without making a splash.

Peters seen enough now to know that she’s some kind of god/deity? She struts over to him and stares him down. A Cheshire grin makes its way onto her face.

“Well Hello Peter Parker.”

That was the voice that was in his head before he passed out!

He’s not going to bother asking how she knows his name. He’s just going to roll with the punches. Peters looking at this woman, dressed in green with clocks and he puts two and two together.

”And you’re time.”

The woman’s smile turns deadly.

“My sister said you were good.”

A poof of green smoke and she’s behind him. He whirls around, even his spider sense couldn’t warn him about her poofing power.

“Your sister?” He asks cause why does this woman’s sister know him?

Another poof of green smoke and she twirls him around. He’s ready for it this time and knocks her back. She’s about to reply to his question when her head snaps to the left. Her eyes narrow and she hisses. She grabs Peters face in her hands and looks him dead in the eye.

”My sister chose you for a reason child. I do not doubt my sister chose wrong. Be careful and remember, never, ever, go towards the top of the mountain. You will not like what you will find at the top.”

With that ominous speech a chill goes down his spine. A weird sensation creeps up his arm and he looks down at his scar. The tail ends of it have gone a faint green. You’d have to squint to see it.

”We are all counting on you child.”

With that she turns towards the source of her distress. The orange mist begins to swirl and Peters lung fill with the sickening smoke.

He’s transported to his usual spawn point. Weird, really weird.

“Well look what the cat dragged in.”

Peter whips his head around to come face to face with a no no on Mister Starks “People Peter can be friends with” list.

Maybe the Time Stone lady with her green vibe set off anyone in the vicinity with the same colour scheme.

“Mr Loki! What are you doing here?”

Loki squints his eyes and turns on his heels, walking away from Peter. Bit rude but it’s Loki.

“Catch up or fall behind.” Is all he said.

Peter scrambled to his feet and caught up to Lokis side.

“Where are we going? Did The Stone Lady send you? How are you here? Are you dead aswell?!” Loki looked slightly alarmed at all the questions but they don’t break his relentlessness pace.

”You’ll soon see.” Was his mysterious reply. Peter gulped and could only follow him. How long has been out in the real world? He wonders. Hopefully not too long or he’ll freak the Bats out.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Meanwhile Across Gotham…

“Let me get this straight, you fail to kill a poitential Wayne. I’ll let that slide, that bits easy to do again. Then you have not one, not two, but three vigilantes in your custody and you loose them all.” Joker speaks calmly. Too calmly.

Brant was currently sweating bullets. Why did he ever sign up for this job. Because you have to feed your family dumbass. A voice whispered back at him.

His old job was busted once Bat put his boss behind bars. The only job available for a former crime alley kid was for him to work with this maniac.

He shouldn’t have took it no matter how desperate he was, but he can’t change the past. He was a nobody in this job which suited him, all he did was run errands for Scarecrow, come home, spend some time with his wife and Lindy and then go to bed.

Then Jokes got involved with Scarecrow and his hands were tied. He couldn’t leave. He was tasked with shooting the new potential Wayne.

Why? He doesn’t know. He didn’t want to shoot the kid but it was either that or Joker shoot his Lindy.

A week later and he’s in the bad books as he didn’t harm the kid enough for Jokers standards. He knows what that means for him and his family. So, when he sees the perfect opportunity to capture a vigilante and gain safety for his family he takes it. Then Nightwing and Red Hood came into the warehouse and it was like he won the lotto. Then he got his ass kicked and lost the lot.

No security footage, no idea of who was under the mask, he had nothing valuable to offer them. In other words he was collateral.

He wished he was allowed to have one final phone call, to his wife, to tell her thank you for sticking beside a piece of crap for so long. To his Lindy, the best mistake he ever made. To tell both his girls that he loved them. If he were to do life again he’d make sure to find them.

Life’s unfair. He knew that from the beginning when he was out on the streets with his older brother. He was reminded of it one final time when Joker shot his gun without hesitation. No remorse for him, his wife who will now have to provide for their daughter alone, his Lindy who will grow up without a father or anyone who’s struggling and trying their best like himself.

Brant Kane died with a hole in his chest and a heavy heart that night.

Joker sighed and spun round to Scarecrow.

“I’m sensing a common theme with your men. You ought a get some new ones.”

Scarecrow stares at Brant for a while longer.

“What do we tell his family.”

“Did they know.”

“No. He wasn’t that stupid.”

“You know where he lives.”

“Yeah.”

Joker signals two men forwards.

“Deposit this body beside the bodega on 12th street. Then you erase all that footage from the shop. Any means necessary.”

“What about his family?”

One of the men spoke up. Joker waved his gun wildly around.

“They’ll find out soon enough.”

They each pick up a leg and an arm as they carry him out. Joker does a mock salute before putting his gun back.

“Welp. He out ran his use.”

Scarecrow only shakes his head.

“You hear about Freezes attack.”

Joker hums noncommittally. “Amateur.”

“He wrecked several building.”

“Like I said. Amateur. Beside I have way bigger plans.”

He grins manically at Scarecrow who only huffs. Joker picks a flask out of his jacket before raising it in the air.

“A toast to the end of this camaraderie, your fear toxin was appreciated.”

Scarecrow lifts his hand in the air.

“I was happy to oblige. If you need anymore help, you know where to find me.”

Joker takes a swig of the drink before passing it on. He waits several minutes but Joker seems fine. Scarecrow takes a chug before passing it back to him.

Stupid Old Clown won’t know what hit him.

Three of his men appear behind Scarecrow.

“Yes yes I’ll be there in a second. We’re just finishing up business.” Scarecrow says indignantly.

He tells them while waving his hand at them. The men don’t move though. They stay still as statues.

‘Thats odd’ he thinks before he seizes up. He falls to the ground with a loud thump. He tries to move but whatever was in that drink held him down. His mind begins to shut down on him and his eyes flutter close. That’s bastard. He was right about needing better men. The last thing he heard before he’s gone is “There can only be one.”

Once Scarecrow woke up to see the walls of the bleak Arkham Prison he banged his fists against the walls. Only then did he regret ever teaming up with the Mad Hatter of Gotham.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Dick paced back and forth in the bat cave. It had been a day and Peter still hadn’t woken up. He couldn’t believe he’d missed Peter’s injury.

How could he have been so stupid. How did Peter walk so long!

Peter had passed out on the web as Dick was walking towards him. Oracle had immediately called Bruce and he was there in under ten minutes. As soon as they got into the cave Alfred was waiting and ready to help. Alfred said Peter should be right as rain by a few hour tops but a day later there wasn’t even a peep out of him.

His vitals were staying steady, he wasn’t dying or anything but it still freaked Dick out.

“Master Dick I would suggest sleeping so when the boy wakes up you are fully functional.”

Alfred states raising an eyebrow. It would usually send Dick running to bed, however, most times Alfred doesn’t have a basket of kittens in his hands.

Like Dick, Duchess refuses to leave Peter’s side which means the kittens are kept with her. Alfred the cat is delighted to have some feline friends to play with. Duchess, Alfred and the kittens are all currently being held up by Alfred.

He lets out a chuckle before rubbing a hand over his face. He settles to sit down beside Peter. Even though he’s still from a different universe that’s his kid. There’s no denying it and Jason…he’s fast asleep on the opposite chair.

Bruce and Jason’s relationship is still a bit rocky but they’re improving. Jason stays up at the manor most of the time. If Jason ever was down to the cave it’s 5 to 10 minutes top. Jason has spent the day at Peter’s side, not wanting a repeat of the clinic.

Around 3 hours ago Alfred had shooed everyone up to bed. Bruce had loittered around the bat computer. Hovering around Peter to make sure he was still breathing and even though he wouldn’t admit it, he was delighted to just watch Jason.

Bruce was emotionally constipated to a fault. That didn’t mean he didn’t love them. He did, he just had weird ways of saying it.

Dick remembers his first few years at the manor. He’d wake up in the middle of the night and see Bruce looming up over him. He’d never understood why. Bruce told him he was afraid he wasn’t breathing and had to make sure he was alive. Dick never found it creepy as a kid, he thought it was boring sure but not creepy.

The first time Bruce did it to Jason he got two black eyes. Jason found it very creepy even after several months at the manor. Bruce only ever looked afar from the door after that.

Tim got checked up more often as he was just after Jason death. Bruce would sometimes just fall asleep on Tim’s floor. Sometimes Tim would make it to his bed and would just sleep on the floor. Bruce would just often lay down beside him and fall asleep.

Steph for a short time while she was Robin, before she took up spoiler, was looked at from afar like Jason. After the Black Mask incident, when Steph did stay over at the manor, he only checked on her once and made it brief. He never knew the relationship between Steph and Bruce. Steph didn’t stay at the manor all the time only occasionally. She had no Wayne tagged onto her name as she lived with her mother majority of the time. That didn’t mean Bruce and her had a less special bond than him or Cass. It was a unique bond.

Bruce didn’t check up on Cass, she checked up on him. The first time Cass had stayed at the manor Bruce had went to check up on Cass. Only Cass had the same idea and went to check up on him. Both of them had gotten scared once they saw the other was missing. In order to avoid the catastrophe of May 2009 they took turns each night checking in.

Damian was a different case altogether. You see Damian wasn’t comfortable on the bed and so for his first year he slept in the closet. Dick knew this as he was the one to check in on him when Bruce was gone. It was like a tradition. The first night Bruce returned it was just Damian, Alfred and Bruce in the manor. Bruce had gone in to say goodnight only to get a heart attack and the untouched sheets. To avoid another repeat of the great accident of February 2011 Bruce had to check the closet first before setting an alert out that Damian had gone missing.

Duke talked in his sleep. Proper blown conversations. Bruce had at least 10 conversations with a sleeping Duke before he realised he wasn’t actually awake. He only copped on because Duke threw the cover off of him and proceeded to do a handstand and then went right back into bed. Bruce’s screams are still said to be heard throughout the manor and Dukes carpet is now heavily cushioned.

Babs had laughed her ass off once she learnt what Bruce does and called it a dad thing. Turns out Commissioner Gordon always checked on her when she was little and still to this day when she stays over.

Babs was and never will be Bruce’s kid but she is one of their siblings. People always find it strange when he includes Babs with the Wayne’s but it’s true. She’s their sister whether she admits it or not.

Dick wonders if he’ll start doing the same with Peter. He wonders what his tic will be. Does he talk in his sleep, will he be creeped out? Does he snore? Then a sinking feeling crushes into Dicks stomach. Will Peter even stay at the manor? And even if he does he’ll probably want to go back to his own universe and Tony.

Dick sucks in his lip and his eyebrows pull together. They’ll have to discuss that. Maybe Dick will wait a bit until after he wakes up. Bruce is behind Jason surveying them all before a beep comes from his watch.

“We have a guest.”

Dicks immediately on guard before he sees Roy’s head pop out of the door. He smiles sheepishly before Lian burst through his legs.

Dicks surprised to see them here buts he’s not unpleased. Before Lian can run off Roy grabs her and hoists her up.

“Hiya Dick. How’s Peter holding up. Bats.”

“Hi Roy. Hi Lian. Peters doing ok.”

Roy nods and before he can explain why he’s here Lian bursts out.

“I heard Daddy’s and Jays call and I heard Peter was dying and I had to see if he was alright! Also hi Uncle Dick and Grandpa Bruce”

She exclaimed before peering down at Peter and examining him. Making sure he was indeed alive.

Roy looked at her exasperated. “Jaybird only said he was injured Peanut.”

“Same thing. Are those Kittens!” She runs off towards the box, content now that she knew Peter wasn’t on his way out. Bruce smiles before following her.

“Be careful sweetheart they’re sleeping.”

Roy looks back at Dick. “Sorry about dropping in. We came over to visit Jason and when he wasn’t there I rang him. Lian doesn’t hear when I call her for dinner but she does hear the whisper of Jay saying Peter is injured. She demanded she needed to see him. Wouldn’t go to sleep or eat unless she knew he was safe. Little monster.”

Dick let out a little laugh as he watched Lian coo at the little kittens. Bruce was watching her like a hawk and listened to her endless stream of chatter.

“I don’t mind you coming, neither would Peter. Especially not sleeping beauty.” He says the last bit slyly.

He knew there was something going on between Jason and Roy. Jason denied it and denied it but you couldn’t beat the facts. Anyone could see it from a mile away. Those two idiots were in love. Roy only rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. Lian calls Bruce ‘Grandpa Bruce’ for Christs sake.

Roy then stared at the heap before shaking Jason awake. He shot up and looked around wildly.

“Roy…?” He mumbled confusedly before looking around.

“Yeah it’s me. Now I hear enough about your back problems already. Let’s get you into a proper bed.”

Roy lifts him up but Jason’s eyes are glued to Peter. “What about Peter? What if he leaves.”

“Peter is currently in the bat cave, under the the watch of Batman and his father. If he escaped then you guys are loosing your touch.”

Lian looks up at the voices and she lights up once she spots Jason.

“Jayjay you’re awake!”

She runs up to him forgetting about the kittens.

Jason lets out a small oof before picking her up.

“What’s a certain someone doing up past her bedtime?”

Oh yeah, Jason was pretty much Lian’s other dad as well.

“I had to check on Petey! Do you think he’d let me have a kitten?”

Jason pretends to think about it when they all know full well Peter would gladly give her a kitten.

“Peter will, but, only if you go to bed.”

She pouts before burying her head into Jason’s chest and mumbles out a “fine.” Jason takes one last look at Peter as if he miraculously woke up in the time he wasn’t looking. Lian’s not the only one Peter made an impression on.

“I’ll stay here Jason. Rest.” Dick says. Jason nods at him.

“You need rest too Dick.”

He might but they both know he won’t be going to sleep for awhile. Jason, Roy and a sleeping Lian make their way out of the cave. If Roy grabs Jason’s hand once they reach the stairs then that’s their business, not his. Once they do get together he will be insufferable. He might even get an ‘I told you so’ t-shirt.

Bruce looks at them fondly. He then cracks his back before shaking himself out. He runs a hand through Peter hair looking at him with a look of…he can’t decipher it, it’s got love in it anyway.

“Selinas upstairs. I’ll be back down soon.”

With Selina upstairs Bruce will have to face his greatest fear, 8 hours of sleep. He won’t be down anytime soon.

“Ok B. See you tomorrow.”

He leans down and leaves a kiss on Dicks brow. Once he’s out of sight Dick deflates. There’s a feeling of loneliness after seeing Bruce and Jay with their loved ones. He looks down at Peter and wishes he’d wake up in this moment. He doesn’t of course but it’s still nice to wish

Dicks shuffles out his phone from his back pocket and hesitates. He’d be lying to himself if he said things between him and Wally have gone past the rocky path of friendship.

He knows Wally likes Peter so that’s a plus. He goes onto his contacts before hesitating on sending the text. Maybe this is the push he needs. He hits send.

Wally Wonka

Hey

To what do I owe the pleasure to?

Um. You know Peter my son right

I do

Do You

Cause for awhile there I wasn’t too sure

There was no adoption paper being signed or forcible kidnapping

I’m surprised he’s not at the manor yet

He's at the manor now

He got injured

Fuck

He's alright yeah

Cause if he isn’t I can’t believe you told me over text

He's fine but

But what

He's not exactly from this universe

Oh thank god

I thought you were going to say something far worse

Can I call you?

Of course.

Wally picked up on the second ring. He didn’t even get to say hello before Dick burst into tears. “What if I-“ is all he can say before he goes into hysterics.

Wallys quick to run into the bat cave holding Dick as sobs. Throughout the crying he explains everything he’s learnt about Peter, 15 minutes later Peters still not awake and Dick is finally comprehensible

“I can’t loose him.” Is the first thing Dick gets out.

Dicks biggest fear is loosing the people he loves. His fear is amplified with Peter as he knows he’ll have to go back to his universe soon. He’ll have to loose him soon.

“I know love. I know.” He doesn’t know, how Wally could make sense of his sobbing mess of Peter’s backstory.

He rubs Dicks back and holds him tightly. Wally huffs once he sees Dick eyelids begin to close.

“If you want we’ll talk more after but I think you need rest.”

“But Peter…” Dick trails off.

“Will be watched by me. Get some sleep, when you wake up he’ll still be here.”

Dick hums before his breathing evens out slowly. With Wally there Dick knows he can relax.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

“Mr Loki what do you mean I’m supposed to stay away from Time?!?”

Loki had led him off to a little cave. They sat down and Loki told him what happened to him and then in no uncertain terms was he supposed to talk to time.

”She slippery. She’ll use you before you know it. Ignore her and she’ll go away. Probably.”

The last part was muttered but Peter still heard him.

”But Mr Loki’s I’m not supposed to talk to you either and look! We’re talking!”

”Then try to suppress your kindness.”

”You still haven’t told me why.”

”Did you ignore the part where I said she’s a bad person?”

Peter huffs. “How are you in here?”

Loki rolls his eyes. “I’m a God. I can do what I want. However there is another reason.”

He waits for a moment for Loki to tell him why but he’s only met with a sharp laugh.

“Oh I’m not going to tell you. That’s no fun.”

Peter crosses his arms. “Maybe I’ll be buddy buddy with Time then.”

”How long are you usually trapped in this place.”

The question throws Peter off. “Oh. Um…maybe a few hours why?”

Loki looks at his non existent watch before snapping his fingers. Peter is lifted off his feet.

“You’ve been out for a day, maybe more. This place is confusing.”

Peters mouth dropped open. “Did you just come here to delay me!”

Loki looks a bit offended. “As much as I would like to claim credit this is all Times doing. I came to warn you. Stay away from her or next time you won’t leave this place. Be careful son of Parker.”

His senses flare before something dissolves Loki. He scrambles backwards before the thing knocks Peter flat on his back.

“STAY AWAY!”

It hisses before running straight through Peter making him screech.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peters leaps off the bed with a scream. His scar is actually burning him, his hands are now transporting the cuts he got in the stone and it stings. He looks wildly around him. Water, he needs water. He doesn’t even know where he is all he knows is that there’s a pool of water that leads out of a cave…? He does the only logical thing. He runs and jumps into the water causing a massive splash.

He surfaces and takes a look around. This place is cool. There’s gadgets and gizmos…is that a plane!

Wait a minute.

Where the fuck is he?

Extra Thoughts: What do we think!

Eh this chapter was wrote and then deleted and then rewrote. So I hope it wasn’t too shabby.

So we finally have an insight to the guy who shot Peter. His daughter is the one Peter walks to school with Charlie. I know it might not be clear why Joker wanted Peter injured but time will tell.

Also Time has just been introduced. Is that bit of the story a bit boring? I like writing about it but I’m like do they like reading this or do they skip it? Like are we interested in the Soul stone lady or do you want to see less? Also all the people like Loki and Natasha have a purpose as-well as the stone ladies.

I’ve been in a JayRoy craze and I thought why not add them in. It was between Wally or Kori for Dick so I flipped a coin and it landed on Wally.

Winter holidays are next Friday so I’m literally counting down the days.

Let me know if you’d like to see anything or something that’s needs to be improved.

Hope you all have a lovely week :)

Day this was Wrote: 15/12/24

25 notes · View notes

miserablemuffin · 23 days ago

Text

Chapter 8 had so many mistakes that I’m appalled 😨. Guys I hope this version is better.

You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 8: That’s my life, that’s my life

Summary: Tony did know one thing, he wasn’t a fan of Dick Grayson.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Dick knows one thing for definite though, he wasn’t a fan of Tony Stark.

Thoughts: Chapter Title: That’s So True by Gracie Abrams

I can’t believe this fic reached 10k. This is my first fic so thank you! :)

WARNINGS:

Blood

Concussions

Very brief mention of drowning and cults

Small reference to child abuse

Hope yee enjoy this chapter.

Jason didn’t know how this was going to go. Peter obviously didn’t want to be part of this situation. He had been avoiding them and the problem at hand.

The problem in question being Dick was announced as his father on the local newspaper. Dick had insisted on telling Peter the truth, going to Bees and somehow get him to take a blood test. How he was going to do this after Peter avoiding them for a week he didn’t know. All he knew was that he had a very bad feeling about this.

Dick was determined to do it today so off they went. Dick was a ball of nerves coming up to the shop. Jason couldn’t blame him. He tried to imagine it sometimes, finding out about a secret child. Jason doesn’t think he’d be able to handle it as well as Dick has but it’s not just a normal didn’t use protection situation. No, Peter has no records, no foster parents, nothing. It’s like he just spawned into this world.

The blood test they so unethically ran said that Mary Fitzpatrick was the mother. Dick had never seen nor heard of that woman in his life. The last known record of the woman was when she was eight. She should be around 29-30 ish around now. She does some work for the government of sort. A year ago she was classified as missing. It’s beyond weird the case. Plane crash, desert island and a whole other bunch of shit.

Peter has had no trace of being in the foster care system and no run ins with the police either. They’ve scoured for any information they might find on him but it’s always a dead end.

Jason really likes Peter and trusts him but there’s something more going on with him. His gut warns him that there is and his gut hasn’t led him astray yet.

Yet.

Jason’s thinking about all of this as they head to Bees. Bees is empty and doesn’t look to be properly closed. No reason to panic, they’re probably out and about.

Except there is ink mixed with blood on the floor. Very strange but in Gotham you shouldn’t be surprised. Still didn’t stop Jason from shitting a brick.

At that moment Bee came into the shop looking tired

“Oh great you two.”

“We won’t bother you, just wanna know where Peter is.”

“Dimples not with ya sunny boy?”

“No, we thought he was with you.”

“He’s supposed to be minding the shop.”

Then they panicked.

Jason had been running ragged around Gotham looking for Peter, everyone has. Bees security system has been hacked and the footage they did see was concerning.

There was Peter and this random guy.

Static.

Then no one was there.

Jason had run up and down the streets searching for Peter but to no luck. He’s probably injured, worst case scenario.

None of the hospital have him, Babs checked. He might’ve went home and bled out. Too bad none of them no where he lives.

That makes Jason’s heart plummet. Peter can’t die alone. He just can’t, he deserves better. Jason tries not to spiral. It’s probably nothing. Peters probably not even injured, never mind Peter dying. He needs to calm down.

He’s out in his civilian get up same with Dick. The rest are out in uniform. He’s about to start on another street when he hears some really eerily familiar giggles. He swivels his head left to right.

There.

He’s alive.

Jasons calls out the kids name. He doesn’t acknowledge him, just keeps walking. Jason walks a bit quicker and calls at Peter frantically. Jason’s last straw is when Peter starts running.

Jason is not proud of what he did next but in his defence he thought Peter had died, he might be a tad dramatic but sue him. He panicked.

He tackled him into the nearest alley. They were in a sketchy part of Gotham, well sketchier part, a place that could be considered on the outskirts of Crime Alley. He was lucky this place was mostly deserted.

Peters still laughing uncontrollably and as soon as he’s sees Jason’s face he slaps him on his arm. Hard. Too hard for someone that age and weight.

“Ow Peter, what the fuck.”

Peters face scrunches up in a painful way that reminds him off Dick.

“You’re supposed to be dead.” He spat out with enough venom Jason stumbled backwards.

His eyes go wide and his stomach churns. How…? Was it obvious. Did he look a little too pale. Was it his streak of hair. He doesn’t know what gave it away but he hoped on every star that Peter wouldn’t look at him any differently.

“How do you know?”

He has to ask.

“Duh I was there Ben.”

Ben? Ben. Who the fuck was Ben?

“I’m not Ben?”

It’s the only thing he can say. He’s so confused right now and he doesn’t think he’s the only one.

Peter snorts and shakes his head like Jason is just playing with him.

“Sure. If you’re not Ben then I’m Superman.”

“You’re not Superman Peter.”

“No you’re right. That’s Clark Kent’s job.”

How the fuck does he know Superman’s top secret identity. Good god. Jason eyes drifts to Peters side in horror. There was a nasty wound. He tackled him to the ground for fucks sake. Blood was oozing out of his side at an alarming rate.

“Peter you need to come with me so I can sort out your wound.”

“What wound?” Peter asks as if he’s not dying, oh god. Peter might die.

“The wound that’s currently bleeding out at a pretty alarming rate.”

He has one hand on it keeping pressure and the other hand is tapping at the comm in his ear. He taps it three time, stops and the taps it twice more. It’s a code for when they find someone missing, the other two taps means he can’t talk right now. They let out a beep to everyone else. Oracle beeps back which means B is on his way.

“Woopsie Daisy! How did that get here. Maybe the giraffe did it?”

Giraffe? What the fuck was on that bullet. More furious he taps to Oracle.

‘Hurry up B’ he begs silently.

“Peter what giraffe are you on about?”

Peter looks destroyed once Jason says that. He’s on the verge of crying.

“The one over there Uncle Ben.”

Peter then leaps forward and throws his arms around Jason and knocks him back. He crumples into him and Jason holds him tightly.

“I’m so sorry Ben. I never meant for you to get shot. You know I love. I know you weren’t my real dad but I still loved you like one even though I was too shit to say it. I’m so sorry about the way you died. I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry. I wish the robber had shot me that night. I’m so sorry. Please don’t leave.”

Jason hugged him furiously. He was obviously in hysterics. If Jason had more time he’d calm every worry of Peter’s, he’d tell him not to worry, that this Ben guy obviously loved him very much and that in no circumstance should Peter think he should be shot, but times ticking and Peters hallucinating and struggling to breathe.

“Shh, shh you’re ok Peter. I’m not going anywhere. Bruce is coming and you’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.”

Peter then goes still. He went from sobbing to being as still as a statue. It freaks Jason out.

“I can’t go with you.” Where had this come from?

“Why not.” He tries to ask it causally and not in a panicked please don’t leave sort of way.

“I’ll just kill you again. I’m nothing but bad luck. Parker luck.”

Peter tries to make a run for it but Jason’s holding onto him tightly. He then sags against Jason and continues to cry as if nothing had happened. He then begins to struggle to breathe again. Jason tries desperately to try and talk him through it but he’s obviously not listening.

He keeps trying.

It happens so quick, he could give Wally a run for his money. One minute the kid is hyperventilating and the next he gets out of Jason’s hold with inhumane strength and throws his head on the concrete. Peter is out like a light before Jason has had the chance to scream.

“Peter.” Nothing.

“PETER PLEASE.” He screams and yet nothing. A steady stream of blood trickles down angrily against his head. Before Jason can think he collects Peter in his arms and runs.

Thompkins. Jason knows Crime Alley like the back of his hand. It takes him 10 minutes to reach her clinic. It’s currently 11 pm and the clinic has no one in there except for a receptionist. A receptionist who’s really too happy for Jason’s liking under the circumstances.

Leslie is phenomenal as always in these situations and doesn’t ask questions, just gives harsh and curious glances. Which is fair giving the circumstances.

She manages to extract the bullet and clean the wound quickly. She bandages his head up carefully. He lost a lot of blood but with rest, a proper diet and under proper supervision he’ll be fine.

Peters in a dingy little room with Jason sprawled across his legs. He’d told them all where he and Peter were.

B and the motley crew had had a run in with Scarecrow and his gang. It was not a good combination with an already petrified Dick and fear toxin. Dick had taken out half the goons without suiting up. Jason only wishes he could’ve seen it. They’ve got to clean up the city and then change before they come to him and Peter.

Jason lies half on top of Peter legs. He still doesn’t know how Peter had pushed away from him, he’s not making the same mistake twice. He knows Peter well enough now. He knows now he’ll run. He warns Leslie about this before promptly falling asleep.

Huh, the name Ben kinda rings a bell.

Jason wakes up to some movement and Leslie whispering in his ear.

“I’ll take care of him, go back to sleep Jason.”

He trusts Leslie with his heart. He falls asleep again and wakes up to what seems to be like five minutes later.

It is five minutes later.

Peter escaped out the window.

That little shi—.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter’s side healed within three days and his head was now doing fine. He had gone to the cheapest shop he could find and bought three cans of peaches. He needed cheap food and that was the best the shop had to offer. If he was going to leave Gotham he needed to save his money.

While he was picking out his cans he had heard two guys talking. The gist of the conversation was this. The Bats have now tripled their patrol. Going out at 9pm to 9am. They think they’re searching for someone. Peter has a sneaky suspicion of who it is.

He can’t go out as Spider-Man. Too many of the bats know his identity.

He doubts Cass won’t follow him back now. Damian will most likely drag him by the ear back to the Manor. Tim will talk to him before taking action. Selina could be a combination of all three.

Keeping these things in mind Peter makes a list of things he needs to do before he leaves Gotham.

PETER’S LIST

• Swing round to the children at the orphanage

• Find a replacement walker for Lindy and Charlie

• Say goodbye to Harley and Ivy

• Maybe/maybe not give Duchess’s kittens away(he’s on the fence)

• Say goodbye to Bee and everyone else

He goes out and walks Lindy and Charlie to school as normal. They chat his hear off and he wouldn’t have it any other way. As soon as he’s done he runs right back to the theatre and prays each day Duke doesnt spot him.

It’s day 5 when Peter makes his way outside as Spider-Man. He’s skittish and rightfully so. He’s looking over his shoulder at every turn. He’s a bag of nerves. He goes out that night like it’s his first time. He swings higher, quicker. He’s on the ball. He avoids the bats and shadows. He’s not getting caught. Over his dead body. The people of Gotham still need him.

It around 12 when his plans are foiled. He should’ve known better than to think he could outrun Cass. She’s chasing him and Peter finds him slowing down and facing her. He has to say goodbye eventually, get it over and done with it.

Friends

They’re on their usual rooftop which makes his nerves calm a little. There’s six meters or so between them. Damian drops down beside her and Tim following shortly. Peter gulps and eyes dart round the place.

Exit strategy, exit strategy, exit strategy.

“Have you done running?”

Spits out Damian stalking closer. He sounds both equally hurt and mad. He doesn’t know how to feel about that.

“I dunno. What are you going to do?” He challenges rocking back and forth on his heels.

“Come home Peter.” Cass says.

He can’t guess what she’s feeling at the moment. Anger, frustration, annoyance or all of the above. Maybe that’s just Peter who’s getting that vibe.

“I’m already home.”

He says defensively. He doesn’t belong with them. He’ll only bring them bad luck. If he goes with them they’ll soon be wishing they hadn’t taken him in.

“With who Peter? Where did you get that blood sample?”

Tim speaks up puzzled. From what he can tell the mystery of his life must’ve made Tim crazy, driving him up the walls for a sane solution in how Peter Parker came about. Has Peter got news for Tim….

“A very reliable clinic thank you very much.”

“Where are your parents. How come they don’t notice you’re missing most nights?”

Peter shakes his head and starts to step away.

“They’re busy with work, late nights. They’re scientists if you insist you know.”

“Bullshit.” Pipes up Cass. She looks like she wants to reach out and take Peter back to the manor. They all do. Time to wrap this party up.

A screech sounds in the distance and a blast of something rocks Gotham causing the building to sway.

“Tt. This isn’t over Parker.”

Damian swings away to the sound of the commotion, Tim follows with one last pained glance at Peter. Cass looks at him before running up to him. She hugs him and Peter can only stand there in shock. She looks up at him and really looks.

“We need your help. Please come.”

Peter can do that. He doubts they need it but this can be his goodbye gift, one thing checked off his list.

“Of course.”

She nods once before swinging away, Peter hot on her heels.

Turns out it was Mr Freeze who was causing the hullabaloo.

Who knew Mr Freeze could be such a hassle. He was expecting a guy made of ice and like a cool beard or the Ice King from adventure time.

Not a guy in a suit with a fish tank around his head. He was quite…underwhelming. Sandman has raised his expectations, what cane he say, he’s got some pretty cool villains.

Gotham Villians:0 Queens:1.

He’s iced a good portion of the poor citizens. Batman is currently beating Mr Freezes ass with his family so Peter takes care of the ones who haven’t been froze.

Those who aren’t playing freeze tag are herded away from the mess. He helps families escape out of the closet block of buildings. Part of Peter would like to help the Bats out but the other part of him screams in caution to be weary.

Freeze is laughing as he whacks Batman back.

“Nice try Bats!”

The rest of them are dealing with Freezes goons. Cass, Damian and Tim are back to back fighting them off. Steph and this blue haired girl are fighting off the rest. Red Hood is helping the other civilians evacuate.

Peter rushes into another building that looks to be on the verge of toppling.

The whole buildings occupants are running out in a stampede. A little girl drops her stuffed rabbit and she begins to cry, running back to get it. Peter runs back for the animal with the girl in his arms when the hair at the back of his neck stands up.

LOOK OUT.

A massive block of ice is falling and taking the ceiling with it. Peter has only seconds to act before he manages to shove the girl out of its reach. The crumpling celiling manages to squash Peter leg and he lets out a screech.

The girl looks conflicted till Peter assures her he’s fine. She runs off with her rabbit in tow and Peter tries to push the ceiling off. It moves slowly but surely off of his leg.

NOPE

Peters just pushed the piece off of him when he hears footsteps approach. Is that…the guy who shot him?!?!? Peter feeling a little bit of satisfaction at the guys eyepatch. Nice one Parke— wait pg. Violence is never the answer kids.

The most alarming thing about him is his gas mask. Why does he have one? He then opens a canister and green gas spreads throughout the room.

Oh, that’s why.

Peter immediately begins coughing. He tries to push himself up from the ground but his legs scream in protest and immediately buckles.

The last thing he sees is the manic guy grinning at him before falling unconscious. What a jerk.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

No matter how many times Peters been kidnapped he’s never woke up this quick. That gas wasn’t very strong. What an amateur.

Let Peter paint you a picture. A ware house with molded floors and crumbling walls. His hands are bound with cheap rope. Is it bad he knows the difference between good and bad kidnapping rope? There’s a window of sorts in the roof allowing the moonlight to stream through.

Peters about to try and break free when the sounds of a fight can be heard. He stops in his tracks and waits, for what he doesn’t know. His gut tells him to wait.

He’s grateful they let him keep his mask on. He wonders if the guy took a peek.

Wondered what his face looked like when he found out this was the guy who he shot in a boutique a few days ago as well as the vigilante he kidnapped.

There’s no lingering effects of the gas. Only thing wrong with Peter is his broken leg. He takes a peak down at it and oops. That’s not good. Should it be bent at that angle…?

The fighting continues on in the distance but a new figure enters the scene, his stomach drops. Nightwing, aka Dick Grayson, aka his dad.

He spots Peter and cheerfully waves.

“Yoo hoo! You Mister Spider-Man have been keeping us all on our toes.”

Peter gulps and tries to deepen his voice. “What? Little old me.”

A voice shouts in the distance.

“You find him?”

“Over here!” Shouts Dick before returning his attention to Peter.

“So how’s it’s hanging Spider-Man.”

Peter clears his throat.

“Eh I’ve been better.”

Come on Parker, think manly.

“Well you’re in luck. We’ve come to help but I’m curious. Why help out the Big Bad Bat if you know he doesn’t like metas?”

Jason stands beside Dick and sizes up Peter. He’s a bit confused by this question.

Why wouldn’t he help out with Mr Freeze? Thing about Peter is when he’s confused and he needs to think he scrunches his eyebrows. The mask also copies his movements, Peter was quite proud when he finally managed to crack that.

So when Peter scrunched up his eyebrows so did the mask. His eyes narrowed and his nose wrinkled up. It’s subtle. Very subtle. What Peter didn’t know was that Dick also scrunched his eyebrows when he was confused and needs to think.

Apparently that’s all Jason needed for him to clock Peters identity and share it with the class.

“Peter…” Jason breathes out in disbelief.

Dick whips his head around to Jason before looking straight back at Peter. Peter gulps and tries to protest as Dick shakily lifts his mask up. Peter must looks a mess.

“Holy Fuck. I’m so stupid.”

Is what Jason mutters. It’s better than Dick, who’s staring at Peter with utter disbelief and horror.

Shouts sound out in the hall and the man who shot him comes in.

“Nobody move.” Dick hastily pulls Peters mask over his face before he turns to face the guy and grins.

If pirate wanna be was put out by having two well known vigilantes in his warehouse he didn’t show it. He just holds his gun out higher.

“Opps you caught us! It was only a matter of time, come on Hood.”

Dick holds up his hands innocently.

Peter and Jason can only stare in different states of confusion as Dick drags two chairs over, each with what Peters dubbed as kidnapping rope. He sets them far apart before motioning Jason to sit down. He then begins to tie his own hands behind his back. Jason has no choice but to follow Dick’s lead.

Guy with the gun is left standing with his jaw off its hinge. He nods slowly before making sure their hands are all tied.

“Ok…ok. I’m-I’m gonna call the boss. I’ll be right back. Let him know I’ve got three hero’s.”

Then he turns round and says something he assumes no normal person without enhanced hearing would hear.

“You people have issues.” Mutters the guy who shot a teenager a few days ago.

Well of course I have issues! That’s my freaking father! Peter wants to scream. Why would Dick voluntarily kidnap himself. Why would Jason follow!?

Dick turns towards Peter and has a blinding smile on.

“So this is fun.”

Peter chokes on air and Jason only watches in caution.

“Ehm. I guess…um do you want to escape now?”

“Nah. Peter I’ve got to tell you something.”

Peter has a fair idea of what it is. He starts to sweat.

“Uhhhh. Can’t it wait.” He tries desperately.

“Nope.” Dick pops the p before taking a deep breathe.

“So you know that silly news article, well funny story. That was true and I’m kinda your dad. By the way I’m Dick and that Jason.”

Peter doesn’t know how to reply. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“I know.”

Dick tilts his head curiously. “About which bit?”

“Both…?”

His eyes widen is surprise. “Ok. This is a good start. Ok, ok, ok. So. Your parents. What’s the story with them.”

“Dead.” He whispers.

“Who you’ve been staying with?”

“In Gotham? By myself.”

No point in lying now. He doesn’t think Parker Luck can work that quickly. With any bit of good fortune it’ll be pending until Peter makes his way to Metropolis and he won’t accidentally kill Jason or Dick or anyone other family member.

“Who’s Ben?” Jason speaks slowly, as if scared Peter will go scampering.

“No one.” He says it too quickly.

They both look at him like he’s full of shit. He is full of shit. If they bring up the topic of Ben he won’t be able to keep his composure and he’ll burst into tears. He needs to go now.

“Not that this hasn’t been fun but I’ve got to go.”

He’s been trying to get out of his binds for these three painful minutes, now if he just tugs hard enough. Dick’s eye twitches before he begins to scoot his chair closer to Peter’s.

“Don’t go, please. We just wanna talk.”

Dick begins to shift his chair closer and closer.

“You don’t have to come back to the Manor.”

Dick’ chair screeches again as it moves in.

“Just let us talk this out.” His chair shuffles again at a rather surprising speed.

“Please Peter.”

His chair is now nearly touching Peter’s leg and he panics. He moves his chair and bites his tounge. Fuck his leg hurts.

“I’ll pass.”

Dick smiles at him before he begins his pursuit again. Peter has never felt this type of fear in his life. For every shuffle Peter does Dick comes closer by two.

“LET ME GO!” Screams Peter.

Jason looks like he’s about to double over laughing the prick.

“JUST LET ME LOVE YOU!”

Dicks closing in quickly. Peter puts up a good fight but those five words make him stumble and he falls flat on his face.

“Ow.”

Dick manages to set Peter up right with his leg. Peter is now sitting vertically across from Dick, a centimetre between their knees.

His eyes bore into Peter’s and he’d rather be anywhere else right now. In his panic he didn’t realise that Jason had also moved closer. Great, now all they needed was to hold hands and fucking sing.

“Excuse my French but what the fuck.” Duke exclaimed.

Peter’s senses were lacking as he didn’t realise some other presences had entered the room.

“Ooo you’ve caught him. Look you’re trauma bonding!” Steph said in a sing song voice.

Cass didn’t say anything just took a spare chair, brought it over and tied her hands together. The rest following suit. Great.

In this happy little circle it went Peter, Damian, Tim, Jason, Duke, Dick, Steph, Cass and the blue haired girl. Babs was on the com he was told.

“I’m Harper Row by the way, I just came back to town. You’re the Peter guy they’ve been raving on about? Am I intruding, I feel like I’m intruding.”

“Nah don’t worry. I suppose I should get this over with.”

Peter looks around the group. His heart is beating wildly.

“So who wants to go first?”

“How did you know you were my son?” Dick

“Who’s Ben.” Jason

“How did you get your powers?” Duke

“How long have you been homeless.” Cass

“Since when were you Spider-Man.” Steph

“Did you create your tech?” Tim

“When did you meet Kent.” Damian

“Is your name really Peter Parker or is that like a code name?” Harper.

“Ok. So um.” Get it over with Parker. He looks down at his lap before it all spurs out.

“My name is Peter Parker but I’m not from around here. I’m from another universe.”

There’s various degrees of surprise and a triumphant “Told you so.” from Jason. Tim and Duke both elbow him.

“To start from the beginning, when I was six my parents died in an airplane crash. There names were Richard and Mary Parker. My dad’s original surname was Grayson but he changed it when he got adopted.”

“Adopted?” Damian parrots confusedly.

Peter nods his head once. “Dad’s parents died in a circus accident.”

He doesn’t look up to see Dicks reaction.

“So he got adopted by the Parkers, who had one son of their own called Ben. That’s Jason’s name in my universe. So when my parents died Ben and Aunt May took me in. It was hard at first, money was always tight but they always did their best.”

He stops and thinks of May and Ben. He wishes they were alive, if he could see them just one more time. To say sorry, to wish he could have been better.

“Me and Ben got into a stupid fight. He just got back from work. He was a police officer—“

“Jason was a police officer!” Everyone in the circle exclaims. Peter looks up and he laughs which kinda turns into a sob before looking down again. Jason looks gobsmacked. As if he didn’t know himself. He looked like he was going to get sick and Peter was definitely circling back to that point.

“Yeah, May was a nurse as-well. Anyway, we got into a fight, I was younger and umm… I’m sorry I’m can’t go into that. He died that night.”

Damian somehow had got out of his binds without Peters notice and laid a comforting hand on Peters shoulder. He didn’t know who was more shocked by that action as he retracted it quickly. Peter got the message and he gave him a small smile.

“Anyway, times got tougher and May had to pick up more shifts so she always came back late. One night she didn’t come back at all and the police came to the door and told me she’d drowned. Foul play was involved but they just couldn’t prove it. I was then put in foster care, then I was on the street and then I kinda got kidnapped by a cult.”

“A cult? What would a cult want with you.”

Steph is looking at him for answers but Peter can only shrug.

“I’d gotten my powers by then so they’d collect metas as you’d call them, but in my world they’re called mutants.”

“That’s fucked.” Tim muttered. “Did anyone cop on?”

Peter can still remember that day clearly. Mister Stark coming in to that dark cave like prison, looking scary as shit.

“Yeah, Mister Stark saved me. The rest of the kids were killed, I was in a…prison of sorts when they came in. Anyway after a year or so I was living with Mister Stark.”

Damian scrunched up his nose. “Who’s Mister Stark.”

“He’s a superhero but also one of the best inventors ever to cross this planet.”

He can’t help but smile thinking of Mister Stark and his achievements.

“His superhero name is Iron Man cause he has this suit you should see it, it’s so cool. He’s part of the Avengers which is like the Justice League, if you get me.”

“And mutants are allowed on this team.” Duke asks curiosily.”

Peter thinks. “Well before I died I —.”

“You died!” Bursts out Dick. It was weird seeing open concern on Dicks face. This whole situation was weird, it made Peter feel weird.

“I think so? It’s confusing. But we have enhanced people on the team. Anyway, there’s was this big purple guy who wanted to wipe away half the planet! So I go up to space with Mister Stark to stop this guy and then we’re fighting him and he just poof! Disappears. Then all of a sudden, Drax, Mantis and other Peter start turning to dust. Doctor Strange goes as well. Then I start turning to dust.”

Everyone was leaning against the edge of their seats now.

“It was…painful and then I woke up again and Dr Strange told me that everyone was waiting for us and then we were on a different planet and everyone is fighting and I see Mister Stark and then I see the infinity gauntlet. Oh I haven’t even told you about that. So basically there’s like these six stones and if you collect them all you can do crazy shit. So anyway he got all six of them, made the snap, wiped half the planet, that’s why I turned to dust and then Mister Stark invented time travel and that’s how we all came back! I think…. Anyway I saw the gauntlet and then I snapped, I was in this weird place and now I’m here…woo hoo?”

He can’t tell them about the stone lady yet. This is enough for now he repeats to himself. He hopes on everything they won’t judge him, won’t call him a liar or turn him in. They’re not like that.

Dick stands up, Peters seen this before, he knew it was going to happen. He just wished Dick was different. He braces for the impact of the slap, punch, kick, whatever it may be but it never comes. Dick wraps his arms around Peter and he freezes.

“It’s ok Peter. You’re ok now.”

Peter then breaks down crying. He can’t help it. He cries and cries until there’s nothing left. He cries for Ben, for May, for all the kids who don’t make it out of the cult, for his parents and for himself.

Dick holds him through it all.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

For a few seconds Tony could have had it all. Time was never really on his side. The stone had become more vivid. More alive. Thoughts could be whispered relentlessly one day and radio silence the next.

Tony did know one thing, he wasn’t a fan of Dick Grayson. This guy had crossed Peter’s mind more than once. From what he can gather this Dick Guy is trying to integrate Peter into his family, which frankly seems like a rich cult to Tony.

Tony is not ok with this for a multitude of reasons. One being that thats his kid, two being he already has a loving family and three that’s his kid.

Tony wasn’t a jealous person, nope. Not him…maybe a little. But you see when some random dude, who you have no idea what he looks like or who he is tries to take your kid, you wouldn’t take it the right way. He knows if he was pervert, call it intuition, he’s not a bad guy per se. That’s doesn’t mean Tony has to like the guy.

And don’t even get him started on sketchy figure number two, drumroll please…Nightwing. One guy wants Peter for his estranged family and the other wants him to be his sidekick. Peter was and will never be someone’s sidekick. Simple as.

It was random evening, nothing out of the blue. He was about to leave for his flight when the stone started glowing. He probably shouldn’t have touched that stone with a ten foot pole but his kid was in there and Morgan had told him that the stone called to her. Maybe this was the stone calling to him.

Or maybe it was the the liquid Tony had cooked up and kept injecting into the stone in the hopes it would work.

He carefully went towards it and touched it with the tip of his finger. Like a vacuum it sucked him in.

The inside of the stone was about as appealing as the outside. It was different to keep hearing Peter was ok than seeing him in the flesh being ok. It was surreal. So surreal.

His kid was alive and looked fine. Their reunion was cut short when he could physically feel something kick him out but it was enough. He flew out the stone and landed on his ass. Gave Shuri the shock of her life, poor girl.

He’d gone on his plane estatic. He was delighted cause in one evening he was going to see his two kids, a possibility he’d thought he’d never have. Walking into the lake house he couldn’t help but have a jump to his step. Morgan was finding it hard to readjust to school so they decided to have a mini little vacay at the lake house this week.

This time when he passed Peter’s room he smiled. He peeked his head into Morgan’s bed room and couldn’t help but grin. Peter was now featured in each of her drawings around the room. He crouched down beside her when her eyes fluttered open and a sleepy smile made its way onto her face.

“Daddy your back. Did you see Peter?”

She asks every time he comes back. For once he could say he had.

“I did, I did.”

Tears well in his eyes thinking about it. She gasps and sits up.

“You did! Where is he?”

She swivelled her head back and forth trying to find out where her big brother is.

“It was very quick visit Morgan but he’s ok.”

She settles into bed and oh. Maybe he should’ve told her in the morning. She’s not going to bed anytime soon.

“Well tell me all about it, did he ask about me.”

Tony has to laugh at that.

“He did actually—.”

He tells Morgan all about it, it might’ve only been five minutes but it was the best spent minutes of his life.

Both of them end up falling asleep in the late hours of the morning. As soon as Tony’s head hits the pillow Pepper creeps in. She drapes a blanket over him before turning away. She’s been with her husband through thick and thin. Seen him at his very worst and best.

She prays to some god up there that Peter comes back safe. That risking everything to get Peter back is worth it. She knew Peter very briefly but the impact that he had on the Stark household will outlast him in death. She misses him and wished on everything that he comes back in one piece. She doesn’t think their family will be able to survive if he doesn’t.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Jason ends up knocking out the henchmen who came as back up. Dicks glad, he would’ve done a lot worse to the man who shot Peter and those who helped in the operation.

Dicks been terrified many times but to rush to the alley where Peter is supposed to be and see a pile of blood, no. Dick doesn’t think he’ll be able to sleep for weeks.

He knew it was irresponsible of him to take out half of Scarecrow guys in civilian clothes but he doesn’t regret it. The fear toxin hadn’t made matters better. Then he goes to the clinic just for Peter to slip through his fingers yet again.

He always thought Bruce was bonkers for tracking his children, Dick was starting to think it wasn’t that bad of an idea.

Peter has been through so much. Everything he’s gone through…Dick doesn’t know how he’s still standing. Everything he’s told Dick…it’s all too much. Dick doesn’t know how he’s done it.

Dick knows one thing for definite though, he’s not a fan of Tony Stark. He sounds sketchy, but he’ll keep his mouth shut for Peter’s sake. He wants to wrap him in a blanket and never let him out of his sight. He’ll settle for having his arm thrown around him as they walk towards Peters home.

Dick…died in Peters universe and it makes him feel guilty, to know he wasn’t there when Peter needed him. He doesn’t know how Jason’s feeling, being dead in another universe. He’ll have to ask if he’ll tell Peter that he died in this universe too.

“This is so cool! I’m not the only meta now.”

Duke pipes up and Peter laughs.

“Yeah I guess it is, why doesn’t Batman allow metas in Gotham anyway?.”

“I think it’s a jab at Superman but that’s just my opinion.”

Duke said in thought. Steph was pretty much buzzing at Cass’ side.

“Ok but how did you know our identity’s? I’ve been dying to know.”

“So it helped that I knew Cass—.” Steph gasped loudly and threw a glare in her girlfriend’s direction.

“How could you!”

Cass only shrugged. “I regret nothing.”

Peter sniggered and high fives Cass.

“Yeah so when I was at dinner with Dick and there was this pamphlet thing with all your superhero designs on it. I was looking at it and thinking huh, the Batfam got a lot of children like the Wayne’s…wait a minute and that was that!”

“So Cass was the only one who knew.”

Dick mused as he caught the guilty looks of two of his brothers. So his sister wasn’t the only backstabber of the group.

“No way…my own flesh blood, Damian and Cass I’d suspect but Tim! I’m surprised you didn’t spill the beans.”

“We are adopted Richard.” Damian mutters rolling his eyes.

“I can keep a secret!” Tim sputters out indignantly.

Harper snorts. “I bet you were desperate to tell Bats you figured it out. It was eating you up, wasn’t it.”

Tim’s silence was confirmation enough.

“I can’t believe it took me so long.” Jason mutters.

“I mean I should’ve gotten it straight away, especially when you called me Ben.”

Peter shrugs unapologetically. “You’ve either got it or you don’t.”

“What other powers do you have?” Dick asks the question and when Peter lifts his head up to look at him he thinks his heart melts.

“Well I can stick to walls, I can shoot my own webs which didn’t happen before I came here, I have enchanced metabolism, I have a decrease in thermoregulation and I have this Spider sense that kinda alerts me to trouble and all that shazam.

Dicks eyebrows scrunch, he’s really happy Peter does that aswell. Should he be that happy? He doesn’t know.

“So you can’t warm up and you need to eat a lot?”

Peter rolls his eyes and says in a voice with an underlying tone of dad. Dick shouldn’t feel this giddy about a tone of all things but he does.

“It’s kind of annoying that thats the two things you pluck from my powers.”

Dick feels no remorse. He needs to be prepared for every situation that’s to come.

“I’m just concerned bud.”

Peter blows out a breathe and shakes his head amused. He’s about to say something when his eyes light up.

“This is the spot. MTV Welcome to my crib!”

Dick looks up and plasters on what he hopes is a pleasant face. He’s been living it up while his son has been living in an abandoned, cold theatre.

Peter laughs. “I know, I know. It looks like a shit hole, but it’s what’s inside that matters! Come on in!”

With that Peter crawls into a broken window and disappears. They all follow him inside.

Extra Thoughts: So…cats out of the bag. The ending kinda of stops but it just felt right to end it at that.

I hope Jason’s pov was up to scratch. Poor man was stressing out.

For the scene with them being tied up and Dick coming closer I can’t take credit for the idea as it was inspired by a TikTok under the name @holeysoulz!

Definitely check them out. The video is about Dick and Jason being held hostage and Dick keeps coming closer to Jason and it was just gold. There’s also a fic about that idea by cailliac called brotherly bonding. I thought it’d be perfect for that conversation.

I had to put the rest of the Batfam in that scene. Only person who doesn’t know is Bruce….

How do we feel about Harper. I thought why not add her in. It might be a bit random but I thought it would be a good character to put in. She will be in it more in the future, so she’s not a stick in one scene and never mention again.

For Tony meeting Peter in the cult, that encounter is done in more depth in my other fic. If you want to know how and what happened just read like the first three paragraphs and your sorted

I hope yee enjoyed this chapter, let me know if anything has to be improved or you want to see.

Day this was Wrote: 01/12/24

#peter parker in gotham #dick grayson is richard parker #spiderman #batfam #i luv peter parker #jason todd is uncle ben #dc universe #ao3 fanfic #dick grayson #peter parker #ao3 writer #marvel cinematic universe #marvel #you’re gonna go far #non cannon #crossover #spider son #iron dad

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