Peter stared out the window of the Sanctum Sanctorum, his gaze landing on nothing in particular. He likely couldn't concentrate enough to focus on any one thing in the outside world right now, his thoughts running circles in his brain. Really it all revolved around one thought in particular, one that was all too common in his headspace.
This was all his fault.
"Hey."
Peter turned to see one of the other Peters, an older one whose hair never seemed to look bad no matter what he'd been through, standing just at the top of the stairs.
"Hey," he replied.
There was silence for a few moments, neither of the Spider-Men having anything in particular to say.
"This is weird, right?" the other Peter said, taking some more steps forward. "Like, even for us?"
Peter let out a huff.
"Yeah, I think this qualifies," he replied, "and I've been to space."
"You'll have to tell me about that sometime," the other Peter replied. He looked back towards the stairs for a moment, as if checking for someone he was expecting, before continuing: "Look man, so, that Doctor Strange guy just got done filling me and the other Peter in on everything, and I just, you know, wanted to check in on you; see how you're doing?"
Peter shook his head, looking back out the window for a moment.
"I'm okay I guess," he said. "After all, I'm not the one who was ripped from my earth against my will and brought to a new one, along with a few of my enemies as well."
"Oh well," the other Peter said, shrugging. "Knowing us, somehow I'm guessing it was bound to happen somewhere in the multiverse."
Peter allowed himself a small laugh before his resolve hardened again. There was something he needed to say to the other Peter, and the third one downstairs when he got the chance.
"I owe you both an apology," he said. "I know Strange cast the spell, but it was only because I wanted so badly to reset my life back to normal, and now I've put my world in greater danger before while also risking you not getting back to yours."
The other Peter let out a snort of air, his eyes looking to the ground and a knowing smile beginning to spread across his lips.
"Honestly," he began, "about ten years ago, if I had the options you have, I might've done the same thing."
"Really?" Peter asked, narrowing his eyes.
The other Peter nodded lightly, appearing to swallow before speaking.
"The woman I loved, she...she died, and I couldn't save her."
Peter's mouth opened slowly in a state of stunned shock.
"I, I'm so sorry," he said.
"I was in a bad place for a long time after that," the other Peter continued. "Even when I put on the suit again, when I got back to saving the city, I still wasn't the same person inside."
"And you are now?" Peter asked.
"No," the other Peter replied, "and honestly, I think that's the point."
"What do you mean?" Peter questioned.
"In many ways, we may always be the same in some ways," the other Peter explained, "but life is always going to come after us, and sometimes, it's going to win, and no amount of magic or science or anything can change it. We have to adapt and press on."
Peter shrugged, at a loss.
"How do I do that?" he asked, tears beginning to well up in his eyes.
"By leaning on those close to you," came another voice. Peter turned to see the third Peter, the oldest one of the three of them, come over to join his fellow Spider-Men. "I may not have had it quite as rough as either of you two, but I've also lost a lot. Maybe it's just some multiversal constant among Peter Parkers, but I know I wouldn't be where I am today without my wife, my aunt, and others who've helped me through all I've lost along the way."
Peter allowed himself another smile.
"Thanks guys," he said. "It's nice to know some people that understand."
"The feeling is mutual," the cool-haired Peter replied.
"Absolutely," the oldest Peter agreed, "and don't worry, we're going to help you through this." He looked to the other one, who nodded in agreement.
"I appreciate that," Peter replied. "It's just... I know that, after all this is over, I'm going to have to make a choice: to try and find another way to make people forget who I am, risking my loved ones forgetting as well, or risk them being targets every day for the rest of their lives."
"Neither of us can tell you what the answer to that is," the other Spider-Man replied, "that's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. You just need to be ready to live with the consequences, because either way, as long as any of us do what we do, there will always be consequences; bad things that happen despite our best intentions."
Peter looked down.
"I know," he said.
The oldest Spider-Man put his hand on Peter's shoulder.
"This job isn't easy," he said, "but I know you'll be great. Just remember, we are both Peter Parker AND Spider-Man. Neither one can exist if the other one isn't present too, even if at some point the former gets sacrificed from time to time."
"I know that's right," Peter replied. "Well, guess we better go track down those bad guys. It is what we do, after all."
"Yep," the other Spider-Man replied, looking toward the oldest of them. "It's like our Uncle Bens used to tell us in some way or other..."
"With great power," the oldest Peter said, turning towards Peter, who let out a sigh accompanied by a somber smile.
"Comes great responsibility."
Hope you all enjoyed it!
Continuing to pray for you all; stay safe and healthy!
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4