Title: My Favorite Weakness (is You)

Summary: Dead or Alive?

Rating: T (for violence)

A/N: I really hope you like this chapter and where it goes!


Chapter 8: I Hate Hope


Peter laughed.

It was a joke, right? He wasn't dead.

He was here. Alive.

But Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner weren't laughing.

He wasn't dead, right? He hesitated. He didn't know Dr. Banner at all, and he didn't know Mr. Stark that well, but a prank definitely seemed out of character. If it was a joke.

"Wait, what?" He asked, looking back and forth between them, "I don't get it."

"That's the thing, Peter," Dr. Banner spoke this time, "neither do we. You shouldn't be here, but you just walked in."

Peter noticed his arms had begun to shake, and crossed his arms to hide them. He actually felt like he was going crazy.

He went over the day's timeline in his head:

Wake up. Watch TV. Eat. More TV. He took apart a computer keyboard in his room. Then just sat in bed and did nothing for a while. He'd eaten lunch. Then seen the text and left.

"I mean, what's the actual date then?" He asked, deciding that would be the easiest way to figure out where and when exactly his personal history went wrong.

"You've got the date right," Happy said, causing Peter to jump; he'd forgotten he was here, "I mean, you know what today is."

"Then I don't understand," Peter said quietly, shaking his head, "I know where I've been up until now. I mean, I was here just yesterday."

"Do you remember having met me?" Dr. Banner asked.

Peter looked at him, extremely confused, "No sir."

"Not even once within the past five months?"

Five months. What was five months ago? "No, I would have remembered."

Dr. Banner smiled, but his eyes were still sad; "I believe you."

Peter looked quizzically at him; what did Dr. Banner know about him?

"Happy," Mr. Stark addressed the man, "Can you go work on the list I just sent you?"

Happy got up and left the room, giving Peter another interested but depressed look before leaving.

Peter watched him go, then turned back to Mr. Stark.

Mr. Stark, who was just sitting there typing away on his phone or the fancy hologram keyboard when he isn't staring at Peter like he's crazy and lying rather than caring that he feels like he's being pranked or drugged or something and his life is a lie and what is real? He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and focus; focus on what? What was real?

"Mr. Stark, please, I feel..." he motioned to his head like he was mind-blown, "I don't know. I don't like this, Mr. Stark, what's going on?"

Mr. Stark shook his head and sounded sharp when he spoke, pushing Peter back. "Look, maybe you don't like this, but trust me, it's worse for us. You died a month ago!"

Peter looked exasperated, "But I was here yesterday!"

"No!" Tony replied, almost yelling, "I... We buried you a month ago. There was a funeral. There was... you. It was real, I know it was real." He pointed to the screen, where Peter saw his own face smiling back to him on what looked like an obituary page, reading just enough to confirm that was what it was before his eyes blurred too much to read any further.

Peter shook his head, unable to process what Mr. Stark was saying, still trying to vouch for his reality; "Mr. Stark, please," he begged, the tears filling his eyes now despite his effort to keep them away, to swallow the hurt that was accompanying this confusion and denial of what was being told to him; "I was- just yesterday... You texted..."

And then he was surrounded and enveloped in the arms of his mentor, and he clung on, held back, and searched for reassurance in the physical representation of someone he obviously didn't know.

But he did know Mr. Stark, and this wasn't... this wasn't him. Mr. Stark didn't hug. He pushed away, wiping his eyes, and looked up at the Mr. Stark who returned his gaze, full of distress and sadness.

He took a few steps back, almost distrustfully, and looked between Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner again. None of this made sense to him.

He had to be dreaming.

Or drugged; maybe it was a hallucination, and he was kidnapped somewhere.

Maybe it was a simulation where you face your fears.

He felt his back touch a wall, and realized he must have continued walking backwards. His vision went spotty, then dark.

He reached up and covered his eyes. Maybe this meant he was waking up again, and everything would be fine. He hoped for what he knew wasn't true.

He followed the wall down until he reached the floor.

He stayed there, just sitting, his head buried in his arms, resting on his knees, until the persistent pounding of thoughts and emotions returned to a dull drumming.

He opened his eyes to see Mr. Stark sitting next to him, looking patiently at his hands. He looked up to where Dr. Banner had taken a spot on the computer, typing away at something Peter didn't bother to find out.

He sniffed, and asked quietly, so Mr. Stark could hear, "where did Happy go?"

Mr. Stark raised his head to look at him and gave a comforting smile, "I sent him to get a friend. I have a theory. Have you met my wizard friend Dr. Stephen Strange?"

Peter shook his head, "though you did say you had a problem with wizards."

Tony shrugged, "I'm not surprised I do. I remember you'd said something about wizards, though, which is why I wanted to get him involved. Before we both go crazy here."

A small smile finally made its way to Peter's face, a victory in Tony's eyes; "so there really are wizards in New York? Doing magic and everything?"

Tony smiled again, but looked away; "I'm sure it's all just unexplained science, but yes." he keept going, quietly, "There are wizards in New York, doing 'magic' and everything." He included air quotes around "magic."

Peter rested his head against the wall behind him; "Cool," he whispered.

He wondered what else he'd missed. "How's Aunt May?"

Mr. Stark mirrored Peter, resting his head back against the wall. "Not the best, since you've been gone. Don't tell her I know that, though; she's strong and keeps up this appearance and still comes to visit like we used to. Honestly I don't know who gets more out of it, her or I. I like to think of it as our therapy time with Pepper."

Peter half smiled, but the dots didn't connect; they had never come to visit. Had Aunt May actually visited Stark Tower without telling Peter?

His thoughts were interrupted by a shower of sparks coming from a point midair in the middle of the room, some of them reaching him as the point turned into a line, then a curve, then a circle. The sparks weren't hot, Peter noted, similar to the ones he'd been "shot at" and hit with.

He stood up abruptly, Mr. Stark joining him. Peter backed up, standing in between Mr. Stark and the sparks, when all of a sudden a tall man walked through. He was wearing weird robe things, also like the wizard people from the alleyway, but he wasn't one of them. Peter clenched his fists, but otherwise waited.

The man entered the room, and Peter looked past him to see where he'd come from. He saw another man, also dressed in robes, and was surprised to see Happy in the circle. He was worried at first, but Happy just waved when he caught sight of him, and Peter awkwardly waved back. Happy saw Tony and made a gesture, mouthing 'I'm gonna go around,' and stepped out of Peter's line of vision.

Peter turned his focus back to the wizard-man, who was already looking down at him.

"Peter Parker," Wizard-Man stated, and Peter sighed; another stranger who knew his name. Wizard-Man kept his super-observant-looking gaze on Peter making him feel uncomfortable more than anything.

"Strange," Tony said from behind Peter, and stepped to Peter's side.

"Stark." Of course Mr. Stark and Wizard-Man -er- Stephen, knew each other. Peter crossed his arms, feeling extremely out of place, out of the loop, and out of his mind.

"Did you get a blood sample?" Wizard-Stephen went on, eyes on Peter but not speaking to him.

"No," Mr. Stark replied.

Wizard-Stephen finally shifted his gaze from Peter to Mr. Stark; "then I suggest we obtain one."

Peter could practically feel Mr. Stark roll his eyes. "And I suggest you slow down. Does the kid even remember you?"

Peter felt all eyes return to him and he shifted his stance. No one said anything to him, but the question was out there. He looked down and slightly shook his head, no.

"Strange, this is Peter. Peter, this is that wizard I mentioned, earlier,"

"I'm a Master of the Mystic Arts," the Master-of-the-Mystic-Arts murmured, and Peter decided wizard was much easier than that mouthful.

Mr. Stark continued his introduction, "Dr. Strange." Mr. Stark acted and sounded all fine and dandy now, compared to the emotion he'd shown earlier; Peter couldn't hide his as well.

Peter's voice was almost a whisper, his eyes still on the floor; "nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Strange's voice sounded judgmental. Peter wondered if that was his just voice or not; Dr. Strange addressed Mr. Stark again, "Now, the sooner we obtain the blood sample, the quicker we can determine if the theory for which called me here holds true. Peter, if you could please take a seat, I'll get the supplies."

Dr. Strange walked around the table to the medical cabinet, and Mr. Stark returned with Peter to the patient's chair. Mr. Stark resumed their private conversation again.

"You get used to him. He's a little forthright, intrusive even, sometimes; it must be a wizard thing."

Peter noticed Dr. Strange threw them an annoyed look, but didn't say anything, and Mr. Stark went on.

"Anyhow, would you prefer Dr. Banner draw the sample? I know you don't like needles."

Peter's eyes scrunched in confusion. Mr. Stark knew he didn't like needles? Even Peter wasn't sure where he stood with needles... he tried to remember the last time he'd been given a shot. When he was 10, maybe 11 years old? Before his spider bite. Sure, he hated them then, but Why and How would Mr. Stark know about that?

Peter just shrugged; "I d-don't care," he stammered. Honestly, the fact that these people knew more about him than they should bothered him more than the needles. He definitely knew something wasn't lined up now, because even he didn't know he was apparently afraid of needles.

Dr. Banner ended up drawing his blood (Mr. Stark decided based off of Peter's reaction), and Peter guessed that from the way Dr. Banner acted like he expected Peter to act, do, and say everything he did throughout the process that he'd probably had his blood taken by Dr. Banner before.

They gave the tubes to Dr. Strange, and Peter didn't know if he did a regular-doctor or a wizard-strange test on it, but he came back not 10 minutes later with a verdict.

"Peter," he said, finally talking to him like an actual human being; "you are Peter Parker." Peter let out the breath he'd been holding in a disbelieving laugh; who did they think he was? Only then did he notice how nervous Mr. Stark looked. He looked at Dr. Banner, who looked worried. Peter sombered up, and looked back at Dr. Strange. Apparently it wasn't a joke; now he expected a 'but.' Sure enough, the doctor delivered.

"but," Dr. Strange went on, "you're from a different universe."

Peter looked at Mr. Stark, and addressed his question to him, "like a different reality?"

Mr. Stark looked at Dr. Strange for the answer, but Peter, kept his eyes on Mr. Stark.

"Precisely," Dr. Strange answered.

"A parallel universe?" Peter answered, sounding almost excited.

"Yes." Strange's answer sounded more like a warning.

Mr. Stark looked sick. Dr. Banner looked sad. Dr. Strange just looked at him; Peter couldn't read his expression.

"So..." Peter prompted him, asking for more of an explanation. He didn't see how this was bad. He got here, they could send him home. They had his blood sample.

"So what?" Dr. Strange replied, "So you're here now."

Peter nodded. This was awesome. He just needed to understand why it wasn't awesome.

Peter shrugged to indicate he didn't understand; "so you can send me home?"

"If only. You see, the multiverse isn't like that;" he waved his hands in a weird precise wave-motion which Peter thought looked more like a TikTok dance that a Mystic Arts spell, and a hologram appeared in midair.

A intricate design that resembled a 3D ball of web, or even more so a galaxy.

Just like the one he'd seen by the wizards in the alleyway.

Upon closer inspection, however, he could see what would have been the stars of said galaxy design moving like an ocean current.

"These specks," Dr. Strange pointed to the moving Not-Stars, "are realities. We, are here." One of the realities glowed a bright green. "You could be from any of the others."

Peter looked at the billions of Not-Stars, the realities, and wondered which one was his.

"So, there's no way to find it?" He asked, and he felt a knot form in his throat. He hadn't said goodbye, much less prepared for one. He had to get back.

"Not necessarily," Dr. Strange rested a hand on Peter's shoulder; he'd seen the panic growing in his eyes.

Peter had to get home. "So how then?!"

Peter watched the green glowing reality he was stuck in sink within the wave of realities, and he felt his rising hope wash away with it.

Dr. Strange waved a hand, and the multiverse-jello morphed so that the green reality was centered on top; "what I can do for you is send a signal and hope your Master of the Mystic Arts of watching."

Peter nodded, taking it in, trying to figure out how much he should let his hopes get up before he found them too high. A fearful thought occurred to him.

"But I don't even know you!" He exclaimed, "in my universe, I haven't met you!"

Dr. Strange exhibited the first emotion since Peter'd met him: doubt.

"That's what I feared."

So that's why it wasn't awesome.

They both stared at each other for a few moments in silence. Peter hated that there was a chance. Now he'd be stuck on hope. A not-quite-impossible hope. He tasted blood, which alerted him that he'd been biting the side of his cheek: a bad nervous habit.

The silence was broken when the door opened and Happy walked in.

"So, what's the verdict?" He asked.

"Kid's from a parallel universe," Mr. Stark answered, and stood up and walked towards Happy at the door; "he isn't ours." And without another word, Mr. Stark left them.

Dr. Strange watched him leave, then turned to Dr. Banner, who'd been listening quietly by the computer; "I'll go see what I can learn about this," Dr. Strange said, whooshing away the hologram, "and begin doing what I can do." He created another circle of sparks and exited through it, leaving the three of them alone.

Dr. Banner still didn't say a word, so Peter looked at Happy, expectantly.

Happy looked at Peter, but this time like he didn't know him; Happy took in his appearance as if noticing him for the first time.

For a second, Peter lost all hope as he was afraid he'd lost Happy, too. But then Happy did what he did best: stay focused on his assignment.

"Well, Peter, do you want to change into some comfortable clothes?"

Peter nodded, knowing that if he spoke then that he'd start crying.

"It was nice to meet you, Peter," Dr. Banner said, and Peter just nodded, and got off the chair to follow Happy out.

There was so much he wanted to say; so much he wanted to ask. Really, he just wanted to be home.

"I think he just missed you," Happy said once they were alone, interrupting his thoughts.

The out of context comment surprised Peter; "what?"

"Tony," he explained, "he misses you. I think he was... hoping."

Peter understood. He'd felt the same way growing up.

Wanting someone who was gone. Wanting something that couldn't be gotten. Hoping for something he knew was impossible. I dreaded the thought that this may be another one of those situations.

But Peter never wanted to hurt Mr. Stark, and the realization that he had hit him like a punch in the gut.

He couldn't swallow the knot this time, and choked up a sob in the hallway outside the med bay.

He wasn't even embarrassed when Happy wrapped him in another tearful hug.


A/N: Who do you feel the most for?

I have a big exam this week (for my now-online University), so that may slow down the upcoming chapter (s). I apologize in advance! Your feedback and support help me even outside of my fanfic writing life, I appreciate them so much!

Thank you for your comments! I actually love hearing from you. 3