miserablemuffin

[miserablemuffin]

So stay with me here, what if Doctor Strange had messed up his spell and yeah everyone still forgot about Peter Parker but Peter also gets sent to the Fantastic Four universe. So Peter now has to make a living there but the spell also messed with his Spidey powers which means he now gets this spider period which means he gets super, duper jealous of anyone touching Johnny during that time of the month. So what I was thinking was

that if you liked that idea my first chapter of this fic is out!!

Peter Parker and The Spider Period!!

Read on Ao3 here!!

Read on Tumblr here!!

[miserablemuffin]

Spideytorch Fic where Peter is in the F4 universe after Doctor Strange’s spell goes sideways. Sprinkle in territorial Peter and you have this!!

Read on Ao3 here!! https://archiveofourown.org/works/68893441

Peter Parker and The Spider Period

Chapter 1: Pizza and Chill?

Summary: Peter isn’t the jealous type. He’s not…except for that time of the month where he doesn’t let another living soul touch Johnny. Other than that he’s a total chill and laidback guy! He wouldn’t think that if he could actually remember that time of the month…

Thoughts: Hello! This is my first ever Spideytorch fic and the basis is that Doctor Strange made a miscalculation in his spell which led to some weird side effects one being that Peter was transported to the F4 universe!! Sprinkle in some Peter acting like a spider and this is the fic!!

I hope ye enjoy xx

A new masked Vigilante has entered the scene but reports have shown him doing more good than bad. New York citizens are still reeling from the effects of Galactus, is a new vigilante what the people of New York need at the moment? The Fantastic Four have issued a vague statement on the matter but it’s clear that they are as unsure as this vigilante as we are. We have yet to get a statement from the man himself but we believe he goes by the name Spiderman—

Peter stopped reading there. The hyphen, they always forget the hyphen. He was currently sitting on the train that rattled non stop even when it wasn’t moving. He was still getting used to this place.

When Doctor Strange did his spell he messed up again. Well, he knew people forgot about him but then three days later he was blipped, pulled through time and space and brought here. He hadn’t even been able to pack anything.

New York City, home sweet home, except it’s the 1960s and there’s no Avengers and it’s kinda futuristic too. So not really home but Peter could’ve done a lot worse.

He was very confused when he first came here, see travelling across dimensions would do that to a person but also for another reason. His powers had been messed with.

So far his symptoms have been heightened metabolism, gets even colder, his Spidey sense now talk to him, he produces his own webbing, he’s stronger and faster and oh yeah, he gets a spider period.

It’s as weird as it sounds. Basically for a week every month all his emotions are heightened and he gets real jealous. Which means when that robber tried to nick his favourite hat, he hit a little harder than usual.

The train rattles to a stop and his thoughts are cut off. More people hustle their way onto the train but Peter manages to squeeze between them just in time.

He makes quick work of his walk home as he’s fucking freezing and the holes in his clothes are doing nothing to help. He lives in a relatively shabby area so nothing new.

However the apartment he’s living in is…well it’s a shit show. It’s half-arsed put together. Apparently this Galactus guy tore through the city so some of the buildings have been less put together than others. Meaning that his building is more unstable than stable.

But hey, if the rents cheap, the rents cheap.

He makes his way up the eight flights of stairs, each one making its own sort of squeak, none of them ever make the same noise, Peter finds it fascinating.

His door is taped together by duct tape but he doesn’t really have any valuables. He’d kinda feel bad for the poor robber who chose this lucky apartment to rob.

He places his bag on the couch and hangs up his coat. He shimmied into his suit as quick as possible, the cold air nipping at every available part of his skin. It was coming towards the end of October and the first of the real cold has begun to set.

He made his way into his bedroom and dropped to his knees. He reached his hand under his bed, avoided all dirty socks before his finger caught on the corner of the floorboard. He managed to jimmy it up with minimal splinters this time.

The most valuable item that Peter owns is his camera. Top of the line and one of the very first that can be put on a timer. He found it while dumpster diving, his favourite hobby.

He puts it around his neck and pushes open the window. He takes one deep breath. It doesn’t matter that he’s in a different universe, New York will always smell like New York.

He leaps.

He does his usual gig. He stops muggings, helps drunk people get home safely, he helps cats out of trees, he gets a free hot dog from his first and only fan Todd.

All in all, it’s a good day. When it turns to night he sets his camera up and begins to strike a few poses. Then a scream reverberates through an alley.

Over there.

He swings just in time to see the bullet fly. He’s fast enough to get the woman out of the way but not fast enough to save himself. The bullet grazes him and he sucks in a breath.

Ouchie. (This is Peter’s spider sense talking to him, cool right?)

He shoots two webs to the man’s hand as he kicks him backwards. Once the crook is safely secure on the wall. He turns towards the woman.

“Are you alright ma’am?” He asks as he turns back to look at her. She’s got curly brown hair and a scarf that goes all the way down to her shoes.

“Just peachy now that you’re here. Say, I’ve got a daughter your age who’s looking for a man who’s bold enough to wear strapping colours, what do ya say.”

“Thank you ma’am but I’ve got a girl back home.”

It was kinda true. Did he still hold a torch for MJ, yes of course he did. However that fire has now dimmed down to a matchstick, why? Well one because he would never see her again and two, both of them needed to move on from each other.

That didn’t mean he didn’t miss both her and Ned all the time. Of course he did but he knew he needed to move on, did it mean that he had move on…of course!! He definitely does not cry in the shower all the time missing them, nope, not him.

The other problem with that offer was that the woman didn’t know his age. Peter Parker was 18 years old but legally he was 23 counting blip years which was how he was attending part time classes at a college.

She waves him off and gives him a penny for his troubles. He does a few more rounds of the city before finally sitting on top of the Statue of Liberty. It was his thinking spot back at home and he would like to keep the tradition alive. He’s flicking though his photos when he hears him.

He webs the camera underneath the torch so his torch won’t see it. Peter had decided that letting people get close to him would only end up in disaster, his solution to this problem? Never, ever let anyone near again.

The Human Torch did not get that memo. Johnny Storm, freshly 18 and youngest member of the Fantastic Four would not leave Peter alone.

At first Peter believed it was because he was simply bored, with Galactus gone and the city recovering there were only boring jobs to be done. Peter was a new shiny, distracting, toy to play with.

Peter had no time for people like that. Safe to say he had no time for Johnny in the beginning, didn’t help that he somehow managed to get under his skin like no one before.

Then he realised Johnny was lonely. He was lonely and insecure, covering himself up with false bravado and looking for a friend like him and Peter was the closest thing in this line of business. So he let him stick around. No biggie.

“Webs! I’ve been looking all over for you.” Johnny greeted him as he skidded to a halt. Once, and only once his fire extinguish does he sit close to Peter.

“Here.” Peter tosses him a slice of soggy pizza. It has ham and pineapple on it, which Johnny loves but Peter hates, he doesn’t know why he buys it considering he has little to no money and doesn’t like the toppings but he always buys it anyway.

Weird habit is his guess.

Johnny’s smile burns like fire as he munches away on the offering.

“Thanks Spidey. Say, did you know that babies could aim their pee so precisely because I didn’t.”

“No I didn’t but thanks for sharing.” Peter says as he licks the grease off his thumb.

“Y-yeah, eh, little Franklin could be a basketball star yet.” Johnny stutters at the beginning of his sentence but finishes it off smoothly. He does that sometimes, another weird habit he guesses.

They chat back and forth, Peter begins to swing his legs idly which is a sign that he’s ready to go. Johnny catches this sign and blurts out— “Are you dressing up for Halloween?”

He was a bit surprised. He hadn’t even thought about it. May loved Halloween, she made them wear matching costumes every year. That thought silenced all others and he knew that, no, he would not be dressing up for Halloween.

“Nah, too old for Halloween.”

“And how old is too old?” Johnny asks hopefully. He’s been pretty persistent on trying to find out stuff about his personal life, Peter has been very tight lipped about it, considering all that has happened.

“Too old. Are you dressing up?” Peter questions, trying to divert the conversation.

Johnny looks annoyed for all of two seconds before grinning.

“Duh, you can never be too old for Halloween. We’re all dressing up and taking out Franklin, guess what I’m going as?”

“Hmmm pirate?” Peter guesses.

Johnny makes a buzzing noise. “Wrong. Guess you’ll have to see.”

“Eh how? Don’t tell me you brought it with you?”

“No Webhead, but I know you and I know you’ll be out swinging. Trust me, you won’t miss my costume.”

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Peter did not miss his fucking costume. The week of Halloween was the week of Peter’s, Spider Period? He’d have to think of a better name for it.

What that entailed was that he was more possessive of his things, his food, his jacket, his sleep. Everything. Then Halloween night rolls around and he hits the street regardless.

Surprisingly this New York has a lot less crime going on than his one, which meant his night was pretty chill. It was cool seeing all the different costumes and his heart gave a pang every time he let himself linger on Aunt May home stitching for too long.

So he didn’t, he let himself keep a tally on all the Fantastic Four costumes he sees to hoard over Johnnys head.

The most popular is Johnny but if Johnny asks he’s saying it’s The Thing.

He’s resting on a building, hidden in the shadows, munching on a slice of stale pizza, for once he didn’t get ham and pineapple, he got his favourite, pepperoni.

He’s half way through his third slice when he spots the Fantastic Four. Franklin sits in a pram that seems to hover. They’re all dressed up like Star Wars characters.

Mister Fantastic has a Mandalorian helmet obscuring his face and has the whole get up on. Invisible woman is dressed up as a pilot. The Thing has false fur stuck all over him so he’s assuming he’s Chewbaca and Johnny—

Peter drops his pizza. Johnny is dressed up as a Jedi, but where as a Jedi’s clothes are all loose and baggy, his are tight tight. Belatedly Peter realises he’s dressed up as Anakin, Peter’s favourite Star Wars character.

Then he’s sees that’s there’s a girl on Johnny’s arm and he sees red. The girl is so obviously dressed up as Padame but she looks horrid, she looks terrible and she places in comparison to Johnny and—. Peter smacks himself. What the fuck. The girl looks lovely and her costume looks well made.

What on earth was in those Pepperonis to make him act like a buffoon.

He shakes his head sharply and gets up. He’s been sitting down for too long, he needs to move anyway. He’s takes one long lasting look at Johnny before swinging away.

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Johnny thought this girl would never stop talking about Spider-Man. The girl was a friend of Sue’s sister. She had set him up in the hopes of something sparking between them.

He means sure, before Galactus he was freshly 18 and wanted nothing more than to snog every lady in town because that’s what he’s supposed to do. Now after Galactus he was 18 and a half and all he wanted to do was snog one very infuriating Spider.

He hadn’t told his family about his frequent meet ups with Spidey as they would only worry and become too protective. He’s been lucky so far, not getting spotted meeting up with him but his luck can only last so long.

Sue hadn’t told him about this girl until he saw her waving frantically at him outside the Baxter Building. All it took was one look at Sue’s knowing smirk to put the pieces together.

The girl was nice and everything but it was clear she was thinking of one thing and one thing only, Spider-Man. Did Spidey deserve to be talked about for two hours straight, yes, yes he did but Johnny was trying not to think about his crush and this girl was not helping.

He had been trailing behind the rest of his family to try and not subject them to this endless stream but it was beginning to wear thin on his already little patience.

He decided the best cause of action was to take her home. Once he suggested this, she managed to stop her stream of chatter to giggle, say sure and then confirm on like nothing had happened.

He told the rest of his so called family who only gave him knowing look. The tops of his ears lit a flame, she didn’t even notice, she just kept prattling on.

So Johnny took her home, was a real gentleman, took her up to the front door and everything. She finally took a deep breath and beamed up at him.

“I just think he’s so cool.”

Yeah you’re not the only one sweetheart.

“I know, even Human Torch doesn’t live up to him.”

She laughed at that and placed her newly manicured hand high up on his shoulder.

“Oh Johnny, you know I’ve had a wonderful night. We should do it again sometime.”

Then she leaned it.

Johnny froze.

He’s never kissed anyone before, never, ever. His heart was beating out of his chest. Did he particularly want to kiss this girl, no, but he knew it was embarrassing not having kissed anyone by now. He knew he had to get it over and done with so why not now?

He braced himself for the unknown, stomach clenching when he was swept off his feet, no, literally.

One minute his feet are firmly planted on the ground, the next he’s thrown over somebody’s shoulder with Louella squawking on the ground.

He wiggled around but was held down firmly by surprisingly strong arms. Who on—Spidey?

“Eh Webs?”

He only got a grunt in return, that was not good. Usually you couldn’t get him to stop talking.

“Um Spidey what’s happening.”

All he got was a squeeze in return. Johnny tried not to panic, ok something had gone horribly wrong and Spidey obviously needed help but was so panicked that he couldn’t speak, that sounds about right. That’s what happening, Johnny would just have to learn some manners.

Peter swung them all the way across town until they had reached the Statue of Liberty, where Johnny’s sorry ass was deposited.

He had all of two seconds to open his mouth before webbing was shot over it. Then all of him was webbed up, he was in a webby cocoon on the spike of the crown. Ok. This was new.

He tried not to panic.

“Spidey, you’re really freaking me out.”

Flame on, flame on, flame on.

He chanted it like a mad man but not a single lick of fire came out, the one time he wants to summon his fire and not a meg will appear.

He approached Johnny slowly and he realised with a lurch, holy moly, he could be Spidey’s lunch for all he knows.

“Woah, Spidey you know personal space and everything is good so we might o-or this is ok.” Johnny wheezed out as Peter grabbed him by the hair and turned Johnny’s head towards him.

“Hi.” The first word he has spoken to Johnny.

“H-hey.”

Peter has taken one of his hands back to his side but the other has gone travelling to cup Johnny’s cheek. His heart beat pounds wildly.

“What were ya doing?”

“What do you mean?”

His hand is still firmly planted on his cheek but his thumb has strayed and is mindlessly rubbing circles at his jaw.

Johny is a little too ok with that.

“Were you on a date.” He said it with a bitter tone and Johnny was a bit taken back.

“Eh no not really.”

“Not really. It sure looked like it.” Spidey whispered. Since when did he start whispering.

Johnny gulped and opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Peter then leaned forward and hovered an inch away from Johnny’s lip. Johnny thought he was going to die right then and there.

Those soulless eyes bore into his.

“Can I?”

Johnny’s stomach plummeted, how could he forget that something was severely wrong with Peter and here Johnny was about to take advantage of his state. With shame burning bright inside of him he bursts into flames.

Peter manages to leap back just in time to not get scorched. Johnny reeled back from Peter, he could’ve…he could’ve…

Johnny gets sick. Like proper projectile vomiting.

Once he’s done throwing up Peter has webbed him up once more. This time he doesn’t touch Johnny or try to kiss him, probably has something to do with nearly burning him alive and then vomit breath on top of that.

Once he manages to steady himself he breaks free yet again but each burst of flame is shortly extinguished and Peter webs him up once more.

This goes on for about three hours, Johnny has never been more grateful that Sue had made sure his costume was fire proof.

His stupid costume that he had only worn to impress Webs. He didn’t know how he managed to convince his family to dress up like characters from a comic book that had only a few issues out but he had.

Webs had talked so passionately about Star Wars that if Johnny hadn’t already fallen for the idiot he’d have fallen for him a second time then.

So Johnny decided to go as Spidey’s favourite character for Halloween. No big deal. It’s what friends do.

He can’t even get his opinion on it as he’s resorted to cave man grunts once again and refuses to answer Johnny’s questions. Johnny has now been manoeuvred to the ground where he’s been triple webbed up.

Spidey rolls back and forth on his heels, eyeing him up.

Johnny can feel his eyes begin to close and he hears Spidey move around him. He pays no heed until he feels a nose brush his neck.

His skin goes alight with fire. He cracks one eye open just in time to see him sink his teeth into his neck.

Johnny cries out. Pain shoots through him for three seconds until a soothing sensation numbs the bite. Spidey runs one hand through his hair and begins to coo.

“It’s ok, you’re ok, you’re ok.”

Johnny’s too shocked at what had happened that he lies there gaping.

“Webs…are you fucking purring?”

Spidey just purrs louder. The idiot then lies down opposite him and watches his face intently. Johnny’s in no mood to sleep now so he watches as those big white eyes shutter close.

It takes half an hour for him to fall asleep sleep but once he’s gone Johnny shoots off.

He flies all the way to the Baxter Building and tumbles into the window. His chest goes up and down, up and down.

What the fuck just happened.

And why the fuck did he kinda like it.

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Peter woke up the next day on the Statue Of Liberty which was weird, he’s never done that before. He also wakes up in a pile of residue that he now knows his webs leave behind as they dissolve.

There’s also scorch marks on the spikes which is a bit weird but he brushes it off. He makes sure his mask is securely on before swinging back to his apartment.

His day is actually surprisingly good. Usually after this whole shit show he feels cranky and jealous for a few more days but apparently this time all it took was one day to get it out of his system. Peter’s not complaining so he decides to not look a gift horse in the mouth.

He did his morning class, did his mid day parole and got yelled at by J.K Jameson for not delivering the photos on time. Some things in every universe just stay the same.

He still left with his pocket full so he didn’t care. The first thing he did with his pay check was pay rent with this money and the money from his other, other job, delivering pizza’s. Second thing he did was buy a Hawaiian pizza and swing all the way to the Statue of Liberty.

It took twenty minutes before company joined him.

“Hiya Torchie, sorry I didn’t get to see your costume last night. Pizza?”

When he actually turns to see Johnny he’s a little shocked. He looks like he’s hasn’t slept a wink, his hair look likes it’s pulled in several different directions and he looks to not be on this planet.

“What?”

“Pizza?”

“No, you don’t remember seeing my costume?” Johnny asks in a confused tone.

“You, uh, never showed it to me?” Peter replies back equally confused.

Something dawns on his face and Johnny shakes his head slowly.

“You’re right. I never showed it to you.”

There’s some weird air between them now and Peter wants to clear it as soon as possible because he doesn’t think he can stomach all this pineapple by himself.

“Aw Torchie, does this mean you dream about little old me.” Peter fawns, draping himself all over Johnny.

Johnny snorts and pushes him away. “You wish web head. You wish.”

Extra Thoughts: So…what do we think?

I’m pretty happy with how it turned out and I’m going to try and strike while the iron is hot with the chapters.

This originally started out as a tumblr post so if you wanna check that out my tumblr called MiserbaleMuffin also.

Also this was what was going through my head at that ending scene

Sue: Johnny what happened to your neck, did you do that

Louella giggling: I did not do that

Peter, not a clue what happened: Then who did?

Period Peter who definitely did that: Yeah, who?

Also if you wanna get Fantastic Four, Marvel and many other bits and pieces please check out @drewparker2k on Tik Tok. He makes great videos and he’s all round fantastic guy!!

If you have any constructive criticism and would like to share please leave it, comments and kudos mean the world to me

I hope ye all have a lovely week and see ya in the next one :)

Day this was wrote 24/08/25

[miserablemuffin]

From You’re Gonna Go Far Chapter 14!!

[miserablemuffin]

Chapter 14 is out!! Thank you so much for all the love on the last one, appreciate it :)

Read on AO3 here!! https://archiveofourown.org/works/59191246/chapters/178086746

You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 14: Cause I’m a punk rocker, yes, I am

Summary: “I don’t want these gifts. I never asked for this.” For a second she looked sorry, only for a second before her face hardened.

“Neither did I.” She poofs into thin air and Peter is left by himself for all of thirty seconds before someone comes up behind him.

“Peter?”

Thoughts: Chapter Title: Punkrocker by the Teddybears and Iggy Pop!!

Chapter came out quicker than five months this time, yay! Schools starting back up so imma try and write my Spideytorch before that starts up, so next update in at least two weeks?

Also thank you so much for 55k hits :D

WARNINGS

GORE

BLOOD

DEATH

ADDICTION

Okie hope ye enjoy :)

Peter screamed, he screamed until his voice went hoarse, until he physically couldn’t anymore. The tears had stopped and he could only look at the scene in horror.

The Shrikes…they, they did this. He’s going to be sick. He runs over to the sink and throws his guts up. Whatever high he was on after his kiss with Johnny was long gone. All he felt now was empty.

She carved their hearts out their fucking chests. She took their guts and splayed it around them in a sick love heart.

Soul, Soul could fix this. She’d know what to do.

Peter tried, he tried so hard to reach the soul stone but he couldn’t. No amount of thinking, begging or wishing gave him an opening.

Peter, on unsteady legs, went over to them and kneeled. He pressed a shaky kiss to Bee’s forehead before doing the same to Pietro.

Parker luck strikes again.

Parker luck fucking strikes again.

He reached into his bag and fumbled around until his had grasped his phone. He scrolled through his contacts until he landed on it.

Ring

Ring

Ring

Hi it’s Dick I can’t—

Please, he begs as he rings again, please pick up.

Dick doesn’t pick up.

Fuck. What does he do. He needs to know what to do.

Jason had mentioned having plans this weekend. He wouldn’t want to disturb him.

Then his eyes landed on it. Should he or should he not call him.

The all of a sudden his phone flashes before he can even try Bruce. Dick is calling him back and Peter is paralysed. Look at what happened to Bee and Pietro, what’s to say it won’t happen to Dick, Jason, who else would those creatures come for next?

Peter can’t go back to Gotham. He can’t bring his luck on them. God, he knew this would happen, he knew it in his bones and yet he still let them get close.

But he has to answer, if he doesn’t Dick will come looking for him. But he can’t. His fingers won’t move. He’s telling them to move but they won’t. Finally he manages to pluck up the courage on the last ring and clicks answer.

“Hello?”

You see he worked up his courage to answer the phone but he hadn’t worked it up to try and act normal. His mouth felt like a robot.

“Peter are you there?”

Physically yes, mentally no.

Mentally he was already on a bus away from here, never to see Dick again.

Physically he was in a house with his brutally murdered grandparents and now had to act like everything was fine.

“Pete?”

Dick now had an underlying tone of worry in his voice. Concern radiated off that ‘Pete’ and it made him sick. He didn’t deserve this, he didn’t deserve any of it.

“Hi.”

“Oh you are there. Pet—“

He hangs up. He can’t do it. It’s like a fire was lit from under him and all of a sudden he’s everywhere all at once.

His screaming should’ve woke the neighbours but so far he hasn’t heard a peep from them. He packs his bags and takes Bee’s belongings as well.

He then dials 911 and leaves. He just walks, and then he’s running.

His phone keeps ringing and Peter knows he needs to answer it but later. That’s a later problem.

When he sits on the bench after an hour of walking he has eight missed calls from Dick and three from Jason.

He needs to ring both of them back but who first. Dick rings again so that’s his answer, beside if he calls back Dick he doesn’t really need to call Jason back.

“Hello.”

“Oh thank god Peter. Are you alright.”

“Eh yeah, just a bit of headache, I think me and Bee caught something.”

“Caught something huh.”

There was a teasing tone in Dick’s voice that Peter couldn’t deal with.

“Yeah, turns out there’s a bug going around. Bee’s in bed and I’m about to go now too.”

“Oh ok, well we’ll talk in the morning, you have to tell me all about your trip.”

No they wouldn’t talk in the morning and Dick would soon know all about his trip.

“Yeah.”

“Ok night Pete.”

“Night Dick, I….”

I love you, I love you and I’m sorry.

He doesn’t know when he started feeling like that towards Dick but he does. He loves him and he has to let him go.

“Yes…?”

“I nothing, I’m so tired, I got a brain fart.”

Dick laughed and it warmed and broke Peter at the same time.

“Okie dokie then, night.”

“Night.” His voice cracked but he hung up the phone before Dick could ask questions.

He then crumpled his phone up and tossed into the bin.

Here he was, sitting on a bench in the street with no plan. There’s was only one way to move and that was forward.

He got rid of his backpack, bit suspicious if Spider-Man and Peter Parker had the same ruined bag.

He stuffed all his shit into Bee’s bright purple bag and set off on his walk. He decided to try and stay off of the main streets where people were slowly waning.

He was walking past the last of the restaurants opened at 10pm at night when someone called out his name.

“LITTLE PETE!”

Peter swung his head towards the sound. A group of bikers were waving him over. He was confused but then he remembered who they were, these were the bikers who he met back in Gotham. The bikers who promised that they would always give Peter a ride if he needed. He made his way over to them.

“Hiya Lucky.”

“Jaysus little Peter what happened to you?”

“Long story, that offer of a ride still up for grabs.”

“Of course. Let me finish dinner first. Where to?”

He panics momentarily. He hadn’t thought this far. He then remembers a name he saw when he was looking for buses to metropolis. It would have to do.

“Smallville.”

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“Little Pete I ain’t sure what you doing here but good luck.” Lucky said as he let his eyes roam over the barren countryside.

“And you call us if you need anything else.” Ronny added with a serious nod.

Peter smiled. They had given him a ride with minimal questions asked. It took a couple of hours but they were finally here.

They had asked him where he wanted to go and he panicked but looking around now, it looked like the perfect place to lay low.

“Yeah I will, thanks guys.”

“Until next time Petey bird.”

The steady roar of the motorbikes filled the air and as the sun rose it was just Peter and his thoughts to keep him company. If he thought about what he left behind in Metropolis he would never move from this spot so he began to walk. And he kept walking.

Swim or sink Parker.

Peter kept to the road and walked from field to field. The houses were so far apart that if you needed help you were a bit stuck. As the sun rose steadily the houses became from frequent. The town must be close by.

The sun was hot and it made Peter sweat, it wasn’t an uncomfortable sweat yet. Yet. So he picked up his pace a bit. He was admiring a cloud that looked like a pear when his hair prickled up.

His head shot up and he scanned the area. He wasn’t anywhere near any houses so he was completely on his own. His eyes swept back and forth trying to find the danger. Panicked gripped at his chest and he all but ran further up the road. He must look like a maniac.

In his panic he didn’t even hear the shouts at first but once he did, he stopped. In a field, far, far ahead, there was an old looking tractor and a man waving frantically at him.

Peter waved at him and began to trudge through the tall grass and prayed that this dude wasn’t a serial killer. Fingers crossed.

Once he got close enough he got a right look at the guy. He was plump, late fifties or early sixties, he had a cap on and if Peter was drowning in sweat this dude had long since submerged. He also had a very cool mustache.

“Hey Mister.”

“Oh son am I glad to see you. I was hoping you’d run to town and get me a mechanic, I would me self but as you can see….” He gestured down to his leg which was in a cast.

“Of course, I’m kind of a mechanic of sorts…if you’d like I could take a look?”

His furry eyebrows flew up. “Too kind. Why of course.”

Peter popped up the hood of the ancient thing. A thick waft of pure black smoke came out. Peter coughed and moved his face away.

“I ain’t a mechanic but I don’t think that’s good.”

Peter let out a laugh. “It could still be salvageable.”

Once it cleared he realised the engine wasn’t that bad. With a twist, a turn and some smacking a small roar was let out and it came to life.

The man couldn’t believe it.

“Well I never. And here I thought I’d have to wait a few more hours till I was rescued.”

“I’m sure a car would come quicker than that.”

“Not round here son. You won’t see a car till 11am and that’s if you’re lucky. You must be not from round here.”

“Yeah I’m from Queens, just passing through.”

The man eyed him and his shabby clothes in thought.

“Well you help me get up in this tractor and I’ll help you get into town.”

“Oh I wouldn’t want to be a bother, I’ll help you up though.”

“Nonsense. If you go by foot you’ll arrive by tomorrow.”

Peter had a feeling that this guy wasn’t one to give up easily, especially not someone who looks to be in need of help.

“Well if you’re sure.”

So Peter helps the man up onto his tractor without damaging his cast. Peter hops up beside him and shoves his case behind him.

“I don’t think I ever caught your name son?”

He couldn’t go with Peter or Parker. It would be a dead giveaway, he needed to be tactful about this.

“PJ Storm.”

“Storm huh? Unusual name.”

He prays Johnny never finds out about this, he’ll never let him live it down. Then he remembers he might never even see Johnny again and he tries to pat that hard lump he can feel rise in his chest.

“Yeah. I guess it is.”

“So the P is for Peter and the J is for…?”

Peter stomach and face falls.

“How do you know the P is for Peter.”

“Your coat sonny.”

The coat he had taken off of him, the coat that Bee had insisted putting his name on as it was a good one, the coat that was proudly displaying that tag for the world to see on his lap.

“Oh. I forgot about that.”

“Eh don’t worry about it. So the J?”

“Johnny.”

“Peter and Johny Storm. Nice ring to it.”

It did, it did have a nice ring to it but PJ Parker sounded way better. A lot better, like tons better.

“Yeah, yeah it does. What’s your name?”

“Johnathan, but you can just call me Pa. Everyone does.”

Peter nodded and smiled. In the future would he have called Pietro Pa? He doesn’t let that thought linger for long.

“What happened to your leg.” He decides to change the subject quickly.

“Aw this old thing, ain’t nothing wrong with it. Took a tumble down the stairs and this took the brunt of it.”

“Shoot.” He feels like this dude won’t appreciate swearing.

“Shoot indeed. Say I hope you don’t mind but my wife Martha will be worried sick about me, I was supposed to be home an hour a go and she’s a real worry wart, you wouldn’t mind if we were to go there first and then I promise we’ll go to town.”

“Oh of course, that’s no problem.”

“Aw brilliant. Now stick on that old thing.” He gestured to the back of Peter’s seat where a radio was sitting.

He fiddled with the knobs until it sprung into action. He went from station to station until Pa suddenly shot out his hand in front of him.

“Keep this one on. My son used to listen to it all the time. Now he has his son hooked on the song as well, I don’t even know what a punk rocker is, all I know is that listening to this song soothes me, makes me believe my boy is doing alright.”

“It’s a good song. Do you want me to turn it up?”

“Ah why not!”

So off him and Pa went, with punk rocker croaking from the radio.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter didn���t know what to expect from the Kents farm house, maybe an old rundown place but certainly not this. It was relatively big, it was a two storey house with a barn beside it. Cows grazed the field next to the barn and he could hear chickens out the back. He could also hear three heartbeats inside.

“Is it just you and your wife who live here?”

“Yeah just me and my Martha, although my grandsons visit from time to time.”

Peter prayed for the sake of both of them that the grandsons had payed a visit.

They parked the tractor up which settled with a resounding splutter.

“Might have to get a new one.”

Peter could only laugh, he was so sure that the tractor wouldn’t last the whole journey but it did.

“How long di—“

WATCH

The air was knocked out from Peter’s lung as he was hit by a stampede of white fluff. A dog was sitting over him, barking in between giving Peter licks to his face.

“Aw Krypto get, I said get.”

The dog, Krypto, reluctantly got off of Peter and began to trot around them. Peter began to pet him when a woman came out to greet them.

She was small and had a round face, her hair was beginning to grey and she had the coolest apron on. It was a mix of different colours that should clash but somehow didn’t.

“I told you that tractor didn’t have a meg left in it. Why, who is this?”

“My names PJ, PJ Storm.”

“Well I’ll be. My name is Martha but you can just call me ma. Sorry about the dog, our niece dropped him off an hour ago. Dropped off our two grandkids as well. They’re still sleeping, both so cranky cause their daddy, our boy, wouldn’t let them join him at work today. Oh sweetie you look like you could use some breakfast, where are you from, I bet you’re from the coast. He looks like he’s from the coast, doesn’t he John. Oh! Here I am nattering away and I don’t even give you the time to answer. Let’s get breakfast, shall we.”

“Breakfast would be lovely.” Peter answered, a bit baffled. Ma smiled warmly at him before gesturing him into the house.

Look up.

Something or more like someone was watching him from the second floor window. Must be one of the grandsons. He keeps his eyes on the window until he’s inside the kitchen, Krypto hot on his heels.

“I hope you don’t mind jam and toast dear.” Ma said as she waved at the kitchen table. Two stacks of toasts and two jars of jam were sitting on the table.

“Help yourself Peter, I’ve got more on the pan.”

More on the pan. Were they expecting guests, there’s already 40 plus slices of toast and she’s making more?

Peter wouldn’t want to intrude if they’re having guests over, so he decides he’ll just eat really quickly. Wait, no. Then he’ll seem rude and he’ll only be rushing Pa then. He’ll have to go at a slower pace, it’s decided.

He begins to munch on his toast and he realises he hasn’t eaten since forever, well maybe not that long but he is starving. He takes four slices of toasts and begins to feel guilty putting one back when Ma isn’t looking. Pa slides two more back onto his plate.

He feeds one to Krypto when Pa isn’t looking.

“It’s by time the boys come down. Do ya mind giving them a shout John?”

“BOYS!”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

“BOYS!” Pa shouted from the kitchen.

“We’ll be down in a minute!” Jon called back. Golden boy looked panicked for once in his life.

“Kon what do we do! That’s him, that’s 100% him.”

“So what if it is, what can we do.”

“He’s a runaway, dad’s looking for him , we gotta tell him he’s here.”

“And scare Peter off? You heard what Tim said about him, he’s as slippery as an eel. If we tell Clark and he shows up Peter will run away.”

“Well we gotta do something.”

Jon was right. Tim had called him last night saying Peter went missing. Kon was a little shocked but not too shocked. The dude has a habit of running away but he thought it was getting better, apparently not.

Apparently they haven’t told Dick yet, something about him being busy with the Titans and not wanting WW3 to happen.

Then Tim told him that Peter wasn’t in Gotham, he was in Metropolis. Kon then looked up Spider-Man in Mentropolis and from the looks of that kiss Peter had he wasn’t doing too bad. Then Clark turned on the news and Lois dropped her mug of coffee.

Both Kon’s and Jon’s eyes flew up to the TV screen where a news reporter was outside of a shabby looking house. A whole neighbourhood murdered brutally. Fifty homes lay victim to the creatures that apparently Spider-Man was fighting.

The news reporter looked sick when she relayed what had happened.

“This was no human who did this. This was a creature that no one has ever seen or heard of before. Justice League members are rumoured to be gathering at the Hall of Justice to discuss the next steps and what they must do to face this travesty.”

Clark had shut the tv off and his weekend off of crime fighting officially came to a close. Kon and Jon immediately wanted to help but weren’t allowed. With Metropolis being a danger zone Lois had banished Jon and Kon to the countryside with Ma and Pa.

Don’t get him wrong, he loves Ma and Pa but he feels like he’s wasting away stuck in here when he could be out helping. Then Jon had let out a gasp and frantically pointed to the window. They both peaked out and saw the one and only Peter Parker stride into their home.

They’ve both heard a lot about Peter from their respective Robin’s but dam, they weren’t lying when they told them he looks like Dick.

So that’s how they ended up on this situation.

“You go downstairs and distract him. I’ve got an idea but we need to make sure Peter stays put for up until breakfast.”

Jon nodded wearily, which rude he has great ideas all the time, and makes his way down the ancient stairs.

Kon whips out his phone and scrolls. There’s no way he’s ringing Clark, he’ll get Big B and then boom, the whole Batfam and the JLA will be at the Kents front door, the last thing anyone needs. So instead, he rings Kara.

“Hey Bitch, I’m kinda busy so this gotta be a quick one.”

“Kara we have Peter.”

“What.”

“Peter’s here at the Kents.”

“No fucking way.”

“I know, me and Jon couldn’t believe it. We kinda are out of our depth here.”

“Shit….ok here’s the plan. You keep him there and I’ll pick him up this evening ok? Don’t let him leave.”

“I’ll try not to. He’s currently eating breakfast.”

“Ok that’s good, maybe try and slip something in his food.”

“Do you really think the Kents have something that I could slip in his food.”

“I don’t know crush up some tablets or something.”

“What, fucking aspirin?”

“I don’t know! You can’t let him leave. Don’t tell Tim, or Damian, or anyone.”

“Gee Kara thanks for that helpful advice.”

“Fuck off dickhead, I’m stressed. I’m three months sober today and I can’t relapse again because I usually do at the three month mark and this thing with Peter is stressing Bab’s out and if she’s stressed out then I’m stressed out and oh god, I really need a drink.”

“Remember last time that happened, is it really worth it..”

“I’m still finding fucking fish bones. You’re right, it’s so not worth it.”

Kon wishes one day he’ll be able to hear more conviction in her tone but for now this is good, this is more than good.

Kon would turn to drink if he was in Kara’s shoes, only difference is that Kon wouldn’t think he’d be half as strong as her. He hears her sometimes, it’s a Kryptonian thing, she lets out these blood curdling screams, repeating the same name over and over again. Kara is tight lipped about that part of her past so he doesn’t who that name belongs to but he does know that Kara relives their memories every night.

“Yeah, how about have a milkshake instead. Much nicer.”

“You’re such a little bitch.”

“Mwah. You love me really.”

“For the sake of your health sure. Ok I gotta go now. Don’t scare him off. Byeee~”

The call ends and Kon takes a deep breath. Tim said Dick always rears his head at a challenge, maybe Peter will be the same, maybe he’s been thinking about this all wrong. Maybe instead of being careful, what if he’s blunt as fuck? Only one way to find out.

Show time.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter was devouring his toast when he heard a flurry of noise from the stairs. Peter was on edge because he couldn’t hear. Well, he could hear muffled sounds but he couldn’t hear clear noise upstairs. Noise that he should definitely be able to hear with his enhancements but he can’t so he’s freaking out.

He could hear someone tumbling down the stairs, you’d be deaf and be able to hear this person. A rumpled kid appeared at the door with a sheepish smile. Krypto barrelled into the boy but the boy stood firm.

“Sorry Ma, Hi Pa. Hello you.”

The boy flamed bright red and stuck out his hand. Peter took his hand dumbstruck, this was a mini Clark Kent. A mini Superman.

Oh no, no, no, no, no. This was not good. This was definitely not good.

Peter smiled, what he hopped came off as friendly and steadied his heartbeat.

“Hi I’m PJ Storm, I’m just passing bye, it’s nice to meet you…?”

“Jon. Jon Kent.”

Peter’s smile tightened. Shit. He was in the home of Superman who he and his children were super, duper close to Batman and his children.

Oh this was really not good.

“Jon you sit down pumpkin. Peter don’t bite.”

Jon sat down and began to shovel down toast like his life depended on it. He kept glancing up at Peter then back down again.

Peter knew right then and there he had to get out of this house. But how did he do it without seeming rude?

Then a quitter set of footsteps came down the stairs and a guy around Tim’s age entered the kitchen. He had a leather jacket on, studs galore and was rocking a pair of sunglasses even though he was indoors.

He was kinda cool. He also screamed unusual so Peter was on high alert.

“Ma, Pa,” He tipped his sunglasses at them. “Johnathan and Mysterious man. No marmalade?”

“You ate the last dregs of it last time sweet pea, Pa will be running out to the shops later with Peter or mysterious man.” Ma shook her head fondly.

“You and your names Kon.”

Kon. That name rung a bell but for whatever reason Peter’s brain hit a wall. This was the other grandson but he barely looked like Clark or Jon. Maybe he took after the mother?

“Wait Pa you’re driving.” Jon asked with raised brows as he began to scratch Krypto behind the ears.

“Not supposed to be but he chanced his luck today and look where that got ya.” Ma said unimpressed. Pa held up his hands.

“Doctor suggested not to drive but she didn’t order me not to.”

“What would Clark say if he saw you. He’d be worried sick.”

“She’s right Pa, that’s why me and Jon should bring Peter into town today.”

Peter froze and Jon nearly choked. Poor guy had the worst poker face known to man. The annoyed look Kon was giving him made Jon soon chug down water and clear his throat.

“I wouldn’t want to impo—“ Peter began but Kon cut him off.

“No, no I insist, we wouldn’t want Pa being put under any unecessary driving would we now?” Kon asked with a hard glance.

Peter’s responding smile was like venom. “Of course not.”

“Amazing. Let’s go now.”

“Oh Kon I don’t think Peter’s finished eating yet.”

“No this was lovely Ma but I think I should get a move on. Early bird catches the bird after all.”

“Great.” Kon said just to be a prick. Peter wanted to punch his stupid face.

So they made there way outside where Ma and Pa said their goodbyes and asked Peter to come round yet again and if he ever needed anything they knew where to find them.

Peter thanked them over and over for their kindness and hoped in the tractor and just like that they were off, leaving behind a sad looking Krypto.

“So Peter.”

“PJ.”

“Sure.”

“Jon do you like Star Wars.” Peter cut across Kon who looked a bit annoyed at being cut off. Good.

Jon looked a bit caught on the hop but answered none the less.

“I’ve never watched it before. Is it good?”

“It’s amazing. I’d really recommend it.”

“I must give it a watch then. Peter why did you run away?”

Here Peter thought Jon wouldn’t be as blunt as his older brother.

“I didn’t run away.”

“Really?” Kon drawled incredulously. “So you’re heading to town to catch a bus back to Gotham.”

Am I fuck.

“Not that’s it’s any of your business but yes ,I am.”

Both of them snorted, at least one had the grace to look embarrassed.

“I’m not lying.” Peter said. He kept his heartbeat measured and tried his hardest to make them believe him.

“I couldn’t exactly go back on a bus to Metropolis with everything that had happened. I had to get out of there before anyone got suspicious and the buses had started to close so I had to hitch a ride.”

“So if you’re really going to Gotham you wouldn’t mind if me and Jon went with you? We haven’t seen Tim and Damian in forever.”

“Why would I mind your stellar company.”

“Perfect.” Kon purred.

Peter was two seconds from leaping when he froze.

What on earth…

Peter held out his hand and looked up towards the sky. It was getting dark and stormy when an hour ago it was crystal clear.

“Peter.” Jon asked in concern before both of them locked up too. Something was up there.

“Get out.” Peter whispered.

“What—“ Kon got out before something fell on top of the tractor and cut it in two.

Peter and his side of the tractor fell to the left and he landed with a crunch. Pain shot up his leg and he was momentarily blinded.

Blood was trickling down his ear as he began to blink rapidly. He could make out two lumps that were Jon and Kon plastered on the road beside the remains of the left side of the tractor.

Peter swivelled his eyes back and forth trying to find the cause of this calamity before he was thrown onto his back.

His sense didn’t even catch the inhuman reflexes. Sharp teeth were about to take a bite from him when they were tugged harshly back.

A woman and a beastly man stood side by side. The woman was muscled and had a haircut that was cut at the ear. She wore pants that dissolved into a type of void and the top part of her outfit were chains that over lapped each other.

One chain, the thinnest of all was connected to the beastly man. He was mix of a man and perhaps a bear? He was snarling and foaming at the mouth. He kept snapping at the chain but it held firm.

The lady strode forward and the man had no choice but to follow.

“You are…smaller than I was imagining.”

Peter coughed harshly, her perfume cloyed his senses.

“Who…who the fuck are you.”

She smiled, a sad one. “Of course you don’t know. Don’t worry Peter, we won’t hurt you.”

Peter found it hard to believe when her buddy was eyeing him up like he was his lunch.

“My name is Sasha.”

“Space.” Her companion rasped. For a minute his eyes looked like they had cleared but soon they returned to their murky white colour.

“Her name is Space.” He said it this time in a resolute tone.

She shot a withering glare at him and created an almost black hole in her hand before tossing it at him. It hit him square in the chest before dissolving into a fit of black bubbles.

“Apologies, you may know me better as Space but I prefer my first name Sasha, feel free to call me either one.”

“Ok Sasha…what the fuck are you doing here.”

Stones can come out of the stone? Why had Soul never come for him. How come Reality sent Elsie after him instead of herself. What are they doing here, what do they want.

“I’m here for you Peter. Your friends are fine, Burk will watch over them until you come back.”

Peter gulped as his eyes darted towards Jon and Kon. It wasn’t such a long distance. Peter could probably dash forward and grab them. But then what? They were in the middle of nowhere. He couldn’t out run these people, especially not carry them two.

He had no choice but to follow them until he thinks of a better plan and until his head stops pounding.

“They’re alive aren’t they?”

“Of course they are, now come along, we’ve got much to discuss.”

She holds out her hand, it lingers in the air and then Peter takes it. They rocket off up into the air. Peter’s breath is stolen from his lungs and a bubble surrounds his head. She zooms them up and up and up until he’s in fucking space.

He thinks he’s imagining it at first but he truly is in space. His heart races in awe and terror.

Space takes a deep breath and does a twirl. Peter realises with a start that her chain connecting to Burk has extended all the way up here.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” She exclaims.

“It’s magnificent.” Peter says truthfully. Space has always been one of his favourite interests. He could talk about it for days on end, Star Wars doing nothing but fuel his obsession even more.

She smiles proudly at him which he finds a bit odd.

“I bet you’re wondering why you’re here.”

“Yeah I am. No offence. Quick question before we begin, how are you outside the stone?”

“Our souls are intertwined to the soul stone ever since the snap. Before hand we each had our own stone and with a lot of power we could extract ourselves from our stone and take a form. However, as the years passed, we were drained slowly of our power and were reduced to stay in our stones. We are all connected by our souls so we would gravitate towards Soul as you would know her but I would know her by a different name.”

“What is her real name? If your’s is Sasha.”

Space opened her mouth but it was almost like an invisible hand clamped down on her mouth that allowed no words to come out. She gave him a tight smile and ploughed ahead.

“I’m afraid the words just won’t come out, let us move on. When the snap happened my sister’s souls were merged inside the last remaining stone. I however am half here and half there as my soul is tethered to another.” She gave a sharp tug at her chain.

“My husband Burk. We have both been through a lot these years.”

“I’m so sorry. He seems like a nice guy?” Minus trying to eat his face off he seemed pretty chill.

“He is.” She had a look of love on her face. “We have both been broken and shattered but we are strong and it will take more than our past hardships to end us for good.” She took a deep breath and Peter took it as his cue.

“Not to change topics but I’m going to change topics. Why did you bring me here, why did you break the tractor?”

“I broke the tractor to get your attention.”

“A simple wave would’ve done.”

“I prefer my methods. I brought you here so Soul could reach you.”

“She can’t reach me on earth?”

“She can but Ordour has spread his roots already, she wants to be cautious.”

“Ok? But is she going to rock up here or is she—“

Space grabbed his hand and screeched. Peter froze and looked around for the problem, then he saw it. The chain was turning black.

The he felt as if someone had hit him with a frying pan and he was out like a light.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

“You know Peter, you’d think by now you’d wake up on your feet.” That was the first thing that graced his ears. Reality’s condescending tone.

He sat up groggily and saw her razor sharp smile inches away from his face. She looked worn down from the last time they saw each other.

“I’m so glad everything went well with the Shrikes.”

Peter snapped.

He slapped her across the face.

He knew he shouldn’t, it probably wasn’t her fault. She knew this could’ve happened. She should’ve told him more, told him anything at all. Should’ve given him more than confusing parting words and a favour that was really no favour at all.

Peter was sick and tired of being toyed with. He wanted to go home. He wanted to be better.

She looked stunned as the hand print bloomed bright on her pale face before she began to cackle.

“Parker I didn’t think you had it in you. Did I know they would go after your gran and pa, no. Did I have a feeling they would, I would be lying if I said no.”

He looked at her with wides eyes, his chest pumping up and down as he managed to stop himself from lunging for her. How fucking dare she. Bee and Pietro didn’t ask for any of this, what did she even want with the Shrikes?

“Oh don’t look so put out. Besides your debt is paid.”

“Oh yeah. What about my fucking favour.”

Her lips curled up even higher. “I’ve already done it.”

“I didn’t even tell you what I wanted.”

“Too bad. My work here is done Parker. Have a bone to pick, pick it with Soul, she put me up to this. Did you practice your gifts.”

“No.” His thoughts swarmed around his head like bees. Soul, Soul sent her. He thought he could trust her, he thought….

“Well you should. They will come in handy.” She grabbed his hand that made the snap that now had an additional blue colour running up a fifth of his veins, along side his green and red.

“I don’t want these gifts. I never asked for this.” For a second she looked sorry, only for a second before her face hardened.

“Neither did I.” She poofs into thin air and Peter is left by himself for all of thirty seconds before someone comes up behind him.

“Peter?”

His heart dropped. He spun round so fast he was afraid he’d get whiplash. Bee. Bee was standing there. She let out a sob and Peter crashed into her.

“Peter, Peter I thought I would never see you again.” She cried as she rocked them back and forth.

“Bee.” Was all he could choke out. How was she here. He didn’t care, she was here. She was actually here, in this bizzaro world.

“It’s ok I’m here. I don’t know where the fuck here is but I’m here.”

They stay like that for a few minutes when all of a sudden he feels tingly, that tingly sensation when he’s about to leave this place. He grips on tight to Bee.

“Please, please I don’t wanna go.” He begs, he doesn’t know who to but he does it none the less.

“Peter?” Bee asks shakily buts it’s too late, he’s already disappeared.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

He’s back in space and Space is holding him. She takes one look at his face before shaking her head.

“I’m so sorry.”

“But she’s supposed to be dead, what’s she doing there.”

“Peter do you know what happens when you die? Your soul passes away up into space. Look around at all the stars, each star is a soul that has passed away. Black holes are a collection of souls that belonged to people who sucked the good and life out of others. Your grandparents souls are tapped in the stone.”

“Why.” He can’t manage more that one word, he fears if he says more he’ll snap again.

“Because Soul needed leverage.”

Leverage. He looks into her eyes. He needs to talk to Stone, he needs to be with Bee and Pietro, he can’t let them be there aline

“Take me back.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can. Take me back. I need to go back.”

“What you need to do is go back to your friends. I can’t keep us up here any longer or else he’ll notice.”

He’s not even listening to her anymore. In a moment of desperation he grabs the chain. She lunges for him but it’s too late. He’s touched it and he’s screaming and then he’s falling, he’s falling fast.

Without Space there to help him hold his breath he’s choking on nothing, the bubble slowly disintegrating around him. He’s plummeting to the ground at rate of knots and he isn’t stopping. There’s some sort of shield webbing itself around him and it’s the only reason he’s not being torn to shreds. He tries to shoot a web at something, anything but of course there’s nothing to catch onto in space.

His head becomes hollow and he feels his eyes slowly drift close.

“I’m so sorry.” Whispers Space who is all around him and yet not near enough.

He keeps falling.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Ok Kon knew he should’ve apologised for the way he acted towards Peter but in his defence he thought it was the best way to go about it.

He didn’t know a creature would destroy their tractor and take Peter away from them. When they had woken up about an hour or two had passed. There was something strong in the air that made them drowsy.

It was heavy and suffocating but when the creature coughed the fumes disappeared and their heads began to clear. That’s when they realised they were chained to the creature. No amount of pulling, teasing or begging would make the creature dislodge the chains. Their hands would just go through the chains every time.

Then Jon stuck his fingers in his mouth and blew down hard. A piercing whistle filled the air and even their captor covered their ears.

Two minutes later you could see a cloud of dust appear in the distance. Then you could hear an almost thunder sounding noise.

Kyrpto was here and tagging along beside him was Kara.

Kara went straight for them where as Krypto launched himself at their captor. He flew straight through him and skidded on the road.

Shit.

Kara threw a punch at him but her hand could be seen coming out the back of his head.

“What the fuck.” Whispered Kara shakily before striking again. When her and Kyoto’s efforts seemed futile they turned their attention towards the chains.

They tugged, bit it, froze it, used there lasers but nadda. Nothing worked, everything would go through the chain and the man.

Soon the sun was at its highest peak and they were all stumped on what to do.

“Who are you?” Jon asked for the fifth time.

The creature grunted. Jon groaned.

“I know that tongue but….” Kara trailed off frustrated.

“And you’re sure Peter will come back?” Kon pressed.

The guy sighed. “Yes, he will be ba—“ The creature locked up. They all go to their feet when Jon and Kon yelped.

Their chains were turning this black colour and slowly began to disappear. The smallest chain that was connected to the man and was held ramrod straight in the sky began to disappear as well. The man’s face contorted before he too disappeared.

Safe to say they were all stumped.

“What just happened.” Kon asked bewildered as they scrambled to their feet.

“Shoot. Maybe he’s gone for Peter?” Jon suggested. It lingered in the air before panic stuck them all.

“Fuck. Fuck.” Kara chanted. “You didn’t see who took him or where they went?”

They both shock their head.

“We were knocked out by this gas thing. I don’t know what it was but it was able to keep us down for an hour. Maybe they drugged Peter too.”

“Ok, well we gotta find him by tonight or else we have to tell Dick we got his kid kidnapped.” Kara declared.

“Kon, you need to get your team on the job, we need all the help we can get. Get them to check that bat computer thing. Check all security cameras they can. Jon you get Damian and fly him here, scour every inch of the place.”

Jon nodded and flew off. Kon looked to Kara who seemed to look ten seconds away of throwing up.

“We’ll find him.” Kon told her. She nodded and gave him a smile as he zoomed off.

She took a deep breath before picking up her phone and dialling the dreaded number.

“Hello?”

“Jason buddy, have I got news for you….”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

“I never asked for this.” Reality crowed, she pointed a long finger at Soul.

“None of us did, now quit your complaining.” Time snapped back as she slapped her finger away.

“Will the boy still comply?” Mind asked as she began to rub Soul’s temples.

“If he doesn’t want his grandparents to suffer for the rest of eternity he will.” Soul said as she brushed Mind off of her.

“I did what I had to do, I did what was needed in order for us to have a chance to be free. Is that not what we have agreed upon, to end our suffering.”

The three sisters shot their eyes towards the feet. She let out a huff.

“I want to see my boy again. I want to see my Alistair again, do you to not want to see your loved ones.” She questioned, did none of them see she was doing this out of sheer desperation, not out of sadistic pleasure.

“I can not contain him for much longer, my mind weakens everyday, he is a parasite. He is affecting all of us, the time to act is now.”

She said it with an air of finality that ordered no more questions to be asked.

“He will never forgive you when he finds out what you’ve done.” Mind told her but she held no judgement in her eyes.

“You think I don’t know that.” Soul croaked as tears threatened to spill.

“I am a horrible, horrible creature but my family has waited far too long for my return and it is far too late to turn back now. He has made us suffer for years upon years, it is time to take action once and for all and Peter is our only hope.”

“Are we in this together, or am I in it alone?” She knew the answer before she even asked the question.

Over the billion of years that they have known each other, till they first met in that house, they have had each other’s backs. Loyalty to themselves came first and foremost, everything else paled in comparison

“Me and Elsie want to be free.” Reality said to no one in particular.

“I want to join my dragon.” Time sighed longingly.

Mind said nothing but she knew where her loyalty stood.

“Then it’s decided. The boy will have to do.”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

When Peter woke up, he woke up slowly. His limbs came back to him one by one until he was finally able to sit up. He was inside a med bay and had a thin paper sheet thrown on top of him.

“I didn’t know where else to bring you.” A voice sounded from around the room. He shot up from the bed and rounded on Space and Burk. They were sitting on the bed opposite of him.

“You-“

“We are only trying to help. I couldn’t bring you back down to earth, it would take too much strength and we’re already fading.”

She was right, they were watered down versions of themselves from the last time Peter saw of them.

“Peter please, I know you may be mad but please, you will not survive out in space alone, stay here until I come and get you, I promise I will bring you to Bee and Pietro. Please.” With her parting words both her and her husband faded to mist.

With them gone Peter realised, holy shit, what had Duke told him, that the JLA had a HQ up in space but due to some fancy technology it was hidden from the human eye.

Well the stones were definitely not human so he guesses the camouflage won’t work on them.

No other space craft would have a med bay this advanced, this was made to treat meta humans.

So he’s in a top secret base, no problem, he can sneak out of here, easy peasy. On the bedside table is Bee’s purple bag that somehow had managed a crash and a trip to space.

He reached over to grab the bag.

His hand went right through it and landed on the bedside table. He held his hand there for five seconds, obviously it was five seconds too many and the table began to bubble and become goop.

Peter blanched and pulled his hand away. What the fuck.

He quickly swiped the bag from the goop and spilled the contents from the bag onto the bed.

Everything was accounted for, they didn’t swipe anything which he was grateful for. He’s careful not to touch anything for too long.

He’s precariously dangling Bee’s watch when he feels something crawl up his arm. The top half of Little Legs is ambling its way up towards Peter, which is weird cause where is the other half—

Johnny.

Johnny has the other half.

Johnny who is currently on the other side of the multiverse.

Little Legs has now made its way up to Peter’s ear and it lodged itself into it.

There’s static that is such a harsh contrast to the quiet room that he winces and tries to bat Little Legs away from his ear.

Little Legs is hard to be put off and sticks in there. Then the static clears.

“Pete?”

Extra thoughts: So what do we think…?

Guys about Kara’s addiction, was that cringe as cluck or was it half decent. I’m leaning toward cringe but who doesn’t love a bit of cringe sprinkled in.

The bikers were from chapter 5, those were the guys who brought Peter to Bees after his first stay at the manor.

Clark will meet Peter next chapter and the hunt will begin. Is it the right thing to keep this info from Dick, you’ll soon find out peoples opinions on the matter next time.

I know the soul stone stuff can be confusing and there was good chunk of it this chapter. If you’re wondering how it all works it will become clearer in the next chapter or two. I hope I’m not boring you with them but I love writing about them so bear with me.

Jon and Kon will have more screen time next chapter and you’ll get to see their personalities shine through that little bit more as I don’t think I did them enough justice. It’s hard writing their dynamic so I may go back and rewrite that scene at some point.

I hope this was interesting for ye guys, it was a tough one to write so imma post it and try not to regret it.

There will be a poll on tumblr that I will link about what member of the justice league you want Peter to meet. Vote here if you’d like

I got so much love on the last one so thank you so much, it means the absolute world to me and I hope you’re enjoying this story as much as I am. Constructive criticism and ideas are always welcome!

I hope everyone enjoys the last of the weekend and until next time xxx

Day this was wrote: 23/08/25

[miserablemuffin]

Honestly I would be too

johnny is allergic to wearing pants around peter

[miserablemuffin]

GSKIEHELAPDUBEKQOSYDBWLPZK

I’m like suuuper late to the apple core trend but Spideytorch!!!

[miserablemuffin]

So, in my head Peter doesn’t get super jealous, like occasionally he slightly does but not really. Except once a month he gets his ‘spider period’ and all of a sudden Johnny can’t interact with anyone.

Pre-relationship Spideytorch, first time it happened Johnny freaked the fuck out. Johnny was on a date, lovely time, they’re both walking on the street and bam. Johnny is suddenly being swung like a sack of potatoes. Turns out Peter was in the area and didn’t like the scene that was about to unfold.

Peter webs Johnny up to the spike on the statue of liberty and just stares at him. Just when Johnny is about to fall asleep, because being webbed up repeatedly the past three hours when he tries to break free tires a guy out and then all of a sudden something is biting his neck. And it fucking hurts.

So in the next few months Johnny gets bitten, webbed up, cuddled and his love life is no longer a thing because Peter has scared away all candidates. Johnny doesn’t really mind because he’s in love with Peter, Peter however is completely oblivious. He also never remembers it happening. He sees Johnny and is like

Peter: Dude what happened to your neck!?

Johnny, who’s been used as chew toy for the past four hours and kinda liked it which he doesn’t know what that says about him

Johnny: Don’t worry about it

Also Johnny has been woken up to his whole room covered in webs, like every inch of it. Johnny can only stare in horror but since Johnny isn’t burning everything away Peter takes its as a sign of encouragement and begins to purr and chirp like crazy. Johnny has no fucking clue why Peter is now moving closer and why he’s nuzzling his neck but it’s 1 am so he lets it happen.

Also turns out the spider who bit was going to be used to breed other spider, so it had a mating ritual in place. So Peter, in his spider period, decides to perform this ritual on Johnny. So, after a big fight with fantastic four Peter strides up to Johnny, gets down on one knee and proposes.

Johnny can’t say no because his whole family knows he adores Peter so he says yes. I think I might make this into a fic and that would how it would roughly go. Let me know if you’d read this, I might make it a five plus one situation.

Bonus: After they get their shit sorted and they confess Peter spider slings Johnny (it’s this move in Marvel Rivals that he does, basically he attaches a web and yanks you). He only does this when he feels Johnny has gone too far(read as he took a step away from Peter) He once did this to Johnny while he was in the shower.

Guys I did make this into a fic and here is chapter one!! It’s called Peter Parker and The Spider Period

Read it on Tumblr here!!

Read it on Ao3 here!!

[miserablemuffin]

*Pre identity reveal*

Johnny: I got you a gift.

Peter: How'd you know it was my birthday?

Johnny: I called your mom?

Peter: I didn't know you could talk to the dead. Tell her I miss her.

[miserablemuffin]

Read on AO3 here!! https://archiveofourown.org/works/59191246/chapters/178084101

This chapter is the definition of ‘this is my fever dream, you’re all just living in it.’ I hope this lives up to expectations.

You’re Gonna Go Far

Chapter 13: I had been lost to your sunlight

Summary: “That tune is fucking stupid.”

The shower water stopped abruptly. Peter prayed that it was who he thought it was behind that door or else things were about to become real awkward. He heard movement before the door was nearly yanked off its hinges.

“I dont care, it makes me happy.”

Thoughts: Herro? Herro? So it’s um been awhile but live laugh love.

Um I have tumblr now which is called MiserableMuffin! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LOVE ON THERE, ALSO 50 FOLLOWERS IS INSANE WORK AND 50,000 HITS ON AO3 IS LIKE HOLY SMOKES, THANK YOU!

Change of name because shit happened. ALSO I GOT A KITTEN!!!

Chapter Title: Sunlight by Hozier

WARNINGS

BLOOD AND GORE

VIOLENCE

SWEARING

PAST CHILD ABUSE

Hope you all enjoy xx

“You ever see a shooting star before?”

“No never. You?”

Archie grinned at him before pointing Skips stolen beer bottle to the sky. “Right there. Ain’t ever seen anything as beautiful.”

Peter tries to conjure an image of one up in his head. “Did you make a wish.”

”Yeah I did.”

”Did it come true?”

”Juries still out.”

”Can I have some.” Peter points to the bottle with a hunger in his eyes, well eye. Skip swelled the other one shut. He needed something…something that would distract his ever racing thoughts .

“Knock yourself out.”

Peter scrambled for the bottle and began to chug. Archie laughed to herself quietly. She wouldn’t normally let him have some.

But Peter had been acting off this week and she’d caught on to it.

One day he was out exploring where he shouldn’t be. He always had a bad habit of being able to sneak into places he shouldn’t.

Soon he was trailing his hand over the old Oscorp building. Graffiti and cobwebs owned most of the broken wall so he wasn’t worried about being caught. Skip wouldn’t expect him back till late.

He was minding his own business when something caught his eye. A spider. A pretty unusual one, it had a bright blue back.

Peter couldn’t help but gape at it.

He held out his hand and watched in excitement as the spider crawled onto him. He moved carefully out of the clearing, the spider didn’t move.

He should put him on a web or—ARCHIE.

(“Is Archie your real name?”

“Nah I wish. My real name is Belinda Bennet after my bitchy mother.”

“Why Archie?”

“I love Arachnids.”

“Do you think I should change my name.”

“Do you?”

“…nah.” )

Archie loved spiders! Her birthday was coming up soon. She’d love him.

He caged the spider in his hands, careful to let air through before rushing back to the house. He was so excited that he burst into the house, making the door slam against the wall. Big mistake.

Skip was home. Peter was near certain he’d be back later but he was wrong. Skip was across the room in three strides and slapped him, causing the spider to take a tumble.

”I ont ever want you back this late again.”

Peter watched heart broken as it scuttled away under Skip’s cushions who then promptly sat down. Peter nodded numbly before making his way to the bedroom.

Peter was upstairs trying to sleep that night when he felt something crawl onto his wrist. He opened his eyes and came face to face with the spider. He didn’t breathe. He held his breath for a very impressive time for an asthmatic. The spider slowly made his way over to his pulse point, slammed his teeth next to it, tore the skin, hissed, curled up and then died. It took all of Peter’s will power not to bawl.

He closed his eyes before shaking the spider off of him. The mark wasn’t that bad. Just two red dots. They would heal. Nothing to stress about. Three hours later Peter would wake up and go through one of the most agonising days of his life.

It was so bad that Archie nearly called his social service woman. The next day he was less shakey. He still looked and felt like shit. Even Skip left him alone. Peter will skim over the rest of the details but badda bing badda boom he had spider like powers. Which was pretty fucking epic.

Anyway, skipping forward to the present, Archie is looking at him with a far away look in her eyes.

”Pete.”

Something was wrong, something was very wrong.

“Yeah?”

”You know how I said my ma got that disease.”

“Yeah. Cancer right.”

”Mhm. That the one.”

Archie started to fidget on the spot. Peter’s mind was staring to piece things together but he couldn’t quite grasp what he was trying to piece together yet, if that made sense.

”Is everything ok?”

”Well…I um…I guess I got it too.”

Peter’s world froze for a solid ten seconds before crashing back to reality.

”What.”

”I got it too and I ain’t got that long left. Doc said it was from smoking all those ciggies but I don’t believe that.”

***

”Peter! Wake up. You gonna miss the star.”

Peters shoots up from his seat and watches where Bee is pointing. “All my life and I ain’t ever seen one before. Ain’t that mad.”

“Yeah.” Peter sighed. His dream or more like a memory, fresh in his mind. “Make a wish.”

“I wish this traffic would move quicker. MOVE YOU ABSOLUTE BOLIOX!” Bee beeped the horn ferociously at a car who had yet to start.

“Go back to sleep dimples. We almost there.”

“Are you sure Bee?”

“Pos-it-ive.”

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Meanwhile Back In Wakanda…

…“And how long has he been in the soul stone.”

“About the guts of half a year.”

“Interesting.”

As far as Tony was concerned it was not fucking interesting but he did value Reeds opinion considering he was one of the smartest men alive.

“Poor Peter. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through. What you’re going through. It’s all awful. If I were ever to lose Franklin.” Sue Storm places a hand on her stomach.

He had never thought to ask the Fantastic Four for help. A new superhero group. Like mustants but not. It consisted of four memebers.

Reed Richard’s who was only 27 and was already the smartest man in the world. He wasn’t only his intellect, he had compassion and empathy that many people in his position would lack.

Susan Storm another genius who was 24. Graduated college by 19 and went to work in the space department. She’s an expert and asset to her field and family.

Ben Grimm is a rock at 29 years old. Literally and figuratively. From what he can tell he’s solid, and seems to be there for his family no matter what. He’s also one amazing pilot. Another genius also.

Johnny Storm at 17 years old is the youngest member. He’s a hot head with a heart of gold and reminds him too much of himself when he was younger, minus the heart of gold. He’s also another genius that tends to run his mouth a little.

On a space exploration trip that went wrong they were transformed. Their powers are stretchy, clear, hard, and hot.

They had established themselves before the whole shit show with Thanos but all four members were snapped.

He hadn’t even thought of asking them for help but then he had come across these letters. He was going through Peter’s old stuff and out slipped these pile of letters, each one addressed to one Johnny Storm. He didn’t read them of course but he didn’t know the Human Torch and his Peter were close. He never mentioned him.

Then he remembered the Fantastic Four group and how they’re all mini genius’s. He reached out and asked for their help, a day later and they were arrived in Wakanda.

So far the only thing that’s proven to work with the stone is weakening it with a liquid found in Wakanda. He doesn’t know by doing this if he’s hurting Peter or others but he has to try something.

They all spit ball ideas but soon Sue needs a break.Who is he kidding, they all need a break. Johnny offers to watch the stone while they all go off to eat dinner.

Pepper is in the middle of listing off potential baby names she had in mind when the screaming starts.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter didn’t have to worry about where they were staying, Bee said she had taken care of it.

Two hours after the shooting star she had pulled up to a row of house on an incline. The one that she had parked her mini at was painted a sky blue that was peeling away. The roof of the house seemed to have seen better days. Roof tiles scattered down below and smoke seemed to blow from the back of the house but Peter could see no sign of a chimney.

The garden was a mess with weeds running rampant and the trash can was knocked over. There was also a concerning meteor sized hole off to the side of the path.

“It will have to do. I thought I told that slob to clean up.”

Peter didn’t know who she was referring to so he went to the boot and grabbed both of their bags. They made their way up the path and Bee grasped the brass knocker and rapped it twice.

It fell onto the floor.

She then banged her fist on the door.

A shout sounded from inside the house and you could hear hard, pounding coming towards the door.

“Woman would it kill you to wait a minute.”

A man who was roughly the same age as Bee opened the door. He had boxers on, a white tank top and a dressing gown with teddy bears on it.

He had white tufts of hair all over the place, glasses with thick black frames and ears Peter sees every time he looks in the mirror. Peter tries not to gape.

Holy fucking shit. Holy fucking shit. Holy fucking shit.

“Pietro you look like shit.”

“Elizabeth mannerly as always. Where’s your friend.”

It was pure instinct that made Peter stick out his hand.

Holy fucking shit. Holy fucking shit. Holy fucking shit.

“Peter. Peter Parker sir.”

Peter stepped forward and you could see recognition dawn on the man’s face.

“Elizabeth I am not drunk enough for this .”

He still hadn’t let go of Peter’s hand. He kept staring at him like he was a dream.

“Yeah well neither was I Pietro, move it or lose it.” Bee said before barging into the house like it was her own.

Pietro side stepped to let Peter into the house and he nodded his thanks.

“Kid…. I don’t know what to say. Imma get a drink and talk to Elizabeth. I’ve got another surprise upstairs. A nutter.”

Peter didn’t know what to say so he made his way upstairs with their bags. Each step made a creaking sound. The banister looked like any pressure put on it and it would splinter.

There seemed to be four rooms upstairs. Each door was firmly shut and only one had a light streaming out from under it.

Whistling could be heard from outside the door, a happy, cheery tune that Peter had almost forgot about. Almost.

Suddenly the crater and smoking roof made his hopes soar instead of sink. He didn’t want to get too excited so he steadied himself. This could be anyone, anyone could be singing that tune. He heard bickering and a bottle being popped open downstairs.

He still couldn’t process any of this. Pietro…Peter…Bee…Elizabeth…Mary, but his focus wasn’t on his fucked up family for once. It was on his fucked up sorta friend?

He tapped his knuckles on the door and before the person could respond Peter blurted out the words he said years ago.

“That tune is fucking stupid.”

The shower water stopped abruptly. Peter prayed that it was who he thought it was behind that door or else things were about to become real awkward. He heard movement before the door was nearly yanked off its hinges.

“I dont care, it makes me happy.”

Johnny fucking Storm was standing in front of him, with a towel wrapped round his waist. His stupid face was what the word shocked would look like if it took a human form. He looked older, and his hair had gotten a little longer. His eyes still had that spark about them but now they began to get misty.

Peter had two seconds to breath before he was being crushed into a air sucking hug.

“Fuck you, you stupid prick, you said you’d come back.”

Peter wrapped his arms around Johnny. He couldn’t believe it.

“I’m here aren’t I. I came back, you just had to find me first.”

Then Peter realised Johnny had no top on and all of a sudden he felt hot, like really hot.

Peter pulled away from Johnny who was bright red. It made Peter smile.

“What are you doing here?”

“Long story. I was watching the soul stone when these creatures came out of it.”

“What did they look like.”

“Scary, fangs, horns, nothing I can’t handle until this unscary thing dragged me into the stone and then flung me into this guys house.”

“Unscary isn’t a word.”

“I’m sorry I nearly got mauled to death and that’s what you pick up on.”

“Oh I’m so sorry flame brain, want me to kiss it better.”

“Hmm. Maybe.”

“PETER GET YOUR LANKY ASS DOWN HERE BEFORE I KILL THIS CREATURE.”

Peter and Johnny jumped apart from each other. When had they gotten so close?

Well to answer that question Johnny has been a figure in Peter’s life since they became pen pal’s when Peter lived with Scott. They had to stop because well Peter got kinda kidnapped but then this big explosion happened and they met up once more. They continued to meet up every once and awhile but life and protective families got in the way.

Peter would consider Johnny his friend but he wasn’t sure if Johnny would consider Peter one of his. He sometimes got red in the face when Peter moved closer to him or if Peter would give his whole attention to Johnny, then Johnny would become a stuttering mess, Peter didn’t know why?

He only thought of Johnny a couple of times in passing these few months but now that he’s here in the flesh Peters glad he’s here.

The other answer to that question was they must have drifted closer for some unknown reason. Maybe Pietro’s carpet moved.

“I’m just gonna.” Johnny motioned before dipping back into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later both of them make it into the kitchen. Johnnys explaining how things are going, for what Johnny has dubbed as operation jailbreak. It means that from the other side it doesn’t seem like Peter is coming home anytime soon.

Tony is trying multiple methods, one that seems to show some hope is weakening the rock. Some liquid that is found in the deep of Wakanda is being injected into the rock in the hopes that its walls will weaken and Doctor Strange can work his magic, literally. It’s a slow process and precision is key.

Peter and Johnny walk in on Bee at one end of the table with a mug in her hand and Pietro at the other end with a bottle.

“Who’s this?”

“Bee this is Johnny Storm. Johnny this is Bee.”

“You know this nutter?” Pietro questioned. Considering the circumstances that Johnny entered his house he’s surprised Johnny is still allowed here.

“He’s a friend of mine.”

“Mhm.”

Bee looked between the two of them and then something dawned on her face.

“Dimples you sly dog. I was looking out for you and Miss Brown when I should’ve kept an eye on you and the delivery boy.”

Peter went red and moved far away from Johnny. Again, when had they gotten this close?

“Bee, no, me and Johnny are just friends.” Peter hissed as he made his way to the chair.

“Yes Miss Bee, just friends. Johnny winked at him and Peter wanted to smack him.

Bee cackled. “Oh I like you.” As fast as lightning she whipped her head round to face Pietro.

“I suppose you have a problem with this?” Bee bristled. She seemed in the mood for a fight.

“Calm down woman. Just because I don’t see the appeal of pineapple on pizza doesn’t mean I judge others for liking it that way.”

“Pineapple on pizza is amazing.” Johnny nodded.

“Johnny this is not helping us with our case.”

“Uh what case. You said we’re just friends.”

When Peter said it, it made sense. When Johnny said just friends it made Peter go all funny.

“We’re getting off topic, Elizabeth has some explaining to do.”

All sets of eyes go to Bee who lets out a sigh.

“Pietro meet Peter Parker our alleged grandson.”

Crickets.

That’s all you could hear in the kitchen. Along with the rusty water pipes weeping.

Johnny lightly kicked him from under the table and Peter trapped his foot between his shoes. He needed the support.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Is that the right thing to say? You’d think by now he’d know what to say to his multiverse family.

“Likewise.” He grunted out.

“Now that introductions have been made I guess here goes nothing.”

“Peter when we first met I was getting mugged so adrenaline and all that junk made it hard to put two and two together. I also was a little drunk.”

Pietro snorted and Bee seemed like she was about to leap.

“When I did realise the connection between you and me and this dirtbag I couldn’t rationalise telling you cause it didn’t add up.”

“You see Pietro and I….” Bee began to cough and shook her head.

“Nah. I can’t say it, it’s just….” She began to cough again.

Pietro looked like someone had pissed in his beer. “Woman you won’t summon the devil by admitting you and me were a thing .”

Johnny chocked on the sip of water he had taken.

Bee sniffed. “You might as well be the devil. Anyway I met this bum in crime alley and sooner than later I was pregnant. Crime Alley ain’t no place for a coloured man with a pregnant lady back then.”

“My work would put Bee and our baby Mary in harms way so we broke it off.” Pietro added.

“It was an easy decision.” Bee continued although her face said differently, as if she was retelling a bad memory.

“Mary needed a better life and that life wouldn’t find her in crime alley. Pietro had a friend named Michael Fitzpatrick. He was a lovely man who came from a strong, old fashioned, Christian background meaning he needed to find a wife. Problem was he was gay. So we stuck a deal. He would marry me and raise Mary like she was his own.”

“So that’s how Mary grew up, away from Crime Alley and all that shit. Life wasn’t always easy but we made it work. There were some questions about Mary’s race but I’m naturally darker so we could play it off to getting all my genes. Problem was Mary didn’t look like me or Michael. She looked like Pietro.”

“Out little Mary was persistent so when she was eight we told her the truth. From that day on she had two dads.”

Pietro seemed to wipe his eye. “My Mary, I was so scared when I first met her but she was a trooper and had enough love for the both me and Michael. If Michael wasn’t any less of a saint I’d be jealous.”

Bee shook her head fondly. “So Mary grew up a Fitzpatrick instead of a Rossi. No big deal. Mary had an infatuation with Batman. Thought more people should be like him, that justice didn’t always mean killing. So she got into pharmaceuticals. She was the best of the best and we were so proud. All was going well until Michael died, some sort of cancer. She was heartbroken, we all were. Then an year ago Mary was on plane that crashed on a deserted island. It was all so fishy. They deemed her missing until…well until now.”

Bee looked up and tears began to fall freely. “I got the phone call a week ago. They found her. This boat that was circling near the island saw the remnants of the crash. All that was left of our Mary was her pearly white bones, that was a month ago. It was so hard for them to reach out to me because all her documents were erased over the past years. She was targeted by someone for her work. Maybe she found a cure or something, I don’t know. But what I do know dimples is that you aren’t from here.”

Peter stared wide eyed at her and couldn’t breathe. Holy fucking shit. This was all…it was all so much to let sink in.

“Peter my Mary was never pregnant yet I know she’s yours. I know that your friend isn’t from here either so where are ye from.”

Peter looked at Johnny helplessly. Johnny wiggled his foot as to say I’m here.

Peter looked at both Pietro and Bee and began his story.

He told them of Tony, Thanos, very, very vaguely and briefly about the stones, he told them about his journey so far here and how he and Johnny know each other.

At the end of it all, the four of them just sat there, all soaking up the shit that was just told. He didn’t tell Bee about the plan, he figured if he did she wouldn’t let him go.

“Peter I hope you know that I couldn’t fully trust you up until now. That’s why I didn’t offer to let you stay with me, you were an enigma and those are always dangerous.”

He grabs Bee’s hand and gives it a squeeze. “It’s ok Bee. I got fine by myself in the theatre.”

“Dimples…I.” It wasn’t very often Bee was at a loss for words.

“Lizzie why don’t we let the boys rest. We both know me and you won’t be sleeping for awhile.”

Lizzie?

Peter made a face at Bee who gave him a warning glance. He’d be bringing that up later.

“Alright I suppose you’re right Pietro. Hot Shot and Dimples, separate rooms, I don’t want any canoodling going on in my house.”

“BEE.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Oh since when did you get manners.”

Johnny only laughed at him and even Pietro cracked a smile.

When they got to the landing Johnny was walking towards the far door.

“Johnny what are you doing?”

“Eh going to my room?”

Peter dragged him into his room and shut the door.

“I honestly can’t believe you’re afraid of Bee, she wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

“Eh she would fucking hurt me if she found me in bed with her only grandchild.”

“Not like we’d be doing anything.” He doesn’t know why his heart races at the implication that something would happen between them. Something that would cause Bee to whoop Johnny’s ass.

“Well whatever you say webs. So what’s your plan?”

“What plan?”

“Oh come on. You just wanna go to a Superman rally? Just?”

Peter bit his lip. Does he tell him…he could use the help.

“Johnny I may have left something a little big out of my explanation.”

“Define a little big?”

“Um so basically each stone takes a physical form and I told you about that misty world I go to well that’s actually the soul stone I go into and there’s these creatures called shrikes that are like really bad and they’re here in Metropolis and I have to pour this-“

He fishes out the small vile with the green liquid. He waves it in Johnny’s face who eyes it with suspicion.

”-onto the creatures tongues because Reality said she’d do me solid if I did and I mean that’s like an offer I can’t pass up and I’m doing the right thing? Yeah I am. It’s not like I’m going behind everyone’s back and lying to them!”

“Peter you’re shaking.”

Huh. Johnny’s right. He is shaking. Suddenly Johnny has an arm wrapped round him and is leading him towards the bed.

“Do you think I’m insane? For doing this I mean.”

“I think you’re insane for doing this and just in general.”

“You suck as my emotional support person.”

“I’m your emotional support person? Me?”

“You’re the most consistent figure in my life.”

“Pete, you’ve officially reached rock bottom.”

“I know. I applied to have Sue but I got you instead hot head.”

“So what? Do I get badge?”

“You don’t deserve anything. You’re being a shitty support.”

“I deserve it for all the insults I’ve received over the years!”

“I do not insult you.”

“I can count on one hand the amount of times we’ve had a conversation without insulting each other.”

“Aww you keep track.”

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up web head. Welp, I did a pretty good job as a support person.” Johnny declared as he strode over to the door.

“Oh yeah? What makes you say that match stick.”

“You’ve stopped shaking.”

Oh. He had stopped shaking.

“Night Petey bird.”

“Night Johnny. Thanks.”

Johnny only smiled at him before shutting the door. Johnny might have stopped him from shaking but Peter’s heart was beating a million miles per hour still.

Funny.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

To say the strike for Superman was a success would be an understatement. It gave Bee free rein to shout from the heavens at anyone who disagreed with the strike. Pietro only looked at wonder from the side.

Johnny and Peter were beside the bench and rated on a scale of one to ten how likely the person Bee shouted at would end up crying.

“See that dude.” Johnny pointed to a six foot dude coming towards Bee. He had a beard that screamed unruly and he had a stony expression put in place.

“Yeah?”

“I give him a minute before Bee makes him tear up.”

“I’ll be generous and give him a minute and a half.”

He approaches Bee who is waving the Superman logo proudly in the air. There’s a cult formed around Bee now. Everybody lets her do the shouting. It’s ridiculous people coming up towards them when they weren’t even doing anything to them. It was a peaceful protest.

There was only fifty of them starting off and now they were coming close to two hundred people. Majority coming at the insistence of Bee.

They were in the square and they weren’t taking up that much space. The protest was set up as a retaliation of one that took place this day last month which was anti-Superman.

“Excuse me miss.”

“Yes?” Bee asked politely.

“Do you know that Superman is an Alien. A litteral Alien that you are supporting to what? Save this country. He’s disgusting and a disgrace to what mankind truly is. He’s an illegal immigrant and should be shot just like the rest of them, giving them a way home is too good.” He spat on the floor.

Bee looked at him. “Sorry Sir, do you know that you and the people who raised you are fucking cunts? Because it seems to me that you are unaware of that fact. Not only have you spurted utter bullshit for a minute and a half at an old woman, you have also made me look at your fucking disgusting face for a minute and a half. Superman is good, he is brave and he is doing what’s right. Immigrants are coming into the country because they have no place else to go. I sincerely hope you never procreate now off you go. Ta ta.”

She waved at him and his face got redder.

“Why you old hag-“

Bee kicked him the nuts and caught him by the ear.

“Listen here son. You are going to leave and you are going to leave now. If you don’t I will call the police and tell them you assaulted an old woman because who here is going to stand up for you? I could have you locked up for months. Get out.”

He looked enraged, his right eye was twitching so bad it looked like an attempt at morsecode.

But he left. He left with his tail tucked between his legs and Bee began to proudly wave the flag once more.

“I win.” Peter was smugly.

“Hm. I suppose you do.” Johnny looked back lazily at him. “Want a prize?”

Peter grinned back at him. He didn’t know what he was going to say but he knew it had to be good.

“Johnny—“

“Boys we bout to leave, Pietro says it’s past time we have lunch.” Bee comes over to them.

He’s about to say yes when he remembers what Johnny and him were supposed to do today.

“Oh…eh Bee I was thinking me and Johnny would go to the park. It’s a little tradition we do back at home.”

Bee looked at the two of them and did an over exaggerated wink.

“Oh I’m sure you’ll make it a tradition all right. Be back at the house with your clothes and flowers still intact by seven.”

“BEE.” Peter cried out. Johnny the dick just laughed. Peter was glad to note that he was also a shade of pink.

She waved them off and Peter grabs Johnny’s hand and makes a run for it.

“You’re too easy to get flustered.”

“You’re looking a little hot there too flame brain.”

“I’m always hot webs.”

Peter smacked him.

It takes a two buses to pull outside of Metropolis’ lab. It’s a massive building with a giant sphere of glass at its centre. Surrounding that sphere in four concrete blocks, each block representing a strand of science. Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Space. All the other types and variations have to fit in one of those categories.

Which means that Granges Lab for exploration has to be in the Biology block. He doubts it could be anywhere else. From there him and Johnny will somehow sneak round the back, not get caught and pour the liquid onto the Shrikes tongues.

Easy peasy.

They walk up to the front desk and get greeted by a woman who has a smile so big it looks painful.

“HI! My name is Koka, how can I help you two?”

“Hi we were hoping to visit Granges Lab?”

“OH! You two are very lucky ducks. It’s the final day of the exhibit and we have two tickets left, how fun!”

“Yeah, thank you so much.”

“Oh it’s no problem. Have a terrific day!”

They leave the counter and share a look.

“Either that woman is possessed or I’m not happy enough at lunch time.” Johnny says as he take one last look behind him.

“Mix of both.”

They follow the brightly coloured neon, green arrows and meet up with their group which consists of a haggle of children and tired parents, a lovey dovey couple and a group of friends. Their tour guide introduces himself as Walter and he is the exact opposite of Koka. He doesn’t smile and he looks like he hates his job.

“You know what you want to see so I’m not bothering explaining all the other exhibits. Please don’t touch anything and try to talk as little as possible.”

He led them through several corridors. Fossils, wax figures, metal whirring, smelly concoctions, flickering fluorescent lights, everything in here was abusing his senses.

Johnny was loving it.

They saw a mutated plant that was the colour violet and had teeth. They saw a mouse with ears so big it could fly. No one liked that exhibit, even Walter cringed. Animal cruelty, pathetic this day and age.

Then things got stranger and Peter knew they were heading towards the lab.

They saw a room with a lizard that shone different colours. There was an experiment going on that involved two gas tubes, a blue torch and a bucket of paint. Each station, experiment, exhibit and activity had a group around at it. This place was packed.

Then Walter stopped behind a glass door that had the shutters drawn.

“Please shut off your mobile devices and no pictures please. Do not touch the creatures for the safety of everyone. Do not ask questions as I do not know the answers. Please wait until I’ve given the creatures speech before you talk. When we enter the room please mindful to not knock over any tube. Doctor Snick is not available today and is very sorry that he can not be here for you. He urges you to understand. Thank you for your patience.”

One of the kids had tried to make a go for the door several times and the couple went back to snogging but other than that they had been pretty patient.

Walter opened the door.

Now in Peter’s plan he imagined the creatures would be downstairs with maximised security. He didn’t imagine they would be left in an unguarded room.

Peter couldn’t believe it. The Shrikes were each in three separate tubes, filled with some sort of green goo. Each tube had a blue and yellow tube coming out from it.

Walter turned on multiple light switches.

“These are a new creature that were in the hands of the Joker, however our rescue team found them and brought them here. The are an unknown species and are harmless.”

“Their horns and spikes scream harmless.” Johnny whispered and Peter had to hold a hand to his mouth to stop his laugh from spilling out. The lovey, dovey couple shot them a dirty look.

Oh fuck off.

He had half the mind to start kissing Johnny to piss them off…no other reason he’d kiss Johnny.

“However to be safe we sedate them by the tubes so it’s very important to not knock them over. We call them Funions because they look funny. They are to be transported to the Justice League HQ for further investigation but they will be returning. You have ten minutes before we go off onto our next part of the tour.”

“And what’s that part hun?” The mother of the four children asked.

“That would be the food court.”

“Are you telling me that I payed $60 for ten minutes with these creatures and I can’t take photos or nothin.”

“That’s right ma’am.”

“Well I’ll tell you something Walta, you betta and I mean you betta have something else planned other than the food court.”

“Ma’am you payed to see these creatures…that’s it.”

“Well suga let me tell you something—“

Peter was too invested in this shit show that he hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings.

While the mother and Walter were occupied the little kids had begun to play. They were tapping on the glass and taking pictures. Then the youngest kid clambered onto the father’s back and began to tug on the blue tube.

SHIT

“Hey you shouldn’t do that.” Peter said. The dad looked up from his phone.

“Son, he ain’t yours. Back off.”

Walter noticed the commotion and went pale.

“You little shit, GET OFF.” Walter barked.

The kid stumbled at the noise and fell backwards, as he did he pulled the tube with him.

SHIT SHIT SHIT.

Peter lunged but it was too late. The minute that tube disconnected the Shrike woke up. She cracked one eye open and as quick as lightening she broke free.

Glass shattered everywhere, an alarm was blaring and everyone was screaming. The thing began to thrash at the other tubes and soon their class fell to the floor. Walter yanked the door but it wouldn’t budge, they were stuck until Peter could make his way towards the door.

Shrike No.1 made a grab for one of the children and Johnny set a column of fire at it. The children screamed and the Shrike fell backwards. Shrike No.2 made a run for Peter which managed to knock her backwards.

Shrike 3 however ran straight for the couple and ripped into them at a feverish pace. Johnny tired to shoot fire at her but it was no use.

Shrike 1 and 2 managed to pull themselves together before running out of the room. Since an exit had now been made Shrike 3 soon followed. Soon the rest of their tour did too. Shouting and crying at the carnage. Johnny and Peter were left standing there.

“Are they?” Peter trailed off unsure.

Johnny checked the couples pulse points and shook his head. The Shrike had ripped into their chests and tore their inside out. They were gone.

“You bring your suit?”

Peter pulled it out from under his shirt. “We gotta find them, here.” Peter takes Little Legs out of his bag and splits him in two, making an earpiece out of him. Little Legs coos to show he’s alright.

“Fucking love him.” Johnny mutters as he shoves it into his ear.

Peter and Johnny sprint towards the roof exit and clamber up several flights of stairs before they make it outside.

Peter pulls his mask on and shoots a web. He begins to swing, Johnny hot on his heels.

Where would they go, where would they go?

A screech comes from the direction of the park and a hot dog stand. Johnny dives for the stand and Peter bee lines towards the park.

The Shrike is in the water, plucking the feathers off a poor duck. Blood stains the pond and duck carcasses litter the place.

Peter shoots a string of webbing onto the Shrikes arm and pulls hard. The duck gets released, quacks of happiness as it peddles through the water.

The Shrike bares its teeth at Peter and snarls.

“Ordour wants your head spider child.”

“I’m kinda fond of it. Maybe he can take a leg instead?”

She strikes quickly, turning into shadow and appearing behind him.

Move.

He swings to the left but she manages to scarpe his back. He kicks out his leg which leads to her fumbling around.

She’s quick to recover. She aims for his arm, grabs it and twist. Pain lances up it and Peter head buts her.

It’s a dance of limbs and curses. He manages to break a horn off of her head and she screams in outrage. Peter swings round the now empty park as the Shrike poofs behind him.

“What are you doing here? You’re kinda ruining the vibe.”

“Spider child I was sent by Ordour.”

She appears at his left and he has to make a sharp turn to avoid her ever persistent claws.

“You mentioned him twice now? Is that like your master?”

She did not like that. She manages to grab him by the waist and they go tumbling towards the ground. He lands on his back and he prays the vile doesn’t break in his bag.

She puts his hand behind his head and he thrashes himself around. He can’t break free, he can’t break free, he can’t break free.

“Listen here little spider, Ordour is coming for you and when he breaks free no one is safe. Tell your little stone lady to give up fighting him and let him out that stone. It is the only way.”

She whispers all this in his hears as drool somehow makes it through his mask.

“So your Ordour’s mules then?”

She smiled and it sent chills up his spine.

“We are much more than mules but alas I know such concepts are not easy to grasp for someone of your stature.”

What was easy for him to grasp was her other horn as he managed to finally to break free. She let out a howl but Peter was manoeuvring himself so that now he was on top.

He reached into his bag and pulled out the vile. He wretched open her mouth and forced three drops into her mouth. She knocked him off of her and began to bellow, grasping her head and chanting.

“Great mother forgive me, great father count my blessings, let me return in glory and bathe in the blood of those who wronged me. May I die in ashes and be reborn once more.” She began to chant louder and louder before suddenly she stopped.

It was slow at first but suddenly she lost her fangs and her black, scaley skin began to shed. A woman lay writhing in her place. She had tanned skin and her hair was fanned around her. Her eyes were milky white and she turned toward Peter.

“Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. KiLL ME KILL ME KILL ME KILL ME—.”

She began to bash her head against the ground until finally it worked. She was dead.

Holy fucking shit. He ran over to her but she was gone. How…?

His thoughts were racing. Shrikes were normal people, Shrikes were normal people, what the fuck.

“Spidey!”

He whipped his head around to find Johnny covered in flames, flapping about helplessly as the Shrike crawled all over him.

Once he spotted Peter, Johnny soared over the pond and shouted, “CANNONBALL.” before he dropped the Shrike. This one was different from his one. Then he remembered Time.

“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.”

There’s different species and that him again. That him has to be Ordour but who on earth is Ordour?

This Shrike seems to have feathery skin instead of scaly. She screams as Peter swings up to catch her. She fights him but he gets the goo into her mouth as well.

She goes pliant in his arms as he meets Johnny on the ground. As her feathers fall to the ground and she looses her claws a girl is in her place. She has red hair and a head wound that’s bled too much already.

She begins to rock back and forth slowly. Muttering something that his super hearing can barely pick up, but it does.

“For Luna.”

“Holy guacamole. Spidey we got to move.”

“Why?”

A helicopter was floating over them and Peter could see the camera zooming in on Peter and Johnny.

“We need to move. I saw the third one go to these two big towers.

Peter nodded. “Lead the way.”

Johnny was right. The third Shrike was doing the monkey bars between these two towers with the logo Lex Corp plastered between them. The Shrike had a woman in her arms who was screaming for all her worth.

When the Shrike spotted them she dropped the woman. Johnny dove for her and Peter went for the Shrike.

He shot webs out and wrapped the Shrike up like a cocoon. She hissed but didn’t thrash like the other, she had scaly skin, not feathery.

He poured the liquid onto her tongue and she only made a ‘yuck’ face but began to quietly chuckle.

“Peter Parker you need not fear. My task is completed.” Before the Shrike can loose her scales she turns to ash and the wind blows her away. Peter hangs there as he remembers what the first Shrike chanted.

“May I die in ashes and be reborn once more.”

They were sent here for a reason and since this Shrike completed her mission she was allowed to die in ash but Peter didn’t know what task she completed exactly. Was that woman her task?

Peter’s hanging from his web when Johnny flies up to him. He no longer has the woman but he does have a kiss mark on his cheek.

“So did you have fun?”

“Yeah I did Webs. I had a really good time with you.”

“No, I meant with her.” He doesn’t know why he says it in that tone but he doesn’t regret it.

Peter has known Johnny all his life. They first met when Archie brought Peter to the park. They met when Peter commented on the obnoxious tune Johnny whistled and Johnny and him soon exchanged addresses. From there the rest is a confusing history that Peter can’t think about now because why does Johnny have a kiss mark on his cheek.

What he can also think about is the way that woman, and quite a few back at home, look at Johnny…like he’s some piece of meat.

Johnny looked at Peter like he was stupid.

“You still don’t know?”

“Know what?”

Johnny came closer, tugged his mask over his nose and kissed him. Peter froze.

Oh.

Oh that’s why Peter was jealous when Johnny wrote about this girl Katie in his letter.

Oh that’s why Peter cried for the first time in forever when he couldn’t send Johnny letters anymore as he was in the cult.

Oh that’s why Johnny randomly went red when Peter came in close.

Oh that’s why Peter felt like this.

Peter kissed back harder and faster, so much so he wobbled on his web. Then Johnny was fading, he was fading from Peter and he knew this was Soul’s doing. He was so used to it by now he barely blinked in surprise.

“Tell Bee and Pietro bye and Pete—“ He was gone.

Peter felt exhausted, exhilarated and confused. He then noticed the three helicopters circling him and he realised they probably got that on camera.

He yanked his mask down and swung away with a second wind.

Bee and Pietro were probably back at the house by now so Peter began to swing with his head brimming with thoughts.

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Dick first saw it in the group chat. He was in Bludhaven with the old Titans trying to find this thing. She disappeared and reappeared within seconds and she was very, very hard to catch.

She didn’t really wreak havoc, she only turned the odd dude into a chameleon. Bit weird but he’s dealt with worse.

He had gathered the Titans because A, they would catch her and B, they were in need of a reunion.

So far there’s been no sign of her, zero. So Dick took out his phone which had been buzzing non stop.

He opened the family group chat and his breathe stopped. Air would not go into his lungs because what the fuck was he seeing and reading.

His phone fell out his hands and splintered on the ground. He was partnered with Roy who came over to him with a questioning look.

“Dude you ok?” Dick couldn’t physically bring himself to answer.

Roy picked up his phone before manically laughing. “Holy shit.”

Dick fell to his knees.

BATMAN’S BABIES

Baby Bird: Did anyone tune into Metropolis news?

Stalker: No why?

Little Light: Holy fuck I did

Scary creatures

Baby Bird: Did you see the other thing Thomas

Little Light: No…?

Baby Bird: 🏙️

Stalker: HOLY FUCKING SHIT

Little Light: WHO IS THAT MACKING ON PETER?!?!??!!???!

Blondie: WHY IS DUDE SO HOT

LIKE WHERE DID PETER FIND HIM

Little Wing: ILL KILL HIM, HE’S SUCKING OFF PETER’S FACE

Double B: 👍

*👎

Me: BRUCE IM ABOUT TO HAVE A FUCKING BREAKDOWN BECAUSE MY SON IS MAKING OUT, WITH A DUDE ON FIRE, HANGING FROM LEX CORP AND SEEMS TO HAVE JUST BEEN IN A FIGHT

GET YOUR THUMBS UP OFF MY SCREEN

*Bruce reacted 🙃*

Baberino: You gotta admit, the games game

Me: BABS MY SON IS 15

Little Miss: Ally

Little Wing: I honestly don’t know out of the two of you who is competing for least helpful

Me: WHY DOES PETER HAVE BLOOD ON HIM?

🕸️🕷️🕸️

Peter made it back to the house without the helicopters following him. The door was locked but Peter was given a key for just in case situations. He manages to fish them out from what’s left of his bag and fiddles with the lock until the door opens.

“Bee?” He calls out. Maybe they’re not here yet. They did seem pretty cozy last night, maybe they’ve decided to do something nice and got lost in the whole commotion. He can’t hear any heartbeats so they must be still out and about.

He should go look for them but first of all a drink, he’s thirsty as fuck after swinging for thirty minutes. He had to breathe through his mouth as his bleeding nose made it hard to breathe that way. The smell of blood clogged his senses and he really needed a cloth.

He makes his way into the kitchen. It’s dark by now so he fumbles in the dark for the light switch before he manages to flick it. The room floods with light and after a few blinks he’s able to make sense of the scene infront of him.

Bee and Pietro lie in a pool of blood on the floor. Their chests are ripped out, they died a bloody brutal death.

They’re holding hands. They’re facing towards each other and they are holding hands.

“Peter Parker you need not fear. My task is completed.”

Peter screamed.

Extra Thoughts: So um what do we think?

Fantastic four and Spideytorch was added because of a poll on tumblr which I will be doing in the future to decide on things! Ehh I also did a vote about whether Peter should meet his mam or not and majority voted no.

BEE. Bee is no longer with us, I loved her and I loved writing about her but I’m afraid her time had came to an end. What do we think of Peter’s family tree? Is that believable because I’ve spent so many nights thinking of a way to make it make sense. Same with the Spideytorch, but I will be making a fic exploring in depth what happened and like how they met. I have a plan to do that for every couple.

Also Bee and Pietro, did anyone see that coming and if you did please tell me cause I want to improve on plot twists.

WHY ARE FIGHTING SCENES SO HARD. GUY I TRIED MY BEST OKIE, THATS ALL I CAN DO

ALSO I headcannon that Bruce texts like he’s 102 and no one can tell if he does it on purpose or not, they’re too afraid to ask.

Ummm what else??? Life sucks and it’s sucking much more but I've had so much fun writing this chapter that I’ve already started on the next one :D

Also this might just give me the will to read Dark Matter. I’ve never read it before and I have no doubt it won’t be amazing but…effort you know?

Was it worth an almost half a year wait…probably not but hey, whatcha gonna do. ALSO I SAW THE NEW SUPERMAN AND LIKE ITS SO GOOD I COULD CRY.

Anyway I hope you all enjoyed, constructive criticism is always welcome and I hope ye all have a good week, until next time xx

Day this was Wrote: 06/08/25

[miserablemuffin]

What sorta Oscar worthy idea is this?!?! ITS AMAZING

OH GOSH! WHAT IF!

What if when jason died he woke up as ben parker and he thought what he dream about the bats and him being a robin is all a dream? But after he died from the robbery he wake up again as Jason todd from the pit and he realises that he is in a multiverse of himself!

Then years later peter parker in gotham its either nwh or the snap but both could work, when he saw peter he first thought.

"your so young to die" something like that.

BUT LIKE DO YOU GUYS SEE IT

[miserablemuffin]

QUICK PAINTING AND ITS A MASTERPIECE!!!!

Quick painting for Spider-Man day

[miserablemuffin]

Okie dokie so I did a fic on how Jason and Roy met and it got me thinking, how did the other couples of Batfam get together?

So for Cass and Steph I was thinking the trope of one thinks they’re dating and the other one doesn’t have a clue. It could be either Cass being oblivious and Steph thinking they’re dating or vice versa. Like literally either way would work and I think it’s perfect for them. Like Cass not really sure when they began dating but just decides to roll with it, Steph, who’s a really touchy person just thinks it totally normal that her and Cass hold hands, hug and cuddle all the time. They’re bonding. Flip it on its head and you have Cass who is super confused with the idea of female friends and assumes Steph is acting in a normal manner. Yes Bab does not act like this with her but that’s because Babs is older. Steph, who thinks Cass just wants things to go slowly doesn’t mind the not kissing bit and thinks she’s doing an amazing job as this is her first relationship.

Now Tim and Kon aren’t really a thing just yet in my fic but this is how their fic would go. Kon is kinda like only three years old so he’s still learning things. So he watches this documentary on birds and he sees that the bird keeps giving shiny things to this other bird and he’s like so that’s how I flirt with Robin. So he then proceeds to give presents to Tim because he’s a bird and normal flirting just won’t work on him. But like I’m talking giving Tim a tree instead of flowers and like giving him the biggest diamond anyone has ever laid their eyes on. That’s how their love story starts.

Then of course you have Kara and Babs. How do they get together? Well Kara does not beat round the bush so she’s blunt about her feelings, it’s the kyrptonian in her, so she tells Babs straight up that she loves her. Babs, who was running on two hours of sleep and the Batfams shit, said, and I quote, “Marry me?” In panic and delirium. She then says she has to go and wheels calmly away while chanting shit shit shit. Kara just nods and flies away to tell Lois and Clark that she’s getting married. Do they actually get married…? I’m still on the fence. ALSO THIS WAS GOT FROM THIS COMIC OF KLANCE ON TIKTOK BY THE USER sianwine https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd91pkN4/ THATS THE LINK TO THE TIKTOK!!!! ALL THE REST IS ORIGINALLY SOURCED IDEAS BUT THIS HC WAS THIS!!!

Last but not least Bruce and Selina. They’re on and off so much that Bruce isn’t even sure when they’re good or not. Selina loves him, she does and she wants to be his someone full time but there’s something that’s stopping her. Bruce never says I love you first and it bothers her. Until one day she actually take notice of this tapping on her hand, she always known that Bruce does it, he’s done it since the beginning of their weird relationship but she finally realises that it’s not just some random tapping, it’s morse code. And he’s tapping out I love you. All this time he’s been tapping I love you. Let’s just say a ring is soon put on her finger.

Bruce and Talia is not a couple in my fic but I love them so they’d be like swapping Damian back and forth and like doing the whole divorce parent thing, except they’re both stupidly in love with each other so they’re idea of flirting is bickering back and forth about Damian and then getting off topic. Damian now knows to pack a book when they’re swapping him cause their conversations go on for hours. Then one weekend Damian is at the Kent’s and they have no reason to really meet each other…except ason hasn’t seen Talia in a while. So then Jason gets swapped back and forth, who’s very confused and was in the middle of his toast when B abducted him. Then one day Talia’s tire bursts and she goes back to the manor and around eight months later she leaves the manor and goes back to the league (to get all her stuff to maybe move in.)

Omg I nearly forgot Ivy and Harley. Both freshly out of prison and struggling to get their lives together move into the same apartment. They live on top of each other and Harley works at night at her rage room that she made herself that’s quite successful. Ivy works from home for now so when ones asleep the others awake. You can hear everything in those apartments and since they’re on top of each other they both hear their music. Harley likes to play her music loud to drown out her thoughts and Ivy blasts rain sounds so loud that Harley hears them when they’re not playing. So one of them changes their WiFi’s name to:

AprtmtNo.12Urmusicis$h1t

AprmtNo.24UrRainSoundskikemyP1$$

Queue this going on back and forth but they progressively get more flirty as they begin to fall for each other and then boom one day they meet and they’re like holy shit.

That’s what how I think every ship pans out, I might write fics for these, I might not. Thought I’d share :)

[miserablemuffin]

Guys I need someone to knock me up, unrelated news guess who got her period 2 weeks after her last one xxxx

[miserablemuffin]

Hello I’m currently writing chapter 13 of you’re gonna go far and I need an opinion. This chapter will be out next Sunday because I’m on a surprise holiday.

The question is do we want Peter and his mum to meet. Yes, we get to see them meet or No, they meet and she’s in a coma, that’s how it will pay out. TRUST IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE. This is just to see how much we are rocking with the idea and things may change :)

[miserablemuffin]

Honestly this made my day, omg, kudos to you incredible artist

I just think he would

[miserablemuffin]

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.”

“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

[miserablemuffin]

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