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Looking at the sky that crackled with the call of Spider-Man’s enemies, Peter knew what he had to do.
“What if everyone forgot who I was?” Peter called out to Strange.
The wizard before him faltered, his hands freezing mid spell for just a second, “What?”
“They’re coming here because of me right? Because I’m Peter Parker.”
Strange’s face contorted with realization–he knew what Peter was going to say, and he didn’t like it.
“So cast a new spell. But this time, make everyone forget who Peter Parker is. Make everyone forget…” Peter thought about all the people he had: his parents, dead; Tony, dead; the whole of New York, they hated him; and May… He only had Ned and MJ now, and by God he was gonna keep them safe. Even if that means making himself disappear. “Me”
“No,” Strange responded, his voice wavering ever so slightly.
“But it would work right?” And Strange hated how Peter was so willing to do this. He hated that the kid was right.
“Yeah it would work,” and Strange’s voice began to get tight, “but you gotta understand that that would mean everyone who knows and loves you, we’d” he swallowed the lump in his throat looking down at the kid in front of him, “we’d have no memory of you.”
For a second Peter thought about it. MJ would forget about every moment they had, Ned would forget all the times they stayed up late debating what Star Wars movie was the best.
“It would be as though you never had existed.”
“I know,” Peter confirmed, looking down at his friends.
Strange shook. He could imagine an Avenger doing this, making this sacrifice. And yes Peter was an Avenger, but god damn it he was still a kid. He wracked his mind, thinking of every spell he had ever learned. There had to be another way. He needs to give the kid time to think about his decision because there is no going back and–
“Do it” Peter’s confirmation cut off Strange’s thoughts.
With a sad smile Peter called out, “I’ll see you around.” And as he turned to jump away, Strange couldn’t let him go.
“Wait kid!” And in that moment it came to him, “What if, what if we don’t forget you? What if we send you away?” Strange desperately called out.
“Mr.Strange… ” Peter had a sympathetic look in his eyes and Strange hated it. It wasn’t his life that was being destroyed, so why was Peter looking at him like the victim.
“Listen, I can send you somewhere there is no Peter Parker. There are an infinite number of universes, I can find one.” Strange said, more to himself than to Peter. And he knew this was dark magic, he knew he shouldn’t, but he didn’t care. “I’ll send you there. Until I can fix this. Until I can bring you back.”
Peter wanted to say no, Strange didn’t even look sure of the spell himself. But the idea that he could keep his best friend, keep his girlfriend, the idea he could help Morgan grow up, well that was too big of a temptation to ignore. “Okay” Peter nodded, “How much time do I have?”
Looking up at the cracking sky, “I can give you 5 minutes. Go! Say your goodbyes and grab some things if you can!” Strange yelled as he turned back to his spell.
Peter rushed to turn around and smiled, “Thank you, Stephen.”
“Still weird,” Strange responded, refusing to look Peter in the eye.
With that Peter jumped down to MJ and Ned.
“I’m gonna disappear for a while.”
“What? Where are you going” MJ questioned, worry wrinkling her forehead.
“I-I don’t know. I don’t have time either, Strange will explain. I’m so sorry for everything I dragged you into.” Peter looked at Ned then back at MJ, “MJ I lo-.”
MJ grabbed Peter, kissing him as tears filled her eyes, “Tell me when you come back.” She said through a sad smile, “ And you better come back to me, or I swear I’ll hunt you down myself.”
Peter let out a sad laugh before turning to Ned, “Ned, I” but his voice broke as Ned extended a hand. They did their handshake one last time.
Ned grabbed Peter with two arms, bringing him into a hard hug.
“You better be back before I finish our Lego Destroyer.” Ned said against Peter’s shoulder.
As Peter and Ned separated, Strange wordlessly opened a portal to Happy’s apartment.
Right Peter thought, I need things .
Giving his friends a smile, he ran in. Peter grabbed his backpack and a duffle bag. He then stuffed his Iron-Spidey suit charger, some Stark Tech, food, water, some cash, roughly $500 (sorry Happy), and a few articles of clothing into them.
As he went to grab his wallet, Peter felt it.
His spidey senses were on fire, he felt every atom in his body. Falling to his knees, Peter saw the portal leading back to the Statue. He wanted to say bye one more time, but his body was too busy dealing with the pain to move him forward.
He didn’t wanna go out like this, in Happy’s bachelor pad, but did he have any other choice?
Two sets of hands pulled Peter up and out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Peter 2 and Peter 3. “Can’t leave yet Spider-Man” Peter 2 told him. God Peter could not have been more grateful right now. He flung himself into their arms, hugging them tightly.
“Thank you, for everything.”
“Don’t worry about it kid.” Peter 2 told him.
“By the way, thank you” Peter 3 chuckled, “I got my second chance here, and you reminded me of something.” Peter 3 grabbed Peter holding him up one hand on each shoulder, “Spider-Man always gets back up, but I gave up after I lost Gwen. You have gone through so much, and you still get back up. Never stop that.”
Peter wanted to say something, tell Peter 2 and 3 how much they meant to him, but a surge of pain shot through him.
“UGH!” Peter grunted out as he slumped to his knees. The sound stole Strange’s attention for a second. As Strange looked at the kid, he waved his hand. Suddenly Peter’s suit retracted and he was in civilian clothes again.
Looking up at Strange, Peter knew this was it.
“Thank you” was all Peter could get out before the pain made him black out. It was indescribable. He felt every part of his body being torn from this universe and thrown around, until finally, he landed in one. The molecules of his body crunched back into place, and Peter was gone.
There was no dust, no body, nothing left of him on his Earth. But in a universe far far away, Peter had made it.