Chapter Text
The morning after he slept off the fuzz- Peter was knocked off center. He woke up in the middle of two people he hadn’t met, with smells he’d never smelled.
He kept his breathing even as he came to, made sure they wouldn’t realize he was up yet. He carefully tilted his head to the right, and there was a dark haired man, with tan skin. He was wearing a blue sweater.
Brother, mine, colony his spider provided unhelpfully. Because… Peter doesn’t have a brother. Peter has never had one. Peter has been alone for many years now, so this was weird. He is an only child, so why does it sting so much to reject his instincts yelling at him that this was indeed his brother?
He should know better. Should have learned his lesson by now. He isn't able to have anybody. They all die anyways.
God, why couldn’t he remember… where on earth was he? Where was his suit? He needed to get out of here.
Peter tilted his head slightly to the left, and there’s another man. Dark haired, pale skin, dark eyes. This one’s sitting up, and Peter is immediately caught in eye contact. He jumps up, quickly getting to his feet, nerves wracking down his body.
Protector, dad, safe Oh, hell no. Peter has no dad. Who the hell is this guy?
“What the fuck?” Peter yelps, mostly to himself.
“Kid? Are you… alright?” Hell no.
“Nope, no. No. Don’t know you. Sorry, I gotta…” Focus, Peter. They’re obviously friendly. You must’ve just… blacked out or something. Or gotten seriously injured. Or a concussion. or serious memory loss. No big deal.
Peter's head hurts, god. It feels like he's been hit by a train.
“Who are you, again?” He asks, and Peter realizes that’s kinda rude, but what else is he to do?
“Just call me Bruce. You were pretty out of it for a while. Do you know anything about that?”
No. Peter did not know anything about it.
Well, maybe. Unless he got injured enough or distressed enough to go down to base spider instincts…
Okay, let’s face it. It’s definitely that one.
Everything hurts and something is very obviously missing here.
“Hard to explain. Not… important? I mean, how bad was it?” Maybe he just slept. That’s happened one time. One very notable time where he corralled Aunt May into a bed for two days straight.
“I would say it's important. You bit someone. Does that happen often?” Peter’s eyes shoot open wide and he’s taking rapid steps towards Bruce.
“I bit someone? They’re okay, right?” That can’t possible be good. Peter has venom. A mild paralytic at best. He can control the flow of the venom but- “They're fine?"
"He's okay, it's fine." It is not fine. Absolutely not.
"…Okay."
"And who're you?" He asked the one now behind him, turning to glance at him over his shoulder.
"My name's Dick, and you're Peter, right?"
Oh great, he told them his name while he was down. Lovely. A startled laugh escapes him, "There is no way that's your name."
"It is! Well it's a nickname, but everyone calls me it anyway."
Peter narrows his eyes, "Whatever you say," He moves towards the window.
Peering out, there's hardly any sunshine peeling from behind thick clouds. The streets outside look dirty and he can hear a couple street kids getting into a fight. If he was Spider-Man at the moment, he'd probably move to stop it. But alas, no shot he gets there in time. Especially since he doesn't have the suit.
"Yikes. What part of New York is this? He doesn't think he's seen his city this bad before. Like… ever, but maybe he missed a street.
"We're in Gotham?"
"What's Gotham?" He can hear both the men's jaws click shut.
"Bud," Dick starts, and Peter cringes back at the soft tone, "You don't know what Gotham is?"
"Oh so I'm supposed to know every town on the eastern seaboard?" He snipped back.
"You said this was your home." What? Damnit. Damnit, fuck.
"…Right, well. Uh." He frantically tried to think of any excuse. No dice. "Obviously I was lying."
Theres a snort from Bruce.
"So where do you live?"
"New York. Queens."
"Long way from home, aren't you?" Dick asks, but Bruce just grunts. It doesn't sound very pleased.
Peter sighs, "I guess…"
They're in Gotham. A town he's never heard of, supposedly far from New York. Begs the question, where are they really?
And how will he get home? Will he ever?
"Why don't you stay with us for a while, then?" Bruce says.
"I can't, I mean. I can take care of myself."
The older man, Protector shakes his head, "I'm well aware. I want you to stay."
It's not that Peter doesn't trust these people. Because he does! Even with the super fuzzy memory of meeting them, there's that bone deep sense of trust. It's just a little uncanny. No one has ever been so… alright with his more strange qualities. Sure, Aunt May would indulge him, but these two seemed… different.
They seemed like his unusualness was normal to them. Like they weren't thrown off at all. Maybe they just were used to this, knew someone like him, as unlikely as that was. Or maybe strange things happened to them a lot. Maybe they were used to that aspect.
But one thing sticks out to Peter here. He is so disappointed in himself. Like, really? Getting attached to strange people so quickly? He'd done the same thing to Tony once. It took so much effort to break the imprint. He really was not looking forward to doing it again to two people. Wait. Backtrack.
Two? That was off. Peter quickly counted the new attachments in his head. Four. Two were missing. Peter's pupils blew wide. Theres only two here, what if the others are hurt. He can't- he can't keep them safe if they're not here. He glares at Bruce, how dare Protector let them out of the nest?
"Where?" Where were they? Where'd his colony go?
"What, sweetheart?" Protector asks, taking a step towards Peter.
Peter's skin crawls. Oh, this is so terrible. He shakes his head to bring logic back to the forefront of his mind. He cannot be doing this.
Peter's heart speeds up. His body prepares to gear up for escape. He has to get out of here. He has to break these bonds quickly. He doesn't deserve to have people, and they don't deserve to having to deal with him. The spider does not like this. Not one bit. He has to fight the influence of his instincts, that beg him to leap into Bruce's arms. Adrenaline flows through his veins, he can feel his muscles tightening. It's a miniscule glance towards the window that does it.
Bruce reacts before Peter can even move. Theres suddenly a hand on the scruff of his shirt, and he's being pulled back into strong arms. And look, Peter would fight it. He could absolutely break the hold! It wouldn't be hard. He's stronger than Bruce by a mile, but he simply goes limp because Bruce asserts, "Mine, stay."
He can't help it! The deep down instinct makes him melt apart.
So he stays.
Usually this wouldn't bother him- he could argue with Aunt May all day long. But- it's different, okay? Bruce is using his instinct against him, somehow! Like he knows exactly what to say to appease the baby spider in his brain. Peter is hit by a bus sized block off fuzz in his brain.
"We're going to head back to our house, okay? Tim's there too," That's the little one isn't it?
But isn't the little one his second vigilante? Does that mean?
Peter gasps softly, "You're Batman."
He can feel the soft vibration of a chuckle, "Yes, sweetheart, I'm Batman."
Peter nods, because he understands. He's a vigilante too. Oh, he picked the best colony. They fit so well together. Perfect. Batman would be a perfect protector.
"I'm Spider-Man," he says, trying to enforce the connection.
"Okay," But he sounds a little disbelieving. Like he thinks Peter is joking. Peter frowns, and goes to nip him because he's being endlessly silly.
"Watch the teeth, Bruce!" Dick calls out, and Peter's so shocked by the yell he pulls back and stares at Dick like he personally offended him. What the hell, Dick? You don't need to yell!
His attention is brought back to Bruce by the clearing of his throat. He blinks at Bruce, pupils dilating.
"Sweetheart, you can't bite us, okay?"
He snorts, amused. Is Batman afraid of a bite? He wouldn't even use any venom this time. Just a little nibble. Is that such crime.
Peter blinks hard to fight the instinct. He doesn't move to leave Bruce's arms yet. He will… in a minute.
He swallows around nothing, attempting to gather some thoughts together. What were they doing again?
"Alright, sweetheart. You ready to head out?" Bruce asked, and the words vibrated against his spine.
"Am I being kidnapped?" He asks, like a hypocrite.
"I mean, we can find you a nice foster home-" Dick tries.
"No!" Peter hisses at the same time Bruce growls,
"Absolutely not."
Dick lifts his hands in surrender, "Okay, jeez."
Bruce gathers Peter fully into his arms, carrying him towards the exit.
"I can walk, you know," Peter snips at him.
Bruce nods, offering, "Would you like down?"
Peter puts his sticky powers to good use, clinging onto the man. …No. He would not like down. At least, his spider did not want down. Not at all.
At least he's able to bite back the urge to purr. For a while…
By the time they're in the elevator making their way down, he's started purring anyways against his will. Dick smells amused the whole way down, and Bruce is incredibly stiff. Like he's afraid he'll drop Peter or something.
Peter should probably start looking for answers. Yeah, that's the proper thing to do. Investigate.
"So like… Batman. That's cool. Never heard of you before." The grip tightens. Peter doesn't register. "Is Gotham like, a small town?"
"No." Oh. Nice.
"So… are you new to vigilantism, then?"
"…No."
Huh. So. Let's get the facts together, then.
Peter is in Gotham. A city he's never known. With a vigilante he knows nothing about.
"Say, have you ever worked with the Avengers."
The air is incredibly tense as Bruce replies, "I don't know who that is."
Okay. Don't freak out. Two solutions here. Time travel and dimensional travel.
And, seeing as though he's seen cell phones, he's leaning towards the latter.
"Right."
They approach a sleek black car, and Peter recognizes it immediately as expensive and likely having incredible technology. They're rich. So he just forcibly claimed rich vigilantes. Man, what is in that cave juice?
Peter's dropped into the backseat, and Dick scoots in after him. Even though the man could definitely sit in the front seat. Probably should, too. But… oh. Yeah, they probably think Peter's a flight risk. And he totally is!
Although, running with fresh imprints would be pretty painful. He does need to break them, so they're not stuck with him. He will! Just… in a bit.
"I think I'm from an alternate dimension." Peter says, and it tastes like confession on his tongue. He spits it out like it hurts. It does. He doesn't- he's scared. Peter doesn't know where he is, what he's going to do, or if he can even go home.
"You think?" Dick hums back, sounding genuinely curious.
"I mean, I know I'm from an alternate dimension," He continues and quickly interjects before anyone can say anything, "I'm not crazy! You've heard of the dimensional theory, right?"
Dick cuts him off before he can continue, "Yeah, Peter, we have. We've met some dimensional travelers as well."
Peter breathes out a heavy sigh of relief, thank god. They won't think he's insane for saying this.
"This is a different world!" He practically yells, "Like so different."
He looks at Dick, and the man just prompts him to go on with a wave of his hand.
"In my world, I'm Spider-Man, like I've said. There's this thing called the Avengers, which is like a group of hero's that works to keep the world safe."
"Like the Justice League?"
Peter shrugs, "Maybe? Probably. I don't know what that is."
He quickly shakes his head, "But in my world, I'm actually… not this small. I think I shrunk."
Dick's eyes go a little wide, "Shrunk?"
"I'm actually seventeen."
Bruce actually reacts to that, "Seventeen?"
Peter rapidly nods, "I don't know what happened- we were fighting Thanos and then- the green goop-" A broken whine escapes his chest as a pain shoots through his head starting at his temples. He doesn't-
Doesn't want to think about it anymore.
No. Don't freak out. It's fine. Peter bites his tongue and shakes his head. Focus.
"I don't know what happened. But now I'm here." He finished, as steadily as possible.
"It's okay," Dick says, and Peter thinks its an awful attempt at soothing, "We'll get you home."
No. No. His spider screams at that, hating the very idea of it. Going away from his colony- he just got them! He knows he's going to have to, but his instincts hate the idea. They want him to refuse and scream. They beg him to cling to Dick and beg to never be let go.
Theres nothing home for him anyways. Thanos- it went wrong. Something went badly. And Thanos would have destroyed everything.
"Theres- nothing there. It's all gone." Peter's voice sounded shaky but he didn't have it in him to fix it. To make himself sound call. He was not calm. He was freaking out.
"Hey, listen, it's gonna be alright. We've got you buddy."
"No- I'll leave, I promise."
Bruce shifts in the front seat, "No."
Peter twitches. Huh?
"What."
"You'll stay with us for the time being."
Peter swallows around nothing.
"But don't you want me out of your-"
"No."
Well. Damn.
"Okay…"
However ominous that may be, Peter can't find it in himself to mind. Peter will eventually leave. They won't want him around long term. Nobody does. It's just a matter of getting onto his feet first, because frankly… he's still really shaken up.
It feels like any wrong move will throw him right back into the depths of his instincts. This always happens after something bad. Like- after the warehouse, he was stuck spider-mode for like a week. He remembers the headlines. 'Spider-Man goes on rampage throughout the streets of Queens. None dead, seventeen injured.' Yeah… Mr. Stark was not pleased.
That's okay, though, he wasn't pleased with himself either.
Peter kicks his feet back and forth.
"I just need a bit. Uhm. The clinginess will slow down once I heal, then I can break the bonds and be on my way."
"Peter." Oh. Bruce's voice is so stern that he freezes in place, looking up to meet Bruce's eyes in the rearview mirror.
"You are not leaving. You are mine."
The fuzz immediately slams back into him, throwing him way back under again.
Yes. His Protector wants him. Why would he say he would leave? That's dumb. Peter would never leave, just like his colony is never allowed to leave. Peter does a quick headcount. Why are there still only two here. This is devastating. Where is his little vigilante and his Jason? This is cruel.
"Yours?" He echoes, just to say it, not actually looking for confirmation. Bruce doesn't need to repeat himself twice.
Bruce 'hn's' and Peter just gives a short nod in acknowledgment.
Mine-Yours-Safe
Everything is fine, great, even. Oh! Dick's next to him. Peter turns his head to see him, and grins widely. Hi!
"Hey, buddy."
Oh! That's him! He's buddy!
"Brother," He greets back, and his voice is that detached cold tone again. Not that Peter notices, because he's all too busy just looking at Dick with a big wide smile. He tries to lunge forward for a hug, but is cut off by the belt around his chest.
What… is that? (Seatbelt) It's so evil!
He looks at Dick desperately, and watches as Dick's face morphs into panic- "No don't-"
Peter doesn't cry- no. He screams, his voice melting into a forceful hiss through his inhuman vocal cords. He fights the seatbelt, but somehow, despite all his strength, he's unable to free himself. (You're panicking. Duh.)
"It's just a seatbelt- it's for safety, buddy, look, I have one too!"
"No." Nonononono
"Baby-" Dick tries to soothe.
He halts. What the hell did he just call him?
"I am not a baby, he yelps.
Dick shakes his head, "I didn't mean it, no, no. You're not a baby, I'm sorry."
Peter narrows his eyes. His teeth itch to dig into skin.
"I made this colony. You're Mine!" Show some respect! He is no baby.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." Peter's been successfully distracted from the terror of the seatbelt. Now he's just peeved at the disrespect. And so he turns his head away from Dick for the rest of the car drive. So that he'll learn his lesson.
But once the car pulls into a long driveway, Peter is quickly reminded of where they're going. And suddenly he's a little fearful. Just a little…
He needs to run away. Definitely.
So he waits for the car door to open, tenses his legs, moves- and is quickly snatched off the ground. He squawks- but he doesn't care for very long because he recognizes the warmth as Bruce. Why would he be scared if Dad is right there?
"Why do you keep trying to run, hm?"
Good question. Peter doesn't really know why. He just.. is a little nervous. And when in danger, the best option is always to run away!
He shrugs.
He's carried to the front door, and Peter stiffens because behind the door, he can hear a heartbeat. This one is a little slower than his other colony members. It's steady, with careful rhythmic beats. Chugging along continuously like a slow going train.
The door opens, and Peter doesn't even care to find out the older mans name. He just knows that this one is also his.
"Another one, Master Bruce?"
"This one found me."
"As you say every time."
Bruce sighs, "And it's always true."
Peter blinks, observing the conversation. It seems practiced, like it's happened a couple dozen times before.
"And what's your name, then?" Oh, the older man is speaking to him.
"I'm Peter." He replies, and a little fuzz clears his brain, reminding him that it's more proper to introduce with a full name. Something about the British accent makes him think he must be proper. "Uhm. Parker. Peter Parker."
He thinks he feels Bruce tense up a little.
The man takes it in stride, "Alfred Pennyworth. But you can call me Alfred."
They enter the house, and Peter is set on the ground carefully.
He steps closer to the butler, scanning the man quickly just to be sure he isn't somehow injured. He hums in approval. Yes, this one is definitely his.
The house is so big, so unnatural to him, even the Tower has a lower ceiling on each floor. It made him want to crawl up into the nearest ceiling corner. He blinks a couple times rapidly, taking in his surroundings. He tries to note the exits and hiding spots strategically, but is quickly distracted
He needs to find Tim. The separation is getting to him. The imprints are brand new, fresh in his mind and the separation only hurts.
But… he can hear Tim's heartbeat somewhere to the left of him, past a couple walls. So, really he isn't all that far. In the same house. Someone else is still missing- Jason. He's not here. Which is truly a crime, Peter feels.
"What's the matter, Master Peter?"
Master? Strange. Peters never been called that before? He's not… the Master? What does that even mean?
"It's Peter." He replies back, eyebrows twisting in confusion.
He looks between the others, he wonders if they know anything about that?
"You're better off letting it go, buddy. It's a losing battle." Dick says, but that doesn't explain anything.
You know what… whatever.
Peter needs to focus on more important things. "Where is Tim?"
"Hm, I think he's in his room?" Bruce says, but it's more of a question directed at Alfred.
"You'd surely be correct, I haven't seen him since he made his way this morning. I'd hope he's getting rest."
Dick carefully grabs his wrist and gently pulls him in the direction of Tim.
But before they even get halfway- He freezes.
"Wait." Peter can smell something. And hear something. It's another heartbeat, another person. This heartbeat is smaller, yet fiercely marching on. It's at rest, like the person is sat down.
"Who is that?" He asks, and he so desperately wants an answer. It's a baby! Little itty bitty. He just knows it, although he hasn't seen them yet.
Bruce seems to be a little confused, "What do you mean, who?"
"I can hear another person. Haven't met them yet."
"You can hear someone from all the way in here?"
Peter groans indignantly, that is not an answer to his question.
"I believe Master Damian was in the library." Alfred supplies. Hm… Peter nods, and makes his way towards where he can hear the baby.
He's followed by Bruce and Dick, but Alfred stays behind for some reason. Whatever.
He enters the library, does a lookover of the big room. Doesn't see the kid yet.
"Spider-Man, he said?" Peter's head shoots towards the word, moving to heed the call of his vigilante name. There isn't any danger. He squints his eyes at the source.
The kid. With a scowl on his face, a little taller than Peter is now, but Peter would easily be taller if he hadn't shrank. Peter looks between Bruce and this kid, and immediately notes the similarities. Child? Child and son?
He trills at the kid, beckoning. Come here, he calls. The kid doesn't move. Rude.
"Angelena consociata," The kid speaks again, "If I'm correct."
Peter just stares at the… baby. Older than Peter at the moment. Still baby! He tilts his head to the left.
"A social spider. Categorized by living in groups, or colonies, of spiders."
Peter trills again. This time the kid does come closer. Peter moves closer as well. He observes. Bruce's kid. Wonders what skills he may possess. What hobbies he may like. Peter wonders if this kid is closer to his colony members. Must be.
But that's okay. Because he doesn't feel like a threat. He's just a baby.
"Peter, this is Damian." He introduces properly.
Damian is a lovely name. Fits the sharp features of the boy in front of him.
"My son," Bruce says, still introducing.
So he was correct, then. Great. "You're mine," Peter declares, aimed at Bruce.
"Yes," Bruce readily agrees.
"He's… yours?" Peter asks, taking another step forward.
Damian tenses up, "I am right here! Do not speak of me as if I cannot hear you!"
Bruce speaks anyways, "He's my son, yes."
Peter wrinkles his nose for a moment, then nods. Grabs Damian. "Mmm.. Mine." He declares, pulling the kid onto the nearby couch. He needs the baby in his nest immediately.
Peter didn't expect an argument from Damian, but when all he got was a clinical explanation to Bruce, he was a little surprised.
"Nesting behaviors," The kid says, "It's likely a mix of human and spider DNA that causes these specific traits. A spider wouldn't… Tt. Likely wouldn't be so clingy. But Peter here wants his 'Colony' safe in a nest, or a 'web.'"
Damian is correct, and Peter is so proud. His spiderling is so smart.
"Though I'm unsure why he picked me." Damian finishes, sounding a little confused.
Peter wants to snap. Why is he confused? Why wouldn't he pick Damian? He's obviously smart. Peter can feel callouses on his hands, obviously occurring from sword wielding. Peter doesn't like that one bit, who made his spiderling fight? He's just a baby. But it still means Damian is competent, and Peter can't help but be a little proud about it.
"Oh, no, baby bat. He did this to all of us." Dick said, leaning against the entrance way.
Peter perked up immediately, reaching out his hands for Dick, calling out. The man moved towards the couch, sitting next to where Peter had Damian trapped.
He grabs Dick's arm and yanks him into the cuddle pile.
Perfect. Nothing could be better.