Archive of Our Own

Tom didn’t remember  how he got into the mess he was into; he didn’t find himself caring anyway. He watched everyone reunite with their loved ones, people back from the dead, Tony Stark back from the dead, along with the Black Widow, Wanda with her children back, Yelena with her sister, America with her mums, Loki sitting down with his variant. Even Strange was happy to see Wong, okay, and yet Tom and his brother sat there, unable to talk, unwilling. 

~

“Someone has to go in” Wanda shouted over the excessive noise trying her best to keep up what she was doing only to be constantly pulled back. 

“I’ll do it” Wong volunteered. “I’m the sourer supreme this is my problem” The noise was only getting louder as the portal continued to push away whatever was closest to it. 

“No, let me do it” Sylvie shouted over the machine putting her hand over her forehead trying to shelter the light from her eyes. “I was the one who started this!” she began to try and walk towards carefully holding on just enough to say goodbye but was pushed away with its strength. 

“I'll do it” Tom turned around to his eldest brother. Tobey stood close to the portal holding tightly to the piece of metal keeping him from getting sucked in. 

“No!” his other brother protested. 

“Look, I have enhanced strength, I can do it” Tobey spoke loudly, just enough so the others could hear him looking around. This was not a time to joke around or play games nor was this any fun for any of them and yet, Tobey wore a smile. 

“And what if you die?” he asked. Tobey stayed quiet. He knew it. This would kill him. 

‘It’s what we do’

“If someone’s going in, then it should be now, I can’t hold this any longer” Wanda shouts, her powers flicking trying to keep its strength but failing, the red going faint, the colour draining from her face. 

Tobey turned around to face both him and Andrew. “You two look after yourselves, look out for each other, and please, don’t kill each other” Tobey looked between the two trying to stay in a stable position. “Tom, remember what we talked about, okay” as to revenge and how he didn’t need revenge, so why was that was on his mind at the moment? “Andrew, please stay out of trouble, and for the love of God, look at yourself as I look at you, amazing” he smiled, Tom could see the tears starting to form in his eyes, holding them back. Tobey struggled but eventually pulled himself up near the portal. 

“Please don’t do this!” but before they could both protests, he had gone into the unknown. And finally, everything had calmed down. A few let go of the railing they held on to looking around waiting for something worse to come. Tom looked over to his brother looking just as heartbroken as he was. Another gone, one of the two people he held on to, the last two who loved him, who really remembered him. Tom didn’t remember when his breathing started to pick up or when the strange but familiar feeling started to take over him, he felt someone’s hands on his shoulder as he tried to keep himself grounded from drifting away into sadness. 

“Hey, it’s okay, we’ll j-just” Andrew struggled on his words “well just, keep on going, c-cuz that’s what he’ll want” Tom wasn’t convinced but neither was Andrew, no words would ever make it right, they wouldn’t bring him back and they couldn’t. 

“I can’t, I can’t lose-” his brother tried his best to comfort him while trying to keep himself calm. He breathed in, he breathed out trying to block out the thoughts and to try and stay on track of what was ahead of them, waiting for what lie in from of them. 

A few mumbled of ‘are you okay’ were passed around as some talked with others about where to go now and what the plan was, not that he was listening because he wasn’t, he couldn’t really focus on it at the moment, or how happy they were that they even survived the portal not taking them…Tom didn’t want to survive and from the looks of it neither did Andrew. Andrew’s glassy eyes surveyed the scene scanning for any possible way for their brother to still be alive, any clue left, any hope. Tom didn’t bother, he wasn’t in the mood and maybe never would be again. 

~

Tom didn’t remember  when the tear slipped out just by trying not to remember. 

“Hey kid” Tom turned around to the familiar voice of his mentor. He hugged Mr Stark because Tom realised with these few past months that hugs don’t happen as often as they did. “What’s wrong?”

“I just, um, I lost someone,” he said letting go. “I miss them, a lot” Tom shoved his hands in the pockets of the jumper he was given by Strange only a few hours ago, it was big on him, but that was expected from how short Tom was. 

“Look, Strange told me what happened last year, I’m sorry” Tony placed a hand on Tom's shoulder giving him a sympathetic look with a slight tilt from his head. 

“No, no, it was for the best” he insisted looking down at his shoes that were covered in dried mud dirty waiting to be washed clean of the experience and probably not worn again. 

“But, you don’t exist anymore”

“Spiderman does-”

“But not Peter Parker” Tony cut him off. Tom only nodded because he thought if he was to speak, he would vomit. The thought of his brother brought a twisted sickness in his stomach, he was already on the edge in the middle of an inner panic attack and if he had opened his mouth he would have just broken down. Without an answer from Tom, Tony sighed and was called turning around to face them. 

“Tommy” he turned around to his brother standing alone not really having anyone else to talk to, not anymore. 

“I’m going, I’m, I’m going to go home, May…I need to talk to Aunt May, and then, we, we should talk to Mj, I think” Andrew said tripping over each word while trying not to look sad or cry. He could use an Aunt May right now, and he was growing to love Andrew’s May, but he understood that he should give his brother some space no matter how much Tom wanted to be with him now. To hug him and cry, because that’s all he wanted to do at the moment, be in his brother's company…but that was too selfish of him.

Tom sniffed. “Yeah, yeah ill see…” Tom didn’t remember when he looked in that certain direction, nor did he remember the last time he ate, as hunger affected his ‘tingle’. 

Tom didn’t remember  when stumbling transitioned into running or that he had even begun to pick up his feet at the sight of disbelief. Tom didn’t remember when Andrew followed suit running just behind him at just the sight. 

Running-stumbling toward his brother that had just come out of the very same weird portal that took him in. Crashing into Tobey’s arms along with Andrew doing just the same. Tobey held onto them, tightly, and Tom didn’t care, neither did Andrew, because his embrace was home, safe.  

Mutters of ‘I’m sorry’ were spoken softly directed to both him and his brother and they only nodded understanding that they were heard. They all fell to the cold ground not feeling the impact, not caring. Tom felt a tear slip away again, but this time, they were happily brought with a smile digging his face into the crook of his brother's neck. He could tell that Andrew was doing the same, crying, because who couldn’t at this point, finding the thing that was missing for years, having it for a few months then getting it taken away from you and finally, after everything, it was perfect. 

“You good there?” Andrew asked whispering into Tobey’s shoulder. “Careful of the old man’s back” Tom stifled out a laugh followed by one from Tobey. 

“I’m fine” Tobey let go looking at the two with a once sad but happy smile. “…What happened here,” Tobey asked cautiously fiddling with Andrew’s hair trying to see the cut on his head always looking to help, always looking after his brothers even if it killed him…almost did. 

“I’m fine” he mumbled trying to move his hand. “Tom’s the one who got stabbed” Tom didn’t remember, the excitement of seeing his brother alive was a high and that’s all he wanted to feel, in fact, Tom didn’t remember getting stabbed in the first place. 

“Traitor” he whispered darting his eyes at Andrew as his brother smiled in victory. Tobey turned his head to him looking at him with that older brother look carefully examining his face. 

“Are you okay?!” he asked ruffling his hair carefully trying not to hurt Tom but it only brought a smile to his face, happiness he couldn’t match with anything else. 

“Yeah, I’m-” Tom stopped looking over Andrew next to him. “we're fine now” he corrected himself straightening up. 

“Good, okay” his eldest brother breathed out exhausted. “I’m sorry-” Tobey started but was quickly cut off. 

“You should be” Andrew stated, as Tom pushed him gently. “No I’m serious” first looking at Tom and then at Tobey “Do not do that again, it was a shit joke, get better jokes…” he continued, choking up, holding back tears just like the other two. 

“If I was to rate the experience, I would say…-10/10, would not recommend” Tom spoke shaking his head. Tsking at Tobey.

“Okay, look I am really sorry” Tobey pleaded with his brothers examining them both, searching for any other scars, trying his best to make up for the sadness he had caused them while only being half sorry at the same time. 

“We missed you” Andrew whispered furrowing his brows to form a sad look on his face, not something you would see so often on him, as he was not one for sharing his feelings of sadness. 

“I missed you too,” Tobey said pulling him into another hug. “I won’t leave you again, I love you guys, I promise.” They both leaned into the hug feeling the warmth and the safety it created, as if they had just lost their home, finding shelter out from the rain. 

They muttered back the same words hugging him. Tobey kissed the top of both of their heads, acting like the parental figure he was. It reminded him of Uncle Ben, a man who died in his arms, watching him die, just like Tobey…except, Ben didn’t come back, didn’t make an incredible entrance saying sorry for the pain he had caused Tom, instead he stayed dead, and Tom had finally come to terms with it, finally ready to let go. But he didn’t want to go through that again with Tobey, and maybe Tobeys death brought back too many memories of his Uncles death, How May comforted him even though she was grieving too, the situation now being switched with his older brother being the one trying to calm him down while also having to deal with the loss of his brother. Tom almost felt selfish, no, not almost, he did. His grief had always got in the way of things, they messed things up, He gave beck those glasses out of grief and loss of his mentor and he was turned vengeful and sour when Aunt May had died. Tom wonders how far it would have gone down that hole again, if though he had promised Tobey he wouldn’t, maybe it would be accidental, not realising that he was living in the hole than just holding on trying not to fall, how long he would feel comfortable in the hole and never be able to return. Would Andrew still talk to him? So wrapped up in his own grief, no longer having the need to talk to Tom, no longer having the love. Andrew could be like that at times, he wouldn’t be directly angry with his brothers but would be distant and not want to talk to them for weeks, maybe even months, but Tobey was there to pull him out of his self-pity, always finding a solution to everyone’s problems, or maybe just being the solution as a source of happiness, but Tobey wouldn’t be there to pick Andrew up, or Tom for that matter.

And what would Tobey think of him, if there was a heaven, if, Then would Tobey be looking down on him, would he feel bad for Tom, or just sorry, maybe even angry and disgusted, it wasn’t in Tobey's nature but Toms mind still wondered like it always did. Bad things always happened to the people he loved.

Maybe grief was a person and just loved to bully him, or maybe grief was in love with him and wanted to be near him so much that he poisoned him, unintentionally or not, maybe struck with jealousy for Tom getting what he wanted. Tom blinked away the tears that threatened to spill once again over the same situation that had already been sought out, left to be forgotten.

“I’m hungry” Andrew announced being the first to let go knocking Tom out of his self-pity inner monologue. “Can we eat” Andrew didn’t meet their looking around at the interior of the sanctum, taking in the sight of it, restored to what it looked like before the whole ordeal? 

“Way to ruin the moment” Tom joked leaning back now looking at what his brother was looking at only seconds before. “But…I am kinda hungry too” He looked at Andrew then Tobey who was now looking at him. 

“I’m actually surprised you two didn’t kill each other” Tom heard a fake gasp from his brother as if it wasn’t true, which, he had a right to think because Andrew and Tom did like to fight, bicker over the stupidest things. 

“You put no faith in us” Andrew commented now refusing to look at their eldest brother looking once again around the sanctum in all his beauty, especially at night which, come to think about it, Tom hadn’t experienced before now. The lights were more of an old yellow and reminded him of England for a reason he couldn’t quite place, not even had been there before. The walls were a woody red, which he didn’t get to see before due to it all being coved in snow.   

Tobey rolled his eyes. “Don’t you think we should look at that stab wound before going out?” changing the subject and placing it on Tom with a careful eye making sure he would hurt himself any more than he already had. 

“First off, avoiding what I said before and no, I’m fine, this stab wound ain’t nothing, compared with this hunger” he stared at Tobey hoping he could convince him of getting him off the hook knowing damn well that Tobey didn’t drop subjects like this. 

“If this hunger doesn’t get me first then I think Tom killing us for not giving him food might” Andrew pointed out getting impatience even if he had already had food today, which Tom hadn’t.

“I doubt it” Tobey retorted rolling his eyes ready for Andrew to ask why and then he would go on about how long it really takes for you to die of hunger only for Andrew to rebottle that he was different and needed food more often than others thanks to their fast metabolism which they would go on to argue about. 

Tom wasn’t interested in their fight as he had heard it before, although, before the argument could even start, he began to feel a cool liquid on his waist. He initially believed it to be sweat but he knew something was up, he placed his hand on his side seeing exactly what it was that had caught his attention. “Uh, I’m bleeding again, lmao” Tom took his hand from his side revealing red blood. 

“Is this really a ‘lmao’ moment?” Tobey asked while taking Tom's hand, placing it back and pressing it on his wound letting go, knowing that he would keep it there to stop the bleeding. 

“Yes”

“Yes”

“Um…Strange you have a medical kit?” Andrew called over in the direction of the wizard hoping that a doctor would at least have some sort of medical kit if not a good one. 

“Yea, ill go get it!” Stephan left from where he stood a few feet away from them walking into another room. Tom stumbled over to the stairs with the help of his brother. They slowly lifted him down onto the stairs where Tobey could get a better look at it. 

“Dumbass” his brother teased crossing his arms looking down at Tobey who was crouching next to him. 

“How is this my fault?!” Andrew shrugged to his brother's question before thanking Strange who handed his the putting it down next to the eldest. 

“You tell me, you’re the one who’s bleeding out” Andrew continued now crouching next to Tobey looking at the wound and then at Tobey who was going through the box. 

“Okay, but I remember in the morning I was ‘like, hey, you know what, I’m kinda hungry’ and because you ate you said there was no time, so like, I had nothing to eat today, and so like my Spidey sense wasn’t working, you tell me whose fault it is now” Tom sharply replied to his brother who looked at him with a look that did not want to give up. 

“still yours” again, he insisted. “what is this place, like a fancy wizard's place, house, I don’t know, but its fancy and you’re bleeding out onto their stairs” Andrew threw his hands up in the air motioning to the sanctum. 

“You put me here!” he pleaded, waving his hand that wasn’t coving the blood up and down towards the stairs but soon felt regret as the pain only got worse. 

“But you didn’t protest” Tom opened his mouth ready to fight back but was interrupted by the eldest with the right materials to clean the wound up. 

“Okay will you two stop, Tommy move so I can disinfect your wound” Tom moved while staring daggers at Andrew who only grinned as he wasn’t the one in pain having the higher ground. 

“I hate that name” he whispered but his brothers only rolled their eyes knowing full well he did. They liked to use it because he was the youngest, and they knew he hated it, and yet, coming from Tobey’s mouth at the moment it felt comforting that he was alive and well and not lost, taken away from Tom. 

“Are you hurt Two?” Andrew turned his attention to his eldest brother looking serious ready to help if needed. 

“No, weirdly enough, I’m not” Tobey careful tended to his youngest brother's wound. “I feel fine, I mean it did hurt when I went through and then I was stuck…and then I saw it again and I thought ‘what the hell, why not’ so I went through it again, but I had to kind of…push, and then I was here” Tobey explained giving his attention to Tom and giving glances to Andrew who was listening, attentively nodding. 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry you went”

“Don’t you dare, I swear to god Andy, if you say it should have been you, I will kill you” Tobey stopped what he was doing, arguing his case waiting for a reply, Andrew only looked down as Tobey knew fully well that it was what he was thinking. 

“I won’t then” Tobey sighed with the answer that he didn’t want to turn his head back and again, tending to Tom’s wounds lightly dabbing the disinfection to the area then going to cleaning the blood he didn’t get the first time round. 

“And don’t think it” he insisted staring at Andrew, a little hurt in his voice before continuing. “I said I would do it, I did it, it’s done now, and we don’t have to think about it anymore, I would do it again if I meant protecting the universe…if it meant protecting the two of you” His voice went quiet as he let out a subtle sigh closing his eyes for a moment not wanting the conversation to go any longer. 

Moments, minutes passed before Andrew broke the silence turning Tom. “So, you want breakfast food for dinner,” He asked looking at the wound again before grabbing a paper towel that was next to him. 

“I didn’t- ah” Tom hissed. “I didn’t say that! I’m just hungry” he asserted trying to think of anything but the pain of the past few hours, but then again, what else could he think of. 

“So, what do you want?” Andrew raised the question not meeting his eyes but cleaning the blood that was slowly dripping on the marble steps. 

“To not be in pain” he reported looking up at the ceiling as if it would help the stinging the disinfection. 

“Sorry” Tobey muttered under his voice just loud enough for Tom to hear. 

“not your fault Tobey, it’s his” Tom pointed at Andrew before Tobey took his hand and place it down while Tom continued to stare at his brother who looked offending by the accusation. 

“It is not!” he retorted back whisper-shouting hoping not to grab anyone’s attention with their argument, stopping everything he was doing to reason with his youngest brother. 

“is too!” If Tom could cross his arms, he would, but he was stuck in pain left only with his words unable to move. 

“Your body your responsibility to not get stabbed,” Andrew remarked looking away from Tom and to the ceiling above them. 

“stop wriggling, you can fight about this later” Tobey turned to Andrew “and you stop egging him on” Tobey pointed his finger at Andrew with a serious look. Andrew finally lifted his hand in the air in retreat.    

“I could go for some eggs” Andrew admitted now getting Tom thinking again about food and how he was hungry, he had just forgotten and now he was roped back into hunger which only brought added pain. 

“Of course, you could” Tobey muttered under his breath. Andrew turned his head staring at his brother looking displeased and annoyed. 

“I heard that” He stated still staring at Tobey with disbelief as if he was just betrayed, which in his eyes, he was. Tom only laughed before coughing at the pain in his chest which only made him laugh more and of course, that meant more coughing. 

“Good” Tobey grinned pulling out a need and stick. A tall figure walked up to them, unnoticeable to them deep in their conversation and now thoughts of dinner and what to have, whether it be breakfast food or anything else. If Tom was going to be honest with himself, he could probably eat anything, but deep down he just wanted something Aunt May cooked, cooked by her, not some choppy try at it, an actually homemade plate of whatever she had in mind to make, even if it was her tasteless meatloaf. 

“Hey, Peter” all three of them turned around to Tony stark with his hand in his pockets but a worried look on his face looking down at his wound. Pulling him out of his thoughts he looked up to the man. 

“Yea?” His eldest brothers responded which only received a confused look from him, unknowing, never having got the chance to talk to Andrew, and not even meeting Tobey. 

“Hey Mr Stark” He rose his voice with the other two now looking at him confused as to who the man was and how he knew him. Of course, Tom had mentioned him once or twice, but he didn’t really like to talk to him. He was actually surprised how he was even composing words to a man he knew dead for a year and a half. 

“Are you okay? You’re hurt” Tony questioned coming closer to the trio as Andrew shifted to make room for him sliding along with Tobey who began to stick him with a steady hand and needle. 

“Yeah, I’m fine, it’s actually a funny story…” he began, eyeing Andrew and grinning before being cut off with a quiet shout. 

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Huh?” Tony’s face wore a confused look, his eyes drifting between the two of them. Tom only shook his head in defiance as his brother glared at him.  

“Please, don’t ask…they’ll fight and I’m trying- hey stop it” Tobey tried to stop Tom from moving while putting his other arms between them. “I’m trying to stitch him up, not stab him” Tobey got a steady hold of the needle again before continuing at the half-open stab wound carefully watching each move he would make. 

“Aren’t you stabbing me with the needle though?” Everyone turned their attention to Tom's question. 

“Deep” Andrew nodded.

“I don’t believe we met, Tony Stark, I was dead, so that’s probably why I haven’t met you” Tony smiled a warm welcoming smiling looking down at Tobey and Andrew who was crouched down on the floor. 

“I would shake your hand but uh…” he motioned to the stitched in his hands connected to the young kid's side. “But I’m Tobey” he smiled.  

“I’m Andrew, but you can call me Andy” He got up to face Tony and shook his hand. 

“How do you know Peter?”

“He’s our brother” “he’s our cousin” Andrew and Tobey looked at each other. Tobey knew if Tom had brothers this Tony Stark would have known so he went with cousins, Andrew knew that if he had brothers, they could be from out of town, Tony Stark, from what Tom had told him might have not known about Aunt May. 

“He’s our cousin” “he’s our brother” changing each other’s answers, once again, they looked at each other. 

“Seeing as Peter doesn’t have any brothers and his aunt has no kids…” Tony drifted off waiting for the two to fill in the blanks not showing that he didn’t know anything and for the fact a lot had happened while he was…away. 

“They’re my brothers” Tom corrects looking at the two of them raising his eyebrows as they stared at him. Tobey went back to stitching; Andrew rolled his eyes but helped Tobey as well. 

“You didn’t…mention them” Tony began looking like he didn’t believe him, not that he would if he was in his position.  

“technically” Tom mumbled not really knowing where to go with it, not being sure that Tony would understand what he was about to tell him. Tom had known Tony since 2016, to be fair, he wasn’t sure Tony really liked him at first and was just using him, which, technically he was, but then Tony started talking to him and getting to know him better. So he wasn’t quite sure how Tony would take there being 3 Peter’s. 

“technically?” he questioned raising an eyebrow looking at the three of them like they were hiding some, which they were, or maybe just not telling, which isn’t exactly lying just missing part of a story. 

“Well technically, I’m Peter Parker…but…so are they” Tom tried to explain watching Tony’s face getting only more confused as he spoke each word, already he had looked confused at the word technically and now he was more confused as ever. 

“Wait, so, so, you’re all…Peter Parker?” Tony pointed out a finger moving slowly in motion to the group of 3. They all stared at him back nodding. 

“Yep,” Andrew quipped smiling at the man who he had just met. 

“that would explain the suits” he quietly muttered to himself looking down at his phone waiting for a reply to his message. 

“all done” Tobey finished the last stitch putting the bloody needle in a plastic bag and going through the kit once again. 

“How do you feel Tommy?” Andrew asked extending a hand pulling him up carefully trying to get him to his knees as his brother made sure he wouldn’t hurt him as if Tom was fine china almost ready to break. Tom stumbled onto his feet feeling the pain on his side as soon as he got up. He gave out a slight hiss as Tom started to slip back down before Andrew caught him holding him up. 

“like that name makes me want to kill you” he stared death into his brother's eyes as Andrew stared back at him waiting for one to look away until Tobey got in the way making them lose focus. “…and hungry” he added. 

Tobey pulled up Andrew’s hair where he lightly washed the small wound that he had once insisted didn’t matter. 

“Tommy?” Stark offered with a smirk trying his nickname. Tobey got out the bandage and started to wrap it around Tom's waist, unfortunately, because he was in his suit there was no way of actually wrapping it around his skin so it was just covering the part that Tobey had ripped so he could get to the wound and then Tom put the jumper over it so it wasn’t so noticeable. 

“Tom, it’s just Tom, or Thomas” he rolled his eyes once again looking at his older brother who was grinning, knowing it annoyed him. Once again, he was hesitant to admit, only to himself of course, that the name Tommy at the moment was what he needed, a comfort name if you will. 

“It suits you” Stark hummed also helping to keep him on his feet holding out his arms ready to catch him if he fell. But Tom soon found his balance even if he was still leaning a little on his brother, but Andrew didn’t mind so Tom kept it that way, standing with an arm resting on his older brother's hand that was held for it. 

“Thanks” he muttered back looking down at the floor with a plan to take a step, the pain still there but his hunger too. 

“Can you walk?” Tony asked trying to lean him in to start with at least lifting his leg encouraging him to do his best as he had always done. 

“yes…for the food yes” he nodded with the attention of walking, his mindset on food and how hungry he was. At this point, Tom was sure he was going to die of starvation if he didn’t start walking. His goal: food. His obstacle: the pain. Tom's mindset: just go. 

“That means a no” Tobey affirmed, being the responsible brother. Tom was happy to see Tobey, over the moon…but food. His stomach roared for some type of food, even if it was horrible. 

“no, no, if he says it’s a yes then it’s a yes” Andrew fought, not for Tom but for himself of course. Deep down Tom knew Andrew would have said no if he didn’t think he couldn’t go out, but he knew Tom was alright so he continued. “We need dinner” almost desperation in his voice.  

“It's true, would I ever lie?” Tom tested Tobey’s patience with the two of them seeing as that’s what they did most of the time, test his sanity more, though most of the time it was an accident and Tom felt guilty about it maybe he would have felt more guilty if Tobey didn’t love him the way he does, ready to give up anything for him and his brother, even if it was his sanity. 

“debatable” the eldest spoke with a smirk putting everything back into the medical kit and picking it up. “I'll give this back” Tobey slowly unlatched himself from Tom's side. 

“And then dinner?” Tobey stayed quiet looking between them. Tom sighed. “If I don’t get dinner I’ll die, I’m serious, I will literally drop dead, and then what, you’ll wish you gave me dinner”

“Dramatic much” Andrew lowered his head whispering to him while still looking at their older brother. 

“I gotta find some way to eat” he whispered back before Tobey cleared his throat while narrowing his eyes at the two of them. 

I'm going to go find Strange, don’t kill him” Tobey walked off with the kit in hand wandering off in a place he didn’t know. 

“Why me, why wouldn’t One kill me” Andrew muttered under his breath watching Tobey leave being left with his words and then looking at a bandaged Tom. 

“Does it look like I could kill you right now?” he catechised moving his hands motioning up and down at his body. Andrew only chuckled. 

“Who knows how much evil is contained in that small body” Tom scoffed at his brother's remarks rolling his eyes. He wasn’t that short, maybe he was a little short but that was only because his brother were taller. 

“How are you feeling Peter…Tom?” Tony voiced as they turned around facing him. His phone in hand, he was probably texting his family, Pepper, Morgan, Rhodey…Happy. Tom missed Happy more than he thought he would. 

“Hungry. And you can just call me Peter” Tom smiled a warm smile just taking in the fact that Tony was now alive again, and he remembered who he was. It felt like this heavy burden was taken off him but he reminded himself that he couldn’t get near him again because everything he touched or loved went to ruin, he was already risking it with his brothers, but they were Parkers too so they knew to be careful. “Don’t worry about Tom, it’s just to differentiate the three of us” Tony nodded. 

“And how did you get here exactly” Tony turned to his brother raising the question that Tom didn’t remember the answer to. Looking over to his brother who looked over to him. 

“A goober” he shrugged. Ah yes, the name Andrew had so graciously gifted the machine that let the three interact. Made by Dr Octavius you would think he would give the name, but no, Andrew had decided on the name and it had stuck. 

“What’s a…” Tony drifted off confused about just what it was, not that Tom would have blamed him. 

“Don’t even ask, I don’t know, we didn’t have a name” he answered honestly, not wanting to try and pull out details that weren’t there. Andrew studies the man in front of him, a man he had only just met, but his brother had told him some information, not much, but still, some. He didn’t like what he heard at first, taking a 14-year-old to fight in a war full of superheroes fighting against each other. But then, and only on rare occasions would Tom tell him little stories of what Tony Stark was like and how he really wasn’t that bad, sure he did do some bad things…but the bond they had was strong with a father-son-relationship that Andrew partly carved, thinking of Uncle Ben which only prompted the thought of…her. Andrew found himself being protective over his younger brother, making sure that this Tony Stark was a good man and good for Tom to be around, he should have been more protective over her, maybe then she would still be alive. Did every thought have to lead back to G- her? Andrew now understood that he needed to be more careful, to look out more, to dig deeper before letting anything touch his loved ones. 

Tom and Tobey weren’t even really his brothers, he would like to think so, but they weren’t, that doesn’t make it any less true that they were his brothers, his universe or not, so he was going to look out for them, make sure he could do anything in his power to protect them from the unknown and he had already failed mere hours ago so he needed to be on high alert, he shouldn’t have even let Tobey wander off even if there was no danger or that he was the oldest. Andrew didn’t like to be reminded but, Tobey did just disappear, thought to be dead and Tom had just been stabbed, both under his watch. Andrew didn’t let many people in, he hated it, he didn’t need to know about their lives and they didn’t need to know about his, it was that simple, Andrew mastered the technique of manoeuvring tricky questions changing them as quickly as he could without them noticing (minus his Aunt May and now Tobey who had known better) But then he has met the two and he has suddenly felt compiled to open up, to let them know how he felt hoping they would feel the same. 

Suddenly Andrews Spidey sense kicked in grabbing the hand that was reaching to his youngest brother's shoulder. He held a firm grip without looking up, when he did he immediately let go, Tony Stark looked at him a little shocked, not enough to make anyone else notice but Andrew saw it in his eyes, worry.  

“Sorry” he stammered stagging backwards nearing tripping on the stairs. “Just been on, uh, high alert, I’m sorry” Stark nodded and continued his conversation with Tom. Andrew felt a hand place itself on his shoulder, not a touch that would set off anything that would make him do the same as he just did. 

“You alright?” Tobey’s soft voice came from beside him snapping him out of his thoughts. “You seem…spooked” Andrew slowly turned his attention to his eldest brother who was now full facing him turned his head slightly with the look he had always given them when he wanted them to talk. 

“Don’t look at me like that” Andrew scoffed. “I’m fine” Andrew sighed looking over at the youngest of the three talking to the man they had just met, a zombie alive, back from the dead. 

“Do you trust him?” Tobey leaned in to whisper saying just what he was thinking only moments ago. No, no he didn’t trust the man…or at least more than half of him didn’t. Part of him would love to believe that he was a great guy, but the other part wants to look after Tom, making sure he wouldn’t get hurt anymore and maybe that’s why he grabbed Starks hand before it laid on Tom. 

Andrew shook his head. “No” he whispered back simply while not taking his eyes off the two in front of them. 

“Me neither” Tobey nudge him. “But I don’t want to, I want to like him…but I can’t” Tobey turned his head around to look at them and then at Andrew. It was true, he did want to trust Stark, but…something was holding him back, and it wasn’t like he had a bad feeling about him. In fact, Tobey found himself wondering just what was holding him back, what was making him feel that way. Not one inch of his body told him that he was a horrible person or that he wasn’t a good person for Tom to be talking to. Tobey just felt…protective, and not like how he was protective over the city or even his wife, but a new kind of feeling that came with a sense of familiarity, as it had always been there, since he was born, and was waiting to resurface when it came time. 

His body ached to look after his family, even if I was the last thing he would do…and it almost was, nearly killed him…and he was alright with that? It was weird to come to that conclusion but felt sensible and right now fulling understanding how far he would go. He would go further, further than death, further than life. Tobey loved his brothers, it was like he was born with these four missing pieces that he had to pick up along the way, not something he was given as soon as he was born like his parents or his uncle and Aunt, but rather to find and to hopefully hold onto: one for Mary Jane, the love of his life, his wife, a woman who would follow him into the unknown without even thinking. Harry, his childhood best friend, someone he lost, and now he was back, since the whole confusion, since Norman hadn’t died, Harry, A man who he admittedly, did fight with but loved no matter what. 

And then there were two, two missing pieces that he thought he would never be able to find. And frankly, he wasn’t looking, no they came to him, sneakily made their ways into his life and now he was stuck with him, not that he would ever want them to leave. The first was Andrew. Sure he could be a lot at times, but he was kind and loving, he was so much of what Tobey wanted to be, and hopeful was. Although that wasn’t to say Andrew was easy, no, he was probably that hardest of the two, always hiding things from them, always not wanting to show his deep feelings of sadness or loneliness. And Tobey understood why, how could he not, They had all been through a lot, and that was no exception for Andrew. Maybe if Tobey knew him sooner, if he knew him when he was going through it, he wouldn’t be the way he was. Nevertheless, Tobey loved him for all, even if Andrew took some time opening up about what was really hurting him.

Finally, last but definitely not least, there was Tom, so young and taking on the world, It was Tom that he really saw himself. Tobey would hate to admit but it was the rage that he saw as the same. Sometimes Tobey would lay in bed awake wondering just what would happen if he didn’t stop Tom from killing the Goblin, where Tom would be and how Tobey would feel. Sure Tom had some…issue but it was his kindness that really showed who he was, Tobey had never met anyone who was so enthusiastic about doing something or talking about something, but then again he had never met some who had their identity erased from the universe just to save the multiverse and the ones he loved, someone who had sacrificed everything and yet, still wore a smile, a smile that could probably kill him from cuteness if Tom did it too long. It literally warmed his heart like the sun was getting too close to him and he just stood there and took it. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“But Tom seems to like him and so we’ll respect that” Tobey finally spoke reason smiling sighing under his breath only for the two to hear. Andrew hummed in response nodding. 

“When did you guys meet?” Tony’s voice cut them out of their conversation as he spoke aloud for the three of them to hear asking each of them. 

“Last year, with the whole…thing” Andrew voiced giving out a welcomed smile taking in Tobey’s words trailing off before welcoming any unwanted feelings.

“ah, I see” The man smiled with a slight sadness in his eyes, longing to know more but left it where it was not wanted to bring up any unwanted feelings. 

“Before the spell” Tom added clearing any growing confusion. Tony nodded understanding or at least hoping to understand in the future once the situation was probably told to him. 

“You’ll look after him?” Stark asked looking up at the two with worry for Tom, which was fair, Tom didn’t really have any regard for his own safety and wellbeing only for others around him, which was dangerous. 

“eh…” Andrew muttered “Maybe” Andrew wavered his hand moving it side to side teasing his younger brother nudging him slightly earning an eye roll. 

“I don’t need looking after and don’t listen to him, he’s annoying, actually he was the one who got me-” Tom was cut off by Andrews voices speaking louder. 

“no I wasn’t” Andrew finished for his death staring him sharply tilting his head. Tom turned to face him staring him back giving out a sharp exhale in his anger toward his brother watching him carefully. 

“Yes, yes you were”

“not my fault, when we were swinging you could have gotten something, just picked something up” Andrew shrugged but carefully kept a hold of his younger brother.

“that is called stealing” Tobey rolled his eyes pushing him joking. “did May teach you nothing?”

“Whatever, chop it down to being poor”

“Still not a great role model, plus this is not your world” Tobey turned to the older man “I'll make sure he’s looked after, but if I leave him in the same room as this one, I can’t make any promises” Tobey joked, even if he knew that Andrew would do anything to protect his younger brother. 

“I’m hungry, if we don’t eat, I will murder him” Andrew complained huffing.

“This is what I mean” Tobey tsked watching both his brothers carefully, waiting to see just what would happen next.

“Me?” The youngest one asked, putting on his o-so-innocent voice.

“Yes, you” Andrew stated back standing his ground, making Tobey wonder if he was truly serious, although Andrew did have a knack for acting, just not usually for the right times, such as lying about his feelings.

“But I’m small and skinny, you don’t want me” Tom's eyes grew wide, almost like a puppy dog begging for food, which he was only moments before, but now, putting on the performance of a lifetime, not to be eaten.

“The weak ones are always the easiest to catch” Andrew narrowed his eyes speaking down at poor Tom. His voice lowing, a grin growing on his face. Tony was almost half-expecting an evil laugh.

“I don’t feel safe” Tom turned back to Tony knowing that the other two wouldn’t help him, holding onto his last hope, staring at Tony, waiting for a reply.

“he wouldn’t…I swear he’s not a psychopath” Tobey let off an uneasy laugh trying to show that this is just how the two were around each other moving to blind their paths from one another.

“he is” Tom stared at Andrew. “I don’t hear denial; you deny many things but not this?” He questioned, ready to argue.

“Let me guess, this morning” Tobey sighed under his breath pinching the bridge of his nose.

“This morning!”

“I think we should leave” Tobey helped Tom up onto his feet again. “it was nice meeting you Stark” Tobey shook the man's hand smiling at him as the man smiled back.

“Yeah, nice meeting you two, Peter, you stay out of trouble” Tony pointed at the young boy earning a smirk.

“I’ll try my best”

Tom didn’t remember  when it hurt, Tom didn’t need to remember anymore, a forgotten memory to make room for the better ones. 

~

Tony found his way back to Strange as the man who shared the same facial pattern stood alone with a mug of something in his hand, Tony would guess it would be tea, but there would have to have been something else in it, something…stronger, not that Tony blamed him, not after today.

“I’m guessing you just met the other two?” Strange asked sipping whatever was in the mug.

“Indeed I did” Tony hummed looking out the window into the street, it wasn’t loud at the moment, small groups held small chats, quiet touches of laughter and hums was almost music to his ears…ever since the snap everything was so quiet, I guess that’s what happens when half of the population disappears. 

“They care for him, a lot,” Strange said, still not meeting his eyes as if he was mesmerised by the quiet and careful outside.

“I could see that from the eldest” Tony nodded in acknowledgement.

“the others just the same” Strange hummed “although he and Peter…the Peter we know, easier to just call him Tom, he and Tom fight, it's more banter about stupid things, but if you saw it, you would have been so proud. They would all sacrifice themselves for each other, that’s what the eldest did, went through the portal so it would close not knowing what would happen to him…and Peter…he was so upset, with everything that had happened over the few months and the other just comforted him. You know, I’m actually pretty sure the three of them have been meeting up without me knowing…somehow made a way for them to get from their universe to ours.” Strange’s brows furrowed at the thought, angering him slightly but he let it past from all that had happened.

“right…so they really are like brothers” Stephan hummed in response. Tony tried not to reveal just how the two got here knowing it would only make him angry, and Tony didn’t like Strange angry.

“I mean, they all have different personalities, but share common traits and name, but yes, definitely act like brothers, and a team…dare I say maybe even better than The Avengers.” Strange continued. “They understand each other, each other’s moves and how each other are feeling, it’s almost a sigh to see”

“I heard one mention May, I guess that means they all lived with May?” Tony muttered still grappling with the fact that he had just seen three Peter Parkers, all in the same room.

“I think…only one of them has a May left, but yes” Strange’s voices changed, Tony understood what it meant but he hoped it wasn’t true.

“Peter…Peter still has May” Tony wanted confirmation for something he wasn’t going to get.

“No, she died” why hadn’t it hit him earlier, when the other said May he just assumed that it was Peter's aunt, it was, but not the Peter’s he knew.

“How?” Tony couldn’t, wouldn’t imagine how she died, he’d like to believe it wasn’t painful, that maybe she died in her sleep, but Tony also wasn’t stupid, he knew it would have been painful, and that it would have been to protect Peter. Peter had once told Tony that ‘everything I touch turns to ruin’ Tony thought the statement was stupid and thought nothing more of it…but now, the pain Tony had caused him, he knew his Uncle was shot and Tony died, May now died, and in recent events, no one on earth remembers him. Maybe Peter was right.

“From what I can remember, which isn’t much, this guy, who was brought into this world from another went crazy and May tried to help Peter, but Peter was already beaten badly, and he threw this bomb at her…and she died” So Tony was right, when wasn’t he. May died protecting the kid, and in doing so he still continued to suffer. “But I wasn’t there, little shit webbed me up in the Grand Canyon” 

“shit”

“yeah, look Stark, if I’m going, to be honest…the kid was, is struggling, no one remembers who he is, those two are the only ones he has left, and they’re good for him, no parent figure, no friends, but he has his brothers, and if I’m going to be completely honest, he’s so much happier now they’re in his life. As soon as you died, he was this…target”

“What do you mean…target?” Tony leaned in closer, his heart racing from just one word.

“Quentin Beck went straight after him, the kid was given your glasses, which was reckless on your part by the way, and Beck manipulated him into giving them away, that how this all started, Beck told everyone Peter killed him and then revealed his identity” Tony stood back taking in the extra information. Quentin Beck, a man who he had trusted and screwed over, not as much as Beck played out, because Tony did help a lot, but he still didn’t have the right to do what he did, as usual, his ego was his downfall. And in doing so, it hurt Peter, if he knew…if he could go back. Tony’s sacrifice wasn’t meant for evil, he thought he was doing the right thing, He snapped his fingers so that the world would be a better place, he never even thought of how it would have affected Peter, even though he made time travel for him. He had thought of Pepper and Morgan, of Rhodey and Happy, but not Peter, well at least not partly Peter. Tony forced himself to believe that Peter would be happier without him.

“They were supposed to be given to him at 21, that’s what I wrote” Tony spoke angrily not at Strange but who he knew who did this, Fury, always willing to make a child assassin. 

“Well, there was definitely some miss communication there” Stephan drifted off taking another sip of his drink, still not looking at him, Tony was starting to believe he was only doing it for dramatic effect…or just to really piss him off.

“Do you know where he lives?” Strange shrugged sighing. He was obviously tired but held the conversation for as long as he did for the sake of Peter. It became quickly obvious that he had been drawn to Peter's happiness and kindness as Peter did have that effect on many people. 

“hardly remembered he existed until this month” Of course, he had forgotten himself as it was something that was hard to believe, even in theory, and it made Tony almost sick that Peter volunteered to do it.

“Fri?” Tony voiced alerting his A.I.

“yes, sir” F.R.I.D.A.Y spoke back. Friday was a great A.I, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t miss Jarvis any less, he remembered finally making Jarvis, he didn’t know what to call him…but then he remembered him, his butler, his friend, a man who was more of a father than Howard would have ever been. Jarvis, a man who was there for him through thick and thin, he was sad to watch him go to vision, though he heard him all the time when Vision spoke, that didn’t mean it hurt any less, especially since by the time he created Jarvis, the real Jarvis had died. There was also of course E.D.I.T.H and Karen, not naming Karen but Peter naming her, but Karen had seemed to like it so he allowed it, even if it was a plain name. Karen was programmed to look after Peter, to keep him out of trouble and yet it seemed she liked to get him into it, with caution, of course, he would have deactivated her if it were any different. Tony saw the bond he had with Jarvis in the bond Peter had with Karen. Sometimes Tony would overhear Peter just having a simple conversation with her and she would answer politely, Peter himself being polite back. 

“find anything you can on Peter Parker”

“got it sir” the A. I affirmed before going to find whatever she could.

~

Tony knew this area, he knew it was a bad area, it was sketchy, noisy, and overall just really bad. But with Peter's money troubles he can see why he lived there, the place was tough and wasn’t safe for anyone let alone a kid, how Peter even found the place was a wonder and horror. Tony wanted nothing more than to invite Peter to live with him, but there were a few complications that came with that, such as his family not remembering Peter, and for another annoying reason, Peter would turn it down immediately. Peter had always seen himself as a burden, but he was everything but to Tony. It had been a few weeks since he had seen Peter since Tony wanted to give him space and he wanted to see his family again, which he did, but he also realised that Peter was his family too.

“Hello sir” Tony walked up to the front desk to a man looking down at a magazine, something stupid he assumed, but the man was fully involved with what was obviously so interesting to ignore Tony. Tony was what he like to call ‘undercover’ when really he just wore sunglasses and a hoodie hiding his face. Tony, finally having enough of waiting to get a response.

“How can I help you?” the man asked not looking away from his magazine, his tone, annoyed. 

“What number is Peter Parker in?” Tony waited patiently, or at least he tried to wait patiently. If only F.R.I.D.A.Y could find which apartment Peter was in, but a lass, F.R.I.D.A.Y could only do so much with such little information given.

“Mr Parker said that there wouldn’t be any troubles with any visitors” The man stared at him looking at his sunglasses, he looked almost disgusted. What a foul human being, Tony moving Peter was a the top of his list.

“Well, I’m…his boss” Tony cleared.

The man scoffed before extending his arm, giving him a slip of paper he wrote on with the number to Tom’s apartment. Tony made his way up the long stairs as the elevator was ‘broken’

~ 

Toms stab wound had healed increasingly fast that he hardly remembered it was there. He was lying on his bed looking straight up at the roof that his brother had stuck himself to, a burrito in hand seamless perfectly, not spilling anything…Tom may have been called it an art form. His eldest brother sat at his desk looking down at his laptop, he wasn’t as sure as to what he was doing, but it didn’t seem too interesting, Tobey looked too bored for it to be interesting. Tom looked up at the burrito in his brother's hand, one he had asked him to buy but only came back with one. Jealousy. 

“I work for him, so I don’t know” his other brother had mumbled from his desk fumbling with the keys on his laptop. There wasn’t much to the conversations, just some small talk, or at least that was what it began as, it had turned into a hate-fest against J.J Jamerson. 

“may I remind you that, that man ruined my life” Tom scoffed annoyed to even think of him. He had exposed him and made him believe that he was the worst human on the earth. Tom felt he was partly right, but that didn’t stop him from hating the man.

“he’s obsessed with me, always wanted to know where I was going” Tobey spoke still not taking his eyes off of the laptop, looking tired and in a need of a rest, or perhaps a burrito. Tom could go for a burrito…if only.

“Lucky I don’t have to worry about Jamerson so much” Andrew voiced from above him, burrito in hand shrugging while using chalk to draw on his wall. An algorithm of sorts, it looked like a DNA structure with a mutation.

“Is he not a reporter in your universe?” Tobey questioned, seeing as Jamerson was a constant in both Tobey’s and Tom's world, a constant pain in their asses. 

“Eh, kinda” Andrew waved his hand in the air. “he’s on social media, but he doesn’t really bother me, I mean, sure he talks shit about me-”

“Language”

“He talks bad about me, is that better for you, Tom is like 17, 18, I don’t know, either way, he's not a baby, sure he acts like one-” Tobey had always been cautious to use language around Tom even though he had just turned 18 and was now a legal adult.

“HEY!” Tom retorted back to the insult.

“Baby’s drink apple juice, that’s a fact” So what if he liked Apple Juice, it was good, and it tasted really nice, Andrew was the one missing out anyways.

“yeah well, it tastes good” Tom huffed in annoyance crossing his arms. He looked back up at his brother, at his work, and then again at him…his burrito. “How can you eat upside down?”

“practice young one, practice” Andrew hummed, the smile on his face verbal without even looking.

“You’re going to get indigestion” Tobey spoke reason, Andrew let out a sigh as he found his eldest brother no fun and boring. He got up to look at his work being careful not to leave any footprints on the roof.

“a self-sacrifice” he muttered taking a bite of his burrito chewing it. The burrito looked so good and Tom was so hungry, and Andrew couldn’t eat that whole burrito by himself now could he.

“Now I’m hungry” Tom huffed hoping he would be able to convince his brother to let him have a bit, he knew he would need to do more than just say it, no, Tom was prepared for war.

“can’t tell if you’re asking for a piece of my burrito”

“I am” Tom smiled brightly looking up at his brother as he looked down at him. 

Andrew looked straight down into his youngest brother's eyes, oh his eyes, Tom knew how to play with people's heartstrings and his youth was the key, many painted him still as a kid and as much as it did annoy him, it did have its advantages.

“Don’t look at me like that…” Andrew hesitated to look at his youngest brother, he what was going to happen, it had happened too many times. Andrew held a high score of lasting the longest, he was pretty sure Aunt May came last with Tobey just behind.

“Please” Tom pouted, not too much to make it look forced, Tom's eyes grew as he looked like he would cry if he didn’t get what we wanted. “Andy…”

“Stop it” his brother insisted, but he continued.

“I’m just looking at you…and that burrito” Tom played dumb, not that it was ever going to fool anyone.

“No, you know what you’re doing” he did, of course, he did.

“I really don’t, maybe it’s just my hungry face, can you see the hunger on my face, I’m starving, I would even go as far to say…dying” once again he flashed a sad look hoping it would get him a piece of the burrito his brother held. 

“it's like I can see everyone’s hunger ever combined on your face” Andrew scrunched up his face in disgust at how easily he could give in.

“then you’ll know just how hungry I am” Tom whined looking sad and helpless, he could almost see the resentment of his own actions in his brother's eyes, which meant he had given in.

His brother sighed before taking a piece of his burrito and giving it to his younger brother. Tom's smile grew as he chewed on the small portion that was given to him, not as big as he would have liked but still generous. 

“Thank you” he beamed happily taking it once again, another victory, his tactic, unbeatable. 

“mhm,” The defeat came out of his voice. Andrew didn’t like losing especially to his youngest brother, Tom always won at everything. Tobey says he doesn’t know what he’s talking about but he knows he does, he just likes to believe he’s blind to it, which helps him sleep at night.

Their spider senses went off all looking at the door before a knock hit the door, they all looked at each other. Tobey got up as Andrew backed away in the corner on the roof. “ill grab it” Tobey moved towards the door smiling at his two brothers while passing. Tobey turned the near broken doorknob and peaked the door open slightly with all the locks attached to it.

“ah, is Peter here, I mean…well you know what I mean” Tony stood Infront of him, or at least he was pretty sure, if he was trying to hide his identity, he was doing a shit job.

“Yeah, I’m here,” Andrew said crawling around the roof letting his feet dangling holding on with his hand sticking, a smile painted on his face. 

“you know he was talking about me, you look like a maniac” Tom yanked him down as Andrew landed on his feet as Tom walked over to the man. 

“you look like a spider” the eldest interjected stepping to stop any possible fight nudging his brother before packing up the stuff he had scatted along the desk. 

“You know that’s funny because that was what I was going for” Andrew smirked watching his brother packing up, not understanding why, but helping.

“We were going home anyways” Tobey spoke up taking the things his brother was passing him. Andrew shot up to his statement looking at him confused.

“We are?” he asked. 

“Yes,” Tobey stated. 

The middle brother grumbled sighing. He jumped up on the roof to take a photo of his work before wiping it out completely making sure not to leave any stains. Andrew jumped down taking out his piece of technology, the gobber in his hand, pressing the button opening a ripped hole through the fabric of the universe. There was his kitchen, somehow it was always his kitchen, whether it was him travelling or his brothers, it would always be his kitchen, just like how Tobey’s was in his living room or Toms was…well Tom did live in a one-room apartment, there wasn’t really much room for it to be anywhere, but still, it usually sat on the far left corner of his small apartment. He scanned the area before meeting his Aunts eyes, she wore a happy smile at the sight of her nephew. Andrew stepped into the portal, always cautious of what it were to do if it closed while he was mid-way of walking through it.

Tom was the first one to greet her, he was both a suck-up, as well as just happy to see her seeing as he did really love May “Hi Aunt May!” he gleamed, his smile showed just how happy he was to see her.

“Hey, May” Tobey was close to following offering a warm smile.

“Hello boys” she waved back before Andrew rolled his eyes (mostly at his youngest brother) and then waved, closing the circled rip behind him. 

Tobey was the next to go, opening his space showing off his living room, it looked early in the morning, seeing as the times were slightly different across the multiverse. “Bye Tom” he hummed waving at his brother and the man behind him.

“bye Two” he replied with a smile. And with that, his second brother was gone leaving one Peter and his mentor in such a small apartment. It wasn’t clean but it wasn’t particularly dirty either. Tom turned around to the tall man who had waited patiently at the door to finish his goodbyes to his brothers. 

“How can I help you, Mr Stark?” He simply asked. Tom had made a decision…the same decision he had made for his friends. He was going to distance himself from Tony, even if it was going to be hard. He ruined people's lives and that was just a fact on its own. Tom was over the moon that people from his world recognised him, but that also came with dangers, something he no longer wanted to include Tony in, even if he could fight for himself.

“Just checking up on you” Tony answered, He leaned on Tom’s door frame talking in the shit apartment he lived in. It was small…so small. It had a tacky kitchen and a really small bed, the door frame was shit too. As much as Tony would like to believe it looked sad, it didn’t. No matter how off coloured the walls were, or how small the bed was or how dim the light was, Tom’s smile and presence brought life to it, as every room looked when he was in it. 

“Well, I’m good” He started playing with his thumbs rubbing them anxiously as he always did when he was in situations he didn’t find himself comfortable in. That wasn’t to say he was uncomfortable as much he was when he did what he was doing now, but seeing a man you watched die Infront of your eyes now lean on your doorframe and talk and make conversation with you as nothing happened. It hurt.

“That’s good, would you like to come over for dinner…maybe talk” Tony hesitated but continued. “I missed you and I have so much to tell you and id hope…you’d talk to me?” Tony tried to maintain his eyes on Tom, not that he was looking at him.

“Uh, sure” The kid smiled at the ground grabbing his coat.