Begin Again - A Post No Way Home Story

Lost Stars

Dust specks of snow had fallen over the city, covering New York City in a blanket of white as the fairy lights reflected off the ground. It had grown cold suddenly, and they had suspected that a winter storm would be coming in in a few days.

At least, that's what Peter could understand from the barely-there sound that came from the television he had just passed. In truth, he was more focused on the monologue he had prepared, knowing how bizarre it was going to sound.

The past few weeks had been rough. It was the understatement of the century, but it was.

Peter hadn't known how far the consequences of his action would go, and he certainly hadn't seen the wizard in the past few days for him to even try and ask. Stephan wouldn't even recognize him if he tried, Peter remembered with a twinge to his heart. To his surprise, Peter Parker as a person still existed. It was just like people forgot he was there–the people who lived at their old apartment complex, those who had known Aunt May, knew she had a nephew but they didn't remember said nephew. The people who went to school with him saw that Peter Parker existed, they just didn't know who he was. To them, he was a face in the yearbook they had never met. He was simply there.

And for Spider-Man? Everything he did as Spider-Man was the same. They knew he is...had been an Avenger. The entire debacle in London was still a debate. There were interviews with the still existing Avengers, asking about the identity of Spider-Man.

"The only people who knew who Spider-Man was," Bruce Banner had told everyone. "are dead, unreachable, or off-world."

A part of him was relieved that he could start over. That he could be a normal kid again. He could focus on being a university student, surviving his first semester, and just being the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Another part of him knew that that choice came with the consequence that he lost everything, and the two people he still had

didn't even know him.

The diner MJ worked at was on the way to the homeless shelter, which meant he had every excuse to walk past the place, to get a glimpse and see that she was okay. Sometimes, Ned would be there and it felt like he was getting punched all over again. Captain America's shield could have hurt less than the sight of his best friends hanging out together without him. He wondered how Ned and MJ thought they were friends. Was it because of the decathlon team? Had they perhaps become better friends while they were on the euro trip. Perhaps they had bonded over their lost five years - Peter had so many questions, but not enough time. In fact, he had 3o seconds of her time each time he passed.

Peter wondered if she knew who had given her the black dahlia.

He walked into the diner, and there was she.

MJ was frantically looking at the time as she made the cup of coffee for a customer. It was five minutes to twelve, the end of her shift.

Okay, Peter, you've got this. You can slowly start telling her the truth.

He took a deep breath.

But... isn't that weird? She's not going to magically remember him even if he tried. Even if he asked Dr. Strange to change it again.

Not that he'd remember.

"Can I help you?" MJ asked. "Peter Parker."

His heart raced and his mouth dropped. "You know my name?"

"You mentioned it the first time we met," she said as a matter of fact. "Would you like a coffee again?"

"Uhm, I would like a donut too," he could feel the blood rushing in his ears. "Change it up a little, you know."

His voice had moved up octaves towards the end, and he felt like smacking himself in the face. Gosh, why was he like this? It was just coffee and a donut.

Coffee and a donut made by his friend...who was also his girlfriend, but also not because they technically never broke up but their relationship didn't exist anymore.

He was awoken out of his reverie when MJ came back with his order, and he quickly handed her the note. A part of him wished he would linger longer, but he had to be tactful.

MJ looked at him weirdly and he realized he had yet to get the change from her hand. Instead, his hand lingered over her touch and he knew how much she hated strangers being touchy.

"Uhm, sorry," he muttered. "It's been a rough time."

"Well, I'd ask about it like a bartender but truly? I'm off the clock right now."

"Right, sorry to bother," he needed to leave. Perhaps bury himself in the snow where he could cool his face from the embarrassment. "Uh, have a great day?"

"You too, Peter Parker. You too."

When he left the diner, he remembered the first few times he had talked to MJ, and couldn't help but smile. She won't remember, he knew that much. But if there was any chance that she could fall in love with him again, the simple fact that she could remember the first time they met after Dr. Strange had cast that darned spell, was just the little spark of hope he needed to get through the night.