NOWHERE LEFT • Peter Parker

seven •

"You need to tell her the truth."

March 2025

"What do you mean you've met us before?" Matt questioned as Peter leaned back against the chair he was sitting in, his head thrown back and his Spider-Man mask in his hands. He hadn't intended to show up at Matt's apartment, but the list was weighing heavy on his head and he didn't need this secret to get in the way of figuring it out.

"Well, my identity got exposed, and they framed me for a murder...you and Cecilia actually helped me during my case," Peter began. He tried to ignore the look of confusion that crossed Matthew's face as the lawyer clearly didn't remember it. "But uh--well a lot of stuff happened but what you need to know is that Dr. Strange erased me from everyone's memories."

Matt's mouth opened as he was about to deny the boy's statement but in all honesty, why would he? It was clear Peter was telling the truth from his heartbeat, and stranger things have happened.

"So you're telling me...that Dr. Strange did a spell to remove you from everyone's memory?" Matt questioned slowly as if trying to make sure he had heard him correctly. Peter nodded before he realized that Matt was blind and told the man what he had done.

"Okay...I'm going to need more information than that."

Peter sighed, but complied anyways. He started from the beginning, like the very beginning when he got bit by the spider and gained his powers. He then proceeded to list the full extent of his powers to the lawyer, who listened intently even though he wasn't sure it was all pertinent. Peter then went on the regale in stories of his time with the Avengers and Tony Stark, he spoke about those times with a reminiscent tone, one that Matt used when talking about school.

He could tell that Peter enjoyed the life he used to have, but that life was over. And as he explained further Matthew understood that Peter had to make that choice. Between helping those that he loved by doing the right thing, or being selfish simply to keep them in his life.

Their suspicions about Peter's family had been pretty spot on, he had lost both of his parents when he was young, and then lost his Uncle Ben when he first started out, and most recently, well he had lost his Aunt May too. Peter was alone, and now that it was confirmed, Matt only wanted to be there for him even more.

When Peter started explaining the Multiverse and the fact he had met two other versions of himself Matt's eyes went wide. Sure, all of it was rather far fetched, but the world they lived in seemed to get progressively more confusing. Yet the idea of three copies of the same person was slightly bewildering, but Matt knew that he wasn't lying. Peter was telling him the complete and utter truth.

Matthew had to rub at his temples in an attempt to ease the information overload as Peter simply watched him and waited for a reaction. The lawyer had zero ideas about how to respond.

"I'm sorry Peter," Matt finally replied, his voice low and empathetic as he listened to the boy's erratic heartbeat. "Nobody should have to experience that, especially so young."

Peter sighed and gave a solemn nod as he ran a hand down his face and started bouncing his knee. It was clear the guilt that he carried, and Matt who was full of guilt himself completely understood.

"It's--It's okay, I made the decision and I have to stick with it," The boy answered as if he had rehearsed those lines a hundred times over in his head. And he had, but that didn't change the fact that it hurt him to his core and changed his life forever.