a spider in the wrong universe

saying goodbye

peter's p.o.v.:
i woke up in a warm, comfortable bed. i don't remember falling asleep here, someone must have carried me here after the battle.

i sit up and am immediately met with sore muscles. i slowly recall all the events from yesterday, including my dream from the night before.

i get out of bed and begin to get ready. i look in the mirror and see bruises racked across my body from the previous fights. i see i have formed a small scar on my stomach where shigaraki shot me with the quirk erasing bullet.

at least i'll lifelong memory of my experiences here.

i'm the mirror i also catch strange marks spreads from my hand up to my chest. light, multicolored scarring trails from my the hand i snapped with to the center of my chest. my arm is unharmed, colorfully scarred from the stones.

i continue getting ready and begin to work out goodbyes in my head. how do i even begin to explain my multiverses problem?

i leave my dorm room and head to the kitchen, hoping to get some food in me before my heartfelt goodbye.

i prepare myself a bowl of cereal when i hear, "peter?"

i turn around and see midoryia standing in the kitchen entryway.

"good morning midoryia!"

he looks at me cautiously. "should you be up right now? you were pretty banged up after the fight last night."

i wave my hand, "no no i'm alright. i have enhanced healing and all. once i get some food in me i'll be good as new!"

midoryia's eyes scan over me for any sign of an injury. "if you say so..."

midoryia starts making himself breakfast as i eat my cereal. throughout breakfast, more and more of my classmates sprinkle into the kitchen. no one brings up last night's battle.

once all my classmates are in the dining room, including aizawa who was checking up on us, i decide to break the silence on the night before.

all my classmates knew something was off this entire time. they had all seen what peter could do, what he had been through. but they didn't know the whole story, not yet.

i scratch the back of my head nervously, trying to find the right words.

"hey guys, i guess i owe you all an explanation."

everybody's eyes are immediately on me.

"look, i know i've said a lot of weird things, and i've done some stuff that probably doesn't make a lot of sense to you guys, but i've gotta be honest with you."

sero steps forward, "what do you mean, peter?"

my eyes shifted to the ground, away from theirs. "i'm not from this world." my gaze flickers between the familiar faces. my friends, my newfound family. i swallow. "at least, not originally. i'm from a different universe. one where...well things went a little differently."

there was a heavy silence after that. my classmates were processing the information.

until midoryia speaks up, "how...how is that possible?"

"my universe is completely different than this one. on my earth, almost nobody has quirks. it is extremely rare to have any kind of special powers. i wasn't even born with my powers, i was bit by a radioactive spider when i was 14. in my world, there is a small team of heroes callled the avengers. we are the small few who have powers, we're earths only heroes." i look around the room, taking in my classmates shocked expressions. "one day a big threat came to earth: thanos. he was in search of the infinity stones which are powerful cosmic forces which he wanted to use to wipe out half the universe. the avengers- we tried to stop him. i- i promise i tried. but, we lost. he got the stones a killed half the universe as part of his plan to bring balance to the universe. everyone else who died got sent someplace else, while i got sent here along with two of the infinity stones. i was meant to train and learn the power of the stones to get strong enough to beat thanos."

the room fell silent as the truth settled in their minds.

"all for one somehow contacted thanos and they planned to get the stones to attack this universe and so many others. but with the stones and your guys' help, i stopped them. i love you guys but, i don't exactly...belong here."

the others were quiet, each processing my words. finally, midoryia breaks the silence

"you're leaving, aren't you? you stopped thanos, so now you're heading home?"

we lock eyes for a moment

"yes...my world needs me and so do my friends and family. i want to stay. believe me, i do. i've never met anyone like you guys. you've all taught me so much about what it means to be a hero. but my uncle ben taught me that sometimes the right thing to do isn't always the easiest." my eyes flicker through all of them "you guys are heroes. all of you. you don't need me to stick around to know that."

bakugou looks away, rubbing the back of his neck, "yeah whatever. you better be able to come back and kick my ass one day, spidey."

i laugh, "don't worry i'm sure i'll find a way. i'm a genius, remember?"

midoryia steps up, "you've made us all proud, peter. you've shown us what it means to be brave, even when the odds are stacked against you. thank you."

aizawa, who had been standing silently in the background, finally spoke. "you've done something most heroes never have the chance to do. you made the right choice, even when it hurt. that takes courage. go. but know that you're always welcome at UA, peter."

i grin at my classmates and give all my friends hugs. we spend the rest of the morning hanging out, savoring our last moments together.

in the afternoon i leave the dorms, i have one more goodbye to say.