(In which Peter finds who he is looking for, and Tony has to hold him back.)

(Warnings: death, time travel, and angst. Have fun with this one...)

Peter's POV

"So, wait, all you have to do is a spell?" I inquired.

"Yes," Dr. Strange affirmed. "But remember, if you ever need to escape, speak the code words, and you will be taken back to the present."

"Yeah." I bit my cheek, deep in thought for a moment.

I was informed of my Aunt's murder by a caring Mr. Stark about three or four days ago. Needless to say, I felt pretty crappy about the last living relative I swore to protect being gone. But I couldn't focus on that just yet.

I had to get revenge first.

When Ben died, the first thing I thought to do was pursue his killer. I never found him, and instead saved a random man from being mugged in an alley. Thus, Spider-man was born.

I'm not letting them get away this time. I don't care how long it takes. Plus, there's a trick up my sleeve.

Time travel.

"Under no circumstances," Dr. Strange said, pulling me out of my thoughts, "Should you consider saving your Aunt."

His words hit me like a sack of bricks. "Wh..what?"

The doctor sighed. "I realize it's hard, losing people. But any disruption to the past could cause serious consequences." His eyes saw through mine, and he spoke both softly and firmly at once. "The purpose of my help is to allow you to find out who the killer is, nothing else. Understand?"

I took a shaky breath, but I knew he was right. Geez, this was gonna be hard... however, I still gave a hesitant nod and he waved his hands in a circular motion, causing the stone in his necklace to glow.

Here we go.

***

I slammed my shrieking alarm, groaning. Where am I?

I checked my phone. Only a few days from the present.

"Peter! I'm going to work! Don't be late!" I heard my late Aunt yell. My heart lunged painfully. I missed her so much already, and she's right there! In the kitchen!

I scrambled out of bed, wanting to see her again. I blinked. Wait... I can't change the past. So what did I do this morning?

I racked my brain. I had an English exam today, and I was late to school because... I went back to sleep. I didn't talk to May until I came home.

Then she went to the grocery store, and I never saw her again.

What I wouldn't do to take it back...

I shook myself out of a trance. Gotta go back to sleep, I thought, and go through one school day. Then I can find whoever did this, and give them what they deserve.

***

At school, I was restless. I tried to act the same as I did that day, remembering responses to jokes and such. It was hard, and MJ gave me a few weird looks. But other than that, no one was suspicious at all.

I got home from school, and... there she was. Sitting, watching TV.

She looked at me and smiled. "Hey, kiddo. I was just wrapping up. Gonna go grocery shopping, drop it off here, and get back to my shift. You wanna come along?"

I wanted to speak, but I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Her brows furrowed in concern. "Uhh, Earth to Peter?" She stood and waved a hand in front of my face.

I have to go with her. I can't let her die.

Any disruption to the past could cause serious consequences, I heard Dr. Strange's words echo in my head.

I sighed and plastered on a pained smile. "No, May, I have homework. Maybe next time." There won't be a next time, idiot! my head screamed at me.

She still had a slightly puzzled expression. "There's pizza for you in the fridge. Remember, no less than two slices, no more than three hours on patrol, and no less than six hours of sleep. I larb you." She pinched my cheeks teasingly and kissed my forehead.

I had to restrain myself from screaming.

"Love you too, May." My voice cracked painfully.

"Whoa, is that a voice crack or what?" She laughed and ruffled my hair. "Growin' into a little man. See you in the morning." She picked up her small purse and left.

I memorized every moment of that conversation, and it would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Luckily, past Peter didn't go on patrol that night since he fell asleep on his textbook. No other lives would be lost due to time travel, so it was a perfect chance to follow May and stop -- I mean, find the killer. Only to identify him and send him to jail. Then I would speak the code words and Strange would pull his magic shit and get me out of here.

I shook myself out of my thoughts again. It was starting to become concerning how often I did that today.

I grounded myself by hurrying to my suit, struggling into my bright red and blue spandex, slipping on my mask.

Peter Parker may be fragile, but Spiderman can't be broken.

***

May was strolling to the store, oblivious to her nephew/vigilante leaping across rooftops of buildings beside her with ease. I made sure to match my thwip's with her footsteps so she didn't notice me.

She glanced around, seemingly off-put from something - or someone - making a noise. She clutched her purse a bit tighter, stopping in her tracks, which caused me to land on a roof with a perfect view.

A man emerged from the darkness of the alley, a crazed look in his bloodshot eyes. A druggie, I realized. Then I saw the gun in his shaking hands.

"Gimme your purse!" He shouted, pointing it at the closest thing I had to a mother.

May stiffened. She slowly took off her purse. "Take it. Don't shoot," she said, her voice steady and soothing.

She set it on the ground in front of her, slowly backing up once she did. Run, I wanted to holler, GET OUT OF HERE!

But she kept her slow pace, not wanting to provoke the impoverished man further as he fumbled toward the purse. He lifted it and started tossing items, her phone, lip gloss, a pen, and stopped on her wallet. He pulled it out and yanked it open.

Let her go. She gave you what you wanted. Let her leave. She has a family!

"No credit card. Just cash." The man uttered, eyes widening. "Not enough." He pointed the gun at her once again, finger painfully close to the trigger.

May gasped. "I-I don't have it on me. It's okay, I have fifty dollars in there, that should be more than enough--"

BANG.

Her body hit the filthy pavement with a sickening thump, blood pooling around her.

I was frozen, and the only thing I felt was nothing.

Diverting my gaze from my guardian's corpse, I memorized every detail of the disgusting stoner.

"Karen, scan his face." I heard brokenness in my voice.

"Yes, sir. Face logged into my database. I have matched him with a Gary Pippin. Would you like me to tell you more?"

"Not yet." I heard helplessness in my voice.

"Sure, Peter. You seem to be in distress. Should I contact Mr. Stark?"

"Not necessary. I'll see him soon anyway." I heard loneliness in my voice.

What were the code words? Oh, right.

"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist."

***

My eyes creaked open, and I was reminded once again of the grim present.

"You found him?" I heard Dr. Strange ask me.

"Karen found him in her database, so we can ask FRIDAY." I murmured.

"Are you alright?" Sympathy was emanating from the doctor, and it didn't come by often.

I nodded, still not meeting his eyes. "Let's just find this guy already."

When we asked FRIDAY in the Tower, she gave an address. It was a run-down apartment building near mine. I was about to set off alone, when I was stopped by Mr. Stark.

"There's no way I'm letting you go there by yourself, kid." He argued firmly. No matter how much I begged, he wouldn't budge. Reluctantly, I gestured for him to follow me, and we set out, leaving Dr. Strange to his own devices.

We arrived in the dank, cluttered room. With my enhanced senses, I could see just fine, but Mr. Stark needed lights.

When the small lamp light on the ceiling flickered to life, I immediately spotted Gary, sniffing something out of a paper bag. I trapped him with a thwip of my web shooter.

Without thinking, I gripped the handle of a gun I wasn't aware I took from the counter next to me, my finger shaking on the trigger. Gary glanced up at me, not fully aware of the danger he was in, and started giggling deliriously.

"Kid," Mr Stark said, concerned. "Put the gun down. Don't do something you'll regret. We can take him the police, give him jail time."

"HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" I yelled, desperately clinging the gun as Mr. Stark tried to snatch it from my hands.

"Kid! Calm down!"

"He's laughing! How could he laugh?! I hate him!" I hiccuped, a river of tears soaking through my mask. This is the first time I've cried since before May died. I didn't feel numb anymore. I felt rage, pain, grief. My world was crashing, spinning, burning. Killing him will make it better.

"Pete, come on. Put down the gun. Think about this. Spider-man doesn't kill."

"What about Peter?" I whispered as I pulled the trigger.

Mr. Stark thrusted his armored hand in the bullet's path, and it ricocheted to the wall. He yanked the gun out of my hand, and engulfed me in his arms.

"It's okay, it's okay." He murmured when his mask came off as my shoulders shook with sobs. "You're okay."

(okay I'll leave before you chase me with pitchforks thanks for reading)